Barack Obama becomes the first African-American to win the nomination of a major parties candidacy. Mr. Obama joins a litany of stalwart African-American leaders whom have sought the highest office in the land. From, Frederick Douglas 1868, (R) roll call vote, Shirley Chisolm 1972 (1st Black woman), to Jesse Jackson in ‘84 & ‘88 and Al Sharpton.
With respect to all the aforementioned candidates, none of them were politically viable to realize their ambitions. Obama is more than viable, he’s actually likely, despite the polls, pundits & naysayers. James Clyburn, House Majority Whip is the highest Black elected official in D.C. Most of the congressional black caucus (CBC) are members of the House of Representatives. At one time, Obama was the only Senator member of the CBC in Congress. Secretary of State: Condoleeza Rice was appointed.
So, from that vantage point, Obama has done the unthinkable. Ironically, as I’ve said in the past during the primaries, most Blacks didn’t support him either. It wasn’t until his first victory in Iowa, and very strong showing in New Hampshire that masses of black folks jumped on the band wagon, when they realized the brother had a credible shot, especially among white people.
How do I know? I supported him from the word: GO! I did my own polling, first hand no matter where I went, and young & old were like we behind Clnton. I was incredulous! It was tantamount to treason in my eyes. President Clinton signed into law the 3 strikes bill, a bill that saw the imprisonment of 1 million black men! Our community didn’t support Clinton because of his policies, we didn’t have any idea, even to this day. We just embraced him as a play cousin ‘who acted black too.’ We’ve fallen in love with oppression we can’t even grab hold of what was right in front of us.
It was 45 years ago to the day, 8/28/2008 when Matin Luther King Jr. made his seminal speech, “I Have A Dream.” Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for the Presidency of the Unites States of America. The Invesco Field House, in Denver, Colorado saw a crowd of over 85,000 people to watch history being made.
From movie stars, Jamie Foxx, and Jessica Alba. To former NBA all-star, Charles Barkley to critically acclaimed movie director Spike Lee that stadium was filled to the rafters. For those who couldn’t make it to Denver they amassed in Time Square and watched on the Jumbotron. Others organized “watch parties” in their homes, bars, meeting halls, libraries, coffee houses & internet cafes.
It would seem that a great majority of American & International homes were tuned in to watch this auspicious moment in American history. Indeed, it was the fulfillment of a prophetic speech given by King many years ago. Some of the lines of that speech played out Thursday night before all of our eyes. I saw Sasha & Malia Obama playing with, I believe were Biden’s little girls on stage as fireworks went off overhead.
Compare that scene with, “One day black girls & white girls will sing together…..” The speech went something like that, and there before us to witness. Basically, the equality & recognition that Martin fought for was realized in some real tangible way. It felt like an accomlishment was achieved, though long & protracted. Not to say, the struggle is over, by any stretch of the imagination.
That was a memorable moment, as the camera panned I saw a black woman & white woman embrace. It was a beautiful uplifting sentiment, I know they were strangers, but somehow they were united together as Americans. Not the hokey pretense we all saw after 9/11. We were mad as hell then, now we’re madly in love with one another, unless he loses then all hell will break loose! lol
Seriously, its one thing to find unity in time of crisis, when your life may depend on it, and quite another when you’re free to choose at your disposal. Seeing people come under one banner in harmony is quite the spectacle, yet insulting when its scripted. This was no script, nor was it rehearsed. I don’t know what I witnessed fully right now, I’ll have a better idea on November 5, 2008. The day after the general election we will all have a greater sense about where we individually & collectively are headed!!!!
Although, it was hardly a coincidence that a Black man whom was only two years old at the time, another Black man called on this country to live out its purpose & creed. Eerily, Obama is living out the dream, by once again stirring a country’s conscience, similarily to King 45 years ago. Obama, like King opposes an immoral war abroad, amid growing tensions at home.
The world is very different, yet some of the themes we find ourselves in as a nation faced with are painfully similar.
This is a milestone in our individual & collective lives, no matter what happens from here. The intention is to win the election, and start the business of reconciling this broken economy, redeveloping infrastructure & inner-cities, and returning the collective hope of a nation! He’s no savior, he’s only a man, though what he has inspired is nothing short of a movement.
He had some real poignant lines tonight: “we can’t turn back, equal pay for an equal day’s work, no capital gains tax for small businesses & start-ups, & a 95% cut in taxes for the middle class!”
I’m not even versed on tax codes (capital gains taxes), but Obama made me want to go and research ways I can expand my start-up to economic viability. He illicits a response within people that moves them to action. That’s not easy to do, damn near impossible for politicians. I’ve never met one, in fact, he has redefined the way in which we look at elected officials. He makes them look honorable because you can see his integrity.
Consider this, he touched a lot of issues that Democrats traditionally are loathed to discuss. Such as, abortion, the right to bear arms, and same sex unions. These issues are harbingers of GOP policies. Obama went there and deftly articulated a liberal view, but with a non-partisan humanism. He contrasted the two political philosophies of conservative right with liberal left, and molded them into one tapestry of justice an equality for all. He really did that, it was amazing to witness that!!!!
Captives on deck, in the hull, tightly packed. One manages to escape through suicide!
On January 1, 1863, then President Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation, in effect, abolishing the illegal trafficking of human cargo. Otherwise, infamously, known as the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. To the educated, we reject this idea of ’slave trade,’ rather, we prefer the term enslavement which speaks to the process of enslavement.
‘Slaves’ don’t come from Africa, Africans do. ‘Slaves’ weren’t made in Africa, rather America. The term ’slave’ takes out the humanistic element that people have stripped away by the term: ‘Slave.’ The term slave originates from Slavic, an Eastern European ethnic group, and has no origin with black people, despite the connotation. Human beings from Africa were reduced to en-slavement as a result of white supremacy, racism & injustice. This point can’t be stressed enough!!!
A few months ago, the U.S. House made a non-binding agreemnent concerning the acknowledgement & apology for enslavement.
‘The “sense of the Congress” resolution–which does not carry the force of law, even if the Senate passes its own version of the apology–passed by voice vote July 29. Slavery ended officially in the country on June 19, 1865–a day named “Juneteenth” by the Freedmen–when the slaves in Galveston, Texas, were set free by a column of U.S. troops.’
Most African Americans could care less about a damn apology. For the simple reason that the “peculiar institution” as it was called by practitioners was abolished just 143 years ago. Nonetheless, Blacks still suffered under chattel slaver for 310 years, in addition, to “Jim Crow” laws for 100 years. After 410 years of 2nd class treatment, an apology falls on deaf ears at this late date. Rep. John Conyers introduced a bill several years ago to look into solutions per enslavement.
“The discussion of race is a sensitive, difficult issue, even today in our society, and of course the apology is not the end of the story,” said Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), chair of the House Judiciary Committee and sponsor of H.R. 40, a bill establishing a U.S. commission to study the effects of slavery and the potential value to the country of making reparations payments.”
“But it does reaffirm our national commitment to understanding and addressing, in the words of the resolution, how to rectify the ‘lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African Americans under slavery and Jim Crow,’ and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future,” Mr. Conyers continued.
Race is in America is a sensitive issue, but its unacceptable for descendants of slave masters to feign pity or ignorance. The ill effects of race will never be eradicated, if citizens won’t speak honestly & frankly about the repurcussions manifest today. Alas, thats part of the problem, whites feel racism is over or not as bad. Just how they justify that thinking is irrational to say the least. On the other hand, Blacks know the psychological chains of slavery are still rampant & pervasive. Despite, the honest attempts of those who, like their black brethren, know of its decadence!
“The House of Representatives “apologizes to African Americans on behalf of the people of the United States for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow,” the resolution reads in part.”
“The fact that this government has not apologized to its own citizens, African Americans, for the institution of slavery and for the Jim Crow laws that followed, and accepted that fact and encouraged changes in our dialogue and understanding in the actions of this country to rectify that is certainly a mistake. And today, we rectify that mistake,” Mr. Cohen said on the House floor.”
“When people commit injustices and do bad things, they ought to apologize and ask for forgiveness,” Mr. Cohen said. “Just be a good human being. Countries should operate in the same manner. Slavery is abhorrent.”
Shameful, that it took so long for our nation to get to this point. It must be what I term the “Obama Effect” which has seen a sudden interest in all causes espoused by African Americans.
Acknowledgement is the first step to recovery. Solutions aren’t any good if, one hasn’t admitted that a moral wrong has even ocurred. Now, the next step in healing this open wound comes from the honest assessment of the ill effects facing multiple generations of American citizens. We need more open dialogue between the races which will go along way to show teh victims of this heinous crime that “injustice amongst some of us, is injustice for us all!” There is no escaping this critical fact!!
‘An apology certainly is an acknowledgment that a harm was done, a grievous injury was suffered and a trauma was endured but what do we do about reconstituting Black America so that the potential for us to realize our total ambition as a people will be put in place?” said Michael Eric Dyson, an author and professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Words are not enough deeds must follow, he said.’
“Reparations are certainly one of the signals that America can send if they are serious about reconstituting American culture,” Dr. Dyson continued. America rebuilt Europe after destroying it and Asian Americans and Jews were rightly compensated for their suffering, he said.’
So, why are blacks treated like pariah whenever the idea of reparations is brought forward? Is there pain & suffering any different from anyone else’s? Are they not worthy or repair, reconstitution, redemption? Why are blacks held to a stricter standard for every social service that is theirs by right & citizenship? When will mainstream society finally use the tenets of empathy, and selflessness to understand the plight of the “least of us.” If not now, then when, if not us then who?
Dr. Dyson raises critical points, the apology is empty if not followed up with deeds and action! If America can rebuild Europe with hundreds of millions of dollars, then the U.S. must replicate that same good will and display it to your own citizens. African-Americans are the back bone of this society, and the moral conscience of a generation, from its inception to the present time.
Now, is the time to honor the memory of the legions af sharecroppers, indentured servants, chattel enslaved, lynched, raped, pillaged human beings that by no will of their own found themselves reduced to enslavement!!
COMMENTARY
“This resolution is very important because it does acknowledge the tremendous history of slavery and Jim Crow in the United States, and it also does acknowledge that the systems and institutions, the mindset and all those things that stem from the era of enslavement and Jim Crow are still with us today, and they are still impacting African Americans lives.
“It also resolves that there should be a commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African Americans under slavery and Jim Crow, and very importantly and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future. That does not say specifically anything about reparations, but it also is important language, because it does not exclude it,” Ms. Tyehimba continued.
“What’s clear is that reparations is something that has legal precedent, but it’s a political storm and game that’s going on. And for you to say ‘you’re sorry’, when we already knew, and for you to say that ‘we know that you continue to suffer,’ it’s just insulting,” commented Dr. Leary.
“And shame on us as Black people for not addressing and responding to this en mass, but we don’t know who we are and if you don’t know who you are, you even don’t have the wherewithal to know that you have to find a true ending. I don’t suspect that you’re going to get some miraculous consciousness as a result of this, but what we should do is galvanize because they’re admitting to a crime against humanity, wholeheartedly, and basically saying we aren’t going to do anything about it. Shame on us as Black people if we sit there and go, ‘Oh thanks.’
“What happens now is the next logical piece because your dialogue with me is I’m sorry. I don’t care about dialoguing about it because this is nothing new for us.White people always want to dialogue but they don’t want to change the hand of power.You haven’t done anything for me because you’ve said you’re sorry, and I don’t believe you’re sorry because you continue to do the same behavior,” argued Dr. Leary.She just returned from Ghana and her most recently published work is “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing.”
‘While applauding the resolution, Ms. Tinker questioned Mr. Cohen’s motive. “I think an apology for the atrocities of slavery was long overdue,” she said in a statement. “But I find it very interesting that Mr. Cohen would call for a national apology during a heated election when he clearly needs African American votes. For over 20 years while serving in the Tennessee General Assembly, he never thought to ask the state of Tennessee for an apology, not once,” she said.’
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) also applauded the House action. “Before you can heal, you’ve got to say, ‘I’m sorry.’ That’s basic Psychology 101,” said Rep. Lee. “If you hurt somebody and don’t say, ‘I’m sorry,’ how can you move on?”
Dr. Leary maintained the apology should be placed in a proper context. “This year marks the 200th year of the end of the slave trade, which was largely ignored by America, Americans, Blacks; everybody is just not tracking that, whereas other countries are at least paying lip service to the relevance of the end of the slave trade. So America is in deep trouble around the world. Everybody hates America, the American dollar is falling, for instance, the Ghanaian cedi is equal to the American dollar, or a little less than, but a few of years ago it was like $100 million to one,” she noted.
“We’ve got to be careful and look at the timing of this apology, number one. They’ve served to (Barack) Obama the question of reparations, with the intent of alienating either one or both communities, no matter what his response is,” she said.
Sen. Obama, the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for president, has said the best form of reparations would be jobs and access to education and downplayed any official apology. “Whether it’s Native American issues, whether it’s African American issues and reparations, the most important thing for the U.S. government to do is not just to offer words, but to offer deeds,” he said, in a July 27 appearance at the Unity journalists of color conference in Chicago.
Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic nominee Barack Obama addresed the DNC on Monday evening. Many pundits, journalists & conservatives have been on this sister’s case all campaign long. What does she mean she’s not proud of her country? When, in fact, her words were related out oc context. She said; “For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country!”
How in the hell does one misconstrue a self evident statement like this? Easy, if you’re not for the Obamas, then you’re probably against them. Thats exactly what happened! Now, was her first major public address, and many claim a chance to re-introduce herself to the American public.
Obama’s message was a sweeping success. She touched all the right & necessary chords: their background, her family, her academic success, and why Obama was the best qualified to lead this nation from peril. She said that Barack was raised with the same values as her family raised her with. Her brother introduced her & lauded her & Barack’s accomplishments.
The highlight of her speech may have been the one least scripted. At the conclusion, she brought out Malia & Sasha to wave at the adoring crowd. Suddenly, via satellite Poppa Obama made his way on screen & the whole world got a 1st hand reality look inside the Obama family.
Sasha, the younger sibling was articulate, when Dad asked her, “How did mommy do? Her response, Good!” She ws the show stopper as everyone couldn’t help, but be drawn into teh Obamas through th youngest members of their family.
Michelle Obama did her part in the representation of a capable, heart felt, charismatic 1st Lady. Now, the nation awaits her husbands speech Thursday night.
August 27, 2008 Democratic National Convention made history in more ways than one. Sen. Clinton had a roll call vote on the floor of the convention. It meant each state had a chance to voice its support for the candidate of its choice. Each state more or less supported the front runner barack Obama.
However, some states yielded to Illinois or New York in deference of the moment. So, when the state of New York had a chance to cast its vote, Sen. Clinton came out with all the NY delegates, & Gov. David Paterson to call for the suspension of the roll call. With the roll call effectively ended, and all the delegates counted, Obama wins the nomination by ACCLAMATION!
On August 1-3, 2008; The National Hip-Hop Political Convention {THHPC} held its bi-annual forum in Las Vegas. The forum featured artists, activists, politicians, entrepreneurs, youth, educators & journalists. The convention is designed to address issues that mainstream media ignores or distorts. Such as, political activism within the Hip-Hop genre. One would never know that Hip-Hop have made categorical stances in relation to the issues that disproportionately effect them.
The organ was founded in 2003, with a twofold platform: 1.) To underscore the unsuccesful design to ban Hip-Hop 3 years ago by the establishment. 2.) To galvanize support for the National Hip-Hop Political Agenda. The convention theme was: “Seizing the Time For A Better Tomorrow,” and the constituents focused on workshops, entertainment, discussions & training around the agenda’s 6 point platform.
The agenda raises pertinent issues that affect the community, such as, education, economic justice, criminal justice, health and wellness, human rights, and “womanism”—which seeks to end violence, sexism and misogyny against women. This last item “womanism” is a popular substitute to feminism, coined by Alice Walker to address the issues of women of color.
Last night, TV ONE, a black owned & operated media outlet covered the DNC from a Black perspective. One of the panelists, Rev. Marcia Dyson, wife of Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, spoke to this issue of sexism in politics. She referenced how some people wouldn’t vote for then Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton, because women have PMS. An obvious slight to working women everywhere, however, she snuffed out that thought by offering a revised rendition of PMS as an acronym. P=Patriarchy, M= Misogyny, S= Sexism. Brilliant!
So, the fact that NHHPC has made womanism one of its party agenda items is commendable for a genre whose critiques often mention misogyny in the lyrics, videos etc. So, why didn’t any of the large media conglomerates cover this convention? Maybe, they aren’t interested in soultion oriented people organized around a central cause with no centralized leadership. Not suprising, when you consider what is given attention in mass media.
“The agenda are the issues that the political hip hop community identified as areas we need to address in this current period or are already working on. Unlike other political platforms, we take responsibility on these issues such as being responsible for our own health wellness, eating healthy and exercising, treating women with love and respect, [and] NOT supporting and staying critical of people in our communities and entertainers that objectify, disrespect and verbally, attack women,” said Jay Woodson, a convention organizer from Philadelphia.
In addition, convention goers addressed the need to banish gentrification, and the destruction of publicly funded and affordable housing, and reparations for Indigenous peoples and victims/descendants of the African slave trade. Also, calling for state and federal mandates for equal funding resources in education and parity spending in public schools.
The abovementioned agenda items alone if accomplished would go far in affecting justice, equality and the oft repeated, seldom achieved American dream. Parity in education goes back 3-4 generations to the Seperate, but equal trial of the 1954 Topeka vs Board of Education. In 54 years we still haven’t achieved parity. Is it by design? Yes! How can this be when tax payers from these communities pay 1st class taxes, but recieve 2nd class service? Coincidence? No!
Gentrification, which IMO, hastens urban blight, crime & poverty is part & parcel “imminent domain” & “manifest destiny,” is rooted in white supremacy, imperialism, and hegemony! Why haven’t the candidates given voice to these issues brought forward by this convention?
Reparations, probably the most controversial topic has been a bill introduced by Chairman of the House Judiciary commitee: John Conyers (D) for the last 25 years. However, it always undermined & tacitly ignored by politicians on the floor. Which to me, is the Chief reason to vote, to remove these morally inept representations of black serfdom & acquiesence… Move with us, or move aside for real & meaningful progress for all segments of our communities….
“According to Mr. Woodson, the convention did not engage either Sen. Barack Obama’s or Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaigns with its agenda, but both campaigns were invited to attend. The Obama campaign promised to send someone but no one showed up (totally unacceptable) and the McCain campaign didn’t respond, he said.”
Members of the Green Party USA and the Young Democrats did attend.
‘Rosa Clemente, the vice presidential candidate for the Green Party USA, encouraged voters to consider their interests, despite party affiliations and directed words particularly toward Black, older and Latino voters. “The Democratic Party has already said, and the presumptive nominee has already said that the embargo on Cuba has to stay; that Hugo Chavez is a dictator; that the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) bill can be signed so Americans can now be legally spied on. They didn’t end the war. They took impeachment off the table. They don’t want a livable wage, they just want a minimum wage. All of those policies are diametrically opposed to everyday life in America,” Ms. Clemente said.’
Indeed, these issues are at the heart of the working class majority of all Americans that is dispersed across racial, gender & party lines. We haven’t heard either candidate illicit a response to these crucial issues that effect the quality of life of citizens. Are the platforms predetermined and already set for the general election? It would seem so, becauase we aren’t hearing any inkling of these hot-button topics from either major party candidate.
To date, only non-party affiliates like the Green party have addressed these issues in a constructive meaningful determined manner! Why might that be? Are the two major parties cut from the same cloth? I’ll let you be the judge & jury, but the evidence is stacked up decisively.
“Hip hop is a powerful medium and the NHHPC uses that medium to reach people that wouldn’t ordinarily engage in politics. It is important for everyone, irregardless of their openness to electoral politics to join organizations—whether it’s struggling to end police assassinations, decriminalizing the young generation, improving public education, ending the occupation in Iraq or increasing access to health care,” Mr. Woodson said.
This feels like my first real blog. Perhaps, because I wrote my response in like 3 minutes after reading the article, I felt strongly about it, and didn’t need any props to spur my words. This is in response to an article I read in the “Florida Courier” entitled: ” What a friend we have in Democrats.”
The article can be viewed at this site: {http://www.flcourier.com/news/articles/500/1/What-a-friend-we-have-in-Democrats/Page1.html}
I agree with your synopsis, however you offer no alternative. My alternative would be to create an independent voting bloc, “we have no permanent friends, nor permanent enemies, just permanent issues.” If we could rally around this simple mantra then we could effect change in a meaningful way that substantiates the sacrifice of our struggle.
At the same time, many blacks will never change their political affiliation, whats stopping the progressives & radicals from engendering hope by galvanizing all like minded individuals. Its like we need someone to tell us we can do it before the attempt is even made. Our people suffer for lack of knowledge, though some of us are so politically backwards, we don’t appropriate the wisdom, when we hear it into a meaningful & substantial tour de force!
Why? We have been duped into thinking Democrats are for Blacks, when in truth they are formerly called “Dixie-crats!” You know the same Dixie loving, confederate flag waving, slave owning, Jim Crow enacting, racial disenfranchisement, southern redneck, self proclaimed ‘cracker’ who still believes Judge Taney’s words: “the negro has no rights we are bound to respect!” That was in reference to the “Dred Scott Case.”
In the words of Frederick Douglas, the first African-American presidential candidate nominated by the Republican party in 1868, “Power conceded nothing without struggle, it never has & it never will!” The struggle continues…and its time for protracted proactive measures!
Fresh off the Gold medal win in Beijing, Team USA is back state side. Redeemed, Vindicated & Blinged out the 2003 NBA draft class {Melo, Bron & Wade} will always be remembered as the guys who restored order back in the Basketball universe. We can’t over state what they accomplished, with the greatest compilation of players since, 1992. In fact, I don’t think TEAM USA had the BEST team in Beijing. I rank SPAIN & ARGENTINA ahead of us, in terms of TEAM players & team play. You can have talent, but not be a total player. Indeed, this is why we lost in ‘06, ‘04 & ‘02.
Talent alone isn’t enough. You need versatile players committed to playing both ends of the floor. Team USA won because players 6-12 could have competed for a medal, thats how deep we were. What does it say when you need the best players in the known Universe to just squeak by in International ball? It says, that your team’s glory days are limited, if not behind them.
REDEEMED & READY 4 SEASON
Dwyane Wade just returned Monday from Beijing, along with Dwight Howard & Carlos Boozer who will take charter flights to Orlando & Utah respectively. Boozer should just go ahead & settle into his home in Miami, and send for his family to join him here in So-Fla! We’ll send Haslem, some cash and a couple of youngins to make the deal complete… sorry I digress!
“I can get used to it. I’m going to get used to it. I’m going to have it on for a little while,” the Heat guard said, still beaming after Olympic teammate Carlos Boozer departed the airport for his Miami home and Dwight Howard remained on the charter flight for the short hop to Orlando. “It’s just great. I’ve seen a bronze before, and it looks nothing like a gold, I tell you that.”
This is Wade’s 3rd International competition, he was in Athens 2004 & Japan in 2006. 3, must be his lucky number. He wears #3, and struck GOLD in his 3rd Int’l competition.
“We were just on the plane, saying, ‘Wow,’” he said. “You look at it, you get an opportunity to look at the gold, and you just say, ‘It’s real.’ A lot was put into this. A lot of years, a lot of hours were put into this, and to finally have it is a dream come true.”
Why do Americans proclaim the NBA championship, a world championship. Rather, the Olympics are truly a world championship because all the world (who have ball clubs) competes. I think its a little disingenious for us to make an ethnocentric statement like that. With this in mind, everyone wants to compare the two, to me, there is no comparison. One is regional, the other global!!
“I think the difference between winning the NBA championship and winning a gold medal is when I won an NBA championship, it was my third year in the league. … When I won a championship, everything was going great as an adult, nothing went wrong. I’ve had a lot of things that went bad since then.”
Reports say that Wade is still involved in divorce proceedings with his estranged wife. Everyone knows this past season was his worst professionally with the prevalence of injury amid a losing season that saw the end of his run with buddy Shaquille O’ Neal. Wade, just 26 years old would be 28 fot the World Championships in 2 years, and 30 in 2012 in London. Would he be open to returning to defend his crown?
