It’s time to do some renovations.

They’ll also be subtle changes to the new site as we settle. Any questions, complaints or concerns, hit me up by email.

Our previous posts will be archived here if anyone wants to check ‘em out, but there won’t be any new posts. We are also working on a redirect regarding the url you are used to using to make the transition seamless.

The site now offers our readers an opportunity to be more interactive. There’s no charge–we ain’t all that–but you do have to sign up at the top left of the page.

The instructions are pretty much self explanatory. After you sign up, you’ll see TSF has been introduced to a new Internet space. You can create your own profiles and post our pieces to any other social networking sites such as Myspace, Facebook or any of the other popular alternatives.

They’ll be a podcast tool implemented very soon to give a more well rounded feel to our interviews.

We are also working on some other very exciting things. Stay tuned.

Thank you all for your contributions and incredible insight over the past year. As we enter a new stage of development, we hope you all continue to visualize our goal of providing a formidable alternative to the present media construct.

Things are about to change….

Today marks the 20th Anniversary of Doug Williams successfully leading the Washington Redskins to victory in Super Bowl XXII. In the process Williams became the first Black quarterback to do so.

I’ve asked a few friends of mine (high quality products to sports fans) to recall that day and relive what was truly one of the great events in sports history.

I am also extending this invitation to you - TSF readers to share your thoughts as well.

One of the questions asked was where were you, how did it make you feel and how have things changed for the Black quarterback in the last 20 years?

Anthony Gilbert – Starting Five Writer

I felt a sense of pride because my older brother was explaining to me that it was a big deal for Doug Williams to be a black quarterback in the Super Bowl. We are Philadelphia Eagles fans, but for one day we cheered the Washington Redskins onto victory. It was a very big moment for me, as it is one of the many fond memories I have in being a sports fan. I always say that the more things change, the more they stay the same, and being a black quarterback is tough, because no other quarterback has an ethnic label. Have you ever heard the term, european quarterback, or anglo saxan quarterback? No but for the black American quarterback to have a label, that in it self proves that there is still a long way to go. I like Warren Moon, and Randall Cunningham will forever be my ALL TIME favorite, and Doug Williams, Super Bowl MVP…he is the measuring stick of what a quarterback would want to be, black or otherwise.

Chris Murray – Sports Columnist, Philadelphia Tribune

Let me preface my remarks by saying that I was not and never will be a fan of the Washington Redskins. However, on January 31, 1988 I cheeered for the Burgundy and Gold and sang Hail to the Redskins because of Doug Williams. What I will remember from that entire week was when a reporter asked Doug Williams how long he had been a Black quarterback. That whole week everybody raved about John Elway. That second quarter in which Doug Williams led the Skins to 35 points was a thing of beauty. Doug picked the Broncos apart. I had been watching football for 20 years since I was six years old and had been hoping to see a Black quarterback win a Super Bowl. That day even the most diehard Black Cowboys fan rooted for Doug Williams because seeing a black quarterback win the Super Bowl was bigger than the rivalry. Doug destroyed the myth of a Black athlete not being able to play quarterback in a single quarter.

Ron Glover – Starting Five Writer

For some crazy reason I was over my girlfriend’s house at the time. I was 15 and the game was about to come on. I was hoping Doug would make history that day. When the Broncos went up 10-0 my first thought was that it was plenty of time left. When Williams went down I was just as nervous as anyone else but I would rather him not continue than throw the game away. Then he came back in the second quarter and the floodgates just opened up. Watching Williams go to work in the 2nd quarter of that game just didn’t seem real. He was truly in a zone. When the ‘Skins scored right before the half I knew it was a done deal. Four touchdown passes in a quarter – that was something that none of the “greats” had done. I love my Eagles dearly, but for me or anyone else to root against Doug Williams that day would’ve been just sheer ignorance. I went home at halftime because when the clock hit 00:00 I wanted to be near the man that introduced this game to me… my dad. The old man dropped a few that day, I really couldn’t blame him. A couple of year’s back – I was in Mitchell and Ness, looking for a jersey. I saw some of my favorite players numbers hangin’ around – then a Burgandy #17 Redskins Jersey with D. Williams on the back caught my eye – I couldn’t walk away from it. I was $250 lighter in the pocket but it was well worth it.

Michael Tillery – Starting Five Editor

My Pops made sure I knew who Eddie Robinson was. Eddie Robinson was Grambling and college football. The school itself….the band…everything else was insignificant (only because of Robinson’s stature). He instilled a dislike for Alabama because of how racist Bear Bryant was and Eddie represented hope in the midst of Black Struggle. He couldn’t understand why Eddie Robinson–along with Big House Gaines–wasn’t given the proper reverence of any of these Division 1 coaching “icons”. If USC and O. J. Simpson, Orange Juice–as I called him–were on the same time as Grambling? We watched Grambling. My recollection of the first Black quarterback was Doug Williams because of my Pop. That’s all he talked about, so when Doug and his big ass arm ran onto the field for Tampa Bay, it was the proudest moment ever for me personally. Pop wasn’t a big baseball fan, so I didn’t hear stories of Willie, Hank, and Jackie. It was all about Doug.

Then the sacks came…and then some more and gdamnit a whole lot more. Then Doug seemed to float around and I thought, damn all he needed was a shot. Thank God for Joe Gibbs. He became my dude when he signed Doug even though I’m an Eagles fan.

I would watch big games in my grandmother’s kitchen–smelling like some blazing friend fish–in Chester, PA (the same place where I saw Phi Slamma Jamma go down to NC State).

In this particular Super Bowl, my family tuned in at our home in Delaware. It was a big thing of course with Doug starting. It didn’t seem like it was going to be his day–especially after a hit to his injured leg forced him out for a play or two if I can remember.

Then the second quarter happened…… 9-11 228 yards, 4 touchdowns.

The position of quarterback has been a microcosm of the Black struggle in America – a door supposedly “open to all” – except for us of a darker hue who continuously knock, kick and scream until an answer comes.

For eighty years, the Black man has fought tooth and nail to be in a position to lead a professional football franchise to glory. Many came before Doug Williams some may have even been better skilled. But looking back on the life of Douglas Lee Williams -none were better prepared.

My mother says that “The Lord chooses whom he will.” If you ask Williams about being the Chosen One, he places it at the feet of hard work, opportunity and determination more than anything.

Born the sixth of eight children in Zachary, La. to Robert and Laura Williams, Doug learned the lessons of hard work at an early age. His father was wounded in the Pearl Harbor attacks but was able to make a living as a construction worker and nightclub manager, his mother worked as a school cook. Money was hard to come by in the Williams household but it remained a close-knit home.

Williams was active in all sports – although it was football, playing quarterback, where he found his niche.

Coming out of high school Doug was only recruited by two schools; Southern University and Grambling State University, it was Williams’ conversation with legendary coach Eddie Robinson that won Williams over.

It would be one of several conversations with Robinson that would carry Williams through the course of his life.

Williams’ freshman season at Grambling was a forgettable one – he was redshirted which resulted in his grades and confidence dropping off. His father was so troubled that he considered removing Williams from school and finding him work. His sophomore season worked out better – he was penciled in as the team’s third string quarterback. Once again not feeling satisfied with the results Williams considered leaving the team but coach Robinson talked him into staying on.

When it seemed darkest for Williams – opportunity presented itself. The Tigers starting quarterback was lost to injury allowing Williams to work his way into the starting role. From that day, Williams would not relinquish the position. He would finish out the remainder of the 1974 season and his remaining three seasons as Grambling’s signal caller.

Williams enjoyed a magnificent career for the Tigers; he would win 35 of 40 games as a starter while winning 4 consecutive SWAC titles. In 1977 Williams was named a first team All-American by the Associated Press and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He would leave Grambling with 8,411 passing yards and 93 touchdowns and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education.

In the 1978 NFL Draft, Williams would be the first quarterback taken with the 17th pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, other notables selected; Earl Campbell, Art Still, Wes Chandler, James Lofton, Clay Matthews, Mike Kenn, John Jefferson and Ozzie Newsome… and that was just the first round.

Williams rookie season began with a contract dispute that would eventually end with him making $565,000 for 5 seasons. In spite of his late arrival he would win the starting job and lead the downtrodden Bucs to an 4-4 record through 8 games. In week 10, Williams would suffer a broken jaw he would recover in time to play in the season finale. Despite a shortened season Williams would be named to the NFL’s All-Rookie Team.

The 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers seemed to be a team of destiny – they finished the season 10-6. They would go on to win the Central Division and face the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs.

I remember this game vividly because of the three names I heard all afternoon – Lee Roy Selmon, Ricky Bell (who the Eagles could not stop for anything) and Doug Williams. It was a long day for Jaws and the vaunted Philly O-line who had no answer for Selmon. Williams did just enough to win as the Bucs would go on to record one of the great upsets in NFL history. The following week the Bucs would host the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams, Williams tore his biceps muscle missing most of the third and all of the fourth quarter despite a youman defensive effort the Bucs would fall 9-0.

Williams would have to wait eight more years before his next shot at the Super Bowl.

For eight years – there was no gameplan or pre-game speech that could prepare Doug Williams for the all-out blitz he was going to encounter.

In 1982, things got off to a good start Williams married Janice Goss, he would once again lead the Bucs to the playoffs in a strike-shortened season. Again the Bucs would fall short to the Dallas Cowboys 30-17. Williams initial contract with the Bucs had expired and with contract negotiations looming Williams looked forward to a windfall payday.

But it was not to be.

Bucs management offered Williams $400,000 per season, as negotiations continued Williams wife began to experience severe headaches. In April of 1983, it was discovered that a brain tumor had developed, surgery was scheduled immediately to remove the tumor, but Janice died a week later. With his life shattered and career in limbo, Williams would head back to Zachary. His stay there would bring little comfort. His father Robert would develop health problems that would lead to the amputation of both legs. Williams’ talks with the Bucs would ultimately break down, ending his association with the club.

During Williams’ negotiations with the Bucs, the United States Football League (USFL) was formed – Bill Tatham, owner of the Oklahoma Outlaws reached out to Williams and offered him a substantial contract. Williams played three seasons in the USFL, unsure that he would receive and offer from the NFL he took a coaching job at Southern University.

When things seem the darkest…light is just over the horizon.

In 1986 the USFL officially folded. And Williams was just settling in at Southern U. When he received and unlikely call from Washington Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs who knew Williams from his years in Tampa Bay.

Williams would sign with the ‘Skins as the backup to Jay Schroeder. But Gibbs saw bigger things for Williams. In a conversation with ‘Skins owner Jack Kent Cooke Gibbs let his confidence in Williams be known, “‘I’m not going to pay him $500,000 to be a backup’ and I said, ‘He may not be a backup, He may win a Super Bowl for us one day”‘. Despite a new lease on his football career Williams’ personal difficulties continued. He married Lisa Robinson in June of 1987, but the union only lasted about five months.

Jay Schroeder was the opening day starter – in the opener against the Eagles he was injured. Williams would become the starter, but a 24 day strike allowed Schroeder to heal. Again, as fate would allow, Williams would hurt his back and Schroeder would regain his starting job. Williams was reduced to tears his final shot seemed wasted as the playoffs loomed.

Weeping may endure for a night – but joy cometh in the morning.

In the season’s final game the ‘Skins need a win against the Vikings to get a higher seed and possibly home field in the playoffs. Schroeder plays a terrible first half and is pulled by Gibbs in the 3rd quarter. Williams is put in, leads the ‘Skins to victory and is named the starter for the playoffs.

Williams would throw for 3 touchdowns in the Redskins two playoff victories against the Bears and Vikings

Although the Denver Broncos, a stupid question, a toothache, and a hyperextended knee stood in the way of history. It would take an embarassment from the previous season and the hopes of those that came before him to pull Williams through.

• The Denver Broncos were led by John Elway who had become a sympathetic figure in the eyes of many after leading his team through one of the greatest drives in NFL history to reach Super Bowl XXI. The Broncos would be trounced by the Giants in Super Bowl XXI. This was his second crack at the Lombardi Trophy.
• Media week at the Super Bowl brings out some of the best soundbytes that you’ll probably get the entire week. The dumbest soundbyte was a question that came from a reporter who asked Williams, “How long have you been a Black quarterback?” Williams’ reposnse was, “Well, I’ve been Black all my life.” The reporter really wanted to know how long had Williams had the intelligence to be a quarterback disguised as a Black man.
• The morning before the Super Bowl Williams woke up with a sore tootha and a headache. The dentist could only do a root canal to promise Williams would be pain-free. Williams went through with the root canal. That night he even indulged in his pregame snack – a bag of Hershey’s kisses.
• Denver jumps out to a 10-0 lead when the inexplicable happens. Williams drops back and the grass comes from under his feet hyperextending his knee – he miraculously returns but it’s the motivation behind the return that is the true miracle.

In the 1986 NFC Championship Game against the Giants, Jay Schroeder was knocked silly by Lawrence Taylor – Gibbs sent Williams onto the field to sub for Schroeder but Schroeder furiously waved Williams off. As if to say – I’d rather fall on my own sword in defeat, before I allow you to lead us to victory.

Williams took that show of disrespect and filed it away, vowing that if the tables ever turned, Schroeder would never be under center as long as they wore the same uniform.

Williams would return and on his first play from scrimmage hit Ricky Sanders with an 80-yard strike to cut the lead to 10-7. After a Denver punt Williams found Gary Clark on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Unsung hero Timmy Smith (202 rushing yards) broke off a 58-yard scamper to make the score 21-10. Williams wasn’t done yet, before halftime he would throw his third and fourth touchdowns of the quarter to Sanders and tight end Clint Didier, respectively.

Before you could blink Williams had thrown four touchdowns in the second quarter and the ‘Skins put up and total of 35 points on the Broncos. Putting the game out of reach before halftime as the Broncos would not score again in a 42-10 defeat.

Williams had made history and in his contribution he carried the spirits of those before him; Fritz Pollard, Willie Thrower, George Taliaferro, Sandy Stephens, Marlin Briscoe, James”Shack” Harris, Joe Gilliam, John Walton and Vince Evans.

Doug Williams’ life paralleled to that of Job, a biblical figure who was faithful to God in the face of losing all that he had.

Through all of his trials and tribulations he never cursed his Maker and for that he was given back what we had tenfold.

When a door seemed closed Williams kept coming back. Whether it was the death of his young wife or a root canal, Doug Williams just kept getting up. Williams may never get into the Hall of Fame and he may never become a head coach in the NFL, but for one day in January Doug Williams was the greatest football player on the planet.

Because God chose him to be.

I sent out five questions to folks (writers, bloggers an athlete or two) of all races–including The Starting Five collective–and I received 21 responses. To those who didn’t get an email I apologize, but please comment. Many respectfully declined and others simply ignored my request. I have to say maybe some didn’t receive my email or were too busy. The questions were worded to elicit candid thoughts of whom I consider conscious peers. I thank those from the bottom of my heart who chose to participate. My mind constantly wonders why this and why that, so this is a way of expressing my true concern of how we can all can move forward in a productive sense while also respecting the experience of our collective past.

I want to start a conversation to help ALL of us. The responses are in no particular order. Because there were so many eloquent responses, I picked names randomly for every question with the exception of the on regarding Tiger Woods.

Let’s Get It!

The events of 1968 personally affect me because it was the year I was born. Martin Luther King’s death and the silent protest by John Carlos and Tommie Smith in Mexico City are two reasons why my consciousness boils to the surface every time I write. I have much to learn for I am not perfect, but Dr. King’s legacy has given me a sense of purpose I hopefully will pass to my children and give them some perspective of how the Civil Rights era shapes our present and future.

This is what it’s all about

While making an appearance to help raise money for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on 8/28/06, I asked Golden State Warrior forward Chris Webber how Dr. King affected him personally and he offered, “My parents made sure we knew of Dr. King’s legacy growing up. My mother was a teacher so there was no getting away from respecting his affect on our people and the nation as well. The only thing I can do with my “celebrity” to further his dream is to make sure I give kids–specifically Black boys–a positive role model to look up to. I’m not perfect, but I try to make sure I live my life in a way Dr. King wanted us all to.”

Fast forward to one of the best moments of my life, November 13th, 2006. The MLK groundbreaking ceremony was special. MLK will be the first of his race to have a monument erected–between Jefferson and Lincoln–and the happiness seemingly on all the faces gave me a feeling similar to what I had during the Million Man March.

Admittedly, I was a little disappointed there weren’t more professional athletes present. I did see Bill Russell and Bill Walton, but no active players in any of the major sports. It’s likely scheduling conflicts were an issue or athletes just weren’t invited, but a huge opportunity was lost that day for the three major sports leagues to affect change. I have a new found respect for Bill Walton. Walton was a prominent figure the entire day and in my opinion represented the NBA and his generation very well.

Congresswoman Diane Watson shook me up a little when I asked her, Jesse Jackson or Dick Gregory could they ever see someone as great as MLK gracing our existence and Congresswoman Watson came with this response: “From the African proverb, there are always three spirits in the room: Those who came before, those who walk in the present and those yet unborn so those on earth can have justice they deserve as a people. I want to say this, all great messengers have left this earth in their thirties. Think about it. Jesus and others who brought a message. Once that message was delivered, they were taken back to be with God. So please understand how important this day is and the monument as well.”

Her eyes seemed to pierce my soul with those words. Those who were on the front lines during the Civil Rights Era have a special sense of consciousness we’ll never get back. They deserve our respect as we are the bridge to the next generation.

Speaking of the next generation, I was surprised to see actor Nick Cannon among the mature folk. He gave an eloquent response when I asked what MLK meant to him: “Martin Luther King meant so much to me. He was someone who strived for equality. He paved the way for us all and I would be remiss to not realize I would not be able to do what I do today without him giving the ultimate sacrifice, his life.” Nick was impressive. I hope he continues remain positive.

When you were younger, did any of you ever think for sure MLK was president?

What if he were alive today?

Now to the questions. This isn’t about me personally or TSF. This is about us. I wanted something consciously documented as we enter into a unique period in our history. I interjected some of my personal beliefs on some questions just to drive home points that need to be made historically. On others, I left it up to those who gave great responses. Putting this together was a lot of work, but I assure you it was well worth it. Thank you.

1. What does Martin Luther King represent for you personally past, present and future?

Dan LeBatard, Miami Herald Columnist radio host and ESPN TV personality

Not just the greatest African-American leader ever, but in the discussion of greatest leader, period — any time, any place, any country, any ethnicity. Greatest orator of my lifetime. Astounding bravery. Peaceful beyond human reason. Deserves a place on a more modern Mount Rushmore. An enduring and echoing greatness that should require genuflection from any person in this country, not just any black person. But his dream remains deferred. I’m not sure how he would feel if he looked around today. You have to wonder if he’d ask, “Seriously? We’re not equal ital:yet:ital?”

Walik Edwards, lead writer and content editor.

MLK was somebody to fight for. I was one of the people who did the loud screaming, stomping and etc. in Arizona when they decided that having a Martin Luther King day was irrelevant. It only became relevant when their Super Bowl privileges were being threatened. Can’t lose that Super Bowl can we, Sun Folk.”

Whenever I hear the “N” word justified in some ignorant way (spelling, term of endearment, etc.), I think of MLK and all of the non-violent folks who were hung, incarcerated, ridiculed, and tormented because of that word, and oh yeah, the perpetrators didn’t care how the word was spelled.

Can you imagine? “Hey, Nigger! What’choo doin’ around here?! Grab his black ass!”

As he’s about to be hung from a tree, the black man says, “I’m not a Nigger, sir, but a Nigga.”

“He’s got a point.”

“Alright, boys. Get that noose from around his neck! We’re sorry for the misunderstandin’.”

If you use the word, you can’t say you respect Dr. King. The two don’t go hand-in-hand. You have to follow the man’s words all the way.

Jemele Hill, ESPN.com columnist–The first Black female sports columnist in the nation

I’ve always felt affection toward MLK, but in my later years I’ve learned that while Martin preached a message of turning the other cheek, he wasn’t soft. MLK could have been our next president because he united disenfranchised groups and empowered them. His legacy has, sadly, been romanticized to fit racist agendas. People don’t understand he preached EQUALITY, which is a lot different than color blind-ed-ness. Being colorblind suggest everyone is the same. But we don’t really want that kind of America. We should want an America that recognizes, preaches, understands and learns from different cultures. It’s most important that America give equal opportunity and respect to all peoples. That is what MLK stood for. MLK didn’t hold his tongue. He wasn’t soft. He spoke for the underclass.

Unfortunately, if he were alive today, they’d probably castigate him like they do Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. They would call him a whiner and a race baiter. But if you read through his speeches, you’ll see MLK wasn’t playing around and I just find it interesting that the mainstream has made him into this benign, transcendent figure. Yes, he loved all people — white, black, yellow or green. But he stood up for what he believed in. He represented those who couldn’t represent themselves and gave a voice to the speechless. We’ve made his legacy one that doesn’t insult or offend, but trust me, if he were alive today, he wouldn’t be giving everyone the message they wanted to hear. He’d be giving them the message they needed to hear.

Dave Zirin, author, sports writer and social commentator

Dr. King stands as the embodiment of three ideas that I believe are essential to any analysis of social change. The first is the idea that change doesn’t begin in the back rooms of Washington DC but in the struggles of ordinary people – as they become extraordinary through struggle. We know and remember Dr. King precisely because thousands upon thousands of people whose names we will never know, fought in the streets for a better world. The second idea is that the fight against racism can’t be separated from the fight for economic justice and against poverty. At the time of his death, King was immersed in the Poor People’s Campaign, and his assassination of course went down in Memphis where he was providing solidarity to striking sanitation workers. He said, “There is no point in being able to sit at a lunch counter if you cannot afford a cup of coffee.”

And lastly, King understood and was vocal about the fact that the fight against racism at home could not be separated from fighting the US empire abroad.

In his famous 1967 speech at Riverside Church, Dr. King said, “We were taking the Black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them 8,000 miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem. So we have been repeatedly faced with the cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools… I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today–my own government.

He made this point at great personal cost. The Washington Post said that Dr. King had “diminished his usefulness to his cause, his country, his people.” Time magazine described his words “demagogic slander.”

This is why it infuriates me to see the Democratic candidates – particularly the Clintons – claim King’s legacy so blithely. The Clintons deployed US troops 36 times between 1992 and 2000, and enforced the horrific sanctions on the Iraqi people that killed – according to the UN – 500,000 children. The idea that they would claim to have been inspired by King is cheap theater, and a slap in the face to anyone who actually believes that the history of struggle should be revered and not used as a political punchline.

Temple3 blog writer, who is one of the most knowledgeable people I’ve come across on the web.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. represents many things to me personally. There was a time in my life when I closely identified with him and his life’s mission. I, too, graduated from high school at a very young age. When I enrolled in college at age 16, I thought of what it might have been like for him to be off on his own three decades earlier. His work was also influential in causing me to look critically at Christianity as a system of belief and as a religion. When I refer to Christianity as a religion, I mean organized Christianity and its leadership – and that may mean the Vatican for Catholics or something else for persons in various denominations. It may mean Nigeria since there are as many Christians there as just about anywhere else on the planet. The organized history of Christianity is not identical to the system of belief – just as the history of political leadership in the United States is not the same as the history of democracy. Hell, the United States was not even a democracy when I was born. It may have masqueraded as such, but it was not the genuine article. Dr. King’s life work demonstrated the inconsistencies within organized Christianity and organized American politics. When I was a student in undergrad, I took a class about Dr. King and Malcolm X. For me, that was one of two classes that would critically shape my ability to understand this world. So, Dr. King’s life and work form one critical aspect of my development as a thinker, writer, community member and human being. I’m not a Christian. I’m not a believer in non-violent civil disobedience as a principle. I’m not many of the things Dr. King was, but his influence is there.

In graduate school, I coordinated a rather large conference to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy. Our celebrations were unconventional to say the least. The focus was never strictly on segregation. Segregation was a tactic. Slavery was a tactic. Red-lining is a tactic. Redistricting is a tactic. Voter intimidation is a tactic. Too little attention has been paid to the principle which unified these various tactics over time and space. Moreover, too little attention has been paid to viable solutions. Our celebrations/conferences, then, focused on solutions and predicting tactics based on dynamic conditions. Those solutions were always framed in economic, political, environmental and cultural terms. My perspective of Dr. King is not widely shared in the United States. Most persons and institutions continue to focus on a singular speech made in 1963. There is no question that it was a great moment in the history of American rhetoric. Nonetheless, for many reasons, our national media, schools and information centers continue to focus on the second half of the speech. The first half of the speech passes in relative silence year after year after year. If this great speech could be formally divided into two halves, the first segment might have been entitled, “I Live a Nightmare.”

Dr. King’s nightmare was etched in vivid detail. He speaks of his ancestors being seared in the withering flames of injustice. This description is as figurative as it is literal. Thousands of Africans were burned alive for reasons ranging from curiosity to capriciousness. This is part of Dr. King’s 1963 address. So too are references to manacles, narrow jail cells, police brutality, poverty and entrenched efforts to dehumanize and justify years of moral turpitude. Dr. King warned the nation that the summer of 1963 was part of a continuum – that it was not the beginning or end of a movement. He was right. He also set preconditions for America becoming a great nation. He spoke not merely of suppressed voting rights in Mississippi, but the absence of authentic political choice in New York. This is part of Dr. King’s 1963 address. There is a great deal more to this speech than generally meets the ear. America’s perpetual need to feel good (as if a drug-induced stupor would actually resuscitate him or do service to his memory) has obliterated half of this speech and the last five years of his life. In 1963, Dr. King was the most visible face of a people subjected to terrorism by the state and wide factions of the public. He was killed by the concerted actions of that state and the public. He lived a nightmare – and in many respects, he never saw the sun.

As for the future, I believe it is imperative that Black folk and persons of goodwill do the work of understanding the last five years of his life. If you are talking to young people about Dr. King and all you know is that he “had a dream” and that he opposed segregation, it’s time to do some work. I strongly suggest reading “Why We Can’t Wait” and “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community.”

Chris Broussard, author, Senior writer ESPN the Magazine and NBA analyst

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. represents courage, love, peace, intelligence, godliness and faith to me. As I look at the current plight of African-American people (and really, Africans worldwide), I draw strength and hope from the movement Dr. King led. His was a movement of faith in the power of God to overcome any and all circumstances, for there was no earthly, tangible or natural reason for Dr. King and his followers to believe that we would indeed overcome the horrors of Jim Crow. It may be hard for those of us born in the 1960s and after to understand, but Blacks had been absolutely ingrained with the notion of White supremacy, molded for nearly 400 years to believe that servitude and second-class citizenship to Whites was our place. So for a man to come along and believe that he could change that in one generation – nonviolently at that! – was simply amazing. He and his followers were inspired by belief in God’s Word rather than discouraged by belief in the White man’s power. We’ve got to get back to that as a people. So when I look at all the things plaguing us as a people today – seemingly insurmountable obstacles such as 70% of Black children being raised in single-parent households, the growing prison industrial complex, outrageously high Black male unemployment rates, a changing global economy that seems to be leaving us behind, continuing racism, etc… – I try to have the same faith Dr. King had and believe that with God, even the seemingly impossible is possible (that wasn’t just a cliché’ to Dr. King).

Dr. King also represents unity. Man, how I long for African-Americans to display the same unity and fortitude we showed during the Movement. All the movements of that era: Civil Rights, nationalist and Black Power. Not a unity that attempts to bring Whites down, but a unity that attempts to lift Blacks up. To be pro-Black is not synonymous with being anti-White.

Finally, we often think of Dr. King as merely a Black hero, but Whites owe him a major debt of gratitude as well. Mainstream White society, particularly in the South, was incredibly sick back then. When you read about and watch in films how they treated and regarded Black folks, it’s almost unfathomable that seemingly civilized people could be so prideful, hateful and torturous. While they regarded Blacks as less than human, they were actually the ones behaving like animals devoid of rational thought. Dr. King’s work went a long way in humanizing them, and even though he couldn’t necessarily put love and fairness in their hearts, he did put a degree of fairness and justice in their laws. In the grand scheme, with an Almighty God judging us all for how we treat our fellow man, Whites (not just Blacks) need to be thankful as all get out that Dr. King helped deliver them.

Better known as youngvito voice of the young people…Vincent Goodwill, writer The Detroit News and The Starting Five

He represents something pure, a standard that cannot be touched, but can be used as a goal. For the past, he strived for something most thought was unattainable. If he stayed alive, maybe he could’ve been president or opened doors from people like Barack Obama quicker. We, as black people have also had a greater sense of pride, actually, he helped us develop a sense of pride, a sense of tolerance, a sense of humanity in an inhumane world. He was the greatest speaker, the most compassionate, the greatest visionary I’ve read about or seen in my limited time here. He didn’t want us as blacks to stand above or below. He wanted us to be equal and act as such, instead of being second-rate citizens. He wanted a smart black man to be looked at as something other than an anomaly, but as the rule. He gave ME a chance to have a voice.

S2N writer, Signal 2 Noise

Dr. King, for me, represents unity, sacrifice, and selfless dedication in the pursuit of a noble goal — one that all of us, hopefully, are still trying to work towards today — and I don’t mean just on the subject of race alone. So much of his words and work is intrinsically tied to American society’s economic inequity, much of which revolves around race, but whenever the discussion of Dr. King’s dream comes along in the mainstream media, it’s superficial. It glosses over the man’s full philosophy and the context in which he fought for social justice, allowing society to ignore the defining issue of poverty in this country. When I read about him now, as opposed to what I read while still in school, I think about the man who said that funding unnecessary wars abroad is the excuse for not taking care of the problems in our own country, on top of what he had already accomplished.

Sankofa, writer Black My-story and one of the wisest brothas I know

Growing up in Jamaica in the 60′s during the rise of the African conscious movement in the Corporate United States and the Rastafarian movement at home, I was conditioned towards a particular mindset. The post-colonial knee-grow factory and the legacy of the latent colonial world view of Anglo -Saxon on top and African at the bottom experiencing disenfranchisement and poverty made my peers and I rebellious. The first book of substance I ever read was the “young Warriors,” an account of the rights of passage of
young Maroon warriors during the British-Maroon wars.

By the time I read my second book of substance as a high schooler – the Autobiography of Malcolm X, followed by Soul on Ice, my path was set. Therefore when Martin Luther King came with his movement and speeches on none violence and living as one, my
African fist, clinched in an iron glove wasn’t hearing any of that. It was not but decades late, after more in depth reading on MLK, particularly after his opposition to the Vietnam invasion and studying Vernon John (his predecessor at Ebenezer Baptist) did I have an appreciation for MLK and his moral and physical courage.

He is the kind of Christian I can appreciate because he walked the walk after talking the talk and gave his life so that others may live.

Marcellus Wiley, former All-Pro defensive end and current ESPN football analyst

Martin Luther King was a man, a voice that attempted to re-align American society with fundamental human and spiritual laws. He put his life on the line in an effort to regain the freedoms and liberties lost during slavery and other times of indiscretion towards Blacks. He spoke with a spirit and knowledge that was heard by the popular powers, thwarting a change of direction in our society.

Jordi Scrubbings, writer The Serious Tip

To me, a middle class white guy from Central Florida, Dr. King represents hope, courage, understanding, equality, success, and the idea that justice can be accomplished without the threat of violence. I personally believe that without Dr. King and his message, the Civil Rights Movement would have been marginalized and there would an even greater disparity between whites and blacks in America. He was the healthy alternative to the fear people had for the Nation of Islam, the Black Panthers, and pre-Mecca Malcolm. What Dr. King stood for was the idea that people can stand up for what they believe in, and no matter how difficult the opposition, they must keep marching. For to give up would be to live a life unfulfilled. And if they died yearning for basic equality, then those who denied them those basic freedoms must live with the fact that they denied a man from being a Man.

