Last night, January 7, 2008, the national championship football game was contested in New Orleans. The game was played in the Superdome. The Superdome! The very same stadium that housed thousands of displaced residents of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. The very same stadium that was featured on Monday night football in 2006 when the New Orleans Saints made their national debut with newly drafted and super hyped USC grad Reggie Bush. There were fireworks on Monday night football in 2006 and their were fireworks, confetti and a raucous celebration last night when the LSU Tigers beat Ohio State for the national championship. I am also sure that millions of dollars were spent in New Orleans thanks to the presence of this game. But here's my question: what percentage of that money will go towards the actual rebuilding of the city? I don't mean the tourist sections. I mean the Lower 5th Ward and other areas formerly inhabited by Black people.
People have forgotten New Orleans, it seems. No one says a word. Hell, is Ray Nagin still the mayor? I haven't seen or heard from him in months. Have you, dear reader? Please let me know.
I see that Brad Pitt is helping to rebuild the city's poorer neighborhoods and for that he deserves kudos. But what about the US governement's response. Where is it? How can our president not be on the case? Okay, that's a rhetorical question. The only case he is on is Iraq. That's all he knows. Here's a better question. Why aren't the American people asking about the situation? Why aren't we demanding results? With the presidential election around the corner, why isn't New Orleans on the docket? Can you imagine the response if a tragedy such as Katrina and the ensuing flood had hit The Hamptoms? What if the homes of the rich, powerful and famous had been destroyed? Would Bush be sitting on his ass on that? Would the insurance companies balk at paying the insured? The answers are no and no. That community would look better after a tragey than it did before. The nation would not tolerate a rich, white community being treated as New Orleans has been treadted.
This country doesn't care what happens to Black people. Our land, our homes, our livelihoods, our very souls are irrelevant. We are just afterthoughts to the majority of the country. Hell, we are afterthoughts to ourselves most of the time. We've been conditioned to believe our lives and needs and wants aren't important. Sure, we will speak up and march when an issue is fresh. But once we get some tiny bit of resolution or once the issue gets a bit aged, we forget about it. And we are never proactive with meeting our needs. What is the five, ten, fifteen and twenty year plan? What are we going to do as a people? What are you going to do as an individual? What do you want out of your life? What are you mad about? Have you even thought about your displaced brothers and sisters from New Orleans? Or has that crisis come and gone in your mind, too?
We can't be complacent about our position. Lots of people are feeling optimistic because we have a Black man doing well in the run for the White House. I'm optimistic, too. But if he wins, and I sincerly hope he does, that doesn't mean we have arrived. It does mean things have gotten better. I think we all know things have gotten better, though. But things are not good enough, not by a long shot. We have to have success on a daily basis for ordinary, working Black people before we can stop fighting. We will always have high profile successes. That's always been true for the most part. And I don't discount that success but don't fall into the trap that because we have Oprah, Denzel, Barack, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, etc. we have widespread success. Don't let a few rappers on "MTV Cribs" living large fool you. Because for every Black person who has a net worth of one million dollars, there are 100 whites with a net worth of 100 million dollars or more. Don't let the powers that be use those people and others as examples of how far we have come and tell you to stop fighting, complaining, striving for more. We have to start by at least getting the displaced residents of New Orleans back home.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Mike Vick, and doing the right thing.
Michael Vick....what were you thinking about? Why would you risk millions of dollars to make a few thousand??? Why would you risk the ire of the NFL so you could watch dogs fight? Why would you risk losing multi-million dollar endorsement contracts for the sake of something as primal as dogfighting? Why, why, why??
You may or may not be allowed to play in the NFL when you leave prison but if I were a betting man, I'd bet against you. In fact, I'd like to bet you considering your luck with gambling. But seriously, I cannot understand why someone of your stature would continue to associate with the entourage you were keeping. At some point in everyone's life, we have to let certain people in our lives go. And I don't care how far the friendships go back. If your childhood friends are doing illegal activities, and you are a multi-millionaire whose livelihood depends on staying out of trouble, guess what: you tell your boys, "Peace." As in "I'm out, five thousand, holla at your boy." You guys go let these dogs fight, do your drugs, sell your drugs, do whatever and best of luck but I'm not foresaking my future just so we can still hang out.
