The Fans Were Banned

Fans banned from basketball game (KRQE Albuqerque)

Talk about a total lack of institutional control. The administrators at these two high schools need to be ashamed of themselves. I have seen my fair share of fights at high school sporting events. Things can get pretty heated when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools rivals collide. That being said, CMS never kept students or fans from coming to the games. Any student who fought at a game was arrested and/or suspended from school for at least a week. 

Banning students from the game punishes those who abide by the rules. The schools should have beefed up security at the game and made it clear to all students that any fighting would result in a severe punishment. On a happier note, I am glad that these young ladies have fans who support them. Female athletes don't get the fanfare they deserve.  

Sammy Sosa Has Lost His Mind

Sammy Sosa says he is not trying to look like the late Michael Jackson, nor is he suffering from a skin infection. He also says the change in the color of his skin is not a byproduct of his alleged steroid use.

Speaking publicly for the first time since photos of him from a recent musical award ceremony were published on the Internet, Sosa said that the skin lightening is the result of the use of a facial cosmetic cream.

"It's a bleaching cream that I apply before going to bed and whitens my skin some," said the former slugger during the "Primer Impacto" program at the Univision Spanish network.

"It's a cream that I have, that I use to soften [my skin], but has bleached me some. I'm not a racist, I live my life happily," said a smiling Sosa during the interview.

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Sammy Sosa has lost his damn mind. At some point, we all have to come to terms with our insecurities. Sosa is 41 years old. It pains me to believe that a man his age isn't comfortable in his own skin...literally. Lots of people in the African-American and Latin communities have a color complex. The roots of that issue are too deep for me to explain in this blog post, but I encourage you to learn more about the topic if it's new to you.

I am a pretty dark skin dude, but my mother has light skin. The skin color issue was never a big deal in my home. I was taught to love people of all shades. Your boy was made fun of a lot as a child because I was darker than everyone else. If I didn't have high self-esteem and a loving support system, I would probably hate my appearance. Ironically, I know a number of women who are attracted to me, in part, because of my dark chocolate skin. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I just wish that so many beholders weren't so damn ignorant.

*Cue the TLC*

The Charlotte Bobcat's Home Opener

I usually post an article to go along with my thoughts. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an article that shed a positive light on the Bobcats' home opener. I completely understand why people don't believe in Bob's Cats. They got destroyed a few days ago and some of their best players are hurt or out of shape. Nevertheless, I am still rooting for the hometown team and I hope you do the same. The Bobcats' opponent tonight, the New York Knicks, are pretty much the northern equivalent of the Bobcats. I see Larry Brown's team winning a close one.

My Prediction
Charlotte 96 New York 91

Throwing Hands in Kansas

Kansas basketball players involved in fighting with Jayhawks football players apologized Thursday, saying they had embarrassed themselves and their school.

During an impromptu news conference, basketball coach Bill Self called the fighting bad for the entire university. He and a few of his players met with reporters Thursday for the first time since fighting erupted Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning at two different sites on the normally peaceful campus. Basketball guard Tyshawn Taylor injured his finger and will be sidelined for up to a month.

KMBC's Jim Flink reported that Taylor took the brunt of the questioning because he posted some racial slurs on his Facebook page several hours before the fight.

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As a former collegiate student-athlete, I am really disturbed by this story. A group of full-scholarship student-athletes should be able to resolve their issues without fighting. They are idolized by most of the campus constituency and I am sure they have no problem attracting the ladies. You would think this level of admiration would be enough to keep these guys mellowed out. Unfortunately, they engaged in a dick measuring contest that blossomed into a full fledged fight.

I have been in my fair share of fist fights. I am pretty sure the last one happened in 8th grade. When I entered high school, I realized that disagreements could be resolved without fisticuffs. This story really hits close to home because most of the people fighting were young Black males. Black men are already the minority on most college campuses. We need to be working together and not against each other. I hope the young brothers involved in this fight will patch things up.

I was introduced to Kansas, the band, when Will Ferrell sang "Dust in the Wind" at Blue's funeral in Old School. That scene was classic...

