Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson clash offers peek at NBA’s future
Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson clash offers peek at NBA’s future

Throughout the history of the National Basketball Association, one thing has almost always been true. The league is exceptionally difficult – and especially so for rookies. Unless your name is Magic Johnson, the first year of one’s career portends struggle, heartbreak and mistakes aplenty. But what the NBA has also taught its players is that the name of the pro game is resilience. It’s about what one does with those hard times that matters most. Fall, but get up. And when it comes to the 2023-24 season’s two most hyped rookies – Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson, who were picked first and third in the 2023 draft, respectively – the new season is proving to be a test of all they’ve prized and prided themselves on in the past.

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EssayJake UittiThe Guardian
(EXCERPT) Earl the Twirl: My life in basketball
(EXCERPT) Earl the Twirl: My life in basketball

I don’t remember the exact time I made it into Houston, maybe around 3:30 or 4 in the afternoon Texas time. But I was ready. A team assistant coach, Larry Smith, picked me up. His nickname was “Mr. Mean,” but he was great to me. After we shook hands, I told him I had to go to baggage claim to get my stuff. He said, “Earl, there’s no time to wait for the bags. We have to go now.” All I had was my carry-on in my hand. He said, “We’ll get someone to get your stuff later. Let’s go!” So, I jumped in a car with him, and we went straight to the arena. By the time I made it to the locker room in Houston, the rest of the team was already on the court warming up. The team had my jersey all ready, name printed on the back and everything, hanging in a locker. I jumped into the uniform, number 35, warmups and all, and I got a quick physical examination from the doctors right there in the locker room.

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EssayJake UittiHoops Hype
Yoshiki No Risk, No Reward—“You Just Have to Take Risks”
Yoshiki No Risk, No Reward—“You Just Have to Take Risks”

For the Japanese-born Renaissance man Yoshiki, risk is an essential aspect of his creativity. The piano player, kimono designer (highlighted at Paris Fashion Week), Golden Globes theme composer — and more — knows that to achieve anything, to make any kind of unique mark, one needs to find new ground. Explore new territory, both inwardly and outwardly. That’s the recipe, if there is one, to success. And Yoshiki is continuing to test that important maxim. This fall, he made his directorial debut with the music documentary, Yoshiki: Under The Sky, which also features the likes of St. Vincent and the Chainsmokers. He then held performances in honor of the doc in New York, L.A., London and Tokyo in a matter of days. There will be no resting on laurels.

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ProfilesJake UittiAmerican Songwriter Magazine
NBA Christmas 2023: what to know about this year’s quintuple-header
NBA Christmas 2023: what to know about this year’s quintuple-header

It’s that time of year again. When people gather around the Christmas tree to exchange gifts and then gather around the big-screen television to watch the NBA’s annual slate of games. This year, as in the past, hoops heads are treated to a handful of excellent matchups. So, here below, we wanted to dive into those contests to offer some perspective and some predictions.

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EssayJake UittiThe Guardian
A Brief History of Handheld Consoles
A Brief History of Handheld Consoles

When video games first rose to popularity in the 1980s, arcades were all the rage. Millions would visit the digital fun houses and pop quarters into big cabinet-sized machines to play titles like Pac-Man and Space Invaders, trying to outdo bad guys and get to the next stage.

Eventually technology advanced, allowing players to enjoy gaming at home, mostly with the groundbreaking and extremely popular Nintendo® Entertainment System (NES®). But when smaller handheld consoles made their appearance, a whole new market opened up.

Here’s the history of those gems.

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EssayJake UittiYamaha
5 Questions for Regina Spektor: “Professionally and Personally I Hope for Peace”
5 Questions for Regina Spektor: “Professionally and Personally I Hope for Peace”

Songwriter and performer Regina Spektor is one of the most dazzling artists on the planet. This makes sense considering she cares for each work as if it is its own little thriving universe. Soul-stirring on the piano, Spektor’s voice bounces and her words alight.

Sadly, as you can read below, she has been feeling deep distress due to the dire conflict overseas. Still, she has hope for peace, inspiration, health, and laughter. And her music will assuredly give that to others along the way.

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Q&AJake UittiAmerican Songwriter Magazine
Catching Up with Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic: “Well, Let’s Just Do Whatever We Want to Do at This Point”
Catching Up with Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic: “Well, Let’s Just Do Whatever We Want to Do at This Point”

Krist Novoselic, the former bassist for the iconic grunge band Nirvana, is up to a lot of things today, musically and creatively. From those having to do with his famous band to new projects like his supergroup 3rd Secret, Novoselic is investigating his myriad interests.

