Long road to Staten Island product Tressor Baptiste’s big shot with NFL

View full size

Tressor Baptiste was a two-way star for Curtis High School. - (Advance file photo)

Nothing has come easy for Tressor Baptiste over the last few years, so that should make the next phase of his football career familiar territory. The odds of making an NFL roster as an undrafted rookie free agent are long, but Baptiste has already beaten them to get this far.

He'll get his shot at the pros with the Chicago Bears after agreeing to a contract with the NFC Central club. Baptiste boarded a flight to Chicago Tuesday afternoon and will be with the Bears when camp begins tomorrow. In Bourbannais, Ill., on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University, Baptiste will be one of 26 undrafted rookies fighting for a spot on the Bears roster.
Long odds. But no worries for Baptiste.

"I like the odds," said the former two-way star at Curtis HS, who played running back and linebacker during an Advance All Star senior season in 2005.

"If you understand my career and how I started playing football, from high school, I've been playing against the odds and beating the odds year after year on a consistent basis. I'm starting to feel like this is the only way I'm going to be successful, by taking it and not having it handed to me."

A year-and-a-half ago, Baptiste was in limbo. When Hofstra University dropped its football program two weeks after the end of the 2009 season, Baptiste was one of four Islanders — Zamel Johnson, Chris Thomas and Ken Munson the others — who had to look for a new school if they wanted to continue their football careers.

Baptiste, who was newly arrived in Hempstead after starting out at Lackawanna Junior College in Scranton, Pa., saw the bright side.

"I went to Hofstra and things weren't really working out as planned," said Baptiste. "Me and the coaches weren't on the same page as far as playing time. So when the program ended, I looked at it as an opportunity to revive my career."

With only one year of eligibility remaining, Baptiste wasn't counting on a lot of Division I interest. So he went online and Googled the top 10 Division II schools. He sent out 300 emails to coaches. He posted his highlights on
YouTube.

Less than 24 hours later, he heard back from coach David Calloway, the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M-Kingsville, a program with a long history of success down in south Texas, near Corpus Christi and the Gulf of Mexico.

"It's nothing like New York," said Baptiste. "It's definitely different. It feels like you're in a different world. It's south Texas, an hour away from the Mexican border. The culture is totally different. I like different and that was a reason I chose to go there, just for the experience."

At Texas A&M, Baptiste was named a First Team All American by the American Football Coaches Association and Third Team Little All-American by the Associated Press. He led the nation's top-ranked defense with 40 solo tackles and was tabbed as the Lone Star Conference South Division Linebacker of the Year.

Before the season began, Baptiste wasn't carrying around NFL dreams, at least not in any realistic way. Going from junior college to Hofstra to Kingsville, Texas is a good way to stay under the radar.

But his play, and the series of postseason accolades that came with it, ended Baptiste's anonymity. Invitations to postseason all-star games and calls from scouts started coming his way.

His stock rose enough that after training in Texas and Miami during the winter and early spring, Baptiste came home to Staten Island in April to watch the NFL Draft, holding out a chance to hear his name called in the late rounds. He even received calls during the draft, first from Seattle and then from Jacksonville, telling him he was their likely upcoming pick.

"I had high hopes of being drafted just from speaking to the NFL scouts," said Baptiste. "I was projected from fifth to free agent. A couple of teams even called me during the draft and said they were going to take me. It ended up not working out that way."

With the draft over, Baptiste went back to Texas to wait out the NFL lockout that would drag on for another three months. He worked construction 12 hours a day and worked out at night waiting for the league to get back to business, and for teams to start snapping up rookie free agents.

On Monday, the call came from Chicago, a team that had told Baptiste before the draft they probably would not draft him, but would have interest in him as a free agent.

"They said, 'Are you ready to be a Chicago Bear?'" said Baptiste.

The 22-year-old cleared the deal with his agent and was on his way to join the Bears the following afternoon. He's spent the last two days taking physicals and attending position meetings.

Tomorrow, he'll be on the field with the Bears.

"It's a blessing," said Baptiste. "The journey that I've been through and finally being able to get a chance with the lockout being so long, it's an opportunity that I'm willing to take full advantage of."

