February 26th, Sunday... I just saw something that confirmed that I am some sort of sports racist? Bigot? What? I was flipping channels today, looking for something to watch and I happened upon ESPN showing a bowling tournament. I NEVER watch bowling! N-E-V-E-R! My mind snapped. My inner voice said,"Just stay here for a minute and watch this!" So, I stayed on the channel to watch some guy named Pete Weber try to get a strike to win the tournament. He stood there... He was focused. He took a deep breath. He raised the ball, looked down the lane, made his approach and released a spinning masterpiece that started going one way down the lane and ended up curving back to strike the center pin just off of its left side. All of the pins fell... Well, all except one. It was the last pin on the left side. Pete Weber blew air out of his system like a surfacing whale! He bowled again to get the spare. He succeeded! Now he had to bowl again to get a strike to win the tournament. He repeated his movements exactly as before! He released the ball the same way as before. The ball spun as before. It took the same direction as before... Except, this time he got the coveted strike he was looking for! Victory was his! Then he did something I would have expected more from a football player than a bowler. He went into a tirade as if he were in a room by himself, talking to himself in a full length mirror!
I was so taken by surprise that I cannot remember what he said verbatim but I can say this: I will N-E-V-E-R watch bowling again!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway
February 24th, Friday... "Don't believe the hype!" Especially if it's about you!/ Now that Jeremy Lin has met the Miami Heat and had a sub-par game, maybe the media will stop creating the "super hero" they want Lin to be. Lin got the chance to be in the NBA... That's all! He can hang out but he is not going to dominate the thing. What has been proven so far is that there are a lot of bad defenders in the league or, for the sake of entertainment no defense is played to keep the game moving. Miami did not get that memo!
No fault of Lin's. He did not create the hype. He just went into the game, when told, and did what he does! ("Does what he do!" for you Ebonics readers!) He is a basketball player and he strengths and weaknesses like all players. It's the "ding-dang" media that is responsible for the (created) hysteria that surrounds Jeremy Lin.
What I like about the (personified) media is when they create something, then back off of it when called on the carpet. What is proves, to me, is that the media believes that everything that happens is a story and when it is not all that of a great story, they will hash it out until they think it is! Please!
Lin is an innocent bystander in all of this and now he may have to bear some pain because the Miami Heat exposed him. Hopefully he is of sound mind. But, no worries... The Knicks are corporate owned. They have plenty of cheese! They can hire a personal psychiatrist if Lin needs one. They can put him/her on a retainer and fly him/her out when needed!
Keep the faith Lin. You are in the city (Manhattan) where the fantasy becomes the reality! (If you lived in Brooklyn, reality would smack the shit out of you everyday!)
No fault of Lin's. He did not create the hype. He just went into the game, when told, and did what he does! ("Does what he do!" for you Ebonics readers!) He is a basketball player and he strengths and weaknesses like all players. It's the "ding-dang" media that is responsible for the (created) hysteria that surrounds Jeremy Lin.
What I like about the (personified) media is when they create something, then back off of it when called on the carpet. What is proves, to me, is that the media believes that everything that happens is a story and when it is not all that of a great story, they will hash it out until they think it is! Please!
Lin is an innocent bystander in all of this and now he may have to bear some pain because the Miami Heat exposed him. Hopefully he is of sound mind. But, no worries... The Knicks are corporate owned. They have plenty of cheese! They can hire a personal psychiatrist if Lin needs one. They can put him/her on a retainer and fly him/her out when needed!
Keep the faith Lin. You are in the city (Manhattan) where the fantasy becomes the reality! (If you lived in Brooklyn, reality would smack the shit out of you everyday!)
Sunday, February 19, 2012
A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway
February 19th, Sunday... Lately I have been hearing criticism about the "social media" phenom that has swept the world by storm. What I heard (criticism) is that there is no filter on what's being written or said and it poses a problem for the (more) established media outlets. So, I'm reading all of the accounts I get eyeball on Jeremy Lin (the Asian-American N.Y. Knick) because... well, he can ball! For whatever reason, there are those who were waiting for Lin to fail because he got off to a great start! His numbers were (are) great, save the turnovers. (Actually they are great also. He is leading the league in that category!/ LOL!).
