Random Reflection May Something or Another

Posted by admin on May 13th, 2013 filed in Uncategorized
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In my house, hot cocoa is essential.  For my son, its a quick treat.  For me, its that and my equivalent to an infrequent cigarette; I drink it and get that “ahhhhh” effect.  In this pic, the box is unside down because there are no more packets left.

Must…get…..more……**scratches arm vigorously**

Thanks to my neighbor’s odd desire to listen to his music in his car at strange times of the night and my girl’s reaction to the aforementioned; I’m wide awake.  Now would be a good time for sleep inducing show like Matlock or Law & Order.  (I actually love those shows, but the pace is so steady that if your sleepy, you always miss the ending).

For some reason, I’m just realizing that Atlanta is Black Hollywood.  10+ years ago, I would have been happy to say that; not so much now though.  Why?  Because first and foremost, this Black Hollywood is an inferior knockoff of real entertainment production.  In Hollywood, you have television and movie production.  Real tv, that is….the kind that involves clever and creative script writing.  Most of the television produced in ATL is reality tv and show production.  Those things are fine, but not what I was expecting when Tisha Campbell and Duane Martin got on a Baltimore stage and prophecized the coming a Va Beach Black Hollywood via the oracles known as Jada Pinkett and Will Smith.  I was looking forward to that as that was a time period where a lot of Black-based movies had been released.  I thought it was going to be the start of something big.

But now we have ATL with its psuedo-cosmopolitanism in the guise of the 21st century version of the Old South.  I can say that; I’ve done business in ATL and there’s a lot of shine without a lot of substance.  That’s reflective of this new Black Hollywood donning.  At best, there is a Tyler Perry movie in production every now and then.

But maybe its a blessing for Blacks that I don’t see.  Now upstart entertainers can actually live in a dwelling that can be considered a home instead of a car or hostel.  Now all of the good studios aren’t in NYC or LA.  On the otherhand, some of these people who wouldn’t be able to get a waiter job in LA are gettin on reality shows with ease and showing up to ATL’s “A List” affairs.

Let’s hope it gets better.

Whats Amazing this Week 1-26-13

Posted by admin on January 26th, 2013 filed in Amazing Blog
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Tuesday-

Amazing we don’t see more dead deer in the winter. (talk radio)

5 Hour Energy is amazing (commercial)

Amazing dinner at cbslocaloffers.com

Amazing deals on Toyota Tundra (commercial)

“It was amazing to see how these fans reacted” (Pats fans)

“Eating lunch at the dirty buffalo in Norfolk. Omg this plate is amazing. Mac and cheese, home fries, chicken cutlets, and spicy chili.”

Wow….even websites:http://www.7amazingcreations.com/category/interior-design-2/

Yes……its amazing” (tv show “Cold Case” talking about apartment)

DirectTV is more amazing than….”

 

Wednesday- Student writes an amazing story. (From Who’s that Girl)

**singing** “I’m an amazing teacher” (From Who’s that Girl…again)
“Amazing work my man” (from Who’s That Girl….yet, again)

 

Thursday- Amazing Pro-B Formula

Amazing wine list in New Orleans restaurant

 

Friday-  Ed Reed says “amazing” 3 times in 5 sentences during an interview.

These facts about nature MUST be amazing: http://www.facebook.com/amazingfactsandnature

Why I Don’t Give Props to Ray Lewis

Posted by admin on September 23rd, 2012 filed in unleaded
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Ray Lewis has been a good (note I didn’t say “great”) leader of the Ravens for a long time. They could not have been a premiere defense for so long without him. However, in my opinion, his quotes, antics, and fading skills have practically nullified his previous successes.

1.) He’s useless in the pass game. I don’t think he can cover ME on an out or fade route, and I’m older than him. The Ravens now rarely have him in there on 3rd downs; and when he is, all he does is rush the QB. That leaves the entire middle of the field wide-open. If the QB can avoid the rush, he will always have an open man in the middle.

