Academy Cotton's Fantasy Football Academy

I think of Academy Cotton as a sleeper pick when choosing a quality clothing line. Not the name you first think of when someone says they're going shopping but a game changer that does it quietly. That's why we are proud to present you with our Top 5 Fantasy Football Sleeper Picks as the first part of Academy Cotton's Fantasy Football Academy. We will be bringing you a series of tips about Fantasy Football before your up and coming draft. Because bros play Fantasy Football and we're all bros here.

Sleeper #1:  Hakeem Nicks - He made his presence felt last year although he was never really featured in the Giants passing game. Now one year older and one year better, he has a great chance to battle with Mario Manningham for the Giants 2nd receiver and really make an impact.

Sleeper #2: Jamaal Charles - He is battling this season with Thomas Jones for the Kansas City running back job and to be frank, he's dominating the fight. He will be the starting running back on a team that can't really pass, and he's quick as lighting. He will find the end zone over and over this year. Guaranteed.

Sleeper #3: Ahmad Bradshaw - He has had the misfortune of playing behind Brandon Jacobs for his career on the Giants but now it's his year. He is a homerun threat on every touch and will produce this year when he gets a fair share of the carries.

Sleeper #4: Chad Henne - Last year he threw for just under 3,000 yards, he only played in 13 games, and Brandon Marshall was in Denver. With 16 games and a big time number one receiver in Marshall he could put up huge numbers, IF he stays healthy while Marshall stays out of trouble. That is a pretty big IF though.

Sleeper #5: Devon Thomas - Devon Thomas' production is more about his quarterback than him. He will be a starting receiver for the Skins this year and with Donovan McNabb in town he is sure to put up numbers. McNabb has always torched defenses with small, crafty receivers and that's exactly what Thomas is. Steal him late and play him early.

Take these sleeper picks and other information from Academy Cotton's  Fantasy Football Academy to dominate your league on ESPN.com or Yahoo.com.

Cali Swag

6 years ago, Ben and Bobby Hundreds founded The Hundreds, an apparel company inspired by the Los Angeles/Southern California style. Since their arrival on the fashion scene, The Hundreds has developed into not only a popular apparel company, but has also started a widely read online magazine. They have stores in San Francisco and Los Angeles and are opening one in New York in the coming months. All of their items are unique, but their footwear truly stands out. The colors are simple yet vibrant, and they stay away from the loud combinations that companies like Nike and Adidas have come to lean on. Their use of different materials such as suede and corduroy also makes these shoes a great pick up. Check out the rest of their shoes at http://thehundreds.com/footware/

Hustle And Flow

Do you swim in shorts or a bathing suit? Now it doesn't matter. Liquid Flow makes some pretty steezy shorts that come with a water proof pocket. I don't need to say much, but go to their website, http://www.liquidflowclothing.com, watch the video on their homepage, and get a pair today.

Academy Cotton Goes Capital

The other day the Academy Cotton team hit the streets of Washington DC in order to spread the word about the upcoming line. We met some interesting characters, including one Brazilian guy wearing an American flag as a cape. We've been getting a lot of great feedback about the clothes, website, and blog. If you want to help us out, invite your friends to "like" Academy Cotton Clothing on Facebook. This is going to be a big year for us, be sure to stay tuned for the latest developments in the Academy Cotton world. Let's turn up the AC.

In Search of the Perfect Rave

Our new partner, Bro Talk recently supplied us with some of their favorite songs of summer 2010. Wiz Khalifa is the big name on top of a list of up and comers. Each and every one of these songs are perfect for helping carry the summer with you into the first weeks of school. Check back later in the week for more hot tracks.

The Thrill by Wiz Khalifa. This kid is just so talented. Be sure to check out his mixtape "Kush and Orange Juice" - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+thrill+wiz+khalifa&aq=0

Lights Out by Santigold. This is a fresh track which you may recognize from a Bud Light commercial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVIedQ88rxY

Light Falsetto Music is a mash up of The Dream and Cut Copy and is produced by The Hood Internet - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbpPwqOYR58

Forever by Walter Meego is a personal favorite for both Bro Talk and the Threadsmen. It's a different sound but it's worth a listen or two.....or twenty - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twjdt9jky38

Academy Cotton Teams Up With Bro Talk

After lengthy negotiating, the Academy Cotton Team was able to forge a partnership with Bro Talk, the talk radio show that will be taking Colby College by storm. Bro Talk is hosted by Brendan Cosgrove and Daniel Maddox who founded the show in 2007 while attending Phillips Exeter Academy. The show became the most popular in the history of Exeter radio, and the two are looking to carry their momentum into college. The shows will broadcast Thursday nights (we will let you know times as soon as they are released) on WMHB 89.7 FM and can be listened to online at www.wmhb.org.
Things to look for: Bro Talk Five For Friday. Every friday the Bro Talk crew will provide the Threadsmen with five new, quality tracks to be posted for your enjoyment. Also, rumor has it that Academy Cotton may be making a line of Bro Talk shirts....

The Dirty Heads

At the beginning of the summer The Dirty Heads released the album "Any Port in a Storm". My favorite track off the album, and one of my most played songs this summer, is "Lay Me Down". The song has a definite summer feel to it, perfect to help you maintain a chilled out state of mind through the stresses of a new school year.