Anyway, almighty ESPN, the omnipotent sports network stuck their athletic foot in their mouth by reporting that there is a "Chink In The Armor" after the Knicks loss to the New Orleans Hornets. Even with the loss, Lin had 26 points and 5 assists!
Institutionalized racism is like a venomous snake... The snake can live with the poison. When we get bitten, uhhh... antidote please!
Should ESPN go off the air? Probably not. Should someone lose their job? Probably! Why should they be allowed to hang around as it were. Shouldn't the person who said or wrote such a derogatory comment be held to a higher standard than that of some unfiltered, "social media" hack?
Anyway, almighty ESPN, the omnipotent sports network stuck their athletic foot in their mouth by reporting that there is a "Chink In The Armor" after the Knicks loss to the New Orleans Hornets. Even with the loss, Lin had 26 points and 5 assists!
Institutionalized racism is like a venomous snake... The snake can live with the poison. When we get bitten, uhhh... antidote please!
Should ESPN go off the air? Probably not. Should someone lose their job? Probably! Why should they be allowed to hang around as it were. Shouldn't the person who said or wrote such a derogatory comment be held to a higher standard than that of some unfiltered, "social media" hack?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway
February 14th, Tuesday... Okay, now I AM CONFUSED! I read a disturbing article about the embattled Bishop Eddie Long, who pastor's a huge church in Atlanta. Apparantly he participated in some unsavory sexual behavior and got caught and exposed. I already knew about this so it was not the incident(s) that shocked me. What bothered me was the response from a man that I wanted to believe in. I'm talking about TD Jakes, the big time preacher out of Texas who runs a mega church. I watch him on The Word Network, at the request of someome I am starting not to believe in as well. Jakes did not condemn Eddie Long for his behavior. He condemned the "consenting" participants! What the...?
Hey, don't get me wrong> I understand the concept of sticking up for your "crony!" I get it... That's your colleague, your homie, your road dog... You two break bread at the big tables, at the religious retreats at those exotic places! Collars art loosed and there's no telling what's said out of ear shot of the common folk.
But, should I follow a man who speaks (loudly) with a forked tongue? I (now) have a problem with watching and listening to a man who prances across the stage, screaming at the top of his voice about what is righteous behavior and what is not and how I should conduct my life according to the word. If men of such conviction cannot live up to the word of the highest order, why am I listening to them? Oh, what is good for you isn't good for me? I'm not down with that line of thinking at all!
Wait a minute... Maybe my expectations are too high? Just because a man can preach, that does not make him what I think he should be in that position. Maybe I misread the calling. I thought those who are chosen, lived by a standard much higher than the one I live by. I'm the fool. I thought that I am listening to men (and women) who are governed by the laws of Kingdom living! What the hell was I thinking? (Yes the pun is intended!!!)
Hey, don't get me wrong> I understand the concept of sticking up for your "crony!" I get it... That's your colleague, your homie, your road dog... You two break bread at the big tables, at the religious retreats at those exotic places! Collars art loosed and there's no telling what's said out of ear shot of the common folk.
But, should I follow a man who speaks (loudly) with a forked tongue? I (now) have a problem with watching and listening to a man who prances across the stage, screaming at the top of his voice about what is righteous behavior and what is not and how I should conduct my life according to the word. If men of such conviction cannot live up to the word of the highest order, why am I listening to them? Oh, what is good for you isn't good for me? I'm not down with that line of thinking at all!
Wait a minute... Maybe my expectations are too high? Just because a man can preach, that does not make him what I think he should be in that position. Maybe I misread the calling. I thought those who are chosen, lived by a standard much higher than the one I live by. I'm the fool. I thought that I am listening to men (and women) who are governed by the laws of Kingdom living! What the hell was I thinking? (Yes the pun is intended!!!)
