When Kings Die

In chess, when the king falls it's symbollic of the
game coming to an end.

A friend of mine tweeted something yesterday that suddenly made my heart stop. Not in a good way, this was the type of feeling you get when you hear that a loved one has passed away. A sudden chill comes over your body and you suddenly find yourself fighting back emotions and thinking back on memories from the past. The tweet read, "I didn't cry when Wilt (Chamberlain) died. But I prolly will when Mike (Michael Jordan) does."

This revelation reminded me of the game of chess and the rule of the game being over when the king falls or is tipped over. It's symbollism for accepting defeat but also symbollic that when a king actually does fall, he takes a large chunk of the game with him.

To some of you all reading this, you might wonder how a person could get so emotional at the mere thought of someone whom I've never met passing away. It's the same way people weeped on the streets when they heard of the person they idolized for decades, the King of Pop Michael Jackson passed. It's the same way people who welcomed the King of Comedy, Bernie Mac, into there homes every week on their television felt when he passed and some still find it difficult to watch his shows. It's the same way people are still grieving the death of the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Prestley.


After Jordan retired at the end of the 1998 season, the rating for the NBA dropped drastically because the king had left. We always had our fingers crossed hoping for another comeback to the Bulls that we even accepted a comeback to see him play once again with the Washington Wizards. I personally found myself being a fan of the Wizards just because he was on the team.....AND now i'm back to reality.

Regardless of if you personally knew the person or not, it's painful to see them go. The thought of losing an icon in your life is a devastating revelation and sport icons are no exception. Growing up in Chicago, I lived and breathe the Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan was seen as a god in the city who could do no wrong and the loyalists who watched every 82 game season still feels the same way. 

Through the gambling scandals, we say "Let him gamble, it's his money. Why not spend it how he wants?" Through accusations of cheating on his wife, we say "We always knew Juanita wasn't wrapped too tight. She had mental problems. I heard she was crazy!" And in the Black community, women have historically had a problem with Black men dating White women, which Michael is no stranger to. But I've heard Black women from Chicago say, "Well it's Mike! Juanita's crazy a** ruined it for all of us!"


Jordan fans will be loyal til the inevitable and very dark day when he passes and dare anyone to speak negatively of him. Why? Because Jordan spoiled us by always giving us what we wanted. We wanted a Black hero in Chicago, in comes MJ. We wanted an MVP-caliber player, MJ's the answer. We wanted a championship, Michael said, "I'll give you six."

This man could walk in any MJ enthusiasts home and slap their mother. When their mother tells them what he did, they would STILL consider their mother a liar if her cheek was red and MJ was standing their with a sign that said, "Yeah, I did it!"
Everyone's icon may not be Jordan, but everyone without a doubt has an icon they feel the same way about. We allow these celebrities into our home through our televisions and get so emotionally attached that we feel we owe them our loyalty and undying support. Crazy? Yeah, maybe. But it doesn't matter. Through heartache of disappointments and everything else we're going to be supportive. 


People in Chicago mourned the day Walter Payton passed because he was an all-out, smash mouth running back who gave his heart and soul on the field on any given Sunday. I didn't have a chance to watch Payton as much as Jordan but it still hurt me to see a hometown icon leave the earth after witnessing the impact he had on such a large city and millions of people. 

There never will be another Jordan for our generation. He's the greatest of all-time to us. Just like previous generations and different corners of the country might make a case for Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell being the greatest, MJ is our one. The next generation may say the same about some up-and-coming player but even after the day our king dies, he will still remain upright on the chess board and on top of his throne.

How Major League Baseball Lost It's Swag

Mark McGwire was a superstar in baseball
before it was revealed he took steroids.

Usually I hate to use cliche words such as grind and swag but for this occasion I'll make an exception because it fits so well. It's no secret that baseball has lost some of it's popularity over the past decade. With all of the scandals and controversy, baseball can no longer be considered America's pasttime unless referred to in a different context.

No fan wants to see their favorite player going through a bad streak or some type of controversy. As a result of the controversy and scandals, the team struggles from not having the player's usual influence on the outcome of the game. This is seen in baseball more than any sport. Since the steroids controversy and the league randomly testing some players, there has been a steady decrease in player's performances.

