Are Professional Sporting Events really Reality TV?

Right after the start of the Iraq War, the St. Louis Rams played the New England Patriots in New Orleans for SuperBowl XXXVI. The Patriots had just won a controversial game against the Oakland Raiders in their home stadium. The Rams were a heavy favorite. Preceding the game there was a pre-game show that was very "patriotic", every living former president except Reagan was in attendance. And of course the Patriots win the game. We have all thought at one time or another our team was being cheated. But that game was more than that. It seemed as if the Rams just quit. It was like a movie. Seven SuperBowls have been played since that game and the Patriots have won more SuperBowls than any other team since the war began. I don't think that's a coincidence. There have been other fixes in sports. Most people don't enjoy professional boxing for this reason. How many times have you heard someone say "the fix is in"? As I watch all of the KOBE vs. LEBRON media hype sponsored by the NBA ans Nike, I remember that the game I was brought up to love has turned into an updated version of the Harlem Globetrotters. The Cavs are this season's "bum-killers" as Charles Barkley pointed out. They are in the role the Lakers were in last season, close but not close enough. The script will play out however the NBA wants it too. They pay the officials to make sure it does. People say, "cheaters never prosper", sure they do!

Memorial Day

Monday was Memorial Day. Memories of fallen soldiers who have served our country. No one in my immediate family has been killed in the military. Today I am remembering the family and friends who have died. I have lost too many close friends in the war in our country. The war that African-Americans are fighting with each other. Gangs, drugs, money, women and jealousy have taken the lives of people near and dear to my heart. I wonder why no one has a day set aside to remember them? People like John Mack who was killed in 1987 going to the mail box, he was supposed to call me right back, he never did. Or what about Rodney"Black-Bart" he was on his way to pick me up from my Aunt's house on Thanksgiving; he didn't make it either. Or how about Kyiara Morrow-Love she would be graduating from high school this year if someone did not kill her when she was only two-years-old. Soldiers know when they board military planes they may not come back but the people I just listed had know idea that day was their last day. I think of them all the time but mostly on days like this, days when everyone is laughing, eating and drinking and they are not present. The list goes on and on but this my memorial day : In Memory of; Finniel Davidson, Virginia Hill;Deon Griffin; Buford Bates Jr.; Jerome; Craig Bridges; Cosie; Rachel; Patrice; Nicky Bam; Kevin Copeland; Dano; Chris Beard; Patrick Johnson; Gladys Waugh; Cynthia Swancy; James Stewart; Lamont Ford; Dannie Grayson; Bruce "Genius"; Donald "Blazer D"; Malik Price; Carla Daniels; Kevin Wickes; La Tasha Harland; Andre' Evans; I could continue for pages but these are people who will not have a special day to be remembered but the people who knew them and loved them remember them daily. This is my Memorial Day for the ones we lost.They are gone from earth but will never be forgotten!
(bold reflects murder victims)

What Is YOUR Business?

People always refer to whatever is going on in their life as their business. I asked myself this morning, 'what is my business'? My life is mostly an open book. I enjoy sharing this book with others as a comfort for me, but usually to help others who may be going through what I am going through. I have a tight knit circle of friends. We share personal information back and forth. I don't always tell all of them everything but I do assume the people who need to know will find out from someone in the circle. How am I supposed to know what was really a secret or just a secret between the circle? Of course I could care less if people in the circle knew I took my mate back after an affair or that I my mother is an assisted living facility but I don't want everybody to know. Then I asked myself: "who can you trust?" Now that depends, some friends I can leave with my cash but not my man, some I can leave with my man and not the cash, I can leave my daughter with all of the them, some friends I cry on their shoulder and some cry on mine but in the end we all cry, fight, laugh,drink and learn together. If you have been friends for over 10years at this point what is "your Business". These women have seen me at my best and my worse and they still put up with my B.S. Women talk by nature, don't take it personal when you seem to be the topic of discussion among your circle of friends. They don't mean any harm because if they did, they wouldn't talk about you they would ignore it and you!