Watch Out

www.gshock.com

This is not your father's classic watch. Earlier in the month G-Shock released their GLS-5600 Reflex Dial Series. This represents another sequence in the trend of companies making their timepieces more vibrant and practical for everyday wear. What fun is a watch that sits in a box and only gets to come out for special occasions? Check out this series and other quality G-Shock watches at www.gshock.com. If these aren't flashy enough for you, check out Stussy's summer 2009 series. Because they are a year removed from their release, you may have to do some digging across the web in order to find them. However, they are worth the extra effort. 

www.stussy.jp

Classic Comfort

 

There is a common misconception that boat shoes are a style reserved for the summer. If you are in the market for a new pair of kicks, be sure to check out Sperry Top-Sider's winter boat shoes. These babies blend classic style and laid back comfortability. The wool interior ensures that your feet will be kept warm no matter how cold it gets. In addition to the suede exterior, there is a leather option for the same price. At $100 they are a bit pricier than their warm weather counterparts, but the added comfort makes the mark-up well worth it.

A (Very Well) Hidden Gem - Bodega

Outside Bodega

Beyond The Snapple Machine

At the end of the block on Clearway St. there is a rundown convenience store with foreclosure notices on the front door. And if for some reason you find yourself inside, the solemn man behind the counter will be of no help to you. But, what used to be the biggest secret in Boston apparel is now all over the internet, and here it is again. Bodega is the freshest shoe store in Boston, if not the whole country, but its hidden behind a Snapple machine. The vending machine doubles as a sliding door opening up to shoe heaven. Bodega is stocked with shoes ranging from Nikes not yet released to throwback Reebok Pumps to some pretty classy dress shoes. And the best part of it all? The guys in there are really chill and really helpful. They're not nearly as pretentious as some of the other guys in shoe stores around the country not to be named. Bodega is a must hit for any age when visiting Boston.

Golden Oldies

Hats are an easy way to show off your style, hometown, favorite sports team, anything. Mitchell and Ness specializes in flat-brim hats sporting retro logos as well as throw-back NBA, MLB, and NFL jerseys. The jerseys are a bit pricey (in the range of $300), but the hats are more reasonably priced ($30) so definitely look to grab a couple. Check out their website, www.mitchellandness.com.

Academy Cotton Starts To Stick

Academy Cotton stickers are showing up everywhere in downtown DC.

Logger Is Here

Loggy is a new kid on the music scene from Berkeley. His songs feature great sampling as well as tight lyrics. He has done remixes to Kid Cudi's cudderisback, Passion Pit's Dirty Little Secrets, and Yael Naim's New Soul. Check out his website, www.loggymusic.com, to download his mixtape "New Kid".

Turn It Up

Its that time of year again. Back to school. Wether you like it or not, after the final hurrah that is Labor Day, we'll be packing our bags and being shipped off to school. Is there a better way to make friends with your new neighbors than bumping music all night long from a pair of sweet speakers. Outdoor Technology recently released a line of speakers which fold into a box for easy transport or storage. Check out their website, http://www.outdoortechnology.com/. More on these guys come winter.

Academy Cotton Leaks Fall Line

Last spring, Academy Cotton dropped two classy, yet plain, half-zip sweaters. In their upcoming fall line, they plan to push the envelope with the sweaters. Word on the street is that we can expect some edgy cardigans as well as a "rasta" themed half-zip (pictured). Also keep an eye out for more varieties of their hot crew neck sweatshirts.

Taio Cruz-Dynamite (Acoustic)

Taio Cruz deserves respect. First off, Dynamite is undoubtedly the anthem of summer 2010. Secondly, Taio Cruz can sing! No auto-tune here. Enough said, I'll let you listen and be the judge yourself.

Forever Young, Forever Fresh

Surprisingly enough, the biggest news in sports right now isn't the WNBA playoffs. It's the Little League World Series, and if these little guys can't hit jacks as far as the pros they certainly can dress as well. I just want to give a shout to the 12 year old kids coming out with Bryce Harper-Esque eye black and batting gloves to match their uniforms. And props to the kids that dress for the occasion and leave with a W. If you have watched the series, I really hope you've seen Yomar Valentin and Isaiah Hatch, and if you haven't, watch these kids. They are by far the two steeziest players in the tournament and two of the best players. When The Headless Threadsman is celebrating it's 15th birthday I would not be surprised if these kids were established pros.

More Sunglass Steez

Let's face it: brand names, especially when it comes to sunglasses, are overrated and impractical. After all, who wants just one pair of shades? An upgrade from the mega-bargain street rack brands, Knockaround sunglasses are an affordable Ray-ban alternative. At $14 a pair, you can buy multiple pairs to rock and stock. Check out their collection at http://www.knockaround.com/

Real Men Wear Pink, in Europe

Academy Cotton is starting to take off on the East Coast, and is gaining credibility and respect daily. However, our goal was never just to gain regional relevance, but to become an international movement. Earlier this summer my travels brought me to the beautiful, if over priced, continent of Europe. I would highly recommend picking up a pair (or many pairs) of knock off Ray-ban Wayfarers. They are stylish, come in infinite varieties, and are very affordable. The pair in the picture were a 5 euro hit. If you find yourself in Europe in the near future, go sunglass hunting among the racks outside the touristy t-shirt shops. While I would normally not endorse shopping at this type of establishment, when it comes to cheap sunglasses, they harbor some hidden gems.

Beirut? Beer Pong? Steezy Any Way You Shoot It.

Beer Pong Fever

So I'm sure by now all of you have heard of these chill new clothiers working under the title 'Academy Cotton'. They've been spitting fire with some sweet crew neck sweatshirts. The coup-de-grace of their first mini-line is, with out a doubt, their Beer Pong sweat shirt. Pick up one of these bad boys at http://www.shop.academycottonshop.com/ and get spotted.
Stay steezy,
The Headless Threadsman