Jerry Sloan to Resign

Utah Jazz coach, Jerry Sloan, has announced that he will retire after a total of 20 seasons as an NBA coach. Sloan's assistant coach, Phil Johnson, will also resign. Sloan, who is in the basketball hall of fame as a coach and is a former player with the Chicago Bulls and Baltimore Bullets, leaves in the middle of the season with his team on a 31-23 record and playoff run. Seems like something went wrong for a legendary coach as Sloan to leave in the middle of the season. Stay tuned.

Every Superhero Needs Their Theme Music




Wiz Khalifa has not just made a name for himself in the music industry, but now he's crossing over into professional sports with his song "Black & Yellow."

 

I'M BACK! HELLO ALL! It's been a while since I've posted on here. My apologies, “Did you miss me??? (Varnel Hill voice) A million things have occurred in sports since my last post, but some things remain the same. Cam Newton's still under the NCAA's microscope, Tiger Woods is still struggling after his wife financially raped him and Sammy Sosa is still a white man.

After getting over the heartbreak of my beloved Bears losing to the Packers in the NFC playoffs, I'm now looking forward to a competitive Superbowl matchup between Green Bay and the Pittsburgh Steelers. One thing has stood out to me amongst all the media hoopla surrounding the highly publicized game, which has nothing to do with the play of the field: the theme song for this year's big game, "Black & Yellow."

Is it just me or has anybody else noticed the NBA and NFL's use of rap artists songs for promotional use lately? I swear during the pregame show, postgame show and the actual game I heard an entire Kanye West album. Maybe the NFL just loves Kanye, like I'm sure all of us do, but hip-hop artists have emerged as the theme music for most sport events. Kanye, Jay-Z and now Wiz Khalifa have all been used as the theme music for the NFL and NBA to get the fans hype about the game they’re about to see and in the highlight reels.

This year's theme seems to the Wiz Khalifa's "Black & Yellow," especially with the emergence of his hometown team in the Superbowl. Maybe I'm the only one who had this thought, but we all know what Wiz Khalifa is about and what type of image he portrays. If not, you can watch this interview that emerging BET personality and Howard alum Jabari Johnson had with him recently and be filled in on what I'm talking about.

Wiz Khalifa's song has not just been huge on the Billboard charts, it has motivated an entire culture of Pittsburgh fans whose teams all sport the black and yellow colors (took me a while to figure the correlation out, also. Don't worry, you're not alone). Just as the '85 Bears theme became the Superbowl Shuffle and is still being referred to and mimicked on Saturday Night Live, Pittsburgh teams have their theme that will be played for decades to come. Take a bow, Wiz.

I'll be the first to admit, I'm a Wiz Khalifa fan. He's emerged overnight as a great artist who's going to be around for a while and "Black & Yellow" is a club banger that makes even the wall flowers in the club get up and dance. What's interesting though is that the super sensitive NFL, which has come down hard on people for their flaws and what might not be portrayed as a "positive image," uses an artist such as Wiz during their games.

If anything, this shows that the league is all about pleasing the viewers until somebody complains. You think the league would've cared if nobody complained about seeing Janet Jackson's....uh situation, during the halftime show a few years back? (Still drooling by the way) The league acted as if they were enraged and sentenced Janet Jackson to be stoned by a white guy named Justin Timberlake because they had viewers complaining that they were enraged. If there's no reaction from viewers, the league won't react. Similarly, when the league cracked down on Steelers linebacker James Harrison for his hard hits but were going to sell the photos of the hit for profit, it was all about money and the league did nothing until players called them out on it.

So for now, I'll enjoy the Kanye and Wiz Khalifa soundtracks playing during the highlight reels and during the games. Pretty soon I'm sure someone will be writing in and complaining that the artists songs played during games aren't "family friendly." In reaction, the league will also have to act enraged and then we'll be forced to listen to Hootie & the Blowfish again.

Newton: Regular College Kid or Criminal?



Cam Newton has since left Auburn after
controversy surrounded him.

Anyone who's been in college can relate to the story of Auburn's star quarterback and former Heisman candidate, Cam Newton. Newton left Auburn University this past week in reaction to allegations that there were attempts by someone close to Newton to solicit money from Mississippi State.