Rhyno Da Great in The Studio IM ON ONE (Behind The Scenes)

RHYNO DA GREAT (PROMO VIDEO HD)-IMA MONSTA TATTOO SHOP PREFORMANCE {INKMASTERZ TATTOO}

VH1 Behind The Music Mary J. Blige

her tits so nice she had to hold them

dont you just wanna rape her

she got the fattest ass in the hotel lobby

great pair of tits

New Video: Stalley “Pound”

50 Cent Angry At Interscope

50′s got a chip on his shoulders. Via his Twitter account, Curtis revealed that he will not be releasing his fifth solo album. He also said he would leak Dr. Dre’s next single. In the messages below, he explains why.

Man I’m not releasing a album i can’t believe interscope is this f*cked up right now. I apologize to all my fans. I will work with other artist on there projects but I will not put out another album. They dropped the ball with me one time to many.
I LOVE DRE but I’m putting his next single psycho out tomorrow at 2:00. Your gonna love it its a big song I just don’t think it deserves a great set up sense they can’t seem to get it right when it comes to me.

Update: Curtis returned to Twitter for a moment of clarity.

I don’t know how I can record 41 song for my album and the one song I give interscope leaks But I don’t care its good music. I wouldn’t leak dre’s record he has done nothing but help me in my career. jimmy has always been supportive of me. I hate when I can’t present my music the way. I feel it should be but f*ck it check out I’m ON IT

New Video: Tyga x Chris Richardson “Far Away”

Consequence goes at kanye again

she from staten island and she got the super fatty wowwwwww

Police wound hood nigga during Staten Island standoff

Staten Island Advance/Michael OatesPolice say they wounded a man who allegedly pointed a gun at an officer in New Brighton.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police say they shot a man in the arm after the suspect menaced officers with a gun in New Brighton yesterday.

The NYPD closed down a stretch of busy Jersey Street from Winter to Taft avenues during the tense, afternoon standoff.

Police gave the following account of the episode:

At approximately 2:36 p.m. in the vicinity of Winter Avenue and Jersey Street, plainclothes police responded to a call giving a detailed description of a man with a gun. As officers were responding to the location, a male, fitting the description, ran off. Cops pursued the male on foot to the side of 137 Winter Ave., where the suspect pointed a firearm at one of the officers. That officer stated, "Police, don't move!"

The suspect continued to point the firearm at the officer, who fired two shots, hitting the suspect in the right arm. The suspect dropped the weapon and fled the location. He was later apprehended inside a vacant apartment located at 142 Hendricks Ave.

The suspect was taken to Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton, where he is listed in stable condition.

Police say a subsequent search of the area where the firearm was recovered turned up a quantity of crack cocaine.

NYPD units — including the K-9, Aviation, Staten Island Task Force, ESU Trucks 5 and 6, detectives and uniformed officers — took part in the drama.

The commotion in the New Brighton community left some residents shaken and others shrugging their shoulders.

NYPD photoPolice say they recovered this loaded Lorcin 9mm handgun from the crime scene.

Single Ladies Episode 9

Lo-Lifes Documentary Trailer

Entourage Season 8 Episode 1

 

WTF: Prostitute Tells Man Not To Nut In Her Mouth..But He Doesn't Listen! (*Warning* Must be 18yrs Or Older To View. Graphic)

V-NASTY GETTIN OUT OF JAIL

New Music: Jim Jones Ft. Meek Mill x Fred Da Godson “I’ll Be Back”

Last night, DJ Self premiered a new record from the Capo featuring Meek Milly and Fred Da Godson on Power 105. Sounds good, but radio rip for now.

R.I.P. Amy Winehouse

Time to say good bye with words. According to various reports, Grammy Award winning singer Amy Winehouse was found today dead in her London home. She was 27. No word was to the cause of death.