2.) He talks too much. I think he believes his own hype as far as being an NFL player to be heard. Remember this:
“Do this research if we don’t have a season, watch how much evil, which we call crime, watch how much crime picks up, if you take away our game,” Lewis told ESPN. “There’s too many people that live through us, people live through us. Yeah, walk in the streets, the way I walk the streets, and I’m not talking about the people you see all the time.”
Lewis wasn’t referring to the mounting amount of arrests by NFL players during the lockout.
Lewis said he thought there would be an uptick in crime simply because, “There’s nothing else to do.”
Seriously, dude….come on.
3.) Criminality. Everyone deserves a 2nd chance, but the idea of a 2nd chance for a Regular Joe like myself is to just GET a job; not get the exact same job you had before. That is typical with most NFL players who screwed up, but least we not forget Ray Ray was a part of a MURDER. Not a beatdown, not a DWI, but a murder; a man died that night. He wasn’t innocent, he plead out. Trust and believe that if he wasn’t the greatest LB ever (I’ll give him that), he wouldn’t be in an NFL uniform.
4.) Psuedo-leadership. We as fans believe that Ray is the leader of the team because he’s so vocal on and off of the field. That’s only partially true. On the field, he’s actually not the shot-caller; that was the job of former DL/LB Jarrett Johnson. HE put players in place based offensive formations. Hyping up the players, notice who’s surrounding Ray when he’s getting folks amped. Its either the youngest players or the newest players. The players who’ve been there awhile realize its the same speech as last year and the year before that. I’ve heard former players confirm this.
5.) Last but not least, the hyping him as this great individual. Besides the murder rap, the off the field issues way back in the days at the U, and the multiple baby-mamas. It amazes me how he’s hyped as this family man with about 6 kids from 4 different women and yet has never been married. I don’t think that fit the niche of a family man…hell I don’t even think it fits as the ideal nuclear family man. Supposedly, he’s there for all of his kids, but what do the women in his life have to say about this? How are you to create a family when you have sub-families all over the place? How are those children going to feel? Slippery slope, man.

He’s been a key to the success of the Ravens over the years. But the sum total of his achievements really should be scrutinized with what he brings to the party as a total person and what he contributes (not monetarily) to the community and his fans.

Why the PGA Now Has 2 Female Members (You probably already know why)

Posted by admin on August 21st, 2012 filed in unleaded
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DISCLAIMER: This piece is my and my opinion only.

In 1990, Augusta National admitted its first sets of Blacks. Today, they admitted their first women. It is an achievement for civil rights; another good old boy network that has decided to acclimate to the norms of society. However, I have my own theories as to why Augusta has made this move; and if you don’t feel like reading the remainder of this piece, let me sum it up to you in 2 words….Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods; the same reason why Augusta decided to integrate in ’90. Well…one of the reasons.

Reason #1: Tiger Woods.  Woods has been vilified in the media over the past 2 years because of his marital infidelities.  Some of his colleagues (some of whom were/are doing the same thing)  turned their backs on him while his skills have gradually diminished.  Even with that, ratings are always better when Woods is playing; sometimes by twofold.  However, Augusta is one of the last bastions of the new good old boy’s network.  Their lack of integration can be viewed as the support of those misogynistic attitudes.  Although Woods is as popular as before, politically he’s not the best bedfellow.  So why show any kind of understanding (albeit very indirect) for his actions?  Its a stretch, but when it  comes to golf, you can blame (and credit) anything to Tiger Woods.

 

Reason #2: Shoal Creek:

Up until 1990, Shoal Creek and many other golf clubs had no African-American members. Club founder Hall Thompson commented that the club would not be pressured to accept African-American members, stating “this is our home, and we pick and choose who we want.”  Wow.  These comments made the tournament a news flurry as civil rights groups threatened to protest the event and sponsors pulled advertising from the tournament. The compromise between the PGA and the club was to give local insurance executive Louis Willie  honorary membership with full membership to come after the waiting-list period of any membership application. The snowball effect was that everyone associated with golf; clubs, the PGA, and the USGA began to look at minorities’ roles the sport. The PGA and USGA changed rules regarding course selection, requiring clubs that hosted events to meet inclusive membership requirements.  Shoal Creek actually admitted women before Augusta, but Augusta was never penalized.  Augusta somehow flew under the radar which may be due to the popularity of the tournament.  Too bad, because now its time they adjust.

 

Reason #3: The LPGA:  The LPGA has been for the longest time the parallel circuit to the PGA (unlike the WNBA which is on a pure novelty status in comparison to the NBA).  The ladies on the tour for many years have expressed their disdain for the sexist membership requirements of clubs like Augusta in quiet, polite, and refined repugnance.  Anna Sorenstam has never supported the policy, but has quietly protested it through social media and by playing tournaments with the men.  By playing with the men, she physically demonstrates that she is just as capable of playing on any course the men play on.  Nancy Lopez has actually supported Augusta’s policy.  In 2002, Ms Lopez stated “You know, I hate that that has come up because I have always respected the tradition at Augusta,” Lopez told the Albany Herald. “And it was never a tradition of male or female to me, it was always just tradition.”   Interesting quote, right?  At the same time, Lopez said that she would be honored to if asked to become a member.  See the strategy in that?  In other words, this is what Lopez was saying “You guys can have your policy, no problem.  As the most notable women’s professional player ever, I can take or leave your club.  Get at me when you’re ready…I got shit to do.”