Newton started his collegiate career at the University of Florida and left the institution after being charged with stealing a laptop. According to FoxSports.com, Newton also faced charges of academic cheating at the University in three separate instances and decided to transfer before he was punished for his apparent actions. Newton apparently cheated in class his freshman year, violating the honor code, and turned in two papers which were not written by him his sophomore year at Florida.

Newton then transferred to Blinn College in Texas for a short stint before he was recruited by Auburn University. Other universities attempted to persuade Newton to their schools, such as Mississippi State, but were unsuccessful. Now, the Heisman candidate's past is finally catching up with him. Most college students know someone who has cheated or have done it themselves. Let's be honest, around finals when you have 10+ page papers for four of seven classes and you're also juggling being an active student on campus, having someone write one of those papers for you is an appealing idea.

Don't turn your nose up at me like that! You know you've done it to, whether it was a little earlier (some people start in grammar school) or you've cut corners in some other areas such as your career, everybody's taken short cuts. Newton is just in an unfortunate position because he was caught.

This is just another example of how college athletes aren't taken care of while in college. College athletes are constantly put under an insurmountable amount of pressure with classes, their respective sport and searching for money to support themselves. Some athletes are provided with a full ride which sounds appealing, especially to the broke student working multiple jobs and picking up double shifts while still being able to only afford Ramen Noodle packs to eat on a daily basis (if it sounds like I'm speaking from experience, you're right, I'm going through it now).

Sure, college athletes could constantly call home and beg their parents for money but there's usually an amount of pride that comes along in college when you want to survive on your own two feet and be a man. Of course these athletes could get a job to pay for certain expenses, but it's no fun not getting any sleep at all during the week. Trust me, I know.

I'm curious to know the truth behind the "stolen laptop" story. If Newton wasn't already provided with a laptop by the University of Florida as a student with so much potential, shame on the University. Considering how highly the Auburn athletic director and coach speak of Newton, (seen here) I seriously doubt he would steal a laptop for any reason besides needing the extra money or needing one himself. This young guy is a victim of circumstances and is now being nailed to the cross for a few mistakes he's made.

The allegations of soliciting money from Mississippi State is nothing new in college sports. Athletes are lured to universities with money in the form of a full scholarship and all expenses paid for while some go even further and offer cold cash, jewelry and even cars. Mississippi State lost the bid for Newton after promising him an undisclosed amount of money and is retaliating by releasing this information.

Reports that Newton's father accepted money from Mississippi State through the church's account where he's a pastor is the REAL story. With the corruptions of the Black church being revealed daily, this is just another instance of a crooked pastor trying to get the most out of a situation and I COMPLETELY believe this allegation. It's the story of a money hungry college athlete who's being guided by his money hungry parent who will pursue top dollar at any cost. Does this sound familiar *COUGH LeBron COUGH*. Wow, excuse me.

Until all of the facts come out and Newton and his father actually address the allegations, my mind is made up on three things. Newton is an innocent college kid who is desperate for money, his father is a crooked pastor who's trying to get the most out of his son's success and this isn't the first or last time this will happen in college sports....the trend continues.

SNFL: Soft National Football League

The 1985 Bears style of play is no more in the new age soft NFL.

We've watched this season as the NFL has taken every twist and turn possible from player-coach beefs to players being fined for hitting each other to hard. No one predicted any of this at the beginning of the season. Who would've thought the last three undefeated teams in the league would be the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears. You could make a case for the Steelers, but the Chiefs and Bears?

As a fan who watches and analyzes every Bears game, I understand how lucky they can be at times. Anyone else who follows the team remembers the years when safety Mike Brown would miraculously intercept passes at the end of almost every game to win the game. This would be a necessity as a result of the Bears having quarterback disasters and curses since Jim McMahon. Maybe the Chiefs actually have talent, but knowing the amount that I'm aware of  about the team, I'm sure talent is one thing that doesn't show up on Arrowhead Stadium's field unless it comes from the away team.

Two of the biggest stories this season has been the instability of the Minnesota Vikings and the issue of players being fined for hard hits. The fans of the Viking have called for coach Brad Childress' head after releasing Randy Moss after only four weeks of being with the team in which he had 13 catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Childress released Moss without any announcement to the Vikings front office or the team.

