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.

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.