Racism Yes….But Not In The Way You Might Think
So, Charles Barkley recently made news when he blasted his Alma matter, Auburn University, for their choice of Gene Chizik as the new football coach. Chizik, who posted a very unimpressive 5-19 record at Iowa State over the past two years, was given the job over Turner Gill, a former Nebraska All-America quarterback who is the current head coach at the University of Buffalo. Gill took over the Buffalo program 3 years ago, at a time when it was considered the worst in Division 1, and has since guided it to a MAC Conference championship and their first bowl game this year. He is widely considered among the hottest coaching prospects in the country. Yet he was not chosen for the Auburn job, and Barkley feels the reason is racism. “I think race was the No. 1 factor. You can say it's not about race, but you can't compare the two résumés and say [Chizik] deserved the job. Out of all the coaches they interviewed, Chizik probably had the worst résumé.”
I believe that Sir Charles is right. Race was a factor in a school like Auburn, in the heart of the Deep South, not hiring a black man as head coach. However, I think it was the race of Mr. Gill’s spouse that had just as much, if not more, of an impact on him not getting the job. You see, Turner Gill is married to a white woman. Now its true that interracial relationships have becoming more commonplace and accepted, frequently seen in the media and in many major cities…We even have a president who is the product of an interracial union....But within certain circles in the Deep South, interracial relationships....especially those featuring the Black man/White woman dynamic....still cause a level of discomfort. I believe that the thought of a dark skinned Turner Gill and his Caucasian wife going to booster events at Rotary clubs in rural Alabama was something that the trustees at Auburn were uncomfortable with.
This situation makes me think about Charlie Strong. Strong, the Defensive Coordinator at the University of Florida is regarded as one of the best and brightest assistant coaches in all of college football. His defense completely shut down Heisman trophy winner Troy Smith in the 2006 BCS championship game, as the Gators won the national championship. He will be coaching the Gators defense again in this year’s BCS Title game. During his years as defensive coordinator at the University of South Carolina and at Florida, a number of players have gone from his tutelage to productive NFL careers. His name is mentioned every year in the coaching carousel, especially through out the South given his connections and reputation as a very good recruiter in the talent rich southeast. Yet, in spite of his success and accomplishments since 1999, ability to recruit top talent and good reputation in coaching circles, Strong has yet to be hired as a head coach.
What color is his wife? White....Doesn’t seem like a coincidence.
It seems like there is now an extra layer of racism that qualified black candidates have to now deal with just to get jobs that they have proven they are capable of handling. And it’s incredibly unfortunate.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Random Thoughts on a Snowy Weekend…..
Not a lot today....Just a couple of thoughts this time...One silly, one serious...
There are a number of currently successful artists in the music industry whose appeal I simply cannot understand (I’m still trying to wrap my mind around this Lil’ Wayne nonsense). I seriously try to be open minded to their music, yet I am left scratching my head as I listen to crappy songs and see a lack discernable talent or appeal. This thought brings me to one of those artists: Keisha Cole. Her albums generally sell very well, she has her own television show....Yet I have no idea how this harpy is successful. The sound of her voice literally hurts my ears.
Last night she...ummm...performed the national anthem before the Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Paciao fight. A better explanation is that she screamed it while writhing and convulsing. It was embarrassing to watch and needless to say, it didn’t exactly measure up to the Marvin Gaye/Whitney Houston gold standard. I do not understand why some people think screaming and hollering like you're getting beat with a switch qualifies and being able to "sang".
Now don’t get me wrong, she’s an attractive girl, but her tone deaf wailing reminds me of a cat in heat.....getting tortured by a blow torch. Seriously, someone help me out on this one because I just don’t get it.
Moving on, I read some very sad news about Rodney Rogers, a former great college and professional basketball player. It seems that Rodney has been left paralyzed from the shoulders down by after an ATV accident in rural North Carolina.
I was always a fan of his. He was a big power forward who could shoot like a guard. I remember him dominating the ACC at Wake Forest. In the pros, every team he went to seemed to get a lift and improve due to his contributions. I remember he was a huge part of the last good Celtics team before the “Big 3”, getting traded here during the 2001-2002 team and being a huge part of the Pierce-Walker team that went to the Eastern Conference finals and really pushed the Nets before falling.
Even more than athletically, he always seemed like a total class act. You never heard his name mention in any trouble or controversy. He always played hard. Now he sits crippled for life at the very young age of 37.
I would just like to send my prayers to Rodney and his family, as I hope he is able to rebound somehow from this and live out his days in a happy and productive manner.
Not a lot today....Just a couple of thoughts this time...One silly, one serious...
There are a number of currently successful artists in the music industry whose appeal I simply cannot understand (I’m still trying to wrap my mind around this Lil’ Wayne nonsense). I seriously try to be open minded to their music, yet I am left scratching my head as I listen to crappy songs and see a lack discernable talent or appeal. This thought brings me to one of those artists: Keisha Cole. Her albums generally sell very well, she has her own television show....Yet I have no idea how this harpy is successful. The sound of her voice literally hurts my ears.
Last night she...ummm...performed the national anthem before the Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Paciao fight. A better explanation is that she screamed it while writhing and convulsing. It was embarrassing to watch and needless to say, it didn’t exactly measure up to the Marvin Gaye/Whitney Houston gold standard. I do not understand why some people think screaming and hollering like you're getting beat with a switch qualifies and being able to "sang".
Now don’t get me wrong, she’s an attractive girl, but her tone deaf wailing reminds me of a cat in heat.....getting tortured by a blow torch. Seriously, someone help me out on this one because I just don’t get it.
Moving on, I read some very sad news about Rodney Rogers, a former great college and professional basketball player. It seems that Rodney has been left paralyzed from the shoulders down by after an ATV accident in rural North Carolina.