What's my proof? This year in the majors there was a total of five no hitters, which is the most in the league since the 1990 and 1991 seasons when there was a total of seven each year. Before that the most recorded in a year was eight, which was set in 1884.  In all of these seasons, accept the 1884 season which nobody but Yoda was alive to see, baseball declined in popularity.

The 1990 season brought controversy with it just as the current state of baseball has. This is the year Pete Rose was ruled ineligible by major league baseball for gambling on games. After Rose, who was a favorite around the league for his dedication and hard work he put into every play, even groundball outs when he still ran full speed. After Rose was banned from the sport he dedicated his life to, all the other hitters shut down also. Obviously there was more illegal activity occuring that affected other hitters in the league since every pitcher in the league began to look like Nolan Ryan.

Baseball is a hitter's sport. Nobody wants to see a hundred no-hitters in a season. Where's the excitement in that? Fans get a kick out of homeruns and athletes going on hitting streaks a la Mickey Mantle and Ichiro Suzuki. The season of McGwire and Sosa's homerun battle was the best thing baseball has seen since....dare I say it, Hank Aaron breaking the homerun record. Popularity for the sport went up drastically and tickets were being sold as if Jesus was making an appearance at every ballpark these two sluggers would visit.

Of course we also had the Barry Bonds era but it didn't have the same appeal. We all knew he was injecting steroids in every vain of his body so there wasn't a believable storyline to write a fairy tale novel on. Since all of the steroid talk and players being randomly selected for drug tests, the hitters in baseball have taken a backseat to the pitchers which no one wants to see.



This is just a theory, but everytime there is a controversy in baseball it seems as if the pitcher's stats skyrocket. Is it because every slugger is using drugs banned by Major League Baseball? Could be. Is it because the pitchers are all of a sudden being helped by Angels in the Outfield? HIGHLY doubt it. My theory is the players are affected by the news of another player being caught and it kills their slugger mentality and causes them to worry about being caught themselves. So either they slow down purposely or subconsciously.

Whatever the reason is that so many hitters are in slump, one thing is clear. Baseball has lost it's swag. No longer is it America's favorite past time but now it can be considered in my opinion America's favorite sport in past times. Baseball needs a hitter who isn't juiced up on steroids to emerge, and quick. The majors are lacking a squeaky clean image who can redeem the sport. I would start looking at Triple A and high schools now because after a while, baseball will be a forgotten sport.

In the NBA, Less Is More...Well, Sometimes...



Carmelo Anthony (left) and Kevin Durant (right) are making a name for
themselves without giving the typical superstar egos.







  The NBA is not only for entertainment from the month of October to April anymore. The players have expanded the brand to making it a reality show during the summer months. This was doubtedly planned out by the NBA and their ego-stricken players, but has become a sign of the times with a new generation coming into the mix. Although some of the "superstars" of the NBA build their brand by catapulting themselves in the spotlight and scratch & scream to stay there, there are a few superstars in the league who make a name for themselves and earn respect by simply playing the game.

Don't be alarmed, this isn't another LeBron bashing perspective. That story will play itself out during the season. But often we forget about the players in the NBA who quietly get their jobs done on the court by being the leaders of their teams and not complaining about contracts or making themselves seem more important than they are.

Recently, Denver forward Carmelo Anthony's name has been brought up in trade talks with multiple teams including the Bulls, Nets and Knicks. This is a usual situation in any sport. Players get traded and deal with contract negotiations and things of that sort every year. But the class that Anthony has handled the situation with is a thing of the past in the NBA and now gets no attention.

The media hypes up and glorifies players who invest their lives into making everything all about themselves and sometimes ignore the class of some of the NBA's hardest working and humble players. I'm here to give that recognition. Carmelo, I applaud you for dealing with this situation with class and flying under the radar as a respectful superstar in the NBA. I'm praying to see you with the Bulls (wishful thinking), but nonetheless I applaud your humility.

Players like Anthony are starting to emerge in talks of being the best players in the NBA without bringing all the luggage marked "Drama" with them. One of these players is Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant. Durant's stock has continued to rise this summer after leading Team USA to a gold medal and beating LeBron James for the league scoring title during the season. Durant boasts a squeaky clean image with an educated background, no tattoos, and slate that's so clean he can see himself in it.

