Thought I was done with the Curb clips but I cannot believe I haven’t come across the clip on here of Larry asking an interracial couple what skin tone they would prefer their child to have
U.S. cities that do not require state names when using Associated Press (AP) Style.
The Associated Press Stylebook was created out of a need for consistency among reporters working for the Associated Press, which was founded in 1846. During the telegraph era, AP editors developed internal guidelines to standardize spelling, abbreviations, and writing conventions so stories sent across the wire would be clear, concise, and uniform. Some of these internal rules date back to the early 1900s.
One lesser-known AP style rule is a list of major U.S. cities that are considered recognizable enough to be written without a state name. For example, journalists can simply write “Cleveland” or “Pittsburgh,” while smaller cities are typically identified as “Akron, Ohio,” or “Scranton, Pennsylvania.”
The list has evolved over time as cities have gained or lost national prominence. It’s important to note that this is an AP journalism guideline rather than a rule of English grammar. Outside of news writing, many authors still include state names for clarity, and the AP periodically updates the list as usage changes.
In 2013, NBA player Brian Scalabrine, who averaged just 3 points per game over his career, responded to critics by challenging four volunteers who claimed they could beat him 1-on-1. In a public matchup, he dominated all four games, finishing with a combined score of 44–6.
The event became known as the “Scallenge” and is still remembered as one of the clearest examples of the massive gap between professional athletes and even highly skilled amateur players. By 2013, Brian Scalabrine had already retired from the NBA and was often the subject of jokes due to his limited playing time, with many pointing to his 3.1 points-per-game average as proof he wasn’t far above elite recreational players.
Scalabrine decided to challenge that perception directly. After hearing local players claim they could beat him one-on-one, he organized games against several strong amateur volunteers. The results were decisive—he won every matchup, finishing with a combined score of 44–6, showing that even post-retirement he was operating at a completely different level of speed, strength, skill, and basketball IQ.
The event produced one of the most famous quotes in sports, which remains unchanged:
“I’m closer to LeBron than you are to me.”
The line wasn’t arrogance, but a reality check about the skill gap between NBA players and everyone else. The Scallenge has since become a go-to reference whenever fans underestimate professional-level ability. Scalabrine’s career also included 11 NBA seasons and an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, along with over 500 games played—an achievement reached by only a tiny fraction of players worldwide.