I was always a fan of his. He was a big power forward who could shoot like a guard. I remember him dominating the ACC at Wake Forest. In the pros, every team he went to seemed to get a lift and improve due to his contributions. I remember he was a huge part of the last good Celtics team before the “Big 3”, getting traded here during the 2001-2002 team and being a huge part of the Pierce-Walker team that went to the Eastern Conference finals and really pushed the Nets before falling.
Even more than athletically, he always seemed like a total class act. You never heard his name mention in any trouble or controversy. He always played hard. Now he sits crippled for life at the very young age of 37.
I would just like to send my prayers to Rodney and his family, as I hope he is able to rebound somehow from this and live out his days in a happy and productive manner.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
The Obama Presidency And What It Holds For The Future….
November 4, 2008……The day that history was made. It is a day that I will share with my children and grandchildren. It is the day that Barack Hussein Obama became the first Black man to be elected President of the United States of America. As I sat there watching him make his victory speech, I was numb, as the moment seemed so surreal. I was sitting there watching a moment that I doubted I would ever see in my lifetime. The feeling of pride I felt in that moment is something that I am incapable of expressing in words. The symbolic meaning of “Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States” is a powerful one. Black parents, for the first time, can look their children in the eye and, with honesty and conviction, tell them that anything is possible. 146 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, a Black man claimed the highest office in the land.
I woke up this morning feeling a huge swell of pride in the moment, but I was also very introspective, pondering what it all meant going forward. Just what did an Obama presidency mean for Black Americans? I supported Obama from the very beginning, thinking he was a better candidate than the alternatives, but the moment when I truly became a passionate supporter of his candidacy was on Father’s Day, June 15th 2008. On that day, Obama gave a speech to the Apostolic Church of God on Chicago's South Side. In that speech he truly differentiated himself from previous Black candidates that ran for president (Jackson, Sharpton) as well as many other Black leaders. He stepped up and did something I have wanted to see a Black leader do for a long time. He threw the gauntlet down and made a bold call for responsibility and accountability. Here are parts of that speech:
Some in the Black community criticized Obama for this speech. Jesse Jackson was so angered by it that he stated he wanted to “cut his balls off for talking down to Black people”. However I applauded it because he spoke the truth and it was a message that truly needed to be delivered. The themes he expressed are ones that we as a black community have to embrace to make things better….The notion of self determination, taking responsibility for ourselves, our community and our children. It is not about waiting for anyone to “save” us or to “make things better” for us, but embracing the notion of doing that for ourselves.
As proud as we are of President Obama, we CANNOT look at him as some sort of Black “savior” whose job it is to solve all the ills of our community. He is not Black Superman or a Black Moses coming down from the mountaintop to deliver Black people to some sort of “Promised Land”. That responsibility falls on the shoulders of each and every responsible adult in the Black community.
My favorite part of the speech is one where he spoke of the obligation that we have to “break they cycle” of pain and dysfunction that we have experienced in our lives in order to provide a better and brighter life for our children. Many in our community have gone through unspeakable trials and tribulations, some as young children. We should not to minimize the pain and damage that those trials may have done. As he stated, broken homes and abuse take a huge toll on our young people, a reality I see in my job every day. Still, as adults, and especially as parents, it is incumbent for each of us to do whatever needs to be done in order to put ourselves in a healthy place in order to break those unhealthy cycles and make our children’s lives better than our own. And that is something that no politician can do for us…..It is something that each of us must take the personal responsibility to do for ourselves.
I have always resented the notion that Black people need to be “led” or “saved” by someone. We are fully capable of bettering the conditions in our community. As Obama implored that day, we need to take the initiative in making things better for our children, and by extension, our community as a whole. This does not mean that we are to not have compassion for those who endure abuse, neglect, poverty and other socioeconomic factors that truly place them behind the eight ball in this society. However, it is absolutely essential that we acknowledge that there is a fine line between understanding the reasons behind dysfunctional behavior, and turning those reasons into excuses. We must find a way to refuse to justify negative behavior while also reaching out with compassion and helping those caught in those negative patterns to better themselves.
I am proud as hell to have a Black man as president, but at the same time I know that just having Barack Obama in that position is not going to solve all the problems of the Black community. No one else should look at it that way, either. Hopefully, we can turn the groundswell of support stirred up by Obama into a new energy and spirit of responsibility and accountability that can make lives better for ourselves and our children.
November 4, 2008……The day that history was made. It is a day that I will share with my children and grandchildren. It is the day that Barack Hussein Obama became the first Black man to be elected President of the United States of America. As I sat there watching him make his victory speech, I was numb, as the moment seemed so surreal. I was sitting there watching a moment that I doubted I would ever see in my lifetime. The feeling of pride I felt in that moment is something that I am incapable of expressing in words. The symbolic meaning of “Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States” is a powerful one. Black parents, for the first time, can look their children in the eye and, with honesty and conviction, tell them that anything is possible. 146 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, a Black man claimed the highest office in the land.
I woke up this morning feeling a huge swell of pride in the moment, but I was also very introspective, pondering what it all meant going forward. Just what did an Obama presidency mean for Black Americans? I supported Obama from the very beginning, thinking he was a better candidate than the alternatives, but the moment when I truly became a passionate supporter of his candidacy was on Father’s Day, June 15th 2008. On that day, Obama gave a speech to the Apostolic Church of God on Chicago's South Side. In that speech he truly differentiated himself from previous Black candidates that ran for president (Jackson, Sharpton) as well as many other Black leaders. He stepped up and did something I have wanted to see a Black leader do for a long time. He threw the gauntlet down and made a bold call for responsibility and accountability. Here are parts of that speech:
“But if we are honest with ourselves, we'll admit that what too many fathers also are is missing - missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it.”
“I know the toll that being a single parent took on my mother. And I know the toll it took on me. So I resolved many years ago that it was my obligation to break the cycle - that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father to my girls; that if I could give them anything, I would give them that rock - that foundation - on which to build their lives. And that would be the greatest gift I could offer.It's up to us - as fathers and parents - to instill this ethic of excellence in our children."