Monday, February 13, 2012
A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway
February 13th, Monday... The New York Knicks should get rid of their new Asian sensation Jeremy Lin!I know, I know... It sounds cruel but it's not as cruel as it would be if they keep him.Ok, it's New York! Bright lights and fanfare and hoopla! (Pun intended!) It's Madison Avenue and Broadway and, well... Harlem! It's also Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire! They are stop gaps... Flow stoppers! They dominate the ball. Stoudemire is a basketball abyss and Anthony is the proverbial "black hole!" (Yes the pun is intended again.) Those two would make D'Antonie's offense look just like the traffic on Seventh Avenue and 34th Street. (That's way too much traffic in that area!LOL!) That being said, Jeremy Lin would be rendered ineffective and "Linsanity" would die a horrible death! The Knicks should release him so that he can be the man! "No man is an island" in Manhattan! Manhattan is an island unto itself and there will be no island before it! (Biblical humor! I dared to go there!) Lin is good enough to lead a team but it has to be a team that recognizes that! The Knicks can see that but New York is a weird place. Often things that should be, aren't. Does an undrafted Asian kid lead the big, bad Knicks? Sure he can. He's proved it already but the two basketball bullies aren't playing with him-yet!
This will all play itself out sooner or later but Lin should go. He is a legitimate NBA player and he has an upside! He will get better and stronger and smarter... That is if he can play with a team that will be "his team!" The Knicks will never be his team. There are too many who have claims on it now.
This will all play itself out sooner or later but Lin should go. He is a legitimate NBA player and he has an upside! He will get better and stronger and smarter... That is if he can play with a team that will be "his team!" The Knicks will never be his team. There are too many who have claims on it now.
A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway
February 13th, Monday... Yeah, I went to church yesterday and I'm glad I did! The Pastor was talking about getting your house in order... You know, things like finances, relationships, changing bad habits...Stuff like that. While listening to him, I noticed that when he hit on certain things there were real loud responses from the pulpit and I got to thinking... Is GOD in you or on you?
My thinking is that if GOD is in you, you live right. You are kind to people. Your disposition is cool. You are even keeled. You don't lose your mind in pressure situations. You just conduct yourself in a manner of self-control and respectfully.
When GOD is on you, you are a lunatic! You are evil, you live in deception. You will lie and cheat. You are self-absorbed and you don't care about anyone or anything!
So, I'm sitting there, listening to pastor deliver the word and people are screaming out when he said certain things and I'm thinking... What the...?
How much better would it be if we just treated ourselves better? If we just gave ourselves a chance, how would that translate to how we treat others? And, if that happened, how much better would our lives be?
I mean "what if" as opposed to "what the...?"
My thinking is that if GOD is in you, you live right. You are kind to people. Your disposition is cool. You are even keeled. You don't lose your mind in pressure situations. You just conduct yourself in a manner of self-control and respectfully.
When GOD is on you, you are a lunatic! You are evil, you live in deception. You will lie and cheat. You are self-absorbed and you don't care about anyone or anything!
So, I'm sitting there, listening to pastor deliver the word and people are screaming out when he said certain things and I'm thinking... What the...?
How much better would it be if we just treated ourselves better? If we just gave ourselves a chance, how would that translate to how we treat others? And, if that happened, how much better would our lives be?
I mean "what if" as opposed to "what the...?"
Thursday, February 9, 2012
A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway
February 9th, Thursday... Okay, how cool is this? The Giants won the Superbowl by beating the Patriots. Eli Manning is the victor quarterback and Tom Brady is the goat! Gisele Bundchen, Tom's wife, has weighed in the "shady aftermath" by throwing some of Tom's teammates under the bus. Brandon Jacobs of the Giants chimed in that Gisele should shut her yap and stay pretty. Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots all everything tight end got caught tripping the night fantastic at a party on a high ankle sprain and no shirt! This is post Superbowl fodder that has nothing to do with nothing. Who cares???
You would think that grown folks would act grown up after an athletic event. May the best team win. After the game, let the losers lick their wounds however they want to do it. Let the winners bask in the glow of ticker tape and victory. That is unless you are in the entourage of one of the losers and your rent won't get paid because your rent was predicated on your boy's Superbowl check, why be angry?
