I just made a new YouTube and I touch on many different topics including Jim Morrison, Lena Horne, Lawrence Taylor and his victim actually wishing him well and briefly on NYC politics. I will post my YouTube at the bottom of this piece. Here goes....
For Jim Morrison fans, Tom DiCillio's "When You're Strange" will be free to watch on PBS tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 9:00PM. In response to my YouTube about Tom coming to talk to the audience after a screening at Angelika's on Houston St. in NYC, I have had people from all over the world write me including in Spanish asking me how they can see Tom's new film with never before seen footage of a young Jim Morrison which are out takes from his film "HWY". Now I can tell you the film is on TV tomorrow night!
Please remember if you do get to tune in that Jim's girlfriend's mom has creative control because she had footage Tom needed so that effects the telling of part of the story...anyway for Jim Morrison fans this will be quite a pleasure. The audience was jam packed to the brim with Jim Morrison fan's and they loved the film and thanked Tom/ They also did not like Oliver Stone's version "The Doors" at all and either did Pam's mom.
On to the icon, great beauty, chanteuse, actress and Civil Rights activist Lena Horne. I found this quote actually in the editorial section of The New York Post by Quincy Jones today and I had to post it. I discuss her as well in my new Youtube.
"Lena Horne was a pioneering groundbreaker, making inroads into a world that had never before been explored by African-American women, and she did it on her own terms. Our nation and the world has lost one of the great artistic icons of the 20th century."
— Composer/arranger Quincy Jones on the death Sunday of the legendary singer and actress at the age of 92
Next, Lawrence Taylor and a NY Daily News article today that gets in to the gory details including that yes indeed LT had sex with her, the lights were down low so you didn't recognize him. She had been beaten by her pimp and just wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible. There was a concern about the condom coming off on her part and he said don't worry, he is shooting blanks. Bottom line is she said the room was dark so maybe he did not see she had been beaten, who knows but she is a huge Giant fan and wishes him well. She does want the pimp to go to jail for a long time. Click on the link to read more.
For all those asking what was he doing and why did he ask for a professional sex worker. I don't know. I did watch an interview and his wife said if in fact he did cheat on her, he is in trouble. Clearly she is not going to grab a golf club. She sound calm and reasonable. Why? I guess it is uncomplicated in a guy's mind to have sex, pay and leave. No relationships or drama but LT's case who knows what the collateral damage will be besides jail time, losing sponsors...etc. I can't imagine.
The real victim who is underage so we her name is never mentioned is trying to break free of this and get her life straight. She wants to get her GED and become a pediatrician.
I found an amazing article on an ex-child prostitute who got her law degree and now is an activist fighting to get kids off the streets and break free.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Pete Carroll: NCAA punishment of USC would be "surprise"
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| Seattle Coach Pete Carroll |
The NCAA is expected to make a ruling this week on the allegations that USC violated NCAA rules in the basketball and football programs. In the case of the football program, the NCAA opened an investigation into charges of illegal benefits given to then USC Running Back Reggie Bush during his final year at USC. (Bush is now with the NFL's New Orleans Saints.)
And the NCAA announced that a Pac-10 coach violated NCAA rules when he retained a paid consultant to watch practice and attend games. While the NCAA does not name Pete Carroll, bloggers speculate that the NCAA could be referring to Carroll's hiring of Pete Rodriguez to focus on USC's kicking game.
On The Dan Patrick Show, Pete Carroll said there was much he did not know surrounding what went on at USC that led to the allegations. Carroll was head football coach at USC where he won two national championships, and several Pac-10 Championships. Carroll said "it's hard to control" every aspect of an athletic program.
On Seattle Seahawks-related issues, Pete Carroll told Dan Patrick he was pleased with the Seahawks 2010 Draft class and added that 1st round choice Russell Okung was already showing promise of being a special player, and 2nd round pick Golden Tate has already made big plays in minicamps.
What's interesting about The Dan Patrick Show interview of Pete Carroll is their promos leading up to it said nothing about asking Carroll about his possible role in the NCAA rules scandal. Yet, almost half of the interview consisted of questions and conversation about that issue. You could almost feel the energy come out of the room as the focus turned to the NCAA. Coach Carroll went from being energetic and happy to slow and somber in his speech. I wonder if he felt blindsided. It sure sounded that way.
Carroll's going to be really dogged by what happened as USC if the NCAA surprises him with some kind of punishment. He should get used to the questions. One just can't run away from a mess.
Stay tuned.
Giuseppi Logan reunion Part 2 post by Suzannah B. Troy
Bobby Paulino keeps sending me edited pieces of the documentary I suggested Jaee Logan make when we were first connected by his friend David who was following my YouTube documentary of his Dad. I also suggested a Hollywood film like The Soloist and that Jaee could set up a charity to help musicians and artists like his Dad as was down with Nathianl Ayers, the subject of the book and film. I suggested to Jaee that he starting writing in a journal in preparation for a book as well. Here is my YouTube series starting with the first video of Giuseppi Logan playing on a freezing cold day to an empty park and a 20 part series still on going that brought a reunion of Father and Son. Pete Gershon, publisher of Signal to Noise wrote a powerful piece which also honors and acknowledges my work on Giuseppi Logan called "Out from the Shadow". I believe because of Peter's powerful writing and my YouTube discovering Giuseppi Logan which rocked the jazz world this led to Josh Rosenthal of Tompkins Square Park records to get him in the studio and make a new album mostly with original work.Giuseppi Logan Quintet (Dig)
The new CD, Giuseppi Logan's first since the 1960's is a successful and was received with very strong powerful reviews. There were some in the music world that thought Josh Rosenthal was wasting his time and that GL was shot but Rosenthal proved them wrong. You should know that Giuseppi was married before he met Jaee's Mom and had many children. There were problems and maybe it was undiagnosed mental illness. I do not know. He said she had him arrested and put in mental institutions. Jaee has a different take on this saying she did not support his music and wanted him to have a 9-5 job which was a killer for him. Music was and is his life line. He was divorced and re-married a woman who understood his love for music and came to New York City were he could pursue fame and fortune. As you here him say. He found fame but not fortune. It is very sad and upsetting but I don't think he got much for those two successful records. As we filmed a man stopped which was caught on camera and said Giuseppi Logan, you records got me through college. He shook Giuseppi's hand. Giuseppi Logan studied at The New England Conservatory and when GL self destructed Jaee's Mom took Jaee to California. Jaee was an honor student and he went to college studying music as well. You will hear Father and Son discuss Giuseppi Logan playing with all the famous musicians including Charlie Coltrane and Jaee as a little boy played with their kids. Giuseppi played with Coltrane, Mingus, Sun Ra and more Jazz greats as he contributed his own unique compositions to what is called the free jazz movement. Matt Lavelle join forces with Giuseppi Logan when Logan came in to buy a reed. Matt kept getting Giuseppi Logan gigs and formed a ban. This was a life saver for Giuseppi because music is is life force and it also lead to him making money. Josh Rosenthal even gave Lavelle producer credit on the new CD, The Giuseppi Logan Quintet which includes Francios Grillot, Warren Smith and David Burrell In my series
Giuseppi thanks the people of New York. He tells me he found out from his friend using the computer that people thought he was dead. He got a little money and took a bus to NYC where people gave him help. He found shelter although I had heard reports at times he was homeless and people gave him clothing and instruments. An amazing Salvation Army Angel got him a small room close to Tompkins which is his life line. He told me people here in NY gave him instruments. The Jazz Foundation has also been helping him and gave him an instruments, a bass clarinet and flute but the flute is not playing right. I call Giuseppi Logan this morning. I started very early and he picks up at 7am. Giuseppi I have great news. I just got confirmation you son is coming back this month. I believe for your birthday on May 22. Giuseppi hadn't heard from Jaee and he was worried he may not return. He is returning Giuseppi. I asked GL who else he played with and here are a few more names. Giuseppi played with so many people and here are so morewith Roland Kirk , Eddie Gomez, Eric Dolphy and even Dizzy Gillespie! I had to leave to go to a meeting but before I did I suggested Jaee and Giuseppi walk over to where Charlie Parker lives. I couldn't go with them. I wish I could have. Enjoy the 2nd part in a series Jaee Logan is putting together and a sad reminder Jaee lost his only son to gun violence and he has an organization set up with the goal to stop the violence. Giuseppi has some gigs coming up. Here is the first in at least 3 that are booked ...IPR in Brooklyn 10pm 5/14 www.issueprojectroom.org Brecht forum 9pm 5/16 9pm www.brechtforum.org He is also going to be on a jazz radio show in Newark the day before his birthday...I have a lot going on so you have to contact Matt Lavelle for more info. You can join his facebook page, myspace or email him lavelle.matt@gmail.com. Again I have to say I am so honored and proud to be part of this YouTube miracle and helped Giuseppi out from the shadow as Pete Gerhshon describes it and even writing this was work. I am tired. Thanks to Tim Madison for pushing me to keep filming.