I close my eyes
Only for a moment and the moment's gone
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes a curiosity
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind

Suicidal Thoughts & Michael Beasley

Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley has checked into an unidentified Houston rehabilitation hospital, multiple sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Sources said the Heat encouraged Beasley to check into the facility to address possible substance and psychological issues. He is expected to spend time with former NBA player and coach John Lucas, who is renowned for his success in working with troubled players. As part of the NBA’s treatment program, Beasley is expected to stay in the facility for a minimum of 30 days with little outside contact, one source close to him said.

Beasley’s admission to the center comes as a handful of disturbing Twitter posts were recently attributed to him.

“Y do I feel like the whole world is against me…I can’t win for losin,” Beasley wrote.

“Feelin like it’s not worth livin!!!!!!! I’m done.”

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I really hope this young brother is able to get the help he needs. Suicide is rarely talked about in the Black community. There is a myth out there that Black men don't commit suicide. Blacks may commit suicide less than other races, but that shouldn't make Black people believe that suicide is a non-issue. One of my track coaches committed suicide this summer after a battle with cancer. I guess the trials and tribulations he went through in order to get healthy were too much for him to handle. His death was especially troubling to me because I never thought my coach would kill himself. He had lots of loving friends, a son playing college football, and the respect of his peers. His death proved to me that people commit suicide for a large variety of reasons. It proved to me that people who kill themselves don't always have visibly horrible lives.

Michael Beasley is a millionaire athlete with a bright future ahead of him. I pray that his rehab stint will give him the tools he needs to prevail in his internal struggle. In time, I hope that Beasley will feel comfortable enough to speak to people about what it's like to overcome suicidal thoughts.

All I want is your understanding
As in the small act of affection
Why is this my life
Is almost everybody's question
And I've tried, everything but suicide
But it's crossed my mind

The Return of Michael Vick

Nothing that happened on the field - not even the return of three-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady - could trump the shocking news last night that quarterback Michael Vick had signed with the Eagles.

As the Eagles played the New England Patriots in an exhibition game at Lincoln Financial Field, a team source said the deal, which is for one year and an option, was actually agreed to Tuesday; the team did not plan to announce it until this morning.

According to Fox Sports, Vick will be paid $1.6 million this year, with a chance for the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback to make $5.6 million as part of a 2010 option. None of the money is guaranteed, according to an Eagles source.

Vick, 31, was the first overall pick in the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons in 2001. He received a 23-month federal sentence after being convicted for running a dogfighting operation in Newport News, Va. He spent 18 months in prison and was released from federal custody July 20.

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I am glad Michael Vick is getting another chance to play in the NFL. He did something REALLY stupid and he lost damn near everything because of his actions. I touched on the Vick issue previously so I won't hop on a soapbox in this post. I was really hoping he would sign with the Panthers. Jake Delhomme does a great job promoting Bojangles, but he is an average QB these days. Oh well, let's hope the hometown team gives us a respectable showing when they play the Giants on Monday night.

"Return of the Mack" by Mark Morrison is one of the best comeback songs I have ever heard. He doesn't have the greatest voice in the world, but the song has lots of energy.

Well I tried to tell you so (yes I did)
But I guess you didn't know
As I said the story goes
Baby now I got the flow

The Untimely Passing of Steve McNair

Married ex-NFL superstar Steve McNair -- who was found shot to death next to the body of his girlfriend -- had promised her he would get a divorce, her sister has revealed. But there's no known record of the former Tennessee Titan filing for a divorce from his wife, Mechelle. The quarterback was shot twice in the head and twice in the chest, an autopsy showed, and his death has formally been ruled a homicide. His girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, had a single gunshot wound to her head.

McNair, 36, had vowed to Kazemi, 20, that his marriage "was going to be finished, the whole divorce was going to be done, two weeks from yesterday," her sister, Sepideh Salmani, told The Tennessean newspaper. Cops yesterday described evidence supporting the theory of a murder-suicide with Kazemi as the killer -- but police refused to rule out other theories about the bloody scene at the Nashville love-shack condo McNair rented with a pal.

The autopsy showed McNair, whose body was found on a sofa Saturday afternoon, was shot four times with a semiautomatic pistol, said police spokesman Don Aaron.