I know he's probably sitting around asking himself how his life just went so wrong so fast. Just like anyone else who makes a tragic mistake, you suddenly realize that all you had to do was just ....do nothing. Of all the investment opportunities, why dogfighting? And as much as organizations like PETA and the SPCA exhibit so much enthusiasm for eliminating this type of activiy, with your high profile I just can't believe you would put yourself in this position.
Michael Vick probably will never read this so I'm going to address our audience. I'm going to especially ask all young, Black men to read this carefully.
We live in a society that operates on a double standard. Had Brett Favre or Tom Brady been the person involved, this picture would look entirely different. They'd be made to apologize, they'd work out some sort of deal that would keep them out of prison, they'd do public service announcements, the public would be upset but eventually they'd be forgiven and they'd maybe face suspension for a while from the league. But it doesn't work like that for Black athletes. And truth be told, Mike had already established himself as a "thug" in the minds of many before this event. The court of public opinion didn't like his braids, they didn't like how he gave the finger to fans in Atlanta when they booed his play, and they didn't like when he was suspected of having marijuana in a water bottle in the airport. And even though he didn't have any drugs on him, who cares about the details? So with all this in mind, young Black men, remember this: live right. Don't speed, don't jaywalk, don't avoid child support, don't get in fights in strip clubs, don't gamble illegally, don't hit women, don't carry unregistered guns, don't think you are above the law. Is it hard to live like that? No. Just remember that your actions will be judged more harshly than the actions of others. It's not fair, I know. But what can you do? This is our lot in life. But I see it like this: if I know I can't do something I just don't do it. Forget the nonesense about "street cred" and "keeping it real." Why glorify ghetto life and pretend that you lose your blackness if you live a legal, productive life?
I know I don't understand the thought process of someone like Mike Vick or any superstar athlete. I haven't been coddled all my life because I could play ball well. I had the luxury of having two parents who loved me but didn't let me get away with stupid behavior and I had that from birth. So even though I am calling Mike out for being stupid, I can't relate to him and I should't judge him. He'll be judged on Aug. 27 and it will probably be unpleasant. But I know he knew it was illegal to do what he was doing. So regardless of his background, and regardless of anyone else's, when you are grown you know what is right and wrong. I could have gone to jail many times in my youth had simple luck not intervened. But as I got older, I came to appreciate my freedom, and I still do. Maybe Mike will appreciate his in about 12-18 months.
You may or may not be allowed to play in the NFL when you leave prison but if I were a betting man, I'd bet against you. In fact, I'd like to bet you considering your luck with gambling. But seriously, I cannot understand why someone of your stature would continue to associate with the entourage you were keeping. At some point in everyone's life, we have to let certain people in our lives go. And I don't care how far the friendships go back. If your childhood friends are doing illegal activities, and you are a multi-millionaire whose livelihood depends on staying out of trouble, guess what: you tell your boys, "Peace." As in "I'm out, five thousand, holla at your boy." You guys go let these dogs fight, do your drugs, sell your drugs, do whatever and best of luck but I'm not foresaking my future just so we can still hang out.
I know he's probably sitting around asking himself how his life just went so wrong so fast. Just like anyone else who makes a tragic mistake, you suddenly realize that all you had to do was just ....do nothing. Of all the investment opportunities, why dogfighting? And as much as organizations like PETA and the SPCA exhibit so much enthusiasm for eliminating this type of activiy, with your high profile I just can't believe you would put yourself in this position.
Michael Vick probably will never read this so I'm going to address our audience. I'm going to especially ask all young, Black men to read this carefully.
We live in a society that operates on a double standard. Had Brett Favre or Tom Brady been the person involved, this picture would look entirely different. They'd be made to apologize, they'd work out some sort of deal that would keep them out of prison, they'd do public service announcements, the public would be upset but eventually they'd be forgiven and they'd maybe face suspension for a while from the league. But it doesn't work like that for Black athletes. And truth be told, Mike had already established himself as a "thug" in the minds of many before this event. The court of public opinion didn't like his braids, they didn't like how he gave the finger to fans in Atlanta when they booed his play, and they didn't like when he was suspected of having marijuana in a water bottle in the airport. And even though he didn't have any drugs on him, who cares about the details? So with all this in mind, young Black men, remember this: live right. Don't speed, don't jaywalk, don't avoid child support, don't get in fights in strip clubs, don't gamble illegally, don't hit women, don't carry unregistered guns, don't think you are above the law. Is it hard to live like that? No. Just remember that your actions will be judged more harshly than the actions of others. It's not fair, I know. But what can you do? This is our lot in life. But I see it like this: if I know I can't do something I just don't do it. Forget the nonesense about "street cred" and "keeping it real." Why glorify ghetto life and pretend that you lose your blackness if you live a legal, productive life?
