DON’T HATE THE PLAYER, HATE THE GAME: THE BECKY HAMMOND STORY!

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?

ALL GROWN UP: TATYANA ALI

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!!

ROCSI OR LISA RAYE? WHO U LIKE?

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!!

Who’s hotter? Who’s more of 1st Lady?

DJ KISS: DOWN, ROUND & MOCHA BROWN….

“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!

LONG HAIR & DON’T CARE: LIL WAYNE & T PAIN COLLABO

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!