“It’s not even an option in my mind right now,” he said. “I’m happy with this one and I’ll think about that in four years. Right now, I’m just excited that I was healthy enough to play in this Olympics and contribute and to win the gold medal.”
Wade, was easily the most valuable player for Team USA, and commentator Doug Collins said as much, “Team USA plays its best ball when Wade is on the floor.” Indeed, Wade showcased his all-around game steals, rebounds, defensive presence & of course a penchant for scoring in droves. Before the games began Wade said he was going to ‘play angry’ because naysayers didn’t think he belonged on the team.
My question is would Team USA win Gold w/o All-Star D. Wade? Not even close, the semi final game against Argentina was closer than most would like to admit, and with James & Bryant plagued with fouls the USA was in dire straits. Enter D. Wade, Captain Save A Nation!! Outside of Bryant & James no one had the ability to get to the rim the way Wade did.
Those guys couldn’t get on track in the semi final game. Then in the Gold medal round, James had a respectable 16 points, but hardly was a difference maker. Kobe, didn’t GET OFF, until the 4th quarter. Had Wade not scored 21 points at half time the game wouldn’t have even been close. In fact, Chris Bosh along with Wade saved face for Team USA in the gold medal game.
Howard, who couldn’t make free throws to save his life was plagued with fouls. So, in comes Bosh who displayed defensive prowess unheard of from him. He rebounded and blocked shots, and got out on the breaks for easy transition points. At the line, Bosh held his own with a much higher percentage than Howard. Moreover, he was outmatched by the Gasol brothers. Pau, had more skill and Marc had more strength. However, Chris had more tenacity & desire to win. In the end, that made all the difference in the world….
DA BIG 3, USA BALL
D. Wade was the best player on a team full of All Stars. Yet, he never complained about being 6th man. Nor , did he complain about playing out of position. He was the consummate professional. Wade had a point to make, he didn’t like having his spot handed over to Bryant. Remember Bryant wasn’t on the team originally, he just came aboard last off-season. He wrestled Wades spot away, while Wade recouperated from shoulder & knee injuries.
Kobe Bryant may be the best player in the NBA, but D. Wade is the best clutch player in the NBA. How do you explain his 60% field goal percentage in the olympics? Granted each player had a role on this team; Kobe was the lockdown defender (couldn’t stop Navarro, MIlls or Ginobli), Lebron was the vocal leader, and D. Wade provided BUCKETS!!
Dwyane Wade is the MVP & Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of these 29th Olympic Games!!
When Flavor of Love debuted a couple years ago, everyone wanted to know who this lil shawty was? She had a following long before Flav selected her as his love interest. In fact, the show’s ratings probably rose due to the fact, that Flav had all that eye candy on the show. Hoopz, in particular!
HOOPZ GOT GAME
I know a lot of brothaz watched the show, and it damn sure wasn’t to see Flavor Flav, but Hoopz, Deelishis, Bootz, Tree, Bucky, and Crazy. Now, alot of them have cashed in their reality show status, for calendar pictures, photo shoots, CD’s, videos and any & every thing to get that bread!
No hating on these girls, as the saying goes, “you have to use what you have to get what you want!” With that thought in mind you already know most of the girls only got on the show with the hopes to boost their career oportunities.
From ‘Flavor of Love’ fame as the winner of the show over New York. To her own spot, on “I Love Money” this sister’s career has seen a rise in her popularity. VH-1 reality star, Hoopz got game! Ya Dig?
What a day for the Americans. TEAM USA swept the 4 x400Relays men & women. Later on, the women’s & men’s National Basketball team SWEPT the Gold medal finals. The game was great as Spain gave the Americans all they could handle. With over 15 fouls called in the first quarter alone, both Kobe Bryant & Lebron James were saddled with two early fouls a piece.
Enter Dwyane Wade. He led TEAM USA with 21 first half points. Wade was spectacular, he hit 3- 3 points shots, made a couple key steals. He made decisive plays that changed the momentum of the game. Countless times he was seen breaking his man down off the dribble. His handles seem to have improved.
His rim rattlin thunderous DUNKS lifted the whole team, and kept his team ahead. Wade finished with ateam high 27 points & 4 steals. His only bad play came off a steal where he had a breakaway dunk & he lost the ball as he went up. Wade carried this team by providing buckets & aggressive defense that disrupted the guard pla of Spain.
The USA led SPAIN buy only 8 points at the half 69-61. Spain’s guards Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernandez & Juan Carlos Navarro gave the perimeter defenders all they could handle. Time and time again, the navarro broke Bryant down off the dribble. Thats why he was in foul trouble. Paul tried him, and Navarro ate him up, Williams tried him and NAvarro ate him up. He should be in the NBA! Their guards are superior to ours with dribble penetration.
Only because we played man to man and they run off screens & picks, Spain plays zone a lot. Still, Spain more than compensated for their being a key man short. They played to win, not for 2nd place. They won the respect of TEAM USA. FA SHO’. The game was close because Spain kept the faster, bigger, stronger Americans in half-court sets. They couldn’t get out and run like they normally do.
Kobe Bryant finished with 20 points & 6 assists, but 13 big points in the 4th quarter. He took over for about 6-8 minutes in the 4th. Whether breaking up an alley hoop by P. Gasol at the rim, making a bullet assist to Lebron under the basket, or breaking down his man & kicking out to Wade for a 3! Bryant had many highlights, he wet a 3 pt shot with a foul on Rudy Fernandez cappin a 4 pt. play. Afterwards, he put his finger to his mouth to motion SILENCE!
Yea, it really got that deep, Spain was MORE than a threat. They brought out the best in the NBA players. On the other hand, if Europe put all their best players on one team they would win easily. i mean here you have “supposedly” the best players in the world from the NBA, but they were in real trouble. The game was close & Spain had the momentum going into the half & at pivotal moments during the 3rd quarter!
I salute the team from Spain. Those guards they have should all be in the NBA, in fact they are, were and will be. Navarro is back in Europe, Rubio is too young, Fernandez is going to the Blazers, Calderon who sat out with an injury is with the Raptors i (think) and I know Garbojosa is an NBA player.
Up front the two Gasol boys are NBA talent with Marc finally coming to Memphis this fall. They have 7 players in the NBA more than half their squad. They will be nice for a long time coming with their team play, tenacity, team work & perseverance. SALUD….
Rudy Fernandez had ateh highlight dunk of the game, it ws during the 3rd quarter. Bryant gambled on the steal & Rudy drove to the basket thru the lane, Howard jumped out, but rudy had turned the corner & threw down a monster DUNK in Howard’s grill. It was nasty. It was a statement & it was vicious. I was outta my seat like WHOA!! WTF? Did he just dunk that on……..Superman? LOL…
SPAIN
15 /22 /37 O/D/T REB
8/17/47 M/A/% 3PT
38/74 M/A FG %
23/28/82 M/A/% FT
Spain kept this game competitive by getting to the line early & converting their shots with a high percentage. No to mention, they out rebounded the U.S., especially on the offensive end. They killed got twice as many with a 15/8 edge.
The second chance opportunities, combined with a high 3 pt. percentage and you can see Spain had a plan that almost worked. Keep the game in a half court by controlling the boards & the tempo. Play aggressive while attacking the rim to get to the line & get the USA players in foul trouble.
I really like shaun’s game, I hope Pfund & Riley take a long hard look at this guy. He would give the Heat length & floor vision on the offensive end. If he’s fuuly recovered he would add much needed athleticism to the PG position. The Heat need a guard who can break down defenses & either score or pass the rock. Sean seems a perfect fit from that vantage point.
i’m not buyig all this talk about him being a great backup. He played behind Sam Cassell a couple of years, but while Sam was there he was clearly the best guard on the team. His development illicited Cassell’s release from the team. This guy is a real talent & coupled with his youth, he can easily grow with a young established team for the next 10 years.
If Glover can help Wade get back to elite form, you gotta give this guy a chance. Its a win-win you know he’s motivated. He’s young, talented & would be a gr8 fit in our new system. Reports claim he’s been rehabbing from his knee for the last 18 months. The fact that he’s with Glover eases my mind because that guy has made D Wade’s return to Super Star form complete. Wade has explosion, hops, confidence, lateral movement and more strength. Now, if Sean can duplicate that kind of recovery the Heat would be foolish to pass him up. The South Florida Heat has a way of reviving careers. Hey Riley bring this guy in ASAP. He’s the answer!!!
6
“He’s here five to six days a week, working out,” Grover said via telephone Friday morning. “I won’t go into any detail regarding what he’s doing but I’ll say this, by the first day of training camp he’ll be ready.”
I hope so, and in a Miami Heat uniform. Its an upgrade for both involved. Sean needs a fresh start and trust me Miami is the freshest start there is in the NBA. With Livingston on board, fully recovered the Heat are ready to ‘redeem’ themselves from last seasons debacle….
“In addition to the strength-training program that Grover has him on, Livingston is getting his fill of basketball, playing in high-level games with approximately 20-25 other NBA players, including former Clipper swingmen Corey Maggette and Quentin Richardson.”
I’d like to get an idea for his rehab from the other NBA players, especially Maggette who played with him L.A. He’s the best guy to give an honest opinion to his progress, since he knows the healthy Sean & the Sean he’s playing against today. Are his legs & thighs stronger? Are the muscles around the knee stronger?
What is Sean’s mentalilty on the court? Does he look apprehensive or like his old self? My question for Glover, has he made enough progress to lead you to believe he’s on the road to full recovery. Perhaps, he already has because he’s playing full contact. Does he have explosion in his legs? Can he move laterally with no inhibition? There are a lot of questions surrounding him comiing forward from that horrific injury.
“The next order of business is for Livingston to find a team. He became an unrestricted free agent last month, when the Clippers renounced their rights to him. Prior to that, the Clippers declined to extend Livingston a qualifying offer of at least $5.8 million.”
When it comes to Obama’s choice of Veep, he made a strategic selection. Obama is the Junior Senator from Illinois, however Biden is a Senior level Senator that has chaired some of the most powerful Senate committees in Washington. Biden now chairs the Foreign Relations committee.
Biden was the youngest Senator ever elected to office, he’s served more than 35 years in the Senate. In fact, he is in his 6th term of service to the U.S. Senate. Biden, previously chaired the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee.
What I like most about Biden is his “matter-of-fact” style and manner of speaking. You always get the sense he’s being blunt & direct with you. Moreover, he’s a tough guy whose not afraid to mix it up Washington style. He seems to be the right guy to take on the Republican attack machine, and clap back with an array of facts.
Biden, in May had a humorous sound byte about Bush breaking an age old foreign policy principle: “foreign policy stops at the water’s edge.” That means we as Americans don’t speak publicly about foreign policy when we are overseas. Well, when “G-Dub” went to celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary, and proceeded to attack Obama, it was Biden who jumped into the fray to defend his Jr. colleague.
“This is bulls**t. This is malarkey,” said Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “This is outrageous. Outrageous for the president of the United States to go to a foreign country, sit in the Knesset … and make this kind of ridiculous statement.”
On the other hand, Biden has had his share of critical acclaim with his mouth in the primaries. Recall what he said earlier; “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”
Tell uis you really think Joe? Biden, is one of the few people that can speak aboout Obama in those terms, and it not seem like an underhanded slight. Biden is one the few people in D.C. that engender trust. I don’t really know what Biden meant, or from what vantage point he was speaking from. I’ll let Joe defend his own statements that are sure to be dredged up in this soon to be heated general election!
“What I was attempting to be — but not very artfully — was complimentary,” Biden told Jon Stewart. “This is an incredible guy, c’mon! He’s a phenomenon.”
There are only 4 Senators more Senior than Biden, but 44 that are older than them. Wow! In my opinion, Biden was the choice because he offers Senior level clearance which means that he can get doors opened literally. He can bypass bureacracy with experience & know how! He’s very well respected in the Senate, and known for reaching across the aisle and working with conservatives an liberals alike.
Now, with Joe on the team as an Independent voter he makes this ticket more appealing. Let’s get ready to rumble, and wait to see who McCain selects for his VP.
The latest Cold War installment ha left many questions unanswered. Why would Russia risk isolation, and U.N. retaliation for a former U.S.S.R. teritory? With this invasion of Georgia, are we ebbing closer to nuclear war?
Russia/Georgia Border
Surely, there is more to this story that meet the eye. The dramatic irony of it all is laced with the fact, Vladimir Putin was at the opening ceremonies in Beijing. Seated within proximity to President Bush, the Heads of State exchanged pleasantries, while this Russain invasion was underway.
I find it hard to believe that with all the technological advances & intelligence we have in this country no one saw this coming. Unbelievable, or has Washington just employed their normal method of operation: the smoke screen? Where are the voices of dissent?
Is it possible that Georgia provoked their neighbors? Is it possible that Georgia actually launched an attack on Russia first? I would say anything is possible these days. I’ve recieved reports to corroborate this:
“On Aug. 8, the Georgian government initiated a sudden bombing and artillery attack on South Ossetia’s capital city Tskhinvali. The Georgian military hoped to reclaim the small region of 1,505 square miles, which has tried to exercise its proclaimed independence since 1990. Georgian forces bombed and fired missiles against South Ossetia’s civilian population, but were quickly driven out by Russian troops.”
Can you put trust in print media? Perhaps, if you cross reference all your facts, and engage in intense research maybe. Well, this blog is the first step in that direction. Inquiring minds want to know!!
Two games down, and 1 more to go for full redemption for Team USA. This was the one game that the four Americans who played in Athens ‘04 circled on their calendars. This game was the real redemption because Argentina had man handled USA since 2002 world games. Then it was teenaged Nocioni DUNKING on Kevin Garnett & Tim Duncan while beating the Americans into submission.
Follow that up with ‘04 Athens where Ginobli & company knocked TEAM USA out of Gold medal contention with a victory over the boys from the states, and you can see why, this was the 1 game we couldn’t lose, not again. Not to TEAM ARGENTINA, who not only whooped us, but danced on the court in joyous celebration in Athens.
Unfortunately, my main man Manu Ginobli re-injured the same foot that was hurt during the Western conference semi finals. Ginobli left the game after teh first quarter never to return. In addition, Nocioni was also injured, his left knee. So, Argentina wasn’t at full strength, but you’ll hear no sympathy from the American boys.
It’s hard,” Scola said of Ginobili’s injury. “You want to play, you want to win, all of a sudden you find out all of the hard work you did is going into the trash.”
ALL 4 1 & 1 4 ALL
For Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James & Carlos Boozer, this was the ONE true vindication they had to recover at all costs. Losing wasn’t even an option, only returning the GOLD medal to the land that created basketball. However, everyone knows that the whole wide world has caught up to us, moreso, they don’t get intimidated by TEAM USA as in the past. The psychological edge is gone!
The game got testy as Luis Scola & Carmelo Anthony got tangled. Anthony threw an elbow to Scola’s chest pushing him sevral feet. No harm, no foul…just keep your hands to yourself…Then Dwight Howard got hit in the face y Fabricio Oberto as attempted to dunk. Howard, usually cool, calm, and collected let out a loud scream at Oberto, and Melo’ came over in a flash to exchange a few words with him. He had to be restrained by his team mates, or Melo’ may have thumped Oberto.
They were better than us, there’s nothing more to say,” Scola said. “They’ve been playing better than us the whole tournament. We have to say congratulations to them.”
If you’re a USA fan this was must see t.v. If you’re a basketball player going to WAR against the world for GOLD, you definitely want Mr. Anthony on your aqua backing you up w/ is NYC bravado.
We still have one more test to go, but I think our team is extremely confident,” said point guard Chris Paul.
Still, you have to givie it to their team. Luis Scola had 28 pts, and got the score within 6 points before the half. Team USA struggled against the zone defense, committing several turnovers, and just falling out of sync offensively. At one point, TEAM USA had taken 20, 3 pointers out of 30 shots overall. Though there defensive intensity brought them back in the 2nd half.
They wanted to play physical, we played physical with them and I think we beat them at their own game tonight,” Anthony said.
No dounbt, and I loved it because Nocioni, Ginobli & Scola are a force to reckon with. They brought it and may have made the game more competitive had their leader not gone down.
The United States becomes the first country in Olympic beach volleyball history to sweep gold at the same Games.
American dominance in Men’s Beach Volleyball hadn’t been done since Karch Kiraly back in 1996, 2000. This was a 3 setter barn burner, that went back and forth. Brazil, was surely the best the U.S. had faced in Beijing at the Chaoyang Park venue.
The Beach volleyball Gold medal match between the Americans & the Brazilians was one to watch. The U.S. team played from behind during most of the 1st game. However, the momentum shifted as the Americans ripped a couple of crosscourt kills. In the end, they closed the first set 23-21 USA. The game was close and intense straight through.
The next set was marked by uneven play from the American team. Rogers recieved most of the serves, therefore, he had to carry the offensive load. Team Brazil never served to Dalhausser because of his sheer size, 6′9″ and power. Brazil won the second set 21-17, though basedon the demeanor Team USA was too worried.
BLOCK PARTY @ DA BCH
They opened that 3rd set with monster serves, and monster blocks at the net by Dalhausser. It may have been 4 consecutive blocks by Dalhausser against Fabio. It ws surreal, the usually stoic Dalhausser screaming with intensity as the teams switched sides of the court. It was a magical moment in an otherwise tense final that seemed to ebb & flow over the duration of the match.
“You don’t play many third sets for the Olympic gold medal,” Dalhausser said. “If there was one time to get fired up, that was the time right there.”
“I just got in the zone,” Dalhausser said. “You know, some athletes say you just get in a zone and you don’t think. You just do it and you do all the right things. It’s pretty amazing.”
On the other side, women’s beach volleyball didn’t fail to appeal to all the hype. Earlier, in the competition President George Bush came to show his support of May & Walsh. In volleyball, players tap one another on the ass as a token of luck.
Surprisingly, May-Treanor asked “G DUB” to smack that for luck. She turns around, pops her back side like Beyonce, and BUSH in true GANGSTA PREZ form lightly taps May on the upper back, while grinning from ear-to ear. It was hard to judge who enjoyed the friendly tap more DUB or MAY? Probably Bush, at any rate, it made for scintillating theater.
I may not agree with his politics in Washington, but I approve of his sand politics on the beach. For once, I was proud tha he was my Prez. I wonder what Laura was thinking when she that footage?
108-0 MAY/WALSH REPEAT
May & Walsh didn’t really need ‘good luck’ they blew through the field like Tropical Storm Fay in Florida. For the second straight olympics they didn’t drop a set. Incredible! At the games of the 29th Olympiad they extended their winning streak to 108 matches. Combined with the fact, they achieved history under the ever watchful eye of paparazzi & American media. We all know how tough that can be!
“Kerri and Misty in general inspire us,” Rogers said. “We’ve talked about it a lot and said, ‘Hey, let’s just try and do what Misty and Kerri do.’ They’re just so much better than everyone else. Everyone else is catching up a little bit, but when they turn it on, no one comes close to them. On the men’s side, it’s not that way. I recognize that we’re not going to be 108-0; we’re going to lose a few tournaments. …So just to be within shouting distance of them, I look at that as, ‘Wow, that’s an accomplishment.’ They push us.”
“I dreamt about rain last night. It could have been 500 degrees or 500 below, and we’d be happy,” Walsh said. “The rain makes it better. We felt like warriors out there.”
Yea they really were Warrior like out there, even the opposing Chinese team had to acknowledge as much.
“The American team is better than we are,” Tian said. “They are more experienced and stronger. But we have made great strides for these Olympic Games. This is the best that we could do.”
The best quote came from Walsh, “I’m not done, and I hope Misty isn’t done yet, either,” Walsh said. “I can’t imagine playing without her.” For our sake let’s hope not…
Jamaica’s 1st Gold medal olympic champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown repeated her 2004 Athens feat. She won the women’s 200M final in the 2008 Beijing Games. Her chief competition was American Allyson Felix, however Felix didn’t resemble the runner who had beaten Brown several times since Athens. This time history would repeat itself: Brown-Gold, Felix-Silver.
For her efforts Brown posted the fastest time this year, and the 7th swiftest time EVER! Indeed, the Jamaican National team has swept the sprint events, and has gained international acclaim. They broke records, swept events, dazzled Chinese fans, and excelled at the most popular events in the summer games. When the pressure mounted, TEAM JAMAICA rose to the occassion.
This team is the quintessential best in the sprints a tribute to their national obsession with the sport. Campbell-brown ran a 21.74 destroying the field, and marking the 3rd fastest time EVER by a Jamaican woman. Can you say H-I-S-T-O-R-I-C-A-L? That seems to be the theme with ultra-talented JAM team.
{Excerpts & photo from Jamaican Daily Gleaner}
“I am just very happy that God has helped me to come out here and defend my title. I am just overwhelmed,” Campbell-Brown said. “I am in the best shape of my life this year.”
“Her winning sprint is also the fastest untainted clocking at the Olympics since Gwen Torrence did 21.72 to win in Barcelona, 16 years ago. Only two other Jamaicans, Merlene Ottey, 21.64, and Grace Jackson, 21.72, have gone faster than Campbell-Brown.”
Campbell-Browns 29th Olympiad has been one written for the ages. On the other hand, Its a little baffling they haven’t recieved more press coverage. It’s probably because Track is so revered in the states that people are still in a state of shock. Although, these athletes are from a small caribbean nation, they have defeated the American Goliath in a most improbable setting. That alone has & should vault them on the national scene & international acclaim.
For sure there have been all sots of things that go down in night clubs. Hell, most songs Hip-Hop artists make nowadays are specifically targeted fro the club market. This story is alarming on a couple of levels.
1. Da Brat’ s, government name is Shawntae Harris, career has been irrelevant for a HOT minute now.
2. What ever happened to the days of the :”fair one?” (hand-hand, man-man fisticuffs)
As Common said, “The days of the fair one is over for.” People don’t fight anymore, they pick up shit like kids who are afraid to get they ass whooped. I can’t respect that. Especially, in this case where the girl Da Brat got it in with was the hostess for a party at JD’s club Studio 72. Shayla Stevens is the hostess’ name, she was also a cheerleader for the Atlanta Falcons.
THE INCIDENT: (excerpt Atlanta Journal Constitution)
“On the night of Oct. 31, 2007, Harris went to a private Halloween party at Studio 72, a Lawrenceville Highway nightclub owned by rap mogul Jermaine Dupri. At some point she bumped into Shayla Stevens, an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader working as a hostess at the event.”
“Moments later, Harris struck Stevens in the head with a nearly full bottle of rum, prosecutors said. Stevens fell down some stairs to a cement floor and suffered a severe facial cut. Stevens has a permanent scar, the judge said Friday in noting the severity of the attack. Stevens was in court but did not speak or talk to reporters.”
So, you tellin me this chick bumps into Da Brat, then ole girl goes up side her head with a bottle of Bubbly knocking her down some stairs to a concrete floor. What ever happened to “excuse me sister?” I’m sure things that we wouldn’t think twice over, while under the influence of alcohol we get that “liquid courage” to do.
While I liked the Brat as an artist her behavior as a full grown adult (34) years old leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I hope she get’s her act together cuz lyrically she’s talented.
What is really going on with TEAM USA track & field? Both the men & women dropped the baton in preliminary heats of the 4 x 100 relay. First, the men. On the third leg, Darvin Patton attempting to hand off to anchor leg Tyson Gay, something went wrong. The baton dropped to the track. Cardinal rule #1 when running track, never drop the baton. Its an automatic DQ (disqualification).
Patton drops attempted pass to GAY
The U.S. men were in contention with Trinidad for that race up to that point. Extremely disappointing results for the men, especially Tyson Gay. He leaves Beijing with no Bling, after having one of the best 2007 seasons in the World Championships. Still, no one remembers that only the Olympics. Gay has been one frustration after another.
He dissatisfied in the men’s 100M & 200M, and now in the 4 x 100 relay. Old boy has a lot of redeeming to do. Well, word is him & Kobe are buddy buddy, so maybe he can get some pointers on redemption.