I know I don't understand the thought process of someone like Mike Vick or any superstar athlete. I haven't been coddled all my life because I could play ball well. I had the luxury of having two parents who loved me but didn't let me get away with stupid behavior and I had that from birth. So even though I am calling Mike out for being stupid, I can't relate to him and I should't judge him. He'll be judged on Aug. 27 and it will probably be unpleasant. But I know he knew it was illegal to do what he was doing. So regardless of his background, and regardless of anyone else's, when you are grown you know what is right and wrong. I could have gone to jail many times in my youth had simple luck not intervened. But as I got older, I came to appreciate my freedom, and I still do. Maybe Mike will appreciate his in about 12-18 months.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Tiger, amateur golf, busters and haters.
We've been gone for a minute, doing a few things. But we are back with a few thoughts. Number one, golf.
The H Man and I recently competed in a little tourney hosted and put together by some good friends. I had been playing decently most of the year but I got to the tournament and.....choked, blew up, bombed. H managed to play some decent rounds and was actually in contention for the title but came up a few strokes short. He claims he hasn't been playing much this summer but I know him well enough to know that he has played more than he admitted.
My man Tiger Woods captured his 13th major and is hot on the tail of Jack Nicklaus to overtake his record 18 majors. TW is clearly the best golfer on the planet and probably in history. But until he gets his 18th major, there are some fools who insist on demeaning him, and not giving credit where credit is due. The top three who come to mind are: Sergio Garcia, the talented but unable to close, poor mannered, narcissistic, complaining, whining like a beeotch, Michelob sponsored Spaniard. Next, the clownish, disliked by all, foolish South African, Rory Sabattini, who thinks that Tiger is "as beatable as ever" but who has gotten smoked by TW in their last two rounds against each other by about 8 strokes per outing, I believe. And most recently, the journeyman, ugly shirt wearing, ugly wife having, redneck, Woody Austin, who despite losing to Tiger by a couple of strokes, believes he played better golf than Tiger in the championship. This fool actually stated that "I played better golf than Tiger on Friday, he just got the ball in the hole." For those of you who don't follow golf, let me just inform you: the object is to get to the ball in the hole with the fewest number of strokes. That's what TW does, year in and year out. Tiger's avg. score on tour is 68.04 and Woody's is 70.37. That equates to 2.33 strokes a day in Tiger's favor, which over the course of a four day tournament gives Tiger a 9.32 stroke advantage. Woody, check the numbers, player. Your comments regarding outplaying Tiger made you seem small, petty and just a little stupid. Nobody would recognize you in public except that you wear stupid shirts with a "Tabasco" logo. Tiger wears the Nike swoosh. Dude, you simply don't measure up. Take your check, thank God that you can play well enough to make a living, and don't criticize a legend.
Here are a few more "Woodyisms", things that only a fool could say:
Barkley was better than Jordan....he just didn't win any championships.
Frazier was better than Ali...........he just beat him one out of three.
I play better golf than Howard.............I just haven't beaten him yet.
Keith was a player...........he just chose not to get any play.
Phil Mickleson is the best...........the media just likes Tiger more.
Keith (last name omitted to protect his ego) was a friend of ours in college who had a girlfriend that everyone slept with....but him. Okay, that's harsh and not really true. Everyone didn't sleep with her: just his roommate. Keith fancied himself the "choosy lover." He only wanted the best. I guess the best never came along because I can't name one girl/woman he's ever been with intimately and in college, everybody knows who is getting some play and who isn't. The point I'm making is that you don't talk a game that you can't back up, whether it is golf, basketball, being a lover. Just let your actions speak for themselves.
