Quest

Robert Glasper

2012-01-20T17:03:00.003-06:00

new Robert Glasper featuring Musiq and Chrisette Michelle...i'm feeling it.

"Ah Yeah"

amazing...

2011-12-17T11:59:00.002-06:00

I actually went through some old blog posts and found one that is particularly relevant to me right now. Rather than try to explain, I think it best if i just repost.

random banter...

3: God's love: It's amazing to think of how much God loves us. Of course we know He gave His life for us, He continues to provide our needs even in these times of economic turmoil. I'm blessed with a job, a home, and my reasonable portion of material things. But I'm just in awe at the things that God will do to show that He cares about those things in my heart that I've only shared with Him. He comforts me, and even allows people to interact with me in a way to show that He does in fact hear my prayers. I think we all go through times where we question if God is indeed concerned with the minuscule, trivial things going on in our hearts, and if we are important enough for Him to respond to those little things. And I'm just glad that God loves me so much that He is concerned, and I am important.

YPJ Christmas Album

2011-12-14T09:05:00.002-06:00

great Christmas Music

Huge Dunk

2011-11-23T10:16:00.002-06:00

go camels...

Last Sunday

2011-05-26T10:35:00.005-05:00

We had a good discussion in the Sheepfold small group setting last Sunday about religions, specifically the statement used by some that "all religions are the same". It reminded me about an old post I did, and I shared some C.S. Lewis with the group, via some ideas from the book Mere Christianity. Here's the post I did when I was reading that book.

Thoughts for the day...

I gotta give a shout out to kb for puttin me on to the C. S. Lewis "Mere Christianity". for those of us who claim Christianity, it is an awesome book to reaffirm what we believe using a common sense approach. and for those who think Christianity is nonsense, i dare you to read it...i think it would cause you to think again. i just want to put a little bit of the book here for you to think about.

"Why is God landing in this enemy-occupied world in disguise and starting a sort of secret society to undermine the devil? Why is He not landing in force, invading it? Is it that He is not strong enough? Well, Christians think He is going to land in force; we do not know when. But we can guess why He is delaying. He wants to give us a chance of joining His side freely...God will invade. but i wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realize what it will be like when He does. When it happens, it is the end of the world. When the author walks on to the stage, the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what good is saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else-something it never entered into your head to conceive-comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to the others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side...That will not be the time for choosing: it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to chose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave it."

Basically, this is saying there will be a time where all will know, with no doubt, who the true God is. And at that time, you will also know what side you are on. I'm glad to know the true God now, and have a relationship with him.

New Car?

2011-05-09T15:51:00.003-05:00

I know I've mentioned several times in this blog my misery with rising gas prices. Well, I honestly feel I've reached a breaking point.

If/when gas prices reach $5/gallon, I will officially begin my quest to own an electric vehicle. Not a 'Hybrid'...I want a vehicle that runs exclusively on electricity. And I don't care what it looks like.

Some options include:

Ford FOCUS Electric

Telsa Model S

Video of the skydive

2011-04-25T16:09:00.000-05:00

Granada last days

2011-04-24T16:12:00.001-05:00

So, I'm officially back in the states, in Chicago waiting on my last flight back to NC. I figured I'd use the time to catch up on some of the events from my last few days in Spain.

I was able to see a Flamonco (sp?) show. This one was not they typical show, and consisted of only the guitarist and singer. However I enjoyed it thoroughly, and the musician in me was able to really appreciate the complexities of this style of music.

We were able to visit the cathedral of Granada, and it was amazing. It was much larger than the one we saw at the Alhambra. So many items to look at, and decorative pieces of art in display, we ended up walking around for over 2 hours. Definitely great experience.

We had a rooftop view of the processional route on Friday evening, and we were all excited, but the rain forced it to be cancelled. We were disappointed, but not nearly as much as those who had spend time money and energy preparing to participate in the processional. Because there is no rain delay date, they must wait another year for the chance to participate.

I finally got to taste paella. It wasn't really what I expected it would be, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone traveling to Spain.

I know I'm leaving things out, but when I get settled I'll post my pics and hopefully other things will come back to mind.

Granada Day 4

2011-04-22T12:39:00.000-05:00

So, I'm a little late on posting about our day yesterday. My apologies to the masses of ones, maybe even tens, of you all who are following my trip.

Day 4 in Granada was laid back. The day began with our quest for Chinese food for lunch, in which we stumbled upon a small shops area. I was able to find a few souvenirs to bring home, which was cool.

After Chinese food, we walked through some more shopping areas, and were able to check out the European suit stores. Tight work. But way too expensive for me to have to ship back home. By now the weather was starting to turn bad, so we sought refuge in an American style Jazz club. This was refreshing change of pace for me, to be able to hear music that I recognized. Great atmosphere.

The highlight of the day was the silent procession. Just like all the rest of the Semana Santa processionals, this one had the solid silver objects, pointed-hood clad participants, and the huge exhibit with Christ on the cross. However, as the name suggest, this one did not include a band as the rest up until then had, and was done in complete silence, save one bass drum at the very beginning to help keep time. This included the spectators, and the city even turned off all the street lights, and police officers "asked" all the businesses and restaurants to turn their music and lights off until it had passed. The effect was remarkable, and you could hear the footsteps in time, the chains from shackles dragging the ground, and see the candles in the darkness, not having to fight the light of streetlights. I'm still not one hundred percent the religious significance of all the activities going on this week, but they are definitely memorable, and I can research them more when I get back to the states.

Adios!

Granada Day 3

2011-04-20T18:23:00.001-05:00

Today was another solid day. We woke up this morning and went over to the Alhambra, which was crazy with the view. We also went into the cathedral and were actually able to watch them prepare for their Semana Santa procesión. And of course the decoration inside the church was crazy.

Then I was actually able to go to a guitar shop. Now, these were handmade acoustic guitars, starting at 750€ ($850-900), so they normally only allow professionals to even pick them up. Well, the owner could tell I was genuinely interested, so he picked one up, tuned it, and then went in Carlos Santana style something crazy. After he finished, I wanted no parts of the guitar. But after he insisted several times, I understood that he would be offended if I didn't play a little, so I picked it up and hit a few chords. I thought it was overall a cool experience. After we left, Raymond let me know that the owner was saying (en Español) that he could tell we were not from Granada, and he didn't want us to have a bad impression, so he allowed me to play.

We then went to the courts where Raymond and Carson usually go to play basketball. It was cool, and even though I was dressed in hiking boots and pants I jumped on the court and played a few games. It was interesting to see how even in a game I've grown up playing for so long, my lack of Spanish speaking affected me. I wasn't able to easily communicate with the rest of the people on the court, which just made the game that much more difficult. But it was fun.

We finished the day with dinner and watching the Barcelona
Vs Real Madrid fútbol match for their championship. It was crazy seeing how the city shut down while the match was going on. No taxis, pedestrians to be seen. But as soon as the game was over, people started spilling out into the streets for more Semana Santa celebrations.

It was a great day, and we got to skype with Conie, Alicia, and Lauryn too!

Granada Day 2

2011-04-20T05:28:00.003-05:00

So, today was really laid back, but still a great day. I'm really enjoying the flow of the trip thus far. Even though we haven't made detailed plans, every day has been eventful and fun.

Today we went and saw a bit of the outskirts of the city of Granada. We were able to see the Alhambra, which is a major fortress on the side of a cliff. We also went to a Moroccan restaurant and teteria (tea house). Granada evidently has a very strong Moroccan influence on its culture. We also went to Mirador de St Nicolos, which I think literally translates to "St Nicholas' Lookout". And it was truly an amazing lookout over the city or Granada, to the Alhambra, and even to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance.

In the evening we experienced tapas. So, I'll explain it to you in American terms. Imagine you walk into your neighborhood Applebee's and order a beer. Or glass of wine. Or bottle of Coke or Pepsi. Well, not only would you get your drink, but they bring you out a grilled ham and cheese and french fries for free. Or chicken wings and french bread and potato chips. Or fried rice with shrimp. That's how tapas work. And if you order another drink, you get another plate of food. Awesome.

Well, we'll see what tomorrow has to hold!

Venga!

Seville day 3/ Granada day 1

2011-04-18T21:47:00.001-05:00

Today was a pretty low key day. We woke up and checked out of our hotel, before we went and checked out Plaza de Espana, which was amazing. The decoration of this place was extravagant and the pictures that I tried to take could never capture everything that was going on there. But when I get home I'll post the best of what I was able to take.

We took a train to Granada at about 3pm this time (9am EST) where I was able to catch a nap and view the amazing countryside of southern Spain.

