Former LA Laker, Laron Profit talks Haiti, Giving Back & What's Next...Coming Soon

"Celebration of the Arts"--Buffalo Bills, Aaron Maybin Exclusive

Aaron Maybin, #58 of the Buffalo Bills hosts "Celebration of the Arts" in Baltimore, Maryland written by Crystal Berger aka Ms. Media Mogul

From beautiful artwork to exceptionally talented athlete artists, the Celebration of the Arts, hosted by Buffalo Bills, Aaron Maybin was an enlightening experience for youth and adults from all walks of life. The event featured artists locally and nationally, who joined forces to share their talents and life experiences with inner city youth who are thirsty for the self expression exhibited within the arts.



To speak to youth is one thing, but to inspire them to create a vision for their lives--beyond their current realities--is a task that Aaron Maybin and his team have embarked upon with vigor and great tenacity. They developed a three-day celebration that showcased how art works as a venue for self expression for youth throughout the world. Some events included an inspirational speech from Que, formerly of Day 26,that employed local youth to “have faith and believe in yourself, even when others are telling you that it’s impossible”. Guest presenters, including John Norman, owner of Essential Paraphernalia (an art company based upon the art of handcrafted wood Greek Paraphernalia) requested that youth stop focusing on the monetary value of an education and apply those same principles to the self-fulfilling value of exploring the arts.

Special guests at the posh Tremont Hotel--whose powder rooms have been rated the best in the nation--included beautiful actress Denyce Lawton of "The House of Payne"; the Mistress of Ceremony, Life Coach and Motivational Speaker, Dee Marshall; Laz Alonzo of "The Fast & Furious" and a host of other athletes and celebrities. The celebration wrapped with the unveiling of a collaborative piece created by Aaron Maybin himself and former NFLer, Matthew “Mateo Blu” Rice. The untitled piece is an eclectic blend of vision, passion, vibrant colors, meeting the game of football; the piece exemplifies creating a vision for your life while reaching new heights in the process. Aaron’s vision was made clear when he donated the proceeds from the sale of the piece to art education programs in the Baltimore/Washington Metropolitan area.

Here’s a peak into our exclusive conversation with Aaron Maybin, #58 of the Buffalo Bills and Founder of Project Mayhem.

The Interview...


AARON & CRYSTAL

CRYSTAL: What you’re doing in the community right now is wonderful. What inspired you to start the celebration of the arts?

AARON: Basically, it was off the premise that every since I was a child, art was always my refuge; it was my solace; it was my little escape from a lot of the things that were going on; it was my outlet to really express my emotions. So, with the kids that we work with, a lot of them, they’re looking for a venue to express that, and with that being a need of the children, I think that that was a big part of what we wanted to do. We wanted to incorporate that in there because if they’re cutting the art programs out in the schools, then the kids aren’t having the opportunity to express themselves through their artwork and through their expression, then they’re going to express themselves through other ways like some of the ways that we see on the news every day, so that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to take the focus off the streets, take the focus off of all the negatives and put that energy towards something positive and with me having that strong connection to the arts, that’s where I tie into the kids and that’s what I can give to them.

CRYSTAL: A lot of people think, because you do one thing professionally as an athlete, they feel like “oh, you do art?” Do they take it seriously and what made people start believing in Aaron, as an artist?

AARON: Well, I was always a serious artist. I think when I was eleven years old; I did a mural on a field that was 45 by 60 foot wall in Baltimore. I was winning art shows all around. So it was a pretty known fact that if I didn’t pursue athletics, that art was going to be my next venue.

CRYSTAL: For some youth who may be interested in finding your organization, or becoming active in the arts, what could they do?

AARON: They can go to my website aaronmaybin.com or they can email me @ aaron@aaronmaybin.com . We have people that respond to all the emails that we get and we try to get back to everybody and we try to keep everybody informed, just with all the things that the foundation is doing.



MATEO & CRYSTAL

CRYSTAL: The name of your company is…?

MATEO: Mateo Blu.

CRYSTAL: How did you come up with the name?

MATEO: Mateo means "gift of GOD" and blu means "infinite"; I feel like that describes my abilities in art.

CRYSTAL: Where were you raised?

MATEO: I grew up on the East Side of Baltimore.