The new CD, Giuseppi Logan's first since the 1960's is a successful and was received with very strong powerful reviews. There were some in the music world that thought Josh Rosenthal was wasting his time and that GL was shot but Rosenthal proved them wrong. You should know that Giuseppi was married before he met Jaee's Mom and had many children. There were problems and maybe it was undiagnosed mental illness. I do not know. He said she had him arrested and put in mental institutions. Jaee has a different take on this saying she did not support his music and wanted him to have a 9-5 job which was a killer for him. Music was and is his life line. He was divorced and re-married a woman who understood his love for music and came to New York City were he could pursue fame and fortune. As you here him say. He found fame but not fortune. It is very sad and upsetting but I don't think he got much for those two successful records. As we filmed a man stopped which was caught on camera and said Giuseppi Logan, you records got me through college. He shook Giuseppi's hand. Giuseppi Logan studied at The New England Conservatory and when GL self destructed Jaee's Mom took Jaee to California. Jaee was an honor student and he went to college studying music as well. You will hear Father and Son discuss Giuseppi Logan playing with all the famous musicians including Charlie Coltrane and Jaee as a little boy played with their kids. Giuseppi played with Coltrane, Mingus, Sun Ra and more Jazz greats as he contributed his own unique compositions to what is called the free jazz movement. Matt Lavelle join forces with Giuseppi Logan when Logan came in to buy a reed. Matt kept getting Giuseppi Logan gigs and formed a ban. This was a life saver for Giuseppi because music is is life force and it also lead to him making money. Josh Rosenthal even gave Lavelle producer credit on the new CD, The Giuseppi Logan Quintet which includes Francios Grillot, Warren Smith and David Burrell In my series Giuseppi thanks the people of New York. He tells me he found out from his friend using the computer that people thought he was dead. He got a little money and took a bus to NYC where people gave him help. He found shelter although I had heard reports at times he was homeless and people gave him clothing and instruments. An amazing Salvation Army Angel got him a small room close to Tompkins which is his life line. He told me people here in NY gave him instruments. The Jazz Foundation has also been helping him and gave him an instruments, a bass clarinet and flute but the flute is not playing right. I call Giuseppi Logan this morning. I started very early and he picks up at 7am. Giuseppi I have great news. I just got confirmation you son is coming back this month. I believe for your birthday on May 22. Giuseppi hadn't heard from Jaee and he was worried he may not return. He is returning Giuseppi. I asked GL who else he played with and here are a few more names. Giuseppi played with so many people and here are so morewith Roland Kirk , Eddie Gomez, Eric Dolphy and even Dizzy Gillespie! I had to leave to go to a meeting but before I did I suggested Jaee and Giuseppi walk over to where Charlie Parker lives. I couldn't go with them. I wish I could have. Enjoy the 2nd part in a series Jaee Logan is putting together and a sad reminder Jaee lost his only son to gun violence and he has an organization set up with the goal to stop the violence. Giuseppi has some gigs coming up. Here is the first in at least 3 that are booked ...IPR in Brooklyn 10pm 5/14 www.issueprojectroom.org Brecht forum 9pm 5/16 9pm www.brechtforum.org He is also going to be on a jazz radio show in Newark the day before his birthday...I have a lot going on so you have to contact Matt Lavelle for more info. You can join his facebook page, myspace or email him lavelle.matt@gmail.com. Again I have to say I am so honored and proud to be part of this YouTube miracle and helped Giuseppi out from the shadow as Pete Gerhshon describes it and even writing this was work. I am tired. Thanks to Tim Madison for pushing me to keep filming.
Erica Blasberg: LPGA star dies at 25; 911 call by unidentified person
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| Erica Blasberg |
25-year-old LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg was found dead in her home in Henderson, Nevada Monday. The cause of death was unknown as of this writing. TMZ.com reports that law enforcement is conducting a "death investigation" of the Orange County born, two-time All-American, 2003 NCAA Freshman of the Year and 2003 Pacific-10 Player of the Year from The University of Arizona who turned pro in 2004.
Blasberg's agent Chase Callahan released this statement:
We are devastated to learn of the passing of Erica Blasberg. To most of the world, Erica was known as a professional golfer, but she was more than that. She was a loving daughter to her parents and a compassionate and loyal friend. Erica had a good heart, was extremely kind and very thankful for what she had in her life.
It's hard to tell what's happened with Erica Blasberg of late because her website blog has not been updated in 13 months and her Twitter page is gone.
While TMZ gives a sketch, the Press-Enterprise has a more ominous text from her father:
"At first glance it looks like she might have taken her own life, but at second glance, something is very, very strange about it," said Erica's father, Mel Blasberg, by phone from Nevada. "We're waiting for the police to make an investigation, it's a pending investigation.Her parents lost their only child
"Either way, I lost her and it's impossible to deal with."
ESPN reports that police responded to a 911 call, but they did not say who made the call.
Online accounts paint Erica Blasberg as a fun-loving, free-sprited woman who was not caught up in her celebrity. Shane Bacon of FanHouse, who was a friend of Erica's and had the rare pleasure of being her caddy last year in Phoenix, posted this:
I just woke up at 7:58 AM PT. I opened Jimmy Roberts "Breaking the Slump" last night at 10:00 PM and read exactly one word before completely passing out. Needless to say, I was pretty exhausted from a long week of caddying for Erica Blasberg.
First, I'd like to thank Erica. I'm sure I cost her two shots a round, but it was fun she couldn't have been more pleasant to work with. If there is a tour player perfect for this little experiment it would be her.
And Erica wrote a long account of their time together. Here's part of it:
He quickly eased my fears though when a couple holes later I tried to get my own yardage. I didn't properly add the numbers and Shane quickly helped with my math skills and fixed my mistake for me. But besides all those technical things it was great having Shane out there. He kept me laughing and relaxed most of the four days and more importantly didn't let me get down on myself for too long after a bad hole. It might be that we get along so well off the course that made our chemistry on the course so solid, but whatever it was I think I can honestly say that besides not having the results i was hoping for (damn you Camelback Mountain, not all putts broke away from you!) I really had one of my favorite weeks on tour in my five year career. Thanks Shane for putting up with me and all of my many putter tosses ... hope your shins don't hurt too bad!
Shane wrote a moving account of their friendship over at Yahoo!
Erica's representatives took great pains to keep her personal life off the Internet. In the Q and A section of her website, Erica responded to a fan, Mike Barry of Corona, Ca, who seemed frustrated that his questions weren't answered. This is what she wrote to him online:
"Mike I'm sorry your previous questions were not answered. It's impossible for me to answer the many questions sent and trust my agent; Rep1Sports to do the filtering. Things like: a request for autographed pictures ( joining my fan club would include that), although flattering, questions about meeting me, or if I'm single and anything outside of golf, are things that I never see. My fan base is one of the things that makes playing golf professionaly, wonderful. I enjoy the Q & A section of my website, so keep those questions coming."
What's interesting is that Erica Blasberg is from the same Corona town Mike Barry apparently lived in at the time of online contact. Maybe it's nothing.
Stay tuned.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Southwest Airlines Rapping Steward should be on United Airlines
The best thing about YouTube is finding that gem of a video while searching for some other kind of video. That was the case with the famous FUNNY STEWARD SOUTHWEST AIRLINES RAPPING SAFETY INFORMATION video.
The video features an African American Southwest Airlines steward by the name of David Holmes who explains that the boredom of working on five flights that day has compelled him to "shake things up" and with the audience clapping to a beat, he goes into what could only be called a classic rap. It goes like this:
This is Flight Three-Seven-Two on SWA.