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I remember the first time I saw Steve McNair play. He led his Alcorn State team to the I-AA playoffs where they faced the Youngstown State Penguins. His team kept it close for awhile, but it eventually lost to a very good YSU squad. As a kid growing up in the South, I looked up to McNair because he overcame so many obstacles to gain national recognition. McNair grew up poor and attended a small historically Black institution. Nevertheless, he always gave 100 percent when he was on the field and he played lots of games against doctor's orders. His competitive spirit prompted him to do anything, within the rules, to get the job done. You have to admire a man who demonstrates that level of dedication to his craft.

My heart dropped when I heard about his violent death. I heard the news while I was watching television with my little brothers. They are too young to understand the gravity of McNair's passing, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was going to write about his death sooner, but I didn't want to post anything until all the facts came out. Sadly, it appears that my worst assumptions are true. Like many professional athletes, McNair had a young mistress. McNair and his wife may have had an "understanding", but that information hasn't been released to the public. McNair's actions were wrong, but he didn't deserve to die.

"Love Don't Love Nobody" by The Spinners sets the mood for this story. Love is and will always be indiscriminate. It can make you feel invincible one day and suicidal the next. My heart goes out to McNair's wife, his four sons, and the family of his mistress.

Sometimes a girl
Will come and go
You reach for love
But life won't let ya know
That in the end
You'll still be lovin her
But then shes gone
You're all alone

Band Camp Vs. Training Camp

The physical challenges and demands of participating in a competitive high school marching band are similar to those experienced by athletes who compete in sports like football, according to research presented at the American College of Sports Medicine's annual meeting in Seattle.

Today, marching bands no longer just march in precision formation, study presenter Gary Granata, told Reuters Health. "In the past 20 years, marching bands have gone to these highly choreographed visual shows, where performers are literally running around the field at very high velocities with heavy instruments while playing very difficult passages."

"At the top levels of marching band and drum corps, you get a level of competition and athleticism that is equal to a division I athletic program," added Granata, an exercise physiologist, registered dietitian and owner of the New Orleans-based company PerformWell.

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I know for a fact that being in a "real" marching band isn't easy. Real marching bands actually move while they are playing. The bands that stand still during their performances are just glorified pep bands. Anyway, you have to be in pretty good shape to play an instrument and march at the same time. I failed miserably when I attempted to play the trumpet in third grade. I was so bad that my band teacher moved me to cymbals. I was a bad ass motherf***** on those cymbals though.

Even though I respect marching band members, I think it's ridiculous to compare them to athletes. I played football in college and my team's training camp was grueling. We endured extremely hot temperatures while simultaneously trying to take each other's heads off. I know that marching bands practice in the heat, but the band members know that they aren't going to get hit by a guy that's 320 pounds. There are a few bands that have practices that rival the ones I experienced. The Marching 100 at my alma mater have a phenomenal practice regimen. Most bands, however, can't hold a candle to most teams when it comes to athleticism.

Big Boi from Outkast recorded a song called "Morris Brown" with the Morris Brown College Marching Band. I hope MBC is able to get back on its feet.

Music makes the world go round
Where it goes (where it goes)
Ya just don't know (ya just don't know)
My heart is like a marching band
I'm a fan in the stands
Yes I am and I'm hollerin hey baby
Sayin hey baby

The Bryants Are Going To Court

Kobe Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, are counter-suing their former maid, according to court documents. The Bryants are suing Maria Jimenez, 48, for breach of contract, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing. What the Bryant's are really concerned about is the confidentiality agreement they say Jimenez signed when she was hired in 2007. That agreement prevents her from talking to the press and others.

Jimenez sued the Byrants in March, claiming harassment and verbal abuse by Vanessa Bryant. According to the original lawsuit, Jimenez worked at the Bryant home six days a week, for 10-12 hours a day, from September 2007 to March 22, 2008, handling a variety of tasks that included housecleaning, laundry and cleaning up after the couple's children.

Jimenez claims the final straw was when Vanessa screamed at her for putting an expensive blouse in the washing machine, then demanded that she put her hand in a bag of dog feces to retrieve the price tag for the garment.