We checked into our hotel/hostel, and Raymond and Carson were able to go to their host family's house to get some more clothes and things. They live in a really chill neighborhood, reminds me of a scene from the Cosby Show when Bill was working in the community center: kids playing in the street, tasteful graffiti everywere, and a lot of comfort felt between neighbors.

We met up with some Spanish dudes after dinner and I had a great time working on my Spanish speaking.

Another great day!

Hasta luego!

Seville Day 2

2011-04-17T10:19:00.007-05:00

Today I communed with God.

As my father would put it, I jumped out of a perfectly fine airplane. I have to give a shoutout to Skydive Spain and Jonno, my instructor for making it a wonderful experience. Also shout out to Pete for the great pictures and video. I have to say, this is the first time I've been on a plane where more people were aboard during take-off than landing. But it was an amazing experience that I hope to enjoy again soon. When I get to a place where I'm able to, I'll be posting my pics and video.

As for now, we'll be heading out to experience some of the festivities for the Semana Santa celebration here in Seville.

Seville Day 1

2011-04-16T07:04:00.001-05:00

What a day! I finally made it to Seville yesterday evening at about 7. It was a nerve racking experience, but fun figuring out things and attempting to communicate in Spanish. The last leg of my travels involved me trying to get to the hotel, and being told by the attendant in the train station that it would be a short walk. Well, nobody tomd me that there are no street signs...so after walking 15 minutes in what I later figured to be the wrong direction, I got a cab and got to the hotel. And I had my line ready to tell the hotel attendant: "Mi hermano esta aqui ahora.", but Raymond and Carson were sitting in the lobby waiting on me.

So, we hung out at the hotel for just a bit, then set out to walk around the city. We had dinner, found a scenic site to hang out (I'm still not sure what it was called), and then met up with several other English speaking students that we happened to cross in the street. After 24 hours of not hearing anyone talk english other than Raymond and Carson, it was refreshing to be able to understand a conversation. And afterward, I think I was energized to be able to talk spanish as best I could.

It was a great first night,a nd I'm excited about the rest of the trip

departure/london

2011-04-15T03:14:00.000-05:00

So, I'm safely in London Gatwick waiting on my flight to Malaga. Needless to say its been an eventful first part of my trip. I specifically choose a window seat on my flight across the Atlantic so I could try to see all I could, only to be in a row with no windows. But overall it was a good flight. I didn't realize I'd be served two meals on the way, so that was cool. And I bumped into a co-worker on the same flight which was weird. And by co-worker I mean President of Campbell University and his wife, along with one of the Vice Presidents and his wife. Of course they didn't recognize me, even though we've been introduced at least 6 times and I've actually given treatment advice for various ailments via phone. Oh well.

So, I land in London, and I have to go to a different airport. I've been stressing about this part of the trip since I found out about it. So, I'm waiting to go through customs, and the agent who is stamping my passport says "What time is your flight?". I tell her 11, and she gives me a look like "are you serious?". She proceeds to tell me there's no way I'd make my connection, but I should hurry to try. So, in my rush, I'm not thinking clearly at this point. While waiting on the shuttle, I figure I'd get some other things done, like getting some currency. However, I'm not focused, and end up withdrawing pounds (£) instead of what I needed, euros (€). So I end up going to the currency exchange place and having the lady exchange it for me. She could tell I was a stupid American, and had pity on my by not charging me the commission for the exchange.
All that to say I'm at the airport on time, with a pocket full of the right currency, and excited about the trip to come.

Today's the Day

2011-04-14T12:30:00.003-05:00

So, I'm setting off on my travels this evening. I'm a little nervous, but very excited. I'm trying to finish up all the last minute travel plans, shuttles, bus/train from the airport in Malaga to Seville, and hopefully everything goes well. I'll try my best to post as soon as I can when I get settled in Spain.

Adios

Almost time...

2011-04-08T09:39:00.003-05:00

I know it's been a while since I've posted, but I feel it's time for me to make a return to the blog world. First off, my homegirl Stacy has been doing a great job blogging her trip to New Zealand. And by trip I don't mean vacation. I mean "quit my job, liquidate my assets, and live here until I run out of money", which I think is awesome. Check her blog out here.

So, after keeping up with her, I've decided to do something similar. I'm not liquidating any assets (although I guess I am, since I sold my motorcycle, but whatever), and I'm not going forever, just about 10 days. But I am excited about taking my first trip out of the country (save about 36 hours in the Bahamas 2 summers ago, which was awesome but very short). I'm flying to Spain, where I'll be visiting Maliga, Granada, and Seville with my youngest brother Raymond. Raymond's currently studying abroad for the semester, so it's the perfect opportunity for me to visit him and take advantage of the chance to see Spain.

I'm going to try to update daily and post some pictures when I embark on my trip next week. And I invite all of you who care to read this blog to enjoy my updates and tidbits about my trip too. My Spanish is very poor, and I'm nervous, but it'll be all good I'm sure.

A look Back

2011-02-21T11:54:00.002-06:00

Here's a look back at an old post, and a celebration of the Mardi Gras season and upcoming festivities. I'm sad I'm not able to take part in the fun, but my King Cake is on the way from Berrytown in Ponchatoula, so I'll enjoy what I can from NC!

Zulu 2009

So this Mardi Gras i was fortunate enough to be a part of the Krewe of Young Warriors in the Zulu Parade on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans. It was so much fun!! Thanks to everyone who made it happen, and i look forward to taking part again! Here is a clip on YouTube of our float.

Look at 0:39, i'm the one at the top of the second section of the float, dancing, front passenger side behind the captain morgan-looking thing.

here are a few more pics of the day...

View from my spot of the first turn down Jackson St, the start of the parade. Look at all my people out for Zulu!

On Canal St, heart of the French Quarter!

Me and my riding partner, we had so much fun jammin on the top!

me at the end of the parade, i'm exhausted but i had a blast! Happy 100th Birthday Zulu!!

Screwtape letters

2010-10-23T10:59:00.009-05:00

Once again my boy KB has put me on to some fire. Here's a quick quote that jumped out to me. This is one deamon talking to another about how to win souls for the Great Father Below (Satan). These letters written are the premise of the entire book.

Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and ask why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.

Crazy.

my 2 new girls

2010-03-29T09:55:00.002-05:00

Eboni

and Amber

here's to us making beautiful music together...

My new obsession

2010-02-01T11:06:00.001-06:00

this thing is beautiful, and my dream guitar...don't have it yet, but working there.

MLK

2010-01-18T08:11:00.002-06:00

just a repost of what I was feeling exactly one year ago today.

Dr. King

On today, the day set aside to recognize the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and the day before the inauguration of Barak Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America, a lot of thoughts are going through my mind. First, I'm proud to be alive to witness this momentous occasion, although I'm really disappointed that I was unable to make the trip to Washington, DC to join in with the rest of America and taking part in the celebratory festivities. Secondly, I'm reflective of all the struggles and heartaches by those before me, those before us, to make this week and this occasion possible. And I'm thankful to all for the sacrifices they made.

But lastly, I'm deeply curious. I looked today at a photo journal of sorts that Time Magazine has placed on CNN.com, and I saw not only the face of Dr. King and his close associates and advisors, but also the faces of nameless youngsters who took part in the movement. And I'm curious. If I were alive and able-bodied during this movement, what part would have I have played? It's very easy to sit back now, after the movement has been successful and I can enjoy all the rights that All Americans should, to say "of course I would have been right in the middle of things". But then, when the movement was going on, there were a lot who believed the movement was a dangerous game, and there was a lot to lose and not much to gain. Jail, police dogs, billy clubs, and verbal assaults were the nice parts of the hate against the protesters. And just so everyone is clear, not all the protesters were black. Those whites who were empathetic to the movement and joined it were subject to all of these same harsh realities as those of color. And the hate groups, back wood's posse's, and lynchin' ropes were the things that every protester lost sleep about. Could I have remained "non-violent"? Would I have the personal restraint to fight for the greater good, rather than defend myself? Could I have to courage to stand up in the face of wrong, and proclaim right along with millions of others?

I think the most important thing here was that everyone that took part in this movement believed that what they were working for was so important that even the threat of death could deter them from continuing to push towards their common goal. And I'd like to believe that given the gravity of the situation, i would have joined the ranks.

Also, one of my favorite MLK speaches.

Tiger is in fact Human

2009-12-02T12:40:00.005-06:00

Woods: 'I have let my family down'

Excerpts:

Tiger Woods, charged with careless driving and fined $164 by Florida authorities on Tuesday and squarely in the crosshairs of the celebrity and tabloid media, issued a statement Wednesday apologizing for actions he did not specify.