Some in the Black community criticized Obama for this speech. Jesse Jackson was so angered by it that he stated he wanted to “cut his balls off for talking down to Black people”. However I applauded it because he spoke the truth and it was a message that truly needed to be delivered. The themes he expressed are ones that we as a black community have to embrace to make things better….The notion of self determination, taking responsibility for ourselves, our community and our children. It is not about waiting for anyone to “save” us or to “make things better” for us, but embracing the notion of doing that for ourselves.
As proud as we are of President Obama, we CANNOT look at him as some sort of Black “savior” whose job it is to solve all the ills of our community. He is not Black Superman or a Black Moses coming down from the mountaintop to deliver Black people to some sort of “Promised Land”. That responsibility falls on the shoulders of each and every responsible adult in the Black community.
My favorite part of the speech is one where he spoke of the obligation that we have to “break they cycle” of pain and dysfunction that we have experienced in our lives in order to provide a better and brighter life for our children. Many in our community have gone through unspeakable trials and tribulations, some as young children. We should not to minimize the pain and damage that those trials may have done. As he stated, broken homes and abuse take a huge toll on our young people, a reality I see in my job every day. Still, as adults, and especially as parents, it is incumbent for each of us to do whatever needs to be done in order to put ourselves in a healthy place in order to break those unhealthy cycles and make our children’s lives better than our own. And that is something that no politician can do for us…..It is something that each of us must take the personal responsibility to do for ourselves.
I have always resented the notion that Black people need to be “led” or “saved” by someone. We are fully capable of bettering the conditions in our community. As Obama implored that day, we need to take the initiative in making things better for our children, and by extension, our community as a whole. This does not mean that we are to not have compassion for those who endure abuse, neglect, poverty and other socioeconomic factors that truly place them behind the eight ball in this society. However, it is absolutely essential that we acknowledge that there is a fine line between understanding the reasons behind dysfunctional behavior, and turning those reasons into excuses. We must find a way to refuse to justify negative behavior while also reaching out with compassion and helping those caught in those negative patterns to better themselves.
I am proud as hell to have a Black man as president, but at the same time I know that just having Barack Obama in that position is not going to solve all the problems of the Black community. No one else should look at it that way, either. Hopefully, we can turn the groundswell of support stirred up by Obama into a new energy and spirit of responsibility and accountability that can make lives better for ourselves and our children.
Monday, September 01, 2008
King Magazine, Video Chicks and Sara Baartman
Before I start, there may be some who do not know the tragic story of Sara Baartman. If this is you, please view this video. This is not only important history, but it’s something that should color our lens as we look at the portrayal of Black women in the media.
[]
I recently got into a conversation about how Black women are portrayed in videos and popular magazines like Smooth and King and how it bothers me. Now, I’m no prude by any stretch, and I love a woman with a great body, but take note of the women that these media outlets choose to showcase and more importantly how they choose to portray them. You see Black women, typically with dramatically disproportionate and oversized derrieres, like Angel Lola Love, Buffy the Body and others posing with their butt front and center, and all up in the camera. Their faces and the rest of their body are totally relegated to the background and obscured by their ass. Now I know a lot of folks are thinking “what’s wrong with that?” Well, look beyond the ass to see the message that it projects.
There is SO much more to the beauty and the desirability of a black woman than just her butt. Her features, the texture of her hair, her skin tone...A sista’s bottom is only a part of the equation, NOT the sole aspect of it. The beauty and attractiveness of ANY woman goes far beyond one body part. Unfortunately, the media sources that push these images like to convey the opposite.
They are NOT about celebrating the beauty of the black female form, or highlighting the attractiveness of “curves” by showcasing these photographs. They are making a caricature of Black women, highlighting massive bottoms to convey the notion that the ONLY thing that makes a black woman attractive and desirable is her bottom....Its the exact same mentality that led to the exploitation of Sara Baartman a century ago, and its the same mentality that leads to the exploitation of young, insecure women of color willing manipulate their bodies for attention and "fame"...
When I look at these magazines, and EVERY picture of a woman features her turned around with her butt in the camera, it makes me think of the people who paid and looked at Sara Baartman like she was a zoo animal. If you are going to celebrate a woman as sexy and attractive, celebrate ALL of her. Do not compartmentalize her into components like a piece of livestock. Which is what happened to Sara, in both life…and death.
Before I start, there may be some who do not know the tragic story of Sara Baartman. If this is you, please view this video. This is not only important history, but it’s something that should color our lens as we look at the portrayal of Black women in the media.
[]
I recently got into a conversation about how Black women are portrayed in videos and popular magazines like Smooth and King and how it bothers me. Now, I’m no prude by any stretch, and I love a woman with a great body, but take note of the women that these media outlets choose to showcase and more importantly how they choose to portray them. You see Black women, typically with dramatically disproportionate and oversized derrieres, like Angel Lola Love, Buffy the Body and others posing with their butt front and center, and all up in the camera. Their faces and the rest of their body are totally relegated to the background and obscured by their ass. Now I know a lot of folks are thinking “what’s wrong with that?” Well, look beyond the ass to see the message that it projects.
There is SO much more to the beauty and the desirability of a black woman than just her butt. Her features, the texture of her hair, her skin tone...A sista’s bottom is only a part of the equation, NOT the sole aspect of it. The beauty and attractiveness of ANY woman goes far beyond one body part. Unfortunately, the media sources that push these images like to convey the opposite.
They are NOT about celebrating the beauty of the black female form, or highlighting the attractiveness of “curves” by showcasing these photographs. They are making a caricature of Black women, highlighting massive bottoms to convey the notion that the ONLY thing that makes a black woman attractive and desirable is her bottom....Its the exact same mentality that led to the exploitation of Sara Baartman a century ago, and its the same mentality that leads to the exploitation of young, insecure women of color willing manipulate their bodies for attention and "fame"...