Childress was also rumored to have engaged in an altercation with wide receiver Percy Harvin this week, who some think was influenced by Moss' short stint with the Vikings. Unless the Vikings make a move to switch coaches in the middle of the season, which would only hurt the team, Childress will definitely be canned at the end of the season.

Another issue is the hits some players are taking that are knocking them into Looney Toon world. Steeler's linebacker James Harrison has been taxed with three fines totaling $100,000 this season off of hard hits alone. After the last fine, Harrison was quoted as saying, "The amount of money is becoming an issue. The fines that they issued to me, two of them weren't even called penalties. I don't even know what to say anymore."

Now, you might ask yourself why players are being fined for doing what is encouraged in a league where smash mouth football is glorified. I'm also questioning this movement by the NFL to "protect their players." Substantial financial protection isn't provided for the players in the NFL after they sustain a career-ending injury in a game, so the NFL has managed to find a way to cover their asses and minimize the damage players take during games. Some might be blind to it, but this is exactly what the league is doing and it's appalling.

Let these guys play the game they love without penalizing them for giving the fans what they want. They're aware of the dangers of playing professional football and continue to put their bodies on the line for the ridiculous amount being paid to them.

I'm a firm believer that these penalties and fines have placed the NFL in a much "softer" light. Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert and Lawrence Taylor would've been completely different players if these fines and penalties were enforced during their days. We can't completely change players from something they've been conditioned to do for years, so let's not try to change them at all.

MVP-Most Valuable Point

Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo and Chicago Bulls point
guard Derrick Rose are both making a case for being their
team's most valuable point guard.

I'm going to try something here. I know that usually I can be quite biased when it comes to this blog, but who cares. I'm a Chicago sports fan and I'm not going to apologize to anyone because of it. I guess today I'll try to give the readers of this blog (all 65,000 of you, *wishful thinking*) an unbiased opinion of who's the most valuable point guard in the NBA.

As of now, the top rated point guards in the NBA are Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, and Steve Nash and if I left someone out....YES it's on purpose. When measuring who is the most valuable player of the league, "experts" usually add up stats and determine their vote based off of numbers instead of also considering the value of the player to the team and the league. Because I feel like the players value to the team is the most important statistic, allow me to bring this into the equation when figuring out who the best player is.

As of now, Steve Nash is a great player but for the sake of being consistent with considering the value of the player to the team, Nash can be eliminated from this equation. The Phoenix Suns have made the playoffs every year except in 2009, but they have never managed to get past the powers in the Western Conference. Although Steve Nash provides a consistent scoring and passing effort every night, he has never led his team to a title and people are getting bored by his style of play now that he's aging.

Leading your team to a title after six years of attempts is important in this league. I sympathize with Nash because he will definitely go down in history as one of the best point guards of all time but still be ring-less. It happens to the best of them...Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and Karl Malone never won a title but are considered some of the greatest players in history. They manage to display their bitterness every time they get the chance.

Chris Paul is a great point guard and a valuable asset to the New Orleans Hornets, leading them to the playoffs in back to back seasons. This season he's averaged 20 points, six assists and nine rebounds which are pretty solid statistics to keep him in the running for top three consideration at the point guard position.

The final two are the players everyone is comparing this season. Two players with overwhelming speed, the court vision of an entire team put together and endurance that can allow a coach to play them 48 minutes a game. Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose are dazzling the media and fans with their style of play which is valuable for their team as well as the league. Rondo has made a name for himself after leading the Boston Celtics in the playoffs the past three seasons. This season he's averaging 10.7 points, six rebounds and 16.7 assists which is an out of this world stat. You have to ask yourself, where would the Boston Celtics be without Rondo? Could Nate Robinson lead the team? Maybe, but not with the same intensity displayed by Rondo.

My hometown boy! Derrick Rose. No guard impresses the NBA with style and improvements more than Rose. This season, he's improved his shooting and his court vision seems to improve every game with limited turnovers. Rose has led the team to two postseason appearances but was put out in 2009 by the Boston Celtics in a series analysts describe as one of the best series of all-time and in 2010 by the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. His explosiveness and style of play excites not only Bull fans but fans of the NBA(Derrick Rose highlights here).