"I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart," Woods said on his Web site. "I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.

"Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.

"I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology."

before we judge, let's look at this mathmatically:

if you multiply the women he cheated with by the women that he could have cheated with (WC), take into account time and opportunity (TO), and even waive the ugly ones (UW = ugly women) for statistics sake...i'll just write it out

WC - UW = D (dimes)

D x TO = 1.347 trillion times annually tiger could have cheated with about 2.8 million dimes

i'm not saying he's perfect, and he's far from innocent. i don't condone cheating. but dang, he's human. given those odds, lil wayne would be in the Guinness Book of Records for most children and STDs. the moral of the story is, ALL have sinned...our job is not to judge.

it's upon us...

2009-10-15T08:36:00.005-05:00

So, the college basketball season is about to tip off, which means my life is about to get exponentially more busy. so I figured I'd share about the team that will be consuming most of my time.

Rodriguez named to pre-season all-conference team; CU tabbed 6th in A-Sun hoops polls

Excerpts:

For the third-straight year, Jonathan Rodriguez of Campbell University has been named to the pre-season Atlantic Sun all-conference team. Campbell was also picked to finish sixth in the yearly polls of A-Sun head coaches and media members.

Campbell is coming off a 2008-09 campaign in which the Camels were the most-improved team in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Despite competing with the 10th least-experienced roster among 343 NCAA Division I programs, Campbell enjoyed its most successful men's basketball season in more than a dozen years in 2008-09.

The Fighting Camels (14-16, 11-9) tied a school record for most Atlantic Sun Conference regular season victories, matching the 11 wins collected by the 1996 club, and recorded the program's first winning record in league play since the 2000 squad finished 10-8.

Campbell returns 10 players from its 2008-09 roster, including three-time all-conference performer Rodriguez and league freshman of the year Lorne Merthie. CU opens its regular season at home on Fri., Nov. 13 against St. Andrews before hosting East Carolina Nov. 17.

A senior forward from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Rodriguez already ranks among the league's all-time leaders in five categories. He stands 18th on A-Sun all-time scoring list with 1631 points (second among active players) and is on pace to become only the third player in league history to score 2000 points in his career.

The 6-foot-5 senior ranks third among A-Sun career leaders in free throws (480) and fourth in free throw attempts (638). He stands second among A-Sun career double-doubles leaders with 39, just three off the league record.

...who's responsibility?

2009-09-18T08:38:00.004-05:00

So, just to begin, here's the link to the story that sparked this.

Stinson not guilty on all charges

Excerpts:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A former Kentucky high school football coach was found not guilty Thursday in the death of a player who collapsed at a practice where the team was put through a series of sprints on a hot summer day.

Attorneys said the case was the first time a football coach was charged in the death of a player. It was closely watched by those involved in youth athletics and has already resulted in changes to Kentucky law and other efforts to make practices safer for athletes.

Former Pleasure Ridge Park High School coach David Jason Stinson, 37, was charged after 15-year-old Max Gilpin collapsed at an August 2008 practice as the team ran a series of sprints known as "gassers." He died three days later at a Louisville hospital of heat stroke, sepsis and multiple organ failure. His temperature reached at least 107 degrees.

Ok, so there's a push to make high school athletics safer for the student athletes. I get it. So how does Kentucky do it?

One of the prosecutors, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Leland Hulbert, said he hoped the case would prompt coaches to pay closer attention to their players.

"I do think some good will come out of this trial," Hulbert said.

Some of those changes came in the months before the trial: Kentucky lawmakers this year passed legislation that led to a four-hour online course for coaches on emergency planning and recognition; temperature-related illnesses; head, neck and facial injuries; and first aid.

Jefferson County Public Schools also now require all athletes and at least one parent to watch a 40-minute video that touches on everything from dietary supplements to bacterial infections. Local high school coaches must attend a seminar on using positive reinforcement when dealing with students.

They have a "knee jerk" reaction in the exact opposite direction of right. They now place the "responsibility" of health care on the COACHES. Rather than require that trained medical professionals are available and on site for conditioning and practices, they add to the coach's already-too-long list of responsibilities by making him the first responder and person responsible for identifying signs of heat illness.

Now as an athletic trainer, this makes sense to me. But to flip the script, this would be like making the athletic trainer responsible for offensive playcalling and defensive substitutions. And this trial akin to an NFL owner trying to fire an athletic trainer because he feels the offense isn't dynamic enough, or the defense is giving up too many points in the red zone. Point is, IT'S NOT THEIR JOB. Coaches get paid to push kids, athletic trainers, the entire sports medicine team, get paid to ensure their safety, and hold them (players and coaches alike) back when it's a health risk.

My take home point? Let the coaches coach. That's what their comfortable doing. That's what their passion is. And most importantly, that's what they're trained to do. And get trained health care professionals to ensure the health of the student athletes. Maybe it's just me, but that just sounds like common sense.

Actually, it's not just me.

Coaches are great at coaching, and they should be encouraged to continue that pursuit with all the vim and vigor they can muster. However, athletic health care should be left to medical professionals--athletic trainers and team physicians, who work tirelessly to create the safest environment possible.

-Douglas J. Casa, PhD, ATC, FNATA, FACSM
Journal of Athletic Training 2009;44(4):341

...and I'm off my soap box

Blueprint III

2009-09-15T09:44:00.005-05:00

So, from now on when I refer to Jay-Z's latest album, this is what I'm speaking of. I like this at least three times better than what was actually released.

Blueprint III Outtakes

Broncos AT love

2009-08-31T08:57:00.002-05:00

gotta show some love to my AT guys from the Broncos, Greek and Osh. Great job guys, it looks like this year's team is going to keep you busy as much as ever...

and i guess i can mention it here, Jay Cutler definitely gave the entire city of Denver indigestion last night, in showing what should/could have been. If only he and Josh McDaniels could have gotten along...

I gotta get this out

2009-08-21T07:39:00.005-05:00

So, I really don't like to continue to beat this issue, but this has really been bugging me. This picture is just one of the many like it that I've been seeing in the time since Vick has been signed. The AP caption names this woman as Kella Rothenberg of Carmel, Ind. So, basically this sign tells me that this woman, Kella, has never done something in her life that she later regretted, for whatever reason, and moved on from. Thats what her sign tells me. Because I can PROMISE that Vick, for honorable reasons or otherwise, regrets what he did, and has moved from those actions. So, this sign tells me that Kella likes to judge people based on their past sins, and not on their current state. And I hope she reads this post. Because I'm sure if she looked at her own past, there would be some sins that she is probably ashamed of that she wouldn't want to be judged on. I know I do. And if you think you haven't, check Romans 3:23.

Bottom line, we all mess up. In different ways, some worse than others. But to judge one in their worst state is not a place you should want to go, because if you go there, then you will be judged in your worst state (Matthew 7:1-3). And I don't know of any people who want that.

Vick to Eagles

2009-08-14T06:34:00.003-05:00

i think this is a good move for both parties involved. We'll see how it works. My prediction is that if Vick, McNabb, and Westbrook are all healthy and in the backfield at the same time this season, they will have 2,500 rushing yds, 4,000 passing yds, and 60 TDs between the three of them. Add to that DeSean Jackson and McCoy, the rooking RB out of Pitt, and they will have a very explosive, big-play based offense.

Vick, Eagles agree to 2-year deal

Excerpts:

Quarterback Michael Vick has signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, his agent, Joel Segal, confirmed to ESPN.com.

Vick arrived in Philadelphia Tuesday morning and remained there Wednesday evening. The Eagles will hold a news conference on Friday morning to announce his signing. The first year of the deal is for $1.6 million with an option for the second year at $5.2 million, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Vick can also earn an additional $3 million in incentives over the two years of the contract, sources told ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli.

"I'm a believer that as long as people go through the right process, they deserve a second chance," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He's got great people on his side; there isn't a finer person than Tony Dungy. He's proven he's on the right track."

review: Fighting in Sports

2009-08-12T13:39:00.008-05:00

In light of the fight between the Rex Sox and the Tigers in MLB action yesterday (and subsequent media coverage), I really feel the need to revisit the blatant double-standard of fighting in sports, as told by Rell...I'm just glad that I'm not the only person that sees this, and is angered by it. and the fact that it's so blatant just baffles me.

My previous thoughts:

Tight article, i definitely agree...if we remove names and causes and just talk about teammates protecting each other of policing the game, you could not tell one sport's fights from another. But while one is seen as acceptable, the other is reprehensible. Things that make you go mmmmmmmm....?

Rell's work:

The Double Standard of Fighting in Sports

It’s cool for baseball players to fight, but if NBA players do the same they’re fined or suspended. Why?