The flight attendants on board serving to today
Terresa in the middle, David in the back
My name is David and I'm here to tell you that
Shortly after take off, first things first
There's soft drinks and coffee to quench your thirst
But if you want another kind of drink, then just holla
Alcoholic beverages'll be four dollars
If a Mansever Food and Drink is your plan
That'll be three dollars and you'll get the whole than
We won't take your cash; you pay with plastic
If you have a coupon that's fantastic
We know ya ready to get to new places
Open up the bins, port away your suitcases
Carryon items go under the seat
In front of you so none of you have things by your feet
If you have a seat on a row with an exit
We're gonna talk to you so you might as well expect it
You gotta help evacuate in case we need you
If you don't wanna then we're gonna reseat you
Before we leave, our advice is, put away your electronic devices
Fasten your seat belt
Then put your trays up
Press the button to make the seat back raise up
Sit back relax
Have a good time
It's almost time to go so I'm done with the rhyme.
Thank you for the fact that I wans't ignored
This is Southwest Airlines, welcome aboard.
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| David gets all the girls |
Man, I so wish he was wrong. If someone working for United Airlines sees this, form a rapping crew group!
What amazing is that even though the video was uploaded over a year ago, it's only clocked a quarter of a million views rather than one million views.
And on the matter of the past year, Holmes' has a Facebook group with just over 400 fans. That's an outrage. It should be 4,000 fans. Visit his page and press the like button, please!
Stay tuned!
Megan Avalon: Pamela Sue Anderson and female bodybuilder in one
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| Megan Avalon |
With the guidance of her trainer Jennifer Cowan, a professional bodybuilding legend, Megan Avalon has worked to hone and refine her amazing look.
Megan's one part Pamela Sue Anderson, another part Barbie, mixed with Jillian Michaels and female bodybuilder. It's just a matter of time before she's discovered and not just for her looks, but because she's well spoken. Megan talks very well on the mic, on video, and in person.
This space has helped promote Megan and sponsors her on Zennie62.com; not agents but major league fans. Megan's objective fit right in line with a long-held desire this blogger has had to alter and change how society thinks about women going all the way back to 2003 and really beyond that point in time.
Megan should be on the cover of The Sports Illustrated Women's Swimsuit Edition or at least right there with Brooklyn Decker. (Now if we can only get Dan Patrick to speak up!)
In the past, women with muscles have been shunned and women's bodybuilding thought of as a "strange" practice and not even a sport. But the slowly advancing industrial society, in expanding labor, education, and athletic opportunities for women gave rise to the strong woman, almost before fashion and image arbiters could catch up.
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| Brandi Chastain |
Now, thanks to Nike and Brandi Chastain's amazing and iconic moment, that's where we are at today. A total disconnect between the true image of women and that in the World of fashion.
Megan Avalon can bring those Worlds together. The image that needs to be seen is the one she has. Most modeling agencies have pushed the opposite: someone who looks like Megan but is skinny and weak. All agencies except for one: Wilhelmina International, Inc.
Last year, Wilhelmina International, Inc. partnered with Shape and Men’s Fitness magazines (both owned by American Media) and started a contest to find the best male and female fit models.
And while Megan Avalon did not know about the contest to enter it and win, the simple fact that such a legendary modeling organization as Wilhelmina would look for women with muscle as a look to promote is a major step forward in fashion. It's only a matter of time before Megan is recognized as the best fit woman model in America.
Megan is using a number of methods to advance her image, from websites and blogs to bodybuilding contests and webcam shows. The combination is building a fanbase that can lead to movies and video games.
Yes, movies and video games. Megan's look means numbers and as her popularity grows her value as a celebrity image for entertainment platforms increases too. The 2010 WonderCon was a hotbed for images of strong women in comic books and in movies like Kick-Ass, who's most popular character is a young woman who's not afraid to, well, kick-ass.
Megan's path is like that of Pamela Sue Anderson: from modeling to acting and movies. But the difference is Megan's promoting what it means to be very healthy, very strong, and very female.
Megan Avalon's website MeganAvalon.net will be finished soon.
Lena Horne Civil Rights Activist Icon passes post by Suzannah B. Troy
Lena Horne was a great beauty, a beautiful person, singer, performer, icon and Civil Rights activist. Growing up in Bed Stuy Brooklyn her peers treated her badly because of her light black skin. They said she had a white father which was not true.
Lena Horne was the first African American Actress to have a contract with a major Hollywood studio with a clause stipulating she did not have to play any demeaning or stereotypical roles according to this blog I linked to and also was a favored and loved presence at The Apollo Theatre.
She was a ground breaker and a fighter for Civil Rights and she contributed and helped pave the way for other thanks to her activism and courage. She died at 92 years old here in NYC New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and she had her family with her.
Lena Horne was the first African American Actress to have a contract with a major Hollywood studio with a clause stipulating she did not have to play any demeaning or stereotypical roles according to this blog I linked to and also was a favored and loved presence at The Apollo Theatre.
She was a ground breaker and a fighter for Civil Rights and she contributed and helped pave the way for other thanks to her activism and courage. She died at 92 years old here in NYC New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and she had her family with her.
Below a quote from The New York Post Editorial section from Quincy Jones, May 11, 2010.
— Composer/arranger Quincy Jones on the death Sunday of the legendary singer and actress at the age of 92
I remember Liz Smith was a big admirer of Lena Horne and I was invited to a function dedicated to her. Her daughter came in her place if memory serves me right.
Lena Horne was very humble and down played her talents but she truly was a compelling performer, a great beauty, a loved Mother and an activist that made a difference and will be missed.
She was born here 92 years old and she passed away her in NYC...full circle fully loved...
I think of Alicia Keys singing "Empire State of Mind" so beautifully and I think of Lena Horne now eternally beautiful; her great contributions remain with us in spirit. Thank you and Bless you Lena Horne.
Melissa Huckaby admits to murder of Sandra Cantu
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| Melissa Huckaby |
Sandra Cantu was a friend of the daughter of Melissa Huckaby. Cantu was reported missing from her Tracy home March 28th, 2009. Her body was recovered in a suitcase left in an irrigation canal April 7, 2009.
That information alone is enough to make one cry.
Under the plea deal, all other charges were dropped.
When this blogger first heard the Melissa Huckaby story, the elements of it seemed to point to an insanity plea. In other words, a young female Sunday School teacher would have to be insane to do what Melissa was accused of doing.
Such a claim does not exonerate her for what she did. But when a single mother and Sunday School teacher goes off and does what she did to Sandra Cantu, and is said to possibly have been involved in another case, something has to be wrong with her.
Why? That's the unanswered question. What happened to cause Melissa Huckaby to go wrong?
That's a question we're addressing at Zennie62 Daily on USTREAM.TV, below:
Live Streaming by Ustream.TV
Giuseppi Logan son's video post by Suzannah B. Troy
As any of the good people following my blogs and YouTubes know I discovered Giuseppi Logan playing "Begin the Beguine" 2 years ago on a freezing cold day and I knew I captured something amazing. I ran home and I followed GL's instructions to research him on the internet. I immediately found a YouTube posted on ESP channel of a British film maker's showing Giuseppi Logan in the very same park, Tompkins Square Park in the East Village but from 1966. Giuseppi's son Jaee happily plays in the park with little girls as Giuseppi's original composition plays in the background. Peter Gershon, the publisher of "Signal to Noise" wrote a powerful piece on Giuseppi Logan "Out from the Shadow" and I was deeply moved by what Pete wrote about my contribution and my work in this exciting discovery... Giuseppi Logan was in fact a live. He had made 2 successful records in the 1960's before he vanished. Where did he vanish to? His demons got the better of him. More on that later. I have a poem in the park..."miss you, miss people, neighborhood, trees, NYC idiosyncrcasies" at the base of the fountain with the word "Hope" you will see in the video I am posting that was sent to me. Giuseppi Logan was standing just a foot away from my poem with the words "Hope" above my poem like a shining light. Who would know I would stand next to Jaee Logan 2 years later and Jaee will be talking to us about broken family trees...not only had Jaee Logan lost his Father but he has lost his only son to random gun violence. His son Jaee was shot 3 times in the back of the head. What you will see is Giuseppi Logan and his son Jaee reunited after 40 years thanks to my YouTubes. When Giuseppi self destructed Jaee's Mom took him to the west coast which is his home base. He has his Dad's musical gifts and the first time I conferenced called them as we talked -- Giuseppi would play music and it spoke to Jaee in a way I could not through is music. I was deeply moved. I have had to deal with the dark side of YouTube and blogger owned by Google and I have had to turn to the NYPD and lawyers but this is the best side of YouTube and Google. I call this a YouTube miracle and I am so honored to be part of it.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Lena Horne: ageless and seemingly immortal wonder passes
The Washington Post's Adam Bernstein wrote that Lena Horne was the first black actress studios had to take seriously beyond her race. Well, the reason was simple: Lena Horne was so beautiful anyone who dared exclude her because she was black was considered psychotic. Lena Horne was the gold standard of beauty when I was growing up.