I look at Chris Paul as the number three point guard. He's valuable to his team, but doesn't contribute much to the league. So, it's between Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo. Rondo, of course, has the upper hand because he's led his team to a championship. Rose has a jump shot that is an upper hand on Rondo which can lead his team to game winning shots in the clutch, but this hasn't been seen as of yet. Although the Bulls would be lost without Derrick Rose, his presence hasn't led the team to a championship yet.

It's a difficult decision to make and even harder to go against the hometown player but, Rajon Rondo is the best point guard in the league. Rose is a game-winner in the playoffs away from taking this title from Rondo but until that happens, the Celtics point guard gets my vote (Rondo highlights here).

Quality Coaching a Thing of the Past?



Phil Jackson is one of the last legendary
coaches in professional sports. Who will
take over after he's retired?



We all know them. They're usually in the background orchestrating everything that we see on the field and courts. Most of them were once at the forefront, but as a result of age, bad knees and slowing down physically, they've been downgraded to a back-up position to the players. They are the coaches and managers of professional sport teams.

This past week we've seen how important coaching is in the NBA and NFL. Ultimately, during the game, the coach has the final decision. Only after the game can the decisions they make be scrutinized and punished by the executives who sit in their luxury suites and dish out millions of dollars to keep the fans content. This past week, bad coaching was first seen by the fans of the Washington Redskins. 

Head coach Mike Shanahan benched quarterback Donovan McNabb for former Bears castaway Rex Grossman for a reason that doesn't even make sense in the world of Ron Artest's mind. McNabb was taken out of the game because according to Mike Shanahan, "he doesn't have the cardiovascular endurance for a 2-minute drill." O really? Let me remind you Coach Shanahan that Donovan McNabb is a six-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, has led his teams to 15 fourth quarter comebacks and 23 game-winning drives in his career. Rex Grossman's claim to fame was in the Superbowl with the Bears in 2007 in which he proved why he shouldn't be a starting quarterback in the league. Digging deeper, it sounds like the Redskins organization has more serious issues than "cardiovascular endurance."

Another decision made this past week was by Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress to terminate future Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss. After acquiring Randy Moss less than three weeks ago from the New England Patriots, Childress claimed that Moss wasn't a positive person for the Vikings team. This came after Moss was fined $25,000 for not talking to the media and fired back by announcing to the media that he would only answer his own questions in interviews and press conferences and not the questions by the press. Childress is now facing scrutiny by the Vikings owner Zygi Willf who reportedly is not happy with the teams decision to place Moss on waivers for any other team to claim him.

While these 2 coaches believe they made the right decisions for the team, can they be so sure that these decisions were not personal? It was known beforehand that Mike Shanahan had an issue with not getting the productivity out of McNabb they thought they would get at the beginning of the season. Now that McNabb has led the Redskins to a subpar, but still respectable record, Shanahan is not pleased with the results he's received. 

It's ridiculous for any NFL team to believe one player can come to a team and become the savior that will lead them to a 16-0 record. The NFL is a team sport. Players rarely are seen on both sides of the ball and even when they are, they cannot be all 11 players on that side. It's a team sport. It seems as if quality coaching is a thing of the past. The coaches who could have multiple superstars on one team with just as many egos and keep the team together as a cohesive unit seems to be a thing of the past. Only a handful of coaches are capable of taking a back seat and allowing players to flex their egos. This handful includes every professional sport.

The best manager of egos I've seen in my lifetime is Phil Jackson. Dealing with egos and superstar arrogance is what this man's life has been dedicated to. Mike Ditka was also an excellent coach with a knack for keeping players in check and making sure they worked together to play a quality game every day of the season. Vince Lombardi, Red Auerbach, Pat Riley, Tony LaRussa, Lou Piniella and the list goes on and on of great coaches who have set the tone in professional sports. Who will be the next coaches to be placed in the category of being legendary and immortal? We aren't seeing the behavior that is a model of a great coach lately in sports by the younger coaches. Are we moving into an age of subpar coaches? We shall see.

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.

Convention FINALLY starts!