V-Nasty Respond To Black People Who Say She Can't Use The N-word - Y'all Motha-Fo's Aint Never Walked In My Shoes

For Hip Hop News & Entertainment at DimeWars.Com

                                    

HER ASS IS JUST PERFECT

thick thighs

Bill O’Reilly Wants 50 Cent & Chris Brown

New Music: Game “Uncle Otis” (Disses Everyone)

Victim Checklist: Jay-Z, Kreayshawn, Big Sean, Amber Rose, Marc Anthony, 50 Cent—and, oh yeah, Jay-Z.

how poor people are keeping cool in Arlington

the way she backing that ass up makes me wanna nut

look at her ass

2 big breast u wanna suck on

Rihanna Brings Out Jay-Z In New Jersey

The Roc is in the building. And last night, Ri Ri brought her Loud tour to the Izod Center and brought out Hov for “Run This Town”. Afterwards, Jay stuck around and assisted her on “Umbrella”.

Staten Island boxer Marcus Browne faces his toughest challenge at Olympic Trials

Staten Island Advance photos/Bill LyonsMarcus Browne has no illusions about the competition he'll face at the Olympic Trails: "Of course they're all good; they have to be or else they wouldn't be here. But at the end of the day, if I stay strong mentally, I can beat them."

Marcus Browne often waits for his window of opportunity in a fight, watching to see if his opponent drops his guard ever so slightly, then capitalizing on that lapse with a thunderous right hand.

The 20-year-old from Clifton's patience springs from a confidence that he carries into the ring -- a belief that he's better than his opponent.
Browne's formula has helped carry him to three Daily News Golden Gloves titles and the 2010 Police Athletic League national championship, a win that punched his ticket for the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Mobile, Ala.
And it will be there in Mobile where Browne will have to practice a balancing act: Maintain that confidence, but don't wait for your chance -- because, against this talent pool, it might not come.
"In this tournament, you can't afford to be a counter-puncher," said Browne, who has already faced a few of the seven other contenders in the light-heavyweight division at different events over the years. "You need to get off first, first, first. You can't let time go by before you act ... those are precious seconds.
"It's not about power; it's about strategy, skill and staying busy."

Staten Island boxer Marcus Browne prepares for junior olympics Three-time golden glove champion and Clifton resident heading to Mobile, Alabama to compete in the junior olympics tournament Watch video

Browne has defeated boxers with a wide variety of styles. And in the PAL tourney, he also showed the endurance to win many fights in a short amount of calendar time. He'll have to do both at the trials -- which will be contested from July 31-Aug. 6 -- and against stiffer competition.
"This is the elite in the country; with the Golden Gloves, Marcus knew he was going to win," said Gary Stark Sr., Browne's trainer since he was 13. "This is a different situation. You have to come with your 'A' game."
And that game may be adjusted for the Olympic Trials.
POINTS OR POWER?
"Marcus is a power puncher," noted Pat Russo, the director of the Atlas Cops 'N Kids Boxing Club of which Browne is a member. "But at the trials, you have to score points. He needs to work on his defense and use a stick-and-move attack. The name of the game is to hit and not get hit."
Renowned boxing trainer and TV analyst Teddy Atlas knows better than anyone what it takes to win at elite levels. And the Island native and resident believes that Browne -- whom he has consulted with at the Atlas Cops 'N Kids gym in the Park Hill apartments -- has what it takes to succeed.
"He's in real good shape ... he has the hand speed, power and has very good size," said Atlas of the 6-foot-2½, 178-pounder. "But he has to be able to use his reach. He has very good length; he has that big wingspan. He's got to learn how to fight that outside game. That's how some guys catch the eyes of the judges. They'll build up points throwing their jab and then they'll go into a prevent defense, and then it's hard to catch up."

Browne works out on the speedbag.

But Stark doesn't want Browne to completely become a finesse fighter.
"Marcus can bring that jab, and he'll use it as a prime weapon. But he has a lot of tools," said Stark, who also trained his son, Gary Stark Jr., to four Golden Gloves titles en route to a pro career. "I stress his power. He can box, but sometimes Marcus runs around too much. If he can get some of those guys out of there early, I'd tell him to go right through them.
"He's got to let his hands go, he's got to throw punches five at a time."