The very idea that Ms. Horne is no longer with us is so shocking I could not blog about it when I saw the news.
To understand why you have to see Lena Horne. This is Lena Horne singing "Stormy Weather":
This is Lena Horne singing "You'd Better Love Me" in 1967:
Lena Horne ushered in the era of what Harold Cruse would derisively call the "Black Bourgeoisie" in the classic The Crisis of The Negro Intellectual, and I point to because I long disliked that Cruse essentially sent a message that blacks should not want to pursue the American Dream.
That was the 1960s: a time not just of civil rights breakthroughs, but of many questions of what it was to be black. It formed the idea I have today: that being black is not what others say I should be or should do, but what I say I should be or should do as a person. You have to deal with me, not the other way around.
Lena Horne's existence was a guide for me.
Lena Horne was the American Dream as reality. A perfect counterpoint to Cruse's claim that it "did nothing for the economic development" of blacks.
Lena Horne opened doors just by being Lena. Lena Horne made it OK for people like me to be who we are today.
Lena Horne appeared on Rosie O'Donnell's show in 1997, and to talk about helping entertainers who were in ill health, the singing legends she knew, and her 80th birthday bash.
God bless Lena Horne.
Elena Kagan: Obama's safe yet daring Supreme Court pick
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| Elena Kagan |
Elena Kagan, who would be the third woman on the Supreme Court of The United States if confirmed, and the fourth in history, is also only the second solicitor general to be named to such post after the legendary Justice Thurgood Marshall. Kagan, is a safe pick and yet daring at the same time because Kagan has no bench experience yet is widely regarded as a brilliant legal mind who has argued cases before the Supreme Court.
Kagan is a choice right for this time in Obama's Presidency: in the middle of a hot mid-term election season made all the hotter by economic, ethnic and racial tensions, Obama could not afford another controversy to deal with. Kagan gives her opponents little to attack that would not make them sound sexist or homophobic in the process. Have doubts, let's look at the attacks that have already been issued as evidence.
Michael Roston at True/Slant points to Kagan's status of not having children as a liability:
Certainly there is no requirement that every Justice sitting on the court be a parent. But on a powerful body full of fathers, is it too much to ask that we have one mother as a member of the Supreme Court?
Roston goes on to charge that Kagan can't really understand a case from a mother's point of view because she's not a mother. But nowhere in his blog post does he mention that it's equally important for a someone to be able to understand the plight of women who for various reasons aren't able to have kids.
While I'm the last person to take away the value of motherhood, the reality is that it's not a viable choice for a growing number of women at certain stages of their lives. But even with that, the status of "single woman, no kids" is looked at as if it were some kind of crime, when it's not.
Any Republican attacking Kagan on that basis would immediately feel the impact of the loss of the "single woman, no kids" vote come November. Especially if that groups was angered enough to come out and vote against the GOP politician foolish enough to attack Kagan and them.
Also, Kagan has no record of opinions, which means there's nothing that can be used against her. That's dramatically different that the situation with Justice Sonya Sotomayor, who's statements in past cases were used to gin up White Male anger during her Senate hearings.
Kagan has no such problem.
There's also a rumor that Kagan may be Lesbian. My goodness, I hope she is. While it should not be an issue, it would give the Supreme Court an appropriate diversity of thought that would carry America well into the 21st Century.
Sandra Bullock: Happy Mother's Day!
Sandra Bullock has been through a lot this 2010 - from the high of an Oscar win for her role in The Blind Side to the low of the very public problems with her marriage - and deserves to enjoy and be feted for her new status of "Mom."
For those of you living under a rock, Sandra Bullock adopted a lovely baby boy Louis Brado Bullock, now three-months-old, and after a process that started four years ago with her husband Jesse James.
Now, Sandra Bullock and Jesse James are no longer a couple, they're divorcing. Jesse James was exposed as cheating on Bullock with four and perhaps as many as five women. Both have agreed to dissolve their marriage.
Sandra's announced she's going to raise baby Louis as a single mother in New Orleans, moving out of California.
The best of luck to Sandra and Baby Louis!
Dallas Braden gets 2nd Oakland A's perfect game in 42 years (video)
 |
| Dallas Braden |
Braden led the A's to a 4-0 win against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Oakland on Mother's Day.
Now lost in all the celebration is what a "perfect game" in baseball is. It's not a "no-hitter"; it's beyond that. It's a game where no player from the opposing team gains a hit or gets on base in any way, even by a walk or a hit batter.
Nothing. Nada. Zip.
Here's the video:
That's what Dallas Braden did today. Braden's the first Oakland A's pitcher to throw a perfect game in 42 years. That's incredible.
Much has been made of Braden's feud with The New York Yankees' Alex Rodriquez, who's behavior has been rather salty since he was dumped by Kate Hudson after she learned A-Rod was allegedly cheating on her.
When the Oakland A's last played the New York Yankees, A-Rod crossed the mound that was manned by Dallas Braden. Braden took offense to the action and said that A-Rod did not understand baseball etiquette and their "would be repercussions" if he did it again, as this video shows:
The Yankees and A's face again July 5th, 6th, and 7th, in Oakland. Oaklander's, let's make those games sellouts!
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell protects NFL Brand - Draftnik
Protecting the Shield ?
By Ralph Garcia-Sr. Writer Southeast Region-Football Reporters Online
It’s 2010 and the new sheriff in town has made it clear that if you embarrass the shield you pay. He showed that if you do wrong, you will pay, even if the laws of the land don’t make you pay. We have seen so many examples like Pacman Jones to Ben Rothlisberger. It is a good thing that the NFL has a man in charge that wants to keep the integrity and respect of the game. The problem is we still don’t understand the lines that can be crossed.
When the Tennessee Titans used the number six pick to take Pacman back then, fans sighed from the point of the pick. Some asked why him instead of another DB. The question of course was his character at the time. Turns out that Tennessee made a bad pick and now Jones is sending text messages to coach Schwartz to let him know he is willing to play in Detroit. No kidding Adam?
The Cincinnati Bengals have been known to take players in question. It has become a feeding ground for writers of all likes that want a story in between stories. Chad Ochocinco has given plenty of food for thought through the years. No matter the story we will cover it so long as it is a story.
We have seen plenty of instances in all sports that have made us wonder what the hell is going on. What will it take before some owner or organization puts integrity for the sport first instead of just money. Now these incidents are happening. No longer, thanks to technology, will you be able to hide what is really happening.
There are two stories that moved me to this article. The first one is the drafting of Myron Rolle by Tennessee. There were the likes of Tony Dungy questioning his commitment to the Tampa Bay Bucs asking him why he abandoned his teammates at Florida State to get a Rhodes scholarship. We speak of commitment to the game and the league, yet we look at out NFL criminals like stars. Forget the fact that you have smoked pot or did a few lines of the other. Let’s not even take into account that you may have beaten your wife or significant other. Hey if you show the NFL that you drink too much they will punish you by letting Peyton Manning call you an idiot kicker.
Rolle was able to finish school early, excel at football and then became a scholar. When he came out of high school he was the number one recruit in the land. Did that not take commitment on his part? He finishes college in less than three years and his commitment is still questioned? Then instead of hanging out at school and playing football he goes to get an honor only a handful of students are afforded. Has the commish come out and thanked this kid for the positive he gives to the SHIELD? Since I cover the Titans I will say clearly that you all must watch this guy. He is more intelligent than those he will be around.
The next story was the one where the Dolphins GM asked Dez Bryant if his mamma was a prostitute. Nice going NFL and its representatives. In a time where the world is trying to promote positive why not take this opportunity given to make a point. The point is the NFL will not only punish those for crossing the SHIELD, they will not acknowledge the good for the SHIELD as needed right now.
Some have argued that the question about his mamma was legit. They say that if you are an organization investing millions in an athlete you have the right to ask that question. WRONG PEOPLE. The NFL draft is about homework and investigating the players you want. You scout the player to see if he fits into your system and the needs of the team. If you need some info outside of football you go to his neighborhood and ask questions. Now if you want to know if a person addicted to crack is a prostitute you went about it the wrong way. It is well known in the streets that if you're a crack head you will give it up to supplement your habit. Prostitution is the form of work where you sell your body for cash. Trust me folks, a crack head is not trying to sell the body. They are selling their souls because they know no better. So why would you ask this kind of question if you knew how to do your homework?