It's Wednesday morning! Which means the NABJ (National Association of Black Journalists) Convention officially starts. All of the preparation and preliminary work I and the staff have done will finally be seen throughout the remainder of the week.

Firstly, let me start by talking about a funny comparison. I was told yesterday that I have a celebrity twin and was mistaken for Andre 3000. The concierge at the hotel thought I was there to perform at the convention. I've heard this comparison before from a friend but I just don't see it at all. Rajon Rondo...I can understand how people say I look similiar. Chris Tucker...maybe when my voice is really high, but not looks. Mr. Burns...I hate anyone who has ever made this comparison lol.

Yesterday I was walking into the hotel and I spotted a familiar looking guy who I thought was just one of the members who was here for the convention but didn't put two and two together until he had walked pass me and was gone. I thought about it for a second after he passed and realized I had just walked past Detroit Pistons president, Joe Dumars. Also a NBA Hall of a Famer, Joe Dumars gave me my first star struck moment at the convention. Still upset that I didn't get a chance to speak to him.

While down here, I'm trying to make as many connections as possible. Still waiting to talk to one of the sports journalist who is here in regards to being my mentor but I haven't gotten the chance yet.

Tonight is the all-white party at the poolside of the Marriott. The event should be packed judging by the small size of the pool area and the many individuals who plan to attend.

I definitely need to get a new phone. My blackberry has cut off on me continuously since I've been down here, which is not a good look when you have people calling you to get logistical information and when you're giving out your number to professionals. Can't miss that call! Whoever it's coming from. A BROTHA NEED A JOB AFTER THIS!

Life From Tampa

As I stepped off the plane and came through the Tampa International Airport, I was oblivious to the experience I was about to encounter. I'm in the city for ten days working for the National Association of Black Journalist Annual 2009 Convention and I had no idea what to expect.

I and several other staff members made our way to baggage claim, retrieving our bags and then heading to get cabs to take us to the Marriott. As soon as the doors to the airport opened, the heat hit us. It was hot, humid, and sweat began forming on my forehead before I even got to the cab. Now the trip to the hotel.

Being new to the whole traveling aspect of journalism, I hadn't been outside the parameters of Chicago, DC and the surrounding areas. It was an entirely new experience and I was prepared to take advantage of every opportunity. I was in amazement in the cab feeling like a toddler at Christmas, seeing palm trees for the first time. The heat became a non-factor because of my excitement from being somewhere I had never been, but that was only temporary because of the air conditioning in the cab.

After a 15 minute cab ride, we were at the hotel. As a part of the staff, we were the first of journalists to check in. Jubilated to have my own room, I got my key and came to my room which would be home for the next ten days. 12th floor overlooking the bay and the poolside of the hotel, I realized how fortunate I am to have this opportunity. Scheduled to only put my bags down in my room and head back down to the lobby for lunch with staff, I didn't want to leave the room that displayed a view of downtown Tampa's skyline (which is no competition for Chicago's skyline above).

Making my way downstairs in an obviously good mood as a result of my room, I and the staff settled on a restaurant in the hotel, Champion's Sports Bar & Grill. The walls were plastered with autographed sports memorabilia and pictures which was a welcoming environment for anyone who has loved sports as much as I have over the years. The slow service was an afterthought as a result of the great environment. I tried my best to hide my excitement amongst my colleagues, but it was clearly visible in my expressions and shown on my face.

Meeting journalist who are in the position I wish to be in has a profound effect on any up and coming journalist's life. To actually call these people your mentors after meeting them and talking with them over a drink or through casual conversation is a priceless opportunity. I will definitely come back from Tampa with a new outlook on life as well as my career.

On my way out for a board meeting now, but stay posted. Much more to come!

Lakers Now a Dynasty

Now that the confetti has fallen, bottles were popped and tears were shed, the Lakers are once again the NBA champions, and without Shaquille O'Neal. The Orlando Magic fell seemingly without a fight in Game 5 and some are questioning whether they were the best team in the Eastern Conference to face the Lakers.

Nathaniel Sligh, senior business management major, wasn’t pleased with the outcome of the game, but gave credit where it was due.

“Even though I didn’t want the Lakers to win or go to the NBA Finals at all, I feel that Kobe Bryant did a great job leading his team,” Bryant said. “He was able to take control of the game when he needed to as well as delegate tasks to his team.”