When I look at these magazines, and EVERY picture of a woman features her turned around with her butt in the camera, it makes me think of the people who paid and looked at Sara Baartman like she was a zoo animal. If you are going to celebrate a woman as sexy and attractive, celebrate ALL of her. Do not compartmentalize her into components like a piece of livestock. Which is what happened to Sara, in both life…and death.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Hip Hop is Alive and Well…And I Still Love it…
There has been much debate about the current state of hip-hop, especially commercial hip-hop. And not a lot of it has been positive. When Nas drops “Hip-Hop is Dead” and thousands agree, you know that isn’t a good thing. Sadly many of us old enough to remember the “Golden Age” of hip hop in the late 80’s and early 90’s truly lament what the rap game has become. That amazing feeling many of us felt as we grew up and came of age listening to hip hop has been replaced by sheer disdain as we are inundated with songs about lollipops and silly dances.
Well yesterday was an amazing day for me as a lover of true, real hip-hop. It was a day that served to remind me of why I love this music so much even when the current state of it is in such disrepair. For a moment I felt like that 16 year old kid again that would listen to hip-hop for hours on end and love the feeling I got from it.
What brought this on? I went to the Rock The Bells music festival. Over 10 hours of music from some of the greatest MC’s ever. The names speak for themselves. Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, Rakim, Mos Def, Redman, Ghostface Killa, Raekwon, Dead Prez, Immortal Technique, Murs, Supernatural. It was a true celebration of hip hop that has meaning, soul and relevance. It was music that made you move and dance with lyrics that made you smile and think. It was a true appreciation of hip-hop as an art form, with turntablism and freestyles in abundance.
And unlike some concerts where people just mail it in and get their check, everyone brought their A-game. Nas is truly the best in the game right now. During his set he had the entire crowd in the palm of his hand, fully embodying the role of an M.C. as master of ceremony who moves the crowd. He mixed his classic songs with the biting political commentary of his new album keeping folks on their feet and full of energy the entire time.
Two of the most meaningful sets for me was watching my two favorite groups of all time, A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde, fully reunited and rocking the mic. I hadn’t seen the Pharcyde live since 1994 and amazingly I had never seen Tribe live. Having the chance after all these years to see them meant the world to me. Chanting every lyric to every song, getting amped into a frenzy….Its something I won’t forget. And both of them fed off the energy of the crowd and delivered amazing performances, laying down classic cut after classic cut.
Similarly, seeing Rakim, arguably the best MC ever, again was a privilege. The “R” was as sharp as ever. Raekwon and Ghostface have always been my favorite two members of the Wu Tang Clan and they did a great job. Immortal Technique was as advertised…As real and as raw as any MC has ever been. Unapologetically radical and political, he spit incendiary lyrics that really made you think about a lot of the political nonsense we have seen over the past decade. And Supernatural’s freestyles are something every hip hop fan should see. He literally takes items from people in the crowd and incorporates into his freestyles, on the fly….Amazing.
At the end of the night, I was exhausted, partially dehydrated and starving, but I still drove home with a smile on my face. Because the art form I love, when done right, is still the most amazing thing. To be in a crowd of people, all completely losing themselves in a frenzy to the music….To for a moment in time, lose yourself and find yourself jumping, dancing, and bobbing your head like you are back in college again…is priceless. Its funny because Nas, the man who proclaimed hip-hop dead, was also the one who solidified for me that hip hop is not only alive, its immortal.
There has been much debate about the current state of hip-hop, especially commercial hip-hop. And not a lot of it has been positive. When Nas drops “Hip-Hop is Dead” and thousands agree, you know that isn’t a good thing. Sadly many of us old enough to remember the “Golden Age” of hip hop in the late 80’s and early 90’s truly lament what the rap game has become. That amazing feeling many of us felt as we grew up and came of age listening to hip hop has been replaced by sheer disdain as we are inundated with songs about lollipops and silly dances.
Well yesterday was an amazing day for me as a lover of true, real hip-hop. It was a day that served to remind me of why I love this music so much even when the current state of it is in such disrepair. For a moment I felt like that 16 year old kid again that would listen to hip-hop for hours on end and love the feeling I got from it.
What brought this on? I went to the Rock The Bells music festival. Over 10 hours of music from some of the greatest MC’s ever. The names speak for themselves. Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, Rakim, Mos Def, Redman, Ghostface Killa, Raekwon, Dead Prez, Immortal Technique, Murs, Supernatural. It was a true celebration of hip hop that has meaning, soul and relevance. It was music that made you move and dance with lyrics that made you smile and think. It was a true appreciation of hip-hop as an art form, with turntablism and freestyles in abundance.
And unlike some concerts where people just mail it in and get their check, everyone brought their A-game. Nas is truly the best in the game right now. During his set he had the entire crowd in the palm of his hand, fully embodying the role of an M.C. as master of ceremony who moves the crowd. He mixed his classic songs with the biting political commentary of his new album keeping folks on their feet and full of energy the entire time.
Two of the most meaningful sets for me was watching my two favorite groups of all time, A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde, fully reunited and rocking the mic. I hadn’t seen the Pharcyde live since 1994 and amazingly I had never seen Tribe live. Having the chance after all these years to see them meant the world to me. Chanting every lyric to every song, getting amped into a frenzy….Its something I won’t forget. And both of them fed off the energy of the crowd and delivered amazing performances, laying down classic cut after classic cut.
Similarly, seeing Rakim, arguably the best MC ever, again was a privilege. The “R” was as sharp as ever. Raekwon and Ghostface have always been my favorite two members of the Wu Tang Clan and they did a great job. Immortal Technique was as advertised…As real and as raw as any MC has ever been. Unapologetically radical and political, he spit incendiary lyrics that really made you think about a lot of the political nonsense we have seen over the past decade. And Supernatural’s freestyles are something every hip hop fan should see. He literally takes items from people in the crowd and incorporates into his freestyles, on the fly….Amazing.