CRYSTAL: How was the process of exploring the arts, growing up in Baltimore City?

MATEO: I had nothing to do with sports, arts or school. I kind of was on the other side of things and I’ve just been very blessed to have the opportunity to get on the other side of the tracks. Growing up in Baltimore has affected who I am more than I say it has developed my art; however, I feel like my art is a part of me, so it all cycles together.

CRYSTAL: Did you and Aaron have a plan of what type of piece you two were going to collaboratively create?

MATEO: We planned to do something for a long time together and it was more or less getting the time to do it. That was the hard part.

CRYSTAL: Conceptually, how did this piece develop?

MATEO: Well...Maybin has a penthouse overlooking Baltimore City. So every time we’d go there, we’d just look at the city. We’re both from Baltimore; we both went to school together; we both actually ended up playing for one of the same teams after college...NFL teams; and we both ended up being artists. So there were just a lot of similarities overall.

He’s my young boy. I got him--when he was a senior in high school on a recruitment visit--to come to Penn State and he ended up coming there, so it worked. I mean…it really worked (he laughs). We just sat down and we wanted to do something that focused on him for his foundation. We went over a couple different photos that he had taken at a recent photo shoot. The overall positioning, there were just some really nice pictures and one of the pics just looked like a return to something or going to another level—there was some type of travel and you could just get a feel of that; just from the picture. We used that as inspiration and kind of built from there. The skyline was just right in front of us.

CRYSTAL: What’s the name of the piece?

MATEO: It’s untitled.

CRYSTAL: For the youth who want to pursue art and they may be in a school system or a community where it’s not advocated, pushed or promoted, what can you tell them to help them stay focused on the arts and the positive; if they’re pursuing other avenues that aren’t in their best interests?

MATEO: Art in general serves so many avenues that just aren’t tapped into, just in everyday life. One, you find out a lot about yourself, just from your ability in art. It’s a way to express yourself. People see all the rap music and all people see is the music, but at the end of the day, the youth just want to express themselves and say what’s on their minds.

CRYSTAL: Where can individuals learn more about you?

MATEO: You can Facebook “Matthew Rice”. You can also check me out at mateoblu.com. I also have a nonprofit organization. It’s called the Blu Art Foundation.

The consistent theme throughout the weekend was to take the time to develop and enhance your creative niche; if you don’t know where to start, just take out a pen, pencil, brush or pad and begin to explore. A word to parents was to take your children out to explore new talents and treasures. Allow them to explore the arts through museums, experimenting with the things that they love and providing consistent support for your child’s artistic niche.

Overall…Aaron Maybin’s, Celebration of the Arts was more than a celebration, it was an artistic exploration of what athletes can do when they combine their talents, their resources and people who care about the community. A true artistic SUCCESS!!! On this assignment, A++ Aaron. Now that’s how Aaron Maybin, # 58 of the Buffalo Bills represents on the Other Side of the Game…

To learn more about Aaron & Mateo, check out the following links:
www.aaronmaybin.com
www.mateoblu.com
www.bluartfoundation.org


ABOUT AARON…

Height: 6-4
Weight: 250
Age: 22
College: Penn State
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Experience: 2

Aaron Maybin, a former defensive end at Penn State University, was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. After the 2008 season, Maybin chose to forgo his final two years of eligibility with the Nittany Lions to enter the Draft. Aaron Maybin is 6-feet, 4-inches tall and weighs 250 pounds. Source: www.nfl.com

So You Wanna Date Date A Baller?

Be on the look out for my hot new reality series..."So You Wanna Date A Baller?"

Coming to a network near you...Fall of 2011!!!

If you're interested in being a guest athlete on our show or if you're interested in dating a baller, contact publicist for The Other Side of the Game, Tanika Rice @ LSMPR@gmail.com.

About Me...

Broadcasting, my passion...my escape; I've always been fascinated by the lives of athletes...ever since I was a little girl volunteering with my mom at AAU games with the Department of Recreation & Parks in Baltimore City. I even had my short run playing small forward for Lakeland Rec...which was a wreck! Despite my athletic challenges, I never lost my passion and love for sports. Life has led me on many journeys...from education, to fashion, and even to the law. But my love for the "game" of sports always kept me coming back for more. So...I recently decided to infuse my natural talents and professional training with my love for sports to inform fans of what's happening on the Other Side of the Game.