Durant is only 22 but handles himself better than some veteran players who constantly complain about playing time or contract negotiations. He may not reach an NBA title with the Oklahoma City Thunder but he showed his loyalty during the summer when he quietly signed an extension with the expansion team.

Tim Duncan also has the humility of Durant and Anthony. Regarded by some as the best power forward of all-time, Duncan has the stats of a player who should have a supersized ego but remains humble. Duncan is a four-time NBA champion, three of which he was the Finals MVP, and two-time most valuable player. These are just a few of Duncan's accolades, but you get my point.

These players stocks are rising stemming from other players being the extreme opposite and fans getting fed up with the huge ego athletes who manage to talk trash and boast their skills but never win a championship ring.

These three superstars are earning the right to be comparable with the likes of Magic, Bird and Jordan off and on the court. Maybe some of you other "superstar" athletes will take note and realize the egos are getting old and the new way to gain respect is to keep your peace and let your skills speak for you instead of the constantly ajar hole on your faces.

Loveable Losers Losing Appeal

Like so many other fans of sports teams, my favorite teams logo is embedded on my chest as a symbol of pride. That logo says that you stick with that team through winning and losing seasons without giving up. Except for a few expletives you might scream at the TV when watching your team, you quickly forgive them. Similiar to the Sour Patch Kids candy commercial...first their sour, then their sweet. Fans of the Chicago Cubs have experienced this sweet feeling. They might be dead now because the Cubs haven't experienced the sweet feeling of experiencing a World Series title in over a hundred years, but we constantly have stuck with this team. Is it time to give it up and take the "Loveable" title off of this cursed team?

I started watching the Cubs in 98 when Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire had their homerun battle. Since then I've seen the almost good, the bad and the ugly from a team that blames it's hundred year World Series drought on curses and goats that have nothing to do with the play on the field.

Players have come and gone since the 1998 season and after watching this team for a little over 10 years I've realized one thing...the curse is REAL! There's no other way to explain it. 2002 was our year. The right pieces were all in order. We had a proven World Series winning manager, great offensive threats and a pitching staff the New York Yankees would kill for. But then, the curse began to take its course. The infamous Bartman catch ruined our chances.

Ever since that season the Cubs have been going down further and further in the standings and that logo that all of us have embedded on our chest is unraveling quickly. Why set yourself up for disappointment when you know the outcome? It's a 102year trend and it's not going to end anytime soon. So is this team still loveable despite the heartbreaks they've given us over the years?

That's like asking if you can still love a girlfriend after she betrayed you, cheated on you and burned your house down. After taking so much, you can't deal with it anymore and you have to leave. Not to imply that I'm a bandwagon fan, but I just can't watch anymore or go back to that girlfriend who has caused me so much heartache. I may double back if I see hope for the future, but even then I would be skeptical of things working out because of the heartache from the past.

Now that Lou Piniella has given up, Dusty Baker left, and Sammy Sosa's skin color has changed, maybe it's time for us to also make a change. We've been supporting this team and putting our hearts and dollars into an organization that isn't doing anything to make the right moves towards winning a championship. It's like we're settling for mediocrity and accepting the title of this team being the Loveable Losers. I can admit the only reason I attend games is because they've been free and the women around Wrigley Field are much more appealing than the team but seeing as though I usually only make it to one game a season, this appeal for the women of Wrigley can only go so far.

We are the fans and we demand to be heard! We want a World Series title! And if this team doesn't deliver within the next 5 years, a riot will ensue, led by yours truly. I'll lead a group holding tiki torches in Cubs jerseys to the field to demand a change. And I know your tactics to distract me Cubs organization, so don't you dare send out those Wrigley women to distract me from this protest. "Now you can run and tell THAT! Homeboy!"

Shirts vs. Blouses

The big news coming from the New York Jets camp this week was unfortunately for the team from an unusual place. The news wasn't coming from the field or from any of the players whining about their contract as the New England Patriots had to deal with. The big story came from the locker room.

Female reporter from Mexico Network TV Azteca, Ines Sainz (took me a few times to get the spelling right on this name, was covering a story for the Mexican TV station on the Jets and claimed she felt "very uncomfortable" around the Jets players. She claims the NFL players let out a few catcalls and whistles directed towards her in the locker room while she was waiting with two of her co-workers to interview Mark Sanchez who is of Latin descent.