One can't seem but wonder if the outcome of the series would have been the same if the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers, would have beat the Magic as predicted. Everyone had Kobe and LeBron facing off in the finals, even Nike, which used commercials of Kobe and LeBron puppets to promote the two going to battle for an NBA title.

I'm sure we would all agree, unless you're a die-hard Magic fan, that a Kobe and LeBron matchup would have been more entertaining than the quickly subdued Orlando Magic. The Magic fizzled out quicker than Master P's basketball career, playing like they were just content with being in the Finals instead of having the Lakers hunger to win.

While Dwight Howard reevaluates his position with the Magic and prepare for next year, Kobe Bryant is in his glory after winning his fourth NBA title. Bryant led his team to winning their fourth title in the past ten years as well as solidified himself as an immortal in sports, silencing all critics who claimed he was incapable of winning without Shaq.

"It was like Chinese water torture," Bryant said in reference to his discontent with critics saying he couldn't win without Shaq. "I would cringe every time. I was just like, it's a challenge I'm just going to have to accept because there's no way I'm going to argue it. You can say it until you're blue in the face and rationalize it until you're blue in the face, but it's not going anywhere until you do something about it."

Although both have taken their jabs at each other in past seasons, it seems they have finally found a common ground being away from each other.

O'Neal acknowledged Bryant on his Twitter page saying, "Congratulations Kobe, you deserve it. You played great. Enjoy it my man enjoy it."

The Lakers have solidified the team as a dynasty without the assistance of two star players, but one. With Bryant and the tandem of the core players who played major roles this season, the Lakers are prepared to be a force in the NBA for years to come. Now that the cloud of O’Neal and the doubts that Bryant couldn’t win without another star player have been removed, Bryant has placed himself in a position to be considered one of the greats in sports history.

Shock of Playoffs

Upsets in sports are inevitable, but no one saw the upset of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James not facing each other in the finals.

Keeping up with the NBA playoffs this year has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. Being a die-hard hometown fan, of course I was crushed when the Bulls didn't take the series against the Celtics but as a Chicago fan you get used to the phrase "Wait until next year." We've actually all been brainwashed to believe this optimistic phrase year after year. Most of us are still waiting for a ridiculous Billy Goat curse to be broken.

With all of the commercials and advertisements playing the role of the Oracle, it was almost a certainty that King James and Kobe were going to face off for the ultimate prize in the NBA. Some even questioned whether the entire playoffs were fixed to have the two best players in the NBA compete, which would ultimately boost ratings and mean more revenue for the NBA. Although this would have meant more revenue for the NBA, the Orlando Magic defied all the corporate big wigs and fans rooting for a Kobe/LeBron matchup.

Capturing the Eastern Conference title, the Magic have positioned themselves to be a force in the finals as well as for years to come. With young players that have a drive and passion to win, the Magic may be a force for the Cavaliers and King James to reckon with even in the distant future. Dwight Howard is gaining more experience as he goes along and is averaging over twenty points and fifteen rebounds in the playoffs and is emerging as a powerhouse of the NBA to the likes of Bill Russell, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Charles Barkley.

The strong supporting cast of Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu are becoming more unified and providing their opposition match-up problems as a result of the height advantages of Magic players.

The Lakers have their work cut out for them come Thursday night on their home court. Orlando has become the Cinderella team that no one expected to get this far. The NBA now has to pull the Kobe and LeBron commercials and replace LeBron with Dwight Howard. Might not sound as appealing, but the Magic have earned their place in history.

Under the Microscope

What does it take to have adoration, fans, money and endorsements stripped from you? Kobe Bryant, Michael Vick and Sammy Sosa can definitely give the answer to this question, but it seems like an unprecedented amount of athletes are being added to this list of asterisks and shame in recent years.

The latest names to be added to the list of asterisks and shame are Alex Rodriguez and Michael Phelps. Two highly regarded young athletes in their prime lives changed at the release of a picture and the issuance of a statement. Although these individuals are human and will make mistakes like any other, the crimes they committed have the potential to tarnish an entire generation.

