March Madness… I’m MAD.

This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love College basketball, and I love filling out my bracket and seeing how well I do, but it’s driving me “MAD”. I have had my eyes glued to the television for 4 straight days. I even bought the NCAA package so I can watch all the games at once. The games are so close and there is so much good competition between under dogs and favorites, big schools and small schools that I’m getting confused. I know who I picked, but while I’m watching the game sometimes I get confused about who I want to win. For example, I have Pitt making it to the Final Four, but while watching their games against East Tennessee State University and Oklahoma State University I wanted them to lose. Am I the only person who does this? Am I the only person who watches the game and wants someone else to win other than who they picked? I feel like something is missing… Where are George Mason, Gonzaga (before they were top 25 every year), Davidson, Valpo, Princeton in the Sweet 16? No where to be found 2 years in a row. I’m getting a whole lot of March, a whole lot of MAD, but no Madness!!!

I guess it’s just when you see the underdog small school David playing so hard and being successful against the big school Goliath, that you can’t help but respect that and root for them to win. Maybe I just want drama regardless of who wins, I want Valparaiso to win on a last-second shot, Christian Laettner to hit an improbable turn around, or Tyus Edny to drive the length of the court and break my heart. Between last year’s tournament and this year’s tournament, I’m feeling cheated! All of the number one and number two seeds are still alive. It’s like if you pick the higher seed to win you will be right.
I remember watching games in the good old days and you didn’t have a clue who was gonna win. One minute you wanted to pull your hair out because it seemed like it would take a miracle for your team to win, then when the horn blew to end the game you were jumping for joy. At the end of the tournament we should be able to watch “One shining moment” and get chills down our spines from the excitement and heartache we have felt from watching the NCAA tournament. I’m enjoying watching the games, but I miss the good old days!!!
Now I’m just MAD from March Madness. I’m MAD because the teams I picked are winning. I’m MAD because I haven’t seen a last second half court shot to win the game. I’m MAD because I’m confused. I’m MAD because the underdog keeps losing in games that I picked them to lose but watching the game makes me want them to win. I’m MAD because Wake Forest lost. I’m Mad because I know the tournament is half over and that makes me sad.
And to top it all off… I’m MAD because I had to turn to the last seconds of the Heat-Pistons game and watch the Pistons get cheated out of a win to get the drama I was craving. I can’t stand the Heat. Go Lakers!!!!

This Guy Drinks Diet Sprite

Do you remember the “Grant Hill drinks sprite” commercials, where the guy tries to dunk and gets the ball caught on the rim? Well this guy doesn’t even drink regular sprite, he drinks diet sprite because this is just embarrassing. He hits his face on the rim because he had NO business on the court attempting that dunk. Rasheed Wallace rightfully throws the towel at him in disgust. I know all fans want to be “part of the game”, but please leave the stunts to the professionals.

 

Iron Mike

Mike Tyson vs Bob Sapp. “Iron” Mike Tyson made more money prize fighting than anyone EVER, grossing over 300 million. That’s a big number, but with taxes, expensive habits, leaches taking advantage of him, and Don King those dollar dwindled faster than the stockmarket in ’09.

Getting back on topic, Bob Sapp calls out Mike Tyson and is acting crazy. Ironically, Mike Tyson is the one keeping is cool and being professional. I’m so confused. I wonder what goes through Mike’s head and makes him tick….hmmmm. actually I don’t, that’s probably a VERY scary place. I’m afraid I would come back and not be same!

Trading Block

I was informed a couple days ago that I’m on the trading block. The Jaguars are trying to trade me. Professional sports is a business and no one is exempt from the business aspect, not Hall of Famers, not star players. Fred Taylor, Derrick Brooks, Marvin Harrison are just a few household names who were let go by teams they had spent 10+ years with.

I have already been very fortunate. I am living the dream. I just finished my 6th year in the NFL (Not For Long) with the same team and I’m on my second contract. The average career is only 3 years. So far I have had a few seasons cut short due to injury but I am 100% healthy now. I am committed to maximizing my potential and being one of the best tight ends in the league, now that I am healthy, that is very possible. 
I want to thank the Jaguars fans and all of the people who have supported me and followed my career through college and NFL. So many people have supported me when things were going well, but most importantly when they weren’t. Thank you so much.  I’m excited to get a new opportunity and a fresh start but nervous to leave the only team and fans I know. 
Looking forward…I have prayed about this situation and I have peace because everything will work out for the better. I am healthy and I will give everyone more highlights, more catches to cheer about, and continue to be a good role model, just in a different uniform.

Give me $14,000 instead

OMG!!! This is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life. Nissan has the nerve to be charging $14k for this thing. They should be giving this thing away. If you want to give away $ email me and I’ll give you my routing and account number. The designers need to be drug tested because they were obviously “Half Baked” when they finalized designs on this. Whoever told them this was a good idea probably thought Alicia Keyes wig and lipstick were good ideas at the Oscars. (sorry Alicia you are still beautiful and talented but its true)
If this car was an electric I would get it, but it’s not. This car should be “green” like the smart car or be used as a golf cart.
If the American automakers need a bailout, foreign automakers are gonna be next in line because of ideas like this. Wow.
 
OMG!!! Are they serious…LOL!!!

I have HOPE.

In my 27 years, I have NEVER watched an entire Pres. Address to Congress. I know everyone didn’t vote for President Obama, but we must look in depth at the social impact of his Presidency. More young people voted in this election than ever before. That means the youth of America who have gone astray from being socially conscious are taking our country back.


