M Dogg meets the Lakers

[M Dogg™]

Ok... only two, well actually only one, but outside of Kobe and Shaq, it's the only one that means something to me meeting him. I was at a club in Minneapolis, Excape, for graduation, and we saw Horace Grant walk in. My friend got all hyped, and was like, why is Horace Grant in the club. I was like... cool, he was dressed in his pimped out outfit, talking to all the girls, and shaking hands. It was cool. Then walked in Bryon Russell, San Bernardino's own, and why is that old man who used to play for the Utah Jazz still dressing like a thug. I mean, my man was the most thugged out man in the club, and he had a crew. But I was like, oh hell nah, one of San Bernardino's own is here hold it down. I had to go meet him, but of course he was talking to some females. Then some male groupie came over and was trying to talk to the two Lakers, giving them basketball advance and whatnot... lol.  I was chillin' with my friends, and then when homedude was free, I was like, hey Bryon, and he turned around. I was like hey dogg, I'm from San Bernardino too, actually Rialto, and he was straight up cool as hell. He was happy to see someone from the I.E. there, and he ass even threw up the I.E. sign, that had my ass rolling, and I had to throw it up. Then I'm like, i hope ya' all win tomorrow, he was like, you know this, but of course the Lakers lose yesterday. But it was all good, he was like 'cause I'm from the I.E. I could have anything I wanted in the bar, so I got some Hypnotic. I.E. pride all the way homie right there. Him and Horace left early, I guess crufew. But Bryon was cool, and the fact that his from the I.E., I had to talk to him.

[M Dogg™]

an old article about my boy's homecoming.

 Lakers' Russell can't go home

CHANGES: The San Bernardino High product, getting a shot in LA, finds his hometown isn't the same.


11:52 PM PDT on Tuesday, October 7, 2003


By BRODERICK TURNER / The Press-Enterprise



HONOLULU - He would love to spend more time in his hometown of San Bernardino, hang out with his boys, reminisce about the days gone by.

More so now than ever, now that Bryon Russell is with the Lakers, he would love to cherish some special moments with his friends. Russell would love to talk about how he always dreamed of being a Laker while he played basketball at San Bernardino High School and how that dream is coming true.

But whenever Russell returns home, he hears about the violence in the old neighborhood, and it saddens him.

"They are all fighting each other," Russell said. "They all grew up together. I'm not trying to go backwards and get in a crossfire, but they're all my 'homies.' I do go back every now and then."

Russell returned this summer and spent time with his former high school coach, Scott Kay. Russell also spent time with friends.

But things just weren't the same.

"Right now, it seems to be real hot," Russell said. "It's disappointing because we all grew up together. I've got love for all of them, but I'm not trying to get caught up in nothing."

So he'll focus on making sure his dream becomes a reality.

Russell signed a non-guaranteed, make-good contract with the Lakers for the veteran's exception of $1.07 million.

Russell's opportunity to join the Lakers came about because Rick Fox may have to rehabilitate the torn tendon in his left foot until at least January. The Lakers wanted a savvy veteran to back up Devean George at small forward.

Russell, 32, is entering his 10th season in the NBA.

"I knew that they were going to be looking for somebody to fill his (Fox's) shoes and I might be the best person. I don't know," Russell said. "It's going to be up to the coaches. I can defend, I can shoot the ball and I think that's what Rick did. He was their down-and-dirty player."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson knows about Russell. Russell was on a Utah Jazz team that lost twice in the NBA Finals to the Jackson-coached Chicago Bulls.

So far in training camp here, Russell has been impressive.

"He's coming along pretty good," Jackson said. "He's what we anticipated. He plays defense. He hits the open shots. He's doing a good job."

Russell spent his first eight years in the NBA in Utah alongside current Laker teammate Karl Malone.

Russell spent last season in Washington playing with Michael Jordan and for Coach Doug Collins.

It wasn't a good experience for Russell. He clashed with Collins. He played behind Jordan, which meant his time was limited.

Russell averaged just 4.5 points and 19.8 minutes per game, his lowest numbers since his third year in the NBA.

"All I really wanted to do was just defend," Russell said. "I didn't want to shoot the ball. Nothing. I told myself when the season was over that I wanted to go back to a team that plays together. Not one or two play hard, but all five players play hard. So I thought this situation with the Lakers was the best situation."

Russell started 23 games and appeared in 70 for Washington. But it was a circus revolving around Jordan.

Russell said there was no direction.

"We had a lot of egos out there," Russell said. "It was like having a whole lot of generals but no soldiers. Everybody wanted to be a general. Everybody wanted to do their thing and not help each other out. That's one of the most selfish teams I played for in my life. But that's how it goes when people don't take control of their team."

Russell was not used to it.

He played on a Jazz team with Malone and John Stockton, teammates who didn't mind sharing the basketball.