The H Man and I recently competed in a little tourney hosted and put together by some good friends. I had been playing decently most of the year but I got to the tournament and.....choked, blew up, bombed. H managed to play some decent rounds and was actually in contention for the title but came up a few strokes short. He claims he hasn't been playing much this summer but I know him well enough to know that he has played more than he admitted.
My man Tiger Woods captured his 13th major and is hot on the tail of Jack Nicklaus to overtake his record 18 majors. TW is clearly the best golfer on the planet and probably in history. But until he gets his 18th major, there are some fools who insist on demeaning him, and not giving credit where credit is due. The top three who come to mind are: Sergio Garcia, the talented but unable to close, poor mannered, narcissistic, complaining, whining like a beeotch, Michelob sponsored Spaniard. Next, the clownish, disliked by all, foolish South African, Rory Sabattini, who thinks that Tiger is "as beatable as ever" but who has gotten smoked by TW in their last two rounds against each other by about 8 strokes per outing, I believe. And most recently, the journeyman, ugly shirt wearing, ugly wife having, redneck, Woody Austin, who despite losing to Tiger by a couple of strokes, believes he played better golf than Tiger in the championship. This fool actually stated that "I played better golf than Tiger on Friday, he just got the ball in the hole." For those of you who don't follow golf, let me just inform you: the object is to get to the ball in the hole with the fewest number of strokes. That's what TW does, year in and year out. Tiger's avg. score on tour is 68.04 and Woody's is 70.37. That equates to 2.33 strokes a day in Tiger's favor, which over the course of a four day tournament gives Tiger a 9.32 stroke advantage. Woody, check the numbers, player. Your comments regarding outplaying Tiger made you seem small, petty and just a little stupid. Nobody would recognize you in public except that you wear stupid shirts with a "Tabasco" logo. Tiger wears the Nike swoosh. Dude, you simply don't measure up. Take your check, thank God that you can play well enough to make a living, and don't criticize a legend.
Here are a few more "Woodyisms", things that only a fool could say:
Barkley was better than Jordan....he just didn't win any championships.
Frazier was better than Ali...........he just beat him one out of three.
I play better golf than Howard.............I just haven't beaten him yet.
Keith was a player...........he just chose not to get any play.
Phil Mickleson is the best...........the media just likes Tiger more.
Keith (last name omitted to protect his ego) was a friend of ours in college who had a girlfriend that everyone slept with....but him. Okay, that's harsh and not really true. Everyone didn't sleep with her: just his roommate. Keith fancied himself the "choosy lover." He only wanted the best. I guess the best never came along because I can't name one girl/woman he's ever been with intimately and in college, everybody knows who is getting some play and who isn't. The point I'm making is that you don't talk a game that you can't back up, whether it is golf, basketball, being a lover. Just let your actions speak for themselves.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
I hate the mall ......or do I?
I hate the mall!! I went to the mall Friday night and Saturday afternoon because I had nothing else to do.
I'm 41 years old. I'll be 42 on June 18. I came to a harsh reality yesterday. I'm too old for the mall on a Saturday afternoon.
There was a time when going to the mall to kill time or as a social outing was fun. Now, it is a reality check. The average aged person at the mall must be around 19. The clothes in the stores all look alike , too. They look like they have all been worn and just thrown on a hanger. I'm not going to wear any of this crap and I'm not going to spend $200.00 for jeans. I'm too old to be influenced by what some Hollywood star wears. I don't see any stars my age wearing $200.00 jeans. When you get in your 40's, and you have a regular job that you go to each day, you should have enough common sense to know that $200.00 would be better spent investing in the stock of the company that makes $200.00 jeans than in buying the jeans. What the hell is "premium" denim anyway? Premium gas, yes. Premium denim? C'mon, man!!! If your car manufacturer says to use premium gas and you don't, your car will run funny and you'll have to have it repaired. But if think your body needs premium denim to run properly, I suggest you get a premium psychiatrist.
I also realized I'm too old for the mall because I have no patience wtih these rude kids running loose in the mall. If I hadn't stopped walking on several occasions, about 15 kids would have run into me at some point. No one bothered to say "excuse me," either. These little bastards are rude. I'm getting too old to tolerate rudeness so I think I've made my last trip to the mall on a Saturday.