Edwards Dejected in defeat & DQ
Similarly, the USA women who have held their own. Although, they have been bullied by the Jamaican sprinters as well. So, this was a chance for them to get a little back by going for gold in this ultimate in team running. Wasn’t to be though, same scenario Torii Edwards on the 3rd leg trying to pass to Lauryn Williams, somehow the exchange got bobbled and the baton fell ominously to the ground.
But in true Olympic spirit, Lauryn Williams, whom had the same thing happen to her in 2004 Athens picked up the baton & ran the race to completion. She said, “she couldn’t walk it in, she had to finish it.” Indeed, she did by running it out strong. I really appreciate her spirit and competitive integrity which is rare to find these days with new school athletes.
U-S-A-I-N B-O-L-T, JAMAICAN SPRINTER CRUSHES 12 YEAR OLD WORLD RECORD, WINS GOLD!
For sure, when lightining strikes it sends most scampering for the nearest shelter to avoid being struck. This wasn’t your normal strike, this was more like a blur across your screen wearing green & gold. Everyone in the house was in shock, How can this guy win like he does, and do it so effortlessly?
Outside of the dominance of Michael Phelps in the swimming pool, clearly Bolt is the most dominant athlete this sport has seen in a very very long time. Consider, that no other sprinter has won both the 100 & 200 Gold medal since Carl Lewis in 1984. That’s twenty-four years ago, in addition, he broke Michael Johnson’s record which had stood for 12 years, since he set it in Atlanta back in 1996.
Everyone wanted to know how fast is this guy, if he runs an all out race start to finish. We all saw him ease up in the 100M, so we figured he’d try the same in this race. Although, track records are treated as sacred repositories of history, none but Bolt knew he would break Johnson’s record.
When the gun fired he may have been 10 meters out ahead of the sound, he’s just that scarily swift. According, to speedometers Bolt runs about 32 mph. Say what? Yes, he runs faster than some gas powered scooters. Hmmm, could this be an alternative to high prices at the pump? Doubtful, you see Bolt is 6′5″ tall and is really lean.
He has revolutionized the sport the same way Johnson did back in 1996, and its for his personality. Sprinters have always had larger than life ego & personas, thats hat makes their feats that much more entertaining. Bolt has resurrected the sport with his energy, passion & enthusiam. Despite, being a relatively new school sprinter, his talent belies the history of Jamaican track & field.
“Everything came together tonight,” Bolt said. “I just blew my mind. I blew the world’s mind.”
You can say that again, he puts butts in seats like Jordan put butts in arenas. He makes you wan to watch his races, partly because of his amazing talent. On the other hand, he just seems above all the stuffiness that older athletes seem to portray.
“He added spirit to the sport,” said American Shawn Crawford, “He danced in the introductions, and he danced at the end.” He & American sprinter Walter Spearmon are buddies, while Spearmon was giving an interview, Bolt came over & poured some blue powerade down his shirt. That’s the kind of energy he has, fresh, new, vibrant!
“I saw I could get the world record in the 200, so I said, ‘I’m going to leave everything on the track,’” Bolt said. Then he went out and did it.”
Shit, the only thing he left on the track was his legacy & reputation as arguably the greatest Jamaican sprinter for all time. To see him running so relaxed, as other runners are straining to just get 2nd & 3rd place is mind blowing. No one has won this way before. I mean he destroyed the field, and didn’t seem pressed during the process. Give credit where credit is due. Bolt is the truth.
Perhaps, Bolt was just destined for this moment, before the games began, there was a report that Bolt was racing himself in a video game & broke the 100M record. Moreover, 12 years ago Michael Johnson wore GOLD spikes on his shoes. Guess what color spikes Bolt wore on his shoes GOLD as in medal—-can you say foreshadowing? Something to think about….
“Michael Johnson is a great athlete, and he revolutionized the sport,” Bolt said. “I just changed it a little bit.” Still, Bolt is like no other runner before him. In fact, its been suggested that his running stride is about 9 feet in length. Which has to be an advantage.
“I talked to the Prime Minister,” Bolt said. “He told me everything in Jamaica is blocked off. Everyone is in the streets.”
Becky Hammond, a WNBA star, and MVP candidate last year is the starting point guard for Russia’s national team. Team USA’s coach has already called Hammond’s desire to play for Russia as “unpatriotic.”
So, with that in mind tomorrow’s game against these two teams is sure to be heated & more than a battel for the gold. No one really knows how the players will respond on the court. For sure, everyone on TEAM USA knows Hammond, but its bound to be a little uncomfortable.
These are just two of the four teams that made the final four to GOLD. Russia v USA play the first semi final on 8/21 at 8 am on NBC followed after by AUS v CHN.
Not to mention, the latest foreign policy crisis with Russia invading democratic nation Georgia a couple of weeks ago. Tensions have been escalating as the two cold war foes exchange words in the International media. To exacerbate these tensions, Russian Alexander Putin was seen cozily chatting it up with President Bush at the opening ceremonies were under way. All the while, Russian was staging their invasion during the same time frame.
So, with all this hype & subplots this game is sure to be a firestorm from start to finish.
Ardent Clinton supporter Tubbs Jones died while behind the wheel in Ohio Wednesay afternoon. She died from a brain aneurysm. Tubbs Jones, was just 58 years old and was serving her 5th term in Cleveland where she was born & raised. She is survived by one son.
Tubbs Jones was known for being outspoken in the Congress. In 2003 she was the only Ohio congressperson to vote “NO” on a resolution to provide support for the troops in Iraq. Her vote was no because she said that the resolution was connected to Iraq & it suggested that Iraq still poses a threat to the U.S., and played a role in 9/11 attacks.
“Our veterans deserve better than lip service,” she said.
Hilary, Bill & Chelsea Clinton issued a statement, “We could always count on her to be a shoulder on which to lean, an ear to bend, a voice to reassure,” the Clintons said. “Over the course of many years, with many ups and many downs, Stephanie was right by our side — unwavering, indefatigable.
“It was that fighting spirit — safely stowed behind her disarming smile, backed by so much integrity and fiery intelligence — that allowed Stephanie to rise from modest beginnings, to succeed in public service, to become a one-woman force for progress in our country.”
Prayers go out to her family, friends and loved ones.
All Reports obtained in this blog are from Essence magazine and have been block quoted to protect the integrity of the story.
“After a whirlwind courtship, fairy-tale wedding and two years of marriage, the First Lady of Turks & Caicos, actress Lisa Raye McCoy-Misick and Premier Michael Misick have separated and are headed for divorce court.”
“On August 14, 2008, McCoy-Misick was taken to the island’s police department by her publicist, Lynn Jeter of Lynn Allen Jeter and Associates, and her personal bodyguard and cousin, Phillip Travis.”
“The former star of sitcom “All of Us” spent nearly seven hours filing a report following an alleged altercation between herself, husband Misick, the couple’s personal security, and Jeter, that took place on August 13 at the presidential palace, the premier’s mansion.”
“According to Jeter, the actress had returned to Turks & Caicos for a scheduled meeting with her and Misick’s lawyers in hopes to reach a temporary spousal-support agreement until their divorce is finalized. The Chi-town native believed all had gone well until she learned that Misick and his lawyer reneged on the settlement. It wasn’t until she returned to the presidential palace, where she stayed in a separate bedroom the week prior, that, for unknown reasons, she was refused entry and allegedly physically forced to leave the property, Jeter explains.”
“Despite reports that McCoy-Misick’s rep was also involved in the incident, Jeter denies allegations that she assaulted anyone. “I’m too grown for that,” she told Essence.com “I don’t do drama and altercations unless it’s verbal, because I can mediate that.”
“Since then, the first lady and premier have each released personal statements alleging that both were assaulted by individuals from the other party’s entourage. Reportedly McCoy-Misick sustained injuries, including a bite mark and visible bruises. But Jeter assures that her client is doing well. “LisaRaye is fine and in good spirits,” said Jeter, “and is working to get this matter resolved quickly as she moves forward with her career.”
“Photos of McCoy-Misick’s alleged injuries from a source close to the situation who asked not to be identified.” {more on those on another blog}
“Despite allegations of corruption and rape charges against the premier (which Misick strongly denies), McCoy-Misick has never publicly spoken about the charges against her husband, but she recently released a statement announcing their separation.”
“I ask that my privacy be respected in these difficult times and I believe that the people of the Turks & Caicos Islands will understand and support my wish to receive the necessary independent representation from the legal counsel of my choosing. I hope that, in time, the Turks & Caicos Islands government will come to share that view. Although I have always been a supportive wife even in light of the very serious allegations currently pending against the premier, there are limits even for me.”
Tyler Perry’s first 5 movies have grossed over $250 million, and he’s sold more than 25 million DVD’s. It’s safe to say that Mr. perry is the new King Midas, for everything he touches turns into a profit. He has the most watched cable sitcom ever in history. He’s been on best selling lists for his books, and in October he will cut the ribbon to his 2nd office/studio in his hometown Atlanta, Georgia.
According to Forbes he made a whopping $125 million last year. In addition, he’s become quite the Hollywood heavyweight, for he owns all the rights to his movis, DVD”, plays etc. Not even mega director Steven Spielberg can say that about his movies.
“This is definitely the beginning of Tyler’s next phase in the entertainment business,” says Mike Paseornek, president of motion picture production at Lionsgate, which has released all of Perry’s films and recently closed a new three-year, first-look deal with him. “Tyler is going to start working more with the Hollywood community, and that will bring a diversity of projects to him that he can then put his creative stamp on.”
Perry is paid $15 million to write, direct, act, and produce, plus given a 15% first dolar gross & box office bonuses. His deal is very lucrative and he still going strong. His hit cable sitcom will go into national syndication soon, and TBS has picked up another 100 episodes for the show.
“He has a true understanding of his brand, an entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to bet on himself,” says Charles King, Perry’s agent at WMA.
Indeed, after a failed attempt earlier in his career, Perry now has shown an immunity to the Hollywood doldrums of failed movies. None of Perry’s movies or plays have ever flopped. He’s exhibited staying power in an industry that looks after his own. Perry is an outsider by design, his projects were never green lighted in Hollywood, prompting him to go it alone. Now, Hollwood is clamoring to jum on the bandwagon…
Tyler Perry Studios has purchased a 28 acre lot & 200,000 square feet of office space that he paid for outright. Perry owns the space outright which should give him leverage in the future. The space will feature 5 soundstages, and Perry will enjoy a 30% tax advantage by building his studio in Atlanta, as opposed to L.A. or New York. The brother is multi-talented & has a sharp business acumen.
“He has made a huge impact on Georgia’s entertainment industry over the last several years,” says Bill Thompson, the state’s film commissioner, who estimates Perry’s impact is in the range of $100 million annually. “He employs hundreds of Georgians and brings great promotional value to the state. He is the anchor of our indigenous film industry.”
There is an old song that goes, “ain’t nothing going on, but the rent….you gotta have a J. O. B. , if you wanna be with me……ain’t no romance w/o finance…” This is in response to an article I read that said financial strain is linked to physical pain. Interesting, basically the premise is that access to capital determines the well-being of a relationship. To be sure, we all know that, but what if that same rule applied to your physical relation with yourself.
‘Princeton economist Alan Krueger, who co-authored the study, said, “Those with higher incomes welcome pain almost by choice, usually through exercise. At lower incomes, pain comes as the result of work.”
This is a startling revelation, though one that makes absolute sense. Poor people don’t welcome pain in any form. For one their to busy trying to plan the next, prepare for the next days work. Fewer opportunities relegate one to a certain lifestyle, whereas, more income affords one more opportunities.
“The study, first released in a British journal, found Americans in households making less than $30,000 a year spend nearly 20 percent of their lives in moderate to severe pain, compared with less than 8 percent of people in households earning above $100,000. High school drop outs were susceptible to twice the amount of pain as college graduates.”
Startling, the more I make the healthier I am. Seems to me thats the best incentive to be wealthy, although what about those who earn less. Factor in that most low income earners might not have the skill set or education level to break through the “glass ceiling.” What we see are cycles of poverty perpetuated over many generations. No wonder the more things seem to change, the more they stay the same.
“Richer persons tend to be wiser when it comes to seeking out medical attention before its too late,” says Nettie Muhammad, a licensed professional counselor.
This raises another critical issue, and alludes to another proverb: “an ounce of prevention is worth its weight in gold.” The best health remedy is preventitive, that is fighting the illness or pain before it becomes malignant. In reality, this can only be achieved if you have health care coverage primarily. Secondarily, you have PTO time (paid time off) from your job to get a regular checkup or physical examination.
Believe it or not, a simple practice of just going to get a check up can be a real chore for lower income earners. In fact, everything is exacerbated as a result of lower income. Which leads me to believe its by design, and not coincidental.
‘In 2004, nearly $2.6 billion was spent on over-the-counter medications and another $14 billion on outpatient analgesics. Research conducted in Michigan showed disparities in access to pharmacies in neighborhoods was a major pain management issue.’
“Those (pharmacies) in White zip codes were more than 13 times more likely to have sufficient supplies,” says Dr. Carmen Green, who lead the Michigan study. “I have patients who have to drive 30 miles or more just to get their pain medications.”
Unbelievable, the pharmicist in some areas are less likely to have the medications that sick patients need for wellness. Just one more reason African Americans have higher mortality rates, high blood pressure, hypertension and a host of maladies that we lead the nation in. We must be the cash cow that FDA uses to meet its bottom line. $$$
Why are the resources in certain areas historically negligible? Why is it the same across the board: education, healthcare, environment & housing?
Since when has expressing critical analysis looked upon as unfavorable? Why is voicing dissent looked upon as unpatriotic, or divisive? If Black voters offer critique of the Obama campaign why can’t that be a favorable thing? Especially, if those same dissenters are, in fact, Obama supporters. In order to improve this union, or to make it more perfect than it is, then we need critical analysis, not yes men who agree without thought.
Its like everyone must play a game of appeasement, and expediency because no one wants to isolate anyone else, meanwhile, pertinent issues are thrown to the way side. People are afraid to stand up for key issues with fear of alienating “the other side.” Indeed, I am a believer in inclusion, not exclusion. One day I hope someone has the heart & soul to speak truth to power, if not then we will have even more pessimism, cynicism & apathy.
With the realization that candidates must appeal to a wide array of constituents, the squeaky wheel always gets the oil. Keeping this in mind its incumbent for all independent thinkers to keep up the pressure of adding, the little man’s issues, and keeping our fight in the political arena. If we don’t who will?
As a student of history, I can tell you personalities like Patrick Henry who said, “Give me Liberty or Give me death” had an enduring impression on my psyche. To think someone believes in a tenet so fervently they would risk life & limb to see it accomplished. The founding fathers of America voiced dissent against Englan for “taxation without representation!”
As an African American citizen in America I voice my dissent with statutory, de facto laws designed to keep us “in our place.” Redlining, the practice of institutions drawing a red line around particular communities so as to cahrge higher premiums for services. It’s an illegal practice, however it goes on inner-cities across America everyday.
Things must change, for to stay the same is equivalent to death. In life, there is only one constant and that is change. So, life is full of the living, and those that want to live fully, and not just survive as many do languishing in poverty of the spirit. Poverty is spiritual because you can’t even think about spirituality if your concern is where your next meal is coming from, on the other hand, with the luxury afforded by material success one can take time to heighten their soul.
“It has come to our attention that representatives of Hamed Hadadi, an Iranian basketball player, may be contacting NBA teams to discuss the possibility of signing Mr. Hadadi to an NBA player contract. We have been advised that a federal statute prohibits a person or organization in the United States from engaging in business dealings with Iranian nationals.”
The NBA must first get the permission from Washington bureaucrats first before they begin negotiations with the Iranian player. The Grizzlies are reportedly already engaged in that part of the process.
Isn’t it amazing what American business will do to gain competitive edges on their competition. I mean were not even debating the fact that his country has hostile relations with our country. Nor, that all diplomatic relations between our countries are figid at best, especially since we have reason to believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons. When does the desire to WIN supercede the rights of American families?
I support his desire to want to play in the U.S., but I find it inconcievable the NBA would attempt to move heaven & earth just to land a 7′2″ giant of a man with minimal basketball talent. We are the land of the brave, not land of the stupid. Meaning, I think there could be political fallout if Memphis signs him IMO. (in my opinion)
Hadadi said, “I will undoubtedly join Memphis Grizzlies by the end of next week. I met Memphis’ officials yesterday to discuss joining the team.”
This dude is speaking as if he has the personal number to the bureaucrats in D.C. whom must first approve this deal. From my understanding no word has been given yet if he can come, until then we have to assume he can’t because its against the law. His agent must be filling his head with all this nonsense to keep his morale up, and his bank account in the black. According to NBA rules, foreign players have to legally wait for their work permit. Who knows how long that could take, its not a swift process.
“I recieved many offers from European teams but just playing in the NBA is my dream. Hopefully, I can join Memphis as soon as possible without any problem” the 7 foot 2 inch Iranian Olympian Hadadi said.
This after head coach just said late last month that, “I’m not interested,” Lewis said at the team’s annual preseason luncheon on July 22. “I don’t think it would be productive for our football team. You have to be a productive part to be an NFL player, and there’s responsibilities to being an NFL player. It’s a privilege, it’s not a right. There’s a lot that comes with being an NFL football player.”
After their last pre season game Pro Bowl wide out Chad Johnson went up high for a catch and came down hard on his shoulder. The Bengals other wideout T. J. Houshmandzadeh has been missing in action due to problems with his hamstring.
The Bengals had released Henry after he was accused of puching a college student and breaking his car window with a beer bottle. Certainly, Henry had become a problem within the organization with multiple arrests. Out of desperation to their top two recievers they decided to go back to Henry. However, Henry must serve a 4 game suspension for past infractions before he can actually suit up for teh Bengals.
Team president, Mike Brown had got into the Henry saga saying, “His conduct can no longer be tolerated.” ”The Bengals tried for an extended period of time to support Chris and his potentially bright career. We had hoped to guide him toward an appropriate standard of personal responsibility that this community would support and that would allow him to play in the NFL. … But those efforts end today, as we move on with what is best for our team.”
The Bengals had 10 players arreste over a ten month time period, prompting commissioner Roger Goodell to levy stricter sanctions on the league’s conduct policy.
In CULTURE, MUSIC on August 19, 2008 at UTC.16.31.
Ice-Cube, Nas, LL Cool J, and Queen Latifah grace the cover for the 20 year celebration of Source hip-hop magazine. Each artist has their own special edition cover that will be sold as a collectors item. Certainly, these four are hip-hop royalty.
Ice Cube is a big time director, with his Entertainment company, CubeVision. he’s one of the hottest young new directors in Hollywood. With his cult hit Friday, Cube became a household name. He’s best known for his gangsta rap days with the group NWA. However, his star has shone well beyond gangsta rap. Meantime, word on the street is Cube has another rap album coming out.
Nas is arguably one of the greatest rappers of all time. He inspired Jay-Z, & Biggie Smalls East coast dons in the rap game. He’s been around so long, yet his lyrical ability is still ferocious when motivated. Remember, the instant classic ONE MIC. Nas went on to marry R & B sensation Kelis, moreover, he put his feelings out there by recording a song about there “hooking up’, and had Neo Soul giant Maxwell singing backup. Creatively, lyrically and consciously Nas has no equal.
Queen Latifah, like LL Cool J, are triple threats. They rap, act & sing in Latifah’s case; LL has dabbled in production work behind the scenes from his TV spot few years back. No one commands the attention of the female persuasion like L. At the same time, he maintains legitimate street credibility because he has “bodied” so many rappers with his storied “rap beefs & battles.” L battled rapper Cannibis years ago, and no one has seen or heard from ole boy since.
Latifah, released a soft-jazz album a couple years ago that showed the industry her diverse skills. She even has a new song tehy play call champion, which has been endorsed as the unofficial TEAM USA song. At least, on commercials that is…..
“Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser destroyed a world class field in the 100m women’s final meet to win the Olympic title. Fraser, dragging along fast-finishing comrades Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart to complete a historic shutout at the games of the 29th Olympiad. Fraser ran down Simpson, who had the early lead. It was a dramatic finish to what has been an historical two days in track and field for TEAM JAMAICA.”
“JAMAICANS CELEBRATED for the second night in a row at the Beijing National Stadium when little-known Shelly-Ann Fraser, a fun-loving 21-year-old from the Waterhouse community in St Andrew, led a historic sweep of the medals in the women’s 100 metres final.”
Shelly-Ann Fraser won the women’s dash Sunday, pumping her fist as she was clocked in 10.78 seconds. Teammates Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart finished in a dead heat for the silver, 0.20 second back for a (1-2-2 finish)– the same margin Jamaica’s Usain Bolt won by Friday night when he flamboyantly celebrated to the finish in 9.69 seconds.
“When I was thinking about it, I was getting ahead of myself,” Fraser said about a gold medal. “I was like, ‘Calm down. First you need to go out there and do it.”‘
She won the meet in the widest margin since the 1988 games. . So, its safe to say, TEAM JAMAICA has the fastest men & women sprinters in the world. I mean, seldom have we seen team dominance like this. Fraser & Bolt are dynamic world class athletes that deserve all the praises they no doubt will recieve.
As she crossed the finish line a full body length ahead of the rest of the field, the judges had to go to the cameras to determine who finished 2nd. As they did, Reggae music could be heard blaring from the crowd as they celebrated Jamaicas 2nd Gold medal in as many days.
Torii Edwards, finished last, thought she had false started, and her coach filed a protest on her behalf. Muna Lee, finished fifth and Lauryn Williams finished fourth.
“It was a flagrant and a blatant false start that was not recalled and had tremendous impact on the race,” said Lee’s coach, Vince Anderson, just before the rejection. “But they’re not going to rerun the Olympic 100. Anyone who knows anything knows that.”
Usain Bolt from Jamaica shattered the Men’s 100m record in dramatic form. Out pacing the competition by at least 10 yards and shutting in down after about 90 meters.. Bolt made his final record setting victory look easy. Its as if he was more driven to win, as opposed, to setting records.
Indeed, he’s been on the scene for 6 years, winning his first championship at the tender age of 15 years old. Bolt is a phenomenal athlete who seems primed to break more records in Beijing and in the world at large.
DESTINY
In the Olympic men’s 100m final on Saturday night, Bolt, who eased down 30-metres out, looked both sides and started his celebrations. Even then, Bolt still was able to break his own world record (9.72) with a 9.69 stunner.
It was behind this, Donovan Bailey, who a couple months ago picked Bolt to win, was quick to say, “the time was not surprising at all”. “Usain is going to lower that time significantly over the next year and during his career,” he said while staying away from saying how low.
PRODIGY
Injuries had restricted the arrival of Jamaica’s Usain Bolt on the international scene, but signs of his dominance & skill-set were on view in 2002. In 02, when he became the youngest 200m junior world champion at 15 years of age, finishing with a remarkable 19.93 seconds winning time.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Bolt’s last historical moment came just a few short months ago. May 31, 2008, Bolt made headlines around the world with a stunning new world record of 9.72 seconds in the 100m. The dramatic irony is that this race, the 100M isn’t his race. He only ran this distance as apart of his training regime. In fact, prior to the Olympic win he hadn’t ran that race more than a 3-4 times.
Unbelievable! certainly, making his rise to preeminence that more outstanding. Everyone, had American runner Tyson Gay as the clear favorite and the man to beat. Although, as the qualifying times were posted, it was clear Gay wasn’t his usual dominant self. Reports say he injured his hamstring about 30 days ago. It’s a bitter ending for Gay who was looking to make history in Beijing.
Now, he was a first hand observer & commentator on the history that Bolt made. Indeed, even his neighbor and fellow “yardie” was also picked ahead of Bolt. Usain silenced all his detractors. I don’t think anyone has won that convincingly as Bolt did, and he’s only 22 years old.
EXCLUSIVE CLUB
“I induct Usain into the exclusive club of being world-record holder and Olympic champion all in one … I was the last guy that did that (in the 100m) and, to be honest, I am happy to have him as a part of that exclusive club,” Donovan Bailey said.