So with all of this information why doesn’t the commish punish Miami for the colossal mistake it made. How can anyone argue that the move was an absolute embarrassment to the integrity of the league? Why is it that we want our players punished but instances like this have yet to be addressed?
Some former players have hinted that it is easier if the league and your team knew that you had no way out after football. This way they won’t question your commitment because you have no avenue after your done. The point was brought up that a player with that kind of intelligence might even threaten how a coach coaches him.
Lastly is the story of Caleb Campbell, the U.S. Army 1st. Lt. who has just completed 2 years of active duty and is now allowed to play football again. He was all ready to play for what turned out to be the 0-16 Lions two years ago. He said on Nashville radio that he still does not understand the rule that kept him from his dream. He will be moved from S to LB and the transition won’t be easy.
Just a few stories that tell and show the good side of the shield. Stories that are not told to the public, that need to be told. Players like these are not as rare as one may think but with no mention of it, they remain hidden in all the other stories. Stories that make us say…this is not my dad’s NFL anymore.
By Ralph Garcia-Sr. Writer Southeast Region-Football Reporters Online
It’s 2010 and the new sheriff in town has made it clear that if you embarrass the shield you pay. He showed that if you do wrong, you will pay, even if the laws of the land don’t make you pay. We have seen so many examples like Pacman Jones to Ben Rothlisberger. It is a good thing that the NFL has a man in charge that wants to keep the integrity and respect of the game. The problem is we still don’t understand the lines that can be crossed.
When the Tennessee Titans used the number six pick to take Pacman back then, fans sighed from the point of the pick. Some asked why him instead of another DB. The question of course was his character at the time. Turns out that Tennessee made a bad pick and now Jones is sending text messages to coach Schwartz to let him know he is willing to play in Detroit. No kidding Adam?
The Cincinnati Bengals have been known to take players in question. It has become a feeding ground for writers of all likes that want a story in between stories. Chad Ochocinco has given plenty of food for thought through the years. No matter the story we will cover it so long as it is a story.
We have seen plenty of instances in all sports that have made us wonder what the hell is going on. What will it take before some owner or organization puts integrity for the sport first instead of just money. Now these incidents are happening. No longer, thanks to technology, will you be able to hide what is really happening.
There are two stories that moved me to this article. The first one is the drafting of Myron Rolle by Tennessee. There were the likes of Tony Dungy questioning his commitment to the Tampa Bay Bucs asking him why he abandoned his teammates at Florida State to get a Rhodes scholarship. We speak of commitment to the game and the league, yet we look at out NFL criminals like stars. Forget the fact that you have smoked pot or did a few lines of the other. Let’s not even take into account that you may have beaten your wife or significant other. Hey if you show the NFL that you drink too much they will punish you by letting Peyton Manning call you an idiot kicker.
Rolle was able to finish school early, excel at football and then became a scholar. When he came out of high school he was the number one recruit in the land. Did that not take commitment on his part? He finishes college in less than three years and his commitment is still questioned? Then instead of hanging out at school and playing football he goes to get an honor only a handful of students are afforded. Has the commish come out and thanked this kid for the positive he gives to the SHIELD? Since I cover the Titans I will say clearly that you all must watch this guy. He is more intelligent than those he will be around.
The next story was the one where the Dolphins GM asked Dez Bryant if his mamma was a prostitute. Nice going NFL and its representatives. In a time where the world is trying to promote positive why not take this opportunity given to make a point. The point is the NFL will not only punish those for crossing the SHIELD, they will not acknowledge the good for the SHIELD as needed right now.
Some have argued that the question about his mamma was legit. They say that if you are an organization investing millions in an athlete you have the right to ask that question. WRONG PEOPLE. The NFL draft is about homework and investigating the players you want. You scout the player to see if he fits into your system and the needs of the team. If you need some info outside of football you go to his neighborhood and ask questions. Now if you want to know if a person addicted to crack is a prostitute you went about it the wrong way. It is well known in the streets that if you're a crack head you will give it up to supplement your habit. Prostitution is the form of work where you sell your body for cash. Trust me folks, a crack head is not trying to sell the body. They are selling their souls because they know no better. So why would you ask this kind of question if you knew how to do your homework?
So with all of this information why doesn’t the commish punish Miami for the colossal mistake it made. How can anyone argue that the move was an absolute embarrassment to the integrity of the league? Why is it that we want our players punished but instances like this have yet to be addressed?
Some former players have hinted that it is easier if the league and your team knew that you had no way out after football. This way they won’t question your commitment because you have no avenue after your done. The point was brought up that a player with that kind of intelligence might even threaten how a coach coaches him.
Lastly is the story of Caleb Campbell, the U.S. Army 1st. Lt. who has just completed 2 years of active duty and is now allowed to play football again. He was all ready to play for what turned out to be the 0-16 Lions two years ago. He said on Nashville radio that he still does not understand the rule that kept him from his dream. He will be moved from S to LB and the transition won’t be easy.
Just a few stories that tell and show the good side of the shield. Stories that are not told to the public, that need to be told. Players like these are not as rare as one may think but with no mention of it, they remain hidden in all the other stories. Stories that make us say…this is not my dad’s NFL anymore.
Violence in Youth Sports: A growing trend? - Draftnik
Violence in Youth Sports: A growing trend? A downward spiral, and a young man’s brutalization- an editorial commentary by Dr. Bill Chachkes-Managing Partner/Executive Editor-Football Reporters Online
It is becoming more prevailing in our society, the “win at any cost” mentality. Sure, that’s what competition is based on at any level. As coach Herman Edwards once said “you play to win the game.” But when is that mindset “Overkill?” At the professional level we expect athletes to give 110% all the time because it’s their profession. At the college level we expect the same for a variety of reasons, mostly because most college players desire to play professionally if they can get the chance, and because they should be playing their “hearts” out for the school colors. At the high school level, there is an inordinate amount of pressure to be successful, both for the players and for the coaches and school officials. For players it’s to be accepted, to be a “part” of a winner. For the adults again, it’s a variety of causes that keep them “in the heat of the pursuit.” of athletic immortality, and financial security for their families and their schools’ athletic programs. As a moral society for the most part, we expect athletes to give their best all the time, just as workers are supposed to do their jobs to the best of their ability all the time. We also expect them, their coaches, and the fans to follow the rules at all times, and we decry anyone who does not put their best effort into whatever they are doing.
But what about youth developmental programs, and why does it matter? Every football player gets their start in “Pop Warner” youth style football, much like baseball players get their start in “Little League” play. It’s supposed to be a place where, like school-based programs, learning takes place. Learning about the sport and it’s proper play in a safe environment where basic fundamentals are taught that will, we hope, carry the student athlete through the rest of his/or her life. Integrity, honor, sportsmanship, respect for each other and the rules of the game, and above all, fair play. At least that’s what my contemporaries and I were taught growing up in the 1960’s and 1970’s. So why should it be different now?
Incidents of a violent nature at youth sporting events is not new, but has always been isolated to a few “bad days” here and there. Or is it? Is there a growing trend here, among the communities of our country? Are parents pushing their kids too hard to “win” at any cost? And who should take responsibility and control? We expect ourselves to hold each other to a high standard of behavior, but what about when that standard breaks down? If we are as a people, going to police our own on this, we first have to be aware of the danger signs. When a parent or a coach tells a player to “Get That Kid” at the top of his lungs, is he really saying “cover that kid” or “Stop that kid from beating us at any cost”? Where does the rage come from? Is it simply from being outplayed, or is the desire to please the parental figures in a youth athlete’s life pressure them to “win at any cost,” even if the rules are broken.
An ongoing study project at Rutgers University’s Youth Sports Research Council asserts that while there is still no evidence to support “Sports Rage” as an out of control “epidemic” situation, the instances are happening more often and leading to serious injury among those involved. The research at Rutgers points to two different areas: fan violence at events, and instances on the field of play. On Field instances are broken into three different incident types: athlete on athlete, violence against officials, and other situations such as assaults on coaches by parents and other bystanders. The following is quoted from a finding by the council, led by Professor Gregg Heinzmann, the council’s director, on the topic of parent behavior at youth sporting events (in larger type):
Why Do Parents Misbehave?