Before the steroid plague in Major League Baseball and illegal drug usage across the field of sports, Americans expected their poster boys to be exempt from such activities. In recent years star athletes have given fans a reason to be doubtful that monumental accomplishments were achieved as a result of pure skill. Making mistakes are human and should be forgiven as a result of the person being apologetic but the individuals who are in the limelight are held to a different standard. Even though human, these celebrities are thrown into the fire whenever the slightest mistake is made on their part and rightfully so.

When athletes such as Michael Phelps and A-Rod sign their names to lucrative contracts that will pay them millions in endorsements and salaries, they do much more than just add their name to a paper overloaded with contractual jargon. When they sign their names they become a role model.

According to Webster's Dictionary, a role model is defined as a person whose behavior in a particular role is imitated by others. So this is the problem. When you have athletes who sign their names over to be role models to kids across the country as well as the entire world, the young fans are going to imitate all they see their role models portraying.

The mindset of kids who see picture of Michael Phelps smoking marijuana or see Alex Rodriguez admitting to using performance enhancing drugs is being tarnished with thoughts that these crimes are acceptable as long as an apology is issued shortly afterwards. The mentality of this generation, which believes in having a competitive edge at all cost and using illegal drugs in order to have a good time is acceptable, will carry over into the next generation if the actions of this generation are not changed.

How do we want America portrayed to the rest of the country? These athletes have certainly not been a role model according to Webster's definition or most of American's definition. Before signing their name to the dotted line, athletes should know exactly what they are getting into. Instead of being dazed by the money, fame and stardom, they should all be thinking about the effect they will have on the future.

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

Election An Educator For All

Despite of all the excitement that is being displayed worldwide in light of Barack Obama being elected president, there are still individuals who are bitter and making it evident that racism still exists in our country.

As a user of Facebook, I've read many other users' distasteful remarks about Barack Obama and their reluctance to acknowledge a milestone in not just black history but the history of the world. Freedom of speech is and will always be a right to Americans; however, some of the comments I viewed on Facebook went past freedom of speech and stepped into the area of racism.

Just like misery, ignorance loves company. The comments made by these individuals were hurtful towards not only African-Americans but the entire country. One individual made remarks regarding a long gone stereotype of Blacks saying he was,"Drinkin Malt Liquor, quitting his job tomorrow, applying for welfare and now officially supports Obama! Yes We Can." A female was quoted as saying "They only voted for him because he was black" and another person expressed remarks saying "All the hunters gather up, we have a n*gger in the White House." This last comment was made by a college football player with the Texas Longhorns and was dismissed from the team, and rightfully so, immediately after the team officials were informed of his comments.

So the million dollar question is what have we learned from this election? Of course African-Americans have come a long way from being enslaved, limited to certain areas, and stereotyped as lazy and ignorant but what have we actually all learned from this election. Although Blacks are still belittled and labeled as a minority, this election has educated many African-Americans as well as other races on the politics in America. We have all learned whether black, white, Asian, or Latino about the politics in America and we also have realized that unfortunately, racism still exists in our country. America has broken through many barriers dealing with terrorism, racism, economy, and technology over the years but our country will never be perfect. This doesn't mean strives towards perfection should not be made because progression will make life easier for Americans but my point is that racism will always exist. It will subside over time, but will always be evident.

As a first time voter, and friend of many first time voters, I realized the appeal that Obama has to encourage young and old to become knowledgeable of the politics in America. Being completely honest, his appeal to many may be that he is an African-American but let's not take away the facts that he is a highly qualified and intelligent choice for our countries highest position which is much more than I can say for his predecessors. I am much more knowledgeable of the politics in this country and foreign policy as a result of this election and my colleagues share the same sentiment. Even if people voted for him solely based on the fact that he's black, Americans dug deeper and educated themselves on many of the issues that might have otherwise been ignored.

More than ever before, I am proud to be an African-American male. There is a sense of pride amongst all African-Americans as a result of President Obama's success and we as Americans have broken down yet another barrier in our country. To all those parents who express to their children on a daily basis that the sky is the limit and they can be whatever they aspire to be, you can use an example from now on. This rags to riches story is not a fairy tale but a reality, even thought it produced the ultimate fairy tale ending with a black man being named President Obama.