 

Reason #4: The Republican Party:  Ok, this is one is obvious and ties in to Reason #1.  As a fly on the wall, I bet the conversation of the Augusta National board room sounded like this:

Dingaling #1: Fellas, maybe it’s about time we admit women into the club.

Dingaling #2: What?  Have you lost your mind?  We already have more coloreds on the greens than we can handle.  And now you want to add some blubbering women?  I tell you what, let’s just make the club “happy liberal america land” and call it a day, ok?  Idiot….”

Dingaling #1: Listen, fool…here’s the idea.  We give membership to women, but we make sure that the women we invite are the right ones and I mean the RIGHT ones.

Dingaling #3: Hmmm.  I’m listening….

Dingaling #1: Gentlemen, it ain’t looking good.  We got Hussein Obama in the White House  and a non-Christian running against him.  Now, I’ll take the lesser of 2 evils and go for the Mormon, but need to get in the thick of things and show some support for the good ol’ GOP by finding a way to get more women to support ol’ Mitt.  Now what better way to do that than to get women as members?

Dingaling #2: Say!  I get it now!  Not only can we increase membership, but we can help the party out at the same time.  And while we’re at it, let’s invite a few women who’ve been loyal to the party and are recognizable?

Dingaling #3: Yes…..How about Dana Moore?  I know she’s sitting on a heap of cash.

Dingaling #1:  Yup.  Maybe at least one more….a really REALLY big name who golfs….

ALL:  CONDELEZZA!!!  **all laugh**

Dingaling #1: Gentlemen, we’ve done it again.

 

So now Augusta has increased its potential membership pool at a time of an election year AND to a demographic that is not really pro-Romney?  Oh, and WHERE do a significant amount of political fundraisers take place for $100+ a plate?  Right….golf club houses.

 

 

Augusta National…y’all ain’t slick.  Smart, but y’all ain’t slick.

 

Coming soon: 40 Bad Asses over 40

Posted by admin on July 29th, 2012 filed in unleaded
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I’m compiling the list now and will probably break dudes down by category; sports, Hollywood, politics, academics.  Any suggestions, let me know!

I’m Back!

Posted by admin on July 3rd, 2012 filed in unleaded
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Its been almost a year since I blogged, but here I’m is.  I didn’t blog for the longest time because of time constraints (self-created) and the whole “what do I blog about”? syndrome.  I know the days of random blogging about whats in your head are over with the likes of other social media, but blogging is a good outlet for some of us.  Maybe the blog will take a direction; maybe it won’t.  **shrug**

 

But in the meantime, it’ll be whats usually in my head:  sports, entertainment, fitness, food, and a drizzle of politics.

 

In the immortal words of Bugs Bunny….”a revea der-chee!”

The Best Heisman Trophy Race Ever

Posted by admin on October 15th, 2011 filed in unleaded
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The Heisman Trophy race has always been pomp and circumstance; most of us knew Cam Newton was going to win it, Tim Tebow and so on. 

This year is no different.  Andrew Luck is a lock for it this year, but his competiton is vastly different from previous races.  This year, his competition consists of other quarterbacks that happen to be Black.

I’ve only been a college football fan for about 15 years, and this is probably the first time I’ve seen this many Black quarterbacks (QBs) compete for the Trophy.  As a matter of fact, before Cam Newton won last year, only 3 other Black QBs have won (Andre Ware, Charlie Ward, Troy Ward).  This year, there may actually be 3 Black QBs in the running; Robert Griffith III, Denard Robinson, and Robert Wilson. 

And speaking of “running”, these 3 don’t fit the stereotype of the running QB.  These young men are intelligent athletes in which at least 1 of them runs a complex offense.  Just 20 years ago, most of the collegiate Black QBs weren’t given the opportunity to run complex offenses and even then the success stories were not given the chance to play QB in the NFL.

But today is a new day.  With Americans gradually being happier with quality over racial preference, even though its just sports, equality is slowly but surely being the standard and not the marching order.

It’s Here! It’s Here!

Posted by admin on July 6th, 2011 filed in Uncategorized
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I’m at the Kappa Alpha Psi Conclave (“Konklave” in Nupe vernacular). I’l be posting stuff about the my participation in the activities all week long. Enjoy!