PROUD JAMAICAN
In Atlanta 1996, Bailey, born in Jamaica, won the 100m title in a world record 9.84, which until Saturday was the Olympic record. However, he said he was delighted Bolt had erased it.
“You don’t even understand how happy I am that it (record) went to him,” Bailey said.
“I am the Olympic champion of the world … number one … 9.69, no one can beat me,” Bolt says. That’s right, sun, show the world your swagger! Do you!
The American track team had turned into a disappointment until Angelo taylor stepped his game up, and put the U.S. track back on the map. Taylor, became the first 400-meter hurdler since Edwin Moses to win gold medals eight years apart Monday.
“We wanted to uplift the track team,” Taylor said, “and bring home the sweep.”
So, not only did Taylor sweep the event, but he restored history, by replacing it with his own. Taylor won the race in a personal-best time of 47.25 seconds to defeat teammates Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson.
“To go through what I went through and be back on top again — I’m just so blessed right now,” Taylor said.
The hurdlers were considered sweep candidates, but the U.S. had learned over the first three days of the meet that there’s a big difference between being picked to do something and doing it. Like, Tyson Gay whom was the clear-cut favorite as well in the Men’s 100m. Although, Taylor didn’t choke, he delivered BIG for a country that loves its track teams..
Taylor is a feel good story because he’s had legal troubles in the past, and everyone loves a comeback story.
“Any mistakes I made, I put the blame on me,” Taylor said earlier this month, when asked about his legal troubles. “It was up to me to do something, to change things.”
The Italian team Premiata Montegranaro has announced that 38-year-old SHAWN KEMP has verbally committed to play for the team starting in November. Kemp, who is a 6 time NBA All-Star is 38 years old. Kemp last played in the NBA during the 2002-2003 season.
The Italian team is led by head coach Alessandro Finelli. “He is very motivated,” Finelli said. “And he has been staying in shape to show up at our camp in good shape.”
Kemp averaged 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds over 14 NBA seasons. He played eight years with Seattle, three with Cleveland, two with Portland and finished with one season in Orlando.
“We will discover with work in the gym if he will be a key player for our team,” Finelli said. “Now, it’s too soon to say that.”
Hmm, well if your team is counting on a 38 year old has been, then your team might be in trouble. Then again who knows what numbers Kemp can put up as a wily veteran, with limited athleticism. Basketball is just as much mental as it is physical, which explains one reason why TEAM USA lost so many international games over the last four years.
Kemp is a decent guy so I hope he can add to his legacy, and not do to much to damage it….
Hip-Hop heavyweight Dr. Dre’ has designed some state-of-the-art headphones, and TEAM USA are his marketing team. Everyone on the team has a pair and many of the players affirm the head phones are a quality investment.
Dr. Dre’ has worked with many notable hip-hop artists, though its work with Eminem & 50 Cent that are most notable. Eminem & 50 are signed to his label, AfterMath Records.
“Yeah, Dre said we all need to make a beat and have it ready when we get back,” Howard said while explaining why the legendary artist gave them the headphones.
“Actually, Dr. Dre is friends with LeBron James, who gave them to all the players before they left for China. You can find most of the players walking out the locker room after games with them hanging around their necks or atop their heads. Deron Williams and Tayshaun Prince slipped them off just before practice on Friday.”
The headphones are called, “Beats by Dr. Dre” and the website claims that are “the most advanced headphones ever developed” while letting listeners “experience music the way artists want you to, with extreme clarity, deep bass, and full power.”
Carmelo Anthony vouched for them. And he should know, especially after he downloaded more than 3,000 songs onto his iPod before coming. “You listen to the music, you feel like you’re in a studio atmosphere. It’s that quality,” he said.
They should be that quality. The headphones cost $350. Howard said, “I never met up with him, but I’m real glad [Dr. Dre] offered us some headphones. I like headphones.
I had a lot of different headsets. They are nice. They are good.”
I’m sure by next NBA season all the players will have a pair of these head phones, and who knows they just may be in the hands of mainstream America as well…..
AS A JUNIOR (2006): Earned All-ACC in the 400-meters (52.18) finishing in second place at the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships…has recorded three wins this outdoor season in the 800-meters…has the fourth fastest time in the East Region and 10th fastest in the NCAA in the 800-meters…member of the 4×400 that won Penn Relays and Texas Relays…ran a 50.7 split at Penn Relays to help Miami post the fastest time in the nation this season (3:27.85)…the winning time was also the second fastest in the history of the Penn Relays…ran the 400-meter leg of the Sprint Medley Relay that set a UM record at Penn Relays (3:46.34)…earned All-American honors during the indoor season as a member of the 4×400 meter relay that broke the school record and finished fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships…earned All-ACC honors in during the indoor season finishing second in the 400 meters (53.69) and running the opening leg of the 4×400 meter relay that won the ACC title, breaking the ACC Indoor Conference meet record (3:38.40).
AS A SOPHOMORE (2005): Earned All-America honors during the indoor season placing fifth in the 400-meters (53.04) at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships…set a school-record in the preliminaries with a time of 52.65 seconds…earned All-American honors during the outdoor season as a member of the 4×400-meter relay…ran second leg of the 4×400-meter relay that placed fourth with a school record time of 3:28.78 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships…ran opening leg of the ACC Indoor Champion 4×400-meter relay…won two meet titles in the 400-meters during the indoor season (Tyson Foods Invitational, Alex Wilson Invitational)…placed fifth in the 400-meters at the NCAA East Regional with a time of 52.40 seconds…ran anchor leg of the 4×400-meter relay that placed second at the NCAA East Regional…reached the semifinals of the 400-meters at the 2005 United States Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Carson, CA…finished eighth in the 400-meters (52.87) at the Central American and Caribbean Senior Track and Field Championships in Nassau, The Bahamas…established a Haitian national record time of 52.69 in the preliminaries.
AS A FRESHMAN (2004): Earned All America honors as a member of the eighth place 4×400-meter relay team at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (3:31.70)…BIG EAST Indoor Champion at 500-meters with a school record time of 1:11.48…set a season-best indoor time in the 400-meters at the Tyson Invitational (53.58)…ran the lead leg of the 4×400-meter relay team that finished tenth at the NCAA Indoor Championships (3:37.41)…was also a member of the 4×400-meter relay teams that finished first at the NCAA East Regional (3:32.10) and BIG EAST Outdoor Championships (3:37.37)…was a member of the school-record setting 4×200-meter team that finished second at the Texas Relays (1:33.45)…finished fifth in the 400-meters at the NCAA East Regional with a time of 51.94 seconds…set a Hurricane season-best time of 2:15.74 in the 800-meters at the Hurricane Invitational.
HIGH SCHOOL: Competed in track at Miami Central… Miami Herald All-Dade selection as a senior… holds school-record in the 400-meters (53.74)… team MVP as a junior and senior… team captain as a senior… District 13 and Region 4 Champion in the 400-meters as a senior… finished second in the 400-meters (53.73), and ran the anchor leg of the runner-up 4×800-meter relay and fourth-place 4×400-meter relay to lead Miami Central to a sixth-place finish at the Class 3A-4A State Championships as a senior…won a bronze medal in the 400-meters at the 2003 USATF Junior Olympics…member of state champion 4×800 relay her junior year (9:29)… finished third in the 400-meters at the State Championships as a sophomore and junior… on principal’s honor roll senior year… coached by John Rolle.
PERSONAL: Full name is Ginou Etienne… born January 12, 1985… daughter of Alina Etienne… has three siblings, Patrick (25), Esther (20), and Nerline (11)… Biology major… plans to become a physical therapist… attended same high school as former hurricane running back Willis McGahee… … enjoys creative writing, tap dancing, and playing the piano in her free time.
Ginou Etienne’s Personal Bests
Event
Time/Mark
Location
Date
400-meters (i)
52.65
Fayetteville, AR
3/11/05
500-meters (i)
1:11.48
Syracuse, NY
2/22/04
400-meters (o)
51.94
Gainesville, FL
5/29/04
800-meters (o)
2:06.14
Coral Gables, FL
4/15/06
Source: U of M Track
Ginou is representing, Haiti, in the 29th Olympiad at the Beijing Games in China. She is a four time All-American athlete who excelled in the 4×400 relay, and the 400m. Her specialty is the sprints, and she is a local high school phenom in the Miami-Dade county area.
She attended William H. Turner Technical Arts in high school. Certainly, Ginou has tremendous support from fans, family & friends throughout Miami and all of Florida. This is her first olympic experience, hopefully not the last for this multi talented sprinter.
In the quarterfinal of the men’s 100 meters race, American Tyson Gay wasn’t at full form. Certainly, a few weeks ago he pulled his hamstring, yet this was just his second race since that incident. Gay finished 2nd in his heat, that saw Richard Thompson blow by him effortlessly. If Gay is to win gold he will need to step up his game.
Richard Thompson, from Trinidad is the NCAA reigning champion. He represented LSU in those games.
Other notable athletes in this race were Usain Bolt, Jamaica, smoked his heat barely breaking a sweat, even mockingly turning his head side-to-side to look his competitors off as he advanced.
Asafa Powell finished first [10.02] in his heat, followed closely by American Walter Dix[10.08], and Bahamian Derrick Atkins [10.14].
So, in the much anticipated semi-final of the Men’s 100 meter key qualifier race we have the following sprinters:
Ties Mark Spitz {1972} for 7 GOLD medals at any Olympic games.
This race was the most amazing of all the rest considering the fact that he had to come from behind in the last 20 meters. He OUT TOUCHED Cavic, form Serbia by 0.01 of a second. It ws literally a photo finish.
No one watching the race believed Phelps won, not even his mom, whom seemed to collapse momentarily when he appeared to finish 2nd. Talk about family pressure. I saw it several times and wasn’t really convinced until I saw it in SUPA SLO MO. Without a doubt, Phelps touched the wall first with a gigantic leap.
Still, I could see why the Serbians challenged it, there was no way he ws supposed to win. The amount of distance he had to make up, and he seemed to fade as the race went on. In the end, there he was. It was almost anti-climatic because you almost expected them to over turn the victory.. It ws surreal!!
Nonetheless, the digital keypad records contact from a high speed camera. Despite this, the Serbian coach for Cavic filed an official complaint to dispute Phelps win, though at the end of the night he was on the podium recieving his 7th gold medal. Noticeably, Phelps & Cavic didn’t shake hands while standing next to one another on the medal stand.
Michael Phelps’ legacy is cemented. He is arguably the greatest Olympian ever, but most assuredly the greatest American Olympian.
“Beyonce’s getting double-teamed to give in and get pregnant,” The closest people to her are all about the newlyweds getting it in with an addition. Although, Bey seems to have her own plans, she’s not quite ready to lock it down like that just yet….
“Both her husband and her mother want to see her have a child.”
“Jay-Z is ready to have children,” said another source. “He and Beyonce dated for years, now they’re married, and for him it’s time for children.”
So, what’s she waiting for? Recent reports say this MEGA couple is worth a combined $500 million or HALF a BILLION! In spite of all their 99 problems, we know money isn’t one of them.
Shaquille made big noise when the public first learned of his desire to get a divorce from his wife. However, it seems cooler heads prevail, with what now seems to be reconciliation between the former Miami Heat player & his wife.
Its always a good thing when couple who have numerous children reconcile. Not to mention, I’m sure its “cheaper to keep her” as they say. Hopefully, now Shaq can redeem his lackluster season with Phoenix this upcoming season. I think he can succeed with a full season under his belt with the Suns, and they have got some relief for him, Nash & Stoudemire to make a deep run in the playoffs…
“Neither one of us could probably answer why we were getting one in the first place,” Shaunie O’Neal said. Shaquille O’Neal filed for divorce in Miami-Dade Circuit Court in September 2007, after nearly five years of marriage.
“Things have been going so great, that someone actually had to remind us that ‘Hey, you do remember those papers are still there.’ Literally, it was days ago,” Shaunie O’Neal said. “So, we’ve agreed that before we leave Florida in a few days we’ll make sure that that’s gone away.”
“The kids and I kind of learned about the divorce at the same time,” Shaunie O’Neal said. “So that was hard. That was probably the worst part of the whole thing, was being able to deal with how hurt the whole kids were.”
Well, now that all seems well in the O’Neal household they can burn those papers which should save Shaq millions. Especially, since we recently recieved word of his outlandish spending habits, I’m sure every penny counts. I can’t hate on him, if you got it spend it, you can’t take it with you!
Kim Kardashian was critical of one of her few assets, her round figure. Guess when you getting paid for not really doing anything you have to make up things to do to keep your self occupied. I would have thought she had enough busy work between tracking down all the rumors circulating about her. Moreover, trying to keep up with her super fast boy friend Reggie Bush.
Seriously, Kim you have no complaints from a purely physical stand point, so please don’t berate your self. Its unbecoming!! Ask any Black man about your posterior, and I’m sure that you’ll get no complaints…Better enjoy it while you can, once gravity sets in thats it…
“I love that I’m curvy, but I’m on this major kick to try and lose weight, especially in my butt,” she states. “I’m just so over it! When you’re posing on the red carpet and the paparazzi shout, ‘Turn around! Turn around!’ — it gets a little offensive.”
Hmmm, Kim is famous for what again? I mean what is her talent? Why is she relevant? Exactly, and she’s complaining about camera men’s fetich for a certain part of her anatomy.
She should stop complaining because that’s what moved her career forward. Her best bet get a real talent, and change everyone’s focus from your form to your essence…..
At the end of the first quarter the score was USA 20, Greece 16. Nevertherless, the score was 52-31 favoring the U.S. team at the halfway point. It was clear to all doubters and detractors this wasn’t the 2006 Team USA from the World Championship in Japan, nor the Athens Olympic team from 2004. This was the REDEEM TEAM 2008 BEIJIING!
They moved the ball around on offense and ran some offensive sets, though they still struggled from the 3 point line this was the biggest win for them to date. Effectively erasing the disappointing loss that hastened the entire way the U.S. selection committee chooses its teams. This was a statement game with the biggest risk, a U.S. loss, on the line. They overcame!
“We played like we wanted to win. We played together,” U.S. guard Dwyane Wade said. “We were very aware of their offensive sets, we were very aware of their personnel and we played like that. So we were kind of a step in front of what they wanted to do because we kind of knew everything already.”
Wade had 17 points, James 13 points, and Bosh & Bryant each had 18 points. The USA team broke open what appeared to be a close in hte beginning with a suffocating defense. They were playing the passing lanes deflecting & stealing passes. They were clogging the lane and blocking shots at the rim.
“Any time you get beat it’s embarrassing and that’s enough,” Bosh said. “And we can really use that as a tool to help us with our defense now, and that’s the name of the game. Because if you play good defense, no matter how you’re shooting the ball you’re going to be in the game.”
Indeed, Kobe continued his theme of guarding the top perimeter player Vasileios Spanoulis, the top Greek scorer.
“I don’t think the pick-and-roll tonight was as big a problem as it was in ‘06,” Carmelo Anthony said.
The game was so intense during one defensive series, Dwight Howard blocked away a shot right into Jason Kidd’s head, then again, James & Bosh each had rejections in the third-quarter.
United States of America 92, Greece 69. Revenge is best served COLD AS ICE…
Free Agent guard from the New Orleans Hornets Jannero Pargo is leaving the Hornets for a bigger contract with Moscow Dynamo in Russia.
Pargo has agreed to a deal for $3.8 million and is good for one year. Pargo averaged 8.1 points in 18.7 minutes in the regular season for the Hornets.
Moscow Dynamo has another NBA import, Bostjan Nachbar from the New Jersey Nets.
To be sure, Russia has imported a lot of American talent, not only to play on their Euro League team, but Olympic team as well. J.R. Holden & Becky Hammond play for the Russian National Team in the Beijing Olympics.
Through the first two rotations on vault & uneven bars, Liukins & Johnson were back and forth, and neck-in-neck. First rotation, on the vaults, Liukin STUCK her landing. In Contrast, Johnson cross stepped her landing stepping forward slightly. Though, Liukin had a good uneven bar routine she didn’t stick her landing on her dismount, conversely, Johnson STUCK her dismount on uneven bars. Overall, Liukin STUCK 3 out of 4 landings…..AMAZING!!
This was a showdown between America & China’s best gymnast in individual competition. It also featured the friendly rivalry between a pair of U.S. gymnast Natasha Liukin & Shawn Johnson. Johnson, who is the reigning world champion and silver medal winner in Beijing, almost beat out Liukin again.
Before the event began, each woman drew randomly to determine the order each would perform the last event, the floor exercise. At that time, those three, Liukin {1} YiLIn {2} & Johnson {3} epochly, were the top three in medal contention through all 3 preceeding events. This made the atmosphere electric & very tense as the. Also, the athletes had to wait for a greeen light to begin their routines.
Johnson was a favorite of Mary Lou Retton, who was in the house actively supporting Johnson. Previously, Johnson had outmatched Liukin at the U.S. championships and Olympic trials. She was a crowd favorite, eerily, reminding you of Mary Lou from years past. Her dream of a gold medal, and being today’s Mary Lou just wasn’t to be in this competition. Though she shined just the same and all Americans celebrate her & Liukin’s achievements.
Although,atthe women’s all around competition Liukin was spectacular.Liukin finished with a final score of 63.325 points a mere six-tenths ahead of Shawn Johnson, though the competition was fiercely closer.
In the end, Nastia Liukin of the U.S. narrowily escaped teammate Shawn Johnson for the gold medal in women’s all-around gymnastics on Friday in Beijing. Yang Yilin of China won the bronze. In a showdown of the world’s best gymnasts, these three gymnast didn’t ease up with theater, drama, and entertainment.
If you missed it, then you missed an iconic moment in American athletics that will be celebrated for a lifetime.
Few athletes could match the intensity and memorable moments like Jackie kersee. The way in which she carried herself will always be a model of virtue for other competitors across gender & racial lines. For certain, she was a class act whenever she competed. She is a great champion for all ages & all generations….her story is the stuff LEGENDS are made of….if you don’t know you better ask someone about her, she was ther real deal. Ya Heard?
“Jackie Joyner-Kersee, racked up a world-record 7,291 points in her first of two Olympic heptathlon titles in 1988. With three gold, two silver and two bronze Olympic medals to her name, it seems obvious why many have proclaimed her the top female athlete of the 20th century.”
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is the Greatest American Female Athlete Ever. As a Heptathlete she competes in 10 different events, which means she’s an all around athlete. Her wide variety of talent, competitive nature, and tenacity are unmatched. Indeed, with a remarkable skill set she is an inspiration to little girls everywhere. With a total of 7Olympic medals she is near the top of the list with medals won in her extensive Olympic career.
“DMX was picked up yesterday in Florida over a bench warrant issued against him in Arizona. Florida lawyer, Brad Cohen, tried to bail him out today, but couldn’t — because Arizona courts list him as having a no bail hold. X was listed as having $25,000 cash bond, but somehow it’s changed.”
“So now the rapper has to sit in a Florida jail until his October 2 court hearing for a possession charge he has in Miami. Cohen told us he’ll have him out before then … if they can straighten everything out.”
Why don’t they enlist DMX into a celebrity rehab program? I mean, OMG, Robert Downey was just as trifling as X a few years ago, now he’s resurrected his career. This brother obviously needs help, and the people in his camp certainly don’t give two cent about him.
It’s ironic the way Black & white entertainers get treated in the U.S. It’s like the Black entertainer is presumed guilty before the facts are known. On the other hand, white actors recieve the benefit of the doubt, and are extended every opportunity to make amends.
Why is that? Am I the only one who notices this? Doubtful, the masses are just caught up, or fearful. Politics of fear at its best….
Somebody pray for DMX!! I am…..God Bless you brother, may you find peace in the Most High and conquer your vices. Amen!!
Get your Obama drawls here!! I mean if you seen one pair of drawls then you’ve seen them all. Right? I mean how crazy are we getting over Obama, that someone actually wants his face where there ass is. I mean damn, some things are just extra, but hey its for a good cause right? Besides these don’t look big enuff for real black men or real black women. LMAO
Underwear designer, Andrew Christian recently unveiled his collection of “Obama 08” briefs, in association with Bridge and Tunnel Communications is producing a “Daytime for Obama” photo shoot featuring the hottest men and women from Daytime soaps.
The list of confirmed participants include: “Y&R’s” Vail Bloom (DA Heather), Christel Khalil (Lily) and Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman). “DAYS”, Kristen Renton (Morgan) and Blake Berris (Nick), and from “B&B” Heather Tom (Katie) , Lesli Kay (Felicia), Ashley Jones (Bridget) and Winsor Harmon (Thorne). Participants from “GH” will be announced shortly.
The shoot takes place this Friday, August 15th. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the briefs is contributed to Obama’s presidential campaign efforts.
Elise Neal recently opened up about plastic surgery in Hollywood. In fact, she even admitted going under the knife herself.
Neal says, “Being a person who’s had plastic surgery I think it’s personal choice. A lot of people make me laugh about the plastic surgery situation because I hate to say it but most African American females in entertainment have had some type of plastic surgery.”
“Maybe it’s not breast enhancement but I’d say at least 75% of them have had their noses done and they cannot tell me that they haven’t. I’m sorry.”
75% seems a little high, but when you consider the competitive nature of Black women in Hollywood it might even be more. Considering, most of these actressess often times audition for the same parts….
Even though, she’s had her rack done, I’ll be the first to say, at least she got her monies worth. Not to mention, her augmentation is done in taste and not over kill. For example, Tiffany from I Love New York——she’s gonna have back problems in 5 years….you have to know how much is enuff…
Elise Neal’s job is tasteful, now if she can only do something with that tired ass day-glo orange weave….Not a good look!!!!
“There’s a time and place for everything, and now is the time. This [upcoming] album, Theater of the Mind, is an event, and all the songs on it are events,” Luda said.
“I felt like there was no bigger event in hip-hop at this moment than me and T.I. working together.”
“Me and dude never had no problems,” T.I. elaborated a few days ago while calling in to DJ Self’s Sirius Satellite Radio show. “It was always turmoil between our camp and his camp. Us as the bosses of our companies, everyone is gonna follow our lead.
We’d figure if it ain’t no problem and we don’t have no issues, no beef, then there’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to get together and make music. That was an executive decision that was made on both our behalves.”
“It’s showing that once great minds set their differences aside, they can make something happen,” Alfamega, who’s signed to T.I.’s Grand Hustle Records, said at the Ozone Awards. “That’s two grown men — not two grown males, grown men!”
Ole girl and ole boy came to blows last night: Somebody gonna need a tetanus shot!
“The Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) Michael Misick, and his estranged wife Lisa Raye McCoy-Misick were involved in a violent confrontation at the Premier’s mansion on Wednesday night, according to reliable sources.’
”The fight, which reportedly occurred in the presence of a number of government officials, including the Minister for Health and Education, Lillian Been-Boyce, resulted in both Misicks seeking emergency medical attention for bites.”
“Each has filed a police report against the other. On Tuesday, Michael Misick had released a brief press statement, saying, “I am announcing that I am separated from LisaRaye McCoy-Misick.”
“LisaRaye had returned to the TCI this week, reportedly to negotiate a divorce settlement but, according to our sources, this process had gone very badly from her standpoint.
Misick is said to have refused to allow his wife to stay at the Premier’s mansion and she is believed to be staying at a local beach resort.”
Damn, its getting real heated now, Misick wouldn’t allow her to stay at the mansion. Hmmm, sounds like BIG trouble ahead…. TIME WILL TELL…
On Wednesday night, for unknown reasons, LisaRaye decided to confront Misick at his mansion, which resulted in the violent altercation.”
The latest buzz in the fashion industry is two-fold. On One hand, the Vogue Italia created an all out raid on news stands for their July edition, on the other hand, where were all the black models prior to that edition? Why is the country so backwards when it comes to the progress of ‘ethnic minorities?’ This is the 21st century & we still talking about the 1st African American this & that… Is this the way its going to always be?
“What happened to all the black models?” “Let’s round them up in a special edition of Vogue.” “Why are the runways so pale?” “Let’s trot out Naomi at the February shows.” Basically, Vogue Italia was a token edition of black models because most of those models can’t find work year round, unless its Black history month or some other “ethnic” affair..