BRAINS AND BRAWN?
Over the last several weeks, Stark has traversed the tri-state area looking for the most challenging sparring partners. It's all part of the learning process for Browne, who has impressed all those around him with his mental approach.
"Marcus is like a sponge," Atlas said, "he picks up immediately what you tell him and incorporates it."
That includes recently delving into resistance weight training with Dr. Arthur Patterson of West Brighton, who preaches a slow-motion style of lifting that exhausts muscles then builds them back up.
"Marcus is a young man who truly has vision beyond his years," said Dr. Patterson, a neurologist and chiropractor. "He has a quiet resolve and maturity."
"I'm just as proud of him for what he's done outside the ring as what he's done inside," said Atlas, who teamed with Browne earlier this month to help bring attention to blood drives held at the borough's police precinct houses.
But when it comes to Browne's progress inside the ropes, Stark is pleased.
"He's matured a lot," the trainer said. "He understands the game. He's now starting to realize what he can do."
If he is successful in Mobile, Browne will join a select list of Staten Island Olympians that includes Abel Kiviat, Bill Jankunis, Ray Rudolph, Dominick Minicucci and Robert Pipkins.
"I've had my eye on the 2012 Olympics for a while," said Browne, with a smile that lights up the room. "This is the biggest thing that's happened to me. But I think my family's more excited than I am."

LONDON BOUND?
The field in Mobile is scheduled to include U.S. Army Spc. Jeffrey Spencer, the 29-year-old Armed Forces national champion; 18-year-old Jerry Odom, the USA Boxing National Championship silver medalist, who lost to Browne in the PAL final; 19-year-old Caleb Plant, the Golden Gloves national champ; and Sean Bettencourt, 22, who at 6-4 is the only fighter in the division taller than Browne.
"He's in the right place at the right time. There's no one who's really over his head," Stark assessed. "Marcus has the perfect opportunity, but he has to dig down deep and beat these guys."
So, realistically, what are Browne's chances?
"I think he has a fantastic shot," said Russo. "But he'll be fighting the best in the country. I just hope he has a good week."
"It's not going to be a walk in the park, but he has a good chance. I think he's up to it," added Atlas. "He's motivated, he's prepared. He's a smart kid, a good kid, who wants to make something of himself and understands the opportunity in front of him."
Should Browne win in Mobile, he would be guaranteed the opportunity to walk out with the rest of the U.S. Olympic team in London. But in order to compete for a medal at the Summer Games, Browne needs to finish in the top eight in his weight class at the 2011 AIBA Men's World Championships Sept. 22-Oct. 10 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Going on American boxing's track record, that is usually a mere formality. Browne concurs.
"That won't be a problem," he said of qualifying in Azerbaijan. "I'm only focused on winning here."
Browne, who has been training six days a week including 2½ hours in the gym daily, noted "I've had to sacrifice a lot of things ... like having no type of fun."
But he doesn't have any regrets, especially not with July 31 so close.
"Of course they're all good; they have to be or else they wouldn't be here," said Browne of his competition. "But at the end of the day, if I stay strong mentally, I can beat them.
"I'm confident. I'm not worried. I'm ready to rock and roll."

Hollywood bitch i wanna fuck Sofia Vergara

The Breakfast Club :Kreayshawn Interview

jay-z and Kanye sapmpe Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness

New Music: Jay-Z x Kanye West “Otis”

We’re just two weeks away from the release of Kanye and Jay-Z’s, Watch The Throne. And today, Funkmaster Flex got the call to premiere the latest recording off the project. Album available August 1st and 5th.

yo this a nasty bitch

Muslim chick with nice tits

Rihanna Strolls Through NYC In A T-Shirt Dress

Rihanna was spotted strolling through NYC with her BFF/assistant Melissa yesterday. See pics of Rihanna inside....
While rocking a long-sleeved shirt and showing off her famous legs, Rihanna hit the streets of NYC while fans gathered around and went nuts for her yesterday.





She was with her BFF Melissa during the stroll.

And later that evening....

Rihanna was spotted leaving her hotel in NYC.