Now Russell is back with Malone, both looking to get a championship ring with the Lakers.

"It's nice to have a guy like that," Malone said. "He's like my little brother."

Russell will bring the same attitude he's always brought. He'll hustle. He'll be a team player. He'll sacrifice.

Those are the things Kay, now an assistant basketball coach at Rialto Eisenhower, remembers about Russell.

"He always just had those intangibles, even when he played for me," Kay said by phone. "He can run and defend. But more than anything else, he's a good person. They know he's not going to create problems. He's good for your morale."

When Russell used to see Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis during the summer, he'd beg Rambis to help him become a Laker.

Now he is.

"I was like, 'Man, I'm ready to come home.' I'm here now," Russell said. "Things worked out. It probably was the way it had to work out. I had to go to Washington first to come home."

[.:DayGoStyLz:.]

lol groupie...

[M Dogg™]

lol groupie...

got a drink on him... lol... I should ask for some tickets... I.E. pride homie.

[Nima - Dubcnn.com]

cool shit

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Bryon Russel - DNP

[R-Tistic]

Damm that is tite, I didn't even kno he was from the IE. What age group club was it, 21 and up?

[bez]

lol groupie...

got a drink on him... lol... I should ask for some tickets... I.E. pride homie.

Yer Internet Explorer is cool.

[M Dogg™]

Bryon Russel - DNP

Hey... it's all good... he was at one time a great defensive player, and since age is getting to him, the first thing that shows old players is the lack of defense. And the Lakers are stacked at small forward. Hopefully though we keep Bryon, I like having at least one hometown I.E. native on the Lakers. Tyson Chandler would also be nice.  

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Tyson Chandler is from Compton, I believe...

Anyways, don't count on Bryon Russel returning...As a matter of fact, I'm willing to bet you anything he won't be back on the Lakers next year...LOL

[M Dogg™]

Tyson Chandler is from Compton, I believe...

Anyways, don't count on Bryon Russel returning...As a matter of fact, I'm willing to bet you anything he won't be back on the Lakers next year...LOL

Tyson Chandler was from San Bernardino, and grew to be 6'10" in 8th grade. Long Beach Poly used it's magnet school status to illegally recruit Tyson to Long Beach, and the coach used to drive 2 hours to pick him up, and 2 hours to drop him off each school day. After his freshman year, he transfered to Compton Domingez and after his junior year, the coach just rented him an apartment. For that, the coach was fired for illegal recruitment after Tyson graduated.

And anyways, like I said about Bryon, it's all good. He will win a ring with the Lakers, and I know for him, that's a dream come true.

[.:DayGoStyLz:.]

Tyson Chandler is from Compton, I believe...

Anyways, don't count on Bryon Russel returning...As a matter of fact, I'm willing to bet you anything he won't be back on the Lakers next year...LOL

Tyson Chandler was from San Bernardino, and grew to be 6'10" in 8th grade. Long Beach Poly used it's magnet school status to illegally recruit Tyson to Long Beach, and the coach used to drive 2 hours to pick him up, and 2 hours to drop him off each school day. After his freshman year, he transfered to Compton Domingez and after his junior year, the coach just rented him an apartment. For that, the coach was fired for illegal recruitment after Tyson graduated.

And anyways, like I said about Bryon, it's all good. He will win a ring with the Lakers, and I know for him, that's a dream come true.

yah, the IE is in a way...the "benchwarmers" of Kalifornia so i guess it fits.  

[M Dogg™]

yah, the IE is in a way...the "benchwarmers" of Kalifornia so i guess it fits.  

That's not true...  

*Bumps Sly Boogie (realizes he doesn't sell)*
*throws on his Sean Rooks jersey (realizes he never started)*
*talks about Bryon Russell (realizes his washed up)*
*followes Tyson Chandler (realizes he can't play NBA ball)
*remembers Lighter Shade of Brown (realizes no one else does)
*gets the Reggie Miller jersey on (finds out he left a long time ago and is never coming back)*
*watches Barry Bonds hit home runs (sees him imbrace San Fran as his home, not Riverside)*
*drools about pictures of Vanessa Bryant (realized her husband cheated on her with an ugly bitch from Colorado)*

Damn... what do we got in the I.E.

There's always Ronnie Lott, Bobby Bonds, Nick Barnett (my high school teammate and starter for the Green Bay Packers), Troy Percival, Jeff Conine, Anthony Munoz... we ain't that bad in producing sports stars, just rap artist, they are good, but can't sell.  

[M Dogg™]

Damm that is tite, I didn't even kno he was from the IE. What age group club was it, 21 and up?

yeah

[We Fly High]

haha ronnie lot used to live in my hometown, my dad would always see him at jamba jucie or some shit.. and from our school football field, we could see his house up in the mountains..