The N. Period

What? Kanye Kanye Kanye. Big ups for the Olympics timeliness.

A nice pair of blues, special for the ladies.

Dallas and New York based artist Tony Bones has made about as many enemies as he had fans with his years of prominent graffiti. Many have entered the debate as to whether his work actually qualifies as art. Tony’s luck has caught up with him in his home town, though and now he is forced to face the ugly consequences of his illegal activities. Fortunately for the artist, enough of an audience exists that a transition to galleries has become his main focus.

The US men’s soccer team was far from impressive, echoing the performance of the women’s team the day before, but they managed to get the three points against Japan on the strength of a goal from Stuart Holden. What I found more interesting, though, was the fact that the team was missing the official team crest on the jerseys and shorts, another way that they mirrored the women’s showing.

It all happened so fast. Today in Beijing the Olympics quietly kicked off with the first round of women’s soccer matches. Sorely missing their star Abby Wambach, who suffered a broken leg last month, the US team gave up two goals in the first four minutes to Norway and struggled the entire time en route to losing the match. You know what else the US team seems to have lost? The badges from their jerseys.

Success! Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki will represent his nation and carry the German flag for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. You know what else? he got a sweet new haircut to celebrate the whole affair.

Nice new video from Beck, this one for the song “Gamma Ray.” Beck can seemingly do no wrong, evidenced by the fantastic release Modern Guilt

Sneakerheads in the know will remember all the fuss caused by the Pigeon Dunks a few years back, whose worldwide run of 150 pairs nearly caused a riot in NYC when they were released on February 22, 2005. This naturally led to a number of fakes as people everywhere paid up to $3,000 for the chance to sport that sick grey and orange (pink?) colorway. Well now that same fresh aura, designed by original Pigeon craftsman Jeff Staple, has been transplanted onto the New Balance 575 and the results are admittedly head-turning.

Dallas and New York City-based artist Tony Bones will have a solo show beginning August 9, 2008 at Dallas’ The Public Trust gallery. Artists’ reception will begin that evening at 7 PM and the show will be running until September 6. Full details within.

Those of us in the good ole U.S. of A., especially in Dallas, have been lucky enough to see former MVP Dirk Nowitzki polish his exceptional hoops talent on our home turf. Now we all have a chance to show our gratitude for the big German. Looks like a guy named Tobias Gerhards has started a petition to get Dirk the job as the official flag bearer for Germany in this summer’s Olympics in Beijing.