Players also reportedly made her feel uncomfortable on the practice field when Jets assistant coach Dennis Thurman seemed to deliberately throw in her direction on the sideline to receivers in the area. At the end of the drill, Jets coach Rex Ryan threw a ball to Thurman in the area of Sainz where he held a brief conversation with her, which made her even more uncomfortable. After the incident was made public, the Jets front office issued her an apology and the NFL is now in the process of reviewing the matter to determine if any actions should be taken against the personnel involved. Sainz also went to twitter with her issues, expressing how uncomfortable she was and thankful for the support from other women who were familiar with the story.

Sainz is marketed as a reporter for Mexico Network TV Azteca but also as a model who on their website is labeled as the "Perfect woman," featuring her in a skimpy bikini (http://www.tvazteca.com/ventaneando/revista/galerias/ines-sainz.shtml.) Googling her name would also produce a number of sexy photos that aren't usually seen from a sports reporter.

Now that all the facts are in, people are questioning whether women should be banned from the locker room of professional athletes. Why even question this...OF COURSE THEY SHOULD! Let's also make them walk around in old Puritan dresses with their bodies covered from head to toe around men to keep them from being tempted. Hey, while we're at it let's also only allow white males in the locker room and put a "Whites Only" sign on the doors. Lets have a completely separate entrance for White and Black reporters so the Blacks will have to get interviews last and let their White counterparts be the first to break the story. While we're at it, let's bring back slavery and not even allow black players to be professional athletes....LET'S GET REAL!

This is 2010 and if you didn't notice we've evolved from the Stone Age. There are female reporters now doing a damn good job in their profession and some are even stomping mud holes in their male competition. The idea of women not being able to be allowed in locker rooms is sexist and ridiculous to say the least. The NFL has had equal access policy since 1985 and even questioning female reporters place in the locker room would be taking a step back.

I'm sure the question will never be asked of if males should be allowed in the WNBA locker room so why create a double standard. The only issue I have with this story is the sensitivity of Sainz. Now I may be Rodney King'd for saying this but female sports reporters have to understand what they're getting themselves into before they go through those locker room doors. Especially attractive ones. Sainz already being on the Mexico Azteca TV website in skimpy clothing is a sign of degrading herself. You would never see Cheryl Miller, Sage Steele or Pam Oliver in skimpy clothing or sexually leading positions, so Sainz needs to get with the program and find ways to gain respect.

That's the way it is and will always be. This isn't the first time this has happened, surely. A group of men see an attractive woman and the barking and catcalls will commence. Not to completely dismiss being sexist but that's the way it is, has been, and will be. Men and women are two different creatures with completely different approaches to situations. Sainz has to deal with it and move on. It comes with the sports reporter job as a woman. Get with it or get lost.

5 Reasons Miami Heat Will Fizzle

Now that all the "Decisions" were made, the celebration has ended and the smoke has cleared, let's get down to the only thing that really matters in the NBA, getting a ring.

The Miami Heat, who in some circles are referred to as the "Super Friends" now is suddenly everyone's favorite to come out of the East and win a ring now that Bosh and LeBron have brought their talent to South Beach, but is this seriously realistic? We've seen superstars team up before to win rings but this is a completely different scenario.

The stars aren't aligning perfectly for the self-titled Team John Dillinger and there are five reasons the Heat will not only fizzle, but never win a championship ring with this team.

1. Actually, number one could also be two through five but it's one word: Lakers. Suddenly everyone is discounting the talent that the Lakers have on their PROVEN championship team. Since the beginning I've said LeBron would not win a ring as long as Kobe Bryant is still in the league, even if he had went to the Bulls. Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Derik Fisher are somewhere laughing at the predictions of the Heat winning a ring instantly; and Ron Artest is just somewhere with a tin foil hat on laughing at himself in a mirror. Surprisingly the Lakers, despite winning five rings in the past 10 years, are still the underdog and ready to prove themselves again where it counts, the court.

