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nct-rewind · 5 years ago

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clara

BASICS

STAGE NAME \\ clara ( 클라라 )

MEANING \\ illustrious

BIRTH NAME \\ choi bong cha ( 최봉차 )

ENGLISH NAME \\ clara choi

NICKNAMES \\ clarrie, cece, mum

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BIRTHDAY \\ november 15, 1994

ZODIAC \\ scorpio

CHINESE ZODIAC \\ dog

BIRTH PLACE \\ daegu, south korea

HOMETOWN \\ daegu, south korea

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HEIGHT \\ 164.7cm ( 5′4″ )

WEIGHT \\ 55kg ( 121lbs )

BLOOD TYPE \\ b

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ETHNICITY \\ korean

NATIONALITY \\ korean

LANGUAGES \\ korean ( fluent ), english ( fluent )

CAREER

GROUP \\ nct ( 2016 - 2023 ), rewind ( 2016 - present )

UNITS \\ nct 127 ( 2016 - 2023 ), nct rewind ( 2016 - 2023 ), nct u ( 2020 - 2023 )

POSITION \\ main vocalist, lead dancer

REPRESENTATIVE COLOUR \\ green

NAMESAKE \\ clara bow

COMPANY \\ fnc entertainment ( 2008 - 2011 ), sm entertainment ( 2014 - 2023 ), moon studios ( 2023 - present )

TRAINEE PERIOD \\ 3 years ( fnc ), 2 years ( sm )

DEBUT \\ july 10, 2016

DEBUT AGE \\ 21 years old

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STATS

VOCALS \\ 10/10

DANCE \\ 9/10

RAP \\ 1/10

VARIETY \\ 8/10

ACTING \\ 7/10

PRODUCING \\ 6/10

PHYSICAL

TATTOOS \\ her father’s initials on her left shoulder blade ( above her heart ). jisoo’s ( blackpink ) name in hangul on the inside of her right arm

PIERCINGS \\ three on left ear ( 2 x lobe, helix ), two on right ear ( 2 x lobe )

FACE CLAIM \\ kim min ji ( dreamcatcher )

VOICE CLAIM \\ ailee ( soloist )

DANCE CLAIM \\ kim lip ( loona )

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PERSONAL

SEXUALITY \\ heterosexual

RELIGION \\ christian

EDUCATION \\ university of california, los angeles ( ucla )

MBTI \\ isfj-a, defender personality

STRENGTHS \\ supportive, reliable, observant

WEAKNESSES \\ takes things personally, represses feelings, reluctant to change

STYLE \\

LIKES \\ matcha green tea, pomeranians, chunky knitted sweaters, the feel of sand on bare skin, smell of burning wood, freshly washed linen, antique looking objects, hand cream, corduroy skirts and pinafore dresses, white gypsophilas, t-shirts with cute logos

DISLIKES \\ the texture of plasters, reptiles, hypocrites, overly sweet food, the taste of pork, drastic changes in her life, the sound of rustling bags, hay fever season, the smell of cut grass, lanyards, forgetting to put her phone on charge

HABITS \\ forgives people way too easily

TALENT \\ can tell when people are lying and is very good at reading people just from their body language

HOBBIES \\ sewing, collecting vintage clothes, watching criminal minds ( and simping over spencer reid )

FEARS \\ ophidiophobia ( fear of snakes )

FAMILY

MOTHER \\ park chae min ( 1973 )

FATHER \\ choi tae gi ( 1970 - 1998 )

SISTER \\ choi bong soo ( 1997 )

TRIVIAL

ONE \\ clara is long-sighted; she wears glasses for things like reading, and swaps them out for contacts at fan signs

TWO \\ she has an oval-shaped birthmark on the back of her right shoulder

THREE \\ her left wrist is slightly weaker than her right, due to her falling out of a tree as a child and breaking it

FOUR \\ she’s very mature and is often called the ‘mother’ of the group

FIVE \\ she constantly babies the dreamies and can't help but spoil them

SIX \\ clara was originally meant to be rewind’s leader, but she felt rosie was better suited to the role, so stepped down

SEVEN \\ she still insists on sending her mum money every month to support her

EIGHT \\ clara’s father died in a car accident, after a car in the opposite lane lost control of his car on the ice

NINE \\ clara ended her contract with fnc entertainment in 2011 to move to los angeles, where she attended ucla and gained a phd in psychology

#nct #nct rewind #Clara #shootingstarkocnet #mochikocnet

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baliluxuryvillasrental · 2 years ago

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The heart of Villa 1880 is a beautifully restored plantation house from Borneo, made entirely of ironwood and constructed in 1880 – hence the name. Full of heritage charm, the house sits between two contemporary structures: a vast open-sided living room with sunset barbecue terrace above, and a two-storey sleeping pavilion lined with lime green shutters in homage to its colonial cousin.

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tertiovitae-blog · 6 years ago

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— TASK 001. STATISTICS

BASIC INFORMATION.

Full Name: Simon Chun, as far as federal documentation says.

Nickname(s): Sy, if he has any beyond that, he doesn’t know about them.

Age: 32

Date of Birth: September 22nd, 1986

Hometown: New York, NY

Current Location: Dertosa, CA

Ethnicity: Korean

Nationality: American

Gender: Cismale

Pronouns: He/him

Orientation: Purposefully emotionally unavailable tbqh

Religion: Raised under a Presbyterian mother and an apathetic father. Currently swings between atheism and agnosticism: he’d like to believe there’s some higher power but fails to see much evidence for the presence of one - at least in the form most modern religions teach. There’s no proof in Simon’s eyes of a God that’s both powerful and benevolent.

Political Affiliation: Independent. Mixed liberal and conservative attitudes.

Occupation: Former assistant district attorney in Suffolk County, MA, current owner of Pulp Kitchen and Pulp Vintage, his side business in the rare book & documents. PV specializes in early editions, maps, signatures from significant persons predating the 21st century, and the ever-popular vintage movie posters, as well as a few specialized items (architectural blueprints, maps, letters) from Dertosa’s history. Only a handful of these precious items he actually displays: in the very back of the store, close to his office and locked behind a delicate metal gate. Walk-in purchases are not welcome, though interested customers may contact Simon through PV’s website or by phone to make an appointment to examine the collection in person.

