REPORTING FROM THE JOCKO-SPHERE: KAREEM TALKS TO US ABOUT BLOGGING, BARACK AND THE MISSING SKYHOOK

Mag: How'd it start at the L.A. Times, and what was the thought behind bringing it over to your own site - kareemabduljabbar.com?

Kareem: I had the idea of maybe doing something for Black History Month and it went from there. They liked the content and I kept doing it. I think I surprised myself actually—I thought maybe I might get tired of it. It's worked out very well, it's been a good experience and I've enjoyed the process.

Is the blog just a natural extension of some of your past writing?

Some of my subject matter is Black History Month type of stuff. I'm a historian, that's my home base but I've blogged about all kinds of things, political things, things that just interest me.

One is your support for Barack Obama. But you also and recently penned a piece for the L.A. Times about how the US should approach a potential boycott of the Chinese Olympics. Is this a post-career zone, or should guys still playing delve into this?

I think people who have awareness and a consciousness of certain things should be able to speak their conscience. It doesn't matter what they do. It's all about making a statement about the world you live in. …I think that people who are aware and have a certain passion about a subject should speak their minds. It's one of the great freedoms that we enjoy here in America and we should take advantage of it.

But what if it ultimately hurts their image? These guys have money to be made as well.

That's for every individual to decide for themselves. What I think might demand a response other people might not—it's their own opinion.

Has your outspokenness had a negative effect on you in any way? Have you lost opportunities?

No, I don't think so. I've had a lot of opportunities. For all that you mention … it could be negative. But other people admire what you have to say, especially if you end up proving your point.

Where's a skyhook blog? When will it be learned, or come back?

Not very many people get to learn that shot early enough in their careers to make it work for them. There are guys that come along that can shoot it, and it doesn't necessarily have to be a lost art. But it's certainly not one that a lot of people are learning at this point. I learned how to shoot that shot when I was in fifth grade. Coaching that (kids today) get is pretty nonexistent until they get to high school. When I was a kid you learned how to play a game in grade school and you spent more money on gym classes by having courts and everything available. So it's a very much different atmosphere and certain parts of the game have suffered because of it.

Visit the new home of Kareem's blog by CLICKING HERE.

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