To date, many of the explanations given for "why rage occurs" have been too shortsighted to be of any practical value. For example, in response to the important and legitimate question, "why do some parents behave so poorly at their child's sporting event," the often parroted answer has been, "because no one told them they couldn't." Such simplistic analysis fails to provide direction for reforming youth sports, in terms of preventing sports rage, because it doesn't address the underlying reasons for poor parental behavior.
To our credit as a society we have tried to do better in this decade, but it seems we still have a long way to go in some areas of policing our own behavior at youth sports events.
Still, when there is a connection between an overzealous parent shouting at his child or children to “get that kid,” and an incident that leads to serious injury of a youth athlete that was sparked by actions on the part of parents or coaches, we as a society have a moral obligation to prevent it from getting out of hand. Regardless of the fact that laws are in place or not, we should feel a duty to protect our youth and place a binding code of conduct on athletes, coaches, parents and fans of ANY youth sporting event at any level, with serious punishment to those that violate the code of conduct and the law.
There also has to be a concern that behavior of this type if allowed to go unchecked, leads to far worse incidents of violence as the athlete grows up, along with an increase in anti-social, and even possibly sociopathic action on the part of some. While we always commend the athlete for having a “winning” attitude or a great “game” face and playing with emotion, there is a clear line between what is acceptable and what is not on the field of play. While no clear relation exists between a youth athlete who gets into trouble for taking things too far on the field and the excesses of some current professional athletes and their behavior and “Self-Entitled” way of life, it’s not too far off base to surmise that poor sportsmanship and behavior on the part of youth athletes that aren’t “behavior modified” can lead to far worse actions in later life. The police blotters across the country are filled with current and ex-pro athletes running amok and tarnishing their reputations and the great game of football. The only way this can be combated is through early intervention on the part of parents, coaches, and administrators.
Not long ago a parent reached out to me to get my feelings on one such incident that took place last fall in a Denver suburb. My first thought was “these things happen all the time” but once I viewed the video (attached with the families’ permission at the end of this article) you will see that this is not the kind of thing that should be allowed to be explained away as “just football” or “it happens all the time.” I was compelled to get involved because of my background in football, and a moral standard I adhere to.
It’s because of an incident like this, where a young man could have been crippled for life, or worse, died on the field from a broken neck, that assurances must be granted that no incident goes by without an appropriate reaction from a league’s administrators no matter what the level. Youth football is about teaching skills. It’s about learning what a 2-5 sweep is. It’s about how to hold and carry and throw a football. What it is not is your coach or your dad telling you to “Get that Kid” and you punch him 4 times in the head and through his facemask and then grab him by the mask and twist his neck and head like your taking the lid off a jar, then walk away sneakily hoping you don’t get caught when most everyone clearly saw what you did. There is just no just excuse for this on any level. Not “its just football” or “it was in the heat of the game.” In the state where I live, what you are going to see on this video would be classified as a violent felony (assault and battery to be exact), which would and should cause anyone tried as an adult for such crime and convicted be jailed for said crime. Clearly we can’t do that in the case of a 10 or 11 year old child, but steps must be taken to make sure this never happens again, and proper behavior is reinforced at all times on the field of play.
This past week on our radio show we brought this situation to light by having the parents and coaches of the injured player join us for the last two segments of our show, along with their legal counsel, to take questions on air from myself and my team of co-hosts. We can’t believe for the life of us how these parents are in the minority in their feeling that something is wrong with this situation, and that there is the possibility of a “cover up” of some sort going on here, especially when I receive a reply via e-mail by way of a “statement” from the current president of the league where this incident took place the next day.
In this e-mail I was given a detailed account of the league’s sincerity and that “Trust me.
If we have the video, and it shows what it purports to show, swift, direct and appropriate action will be taken by me.” That is all well and good intentioned, and we are glad that it’s possible that common sense could win out here. But it should have been done when the incident took place, not six and a half months later, and only because the mother of the athlete involved came on my show because her and the few parents supporting her could not get any supportive action from the league’s administrator’s at the time of the incident and felt they had no other recourse to get assistance. That being said, I’m happy the current president of this league wants to move forward and get this rectified in a proper manner. In the interest of fairness I have invited him (and the league’s legal counsel if he feels threatened by the truth of this situation) to come on our show as guests two weeks from now, to explain what steps will be taken to make sure this never happens again.
These parents also feel that much as been done to smear them up until now, that they have been painted as “crazy malcontents” bent on destroying the league. I have been personally accused of “ getting involved in something that is none of my business” and “doing this to get the ratings of my show up.” As a matter of fact, while we were conducting the show this past Thursday night I was getting support from a few people in our show’s chat room. At the same time I was being harassed by someone via instant message telling me “what do I care about a few crazy parents for” and “since when does the “New York Based” sports media even care about youth football in Colorado.”
My Answer to these people is plain and simple: Any time anyone tarnishes the great game of football by their actions or lack there of, it’s my business. No matter where it is, New York, Colorado, or anywhere else, and I will stand up for these parents and their children until justice is done. It’s not about my show ratings. I get plenty of good guests, mostly retired NFL players, current college players or coaches, player agents, and fellow football media. I don’t need a story like this to get up my ratings. This story needs to be told and the issues addressed. No one is looking to keep these kids from playing football. That’s the last thing we want. But we want the athlete who was injured to never have to worry about getting hurt like this ever again because an opponent took it a little too far, or because a parent of the opposing player pressured him into beating up an opponent for no reason other then he was frustrated over being outplayed at that moment or because he didn’t like the way he was blocked. Anyone who needs to question that shouldn’t be involved in sports.
It is becoming more prevailing in our society, the “win at any cost” mentality. Sure, that’s what competition is based on at any level. As coach Herman Edwards once said “you play to win the game.” But when is that mindset “Overkill?” At the professional level we expect athletes to give 110% all the time because it’s their profession. At the college level we expect the same for a variety of reasons, mostly because most college players desire to play professionally if they can get the chance, and because they should be playing their “hearts” out for the school colors. At the high school level, there is an inordinate amount of pressure to be successful, both for the players and for the coaches and school officials. For players it’s to be accepted, to be a “part” of a winner. For the adults again, it’s a variety of causes that keep them “in the heat of the pursuit.” of athletic immortality, and financial security for their families and their schools’ athletic programs. As a moral society for the most part, we expect athletes to give their best all the time, just as workers are supposed to do their jobs to the best of their ability all the time. We also expect them, their coaches, and the fans to follow the rules at all times, and we decry anyone who does not put their best effort into whatever they are doing.
But what about youth developmental programs, and why does it matter? Every football player gets their start in “Pop Warner” youth style football, much like baseball players get their start in “Little League” play. It’s supposed to be a place where, like school-based programs, learning takes place. Learning about the sport and it’s proper play in a safe environment where basic fundamentals are taught that will, we hope, carry the student athlete through the rest of his/or her life. Integrity, honor, sportsmanship, respect for each other and the rules of the game, and above all, fair play. At least that’s what my contemporaries and I were taught growing up in the 1960’s and 1970’s. So why should it be different now?
Incidents of a violent nature at youth sporting events is not new, but has always been isolated to a few “bad days” here and there. Or is it? Is there a growing trend here, among the communities of our country? Are parents pushing their kids too hard to “win” at any cost? And who should take responsibility and control? We expect ourselves to hold each other to a high standard of behavior, but what about when that standard breaks down? If we are as a people, going to police our own on this, we first have to be aware of the danger signs. When a parent or a coach tells a player to “Get That Kid” at the top of his lungs, is he really saying “cover that kid” or “Stop that kid from beating us at any cost”? Where does the rage come from? Is it simply from being outplayed, or is the desire to please the parental figures in a youth athlete’s life pressure them to “win at any cost,” even if the rules are broken.
An ongoing study project at Rutgers University’s Youth Sports Research Council asserts that while there is still no evidence to support “Sports Rage” as an out of control “epidemic” situation, the instances are happening more often and leading to serious injury among those involved. The research at Rutgers points to two different areas: fan violence at events, and instances on the field of play. On Field instances are broken into three different incident types: athlete on athlete, violence against officials, and other situations such as assaults on coaches by parents and other bystanders. The following is quoted from a finding by the council, led by Professor Gregg Heinzmann, the council’s director, on the topic of parent behavior at youth sporting events (in larger type):
Why Do Parents Misbehave?