Diallo Tyson writer, The Commission

Honestly? Everything, but nothing at the same time. There are so many things that I’m able to do on a daily basis because of MLK, but I rarely, if ever, think of how his actions are directly impactful. Maybe it’s because my generation always seems to be at odds, in some way or another, with the Civil Rights generation. Whatever the reason, I don’t think I have a personal connection with MLK. That sounds pretty fucked up. I went to Morehouse, passed by his statue on the way to King Chapel a million times, watched the speaches, and went to MLK Day programs. I respect, appreciate, and appluad his efforts. I am grateful, even though I often take it for granted. But on a personal level? On a conscious level? On an everyday level? It just doesn’t reasonate. To take a step outside of myself and look at that, that’s a pretty sad indictment. But I don’t know how else to express it.

Stop Mike Lupica of the innovative blog of the same name

It’s an interesting question. As a Latino, it most likely does not hold the same meaning as it does for African-Americans. My family choose to come here to America voluntarily, and though I think most Latinos have been exploited in some ways here, the struggle of the African-American is grounded in a much larger historical exploitation of labor and capital.

Never the less, the current struggles of poor Latinos in an urban environment have much in common with the struggles of blacks in the inner city. In the west coast there is a bit of tension nowadays between Latinos and Blacks; but in the east coast, particularly here in NYC, there is still a general feeling among Blacks and Latinos that “we are in this together”, struggling to get ours. I certainly grew up with that sentiment, and with Latinos and Blacks who felt that way about each other.

So for me MLK Day has always been a day of deep reflection. Sort of like a New Year’s Day for some, only without the resolutions, replaced with the thoughts of “what’s going on in our society”, and “is it getting better”? If so, why do I feel more jaded every year?

This past MLK Day, I was going to do a post on my site called “Reflections”, which would touch on these topics. Because of work and personal issues, I was unable to. I’m hoping that next year I can restart this personal tradition.

As for MLK himself, he represents many things: the idea that he has become in death, but also what he really was, and what his beliefs really were, too. Like Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson, his image has been cleaned up over the years, removed of all “dirt”, and used as a hammer to bring down modern MLKs who try to follow in his footsteps. It’s very disappointing. The real MLK was much more three-dimensional than his legacy.

Charles Modiano staff trainer in youth development and writer

Past? I agree with those who say that Martin Luther King is the greatest American our country ever produced. Hundreds of years from now, his writings and speeches will hold up because at his core he is not just a leader but a philosopher. That is why unlike other Americans in history he is a global figure that transcends our country. For me he represents a man of ACTION. I use that word deliberately because, unfortunately the mainstream media has basically reduced him to little more than a “dreamer” by manipulating a couple of lines in his most famous speech. Author Michael Eric Dyson expound on this point quite well in “The True Martin Luther King, Jr.” And the strategic and moral leadership that MLK provided during the Civil Rights Movement was nothing short of extraordinary. From that period in his life “The Letter From a Birmingham Jail” is probably my favorite piece.

Present? It is the post-Civil Rights Act King that is most relevant to our times today. Whether it was his views on the Vietnam war (article here), combating poverty, or black economic empowerment. These are messages that matter now. Unfortunately they are also messages that have been written out of popular history and children’s textbooks. This is quite unfortunate because I believe that MLK, despite being so famous is completely misunderstood. That, of course, is quite intentional on the media’s part.

Future? I think that there has to be a concerted effort for the entire legacy of MLK be taught and redefined beyond “the Dream speech” so that he is relevant. I don’t quite know where this should start since mass media is such a monster at controlling images. However, I just know that this needs to be done. Perhaps a definitive motion picture must be made. There seem to be many TV specials, but never that epic motion picture. Why is that?

Michael Tillery: In The Great Debaters, professor and future renowned poet Melvin Tolson used his wisdom and intellect to develop a champion debate team, although his character was much deeper than the film depicted, Tolson was very mysterious in the film. He had an unspoken radical side that almost gave me the impression he was a man who traveled back in time to give organization to Black and White sharecroppers way before this was deemed possible (1935). Dude was that intelligent.

Men like Melvin Tolson helped to revolutionize our thoughts and transformed Jim Crow fear into a boundless–albeit brave–thirst for knowledge while mocking (respectfully) the perceived enemy.

How many of you knew about Melvin Tolson before The Great Debaters?

An excerpt of Tolson’s masterful poem Dark Symphony:

Lento Grave

The centuries-old pathos in our voices
Saddens the great white world
And the wizardry of our dusky rhythms
Conjures up shadow-shapes of ante-bellum years:

Black slaves singing One More River to Cross
In the torture tombs of slave-ships,
Black slaves singing Steal Away to Jesus
In jungle swamps
Black slaves singing The Crucifixion
In slave-pens at midnight,
Black slaves singing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
In cabins of death,
Black slaves singing Go Down, Moses
In the canebrakes of the Southern Pharaohs.

III

Andante Sostenuto

They tell us to forget
The Golgotha we tread…
We who are scourged with hate,
A price upon our head.
They who have shackled us
Require of us a song,
They who have wasted us
Bid us condone the wrong.

They tell us to forget
Democracy is spurned.
They tell us to forget
The Bill of Rights is burned.
Three hundred years we slaved,
We slave and suffer yet:
Though flesh and bone rebel,
They tell us to forget!

Oh, how can we forget
Our human rights denied?
Oh, how can we forget
Our manhood crucified?
When Justice is profaned
And plea with curse is met,
When Freedom’s gates are barred,
Oh, how can we forget?

The common response to Blacks “dwelling” on the past is to get over it. This is used with so much brevity it exacerbates fear and dooms a future continuum of realizing whatever OUR society has a chance to potentially become.

Those who have said these three words must get over it themselves if they want to understand why some Blacks are so angered by the word lynch. Everyone is primitively stunted by the laziness of our thoughts when we diminish an opportunity to discuss race.

If we’ve listened to it. If we see it. If we live it. If we are affected by it. It is real.

Lynchings were teaching lessons to Black folk who didn’t bow down in the face of oppression. Entire communities were affected for years by the sights, sounds and smells of a family loved one dangling from a tree burned and skinned alive with amputated appendages.

Out of the 4,752 (approximate) lynchings between 1882 and 1968, 3,445, or 73% were Black. How many were unreported? Combine that number with the millions that died during the Middle Passage and you have all the reasons you need why Blacks get upset.

How many ancestors of future Black astronomers, doctors, teachers, judges, scholars or presidents died?

We must not forget, but we must be careful how we assess blame. It’s just a word to some, but conjures despicable images of death to Blacks.

Gotta do more than swing the club bruh

Tiger has to understand that by not speaking out he made Whites–both moral and immoral–comfortable while allowing himself once again to be demoralized publicly.

What’s his response the next time something similar happens?

Warranted, he does a lot of work through his foundation but when was the last time you saw Tiger in the ‘hood? How many country clubs does he enter that didn’t allow people of color up until he blasted on the scene?

I didn’t see Tiger objecting when pundits called his historical win a first for Blacks.

Was it all about money potentially generated strictly on the basis of race?

I am not Tiger Woods.

No one is asking Tiger to jump on a soap box and scream “Injustice!” (imagine that) to the high heavens, but saying it was a dead issue because Kelly Tilghman is a friend was laughable. A mere statement standing up for himself would have sufficed.

2. By not speaking out, did Tiger Woods blow an opportunity for America to discuss race more objectively? Is it his responsibility or any athlete for that matter?

Ron Glover writer The Starting Five

Silence can represent many things – in Tiger’s case it represented his separation from the Black community. It was if to say, “C’mon we all know I’m not Black, I told you so myself, so how serious can I take that comment.” For him to finally speak out about this incident tells me that he wanted it to go away without him addressing the situation. Like it was forced upon him. He calls it media-driven, and I agree that it was – but guess what it wasn’t the white media behind the wheel.

There are many hats that must be worn when you’re at the top of your sport. Back in the 1960′s and 1970′s athletes that were more receptive to current events outside of the sports page were received better by the fans and are remembered for a longer period of time. It shows that we’re all in the same boat – a common thread that is missing with many of today’s top athletes. How can an athlete not comment on the war in Iraq or the escalating murder rate in our inner cities? He can care less about being in our best graces because he has nothing invested in us – meanwhile those in the white media are thankful they’ve dodged another bullet.

Delinda Lombardo San Diego based writer who shines the light on athletes giving back

Unfortunately, I would say no-he didn’t blow an opportunity for America to discuss race more objectively. Why? Because had he opened the dialog it would have fallen on the white-ears of the golf-gods. Out of the thousands of people I’ve seen following Tiger on the tour, I would say less than 10% are African-American. Of all the golf-fans I discussed the issue with, not one of them was remotely interested in the ‘noose’ incident. As far as owning the responsibility to speak out- I feel that if you’re in a position to influence or improve this world, then it becomes a moral decision of whether you’re gonna represent the love in your heart or the rims on your car.

Charles Modiano

Yes, Tiger obviously blew an opportunity, and yes, I do believe that “Spiderman” concept that “with great power comes great responsibility” – whether that power was requested or not. However, I will let others harp on Tiger, as that is not necessarily my personal battle. My battle — from a white perspective-is that I would like to see more WHITE ATHLETES step up and speak out on racial injustice and more white mainstream reporters implore them to do so. Until this happens, these matters will be perceived as white-black issues instead of right-wrong issues in the eyes of the mass white public. What if there was a white golfer who spoke out about the “lynching Tiger” comments? Okay, I’m pushing it! J Let’s set the bar lower. What if white players indignantly took offense to Don Imus’s Rutgers remarks or Rush Limbaugh’s McNabb remarks? Better yet what if a white athlete became active in the Jena 6 cause? Couldn’t that have a great effect? Now it may not happen, but the fact that it is not ever REQUESTED from a media member is very troublesome to me. Anti-racism is not even an expectation from whites.

Jordi Scrubbings

Yes, absolutely. Without provocation, I would hesitate to say it is any or all athletes’ responsibility to speak out about racial issues. Many athletes now spend most of their youth preparing to be professionals. They might understand the economic disparity of race, that, for example, they may live in the city surrounded by people of their own color and they are all poor, while the white people on TV look like they have money, but this doesn’t make them qualified to discuss race relations. However, if provoked, as Tiger Woods was, a Man has every right and should exercise every right to insure he is not attacked like that again. To put his foot down and say “Here is why you do not treat me like that.” Now what outside of advertising pressure would stop the next golf announcer for saying Tiger Woods should be lynched?

Stop Mike Lupica

Tiger Woods didn’t blow the opportunity for America. He blew it for himself, but that’s his choice, and his choice alone to make. Regardless of what he said or did, the opportunity was certainly there for Black America and White America to discuss what happened. And there was some discussion, to be sure. Did it go as far as it could and should have? No, the media skimmed the surface, but then it got buried when the next big story came along.

The question I have, and I’ve asked this before, but I really think it should be discussed more, is this: White America, and the press, have laid down the template for how Black athletes should behave, if they want to be “accepted”. I call it the “Michael Jordan template”, which can now be called “Tiger Woods template” (ex: LeBron James). It basically states that act this way, be apolitical (at least on “controversial issues”) and we’ll leave you alone. Act outspoken like Muhammad Ali, and we’ll destroy you. (some examples made by other commenters in response to this question include Chris Jackson/Mahmoud Abdul-Raof and Gil Hodges, to a degree). Follow the “Jim Rice” template (belligerent to the media), and they’ll destroy you, too. (ex: Barry Bonds).

So here’s the question: Would Black athletes, and Black America, be better off if the media flipped out on Tiger Woods (or MJ)? Because right now, it’s established that there is one path, and only one path, for the modern Black superstar athlete. But if MJ or Tiger Woods should have media disaster occur, then there would be no template. And in that manner, maybe more Black athletes would be willing to choose to speak out more, since either way they know they’ll get screwed by the media (see Donovan McNabb)….

Anthony Gilbert, writer The Starting Five

Tiger Woods did what he felt was the right thing to do for both himself and his family. I am not married and I do not have any children, but I understand why he didn’t want to make any waves. He did not want to bring that to his immediate family and he did not want to discredit his mother, but by saying nothing and then releasing a statement way after the fact, I feel that he did more harm than good. All in all, he did what he wanted to do and as a man, I have to respect that. He is a professional athlete, and the world waited in horror for him to speak, but he was not obligated to talk about it. I just wish that he would have spoken up sooner. Because of his hesitation, our culture took a much harder blow, than when the “lynching” statement was first made.

Jacinta Howard, author, hip hop artist and editor AUC Magazine

Athletes of today suck in terms of using their voices to move the people. What happened to the Jim Brown’s, Ali’s, etc.? They died with the globalization of Michael Jordan. Of course, I’m speaking generally here– but yeah, of course Tiger missed an opportunity for America to discuss race. And yes, it is the responsibility of anyone in the limelight to defend his or her culture when it’s being attacked and belittled nationally without any regard.

MCBias TSF commenter and writer of his own very well put together blog

Kelly was Tiger’s friend. People keep glossing over that in the coverage, as if they can’t believe that a married black man would be friends with a single (I think) white blond woman. (That in itself says something about our society, ahem.) But it’s true, apparently, and as such, Tiger has every right to let his friend off the hook. We have to be careful that we don’t look to our athletes as our representatives or as symbols. While it’s right to expect SOME athletes to discuss race and be open-minded, it becomes wrong when we expect a certain athlete to discuss race just because he can hit a ball.

Top-down support by current black athletes will help…but bottom-up, grassroots instruction is what will change the teenagers of today that will become the black athletes of tomorrow. Forget this generation; it’s already lost. Aim for the next one. That sounds so brutal, but that’s what I think as an outsider. Due to the destruction of the strong black family unit in this generation, the black community needs to reload with the next generation.

Vincent Thomas, writer and fellow contributor to SLAM magazine

One of these days, Tiger is gonna have to sit in front of Tavis Smiley or Greg Gumble or Mike Wallace and seriously discuss race within the context of his life. For all I know, he could have sent billions of anonymous dough to Darfur. That would be awesome. But it is another thing to use his celebrity and public-reverence to enlighten his far-reaching audience on how real it is. If you said, “pick one athlete to speak out on current social issues”; I’d choose Tiger. His audience is so vast and everyone respects him. He could do so much. Duality is a burden sometimes, but it is what it is. Speak up, man.

Signal 2 Noise

I really do think Tiger let an opportunity go, a chance to prove what his father said about Tiger truly changing the world and becoming much bigger than golf in and of itself. Every time I read his response, I kept hearing Michael Jordan saying, “Republicans buy shoes too.” Even if he was not personally offended, I would hope he knew that the remark dredged up such poor and violent images for a whole community in the U.S.

Diallo Tyson

Yes, but that would mean Tiger would have to discuss race objectively. And Tiger doesn’t do race. He doesn’t want to say the wrong thing and piss off his black fans who don’t think he’s black enough and he doesn’t want to piss off his white fans who think he’s become too militant. Black athletes have a responsibility to discuss race when the topic comes up because they have a much different prospective. They are often the object of affection from people who would otherwise hate their guts, because of their ability to catch a football or shoot a basketball. They’re obviously aware of that, and it’s an interesting position to be in. But fear often keeps them from speaking out.

Vincent Goodwill

Yes, he did. And he failed miserably. Tiger, when he accepts the dollars from Nike, Buick and other businesses, makes himself a “brand”, but he also makes himself subject to this type of criticism. Think: As much as he doesn’t pride himself on being black, he received so much attention just off his skin color. Otherwise, he could’ve been just another phenomenon on the golf scene. It wasn’t because he was caublanasian that he got that attention. He got it because he was black and he knows it. If he ever chose to speak up on it, even moderately, it would have been taken in hand by those more qualified to discuss race, those with more passion, but he had the door to open and he refused. For monetary reasons only. So he wouldn’t upset his handlers, or his wife.

Now black athletes, some of them have that specific talent and aren’t qualified to speak on race. But they don’t place themselves in the public eye. If they did their jobs, almost anonymously, I’d have no problem because some don’t have the passion or the panoramic view to comment on certain subjects like we present on TSF. If something happens regarding them, they should speak up. Sometimes if athletes like Tiger spoke up for himself on a personal level of pride, first and foremost, as a man, then the other things would follow. At least we could see that you aren’t just worried about capitalistic gain while stepping on the past and future of black folks by not speaking up.

Alan Gray, Editor NewsBlaze

Tiger Woods is a great golfer and a great role model and a great human being Tiger leads from the front. Don’t damage Tiger by having him speak for others. No matter what he says, it will damage him and he will lose his power. Rather, use him from a distance as a positive example. Bill Cosby speaks out. What came of that? Who has he helped, who is with him, who is against him? Find other positive examples and promote them too.

Sankofa

Tiger Woods is who he said he was. To me it would have been more tragic if a Jim Thorpe had not spoken out. Tiger Woods is a product of his father’s failure to teach his son to be a man and fighter against oppression. It is tragic, however, because the media-those who control our image or tell us how to think- portrayed Tiger as a symbol of African success.
Beyond his melenated state, when you see and hear evil, you are obligated by your station and the fact that you are human, to fight against that. It is 10 xs imperative for our celebrities to do so, knowing the state of our position in the world.

Alex Reed, writer The Starting Five

During this last incident, Tiger Woods had no obligation to anyone to say anymore about race than he did. Now, with that being said, it would be nice if he did say more. But the issue with Tiger always seems to come down to money. He is safe to white America. He doesn’t rock the boat, he’s clean cut, and he gets handsomely rewarded for it via endorsements and commercials. Now, had Tiger gone Al Sharpton on Kelly Tilghman, his image as the “safe-negro” would have been tarnished among white folk. America loves Black people they don’t fear. And Tiger seems to know this. So it comes down to personal choice: “Do I want all of the money I can get in the future and keep my mouth shut?” or “Do I seize upon an opportunity to address race in hopes of reaching even one person?” Tiger is his own man and people should respect his career-long decision to stay away from discussions about race as much as possible. But they don’t have to like it.

Thug Life Army, editor of progressive hip hop news site of same name

I will not diss Tiger Woods and this is not meant to do that, but yes he should have spoken up but he may have been ‘afraid’ of the consequences if he had done so. After all he is still existing and making a living in the mainstream white world. He is ‘acceptable’ as long as he doesn’t make waves. He is like the ‘Sammy Davis Jr.’ of the sports world.

Chris Broussard

Honestly, those who wanted to discuss race discussed it regardless of Tiger’s “non-issue” comment. The only way there would have been real major discussion about the issue would have been if Tiger had come out with a real strong response, which just doesn’t seem to be in him.

As far as athletes having a responsibility, I personally believe that until African-Americans en masse truly have equality in opportunity and justice, every African-American in every facet of life has a responsibility to try and uplift the Black community in some way. Speaking out is really a small part of the picture. I would rather see Black athletes use their financial strength and their connections in the business world (Nike, McDonalds, Gatorade, etc…) to create employment, training and educational opportunities for African-Americans. It’s a darn shame that we entertain Whites so much (through sports, music, etc…) yet in the real everyday meat and potatoes aspects of life, we are so disrespected and taken advantage of.

In my opinion, one of the reasons the athletes don’t do as much as we might like is because African-Americans as a whole are far too reactionary. When things are going good (at least on the surface), we seem to almost completely forget about the need for unity and building up our people. It’s only when we see an occasional act of overt racism that we talk of the need to unite and rise up as a people. Well, world-class African-American athletes are treated like kings (at least on the surface), so it’s easy for them to forget about (or not recognize at all) the need for Black unity and empowerment.

Is that asking something of them that’s not asked of their White counterparts? You bet. But the history and contemporary situation of their White counterparts’ people is completely different from that of their own. A very small percentage of White Americans are disenfranchised, meaning that the system typically works for them. But a very high percentage of African-Americans are disenfranchised, meaning that one mistake can put them outside of the system for good. Those of us who have the means need to try and help those who don’t. Our “haves” need to reconnect in some way to our “have-nots.” To whom much is given, much is required.

Temple 3

Tiger Woods, if I understand this correctly, is a golfer by training. I don’t know what his preparation has been to engage in this discussion. There are thousands of athletes who’ve never had even a bit of education about the history of “race” or racism. If we were discussing athletes like Derrick Brooks or Warrick Dunn or Chris Webber or Mahmoud Abdur-Rauf, my expectations would be different. We’re not. The issue is not that Mr. Woods plays a sport…the issue is his capacity to talk about the issue. On the golf course, he has demonstrated mastery. In this arena, I’ve yet to see it.

Back in the late 1800′s, DuBois talked about how “every school boy” had an opinion on “race” and Black people. Of course those opinions were largely uninformed – but “race” is an area where everyone’s opinion is granted an equal footing in many forums. I find that absurd. This could only happen in a country where there are minor consequences for being wrong. For all of DuBois’ life and Dr. King’s life, there were no discernible consequences for “whites” being wrong about “race” and/or Black folk. It has only been in the law two decades that people came to be relieved of their employment…Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder was wrong. He was empirically wrong, and his words were ugly. Don Imus was empirically wrong and equally ugly. His return to work signals “Justice Fatigue” on the part of American “whites.” The recent incident with Mr. Woods which resulted in one firing and one suspension reflect that trend. The fire starter, Kelly Tighman, has only been suspended. She claims to be a friend of Mr. Woods. If she were a friend of mine, I’d pull her to the side and tell her she needed to get some serious help.

Discussing “race” and “racism” is simply not for everyone.

If Tiger Woods is ready to talk about nuclear physics, I’m all ears – after I hear his credentials. It’s no different here. Ward Connerly and Clarence Thomas have no standing in a conversation on “race” or “racism in America because their positions/beliefs have been bought and sold to an alien bidder. While Mr. Woods has not aligned himself this far outside of the realm of reason, he has no standing based on biology…none of us should. He has no standing, from what I can see, based on his knowledge or grounding. He has an opinion that, absent additional information, I might rank with the school boys. “Race” is something that most of us perceive, but don’t understand.

With that said, athletes are part of the human community and would bear the same responsibility for action and understanding that a postal worker or dentist or porn star would have. If Sean Michaels can talk about discrimination in his business, why can’t an athlete? Our respective fields of endeavor are secondary to the question of “racism” because that -ism follows you wherever you go. The difference between today and 40 years ago is that the opportunities for growth are unprecedented. The first step is ceasing to focus on “white” folks as the be-all and end-all of life.

Jemele Hill

I realize Tiger Woods is biracial and has two cultures he must represent. But I don’t know if he’s aware of this, but these racial controversies never have to deal with his Thai roots. Fuzzy Zoeller didn’t say they should serve pad thai at the Masters’ dinner. He said fried chicken and collard greens or “whatever they eat.” Kelly Tighlman’s comment had nothing to do with his Asian heritage, but connected his African-American roots. Tiger Woods must understand that because he seems to create distance between himself and his African-American heritage, it gives off the perception he is not proud of that part of himself. This isn’t about him claiming one side over the other, but being equally proud of both. As someone who has been subject to racial incidents in the past, you would think Tiger would have a better perspective, but he seems more content to use his heritage (s) as marketing tools, instead of as real bargaining chips for progress. It’s not a matter of speaking his mind, because Tiger is fine with that as long as it suits his advertisers. Funny, Tiger had no problem using his skin color in Nike commercials. He had no problem saying that Augusta shouldn’t admit women, willingly content to pass down the discrimination that was used to prohibit his own people.

It’s just like the old Bible verse: To whom much is given, much is require. I’m old school, but every athlete of color in a position of influence should use that influence for the betterment of their people. Some will point out that white athletes aren’t forced to do that, and that is true. But I counter by saying white America is not at the same precarious position as African Americans. With escalating crime rates, the number of black men in prison vs. in college, and the unemployment rate, it is all of our responsibility to help those who cannot help themselves. Tiger is a model of excellence. His father said once he thought he’d be more influential than Gandhi. Well, Gandhi put himself on the line for what he believed. I’m waiting on Tiger to do the same.

Dan LeBatard

So hard for me to say. Not my place. Who am I to be telling Tiger Woods what he should endure for a cause he may or may not believe in. I wouldn’t want him telling me what to endorse. Jim Brown says it, he’s entitled. He sat at the knee of Dr. King. He has been an activist for five decades. And he’s entitled to want Tiger to be a part of his cause. And I’d like him to be too. I’d prefer that he use his power to move people and instigate social change instead of just to sell things and earn more combined than Peyton, Kobe and ARod did last year. But you can’t be opinionated AND beloved in sales. Barkley is about the only one who has managed it. So it is safer to stay away from the flammable stuff. Has Tiger ever said anything interesting? That has to be by design. But his father said he was going to have the impact of Buddha. And he can’t have that by just swinging a club and being quiet on this kind of stuff. Tiger could have kept that story alive with just a few words, but does he want to ruin a friend in the process, especially if he believes she meant no harm? Is there a way for him to be outraged without a friend getting ruined? And I always wonder if Al Sharpton is helping or healing when he instigates, so would Tiger becoming angry make people take sides or come together?

Walik Edwards

Firstly, when a dude calls himself a Cablanasian, he’s never going to represent the black race fully, so people should stop thinking that he will. That ship has sailed. Golf itself is a racial issue, and if the world’s best player’s not going to blow about that, what else is there to talk about? There are plenty of athletes who step up regarding race. Are the numbers large enough? Probably not. But don’t expect those large numbers until the NBA, MLB and NFL start paying their players minimum wage – and that’s go as much a chance of happening like the Knicks winning the NBA title this season.

Marcellus Wiley

Tiger Woods would’ve did a tremendous work towards the progress of our racial equality goals if he would’ve spoken out in disgust over the tasteless, insensitive Golf cover. His platform is so large that when he speaks, the powers that be, as well as the people will listen, and more importantly, they will move! It’s unfortunate that those with the most influence and access, and are in direct communication of those who can promote change don’t say anything while those without any leverage or opportunities scream at the top of their lungs to deaf ears. Black athletes must remind themselves of the fact that the origins of their athletic prowess was not to win a gold medal or lucrative contract. But, rather to show all oppressors that believed that Blacks were intellectually inferior as a people that we could perform, do something better than those of their likeness, in hopes of gaining their slightest respect. Athletics was a means to an end. And that end was equality and shared opportunity. We have been disconnected with our social and political umbilical cord, forfeiting it for fame and fortune.

Dave Zirin

Tiger says he doesn’t want to be political. he just wants to play golf. On the one hand, just as we should support the right of any athlete to be political, we should also support the right of any athlete not to be political as well. But Tiger – when it comes to selling us Nike products – is all too willing to commodify the very Black Freedom struggle that got him through the country club doors. The “I am Tiger Woods” ad comes from Spike Lee’s movie where the children say “I am Malcolm X” which comes from an old Panther film
after the police assassination of Fred Hampton where one child after another said, “I am Fred Hampton.” There are other ads as well that speak to his historic role as an African American (or Cablinasian) golfer. If you are going to trade on the blood sweat and tears of the struggles past, people have every right to call you out for cowardice and timidity in the face of struggles present. If the Black Freedom struggle is relevant enough to sell Nike products, then Tiger owes a debt to make it relevant in other ways as well.

3. How do we persuade our children to firmly understand the need for thorough knowledge of English, math and science?

Tracey, writer of Blackgivesback, a blog highlighting Black philanthropy

Recent research has shown that schools, particularly in urban communities, are not preparing youth for life beyond high school. These youth “graduate” without the basic fundamentals of English, math and science. So whose responsibility is it to persuade our children to understand the need and importance for this basic knowledge? Is it the school system? Or the home? It’s the home – parents and guardians- that has the greater impact of persuasion. The home needs to value education and make it a top priority in the household. So if you’re a parent or guardian ask yourself these questions: Are you an active member of the PTA? Do you communicate regularly with your child’s teacher? Do you have a quiet area in your home for your child to study? Have you looked for free or low-cost after school and summer enrichment programs for your child? Do you have educational games in your home? Do you have a computer in your home with internet access?

It is the home who has the responsibility of reinforcing what is learned in school. Teachers and schools cannot do it alone.

Stop Mike Lupica

Good question. This one is the toughest one to answer. I can only say that a child’s values and standards are determined by the environment around him/her. We all need to change that environment for such understanding to really have a chance to take hold.

Charles Modiano

Well, since my day job is a staff trainer in youth development who works with out-of-school teens, I could probably write a book here… but I won’t bore you. The bottom line is that there is a dropout crisis where 1 of 3 students in America is not graduating on time, and in most cities black and brown youth are dropping out at a 50% clip. This is nothing short of a national crisis. Amongst a variety of other commonly cited structural and monetary reasons, the schools often bore the hell out of students who leave in droves. Teaching is often not experiential or relevant to a young person’s life. Staff also rarely respect the concept of “youth culture”, youth know it, and they rebel. In staff training we call this phenomena “adultism”. Finally, there has to be a coming together between Republicans and Democrats to put politics aside in order to help youth. Yes, money is often a major issue as there are great class and greater racial disparities in cost-per-student. Just as important Democrats need to get off this teacher’s union bullshit. If no one in a teacher’s class is learning or improving their yearly math or reading levels, then their ass needs to go. I’ve done trainings for burnt out staff and it is a very sad thing knowing the a youth is the end product. There are many other issues to be sure, but I’ll get off the soapbox for now.

Temple3

If you want children to speak the King’s English and master math and science, you have to hire them. However, to do that effectively, you need to invest in education. The US does not have a serious investment in the education of young people. In fact, the big US expenditures in education are in higher education. Much of the research in math and science at the university level is done by foreign students. There is enough international capacity that the US has not suffered because of the relative ineffectiveness of its own students.

The US’ greatest efforts at compensatory education funding (federal dollars) have been dwarfed by war expenditures in two eras: Vietnam and Iraq. The very idea of an “education President” is patently ridiculous. What has happened over the past few years is that many of those US-trained foreign students from China and India have not become so acculturated as to forego building solutions at home. They may wish to acquire wealth and live large, but many are continuing to work on home-based solutions.

Black children in the US constitute a surplus education group whom the government and corporations perceive as adding no value to the empire. So, the schools black children attend are staffed with the least experienced teachers, have the smallest budgets, the least experienced administrators, the oldest text books, the smallest and most-outdated science labs. A black child in a high-need district in New York State is 30 times more likely to taught by a poorly-qualified science teacher than “white” students in low-poverty districts.

This means that emphasizing math and science at an early age is critical. The world is different than it was a generation ago. For example, one of the leading science institutions in the world (M.I.T.) has put its curriculum online. Accessing the curriculum is as easy as bridging the digital divide – and that means adults need to ensure children have access to libraries. The work is there to be done. The challenge is significant, but it is hardly insurmountable.

It doesn’t hurt to tell children that children who master math and science employ people who don’t – and pay them what they believe they should make, not what they may actually be worth. Dependency is a real bitch.

Signal 2 Noise

I don’t have kids myself, and I don’t know if I ever plan to. But speaking as someone who is the son of journalists, teaching that love of English, math, science, and learning in general is so connected to the parents — that means everything. It means your children read at earlier ages if you encourage them. It means your children will find ways to enjoy homework and solving problems. So much of it is dependent on parental encouragement and involvement; finding the things children are thrilled by in the learning process. Nurturing a natural love of learning early is so crucial to kids before they get to school and when they are starting. The problem is society values parents working until they drop dead, so there is less and less time to spend that quality time to encourage the learning habits of children.