Living Arrangements: The second floor of Pulp Kitchen is dedicated to Simon’s living space, accessed through the stairwell connected to his backroom office, which also empties out into the alley behind PK. He likes the simplicity of an all-in-one building (as well as the feeling of security afforded by elevation and insulation from other people and structures). He’s managed a mish-mash aesthetic of spare industrialism and coziness: exposed brick walls and steel beams, a dark floor but the living room popping with a deep goldrod-yellow carpet and anchored on a large, buttery, reddish leather sofa. There’s a knit throw blanket tossed over the back of just about every seating surface that isn’t the chairs at the kitchen island. All doors are sliding and usually left open for the feeling of greater space. The apartment is blessed with the same wall-to-wall windows of the cafe downstairs and Simon enjoys having his morning coffee with a chair pulled up to them to soak in a little sun and watch the street wake up below. There’s a surprising lack of bookshelves considering the man himself, but less surprising considering the abundance of them downstairs.

Language(s) Spoken: English, Korean (less frequently than he knows he should).

Accent: Fairly neutral American, a very clear, well-enunciated way of speaking.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.

Face Claim: Steven Yeun

Hair Colour: Black, slightly wavy, usually brushed back or curling over one side of his temple, just a little too short to tuck behind his ears. It tends to not bother him enough that he lets it do what it wants

Eye Colour: Dark brown - call it coffee.

Height: 5′9

Weight: 145-150 lbs

Build: Closer to slim than wiry or bulked, he pushes himself to stay in shape but he ain’t out to get buff.

Tattoos: N/A

Piercings: N/A

Clothing Style: Man’s got a big spectrum. Take your normal urban book-keep stereotype and add a few more colors and much nicer shoes. Almost always in a collared shirt of some kind, sleeves rolled up above the elbows and leather bracelets on his wrist, or maybe under a well-cut blazer with a discreet watch. You’ll never see Simon in a simple t-shirt if he’s got any choice about it, but at work he’ll range anywhere from this level of fancy jacket to this level of relaxed everything. If he’s going to go casual, it’s definitely in a hoodie with a some kind of weird reference plastered on the front.

Usual Expression: Neutral and a bit removed, he tends to look ten levels deep in daydreaming even when he’s just sorting shelves or making a cappuccino. There’s pretty clear tells as to whether was he’s thinking is upsetting or pleasant: pinched brows or the smallest upward quirk to his lips.

Distinguishing Characteristics: A rigid scar above his left hip from the struggle three years ago that nearly cost him his life. Simon thanks the bullet scraping his side for giving him the panic-adrenaline to even survive it. A single dimple in his left cheek. Oh -- and we can’t forget the goddamn glasses. He felt like a jackass at first with fake lenses in, but over time he’s learned that they generously contribute to his fulfilling a certain stereotype within this new identity, and he’s now happy to hide behind the thin extra layer of protection granted by longer hair and a useless pair of wire frames.

HEALTH.

Physical Ailments: None.

Neurological Conditions: His move to Dertosa came with a government-recommended psychologist, though Simon only met with her for a month before dropping out of his appointments with the stubborn belief it was better to take care of himself. There’s a bit of a self-stigma in Simon’s mind regarding mental health: depression and paranoia are emotions from his point of view, not conditions, and he expects himself to manage them like an adult, regardless of whether or not that’s a realistic goal.

Allergies: Lower level lactose intolerant, but the kind who just pops a lactose pill, says ‘fuck it’, and has his latte anyways.

Sleeping Habits: A pretty solid seven to eight hours a night, in bed before midnight and out before eight 90% of the time. Structure is something Simon actively works for, in the hopes it’ll encourage stability.

Eating Habits: Somewhat of an accidental vegetarian, his typical diet skirts close, but he lacks the moral rigidity on that particular stance. He’s weak once a really good smell hits his nose, meat be damned. Tries to keep his eating habits as regular as sleep, breakfast is a cup of coffee and any fruit he can grab and take downstairs, lunch is grazed from whatever’s on the menu at PK, dinner thrown together before after seven and before nine, always with some sort of fresh green veg involved. It’s tempting sometimes to revert to old college ramen-and-microwaveables habits, but he’s grudgingly taking care of his body with the full knowledge that the work of cooking is worth pushing him for.

Exercise Habits: Swims laps for an hour and half at the YMCA three times a week and tends to bike or walk for groceries, errands, ect.

Emotional Stability: Mmmmm, let’s say 6, 7? There’s plenty of emotions tugging at Simon’s sleeve, but he’s simmered down to a more stable center as time has passed and he’s proven to be good for better or for worse at systematically approaching, sorting, and stuffing down what he thinks is useful to acknowledge or not. He purposefully tries to keep away from situations of high emotion, he knows himself well enough to know once he is propelled to extremes, it’s hard to get himself down from them.

Sociability: Simon definitely needs his alone time to refuel and recenter, but he also needs the stimulation of other people or he’d go stircrazy. He keeps an arm’s length, but he’s also too curious about what’s rattling around in other people’s heads to be a true isolationist and can be very warm with the right crowd. It’s a pleasure to have social connections, as long as he can keep the frame of mind that they can only go so far as PK’s front door.

Body Temperature: Cool-natured, there’s a reason he can get away with wearing suit jackets in summer.

Addictions: Lil bit of a hoarder of sentimental objects. Does not matter is the memory is positive or negative and he doesn’t need to be able to lay eyes on it, just to know it’s within his care.

Drug Use: None.

Alcohol Use: Strictly self-enforced as social. He doesn’t bring booze into his house unless it’s for cooking or a guest. No point in tempting a bad habit.

PERSONALITY.

Label: The Advocate, The Enduring, The Cynical

Positive Traits: driven, educated, perceptive, disciplined, curious, conscientious, discrete, generous, steered by an inner moral code

Negative Traits: dogmatic, detached, stubborn, overly self-reliant, impulsive and bold in matters of principle, deeply buried vulnerability to self-criticism, and the capacity to be truly venomous

Goals/Desires: Stay in his own damn lane while making a life for himself he can actually enjoy.

Fears: Having to start over again, any form of his past biting him in the ass, having an opportunity to do something just but being rendered unable to because of his situation, forgetting the past.

Hobbies: Cultivating Pulp Vintage’s collection is as much hobby as work, swimming, snapping up new posters for the wall of the cafe, listening to podcasts, reading, handheld puzzles, volunteer work. He hasn’t been back to his self-defense course since his first year in Dertosa but his teacher is slowly attempting to wheedle him back into other classes at the gym. Monthly trips back to Dertosa’s legal indoor gun range to keep himself sharp.