My credentials--a Bachelors degree in English with a double minor in Education and Communications. I've worked as General Manager for WBIM Radio & Television News/Sports Department. I was production assistant at CBS Affiliate, WJZ Channel 13 working under the tutelage of veteran sports anchor and producer, Mark Viviano. I've interviewed countless athletes and entertainers as a freelance correspondent, and am currently co-host of Briefcase Radio on WEAA, 88.9FM in Baltimore, Maryland.

My resume includes interviews with some of sports greatest, including Jim Brown, Ray Lewis, Ray Rice, Michael Starks, Aaron Maybin, Terrell Suggs, Reggie Howard, and Duane Starks...just to name a few.

If I could sum up my vision in just one sentence, I'd say, "My goal is to allow sports fans and enthusiasts to take a sneak peak into the lives of their favorite sports idols, one interview at a time." That's me...Crystal Berger aka Ms. OtherSideOfTheGame aka Ms.Media Mogul.

Hit me up via email at MsMediaMogul@gmail.com or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ms_media_mogul. PEACE...

Flashback--Archived Athlete Interviews

Check out some of my older video interviews with some of sports hottest players around...past & present. This is sure to be a treat!!!

Coming Soon... to the Other Side of the Game...

Parlez-vous le Francais with International Sensation, Rodney Elliott

“Le travail n’epouvante que les ames faibles. Work only frightens feeble souls.” Louis XIV...Rodney Elliott, of the Lique Nationale de Basketball, Paris-Levallois, Pro B Team, has proven that he is no feeble soul. With a professional basketball career spanning for more than 10 years, Elliott has traveled the globe, from Italy to Kansas City to Croatia, Spain, Australia, back to Italy...then onto France, exhibiting that work presents no fear to the passionate. I got an opportunity to catch up with this former Maryland Terrapin in the last 3rd of the season, with just two months left in the finals. We discussed travel, family, passion and what’s next on the Other Side of the Game for Rodney Elliott.


The Interview...

RODNEY & CRYSTAL

CRYSTAL: How’s the weather in Paris?

RODNEY: It’s beautiful. I just finished a weeklong celebration for my birthday, so it worked well (with a smile in his voice).

CRYSTAL: Happy belated. Now, how many years have you been playing basketball?

RODNEY: Almost my entire life; for as long as I can remember. When I was 12 years old, I was the tallest one in the group, school, camp, my neighborhood; everyone was pushing for me to play ball for that reason alone, so I said, “why not?”

CRYSTAL: How many of those years have you spent overseas?

RODNEY: This is my 9th year playing internationally.

CRYSTAL: What countries’ courts have you graced?

RODNEY: Well, after college, in 1998, I left for Belgium; during the NBA lockout I came to America and played for two years in the IBL minor league in Kansas. After that, I started playing all over the world, literally--Paris, Italy, Serbia, Turkey, Australia; I’m sure I’m missing some.

CRYSTAL: Your first run overseas was with the Sydney Kings in Australia, what was the biggest culture shock?

RODNEY: The biggest adjustment in moving to any of the countries that I’ve lived is the language barrier. Basketball is a universal language though…Other than that, I never really had to adjust and adapt too much to moving around so much. My agent really talks to me about what my best options are and the best opportunities for me to really play. I haven’t really been afraid of too much because I knew that these adjustments came along with the sport.

CRYSTAL: Is the sport of basketball the same everywhere?

RODNEY: European basketball is catching up with the NBA. The game is definitely different in different countries. In France, it’s a little more physical. The guards here are taller and bigger, so that’s a big change.

CRYSTAL: How has the decision to leave America had the greatest impact on your life?

RODNEY: In America, you’re used to the familiar. They do things a little differently in France. The pace is a little slower; but this has allowed me to work on my patience. I appreciate it; it’s a change that people don’t realize that they need.

CRYSTAL: What is the greatest thing about life overseas?

RODNEY: It’s really exciting to travel, as your profession. I really had to overcome my fear of the unknown and welcome the unknown with open arms. All of my fears have always been overshadowed by my love for the game of basketball.

CRYSTAL: What things do you miss most about America?