Chris Broussard

Well, for those of us who are parents, it’s simple in my eyes. You control your children and you pour your values into them. For example, I don’t understand how parents can have children who don’t do their homework. Don’t you have control over what your children do? Make sure they do their homework or else! One problem is that we as a people watch way too much television. We watch far more than every other race. According to a 2004 Nielsen Media Research study, African-Americans watch 40% more television than any other race. Our children ages 2-11 watch 4 hours of television a day on average, compared to 3 hours for children of other races. Too much of just about anything is not good, and when you consider how much negativity there is on television, specifically BET, it’s a travesty, an exercise in self-destruction, for us to watch so much TV. My kids are 9 years old and they can’t watch TV during the school week. They spend that time reading, on the computer, doing homework, practicing piano, dancing and doing other extracurricular activities. On weekends (Fri. – Sun.) they’re free to watch TV. I think we should all start by drastically reducing the amount of time our kids have in front of the TV set. Dr. Ben Carson, the world-renowned surgeon, is a great example. He was a terrible student into the fifth grade, the worst in his class. That’s when his single mother ruled out television and made him read two books -with corresponding book reports – a week. His grades in every subject began to improve almost immediately, as did his vocabulary, writing ability and comprehension. Soon he was the top student in his class, and the rest is history. If our children are sitting in front of the TV all evening, they are not exercising their brains. And an unexercised brain is like an unexercised body: it’s lazy and incapable of doing much. If other children are exercising their brains, but many of our kids aren’t, they’re going to be behind in school.

But of course, most of our children don’t have two parents present, and it’s much tougher on them (many of whom are struggling just to make ends meet) to govern their children. That’s why I think we need to try and have a “village mentality.” We men in particular have to try and reach out to young boys through Big Brother programs, the church, 100 Black men, etc… We need to give these brothas a real, live alternative to the negative role models they may see daily. When I lived in Cleveland during the ‘90s, I spent a lot of time working with young cats in the juvenile detention centers, and many of them told me they had never met a Black guy like me. That just meant they had never met a young, stable, educated and employed brotha who could still relate to them about hip hop, sports, etc… and speak their language. Lots of our young men need to meet more brothas who are “down” but also about the things (education, family, etc…) that will strengthen and liberate our people.

We also need to take back hip hop. Rap music is the most powerful music there is, in my opinion. Whereas conventional songs say very little, rap songs preach sermons. Couple that with the dope beat and it’s almost hypnotic. Ever since I first heard Rapper’s Delight, rap music’s been my favorite form of music, and it still is to this day. I know how much of an influence hip hop had on me. During the late ‘80s, when conscious artists like KRS-One, Eric B. and Rakim, Public Enemy, the Jungle Brothers, etc… were popular, that was the first thing that sparked my interest in Black history and Black empowerment. Not all rap music back then was conscious or morally neutral, but there was a balance.

Let me specify, the problem is not hip hop or rap music. The problem is the type of hip hop that our kids are exposed to on the radio. Chuck D put it so beautifully in an interview I did with him years ago. He said most of the popular rap artists are really adult entertainers. He wasn’t trying to censor them, he was just saying that in reality, they’re adult entertainers. Yet, their music is marketed to children. That’s the problem. When I was growing up, I heard about Millie Jackson and I admit to sneaking a listen every now and then to my dad’s Richard Pryor albums. But I wasn’t listening to that stuff on a regular, daily basis, and it certainly wasn’t on the radio! Today, our kids are growing up listening to hip hop equivalents of Millie Jackson and Richard Pryor probably four hours a day on average. We’re foolish if we think that’s not having an affect on them. And while White kids listen to hip hop as well, for most of them, it’s not their reality. They are just peering in on an alien culture, and as many of the rappers say, viewing them as actors. But to our kids, rap is real. It’s ours; it’s a part of our culture. It’s a visible example of strong Black men who appear to be powerful and no nonsense in a society where that type of brotha is not often seen. We take it as our reality and emulate it.

Nowadays there’s no balance in what’s being played on the radio. Our kids are now being bombarded with violent, crime-glorifying, pornographic, Black life-hating music all day everyday. If it’s having as much of an impact on kids as the hip hop I listened to had on me, then I feel sorry for those cats. That music is glorifying many of the major things that have us filling up the prisons and graveyards. I’ve often been approached by young brothas on the street selling demo CDs. When they ask me to buy a CD, I say to them, “How many Black people did you kill on that CD?” That gets their attention quick. Then we start a conscious discussion. Do we realize how many Blacks (niggas) get murdered everyday on your average blazing, hip hop and R&B station? To think that many of these stations and record labels are white-owned really makes it ugly considering our nation’s historical context.

I believe many of our young men are dumbing themselves down to fit the mold of what they believe a true, authentic Black man is – the kind that’s often presented in commercial rap. They may not go totally buck wild and anti-education (especially if a father’s in the home), but they may still dumb themselves down and perhaps get involved in negative activities that limit their growth and potential.

As I said, the problem is not hip hop. Probably 80 percent of the music I listen to today is hip hop. But I go on the internet and get underground, conscious, morally neutral and spiritual hip hop. My girls love hip hop – and hear plenty of it – but it’s positive stuff they hear, not the negative junk that gets most of the airplay on the radio.

Even old-school hip hop pioneers are speaking out against the overwhelmingly negative nature of popular hip hop today. I believe a large, unified group of strong, responsible Black men who appreciate and respect hip hop culture need to unite and take a national stand against the record labels and radio stations that refuse to play positive hip hop and insist on playing this minstrel music. I am certain that no other race of people in America would allow a form of music that degraded them and openly spoke of murdering their men to be blasted on the airwaves all day every day. We need to stand up, because many of our kids (and all kids) are getting the wrong impression about Blacks and Black life.

When I grew up listening to hip hop, there was nothing in the majority of the music that even hinted at anti-education. Heck, we had “The Educated Rapper” in UTFO, DMC talking about “after 12^th grade I went straight to college,” KRS-One speaking down on brothas who weren’t “college material, and woke up every morning to their Lucky Charms cereal,” and of course, all the conscious groups I mentioned. Now, I personally feel that today’s popular hip hop is very anti-education, if not overtly then certainly in the images it presents. While that won’t derail all of our young folks from doing something productive and positive with their life, it can certainly influence a significant portion of them to underachieve, or worse.

No, I’m not saying hip hop is the source of the problem. It’s actually a symptom of the dysfunction in both White and Black America. But it is exacerbating the problem, and at some point, we have to take responsibility for things we can control. We have to stand up and refuse to be pawns in a game that’s harming the Black community.

Anthony Gilbert

This is a very tough question. I was given a good education, because my parents did not receive a good education. My mother saw the need for private school and college before I was even born. Now how do I pass that message on to the next generation…I first lead by example, in my everyday life and within my career field of journalism. Outside of that, I do donate my time and energy, as I lecture at various high schools, and colleges around the country. But the desire and ambition has to come from within, I can and will continue to lead the horse to the water, and I pray that they will drink!

Marcellus Wiley

Kids learn largely what they are shown and not told. So parents must stress in their own lives the importance of education, rather than preaching or chastising their kids to reach for a level that they are unwilling to travel as their companion upon. Parents need to put the remote control down and pick the book up for their kids. Every kid is impressionable, so they will follow their first role models lead, their mother and father. I think too much attention and blame is placed on the kids of today without criticizing the source and root of the problem, the unprepared, selfish parents of today. The parents who want their cake and eat it too. You don’t need a nuclear family to ensure your child is receiving proper values towards education. Basically, many kids have turned their backs on their parents because, “Talk is cheap”. In football and all sports, it always amazes me how many of my teammates children become great athletes, receiving athletic scholarships and other rewards for their talents. Those talents were a result of nature and nurture. The same is true with intellectual strength and education. Parents need to pass intelligence down to their kids and then nurture their habits to harness their genius. Remember, the fruit doesn’t fall to far from the tree!

MCBias

I’ll tell a story instead of answering the question directly. A young man and I were friends; he was half-black/half-white. He had a chance to get a college basketball scholarship, but he couldn’t score high enough on the ACT to earn it. I myself did well on the ACT, and so I ended up tutoring him. At the time, I quite honestly wondered to myself if he might not be better off going to trade school instead of my helping him get a qualifying score to go to college and take Mickey Mouse courses for four years. Anyway, I helped him enough to get the min ACT and go to school. There, he fell in love with school and realized that if he worked hard enough, he could pass classes and make something of himself. It took him 6 years, but he’ll graduate with a degree in engineering soon.

Moral of the story? The kids can do it, but they need patience and opportunities. We need to make it easier for kids to go to school, and give them better guidance. We need to stress fundamentals like memorization while pushing upon them the need to take ownership of their own education. We need innovative classes where the kids can do their own projects instead of listening to a teacher drone on and on, and we need better trade schools so that the kids whose strength is in their hands, not in their heads, can still support a family. Oh, don’t even start me, I have more words on this topic, ha. I’ve seen too many smart kids (many of them white–I’m telling you, our edu. system is messed up) not go to college or do well in school just because the system was too hard for them to navigate or they had no school support.

For the record: I’m 100% white. My parents were immigrants to this country, loved it, but also taught me to question many of our culture’s assumptions and behaviors. So that’s why I’m so much a contrarian at times and feel comfortable hanging out at TSF, because some of the same problems they notice is what I’ve noticed. Overall, I’m not convinced that some of the same questions blacks struggle with aren’t the concerns of many minorities, and that there’s more common ground and potential support for TSF issues out there than you may think. I know that the uniqueness of the black experience in this country is another can of worms I should leave alone, but just throwing that out there.

Jordi Scubbings

I think all the discussion in the world is not going to get kids away from their PS3s or Xbox or Xiis. This importance, that English, math, and science must be learned and learned well, begins with the role models and direct influencers of those kids. Without putting too much pressure on them, kids need to understand that only with those skills can they succeed in an ever-growing, more competitive world. However, these skills need to be taught as to make better members of society – not soulless, competitive, cutthroat, capitalist clones.

Jacinta Howard

Actions speak louder than words. We need to show them through our actions. And that can’t happen if we’re at home dancing around to Soulja (notice the spelling of the name) Boy with our kids while he talks about throwing some D’s on his report card. Attend parent teacher days. Take your high schooler to visit some college campuses when he/she goes on spring break. Make your kids read during the summer. Buy them a journal. Do the times tables with them before desert. Teach them about educated black folk that have made contributions. Little things like that go a long way in terms of instilling the importance of education.

Vincent Goodwill

I think it starts with what our children see every day. We can use some of the visually appealing things, even the crap on BET, and put it to our advantage. “No, it’s not just the person performing on the stage, but there’s a director, a writer, an accountant, all behind the scenes.” I think as we push our children into athletics, we have to let them know there are others options, as well as the odds facing them from all sides. We have to prepare our children, for what the world is like and use what their passions are, no matter how trivial it may be on the surface, for their advantage and ours. I’m probably the youngest person commenting on this panel (23 years old) so I’m not that far removed from the process of childhood, what worked, what didn’t and who fell between the cracks. We have to point out the failures, the success, present positive examples, not perfect, but positive of people who achieve. Play to their emotions of capitalism (on a small scale) and respect from the masses (on a grand scale) and you can’t get those with an uncultivated or prepared mind.

Jemele Hill

Heck, it’s not just those three subjects. The question is how do we persuade our children to thirst for knowledge, period? History is our greatest teacher. I’m appalled by the number of people — black, white, red, brown, etc — that have very little grasp of what’s happened in the past. I am tickled by those who spout off what they know about black folks, but in the same breadth admit they don’t know about lynching, Civil Rights, slavery, or any of our struggles. Every time an issue of equality or respect pops up, I can count on getting a number of e-mails saying stupid things like, “how come nobody says black fraternities, sororities and colleges are reverse discrimination?” Or, “how come there isn’t a white version of the NAACP?” Sadly, most people don’t know why those things of important because they have no idea about the history of exclusion in this nation. And, I can’t just put this on white folks, either. Young, black kids, don’t know where they came from, have no idea about the rich history of HBCUs, etc. I just want America to take one, all-inclusive, history lesson. That would generate a ton of understanding.

Vincent Thomas

When I was a shorty, my Pops used to drive me around my hood, show me winos and bums and say things like, “See that dude? How old you think he is? 50? 55? Man, that dude is my age. He went to school with me. But the bum didn’t learn anything! That’s why he’s scuffling, looking like he’s ’bout to die! Keep coming in here with them Cs and 85s and you’ll be just like him!” Those were scare tactics. I guess they worked, somewhat. But as pre-teens and teens, it’s hard to understand how school is going to help you. Examples — both good and bad — are great tools…starting with parents, older-siblings and mentors’ examples. If the environment is conducive to and awarding of learning and achievement, kids have a better shot.

Ron Glover

My son is learning to put write words, tell time and do some addition problems at age 4. It’s fun for him now but I have to drive he point home that there is a reason for you to know these things. Mathematics is what drives the world, if you don’t know the simplest of mathematical terms you cannot survive in this world. You cannot produce or consume with out the use of numbers.

English is something that I loved as a kid, there is nothing greater than to hear the English language used in its proper form and have it all make sense to you. One of the things that I take pride in is the fact that I can sit down with the CEO of a company and speak with as much confidence as I would if I was hanging out with the guys on a Friday night. You have to know how to speak and what you’re speaking about. Be able to elaborate on a point, be ready to deal with a rebuttal, and have one ready yourself if need be. One regret that I have is that I didn’t join the debate team in high school, I think it would’ve better prepared me in some areas of communication.

Science is the study of life and is overlooked as a ho-hum subject. A friend of mine sends her son to science camp every summer he’s 10 and he loves it. She talks about how he’s not into sports that much but he loves science, I told her you may be raising someone that may cure Cancer or AIDS that’s huge. As much as I would love for my son to carry the rock for the Eagles, how can that compare to him discovering curing Cancer, becoming a Pulitzer Prize winning author or discovering another planet. It doesn’t – we have to realize what we missed in our development and not have it repeated in our children.

Dave Zirin

It’s easy to say that it starts at home. But when you have two parents working full time jobs, sometimes just getting dinner on the table is an effort (speaking from experience). Call this quaint, but it starts not at home, but at school. Unfortunately our public schools are in rough shape, despite thousands of committed teachers, parents, and administrators. We have to abolish No Child Left Behind. I write this as a former third grade teacher and a parent. Teaching to the test, and cutting funds if students don’t meet national test criteria, is a disastrous way to excite our young people about the prospects of learning. It kills the creative impulse, and what makes us human. We should all thank George W. Bush for his efforts to make all of us as stupid, uncreative, and mediocre. Maybe he was just lonely for someone to talk to.

Dan LeBatard

Good god, I have no idea where to even begin on this one. I’m not a parent. We talking white and black and Hispanic kids or just black kids? Who the hell am I to tell black people, or anyone, how to raise their children?

Diallo Tyson

It works on two fronts: setting expectations with the child. Making the knowledge of english, math, and science a part of the parents’ value system. The child has to know from an early age that this is something that is expected of them, and parents have to constantly reinforce constantly. Once a kid hits high school, it’s probably going to be too late. But if you get them early, and stay on them you could have success. You chances of success are increased when you practice what you preach. If a kid feels like a parent is just feeding them a line, it’s gonna go through one ear and out the other. Do the parents read the newspaper, speak proper grammar, read books, watch the Discovery channel, etc. If not, then the kid probably won’t value it.

4. We all know if there were persons of color in the noose cover shot decision making process, the art wouldn’t have been approved. Please explain passionately why there is a need for progressive Black ownership in journalism.

MCBias

I’ll be weak here and toss out a link on a related topic. Basically, blacks bring a new perspective to journalism that whites usually will not. They are not as much a part of the mainstream culture because of the color of their skin. Thus, thoughtful blacks better understand the biases of mainstream culture, and that prevents them from falling into some of the traps that their white, mainstream peers do. However, it should be clear by now that it is not skin color alone that leads to diversity of thought, but also diversity of soul. Black ownership by itself is useless without it being progressive and willing to take unusual, controversial stands when the evidence supports that action.

Delinda Lombardo

If we’re speaking in general terms of journalism, whether it be about sports, celebrities, or the local church bake-off, we need writers who can connect with readers of all races, particularly the black community who’s news coverage is often times reported with a sense of racial bias. At other times, the racism is thinly veiled- for example- I recently saw an ad for a hotel chain (don’t remember which one) that showed several couples checking into various rooms. The White couple opened the doors to a beautiful Suite; the Asian couple got the Penthouse, and the African-American couple? A standard room. This type of adverting sends a powerful message to members of the Black community, and is particularly impressionable upon children (of all races). We need to protect the next generation from learning racism, and the only way to do that is to infuse the field of journalism with a steady and increased voice from all races.

Vincent Goodwill

I Believe that for many reasons, the mainstream media needs more voices, period. Diverse voices that not only dissent from what the majority says and believes, but gives people, all people, something more to think about than the status quo. It could be two-fold. We could have Bob Johnson running a sports news division and what would it represent? A lot of Jason Whitlock’s. So I think we need progressive ownership that realizes there’s more than one way to do things, more than one way to look at a scene. Progressive black ownership would not only give voices like Mike Tillery and Dave Zirin more exposure on an individual level, the people who don’t know how they would think when presented with other options would benefit greatly, which could result in wholesale change. Unfiltered voices, opinions without the threat of wondering who you work for could change the industry all around. The ESPN’s, the Fox Sports’ would all be forced to assess how they do things, what the expectations shouldn’t be on the writers. Imagine of Dr. King or Brother Malcolm never had a mic? Some things we would never know if access wasn’t there, if someone didn’t dictate that what these two were saying didn’t have substance and deserved to be heard, on some level, regardless of motivation.

Jacinta Howard

Without black ownership in journalism, there is no real black voice. It’s really that simple. We all know how powerful the media is and how much influence it has on us consciously and unconsciously. The lack of black ownership in the media is a huge issue– one that has been glossed over and ignored. The madness has to stop. Jet, Ebony, Upscale and Black Enterprise are the only prominent black owned magazines in the entire U.S. That’s sad. You want to talk about black people’s images in the media? Let’s have a real discussion about ownership– then maybe we’ll get somewhere. Anything less is nothing but rhetoric.

Anthony Gilbert

This question is an easy one to answer, this is something that I have been saying in all of my years in journalism. We as black people need to have ownership in all facets of the media, because if we do not control and write OUR stories then we have and will depend on what other people write and tell us about ourselves. The problem with that is we know our culture and people better than any other group, and things are often slanted against us or lost in translation. If we do not write our own stories, then someone else will. Throughout history that has happened and black people in America and around the world have been either omitted, or shown in an improper light.

Jordi Scubbings

People like to call the media the 4th estate of government. It is supposed to be the final check and balance on our government. And as the government is, in theory, supposed to be a representation of the people, so too should the media. There is no way a body of journalism can effectively claim to represent the people if there is a lack of any minority group involved. This is also important in sports journalism. In professions where a majority of those playing are minorities, shouldn’t it make sense that those that cover or discuss them be of the same race? It is easy to spout the company line when you have no attachment either to those you cover or your audience, but if the writer was more involved and had a higher stake in the subject or the result, as would happen with progressive Black ownership, then the writing becomes more passionate and people feel the words and the impact.

Chris Broussard

On one level, we need progressive Black ownership in journalism for the same reason we need progressive Black ownership in every other sector of society: so we can have some say in the future and destiny of our people. When you don’t own anything your future wellbeing (i.e. employment, image) is really in the hands of someone else.

In regards to journalism specifically, we need Black ownership so we can have a voice in the national/global dialogue. That will allow us to present our views from our perspective. While we in journalism of course, strive for the ideal of objectivity, in reality there is no complete objectivity. One’s personal views, background and experiences always enter into the picture. Well, mainstream America’s views, background and experiences are often at variance with those of Black America, so who’s telling the news of the day from our perspective?

I see this firsthand when I travel outside of America. The news in Europe, specifically the BBC, is much different than the news in America. The BBC does a much better job of covering the world than American news channels do. In regards to Africa specifically, I saw many positive pieces on what’s going on on the Continent. Really, they covered the Africans like they were human beings, reporting on both the positive and negative. Whereas in America, the overwhelming majority of what we read or see concerning Africa is famine, civil war/strife, disease, poverty and debauchery. That’s not the whole story by any stretch, and perhaps if we had stronger Black-owned media outlets, we could tell the whole story.

Dan Lebatard

Different voices. We need different voices in journalism. That starts up top, with a movement from people on high. Things gets so loud in this kind of discussion that people don’t make the delineation between race playing a factor and racism playing a factor. It isn’t overt racism that leads to that cover. It is an absence of black voices at the top of the power structure because white people tend to hire those who look, act, think like them. Not beause of racism, overt and ugly, I don’t think, but because of comfort and familiarity and laziness. Wayne Huizenga hires people with whom he has commonalities, just like the owner of BET does. But there is only one black owner in sports, right? So when all the school presidents and ADs and owners are white, white people are going to be the voice. And when so many of the publishing leaders are white, so too will be their employees. You go to a white boss’ house or wedding or funeral and I’m guessing you’ll see mostly white people. Same goes for black people, I’d imagine. That magazine’s mistake doesn’t change until that atmosphere does.

Alan Gray

It depends what you mean by progressive. I see many “progressives” whining, complaining, blaming and being negative. That has to stop. You can change almost anything if you work at it and you have a believable story and you get the ear of the people. Can you get a big enough audience? Can you give them a direction they can believe in? Can you treat them as individuals and not as a block.

ED is not caused by a lack of Viagra. Headaches are not caused by a lack of Tylenol.
When you have a headache, there is a reason – treat the cause. Black Ownership in journalism – what do you mean? Truth in Journalism or slanting speech to one side. What would black ownership do for you? Is that the right place to start? How do you overcome negative messages and project the positive?

Sankofa

“If the Lion could right, his tale would differ from the hunters.” Over standing that propaganda is the first tool to demonize and prepare a people for subjugation will help us to over stand the necessity for positive imagery, the positive symbolism of pride in knowing that our own can and do own shit, and that this is one avenue our community and children does see as a viable and legitimate career alternative.

Marcellus Wiley

There must a representative of color in power if there is to be a true reflection of honesty and integrity in covering Sports or any other forum of mass popularity. They are needed to decipher the “unspoken” language of the people that has been muted by authority or ignored by it, just the same. This helps alleviate senseless and useless antics such as the “noose” comment and its graphic cover.

Alex Reed

When there are few-to-none African-Americans with decision making power in journalism, it creates severe problems. Black people simply cannot be represented as accurately as they could be by someone who has minimal-to-none knowledge of the black community and black culture. Sure, there are exceptions here and there, but I doubt that people at the top of the journalistic food chain are sincerely worried about the plight of the black man. This leaves the reader (or viewer) short-changed. In a story centered around black people, both black and white audiences won’t get the story they could have gotten if someone representative of the black community would have included his or her input in the decision making process before the story came out. The danger with the white audience is that, for example, when the media beats to death stories about Michael Vick’s problems or Pacman Jones’ nights on the town, they promote the stereotypical notion that all young black men are thugs (with “thug” meaning you-know-what). Then you have the white kids grow up in this media climate and absorb this information that’s fed to them and… some of them will own T.V. stations or newspapers themselves, in the future. And the cycle will continue.

Stop Mike Lupica

You just did, in much less words than I would have! That’s exactly why the Black perspective is needed in journalism, in much higher quantities than you currently see. The sad fact is that those same people involved in the decision-making process that came to the conclusion that putting a noose on a magazine cover is totally fine would never have made that mistake with, say, a swatzika. Why? Simply put: “awareness”.

I might be too generous here, but I’m going to say that those guys that made that decision weren’t racist in their thought process. They were simply unforgivably ignorant. I’m not sure that better, and I’m not making that argument. But the latter is theoritically easier to fix. It simply involves getting more diverse perspectives involved in all levels of the journalism industry.

Signal 2 Noise

Progressive black ownership, hell, more integrated and/or non-white ownership in media is necessary for the very basic premise of different interpretations of historical context. So much of our history and our backstory in this country is written by the majority that it begins to define our writing and understanding processes. If there is someone in the editorial room to say, “Stop. Wait. Think about this for a second and what it means,” the conventional narratives can be broken. This is necessary in ALL levels of media where “conventional wisdom” dominates actual discourse in politics, sports, and art. We need to be able to write our own stories, with the context and point of view sorely missing and/or unsupported by the larger media.

5. Do you agree with Congress having hearings on steroids while our men and women die in Iraq?

Dan LeBatard

No. Its absurd and irresponsible. Never mind the war. Government shouldn’t be involved in this, period. Chasing around Dana Stubblefield and Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds and Marion Jones just because it is easy to be anti-steroids and get near the TV lights. It only adds to an already hysterical media and smears entertainment because it is easy. It is one of the dumbest things I’ve seen in my journalistic lifetime. HGH? Seriously? It is OK for the governor of California to get his position and fame because of what this stuff did to his body, but our leaders our outraged by ballplayers using healers and seeking edges? Seriously? When any of us — and any of them — would have done the same thing if I offered them a fountain of youth that could add years and money and fun and happiness to their lives?

Vincent Thomas

Only if it’s to help kids. Congress responsibilities cover many things. Steroids are illegal and dangerous. If these hearings are proving helpful, in terms of information, then, by all means, interrogate away. Those dudes don’t do much work. There’s room for steroid inquiries, and much, much more. Earn your dough.

Diallo Tyson

They don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Congress should be able to multi-task. As a potential public health concern, I see no problem with holding hearings. The problem arises when the hearing is, more or less, a dog and pony show with no intentions of getting to the heart of the matter. And of course we should be out of Iraq, but the Democrats put their balls in a Crown Royal bag and leave them on the nightstand every morning, before heading to Capitol Hill.
Dave Zirin

Ummmm…. No.

Signal 2 Noise

Congress has the right to hold hearings on steroids in any sport it has granted anti-trust exemptions to. The MLB made its own bed on this years ago. I think our representatives in both houses have better, more important things to be dealing with, though. Steroid hearings are Kabuki theatre on a sick, sad level — trot out the man whose son committed suicide due to steroids, wag a finger, extend the War on (Some) Drugs, which lawmakers cannot get enough of in the first place. I would be less cynical about PED hearings on Capitol Hill if Rep. Henry Waxman saw fit to invite scientists who would debate whether steroids, HGH, and other PEDs are useful and beneficial for certain athletes in the proper age range and under strict supervision. The panel that Bob Costas hosted earlier this month in NYC with WADA’s Dick Pound and Dr. Norman Fost should have been part of a Capitol Hill hearing. Otherwise, it is a grandstanding moment for congressmen and women who could not be bothered to get a staffer to edit their grammar in prepared statements or get the name of Rafael Palmiero right.

Jemele Hill

I don’t worry about professional athletes that take performance-enhancing drugs. I never have. I worry about impressionable youngsters who won’t have the benefits of trainers, agents and a medical staff monitoring their dosage. Some kid, somewhere, is wondering how he can get some hands on some HGH or steroids so that he/she may put themselves in line for a multi-millionaire contract. They won’t have the same monitoring system in place as a multi-million dollar athlete, and I worry they will be unable to make the proper decisions. Extraction from Iraq is going to take time, and there will be plenty of argument. Steroids and performance-enhancing drugs is something I believe Congress can impact in the short term. I’d like our soldiers home, but it’s naive to think that without a steroids probe they’d be home sooner.

Chris Broussard

I don’t think one has necessarily anything to do with the other. Just because there’s an unjust war being fought in Iraq doesn’t mean Congress should stop addressing other issues in American life. To my knowledge, abuse of steroids is very dangerous, especially to youngsters (who idolize and often emulate these athletes), so we must make an attempt to stop the rampant use of steroids. That doesn’t mean I support the war. I don’t. I’m just saying that we can’t ignore other important aspects of life while our troops are at war.

Walik Edwards

Considering no one cares about these dudes taking steroids, I mean, how many people have you heard that’s given up their favorite sport because a player on their team was on the “Snitchell Report?” This is a no-brainer, the loss of lives always comes before insignificant things happening in “games.” The onus is on the sports organizations themselves to govern themselves.

Jordi Scrubbings

This is a tough question for me, especially as a veteran. I firmly believe there is only so much Congress can do to affect the war in Iraq. You mention as men and women dying over there. But is that a direct result of Congressional lack of attention? I don’t believe so. What happens on a military mission is not the result of Congressional action or reaction. It is the result of the command to carry out the mission. If all the troops stayed in bunkers all day and all night, I doubt there would be any casualties. That said, all Congress can do is threaten to reduce the war budget. Unfortunately, this would probably lead to more deaths as the remaining troops would be even more outnumbered. Congress knows “bringing them home” is not an option at this point, so they have changed the subject. I do however, think discussion on education or poverty is a much more worthy subject than messing around with baseball.

Temple 3

What else do they have to do with their time? They’re not actually representing the American people. They’ve spent billions of dollars on a war that is more critical than people imagine, but have let infrastructure suffer. If you live in New Orleans or in Minneapolis, you know full well that Congress is a sham. They supported the gangster move of seizing Iraq’s oil. The US will be in that region for a long time. Unless Congress intends to forego its special role as protector of the national pastime, the steroid hearings would be on hold for at least a decade.

MCBias

Loaded question much? ha. Until Congress also gets serious about the NFL steriod problem, the steroid hearings are worthless in my mind. But, I think that artificial enhancement is a topic Congress needs to consider now, before we’re all walking around with chips in our hands and making clones to harvest for body parts. Yes, I read too much Sci-Fi as a youngster, ha.

Ron Glover

This is the first time I’ve heard anyone even mention this, it doesn’t make sense to me either. This isn’t the first time Congress has placed the cart before the horse. But of course they’ll say that they’re doing the right thing and how dare we question the decisions they make. The fact that these young men and women are fighting a war that did not have to be makes me sick to my stomach.

Thug Life Army

I do not agree with most of the meetings that they waste their time and our money on. The war is an important thing true but this country is in decay and we are loosing young people at an alarming rate. The true condition of this country needs to be address before we concern our self with who did what in what sport. As the country falls apart the important things are being overlooked. It seems the government creates problems and then sits back and has a meeting on why there are problems. It seems like a bit of ‘job security’ for them. An example would be the three strike law. Then there is massive prison overcrowding and they need to find a solution for that. Well when a man can be locked down for life for stealing a pizza then maybe it is time to take another look at some of the laws they have come up with.

Vincent Goodwill

I would agree with it, if the coverage, if the focus all seemed to come from a genuine place. Yes, steroids are a problem among the youth, but that was never the focus to start with. If was a witch hunt on a couple characters for various reasons and a parade of something simple, something without real substance to make Congress look good on the surface, to take attention off Iraq and on to our national pastime. To take a stance on the war would mean they would have to risk admitting being wrong several years ago after 9/11, and they don’t want to do that. If the focus was really on teens of high school age, why no hearings on gang violence, the screwed up Public school systems in Inner-Cities, things that affect all students, not just one isolated segment. So, no, the rampant steroid use was only an added incentive, not the main or targeted focus. And the fact many of our brothers and sisters die every day is just a diversion, and Congress doesn’t wanna admit they have no answers concerning the war.

Stop Mike Lupica

I don’t agree with the steroid hearing in general. However, I don’t think that we should put the two in the same category. As much as I disagree with the Iraqi War (since day one), Congress is entitled/required to focus on other issues besides that one. It’s just that in my opinion, steroids in baseball is not one of the issues they should be focusing on. Especially while they are ignoring football completely. It’s both making an mountain out of a molehill for the purposes of grandstanding, all while being hypocritical and pandering to special interest groups!

MT: I know this was a very long read, but I wanted to give you all a sense of my everyday thoughts.

Like James Farmer Sr. said to his son James Jr. in The Great Debaters, “We do what we have to do to do what we want to do.”

I appreciate those who took the time to read this.

Thanks Scoop.