At the end of the night, I was exhausted, partially dehydrated and starving, but I still drove home with a smile on my face. Because the art form I love, when done right, is still the most amazing thing. To be in a crowd of people, all completely losing themselves in a frenzy to the music….To for a moment in time, lose yourself and find yourself jumping, dancing, and bobbing your head like you are back in college again…is priceless. Its funny because Nas, the man who proclaimed hip-hop dead, was also the one who solidified for me that hip hop is not only alive, its immortal.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Pissed Off Blog
There’s been a lot of stuff in the news recently that has pissed me off…..
Arlen Specter pisses me off. Specter is the senior US Senator from Pennsylvania. Now historically I have not had issue with him, as he certainly is a very moderate Republican. If anything I gained a solid measure of respect for him a couple of years ago when he came out and criticized President Bush’s plans to wiretap US citizens without warrants (The NSA terrorist surveillance program). But I have lost a lot of that respect based on his overzealous actions with respect to “Spygate”. I know Senator Specter is a Philadelphia Eagles fan and is angry at the notion that the Patriots may have cheated his team out of a Super Bowl back in 2005. But to still be pushing the issue after the NFL has conducted a full scale probe is ridiculous. The Patriots have been punished. The Boston Herald has been forced to apologize for their mistaken allegations about the incident. NFL fans across the country are ready to move on. But Ol’ Arlen wants to still run the issue in the ground and threaten the NFL’s antitrust exemption.
Here’s the thing. Gas is $4 a gallon. People are having their homes foreclosed at a record rate. Our young men are STILL dying in Iraq. And all this cat can worry about is whether a football team taped some signals???? Please, it sounds like the Senator needs to get his priorities in order. And if I was a voter in Pennsylvania I would sure remind him.
Speaking of the war, there’s the report from top officials at the Veterans Health Administration that an average of 126 veterans a week (18 a day) are committing suicide. A whole generation of young men is coming home from the war with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other demons and are not being properly treated or cared for. Please feel free to check out the link (http://www.military.com/news/article/va-sued-over-care-high-suicide-rates.html).These are the casualties of war no one speaks of. And further proof that we need to support the troops by both getting them the hell out of Iraq and Afghanistan as quickly as possible and making sure that proper funds go towards treating them once they are back. The fact that so many of the “support the troops” people from back in the day are silent on this, pisses me off.
Lastly, it’s been a crazy couple of weeks in the Democratic presidential campaign. Hill-cifer Clinton (thanks RK) just put her foot in her mouth with the Bobby Kennedy assassination comment. Even if the comment was made without insidious intent, it was just plain reckless in light of what Senator Obama has had to deal with in the last year (getting Secret Service protection). Of course, I am also pissed that Mike Huckabee’s “joke” told to a NRA audience, which was much more blatant and disrespectful, was reported far less strongly. There is no place in the campaign for these sorts of comments.
Keeping with the campaign, it pisses me off that the Clinton camp, after her wins in Kentucky and West Virginia, tried to float the notion that Obama would have trouble in the general election because he couldn’t court white working class voters. If you look at the campaign as a whole (rather than through the desperate lens of Clinton’s losing campaign) you would see that those notions couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s interesting that Obama didn’t have a problem with white working class voters when he won 60% of the vote in Vermont, the state with the second highest Caucasian population in the Union. He didn’t have a problem when he won caucuses and primaries in 5 of the other 10 whitest states (Maine, North Dakota, Iowa, Wyoming, Idaho) and barely lost in a 6th (New Hampshire). Yet, he loses in two of the most redneck states in the country, West Virginia and Kentucky (I can say that...I was born in one and have roots in the other) and suddenly it’s an issue. It sounds to me like, if anything, Obama has an Appalachia issue more than a white working class voter issue.
Lastly, continued prayers out to the Kennedy family.
There’s been a lot of stuff in the news recently that has pissed me off…..
Arlen Specter pisses me off. Specter is the senior US Senator from Pennsylvania. Now historically I have not had issue with him, as he certainly is a very moderate Republican. If anything I gained a solid measure of respect for him a couple of years ago when he came out and criticized President Bush’s plans to wiretap US citizens without warrants (The NSA terrorist surveillance program). But I have lost a lot of that respect based on his overzealous actions with respect to “Spygate”. I know Senator Specter is a Philadelphia Eagles fan and is angry at the notion that the Patriots may have cheated his team out of a Super Bowl back in 2005. But to still be pushing the issue after the NFL has conducted a full scale probe is ridiculous. The Patriots have been punished. The Boston Herald has been forced to apologize for their mistaken allegations about the incident. NFL fans across the country are ready to move on. But Ol’ Arlen wants to still run the issue in the ground and threaten the NFL’s antitrust exemption.
Here’s the thing. Gas is $4 a gallon. People are having their homes foreclosed at a record rate. Our young men are STILL dying in Iraq. And all this cat can worry about is whether a football team taped some signals???? Please, it sounds like the Senator needs to get his priorities in order. And if I was a voter in Pennsylvania I would sure remind him.
Speaking of the war, there’s the report from top officials at the Veterans Health Administration that an average of 126 veterans a week (18 a day) are committing suicide. A whole generation of young men is coming home from the war with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other demons and are not being properly treated or cared for. Please feel free to check out the link (http://www.military.com/news/article/va-sued-over-care-high-suicide-rates.html).These are the casualties of war no one speaks of. And further proof that we need to support the troops by both getting them the hell out of Iraq and Afghanistan as quickly as possible and making sure that proper funds go towards treating them once they are back. The fact that so many of the “support the troops” people from back in the day are silent on this, pisses me off.
Lastly, it’s been a crazy couple of weeks in the Democratic presidential campaign. Hill-cifer Clinton (thanks RK) just put her foot in her mouth with the Bobby Kennedy assassination comment. Even if the comment was made without insidious intent, it was just plain reckless in light of what Senator Obama has had to deal with in the last year (getting Secret Service protection). Of course, I am also pissed that Mike Huckabee’s “joke” told to a NRA audience, which was much more blatant and disrespectful, was reported far less strongly. There is no place in the campaign for these sorts of comments.