Imagine David Ortiz is purposely hit in the ribs by a 98 mph fastball two innings after a Red Sox pitcher beaned a batter of the opposing team. Benches would clear. Words would be exchanged, and if it’s anything like last week’s Red Sox-Rays scuffle, some serious hay-makers would be landed. But there’s nothing wrong with that is there? That’s just the way the good ole game is played. That’s baseball policing itself right?

Popular culture wouldn’t be indicted as a cause for the outburst of sudden rage. The Rolling Stones’ “Start me Up” wouldn’t be dissected to glean patterns of violence and explain why Big Papi took one in the ribs. There would’t be any outrage on media outlets, and fans on sports talk radio and message boards wouldn’t spew vitriolic and empty rhetoric about “inmates running the asylum.”

And at the end of the day, Ortiz’s teammates would be extolled for their support of their comrade.

The word “thug” would likely never come up.

Now switch leagues.

Would there be the same reaction if we were talking about the NBA? What if members of the Denver Nuggets left the bench in defense of teammate Allen Iverson after a hard foul? In that scenario, those players coming to the aid of their teammate will have committed the worst sin ever — in the history of the universe.

How did we arrive at this point? Why is it that the reaction to the occasional team brawl or player skirmish is vastly different for two of America’s most popular sports?

The answer is obvious, but you might not like it.

The divide begins and ends with a simple fact — most of the players in the NBA are young, black males, while most of the players in the major leagues are not.

That may seem to be an overly-simplistic and extremely flammable hypothesis, but every other plausible explanation is easily rebuked. Baseball fights are typically brushed off as the sport policing itself. But if baseball players police themselves, why are there league officials and umpires who put rules in place and enforce those rules.

Somehow a batter admiring a home run too long breaks some unwritten rule of baseball, and the penalty is usually a baseball in the back or butt from the offended pitcher.

That is beyond ridiculous. Sounds like something a 12-year-old would do.

While that kind of behavior is excusable, NBA dust-ups are often explained as inexcusable because of the fans’ proximity to the court. Fights on the floor could endanger someone sitting nearby.

I’m really not buying this one either. In the last 20 years there have been two serious incidents involving players going into the stands. In 1994, Rockets guard Vernon Maxwell went into the stands in Portland and beat up a fan who had been berating him — and his ill daughter — all night. Maxwell received, at the time, the largest fine and second-longest suspension in NBA history.

The other instance was the Pistons-Pacers fight in 2004 that admittedly was a very ugly scene. However, it wasn’t the end-of-the-world, apocalyptic event that it was portrayed as. It was a confluence of drunk fans, frustrated Pistons and something Chris Rock likes to call “crazy,” in reference to Ron Artest.

Ninenty-nine percent of the time an NBA player wouldn’t think of going into the stands, certainly no less than a baseball player would.

Here’s the reality.

The disconnect between NBA players and the NBA’s season-ticket holders — who are overwhelmingly older and white — is as deep and vast as a black hole. There’s more focus on players’ tattoos, their piercings, their skin color and their expressions more than any other sport. That draws out otherwise latent (or not so latent) racist tendencies. It’s almost subconscious.

So when two NBA players go at it, the image immediately conjures thoughts of a street fight. The tattoos and corn-rows makes it near impossible to see it as boys just being boys.

Media portrayals paint the picture.

A story from the aforementioned Red Sox-Rays fight received a headline of “Red Sox find Rays fit to fight” from Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! writer Jeff Passan said “Brawling and verbal grenades and unfinished business only add intrigue, making the Red Sox and Rays – dare we go here? – the most interesting AL East matchup this season.”
No mention of hip-hop lyrics or a decaying culture or lack of father-figures, both of which became part of the dialog following the Pistons-Pacers fight.

Now, juxtapose the Red Sox-Rays Yahoo! story with the headline from USA Today in 2006 after a fight involving the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks.
“Wild brawl mars Nuggets-Knicks game”, the headline read.

I don’t agree with much of what she says, but ESPN Page 2 columnist Jamelle Hill succinctly makes the point.

“It is what it is. A NASCAR guy can drop-kick another driver through his car window and it is just considered part of the sport. Hockey players drop their sticks and pound on one another on a regular basis and no one dares blame it on anything other than just a boiling, competitive spirit. When NASCAR drivers blast one another with their cars out of anger it isn’t symptomatic of what’s wrong with white people. So please don’t turn a silly NBA fight into a town hall meeting about what’s wrong with African Americans — even though, unfortunately, something like this somehow winds up reflecting poorly on the entire black community.”

Sunday thought

2009-08-10T08:04:00.001-05:00

Here's a story i heard in church a short while ago.

After a long Sunday of ministering, a pastor, an a Monday afternoon, was craving some watermelon. He was exhausted, physically and spiritually drained, and thought "maybe i can call a member of my church to come and help me." So he called a faithful deacon, who agreed to go find a fresh melon to bless the pastor with.

But in the pastor's tired state, he quickly fell back into a refreshing sleep, and soon forgot that he was expecting company. So when this deacon, this man who was on his way to bless the pastor, arrived at the door, the pastor had to make him wait outside so that he could make himself presentable for company.

Hopefully some of you understand how similar this story is to the bridegroom story from the Bible, with one striking exception: when Jesus knocks, He will not wait for you to prepare yourself to receive Him. That's what now is for, He waits now. Will you be ready when He does knock? Not only is there so much more to lose, but there's so much more to gain than melon...

Sunday's message

2009-08-05T16:38:00.004-05:00

So, I know I'm a few days late, but I did want to share the gist of the sermon from this past Sunday. Basically, from Matthew 5:16, Let your light so shine before men... The main idea is that people sometimes use this light, this reflection of Christ in our daily lives, as one would use a flashlight when they are worried about batteries running out, turning it on and off depending on the situation. Think about that concept...and understand this light, when powered by the One True Source, will never run out. So, is your flashlight still on?

Poison Ivy?

2009-07-30T16:35:00.001-05:00

Looks like somebody's not such a pretty girl anymore...

Members sue sorority over president's spending, waxwork

Excerpts:

Members of the nation's oldest black sorority have accused the organization's president of using her sorority credit card for personal items and its board of directors of spending too much on her.

The suit alleges that the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's board of directors signed off on spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on President Barbara McKinzie and commissioned an expensive wax figure of her.

McKinzie denied the allegations, saying they are "without merit."

The most "outlandish representation" in the lawsuit, she said, is the allegation that the sorority spent $900,000 on a wax figure of her.

BLACKsummer'snight

2009-07-29T11:36:00.011-05:00

BLACKsummers'night would be a classic if it had double-digit tracks. as it stands, its the best half-album ever created. give it a listen, tell me what you think.

Vick

2009-07-28T09:17:00.002-05:00

from ESPN this morning. not sure i could sum up my sentiments any better than Howard Bryant...

Excerpts:

So, what, in the end, is this all about? In his letter to Vick, Goodell sounded haughty and uncharitable, and perhaps his paternalistic words signaled his precise level of animus toward Vick -- that Vick wounded him, broke his trust. Vick hasn't played in a game since the 2006 season finale for Atlanta, and so has thus far served a suspension of 32 games. Defensive end Leonard Little took a woman's life -- actually killed a human being -- when he drove drunk, and he was suspended eight games. Running back Jamal Lewis was involved in selling drugs, and he served a two-game suspension.

This is not about sympathy for Vick. He does not deserve sympathy. He was not treated unfairly by the justice system. He not only bankrolled a dogfighting ring that tortured and killed animals, but was intimately involved with its daily operation. He struck at the nerve of common decency.

But unlike so many of the rich and famous and powerful who can use their advantages to escape accountability, Vick went to prison. He lost his money. It is unclear whether he even has the skills to play football after more than two years away from the game. He is already humiliated, disgraced. Of what value is Goodell's additional sanction?

previous post on the sujbect:

recap

Just to make sure everyone is keeping score...

Vick Sentenced 23 months for probably mistreating dogs
but in other news the cops were aquitted for definately killing a human.

Family Love

2009-07-24T14:29:00.004-05:00

I guess I should have done this a while ago. While I'm extremely proud of my family, I don't want to put myself in a position where it seems as though I'm bragging or boastful. And I think that's why I hadn't done this before now. But it has been reported separately by 3 different media outlets at this point, so i want to share!

Daily Advance: Nine scholars, one family (link removed)

GoCamels.com reprint (reprint of original article)

UNC College Talk: The Super Sawyers

Excerpts:

Connie Sawyer III is the oldest son at 30. He was the family’s first Morehead scholar.

Joshua is the second son at 29. He received UNC’s Pogue Scholarship.