Coming out of Michigan in ’93 it seemed Chris was headed for the same success he’d had in college. The second sophomore drafted first overall (Magic), was in a position early to contend for a championship with the passionate Warriors. Remember how Spreewell was dunking on everyone?

GS was amassing multiple 50 win seasons with the likes of Spreewell, Chris Mullin, multi-talented Billy Owens and current Mavs coach Avery Johnson. They were a dynamic bunch who stuffed the stat sheet with all around contributions from almost the entire roster. Webber put up 17 and 9 on his way to winning Rookie of the Year, but he often clashed with Nelson over defining his game. Nelson wanted Chris banging in the post and Chris wanted to show his versatility similar to Magic Johnson and fellow Detroit native Derrick Coleman.

In hindsight, both blew it. Though the Warriors were 50-32, Chris exercised an option and was traded to the Washington Bullets for Tom Gugliotta and three first round picks. Both men have had success in the lig, but not what each has hoped for.

Remember this?

The 1993 NBA MVP, Barkley got him back in the playoffs putting up 58 in the first game of a three game sweep.

Looks like Webb and his first NBA coach might be willing to give it another shot–as early as Tuesday. Chris has a crib out there and is also cool with Baron Davis and Matt Barnes.

Coach Don Nelson - in one of his half-combative, half-pleading tones – finally made it clear Sunday why he is chasing after Chris Webber so hard.

“Have you seen my roster?” Nelson said after the pregame shootaround. “I think you need to look deep at that roster and look at our schedule and when we start playing the West. Are we going to be strong enough? You don’t think that’s a concern to everybody?”

Nelson essentially put out the welcome mat for Webber, stressing his need for another big man while critiquing his players’ shortfalls.

“It would be a talented big person – a guy who has some skill that we don’t have,” Nelson said of Webber. “I see a big person. A need. And I see passing skills. I’ve got one passer only on the team (Baron Davis), and he can’t get all the assists. And the size factor, the fact that Al (Harrington) is not a good rebounder. …

“I think we need to look at a player, or anybody, who can play in an NBA game (who) has some size and can make me one player deeper. With (Austin Croshere) in and out, (Mickael Pietrus) not (playing well), it’s basically a seven-man team. And two of them are D-League players.”

This most likely is the last hurrah for both. The only other active players from the 93 draft are Lindsey Hunter and Sam Cassell. Golden State is looking to get back the gold dust that allowed them to upset #1 seed Dallas in the first round of last year’s playoffs. Chris has always been one of the best passing big men in the game (22 triple doubles). Maybe he can help free up a very talented roster for open looks and therefore get this team get over the hump and do some real damage in June.

Good luck Webb.

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(Jeff Gross, Getty Images)

With all the controversy swirling around Tiger Woods the last couple of weeks he still was able to run through Torrey Pines like Fuzzy Zoeller chasing him with a bucket of Kelly Tilghman’s fried chicken. Since 1991, he’s won an astounding 14 times on San Diego area courses, and defeated the field at the Buick for the fourth consecutive year. With yesterday’s masterful performance, Tiger has tied the legendary Arnold Palmer for fourth in all time wins. I’ll have a pretty extensive piece posted tomorrow asking five questions of journalists, athletes, bloggers as well as The Starting Five collective. Tiger’s response to Kelly Tilghman’s lynch remark and subsequent Golfweek cover definitely are addressed.

Thank you to everyone who contributed in advance.

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I have to admit I haven’t read it all, but Roger Clemens and his lawyers are attempting to provide evidence Rocket’s career ebbs and flows were a product of a commitment to weight training–amplified by shoulder surgery in 1985–natural ability and the every day rigors of being a pitcher in MLB.

AP:

“Clemens’ longevity was due to his ability to adjust his style of pitching as he got older, incorporating his very effective split-finger fastball to offset the decrease in the speed of his regular fastball caused by aging,” said the report, created by Randy Hendricks and two associates at his firm.

Clemens’ former trainer, Brian McNamee, claimed in last month’s Mitchell Report on drugs in baseball that he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Clemens vehemently denies the allegations, and Clemens and McNamee are among five witnesses scheduled to testify before a House committee on Feb. 13. Clemens also has sued McNamee for defamation.

Hendricks’ report, which includes 38 charts, in some ways resembles a salary arbitration case. One of the charts shows Clemens’ ERA was lower than the league average in all but two of his 23 major league seasons. The report also compares variations in Clemens’ career with those of Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and Nolan Ryan, and maintains slumps often can be correlated with injuries.

“Of the six years that feature Clemens’ best ERA margins, two occurred in Boston, after he had been in the major leagues for several years; two occurred in his two years in Toronto; and two occurred after he switched leagues and pitched for the Houston Astros,” the report said.

Clemens went 40-39 in his last four seasons with the Red Sox, and when the pitcher left Boston’s general manager at the time, Dan Duquette, said Clemens was in the “twilight” of his career. Clemens was 192-111 with the Red Sox and won three Cy Young Awards and an MVP, then went 162-73 with Toronto, the New York Yankees and Houston, winning four Cy Youngs.

“Clemens was far from being in the ‘twilight of his career’ or ‘washed up’ in 1996, as some have speculated,” the report said. “During the 1996 season Clemens ranked first in strikeouts in the American League and tied his own record by striking out 20 batters in Detroit on Sept. 18, 1996. In addition, he ranked sixth in the AL in ERA, second in the AL in hits per nine innings, and fifth in innings pitched. This performance cannot be reasonably categorized as a ‘twilight.”

Man, I could care less. I just want all of this to go away. The actual games matter to me most. All this drama is killing a love for the sport I’ve adored since Reggie Jackson signed with the Yankees.

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(AP Photo: Ric Francis)

Big Z didn’t know what to do with sickness like this did he?

NBA leading scorer LeBron James is becoming deftly unstoppable. The difference between he and Kobe is Bron Bron’s ability to bully himself into the lane–after grabbing a rebound on the other end–and scoring while getting to the line in the process. I truly think the cat could average 30 and 15 as a power forward.

In yesterday’s match up with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, James scored 41 to lead the Cavs to a 98-95 win in Los Angeles. At times he overshadowed Kobe in his own house. The Lakers have lost three straight and have cause for concern considering how injuries are beginning to take their toll. Kobe scored 33 had 12 rebounds and 6 dimes. After LeBron hit two free throws to go up three, the Lakers inexplicably did not get off a potential game tying shot:

“We ran our last-second play, I was hoping to get the shot off,” said Walton, who shot 4-for-8 for nine points and also had five rebounds, five assists and four steals. “I kind of fumbled the ball a little bit, wasn’t aware the clock was as low as it was, and as soon as I passed it back to Kobe, I realized that that was a mistake, and unfortunately it cost us big.”

Kobe’s response:

“It was designed for me to come up from the top of the floor and get a good look at a 3,” Bryant said regarding the last play. “We had to run a dribble weave in that situation and they both came with me, so I kicked it out. I don’t know if he had a clear look at the basket. I think they rotated to him pretty quickly. There’s always other options.”

Although Kobe can shoulder the offensive load for multiple game stretches, this team is missing Andrew Bynum’s big time presence on both ends of the floor. Kobe led the team in almost every offensive category Sunday and it’ll be interesting if the Lakers will have the guts and pull the trigger to bring a big man in until Bynum returns. January is a lost month in the NBA similar to the dog days of summer in MLB. Players are tired and limp into the All Star break, so don’t make too much of team slides.

On the other end, LeBron and the Cavs look to make a decent run to reclaim last year’s playoff luster. James is hovering around 30 points a game, almost eight rebounds and 8 assists–seventh in the league.

Dude will average a triple double for a season in the next year or so. Don’t sleep.

This is what every team needs–a cat that won’t take any smack down low.

Ron Artest is my dude. Utah past, present and future is the wrong place for Ron Ron to bang like we do summer time in the hood talking trash on every possession–mouth all dry. They just ain’t havin’ it. Even Bennett Salvatore knew the whole scene was foul. His crew had no control.

Sixers trade for him pleaaaaaaaase. Ron would give me the best quotes.

Remember when Chuck used to do this?

We’re in uncharted waters politically. Blacks are getting out to vote and Whites are making a statement never before seen in the South.

With his landmark victory in South Carolina, Barack Obama garners more votes than the entire total cast in 2004 Democratic primary with over 290,000.

The final number of Democratic voters in South Carolina’s primary topped Republican counterparts for the first time since 1992–roughly 530,000 to 445,000.

80% of Blacks voted for Obama. He also received a fourth of the White vote with Edwards and Clinton splitting the remainder.

Hillary Clinton second, John Edwards third. Former North Carolina Senator Edwards gets blown out in his home state by Obama and to a lesser degree, Clinton.

February 5th, Super Tuesday, is next. 24 states will hold either caucus or primary elections. Obama has received a good percentage of the White vote, but will his South Carolina victory carry over to states with not a lot of Black voters historically?

The state of Georgia is the lone exception.

Simply put, after February 5th, we’ll know a lot about what direction this country is headed.

Hopefully the issue of race will be discussed prominently in a very real manner and across party lines. Obama’s vision of inclusion seems to be working early on. Diversity among Obama supporters builds with every victory while Clinton seems to be all about the Black vote. She stumped last night in Tennessee at Tennessee State–band playing and all–so Hillary is serious about tapping into a source of vast voter potential few candidates historically have influenced. She knows if she cuts into Barack’s stranglehold on Black voters, she’ll get the nod. Regardless of who gets the nomination this also bodes well for the Democrats come November because Blacks are voting in primaries like never before. Barack is locking up young voters with charisma and a new politics look and feel. In his last two victory speeches Obama has spoke of bringing home the troops from Iraq and affordable health care for all Americans. It also must be stated that so far young people are leaving an indelible impression and will have a major say on who receives the nomination in Denver.

Obama picked up 25 delegates and now has a total of 63.

A full explanation of delegates and superdelegates here 

It’s still early.

What are your thoughts?

TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader

Magic Johnson on what playing in the NBA All-Star Game meant to him: “One of the greatest honors besides winning the (NBA) Championship, is playing at the NBA All-Star Weekend. You get to see great players and you get to play with those great players. It was great when I got to see Charles (Barkley) and Dr. J (Julius Erving) and Michael (Jordan) and Larry (Bird). Playing against them was the most exciting basketball (game) I ever played.”

Barkley on what playing in the NBA All-Star Game means to the players: “For the players, (playing in the All-Star Game is) special. When you know that everyone in the world is watching. If you’re a high school player, you’re watching the NBA All-Star Game. If you’re a college player, you’re watching the NBA All-Star Game. If you’re a pro player, no matter what you say, you’re watching the game. The entire basketball world is watching.”

The starters for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game were announced exclusively on TNT

Eastern Conference Starters

G – Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets

G – Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

C – Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

F – Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics

F – LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

Orlando center and Eastern Conference starter Dwight Howard joined the show from Detroit via satellite.

Howard on if becoming an NBA All-Star was one of his goals as a youth: “It’s been on my list ever since I’ve been in the eighth grade. All the hard work and dedication I’ve put into basketball is paying off and I’m going to keep doing my part on and off the court.”

Howard on how the Orlando Magic have improved from last season: “I think we are becoming a more mature team. We still play a lot and love to have fun but when we step on the floor we know it’s all about business. Our coaches do an excellent job of making sure we are well-prepared for every game. We come out every night and play as hard as we can for 48 minutes. My teammates are the best.”

Western Conference Starters

G – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

G – Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets

C – Yao Ming, Houston Rockets

F – Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets

F – Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

Barkley on who was snubbed from the Western Conference starters: “(Hornets guard) Chris Paul should be starting. I’m rewarding Chris Paul because New Orleans has the best record (in the NBA). (Nuggets center) Marcus Camby should be starting. As well as (Rockets center) Yao Ming has been playing, Marcus Camby is unbelievable night in and night out.”

Magic Johnson: “(Suns guard) Steve Nash is the best point guard in the NBA along with (Nets guard) Jason Kidd. (Nash) should start every All-Star Game because he makes everyone better. Chris Paul is unbelievable. The problem in the West is that there are so many point guards. We’re not even talking about Tony Parker, Deron Williams and Baron Davis. The problem is there are not enough slots for as many point guards (as there are in the West).”

Denver forward and Western Conference starter Carmelo Anthony joined the show from Denver via satellite.

Anthony on his Denver Nuggets in the second half: “First of all, we’ve got to get healthy. That seems to be the story every year for the Denver Nuggets. Once we get everyone healthy and everyone back on the same page…all I can say is watch out for the Denver Nuggets in the second half of the season.”

Anthony on playing with Allen Iverson: “We knew that (critics) wanted to see us (fail) and not work it out. When you have two great players on one team who only want to win, then we don’t care about shots. We both know I can score with the best in the world and A.I. can score with the best in the world. We are going to score in the offensive end, as long as we do it in the defensive end then no on should question us.”

Magic Johnson on the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers: “What the (Clippers) owner doesn’t understand is that the West (Conference) is strong. Portland is great as a young team, New Orleans is outstanding as a young team. We’re not even talking about Houston, San Antonio and on and on. (How) does he think they are going to make the playoffs without (injured forward) Elton Brand?”

Barkley on the state of the Western Conference: “I think the Dallas Mavericks need to make a trade. The Spurs look old, tired and beat up. I’ve never seen the West (Conference) this shaky. Phoenix is struggling, Utah is inconsistent, Denver doesn’t play any defense. New Orleans may be too young to take it to the next level.”

Magic Johnson on the mind-set of the Dallas Mavericks: “The toughest thing with Dallas is they are not mentally tough. That’s why they can’t win.”

The Inside crew picked their NBA All-Star reserves.

Eastern Conference

Magic Johnson – Caron Butler (Washington Wizards), Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons), Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics), Richard Hamilton (Detroit Pistons), Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards)

Kenny Smith – Caron Butler (Washington Wizards), Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons), Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics), Richard Hamilton (Detroit Pistons), Ray Allen (Boston Celtics), Shaquille O’Neal (Miami Heat)

Charles Barkley – Caron Butler (Washington Wizards), Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons), NO CENTERS, Hedo Turkoglu (Orlando Magic), Ray Allen (Boston Celtics), Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards)

Western Conference

Magic Johnson – Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns), Brandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers), Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets), Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks), Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns), Chris Kaman (Los Angeles Clippers), Baron Davis/Stephen Jackson (Golden State Warriors)

Kenny Smith – Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns), Brandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers), Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets), Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks), Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns), Andrew Bynum (Los Angeles Lakers, Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz)

Charles Barkley – Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns), Brandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers), Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets), Tyson Chandler (New Orleans Hornets), David West (New Orleans Hornets), Marcus Camby (Denver Nuggets), Stephen Jackson (Golden State Warriors)

Barkley on Shaquille O’Neal possibly missing the All-Star Game for the first time in 14 seasons: “I think (Shaquille O’Neal) should shut it down right now because he is going to hurt himself (further). Miami is not going to make the playoffs. (O’Neal will) admit that he has not played well enough to be an All-Star.”

Magic Johnson on the health of the Los Angeles Lakers: “What’s really going to hurt the Lakers is they lost (Trevor) Ariza, they lost (Andrew) Bynum, (and Vladimir) Radmanovic is out as well. Right now the Lakers don’t know which way they are going to go because they don’t have enough healthy bodies.”

Magic Johnson on the San Antonio Spurs competing in the Western Conference this season: “When you win (the championship), that means you’ve played more games than anybody. You’re worn out and tired. Then you come back right away and try to defend that title. It’s definitely a hard thing to do and the West (Conference) got better. The West is wide open this year. San Antonio was head and shoulders ahead of everybody and now they have come back to the pack. Anybody can win the West.”

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Game 1: San Antonio Spurs (90) @ Miami Heat (89)

Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Doug Collins with Craig Sager reporting

Collins on Miami Heat guard Dorell Wright: “(Dorell Wright has) a lot of talent, he’s a young guy. His offensive game really isn’t developed. Last year he was (in the game) for defense and rebounding. He has to develop an offensive game.”

Collins on what young players should learn from veteran teammates: “All young players should (learn from veterans). They should be able to go over to the best players and say, ‘I want to sit next to you and absorb all the best lessons I can from you, even when I’m not playing. How to work out, how to practice, how to prepare for the game.’ That’s the way young guys develop.”

Collins on Miami Heat guard Chris Quinn: “(Chris Quinn) has been a good learner. Last year, Quinn spent a lot of time with Jason Williams and Jason Kapono, they really taught (Quinn) the ropes on how to be an NBA player. It’s a great story for Chris Quinn to be in the NBA. To see him out there playing basketball, I’ve known him since he was six-years-old. It makes me very proud and I realize that I’m very old.”

Collins on Spurs center Tim Duncan: “Tim Duncan has seen every defense. He’s an MVP, he knows where his teammates are, they know where to be, and they’re in sync. And when they’re healthy, they are a very good offensive team. When one of their stars is hurt, they struggle.”

Collins on teams rebuilding through the draft: “You’ve got to get lucky (to rebuild your team through the draft). Look at the San Antonio Spurs. They (drafted) David Robinson and look how quickly it turned. They (drafted) Tim Duncan and look how quickly it turned. There isn’t a player in the lottery like that now, but there are some players that fill a need for Miami.”

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Halftime

Ernie Johnson, Barkley and Magic Johnson

Ernie Johnson on TNT NBA reporter Craig Sager’s purple suit and matching shoes: “It looks like he’s been stomping grapes.”

Magic Johnson on how Heat head coach Pat Riley is handling his struggling team: “Pat (Riley) is looking for guys to come out and play hard every night. (Riley) is about effort, effort and more effort. If he can get (effort) on the defensive end and get some of these young guys to improve. He’s going to work on every young players game to make them better for next season.”

***** ***** *****

Collins on Heat forward Udonis Haslem: “Udonis Haslem has always reminded me of (former NBA player) Charles Oakley. He’s a guy that does the dirty work, he’ll give you about ten points a night and he’s the team’s toughest inside guy. He’s a winning player, I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He’s a guy that can be a piece on a championship team.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Spurs center Tim Duncan following the game.

Duncan on the fatigue of the Spurs: “It felt pretty good tonight all-around. (Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich) got us in and out of the game early on and that helped a little bit. Once you get to the fourth quarter and the adrenaline starts flowing and score is what it is, you’re not really tired anymore, you just play through it.”

Duncan on starting for the Western Conference All-Star team: “It’s a great honor. Thanks to the fans, obviously. To start for a ninth straight year, it’s above and beyond anything I ever dreamed.”

***** ***** *****

Game Break

Ernie Johnson, Barkley and Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson on New Jersey Nets guard Vince Carter: “(Vince Carter’s) knees are gone, it’s over. (He was a) superstar, (he’s) now a regular player.”

Barkley on New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd: “I feel bad for Jason Kidd, who’s been the best point guard in the NBA for the last ten years. (He’s) a future Hall of Famer, that team’s just not very good. It’s time for them to trade Jason Kidd and start building for the future.”

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Game 2: New Jersey Nets (119) @ Golden State Warriors (121)

Announcers: Marv Albert, Mike Fratello and Reggie Miller with Cheryl Miller reporting

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Nets president Rod Thorn during the game.

Thorn on the play of the Nets: “Lawrence (Frank) is doing a good job. It really comes down to how your players perform, and right now we have not played nearly as well as we would like to and as we expect to, but we do expect to play better.”

Reggie Miller on whether the Nets players have tuned-out coach Lawrence Frank: “You’ve got Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter, and I think things might be falling on deaf ears. Is Lawrence Frank a great coach? Yes, but at times players start to tune out their coach and I don’t know if that’s going on here in New Jersey, but something is going on. When you’ve got three players of the magnitude that New Jersey does, (a record of) 18-23 doesn’t cut it and the first person normally to go is the coach.”

Fratello on Nets forward Josh Boone: “Since the Nets have gone to the younger big men up front, I’ve been very impressed with Josh Boone and the poise that he has.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Warriors guard Monta Ellis following the first half.

Ellis on his attacking style of play: “That’s what (Warriors head) coach (Don Nelson) wants me to do. He’s been calling plays for me lately. I’ve had the confidence to knock (the shots) down.”

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Halftime

Ernie Johnson, Barkley and Magic Johnson

Barkley on fellow analyst Kenny Smith missing the show due to illness: “(Kenny Smith’s) being a wuss, I don’t give sympathy to wusses. Just because you’ve got a little runny nose, that doesn’t get it done around here.”

Magic Johnson on Vince Carter’s declining play: “(Vince Carter) is not the superstar he used to be. Vince Carter used to be a player who gave you three or four highlights every single night. When a jumper’s knees go, when a guy is athletic and uses his legs as a tool to be successful like Vince does…it’s harder for him to have consecutive great nights like he did two years ago.”

Barkley on Vince Carter adjusting to a new style of play: (Vince Carter’s) best days are behind him. Can he adjust? Probably not. What I mean by that is, guys who play above the rim, when they can’t play above the rim (anymore) there is quick and rapid decline in their playing ability.”

***** ***** *****

Miller on the Golden State Warriors using up all their energy in the first round of the 2007 playoffs: “(The Warriors) were really spent going into that second round series against Utah. They easily could’ve won Games 1and 2 but they lost it in the closing moments. They went down 0-2 and they spent all their gas after that.”

Miller on the comments from Nets guard Jason Kidd that being .500 in the Eastern Conference is good enough to make the playoffs: “I’m disappointed in that quote from Jason Kidd because it’s almost like he’s saying, ‘We’re settled in to what this team is all about’ instead of saying, ‘This is not good enough, I’m better than this. I know I’ve got two other All-Stars that are better than this, guys we’ve got to regroup and get it done.’”

Fratello on the Warriors strategy to foul Nets forward Josh Boone multiple times in the second half: “You have to weigh how much (Josh Boone) is doing for you on the glass, offensive rebounds, defensively. Do the plusses outweigh the minuses? At the same time you’ve got to play the rest of the season with this youngster. You have to show some faith and belief in him.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Warriors coach Don Nelson after the third quarter.

Nelson on the ‘hack-a-Boone’ strategy the Warriors implemented against Nets center Josh Boone: “Anytime a guy shoots in the 30s, 38 percent, then he’s a candidate to slow the game down and try to change the tempo, but the strategy didn’t work. Give the guy credit, (Josh Boone) stepped up there and knocked his free throws down, at least some of them. The strategy worked against us.”

Miller on Warriors guard Monta Ellis: “Without the ‘pitty-pat’ dribble, (Monta Ellis is) a lot like (Heat guard) Dwyane Wade. The way he can get into the lane and finish. If he could work on his ball handling, that would be the next step in the evolution for a player like Monta Ellis.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Warriors guard Baron Davis following the game.

Davis on teammate Monta Ellis: “(Monta Ellis) is the future for (the Golden State) franchise. He’s a rising superstar and he’s been playing great for us all season. We’ve really been relying on him, Coach (Don Nelson) tells us to give him the ball because he is our fast break. He’s doing a lot, maturing a lot in the half-court and that’s why you see us going to him.”

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Inside the NBA

Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson

TNT aired Inside Trax with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich wearing a microphone during the game.

Popovich on sideline reporter Craig Sager’s flamboyant purple suit: “I’m blinded, I can’t see the court now, I can’t see the court! How can we coach now?!”

Popovich in an interview with Sager: “How can you be that professional in a suit that looks like that?”

Sager: “I know you didn’t get much sleep last night, I’m just trying to brighten things up.”

Magic Johnson on Heat coach Pat Riley’s disposition over the Heat’s struggles: “(Coach Riley) is miserable. His poor wife, he’s got to be tough to live with right now. Coach Riley doesn’t take losing very well, he’s already a workaholic, so that means he’s working overtime right now trying to figure out how to get these guys out of the losing slump as well as out of the losing mentality. These guys don’t have the talent, don’t have the manpower and they don’t have the knowledge on how to win. But if they play with the same effort they played with tonight, then they can get a win in the next game.”

Barkley on the difference between playing on a good team and a bad team: “Magic (Johnson) is lucky to never play on a bad team like I did. It is depressing and it is humiliating. When you’re on a good team you (look at the schedule and) say, ‘We’re going to win this game, we’re going to win this, we’ve got to play hard, but we should win this game.’ When you’re on a bad team, you’re like, ‘Where is Minnesota at? Where is Seattle (on the schedule)?’ You’ve got to cherry pick your games. Plus, the stands are empty so it’s hard to motivate yourself.”

In our Eastern Conference Preview, I predicted Kevin Garnett would be MVP. No flip flopping here, so I have to stick with my choice even though Kobe most likely has a stranglehold on the award. There are many deserving candidates and this season is shaping up as one of the most competitive in recent memory.

Who ya got?

The Super Bowl is a week from Sunday and the New England Patriots are in a position to complete the second undefeated season in NFL history. On one hand – I would like to see it done for the historical value and so Mercury Morris can finally shut up. Here’s a newsflash Merc; they’re in your neighborhood, they’ve been your block and now they’re at your door.

Then again, I wouldn’t mind seeing the upset – I’m not to thrilled that it’s the Giants but at this point I’ll take what I can get.

So here’s what we’re gonna do, you can pick any one offense and defense from any non-Super Bowl team and put them together to face the Pats next week. You can even select a head coach.

Mizzo said his team would be the 1998 Minnesota Vikings offense and the 1991 Philadelphia Eagles defense.

I’ll second that 1991 Eagles defense with the 1980 San Diego Chargers offense and give me Denny Green coaching just to hear him say “The Patriots are who we thought they were!” Upon accepting the Lombardi Trophy.

In football more than any other sport there is always the debate of “Who ranks where?” The discussion can gofrom quarterback – down to the special teams gunner.

In most of these discussions, there is always a player or two who falls between the cracks for whatever. Talent aside, it could be the stigma of playing on some not-so-great teams or simply because he played in an era where other players simply received more shine.

In the case of Andre Tippett - it was both.

The former All-American and All-Big Ten defensive from the University of Iowa was a second round selection of the New England Patriots in the 1982 NFL Draft.

Tippett successfully made the conversion to strongside linebacker but was unable to record a sack as a rookie in 1982. For the next 10 seasons he would finish no lower than second on the team in that category. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett would go on to have two of the most dominant seasons by a linebacker in NFL history. His two season sack total of 35 is the highest two year total by a linebacker. Tippett’s 18.5 sacks in 1984 are third most by any linebacker, while his 16.5 in 1985 (The Patriots first Super Bowl season) was the sixth highest total for a linebacker.

Tippett is the Patriots’ franchise sack leader with 100, he holds the top three season sack performances (18.5 in ’84, 16.5 in ’85 and 12.5 in ’87) He is ranked 7th on the all-time sacks list and 3rd among linebackers.

The mastery of Tippett’s craft came in spite of lining up on the strong side. For those unfamiliar with strongside and weakside here’s a quick lesson; the strongside is the side where the tight end lines up. So on each down Tippett had to decide if it was best to drop back into coverage or rush the passer. If you look at the history of great linebackers most either came up the middle (Mike Singletary, Jack Lambert and Ray Lewis) or came from the weakside (Jack Ham, Lawrence Taylor and Derrick Thomas) Tippett was engaged with at least a tight end on every play and sometimes a tackle.

Other than the 1985 season the Patriots were mediocre at best – Tippett played 11 seasons with the Pats and was a member of only three playoff teams. Although he was not a household name amongst most of the league fanbase, he was recognized by his peers and media over the course of his career.

• NFL Linebacker of the Year from 1985-87 – as voted by the NFLPA.
• Associated Press All-NFL First team 1985, 1987 -Second team 1986,1988
• NFL Films All-Pro team – 1984
• United Press International AFL-AFC Defensive Player of the Year – 1985

Tippett was a top 10 finalist for the 2007 Hall of Fame class, although not selected Tippett still has an opportunty to make this year’s class, as he is again a finalist. It would only be fair that he enjoys the same honor as his contemporaries (Lambert, Taylor, Singletary and Ham, Thomas is a 2008 finalist).

Tippett in his years after football continued to persue and master his love of the martial arts. Tippett is a Godan/5th degree black belt with Shihan (Master Instructor) License. He has received all of his training under Sensei Steve Banchick Kyoshi, a 7th Degree Black Belt. Tippett has studied Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do since 1982 and has also had intensive training in Okinawa. Tippett has also trained privately with Shihan Toshihiro Oshiro in Yamanni Ryu, an Okinawan Kobudo system. Andre has been a member of the Ryukyu Bujutsu Kenkyu Doyukai (RBKD). Yamanni Ryu (also Yamanni-Chinen Ryu) whose main weapon is Bo. The sai, tonfa, nunchaku and Kama are studied as secondary weapons. Tippett has also competed in the AAU on a regional and national level in Kata, Kumite, Team Kumite and Kobudo. He has also competed on the west coast at the Annual Ozawa International Traditional Karate Tournament, Okinawan Uechi-Ryu Karate Championship in Antioch, California, winning a Grand Championship in Kumite in 1993.

Tippett is also a convert to Judaism, he attends Temple Sinai in Sharon, MA. Where he lives with his wife Rhoda and their two children – daughter Madison and son Coby Jordan.

My best recollection of Tippett was a two sack performance game against Randall Cunningham and the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1980′s. It was one of the 30 multi-sack games in his career.

It is my hope that Super Bowl week Tippett receives his day in the sun for a career that seem to be played in the shadows.

Thanks to Wikipedia for the martial arts info.

Whos Your Hero.

We live in time where trust, loyalty and honesty mean absolutely nothing. Folks say they are your friend one minute and hate you the very next second. Hate you so much they could care less if you live or die and will tell you so to your face probably in the presence of your children. Whos Your Hero.

Cats are smashing their best friend’s girl–with a smile–think it’s cool and actually brag like it’s an accomplishment and something to be revered. Dude, if she got down with you then she damn sure would do the same with someone else twice as slimy. Same goes for the women ladies–don’t front. Your precious sugar and spice drenched femininity doesn’t afford you anything until you earn respect and understand it ain’t all about sex. Your father knows you are better and surely sheds a tear when he sees your name scratched on the unforgiving walls of a workplace bathroom stall. Whos Your Hero. What happened to loyalty and honor and trust and love and respect and decency and friendship and perseverance through true struggle? Everything is an excuse. We seem to justify whatever regardless of how sick and monstrous stuff really is and blame our fallacies on everything but ourselves. Whos Your Hero. When was the last time you actually told your mother you love her and meant it after a phone call? Trust me I know, when she’s gone, she’s gone and her last words will be a constant reminder just how much you truly miss her and need her comfort in your life. No one deserves that eternity. Call your mother, go see her, look into her eyes, tell her you love her and hold onto her like your child’s recurring dream of effortless happiness past.

Please be peace with yourselves, but let’s get it!

Nolen volens, who is your hero?

Part II

Chuck D: I think the whole thing with Marion Jones was kinda stupid. Taking medals back because we caught her in a lie; I think that was a bit too much.

It goes right back into the area of Blank (Arthur) with the Falcons and Michael Vick. It’s like OK man…How far back do you wanna go? Do you want to go back where dog fighting is this thing where all these young people are not given a chance to figure into society? Dog fighting and living through the violence…having pit bulls and dog fights…is just an extension of the violent undertaking that comes through the veins of Americanism?

Are you looking that deep into it?

Is Michael Vick a martyr for the way a lot of young cats in the ‘hood live their lives?

Or is this a lesson to get Michael Vick and get everybody else to understand the severity of bringing your hood up into the mainstream?

Michael Tillery: Michael Vick was Black Superman similar to Muhammad Ali–in an athletic sense obviously.