Keeping with the campaign, it pisses me off that the Clinton camp, after her wins in Kentucky and West Virginia, tried to float the notion that Obama would have trouble in the general election because he couldn’t court white working class voters. If you look at the campaign as a whole (rather than through the desperate lens of Clinton’s losing campaign) you would see that those notions couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s interesting that Obama didn’t have a problem with white working class voters when he won 60% of the vote in Vermont, the state with the second highest Caucasian population in the Union. He didn’t have a problem when he won caucuses and primaries in 5 of the other 10 whitest states (Maine, North Dakota, Iowa, Wyoming, Idaho) and barely lost in a 6th (New Hampshire). Yet, he loses in two of the most redneck states in the country, West Virginia and Kentucky (I can say that...I was born in one and have roots in the other) and suddenly it’s an issue. It sounds to me like, if anything, Obama has an Appalachia issue more than a white working class voter issue.
Lastly, continued prayers out to the Kennedy family.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Spring Time, Sports and Cherishing Life
It’s been a long time since I’ve written. Work and life have been quite busy. But things are pretty good now. Spring is finally here after a long cold winter. The past week has been filled with sunny, warm days that have broken the winter chill and enabled me to get out enjoy just walking and exploring the city. And the coming of spring has brought a great time in sports....Baseball is underway, the NBA and NHL are in the midst of their playoffs, the NFL Draft is around the corner, March Madness just wrapped with a title game for the ages and College Football Spring Games are giving a preview of what to expect in the fall. So being the sports fan that I am, I figured i'd share some random thoughts from the sports world.
ESPN.Com had a great article on one of my favorite NBA players and favorite athletes in general. Rasheed Wallace often gets critized in the media and is shunned by the NBA publicity machine. But this article showcases that he is an afrocentric, intelligent black man of substance who helps black children off the court and has his teammates back on it. ‘Sheed is one of the smartest players in the league and, if given the opportunity, should become a great coach one day. So many players in the league are afraid to speak out about any topics of substance for fear of offending anyone or scaring off endorsement opportunities. But Rasheed has never been afraid to step up, speak his mind or challenge the system. For that, as well as his versatile game on the court, the brotha has my respect. Check the article here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3336339
While on basketball, I have to give props to my favorite player, whom I watched dominate and drop 40 points and 10 dimes on the Nuggets tonight. The NBA MVP race is really not a race at all. Much respect to Chris Paul for making basketball relevant in New Orleans and giving a city that has been through so much something to cheer and be proud of. Big props to Kevin Garnett for resurrecting the Celtics franchise and taking them to the top of the Eastern Conference. But the MVP of the league is none other than KB24. After an offseason of turmoil, Kobe Bryant once again established his status as the best player in the league. Playing in a conference with 8 50-win teams (virtually unheard of), he still led the Lakers to the top seed in the conference. He shot less, involved and trusted his teammates more, reasserted himself as a lockdown defender, and returned his franchise to the top of the conference. The Gasol trade was a huge for the Lakers no question, but everyone knows that the Lakers will go only as far as Kobe will take them. People seem to come up with reasons to hate the brotha. They bring up the Colorado charges (even though they ended up being without merit), him supposedly running off Shaq (even though his big ass is now on his 4th team, and every time he whines and makes his leaving somehow someone elses' fault), or his perceived arrogance (what great player ISN’T cocky). But the reality is, we are now watching one of the truly great competitors of our time. After the amazing year, and career, he has had, he deserves his first MVP award. And as much as i'm proud of the Celtics return to form, if it's Lakers-Celtics in the finals, my loyalties will be the same as they were back in the 80's....With the Purple and Gold.
Its been an exciting time in boxing as well. Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito both had spectacular knockouts and set the stage for a total war between them in the fall. The Joe Calzaghe-Bernard Hopkins fight was worth the hype, being a close, competitive contest. Joe Calzaghe stepped up as the fight went along and got the deserved victory. B-Hop is a legend, and is in amazing shape for a 43 year old, but his tactics, "gamesmanship" (acting like he got shot in the groin after a borderline low blow, which was just a ploy to rest late in the fight) and refusal to give his opponent any credit after the fight showed a lack of class. With Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao and Kelly Pavlik all fighting between now and the end of the summer, it looks like boxing is continuing to make quality matches to stand up to the increasing popularity of MMA.
Lastly I have to encourage everyone to watch this month's edition of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. It featured a story that was so moving I almost couldn't sleep after watching it. It is about a man named Mike Coolbaugh. Mike was a career minor leaguer....A real life Crash Davis (For the Bull Durham fans out there), who loved the game and loved his family more. He retired from playing to become a coach, where he gave back to the game he loved by taking the time to mentor and take young minor leaguers under his wing. Sadly, he lost his life on a one in a billion fluke play. In over a century of play, a first or third base coach in professional baseball had never been killed by a foul ball. Mike Coolbaugh became the first. He left behind a wife, two young boys, and a daughter he never got to see born.
This story moved me because it showed that we all are really not promised tomorrow. At any instant, when we least expect it, our lives can be gone. One moment you can be going through your daily routine and *poof* it can all be over. This story, as sad as it was, got me to really refocus on living and enjoying each day, not letting the small and petty things bother me and truly appreciatine the blessings that I have. Its so easy to get caught up looking to a future that may never come. But honestly, we should all take the time to express our love to those we care for, to take a moment out of the most hectic day to reflect on our blessings....Because we can't take for granted that we will have the opportunity to do it tomorrow.
It’s been a long time since I’ve written. Work and life have been quite busy. But things are pretty good now. Spring is finally here after a long cold winter. The past week has been filled with sunny, warm days that have broken the winter chill and enabled me to get out enjoy just walking and exploring the city. And the coming of spring has brought a great time in sports....Baseball is underway, the NBA and NHL are in the midst of their playoffs, the NFL Draft is around the corner, March Madness just wrapped with a title game for the ages and College Football Spring Games are giving a preview of what to expect in the fall. So being the sports fan that I am, I figured i'd share some random thoughts from the sports world.