Quinton, 27, is the third child. He received the Pogue Scholarship and was a Morehead-Cain finalist.

Portia is their fourth child at 25. She attended Elizabeth City State University on a full scholarship.

Crystal, 23, attended UNC on a full scholarship and she is working on her Master’s Degree.

Kellie, 22, attended UNC on a full scholarship. She is currently working on her Master’s Degree.

Anthony, 21, was initially accepted into Harvard University but he needed a scholarship to help pay for school. So he took the prestigious Robertson Scholarship that has given him dual enrollment at UNC and Duke University. He hopes to attend medical school.

Bonney, 20, is the eighth child. She is currently attending ECSU on a full scholarship.

And of course Raymond, the ninth child, is the Sawyer family’s bookend Morehead-Cain scholar.

Father Connie and mother Bonnie couldn’t be more proud of their children. Both smile gratefully when the subject is broached. And both clearly have a sense of gratitude for the life they live.

“I can give you two words,” says Connie when asked how he and Bonnie managed to raise so many scholars. “God first.”

independent research project

2009-07-24T13:44:00.004-05:00

so the other night i did a little research on the best fast-food burger. the three contestants were Hardees', Burger King, Wendy's, and McDonald's. Criteria were the cheapest burger (it's a recession) with 2 patties, no cheese (i don't like cheese), mustard and ketchup only. Points were subtracted for getting the order incorrect (who has time to wait for corrections) and they will be listed in order from best to worst.

1. Hardees'- haven't been there in a while (haven't seen one in a while), but the Double Cheeseburger (no cheese) was legit. very juicy, also they were on sale 2 for $3

2. Burger King - good burger, a bit small in comparison to Hardees'. Overall good burger although it was the most expensive of them all.

3. Wendy's - I've long been a fan of the Double Stack, but this night was a big disappointment. the burger patties were old, and the price had gone up from $.99 to $1.79. not good.

4. McDonald's - first off, they got my order wrong, including onions and pickles on the McDouble. the burger wasn't that good. period.

for the record, i did eat all these burgers in one night. and before people start counting calories, it was the first thing i had eaten all day, and it was at like 9pm. i was hungry. i know it's not healthy, but it was all in the interest of science. sue me.

so...

2009-07-23T12:14:00.001-05:00

it's been a long time since i posted. thats it. i'll be back...

Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T08:18:00.006-05:00

So, i know everyone is blogging, tweeting, facebooking, writing, thinking, and reminiscing about Mike today. I'm usually not one to follow trends and fads, but this is Mike. Yeah, i had the red jacket w/ the sequins and black mesh shoulder pads, 39 zippers and whatnot. I've listened to Mike songs since before my parents allowed us to listen to music other than gospel. And I along with every other child in the world around my age have attempted the moonwalk (I've found it easiest to attempt on a carpeted surface while wearing church shoes). And at this time, we should reflect on the positives, and the contributions this dude made to Earth. Not just in music either. Humanitarian in it's truest sense, advocated of children at all times, Mike will be forever remembered in a positive light by me. No one will argue, this is the greatest entertainer and performer in the lifetimes of at least 3 generations.

let it ride...(click on the playlist name and you will be able to listen to the full songs after you sign up for imeem, it's free.)

You're Fly

2009-06-22T10:34:00.004-05:00

I know i've mentioned this song before, but i had to come back to it. I think it's banging and i'm feeling it.

and while i'm at it, another hit from Maxwell's new project.

Vick is back

2009-06-12T09:42:00.002-05:00

One thing about this whole scenario is that the NFL commissioner is still saying Vick must prove that he is "remorse"ful of his actions. Well, maybe I'm having some communication issue, but the fact that this man has been in PRISON shows his remorse. I can guarantee that he's sorry for his actions, if for no other reason than he's sorry because he had to go to PRISON because of them. but that's just me...

Falcons cut Vick

Excerpts:

Quarterback Michael Vick's time with the Atlanta Falcons is officially over.

Vick, who is serving the remainder of his prison sentence on dogfighting charges under house arrest in Virginia, was released Friday.

"We feel his best opportunity to re-engage his football career would be at another club," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement. "Our entire organization sincerely hopes that Michael will continue to focus his efforts making positive changes in his life and we wish him well in that regard."

Vick, who is expected to complete his sentence in late July, has yet to be reinstated by the NFL. Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he has yet to consider reinstating Vick, but wants to see signs of remorse from him before allowing his return.

I'm here

2009-06-03T12:39:00.003-05:00

so, it's been a minute since my last post. I'm not moved in, and this is my first post from my new office. a lot has changed in my life, and althought a lot has been good, i am one that has a hard time dealing with change. there are many things that i'm looking forward to, but on the other hand there are a lot of things and people that i will miss. but i do have faith that God has me where i should be, when i should be here, and that He will continue to lead me. anyway, i have some updates that i'm gonna make soon, so look out.

New beginnings

2009-05-15T14:39:00.003-05:00

So, this is my last post from my office in Louisiana. I've accepted a new job and will be moving back to North Carolina, where new challenges and surprises await me. But I'm excited about this change, and the new direction in life! Any thoughts, suggestions, comments?

President's Words

2009-05-12T10:10:00.003-05:00

...from his meeting with the heels.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release May 11, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO THE 2009 MEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS,
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

South Portico

2:12 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello. (Applause.) Well, thank you, everybody. Please have a seat. We're not in the Dean Dome here, you don't need to stay standing the whole time. (Laughter.)

I want to, first of all, just acknowledge that we've got a few special guests in the audience. We've got the outstanding new Senator from North Carolina, Kay Hagan. (Applause.) We've got some outstanding members of the House of Representatives, G.K. Butterfield -- (applause)-- G.K! Brad Miller, Mike McIntyre --(applause) -- with his Tar Heels cap on. And we've also got Mr. Roy Cooper, North Carolina Attorney General, and a Tar Heel alum. (Applause.) Where is Roy? He's over there. As well as Kevin Foy, the Mayor of Chapel Hill. There he is, right over there. (Applause.)

Well, welcome to the White House, everybody. And congratulations on bringing Carolina its fifth National Championship. And more importantly, thanks for salvaging my bracket -- (laughter) -- and vindicating me before the entire nation. That first round was rough on me. (Laughter.) But Andy Katz knows that I came through in the end because of you guys. And I want to congratulate everybody who makes this program run -- from the assistants to the trainers, the students to the ticket takers, and Tar Heel fans everywhere -- you should all be very proud. And by the way, I have a few Tar Heel fans on my staff. I see a couple of them standing right here.

I want to offer special congratulations to the seven seniors who graduated yesterday -- Mike Copeland, Bobby Frasor, Danny Green, Tyler Hansbrough, Patrick Moody, J.B. Tanner, and Jack Wooten. I am proud of all of you. Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)

I have to tell you, everybody on my staff was really excited about the team coming -- except my assistant, Reggie Love. (Laughter.) Reggie did win his own national championship ring while playing at Duke. And at some point he wants to scrimmage with you guys, so we'll arrange for that.

But I want to thank Coach Roy Williams, and his wife Wanda, who is extraordinarily gracious and I just had a wonderful time visiting with them. What makes Coach Williams one of the great coaches isn’t just his extraordinary record, but his dedication to his players. He's just as serious about making these guys into men and into leaders as he is into making them champions.

Now, I did have a chance to play ball with this crew just over a year ago when I visited Chapel Hill. And I'm not sure whose what rubbed off on who. I think there was just a good vibe going on there, because they're now national champions and I'm now President. (Applause.) And I remember congratulating Tyler on choosing to forego the NBA draft and coming back to get that ring. And after winning the 2008 National Player of the Year and getting a championship ring, I think it worked out pretty well for him. So, congratulations to you again, Tyler. (Applause.) We're proud of you.

Now, when we played, everybody went out of their way to pass me the ball, set screens for me, let me take a shot. Tyler chose not to block my shot -- of course, I was so intimidated by him being near me that I missed it. (Laughter.) There was one exception, though. Jack Wooten -- he stole the ball from me. He blocked my shot. He fouled me once. Coach Williams had to remind him that there were a bunch of guys with guns around. (Laughter.)

But just to show that there are no hard feelings -- Jack, I want to congratulate you. He made Phi Beta Kappa this year -- that's worth applauding. (Applause.) To achieve academic excellence as part of a national championship team is extraordinary. And I know that Jack is interested in public service, and we need more young people like him to be willing to serve our country. So, Jack, anytime you're ready. (Laughter.) Come on board.