Chuck D: You are right about that. This was the first time in a long time where I’ve seen a nation of White folks say, “You know what, the field don’t count here. We don’t give a damn if they win or lose. We don’t care about no incredible nigger exploits on the field right now. We want a bigger fish. It ain’t about achievement, it’s about fishing now. We done caught a big fish. How ’bout that?“

MT: Michael got in trouble when he went up in Green Bay in the winter time and chopped down Brett Favre.

Chuck D: Yup! He was in trouble when he stepped off the field in Atlanta and put his middle finger in the air.

Historical salute

MT: Yeah. This is what I tell people all the time. There’s probably a White person sticking their middle finger up this very second. A million people…(embellishing of course) 200 hundred billion have done it. I’ll never understand why there was so much bullshit over Michael Vick giving someone the finger. Was that about jealousy and envy…firing hatred…in hopes of ultimately getting Michael Vick’s Black quarterback, running around so elusive and effortless, (with more team success way before Tim Tebow less the Heisman) behind off the field?

Hell when Bush did it was there as much outrage?

Oh it’s funny now huh?

Chuck D: I heard that. Let me tell you this much–although it’s a different sport right–do you think if Ile Nastase or John McEnroe if they gave the audience the finger would they be going through what Mike did now?

MT: Like I said Chuck, there would be LAUGHTER.

Chuck D: (chuckles) It usually is right? Matter of fact John McEnroe is doing a commercial right now capitalizing on his temper.

MT: Like you said Chuck, How far do you wanna go back?

Chuck D: They talk about violence in sports…I’ve never understood this. You have fights breaking out in a basketball game and all hell breaks loose, but in hockey there is a fight every fuckin’ game and nothing? There’s dumb statements like “Oh their Canadians and it’s a tradition of the sport.” Two White guys fighting on the ice and it follows the course of history so it’s alright. Two Black men…oh man..they want to see it, but Whites also want to control it. God forbid it spills into the stands like Ron Artest.

The bottom line is when Whites look at sports, they see race too.

MT: When someone dies–knock on wood it doesn’t happen–it’s going to be this huge tragedy although with a little common sense it could have been prevented.

You see hockey players and fans going at it all the time, but the tenor of reporting is waaaaay different…

I think it goes all the way back to when Kermit Washington basically broke Rudy Tomjanovich’s face.

Chuck D: Yup. It goes back to that. Here’s another thing. There was a time when they celebrated NBA fights. Guys who played in the sixties and seventies will tell you that fights went along with the territory. Knick announcers would tell you all the time how Willis Reed wiped out half of the Lakers in 1965. It was a part of the game.

When something went down you could almost hear the smile on the broadcaster’s face.

During the 1977 NBA Finals, what’s forgotten–because the NBA is trying to cool this image so much–is the fight between Dawkins and Maurice Lucas. I think Bobby Gross was hit by Dawkins and all of the sudden Maurice Lucas came up from behind him and smacked him. At the time Philly was up 2-0. So Dawkins and Lucas were ejected. The thing I remember is the next day in the press they said Dawkins ripped the door of a steel cage off because he was so hot and wrecked the dressing room.

That dude was a monster man. Ever since then they put a cage on Dawkins. They were not gonna let him get out of control. Up to that point, Dawkins was a problem for everybody.

MT: Damn right! He was Shaq!

Chuck D: Yo man! Dawkins was a problem! After that, Dawkins would be the cat who got two whistles in the first five minutes and would be sitting on the bench. What can you do after that. You have to sit out. Philly then had to go to Caldwell Jones which game them a different type of arrangement. I just went off on a deep tangent…Dawkins and Lucas…

Lucas was lauded and applauded. They said this was like a smaller David going against a bigger Goliath. Lucas was the monster tamer. You combine this with Kermit Washington/Rudy Tomjonovich? I can hear them now saying, “We gotta clean this up. Niggers can’t fight. In order for us to keep White people in the seats we can have niggers fighting.”

The next significant thing was banning people for cocaine.

The next was taking jewelry of the players necks. If you check out jewelry in 1980, yo man it was ridiculous. Cat’s was havin’ rope chains..matter of fact, Dawkins had at least six chains. I used to say if this cat goes up for a dunk and the chains get caught in the net, somebody is gonna die.

David Stern saved some of these cat’s lives with the chains ruling. I remember Ray Williams of the Knicks wearing this thick rope and saying man this is not gonna work man.

This was right before dookey Run DMC type ropes.

Just imagine if David Stern didn’t come along. One of those cats was going to come on the court with one of those joints man.

MT: You mean like Slick Rick trunk j-e-w-e-l-r-y?

The King of Trunk: Slick Rick the Ruler

Chuck D: Trunk jewelry on the court.

MT: That would have been crazy.

I wanted to go back to a point you made about two whistles being called on dominant big men within the first five minutes of a contest.

What is that? It’s beginning to be obvious–almost expected in big games.

Roy Hibbert of Georgetown last year in the tournament. He would have eight points inside of five minutes and then you heard the whistle. Then on the next possession, just as the announcers are talking about his first foul, here comes another ass splinter inducing foul. Dude plays defense. He’s not a hacker and was on the bench so much early in games it was ridiculous.

Chuck D: Maybe it’s because all eyes are on him so things are magnified. But I have to say this: Look back on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. All eyes were on them too so…

They both were good at easing their game into the game. They both came up with an awful lot of finesse for them to stay in the game. When Wilt was putting up 50 a game he was doing a lot of that with finger rolls and fade away pops. He dunked every once in a while, but most of his buckets would come on sweet–almost ballet–moves.

Same thing with Kareem. He developed his whole repertoire after they took out the dunk in college. He knew he was going to come up with the sky hook and good foot work.

Doing this took the attention off these brothas. Kareem was so adept with the handle and with his footwork that no one could even touch him going to the basket. That’s what made it tough for Shaq on the double teams. Shaq had to develop his game even at LSU when he was there with Stanley Roberts. He had to develop a way to be light on his feet. He really didn’t man handle people until maybe around that first Laker championship.

Remember when Shaq said I’m playing man ball?

That’s the first time I saw Shaq say fuck it, you better be able to handle me because I’m dunking on you and everyone else.

MT: Especially around the time when Sacramento was rolling. Webb seemed to pick up these quick ass fouls while Shaq was throwing Tyson bolos.

Chuck D: Yeah it was ridiculous for the opposition. Shaq was committed and people had to be thinking he was too fuckin big and strong to be playing that way.

MT: Yeah Shaq was a monster ’round that time. It’s crazy that recently he fouled out of four straight games.

Chuck D: It’s not looking good the rest of the way because Shaq now has a finesse game. If he doesn’t stick to his game they will call a foul. Same thing happened to Dawkins. To add to the point, it seemed like they figured out his Dawkins’ defense and he never got past the point of getting these fouls called on him. He never developed a less imposing facet to his game. Dawkins was big, strong, very dark and was not skinny. Kareem and Wilt–especially in their younger days could be finesse type of guys because of their physical stature.

Dawkins was big, black and brutal man so they were like naaaah, we can’t let this happen and I think that affected him. Once he believed he was the type of player that was going to foul and had to watch his step.

MT: One thing I remember about Dawkins…If you look at a lot of his career highlights, you see so many dunks that didn’t even count because he was catching charges.

Chuck D: Yup you are right on that. To your initial point, Dawkins came after Tomjanovich gets knocked out. The NBA was not having rugged ball by the brothas. They had to develop a Bob MacAdoo type game as a big man. Then Magic and Bird opened the NBA up to finesse game down low.

This is all in my humble opinion of course.

MT: I hear you. I probably agree with you 95% of the time here at least.

What’s going on with the Knicks? I happened to be sitting next to Ken Berger of Newsday in press row at the Lakers/Sixers game when they honored Doc and we were having a conversation about the Knicks. He just threw his hands up.

Chuck D: It’s the same thing when people ask me what’s up with rap music; there’s a lot of talent, but a lack of effort. You can’t try to be hungry. It’s either you are hungry or you’re not. The Knicks are well paid. Don’t blame Isiah. Isiah has treated them too nice–like each of them is a princess. They don’t have the heart and fire that Isiah has. Isiah has the wrong guys. It’s as simple as that. He just said the other day that you have to go through having a coach on the college level that teaches you structure–which prepares you for a professional coaching situation.

All the great players had a college coach that transformed their career. Jordan with Dean Smith. Isiah with our man Bobby Knight. Patrick Ewing with John Thompson. These guys were unbelievable father figures…Lou Carnesecca with Mark Jackson and Chris Mullin. Jim Boheim and Carmello Anthony for even a season. These guys get into the pros now and aren’t prepped enough because of coaching turnover or deficiencies on the staffs. Some people may say there are players that don’t need college coaches. Alright, but something comes out in the wash don’t it? Kobe Bryant had to mature somewhere down the line on how to deal with teammates. He couldn’t understand why Phil Jackson is probably the ultimate coach because he probably didn’t have anything to compare it to. Kevin Garnett is the exception because he’s humble. He was down to learn anyway they wanted to bring it. I don’t think anybody is like Kevin Garnett.

MT: The last time we had that long conversation we spoke about Kevin and what he went through before the NBA. He had to take care of his sister. Chris Paul dealing with the death of his grandfather. Sometimes you have to have adversity…

Chuck D: Kobe Bryant is deftly skilled and talented. He had loving parents and a wonderful father who was in the profession. He definitely needed a college coach to balance what he had at with his home training. He needed that second level.

Kobe has persevered. Something has come out in the wash. It had nothing to do with ball. It had to do with the maturity of the team. Darryl Dawkins keeps coming up, but a lack of a college coach probably hampered Darryl, but the lack of college coach didn’t hamper Moses Malone.

His college coaching was the ABA. It was very important that he played for the Utah Stars. Then he began to bounce around and pick up what he needed to prep him for the NBA.

There just aren’t many kids that come into the NBA with a fully developed sense of maturity. I think a lot of writers miss this. The NBA is full of a lot of underdeveloped players. They might be developed skill wise, but not as men. Most athletes are socially stagnate.

MT: It’s a direct reflection of society. We live in a time where we want everything now…

Chuck D: Also being raised on how much people make. It’s not about what you did, it’s more about what you are worth.

That comes from slavery. You start bragging about what you are worth to the massa (we chuckle). We have to really reconsider that.

This image never changes does it?

MT: Scoop Jackson and I talked about implementing a RACE class into the curriculum. Taking it initially in junior high and then as an upperclassman. Do you think something like that would help in this society or would it have a detrimental effect?

Chuck D: If you truly teach people about music and culture they would learn about race. That would make it fun. You can teach Black history just by teaching people music.

Something like recorded music over the last hundred years. The ubiquitous folk–whoever they are–have made it systematic adversarial and taken music education out of the school system. You get our history by default teaching kids about Black music. Our music has meant twice and three times as much as a people.

Our music is code. Inside that code is a reflection of our time living when we weren’t allowed to speak loud and clear.

You had the beauty of Black news papers that popped up in the early part of last century. That covered a large part of our sentiment. The music has always had it. If you strip people of music and culture, you can definitely take away the history. You almost have to trick people into teaching the truth. The struggle and legacy of a people always scorned.

MT: This news is out of the cycle, but a death is a death and therefore deserves it’s proper reverence. What are some of your memories of Ike Turner?

Chuck D: I’m a musicologist. My first memories with Ike are with Tina Turner. For me to talk about how he abused Tina…It’s common knowledge because a movie. It’s common knowledge because of what happened in their lives.

When I think of Ike Turner as a musicologist, I of him being the co-founder of Rock ‘n Roll. The first Rock ‘n Roll record was Rockin’ 88. It was a Rock ‘n Roll sounding record talking about a car. Ike was a talent scout for a lot of the record companies to find out who the Rhythm and Blues artists were from the Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana and Texas area.

He was a primary talent scout. All in one swoop Ike Turner found B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf…He was able to tell stories about when Elvis comes in an peeks his head while he’s driving a gravel truck into one of the spots they happen to be playing in on Beale Street in Memphis.

It’s my firm belief when people like that pass away they take a lot of legacy with them. If they don’t document it themselves, a lot of their legacy becomes folklore.

Ike Turner has taken a lot with him.

MT: You make a valid point there Chuck. That’s what happens mainly with our people. We don’t have the means (experience and financial) to be able to work within the present media construct to make sure we are fully appreciated historically. We have to make it happen. It’s on us and no one else. If not, our history becomes a question of reality.

Chuck D: Yup. We end up ultimately questioning it just as much as anyone else.

MT: Anyone in music you currently follow?

Chuck D: I think you have to be a veteran in the field to make me go wow. Artists get better through experience of how to go about things. This makes for a better song, cohesiveness within the album and definitely for a better performance. I don’t want to always see somebody trying to figure it out. I wanna see somebody who has kinda got they chops down. Just like in sports, you can’t be player of the year as a rookie.

They have turned music into the same industry they have turned movies. Like the first two weeks we are going to judge how you are and then if it flows then we can have some patience. We can have some patience if you have a firm grasp in the business.

I’ll check out somebody from the Roots or seasoned veterans like Talib Kweli or somebody like OutKast. These are people that all have ten year careers. Wu-Tang Clan has a thirteen or fourteen year career now. They’re not rookies. Common is thirteen years in.

So when Lupe Fiasco comes two years in or Saigon comes along I like their efforts but they can build their respective careers by looking at the blueprint before them.

An artist has to be able to perform well. I didn’t call Jay-Z the greatest rapper of all time until I was able to see if he was comfortable performing. Once he was able to be diverse in all areas, and still is performing? That earns my respect.

MT: I still get questions from your first interview regarding you proclaiming Jay-Z as the G.O.A.T.

Chuck D: It’s the same with Michael Jordan. Mike was the greatest because he was the embodiment of those before him and he proved himself in the area of performing. He can command and control the crowd. He has a point of view. He’s learned different styles. He has a rare ability to hone his skills and take his ability where he wants to take it.

If Jay-Z was a pitcher he would be someone who had full command of his pitches and could strike you out…It couldn’t be Clemens (chuckles).

The most feared rapper is KRS-One. So he would be Nolan Ryan–somebody you definitely don’t want to get close to the plate with. He’s definitely somebody like Nolan Ryan–who at 45 could still throw it by you at one hundred fifty miles an hour and make you say, “Damn what the fuck!”

MT: I posted a video on TSF recently with Common, Q-Tip and KRS.

When Kris came on stage, the crowd went wild and I’m willing to bet half of the crowd didn’t know who the hell he was.

Chuck D: That’s one of the fallacies of history. That’s why ESPN is so strong. They are not going to give you a chance to say you don’t know who Dr. J is. Sports always reaffirms the value of its history.

We need to have that with rap but rap is run like a third grade ghetto room. The DJ’s and the MC’s are going to have to care take our own existence.

MT: Is it time for another Self Destruction Stop the Violence campaign? Would that work in these times?

Chuck D: Yeah, but I don’t think it will come from a record. Over the last twenty years, what’s been misunderstood is that when I was growing up, everything was about a sound. When you were able to see the artist perform on Soul Train or American Bandstand, Ed Sullivan Show and later on in videos, the video reminded you of what you heard first. The demographic that came up after the BET/MTV generation, they’ve quickly gotten used to hearing audio and video at the same time. In the last ten years, the youngsters will tell you the video was always the first thing they noticed about a song.

Driving into the city tonight, I had my oldest daughter who is seventeen and my youngest daughter who is fourteen. The radio station was playing the songs of the day and then Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC comes on. I didn’t say anything. I looked out of the corner of my eye to my oldest who was sitting across from me and she was nodding her head a little bit, so she kind of recognized it. I then looked to my youngest sitting in the back and no movement. My youngest wasn’t going on what she was hearing because she had no reference point. My youngest likes Run DMC, but it’s gotta be something like It’s Tricky. For a while my kids were Run DMC idiots. It’s totally a visual age for them.

Record companies gave you the audio and the video for free to get you to buy the audio. That’s why the record company model doesn’t work. It’s a backwards model that doesn’t apply anymore.

Why give you both free so you can try to go buy half?

MT: I was looking for some music for my kids and cd’s are down to ten dollars now?

Chuck D: Five in some cases. It’s a wrap man. The biggest sellers of cd’s are blank.

MT: What did you take from the BET Hip Hop vs. America?

Chuck D: It was taped the day after the BET Awards. I was happy to see Nelly, Mike Jones and T.I. talking. You hear them talk on the radio speaking banter, but to hear them speak on subject that affect them personally was good to hear. When Farai Chideya criticized Nelly for Tip Drill. He had to defend himself. Whether he’s right or wrong it was good he defended himself. When he wakes up in the morning he smells like a man, so let him talk like a man. It’s too the point where cats conveniently want to be babies. T.I. and Nelly wanted to speak and let their minds be heard, but there isn’t a forum for them.

That’s the problem.

The Hip Hop vs. America was toying with the thing. I was telling Debra Lee that she has a show here. She looked at me like she or I was an alien from another planet–like she didn’t get it.

That’s why I want to do a show where I can do a one on one with a T.I. or Nelly or Mike Jones. Make it a half an hour and ask some pertinent questions. Be some kind of Hip Hop Charlie Rose or something.

MT: That’s a great idea Chuck. I hope that becomes a reality.

Chuck D: Yeah, but people are stupid. They don’t see the worth. It will probably be some White folk that will see the worth before we do. They’ll produce it as something like me and negroes. Viacom is BET, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central. They’ve found it convenient to extend teenage years to thirty four. Any idea that comes up Black wise fit into a CEO’s demographic.

MT: This question has come up on The Starting Five prominently. Our readers have openly spoke of creating a Black Hall of Fame (not in the present construct).

Chuck D: Entertainment or sports?

MT: Sports. Do you think it’s necessary?

Chuck D: Yes, before we had disintegration. Integration that disintegrated, we had Black institutions and businesses that were a Black standard. I think when we had Black newspapers, Black restaurants and Black townships we at least had a structure of respect that mapped out the achievements coming outta the ‘hood. When someone makes the Black sports Hall of Fame and don’t make the Hall of Fame in whatever particular area journalism, sports, entertainment–whatever–I don’t think it’s a knock on any higher form, but the achievement of making it as a Black person or person of color needs to be recognized as inspirational for those who follow.

MT: Being in the field, I know sports would be documented, reported and announced differently if the majority of voices were Black.

Chuck D: Of course. Well if you didn’t have Black journalists in Pittsburgh and flooding areas in the late ’30s putting heat and pressure on MLB, it’s questionable if Branch Rickey would have even considered Jackie Robinson in ’44 or ’45.

The Black journalist has always been a necessary component to make people recognize like “Yo there’s another side to this story.”

See a lot of my conversation…and it’s almost like for a while Mike and you as a brotha can understand this…I’m not trying to racially generalize anything, but one time I had a suspended license in New York state.

For a whole year I learned to drive by looking in the rear view mirror (We laugh like every brotha should right now).

I talk with a rear view mirror approach. When folks say stuff ridiculous and I have to reach back in history for a parable or parallel comparison, to make a person say “Yeah? That happened?” When they come back with, “Oh this is a different time.” I might counter back with “In which way?” They better be quick, because I’m going to ask them about their history.

If they can’t handle their fuckin’ history, then how the hell are they handle what we are talking about?

Every law is based on some sort of historical footnote or it wouldn’t be a law Mike. A lot of the rules in the three major sports were implemented after the original rules. There is no three second violation if there isn’t a lane in the first place. There isn’t any shot clock on the top of the scoreboard because it used to be on the court. Cat’s would get hurt. It was outside the view of refs much of the time.

History creates the law that affects your state of existence in whatever path or time that your are in.

Louis Armstrong. Some people say Uncle Tom or Sambo or sellout or whatever. They don’t know what the hell they are talking about. Anyway, if he doesn’t create phrasing in the late 20′s then people don’t sing the way they sing for the last almost one hundred years. He changed the whole game. Before he came along people were like “duh, duh, duh, d duh duh duh.” Louis Armstrong went with the beat.

If a person don’t know that Mike, then a person is going on what they saw or heard on their perspective–which is limited ’cause they ain’t got no goddamn history.

Too many journalists, in music and sports don’t know their history to pass judgment on shit.

MT: How do we make sure things get seen and heard?

Chuck D: We have different tools that we’ve never had before. We have the Internet. It’s a fantastic tool and it may be questionable if we have this much freedom five years from now.

MT: You ain’t lyin’ there.

Chuck D: When I grew up I struggled to find sports. I found it wherever I could get it on the AM dial. I needed it. I needed it. I was forced to listen to stations I didn’t want to listen to. I couldn’t find anything. I used to listen to 3WE Cleveland radio in the middle of the night. But now through the Internet, there’s so much accessibility. The negative is you have lazy people who through convenience think it’s always been this way. It as been that way for a lot of people. I have a daughter in college born in 1988.

I can’t talk about a typewriter with her. I say you have to go get paper–carbon paper. She’s like “What!”

You have to take yourself out of your mindset and understand this is the mindset she’s in.

To her, a cd is old school. I can’t go back and say, “When I was watching Soul Train…”

My father has a whole lot of stories that look past my convenience.

We have to keep history in perspective. We have to use it as a tool. As Black folks we also have to use it as protection to keep our guards up.

Knowing your history in any profession takes the criticisms of others and puts them at bay. It doesn’t eliminate it, it puts it in check.

You better come right with your stat sheet.

MT: I can’t find it on Youtube, but did you do a voice over for Charles Barkley in a Nike commercial?

Chuck D: Yes I did the voice over for Charles in one of those commercials. Matter of fact, to give you a little trivia. That was a setup plan. Do you remember how Spike was with Michael Jordan?

MT: Yes of course.

Chuck D: Well Flav was supposed to be Flav in that commercial, but he had a run in with the law and killed that connection to the NBA. The shooting back in the day killed that whole deal.

Now Flava Flav is back again.

(Photo: Hannah Buck)

Flava Flav for goodness sakes!

MT: What do you say to those who say Flav is minstrel?

Chuck D: Flava Flav has always been the same person. He’s never changed. He does his own thing without Public Enemy. When he’s in a Public Enemy context it’s no different than the family…

You know how Black families are. They always got that one character (We crack up).

If White folks don’t understand, we even had a president who understood that.

Billy Carter. Remember Billy Carter? He put so much heat on the president.

But at the end of the day he still was family.

Whos Your Hero

Barkley on the impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his lifetime: “Even the short period of time (Dr. King) lived, his legacy speaks for itself. Some people will live to be 100 and don’t do anything (in their lifetime). If you get to live a certain part of your life, you should have accomplished something. What Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and all the other civil rights leaders have accomplished will live on into eternity. It doesn’t matter how long you live, it’s what you did while you were alive.”

Smith on Dr. King’s legacy living on through sports: “Growing up in Queens and playing sports, the first time that I felt my ethnicity didn’t matter when was when I played sports. The first time I felt empowered by someone that wasn’t my race was through sports. The first time I embraced someone that wasn’t my ethnicity was through sports. (Dr. King’s) dream somehow lives through sports and it always will live.”

Barkley on the NBA celebrating MLK Day by playing basketball games: “I tip my hat off to the NBA for using the whole (MLK) day and playing games during the day. The NBA has always been progressive with race relations in terms of coaches, umpires…you have to take your hat off to all the NBA teams and Commissioner Stern, it’s a wonderful day.”

Barkley on Celtics forward Paul Pierce and Knicks forward Quentin Richardson getting tossed from the Celtics/Knicks game for talking trash to each other: “Paul (Pierce) is saying your teams sucks and Quentin (Richardson) better be saying you’re right.”

Sprite Slam Dunk Participants for All-Star Saturday Night exclusively on TNT on Saturday, February 16:

Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies

Jamario Moon, Toronto Raptors

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Gerald Green, Minnesota Timberwolves

Smith on his prediction for the Slam Dunk contest winner: “I think I already know who’s going to win it, Rudy Gay is going to win it.”

Barkley: “They might try to make it up to Dwight Howard since he got jobbed last year.”

Barkley on the New Orleans Hornets: “Take your hat off to (Hornets coach) Byron Scott, Chris Paul is playing like an MVP, David West might be the most underrated player in the NBA today and Tyson Chandler is a rebounding machine.”

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Game 1: Chicago Bulls (90) @ Memphis Grizzlies (104)

Announcers: Dick Stockton, Mike Fratello and David Aldridge reporting

Fratello on Grizzlies guard Mike Conely: “I think he has a real feel for the game. Early on he tried to get other teammates involved, then when he has to assert himself he has the ability to do that. He has that sense beyond his years of how to play the game and where the ball should go.”

Fratello on his former player, Grizzlies guard Rudy Gay’s participation in the Sprite Slam Dunk contest: “(Gay) is an extremely talented, gifted young man, tremendously athletic, and it will be a tremendous competition with Rudy Gay joining it.”

Fratello on the difficult season the Chicago Bulls have had: “Every year, Chicago starts out slowly because they go on this long West coast trip, but then they come back and they get better and they go over the .500 mark and they go on to 49 or 50 wins at the end of the season. It didn’t happen that way this year. They came back, they could not make shots, they started to lose confidence, and the long road trip resulted in a poor record. (Former head coach) Scott Skiles felt it, he knew that this team was not responding to what was going on, and Jimmy Boylan replaces him and has taken over the for the last 13 games.”

Bulls coach Jim Boylan on the play of the Bulls: “We’ve been playing much better, we’ve got to pick it up on the defensive end… we’re giving up too many easy baskets and we’re not closing out quick enough on the three point shooters, so that will be a concern for us today.”

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Halftime

Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Barkley on the Bulls missing key trade opportunities to improve their team: “I want to know why the Bulls haven’t made a trade, because if they play as well as they can they still aren’t good enough. They’ve got a bunch of good players, but if they had a guy like (Kevin) Garnett they would have the best record, and if they had (Pau) Gasol they would be a lot better off. Why would you keep a team together like it is when even if they play as well as they can they are not a legit contender?”

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Fratello on the Bulls shooting 33% from the floor: “Jim Boylan went in at halftime and called up Steve Kerr and Reggie Miller and asked them both to come back and try to help them make some shots!”

Fratello on why the Bulls shooting has fallen off this season: “So much of it is confidence. You have to play with confidence, shoot the ball and not worry if you miss the shot. When players begin to lose confidence and start worrying, it changes the whole game around.”

Fratello on why he used both current Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylan and Memphis Grizzlies head coach Marc Iavaroni as assistant coaches: “(Boylan and Iavaroni both had a) tremendous work ethic, both men are very intelligent and came up with good suggestions. These are good basketball people, it’s what their life is all about and they work at it.”

Fratello on Grizzlies forward Hakim Warrick: “Hakim Warrick is a scorer, that’s as simple as you make it; somehow someway he finds ways to put points on the scoreboard.

TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Grizzlies guard Mike Miller after the Grizzlies win over the Bulls.

Miller on the Memphis Grizzlies potential: “We have a lot of talent, we’re learning together, we’re young, we have a whole new coaching staff and we’re trying to get used to each other. We’ve been playing well lately and we’ve lost a lot of close games which is disappointing. We’ve got to close them out down the stretch. We’re pretty excited about the progress we’re making, we’ve got to continue to focus in on defense and focus in on running. If we do that and shoot it like we did today then we’re a tough team.”

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Game 2: Cleveland Cavaliers (97) @ Miami Heat (90)

Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Doug Collins with Craig Sager reporting

Collins on the absence of Heat center Alonzo Mourning due to injury: “One thing a lot of people don’t talk about is Alonzo Mourning, the heart and soul of this franchise. Since he’s been hurt (the Heat) have won one game, that’s one in 14. They miss him so badly; he’s been the heartbeat of this franchise for a long time.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Heat center Alonzo Mourning on the bench.

Mourning on not being able to help his team: “It’s torture, I’m so used to being out there contributing, I see so many places I can help and I am helpless because I cannot go out there. My presence to encourage the guys is about the only thing I can do right now.”

Mourning on what Dr. Martin Luther King means to him: “Dr. King meant a figure of peace and he tried to create an atmosphere of peace while he was here on this earth, and we’re continuing to honor his efforts and try to follow his teachings. He meant so much to society and if he were here it would be interesting to hear what he has to say about our current condition and the way the world is.”

Mourning on whether he has decided to retire from the NBA: “I have not (announced my retirement), that was a rumor. I’m going to wait until this knee heals up and see how I feel then and make a decision from there.”

In another edition of Inside Trax, TNT replayed audio from LeBron James in Cleveland’s pre-game huddle

James on playing the Miami Heat: “Don’t look at (the Heats) record because we all know they are a better team than what their record shows.”

Collins on Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao being a similar player to Dennis Rodman: “(Varejao) has that kind of activity, though he’s not nearly the defensive player (of Rodman). He’s an energy guy that gives you a multiple possessions much like Ben Wallace used to do in Detroit.”

Collins on the long-term strategy of the Heat to keep guard Dwyane Wade in Miami: “(The Heat) want to be in a situation that when Dwyane Wade’s contract is up they have enough money to get a guy to play next to him. You don’t have to overpay a guy to come play here, it’s a big market, it’s a great place to live and it’s a market where guys want to play. They want to put themselves in a position where when Shaq goes they have the money to add a quality player so they can continue to win.”

Collins on the 2006 NBA Champions Miami Heat having the worst record in the Eastern Conference: “That’s how fragile success is; you’re only one ligament away from mediocrity.”

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Halftime

Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Barkley on his assessment of the Miami Heat: “Miami is not good enough to make up five games on the Knicks (and will finish with the worst record in the Eastern Conference). Shaq (O’Neal) is on the downside of his career, and they don’t have a lot of young talent. As great as Pat Riley’s been, as a general manager he hasn’t done a great job. He brought in Shaq and he brought in Dwyane Wade, but who is their young talent of the future? They are trying to get ready for the free agent market in a couple of years, but as far as drafting well, none of their players that they’ve drafted in last 10 years, other than Wade, are really helping this team play.”

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Collins on every team having struggles during the season: “You’ll see teams go through stretches where they don’t play the best of basketball. There are no knockouts now, every team’s got holes.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Heat head coach Pat Riley before the fourth quarter of the game.

Riley on Heat center Shaquille O’Neal playing with a sore hip: “(Shaq) is playing with a lot of guts and a lot of courage. He’s playing in pain and we’ve got to get him deep touches.”

Collins on Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas: “(Ilgauskas) has had such a good year for (the Cavs). He’s battled all his leg problems and foot problems throughout his career, missing a ton of games, and he probably could have retired off into the sunset, but (he) just loves playing basketball.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Cavaliers forward LeBron James after the Cavs win over the Heat.

James on the Cavs defense being the key to their victory over the Heat: “We’ve been playing great basketball, and defensively, we’ve been getting stops. On the offensive end, sometimes it doesn’t look as good, but as long as we’re getting stops it makes it easier on the offensive end and that’s what we did tonight.”

James on what Dr. Martin Luther King means to him: “I think it’s self explanatory, having a dream as a kid, and believing my dream and that I was going to make it happen. Dr. King has meant a lot to me and a lot to my family. I wish he were still around but we’re going to live in his spirit and I think it’s great that we’re celebrating it today.”

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Game 3: Denver Nuggets (99) @ Los Angeles Lakers (116)

Announcers: Marv Albert, Reggie Miller with Cheryl Miller reporting

Lakers guard Derek Fisher on having Kobe Bryant as a teammate: “He’s developed into a great a great teammate, one of the greatest. When we first came in the league in ‘96 together he was not a great teammate because he was so focused on himself and proving he belonged and proving he could become one of the greatest players in the league. I’ve said it before, he’s done all that.”

Miller on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant learning to trust his teammates: “When you trust your teammates, good things happen. When you’ve got arguably one of the greatest players (in Kobe Bryant) and he’s willing to sacrifice and give up shots for the betterment of the team, this is why this (Lakers) team is on the rise.”