2. The performance I saw from LeBron in the playoffs this past year showed me that he crumbles under pressure and media scrutiny. The second reason the Heat and the "King" will not win a title is the "King." With his latest questionable move of joining the Heat, LeBron has proven that he doesn't have the mental toughness to perform in crunch time. When you have the greatest player ever in the NBA questioning your move to join a team of superstars, you have to question yourself. Even Jordan agreed that Kobe Bryant was still the best player in the NBA over the self-titled "King," which I'm guessing would make LeBron the Prince???

3. Erik Spoelstra. I'm sure he's a good coach, but he's no Phil Jackson or Doc Rivers who both have signed on to come back to their teams. Spoelstra's a young coach still trying to find his niche in the league and his stint as head coach might be shorter than people expect. Pat Riley dangling Spoelstra on marionette strings from his skybox won't be enough to take this team to a title. Working with three superstar ego players has never been an easy task for any coach. Even Phil Jackson lost a couple....hundred strands of hair dealing with the egos of Kobe and Shaq but once again, Spoelstra's no Phil Jackson.

4. 1 ball, 3 egos. The big three have already taken huge pay cuts to be on this Dream Team of sorts. Sharing the ball for 82 games out of the season will eventually be a problem. We've seen the social networks and reality shows that actually show us that the characters on Any Given Sunday and The Game are real. These players have egos and pride that their not willing to compromise with. By the 60th game, someone on the team will be referred to as a gun or ball hog by another teammate and it'll be all downhill from there.

5. Dan Gilbert. Ok, this is a comical one. Or shall I say a "comic sans" one. I actually ran out of reason and this one seemed perfect to end with. Dan Gilbert and every die hard Cleveland sports fan will do everything in their power to make sure the LeBron James will NOT win a ring. Some saw Dan Gilbert letter as comical, but I saw it as a threat. Maybe Dan Gilbert and Ron Artest should be taking the same medication because both are a sandwich short of a picnic. Gilbert promised the city of Cleveland that the Cavaliers will win a title before LeBron and I honestly believe in his word. Of course the Cavaliers will never win a title but the threat made me believe if LeBron came close to a title, he would come up missing; similiar to Damon Wayans in the 1996 movie Celtic Pride. And his promise would hold true. Don't be surprised if it happens. Crazier things have happened in Cleveland history...the shot, the catch, the fumble, the drive, the decision and next....THE DISAPPEARANCE.

End of Convention

Ok, so I lied. I didn't have time to blog everyday about my experiences at the convention but just to update...I met plenty of people in the journalism industry who I admire and networked with numerous individuals.

The event I was in charge of, "Salute to Excellence," went very well even though there was some confusion at first. Usually I'm not the loudest person in the room but I had to step out of my comfort zone and put on the journalist cap which makes me break out of the usual laid back and reserved Royce and become aggressive, persistent, won't accept no for an answer Royce Strahan.

By the end of the convention I couldn't believe I was getting paid to do something that I love. Working with other journalist who are on the same path as me and want nothing more than to get their big break was a priceless opportunity. Many people have the same dream but never manage to implement the actions necessary to make their dream a reality. The people I encountered at the convention were completely different. Every single individual had drive, passion, and a desire to just break out of the norm and become a leading figure in their specific field.

The last day of the convention brought emotions to most of the staff. We all pretty much spent most of the day working with each other without any tempers flaring or problems arising. Our staff was the epitome of a team that worked well together to plan the largest event for journalists of color. I came to love this organization for the things they have accomplished and the impact the organization has had on journalists of color around the world.

Unfortunately my "vacation" only lasted so long. Coming back to my dorm at Howard, I realized I had been locked out of my room as a result of not having fall housing. It's amazing how things can all of a sudden change in the blink of an eye. One minute, I'm living it up in Tampa Bay and the next I'm a homeless college student trying to exhaust every option in order to have a place to sleep.

Luckily, a friend allowed me to stay with them until I came back to Chicago. If I didn't learn anything else in Tampa, I learned to let people know how much I appreciate their help when they go out of their way to assist me in anyway. Whether it's a server in a restaurant or someone who helps me with a situation with a smile on their face, I'm sure to let people know I appreciate the time they take to make my experiences in life a little easier.

I'm now back home in Chicago, hoping to hear something back from the places I've applied to live for the fall semester. Hopefully everything works out. Pray for me...to be continued.