Habits: Cleaning those useless glasses as a way to stall a conversation or action, drumming his fingers, the two-handed mug hold, reading behind the cash register, skimming the paper every day from front to back and impulsively checking the news bar on his phone, covering his mouth with his hand while laughing, doing the lazy half-tuck with a shirt, tapping his foot when he’s jazzed up.

FAVOURITES.

Weather: Daytime summer rain, that perfect crisp winter day when the air is frosty in his lungs and the ground is coated in snow. Real winter is one of the big things he misses about the Northeast.

Colour(s): Green, blue

Music: He started playing classic jazz/oldies in PK for the sake of that bookshop aesthetic, but he’s gotten genuinely into a lot of it. Nina Simone, Cab Calloway. Longtime listener to The Black Keys, Red Hot Chili Peppers. Vivaldi, Andrés Segovia.

Movies: Clever comedies or character studies, psychological thrillers, old Hollywood experimental movies, all the campiest of 80s horror. ‘Nightcrawler’, ‘the Exorcist’, ‘Metropolis’, ‘In the Mood for Love’.

Sport: Basketball & fencing. He was a pretty damn good at the latter in high school and he’s entirely self-aware of just how pretentious a thing a boarding school fencing team is to be an alumni of.

Beverage: Water with a few lime slices, sue him for being boring. Guilty pleasure is those stupidly sweet matcha green tea lattes from Starbucks.

Food: Hit him with that spicy shit. Fuck it up with savory flavors. Finish it with good n’ sweet. There’s definitely love for Korean, but he’s big on Thai and Southwestern cuisine as well.

Animal: Panther. Just about any big cat, tbh.

FAMILY.

Father: Jeong Yung-sik, aka Howard Jeong. Incarcerated since 2003, age 67. Eligible for release 2249.

Mother: Jeong Su-jin, aka Sujin Jeong. Deceased as of 2015, aged 56. Official cause of death: craniocerebral ballistic trauma aka a gunshot to the head.

Sibling(s): Jeong Min-chul, aka Erik Jeong. Deceased as of 2002, aged 16. Official cause of death: exsanguination aka prolonged and fatal blood loss.

Children: None, despite liking kids he doesn’t realistically see a future where it’d be wise to have them.

Pet(s): His cats Darlene and Mister Meowgi have the run of Pulp Kitchen, the first named after a character from Mr. Robot, the second by an ex-girlfriend. The pun stuck; Simon still can’t bring himself to rename him. He had to give up his boxer, Odin, when he moved to Dertosa and he misses that damn dog every day.

Family’s Financial Status: Raised very upper class, currently a comfortable upper-middle. Technically, he has none of the money left over from his family’s generous supply, but some of his earnings from his work as an ADA came with him to start him off in Dertosa and fund the opening of Pulp Kitchen.

EXTRA.

Zodiac Sign: Virgo - reliable, practical, critical, seeking goodness while expecting disappointment, prone to overthinking

MBTI: INFJ, ‘The Advocate’ - creative, decisive, perfectionistic, incredibly private, “INFJs have strong beliefs and take the actions that they do not because they are trying to advance themselves, but because they are trying to advance an idea that they truly believe will make the world a better place”.

Enneagram: The heart of Enneagram 8 (the Protector) under a strong shield of Enneagram 5 traits (the Observer) - a conflict between the desire to be confrontational and assertive in issues of justice and protecting the weak and the knowledge that oneself is the person who must be protected first, as well as tendencies towards hoarding and intellectual pursuits.

Temperament: Melancholic - thoughtful, schedule oriented, economical and perceptive, interested in the philosophical and poetic

Moral Alignment: Neutral Good - belief in the intrinsic rights of all beings, drive to help the innocent, desire for justice but a willingness to defy the law and do usually immoral things in order to see that justice happens

Primary Vice: Wrath

Primary Virtue: Charity

Element: Water - evolving, inward, empathetic

#tcrp.task #* MUSING #this picture is a lie simon shaves every day of his damn life #and now after peeping over my shoulder for way too detailed research my father is convinced i'm interested in law school #the things we do for love

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emperorscollection · 6 years ago

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Best Team Ever (2018 Edition)

Taken from Bill Simmons’s Book of Basketball:

The puzzle revolves around the Martian Premise. Let’s say basketball-playing aliens land on earth, blow things up Independence Day-style, then challenge us to a seven-game series for control of the universe. And let’s say we have access to the time machine from Lost, allowing us to travel back Sarah Connor-style and grab any twelve NBA legends from 1946 through 2010 (I’m extending it to 2018 for this piece), transport them to the present day, then hold practices for eight weeks before the Final Finals. Again, we **have **to prevail or planet Earth as we know it ends. Which twelve players would you pick?

I’m totally stealing from Simmons, but I’m not the first one to use his premise to write about basketball.

This was taken from the chapter called “The Wine Cellar.” I’m getting twelve players after they completed their season. Twelve vintages, if you will. I’m not necessarily getting the top twelve players of all-time. I’m forming the best team I can. All the players need to complement each other’s skill sets. This is the kind of play I’m looking to have once these twelve players are chosen:

Dynamic and unselfish passing similar to the 1986 Celtics or the 2014 Spurs aka “Summertime”

The ability to run the floor to create an advantage on the fast break like the Showtime Lakers

Tough defense combining the one-one-one individual defense of those mid-2000’s Detroit Pistons, the rotational and switching abilities of the late-2010’s Golden State Warriors, with anger and pure disgust like when Jordan & Pippen defended Toni Kukoc in the 1992 Olympics

Variety of ways to score offensively no matter what kind of defense they face

All the players will have to accept their roles on the team. I don’t need a player to let their ego grow so big that it ruins the team’s chemistry. Let’s start with my starting lineup.

All regular season stats from basketball-reference.com

PPG = Points Per Game

RPG = Rebounds Per Game

AST = Assists Per Game

BLK = Blocks Per Game

STL = Steals Per Game

FG% = Field Goal Percentage

3pt% = 3-point Shot Percentage

FT% = Free Throw Percentage

Starting Five

1985 Magic Johnson – 18.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 12.6 AST, 0.3 BLK, 1.5 STL, FG% .561, 3pt% .189, FT% .843

Magic redeemed himself after the ’84 finals by coming back to beat the Boston Celtics in the ’85 Finals. Although he averaged more points in other years, he’s being placed on the best team possible so he’s not going to be handling the scoring load here. I want Magic coming off title number three, with the Celtics monkey off his back. He ran Showtime, he can conduct this fantasy team. He’s gonna have the biggest smile of his face passing on this team.