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Before I start giving my thoughts on this story, it should be noted that I am not a Kobe fan. Kobe IS NOT and NEVER WILL BE as good as His Airness. Kobe has three rings because he was lucky enough to play with Shaunie's husband. Furthermore, I dislike the Lakers as a staff, a record label, and as a motherf***ing crew...RIP Tupac.

I don't know much about Vanessa Bryant. In my eyes, the only notable thing she has done is forgive her narcissistic husband for cheating on her. I really hope she wasn't treating her maid in a disrespectful manner. However, it appears there may be some truth to the maid's accusations. If Ms. Jimenez, has her paperwork in order, she should be able to get a nice piece of change from the Bryants. Unlike Kobe, Vannessa can't drop 81 on the Raptors and make people forget all about her personal life.

Kobe recorded a song with Brian McKnight back in the days. Mr. Bryant doesn't spit any hot fire, but his verse was better than I expected.

Your loves a sword slicing gently through my body
Burn so sweet, blood boils when you speak
Makes me weak but I refuse to weep
Yet when I sleep I feel tears tricklin down my cheek
Stay strong, pride telling me move on
My hearts fightin me, forcin me to hold on
Yours forever, fell for you beyond measure
Pure as ever, fazed by sins of treasure

Denver vs. The WWE

The best storyline of the NBA playoffs this week has nothing to do with the impending battles between Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony or Dwight Howard and LeBron James. It centers on the battle for Denver's Pepsi Center on Memorial Day between World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon and Stan Kroenke, who owns the Denver Nuggets and the team's home arena.

Kroenke Sports Enterprises had originally booked the Pepsi Center on Monday for WWE Monday Night Raw, a weekly pro wrestling show aired live to a worldwide audience on cable television, but a conflict arose when the NBA scheduled Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers at the arena on the same day and time. Even though the WWE secured the Pepsi Center last Aug. 15, confirmed the date in March and signed a contract on April 15, according to WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman.

"Even though the Denver Nuggets had a strong team this year and were projected to make the playoffs," said McMahon. "Obviously Nuggets and Pepsi Center owner Stan Kroenke did not have enough faith in his own team to hold the May 25 date for a potential playoff game."

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Shouts out to Tirico Suave for the picture at the top of the page. Photoshop is an amazing software program. Anyway, the Denver Nuggets owner is dead wrong for not honoring his contract with the WWE. I know a lot of people think the WWE is a joke, but it has a very strong following. I watched wrestling religiously as a child and I refused to believe it was fake. Razor Ramon and Ravishing Rick Rude were my idols. I know there are lots of people in Denver who are disappointed that the match was rescheduled. It blows that my that the Nuggets organization was able to get out of it's contractual obligations. I guess the NBA has more political/financial capital than the WWE. WWE superstar John Cena moonlights as a rapper when he is not putting his foes in the Attitude Adjustment. He isn't the best lyricist in the world, but I give him an "E" for effort.

Your time is up, my time is now
You can't see me, my time is now
It's the franchise, boy I'm shinin now
You can't see me, my time is now!

The Heels Visit The White House

A pickup game of basketball last spring brought good luck to the University of North Carolina's basketball team and to Barack Obama, the president said Monday as he welcomed the national champions to the White House. North Carolina won the title this year. And Obama, who scrimmaged with the players during a campaign visit to Chapel Hill, N.C., won the state's Democratic primary and then carried North Carolina in November as he captured the presidency.

"I'm not sure whose luck rubbed off on who," Obama said Monday as he greeted the team on the White House's South Lawn. "I think there was just a good vibe going on there."

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I am one of the biggest Tar Heel fans in the country. I almost came to tears when my Heels won the NCAA National Championship this year. Carolina lost a lot of talent because of the NBA Draft and graduation. I am pretty sure Roy Williams and Co. will use the next 2 years or so to build another championship contender. President Obama's faith in the Heels makes me support him even more. Queen's "We are the Champions" is played at almost every championship ceremony. I look forward to hearing that song being played when Carolina wins another National Championship in 2012.

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose

Tony Dungy Drops Knowledge on Vick

Michael Vick met Tuesday with former Colts coach Tony Dungy at the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan.