Miller on the lack of rebounding by the Nuggets: “Offensive rebounds are becoming the Achilles heel of the Denver Nuggets. You’ve got to rebound when you’re on the road, and right now the Denver Nuggets are not rebounding.”

Miller on his early MVP pick: “I like Kobe (as the early MVP), this is what everyone’s been waiting to see from Kobe Bryant. We all know about the exploits, the 81-point game and the scoring title, but it’s the unselfish nature now, this is what we like about Kobe Bryant.”

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Halftime

Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Smith on Lakers center Kwame Brown coming into his own in Andrew Bynum’s absence: “Being aggressive and giving good effort leads to good play. I like the way (Brown) is bouncing back, not only by Bynum leaving but because of the expectations of him before.”

Barkley on Lakers center Kwame Brown: “When you’re a guy like Kwame Brown, all you’ve got to do is say to yourself and have the mindset that ‘I’m going to get 10 rebounds and I’m going to use six hard fouls. If Kobe Bryant and those other guys give him layups he can finish. You’ve got to know what you can do, and he can’t do it himself.”

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Miller on Nuggets center Marcus Camby: “Marcus Camby is the most important person on this (Nuggets) team in my eyes; he does a little of everything, scoring, blocking shots, rebounds, steals and assists.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Lakers coach Phil Jackson prior to the fourth quarter:

Jackson on preparing for the fourth quarter against the Nuggets: “They changed their defense at the half and we tried to play the same old thing. Momentum is a crazy thing in this game but we changed it around with some threes. We have to stop penetration and that’s a big order when you’re playing Allen Iverson.”

Miller on Lakers guard Coby Karl when he entered the game, made George Karl the third NBA coach to have a son face him: “(George Karl) says there are two things that (Coby Karl) does absolutely well, he’s more athletic than he thought, he runs the court well. And he looks and feels like an NBA player, he adapts really well to the game. Those are two good things to have going for you if you’re Coby Karl.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Lakers guard Kobe Bryant after the Lakers win over the Nuggets.

Bryant on the strong performance of the Lakers to defeat the Nuggets: “We’re playing with a full passion bucket tonight; we really came out and played with a lot of energy and a lot of hustle. It’s a big win for us and you want to go into this (upcoming road) trip with a little bit of rhythm. Tonight it seemed like our offensive rhythm was back and we’ll have a good practice tomorrow and get ready for San Antonio. We’re going to be with this lineup for a while and we’re not as deep as we once were so it’s important I get the most out of my teammates.”

***** ***** *****

Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley

Barkley on the Denver Nuggets: “From the talent standpoint, the Denver Nuggets have one of the most talented teams, if not the most talented team in the NBA, but they’ve got no clue.”

Barkley on the Miami Heat losing their 14^th game in a row: “I can’t believe (the Heat). There’s no excuse. The overall level of basketball (in the Eastern Conference) has been disappointing, but for them to lose 14 games in a row…that’s just disturbing.”

Barkley on the Miami Heat’s struggles this season: “I am just shocked. If you look at the Knicks, Minnesota and Seattle, those teams haven’t lost 14 games in a row. It’s scary to think that a team that two years ago was the (NBA) Champions. We can talk about who they don’t have or whatever, (losing 14 in a row) is just flat-out embarrassing.”

Barkley on Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard: “Dwight Howard is fun to watch play. He’s a great kid, (he comes from) a great family and he’s a flat-out stud.”

Smith on Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups: “Chauncey (Billups) is still the most underrated point guard in basketball.”

Barkley: “I don’t know if he’s underrated. The guy has been the (NBA) Finals MVP.”

Smith: “But people don’t say his name when they mention the top five point guards in the NBA.”

Barkley: “That’s because he’s not in there.”

Smith on Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan: “Portland is for real. The one thing I like about (Trail Blazers head coach) Nate McMillan and what he’s done. He’s got a young team and typically with young teams you have guys who want to get a contract, find their identity and make a name for themselves. He’s got them playing hard, playing smart and playing together. That’s very difficult to do for a young team.”

Just so you know, this entire week is dedicated to Martin Luther King on The Starting Five. We don’t do the one day thing…April 4th is just as important because it documents the true struggle of Blacks. I won’t belabor you with an extensive lede on the accomplishments of Chuck D and Public Enemy. We all have recited his lyrics at one time or another on the site, so just see this as a P.E. discussion continuum. Part II tomorrow.

Michael Tillery: Chuck, what’s going on with Public Enemy?

Chuck D: We just completed our twentieth year. That’s 60 tours, 60 countries. We rapped up with two dynamite concerts in New York–we planned it that way. Welcome to the Terrordome, a film documentary on the 20 years of P.E. aired at the Director’s Guild of America. The comparison would be Led Zepplin’s The Song Remains the Same. It’s in film festival release. It’s gonna be a must see.

MT: There’s a level of consciousness pervading our site. Remember when we did the first interview and spoke of this time coming and here it is. I’m sure there’s more, but I know of our blog and other’s similar. It seems it’s us against the world. There’s Temple 3, SOMM, Black My-story, Cosellout, Black Fives, Sportaphile and others (my bad for leaving anyone out) or are cutting out a presence and getting some exposure. I’m honored to be a part of all this.

Chuck D: Well you know I love the Muhammad Ali logo.

MT: Wow that’s the synergy I’ve spoken to you about before. In Can’t Truss It, you said, “Beware of the hand when it’s comin’ from the left.” In the picture above, Muhammad is throwing a left. The line has always resonated with me after your interview with Curt Loder of MTV back in the day. So, I say all this just to say I was actually apprehensive to get that pic in the logo. I’ve always wanted to ask you this. What did you mean when you spit that line?

Chuck D: Sometimes when people come and want to color themselves liberal or Democrat, they think they are in your best interest. You gotta keep your stance, because you never know where that hand is coming from. Friends and also enemies obviously come in all shapes, sizes, colors and all directions. You have to recognize yourself before you recognize who is an ally and who is an adversary.

MT: Every Friday, we throw up a couple questions called Friday Fire. One that I didn’t think got much run was How do you want your sports reporting? Mistaken, or blurrrrred? Gilbert Arenas’ picture from his NBA.com blog accompanied the question. We’re starting to see a trend shaping with athletes putting their own voices to words. Your thoughts?

Chuck D: It’s been a long time coming. The 60′s brought in a new state of athletic mind–which was influential to me since I was a kid. When I was around ten or eleven, there was a period between ’67 and ’72 where Black athletes would make statements because they didn’t have accessibility to the mic. They would make statements by changing their names. I remember this very clearly. Every sport had an athlete changing their name to make a statement. These would not just be religious statements, but statements of athletes letting us know they were thinking a little bit differently than the status quo. Of course we know about Cassius Clay and Muhammad Ali and Lew Alcindor and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. There was Walt Hazzard and Mahdi Abdul-Rahman. I remember Wally Jones writing a book with a bunch of political theory. Keith Wilkes becoming Jamaal Wilkes. There was Bobby Moore becoming Ahmad Rashad.

I didn’t know the exact details, but I know this had a profound affect on me. Wally Jones–guard for the Sixers wrote a book on some political tip. When athletes starting writing books based on their point of view, I thought that was heavy. The media at large did not like that shit at all man. They didn’t want these athletes turning into little Eldridge Cleavers. I also see these people being pushed out and ostracized because once this point of view was given a buzz on the mic, equipped with knowledge and could take the interview to a whole another place? These cats were presenting a change to America–whether they wrote or spoke.

I also remember very clearly the announcer talking to Dwayne Thomas, who had just tore shit up after the Cowboys won Super Bowl V, and Thomas simply responding with “Evidently”. It was a stain in my brain man. The only time we saw Black men on TV were as athletes. We didn’t really see Black men in entertainment. We had to wait for the Ed Sullivan show, or American Bandstand, or Don Cornelius…

(Bet you all haven’t seen this)

…talking to artists. You just didn’t see it–especially giving athletes the mic. So that was a long answer to a short question. Now with athletes and blogs, .coms and always having pocket gadgets like I-pods, phones or PDA’s, they can go across the world from their own pocket while they are waiting for a flight. Those words are ringing much louder than a journalist who might not be equipped to ask pertinent questions of what’s on an athlete’s mind. They are having the same conversation over and over and over and over again. No one asks questions that lead up to a particular game and shapes the outcome.

Athletes can get the word out quicker than an interview.

MT: From my experiences, I see how national news is shaped on the local level. A lot of these cats don’t have a vast amount of knowledge on the subject because it’s not what they see everyday. This is how fan’s opinions are shaped–which is a shame.

Chuck D: Do you think Black journalists have access to get the true story?

MT: I know when I’m in front of someone I’m possibly not going to come across again–at least for awhile–I’m going to get the best answer I can. A lot of these guys are on the beat, so they don’t dig deep. They want the story and get out. It’s a time thing. I have different luxury. I think I add something different to a press conference because my objective is different. I do see athletes or coaches focusing in on me because of familiarity. I’m also asking them real shit. I have to do research and try to get into an athletes head and get the best story possible.

Another Friday Fire question that was popular was This is the Difference Between Jason Whitlock and Bill Cosby. People have their opinions of Mr. Cosby, but being from the Philly area, he’s always in the city. He’s always there–whether it be with Men United, or on his own accord, at least he is there.

Chuck D: And he’s been there Mike for most of people’s lives.

MT: This is how the media shapes our minds. You have a national media member at a Bill Cosby event and the reporting gets a superficial spin, so even Black folk’s opinion of Bill gets skewered.

Chuck D: Because of that portal from that one national reporter at the event who is there wanting to put his own spin on the event.

MT: Exactly. I grew up with Bill Cosby–and not just Fat Albert or the Cosby Show–because again, I’m from the Philly area. We have a totally different view of him here. I’ve seen him in the ‘hood my entire life. Regardless of what he’s saying, I find it hard to have a bad opinion of him because of his presence in the inner city.

Chuck D: As opposed to Jason Whitlock coming from his spot in the Midwest where they value his contribution. I guess to each his own huh?

MT: Yes.

We talked about Jamaal Tinsley after the incident with him went down. Is there any right or wrong way for athletes to go about their daily business without getting jacked?

Chuck D: I wrote something on my Terrordome blog saying that athletes today–like entertainers–are usually treated like cattle from their accountants, lawyers and agents. They are not given enough development tools of how to fit in with the environment. You have to look at yourself different. You have to do more fittin’ in than fittin’ out. The game, and the people who are handling you are always going to fit you out of your environment. You have to figure out what kind of public relations you have to learn to get yourself back into your surroundings. Athletes, artists and entertainers today don’t have it because it’s just not set up to teach them the necessary tools.

Before it used to come from coaches and their managers. There was never such a big gap between athletes and entertainers in the neighborhoods. The neighborhood had a structure and a principle to it. The structure and principle has eroded. The only structure and principle they see is on the field or court. The two have not been connected for quite some time. The piece was called The Ability to Shine down. When that shine is bright in your surroundings that are hungry? There is no defense for that. You have to look within and find out how to turn that shine down.

NBA athletes? They have to work a little harder. They are six foot six walking into a club. It might take them not having the flashiest jewelry or the fanciest car. I’ve been living in Roosevelt Long Island for damn near most of my life. I can’t have a Lamborghini in the driveway. I can’t walk around with diamond encrusted jewelry around my neck. I could, based on the people knowing me and my principles, but why even go there?

Somebody might say: “Yo man, why do I have to change my ways?” Well you might not have to use an umbrella when it’s raining, but the weather precipitates you doing something to not get wet.

In this country they put so much of a big space between celebrities and fans, what happens when the two connect? Where are the teachers of diplomacy? Where’s the learning platform for a person stepping into a crowd of thirty people asking for autographs, a piece of their time or a conversation? This has to be taught. It can’t be something where it’s being avoided by having three thick bodyguards dealing with two people telling everyone to move out of the way. That does not work. In times of a recession, it will continue to work less. You are going to see more jackings and you’ll see more athletes become targets. People think they can rob them and get money.

MT: It seemed like Jemele Hill and I were battling some of the readers of our blog because I spoke of my experiences as a bouncer. Having guns to my head. Seeing people get shot all because people are profiling at 3:40 in the morning. What do you say to folks who say I’m making millions of dollars, so this is my right and I should be able to do whatever I want to do?

Chuck D: I would say they aren’t being realistic. Freedom is also walking in the jungle and daring the lions to jump at your head (Chuck and I laugh). You have a right and freedom to walk almost anywhere on Earth, but you have to be cognizant of your surroundings. The surroundings are not conducive to for you to think you have the right to walk or drive down the street with the richest car when everyone in your surroundings are A: Starving. B: Jealous. C: Totally uninformed of your reality. Something has to connect the two.

What needs to happen in sports is a serious conversation on creating a developmental program that reattaches athletes back into the hood instead of having public relations tell the Black athlete to be supportive of making the fans feel comfortable with the athlete filling the seats.

Public relations is making White America feel safe and good about paying their money to see this cat.

Just like in basketball, you can’t move your pivot foot. Athletes have their pivot foot in the hood and also in other places. Don’t get caught traveling now. Keep your pivot foot planted. Don’t lift that foot up. One you pick it up and try to bring it back in, you are going to have to reaffirm your position.

This is something that has to be taught in all sports. The way athletes can figure out plays, they are going to have to figure out plays and judge their life accordingly.

We know the obvious man. The prison complex is thick. The economy and the environment young Black men are coming up in now in the next twenty years is looking bleak. They don’t have any trade. Any answer to the deficiencies that Black men have. The jails are being built to handle one or two million more people than they are handling right now. There are already people predestined to go into jail right now for committing some kind of crime. Included in those crimes will be jackings. They are building the spots for the warm bodies to come in and keep the inmates warm.

With our young kids, there’s no standard of principles they are able to attach themselves to. There’s a lack of teaching for them to travel the road of the new millennium. Some of them can’t travel the same old road of the seventies and the eighties. Growing up, I thought all athletes were Teflon. I thought that no one would shoot or kill and athlete. When it’s done, you start to think about how vulnerable a Black athlete or entertainer really is. In the same piece I mentioned above I write about Lyman Bostock. He was an outfielder for the California Angels. He’d just had an unbelievable season–I think in ’77. He learned a lot of technique from Rod Carew. He was killin’ em. He’d signed with the Angels as a free agent–one of the first big young guys to do so. The first year of him making this money, the Angels played the White Sox. He was from the Chicago area and went over to Gary, Indiana (when playing Chicago, he had grown accustomed to staying there). It remains unclear, but he got shot and killed in the back of somebody’s car. When the news hit, I was totally stunned. There’s been incidents along those lines–in rap and ball. I thought something like this wasn’t possible, but now it’s become a reality.

These histories have to be taught, but also how to handle yourself when you are in that crowd or surroundings.

I’ve been in different countries Mike, where cats with money need an army to keep people from getting in their cribs. Some have these little mansions in the middle of the poorest of areas. They have high walls with barbed wire to keep people from the village from climbing up into the rich area. They also have about twenty people doing on call watch just to keep their families comfortable. They know that kidnapping is rampant. They know robbery is rampant. They know most people around them have nothing. We need to learn from zones like that. You best believe that baseball players from the Dominican Republic have to find a way. The soccer players getting money going home in Peru and Argentina have to find a way. This is new to the United States because now cats have to figure another way out. The other way is figuring out how to deal with your people. It boils down to what service are you lending to your people that makes you teflon.

Stephon Marbury–albeit in the middle of having a bad season and also dealing with the unfortunate passing of his father–has made more sacrifices in the past couple of years than many athletes I’ve heard of. He provides affordable gear and went into the Coney Island area and bought up all the barber shops so kids can get free hair cuts.

I’ve never heard anything as incredible as that. Stephon Marbury can walk threw Coney Island and has an aura. People know he’s looked out. Nobody will touch him in the hood. His cousin Sebastian Telfair doesn’t have the same ring to him. He hasn’t earned it. He hasn’t done anything for the people as of yet. He might come from it, but needs to get that pivot foot there. Stephon has a lifelong investment there and is protected. Stephon Marbury can step into a club and people will say “He’s us”. Some of the guys just don’t have that.

MT: Ron Artest does a lot as well. I learned a lot about what he does in the hood. He’s a great interview.

Chuck D: Ron Artest is another one. Even the year he was suspended he spent a lot of time going to high schools, handing out sports gear and talking to a lot of young people. He has that same aura that he’s good people.

MT: You know how I do our interviews Chuck. I want them long so people can not take things out of context. With Artest, I let him speak on whatever came to his mind. I receive emails all the time regarding that interview. I don’t think the questions were anything special, it’s just the way they were asked. It’s confusing to me why corporate interests want to paint athletes in a less than genuine way. I’m talking about any athlete here. There is then this notoriety in public the athletes couldn’t possibly live up to.

Chuck D: A good testament to someone is how they work and live in their environment. It’s one thing for someone to come 50/50 with someone out of their environment, but can they follow a person in their environment for more than a day? You may have a different take on it after that.

If you are a professional from the hood, you have to leave the hood. You gotta leave the hood. You can live wherever you want, but that doesn’t absolve you from coming back to the hood and maintaining that presence. That gets lost in the mix.

MT: Not asking for your political affiliation here Chuck. Some are beginning to, but why aren’t Black folk throwing their support behind Barack Obama?

Chuck D: They feel Barack Obama hasn’t talked to Black people enough. Black people are also smart enough to say just because you have a Black face doesn’t mean you get automatic love. We are at a time where words have to ring with some sort of style and substance over appearance. If I were to look at Barack Obama real quick, I would think he was somebody from the Nation of Islam. That’s alright with me, but what comes out of his mouth is something where he’s trying to straddle some sort of line that he’s not a thug to White folk. People behind Barack Obama–even Oprah–are just giving it their best shot to make sure America feels comfortable with him not to be president, but that he can be a running mate to Hilary Clinton so people can still vote for her. He’s got a presidential investment to make America feel comfortable with him as a vice president.

That’s probably what it takes for a Black face to get up into those high ranks.

MT: So he’s the pioneer.

Chuck D: Yeah and coming in at the top is just too much for America and probably too much for him being he’s inexperienced.

MT: That’s what I’m hearing from a lot of White folk I talk to that he’s unqualified…

Chuck D: Well coming into a position like that, his job is three fold. A White guy goes in there his job is one fold–get the country back on track.

Barack Obama gets in there and he has to get the country back on track, prove that you are a safe Black man and you love us all and meanwhile be able to have an international discussion to prove he’s the best human being possible and make sure America steps in line with everybody else instead of thinking they are hovering above everybody.

Hilary has a two fold job. Get the country back on track and prove that she can be as good or better than she is now.

The bottom line is and people always say “Chuck why do you always talk about race?”

Race is one of these things if you ever look at the statistics, not only have you had a White man as president unanimously since 1790, but the man who has lost to the man has been a White man (We laugh). What does that say?

Those mothafuckas are like UCLA’s winning streak!

UCLA never lost until Elvin Hayes beat ‘em. That was the shock of the world.

Maybe Barack Obama can be the Elvin Hayes of presidential elections.

MT: Crazy, but when you called after I left the Wachovia Center, I’m driving home and see this big ass truck with the biggest rebel flag flying like it’s 1861 all over again.

Chuck D: Probably with rap music coming out (Chuck and I laugh).

MT: I was blaring my own rap music so. I actually was playing revolution at the time to get ready for this interview, so the moment was surreal.

Are we regressing in terms of race relations? Are we going through a racial redevelopment?

Chuck D: Yeah, because America is not glued into the rest of the world. Classism and racism is going around the world and are things the world has continued to try to figure out and not get crumbled by it, but it’s a worldwide effort to put it in check. You have many creeds, tones, colors–whatever–so race is a funny game.

In the United States when it detaches itself from the rest of the world, ignorance is homegrown based on it’s limitations. If you never understood how silly the concept of racism is anyway, it kind of builds a platform that even becomes more ridiculous by believing there is such a thing. All of this has influenced all the maladies we’re currently experiencing.

MT: Is racism our biggest problem, or it’s all about the money?

Chuck D: You best believe that when America sees Barack Obama they are saying, “Well there’s a Black man.” Right there is something that’s based on appearance. That just changes the whole thing. Maybe it would be a different thing if dude was like seven hundred pounds right and said he was running for president. The first thing people would say is “Damn this is a big mothafucka!” (Chuck and I are cracking up)

The same thing with Hilary Clinton. People see a woman. Again, based on appearance. We’re crippled by our first mode of communication–eyesight. Our visibility is not based on what they say, it’s what they look like. That’s some second grade shit. It is what it is.

Classism hovers very close where people can throw it to the side at first and deal with the nilks and crannies of what’s really affecting, but most can’t get past race.

Racism helped create the fucked up structure of classism. Some class is higher and then levels of people of color. Black people are totally out.

Racism was like steroids to classism and we still haven’t gotten out of it.

MT: Speaking of steroids…sup with the Mitchell Report?

Chuck D: Mike, let me tell you man…First let me say that I’ve been going around cursing Roger Clemens. The reason why I’ve been cursing Roger Clemens–and I don’t give a damn if Roger Clemens did steroids or not–is because I’ve been saying for a long time he’s been making a mockery of the game by switching and flipping teams. Roger Clemens has been more of a disgrace to baseball than Pete Rose.

How the fuck are you gonna say “I’ll think I’ll play with Houston…nah I’ll play with the Yankees.”? You can’t flip flop teams. Free agency messed the fans faith up. The fans can’t say nothing because this is thirty years later. Once upon a time fans felt sorry for the ballplayers because the owners were making all the money. Now it’s flipped the whole other way.

The ballplayers have no loyalty to the game–just to the money.

People say, “That’s the way sports is.” So. I don’t have to connect myself with that.

Before you even talk about steroids with him, you gotta talk about the damage he’s done to the game. So all that talk about Barry Bonds going to jail–not only getting him on steroids, but getting him because he lied to the court? That’s some bullshit man.

You have players that steroids didn’t do a damn thing for. Steroids didn’t do a damn thing for Andy Pettitte. Matter of fact, if it was up to me…take some more of them shits until you pitch right! (Laughter)

You know, reading books like Jim Bouton’s Ball Four growing up talking about greenies and all kinds of other shit all in the dressing room. How can I look at steroids being a threat? Once this brotha like Barry Bonds ever got a hold of them–rubbing in the creme–then all of the sudden it’s “Oh, your not fair”. They were saying it anyway because he’s been better than anyone else for years.

How come they don’t have steroids testing in basketball?

In the mid ’90′s there were some cats diesel like they were hitting something. I’m not even going to name any names…

MT: I’m not either.

Chuck D: It wouldn’t make you a better player, but may help you get position when boxing out.

Do athletes need to draw a line on substance abuse? Yeah, just like with any substance abuse. I just don’t think we need to get into the substance making them better.

Did coke make it better or worse? David Thompson did coke and it just fucked him up and David Thompson could do anything.

Not just about basketball either ’cause Lyle Alzado was probably shooting horse steroids into his head (sarcasm). I remember they were saying, “Yeah he’s coming back, he’s coming back!” and he came back ripped! Remember?

MT: Yeeeaaaah.

Chuck D: He didn’t make the team. I think he tore a ligament or something. The next thing you know he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated saying not to do steroids and he had shrunken down and shriveled up.

MT: With the bandanna on his head.

Chuck D: Yeah, that’ll keep a person off steroids.

MT: I’ve heard that eventually HGH might help us live longer and I’m speaking with ignorance here. There needs to be a lot more research obviously but if it’s proven over time to hels baseball players heal, then go for it. They play 162 games!

Chuck D: Yeah like you said you have to starting looking at what’s what and stop looking back so much. Mike you know I know more baseball than I need to know. We can’t go back too far because once we start going back past 1946 there’s a bunch of question marks. You let Cap Anson in the Hall of Fame when this cat said Black ballplayers should never be on the field? Do you put an asterisk on the first forty plus years of MLB’s existence?

This is the problem I have with some White folks. How far do you wanna go back? You ask that question of most Blacks and they don’t wanna go back.

How far do you wanna go back? It’s all about convenience. Let bygones be bygones.

Marion Jones….

Part II

 “Every Brother aint a Brotha, ‘Cause a Black hand squeezed on Malcolm – X’d the man.
The shootin’ of Huey Newton – From the hand of a nig that pulled the trig.”

Chuck D – Welcome To The Terrordome

More than any other year in recent memory, 2007 was a year where race seemed to be a factor in many of the headlines that involved Black Athletes. Not even three weeks into 2008, we have had our first “slip of the tongue” on record by female golf commentator Kelly Tilghman, who felt that her use of the word “lynch” in reference to a Black athlete would either go unnoticed by those that tune into the golf channel or totally ignored by the Black community altogether. Publishers of Golfweek magazine took it a step further and decided to place a noose on the cover of last week’s issue – not to denounce the comments that were made, but to in so many words ask, “What’s the big deal?”

Despite the outcry from the Black community, the target of Tighman’s comments, Elridge “Tiger” Woods saw it as nothing, just as eleven years ago he saw Fuzzy Zoeller’s “fried chicken and collard greens” comment as nothing. Tiger broke through the greatest of barriers; one I would dare say we accepted until NIKE made him the most marketed first-year athlete in history. We claimed Tiger as our own, and we thought the feeling was mutual, until Tiger declared himself an individual of all races. I personally felt like Woods used his melanin content to get just what he needed as a professional and in his moment of triumph he blew up the bridge built for him. The issue of whether or not Woods sees himself as a Black man is irrelevant at this point; it’s obvious that those in the golf community and beyond see him as a nothing other than Black. In the wake of the lynching comments, the consensus among whites was that if Tiger wasn’t offended why should the rest of us be? Soon to be followed by, ‘”Why do they (Blacks) always have to bring up the past.”

We don’t bring it up until we’re reminded of it.

Last year Serena Williams had a fan tossed during a tennis match because the fan yelled at Williams, “Hit the net like any ni**er would.” Although not much was made of this – but to Williams’ credit she did have the perpetrator tossed from the arena.

At what stage in your development is your pride as an individual compromised in exchange for your desire not to be seen as threatening? We’re viewed as a forgiving people and the worst that will happen is Al Sharpton and/or Jesse Jackson going on Larry King. We’ve run out of cheeks to turn. Our faces have been slapped and asses kicked long enough. Many of us who are trying to fight the good fight do so in spite of whatever mental and emotional scars we have encountered along the way.

We’ve taken the lashes for the Tiger Woods and O.J. Simpsons of the world because we know at some point that wake up call will come, you know the one that reminds you that you were always a ni**er – just one that could shoot a 65 or run the rock better than most. When their moment of clarity is realized they won’t acknowledge it publicly but their inner man will be humbled. This is bigger than them choosing to marry or deal with women outside of their race – the problem comes along when you forget essentially who you are and that it isn’t just about you. The prayers of those that died believing one day it would be better for their seeds fell at your feet and you stepped on them.

Here’s the rub – I don’t see a rallying point when incidents like this occur. If we can see the mistreatment or racial undertones taking root in a situation like I’m sure the fraternity of Black athletes can, why does the soapbox remains unoccupied?

It’s great that Black athletes give back to the communities in the cities in which they play as well as their hometowns. Some even head national charities and sponsorships – the message of giving back to the community has come across in a huge way and I’m proud of that. Even in times of national crisis the Black Athlete has been at the forefront of many situations, many of which go unpublicized.

However – when it comes to matters of race relations in sports, there is no one leading the fast break, hell, no one is even crashing the boards. There’s more excitement over a celebrity bowling party or some nonsense like that. They want to be seen but not SEEN. Charles Barkley is maybe the last athlete of significance that tried to hold it down. Charles did it in a way that let you know there was more to him than putting up 25 and 12 a night, he was fully aware the race machine was up and operational. Part of the problem was Charles’ employer, the NBA, had the most marketable athlete on the planet in Michael Jordan and if he wasn’t speaking out on anything political or socio-economical then no one else was going to; less they face a fine/suspension and a talk with David Stern.

But yet we could be heard humming “If I could be like Mike.”

In the wake of the murder of Sean Taylor, many in the media chose to look at the incident as something that Taylor had coming to him. One writer in particular -Washington Post journalist Leonard Shapiro -wrote in his column :”Taylor’s Death Is Tragic but Not Surprising.” “Certainly it would be terribly easy to rush toward some sort of instant judgment based on what we think we all knew about Taylor and the sort of life he once, and for all we know, still led,” Shapiro wrote. “But really, we know nothing at the moment, and until we do, may he rest in peace ought to be the operative phrase for this day.” Keep in mind Taylor was murdered in his home during a break in while he and his girlfriend and young daughter slept. His presumed past had nothing to do with what happened that morning.

Once again the outcry was great from Black journalists and community leaders but nothing from the people who spent more time with Taylor than anyone – his teammates. In losing someone you care about your defense mechanisms are heightened and when someone is trying to smear the memory of that individual, I would like to think your feelings for this person to kick in and defend him. Athletes in major cities are a close knit group, Taylor had friends on the Wizards, Ravens, Nationals, Orioles – maybe even the Capitals. The silence by Black athletes in response to Shapiro’s column and those like it would lead those of us that didn’t know better down a presumptuous road.

I chose the photo above because the four men seated were four of the most dominant Black athletes probably in history. Ladies in Gentlemen these were MEN! Bill Russell, whose life living in Boston as a member of the Celtics not chronicled enough, Muhammad Ali, whose life mirrors the Black Man’s struggle, Jim Brown, who my mom calls “The baddest man around.” and he may very well be and a young Lew Alcindor who is misunderstood more today than he was close to 40 years ago, but you can see his brilliance as a man when he speaks. They are surrounded by men Carl Stokes, Walter Beach, Bobby Mitchell, Sid Williams, Curtis McClinton, Willie Davis, Jim Shorter, and John Wooten – who were there to support Ali as he gave his reasons for rejecting the draft. It is poignant in the photo the most well known athletes are seated – those that are not as well known are standing in a show of solidarity. Thirteen men who put their careers on hold and maybe even in jeopardy for the cause of one.

This my call to arms for the Black Athlete to stand up and be counted; the days of sitting by idly waiting for someone else to grab the reigns has to end. Where will we be when Sharpton and Jackson can’t make those trips anymore. We’re grown men and women trying to ride with the training wheels on. Hell – we haven’t even gotten on the bike. Look at the state of our people, when people look to heal many look to you before they look to the Almighty on a Sunday afternoon – I’m not saying that’s right but it’s the truth. You are our last line of defense. Our demise in the eyes of many is almost complete – but I refuse to die easy. The same way your family, neighbors and friends fell back on you to make it out of the ‘hood – I’m counting on somebody, anybody to step up. We in the Black media and other areas can’t do it alone, I’ve got your back, but I need your voice in the front.

This isn’t just a plea from myself -but from my Black colleagues in the media who are not able to speak out on some topics because of their respective employers. That makes them no less involved and no less Black.

Being able to write for TSF is more of a blessing than I could ever realize because there would be no way I could do this in some media outlets. Being here at TSF gives me a renegade mentality and Mizzo said one time we’re like superheroes in a sense. I liken us to the old Oakland Raiders, a bunch of castoffs no one wanted, but also a group of cats no one wanted to mess with.

As long as I keep that rebel mentality, I’ll stay hungry because there will always be something out there worth fighting for.

The Pats are in the Super Bowl awaiting the winner of this game right hurrr.

Show of hands…

Who actually thinks the Pack is going to lose this game?

Is that crickets I hear?

This is one of those crazy games where the talent is almost irrelevant. Talking with a couple of my peeps, I have my conspiracy theories on why….

Nevermind.

This game is simple. The Giants will win if they drive Brett Favre to the turf every single chance they get. I’m talking like 15 sacks.

That ain’t happenin’.