1993 Michael Jordan – 32.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.5 AST, 0.8 BLK, 2.8 STL, FG% .495, 3pt% .352, FT% .837

Clearly MJ made the team. The difficult part was picking which Jordan vintage. ’92 Jordan is the best blend of his athletic ability and working as a part of a team. ’96 Jordan is more deliberate, calculating, but still as effective as any of his other years. I’m choosing ’93 Jordan also after title number three, after his Dream Team experience, and at the absolute height of his powers. He abruptly retired after this season citing burnout and a lack of desire to play (and then later citing the murder of his father). But you tell Jordan that he is going to join an all-star team across space-time to face basketball-playing aliens in a seven-game series to save Earth, he’s going to be renewed. Maybe this is how Space Jam got made.

2013 Lebron James – 26.8 PPG, 8.0 RPB, 7.3 AST, 0.9 BLK, 1.7 STL, FG% .565, 3pt% .406, FT% .753

Out of all the things Lebron has done, the most impressive thing is being able to extend his prime. Usually an athlete’s prime lasts for three years. I’d argue that from 2011 up to now is Lebron’s prime. So, if you were to switch ‘13 Lebron for another year in that period, I wouldn’t be mad. Those Miami years, however, are when he got obsessed with shooting efficiency, and ‘13 was the most efficient Miami year. Shooting 40% from three, with just as high free throw percentage and field goal percentage as any year in his career. On top of that, we get Lebron at his athletic apex. Just imagine ’85 Magic throwing lobs to ’13 Lebron.

2003 Tim Duncan – 23.3 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 3.9 AST, 2.9 BLK, 0.7 STL, FG% .513, 3pt% .273, FT% .710

The best power forward ever is making the starting five. Getting him after his second title, Duncan will have no problem playing any role given. He’s proven to allow his other teammates to lead them to victory and he will play support. If the aliens go small, Duncan can slide to center. He’s going to force a double-team when posted up, allowing open shots and cutting lanes for the team. In Duncan I Trust.

1975 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 30.0 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 4.1 AST, 3.3 BLK, 1.0 STL, FG% .513, FT% .769

If we are going to battle these aliens in the ultimate seven-game series, the Skyhook needs to be in the arsenal. All but the last two years of the Lakers Kareem vintages would’ve been fine, but I want the last year of Milwaukee Kareem. Younger, more athletic, and just as effective as a scorer. His 53% field-goal percentage is his second lowest in his career, but during the games I want Kareem to defend the rim, rebound, and generally clean up any defensive leaks. During the flow of the game he’s going to get his shots, and we will deploy the Skyhook in close situations. If things get messy, Kareem will just kick any tough-acting aliens in the chest.

Again, my starting five:

1985 Magic Johnson

1993 Michael Jordan

2013 Lebron James

2003 Tim Duncan

1975 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Think of the fast breaks with Magic in the middle of the court flanked by Jordan and Lebron. We can slow it down to allow Kareem to activate the Skyhook or have him draw double teams to allow for a cutting Jordan. The only downside of this five outside of Lebron and Jordan is the lack of 3-point shooting. It’s a good thing the bench is what it is.

Bench

2015 Stephen Curry – 23.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.2 AST, 0.2 BLK, 2.0 STL, FG% .487, 3pt% .443, FT% .914

Apologies to Ray Allen, but Steph Curry is the best shooter of all-time. I’m getting Curry off the first title, when talk of him being the best shooter really heated up, while being a big reason why the 3-point shot has changed basketball. A 91% free-throw percentage? It’s going into his hands if we need free-throws to put a game away. ’15 Curry isn’t as good as ’16 Curry where he was better shooting overall, but I’m getting the players after they finish their season. ’16 Curry was unfortunately hurt and while he still played fairly well in that year’s Finals, he wasn’t at his healthiest. ’15 Curry certainly was and we need all the players as healthy as possible against these damn aliens.

This is where it gets tricky.

I need a backup for Jordan. Three names came to mind: Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and James Harden. I then thought of the single season of each player that stood out to me from memory.

2001 Kobe Bryant – 28.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.0 AST, 0.6 BLK, 1.7 STL, FG% .464, 3pt% .305, FT% .853

2009 Dwyane Wade – 30.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 7.5 AST, 1.3 BLK, 2.2 STL, FG% .491, 3pt% .317, FT% .765

2018 James Harden – 30.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 8.8 AST, 0.7 BLK, 1.8 STL, FG% .449, 3pt% .367, FT% .858

Damn. That’s damn even. Wait, ’01 Kobe was only 22 years old. ’09 Wade was 27 and ’18 Harden was 28. What kind of numbers did 27-year-old Kobe put up?

2006 Kobe Bryant – 35.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.5 AST, 0.4 BLK, 1.8 STL, FG% .450, 3pt% .347, FT% .850

Okay, 27-year-old Kobe. I see you. Here’s the problem with Kobe, he’s too much of a facsimile of Jordan. I want the production, but not the personality. Both are laser-focused, ultra-competitive, basketball perfectionists. They would certainly push each other during practice, but it might be too much. Jordan has always been Kobe’s measuring stick. Is Kobe’s ego too much of a risk? The idea that Kobe’s belief that he is just as good, or even better than Jordan could mean the literal end of the world. I’m not comfortable with that. He can preach all he wants about “the team” post-retirement, but we all saw what kind of player he was. It’s too much of a gamble.

We are left with ’09 Wade and ’18 Harden. I absolutely love Dwyane Wade. He is one of my favorite players of all-time. ’09 Wade is my favorite Wade vintage. Coming off the 2008 Olympics where he was the MVP of the Gold Medal game, he carried that momentum to one of the best post-Jordan seasons a shooting guard has ever had.

So did ’18 Harden. Okay, he split point guard and ball-handling responsibilities with Chris Paul that season, but he played shooting guard previously. His numbers are just as good was Wade’s were. Hell, he was better at the free-throw line and from 3-point range.

We wouldn’t have to worry about either player trying to usurp Jordan. Both played complementary roles on teams before (Wade on the 2008 Olympic team and during the Lebron Miami years, Harden on the 2012 Olympic team and when he was on the Thunder with Russell Westbrook and Durant). Harden is the better shooter, Wade is the better defender.