I remember as a teenager seeing guys about my age walking in the mall and thinking that they just looked out of place. If they were with a woman, I knew they'd been dragged there against their will. If they were alone I thought they were maybe picking something up for their wives or girlfriends. Maybe they needed something for themselves. But to just be in the mall, walking around with no real destination? What was that all about? There's nothing here for you. And now that I'm older, I know why they were there. They wanted to kill some time before meeting someone for something important elsewhere. The mall sucks!
The one thing I do like about the mall is looking at the young girls. No, not the real young girls: I'm no R. Kelly. I mean the ones who are at least 19 and look like women. They like to show their cleavage, which is something I like to watch. They all seem to have tatoos, as well, and in the same places. They have them in the smalls of their backs, or right above their navels. But I can't help but wonder how that's going to look when they are 60 and their skin isn't tight anymore and their stomachs are way past being flat. That butterfly on her stomach will look like a caterpillar again at 60. But for now, she is sexy and I would just like to see how many more tatoos she has in little secret places. I think that statement was confirmation that I'm getting old. I sound like a pervert. And I don't even care.
So let's see. I don't like the kids running rampant, I don't like the clothes, and common pieces of clothing like jeans cost as much the rent in my first apartment. But there are lots of pretty young things with great bodies, pretty faces and nice smiles. They are dressed sexy and they provide fuel for my fantasies. Maybe I'll give it another chance.
I'm 41 years old. I'll be 42 on June 18. I came to a harsh reality yesterday. I'm too old for the mall on a Saturday afternoon.
There was a time when going to the mall to kill time or as a social outing was fun. Now, it is a reality check. The average aged person at the mall must be around 19. The clothes in the stores all look alike , too. They look like they have all been worn and just thrown on a hanger. I'm not going to wear any of this crap and I'm not going to spend $200.00 for jeans. I'm too old to be influenced by what some Hollywood star wears. I don't see any stars my age wearing $200.00 jeans. When you get in your 40's, and you have a regular job that you go to each day, you should have enough common sense to know that $200.00 would be better spent investing in the stock of the company that makes $200.00 jeans than in buying the jeans. What the hell is "premium" denim anyway? Premium gas, yes. Premium denim? C'mon, man!!! If your car manufacturer says to use premium gas and you don't, your car will run funny and you'll have to have it repaired. But if think your body needs premium denim to run properly, I suggest you get a premium psychiatrist.
I also realized I'm too old for the mall because I have no patience wtih these rude kids running loose in the mall. If I hadn't stopped walking on several occasions, about 15 kids would have run into me at some point. No one bothered to say "excuse me," either. These little bastards are rude. I'm getting too old to tolerate rudeness so I think I've made my last trip to the mall on a Saturday.
I remember as a teenager seeing guys about my age walking in the mall and thinking that they just looked out of place. If they were with a woman, I knew they'd been dragged there against their will. If they were alone I thought they were maybe picking something up for their wives or girlfriends. Maybe they needed something for themselves. But to just be in the mall, walking around with no real destination? What was that all about? There's nothing here for you. And now that I'm older, I know why they were there. They wanted to kill some time before meeting someone for something important elsewhere. The mall sucks!
The one thing I do like about the mall is looking at the young girls. No, not the real young girls: I'm no R. Kelly. I mean the ones who are at least 19 and look like women. They like to show their cleavage, which is something I like to watch. They all seem to have tatoos, as well, and in the same places. They have them in the smalls of their backs, or right above their navels. But I can't help but wonder how that's going to look when they are 60 and their skin isn't tight anymore and their stomachs are way past being flat. That butterfly on her stomach will look like a caterpillar again at 60. But for now, she is sexy and I would just like to see how many more tatoos she has in little secret places. I think that statement was confirmation that I'm getting old. I sound like a pervert. And I don't even care.
So let's see. I don't like the kids running rampant, I don't like the clothes, and common pieces of clothing like jeans cost as much the rent in my first apartment. But there are lots of pretty young things with great bodies, pretty faces and nice smiles. They are dressed sexy and they provide fuel for my fantasies. Maybe I'll give it another chance.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Friday, February 9, 2007
So, you like the internet?
Phillip Emeagwali - Big Brain
Read about this dude's contribution to modern computing.
http://www.time.com/time/2007/blackhistmth/bios/04.html
A Decision Making Tip
"When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount."
Dakota Indian Proverb
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