Quick points:

Ryan Grant will look to run through his former team and take advantage of the ridiculous weather.

Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw look to pound the rock in conditions not cool for the passing game.

Who breaks the mirror? Green Bay 7-1 at home, New York 7-1 on road.

Green Bay mystique will likely win out and prove too much for Eli to handle as he’ll be facing a defense that will look to prove this squad is more than Brett Favre.

Charles Woodson and Al Harris physical style will stymie the duo of Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.

Brett Favre will be magical (did I write that) today improvising all over the field sending Lambeau Field into a raucous frenzy.

Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and co. better control the line of scrimmage or Favre will kill them with rising star Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Bubba Franks.

Green Bay takes advantage of the minus 1 degree conditions (-23 degree wind chill) and heads to the Super Bowl.

Green Bay 24, New York 17

I don’t think most realize how nice a team the Chargers have. To win in Indy in January is a feat all its own–at least in recent memory–but to do this without Phillip Rivers, LaDanian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates at full strength is nothing short of miraculous.

Obviously, the Chargers defense has the daunting task of neutralizing the Pats high powered offense. If they can’t get pressure on Tom Brady, San Diego will get thoroughly embarrassed.

LT will do his thing if he can go. Regardless of his chill swerve, he wants to run over the Pats like any team he’s ever faced. Trust he remembers the Pats dancing on the Charger logo after a terrible defeat in last years playoffs. He will run hard today–regardless of injury. If his numbers approach anything close to what he’s capable of, this could get very interesting. Same thing with Gates–battling again a dislocated toe.

If LT can’t go, Michael Turner will show he’s an adequate backup.

On Defense, will Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman suddenly become an encapsulated hybrid of Deion Sanders and Lawrence Taylor for the Super Chargers to have a chance?

Yes. The versatile linebackers will have to be sick with their skills today.

It also remains to be seen how effective Antonio Cromartie will be covering Randy Moss. SD will disguise coverages with front four pressure in hopes of compromising the timing of Brady.

This has to be a four quarter effort by San Diego on all fronts.

The Chargers are athletic all over the field on D, so if the offense can muster any kind of consistency San Diego has more than just a chance to pull the upset.

Don’t deal with spreads here, but 14 points is way too much.

On offense the Pats will continue to keep the defense off balance with a combination of deep balls and running plays disguised as passes. I don’t think Lawrence Maroney will do anything unless New England gets out early.

Expect a heavy dose of Moss, Stallworth, Welker and Caldwell to wear down San Diego early so Brady can do his thing in the fourth. Another big key is Kevin Faulk. Faulk seems to show up big in games of this magnitude. Keep an eye on #33.

Rivers, LT and Gates will do all they can to remain on the field the entire game. It honestly is not the time to come with less than 100% effectiveness against a team battling the legacy of the sport.

Big game for both coaches. Will Norv Turner turn the corner or will Bill Belichick shut up all the haters?

New England 35, San Diego 24

Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley

Spurs guard Manu Ginobili on how the Spurs defended LeBron James in the 2007 NBA Finals: “We didn’t let (LeBron James) get any easy lay-ups. He got two dunks in the four games (in the Finals) and that’s way under his average. We made him set for jumpers and it worked for us. He didn’t have a great series shooting from the outside. I don’t think his teammates did their part either. They didn’t make any shots to create some space for (him), so we were successful collapsing (in) the paint and not making anything easy for him.”

Barkley on second year Cleveland Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson: “At this stage of (Daniel Gibson’s) career, and after what he did last year, he should be starting. Cleveland’s two weaknesses are they don’t have a point guard and they aren’t good outside shooters. After what Daniel Gibson did in the playoffs, he would be starting by now. That tells me something that he’s not starting.”

Barkley on the Spurs: “The Spurs are the best team in the league because they are the best defensive team in the league. They have three All-Stars who understand how to play together. Their role players just come to work, do their job, they don’t complain about playing time, they don’t complain about shots. The reason that the Spurs are the best team in the league is they have the best coach in the NBA and they play the best defense in the league.”

Barkley on the toughness of the Phoenix Suns: “(The Suns are) softer than tissue paper. They’ve got chemistry problems, but their biggest problem is they are soft. Imagine if you’re playing football and the toughest guy on your team is the kicker, you can’t win. The Phoenix Suns’ toughest player is a kicker (Steve Nash).”

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Game 1: Cleveland Cavaliers (90) @ San Antonio Spurs (88)

Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller with Cheryl Miller reporting

Miller on Spurs defensive specialist Bruce Bowen: “It’s a luxury that Gregg Popovich has (in Bruce Bowen). He understands that (Bowen’s) offense is limited, but one thing he is out there for is to guard the best perimeter player on the opposing team night in (and night out).”

Miller on the comments from Memphis Grizzlies head coach Marc Iavaroni that LeBron James is a better passer than Hall of Famer Magic Johnson: “That’s a nice pat on the back, but you have to remember that (Marc) Iavaroni was on the receiving end of a lot of those dunks by (former Lakers forward) James Worthy (on passes) from Magic Johnson. I don’t agree with him that (LeBron James is) a better passer than Magic Johnson, but the similarities are certainly there.”

Miller on Cavaliers guard LeBron James: “(LeBron James is) the face of (the Cavaliers), they are nothing without him. (Cavaliers head coach) Mike Brown said, ‘I would never want to play a game without him. It’s what he does for the other players because he gives them belief in themselves.’”

Miller on the importance of teammates trusting each other: “You have to trust in your teammates and more importantly, you have to trust in your bench. Any championship team always has a great bench. If you don’t have that trust, then you aren’t going to win anything. That’s what (Gregg) Popovich does, he trusts his bench. And (it’s what) Mike Brown is trying to do, trust his bench. No (Anderson) Varejao, no (Sasha) Pavlovic to start the season, LeBron James gets hurt for five games, they went into a slide. This is a chance for the Cavaliers to trust each other.”

***** ***** *****

Halftime

Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Barkley on the age of the Spurs catching up with them: “The interesting thing about the Spurs with (Tim) Duncan, (Manu) Ginobili and (Tony) Parker always banged-up (is that) at some point they’re not going to get healthy. Between winning all those championships, playing late every year, playing for Olympic teams for their difference countries, at some point, age is going to catch up with them.”

Smith on the Spurs being able to play with intensity in the regular season: “(A game) in January against Cleveland is not a big game anymore when you’ve been to the NBA Finals and the Western Conference Finals. It’s not as big as it used to be. And sometimes you don’t have that spark, but you consistently chug along and win games. But when it’s all said and done, you can mark it down that there will be Western Conference Finals games played in San Antonio.”

Smith on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant taking 44 shots against Seattle on January 15: “There are certain guys who have the green light (to take shots) and certain guys who are on the freeway.”

***** ***** *****

Miller on the Cavaliers’ need for an outside shooter: “Everyone talks about (the Cavaliers’) need for a point guard, but if they had a true outside shooter, someone like Jason Kapono or someone that when LeBron (James) gets double-teamed can flat-out knock down the wide-open shot. Like a Kyle Korver, someone like that to spread the floor. That’s really what this team needs.”

Miller on the struggles of the Miami Heat: “I think (the Heat) are on (Heat owner) Mickey Arnason’s Carnival Cruise line because that ship has sailed in Miami. That ship has sailed.”

Miller on the advantage to Tim Duncan has by playing for one head coach (Gregg Popovich) his entire career: “Stability. When you have one coach, you understand what the offensive and defensive philosophies are. He understands how practices are run. He understands his team personnel. There’s a great relationship between Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich, he’s the leader of this team and he trusts that.”

Miller on the surprising Los Angeles Lakers: “I’m a believer in the Lakers. They are going to take a hit with (Andrew) Bynum going down. Kwame Brown and these other guys are going to have to step up, but Kobe (Bryant) is trusting in his team now and it’s paying dividends.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Cavaliers guard LeBron James following the game.

James on the Cavaliers’ improved play: “We’ve been playing great basketball (over) the last month and a half. Everyone is healthy, everybody understands what we have to do to get wins and that’s in the defensive end and we did that. (Playing) in a hostile environment (in San Antonio), you have to get (defensive) stops or you can’t win. We did that late in the game.”

James on the momentum the Cavaliers have following their win over the Spurs: “You always want to look at something that will give you momentum. Winning in a building like this can help the younger guys on our team. We need to take this momentum to Miami on Monday.”

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Game 2: Phoenix Suns (106) @ Los Angeles Lakers (98)

Announcers: Marv Albert and Doug Collins with Craig Sager reporting

Collins on how Andrew Bynum’s injury affects the Lakers: “(The Lakers) really miss (Andrew) Bynum. (He was such a part) of that pick-and-roll game. Kobe Bryant trusted him, throwing the ball up and attacking the rim. They just don’t have that confidence in Kwame Brown, they don’t trust his hands. With the Lakers, so much (of their success) depended on being able to get the ball into the paint and score.”

Collins on the development of Lakers center Kwame Brown who Collins coached in Washington: “I thought (Kwame Brown’s) upside was tremendous. Offensively, Kwame has always been in a hurry and he does not have great hands. When you magnify being in a hurry and not having great hands, he misses a lot of shots around the basket.”

Collins on Suns forward Amare Stoudemire: “When (Amare Stoudemire) gets off to a great start, (the Suns) are such a good team. His defense and his rebounding pick up when he has a great first quarter offensively.”

Suns guard Raja Bell on the team’s optimism for the remainder of the season: “I think people have been a little bit spoiled with the numbers we have put up the last few years and they have right to be. (The players) are spoiled because we are not where we want to be right now either. But the fact is, we’re right in the mix and we haven’t played our best basketball yet. I choose to look at (the season) as a cup half-full not half-empty.”

Collins on Lakers rookie guard Javaris Crittenton: “I really like (Javaris) Crittenton…He’s got good speed and great court awareness. I think he is going to be the point guard of the future for (the Lakers).”

***** ***** *****

Halftime

Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Smith on what the Lakers are missing with Andrew Bynum injured: “The Lakers were a big team with Andrew Bynum, now they are just an average-sized front line. They don’t have that size anymore.”

***** ***** *****

Collins on how important the Suns’ bench is to the success of the team: “For that second unit for Phoenix, when Steve Nash goes out of the game, they’d love to be able to have Boris Diaw on the floor with Grant Hill and (Leandro) Barbosa. Now you’ve got three guys who can make plays, rather than just have Steve Nash trying to make plays all the time. So you spread the wealth a little bit and you give Steve Nash some rest.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed injured Suns guard Grant Hill during the fourth quarter.

Grant Hill on his recent appendectomy that has kept him off the court: “It’s always tough to sit out when I’ve been playing well and feeling good. I’ve stayed away from the injury bug and then (the appendectomy) happened. I asked the doctor, ‘Why is this happening?’ He said it was bad luck. That’s all I need is more bad luck. The good thing is I’ll be back, I feel good. A little break this point in of the year is not bad, charge back up and get ready for the stretch run.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Suns guard Steve Nash following the game.

Nash on the Suns’ recent struggles: “We suck, what can I say? No, I think we have high expectations and we haven’t lived up to them in our locker room (despite) what everyone else says. Sometimes it’s good to suffer and struggle. We’re going to keep building and keep trying. Hopefully all that suffering, struggling and saltiness will pay off for us somewhere.”

Nash on what the Suns need out of forward Boris Diaw down the stretch: “Well, (Boris Diaw) sucks, too. No, I think that Boris is such a talent but he (doesn’t have) a fiery personality and people get disappointed in him. We believe in him, we think he’s a tremendous player; we just want to get his confidence going. When his confidence is going, he has that sparkle in his eye and he does the magical things he can do for his size. We believe in him, we think he’s going to come through for us.”

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Inside the NBA

Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith

Smith on the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets’ disappointing seasons: “I think that overall, you would expect (Utah and Denver) to do what the Lakers and New Orleans are doing. (Denver and Utah) have fallen to the backside and they have too much talent to fall to the backside.”

Barkley on Denver Nuggets center Marcus Camby: “I saw (Denver head coach) George Karl say that the one player (Denver) can’t afford to lose is Marcus Camby, and I agree with that (because) e does all the dirty work. (Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony) are great scorers but Marcus Camby kind of gets lost in the whole team.”

Smith on what’s holding the Utah Jazz back: “If you look at the Utah Jazz when they started out early (in the season), I thought that (guard) Deron Williams and (forward) Carlos Boozer set the tempo of how Utah wanted to play. I think now, they play at the opposing team’s tempo. I think the leadership and the tempo are the two things that are holding them back right now.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Atlanta Hawks rookie guard Al Horford on the challenges he’s faced in his first NBA season.

Horford on the process of changing the mindset of the Hawks fans who have grown accustomed to losing: “(The Hawks) are still in that process. It’s about the (players) here (in Atlanta) wanting to win so badly. With myself and (fellow rookie) A.C. Law coming in, we just want to help the team out and change (the losing mentality) around. We are trying to do that this season and hopefully start a winning tradition.”

Horford on adjusting to playing the center position instead of his usual power forward spot: “There has been (an adjustment). My comfort is playing at the forward (position) and guarding power forwards. But with this team, it’s something that I have to do in order to play. I want to play so I’m going to do whatever it takes. If I (have) to play center, that’s what I have to do.”

Horford on his flagrant foul against Toronto Raptors guard T.J. Ford that sent Ford to the hospital: “The low point (of the season) was that incident I had with T.J. (Ford). It was a very unfortunate incident. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt a guy like that, he’s such a nice guy. It was a point for me in the season that I felt set me back a little bit. I went (to the hospital) and talked to him, he tried to make me feel better but people that know me know that that affected me and my game. It was something that I had to work my way through.”

Horford’s reaction to TNT analyst Charles Barkley saying that Horford should be Rookie of the Year: “It’s exciting for me to hear guys talk so highly of you. Definitely, that’s one of my goals. I would like to (win) Rookie of the Year, but I have my (first) priority of getting (the Hawks) right and into the playoffs.

Horford on the legacy he wants to leave as a player coming from the Dominican Republic: “I want to be someone who opens up opportunities for talented guys who are in the Dominican (Republic) and don’t get a chance to come (to the United States) to develop their game. Before (myself), there were a lot of great players in the Dominican that have paved the way for me. My job is to keep playing and to be the best that I can be so I can help other people.”

Barkley on who Al Horford reminds him of: “(Al Horford) reminds me of (former NBA player) Buck Williams. He’s going to be a really good player, an All-Star type player for ten years or more.”

Barkley on the Chicago Bulls suspending rookie forward Joakim Noah for two games for an altercation with a Bulls assistant coach: “I don’t know what (Joakim Noah) did to the assistant coach (in Chicago). Whatever he did was probably wrong and they suspended him. They are trying to kill this kid and it’s the veterans on that team that stink. I want them to stop trying to throw (Noah) under the bus and say that he is screwing up the team. The reason that the Chicago Bulls stink is because of their veteran players.”

Log on to TNT OverTime on NBA.com for a full replay of Inside the NBA.

-30-

Power to the people!

We do make a collective difference. Sorry for the anger yesterday. Hope I didn’t offend anyone. I humbly apologize if I did.

Courtesy of Richard Prince (site is temporarily down)

David Seanor fired.

Golfweek apologized Friday for putting a noose on the cover of its magazine to illustrate the controversy over a Golf Channel anchor’s use of “lynch” in a comment about Tiger Woods. The editor responsible for the cover was replaced.

“We apologize for creating this graphic cover that received extreme negative reaction from consumers, subscribers and advertisers across the country,” Turnstile Publishing Co. president William P. Kupper Jr. said. “We were trying to convey the controversial issues with a strong and provocative graphic image. It is now obvious that the overall reaction to our cover deeply offended many people. For that, we are deeply apologetic.

Turnstile is the parent company of Golfweek.

The company said Dave Seanor, the vice president and editor of Golfweek, has been replaced immediately by Jeff Babineau.

Just sent this email from Earl Ofari Hutchinson:

A Statement from Earl Ofari Hutchinson, President Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable on the Firing of Dave Seanor VP and Editor of Golfweek.

On January 8, Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson called for prompt disciplinary action against Golf Channel broadcaster Kelly Tilghman for her crack on a nationally televised broadcast that young golfers should “lynch” Tiger Woods. The Golf Channel responded and suspended Tilghman for two weeks.But Golfweek Magazine apparently did not get the message that racially offensive and threatening words will not be tolerated and chose to feature a hanging noose on its cover. Golfweek editor and VP Dave Seanor was promptly fired for this racial insult. We applaud Golfweek for its swift response. The firing again puts editors and broadcasters on notice that racially offensive language and depictions will not be tolerated.

The LAURP Sent a Letter Sent to Golfweek President William P. Kupper, Jr. Applauding his action.

Some of us are stuck at the holiday dinner table even though we are well into 2008. People it’s time to get up and make sure we see another year, by getting healthy. I’m not in the shape I was 10 years ago when I was active in all kinds of sports. As my children grew so did my waistline, but hey man hey enough is enough.

Hip Hop artist Bone Crusher blew up the clubs and the streets with the 2003 release of AttenCHUN! which featured the energizing mesmerizing mega hit Neva Scared. He now has his own label and is ready once again to take over. His new track Transform is sure to be a club banger so make sure you put it in heavy rotation when it’s released.

Bone Crusher recently competed on Celebrity Fit Club and lost over 50 pounds–setting a record for the show. He’s promoting “Battle of the Bulge” a DVD for folks with a couple of extra pounds looking to slim down and stay healthy. He dropped by TSF to offer some words of encouragement to those in need. He had me rollin’ during this interview. He’s just one of those cats that just gets it. Enjoy.

Michael Tillery: What’s good bruh? What do you have goin’ on with Vainglorious Entertainment and personally as a recording artist?

Bone Crusher: I’m fantastically outstanding! I’m working on a couple of things right now. I’m in negotiations with a few people. I have a new album coming out on my label, Vainglorious–through Universal–called Planet Crusher. It’s crazy! The first single is Transform with me and Fabo. The second single is me, Alpha Mega and Ludacris called Giants.

MT: I know you are loving your career right?

BC: Yes my brotha! Anytime you can wake up 10, 11 or two o’clock and your light is still on, that’s a beautiful thing!

MT: I heard that. Did you enjoy Fit Club? How much of it was production?

BC: Man they didn’t hide nothin’. 98% of that stuff was all real. Obviously, they edited material to fit into the hour time frame. None of that stuff was fake. All those Fit Camps we did? They were all real. They actually were longer! A fit camp lasts about 8 hours. So that was 8 hours of workin’ out.

MT: Damn! I would have fell out on TV. What was it like working with Angie Stone, Nick Turturro, Ted Lange, Vincent Pastore and some of the other cast?

BC: Man that was great. Angie and I are good friends. Nick, Erica (Eleniak), and Carnie (Wilson) are good friends. I’m also good friends with the other team: Ted (Lange), Vinnie (Vincent Pastore) and Tina (Yothers). It was a wonderful situation. It was definitely a great experience for me.

MT: Since you lost so much weight, do you think you provided inspiration for everyone else on the show to do the same?

BC: Yeah man. The think about it is that a lot of people on the show were looking at me as the guy to lose weight. Every weigh in I would lose between 5 and 15 pounds. I would go out there and do my thing. I was team captain, so I had to lead by example. I had to make everyone understand the Fat Crushers were gonna win the whole thing.

MT: Talk about your DVD The Battle of the Bulge. What are your goals and aspirations regarding this release?

BC: Me and my manager had an idea doing a DVD for mildly obese people that can’t move in hospitals–something of that nature. We wanted to use people that are this size to give positive encouragement in hopes people would say, “If he’s doing it, then I can do it”. That was the whole premise behind the DVD. We came up with the name The Battle of the Bulge while walking in New York. I thought about all the elderly people in hospitals that are bedridden. I’m actually using my DVD right now because I have a cyst on the back of my leg from working out too hard. It’s working out very well man. You still get the same cardio. In three sets you can burn between three and five hundred calories.

That’s a good workout!
Bone Crusher: “Cook your own foods, work out, work out, work out.”

If you watch was you are eating…I’ve been trying to do that. Like I tell everybody, it’s not easy. I’m struggling too. That’s also the premise of the DVD–that we are still fighting and struggling together to get the weight off. It ain’t a situation where you see a bunch of skinny people all in shape with 6 packs, 12 packs or 35 packs (Laughter)!

Then you are like man c’mon. I’ll never get down. That alone is psychological discouragement. Seeing fine ladies on there with leotards looking good already in shape. You say man I’m never ever getting that little! So you are like forget this!

So that’s the whole thing. Chains like Walmart and Target have pre-ordered this thing. We’ve surpassed 30,000 pre-orders already.

MT: Wow! That’s whassup! This is more about health and not appearance right?

BC: Oh damn right.

MT: Could you comment on the steroids scandal allegedly involving some of your peers? What is the message you are trying to get across to the kids to repel the attraction to drugs?

BC: I don’t think they used steroids. That’s all alleged. I don’t think 50 used steroids. 50 works out really hard. Mary J. Blige works out really hard to get that body. Steroids don’t help you lose weight. They enhance what you are doing. Even if they were using–I’m not saying they were.

For me, it is about losing weight, getting yourself healthy, and that’s the whole thing behind it. Getting your cholesterol down. There’s people out here right now running three or four miles a day that die because they are eating weird. It’s all about your individual body makeup. If I eat a certain way, I’ll lose weight. That might not be the case for you. I learned that in Fit Camp too. It’s all about the regiment. Some people it didn’t work for them as well. You have to figure out your personal regiment and get down what you can and can not eat.

It’s not trying to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Mary J Blige or Beyonce. Beyonce has her own physique. You have to look like your best you.

I’ve always been like that. If you know anything about me or ever seen me on stage, I love me! I’m gonna take my clothes off, get buck nekked and everythang! I enjoy having fun and just being who I am you know?

MT: I heard that!

Folks lose weight, get complacent and gain it all back. Any suggestions on how they can keep it off?

BC: That is a more common thing than not. People get to a certain weight and they hit a wall and then they end up gaining.

I gained a little back too. I’m trying to lose another thirty to forty pounds to get a little more weight off of me. That’s hard. You have to understand that it’s gonna be hard work. Nothing in life worth having is easy. That’s what I had to learn from the Fit Camp. It’s not just a crash diet. It’s a lifestyle change. I never say diet. People say, “You should go on a diet.” I say I don’t diet. I had to change my lifestyle for me to live a certain way. I stopped eating a lot of pork. I don’t eat pork anymore. I cut that out. I try not to eat a lot of bread. I try not to eat a lot of sugar–refined sugar.

Yesterday I went to see Cloverfield so i needed something to eat. That in itself is what it’s all about–the struggle. Food is a drug for a lot of people. It’s a drug for me. It’s a drug for you. You like to eat. I like to eat. There’s a lot of chemicals in food–not like it used to be. There’s a lot of steroid induced food. Animals are injected with all kinds of drugs. That stuff is addictive. It’s not like it used to be in the 60′s and 70′s.

People weren’t openly obese or big like that. It has a lot to do with population control. It’s a lot of reasons why food is so bad. That’s what I try to share with people. The more you eat of it, the worse your body is going to get. I try my best to eat at home as much as possible. Cooking your own food helps to keep the weight off.

Cook your own foods, work out, work out, work out. Work out at least 30 minutes a day and you will see a significant change in your body.

Sweat is getting out all that salt in your blood. As we all know, water helps you lose weight too. Drink a lot of water. Stay off the liquor. Stay away from the sodas. Certain juices have a lot of sugar in them. Stay away from all that.

I’m not telling you to stop everything cold turkey. If you do that you will go back at it 10 fold. You were eating 1, 2 or 3 hamburgers and now you are eating six because you completely relapsed. You have to ween yourself off of it. Trust me I’m in a fight!. I’m in a struggle. My wife gets on me. She tells me I shouldn’t be eating that pie! It’s just a little piece of pie. You can eat almost anything you want to eat; just in smaller portions.

Instead of a Whopper, get a Whopper Jr. and a small fry. Like I said, food is a drug. It is what it is. It’s no different than heroin, cocaine or those other bad things. The difference is that you have to have it. Eat to live not live to eat.

Shit, man I used to go through some food man! I used to get a hold of a 8 piece of chicken, some mac and cheese and some greens!

I can’t do that now. I cut that down. I can eat a 3 piece. If I get crazy I can go for 4, but that’s it. Then I go to the gym so I can work out.

MT: What do you put in those greens now that you don’t eat pork?

BC: I put smoked turkey in them. Smoke turkey give them the same taste. It’s no different. All you are getting from the pork is the salt. Turkey meat has a lot less fat. Cut down your fat intake.

There’s other kinds of sugars. You ever heard of a place called Whole Foods?

MT: Nah.

BC: Where are you now?

MT: I moved from Maryland. I’m in Philly.

BC: Well those Whole Foods are all over the place. They sell organic foods. Fruit juices aren’t sweetened with sugar. It tastes the same. It’s much better for you.

MT: What’s the best thing to happen to you since you’ve lost weight?

BC: Just that I feel good. I feel like a million dollars. My show is crazy now. I’m on a whole another level. My homeboy is on maternity leave–his people had a baby–so I’m on stage by myself. The energy level has just increased so much. I can do my same show without having a hype man. Because of my leg I can’t do my full workout, so I do 500 side to side leg exercises in the bed. I take my arms and go up and down, up and down, up and down. Then I take my arms parallel from each other and hold them up for about 10 minutes. That does it to. You get a good sweat out of it. It’s straight working out with your own body and you get really strong and tough.

MT: Any chance you parlay this weight loss into a role on Gladiators?

BC: (Bone laughs) Man I don’t know man. We’ll probably have all of those too. We’re gonna make this a series and then add cookware. I’m a cook and a chef, so we’re gonna add everything. We’re gonna keep this going.

MT: Alright bruh! Thanks for this. Hopefully I’ll see you at the All Star Game. Be peace.

BC: Thanks Mike. See you there. Peace.

What did it for you? What athlete or athletic event gave you the sports memory unique?

Too young to remember this blast, but it was a sign of things to come

Fathers are the first men daughters love…Make an impact they will remember.

Not looking for the standard answer. Express optimism. This isn’t about being an expert. We’re hoping to start a discussion all of us can use in our collective lives.

Mothers what can you teach your sons to better prepare them to have a better knowledge of love and respect for women?

Fathers how can you keep your daughters close as they enter puberty so they know right from wrong regarding how they interact with men later on in life?

Those who don’t have kids, what questions do you have of us who are parents that will help you understand what parenting is all about?

Be honest here. You all have been great lately. We truly appreciate what you bring to the site. Thanks so much. Enjoy the weekend.

Please

In my early introduction to pro football, I was fascinated with the passing game. Any team that incorporated “The Bomb” as their weapon of choice had me locked in for three hours on Sunday afternoons.

So it should come as no surprise that in the late 70′s and early 1980′s that when the game of the week on NBC involved those San Diego “SUPERCHARGERS” I was glued to my chair. The Bolts were coached by Don “Air” Coryell, whose open air offense was one of the most prolific in NFL history.

At the helm, was bearded bombadeer Dan Fouts – who probably had the strongest arm in the league at the time and was one of the best deep ball throwers in history. Fouts had a receiving corps at his disposal that would make any secondary cringe. Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow, the consistant Charlie Joiner also a Hall of Famer, along with the elusive Wes Chandler. And I can’t forget my man Chuck Muncie running the rock.

The Bolts were circa 1989 Loyola Marymount – Run and Gun, not a great defense, but an offense that would make you say uncle.

The energy in the Bolt’s offense was John Jefferson, known to Charger fans as J.J. Jefferson’s combination of speed and great hands made him a natural for Coryell’s offense. The begoggled Jefferson dazzled fans around the league with his spectacular touchdown catches and knack to run down the deep ball. One of my memories of J.J. was a game where they were in a shootout (I can’t recall the team) but Fouts led Jefferson on this deep post and the instant J.J caught the ball he ran smack into the goal post. He was knocked cold but they counted the TD, it was the craziest thing I’d ever seen.

It was receivers like Jefferson and Lynn Swann that made me work on my acrobatic catches on the smaller dudes at recess. But it came with a price it cost me a few whippings because I was putting holes in my school pants.

The 14th pick in the 1978 draft out of Arizona State, Jefferson had as prolific a college career as any receiver in recent memory. In 1975 as a sophomore, Jefferson finished with 52 receptions for 921 yards as the Sun Devils finished the season 12-0 and a Fiesta Bowl appearance – where he was named the game’s MVP. ASU would finish with a #2 ranking, the highest in their history. In 1977 J.J. was selected as a consensus All-American finishing his career with 188 receptions for 2.993 yards , both school records and an NCAA record of 42 consecutive games with a reception.

Jefferson would enjoy a fine rookie season where he would lead all rookies in toushdown receptions and earn a spot in the Pro Bowl. For the next two seasons J.J. would enjoy success in San Diego as one of the better receivers in all of football earning two more Pro Bowl berths while accumulating 17 100-yard games, 36 touchdowns and three 1,000-yard seasons as a Charger.

In 1981 Jefferson was traded to the Green Bay Packers where he would team up with future Hall of Famer James Lofton to give Lynn Dickey one of the great receiving combinations in the NFL. In Green Bay, a shotty defense proved to be the team’s demise and left them on the outside looking in come playoff time.

Jefferson would end his career in Cleveland and retire after one season. His career numbers were: 351 receptions 5,714 yards and 47 touchdowns. He was a 4-time Pro Bowler and a 3-time All-Pro selection.

Today, Jefferson is currently the Director of Player Development with the Washington Redskins.

Having shared many of the same experiences of today’s younger players, Jefferson serves as a liason helping players to properly adjust to life as a professional and even life after the gridiron.

Looking back on those days gives me a real appreciation for the players of that time. I remember the next day in school we would talk about the games and one recess each guy would pick a running back, I was always somebody like Eric Dickerson or Billy Simms. As wideout I liked Jefferson but he was always taken, so I would end up being Freddie Solomon from the Niners. On defense, my guy was Dexter Manley. At quarterback it got tricky for obvious reasons so I was either John Walton, backup for the Eagles or Vince Evans from the Bears. It was a time in my life when my love for this game was as pure as it is today.

I sure as hell regret writing my first ever article about Tiger Woods.

So last night I get a text from a writer instructing me to go to Golfweek.com and scroll halfway down the page. I smile in anticipation thinking I’m gonna have a funny moment. So I look around the page and get hit by a tank. If this would have been a movie, you would have heard dramatic music where the piano keys are slammed followed by the loud beat of the drum–many drums. My heart began to race and my blood began to boil for I couldn’t believe my eyes. I couldn’t believe a “respected” publication would have the temerity to go there. To explain themselves, the editors of the site ran the cover story on the site after most likely receiving many heated emails. No one does this. Why would folks buy the mag if they could read the cover story online? To chip away my anger, I immediately labeled this a commercial move. So I call the writer and the next thing I know we are discussing slave ships. We are discussing Fuzzy Zoeller….

and Tiger’s cowardly response to someone’s benefit, but not his own.

Then this happens….

Still nothing from Tiger? OK, now we have a big problem. Do all your friends call you nigger to your face Tiger Woods? Remember what Cube spit in True To The Game:

“You wanna be just like Jack, but Jack is calling you a nigger behind ya back.”

Still funny? Where’s the Drop Squad?

What would Earl say Tiger? One of my parents is deceased so I can ask you this question. I miss my mother like you miss ya pop, trust me on that.

By not speaking up on this issue when it smacked him in the face, Tiger neglected every Black child who looks up to him with diamond eyes and impressionable minds just to make White kids comfortable. Let’s call a spade a spade and realistically ask what else could it be? How is Tiger defusing anything by not speaking out? He’s also doing a disservice to White kids by not speaking up and fully expressing himself (I know it’s a pipe dream because not many athletes do this).

