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Team U.S.A Basketball Takes Over NYC

U.S.A Basketball Day / Photos: Bradley Carbone
The NBA superstars that will represent the U.S.A this summer in Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics assembled in NYC today for a daylong Nike-sponsored event (they were showing off the gear that Nike cooked up for the summer games) that included a boat ride around the East River and their first introduction to the public at Rockefeller Center.

Joined by the league’s M.V.P Kobe Bryant, basketball’s best players like Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade cracked jokes in between serious Q&As, where they stressed that they’re focused solely on bringing home Olympic gold to the United States—something that hasn’t been done since 2000. Complex snapped some flicks of the squad throughout the day, and zeroed in on some of the footwear they’ll be wearing this August, like the newly-introduced Jordan Olympia and Lebron’s special make-up Olympic joints. See the pics after the jump.

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Undrcrwn Illustrates The NBA Draft For Adidas

With the NBA Draft airing tonight, everyone has to get their two cents in. We already talked to the Beastie Boys’ MCA about his top picks, and now streetwear stalwarts Undrcrwn are getting in on the action. To help attract the league’s 5 biggest hopes, adidas recruited Undrcrwn to create designs of each baller, which were then printed onto T-shirts and jackets and given exclusively to each player (Meaning they probably won’t ever be released, unless the players decide to endorse the three stripes).

Using visual cues from their respective cities and personalities, sure-things like Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, O.J Mayo and Eric Gordon all got the Undrcrwn treatment. Take a look at the rest of the player illustrations below.

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Improve Your Soccer Stroke With The Kicker

After last year’s piss-poor performance at adidas’ Fanatic soccer tournament, Team Complex has been searching for ways to improve our game. It looks like this Kicker Machine might do the trick.

The arcade-style practice game measures how hard you kick, and also helps you master the proper way to strike a soccer ball. There’s also a multi-player mode where you and your crew can take bets on who has the most powerful leg. At a cost of $7890, it’s a little out of our league. Time to send the collection plate around the office. Watch a video of the Kicker after the jump.

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Steve Nash’s Chinatown Soccer Showdown

As far as pickup games go, tomorrow night’s match-up should go down in history. Steve Nash has organized a charity soccer match called “The Showdown in Chinatown” that will feature all-star participants like the NBA’s Jason Kidd, Baron Davis, David Lee, Leandro Barbosa and Raja Bell, along with professional foot-ballers Thierry Henry, Claudio Reyna, Steve McManaman, and Robbie Fowler.

We’ll have to put off watching that TiVo’d episode of Pros vs. Joes for another night, because there’s no way we can pass up an opportunity to see Henry dangle the dignity out of David Lee. The event takes place tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m. in Roosevelt Park on Chrystie St. between Rivington and Stanton. Watch the videos after the jump to get a preview of Nash’s soccer skills.

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Pauley The Plant Guy’s Baseball Predictions Part II

After making a big splash in his first week, Complex’s resident plant-caretaker and sports expert Pauley is back to discuss the current state of NY baseball. This week, Horticultural P talks about Willie Randolph getting canned as the Mets manager, as well as Yankees’ ace Chien-Ming Wang’s ankle injury.

Besides speaking on Big Apple athletics, Pauley also offers his picks for some of this weekend’s hottest games around the league for all you timid bettors. Watch the video after the jump.

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Getting Fired Like Willie Randolph

To say Willie Randolph is having a tough morning would be the understatement of the year. After weeks of speculation that the team’s manager would be shit-canned by Mets ownership, the inevitable happened this morning at 3:15 a.m. Even before Willie could rub the sand out of his eyes, the Metropolitans released a statement that Randolph was no longer in charge of the ball club and bench coach Jerry Manuel will be the interim skipper.

Mets big-wigs even forced Randolph to make the long trip out to Anaheim, meaning he’s not only unemployed and sleep-deprived, but jet-lagged too. The news reminded us of some of the worst firings we’ve ever seen. So Willie, if you’re reading this, watch the clips after the jump and remember: it could be worse.

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Pee Easy With The Golfer’s Uroclub

Golfers with weak bladders won’t have to stress anymore thanks to the Uroclub, the first iron in your bag that you can actually piss into.

18-holers who usually splash off in the woods will now be able to utilize this hollowed-out club that comes equipped with a classy green golf towel for pee-pee privacy. As the company describes, the piece of equipment is “intended to eliminate anxiety and any feeling of uneasiness on the course. It can be emptied at the nearest restroom or later on, when the golfer returns home.”

Ah, driving around the country club with fresh urine in our Callaway bag—sounds like the usual Saturday morning tee-off to us. Cop it here now for $49.95 and check a few close-up shots after the jump.

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Pauley The Plant Guy’s Baseball Predictions

Sure, he keeps our plants soiled and looking healthy, but Pauley is also our resident sports expert around the Complex offices. As ‘Plex’s horticulturalist, Levine has long been known to drop insightful gems about sports and has solidified himself as our go-to when we’re looking for answers concerning our favorite squads. In his debut episode, the watering-can toting superstar gives fans his outlook on New York baseball, including Giambi’s mini-mustache. Watch the video after the jump.

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Baseball’s Worst Ceremonial Celebrity Pitches

Yesterday, Mariah Carey’s spur-of-the-moment marriage coverage was put on the back burner in favor of laughing at her baseball skills.

When the high-heeled pop star was asked to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a pro game in Tokyo, she totally embarrassed herself, delivering a bigger flub than her husband Nick Cannon’s music. But to be fair, Carey’s not the first person to F up the coveted first pitch of a baseball game: Cincinnati’s Mayor Mallory, the Michelin Man, and Dick Cheney all shit the bed when it was their time to take the mound. Watch some piss-poor performances after the jump.

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5 David Beckham Goals Worth Celebrating

Looks like soccer icon David Beckham’s best years might not be completely behind him. After retiring from Real Madrid, it didn’t seem like competing with the B and C level talent in the MLS would be much of a challenge for Becks. Even with the L.A. Galaxy throwing $250 million big ones his way to spark America’s interest in futbol, he’s kept a pretty low profile (aside from going to Lakers games).

But we (like Kansas City) were stumped this weekend when Beckham capped off the 3-1 beating with a 70-yard half field goal straight from ’96. The KC Wizards should have known better than to leave their goal more exposed than a socialite’s cooch with the veteran footballer around. The impressive play had us reminicing on some of Becks’ other great goals from his 16 year career. Watch 5 of the best (including his most recent feat) after the jump.

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