Fashion photographer Nick Knight decided not to draw attention to this latest buzz. Instead, he produced and posted on his blog a video about “the outright taboo subject of racism in the fashion industry,” featuring Naomi Campbell, a tank, two loaded handguns and a few slates of text.
As Campbell points two handguns at the camera, Knight’s words appear on screen: “I am virtually never allowed to photograph black models for the magazines, fashion houses, cosmetic brands, perfume companies and advertising clients I work for. Whenever I ask to use a black model I am given excuses such as, ‘Black models are not aspirational in some markets’ or ‘they do not reflect the brands values,’ normally, however, no reason is given.”
Then in the last part of the ‘muted’ video, “If I judge by my own feelings, I can only guess the indignation, anger, rage and fury that black models must feel.” AMEN!! Following that Campbell sprays bullets from a fully automatic assault weapon. Depsite the fact, the video is silent, its message is deafening and poignant. There is definitive conversation in silence!! Listen closely….
“If you look at the catwalks, the shows in London, Paris, Milan, it’s the same. Right across the board, there’s a total under-representation of black models in the fashion industry. It happens in editorial and on the runways,” Knight said.
“I don’t think it comes from the photographers. I don’t think it comes from the fashion editors. I don’t like to parcel out blame, but you have to look at why business allows it. I guess these companies are being told what sells and what doesn’t sell. And I think within those marketing strategies are assumed racisms.”
Marketing strategies is a polite of way of saying that Black models aren’t selling magazines so we don’t put them on covers. However, the July edition of Vogue Italia turns that theory on its head. How many editions of Vogue have sold out prior to hitting stands? My guess is its not a monthly occurence. This is how subtle racism is and how it goes unchecked because the supposition is such that can’t be proven easily at first. Although, if you dig deep enough the truth can always be uncovered…. Let’s keep diggin’
“I’ve often heard, ‘All Asians like this. All Asian people like the color pink. This will work in the Asian market,’” he added. “As if human beings actually act like that. People don’t behave as Asians, they don’t behave as Americans, they don’t behave as black people, they don’t behave as BMW drivers. They don’t behave as any of the stereotypes we put across.”
Categorization: racist always try to place people in convenient little boxes to justify their beliefs, prejudices and actions. Still, we must applaud Knight in his effort to eradicate a phenomenom he participated in. “I realized I was accepting racism and bigotry and I needed to make a statement.” So why don’t more white people develop a conscience & spine and seek to eradicate this silent killer? Will Knight achieve his aim in making the video? Probably! His only goal: “get people’s attention.”
Marvet Britto, brand strategist and founder of PR firm The Britto Agency, finds the whole situation ironic, considering how many fashion and lifestyle trends emerge from the black community. Indeed, which is why this is so hypocritical. Our country has appropriated the most satiable parts of blackness, while relegating the rest of the culture to the back of the bus (pun intended).
“What these companies fail to realize is A) we spend billions over all sectors of industry and B) as a smaller segment, we still influence the masses,” said Britto, who is black. “Most of the trends we see, it can all be traced to urban culture. It’s simply been adopted and made palatable for mass consumption.” For example, designs on finger nails. Sisters been doing that forever, but now its en vogue because mainstream culture has approved of the style. That’s one example among 1,000’s.
Britto adds, “Marc Jacobs( jeweler) wears his pants low. Black men started doing that in jail because they didn’t have belts,” she said. “Women spend money to get lip enhancements, butt implants, more tan skin. They’re seeking to mimic people with ethnic features — traits that are found in African-American women.”
However, they wouldn’t trade places for a day with these same people they mimic. “While imitation is the best form of flattery.” Let’s call it what it is:HYPOCRISY. I want to appropriate & assimilate your aesthetics, but I don’t want to be confused with being you or like you. Its like trying to learn how to swim without ever getting wet. Impossible? Or, more like standing under a tree with an umbrella in your hand covering your head.
“I remember when black models were everywhere in the ’70s,” said Simon Doonan, creative director at Barney’s and author of “Eccentric Glamour.” “Issey Miyake, Yves Saint Laurent, they used so many black girls. We’ve gone from that to the situation now where there are these token attempts to integrate black women. It’s distasteful to me. Fashion should be intriguing and alluring. What’s alluring about a parade of white girls?” Not a damn thing. Its quite boring & not reflective of reality.
In the 70’s there was a lot of political upheaval within the black community. The Civil Rights Movement, The Black Power Movement, The Black Pride Movement. These community based policies reflected teh full spectrum of blackness. Similarly, like Jazz music, Rock-n-Roll and now hip-hop music the “look” was co-opted and the reality was left to fill the void. This is the method of operation of the establishment. After a while, when the fad wears off, those black models were relegated to the fringe in favor of more socially acceptable “looks” & trends.
“We’re living in a very conformist time where the national ideal is a girl with blond hair, a fake tan, fake boobs and fake lips. It’s a very plastic ideal that dominates our culture,” Doonan said. “The hot bimbo archetype is what’s screwing everything up for everybody, not just women of color.”
“I don’t think this is hard-core racism. I think it’s more inertia and stupidity on the part of the fashion industry. It’s lack of imagination,” Doonan said. “There’s a collective responsibility the fashion industry has to get their a– into gear, come into the 21st century, open the windows and doors and see all the beautiful girls that are out there and not have preconceived ideas about it. This is reprehensible and it needs to change.”
I’ll say it, its definitely HARD CORE RACISM, let’s not sugar coat what we all see self evidently….
Racism is a system of power, the power to enforce your bias with statutory laws. Black people can be discriminatory, prejudicial, and stereotypical, but not racist. There is a clear distinction. Racism oppresses, denigrates, and perpetuates itself through institutions {education, government, military,political, religious, banking & finance, justice department, court system, housing etc.}cultures, corporations, and families to name a few.
Racism is persecution backed by de facto & de jure laws that justify the action and allow the perpetuators to walk free. People of color can be convicted of hate crimes because hate, unlike race knows no color barrier. Are some Blacks oppressive against their own? Yes. Are some blacks oppressive against other groups? No, they are prejudicial, not oppressive. People of color don’t have the power to oppress or persecute anyone, even if Obama wins the bid as President. One person or even Congress can not change over 200 years of American history & status quo politics. The fashion magazines & industry simply ‘tow the line’ that society creates. Industry is a microcosom of what we we all see every day.
Racism, according to Webster’s dictionary is racial discrimination; persecution etc. I respectfully dis agree with Mr. Webster. Consider this, white people wouldn’t even know what racism was had it not been for Black people. Tell me how the victimizer understands the victim’s point of view. They can’t, if they could why would they create or committ the wrong to begin with.
Let’s look at it another way, if I’m benefitting from a program chances are I haven’t even thought about those who don’t benefit. For example, obtaining a car or home loan and your credit is PRIME! This country has never looked at race honestly. Not even, in the days of the non-violent peaceful protest of Martin luther King. In fact, he effectively stirred America’s conscience, yet people insisted that change couldn’t happen swiftly or too sudden. Blacks were cautioned to wait & things would miraculously get better.
That’s tantamount to an arsonist telling a burn victim not to worry about his life because in time he might live, but don’t seek justice, just live with it, its not that bad. I know many of you have heard these arguments before, and they spit in the face of morality & decency. The fact remains whites don’t really know to the extent racism goes because they are the perpetuators of it. Moreover, when it arises they get defensive because they think “its better now, you aren’t in chains anymore.” So, somehow that makes it alright.
Instead of getting defensive, they need to listen with their heart and not their ears. How can a Nazi tell a Jew anti-semitism doesn’t exist or even argue to what extent it exists. Its asinine & egregious! It would never happen. Its proposterous, but thats whats going on in America right now. Most whites are ignorant on the subject, but feel strongly about it and try aand pass off their feelings & opinions as truth with absolutely no proof, fact or basis.
You can’t disassociate your self from American history despite being omitted. The same free-forced-labor that built this country, the capitol, the railroads and all manner of industry is still present and so are the monumental profits as a by-product of the free labor.
Criminals always maintain their innocence despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Its the same here with the response to racist charges levied against the state, police departments, individuals, etc. No one evr admits the fact that they are racist. Its become this political football that the establishment has confused the masses into thinking anyone can be racist. How the Hell you figure that?
Who controls 97% of all wealth in America? Who owns & controls a majority of International corporations? Whose depicted on the monetary unit? Who makes up 5% of the world population, but controls over 60% of the worlds resources? Who invented the word nigger? Who defined the word Black with all the negative connotations? Who owns & controls the corporate media? Who has the power to ban a person from entering a country lawfully? Who benefits from white privelege? Who benefits from transparency?
Finally, to all my white brothers & sisters out there in cyberspace don’t get me wrong I love all people. I just have an utter disdain for “closet racist” or ignorant people who don’t what they speak of, but choose to cite their opinion & pass it off as truth, when in fact, its just a perspective. Now, where my racists at? Let’s admit it, so we can get on with business of rectifying teh American social order in quick time because…..
’NO WO/MAN IS AN ISLAND’….
‘WHEN IT RAINS IT DOESN’T RAIN ON ONE WO/MAN’S HOUSE ALONE’
Since when did fashion or beauty mean white skin & blue eyes? Is this the standard of beauty in America & the world over? American Vogue magazine has recieved much scrutiny for its lack of ethnic diversity on the fashion runway..
In its 116 years of publication on three African-American models have grace the cover. The first was Beverly Johnson, supermodel of 25 years. The two exceptions to the rule would be Jennifer Hudson, an African American singer who graced the cover last year.
“There is no reason for it beyond blind prejudice,” Michael Musto, culture critic for the Village Voice, told ABCNews.com, about the dearth of black models on the runway and in magazines.
Lebron James, basketball player graced the cover this past April with supermodel Giselle Bundchen to harsh criticism for the “racist” posture he took. Many critics cited his posture as similar to Disney’s Beauty & The Beast or King Kong & the blonde vixen tightly held within his grasp.
Having seen the cover, I must admit I found it disturbing as well, it seemed out of context: James on the cover with his mouth wide open feigning a scream while Giselle was clutched tight like a rag doll. The imagery was frightingly similar to pics of Kong & a blonde hair blue eyed woman.
Either way, Vogue has had this controversy brewing for years and they have no one to blame but their Editors. They make the decisions whether to include certain models, certain shots etc. I can guarantee one thing with the critical acclaim Vogue Italia recieved for their All Black edition recieved, many publicist & publication will think twice about excluding Black models. The market is definitely there, as well as, the demand. Most stores sold out of the magazine before it ever hit print.
Over 30,000 copies had to be re-ordered here in the states just to meet the demand & still most people haven’t seen or found that “limited edition” and “collectors item.”
“The woman behind this change is Italian Vogue editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani, who, during her time as editor, has made the magazine synonymous with culture over consumerism. Sozzani attributed the inspiration for her July issue to a trip in February to New York City for fashion week. Struck by an absence of diverse faces on the runways, Sozzani told ABCNews.com, “There were no black girls, and the blond girls all look alike.”
In addition, Sozzani said, “There were no black girls,” she said, “but at the same time, people were talking about Obama.” So, how do you explain that? At this most historical time of racial advance with Obamas campaign no Black women are anywhere to be found. Bull Shit! Its racism at its finest.
When asked about the infrequency of Black models being booked, she says, “I think this is a fault of the agencies and not the designers. The white girls sell more, so you only ever find blond, blue-eyed girls. They don’t dedicate enough time to scout black girls.” They sell more because of over saturation of the market.
I disagree with most of Sozzani’s statement, but I admire her temerity. She states, “Naomi [Campbell] has been on the market for 20 years, and everybody likes her,” she said. “It’s not that fashion doesn’t like this look.” Of course not, Campbell still got it, “Black don’t CRACK!” (check her out in the new SOBE soft drink commercial if you have any doubts). In her opinion, its not low demand, rather a low supply of models.
Could be, but I know so many Black girls who aspire to be models. The thing is its a highly competitive business and teh percentage of those who make it BIG are a fraction of the ones who make the attempt.
The Chinese Women’s Gymnastics team won the all-around competition, just barely in terms of the score, but in terms of skill set they seemed to run away from their competition. The Chinese national team scored 188.900 for its Gold medal team victory. In contrast, the United States won Silver by scoring a respectful 186.525.
In gymnastics there is a stringent age requirement: competitors must be 16 years old. As many as 3-4 gymnast on China’s team have come under scrutiny because these girls barely look 10-12, yet alone 16.
Is there a advantage to younger girls competing? Some have argued that young girls don’t repond to pressure the same way as older girls. In fact, some say they feel no pressure because its their first time at this level of competition. In contrast, a lot of the American girls were visibly shaken during their routines. The pressure to perform under the spotlight is enormous, especially in gymnastics.
Another advantage is that girls who are pre-pubescent have hips that haven’t filled out yet, this gives them the ability to perform harder tricks & perform better flips. Simply put in gymnastics if you’re smaller then you can flip better.
On the other hand, younger athletes bones’ haven’t set yet, so if they get injured they might not ever heal properly because their bones are still brittle. The older the athlete is when performing complicated tricks, the safer they will be.
The little girl pictured to the right is China’s Deng Linlin and her & her teammates have come under scrutiny regarding their ages. She weighs just 68 pounds and seems to be very much malnourished if she is indeed 16 years old, but is she’s only 14 years old then this would make more sense, but would mean that China’s government willfully violated the rules of the International Olympic Committee to gain an unfair competitive advantage in competition.
The jury is still out, though in the court of public opinion the Chinese team is guilty as charged. Time will tell the truth of the matter… Let’s wait & see because you know had the U.S. team won this story might never have surfaced….
The presidential campaigns for Barack Obama & Hillary Clinton have announced that Senator Clinton’s name will be put in nomination at the Democratic National Convention later this month in Denver, Colorado. Why? You ask.
Well, according to reports, “They are both committed to winning back the White House and to to ensuring that the voices of all 35 million people who participated in this historic primary election are respected and heard in Denver.” So, are we to presume that her voters voices haven’t been heard yet? Hardly, Hillary Clinton is a political opportunist who doesn’t know how to bow out gracefully.
In a joint statement from both campaigns released earlier today, “Since June, Senators Obama and Clinton have been working together to ensure a Democratic victory this November.
To honor and celebrate these voices and votes, both Senator Obama’s and Senator Clinton’s names will be placed in nomination.”
The release from the Obama campaign acknowledged Senator Clinton’s historical campaign and agreed it would be in the best interest for party unity, in addition, to support her campaign in her bid to become the first viable woman canididate for President.
“I am convinced that honoring Senator Clinton’s historic campaign in this way will help us celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong united fashion,” said Obama in the statement, which also quoted Clinton saying that “with every voice heard and the Party strongly united, we will elect Senator Obama President of the United States and put our nation on the path to peace and prosperity once again.”
So, this really seems like a political gesture aimed at helping Clinton & her supporters save face. Indeed, Obama is already playing politics by allowing her to ’steal his thunder’ a bit, but knowing full well she will tow th party line & back his candidacy, or so he hopes. I respect the Clinton campaign, however, I don’t trust them to do as they say they will. “There’s something in the milk that’s not clean”, stay tuned I get the feeling there’s more to this story.
A Democratic Party insider familiar with convention plans says the move would bring “peace in the kingdom.” The source adds that the Obama campaign “always knew it would probably have to happen.”
So, it sounds like this is apart of her concession, just the long drwan out version. She wants her name mentioned in the same breath as Shirley Chisolm the first, African American & female to be nominated for the President of the United States. Chisolm was “roll called” at the Democratic National Convention in 1972.
“They have known since the day she dropped out that she wanted this ‘for history,’ says the Democratic operative.
Essays In Ancient Egyptian Studies – Jacob Curruthers
“…Ancient Egypt offered the best presently known source of data about the uncorrupted African past with enough data to not only verify the facts of African Civilization but to begin the construction of a framework to reinterpret the history and social reality of the world.”
Greece and Rome
Stolen Legacy – George G.M. James
“The true authors of Greek philosophy were not the Greeks, but the people of North Africa commonly called the Egyptians”
The Children of the Sun – George Wells Parker
“When the Aryans invaded Greece they were savages from Neolitic Europe and could not possibly have possessed the high artistic capacities and rich culture necessary for the unfolding of Aegean civilization.”
Africa and Africans As Seen By Classical Writers – William Leo Hansberry
“In the beginnings of European literature, few names are better known and none is older than that of Ethiopia. Europe’s earliest poetry sings of no foreign people quite so romantic; it geography records no country more distant; and its efforts at history memorializes no nation thought more ancient than that designated by this celebrated name.”
Black Folk Here and There – St. Clair Drake
“Black Folk Here and There deals with the Black Experience before White Racism emerged as a dogma to support a system of institutionalized practices designed to justify the transatlantic African slave trade and Western Hemisphere slave systems.”
The Cultural Unity Of Black Africa – Cheikh Anta Diop
“I have tried to bring to view the common denominator in African culture as opposed to that of the Northern Aryan culture…. May this work contribute to strengthening of the feelings of goodwill which have always united Africans from one end of the continent to the other and thus show our organic cultural unity.”
Essays In Ancient Egyptian Studies – Jacob Curruthers
“…Ancient Egypt offered the best presently known source of data about the uncorrupted African past with enough data to not only verify the facts of African Civilization but to begin the construction of a framework to reinterpret the history and social reality of the world.”
Let the Ancestors Speak – Ankh Mi Ra
“Regardless of the cacophony of shrill, and unbridled disingenuousness of most “Egyptologist” owing to some ridiculous premise of intellectual and/or racial inferiority of the African, the persistent political hoax of grouping this language into some mythical “Hamito-Semitic” family has been and continues to be debunked.”
Black Man of the Nile and His Family – Yosef ben-Jochannan
“In this volume facts of African history which have been for so long purposefully withheld from the public shall be revealed and carefully explained.”
Egypt Revisited – Ivan Van Sertima, editor
“Egypt has created the greatest and most enduring of all ancient civilizations. Its remarkable achievements in the arts and sciences, its influence upon the philosophy of both Europe and Asia, is seldom denied. Few studies, however, admit the significant, indeed predominant role of Africans in the building of this civilization.”
The Destruction of Black Civilization – Chancellor Williams
“This work begins where the history of the Blacks began, in Egypt (Northern Ethiopia) and Sudan (Southern Ethiopia). Thus at the very outset, I clash head-on with the Caucasian version of African history.”
African Origin of Civilization – Cheikh Anta Diop
“Our investigations have convinced us that the West has not been calm enough and objective enough to teach our history correctly, without crude falsifications”
Civilization or Barbarism – Cheikh Anta Diop
“For us, the return to Egypt in all domains is the necessary condition for reconciling African civilizations with history…” {Dr. Diop provides evidence from all major fields of science to show the foundations of civilization were developed and spread globally before the Aryan (principally Europeans and Arabs) would encounter and benefit from it.}
Joss Sone has been approached by the Democratic presumtive nominee to write the theme song for his campaign. Stone, who’s raspy soulful voice has won her legions of fans, especially within the hip-hop community.
Stone who is already a supporter for the Obama campaign was too thrilled to jump aboard the Obama train to the White House!
According to Britain’s The Sun, “Joss is a big supporter of Barack Obama and was very excited to be asked to do this for him. He sent her a personal message asking her to get on board.”
Numerous reports are circulating about Alicia Keys working on a song for Obama. Not to be outdone, Jay-Z is also reportedly writing a song for the Illinois Senator as well.
Serena Williams is an elite athlete. She has won the “grand slam” or all 4 major tournaments in the Women’s Tennis Association {WTA}. A feat that not to many players can claim, including her sister Venus.
Although, she is the consummate champion people still doubt her committment to the WTA tour every year because she has taken coinsiderable time off.
Unlike other players whom play year round the Williams’ sisters aren’t married to the sport that has set them up financially for the rest of their lives.
Venus has a clothing line called: Eleven. One more than a dime or a 10 Venus explains. Serena has a clothing line comin out as well. However, Serena has had some minor acting roles and she certainly seems to have a following.
Lebron James came to her match yesterday in Beijing. Serena is glamorous woman who is just touching her potential.
These are some photos from the latest edition of Men’s Health. Let me warn you though if you have a weak heart you might not want to look at Serena in these shots…. She is remarkably stunning! WOW!!
She may or may not realize this, but she’s a sex symbol and is the primary reason most brothers watch Wimbledon, French Open, Australian Open, the U.S. Open & any tournament she’s playing in. She’s made tennis sexy!! No argument there….
Ummm, ummm, ummm Baby Girl is Finer than All outdoors……. If Grits ain’t grocery than eggs ain’t poultry……..
Think I betta let it go/looks like another Love TKO
It’s official Lisa Raye & Premier MIsisck filed for divorce Tuesday afternoon. “I am announcing that I am separated from LisaRaye McCoy-Misick,” Premier Misick said in a statement.
Rumors have been circulating recently that Misisck was having an affair with 106 & Park hostess Rocsi.
The straw finally hit the fan last week when reports surfaced that while Lisa Raye-Misick was state side little Miss Rocsi was in the Turks & Caicos doing big & living it up in the mansion that houses the 1st couple!
Misick later issued this statement to the press,
“I am committed to dissolving the marriage amicably. I believe that this is a private matter and will have no further comments. I hope that our privacy will be respected.”
As of today, the United States of America has 10 Gold medals & Michael Phelps has 5 of them. That’s just how dominant he’s been in Beijing.
Although, with his latest Gold medal last nite in the 4×200 Relay race, Phelps became the All-Time American leader with the most Gold medals. Carl Lewis, Mark Spitz, Bruce Jenner, Michael Johnson none of the above have more Gold than Phelps. He will go down in history as the Greatest American athlete in Olympic history.
He has 11 Gold medals in total with his wins last night. However, his quest is far from over, though half way there. Still, left in his Gold medal sights are the 200 individual medley, 100 Butterfly, and the 4×100 medley relay. Phelps wants to win 8 Gold medals in Beijing, the way he’s looking in the pool, he’s definitely a favorite.
What’s so amazing about Phelps is not just his historical wins and medals, moreso, how he just destroys the competition. Some races haven’t even been close, since he’s also smashing Olympic, World & American records in his pursuit.
He’s the greatest olympic athlete in American history, and you can’t say it enough. It’s just mind blowing to watch this guy, yet he makes it all look so easy. Sometimes, Phelps has more than one race in an afternoon, but he still comes out ahead of the field anyway despite the being visibly worn.
His only real issue during the race was a pair of leaky goggles. He said, “I knew there was nothing I could do….I could just swim.” Still, he out swam the field with no visibility & the frustration knowing he couldn’t fix his goggles during the race because he wears two caps to keep them in place.
After the race, “Phelps was visibly angry with his lousy world record when he got out of the pool. An hour later, he was back in the water and ready to take out his aggravation in the 4×200 freestyle relay. He swam the fastest lead leg ever in that event, threatening the 200 free world record he set a day earlier, and helping the Americans smash the world mark by nearly five seconds.”
That’s UNBELIEVABLE!! Smashing a world record by 5 seconds…you really have to see it to really believe what’s happening & the historicity in it all…
6″4′ 22 year old Slovenian point guard Goran Dragic whose draft rights were acquired on draft night from the San Antonio Spurs.
Yet, the point guard must negotiate a buyout from his Spanish team Tau Ceramica before he can join the Suns. Reports say that he’s had to haggle with at least two European teams to get his release. Dragic is expected to back up Nash.
“One of Dragic’s American representatives, Rade Filipovich, joined his representative in Spain, Quique Villalobos, a week ago to begin working out a deal. Complicating matters is that Dragic’s rights were technically owned by Union Olimpija in his hometown of Ljubljana, and he was on loan to Tau. Dragic had to work out a buyout figure that would satisfy both teams.”
Wow and I thought the NBA was Draconian & slave-like. This guy was reportedly “on loan” from one team to the next. No respect!
This story has been full of intrigue considering there have been mixed reports from the guard while he was overseas. Last report, “I have spoken with my manager and the people at Tau, and they all think it’s better for me to stay here, and so do I. That comment apparently was from his team in Spain using old quotes in place of newer ones.
