ILLMATIC!

If I have my way, that headline will appear in my school's newspaper this year.

Our men's basketball team has a freshman on the team whose name is Nasir, the same first name as Nas, the rapper who released the album "Illmatic."

A few days ago the team held its media day, and one of the things handed out to us members of the media was a packet with some information about each member of the team. I was standing around with other people from the paper reading it over, learning things like who the team's barber is (Hint: He's a senior from Nanuet)

Anyway, we get up to Nasir, and it says one of his nicknames is Nas. Now, a few months ago when we were talking about the incoming freshmen, and he was brought up I made an "Illmatic" joke that got no reaction. Nothing. Just blank stares.

So I read out loud his nickname was Nas. We laughed. Then I said to my editor, "If he hits a game winning shot this year, or does something really spectacular, you know the headline of that article has to be 'Illmatic," right?" And oddly enough, the four people I was with, including the editor, all laughed. He even said "yeah," but I think he was joking around.

I then said, "No joke. It has to be Illmatic, and if has another great game the headline has to be 'Stillmatic.'" Once again, laughter.

I get the feeling they think I'm joking. I'm not. We were given this as a gift from God. S/He wants us to work an Illmatic reference into the headline. It must be. I mean, the kid has to play well, of course. If he doesn't play well enough to earn his own headline, I will do my best to work a reference to the album into an article I write.

It will be done.