I know Coach Williams instills the importance of academics into all these guys, which is why they didn’t just plow through the tournament field; they also had the highest graduation rate of anybody in the Final Four. And what they understood is that being a champion doesn’t stop when you step off the court. In fact, they spend a remarkable amount of their time off the court in service to others.

They hold a Special Olympics clinic every year in which they scrimmage with Special Olympians and teach them basketball skills. Coach Williams has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for North Carolina charities. Every Christmas these guys compete with one another to see who can get the most creative Christmas gifts for underprivileged children who need a little bit of hope.

All of this makes the Chapel Hill community stronger, it makes the state of North Carolina stronger, it makes our country stronger, and I know this team gets a lot of -- a lot out of it, as well.

So it's all a reflection on the great character of the program, but also the great character of the coach -- just one of my favorite people and one of the most gracious individuals you'd ever care to meet.

I want to congratulate you, Coach Williams. I want to congratulate all you guys for an outstanding season. And I got to say also of Ty Lawson, you had an unbelievable series, so congratulations -- playing a little gimpy and still just tearing it up. (Laughter.) So we're very proud of you.

So thank you, everybody. Give these guys a big round of applause. And good luck next season. (Applause.)

COACH WILLIAMS: I coached the National Championship game in front of I think 79,222 people, and I was not nervous at all. And I'm scared to death right now. (Laughter.) But on behalf of Chancellor Holden Thorp, our Director of Athletics Dick Baddour, and the 2009 National Championship North Carolina basketball team, we would like to present to you, Mr. President, your own jersey --

THE PRESIDENT: That's what I'm talking about. (Applause.) Let's step out here -- we don't want to block it from the cameras. (Applause.) All right, thank you so much.

COACH WILLIAMS: And our seniors will also present a plaque that Mr. President did actually participate that morning.

THE PRESIDENT: Participate -- that's a nice way of putting it. (Laughter.)

COACH WILLIAMS: These are our five senior scholarship players that will make this presentation to Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you so much. I appreciate that. Look at that. Barely broke a sweat. (Laughter.) That's a beautiful picture. Thank you so much, guys. (Applause.) Now, if somebody could just present me a jump shot. I need one of those. (Laughter.)

Thank you, Coach. Thank you, everybody. Have a wonderful rest of your visit here at the White House. Appreciate it.

END 2:21 P.M. EDT

Thats how we roll

2009-05-11T14:36:00.005-05:00

Tar Heels visit White House

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama says his scrimmage with North Carolina's basketball team last year brought good fortune to him and the team.

North Carolina won the national championship. After the scrimmage, Obama won the state's Democratic primary, carried North Carolina in the general election and won the White House.

Obama said everyone was excited as the champion Tar Heels visited the White House on Monday. The one exception was Obama's personal aide Reggie Love, who won a title as a player for UNC's chief rival, Duke.

Obama picked the Tar Heels to win the national championship this year. He thanked the team "for salvaging my bracket and vindicating me before the entire nation." The president's other picks for the NCAA tournament's Final Four never made it that far.

Maxwell is Back

2009-05-04T16:06:00.002-05:00

My current new favorite song, the Maxwell album that will be releasing soon sounds like it's gonna be a banger. Real R&B is back...

Inspiration

2009-04-22T11:40:00.003-05:00

So this past weekend i was in Boston for the 133rd running of the Boston Marathon. After spending time on Sunday as a part of an athletic training student conference, I spend marathon monday enjoying friends and cheering on the participants of the marathon. And as i'm joking around about how i'd never run a marathon (it's too long, if you see me run past it's because someone stole my wallet, etc.), i watched the first participant pass our group at the 22mi mark. Notice the wording, i did not say run. Because this man was in a wheelchair. Laying supine on this super chair, he was using his arms to propel himself down the course at what appeared from my vantage point to be about 52 mph. And i had to check myself. This person, suffering from some physical ailment in which the muscles in his legs were so underdeveloped that they appeared shriveled and skinny, had trained to a point that his upper body was able to handle the task of moving him down the course at near light speed. Some time after he passed, and others passed, and I began really seeing what the marathon is like, a man passed with two prosthetic legs. This man, with no legs, was completing the marathon. Both of these men, along with the countless other men and women out there who ran, pedaled, wheeled, and walked the marathon had something in common. They dedicated themselves to achieving this goal, and accomplished it. And in the process, i know they inspired at least 1 person.

Congrats to all the participants of the 133rd Boston Marathon, and thank you.

Sunday Talking Points: Easter Edition

2009-04-12T12:11:00.005-05:00

So, this is a wonderful day, and we are celebrating a wonderful sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. Let's just get into the talking points.

1. As you can see from my previous post, Don't Cry is pretty much my all time favorite Easter song. And guess what the first song that the choir sang was? Right, my song, and they killed it. I can't even lie, i was standing and singing with them. So in the spirit of the service...

2. ...Until today's first "too much hip hop in the church" moment. Immediately after the song was announcements. And during the multi-media announcements, there was one made by the first lady of the church, directed at the single females in the congregation. And the background track...? You guessed it, the instrumental, Beyonce, All the Single Ladies . I put the link to the video, because as soon as I heard the music, I stopped thinking about the service, and that was all I could envision. Needless to say, I was NOT thinking about Christ at this point.

3. After my mind wandered about putting a ring on it for a bit, i observed church. I realized that on Easter Sunday, cats in church really do look like big Easter Eggs. Like the linens and pastels, blues, greens, pinks, and yellows...it was kinda funny to see.

4. Today's special Easter guest was Kelly Price. Yes, As We Lay, He Proposed, secular recording artist turned gospel artist (i didn't realise she was raised COGIC). And she really has a beautiful testimony, has a book out called Inscriptions of my Heart. And this chick can BLOW. She tore the whole church up, she can really sang.

5. The pastor's message was titled "Don't Worry, it's in His Hands" and centered on Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT... It was a very powerful message, and in it he delt with the different parts of the Crucifixion, and the 2 types of people who were observing Christ' suffering: the mourners and the mockers. Here, "too much hip hop" point #2, where he referred to the mockers as haters, backstabbers even, and proceeded to recite the words to the O'Jays song.

Overall, it was a wonderful Easter service!

Easter

2009-04-10T20:06:00.003-05:00

this song pretty much sums up how we as Christians feel about Easter. And despite popular belief, Easter should be the most important holiday to Christians. Because we believe that we are saved NOT because Jesus was born, but because He died for our sins, and rose again.

...and We were in there...

2009-04-07T15:57:00.003-05:00

yeah, that's Anthony, my brother, playing the trumpet, holding it down for the Sawyers in the Marching Tar Heels band. 3 snapz.

...

2009-04-07T09:01:00.007-05:00

"You look at that team, you have five to six NBA players that can maybe go first round to early second round in the draft," (Michigan State gurard Travis ) Walton said. "When you have a team like that, you're looking at an NBA team, kind of, that can maybe beat the worst team in the NBA."

"If you look at it player-by-player they are the more talented team."
"When you play North Carolina, there's nothing you can do." - Tom Izzo

"National championship this year, try to get one next year, year after that and year after that." Ed Davis on being asked about the future.

a little bit about this group, compiled by Rell...

For this group of players (Wayne, Danny, Bobby, Marcus (even though he'll be back), Deon , Tyler, Ty)

* 2009 NCAA Champions
* 2008 and 2009 Final Four
* 2007 Regional Final
* 123-22 record for senior class
* 101-14 record for junior class
* Senior class has most wins of any class
* Danny has most wins for a Tar Heel player (123)
* Danny has most games played in UNC history (145)
* 2008 ACC POY
* 2009 ACC POY
* 2008 Nasimith POY
* 2008 Naismith Award winner
* ACC All-time leading scorer
* First Unanimous four-time All-ACC
* Four-time 1st team All-American
* First team to win 30+ games in three-straight seasons in school history
* First UNC team with four 1,000+ scorers

This IS the most successful and most decorated group in UNC history.

random banter...

2009-04-04T13:24:00.004-05:00

1. Big game: UNC vs. Villanova in the National Semifinal game. Let's go Heels. I honestly think it's going to be a really good game, but again Ty Lawson will be a main factor. Look for him to score 18, have 7 assist, and show up big in the clutch. Wayne also goes off for 23, Tyler has 13 and 12 boards.

2: Strawberry Festival: This weekend is the annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Anything you can think of to eat or drink, they have it in strawberry flavor. My favorite so far is the strawberry loaf, very similar to banana bread except with strawberries.