ESPN.Com had a great article on one of my favorite NBA players and favorite athletes in general. Rasheed Wallace often gets critized in the media and is shunned by the NBA publicity machine. But this article showcases that he is an afrocentric, intelligent black man of substance who helps black children off the court and has his teammates back on it. ‘Sheed is one of the smartest players in the league and, if given the opportunity, should become a great coach one day. So many players in the league are afraid to speak out about any topics of substance for fear of offending anyone or scaring off endorsement opportunities. But Rasheed has never been afraid to step up, speak his mind or challenge the system. For that, as well as his versatile game on the court, the brotha has my respect. Check the article here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3336339
While on basketball, I have to give props to my favorite player, whom I watched dominate and drop 40 points and 10 dimes on the Nuggets tonight. The NBA MVP race is really not a race at all. Much respect to Chris Paul for making basketball relevant in New Orleans and giving a city that has been through so much something to cheer and be proud of. Big props to Kevin Garnett for resurrecting the Celtics franchise and taking them to the top of the Eastern Conference. But the MVP of the league is none other than KB24. After an offseason of turmoil, Kobe Bryant once again established his status as the best player in the league. Playing in a conference with 8 50-win teams (virtually unheard of), he still led the Lakers to the top seed in the conference. He shot less, involved and trusted his teammates more, reasserted himself as a lockdown defender, and returned his franchise to the top of the conference. The Gasol trade was a huge for the Lakers no question, but everyone knows that the Lakers will go only as far as Kobe will take them. People seem to come up with reasons to hate the brotha. They bring up the Colorado charges (even though they ended up being without merit), him supposedly running off Shaq (even though his big ass is now on his 4th team, and every time he whines and makes his leaving somehow someone elses' fault), or his perceived arrogance (what great player ISN’T cocky). But the reality is, we are now watching one of the truly great competitors of our time. After the amazing year, and career, he has had, he deserves his first MVP award. And as much as i'm proud of the Celtics return to form, if it's Lakers-Celtics in the finals, my loyalties will be the same as they were back in the 80's....With the Purple and Gold.
Its been an exciting time in boxing as well. Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito both had spectacular knockouts and set the stage for a total war between them in the fall. The Joe Calzaghe-Bernard Hopkins fight was worth the hype, being a close, competitive contest. Joe Calzaghe stepped up as the fight went along and got the deserved victory. B-Hop is a legend, and is in amazing shape for a 43 year old, but his tactics, "gamesmanship" (acting like he got shot in the groin after a borderline low blow, which was just a ploy to rest late in the fight) and refusal to give his opponent any credit after the fight showed a lack of class. With Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao and Kelly Pavlik all fighting between now and the end of the summer, it looks like boxing is continuing to make quality matches to stand up to the increasing popularity of MMA.
Lastly I have to encourage everyone to watch this month's edition of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. It featured a story that was so moving I almost couldn't sleep after watching it. It is about a man named Mike Coolbaugh. Mike was a career minor leaguer....A real life Crash Davis (For the Bull Durham fans out there), who loved the game and loved his family more. He retired from playing to become a coach, where he gave back to the game he loved by taking the time to mentor and take young minor leaguers under his wing. Sadly, he lost his life on a one in a billion fluke play. In over a century of play, a first or third base coach in professional baseball had never been killed by a foul ball. Mike Coolbaugh became the first. He left behind a wife, two young boys, and a daughter he never got to see born.
This story moved me because it showed that we all are really not promised tomorrow. At any instant, when we least expect it, our lives can be gone. One moment you can be going through your daily routine and *poof* it can all be over. This story, as sad as it was, got me to really refocus on living and enjoying each day, not letting the small and petty things bother me and truly appreciatine the blessings that I have. Its so easy to get caught up looking to a future that may never come. But honestly, we should all take the time to express our love to those we care for, to take a moment out of the most hectic day to reflect on our blessings....Because we can't take for granted that we will have the opportunity to do it tomorrow.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
25 Things a black man should never apologize for...
Back after a hiatus, and I had to post this list. I saw it online, and I believe the message is so important. It's about black men standing up, being the strong men that we are, demanding what we need and want and not feeling the least bit sorry for it.
1. Never apologize for pursuing what makes you happy. Even if you Need to quit your job, transfer schools, or move across country, Always do what you really want. If you're no good to yourself you can't be good to others.
2. Never apologize for using proper English. Being articulate is the Epitome of Blackness. (Study Dr. King, Malcom X, or Cornell West to See what I'm talking about.)
3. Never apologize for giving your best in a relationship that just didn't work out. Contrary to popular belief there are some trifling women out here who wouldn't know a good man if he held her door open for her or offered her a seat on a crowded bus.
4. Never apologize for being successful and wanting to get out of the "hood". Only haters want to keep you at their level.
5. Never apologize for speaking the truth. Only those afraid of change and self examination will curse you for it.
6. Never apologize for physical short comings. When you are the man God wants you to be the physical means nothing.
7. Never apologize for being careful with your money. Just because you refuse to take that chick you just met on 360 to the most expensive restaurant in town doesn't mean you're cheap. Keep your financial house in order so that you can provide for yourself and that lady who is worth your time.
8. Don't apologize for being a caring, nurturing Dad. We don't have to be hard or rough all the time. Hug and kiss your children, especially your sons so that they know how to express love to others.
9. Never apologize for treating yourself to something special. If you are being that good husband and father that God wants you to be and that your family needs you to be then an Xbox 360 isn't too much to ask.
10. Never apologize for leaving a bad relationship. Life is too short to be with someone who doesn't love and respect you. You feelings have worth too brother.
11. Never apologize for backing out of the wedding or taking your time before popping the question. Too many people rush into marriage with their hearts instead of looking at the situation logically. Never allow yourself to be pressured.