My confidence has been reassured in our country and our leadership. If you watched and listened to yesterday’s address yours is too. In this time when banks are failing, businesses are drowning, and millions are losing their homes, decisive action must be taken. Since Pres. Obama has been in office, Congress has worked as efficiently and as timely as it has in a long time. Congress spent so much time in the last couple years investigating and wasting resources on steroids. That time could have been spent on issues that matter 1000 times more like alternative energy, health care, and education.  America’s leaders have allowed “politics” and self interest to cloud their judgment and their decision making which  puts us all at risk.


 People will read this and say I’m a professional athlete and I’m not affected at all. Wrong. Like so many other people I have seen my investments and 401k crushed. So, that led me to look outside and think, if I’m affected by this so heavily, I can’t even begin to know how people who are hardworking, tax paying Americans who have lost or are losing their homes feel.


Our leaders, banks, and crooked people on Wall Street are at fault, but the reality is that we the people have to stand up and take some responsibility ourselves. As Pres. Obama said we knew we couldn’t afford some of the houses and cars that were bought. It is time for us to stop trying to keep up with the Jones’ or live like the Combs’ (Sean “P.Diddy” Combs) when our income, savings, and financial plan don’t allow it. If no one else will do their jobs, we have to take responsibility for ourselves and secure our futures. That means saving money and educating ourselves about investing, and investing in our most valuable resource, our children. We must invest our time, energy, and values into our children. Children need to be mentored and have POSITIVE male role models and be taught about God.


My car was just broken into a couple days ago. I am angry.  But I’m concerned more for the future because crime spiking now is just the tip of the iceberg if we don’t get this system fixed. I believe it is a result of us not investing in our children. I know there will always be crime, but these times are tough and people are up against the wall. Children see their parent(s) struggling and they want a way out. Kids feel like they have no hope because of absentee parents and the educational system is failing them.


There is good news. Since Pres. Obama has been in office there has been decisive action. You may not agree with everything and every bill that has passed or the amounts the government is going to spend, but the government is working.  We will recover. The President and government doing something right is not going to be the answer to all our problems. It’s time! It’s time for us to stand up and be accountable. We have to help ourselves by investing in ourselves and families. Read a book, join a Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, spend more time building your relationship with God, go to school, do something that incorporates learning and fun with your family, and love one another as you want them to love you. Lastly, but most importantly, never compromise doing what you know in your heart is right for anything.


“Don’t be afraid to stand on a mountain of “No’s” for 1 “YES”.” -B. Smith


Very Athletic

 

Who can do this? This is clearly impressive. And people say lineman aren’t good athletes.

 

 

 

Lucky shot

Is Devin Harris lucky or just that good? LUCKY for sure!!! The ball got knocked out of his hand before he shot it.  This is not just your typical half court shot, it was a game winner. He couldn’t do that again if he had 1000 tries, but it’s great non the less. The 76ers look so defeated after they are informed by the refs the shot counts. Watch Andre Iguodala as soon as he sees the shot go up, he starts to jump and celebrate then his bubble is burst quickly.

 

It’s great to be the Nets…It sucks to be the 76ers!!!

The Tiger Effect

He’s Back!!!!


Wednesday is the day the world has been awaiting for 10 months. It’s the return of your favorite golfer’s favorite golfer. Tiger Woods is back. Golf on TV is relevant again. The WGC–Accenture Match Play Championship will be the site of the return of the “greatest golfer ever”. In his last tournament, he played with a torn ACL on a broken leg (with one hand tied behind his back. j/k) and WON a major against able bodied PROFESSIONALS. LOL!!! And to make the legend of Tiger even bigger, guess who is still the #1 raked golfer in the world after months of surgery and rehab…if you guessed Tiger you are correct. 

It’s amazing that this man is head and shoulders above everyone else in his sport. He was off for 10 months…10 months and no one could over take the top spot. TV ratings for golf are in the toilet when Tiger isn’t in contention. Golf on TV almost folded without Tiger. I bet the president of the PGA Jim Remy had sleepless nights when the news broke of Tigers’ injury, but now he is having sleepless nights from the anticipation of the return of GOLF. (TIGER)

Tiger is the reason so many young people and minorities play golf today. Black kids, White kids, Latino kids all want to be Tiger Woods. I started playing golf over a year ago and I honestly have to say it’s partially because it’s now cool for a young black man to play golf. He is one of the most influential figures EVER in sports because of his social impact. He does not speak out on politics and is at times ridiculed for that, but he does speak out loud with his time and his wallet, committing millions to give inner city youth an alternative to destructive behavior. There are so many negative influences on the youth of today, especially with the absence of God in school and the absence traditional family values that kids feel like they have very few options. There are a lot of athletes trying to give back as they should, but some are special. Look up the Tiger Woods Learning Centers and the Tiger Woods Foundation and you will learn many things you did not know about him and who his charity helps. He visits the places that his foundation supports and shows that kids are important and that it’s not just good PR.

When the WGC–Accenture Match Play Championship starts on Wednesday remember it’s not just a comeback for Tiger Woods, it’s a come back for golf and hope, hope for another youth in a bad situation to see an alternative.

We look up to so many people in our culture who are not a symbol of the right way to do things. We need to take time to appreciate the real Heroes who are doing the right things and doing things the right way. Kids need more Tigers. 

Asian Lady

Has anyone seen this video on YouTube?

I only wish I knew what she was saying. (Can anyone translate?) Apparently she missed a flight from Hong Kong to San Francisco I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. Did her life depend on being on that flight or is she just a dramatic mess? I’m gonna assume the latter and get my laugh on…

 

That is someones mother, sister, daughter… maybe yours and you just don’t want to admit it. This video is the reason I take my iflip (thanks Dave for the Xmas present) everywhere with me. I pray one day I can catch something on video that is a YouTube “instant classic” like this.