3: God's love: It's amazing to think of how much God loves us. Of course we know He gave His life for us, He continues to provide our needs even in these times of economic turmoil. I'm blessed with a job, a home, and my reasonable portion of material things. But I'm just in awe at the things that God will do to show that He cares about those things in my heart that I've only shared with Him. He comforts me, and even allows people to interact with me in a way to show that He does in fact hear my prayers. I think we all go through times where we question if God is indeed concerned with the minuscule, trivial things going on in our hearts, and if we are important enough for Him to respond to those little things. And I'm just glad that God loves me so much that He is concerned, and I am important.

Finish Strong

2009-03-29T11:17:00.005-05:00

it's baseball season, so you know i gotta shout out Ray(mond). Enjoy it while it lasts, and play hard!

and just FYI, Raymond got the Morehead-Cain Scholarship! Check out the link, he's the first scholar listed. Proud of you man, 3 snapz.

Thoughts

2009-03-26T09:10:00.003-05:00

I know it's been a while since I've posted. I'll just hit you up real quick with a few thoughts.

1. If Ty Lawson plays 20+ minutes in all remaining games this year, the Tar Heels will win the National Championship. Although my brackets are all jacked up, I'm completely confident in that pick.

2. The lady Tar Heels disappointed me this year. Period. Sylvia needs to get it together. Fast.

3. With a couple big life decisions bearing down on me, professionally and personally, I wanted to revisit a thought from the past.

so, this life that we live is a very funny and fickle thing. then highs, the lows, the changes, the constants, the friendships made and the loves lost make for a never ending struggle to find one's place in the grand scheme of things. and really the only things that are a given are God being in charge and change being inevitable. so even throughout the best of times and the worst of times, know that change, mandated by God's will, is on the way. i feel that is the one way to remain humble in the times of great success, and to make it through the times of great struggle. I'm definitely looking for a change to come, and not because I'm experiencing great success right now in life...but i know that there will never be more placed on me than i can bear.

1 Cor 10:13

...but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;...that ye may be able to bear it.

I can make it. and i will.

I'm excited about what the future may hold. Check that, cautiously optimistic. :)

A couple tracks

2009-03-04T11:18:00.003-06:00

Just a couple music notes i wanted to mention:

1. Good lookin to my homegirl PK for puttin me on to Ryan Leslie. I'd heard (and enjoyed) the biggest single Addiction, and You're Fly has quckly become my favorite track of the official self-titled first album. Check him out.

2. After seeing them on the grammy's, i've become somewhat of a fan of Coldplay. and I've seen 40 Year-Old Virgin, so you can stop with the "You know how I know you're gay?" jokes. Their music is really solid, and i'm a fan of Viva la Vida.

3. I found my Trey Songz CD cleaning up the house the other day and pulled it out for a fresh listen. I actually never listened to the words of Store Run before, but when i did i laughed so hard. check it out sometime for a good laugh.

4. Rell put me on to a jazz version of Stevie's Overjoyed and a remake of JB's Man's World. Typically i hate remakes of classics unless it's Christmas music. But these two were both done very well and did the originals justice. it was refreshing to hear. i can't remember who did them though. :-/ Help Rell...

Zulu 2009

2009-03-01T18:10:00.009-06:00

So this Mardi Gras i was fortunate enough to be a part of the Krewe of Young Warriors in the Zulu Parade on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans. It was so much fun!! Thanks to everyone who made it happen, and i look forward to taking part again! Here is a clip on YouTube of our float.

Look at 0:39, i'm the one at the top of the second section of the float, dancing, front passenger side behind the captain morgan-looking thing.

here are a few more pics of the day...

View from my spot of the first turn down Jackson St, the start of the parade. Look at all my people out for Zulu!

On Canal St, heart of the French Quarter!

Me and my riding partner, we had so much fun jammin on the top!

me at the end of the parade, i'm exhausted but i had a blast! Happy 100th Birthday Zulu!!

Ray doing it big

2009-03-01T13:56:00.005-06:00

Sawyer works hard
on and off the court

Camden senior up for scholarship

Excerpts:

Often lost in the box scores of Camden basketball games is the play of senior guard Ray Sawyer. Sawyer’s best work is not something that shows up in shots or points, but coach Mark Harnly is quick to point out his value in each and every win.

Still, some of Sawyer’s best work might not come on the basketball court or the football field, but instead in the classroom.

As the Bruins prepare for their fourth Eastern Regional basketball appearance in the past five years, Sawyer is in Chapel Hill as a finalist for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship, a four-year undergraduate scholarship to the University of North Carolina.

For Sawyer, it is a delicate balance between academics, athletics and leisure time.

“It takes a lot of prayer to start out with, because you know you have to keep your head on straight,” he said. “A lot of it comes with prioritizing what is important for the moment. I can’t let the thrill of the moment to get to me. For instance, if I have a big football game on a Friday night, many times I want to celebrate, but I have to keep my head on and know that I have to get my school work done also. If I test on the upcoming Monday, I have to be prepared for it. Also, I must take time out for myself and give myself a break. If you work hard all of the time, you’ll wear yourself down. You have to learn when to take break, I think that is very important.”

“He does what’s best for the team,” Camden football coach Scott Jones said. “Everything he does, he wants to win and does what he can to make his teammates better.”

Sawyer is a leader on the team both in voice and action. He led the football team in prayer after games and is a team captain on the basketball team.

“He’s been vocal,” Harnly said. “Of course, when you know what you’re talking about and you know what needs to be said, it’s a lot easier to say it. I think that goes along with his intelligence. He embraces the role of being a leader. You don’t have to score 20 points to be a leader.”

Stars come and go, but the guys willing to do the dirty work for little glory are hard to come by. Sawyer is one of those guys.

“He’s going to be the toughest three points a game to replace that I have probably ever coached,” Harnly said.

Big Cactus

2009-02-16T09:36:00.004-06:00

this is what Shaq brings to the game that makes him better than everybody out there right now. Lebron is on his way, but Shaq is the original innovator and creator.

Senior Night

2009-02-13T09:07:00.003-06:00

baskeball season, go lil bro. Shout out to Coach Jones in the background, one of the best football coaches/athletic directors/US history teachers in NC.

Carolina - Dook

2009-02-10T15:20:00.006-06:00

Congrats the the lady Heels of their romping of the devil(s) last night. it always brings a smile to my face seeing dook lose, especially when it's to the heels. as far as the men are concerned, it's going down tomorrow night. my prediction is that the heels win, 87-78. Hansbrough will have 18pts and 8 rebs, green has 18 pts, 6 boards, and 4 blocks. Paulus will get used like toilet paper, and everyone will chip in for the heels. Mike Copeland will be the surprise of the game, playing 4 mins and scoring 6 points. No real defining moment of the rivalry will be had in this game, just another Dook L. no fights, no blood, just basketball.

here are just a few teasers leading up to the game...

Wow

previous predictions from the 3/8/08 game: (my predictions were pretty close, Hansbrough had 16 & 15, green had 18, ellington had 16)

it goes down again...

Predictions...

Tar Heels by 6, 79-73

Stats of the Game:
Hansbrough - 28 pts, 16 reb, 3 steals
Palaus - 12 pts, 6 TOs, 2 assist
Ellington - 18 pts, 5 reb
Green - 15 pts, 4-5 3 pt shots

Previous Info...

and my post before the 2/5/08 game, complete with links to previous posts as well.

for those who don't know how real this thing is, check out some of the things that have been written about this rivalry. time, energy, and thought have gone into this intense hatred.

Carolina - Duke

UNC - Duke The Rivalry

Excerpts:

This rivalry is just as intense as Yankees-Red Sox or Auburn-Alabama or Michigan-Ohio State. I'd wager that it is the greatest collegiate rivalry, in any sport.

Guide to Hating Duke

Excerpts:

Now I realize that school spirit is a pretty goofy thing to some people, and we don’t really have a reason to hate other institutions of higher learning, but I’ll tell you something — I hate Duke with an infernal passion undying. I hate every leaf of every tree of that sickening campus. I hate every fake cherub 1930s Gothic piece of crap that litters the buildings like hemorrhoidal testaments to their imagined superiority. When I see those Dookie boneheads shoe-polishing their faces navy blue on national television, squandering their parents’ money with their fratty elitist bad sportsmanship antics and Saab stories, I want to puke all over Durham.

So this is my request, boys of basketball: Tonight, I not only want you to win, I want Krzyzewski calling home to his mother with tears in his eyes. I want Alaa Abdelnaby to throw up brick after brick. I want Rick Fox to take Christian Laettner to the hoop so many times that poor Christian will be dazed on the bench with an Etch-a-Sketch and a box of Crayola Crayons. I want Bobby Hurley to trip on his shoelaces and fly into a fat alumnus from Wilmington! Send Thad and Lorna home with their blue tails between their legs!

God bless them Tar Heel boys!