To date, many of the explanations given for "why rage occurs" have been too shortsighted to be of any practical value. For example, in response to the important and legitimate question, "why do some parents behave so poorly at their child's sporting event," the often parroted answer has been, "because no one told them they couldn't." Such simplistic analysis fails to provide direction for reforming youth sports, in terms of preventing sports rage, because it doesn't address the underlying reasons for poor parental behavior.
To our credit as a society we have tried to do better in this decade, but it seems we still have a long way to go in some areas of policing our own behavior at youth sports events.
Still, when there is a connection between an overzealous parent shouting at his child or children to “get that kid,” and an incident that leads to serious injury of a youth athlete that was sparked by actions on the part of parents or coaches, we as a society have a moral obligation to prevent it from getting out of hand. Regardless of the fact that laws are in place or not, we should feel a duty to protect our youth and place a binding code of conduct on athletes, coaches, parents and fans of ANY youth sporting event at any level, with serious punishment to those that violate the code of conduct and the law.
There also has to be a concern that behavior of this type if allowed to go unchecked, leads to far worse incidents of violence as the athlete grows up, along with an increase in anti-social, and even possibly sociopathic action on the part of some. While we always commend the athlete for having a “winning” attitude or a great “game” face and playing with emotion, there is a clear line between what is acceptable and what is not on the field of play. While no clear relation exists between a youth athlete who gets into trouble for taking things too far on the field and the excesses of some current professional athletes and their behavior and “Self-Entitled” way of life, it’s not too far off base to surmise that poor sportsmanship and behavior on the part of youth athletes that aren’t “behavior modified” can lead to far worse actions in later life. The police blotters across the country are filled with current and ex-pro athletes running amok and tarnishing their reputations and the great game of football. The only way this can be combated is through early intervention on the part of parents, coaches, and administrators.
Not long ago a parent reached out to me to get my feelings on one such incident that took place last fall in a Denver suburb. My first thought was “these things happen all the time” but once I viewed the video (attached with the families’ permission at the end of this article) you will see that this is not the kind of thing that should be allowed to be explained away as “just football” or “it happens all the time.” I was compelled to get involved because of my background in football, and a moral standard I adhere to.
It’s because of an incident like this, where a young man could have been crippled for life, or worse, died on the field from a broken neck, that assurances must be granted that no incident goes by without an appropriate reaction from a league’s administrators no matter what the level. Youth football is about teaching skills. It’s about learning what a 2-5 sweep is. It’s about how to hold and carry and throw a football. What it is not is your coach or your dad telling you to “Get that Kid” and you punch him 4 times in the head and through his facemask and then grab him by the mask and twist his neck and head like your taking the lid off a jar, then walk away sneakily hoping you don’t get caught when most everyone clearly saw what you did. There is just no just excuse for this on any level. Not “its just football” or “it was in the heat of the game.” In the state where I live, what you are going to see on this video would be classified as a violent felony (assault and battery to be exact), which would and should cause anyone tried as an adult for such crime and convicted be jailed for said crime. Clearly we can’t do that in the case of a 10 or 11 year old child, but steps must be taken to make sure this never happens again, and proper behavior is reinforced at all times on the field of play.
This past week on our radio show we brought this situation to light by having the parents and coaches of the injured player join us for the last two segments of our show, along with their legal counsel, to take questions on air from myself and my team of co-hosts. We can’t believe for the life of us how these parents are in the minority in their feeling that something is wrong with this situation, and that there is the possibility of a “cover up” of some sort going on here, especially when I receive a reply via e-mail by way of a “statement” from the current president of the league where this incident took place the next day.
In this e-mail I was given a detailed account of the league’s sincerity and that “Trust me.
If we have the video, and it shows what it purports to show, swift, direct and appropriate action will be taken by me.” That is all well and good intentioned, and we are glad that it’s possible that common sense could win out here. But it should have been done when the incident took place, not six and a half months later, and only because the mother of the athlete involved came on my show because her and the few parents supporting her could not get any supportive action from the league’s administrator’s at the time of the incident and felt they had no other recourse to get assistance. That being said, I’m happy the current president of this league wants to move forward and get this rectified in a proper manner. In the interest of fairness I have invited him (and the league’s legal counsel if he feels threatened by the truth of this situation) to come on our show as guests two weeks from now, to explain what steps will be taken to make sure this never happens again.
These parents also feel that much as been done to smear them up until now, that they have been painted as “crazy malcontents” bent on destroying the league. I have been personally accused of “ getting involved in something that is none of my business” and “doing this to get the ratings of my show up.” As a matter of fact, while we were conducting the show this past Thursday night I was getting support from a few people in our show’s chat room. At the same time I was being harassed by someone via instant message telling me “what do I care about a few crazy parents for” and “since when does the “New York Based” sports media even care about youth football in Colorado.”
My Answer to these people is plain and simple: Any time anyone tarnishes the great game of football by their actions or lack there of, it’s my business. No matter where it is, New York, Colorado, or anywhere else, and I will stand up for these parents and their children until justice is done. It’s not about my show ratings. I get plenty of good guests, mostly retired NFL players, current college players or coaches, player agents, and fellow football media. I don’t need a story like this to get up my ratings. This story needs to be told and the issues addressed. No one is looking to keep these kids from playing football. That’s the last thing we want. But we want the athlete who was injured to never have to worry about getting hurt like this ever again because an opponent took it a little too far, or because a parent of the opposing player pressured him into beating up an opponent for no reason other then he was frustrated over being outplayed at that moment or because he didn’t like the way he was blocked. Anyone who needs to question that shouldn’t be involved in sports.
Betty White's Muffin a hit Saturday Night Live and Twitter
White's SNL appearance started with a Facebook campaign that gained a half-million supporters. NBC and SNL paid attention and the result was the special Mother's Day Saturday Night Live show.
Many on Twitter point to a segment on "Betty White's Muffin" as the signature work of her SNL sig. If you haven't seen the full episode, here it is:
EOnline's Jovie Baclayon wrote that Betty White "killed it" and reported that White was in every SNL skit "without missing a beat." Here's Betty White's opening opening monologue where she thanked the Facebook community for making her SNL host gig a reality, but hilariously said Facebook is a "waist of time:"
Betty White's getting a well-deserved weekend fest. Just the thing to top a six-decade career.
Rock the Casbah!
Iron Man 2 review by Suzannah B. Troy
Mickey Rourke wore his soul on his skin in his comeback film "The Wrestler" and he was breath taking in his first few minutes of Iron Man 2 when he actually has dialogue. Rourke is superb but this was not a script heavy movie and he doesn't get much dialogue or screen time but he is riveting when he does get to speak and I loved the head to toe Russian Mafia tattoos. If you haven't seen Eastern Promises, a serious film not a cartoon movie, than rent this memorable film about the Russian Mafia in England. Iron Man 2 is fun. The critics were less than enthusiastic and for good reason but the movie will do really well at the box office. There is a superb supporting cast including the sexy siren Scarlett Johansson, John Faurvre not sexy but fun, who also directed the movie and although Samuel Jackson has a very small role he is super! There are plenty of cameos including Christine Amanpour for global news buffs, internet billionaire Larry Ellison as well as an amazing retro-car with hand painted flames that I would love to go for a ride in! I was bored to tears in the over the top fight scenes that were techno-extreme fighting meets professional wrestling and maybe it's just me...if I have to see fighting than I would rather see be hunky guys in the flesh not cartoon like machine. At this point in my life over the top special effects are too much for me and I would have preferred to read a good book during those scenes. Even the coming attractions were over the top over, stimulating tech heavy, leaving me longing for small films like Crazy Heart.
The movie is fun and will make big bucks at the box office. Also for New York lovers Queens is also a star in Iron Man 2 as well!!!!! I am obsessed with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". There is a tattoo scene in this film that is unforgettable although the film is too violent for me. I am reading the book and even got the poster in Swedish. For tattoo buffs -- The NYC Tattoo Convention 2010 is this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I special shout out to Clayton Patterson who helps put on this convention because he had my art in the window of his Outlaw Art Museum! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ0uQwNxPNg
The movie is fun and will make big bucks at the box office. Also for New York lovers Queens is also a star in Iron Man 2 as well!!!!! I am obsessed with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". There is a tattoo scene in this film that is unforgettable although the film is too violent for me. I am reading the book and even got the poster in Swedish. For tattoo buffs -- The NYC Tattoo Convention 2010 is this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I special shout out to Clayton Patterson who helps put on this convention because he had my art in the window of his Outlaw Art Museum! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ0uQwNxPNg
Happy Mother's Day to everyone!