She tweeting “My hotel has ‘RiRi’ stitched into my pillowcases, how f—in Raaaddd is that??! #rockstarshit #wheretheydodatat #IheartNYC,”

And Rihanna continued the evening just as she started the day....wearing flats.  Sometimes you have to give those 5-inch heels a break.
She hits Nassau Coliseum tonight on Long Island.

PAPARAZZI CATCH KIM KARDASHIAN WITHOUT HER BOOTY PADS . . . AND HER AZZ IS AS FLAT AS A PANCAKE!!!

Rihanna L.A. Reid On Taking Over Epic Records

As previously reported, Antonio “L.A.” Reid was officially named chairman and CEO of Epic Records. In the official statement below, L.A. spoke on his new position.

“I look forward with great enthusiasm to joining the Sony Music family, as it affords us the opportunity to build Epic Recordings as the revolutionary music company of tomorrow.  We are deeply committed to discovering and developing the next generation of superstars as well as implementing a fresh and innovative business model. It is also my distinct pleasure to be once again joining Doug, who is an amazing leader and the most visionary and forward-thinking executive in the music entertainment industry.”

latimes

dog licking girls tits

tats and ass

SPANISH GIRL WITH AN ASS YOU JUST WANNA LICK

she can get back shots

Beyoncé Covers Complex

Bey’s 4 is in stores and she spreads her wings on the August/September issue of Complex. The issue doesn’t hit newsstands until August 9th, but below is an excerpt from the cover story speaking on the album.

“Figuring out a way to get R&B back on the radio is challenging,” she explains. “Everything sounds the same on the radio. With 4 I tried to mix R&B from the ’70s and the ’90s with rock ‘n’ roll and a lot of horns to create something new and exciting. I wanted musical changes, bridges, vibrata, live instrumentation, and classic songwriting.”

DMX Released From Prison

Seems like this news happens on the regular. Despite the talk of delay, DMX was released from Yuma Prison at 7 am today after serving seven months on probation violation. AHH was on the scene and got the first picture of him leaving the facility. Welcome home Earl.

Staten Island judge orders suspected killer Baydr Taylor held without bail; community holds vigil for slaying victim Yolanda Mapp

Enlarge Bill Lyons Dale Mapp, brother of Yolanda Mapp, speaks to the crowd gathered for a candlelight vigil in her memory. (Staten Island Advance/ Bill Lyons Candlelight vigil for Yolanda Mapp gallery (8 photos)

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. --  A melee nearly erupted at a murder suspect’s arraignment yesterday, after friends and relatives of a woman shot dead in Mariners Harbor said they heard the alleged shooter yell out a profane taunt.

Tensions were already high in Stapleton Criminal Court, where nearly 50 friends and relatives of Yolanda Mapp, 33, packed the seats to see Baydr Taylor, 32, arraigned on second-degree murder charges.

Taylor, a convicted gun-runner on federal supervised release, is accused of shooting and killing Ms. Mapp outside of Shooters Sports Lounge at 2178 Forest Ave., after he was denied entry at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday because he was wearing body armor. She died early yesterday morning at Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton.

In contrast to the raucous day in court, a candlelight vigil for Ms. Mapp was held last night in Mariners Harbor.

Taylor, whose face was blank throughout the arraignment, needed to be brought into the courtroom three separate times, as Judge Alan J. Meyer and court officers tried to calm Ms. Mapp’s family.

One man, identified as her brother, Dale, stood up and held up her photo as the court proceedings began. Later, he and other family members started shouting after prosecutor Adam Silberlight said Taylor shot Ms. Mapp “square in the head,” prompting Meyer to stop the proceedings until the scene settled down.

‘SHOW SOME REMORSE!’

The tension boiled over at the end of the proceedings, though.

Meyer ordered Taylor held without bail, and a woman, identified as Ms. Mapp’s niece, started yelling, “Show some remorse, Baydr! Show some remorse!”

That’s when, according to several attendees in earshot, Taylor retorted, “[Expletive] you!” Ms. Mapp’s teenage son, Lamont Bryant, 16, tried to climb over a court bench to get to Taylor, and court officers surrounded him and other family members as Taylor was whisked away.