Spring Weekend- Dreams

Posted by admin on May 22nd, 2011 filed in unleaded
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I had a great weekend; many things to think about and consider.  Friday I spent the day in court.  Divorce is a bitch.  I’ve come to the conclusion that you shouldn’t divorce anyone unless its REALLY necessary.  Only divorce if a person puts you in harm’s way.  I needed a to unwind and I was dragged out of the house by Sonya Sotamejor and taken to Joe Squared.  The band there was perfect for me that night, festively funky without being over the top.  My favorite bartender on Earth, AttilaTheFun gave me a drink called a Charlie Sheen.  Yes, a Charlie Sheen.  A four part drink:  Straight Rye Whiskey to represent Adonis, an element I forget for the Tiger’s Blood, sugar around the edge to represent to the cocaine, and a cherry in the bottom to represent the poonanay.  Let me tell y’all something…it put me on my a$$!!  Whew!  And of course, as traditional, AtillaTheFun and I had our back and forth along with our  traditional shot of his choice.    Needless to say I wasn’t a whole lot of good after all that.  But I appropriately waited to sober up a bit before I headed back home.

 

The next day I ran errands all day; haircut, purchase of hair products…. Yes, I have to purchase my hair products at the beauty supply.  Its my attempt at The Pretty Boy Effect.  That’s basically emaculance without looking efeminine.  What was interesting was my late night convo with a female friend.  She has a tendency to over analyse things especially about men.  In a nutshell, I told her to keep it simple;  stop playing and guessing.  Only make moves on what you know, not on assumptions.  She was eternally greatful.  I think….

 

Sunday morning-ish I had a dream.  I dreamed that I was watching a tv show ala BET Lounge (Circa 1990′s) and performing was a group called Black Fleetwood Mac.  Hehhehe…yeah!  The group consisted of Stokley from Mint Condition on drums and background vocals, Raphael Sadiiq on bass, Alicia Keys on keyboards and vocals, Jazmine Sullivan on lead vocals, and Martin Luther on guitar.  And in the dream, they sang “Never Break the Chain”, their version.  Sick.  Like I tweeted earlier today “I’m a genius in my dreams.” Can you imagine that??  For those of you who is not familiar with Martin Luther, check him out; very good guitarist and decent singer.

I’m working on the twitter campaign for it now.  Work with me a tweet #BlackFleetwoodMac.

 

NBA All-Brawl Team

Posted by admin on April 25th, 2011 filed in unleaded
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I don’t know why I thought about this, maybe because of the psuedo-fight between the European dude and Jason Richardson.  But it got me to thinking, who would be the starting five of the All-Brawl team?  There are a couple of obvious picks for team such as Dennis Rodman, but what about the starting five?  I based my picks on number of fights participated in, actually punches thrown (not pushes or tackles), and notoriety.

 

Point Guard- Charlie Ward:  Ward was a 2nd round draft pick from a tough Florida State team.  He also was the Heisman Trophy winner in his senior as the school’s starting QB.  He translated that toughness to the hardwood where he took no crap from his opponents and never backed down from a skirmish; including his most famous one with PJ Brown in a playoff game.

 

 

Swingman- Vernon Maxwell:  When thinking back on this cat, I think that both he and the other Maxwell

should have a testosterone exchange; Mad Max giveth, and Maxwell taketh away.  But that’s another blogpost.  Personally, I can’t remember any games that Maxwell did not have at least 1 shoving match in.  I especially remember him going after the fan in the stands.  Cost him a few dollars as well as a game or 2.

 

 

Small Forward- Ron Artest:    He was considered one of the most hated men in the league until he got on the the Lakers a couple years ago.  Could it be because he always mixed it up on the court? Or is it because he had big big dogs that scared his neighbors kids?  Hmm…Probably both.  Or the fact that he almost pummeled a fan in Indie.  Yeah, probably all of the above.

check out the look on the fan’s face

sleeper hold!!

Power Forward- Charles Oakley:  There were a lot of  mean power forwards back in the day.  But the one who topped the list to me is Charles Oakley.  I think he was meanest as a Knick.  A rebound fiend and was not afraid of anyone or to foul out.  There is a great folklore tale about Oakley.  Apparently he was at a night club enjoying the scene and his friends.   A random loud mouth comes up to him and starts talking mucho crapo to him.  Oakley says nothing; just stares into the fool’s eyes.  Out of the blue, Oakley smacks the dude across the face, stares at him, and then walks away.  Whoa.  Shaft lives!

Center (tie)- Alonzo Mourning/Kareem Abdul Jabar: Alonzo Mourning’s most famous scrap was the one shown above.  But let’s not forget the many verbal and one very physical altercations with Larry Grandmama Johnson.  I wonder if they are still beefing?

 

Now Kareem got into some some fights too, but he fought BRUCE LEE.  Bruce.  ”The Call Me Bruce” Bruce Lee!  Sorry Centers, but that’s an automatic bid if I ever heard one.

 

that right looks nasty, don't it?

Hi YAAA!!!

 

 

And now for the rest of the team:

Guards- Jason Terry, John Starks

Swingman/forwards- Stacey Augmon, Isaiah Rider, Kendall Gill

 

 

Center- Dwight Howard