2018 James Harden – 30.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 8.8 AST, 0.7 BLK, 1.8 STL, FG% .449, 3pt% .367, FT% .858

I’m going with ’18 Harden. He’s the better shooter, plus he won’t be responsible to run the offense, so he can have energy to use in other ways. We tell Harden to take open shots, cut to the rim when the defense bends, and to take defense seriously. Also, doesn’t hurt to get Harden coming off his MVP season as well. (By the way, come see me cause I believe he should’ve won MVP two years in a row. Y’all fell in love with Russell Westbrook putting up a triple-double season. Westbrook puts up another triple-double season and he doesn’t even sniff the MVP. He shouldn’t have the year he won it, too.) Harden playing defense is a better gamble than Kobe not getting into a fist fight with Jordan.

I think.

Shit.

Maybe I should go Wade.

No, let’s stick with Harden and move on before I change my mind.

2017 Kevin Durant – 25.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.8 AST, 1.6 BLK, 1.1 STL, FG% .537, 3pt% .375, FT% .875

First person to scream “Sonics!” gets a cookie. Although Durant got injured during the season, you wouldn’t even realize it during the Finals when he averaged 30 points against a still-in-his-prime Lebron. This is the most complete season he’s had with his defense on par with his offense. I did consider his season when he won the regular season MVP, but it felt like we witnessed the absolute apex of Durant in 2017. Plus, as he mentioned with Bill Simmons on a podcast, he played the best basketball he’s ever played. Yes, I want the best basketball KD has ever played to continue.

So far I got a starting five and backups for positions 1-3. Settling on Harden was tough, but now thinking about the backup power forward is worse. Look at this.

1986 Kevin McHale – 21.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.7 AST, 2.0 BLK, 0.4 STL, FG% .574, 3pt% 0.0, FT% .776

1993 Charles Barkley – 25.6 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 5.1 AST, 1.0 BLK, 1.6 STL, FG% .520, 3pt% .305, FT% .765

1997 Karl Malone – 27.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 4.5 AST, 0.6 BLK, 1.4 STL, FG% .550, 3pt% 0.0, FT% .755

2004 Kevin Garnett – 24.2 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 5.0 AST, 2.2 BLK, 1.5 STL, FG% .499, 3pt% .256, FT% .791

2007 Dirk Nowitzki – 24.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.4 AST, .08 BLK, .07 STL, FG% .502, 3pt% .416, FT% .904

2012 Kevin Love – 26.0 PPG, 13.3 RPG, 2.0 AST, 0.5 BLK, 0.9 STL, FG% .448, 3pt% .448, FT% .824

How do I figure this out?

I love Dirk’s shooting, especially if any bigs get into foul trouble, he can be on the floor to make free throws. Defense was never his calling card, though. Although he won the regular-season MVP, the ’07 Mavs did get eliminated by the ’07 Warriors, so that might weigh on his mind. He might be in too much of a funk to play the aliens. Then again, if he can join this team, he may view this as redemption.

Minnesota-era Kevin Garnett was incredible. Better rebounder and overall defender than Dirk, plus he’s good enough at the free throw line to not be a liability. Garnett being the leader of the second unit does sound great.

Minnesota-era Kevin Love was a juggernaut. It made sense that the Cavs traded for him. Look at those numbers. But, I fear he will be underutilized. Although still effective on the Cavs, he isn’t the glass cleaner he was early in his career. Plus, he was on the 2012 USA Olympics team, where he did struggle at the line.

Speaking of struggling at the line, Karl Malone has had his struggles with late-game free throws. Between missing both free throws in Game 7 of the 1996 Western Conference Finals against the Sonics, and missing both free throws in Game 1 of the 1997 Finals against the Bulls, I can’t trust Malone here.

1993 Charles Barkley would also be amazing. Coming off the Dream Team and carried it to a Finals appearance against Jordan, Barkley would steamroll anyone on a fast break. I just wonder if his defense can hold up not to hurt us.

1986 Kevin McHale is in a lot of ways the prototypical power forward. Long limbs made him an effective defender allowing more small ball lineups, and an arsenal of low post moves would do wonders for the offense.

I’m going with McHale. He won’t need to score that many times. If he can get around 12 shots a game, plus play hard defense then I can be happy with this selection.

1986 Kevin McHale – 21.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.7 AST, 2.0 BLK, 0.4 STL, FG% .574, 3pt% 0.0, FT% .776

Oh great, now I’ve got centers to think about.

1962 Wilt Chamberlain – 50.4 PPG, 25.7 RPG, 2.4 AST, N/A BLK, N/A STL, FG% .506, 3pt% N/A, FT% .613

1967 Bill Russell – 15.0 PPG, 24.7 RPG, 4.7 AST, N/A BLK, N/A STL, FG% .433, 3pt% N/A, FT% .550

1977 Bill Walton – 18.6 PPG, 14.4 RPG, 3.8 AST, 3.2 BLK, 1.0 STL, FG% .528, 3pt% 0.0, FT% .697

1983 Moses Malone – 24.5 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 1.3 AST, 2.0 BLK, 1.1 STL, FG% .501, 3p% 0.0, FT% .716

1992 David Robinson – 23.2 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 2.7 AST, 4.5 BLK, 2.3 STL, FG% .551, 3pt% .125, FT% .701

1994 Hakeem Olajuwon – 27.3 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 3.6 AST, 3.7 BLK, 1.6 STL, FG% .528, 3pt% .421, FT% .716

2001 Shaquille O’Neal – 28.7 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 3.7 AST, 2.8 BLK, 0.6 STL, FG% .572, 3pt% 0.0, FT% .513

2009 Dwight Howard – 20.6 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 1.4 AST, 2.9 BLK, 1.0 STL, FG% .572, 3pt% 0.0, FT% .594

This is a difficult decision, stylistically. My initial choice was Walton. Getting ’77 Walton is catching him when he won the championship that year for Portland, and before his injury. Incredible all-around center play, especially with his outlet passing. Perhaps modern-day medicine can help alleviate his feet problems as we gear up for the aliens. Plus ’75 Kareem vs ’77 Walton would be incredible to watch play against each other for eight straight weeks.

But what if we went another direction?

To contrast Kareem’s finesse play, we go with brute force. Obviously, it’s a different era, but Wilt’s 50 points per game is absurd. Moses always gave Kareem trouble with his physicality. Not to mention that Shaq is one of the game’s most dominating players, ever. David Robinson remains one of my favorite players of all-time and would love to see him on this team.