He also authenticates any racism directed his way present and future by not upbraiding Tilghman immediately and the Golf Channel as well for waiting five days to suspend Kelly.

Who do you think is bringing in the big cash for the entire sport?

What’s it gonna take for you to speak up for yourself Tiger?

Seriously, I challenge anyone White who thinks this is a non issue to speak their mind. I truly welcome your dissent, but you come strong with your words.

His friendship with Kelly Tilghman gave Tiger another excuse to remain clandestine on divisive racial issues. Some Whites say Tiger is a classy guy who is above feeding a racial firestorm like they themselves are the definition of high morality. “Kelly just slipped and made a mistake. She apologized to Tiger so let’s all move on,” some say. Some Blacks say he’s a sellout only interested in making more money (doesn’t he have enough?) and lost a chance to speak to the kid in the hood talented…but alone.

Who is right? Who is wrong?

This whole thing is reminiscent of Tiger friend Michael Jordan’s irresponsible comments during the 1990 senatorial race in North Carolina. Mike had the opportunity to endorse Harvey Gantt, the Charlotte mayor, against the racist Jesse Helms. Why Jordan didn’t publicly endorse Gantt–a dem–we’ll never know. ”Republicans buy sneakers, too,” he said at the time.

Also, why aren’t more prominent Black journalists speaking out candidly? They probably would to this day laugh at a Tex Avery cartoon–something I’m sure Kelly did many times growing up in Mytle Beach.

The joke once again is on us people.

Some ask why is it Tiger’s responsibility? He spends time with charities and gives of himself. Isn’t that enough? This may be true, but when is the last time Tiger came to the hood and embraced children who need his confidence and assurance the most? Our history forces us to carry a responsibility to those who blazed a path crimson drenched with societal humiliation and straight up bullshit hatred. Do pioneers deserve our reverence or are their sacrifices forgotten? How many Blacks were lynched in this country? How many lynchings went unnoticed? The word lynch is so powerful and worse than calling someone a nigger to their face because it conjures imagery of hatred and burning, hanging, shaking DEATH.

Kelly Tilghman knows damn well she wouldn’t have used anything perceived offensive to Jewish folk as easily as the word lynch rolled off her lips live on air–with laughter. You would have seen the cane yank her ass off stage on Youtube a minute thereafter. It’s the comfort that makes Blacks hot. Why are we once again forced to take a back seat on the proverbial bus just so this can become a non issue for Whites who care not? What happens the next time something similar happens? If Blacks speak out on issues that burn the soul primitive, we are pulling the race card?

Fuck that!

Yeah, I’m upset right now!

I could write on this for days, but it doesn’t mean shit if Blacks continue to allow this nonsense to happen. Golfweek made this controversial decision obviously to sell magazines, but it’s way deeper than that isn’t it? I would have loved to been in the board room when the cover shot was discussed–or have any other person of color present–to shoot that shit down and probably get fired in the process. This is why we scream for inclusion. It gives the decision making process objectivity when the lightening strikes the brightest, but….

It’s all about money people…once again at our expense.

Some are criticizing the cover shot. Time will tell if others follow suit right and exact.

What’s going to happen at the Buick Invitational? Kelly’s suspension ended on the 14th, so she’s due to work the tournament. Who representing the media there is going to have the cojones to get right to it? I would love the opportunity to be there and turn some heads with confident and persistent questions anyone in earshot would have to address.

Who else is going to do it?

Scoop’s take on Tilghman.

**********************

I had to post this. I bet these clowns loved Glen Dorsey and JaMarcus Russell before him. IMO this is just like posting a noose on the cover of a magazine.

What is this?

The timing of this story is fishy. In saying that, obviously there is no excuse for a man to put his hands on a woman.

WCSH6 (Florida)

As the New England Patriots get ready for this weekend’s AFC Championship game against the San Diego Chargers, Randy Moss is defending himself against allegations from a woman in Florida.

According to radio station WDBO, a woman accuses Moss of causing serious injury and then refusing to allow her to seek medical attention. She was granted a temporary injunction for protection against dating violence.

In Foxborough today, Moss denied the allegation. He says the woman is trying to get money from him.

WDBO says a hearing will be held January 28th, when the court will determine whether to file a permanent judgment of injunction for protection against dating violence.

No criminal charges have been filed in the case

Moss responded extensively at Gillette Stadium today. His comments:

“First of all, you all probably heard about these allegations. All I want to say is that they are false allegations,” Moss told a large gathering of reporters.

“It’s something I’ve been battling for the last couple days, threats of going public if I didn’t pay X amount of dollars. Before people rush quick to judgment, I think you need to find out the facts about really what is really going on. This young lady, by no means, is hurt. I didn’t hurt her.

“I think that, what I heard, I really don’t know the whole story, of what is being said. All I know is supposedly I — battery — whatever it may be, that I physically hurt a woman. Well, I want to make something clear. In my whole entire life of living, 30 years, I have never put my hand on one woman, physically or in an angry manner. This battery they’re talking about, I guess from a legal standpoint, there has to be something said. Like I said, I don’t really know all the facts. I don’t know what’s going on as far as everything that has been alleged.

“All I know is that it’s a friend of mine, a young lady, it was an accident where she hurt herself, to where they called me, called my attorneys, trying to get X amount of dollars out of me, and if ‘we don’t get X amount of dollars’ they were going to go to the press before this game.

“Basically what I’m saying, I’m actually going to hold off for questions. I just really wanted to get out there to the people that I am aware of what is going on. I don’t really want people to rush quick to judgment [without] knowing the facts. My teammates don’t have anything to do with this. They don’t know anything. I think it was just brought to their attention. If you could all just leave them out of it, because they don’t know anything that’s going on. I don’t really know the whole situation of what’s going on, just bits and pieces. It definitely was not my intentions of doing anything like this, with this battery with the woman. That’s really not my makeup, that’s not me, I’ve never been in that situation where I’ve had to put my hands on any woman, any lady.

“Like I said, man, before you rush quick to judgment, find out all the facts before you start criticizing me or judging me. That’s all I have to say. Thanks.”

After giving an initial statement today and saying he would not be answering questions from reporters, Moss changed his mind and ultimately took questions. Some of the Q&A:

On his thoughts regarding this issue:
“It’s unfair to athletes if a person makes a false claim. You know, there is nothing we can do. The only thing we can do is either pay up or sit back and listen to what’s been said or what’s being written. I can honestly say I am a … I don’t know what the word is to use … that’s what position I’m in. For someone to make a false claim about me, I’m kind of furious. It kind of hurts me deep inside for someone to do something like that, because I’ve always said time and time again that I am going to stand up for what’s right. If I’m right, I’m right. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. And that’s where you have your attorneys, your friends, so when you’re wrong someone can tell you you’re wrong. You know what I mean? My situation is where I felt that I did nothing wrong. It was an accident. Whatever happened, it was an accident. I wish I could sit here and yell you all what happened. But there is a lawsuit or whatever is been coming against me, I can’t really explain or tell you all what is going on. All I want to say is that I’m going to continue to play football. I think that last Friday, this man wanted to come out with it, to try to distract the team and distract me. You know what I’m saying? There was much more said, a lot of verbal, a lot of cuss words, a lot of things that I should be doing – ‘you better do this or else, you better do this or else’ – well, I thought it was bad because now you’re threatening me. So I brought it to Coach and said ‘Look Coach, I’m being threatened to do something that I have no idea of what I need to be doing.’ I was advised to just focus on playing football and then I’ll handle this once the season is over. Whenever the season is over, I plan on sitting down and really getting to the bottom of this. Right now, I have a job to do.”

One report indicated you hurt her hand …
“I’m not really getting into that. I just told you guys, I mean, I don’t want to get in trouble for anything I might say that I’m not supposed to say when it comes to an attorney and a client. There is a lot of things I want to sit here and tell you guys to prove my innocence. But for the fact there is an investigation going on …”

Is she making up this story?
“You do your homework. Like I told you, there are a lot of things I want to sit here and tell everyone sitting here flashing, with all these microphones. I’m not trying to be funny about the situation, because this is a serious matter. What I’m saying is that it’s unfair to us as athletes that when a situation like this occurs, it’s up to you guys to make an assumption. Is this guy or this girl telling the truth? Or are they lying?”

How much are you looking forward to, after the season, clearing your name?
“That’s the one thing I want to do, because throughout this whole season, everything has been positive. Why would I bring something negative on? Come on. What we’re trying to do, and hopefully what’s going to happen if we do things right in the next month, I would never – as much as I care and love the game of football and love my teammates and coach, I would never put myself or them in a situation of something like this.”

Does this make you want to change who you hang around with in the future?
“No, because I’ve known this young lady 11 years. So if this is supposed to be a friend of mine, change what? I’ve known you for 11 years. I know all you men and ladies here [in the media], if you’ve known someone for over 11, 15 years, you wouldn’t think in your wildest dreams that something like this would happen to you.”

Is she trying to get money out of you?
“Over an accident – six figures.”

Six figures?
“I’m going to end it at that. I’m going to end it, because I do not want to get in trouble.”

In general, though, how hard is it to sway public opinion when these things come up?
“It’s hard, because of everything I’ve been through, mostly the negatives, off the field. It’s really hard for me to sit up here and say that I’m innocent. Battery – I didn’t hit no woman. I’ve never laid my hands on a woman. So for you to say battery, now I think if there was such a thing in the court system as an accident, then that’s what I’m guilty for. But for you to say I physically, or in an angry manner – whatever the manner may be – put my hands on a woman physically, I’ve never done that.”

Are people going to believe you?
“I think the best thing is to check my resume, ask around. I’ve never hit a woman. I do not hit women. That’s not what I’m supposed to be doing. I have a job to do, that’s to provide for my family and help raise my children. That’s what I do.”

Are you disappointed in the timing of this?
“I’m very disappointed in the timing. I’m disappointed at the timing first, of myself, for being able to be in this situation. But knowing someone 11 years, it’s hard to avoid that because I wouldn’t expect someone like that to do me like that.”

She said she wanted medical attention and that you denied her medical attention.
“She lives in her own house and has her own vehicle, so how could I deny her medical attention. Does that make sense? She has her own house. She has her own car. So how am I going to deny someone medical attention when you live by yourself and have your own vehicle.”

What made you go to Bill and were you happy with the way he responded to it?
“No, I can’t never be happy because this is something negative, a black cloud hanging over my head. That’s something I did not want coming into the season, is anything negative. Everything I tried to do – from getting here early, and making sure I eat the right food, all the way to practicing and playing good, I wanted all that to be an A-plus.”

(more on why he went to Belichick)
“I just thought, look at all of this [assembled media]. The only reason I went to Coach was because I knew the magnitude of something like this, how it was going to take off. Like I said, if I’m guilty, I am truly sorry and I am going to stand up for what is right, I really am.”

What would you say to this lady, face to face, if you saw her today?
“Man, I don’t want to get into that. I’ve known this woman 11 years. Know what I mean? I don’t wish anything bad on this woman. That’s the love I have for her as a friend. Even though these allegations are false, or whatever she’s claiming, I mean I really can’t be mad at that, because if that’s what she’s doing, that’s what she’s doing. If she’s hurt and she needs money, that’s on her.”

Is it safe to say that the friendship is over?
“It has to be. Yes, the friendship is over. Like I said, I’m not mad, I’m not bitter, I am mad at this situation of extortion. Yes, I am mad about that. But for something friendly, an accident to occur, I mean it happens. Stuff does happen.”

What was the accident?
“I’m not going to get into that. That’s for you all. Listen, this is the last thing I’m going to say. One thing I’m going to say and I’m going to end it. You all are going to make judgments. You all are going to say what you all want to. Today, tomorrow, next week, you all are going to say whatever you all want. But make sure, and very sure before you rush to judgment, that you know what you’re talking about before you say it. That’s all I’m going to say. I appreciate it.”

The Globe’s Mike Reiss contributed to this report.

Let’s Get It!

Yeah we are coming with a barrage of conscious stuff this week.

It’s that time.

Chuck D’s first of the 2 part interview, Soul and Sports will be posted tomorrow.

Working out the kinks on Thestartingfive.net and we’ll definitely be live by Friday. We’ll post instructions when everything is right and exact.

Read these pieces and try to welcome a semblance of unity that hopefully will help us all.

Received another letter disagreeing with Bob Johnson. This one sent from a friend written by Davey D.

I want to make something very clear. I’m posting these pieces not to endorse Barack Obama, but to help our readers gain awareness of what went down Sunday and judge themselves accordingly. Bob Johnson can endorse whoever he wants–it’s his right–but to disparage Senator Obama in such an underhanded as well as unprofessional manner, is unacceptable and will not go over here. This is also for those who seem to think we are Black apologists and will not criticize our own just to validate whatever. This needs to be said.

(Thanks brothaman)

Be Peace.

Former BET President and founder Bob Johnson is an asshole and hypocrite. Lemme not pull punches, be politically correct, beat around the bushes or try to impress high brow readers who feel I should be less crass and gentler with my words so I can appeal to their sensibilities. It’s 2008 and unfortunately being nice and proper doesn’t quite get the message across, especially when it comes to Bob Johnson and his recent disparaging remarks about presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m referring to Johnson getting on stage to introduce Senator Hillary Clinton at a rally and expressing outrage about Obama’s past. He said; “Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood. I won’t say what he was doing, but he said it in his book.”

It was a cheap shot referencing Obama’s drug use when he was a young man. This was an activity that Obama freely admitted to in his memoirs ‘Dreams from My Father’ and on some level I can see it being fair game, but coming from a guy like Johnson, that’s like former President Bill Clinton giving marital advice to Halle Berry’s former husband admitted sex addict Eric Bonet. I heard Johnson make these remarks and I was like ‘Negroe go back into your cave, please sit down and leave the politics to someone else’.

I keep asking myself, where does Johnson get off slamming Obama about the wrongs of drug use when he piloted one of the largest media institutions [BET] that provided a worldwide platform that for the most part glorified and legitimized the lifestyles of those who not only used drugs but also sold them. In all the years we’ve known of ‘billionaire Bob Johnson we have not seen him get on any stage and diss former drug dealers like Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Rick Ross or any number of artists whose videos he would routinely play coupled with sit down interviews conducted by fawning hosts who never ever challenged these artists for resurrecting a ‘criminal’ lifestyle in both their songs and videos they supposedly left behind.

The Bob Johnson we know, has never gone out of his way to publicly smash on artists who like Mary J Blige or Fergie who admitted to using drugs in the past and have since gotten their lives together and moved onward and upward. If anything, the former head of BET could be seen publicly praising them while courting them to appear at his award shows or Spring Bling concerts.

Johnson certainly never came out swinging on admitted drug abusing artists like Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, Flava Flav or DMX who all had reality shows either on BET or the one of the other stations within the Viacom network where he had influence as a VP.

One would think a guy of Johnson’s new found ‘high moral character’ would’ve been smashing on drug use and drug peddling a long time ago. Could you imagine what sort of shockwaves would’ve been sent around the world if Johnson even as a retired media mogul had spoke out and said; ‘No Bobby! No Whitney! We won’t give them a reality show until those two get themselves healed and free of drugs’? Can you imagine if he insisted the DMX show ‘Soul of a Man’ was centered around him getting over cocaine addiction?

Imagine the shockwaves if Johnson said; “Hell no Jigga we ain’t supporting your album ‘American Gangster’ cause you highlighting the sordid lifestyle of heroin dealers like Frank Lucas and we are against that type of behavior? Could you imagine if Johnson found his nuts when at the helm of BET and shut down any and all videos from artists who had ‘dirty pasts’ that they were trying to exploit?

Sadly the Bob Johnson we know, has seemingly had no problem in making billions from highlighting the drug dealing, drug using lifestyle. Adding to this disappointment is the fact that this proud African American billionaire did things like remove programming that would make us question and shun such questionable behavior. It was on Johnson’s watch that BET got rid of great award winning shows like Teen Summit. It was on Johnson’s watch that we saw incredible commentators like Tavis Smiley and Ed Gordon disappear. It was on Johnson’s watch we saw the BET nightly news shrink and then became a non existent. These shows were shut down in spite the objections ranging from scholars like Dr. Cornel West to the 8 major Black fraternities and sororities to more recently church groups leading the Enough is Enough campaign. It was on Johnson’s watch that many in the community were up in arms protesting BET when they had that Step-N-Fetchit like cartoon called Cita’s World. Y’all remember that one right?

As I’m penning this article, I’m vividly recalling Johnson arrogantly responding to critics on a widely televised ‘townhall’ where he was confronted for firing Tavis Smiley, Johnson said that BET stands for ‘Black Entertainment’ and he is in the business to entertain the masses and that he was not obligated to provide news programming. Who knows, maybe Johnson was trying to be ‘entertaining’ when he made is divisive remarks about Obama.

How is it that Johnson found the courage to stand up against Obama but was mealy mouthed against the artists with questionable pasts that he highlighted on his network who in turn became the face and MIS-perception of all African Americans to the rest of the world? Many of us who are not celebrities and have traveled overseas know the pain we’ve endured of having to explain to fascinated yet misguided individuals in far off lands that we are nothing like the characters and depicted in the videos shown on BET? I know I’ve had my share of conversations where I had to put things in proper context in places ranging from Barcelona to Scotland to Beirut where BET specifically was cited as the referencing point.

Instead, of being a champion for our people who could use his resources and influence to change widely held, worldwide misperceptions and stereotypes of us, he opted to become something more foul then any drug dealer. He became a propagandist of the worse kind. Instead of hustlin’ crack, Johnson hustled Black pathologies, distorted images and misinformation under the banner of Black culture which has resulted in many believing we are part and parcel to the unchallenged buffoonery he allowed highlighted. Instead of celebrating Obama for overcoming the odds including the scorch of drugs to possibly become the next president of the United States, this ‘negroe’ Bob Johnson wants to act like a lap dog for Hillary Clinton and bash on him all while being a media drug peddler of sorts who is in a big way responsible for normalizing drug culture.

And please don’t get me wrong, I am in no way saying Obama is not above criticism. I have lots of critiques that I can launch at him. For the record, I am not the biggest Obama fan. He gives great speeches and has lots of charisma There’s no deny the energy he brings to mainstream political discussion, but from where I sit his politics don’t go quite go far enough. I want Obama to be the type of politician to have been on the ground front and center leading the masses when we went to protest in Jena. Instead all I got was a press release.

I want Obama to have been the politician who is bold and assertive and uncompromising to the point that he would speak out on behalf of the SF8 or the Puerto Rican activists who are being jammed up by the Feds. I want Obama to be the type of guy who is smashing hard on police brutality and this current wave of gentrification. But when I argue with my fellow colleagues like writers Adisa Banjoko or Eric K Arnold, our spirited debates center around Obama’s position on issues.

Even the big debate between rap stars Rhymefest (Obama supporter) and Lupe Fiasco (Hillary supporter) has centered around the politics of the candidates. Nobody is brow beating Obama for having used drugs in the past. The Obama we know and see today is clean, smart and razor sharp and we don’t see him coddling and being a big enabler to drug culture the way that billionaire Bob Johnson has been over all those years. He made his billions by pimping drug culture on his network to the fullest.

The biggest challenge that all of us as African Americans have is because Johnson had made some significant economic accomplishments he led many into believing what he was doing as the head of a multi-billion dollar conglomerate like BET was building upon past freedom struggles waged by the likes of Dr Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, the Black Panthers and others.

The sad irony to all this is that if King and X were still alive waging battles against oppression, they would probably be excluded from the day to day banter of BET. We barely see or hear about these past leaders on the station today. What was the last in-depth discussion you saw or heard on BET under Johnson’s reign about King beyond I have a Dream speech? What’s the last insightful story you saw on Malcolm X?

If you listened to Dr. King’s thoughts on media then you know one thing, that BET and the foolishness its put out in the name of our people would’ve been in stark opposition to where King stood in terms of using media as a tool to uplift and inform the community. Like I said Martin and Malcolm would never be on BET aside from a few documentary clips and sound bites if they were around today. If you don’t believe me and think this is far fetched lets take a short trip down memory lane.

Those of us who a re old enough to recall, when BET first came out it held a lot of promise and became a source of pride. It promised to fill the void and become a much needed answer to MTV which started out refusing to air videos from Black artists. Eventually Michael Jackson, Run DMC and later Yo MTV Raps knocked down some of those doors, but BET started off promising to be our uncompromising mouthpiece.

I recall in the late 80s as the cable industry expanded, BET was not included on many of the cable systems and there were spirited campaigns to get them on. It was young 20 something year old activists who were then part of what I would call the Public Enemy/ Afrocentric generation that took to heart some of the promises made by Bob Johnson who at that time called upon people to stand up for BET and demand it be included as a cable channel. BET’s exclusion from local cable systems was seen as yet another example of how prevalent racism was in this country. Many of us were coming out of the tailspin of the crack era and as Hip Hop’s Golden Age kicked in many eagerly sought to fight the power. Getting BET on cable was one such fight.

Here in the Bay Area it was rap activists like artist Chill E.B. who worked tirelessly, organizing letter writing campaigns and call ins to get BET on cable systems outside of Oakland in neighboring cities like Concord, Fremont and other areas it was absent. I recall doing radio shows and even having someone from BET (it may have even been Johnson himself, I have to check my tape archives) come on the air to talk about the importance of all of us pulling together to help insure that BET got a fair shot. I recall giving out phone numbers to the offending cable outlets and encouraging listeners to stand up for BET. Years later many of the activists who spearheaded the fight to get BET on for the masses can’t get on BET themselves to share and inform viewers of on going struggles in our community. For example, I know Chill EB who is a war vet and has spoken out against the war and has even done songs and videos about the topic never has been invited to sit on the 106 & Park couch.

It’s ironic that Obama who at 40 something would’ve been part of that Public Enemy/ Afrocentric generation that initially rallied for causes like getting BET on cable systems now finds himself being criticized by a guy like Bob Johnson. How quickly they turn. But I guess we shouldn’t be surprised shiesty people rarely change their stripes. My boy and fellow writer, Jelani Cobb raised an important question in his recent article on this topic for the Washington Post which was What were the Clinton’s thinking when they got Johnson to stomp for them. She might as well gotten Rupert Murdoch or Bill O’Reilly to stomp for her. That’s like me running for office and getting a gestapo like guy like Rudy Giuliani to stomp on my behalf-its not a good look and brings into question Senator Clinton’s clear lapse in judgement. All she had to do was look at the number of protests launched against BET in the past few years for their degrading images of women. That should’ve been a clear enough message. In other words if Hillary thinks so little of Black people that she went and dug up a cat likes Bob Johnson then I’m gonna have to close the book on her and bounce the other way and roll with Obama.

Dear Bob, The comments you in made in attacking Sen. Obama this past Sunday at a South Carolina church–before your introduction of Sen. Hillary Clinton–demonstrates it doesn’t matter how much money you have it can’t buy class or, dignity. Bob while you were shucking, grinning and jiving in front of the Clintons, are you that stupid you didn’t care you came across as a boot licking, Uncle Tom?

Your attack on Sen. Obama continues to prove how ruthless you continue to be. In your own words this is what you said, “As an African American, I am frankly insulted the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues – when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood; I won’t say what he was doing, but he said it in his book – when they have been involved,” Johnson said.

We all know that Sen. Obama wrote about his teenage drug use – marijuana, and alcohol in his memoir, “Dreams from My Father.” That’s old news. Bob for you to attack Sen. Obama character shows what a coon you really are.

Bob you are the founder of BET–which is the laughing stock of African Americans who care about positives images. Yes, you are successful as a capitalist but a failure in having any morals and helping to support your own race. That Sen. Clinton or anyone would want or accept your endorsement is appalling and in my opinion, calls their basic character–let alone judgment into question. Over the last 25 years you and BET have done more to propagate some of the most harmful, destructive, and degradation of African Americans in the history of popular culture.

The booty shaking videos, misogyny, gangsterism [sic] violence, alcohol and drug use you allowed to air on BET on your way to becoming a billionaire was done all for the love of money. And now you want to take cheap shots at Sen.Obama? I am amazed how you are allowed to speak and move in decent society. But, I guess in your case, money triumphs over morals. After seeing you put on your best Stephen Fetchit routine this Sunday–while Senator Clinton sat back and enjoyed campaigning with you–I now understand a lot better why the country is calling for Sen. Obama and change!

Signed, Najee Ali Founder / Executive Director Project Islamic HOPE

The following email was sent my way hyping a new web series from Coney Island phenom Lance Stephenson. I’ve come in contact with Lance at a couple of events and what struck me most was how chill and media ready he is. He’s a good kid that’s ridiculously talented. I’ll post links to the current webisode every Tuesday.

New York, NY, 1/15/08 – FADER Films and Born & Bread in production with Den of Thieves today announced the launch of BORNREADY an online series that follows Coney Island and Lincoln High School basketball prodigy Lance Stephenson as he develops as player and as a young man. The webisodes, which will be released in near real time, will follow Lance through his sophomore and junior years of High School with plans to continue to document his journey for the next three years. After its launch on January 15, each new episode will air twice a day for the first week, and one new episode will air each weekday afterwards until April.

BORN READY brings an inside look at the development of basketball’s hottest young prodigy and next superstar while capitalizing on Born & Bread’s ability to identify and capture compelling stories in a saturated market, FADER Films’ expertise and reach in producing compelling content aimed at a young and hip demographic and Den of Thieves’ extensive background producing cutting edge music and reality programs for TV.

Following in the footsteps of fellow New York basketball greats Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, Lance Stephenson is widely considered to be the #1 ranked high school basketball player in the country and is known as the pride of Coney Island. He has led his team to two NY City Championships, once as a Freshman and once as a Sophomore, when he was also named NYC Player of The Year. He followed up his Sophomore City Championship with a New York State Championship and became the youngest player to play in the Pro Am division at EBC (Rucker Park). Although the championship game featured five NBA players, Stephenson was named its MVP and since then has been actively recruited by every major college program in the country. After a summer that included workouts with NBA superstars LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, Stephenson is now entering his Junior season poised to re-write the high school record books and is on pace to become the greatest high school scorer in New York City history.

About Born & Bread
Founded by Paul Rivera and Justin Leonard in 2005, the New York based film company specializes in documentary projects. Much of Born & Bread’s inspiration comes from the cultural and social issues that are relevant today.

About FADER Films
Founded by Rob Stone and Jon Cohen, New York-based FADER Films is the film production division of The FADER. FADER Films develops alternative business models as well as secures traditional production and distribution deals.
The FADER is the definitive voice of emerging music and the lifestyle that surrounds it. Through in-depth reporting and a distinct street sensibility, The FADER aggressively covers the most dynamic breadth of music and style emanating from the fringes of the mainstream to the heart of the underground, and was also the first publication in history to be released on iTunes. The FADER is the authority on what’s next.

About Den of Thieves
DEN OF THIEVES (DOT) specializes in the development and production of original content for TV, DVD, the Internet and emerging media platforms. Launched as a Warner Music Group company in 2007 by former MTV executive Jesse Ignjatovic and former Island Def Jam executive Evan Prager, DOT creates first-rate, original content. By capitalizing on its unique position as a WMG company, DOT produces a wide range of video content, much of it aimed at promoting and enhancing artist brands. DEN OF THIEVES is based in Los Angeles and represented by CAA.

This story was originally published 1/13 in the Times Union and reported by Brendan Lyons. This is an update from the same report we initially posted last night.

This is distressing. If you haven’t already heard, the entertainment industry is being rocked by a steroids/HGH scandal out of Albany New York.

According to this report:

Mary J. Blige, 37
The Bronx native’s first album — “What’s the 411?” — debuted in 1992. Since then Blige has produced seven multiplatinum albums and won six Grammy Awards. In December Blige won nine Billboard Music Awards for her album “The Breakthrough.” Between August 2005 and January 2007 Blige allegedly received multiple shipments from an Orlando pharmacy of Jentropin, a human growth hormone, and Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, in orders sent to her at the Beverly Hills Hotel, MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and Clay Gym in New York City. At least one of the orders was mailed under the name “Marlo Stanfield,” which is the character name of a drug kingpin on the Baltimore-based HBO crime drama “The Wire.”

Blige’s representative did not respond to a request for comment.

Marlo Stanfield? See this is where the story gets sketchy. It goes off the hook for 50…

Curtis James Jackson III, 50 Cent, 32
Jackson started dealing drugs at the age of 12 in Queens but an arrest on weapons and drug charges and a sentence in a shock incarceration program led him to abandon the street life and gravitate to a career in rap music. The stage name 50 Cent, Curtis has said, underscores his effort to “change” his life.

Jackson is alleged to have received shipments of steroids at his mansion in Farmington, Conn. in July 2006 an order was mailed to his residence under the name “Michael Jordan” and also at a residence on Oakmont Drive in Los Angeles. Steroids in his name also were mailed to the office of a Long Island chiropractor.

Jackson’s representative did not respond to a request for comment.

Dude used Mike’s name? Man…WTF! 50 went from J. J. Evans to Jack Johnson mos def, but could he really be that stupid to actually use Michael Jordan’s name? I don’t know about that.

Timothy Z. Mosley, Timbaland, 35
Mosley was born in Norfolk, Va., and began his musical career in the mid-1990s emerging as a top rap artist. Mosley has become a major record producer and two years ago founded his own label, Mosley’s Musical Group. The label’s debut, Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous” featuring Timbaland, reached the top of the song charts.

Mosley allegedly received shipments of human growth hormone and anabolic steroids between October 2005 and September 2006 at his Miami residence and at the office of a Long Island chiropractor.

Mosley could not be reached for comment.

Wyclef Jean, 35
Co-founder of The Fugees. The Haitian-born rapper and Grammy Award-winning musician is a producer and self-described social activist.

Jean splits time between New York City and Haiti, where he has spearheaded humanitarian efforts with stars such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

Prescriptions in Jean’s name for human growth hormone and Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, were shipped to the office of a Long Island chiropractor in August 2005.

Jean’s publicist declined to comment.

Tyler Perry, 38
An award-winning playwright, actor, director and producer. In 2005 Perry wrote, produced and starred in the box office hit, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.” Last fall, his television comedy series “House of Payne” debuted on TBS.

Perry’s biography on his Web site touts his rags-to-riches story from being homeless on the streets of New Orleans to now owning a mansion outside Atlanta.

Prescriptions for anabolic steroids and growth hormone were shipped in Perry’s name to his business and studio headquarters on Krog Street in Atlanta in 2005 and 2006. Perry could not be reached for comment.

Now this is one of the craziest stories I’ve ever read. The names included here strike mad curiosity, but why would Mary J use steroids? What’s the benefit? With the exception of Stallone, who has no connection to this report, why are all these entertainers Black?

Sylvester Stallone, 61
Stallone paid a nearly $3,000 fine in Australia in May 2007 to settle criminal drug possession charges after 46 vials of human growth hormone and several vials of testosterone were discovered in his belongings during a customs inspection. Stallone, the chiseled star of the highly successful Rocky and Rambo movies, was in Sydney for a promotional tour. According to the Australian Associated Press, Stallone said he takes human growth hormone regularly because of damaged tendons and thin bones. Stallone has no known connection to the Albany steroids investigation.

Sources: News wire services, Web site biographies, shipping records, confidential sources.

Sly did this for his career. Rocky and Rambo were bigger than life characters created in the comic book superhero mold, so we all knew why he would use PEDs. Man I could care less. To each his own. We’re not here to judge. This story is obviously developing, so we’re sure they’ll be more reported in the next couple of days.

As an aside–I’m speaking for Philly here–we need to tear Rocky’s statue down because we haven’t won jack since it was erected.