Taylor’s court-appointed lawyer, Kevin McKernan, said he heard no such retort from his client.

“He was quiet. I did not hear him say anything,” he said.

Several onlookers were shouting profanities throughout the proceedings, and the courtroom’s notoriously bad acoustics make it difficult for voices to be heard clearly.

Taylor is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, according to Peter N. Spencer, a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan.

Silberlight told the court that several witnesses identified Taylor as Ms. Mapp’s shooter, and Taylor acknowledged in a videotaped statement that he fired the weapon. He referred to Ms. Mapp as an “innocent bystander.”

According to prosecutors, Taylor fired into a crowd gathered outside Shooters because he was angry about not being let into the bar.

McKernan said yesterday his client has pleaded not guilty, and his office would be conducting its own investigation into what happened.

Ms. Mapp’s childhood friends, who were gathered outside the courthouse after the proceeding, recalled her as an outgoing woman and a devoted mother.

“She was a great mother and a beautiful person,” said Monica Ascencio, of West Brighton, who noted she had seen Ms. Mapp at a pool party about an hour before the shooting. “She said, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ and she never made it.”Ms. Mapp grew up in West Brighton, then moved to Mariners Harbor about 16 years ago, her friends recalled. For the past 10 years, she worked as a home aide with Stella Orton Home Care, they said.

Taylor is slated to return to court July 22.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

He has a criminal record dating back to his teenage years — in 1995, when he was 16 years old, he pleaded guilty to firing a gun at point-blank range three times in a dispute with a man from his community, hitting him in the right arm and left leg. He was sentenced to one and a third to four years in prison.
 
At the time of Sunday’s shooting, Taylor was still under federal supervision, following his release in 2009 after a 70-month term for gun trafficking; one of the weapons was used in a slaying in Stapleton.

This past May 24, police arrested him on felony drug charges, and though he was initially held on $150,000 bail, he was released on his own recognizance on May 27, then transferred to federal custody, accused of violating the terms of his supervision.

A federal judge, Robert M. Levy, ordered him released on his own recognizance June 2, provided he report to probation officials weekly and undergo drug testing and treatment.

His attorney in the drug case, Leo V. Duval, said he was released because the charges were “without merit.”

”It’s expected to be dismissed,” he said “I expected the federal post-release supervision violation to be dismissed as well. Certainly these new charges complicate things quite a bit.”

When asked he’d represent Taylor in the murder case, he said he’s been contacted by the suspect’s family, and expects to meet them sometime this week to discuss the matter.

Baydr is the brother of Taliyah Taylor, who was high on Ecstacy and marijuana in October 2006 when she mowed down and killed Larry Simon as he was crossing Forest Avenue on the way to Chic-N-Bones, the previous name of Shooters.

The bar changed owners, and its name, last year, and law enforcement sources say it has fast become a trouble-spot, with Sunday’s violence marking the second shooting there this year.

William Crowley, a spokesman for the State Liquor Authority, said that Shooters has no pending liquor license violations, but the shooting has sparked the agency to open an investigation into the bar.
    
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

Last night, family and friends gathered to remember Ms. Mapp with a candlelight vigil held in front of the Mariners Harbor Houses along Grandview Avenue. Over 200 people gathered to remember a woman many said was known and loved by everyone in the community. That sentiment was illustrated by a tree decorated with several heart-shaped balloons that said, “I Love You.” Meanwhile, numerous votive candles were used to spell out the name Yolanda.

Her brother, Dale Mapp, 36, said his family was moved by the show of love from the community.

“She was a beautiful sister, a beautiful mother, an independent mother, a beautiful aunt. When you say Yolanda, you couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Ms. Mapp's niece, Elena Richards, 28, of Mariners Harbor, said her aunt was happiest when she was out having a good party. “That was my heart, my heart,” said Ms. Richards. “Every weekend, every weekend we did something...I was there when she got shot. I was there when she took her last heartbeat. I will be with her until the dirt covers her.”

Friend Karie Spicer called for an end to violence in the community. “We gotta stop. We gotta love one another,” she screamed. “We should not be here with this. We should not be here with this.”