But I am going with The Dream. Olajuwon is the right mix of physical and finesse play. Imagine pairing McHale and Hakeem down low with all their post-moves. Also, when there is a YouTube video called “Olajuwon dominates Robinson”, it’s hard to ignore.

1994 Hakeem Olajuwon – 27.3 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 3.6 AST, 3.7 BLK, 1.6 STL, FG% .528, 3pt% .421, FT% .716

Reserves

To round out the team, here are the two players in reserves to push our team in practice, give the team different looks during the game, and to be used in situational in-case emergencies:

1992 Scottie Pippen – 21.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 7.0 AST, 1.9 STL, FG% .506, 3pt% .200, FT%. 760

There had to be a wing player that was on the team strictly for defense. If one of those aliens caught fire, trot out that player to shut them down. I struggled between ’92 Pippen and ’16 Kawhi Leonard. It was hard to turn down a two-time defensive player of the year, but I chose Scottie for two reasons. One, I wanted more representation from an older generation of basketball, and two, I wanted an edge from my defensive-wing player. The level of disrespect Scottie showed Patrick Ewing when he dunked on him is what put him over. I did consider getting ’18 Giannis Antetokounmpo just to have a unicorn of a freak athlete for fun.

2009 Chris Paul – 22.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 11.0 AST, 2.8 STL, FG% .503, 3pt% .364, FT%. 868

I struggled so hard between CP3 and Gary Payton. Both make up for the defense that Magic and Steph don’t have, plus they can run the offense if need be. But I decided to go with 23-year old CP3, before his first major injury. He gets due to his better 3-point shot and free throw percentage.

We have our roster.

Starting Five

1985 Magic Johnson

1993 Michael Jordan

2013 Lebron James

2003 Tim Duncan

1975 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Bench

2015 Stephen Curry

2018 James Harden

2017 Kevin Durant

1986 Kevin McHale

1994 Hakeem Olajuwon

Reserves

1992 Scottie Pippen

2009 Chris Paul

#basketball #the book of basketball #bill simmons #best team ever #nba #magic johnson #michael jordan #lebron james #tim duncan #kareem abdul jabbar #steph curry #james harden #Kevin Durant #kevin mchale #hakkem olajuwon #scottie pippen #chris paul

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adrenalineguide · 6 years ago

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Volkswagen’s Golf GTI Autobahn and Kia’s Stinger GT Limited: Bringing fun back into driving

Text and Photos by Michael Hozjan

Whether you like it or not summer is over and with it comes the fall driving season. A time of year usually reserved for amateur car rallies, a last look at a vintage car show in New England, apple picking with some wine tasting in the townships, and of course leaf peeping in the Laurentians. I usually save this time of year to bring you a roadster or two but this year I’ve had so much fun with the two sedans featured here that I just had to include them as best picks for hitting autumn’s open road. Oh and of course you can bring another couple along for the fun.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn: the original hot hatch offers more than performance.

Every once in a while I come across a car that fits me like the proverbial glove, a vehicle that just feels right. Volkswagen’s Golf GTI is one such vehicle. The original hot hatch instills sporty performance, comfort and practicality but there are a number of features that separates it from other hot hatches, first and foremost is its overall feel. It’s quality personified, German engineering at a bargain price. Plant your butt in the Recaro buckets and your thighs and ribs are cradled in a way few other cars in this price range… and for that matter many pricier cars do. The thick leather steering wheel feels like you’re in control long before you even turn the ignition on.

The GTI takes the practicality and roominess of the Golf, tosses out the 1.8L four cylinder and replaces it with a 220 horsepower 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder, ten more than last year. Even better, it pumps out a whopping 258 lb-ft of torque that peaks at a low 1500 rpm so, yes it sends you back in the seat. Cosmetically the GTI adds a more aggressive front fascia in keeping with its persona that is highlighted by its trademark red stripe on the grille, and dual exhaust. If you miss the GTI badging, red brake calipers easily set it apart from the run of the mill Golf.

Two trim levels are offered starting with the base GTI at a very reasonable $30,595 equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission and the trademark plaid seating. The upscale Autobahn starts at $35,895 My Autobahn came with the same plaid seating (thankfully) which is a no cost option over the standard leather units, and the 6-speed automatic DSG. More on this $1400 option later.

The Autobahn package replaces the base car’s 17 inch tire/wheel combo with 18 inch units, an 8.0”high rez touchscreen to support the nav, cd player and other infotainment paraphernalia that we’ve come to expect from today’s rides. It is one of the most user- friendly multimedia systems on the market. Take note Honda. An 8-speaker Fender Premium Audio System with a subwoofer is included for those times you want to listen to your favorite songs instead of the sweet melody of the powerplant. Additionally, the Autobahn buyer gets LED headlights with adaptive front lights that steer into the turn as well as a panoramic sunroof. My tester also came with the $1750 Driver Assistance Package that includes adaptive cruise, blind spot and rear traffic alert, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection and park assist.

Aside from the usual audio adjustments, nav controls, the infotainment screen also lets you know how much boost the turbo is churning out and even how many g’s you’re pulling on acceleration or in a corner. OK that last one may be a little mickey-mouse.

Rear seat passengers will profit from the straight roof with ample headroom and there’s enough (22.8 cu.ft.) luggage space with the rear seats up to carry a weekend’s worth of luggage for four to your destination and 53 cubic feet with the rear bench folded. And getting to the destination is what the GTI excels in.

On the road

Now in its seventh generation, the refinements just keep coming. Drivers will appreciate the larger brakes pirated from the Golf R parts bin. I didn’t experience any brake fade through my trip in the back roads of Quebec’s Laurentians and managed to scare the heck out of a Boxster driver, that ‘s how flat this car handles. If there was a weak link, it was the all-season rubber more tuned for a family sedan than a performance car.

The 6-speed dual clutch DSG automatic is a wonderful piece of engineering with launch control that will propel you down the road faster than any manual transmission, no matter how quick your shifting skills. There’s also the ability to go through the gears manually on the steering column mounted paddles. The GTI also features four driving modes, Eco, normal, sport and custom. Switch modes and both throttle and steering input response changes. I question however why the Eco mode, which lessens throttle response to the point of blandness, and makes the steering too light, why VW would include it in a car known for performance. Besides I still managed average 7L/100km even with my spirited drives.

Electronically controlled limited slip differential helps you around the essess making an already great handler that much better.

But don’t think that for a moment the car’s performance suspension jars your spine. Even in Sport mode the GTI’s ride is comfortable, soaking up all but the biggest road imperfections.