Damn, sounds like some counter intelligence and propaganda, all this just to play in the NBA. I hope its worth it…
The Milwaukee Bucks traded point guard Mo Williams to the Cleveland Cavs in exchange for the expiring contract of guard Damon Jones. In addition, the Bucks also recieve Adrian Griffin & point guard Luke Ridnour from Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City acquires the Cavalier power forward JoeSmith and Bucks forward Desmond Mason.
The way the deal shakes out it seems to be an upgrade all the way around. The Bucks really got a 3 for 1, though out of all those players only Ridenour is a starter. They lose Mo Williams, yet acquire Griffin, Ridenour & Jones.
The OKC team w/ no mascot didn’t do so bad in this deal either. They acquire Joe Smith & Desmond Mason for the price of Adrian Griffin & Luke Ridenour. I mean they lose a point guard in Luke, but they still have Earl Watson & rookie Russel Westbrook. So, they actually upgraded considerably & got some veteran leadership in Smith.
Now, the real winners in this trade are the CAVS. For once, since Lebron’s been in Cleveland he’s never had a bona fide point guard next to him. Now he does, and what do they ultimately sacrifice to get him: a bench player in Damon Jones & role player in Joe Smith. Neither, will be missed in Cleveland. The CAVS have made a tremendous upgrade at point & to their overall team. Best of all, they didn’t have to give up much to get him…
This should go along way in keeping James happy with his teams progress and stoking their hopes at another run at an NBA Championship.
To quote an old song by Isley Jasper Isley, Caravan of Love, ”The place where mankind was born/is so neglected and torn/every woman/every man/join the caravan/of love..”
Africa is the world’s bread basket, so why are there so many Humanitarian crisis’ in the motherland? Ethiopia is the cradle of civilization, and its where a part of the Great Rift Valley runs through.
“As a warm July rain falls on a patchwork of small holdings half a day’s walk from the nearest road, the women harvest yams, the men plow behind sturdy oxen and fat chickens, goats and cows roam outside mud houses. And yet for all the apparent abundance, this area is so short of food that many are dying from starvation.”
Deforestation has had a crippling effect on the continents soil quality. Moreover, life giving rains come too little too late. The dry season is more intense in Africa than anywhere else in the world due to the proximity to the equator. Not to mention, if the rain doesn’t saturate the soil and produce runoff to refill acquifers its almost like it never rained at all.
Africa needs the technological advances that the West has to address their issues with starvation.
“Hunger has swept East Africa this year, spurred by poor rains and rising food prices. The U.N. estimates that 14 million people urgently need food aid, including 2.6 million in Somalia and more than 1 million in Kenya. In Ethiopia, 4.6 million people are at risk, and 75,000 children have severe acute malnutrition.”
“Nearly a quarter-century ago, an outright famine led to Live Aid, an international fund-raising effort promoted by rock stars, which produced an outpouring of global generosity: millions of tons of food flooded into the country. Yet, ironically, that very generosity may have contributed to today’s crisis.”
Critics say that the farmers may have become dependent on the foreign aid instead of making efforts to do for themselves. That is a contrite answer that is too simplistic to hold weight. Though, its true over time, there’s a loss of key skills, and a country that doesn’t have to feed itself soon becomes a country that can’t. Farmers can’t compete with free aid from outside agencies.
Why bother with development when shortfalls are met by aid? Thats the conundrum African nations find themselves faced with. Once again I err on the side of caution because their is always more to a story than meets the eye. Are these issues related to Colonialism? How does teh International Monetary Fund play a role in this? Has Ethiopia’s debt been relieved by the G8?
Many times countries can’t afford to feed people because their stifled with parasitic debt at the hands of the World Bank and other Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s). It’s perplexing because Africa has the most abundant resources of any continent in the world. However, when your resources are being pillaged & exported to the highest bidder, while you are given pennies on the dollar then you see how a whole nation can be pilfered and then blamed for deficit.
Its a cruel cycle of divide & conquer, hegemony and imperialism. At the same time, media pundits will simply repeat the propaganda being spouted from the State Department. Its not alwways as it seems, and people need to stop being so damn gullible and research these issues from a truly global perspective.
Its tantamount to American’s coming to North America as conquerors then duping “Indigenous groups” to allow them land, life, and title. Then tur around & send them diseased blankets that kill them off. Next, when all the men are dead we blame the people for not being able to feed themselves. This is the same method of operation here with Africa present day. Think about it.
“In 2005 a $1.4 billion five-year program identified 7.3 million Ethiopians unable to live without free food and gave them jobs in rural projects, such as roads and irrigation. The idea was to create livelihoods as well as to save lives. It was working, slowly. By this year, says a Western economist familiar with the effort, “a few thousand” had left the program and were making it on their own.”
“Then came the double blow of drought and soaring food prices. Of the 7.3 million, 5.4 million suddenly needed extra food aid. The sobering lesson: even the best efforts to eliminate hunger are expensive, slow and uncertain of success. Depressing as it may be, this may not be the last time Ethiopia needs help.”
Depressing, Dispicable, Disgusting & Depressing, indeed, that my ancestral homeland is in this state..
Though I write/ to fight/to make things RIGHT! SELAH….
This little girl wasn’t deemed pretty enough to be seen singing “Ode to the Motherland” during China’s opening ceremonies. In fact, another little girl who was seen singing didn’t hum a note, she lip synced.
Just how could this happen and what’s behind the story?
The reason was for the national interest,” said Chen Qigang, the ceremony’s musical director, in a state radio interview. “The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feeling and expression. … Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects.”
So, basically they chose a girl with a nicer smile and nicer teeth. Hmmm, well its their country and they are hosting the Olympics, so who are we to ridicule them for their standards of beauty? Is it right? No. Is it fair? No. How might this incident affect International sentiment toward a country shrouded in secrecy? What SPIN are the Chinese officials putting on this?
Reports suggest that the decision to replace Yang were made at the “highest levels.”
“We had to do it,” he said. “We’d been through several inspections. They’re all very strict. When we rehearsed at the spot, there were several spectators from various divisions, especially leaders from the Politburo, who gave the opinion it must change.”
So, what’s the Chinese media saying about all this? Or, better yet how do the Chinese themselves feel? Well, you already know bloggers worl-wide are the “people’s justice agents.” A number of them have voiced their displeasure: “If you’re not good-looking, no matter how well you sing, you’ll not be onstage. Do you know you’re twisting a whole generation?” Couldn’t have said it better myself..
Another blogger said, “If foreigners found out, they’d think we can’t even find a girl who is good at both.” Good point, with all the opulence & wealth of the Chinese government they couldn’t find a young girl who could meet both stringent criteria of looks & talent?
One would think that Maoiki, the lip syncer would be devastated, however she’s being fast tracked toward stardom for just looking the part. That sounds strangely familiar to what has happened here in the states.
“Lin Miaoke might be only 9 years old but she is well on her way to becoming a star, thanks to her heartwarming performance,” the article gushed — without mentioning she never sang a note.
Anyone remember Milli Vanilli? Here’s a hint they had fake dreads/braids long before Erykah Badu rocked her famous crown. Those brothers from France were infamous when it was discovered that they lip synced their whole album….
As the Chinese saying goes, “A woman should be seen & not heard!!!” Unless, she’s singing at the opening ceremonies…..
“As for Yang Peiyi, she’s been quoted as saying she was honored to have had a role in the opening ceremony, even though few realized just how big her part really was.”
On August 1, Judge J.P. Mauffray Jr. was removed from the Jena 6 trial due to his highly biased remarks about the defendants. Judge Mauffray voiced his prejudice when he called the young men “real trouble makers” & “a violent bunch.”
Another court official, Judge Yeager who removed Judge Mauffray said, “The right to a fair and impartial judge is of particular importance in the present cases.” Mauffray’s ruling on the school fight that landed the six black youth in court were so racist & biased they had to be overturned 3 times.
A Louisiana appeals court ruled that Mychal Bell had to be tried as a juvenile and not as an adult as Mauffray had intended. This Judge broke all precedence with his citing Mr. Bell to a court for adults. How could this Judge justify this action? I recall hearing reports that the District Attorney in this trial was just as biased & prejudiced against these boys.
Its as if they had a perrsonal vendetta against these young men and the only way to make it right in their eyes was to “throw the book at them.” Despite the intentions of the ‘Good Ole Boy network’ down in Louisana these boys have a nation behind them in their fight for justice & equality that are still following this case with a keen eye. Ever ready to amass in great numbers again to see that justice is carried out in this trial.
Remember, Justice Yeager previously prevented Mauffray from closing the Jena 6 proceedings to the public and media. A critical element that added more momentum to the struggle because it allowed the world to see teh racist District Attorney, Judge and townes people.
INJUSTICE IN THE COURT
The Judge put these boys on trial for murder related charges for a school fight that wasn’t provoked by them. In fact, many have said that the legal system had legally LYNCHED the Jena 6, and that is the main reason for the massive show of solidarity they enjoyed from the National black community.
He set bails at an astronomical rate for what was a misdemeanor offense. Bail was $70,000 and $138,000 for a rural community it was exceptionally high, indeed, the bail kept the boys imprisoned longer than usual. Seemingly, that ws the whole point in setting the bail to that amount, knowing the working families couldn’t afford it.
HATE CRIME VICTIMS BLAMED FOR INCIDENTS
The events that lead up to the Jena 6 trial is unbelievable at best. Even in this supposedly coming together of the races, we see just how disparate the old South really is. Moreover, the reluctance from so many people to acknowledge the wrongdoing, though not wanting justice for the provocateurs.
In September 2006, a Black high school student was given permission by the school principal to sit under a tree where only white students usually sat. The next day, three nooses were seen hanging ominously from the “white tree.”
The three white students responsible for this racist act of terror were never reprimanded, nor were their actions condemned at school for three days after the fact. The school’s superintendent explained, “Adolescents play pranks. I don’t think it was a threat against anybody.” It shouldn’t matter, however we must tell the truth, he was white. For I don’t think a person of color could have rendered the same decision.
AN EYE FOR AN EYE LEAVES US ALL BLIND
On Dec. 1, 2006, a few weeks after the nooses were hung from the tree, Black student Robert Bailey attended an all-white student party by invitation. He was attacked and beaten by a crowd, which included Matt Windham and Justin Barker. When police arrived they told Bailey and his friends to “get back to their side of town.”
Next day, Bailey ran into Windham at a gas station. Words are exchanged, and Windham pulls out a sawed-off shotgun. Suddenly, Bailey and other Black students that were with him successfully wrestled the gun from Windham’s hands, beat him up and fled the scene. Miraculously, Windham was not detained, questioned, nor arrested. Southern American Justice at its best!!
Couple of days later, Barker was on campus openly defending the white students who had hung the nooses, using the word “n****r” freely. In response, several Black students roughed up Barker, who was taken to the hospital and released the same day. So, what do you think happened next? Do you think they arrested the white students who jumped Bailey at the party? Did they arrest the young man who brandished a shotgun?
Of course not, the six young black men who defended their lives from an armed assault were arrested. How couold this be? Are there systems of Justice in America, one white, the other Black? Yes, this case spells it out as clear as day light. Can you see it, or are your eyes squinting cause the light is so bright with the criminalization of Black men?
The Jena 6 case is a perfect example of American (In) Justice and the racialized systematic repression, persecution and oppression of Black people and their attempt at due process under the law!!!
So, maybe you haven’t heard the latest Olympic controversy. It involves an American basketball player who was overlooked for the U.S. Women’s National team invitational. She’s an WNBA All-Star an plays the most important position on the floor: the POINT GUARD position or the Coach on the floor. Why did Team USA snub Becky Hammond from tryouts? Why did the Women’s coach call Hammond’s actions “unpatriotic?”
Hammond is playing for arch-rival, COLD WAR rival, Russian Women’s Basketball Team. So what, she’s not alone, there are countless American players that play for foreign teams in the Olympics. On the contrary, no one has called tehm “UNPATRIOTIC.”
Here are some of the players that play for other teams: Patrick Mills, an American plays for the Australian Men’s Team; Coach Blatt, a Jewish American who coaches the same Russian team Hammond plays on. So, what’s up with the double-standard? Hammond, the All American girl is extremely talented and my guess is the powers-that-be are only so HOT because they no they screwed up and would rather have Hammond in the fold than on the other roster.
Still , I personally can’t blame Hammond. She’s been criticized for playing with Russia’s European League team. Though, the issue probably lies with the fact that she’s making 5 times more money to play in Russia. The American teams can’t afford to pay her what Russia does, so they spite her for taking care of herself financially. Becky, makes over a million $$$ a season. Big money for the marginalized WNBA league.
Its been well documented the numerous American players who have opted out of the NBA in search for bigger money (Mo’ Euros) over seas. For many players this is the only viable option to play primarily and to get paid well secondarily. No one can fault these young men & women for doing what they deem appropriate: Taking care of #1; yourself!!
Rather, than hating on Becky and others like her, people need to get a grip of what’s really going on. The NBA has an iron clad collective bargaining agreement which has a soft salary cap that each team must be under or else they will be charged a luxury tax dollar for dollar! So teams trying to stay under this cap will low ball players, trade them, cut them outright, or sign & trade them. Either way you slice it they are the real culprits behind this mass exodus of U.S. talent.
If they got rid of the cap or restructured it then they might have a better chance at retaining talent among the women & men. Ironically, when David Beckam came to the MLS (major league soccer) no one called him a traitor for leaving his native England for a chance at International stardom playing for a Los Angeles team. In fact, he was celebrated as a savior to pitiful ratings, and absolutely no mention to his being foreign born!
America has an ugly history with double standards when comes to Women & Men. Whether, it be equal pay, eor qual opportunity. I caution nay sayers who chide athletes like Hammond: DON’T HATE THE PLAYER; HATE THE GAME!!! Why? The game came 1st, players are just “playing the field” Get it?
You grow up watching certain television shows and creating a fictitious bond with the characters. You’d like to think if you lived in Chicago you & Thelma from Good Times could kick it and reflect on some Good Times.
Still, its hard to believe “little ashley” from Fresh Prince is 29 years old now. Damn, where has all the time gone? She was really cute and funny back then. How, she’s all substance and politically astute. When did this transition occur?
Seriously, whether we want to admit or not there has always been a fascination with actors female & male respectively depending on your own gender. However, there are few that grow up before our eyes almost totally obscure. This is one such case with this sister whose been in the game for a while.
Now, that she’s all grown up what is she into? Well, she has a starring role on the Young & the Restless. Miss Ali can also be seen in the psychological thriller Hotel California starring her & Tyson Beckford. In addition, she’s preparing her sophomore CD entitled The Light. Sounds spiritual. Sounds like grown folks music.
She graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Political & African Studies. In fact, she’s done work as a surrogate for the Obama campaign. She travels around the country speaking to college students, not just about the general election, but about real issues. Like the ever rising cost of GAS!!
Though she loves acting and being in front of the camera she’s definitely a double threat waiting to happen. Ali has partnered with a collegue and created aproduction company called Hazrah. Be sure to look out for production work because they have a project in the pipeline.
“Our first project is a Web series called Buppies, which touches on Black Hollywood and has a little bit of a Sex and the City and Entourage vibe. It’s about the characters, both women and men, figuring out who they are.”
Indeed, baby girl is all grown up and we are figuring out who she is. At least, we know she’s more than just a pretty face, this sister has a conscience & awareness that belies her supple beauty.
Do your thang girl!! Young Black & Fabulous you make us look good!!
Well, if the rumors are true then Premier of Turks & Caicos Michael Misick has been “creepin” with Rocsci from 106 & Park? Misick has been accussed of rape & shady real estate dealings in island paradise.
Lisa Raye is married to Premier Misisck and can often times be seen accompanying her husband conducting state business.
In fact, numerous Hollywood stars have been to the island for Jazz festivals & other entertainment venues.
Raye has done her part to share the beauty of the island by being an informal marketing representative.
Not sure what to make of this one, I think I’ll wait til the dust settles and we learn more of the facts.
Certainly, don’t want to convict an innocent man, however reports say that Rocsi may be the female that claims the “rape” charge out of her jealousy of teh Premier’s marriage…
Look don’t fault the messenger I’m just bloggin’ it as I hear it….. Stay tuned!!
“I bring a sexy, high-energy vibe to any party that I spin. I want people to dance; I want it to be sexy. Aesthetically, it’s nice to have a girl in the booth who’s dressed like one of the clubgoers. Recently, Puffy had me do the after-party for his Hollywood Walk of Fame function in the Hollywood Hills. I get there and I’m dressed up all sexy, ready to rock.
The only place where they can set up the DJ booth is in a foyer on the second level of the house, between the major rooms. I didn’t even know how I was doing, because I couldn’t see people. Then Puff comes upstairs and goes, ‘Look, kid, I know you can’t see what’s going on, but you are killing it right now.’”
Something tells me that we’ll be seeing & hearing more from DJ Kiss. She definitely has the look to rock a party, but looks alone don’t get the partay crackin’… So, its good to know that she’s knowledgable of her craft. Keep an ear to the street for this one & remember you heard it here first!
The streetz is watchin’ and word is Lil Wayne & T Pain have more than just a studio collabo project in the mix. With a lot of material at their disposal they could literally lock down the market with a studio LP & an underground mixtape album. Arguably, two of the hottest entertainers right now. It seems you can’t turn on the radio without hearing one of their many songs, or the countless features they’re rippin on.
According to T Pain, “I’ve been doing an album with Lil Wayne. It’s called T-Wayne: The Project. It’s basically just going to be an array of things, just a visual love. The two artists you’ve seen collaborate with everyone except each other. When you see us together, it’s crazy right now. We already have what we’ve done. We’re gonna keep going till they tell us to stop. We might even put out a mixtape. We’ve got so many songs that we just might do a T-Wayne mixtape too.”
Everyone is dying to have one of these artists on their tracks in the ever competitive music industry. Placing two elite talents together is sure to spark creativity and eager consumers to snatch up any copy of mixtape or CD. Anything these brothers have touched has turned to platinum. They make hit music…that’s what they do! “Long hair, & Don’t care” as Weezy would say!
– Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak — The U.S. Mens 4×100 Relay Team arguably won the most memorable & historic race ever. Consider, TEAM USA team hadn’t won Gold in the event since 1996, however they dominated the relay event since 1964. Still, in an unprecedented fashion TEAM USA wins GOLD last night. They were heavily favored underdogs against their rival French team. No one expected them to win, except themselves and every America around the world.
“I had more adrenaline going than I ever had in my life,” Lezak said.
“America has a great tradition of winning that relay,” he also said, adding just a moment later, “All of us knew what we’re capable of, but to actually do it, to get that tradition back — it’s a phenomenal feeling. Still, right now, I’m in disbelief.”
In fact, the French team was talking trash about the American team before the meet began, and to add to the drama the two teams were lined up together in lanes 4 (USA) & 5 (France). French swimmer Alain Bernard said “the Americans we are going to smash them!”
Well, actions speak louder than words. The Americans actions spoke volumes, so loud it will be heard around the world….Look who’s talking NOW!!
While the race had all the intrigue, it was quite remarkable to watch it unfold. I mean Lezak was behind at least a full body length at the final turn. However, I recall talking to the TV saying, “ok its time to make a move man” 50 meters, 40 meters, 30 meters left…..USA still behind, then finally in the last 5 meters Lezak passes Bernard & OUT TOUCHES the French swimmer by a hand & just .08 of a second!! Amazing, Absolutely Amazing!!
In fact, Jason Lezak swam the fastest anchor leg EVER in HISTORY!! A leg with a time of 46.06. These moments are rare in SPORTS, especially, on an International scale that the olympics is on. I mean if you didn’t see it then where were you when Michael Phelps out swam the competition in the first leg? I was glued to the TELE like like honey bees to honey..
Where were you when the American’s set a WORLD RECORD with a time of 3:08:24?
“C’est le sport,” one of the French racers, Fabien Gilot, said afterward, which means literally, “It’s sport,” but which, in this context, really means, “That’s why they race the race.”
Wdae led the charge with 19 pts followed by James with 18 pts & Bryant with 13 pts. The final score 101-70: America wins…
“It was our first game. We were very anxious. We missed shots that we normally would hit. But at the end of the day, you win by almost 30 points, you’ve got to take good things out of that,” Wade said. “We played very, very hard. We give ourselves a chance defensively every night. That’s what it’s all about with us.”
Team USA fell behind early when the 7′5” Yao Ming stepped out to International 3 pt line & let it rip. The bucket sank as China jumped out to an early lead over the Americans. The game was full of hi-lights.
HIGH LIGHTS:
Kobe Byant had a breakaway dunk in the 2nd quarter over his newly acquired team mate of 1 day Sun Yue. In the 3rd quarter Dwight Howard was going up for a left handed lay-up when out of nowhere Sun Yue leaped in for the block. He’s 6-9 and extremely athletic. Yi Jianlin also had a put back dunk over Carmelo Anthony. In addition, Darrin Williams had a dunk over Yao Ming that is sure to be on highlight reels from one corner to the other, though to yao’s credit he was only about 65-70% healthy.
Still, this game was extremely competitive over the first 2 1/2 quarters. China was only down by 12 points at the half. Though, when the 2nd half began the “Redeem Team” took over in a hurry and the game was never in question after that.
“NBA players are wildly popular in China, where the league estimates 300 million people play basketball. The Americans, still known as the Dream Team here, enjoyed a huge backing during exhibition games in Macau and Shanghai, support that will surely help them here on their gold-medal quest. “
Although, the U.S. team struggled from beyond the arc they only completed 1-12 in the first half of play, while China went 5-7 to keep things relatively close.
Even though they struggled early there defense was the barometer that kept the team grounded. Despite being in a building with over 18,000 fans, anytime Bryant, James, or Wade made an exciting play or dunk the crowd went hysterical. It was obvious that TEAM USA has a lot of fans in Beijing which should help them in teh medal rounds after these first 5 games in the preliminary rounds.
“Look, I had five dunks in one game. That’s because of the crowd. Last time I had five dunks in a game I was like 17. So that’s all because of the energy in this crowd,” Bryant said. “I think they knew that history was being made tonight and obviously it was a proud moment for their country as it was for ours. You could feel the electricity.”
Proponents on each side can’t seem to agree on the political future of the island that is comprised of mostly a non-white majority. Although, the island’s power elite whom head government posts are mostly “white”, much like other ‘Latino’ countries, and are educated in the lily white schools of North America. Moreover, their perspective isn’t in line with majority of Puerto Rican subjects.
Their strategic planning accounts for the perpetuation of a racial politics designed with the intent of mainaining the status quo 2nd class citizenship for Puerto Ricans. The leadership preaches racial democracy, yet there isn’t racial equality with the distribution of resources.
Much like other ’subjects’ of American protectorates: Guam, Virgin Islands & Washington D.C. they have “taxation without representation.” Some have pointed to the fact that if these territories were to achieve equal representation under the law then there would be a tremendous shift of the balance of power in the District of Columbia.
In fact, Puerto Rico & The Virgin Islands would each have 2 Senatorial candidates along with 6-7 congressional members. That alone would send ripples of “shock & awe” throughout D.C. as congressional districts would need to be re-drawn once again to try & balance the power equitably as seen fit by “Washington insiders” & “old guard.”
In closing, Puerto Rican sovereignty is united with D.C. statehood, yet coupled along with other territories under American domination that seek equal representation. Lest we be fooled all of these “districts” have one abiding common ground in force, and that is they are predominantly populated with descendants of Africans and indigenous people native to the geographical location they find themselves immersed in….
Its time to apply teh full rights of independence, sovereignty, and equality to all those underdeveloped, underserved and unrequitted in the face of modernity, hegemony & imperialism….
The July edition of Vogue Italia has caused quite a stir. Its featuring, for the first time ever, an all Black cast of models was a huge success. The glam mag sold out of bookstands in NYC and other metropolitan cities across the U.S. Why was this issue so HOT?
Perhaps, you need to see what all the hoopla was/is about, thats if you were one of the very fortunate to procure a copy. If not, there are some places you can see some of the spreads..