RODNEY: The thing I miss the most is friends and family. I’m a dad and home is home. I also miss the English language. When you hear people speaking English, it gives you a sense of comfort. I miss brands that are unique to the American way of life too.

CRYSTAL: Were the Europeans receptive to you when you first arrived in your new home?

RODNEY: Definitely…they treat us like we’re home.

CRYSTAL: What is the best treatment that you've received overseas that you feel you probably wouldn't have gotten in the states?

RODNEY: The best treatment is that the French try to make it as if you were home. You get the nice loft-style apartment, the cars, just like home. They show you around. Players that come to France with families, they find schools for your children to attend that are compatible to what was offered in America.

CRYSTAL: If someone was traveling to Paris, what things would you consider a must see?

RODNEY: Things you must see…you’ve got to see the Eiffel Tower. The museums, the artwork; there are exhibits and shows; a plethora of things to see.

CRYSTAL: What’s one thing that you love about some of the countries where you’ve lived?

RODNEY: In Turkey, it was all about hospitality. Their customer service is great! They are very big on if you’re having a good time, really enjoying yourself. In Italy, the people are very family oriented. I mean you get a 2-hour lunch break everyday so that you can make it home to have lunch with your loved ones. Family is a priority, a privilege and not an obligation. Businesses close at 8pm in Italy, versus in America. People take the opportunity to sit down and have dinner. They take the time out to listen to each other. I mean, how many times do you have a sit down dinner with your family? Is family really important in America?

CRYSTAL: What’s your passion?

RODNEY: My first love is American Football, but my passion…my greatest passion is to work with children. Once I’m done with basketball, I know I’ll be doing that in some capacity.

CRYSTAL: How has your overseas experience made you a better player, better yet, a better man?

RODNEY: Over the years, basketball has allowed me to build relationships, really good friendships. As a person, I appreciate every day. I appreciate the different cultures of the world and what life has to offer. I can say in these 34 years of life, it’s helped me grow as a man.

CRYSTAL: How will you know when you’re “over”…overseas ball?

RODNEY: I definitely don’t want to be overseas until I’m 40; maybe one or two more years. I’m definitely grateful and will do this as long as I can; I still have the rest of my life to do other things than this. Really…I do my “self-check” at the end of each year and that determines where I am and where I am going to be, so I can’t put a number on it.

CRYSTAL: If you had to pick any “other side of the game”, what would it be and how has your overseas experience influenced your journey outside of the game of basketball?

RODNEY: On the other side of the game…I’d like to do some coaching and player management. I’d really like to help players get where they need to be. I’d teach players that with this sport comes a lot of dedication and responsibility. You have a stage and when you’re on stage, you have to act accordingly. There really needs to be more resources to assist players with handling what comes along with playing the sport. I’d like to be a key force in helping players reach their fullest potential.

Basketball is the vehicle that has driven Rodney Elliott all over the globe. From seeing the Eiffel Tower to appreciating Italian family values, Elliott’s basket ball career has allowed him to develop a well-rounded, cultured, sense of self. He said it best, “the older I get and the more I play, the more I appreciate the game. Over the years, I’ve learned to play my position because it may change.” Now that’s life, travel and culture on the Other Side of the Game.

To learn more about Rodney, check out the following links:
www.eurobasket.com
www.examiner.com

ABOUT RODNEY…


Height: 6-8
Weight: 240
Age: 34
College: University of Maryland, College Park
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Experience: 12




Rodney currently plays for team Paris-Levallois. Rodney is a power forward averaging 24 points per game. Rodney is 6 foot, 8 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds.

What Game Does Your Favorite Athlete Play?

The Other Side of the Game is dedicated to highlighting what athletes do outside of their professional careers as athletes. From painting murals, to photography, to taking the time to give to those in need, our favorite sports figures do BIG things outside of sports.

I plan to give you the inside scoop on the lives of those you admire the most. From how they give back, where they dine, who they're dating, to what they enjoy about life. The great thing about us...there's no guessing, no hearsay, this is coming straight from your favorite sports figures themselves. So hang tight...while I take you to the "Other Side of the Game"!

WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU...for all those reading...What Game Does YOUR Favorite Athlete Play? Inquiring minds wanna know??? Send me who'd you'd like to hear more about or any specific questions you may have and I'll be sure to explore the answers, here at The Other Side of the Game!

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