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Pittsburgh's DJ, Selecta, Loves T-shirts
where it stemmed from. Kind of just grew (and grew, and grew) out of
nowhere. Perhaps it can be traced back to the early 90s early of Polo
and Tommy Hill tees, which morphed into hip-hop related brands a la
Triple 5 Soul and Supreme. & the natural progression to the artist
tees that were ever so prevalent in the indie record label days of
Rawkus Records in the East and Stones Throw to the west.
2. How many t-shirts do you own? Hard to gauge, They are scattered
all about the abode. But a rough estimate would be 1500-2000.
3. Are there shirts you bought you haven’t worn yet? Plenty! In a
valiant effort to organize my stash in some shape/manner last week, I
pulled out at least a dozen with tags still firmly attached. Most of
them were likely ill-fitting or an impulse buy that looked different
online as opposed to the (funky fresh) flesh. I'm not a "returner" by
nature...so they stay within the collection. I'll get around to
rocking them all at some juncture as styles/colorways go in and out of
fashion. Some I just plum don't fit any longer. Yikes!!!!
to me. I would say even the latter more than the former. If a tee
feels good (much like a comfy pair of jeans) it will be part of the
consistent ensemble. You'll notice the photostatic embodiment of such
on my socalls. Where I'm captured in my favorites, time and time
again. For example, I have a red Sade tee that can be seen on my IG
pic feed dating back to almost a decade ago, to this day. It is still
just as comfy, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. The three keys to
longevity.
5. Tell us about these new designs and what they mean? They mean
everything, as they were born from my Twitch stream. I certainly
didn't coin "Famalam", but just started exclaiming it as folks came in
the chat that I recognized....& here we are. Both "Famalam" & "My
Mello" have become constant catch words/phrases over the last few
years. "U No Likey The Jazz" was born out of the limited jazz music
streams on Twitch during the halcyon days of Twitch. I was a bit
unsure how receptive my community would be to an all-jazz stream, so
in my nest half-italiano accent I asked.."U No Likey The Jazz?" It
also stuck. Lastly, "Push-Push" was organically birthed by a Twitch
feature called a hype train. It's a feature that allows viewers and
supporters to show love to the streamer with offerings of bits and
subs. Each movement of monetary appreciation pushes the train higher
and higher. As the train was "pushing" one day, I recalled a recent
record purchase of a bare-chested Herbie Mann donning simply a flute,
coupled with a compical expression. It was simply entitled "Push-Push"
I pulled out the appropriately titled record during a train one day &
it escalated the train to record breaking level! Hence the adoption of
the push-push upon every hype train.
6. Where can people follow you? I try to stay brand consistent
throughout the vast social media landscape. So....Selecta 720 on ALL
platforms....Including Selecta720,com
It's important to be easily & consistently accessible. We all have
very short attention spans in this day and age. If there is any
frustration in the attempt to discover more about a
person....place...thing...we will move on to the next.
Chuck Cooper - Rare Air
Pittsburgh is not often recognized as a basketball city, despite having notable professional teams and players. There is, however, a significant piece of basketball history in Pittsburgh that should be recognized more often. Chuck Cooper, a pioneering figure in the world of basketball, left an indelible mark on the sport as the first African-American player to be drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on September 29, 1926, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cooper's journey unfolded at a time when racial segregation cast a shadow over many aspects of American life, including professional sports.
Cooper's basketball prowess became evident during his college years at Duquesne University, where he played for the Duquesne Dukes. His skills on the court, marked by an impressive combination of athleticism and strategic thinking, garnered attention and set the stage for a groundbreaking career. In the 1950 NBA draft, the Boston Celtics selected Chuck Cooper as the 14th overall pick. Earl Lloyd and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton would also be drafted in the same year, but Chuck Cooper would be the first African-American player drafted into the league.
The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. Where Jackie Robinson may have been for baseball. Pittsburgh's Chuck Cooper was that for basketball. In an era of deeply entrenched racial barriers, Cooper's entry into the NBA challenged the status quo. It paved the way for future generations of African-American and other minority players.
Cooper's professional career began with the Boston Celtics in the 1950-1951 season. Playing alongside other legends such as Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy, Cooper brought his A-game, showcasing versatility as a forward and making substantial contributions to the team's success. His presence on the court demonstrated not only his athletic abilities but also resilience and determination in the face of racial prejudice.
Beyond his on-court achievements, Chuck Cooper's legacy extends to his role as a trailblazer. By breaking the NBA's color barrier, he opened doors for countless African-American athletes, fostering a more inclusive and diverse landscape within professional basketball. Cooper's impact was not confined to his playing days; it reverberated throughout the NBA and laid the groundwork for the league's ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion. Chuck Cooper spent four years with the Celtics and later joined the Milwaukee Hawks before finishing his career with the Ft. Wayne Pistons. Afterward, he played for the Harlem Magicians for a year. Unfortunately, a back injury from a car accident caused him to retire from professional basketball.
Following his basketball career, he earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota. He would later return to Pittsburgh to serve the Pittsburgh School Board, became the city's director of parks and recreation, and worked in Pittsburgh National Bank as an urban affairs officer in the bank’s affirmative action program.
In 2019, Chuck Cooper was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, a fitting tribute to a man whose contributions transcended the game. As another NBA season commences, individuals like Chuck Cooper should be a point of reference to understood the context of change and possibilities. Although Chuck Cooper's contribution is not nearly recognized as he deserved, his legacy is a testament to the transformative power of individuals who, through their courage and talent, can reshape the trajectory of sports and society.