12. Never apologize for setting high standards in a relationship. As men we need to look past the physical/superficial. Having a nice butt, big breast, a pretty face or long hair does not make a woman relationship or "wifey" material. Look to her heart and mind.
13. Never apologize for or be afraid to say NO.
14. Never apologize for asking for what you want in bed. Contrary to popular belief, men are deeper than a blowjob or doggie style. Ask for what you want. Who knows, she may want the same thing.
15. Never apologize for not wearing expensive clothes, buying expensive jewelry or driving a fancy car. Your SELF worth is more Important than your NET worth. Remember brothers, you are more than what's in your wallet.
16. Never apologize for wanting to spend time with your boys. Women will come in and out of your life, but the bond of brotherhood should and must be maintained.
17. Never apologize for buying that extra game. Refer to 9.
18. Never apologize for dating outside your race. Just because you found Ms. Right across the color line doesn't mean you're weak and can't deal with a "strong sista." Seek eagerly, choose carefully and love deeply.
19. Never apologize for demanding respect. As you give it you deserve It. You are a King black man, act like one.
20. Never apologize for not knowing how to cook. Apologize for not wanting to learn. There is no such thing as "woman's work" brothers. If you like to eat you should like to cook. Remember, some of the best chefs in the world are men.
21. Never apologize for wanting to date. If you are not in a committed relationship and chose to date more than one woman so be It. As long as you are honest at the beginning there should be no Problem.
22. Never apologize for or be ashamed of asking for help. No man is an island and we all need assistance from time to time.
23. Never apologize for or be afraid to make decisions for your Family. As the head of the family that is your role. Take advice and of course consult your wife. Remember she is your partner. But God is holding YOU responsible for what goes on in your house. After Adam and Eve ate the apple, God looked for Adam. Why, because he was the head and ultimately responsible for what went on.
24. Never apologize for not making as much money as your woman. If you do what you love and set the proper example for your wife and children, money won't be an issue. If it is then you have the wrong woman.
25. Never apologize for doing you. To thine own self be true Black man.
Back after a hiatus, and I had to post this list. I saw it online, and I believe the message is so important. It's about black men standing up, being the strong men that we are, demanding what we need and want and not feeling the least bit sorry for it.
1. Never apologize for pursuing what makes you happy. Even if you Need to quit your job, transfer schools, or move across country, Always do what you really want. If you're no good to yourself you can't be good to others.
2. Never apologize for using proper English. Being articulate is the Epitome of Blackness. (Study Dr. King, Malcom X, or Cornell West to See what I'm talking about.)
3. Never apologize for giving your best in a relationship that just didn't work out. Contrary to popular belief there are some trifling women out here who wouldn't know a good man if he held her door open for her or offered her a seat on a crowded bus.
4. Never apologize for being successful and wanting to get out of the "hood". Only haters want to keep you at their level.
5. Never apologize for speaking the truth. Only those afraid of change and self examination will curse you for it.
6. Never apologize for physical short comings. When you are the man God wants you to be the physical means nothing.
7. Never apologize for being careful with your money. Just because you refuse to take that chick you just met on 360 to the most expensive restaurant in town doesn't mean you're cheap. Keep your financial house in order so that you can provide for yourself and that lady who is worth your time.
8. Don't apologize for being a caring, nurturing Dad. We don't have to be hard or rough all the time. Hug and kiss your children, especially your sons so that they know how to express love to others.
9. Never apologize for treating yourself to something special. If you are being that good husband and father that God wants you to be and that your family needs you to be then an Xbox 360 isn't too much to ask.
10. Never apologize for leaving a bad relationship. Life is too short to be with someone who doesn't love and respect you. You feelings have worth too brother.
11. Never apologize for backing out of the wedding or taking your time before popping the question. Too many people rush into marriage with their hearts instead of looking at the situation logically. Never allow yourself to be pressured.
12. Never apologize for setting high standards in a relationship. As men we need to look past the physical/superficial. Having a nice butt, big breast, a pretty face or long hair does not make a woman relationship or "wifey" material. Look to her heart and mind.
13. Never apologize for or be afraid to say NO.
14. Never apologize for asking for what you want in bed. Contrary to popular belief, men are deeper than a blowjob or doggie style. Ask for what you want. Who knows, she may want the same thing.
15. Never apologize for not wearing expensive clothes, buying expensive jewelry or driving a fancy car. Your SELF worth is more Important than your NET worth. Remember brothers, you are more than what's in your wallet.
16. Never apologize for wanting to spend time with your boys. Women will come in and out of your life, but the bond of brotherhood should and must be maintained.
17. Never apologize for buying that extra game. Refer to 9.
18. Never apologize for dating outside your race. Just because you found Ms. Right across the color line doesn't mean you're weak and can't deal with a "strong sista." Seek eagerly, choose carefully and love deeply.
19. Never apologize for demanding respect. As you give it you deserve It. You are a King black man, act like one.
20. Never apologize for not knowing how to cook. Apologize for not wanting to learn. There is no such thing as "woman's work" brothers. If you like to eat you should like to cook. Remember, some of the best chefs in the world are men.
21. Never apologize for wanting to date. If you are not in a committed relationship and chose to date more than one woman so be It. As long as you are honest at the beginning there should be no Problem.
22. Never apologize for or be ashamed of asking for help. No man is an island and we all need assistance from time to time.
23. Never apologize for or be afraid to make decisions for your Family. As the head of the family that is your role. Take advice and of course consult your wife. Remember she is your partner. But God is holding YOU responsible for what goes on in your house. After Adam and Eve ate the apple, God looked for Adam. Why, because he was the head and ultimately responsible for what went on.
24. Never apologize for not making as much money as your woman. If you do what you love and set the proper example for your wife and children, money won't be an issue. If it is then you have the wrong woman.
25. Never apologize for doing you. To thine own self be true Black man.
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