Yet as I write this, i'm not sure that would keep her at home cooking and tending garden. While she does do that - tend garden and cook - I really think working around people is Mom's way of staying connected. She's a United Airline retiree but if United called, she'd answer it in a heart beat.
Mom's tried working for me but following Internet trends can be boring if you really like being out and about with folks. Not that I don't, but that's my Mom. It's good therapy for the passing of friends over time.
The one curse of old age is that your friends die. While the logical and uncaring mind would say "just make new ones" it's also a young mind that would form such a thought. Friends are supposed to be and are special people in your life. Friends know you. They're the people who have license to open your door without knocking or tell you what they think because it's for your own good.
Friends are people who borrow money from you and pay you back. They keep your secrets, well, at least the ones that are worth keeping. When you lose friends you lose a part of you. (And while I'm thinking about it, for those who are dating and hear the words "let's be friends", anyone who says "we're friends" and does not meet the criteria above isn't a friend. Don't kid yourself. In my experience, real friends come with benefits. But enough about that for now.)
I think if I were married with kids that would keep Mom at home because kids are the center of her life. It doesn't matter who you are, if you're around my age, your my Mom's kid and she talks to you that way.
I remember a neighbor of mine mistakenly and she will tell you stupidly poured gasoline on the side of the street in full view of my Mom, who was visiting. Well, she got it from my Mom. And while I didn't know her well at the time, and do didn't know what to expect as a reaction, I realized Mom has a way of putting things such that people know she cares and isn't being malicious. She has that way about her.
But fortunately, even though I'm not a father and believe I'd be an incredible one, I'm also not suffering through a divorce or discovering that my wife's cheating on me, either. So, I suppose there's a bright side too.
But I digress. I'm here for my Mom, who I love very much and always will. From the practical perspective, she's my only remaining family and I'm the only child, so I travel here each month to help her. But even if that wasn't the case, I'd be here anyway!
Happy Mother's Day! Give your Mom a kiss if she's near by and a call if she's not - even if you argue with her, at least enjoy that you're able to!
Lawrence Taylor says his golf game is always good
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| LT. talks about his golf game |
Lawrence Taylor is known for his love of the game, and of late he was playing in pro-ams with celebrities like Donald Trump. L.T., the center of a joke by NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice that he'd better leave because "L.T's coming," stopped to directly inform me that his golf game was "always fine."
Little did anyone know that could mean his talent for scoring hole-in-ones didn't apply to just the links, or that Jerry Rice's playful run out of the picture might have a double meaning. Lawrence Taylor was charged with 3rd-degree rape in a bizarre case that Taylor first claimed was set-up and that he never had sex with a 16-year-old runaway girl under the control of a pimp, and is now saying there was "some contact" and he was told she was 19 years old.
If that was the case, and The Huffington Post reports that it is, then from that narrow perspective, Taylor was set up. But only to have sex with someone he thought was of age. Beyond that, the picture looks bad and opens a ton of questions, but the main one is this:
Why was L.T. even of the mind to pay for sex with a young girl considering he's got a wife at home and was dancing with an enormously beautiful woman on Dancing with The Stars?
What kind of mindset does L.T. have? If the teenager was beaten by this Rasheed Davis pimp from The Bronx before she had sex with Taylor, did L.T. even notice that she was hit by someone? Can't he tell a teenager when he sees one? Also, did L.T. just have to have a young girl to be with? Why? And I'm not buying the sexual addiction excuse.
And the most pressing question is why would Lawrence Taylor place himself in such a low-life position, laying down with people who live a kind of life that keeps them in trouble? Look, if he was going to do that, why not a high-class escort in her 30s? How about a New York Knicks Cheerleader? Why not an Upper East Side socialite? How about a Columbia law student?
If he was of a mind to fool around, New York's teaming with lovely, smart, successful women single and married and all well over 21. But then with a wife as devoted to a man as Taylor's is, publicly stating her support for him, L.T. should have just took his rear-end home.
What the hell's wrong with him?
Stay tuned.
Mr. Hudson and Jay-Z sing Forever Young on SNL (Saturday Night Live)
The last time we heard Hip Hop Super Star Jay-Z singing, or more appropriately enabling a singer of the song "Forever Young" it was Jay-Z with his wife Beyonce at the Coachella Music Festival. It was a moment that was the talk of that event then and is still searched for online today.
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| Mr. Hudson |
From all accounts, the 88-year old actress was excellent in something that started as a Facebook campaign and evolved from the dream of a few to a reality for Betty White.
And it's really heart-warming to see that through New Media we can make sure people who've been such cultural treasures as Betty White continue to be remembered and not forgotten.
But I digress. Who the hell is Mr. Hudson?
His real name is Benjamin Hudson McIldowie, and he's a British Hip Hop artist signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music, according to Wikipedia.
But the reason he's not well-known until now is he just hit the scene last year with his first album, Straight No Chaser, which was released on my birthday, August 4th.
It's amazing how fast these artists are introduced today. MGMT just his the scene five years ago. American Idol's popping out stars faster than one can keep up with, and each new one serves to throw a PR blanket over the last ones.
It's almost as if we're saturated with new musical talent. When do we reach the point of over-saturation?
But I digress.
Happy Mother's Day Betty White!
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Calling 311 Mike by Suzannah B. Troy artist NYC
I had to call 311 tonight...call it the good citizen thing or what ever. It took a half hour of holding to do what I wanted to do and I can only say this....the people that answer the phone tend to be the nicest people on the planet. Saints...They are so polite and so nice.
It took 20 minutes of holding to speak to the very first extremely kind nice person. She sounded very tired but still very professional and despite her fatigue down right nice....thought to myself she is a good person working hard and it is clearly a busy night. Maybe do to the high winds tonight 311 is extra busy, the high winds have been causing a lot of trouble here in NYC....time to snuggle with loved ones and watch The Wizard of Oz.
The mayor had a good idea, 311 but it doesn't work that well because like everything here in NYC there are not the "dollas" to back up the ideas.
I have to laugh when I think of this funny older white guy with gray hair, a bit nerdy, can't think of his name that shows up to the MTA meetings and always gives Mayor Bloomberg hell. He says to solve the MTA budget crisis all we need to do is hold Bloomberg upside down and shake him. I assume he means like the salt shakers nanny mayor Mike Bloomberg would have us put down even if it takes a gun to our heads except Mike is anti-gun.
Mike 311 is a great idea but it seems like your idea is under staffed and by the nicest of New Yorkers and you can't really make the idea work.
More and more NYC resembles communist Russia with capitialist prices. I first used that term to describe the high price of health insurance here in NYC but now it seems like that is the "state" of NY unless you are a fat cat politico, ruthless in any number of categories etc., just not the category called "the people of New York" aka "the tax payers". At the rate we are going we may be heading towards NYC resembling Greece. Don't worry mayor Mike, I am not talking about grease, greasy food or turning you upside down like a salt shaker to cure our mega-billion dollar deficit. New York City may start resembling Greece more and more and I am not talking about the Parthenon. By the way, did you see The New York Post's coverage of the "protest dog" that shows up for every major riot in Greece?
For non-New Yorkers, our mayor is called the nanny mayor because he wants to make sure we cut down our fat intake, our salt intake, but drinking is okay! That is the one industry he has no qualms with...just look around the streets at night for proof.
If anyone hasn't noticed here in New York, Albany was suppose to balance the budget by April 1. An appropriate day except the tax payers are losing everything dollar and sense except for a sense of humor, perhaps. Maybe instead of a billionaire we should have a comedian for mayor. No forget that. The accidental governor, Dave Patterson always sounded like he was auditioning for Saturday Night Live until he got himself implicated in three scandals, than he lost the bad stand up comedy and he still refuses to step down. Thanks Dave!
By the way getting back to Mike, is there a clause in "New York city gov law" that says if the mayor has a 2nd income and that 2nd income earns over 2 billion dollars that he has to pay a special tax like half of his multi-billion dollar income from his 2nd job...? Didn't think so but I had to ask.
Mike, I want to ask you are we going from a recession to a depression?
Hello, 311, I want to report a budget catastrophe here in NYC waiting to happen like an oil spill in the East River...a disaster...help!
Thirty minutes later I hung up but before doing so I told 311 operator, Angel no. 2, the specialist thank you, praised her but told her I don't like our mayor. Thank you and bless you!
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