Maybe it's because of the fact that big boys are playing a little boy's game but are expected to ACT like big boys throughout the process!
Know this about pro sports... Whatever the game, it's a game! The $ is relative! Somebody is going to win and, rest assured, there will be a loser! Prepare yourself for both scenerios because both will happen! Lick your wounds or someone's ass, it doesn't matter. Back biting after a competition is for babies, baby!
You would think that grown folks would act grown up after an athletic event. May the best team win. After the game, let the losers lick their wounds however they want to do it. Let the winners bask in the glow of ticker tape and victory. That is unless you are in the entourage of one of the losers and your rent won't get paid because your rent was predicated on your boy's Superbowl check, why be angry?
Maybe it's because of the fact that big boys are playing a little boy's game but are expected to ACT like big boys throughout the process!
Know this about pro sports... Whatever the game, it's a game! The $ is relative! Somebody is going to win and, rest assured, there will be a loser! Prepare yourself for both scenerios because both will happen! Lick your wounds or someone's ass, it doesn't matter. Back biting after a competition is for babies, baby!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway
February 7th, Tuesday... Now that the Super Bowl is over and the Giants beat the almighty NE Patriots, I'm gonna dis-spell a myth. Eli Manning did not beat Tom Brady! Every time I hear a comment about how the quarterbacks compete against each other, I wonder about how many rabid football fans swallow that bull...? In football, offenses play against defenses. Offensive lines have to prevent the defense from getting to the quarterback so that he can operate. Tom Brady never blocked anyone in his professional football life! Eli Manning never had to evade a quarterback's advance to be effective!
The only comparison(s) that can be made between quarterbacks is through statistics and statistics are for freaks who get off on that stuff! I mean, who really cares about which quarterback is going into the Hall of Fame? They're both going in! (Just maybe not at the same time!)
The Giants are better than the Patriots, now. In a couple of years, the whole thing will flip and the Patriots will be better. That's how professional football goes. The Tom Brady's and Eli Manning's will get old and new quarterbacks will replace them. New teams will develop and the past will be remembered fondly and comparisons will abound. And for what? Freaked out statistics geeks will rise again! (Almost like Jesus! Whoa...)
The only comparison(s) that can be made between quarterbacks is through statistics and statistics are for freaks who get off on that stuff! I mean, who really cares about which quarterback is going into the Hall of Fame? They're both going in! (Just maybe not at the same time!)
The Giants are better than the Patriots, now. In a couple of years, the whole thing will flip and the Patriots will be better. That's how professional football goes. The Tom Brady's and Eli Manning's will get old and new quarterbacks will replace them. New teams will develop and the past will be remembered fondly and comparisons will abound. And for what? Freaked out statistics geeks will rise again! (Almost like Jesus! Whoa...)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
A Warped POV by A. Dacosta Brathway
February 1st, Wednesday... I will never tweet any words! I will not do Twitter!/ I just heard some disturbing news that cut me to the quick. Some company is paying Kim Kardashian $10,000.00 a tweet! What the hell can she say that is worth that kind of cheese? I have more profound things to say, in my warped frame of mind, than she could EVER say!
Don't get it twisted! I know it's not her... I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. She's not paying herself but she is sure cashing in for absolutely nothing! (And there are absolutely no absolutes! Go figure...)
So, what's my point? This whole thing is out of control. There are rules that defy all logic now. What makes sense is nonsense! It is all about believing bullshit now! I used to think I was going crazy... Compared to what? This whole damn thing is wack! I might have to accept the fact that I am quite sane! Lord have mercy!!!
Don't get it twisted! I know it's not her... I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. She's not paying herself but she is sure cashing in for absolutely nothing! (And there are absolutely no absolutes! Go figure...)
So, what's my point? This whole thing is out of control. There are rules that defy all logic now. What makes sense is nonsense! It is all about believing bullshit now! I used to think I was going crazy... Compared to what? This whole damn thing is wack! I might have to accept the fact that I am quite sane! Lord have mercy!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)