"I can confirm that Michael met with Coach Dungy," Vick's agent, Joel Segal, said. "The discussions were private, but the meeting was very positive."

Vick met with Dungy to discuss his life after he gets out of prison. He is scheduled to leave Leavenworth May 20 and serve the remainder of his sentence under home confinement at his five-bedroom home in Hampton, Va., with his fiancée and two of his children. His sentence ends July 20, and he will be on supervised probation for the next three years. Once he leaves Leavenworth, he will work 40 hours a week at a construction company in Hampton, making $10 an hour. Vick pleaded guilty to a federal charge related to funding a dogfighting operation, and was suspended indefinitely by the NFL in August 2007.

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Michael Vick was wrong for running a dog fighting ring. Dead wrong. He had was being paid handsomely to play a game many of us play for free. Unfortunately, he let his superstardom give him a sense of invincibility. The Feds found out what he was doing and pretty much stripped him of everything he has earned over the years. Vick definitely deserved to go to prison, but his sentence was excessive. There are rapists and drug dealers who do less time than Ron Mexico is doing. Fanatical dog lovers and self-righteous people across the country will vilify Vick for the rest of his life. Vick's actions were stupid, but he should be given the opportunity to redeem himself.

I hope speaking with Dungy will motivate Vick to become a better person once he is released. I admire Dungy for going to see Vick because a lot of people hate the former Falcon's quarterback. Dungy is clearly not concerned about what the meeting will do to his image. His focus is on helping a young brother turn his life around. The world would be a better place if people were less judgmental and more forgiving. Dungy embodies the traits that we should all strive to gain. Willie Hutch's "Brothers Gonna Work It Out" would be playing in the background if the meeting between Dungy and Vick was televised.

Now don't give him no peace sign
If you don't mean it from your heart
United we can get over
But yet we're still apart

Lingerie Football Is Coming To Charlotte!

Atlanta may have its fair share of strip clubs, but it wasn’t ready for lingerie-clad ladies playing football. The Atlanta Steam — the city’s first lingerie-wearing women’s football team — is moving to Charlotte after failure to find a stadium in Georgia. League officials said they submitted bids to multiple venues in Fulton and Gwinnett counties, but were denied a place to play. They declined to identify the venues. “We checked out everything. No stone was left unturned,” said Jennifer Colter, a spokeswoman for the Lingerie Football League. “There was a little bit of friction and hesitation with certain venues not wanting that type of entertainment.”

Charlotte, however, is glad to welcome the team. The Steam will announce their new stadium later this week, Colter said. The Steam were scheduled to start training camps here this week and kick off the first season in September against the New England Euphoria, Colter said.League officials insist that fans shouldn’t worry: the ladies still plan to play in September, just farther north. The ladies play full contact, seven on seven football on a 50-yard field. The uniforms include tiny boy shorts and bikini tops. And of course they’ll have on helmets for protection.

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In theory, lingerie football is a GREAT idea. Visualizing beautiful sweaty women playing my favorite sport really brings a smile to my face. Unfortunately, the novelty may wear off as time passes. The Lingerie Football League (LFL) will need to be innovative in order to keep the public's attention. I think the LFL should recruit beautiful and athletic celebrities to make guest appearances on certain teams. The Pussycat Dolls have thrived using that business model and I think the LFL could as well. It would also help if the LFL persuaded Uncle Hugh to have a "Girls of the LFL" spread. If he gave a Danity Kane reject 500K to go nude, I am sure he can show the LFL some love.

I realize that there are people who believe the LFL objectifies women, There are also people who believe the league makes a mockery of the game. I respect their objections, but I will still be a passionate supporter of Charlotte's newest football team. The state of the economy and the fickleness of fans will make it hard for the LFL to stay afloat. I wish the league nothing but the best though. Can you imagine what an LFL game would be like on Ladies Night? I can...it would be memorable. The announcer should play Lil Kim & Company's "Ladies Night" remake to set the night off right.

Bang this in your whips
Platinum coated rolli with the chips in the wrists
Here's a french kiss
I dismissed all you chicks split six from the four-fifth
Make you dance, ooowwww
I stay focused, in the dopest
Like a penny with a hole in it, y'all just hopeless