..though from what I’ve heard and seen online it was well done and every aspect of the spreads covered in the edition popped with sensuality, glamour, and allure…
One time for Sexual Chocalate….
The timing for Vogue, in my opinion, was auspicious, whereas, this year is the 50th anniversary of Ebony’s Fashion Fair line produced by Eunice Johnson, wife of Mr. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company who print Ebony, JET, & Ebony Man Magazine.
Fashion Fair (FF) is purportedly reponsible for showing the world the beauty & glamour of all things Black. Specifically, as it pertains to the oft cited racially charged non-inclusive fashion industry.
As a matter of fact, Supermodel IMAN recently said that Fashion Fair ‘broke’ her career. There would be no IMAN, & Beverly Johnson were it not for FF! IN fact, Beverly Johnson was the first African Ammerican model to grace the cover of a major mainstream publication.
Until, Fashion Fair incorporated top European designers into their shows, simultaneously showcasing Black style & European threads, the world hadn’t seen Black models in an ultra-chic & highly stylized sense. Fashion Fair is really the precursor to all things associated with Black glamour from an Afri-cology motif.
The Black edition of Vogue Italia features models such as: Tyra Banks, Alek Wek, Iman, Veronica Webb, Grace Jones, Arlenis, Naomi, & Sessilee, to name a few are featured in this much hyped edition.
Do you want a woman for President of the United States? Perhaps, you’d like to see an ethnic minority attain the highest office in the land. Well, you’re in for a surprise because with the Green Party you get two for the price of one. Two Black women are running for President & Vice-President respectively.
Who are they you ask? Cynthia Mckinney former Congresswoman from Georgia and Rosa Clemente activist, and community organizer.
Radio Talk Show host and political analyst Farai Chideya told The Final Call “that she is glad that there are more voices being added to the political discourse in America.”
“I’m a huge fan of political diversity. Whether or not they get a lot of votes, American democracy should have a lot of depth,” said Ms. Chideya, adding that it will be interesting to see the reaction of the “die hard civil rights generation Democrats” to the McKinney/Clemente Green Party candidacy.”
Far too long in the American political landscape has seen the same tired, same trifling political spiel without any variety of ideas, candidates and vision. Now, with this candidacy the public has a chance to really hear substantive issues that may have been relegated to the margin.
To date, mainstream media hasn’t added so much as a footnote to this campaign. No surprise there. Even though, Clemente may not be a household name, Mckinney has quite the following in her Congressional district. Still, their campaign has been flying under the radar of National press coverage & recognition that the other major political parties have enjoyed!
We live in a two party Republic, yet every citizen has the right to organize their own political party as per the constitution. Although, people seem to denigrate Non-Party Affiliates or Independents like they just serve to divide votes from the major party.
However, according to Mckinney, there is a definitive plateau they have in mind to legitimize the party & the issues it speaks to. “We are also aiming to expand the reach of the Green Party beyond its traditional base with the goal of obtaining five percent of the national vote, which would propel the Green Party to major political party status.”
Whereas, most of the gains made by people of color came about by the people organizing & establishing their own party to speak to their issues, values & socio-econo-poli-spiritual center!
For example, the Mississippi Democratic Freedom Party {symbol was a black panther} which really had its genesis in Mississippi during the “Freedom Rides” was such a party. Fannie Lou Hamer, designated speaker was one of the advocates that spoke to the Mississippi Democratic Party delegation on behalf of all the disenfranchised throughout the state.
A few years later after M. L. King & Malcolm X had been assassinated Huey P. Newton & Bobby Seale adopted that same logo/symbol of the Mississippi Democratic Freedom Party: The Black Panther as its symbol & name of the political organization. Thus, the Black Panther Party was born!
Throughout our history as a nation, its always been those marginalized segments in the society that have stood up & demanded that the “powers-that-be” recognize our humanity by ending injustice at the hands of a tyranical government. So, it isn”t surprising in this historical election year that there is still a lot more history to be made, and as a proud tax paying citizen it makes me extremely proud!
Mckinney states, “It is in the interest of the other two major parties to put the Green Party in a box and say they are only interested in the environment, but the Green Party has taken a stand for reparations and for descendants of the enslaved in this country. They have taken a stand against police brutality and racial profiling. They have acknowledged the fact that this country was built on genocide of the indigenous people in this country. So the Green Party is also a justice party, a peace party, a democracy party. Of course it is a party for respect for this planet that gives us life but that is not all that this party is.”
“Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital,” his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles.
“The comedian suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body’s organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently was hospitalized and treated for pneumonia, which his publicist said was not related to the disease.”
One of the original Kings of Comedy with Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, & Cedric The Entertainer that made history in 2001 with a successful nation-wide tour that made it to the big screen. K.O.C. made Mac a household name. His skits were always split yo’ side funny.
Although, I personally remember Mac from Russell Simmon’ Def Comedy Jam. When he appeared his star hadn’t yet ‘blown up,’ still onlookers could quickly see this brother was special. He had a way with the crowd that reminds one of the late Robin Harris.
From the time he came on stage his presence was electric. Though, he was oft times criticized for his vulgarity & language mac stayed true to his roots & his craft. He was and will always be remebered as one of the greatest to ever appear on stage….
Mac appeared in numerous movies: Bad Santa, Ocean’s Eleven, Mr. 3000, Charlie’s Angel’s, Full Throttle, Transformers, Get on The Bus, & Mo’ Money. Also, he hosted his own self-titled television sitcom from 2001-2006….
Bernie Mac gone at age 50, but not forgotten…..Pour out a little Liquor for my Nicka!!!!
“Fireworks shot off across the Chinese capital as hundreds of drummers and dancers performed under a light display at the National Stadium, drawing applause from the estimated 90,000 in attendance.”
The opening ceremonies for 29th Olympiad in Beijing, China were absolutely incredible. The presentation of costumes, colors, technology, and majesty is unrivalled. They were held in the stadium aka ”Bird’s Nest” a facility that has a white membrane extended about 500 feet from the rafters of the stadium which was used to display multimedia images. The Chinese had over 15,000 performers, and spent 10 times more money than did the Greeks in Athens
“It was a stunning beginning from the nation of 1.3 billion people. Media observers said they believe the opening ceremony will be the single most watched television event in history,” according to published reports.
This membrane was apart of a multi-media phenomenom that only the tech saavy Chinese could pull off. On the ground was a humonguos LED screen which showed different aspects of Chinese culture & various themes to conincide with the cultural performances.
“This one, I think, is going to be bigger and more spectacular … not necessarily more surprising, but more impressive, I think, than any previous ceremony,” said Ric Birch, who oversaw Olympic productions in 1984, 1992 and 2000“
In the past, no sitting American President has attended the Opening Ceremonies outside of the U.S. However, President Bush along with 1st Lady Laura Bush were present & cheering on their compatriots during the “PARADE OF NATIONS.” The USA, along with Canada, Great Britain, China and Australia had some of the largest delegations with well over 300 for each.
French President Nicholas Sarkozy ws in attendance, as well as, Putin the Russian President. Reports say that Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was turned around and not allowed to attend the ceremonies.
A second grader who survived the national disaster that took place in Szechuan Province, China a few months ago was lock in step with Yao Ming during the presentation of the Chinese flag & Parade of Nations. This 7 year old child was just one-third of the survivors who lived despite having their school reduced to rubble & desolation around them.
This little child is an inspiration for an entire generation, in fact the promise & glory of a whole nation. During the aftermath of the earthquake he went back inside the school to rescue friends after he nearly escaped with his own life. When asked why he risked his life to save others he said; “because I’m the hall monitor!” Damn, if we could just follow the examples of children the world would be a better place. As a matter of fact, the little boy was able to save one other child.
Indeed, the 7″6′ Yao Ming had to look up at this new found Chinese Heroe of enormous proportions depite his being no more than 2-3 feet tall.
These opening ceremonies eclipsed all other previous ones and left an indelible impression in the minds of the over 4 billion viewers world wide. Never has the world been witness to the combination of breath-taking stunts that saw some Chinese circumnavigate a fascimile of the globed earth as they walked under, over, and around it while harnessed in with a pulley system. It just defied logic & gravity, though was a sight I won’t soon forget.
There were Chinese caligraphers who used their bodies to depict the ancient chinese custom. As they moved across a white canvas along the floor of the stadium various images began to emerge as a result of their artistic moves.
The most spectacular episode was the 2008 Tai Chi masters who formed a perfect circuit around the LED screen. There were no signs or directors to choreograph their movements. Each person seemed to rely on spatial know-how between the other participants, and what ensued was sheer poetry in motion with an Asian flair of the exotic. They all moved in unison & with grace, power & majesty as they showcased to the world this enimagtic art form of martial arts!!
If the rest of the Olympics follow suit then were in for a remarkable experience and one to remember for the ages….
Since Wade won the 2006 MVP in the Finals he hasn’t been healthy. He has struggled to get back 100% since they won the World Championship 2 years ago. In fact, with his stellar play this summer he has a bit of an edge. He says; “I played angry. So it’s the same kind of feeling on the court. Any doubt that people have in their mind about you as a player, you want to erase it. Just like it was when I first came in the league.”
If you think its just gonna be a summer time edge with Wade think again. He’s committed to bring the same fire & edge this upcoming season in Miami. As a Heat fan I rejoice the return of Wade’s health he’s the kind of player that really depends on his athleticism to spark his game to the next level. So, if he’s injured you’re just seeing a shell of the kind of player he really is.
“That’s going to be like that probably all year, for a while, just that anger, that focus of getting back to total respect, he said by phone before joining his Olympic teammates at practice in Macau, China, in advance of an exhibition game there today against Turkey.”
All of his Team USA mates have admitted that he’s back & playing at an unbelieveable level. Key players from US Men’s team have touted Wade’s playmaking ability. To his credit he’s been the consummate professional, he’s made no complaint about being the teams 6th man off the bench.
“Well, first of all, any compliment you get from your peers or your teammates means more than compliments that come from outside, he told a correspondent for USA Basketball. “So I appreciate LeBron and the guys for saying that and really being behind me the whole time.”
Over the first five exhibition games he’s averaging 18 points. Clearly, he’s been the most spectacular on this all-star caliber team. He is the team leader in points per game, and is shooting an unearthly .723% from the field. His vicious dunk against the Liths left no doubt that he’s back: an alley-hoop from Chris Paul that was a double-pump windmill slam in transition! BLAMM!!
Says Wade, “Chris Paul threw me a lob and I caught it backward and took it down and dunked it,” Wade said. “I hadn’t done that since my rookie year when I was flying. I didn’t feel like I had an injury.” In the offseason Wade works out with Tim Glover, MJ’s former trainer. he’s worked on strengthening his core & his legs. He realized that he had build-up the muscles around the knee to withstand the rigors of the NBA season & his quick spurts. The work has obviously payed off so hopefully it extends throughout late summer into next NBA season.
“I hope all these questions leave because I’m healthy, Wade said recently. My knee feels good. No pain. I’m the strongest I’ve been in a long time. I’m looking forward to being healthy and winning a gold medal.”
He’s recaptured his explosiveness in his quick first step. His characteristic slashes & drives to the rim are reminiscent of his rookie season. Wade seems to be stronger mentally as well as physically, so much so, you can see his exhuberance and joy when he plays. He’s back and enjoying the game!
“I’ve proven that I’ve put in the work, he said. I don’t know what more I can say with my words. The only thing I can show is with my play.”
The game against Russsia he had 12 points and 7 rebounds at haldtime. In fact, he was the game hi scorer and USA high scorer. If you’re a Miami Heat fan than you are elated that Wade is fully recovered from his last two season injuries. He’s missed a total of 62 games in the last two seasons. To his credit, though he was hurt during 2006, the year they won the ring, still, he played with the US team w/o giving his body a chance to heal.
Then the next season he had that terrible shoulder seperation followed by this years knee problems. We know the caliber of player he is when fully healthy. Although, some attribute his style of play as the primary reason he’s often times injured. Some have suggested to him that he should change his style.
“You don’t change your game. You alter certain things, said the 26-year-old Wade, who worked on his outside shooting during his time off. That comes with age and that goes with everybody. Everybody adds a piece to their game every year, but why would I change my game? You might as well get rid of me because I can’t be the player you all want me to be if I do that. I’m going to continue to play the way I play. My body can’t do what it did at 21 without injuries; it’s just about altering certain things as you get older.”
“Hip-Hop started out in the park/now everybody trying to spark/music is suppose to inspire/so how come we ain’t gettin no higher?” Lauryn Hill wrote those poignant lyrics almost 10 years ago and they are just as timely today as they were then. Perhaps, moreso! The power of Hip-Hop is its ability to “speak truth to power!”
Lauryn speaks as a hip-Hop purist challenging the status-quo of the then “over glamorization” of the material aspect of hip-hop. Do you remember when every other lyric was the name of a purse, tie, or outfit or just the redundant name-calling of some foreign designer? She along with others w/in the genre wanted to see more diversity in lyrical content, as well as, a collective effort to raise the awareness & consciousness of the art form as a whole!
I came up in the Afro-centric movement w/in Hip-Hop. So, my point-of-view is 180 degrees to the right of what the media portrays. Artists like Public Enemy, Poor righteous Teachers, Brand Nubians, KRS-ONE, NAS, & Eric B & Rakim were just a few of the “conscious” groups & acts that pushed the envelope with subject matter that affected CHANGE! Issues, such as, Apartheid, Conflict Diamonds, Black Power Movement, Cultural & Spiritual amnesia, Single parenthood, teenage pregnancy, Absentee fathers, and African American history have all been addressed through Hip-Hop music.
Moreover, they provided a whole generation with the unknown untaught & unregarded facts of African American heritage, & African history.
“Hip hop was created in the poorest congressional district in America, the south Bronx, where I was born and grew up. These were young people who had nothing and have created not only a multi-billion dollarindustry but have created an international way that we can all speak to each other. I think the fact that we have that and that hip hop can be found in Palestine, in Ghana, in Venezuela, in Cuba, in Brooklyn and American Indian reservations, speaks to the power of it. It also makes me understand why we are always being attacked and why they are always attacking the hip-hop community,”
Today, artists Dead Prez, Jean Grey, Taalib Kweli, Mos Def, The Roots, Common, OutKast, & Goodie Mob carry the torch of the “pedagogy of the oppressed” by giving voice to those whose voices have been muted by racial discrimination.
In the song “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy, Chuck D says; “We got to pump the stuff/to make us tough!!!” That’s exactly what the legacy of Hip-Hop is. Protest! Elevation! Inspiration! Artist Rakim, in protest to the Gulf War spits; “A desert storm let’s see/ who reigns supreme/Something like monopoly/a government scheme/Go to the Army, be all you can be/Another dead soldier? Hell no, not me!”
Conscious Artists
Still, its not widely known or even given coverage on the corporate owned cable media networks. Those entities would much rather report sensationalism & propaganda touting the genres violence, misogyny, materialism & sexually explicit lyrics as if there wasn’t balance or another side to the coin. For that reason alone, its imperative for others to “co-sign” the positive aspects of the many artists that embark on elevating the culture.
On July 24, rapper Nas joined the grassroots organization ColorOfChange.org to present over 600,000 signatures demanding that Fox News end their biased pattern of racist attacks against “Black Americans and the Obama family.” According to Nas; “Fox (news) poisons the country everytime they air racist propaganda and try to call it news” he said as he endorsed {politicalswagger.com} a new alternative website for political news aimed at the hip hop generation.
“The leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, The RZA launched WuChess.com, described as “the world’s first online chess and urban social network.”
WuChess.com was inspired by the hip-Hop Chess Federation, a non-profit group using music, martial arts and chess to keep peace in the streets. The group has hosted fundraisers where underprivileged youth play chess and receive mentoring. A portion of the funds generated by WuChess.com go to the HHCF for educational scholarships.”
Now, that’s the kind of social activism that we never hear about from the mainstream media regarding positive press about a rapper. Its as if they want to intentionally distort the perceptions of Hip-Hop. Do these actions by these artists change your perception of Hip-Hop? If so, in what way? In your opinion, why do you think the media snuffs stories like these? Hip-Hop isn’t monolithic & can’t be defined by generalizations, rather it is a plethora of diversity that imbues the richness of the African/African-American experience.
“Harlem rapper Immortal Technique’s searing political commentary flows through his music. His albums cover topics ranging from the plight of migrant field workers, to religious hypocrisy to political corruption. What you may not know is that his lyrical intensity is matched by his deep commitment to causes that he is involved in. In 2006 he was the headliner for “Lyrics for Liberty II,” a benefit concert to raise money for an organization providing service to children in Palestine and he is well known for his outspoken activism and participation in benefit concerts to bring attention to the plight of political prisonerMumia Abu Jamal.”
After the release of his third album entitled “Third World,” Immortal Technique is now headed East-the Middle East—to Afghanistan—in his desire to fortify social services for those most in need.
“I joined with a human rights organization to open up an orphanage in Afghanistan,” said the Peruvian rapper. “That’s something that I’ve been pushing very hard, and we’ve gotten a lot of donations for that. I pledge to go out to Afghanistan, probably at the end of this year, and oversee the final stages of construction myself.”
Immortal Technique said the project originated from his “Project Green Light,” in which he dedicates time out of his schedule each year to work with an organization on a special project.
In the words of the late Biggie Smalls; “Stereotypes of a Black male misunderstood/But its still all good…” This is the mantra of today’s cultural historian, warrior-poet, rhyming-revolutionary & BNN (black news network) documentarian of the life, struggles & passion of the black experience!
“In 1926, the government of Liberia signed a concession with Firestone (tire company) to lease onemillion acres of land—for 99 years—at 6 cents per acre. Many Liberians, of course, already lived within these one million acres. They became serfs—convenient slaves or “tappers” to work the land that Firestone calls the “Firestone Plantation.”
As Americans, until now, we never really thought about where things come from. We live a life of convenince that majority of the world can not afford. Yet, we complain about trivial matters that aren’t really of any consequence.
While the growing surge of energy costs is forcing more empathy from us as consumers. Now, because we are forced to we want to know the origins of our oil. Is it domestically produced or is it coming from a country that wants to see the annihilation of our way of life that we so ardently defend?
How many of us would really change our consumption habits if we knew people were being exploited to mass produce raw resources in their “home” country just so we can enjoy the finished product here in the states? The U.S.A. comprises 5% of the world population, however, we consume over 60% of the worlds resources. So, that means people go without in other parts of the world just so that we can have the “extras.”
Do you know the process of refining rubber? Well, one part of the process has “tappers“ or workers tapping the trees to extract the rubber latex and then transport the 70 pound buckets to the factory, a distance which could be several miles. In addition,, there are no modern technological advances like automation. No, everything at the “Firestone Plantation” is still relatively the same since the beginning.
The tappers use hand cranks, and if they are lucky, there may be the occasional wheelbarrow to ease the burden of extreme manual labor. There are no protective face guards like masks or eye goggles. The workers risk life & limb just to meet outlandish quotas that stipulate their pay grade. It’s economic exploitation squared.
“Local water holes and rivers are polluted by the toxic sludge dumped out of the same weighing station to which “tappers” must walk for miles to dump the liquid rubber. The plantation affects the lives of these Liberians.” On one hand, the people are being disenfranchised & on the other hand the land is being polluted, raped & exploited for our excess. Are ypu disturbed by this reality? If not, you should be. It wouldn’t happen in the U.S.? Or, would it?
Is this more permissable because its Africa? Perhaps, however Liberia is an American territory. It was founded to be a refuge for enslaved Africans who wanted to return to their homeland. Hence, the name Liberia meaning liberation. So, I would think that our laws against “sweat houses & worker exploitation” could be used to end this degradation.
“Firestone was barely impacted by the bloody genocidal wars that rocked Liberia in 1989 and 2003. The “plantation” continued to function basically as it did in 1926. The workers were trapped in a medieval nightmare that never ended even as the world moved on.”
You have to wonder who was luckier during the genocide those exploited workers or those rebels fighting for justice & equality? Both situations seem to like extensions of war, that tragically has seen far too much death, destruction & despair…
Let’s hope that with our 24 hour news cycle & America’s revamped sense of “global” concerns for all humanity, especially in relation to energy, that we can establish workers rights, honorable daily wage & modern safety wear.
What are mantras, affirmations, & proverbs? A mantra, or word of power is a saying that communicates a specific message in a provocative way that will be remembered. An affirmation is a positive confirmation of a specific life lesson one can use as a guide to correct actions. A proverb is a wise saying communicated in an abstract way so that it can be transmitted to the knowing w/o confusion.
Stone Tablet w/ Hieroglyph
They are all similar in that they inculcate knowledge, wisdom and overstanding. In addition, they express easily universal & complicated truths of nature that often times can’t be under-stood by sheer intellect. Rather, cognitive reasoning models help to stimulate the lesson through inferential, evaluative and experimental modes.
THE WAY TO IMMORTALITY:
“Neter sheds light on they who shake the clouds of Error from their soul, and sight the brilliancy of TRUTH, mingling themselves with the ALL-sense of the Divine Intelligence, through LOVE of which they win their freedom from that part over which DEATH rules, and has the seed of the assurance of future Deathlessness implanted in him. This, then, is how the good will differ from the bad.”
“If you seek NETER (GOD), you seek for the beautiful. One is the path that leads unto NETER (GOD)–Devotion joined with Gnosis.”
“For the ill of ignorance does pour over all the earth and overwhelm the SOUL that’s battened down w/in the body, preventing it from finding salvation.”
KNOW THYSELF:
“The purpose of all human life is to achieve a state of consciousness apart from bodily concerns.”
“Man is to become GOD-like through a life of virtue and the cultivation of the spirit through scientific knowledge, practice, and bodily discipline.”
“To FREE the SPIRIT, CONTROL the senses; the reward will be a clear INSIGHT.”
“Make your life the subject of intense inquiry, in this way you will discover its goal, direction, and destiny.”
WISDOM & VIRTUE:
“EMOTIONS ARE GOOD SERVANTS BUT POOR MASTERS”
“Glory, like a shadow, flies from they who pursue it; but it follows at the heels of they who would fly from it; if you court it w/o merit, you shall never attain it; if you deserve it, though you hide your self, it will never forsake you.”“The body was created to be subservient to the SOUL; while YOU afflict the soul for the body’s pain, behold YOU SET the body above it. As the wise afflict not their garment; so the patient grieve not their Soul because that which covers it is injured.”
Pharoah Seti
THE MEDITATIVE MIND:
“Purification of the heart (consciousness) leads to the HIGHEST GOOD: ETERNAL LIFE and Supreme Peace.”
“He who grasps the truth of the Mental Nature of the Universe is well advanced on the path to Self-Mastery.”
“Mind, as matter, may be transmuted from state to state, degree to degree, condition to condition, pole to pole and vibration to vibration. Transmutation is a Mental Art.”
VIRTUE & ORDER
“Performing MAAT is breath to the nostrils”
“Do MAAT, that your years upon the earth may be long.”
“The conscience (HEART) of a human is his or her own GOD.”
“I have not done iniquity. I am Pure of Heart & worthy of IMMORTALITY.”
“The SOUL is a prisoner of its own ignorance. In this condition it is fettered with the chains of ignorance to an existence where it has no control over its fate in life. The PURPOSE of each VIRTUE is to REMOVE ONE FETTER.”
“Now, make thy body still. MEDITATE that you may know TRUTH.”
“Harmony is the UNION of opposites.”
“As above, So below. We are created in the IMAGE of NETER (GOD).”
“MORALS ARE JUDGED BY DEEDS*”
EGYPTIAN TANTRA YOGA:
‘BE CIRCUMSPECT IN MATTERS OF SEXUAL RELATIONS.”
“DEVELOP THE LIFE GIVING FIRE; FEW KNOW HOW TO USE IT & FEWER HOW TO MASTER IT.”
“And upon his return to Greece, they gathered around and asked, ‘tell us about this great land of the Blacks called Ethiopia.’ And HERODOTUS said, “There are two great Ethiopian nations, one in Sind (India) and the other in Egypt.”