Not all is perfect

Sadly, not all is perfect in the Land of Oz, and neither is the GTI. The sunroof in my tester had an annoying squeak and the DSG (Direct-Shift Gearbox), as good as it is, would shut the engine off at red lights. Forcing me to restart the car manually as the stop/start feature deactivated. Volkswagen is already thinking of dropping the DSG trans because of complaints of hesitation when the light turns green – something I discovered is remedied by leaving it in manual mode. Lastly the tire pressure monitoring system kicked in with an erroneous low tire warning – a common ailment.

The verdict

Tough choice between the base car and the Autobahn, but having spent a week with the Autobahn, I would have to opt for the upscale model and forego the $1400 DSG. Regular readers know I’m biased towards manuals and with a car that’s as communicative as the GTI, the manual would just be that much more seductive.

The Golf offers mature styling, combing luxury, performance and agile handling like no other hot hatch. No wonder it has such a big following. Oh and while your spouse might say no way to many performance vehicles, the GTI may just be the wolf in sheep’s clothing to get you to live your dream.

Price as tested: $39,045*

Still not enough power? There’s always the 292 horsepower all-wheel-drive Golf R…. it’s only money.

* Dealer prep and destination fees not included

Kia Stinger GT Limited: Kia’s big gamble brings big smiles

Suddenly the purveyor of sensible, economical, compact sedans and SUVs, Kia, has gone ape sh…oops, stir crazy and released a sedan that goes against everything it’s been known for and in the process released a performance sedan that I haven’t had this much fun with since my first time behind the steering wheel of Porsche’s Panamera. Ya, it’s that good.

Like the GTI, you just want to drive this car. Forget about the available 255 hp, 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder available in the base GT Line, the 3.3L twin turbo V6 mill is what your soul wants.

You might laugh when I tell you that the Stinger is touted as Korea’s answer to BMW’s 3-Series, but stay tuned and you’ll see why it’s not that insane of a claim. Penned by the same man that designed the Audi TT and the ’97 VW Golf, Peter Schreyer, the Stinger brings Teutonic design and engineering to the masses at affordable prices.

While the Stinger is available in either rear or all-wheel-drive elsewhere in the world, we Canucks only get the all-wheel-drive version. Available in three different trim levels beginning with the base GT Line which other than the 2.0L four includes Kia’s usual array of more bang for your buck - like leather seating, 18” wheels, 7” infotainment screen and a wireless phone charger for the paltry sum of $41, 895. Next up the corporate ladder is the GT adding the deliciously quick 3.3L GDI twin turbo V6, Brembo brakes, 19”Michelin performance rubber, dynamic stability control and a full-width sunroof. The GT Limited adds premium Nappa leather seating, heads up display, a 15-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, eight-inch infotainment screen with multimedia interface and nav.

Schreyer has moved up the ranks in Kia from designer to president. It’s easy to say that the Stinger is his baby and you can see his signature touches in things like the flat bottom steering wheel.

The end result is an edgy four-door grand touring sedan yet mature enough not to be mistaken for something out of a video game. There’s not a bad angle to the car but my personal favorite has to be the three quarter rear view, an angle that most other drivers will see. Schreyer’s design successfully combines luxury touches with sporty and stylish accents. Incorporating a high opening hatch to the family sedan eases access to the 23.3 cu.ft of cargo space in what otherwise would have been a miniscule trunk opening.

Sit in the cockpit and you’re surrounded by metal, leather, plastic, but it all works. Schreyer’s love of airplanes is evident with the round aviation style vents on the dash and aluminum accents. Like the Sorento I reported on a couple of months ago, the Stinger’s interior is slick. The tilt and telescopic heated steering wheel has a memory feature found in pricier cars.

Luxury accouterments include air-cooled/heated Nappa leather front seats, heated rear seats, wireless cell charging, 360 degree camera system, as well as the usual gamut of items we find in today’s cars like lane keep, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. The Stinger has the largest front seat passenger legroom I’ve seen in a very long time – think limo rear seat. Even with the front buckets pushed all the way back, the back seat still offers the adults in the back ample legroom but headroom is tight.

The open road

We’re talking autumn drives and the Kia surprises and feeds every sense of the driving experience. Schreyer saw a vision for Kia and he brought in ex BMW M Division boss, Albert Biermann to perform his magic on the Stinger.

Mr. Biermann’s input can be seen in the adrenaline inducing performance goodies which include items that are familiar to the Bavarian marque, like big Brembo brakes, 225/40R19 Michelin performance rubber and hi-performance shocks. The Stinger GT is the company’s first car to feature a continuously adaptive suspension system.

Yes we’re not getting the rear-wheel drive car but the good news is that this all-wheel-driver is rear-wheel drive biased so you can still toss the rear out, but the awd system will kick in and transfer up to 50% of the available torque to the front wheels when the need arises, so it’ll keep you out of trouble and make you look good in front of your friends.

The 8-speed automatic (with paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel) is one of the smoothest quick shifting trannys going. Whether your climbing a steep grade, coming down the same grade, exiting the highway or accelerating to pass a slow semi, this tranny doesn’t miss a beat.

Set the launch control and the 376 lb-ft of torque will rocket you from zero to 100km just shy of 5 seconds, that’s faster than the V6 Porsche Panamera and the heads up display will keep you informed without taking your eyes off the road. Like the GTI, the Stinger’s Sport mode offers quick acceleration and crisp handling while not sacrificing anything in terms of cabin comfort. Steering is nicely weighted and the car has a nearly 50/50 weight balance thanks to the bulk of V6 being mounted longtitudely aft of the front axle.

This thing feels like a much smaller car, its agile, crisp and light on its feet. It corners flat and takes everything that you can throw at it and comes back for more. Oh the large scoops flanking the grille and the vents behind the front wheels aren’t cosmetic, they’re open to let fresh air in and hot air to cool the big Brembos and keep fade to a minimum, not that I experienced any on my road trips.

The verdict

Affordable performance sedan isn’t an oxymoron any more. Kia has successfully managed to bring us German engineering and upped the ante for other manufacturers to give us affordable performance sedans. The affordability doesn’t end at the dealer; my fuel bill showed I averaged a very impressive 9.0L/100km with mostly highway travel.

Kia is gambling a lot on getting enthusiasts to take them as a serious performance/grand touring car company. The Stinger has won accolades from around the globe and rightfully so. Those of you who are still skeptics need only remember that it wasn’t too long ago that we never thought Toyota or Honda would be in the luxury car business going up against the likes of Mercedes. Stopping at the local shopping mall I was mauled by twenty something’s who wanted a closer look at the car.

