Author: Sheldon Barrocks

It’s much more than just the “McDonald’s All-American Game of the North”. High school basketball in Canada has always been good. Really Good. There’s been no shortage of talent coming out of the Great White North for the past few years, even the last few decades. In case you haven’t been paying attention during that time, Canada has made big moves to become a hoops hot-bed for young ballers. Nothing is more evident to show this than the inception of the Biosteel All Canadian Game, showcasing 24 of Canada’s young basketball prodigies. It’s a high school basketball all star game…

On October 29, 2017, Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster took a short pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and torched the Detroit Lions defense for a 97-yard touchdown. After the game the Steelers eventually won, Smith-Schuster was asked why he kept turning his head to look at the Lion defenders. “To be honest, the reason I kept looking back because in Madden, my speed is 82, 83,” joked Smith-Schuster, who lead the Steelers with four touchdown receptions at that point in the season. “The next thing you know, I pulled away, swerved to the right and was able to get…

I was surfing online and come across a sneak preview of the new Adidas Yeezy Desert Rat 500 set to release in Spring 2018. My first impressions were, “Why is Kanye releasing shoes that look like they were sold at K-Mart back in the 80’s?” But asking such a question may be asinine as this is Kanye West we’re talking about. Hip-hop icon turned fashion mogul, Kanye West, who has never shied away from taking fashion design risks over the years, especially with kicks. With that being said, I don’t know how he’ll get away with this latest release. It’s almost…

I’m a bit frustrated. And here’s why. In a time when differences in society’s conscience regarding race ideologies seems to be front page news daily, celebrities, athletes and other notable personalities with platforms have an opportunity to change conversations and ultimately use their influence to unify and not create a bigger divide than the one that already exists. More often than not, when commentary on hot button issues is needed from the African American community, the media seems to continually turn to black pro athletes to grab a sound bite they can spin into whatever their audience has bleeding ears for…

Last Chance U. The gritty, critically acclaimed football documentary that followed East Mississippi Community College’s Football program for an entire season debuted last year to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gave season one a 90% rating with at least one critic calling it, “A fascinating trip beyond the field and the locker room that dives into the gritty fabric of one of the country’s most unpredictably successful sports programs”. The mini series was a perfect example of the creative freedom writers, filmmakers and production companies have when producing for Netflix. Our demand for higher quality, fresh original content is at…

And just like the spectacle has come to an end. After months of non-stop promotion, article after article, sound bite after sound bite, and even a somewhat lame four city promotional tour, including my home, Toronto, Mayweather vs. McGregor finally sounded off this weekend, ending emphatically after a 10th round TKO. From the moment McGregor and his camp instigated the idea of this fight with UFC President Dana White, and convinced Floyd Mayweather to come out of retirement for one last fight (with the speculation of back taxes to be paid) it has been nothing short of a well-planned, and…

Let me start off by saying this isn’t just another Colin Kaepernick article talking about why he hasn’t been signed by an NFL team yet. With the NFL preseason about to begin, football fans are experiencing a déjà vu moment seeing Kaep dominate the headlines during the early part of the season for the second year in a row. Reports on Colin Kaepernick’s employment status began before the summer even started and at this point I’m suffering with Kaepernick fatigue. Story after story asking the same question, “Why hasn’t he been offered an NFL contract yet? Is he still good enough…

October’s Very Own now has a second home in the 6ix. This past weekend Drake’s famed OVO brand debuted its second Toronto flagship store, opening its doors to a large group of dedicated shoppers in the Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The 1,600-square foot Yorkdale-Toronto flagship store has been designed to deliver an elevated OVO retail experience, offering luxury apparel, capsule collections and exclusive drops from OVO. It’s the fourth store globally for Drake’s OVO retail concept. The first location debuted in 2014 in Downtown Toronto, followed by the Los Angeles flagship which opened 2015. In 2016, OVO’s third flagship store opened in New…

Recently Sheldon Barrocks had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Toronto-based motivational speaker and social activist, Jeff Martin, to discuss among other topics his organization Brothas from the 6, police and community relations, and restoring the image of Black fathers. Sheldon: Tell me a little about yourself? Jeff: I was born and raised in Toronto, particularly in the Rexdale community. I grew up during a time when my neighbourhood was stricken with gang violence, drugs and guns. Although I was able to avoid getting into trouble myself, I had many friends and acquaintances who lost their lives or…

In this review, Sheldon Barrocks takes a look at the documentary Sneakerheadz, sneaker culture and his own relationship with sneakers. Grade 5, public school, 1991. I knew a kid in my class who lived in the same low income co-op as I did, but there was a noticeable difference between us both. He came to school with a new pair of kicks every week. At the time it seemed like every week, but it was probably every few months. Black and red trim Jordans. Nike Bo Jackson cross trainers. White and blue Patrick Ewing high tops. This kids had a…

Posse. A word not used heavily since the late 90’s. Outside the of the Black community, some might say it has a negative connotation. Though it’s used loosely to describe people who would be considered your inner circle, don’t try to convince three-time NBA champion, Lebron James, that was the intent of legendary coach, Phil Jackson, last November. Jackson used the term in reference to Lebron’s family and business associates during an interview with ESPN when describing his time with the Miami Heat. Lebron made his displeasure known almost immediately after the story was released. The sensitive response from Lebron…

Loud. Obnoxious. Overbearing. Idiot. In the process of describing LaVar Ball to your friend that has been living under a rock for the last six months, there’s no shortage of words that come to mind. Ball has easily become a polarizing figure in the sports world and the hype train surrounding him and his born and bred basketball star sons doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. In our media feasting, information hungry culture, LaVar Ball has been everywhere- ESPN, Slam Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Sportscenter, and on every other post on your social media feed. Day by day another…