What does Kemetic mean? It means Black. It is derived from the 4th son of Noah: Ham. The etymology of the word means Black. It comes from the root word KMT in the original language of the Ancient Egyptians. Egypt is a Greek word that means “land of the blacks”; or “burnt faces.” KMT spelled without the vowels, in ancient Egypt, is the accurate term these people referred to themselves as: {kamau; kamites, kemetians, chamites etc}.
What does Yoga mean? The literal meaning of the word is “Yoke” or “Link.” Like to link or yoke back to the boundless source of the Universe, the essence and creation. In essence, it means to become one with the Creator, Universe, The All or GOD.
LIONS LINE THE PATHWAY 2 THE TEMPLE
“The philosophy of YOGA as espoused by the ancient Egyptians incorporated no less than four words whose exact meanings are equal to the Indian word “YOGA” which means {spiritual union}. The four hieroglyphic symbols that mean yoga in Egyptian philosophy are “NEFER“, “SEMA“, “ANKH“, and “HETEP.”
The hieroglyph “NEFER or “NETER” is expressed by the union of the trachea & heart. It symbolizes that which is the the most beautiful thing, the highest good, and the greatest achievement.
“SEMA” represents the union of two lungs & the trachea, symbolizes that the union of the higher & lower SELF leads to the ONE (GOD).
“ANKH” symbolizes the union of the cross (male) and circle (female) aspects of oneself, leading to the transformation into an androgynous being (GOD). Thus, the two become One!
“HETEP” means Supreme Peace, the final abode of all who satisfy the desire of their soul: Union w/ itself!
In ancient KMT, they had two forms of writing and speaking. Demotic and hieroglyphic, the first was used by everyone in the society, whereas, the latter was only used by the royalty, nobles and priests. The word hiero-glyph means literally “sacred writing.” Which explains why only a hand full of people knew how to read & write it. For it was reserved for temple writings, magic spells of protection, funerary reliefs, and written on sarcophagi.
What are symbols & what role do they play in communicating mystic truths? A symbol is an object that explains the un-explainable, defines the un-definable, and signifies the un-signifiable.
GODDESS SEKHET SEATED ON THRONE
According to the Greek philosopher Dionysius the Aropagite, “If anyone suggests that it is disgraceful to fashion base images of the Divine and most Holy orders, it is sufficient to answer that the most Holy mysteries are set forth in two modes: one by means of similar and sacred representations akin to their nature, and the other to unlike forms designed with every possible discordance.
Discordant symbols are more appropriate representations of the Divine because the human mind tends to cling to the physical form of representation believing for example that the Divine are “golden beings or shining men flashing like lightning.” But lest this error befall us, the wisdom of the venerable sages leads us through disharmonious dissimilitudes, not allowing our irrational nature to become attached to those unseemly images. Divine things may not be easily accessible to the unworthy, nor may those who earnestly contemplate the Divine symbols dwell upon the forms themselves as final truth.”
As a practitioner for over ten years this way of life is a good way to exercise, eat healthier, learn the art of meditation, and generally increase your overall understanding of oneself & the universe. For it is said that “KNOWLEDGE OF SELF IS THE BASIS OF ALL KNOWLEDGE.”
In the words of the Egyptians (Kemites) in one of there many proverbs: “The word which appeared as a pillar of flame out of the darkness is the Son of GOD, born of the mystery of the mind. The name of the word is REASON. Reason is the offspring of Thought and reason shall divide the light from the darkness & establish TRUTH in the midst of the waters.”
“If you consider global economic factors — the increasing price of energy and Russia having an economy so heavily dependent on that. Then, of course, the weakening dollar. Three years ago, 100,000 euros was roughly $100,000. Now, 100,000 euros is $160,000, without any other factors changing.”
The economy has taken affect on American business, in fact, its make our businesses more appealing to foreign investors because of the monetary exchange rate. When did you think you’d ever hear the dollar was lower than the Yen, Euro, and Pound? At any rate, the face of American business has changed and likely will continue until our economy recovers.
Two American players and at least five European players have bolted the NBA to go play in the Euro League. The reason for this seems to be purely monetary. Cash Rules Everything Around Me: C.R.E.A.M. get the money dollar dollar bill ya’ll…..
Brandon Jennings was supposed to be headed to Arizona State University to play for the Wildcats this upcoming season, but couldn’t pass his entrance exams to qualify for a scholarship. After failing twice he didn’t bother waiting to see what his scores were the third time—he made a proactive decision about his future. One that met with a lot of controversy. No other collegiate player with his skill-set has done the “unthinkable” and abandoned the NCAA with its out dated system.
Many feel that the NCAA pimps athletes whom bring in millions of dollars in revenue, yet many of them walk or ride a bike to class. Indeed, there is a growing majority who thinks they should PAY amateur athletes for their services. In my opinion, this might be the only way to end the status quo of American sports hegemony. I, for one, am against it. Players should be PAID! A stipend. Something!
Most of these elite athletes come from a program well celebrated in their local community. There practically celebrities, now you want this same kid who has been the big fish in a little pond to come to your program to bolster your BOOSTER & Alumni programs, in addition, to increasing televisions sponsorship (which means Boo-Coo $$$). Its criminal and is reminiscent of “prison work gangs,” whom work for cheap (free) labor!! Think about that!!!
Not to mention, the “letters of intent” are seen as a lottery of sorts. With most players opting for the big name programs that have sex appeal and the chance to build a legacy. Smaller programs in small markets are marginalized.
Moreover, the state of historical black colleges & universities (HBCU’s) have taken the worst hit. 30 years ago, all these players had to go FAMU, Howard University, Hampton, or Fisk. Now, these programs are struggling to survive, and forget about competing with Division I programs. No contest. To exploit athletes, then turn around & pilfer money on the backs of young adults is a cash cow for institutions of higher learning; though most athletes couldn’t even afford the opportunity to attend most of these schools unless its by scholarship. You know what happened “back in the day” (prior to integration) when U of Miami played FAMU? They were man-handled, dusted off, mocked and were barely competitive….Now, the history is reversed. SO, I’m glad to see karma manifest in this way to even the playing fields.
It makes a lot of sense from a economic stance why a player would forego the NCAA where players basically play for free. This guy wouldn’t earn a quarter for him self had he played in Arizona as an amateur, now as a professional he can get paid for his work. That’s economic justice!!! Get yours Bruh!
The other American basketball player that jettisoned the NBA is Josh Childress from the Atlanta Hawks. Josh is riding the wave from the hawks’ first playoff appearance in years. Although, he was a 6th man off the bench for the Hawks its well known that he could have been a starter on many a NBA team. His decision to leave the NBA for the Euroleague was motivated ,in part, because the Hawk’s didn’t seem to want to get a deal done in short time.
Most teams, until this year, usually have to worry about other NBA teams offering competing salary contracts for the Unrestricted FreeAgent’s (UFA) of their choice on any given team. A restricted free agent (RFA) can not be signed outright without any objection from the team the player played for prior to signing a new contract with a new team.
Restricted Free Agents (RFA) NBA teams have thehe right to match an offer sheet to retain their player. Often times these teams (original players) can offer more money and a longer term contract. These are just some of the nuances in the NBA collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
“One definite perk of a Euro deal, however, is the free housing, utilities, maintenance, cars, health care and flights home that regularly come as part of a package and often escape the taxman’s attention.” So, a player can retain more of his income and just has to worry about incidentals, gas and food. Hardly a worry for players executing million dollar/euro contracts. There is a change happening here. Euro tax laws, and the way they allow players to NET more income combined with all these “perks.” I predict more players will opt for GREENER PASTURES overseas.
I think this adds more excitement to the business side of the NBA. Now, General Managers have to account for a credible threat of foreign basketball leagues. In Europe, there is no HARD salary cap. So a team that has billionaire ownership like some Russian teams can spend as much as they like. Could this spell trouble for American teams?
Reports suggest that the summer of 2010 will answer this and many other questions. This is when the mercurial class of ‘03 will enter free agency. You might have heard of some of these athletes ;who have every sub-par team in the league restructuring their payroll now in hopes they can make a bid, for Lebron James, Dwanye Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh & Amare Stoudemire.
With the exception of Amare these players are franchise players and they have just been in the league for 5 years. Though all of these players play for TEAM USA , only the first four are active this summer.
Other NBA players who have fled the NBA for the EuroLeague include Jorge Garbajosa to join Russia’s BC Khimki; Juan Carlos Navarro rejoined FC Barcelona , Primo Brezec to Rome, Bostjan Nachbar is headed to Dynamo Moscow, and Nenad Krstic is also headed to Russia and Carlos Delfino to BC Khimki.
This is the first time in our nation’s history the U.S. federal government has apologized for slavery and the effects of a De Facto law called: Jim Crow. Many people are under the mistaken notion that since slavery was abolished in 1808 in Britain, and in 1863 for the U.S.; that somehow there isn’t a need for restitution for America’s former “forced laborers!”
“In passing the resolution, the House also acknowledged the “injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow.”
Why would the U.S. wait until, damn near Judgement Day to offer its deepest sympathies and condolences for past crimes committed against humanity. Enslaved Africans are our nation’s true burden bearers of this newest republic in the West. In fact, enslaved Africans built the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. Could that be one reason for this sudden crisis of conscience American politicians are having?
I’d prefer to think of this as political expediency for a growing surge of a changing demographic on the political landscape. Let’s call it the Obama Effect. We must acknowledge that certain isssues have recieved new life since the charismatic Senator from Illinois has hit, not just, the National stage, but the Intenational one as well.
For example, when Obama came to St. Peterburgh, Florida this past week, someone asked him why he doesn’t support Reparations. Basically, his stance was that while he agrees there are tremendous gaps in achievement, social mobility, education, jobs, health, class and gender; he didn’t think every victim of oppression should be given financial compensation. His retort to the “heckler” who persisted to insist Obama change his policy stance was: You should RUN 4 office!!
The ranking official on the House Judiciary Committee is John Conyers (D) Michigan. He’s had a House bill on the books for over 20 years and can’t even get a motion to have it heard. Now, Obama bursts on the scene and miraculously former slavemasters (their descendants) want to apologize for an atrocity of perpetual proportions that has lingering effects that most white people fail to give credence to.
The Obama effect {O.E.} can open some eyes to histories ill-treatment. The O.E. will thrust new discourse on “hot-topics” swept under the rug due to fear of vengeance. The O.E. no matter if he wins or loses will surely be felt for years to come. The hopes & dreams of an entire generation depend bama effect taking root into the collective-conscience of all Americans. Then the slow wheels of CHANGE can & will begin to move.
Only a fool would think that a simple apology would do much to improve race relations, however when dealing with it from a psychological perspective we see that an entire governing body within the federal government has “acknowledged” collusion of a crime, a wrong was committed. Moreover, with the advent of repressive & oppressive domestic policies (i.e Poll Taxes) many of the vestiges of Jim Crow still persist to this day.
Historically speaking, “Jim Crow,” or Jim Crow laws, were state and local laws enacted mostly in the Southern and border states of the United States between the 1870s and 1965, when African-Americans were denied the right to vote and other civil liberties were legally segregated from whites.”
This is also the same time period “Lynching” of men, women and children eclipsed 6,000 people from African descent. {see: Ida B. Wells for proof}. A travesty of widespread far-reaching proportions as white mobs or gangs would inflict vigilante justice on defenseless citizens whom were intimidated, harassed, brutalized, castrated, raped, maimed and persecuted with impunity!!!
This is the IGNOBLE past of the American landscape that hasn’t changed mush despite the Obama effect. Although, with his candidacy a vacuum has been created and now these issues have a forum, legitimacy and much needed attention from the American people.
“African-Americans continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow — long after both systems were formally abolished — through enormous damage and loss, both tangible and intangible, including the loss of human dignity and liberty, the frustration of careers and professional lives, and the long-term loss of income and opportunity,” the resolution states.
African-American leadership has been suggesting this since “some” of our ancestors came to the shores of North America in the hulls of ships chained & packaged like sardines in a can and treated like CHATTEL {animals}! From Henry Highland Garnett, founder of African Methodist Episcopal {A.M.E.} Church to Sojourner Truth, feminist, speaker and activist are just two champions that spoke to the injustices afflicted by America to her 2nd class citizens
Don’t be fooled into thinking this dissenting voice only came from American blacks. Indeed, Frantz Fanon, cultural critic, writer & activist from Martinque along with Leopold Senghor from Senegal, W.E.B. DuBois from the U.S. and Heads of State from around the African diaspora embraced the concept of “Negritude; the Black Consciousness Movement; and the Pan-African Congress.” Negritude and the other concepts spoke to the essence of blackness in a philosophical, cultural, artistic and empowering way something that hadn’t been done on a worldwide scale, except for Marcus Garvey’s: Universal Negro Improvemment Association {UNIA}. These are the precursors to the Civil Rights Movements, Black Power Struggle and Afrocentric paradigms.
Isn’t is indicative of negligent & acquiescent leadership that most of our most progressive movements on a massive scale haven’t taken place in almost 50-100 years. What does that suggest? Is this why people hold so much faith in the Democartic presumtive nominee?
On the other hand, this isn’t the first time the government has offered an apology to an ethnicity.
“In April, the Senate passed a resolution sponsored by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, that apologized to Native Americans for “the many instances of violence, maltreatment and neglect.” (READ: GENOCIDE)
“In 1993 the Senate also passed a resolution apologizing for the “illegal overthrow” of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893.” (read: regime change)
“In 1988, Congress passed and President Reagan signed an act apologizing to the 120,000 Japanese-Americans who were held in detention camps during World War II. The 60,000 detainees who were alive at the time each received $20,000 from the government.” [read: ghetto/projects].
Should marijuana “USE” be decriminalized? Isn’t it true that marijuana users are non-violent offenders? The critical issue here is the difference between users/abusers. Users might be in the confines of their own home, however, an abuser might be “driving under the influence.” Shouldn’t there be a difference under the law to reflect a “responsible user”, as opposed, to an “irresponsible abuser?”
Is there a difference in the way law enforcement agency enforce their drug policies when it comes to the use of “illegal substances?” YES!
It would seem so, with the recent influxes of judges realeasing “non-violent offenders & first time non-violent offenders” from jails and prisons across the country in an efffort to ease vastly over-crowded prisons. Since, these “criminals” don’t pose a threat to society they are released to a “half-way house” or house arrest.
According to “Rob Kampia, director of the Marijuana Policy Project, marijuana arrests outnumber arrests for “all violent crimes combined,” meaning police are spending inordinate amounts of time chasing nonviolent criminals.”
So, the police department would have us believe more people “smoke-out” than they “bang-out?” Not hardly, gangs are spreading faster than hot butter on burnt toast. The department isn’t “cracking down” on those criminals, who are violent and pose a significant threat to society and themselves!
“House Resolution 5843, titled the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008, would express support for “a very small number of individuals” suffering from chronic pain or illness to smoke marijuana with impunity.”
States like California and a few others allow for “medicinal marijuana.” Although, I’ve been to Seattle, an annual celebration HempFest allows “users” to burn one in the confines of the park.
Ever been to an outdoor Reggae concert? Bicentennial Park used to host the BoB Marley Fest annually and people were allowed to burn their “high-grade” freely. To my kowledge, there was never a violent crime associated with those venues.
In what ways will this new “proposed” law take into account the disproportionate number of African-Americans that have been ”singled out” by law enforcement?
“Reps. William Lacy Clay, D-Missouri, and Barbara Lee, D-California, said that in addition to targeting nonviolent offenders, U.S. marijuana laws unfairly target African-Americans. “
“Clay said he did not condone drug use but opposes using tax dollars to pursue what he feels is an arcane holdover from “a phony war on drugs that is filling up our prisons, especially with people of color”
The statistics bear out this fact. So, how did our country go from pusuing the “drug traffikers?” Whom are mostly located outside the U.S. if you believe what you hear. What type of affect is the Department of Justice {DOJ} making in the :”war on drugs” if their principal focus is on the consumption? Not very much!
If you cut off the head than the body cannot live. Maybe thats why they DOJ are chasing their tails instead of their heads!! I really believe the Feds are subsidizing the trade. Look at the Freeway Rick Ross trial, and you can clearly see that the C.I.A. was complicit in furnishing cocaine to a middle man to distribute to big time dealers in California.
In a recent report, Rep. Barney Frank suggested; “the U.S. should stop arresting responsible marijuana users.” Rep. Frank said Wednesday, “announcing a proposal to end federal penalties for Americans carrying fewer than 100 grams, almost a quarter-pound, of the substance.”
He also added that; “”I don’t think it is the government’s business to tell you how to spend your leisure time.”
I definitely agree with the politician regarding the protection of our human rights & civil liberties. We’ve seen enough erosion of our rights under the “Patriot Act!” Add in the fact that the government is allowed to tap your phones through this latest round of legislation passed this congressional season, no wonder people are fighting for their right to do as they please in “privacy” whether they agree with this issue or not.
The Drug Enforcement Administration says people charged with simple possession are rarely incarcerated. Unless you are a black or Latino man then you are presumed guilty w/o due process under the law! I’ve seen as much growing up in the city versus living in the suburbs. People in the ‘burbs get off with so much more. Trust me?!
You don’t recieve the benefit of the doubt when you live in the city. Po-Po; 5-0 {police} already assume you’re an abuser, thief, criminal or felon from the door, just b/c “you fit the description!” They infer subliminally that “men of color” fit the profile they have deemed to be the greatest threat or risk of crime. So as a brother you can’t win—you’ve been convicted in the court of public opinion.
On the other hand, many have advocated modernizing the antiquated laws on marijuana use. The day has come to put in place new laws that reflect the culture of today’s people. One might be surprised who “smokes the broccoli” w/in their 4 walls.
Cable shows like “Weeds“, which airs on Showtime gives a new face to weed users, abusers, dealers and distributors. Its ironic how people view one demographic doing said crime, yet another demographic does said crime and the wheels fall off. Its a matter of perception, and as it goes “perception is greater than reality.”
“Allen St. Pierre, spokesman for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, likened Frank’s proposal — co-sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas — to current laws dealing with alcohol consumption. Alcohol use is permitted, and the government focuses its law enforcement efforts on those who abuse alcohol or drive under its influence, he said.”
“We do not arrest and jailresponsible alcohol drinkers,” he said. Indeed, we offer them a red plastic cup so they won’t be chah an “open container.” Or, if were at sporting or music event we could drink within the confines of the event uninhibited.
“There have been 20 million marijuana-related arrests since 1965, he said, and 11 million since 1990, and “every 38 seconds, a marijuana smoker is arrested.” So, with all these damn arrests its still easier to get drugs than to groceries. Arrests don’t curb abuse! Incarceration doesn’t make the streets safe because instead of pursuing the violent criminal they jail the person who consumes the substance.
The policy is obviously failing to make children safer, to remove the prevalence of “weed” from our streets. Hell, all the time and resources local police departments spend in the inner-cities, they aren’t looking for the distributors, importers, and cartels. Beause sure as hell aren’t in the hood. On the contrary, their in the ‘burbs!!
The bottom line, as far as, the marijuana Reform is concerrned is to end arrests. Period! Let’s hope they succeed cuz far to many have been criminalized for “inhaling!” We can’t all be like Bill Clinton and still get elected b/c he didn’t “inhale.”
So with that thought in mind, If you ever want to know what’s going on in the economy just look at the “everyday person” (students, working class, middle-class families, elderly). You know the 60% of the U.S. population that makes less than $200,000- $250,000 annually. The working majority that bears the brunt of every economic ripple, wave and tide.
“Billions of dollars in tax rebates, the centerpiece of the government’s $168 billionstimulus package, spurred more spending in some areas by consumers, a major force shaping overall economic activity. Spending on furniture and household appliances went up, while people cut spending on cars.”
You don’t need Cable News or Wall Street to tell you what you already know, what you already see & feel everyday. If you pay me to shop or spend I will, but I’m going to keep some for insurance. Rebate $300. Spend $200. Keep $100.
“Meanwhile, sales of U.S. exports grew at a 9.2 percent pace in the second quarter, up from a 5.1 percent growth rate in the first quarter.”
A paradox, due to a weak dollar U.S. exports picked up allowing foreign investors to acquire U.S. goods cheap bolstering the economy somewhat in the 2Q.
Reports today, say the end of 2007 was very slow, as far as, the usually expected holiday season boom and large ticket item purchases. Economists are calling it a contraction! Meaning things actually shrunk or diminished. That’s not news. No surprise there.
Here’s the surprise: The last time this happened was after 9/11. The last time the U.S. was in a recession. That’s the real reason Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernake and Washington GOP politicians won’t call it a recession.
The rest of the “1st world” is growing, “2nd world” governments are making billions of dollars like Saudi Arabia. China is booming with redevelopment. Venezuela’s economy has grown exponentially. Gas is like 15 cents a gallon there. You can fill your tank with less than a dollar.
Still, we are inundated with stories of largesse and excess in the Entertainment industry, (political, movie, sporting, music etc). So, what’s real and what’s illusion? Unless, you are a “Star” then you’re probably feeling a “monetary tightness” due to higher prices. Don’t PLAY yourself!!
With everything in the outside world great if you believe the hype, although the inside world we live -in everyday its getting increasingly harder to ‘hold on’ to the basics.
The extras have been gone since the bubble burst in 06 ….and its been a struggle for a “hot-minute” now. Though, now the banking & financial markets are finally feeling the strain (they caused), suddenly, its a world-crisis. As Mr. Obama has said; “Wall St. has caught up to Main St.”
While the everyday person suffers in anguish at rising health care, food, energy and housing—making no more this year than last year its easy to see how there is a rise in home foreclosures. DO the math! If what you bring in remains constant for 6 months, but gas has risen almost a dollar in that time, yet the cost of milk, bread, corn* and rice has increased. Something has to give. Something is gonna come up short!
Its easy to see how people can fall behind, and get sucked into the ‘economic downturn’! Shhh! Let’s not call it what every one already knows what it is: a Recession with obvious signs of inflation.
Where is the protest? Where is the outcry for help? Where is the outrage for our country sabotaging our resources on “wasteful spending”? When will everyday people get fed up w/ corruption at their expense?
Latest polls say 76% of the populace thinks the economy has plummeted, while only 24% thinks things are o.k. The fact that some think its fine is spurious, to say the least, then again their obviously not in the workin majority demographic. Meaning they don’t feel IT, so they don’t know!!
They must be in O.I.L. Exxon Mobil made $11.68 Billion during the 2Q.
Rebate $300. Spend $200. Keep $100. U.S. Econ 101 so easy a school kid can figure out its: HARDER TIMES AHEAD!!
Finding the right location for your small business may seem as simple as finding a place you can afford. Whether it’s a kiosk, storefront, mall store, high-profile flagship, or suburban stand-alone, not every location is suitable for every business. But before you make a commitment, make sure you are aware of the advantages and disadvantages of leasing one t […]
The United States Department of Transportation announced that Carver Bank has been selected as New York’s first participating lender in the agency’s Short Term Lending Program (STLP).
You made it! The tassel has been moved to the other side of the cap and the diploma is in the mail. And unlike the rest of your friends who moved back home, you, mon frère, landed a job and you’ve got your eye on a sweet studio apartment. But there’s just one hitch—you can’t get the apartment because you just found out that your credit score is terrible—524 […]
It’s clear we no longer live in an American-centric society but in a global economy. Now, more than ever, African American professionals and entrepreneurs need to assume a global focus.
During periods of economic uncertainty, people tend to find ways to band together and minimize their fixed costs. Cooperative purchasing is like carpooling for small businesses. When you combine purchasing power with other businesses that have similar economic interests you reduce costs and your money goes farther.
Majority of respondents to a BlackEnterprise.com poll said the White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth was a necessary step to curb unemployment and boost job creation.
Brian Kelly, who has coached the Cincinnati's football team to a 12-0 record this season and a berth in the Sugar Bowl, will be the new football coach at Notre Dame, two sources have told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
The Boston Red Sox have reached a preliminary agreement to trade third baseman Mike Lowell to the Texas Rangers for catcher Max Ramirez, according to a report on FoxSports.
The New York Mets have emerged as another bidder on free-agent left-fielder Jason Bay, according to a source with direct knowledge of the Bay negotiations.
lol 