Newly Single?

Single sounds bad. Table for One. One ticket please. But when you are single you can do whatever you want to do. Just think, you don't have to be responsible for anyone but yourself. You can lock up your house and feel free to roam. And lately I've been seeing a lot things to get in to. Yes indeed! The best thing about being single is it's all about YOU! Get a massage, have a drink, buy a meal and take some to go. Go to a Jazz bar and enjoy the sights and the sounds. Meet some new people. Go somewhere you would never go. Like a strip club lots of nice men and women go there to have fun and let their hair down. The world is yours. Hell take one of those young cats down and show 'em how the seventies babies get down. No really, single is fun and free. Take it from me I spent the majority of my adult life single and I loved IT! Do YOU BOO! I love you! It's your time to shine. Now go get ya swagga back!

Remember Senior Year? Life Changes Quick!

With so many of my close friends and family members' children graduating this year, it took me back to my Senior year. I thought I was GROWN. You could not tell me NOTHING! Last week my fiance's daughter went to the prom. She looked beautiful. All dolled up. But there was one difference, no dates. Stag is in style. The BFF's went together looking like a million bucks. Her father proudly placed the corsage on her wrist and he was as proud as a Peacock. I remembered when I went to the prom. I wished my Dad was there to see me off. My date was arguably the finest guy there and all I wanted to do was go be a man 9 years my senior. :( Anyway, all this has me thinking of all the fun and excitement I had back then. Seems like yesterday, but actually it was almost twenty years ago. Looking for material for the dress, shoes, jewelry, and you know the Feather was Bangin'! Times have changed, people are spending thousands of dollars on Proms and renting hotel rooms for there children. I guess it's because this is the closest most girls will come to a wedding? Sad, but true. Do the parents who spend this ridiculous sum of cash on a prom spend equal cash on tutors, trips abroad or college prep-courses? Probably not because we live in a world of appearances. As long as we look good, then it's all good. I hope it all works out. All the money my mother spent on the festivities, I didn't get my CapNGown until two days before graduation. And some of these kids going to prom are not graduating or going to college. Where do you go when you don't seek an education in 2009. HELL, the military won't even take you. I went on a US tour after graduation. I roamed the USA in search of LOVE, FUN, AND CASH! Had lots of Fun, found and lost LOVES and wasted ALL the CASH! My Senior year was exciting. I had all these hopes and dreams of what I thought my life would be. Boy was I naive. Life is rough. You only get what you put into it. Hard work and perseverance pay off. The best advice I can give to a young person is enjoy this last hooray because real life comes fast and furious and it does not give refunds or exchanges. Once you buy it you keep it!

When is the Relationship Over?

Most people have a had a relationship go all wrong. One day everything is all laughs and giggles and then one big blow out and you never speak again. Well that's how it seems at the time but really relationships end before we officially call it "quits." I had a relationship with someone who I thought was a friend. But time after time this person kept doing things I did not like. Offensive things. Rude and selfish things. I let them pass because I was giving the person the benefit of the doubt. But in reality I knew this relationship was over months ago, but of course there is always the straw that breaks the camel's back. Now the relationship is over. Why don't we end these hopeless relationships before someone gets hurt. This is not just for intimate relationships this goes for platonic friendships as well. There's nothing worse than being betrayed by someone you considered a friend. But as we grow older we realize that everyone is not a true friend. True friends don't need validations or pats on the back. They always come even when you don't call and they will never betray you for silver or gold. We choose our friends. And we make our enemies. Life is too short to dwell on negative issues but for anyone holding on to a friendship/relationship that you know has run it's course, be the bigger person and cancel that subscription to bullshit. If you are sitting around waiting for a grown man/woman to change: new flash........It's not going to happen! You change. Stop taking shorts. Only deal with the real! Don't be like Gladys Knight, be the first to say, "Farewell" Look to the future where positive relationships beget positive results. In your heart you know when it's over.........JUST SAY IT!