The artist, who is based in Wahkiakum County, Washington, recently landed in Seattle (literally flying his own plane) a few days before Christmas and that’s when he connected with American Songwriter for a conversation about new work, Nirvana memories and a brief exploration into the reality of artificial intelligence.

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Q&AJake UittiAmerican Songwriter Magazine
Kesha Opens Up About Her New Music and Perspective—”I Feel Like a Little Kid on Christmas Morning”
Kesha Opens Up About Her New Music and Perspective—”I Feel Like a Little Kid on Christmas Morning”

It’s no secret that the pop star Kesha has been in the news of late and for some pretty dark subject matter, unfortunately. But from darkness can come light, from sadness can come redemption and new surging power. And take note world: Kesha is in her redemptive era. (It’s a beautiful thing to see.)

With the release in May of her latest LP, Gag Order, the sublime pop offering she created with the help of music icon Rick Rubin, Kesha is reclaiming herself in a way that is both blissful and honest. As you can read below, the songwriter and performer feels like she’s herself again for the first time in maybe decades.

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Q&AJake UittiAmerican Songwriter Magazine
10 Questions for Victoria Monét—”What I Love Most About My Music Is That It’s My Music”
10 Questions for Victoria Monét—”What I Love Most About My Music Is That It’s My Music”

The 34-year-old Atlanta, Georgia-born songwriter and performer Victoria Monét made giant waves in the music industry this year with the release of her debut LP, Jaguar II. Previously, Monét had written for big names like Ariana Grande, Nas, Travis Scott, T.I., Lupe Fiasco, and Chloe x Halle.

Now, on her own as a solo artist, Monét has recently garnered seven Grammy nominations for her debut LP, including those for Best New Artist and Record of the Year. Below, we caught up with the burgeoning star to ask her about her 2023, her songwriting, and what goes into collaborations.

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Q&AJake UittiAmerican Songwriter Magazine
Vancouver, Vegas or … Dakar? Ranking the candidates for NBA expansion cities
Vancouver, Vegas or … Dakar? Ranking the candidates for NBA expansion cities

The NBA may boast the most talent it’s ever had. There are all-time greats still dominating (LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant) and one-of-a-kind rookies (Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama). The league has 30 teams and only a few (Detroit, Washington, Portland) are devoid of an All-Star or a surefire future one.

In short, the NBA is robust. That also makes it the perfect time for expansion, something NBA commissioner Adam Silver says the league intends to explore when its current media rights deals ends in 2025. But where would the league look, and what are its best options? The first stage of expansion would probably be for two more teams but a couple more in the years after that is not out of the question.

With global basketball leagues flourishing and the 2024 Paris Olympics coming up, there is a lot to consider. So, let’s look at a selection (and please note that the list is not exhaustive – this is a mix of moonshots, possibles and probables) going from least to most likely.

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EssayJake UittiThe Guardian
Top Basketball Video Games
Top Basketball Video Games

With the onset of fall, change is in the air. School has started again, the leaves are falling, and of course, it’s the beginning of another season for the National Basketball Association.

But the popular sports league, which is known for stars, scoring and athleticism, is also on display in many favorite video games, from the rudimentary offerings of the 1980s to those pixel-perfect ones today. Yes, basketball gaming is nearly as illustrious as the sport itself!

Here are eight of the best basketball video games ever made.

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EssayJake UittiYamaha
From Mahorn to Jordan: a brief guide to the NBA’s finest trashtalkers
From Mahorn to Jordan: a brief guide to the NBA’s finest trashtalkers

In the NBA, there is a skill paramount to winning that isn’t often taught in camps or clinics. Some are born with it and while they can hone the attribute over time, it is not always evident from afar like speed or springy legs. It’s the timeless art of trash talking and in basketball, a sport likened to one played in underwear, where there are no helmets and open space comes at a premium, verbal sparring is frequent.

But who is the best? Who has the most potent style? Who could jaw with such prowess that it helped gain their teams an advantage even before the sneakers are laced? Indeed, whose tongues provide the best weapons? Let’s dig in.

First, though, the honorable mentions: Darryl Dawkins, Sam Cassell (see: marbles dance), Luka Dončić, Patrick Beverley, Trae Young (see: Ice Trae), Rasheed Wallace, John Starks and George Gervin.

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EssayJake UittiThe Guardian