Celebrity-Athlete of the Day: Ty Lawson

Continuing my old school theme from my last celebrity-athlete, I decided to go back to one of my favorite shows of all time: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Summertime was just the beginning of the Will Smith phenomena, in my opinion; where it really started was on the TV screen. The Fresh Prince wasn’t just about its star, Smith. There were numerous actors/entertainers who played key roles in the show and made it the classic that it is today (why else would it play every night on Nick At Night?).

Today’s Celebrity Athlete: Ty Lawson, point guard for the Denver Nuggets.

• Ever since his time at UNC, Lawson played second fiddle to the much bigger, more celebrated Tyler Hansbrough. He had his moments, but, in the end, the UNC Championship team was all about ‘Psycho Ty’. This is just one of the many things that connect this mighty mite to Alfonso Ribiero (whom America will always know as Carlton Banks).
  
  If Will Smith was the glitz and glamor, Carlton was the glue that kept everything together. The show played on Carlton’s diminutive stature as the go-to bit for a quick laugh. Lawson was UNC Coach Roy Williams’ go-to guy for a quick bucket.
  
  I watched many UNC vs. Duke games in which Ty Lawson would take the ball out of the hoop, receive the in-bounds pass and zip up the floor for an easy layup (much to my dismay, I might add…there was a LOT of cursing at my TV in those days).
  
  Carlton’s patented “Carlton Dance” captivated the nation (or at least 6 Prescott Hall Road) and inspired me to try and create my own dance. Needless to say, that was an epically failed attempt on my part, but not for a lack of effort.
  
  Lawson never had a dance, but I like to think that he was “getting jiggy wit’ it” all night long after the National Championship game. Having trouble picturing it, just check out the video below (try substituting the neckties and sweater vests for Nuggets jerseys and instead a TV-studio set, it's just Omarion screaming "YOU GOT SERVED!" at anyone who'll listen).
  
  
  
  Both guys are short, stocky, and have outstanding goatees. While The Fresh Prince was likely the peak of Ribiero’s stardom, Lawson looks to have a lot of upside for the Nuggets. That is to say, both men have their similarities and differences; however, the trump card is the fact that they look the same.
  
  Can I just say that the world is worse off without The Fresh Prince? I say Robert Horry and Ty Lawson take a hiatus from basketball – even though Horry is retired – and go film 5 new seasons of The Fresh Prince (I know I can’t be the only one who wants this to happen...oh, and 'Big Baby' Davis could play Uncle Phil).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Honestly, I think watching UNC win the National Championship in 2009 would have been much more bearable if Lawson had on one of Carlton’s patented wool-knit, ‘90s sweaters. At least I’d be able to get a kick out of it.

By Aaron Hilton
Follow me on twitter @Way_2_Tall401

Third Time is the Charm for Otis Amey

Otis Amey is coming home to Sacramento.

He will play wide receiver for the Sacramento Mountain Lions, who host all of their opponents at Amey's Alma Mater, Sacramento State.

The 28-year-old, two-time All-American holds Hornets records in career receptions, receiving touchdowns, single season receptions, single game receptions, career kickoff return yards, longest punt return for a TD and most punt returns in a season.

His role with the Mountain Lions will be as a “jack of all trades.”

“He’ll return some balls,” Mountain Lions receivers coach, Charles Collins, said. “He’ll be back there on kick offs, he’ll play a little on the inside and outside. I expect to move him around; I’m not going to pigeon hole him in one spot.”

While he’s exited to be playing for his home team, back in Hornet Stadium, Amey hopes to return to the NFL soon.

“To be honest, guys at the River Cats don’t say, ‘I’m happy playing with the River Cats,’” Amey said. “They want to be on the A’s. It’d be a lie to say that I don’t want to be back in the NFL."

After signing with the 49ers as an undrafted rookie, Amey made an immediate impact. He returned a punt for a 75-yard touchdown on his first touch in the NFL.

Recapturing that moment proved to be too difficult for Amey. The Union City native was cut by the 49ers - a team he rooted for as a child - after that season. In his words, it was the “lowest point in my life.”

Amey spent the 2006-07 season in the Arena Football League with the Austin Wranglers. The most memorable moment, in his time away from the NFL, came on Mother’s day in 2007 when he played against his big brother, Vince Amey.

“I wasn’t even worried about making the tackle,” said Vince, who was a seventh-round pick for the Oakland Raiders in 1998. “I had him in my sights and wanted to drive (Otis) backwards a few feet.”

After that season, Amey got his second chance to make an NFL roster with the Atlanta Falcons. Due to Michael Vick’s dog fighting charges, the Falcons needed to sign a replacement at quarterback. Amey, who had originally been placed on the 53-man roster, ended up being the odd man out.

The ordeal in Atlanta only added more fuel to the fire for Amey; he was determined to revitalize his career. He played the 2008 AFL season with the Cleveland Gladiators, leading the league in scoring with 50 touchdowns.

Amey credits his big brother, Vince, for helping to keep his head straight through the ups and downs of playing professional football. Amey has been through a lot in his five-year professional career; however, he’s not ready to give up on his dreams quite yet.

“That’d be the dream scenario: winning a championship here, getting picked up, and winning a Superbowl as well. You couldn’t write it any better than that.”

By Aaron Hilton
Follow me on twitter @Way_2_Tall401