“There’s a guy with a white one that works down the street and I saw another red yesterday.” It seems the younger generation is open minded to a Kia performance sedan and I’d be proud to have the Stinger in my driveway.

If you’re looking for driving excitement and have been visiting Acura, Audi, Lexus and Porsche dealerships, do yourself and your family a favor and run don’t walk to you Kia dealership. Oh and did I mention the …warranty.

Go ahead and book that weekend getaway in the Presidential Mountains of New England, you’ve got a great excuse to go.

Price as tested: $51,855*

*Includes freight, colour charge, and A/C tax

Oh and if you bring the kiddies to school, you’ll be the coolest mom and dad in the world pulling up in either of these rides.

#vw #vwgolf #vwgti #kia #stinger #hothatch #audi #acura #lexus #porsche #panamera

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dpanuncialwriter · 3 years ago

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'No mistakes in art' | Racine tattoo artist, shop owner setting an example for youths to be themselves

June 1, 2021 for the Journal Times

When Dee Hutch was 12, the coolest place to hang out wasn’t at the basketball court with his cousins. It was always at different tattoo shops, in tow with his dad, Darren Hutcherson, a tattoo artist.

“I was the young kid, sweeping, looking at magazines,” Hutch said.

Now, Hutch is a tattoo artist himself at Black Hand Tattoo Gallery, 406 Main St., which is owned by Hutcherson and has been open for more than eight years. “The first and only Black-owned tattoo shop in Racine,” Hutch said.

Hutch also co-owns Root City just a few steps away, an apparel shop that sells original, Racine-themed clothing — including T-shirts with Kris P. Kringle, a character Hutch created of the area’s famous pastry — and vintage pieces, like Air Jordans or Green Bay Packers jackets of years past.

But before Hutch, now 31, was behind all this, he was drawing on his grandparents’ wall at 4 years old.

Ink and needle

Hutch’s grandparents were actually the ones who encouraged him to first pursue art at a young age; they bought him art supplies.

From there, Hutch sucked up all the art influences around him like a sponge. He loved (and still loves) anime, video games, movies, skateboards and, of course, tattoos, which all shaped his current urban, hip-hop and alternative-inspired art style.

As a teen, Hutch redesigned movie posters, airbrushed t-shirts and made flyers for businesses and events. He got in trouble for drawing demons and skulls on his folders at school.

“That’s what I was seeing at the time,” Hutch said of his time spent at the tattoo shops. “It was all barbed wire and Grim Reapers and stuff.”

It seemed as if the natural progression would be to take up tattooing as a career, but Hutch didn’t initially walk down that path.

Hutch graduated from Park High School. Then he dropped out of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. He ended up working different jobs around the city to make money for his kids, Nyla and Noah. As he worked and raised his family, Hutch still tried to keep tattooing.

In 2011, Hutch decided to tattoo full time. Though his father wanted him to follow a more practical career, Hutch couldn’t deny his passion for the ink and needle. His parents, however, got him his “first tattoo machine, and my first tattoo supply — like a legitimate one,” he said.

These days, Hutch is often booked at Black Hand, where customers — some new, and some longtime friends — often go to him to paint permanent portraits of loved ones on their skin.

Amber Antongiorgi has been booking Hutch for tattoos for the last nine years, she said; he’s done her daughter’s portrait and most recently, her grandmother’s portrait.

The tattoo was especially personal to Hutch because, out of coincidence, he had met Antongiorgi’s grandmother a few years ago when he visited her assisted living facility on a tour with Origins of Hip Hop, a local group dedicated to sharing hip-hop culture.

“It’s such an intimate thing,” said Antongiorgi of having Hutch tattoo portraits of her family members on her.

Empowering other artists

Connecting with other artists and giving them a platform is something Hutch and the crew at Root City strive to do. Root City has a small wall space in the shop where they exhibit various artists every month.

“We don’t take anything from the artists,” he said. “If you sell something, it’s yours.”

Root City has also taken on a new apprentice in Angel Aguirre, a local artist in his early twenties who’s helping the store market on social media as well as contributing his own artwork.

Hutch also fosters his children’s natural interests in creativity. Noah, 11, and Nyla, 12, take after their father. Noah loves drawing anime and Nyla enjoys painting.

“I’m always making sure I’m pushing them to do what they like to do, and letting them know there are no mistakes in art,” Hutch said. “If they do something and they’re like, ‘Dang, I messed it up.’ It’s probably just revealing a direction you didn’t even know you were supposed to go in.”

Hutch sees his relationship with art and making mistakes as a metaphor for life: “It’s your life path. Sometimes you see it coming, sometimes you don’t.”

The bench

Some days, when it’s warm enough, Hutch will pull out a wooden bench in front of Root City — “It’s becoming, like, a thing; it never was before. One of the homies literally just found this,” he said — and sit, whether alone or with his buds, and watch the sights and sounds of Downtown Racine.

Last Wednesday, Hutch did the very same thing. Before even a second passed on the bench, he waved to a woman across the street, calling “Hey, family!”

Hutch, born and raised in Racine, said he loves being in the city. He thinks there’s a new generation of younger business owners — including himself — revitalizing downtown as they open up storefronts around their specialties.

“The younger generation is turning things around,” Hutch said. “They see San Francisco and even Milwaukee and see ideas like coffee shops, co-ops, juice bars, things like that. (Racine) is finally going that way.”

There’s also a proliferating appreciation of urban art and hip-hop culture in the area. Hutch has been booked to spray paint murals in several downtown businesses, like Wings of Fire Consulting, Taste of Soul and the Void bar.

It’s a sigh of relief for Hutch, whose interests in art and media were underrepresented in young African American men of his generation. “I didn’t have any friends like me growing up,” he said. “At that time, it was just the ‘hood. Gangbanging was still big in Racine. If you wasn’t hella tough, then you was on the weird side.”

Alongside Root City’s co-owner and one of his closest friends — Willy Reynoso, who also grew up in Racine — Hutch hopes he’s setting a positive example for young kids of color to maintain their authenticity and achieve their goals.

“We’re showing the youth that because we didn’t see anybody doing what we’re doing — we’re the first ones to to do all of these things and be in this lane — that we’re building our own lane, and they can do it, too,” Hutch said. “You can be weird … You can just be yourself.”

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