-Ian Williams, 1990 Daily Tar Heel columnist

I'll have to add that my top Carolina-Dook memory is Marvin Williams tipping the ball back in after a missed free throw in Chapel Hill, last regular season game in the 2005 season, and we win by 4...the loudest i've ever heard the Dean Smith Center, and then the nets were cut down to signify our winning the ACC regular season championship. And while I'm at it, congrats to the Lady Tar Heels for their smackdown of the female Dookies last night in Cameron. I heard the crowd on TV chanting "Who's House? Heel's House!", and i don't know if I would quite take it that far, but last night it was definately true

Black History Month

2009-02-06T12:39:00.004-06:00

"The real McCoy?" A phrase asking for real deal and not an cheap imitation, in reference to Elijah McCoy, a black inventor who patented over 50 new inventions. Madame CJ Walker, the first black female black millionaire, making her fortune selling her hair care system. Garrett Morgan, the inventor of the gas mask and traffic signal. I apologize for my tardiness, but February is Black History Month, and I wanted to list a few accomplishments of black Americans and provide some links to discover some important people in black history in this country.

Black Inventors A-Z

Famous First by African Americans

I would encourage all to be conscious of all the contributions that black people have made not only to this country, but to this world. And take this time to celebrate those people who have helped make this world a better place.

Ole Miss Coach

2009-02-03T09:50:00.003-06:00

the last quote here is priceless...

Video shows coach pleading with police

A newly released police video shows Mississippi basketball coach Andy Kennedy pleading with an officer before his arrest on an assault charge.

"I'm begging you ... this is a major deal, man," Kennedy told police.

He added: "This is going to be a national incident, sir."

Kennedy was arrested in downtown Cincinnati on Dec. 18 after a taxi driver said Kennedy hit him and used racial slurs.

On the video broadcast by WLWT-TV in Cincinnati, an officer warned Kennedy to do what police say.

"You turn on me one more time, I'm going to start making some more charges. Do you understand me?" an unidentified police officer told Kennedy.

Kennedy told an officer that he was formerly the University of Cincinnati head coach and was in town to play "Louisville and Rick Pitino" on national television.

Kennedy also told police on the video that he had a verbal altercation about how many people could ride in the cab, and that it "makes no sense" to arrest him.

In response to his pleas, an officer said: "You think we've never arrested somebody that's made national media? ... We deal with the Bengals all the time."

Super Bowl Notes

2009-02-02T08:57:00.006-06:00

The big game waited until the last quarter to live up to the hype. Steelers prevailed (as predicted), Harrison made big plays (as predicted), and all is well in Steeler nation.

1. Jennifer Hudson has, in my book, supplanted Whitney Houston for the best rendition of the National Anthem ever. But I'll let you choose for yourself.

I guess this is just a situation where preference kicks in. Cause it's really hard to pick a wrong winner here. They are both off the chain. And nobody else is even in this building, let alone room, in terms of singing this song.

2. Fitzgerald is that dude. I said it before, and I'll say it again. I've been a fan of his since his days at Pitt. And he has now placed himself atop the standings of active wide receivers in the NFL. 7 catches, 127 yds, 2 TDs...and that with at least 2 defenders giving him attention every play. In the biggest game of his life to date. Beast.

3. Big Ben is clutch. None of the plays on the last drive went as planned. But, just as he's shown his entire career, he thrives in situations when he has to 'wing it'. And Pittsburgh has assembled a group of players around him on offense who has learned to play off his creativity. I think they can go ahead and make a spot for his bust in Canton.

4. I expected more big plays from Pittsburgh's D. Aside from Harrison's TD return, there were no big plays that jump out for me. The final fumble recovery doesn't count in my book, as a comeback from there by the Cards was improbable at best. Polamalu only had 2 tackles, and probably just as many missed tackles. Only 2 sacks for the entire team? Not their best performance. But they still get another ring.

5. I hope Matt Leinart was taking notes from both of the QBs that were playing. Because if he hopes to have a successful career in the NFL, he's gonna have to make plays just like both of them did.

Sunday talking points

2009-01-26T10:58:00.004-06:00

So, i know it's late. Don't think anyone reading this blog cares.

1. Sunday's thought from church: " Success without a successor is really failure"
-if you haven't left anyone or anything to carry on your legacy, then what have you really done?

2. North Carolina women's basketball: In the middle of the worst losing streak in 5 years, I will say here what I've been saying since my time in Chapel Hill. We lose games because of Sylvia Hatchell and win despite her. She is an amazing recruiter. She has proved herself as a motivator. But she is severely lacking as an Xs and Os coach. Any team that we can force to turn the ball over with the 3/4 court zone trap, we will beat by 30. But any team that figures out how to beat it consistently will get layups and beat us by 30. Because WE DON'T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT. After UConn was spanking that trap for wide open layups in the first half, we went into the locker room, talked, yelled, and came back out running the same trap. I wasn't able to watch the Ga Tech or Maryland games, but I'm sure the same happened. And I know the same thing happened last year, in our final game vs. LSU, cause I witnessed it first hand in New Orleans. We must be able to have solid defense when our trap is being beat. And we must be able to get buckets when we're not getting fast break lay-ups.

3. The Super Bowl should be a decent game for the 1st quarter. But the Steelers' experience will kick in, they will dominate, and win in a rout. James Harrison will win the MVP by forcing 3 turnovers, and the Steelers will score at least 1 special teams and 1 defensive TD. Hats off to Arizona for making it this far. Fitzgerald is that dude, and will have over 100 yds receiving.

Thoughts

2009-01-20T18:15:00.008-06:00

So, i just wanted to share a few of my own thoughts on today's historic events.

1. Obama did not disappoint with his speech. The excerpts will, in my opinion, be repeated, and this speech added to the archives along with others of the greatest speeches in American history. Quoteables all throughout the whole speech. I would have to say one my my personal favorites would be this one.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

2. Praise Song for the Day: This quite possible may be the worst display in use of the English language in the history of the Earth. And some may say that I am exaggerating. But that is how much I didn't like it. Elizabeth Alexander may be a wonderful poet in her own right. But not today. And the text version doesn't even do it justice. Reading the words, I dislike it less that when I listened live in real time. I feel that everything inspiring, uplifting, and encouraging that Obama said, she undid. And her lack of audible applause after the poem is my proof. Horrible.

3. Joseph Lowery's prayer, on the other hand, was off the hook. I felt given the racial , cultural, and historical significance of the events, it was the perfect ending to the ceremony. I literally had more chills during his 5 minute prayer then I did during Obama's address. This man, who was around from the beginning of the civil rights movement, and was here to witness this important step towards total equality for all mankind, served as the perfect bridge. He was able to help us remember the past, and look toward the future. And his words, carefully chosen, and divinely inspired, were delivered in a way that made you know the full meaning behind them. Just listen:

For those who are familiar with the black church, you know that feeling you're feeling after listening to that prayer. For those who can't quite identify it, or are unfamiliar with it, that feeling is called "good". Some call it conscious, others the Holy Spirit, but the feeling invoked is the basis of all that is good in the world.

All in all, i will remember this day, and I'll be able to tell this story to generations to come, that i was around when history was made.

So it Begins.

2009-01-20T12:18:00.006-06:00

Thoughts to follow at a later date. Right now, just enjoy this day.

Excerpts from Obama's Inauguration Speech:

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Dr. King

2009-01-19T08:21:00.010-06:00

On today, the day set aside to recognize the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and the day before the inauguration of Barak Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America, a lot of thoughts are going through my mind. First, I'm proud to be alive to witness this momentous occasion, although I'm really disappointed that I was unable to make the trip to Washington, DC to join in with the rest of America and taking part in the celebratory festivities. Secondly, I'm reflective of all the struggles and heartaches by those before me, those before us, to make this week and this occasion possible. And I'm thankful to all for the sacrifices they made.

But lastly, I'm deeply curious. I looked today at a photo journal of sorts that Time Magazine has placed on CNN.com, and I saw not only the face of Dr. King and his close associates and advisors, but also the faces of nameless youngsters who took part in the movement. And I'm curious. If I were alive and able-bodied during this movement, what part would have I have played? It's very easy to sit back now, after the movement has been successful and I can enjoy all the rights that All Americans should, to say "of course I would have been right in the middle of things". But then, when the movement was going on, there were a lot who believed the movement was a dangerous game, and there was a lot to lose and not much to gain. Jail, police dogs, billy clubs, and verbal assaults were the nice parts of the hate against the protesters. And just so everyone is clear, not all the protesters were black. Those whites who were empathetic to the movement and joined it were subject to all of these same harsh realities as those of color. And the hate groups, back wood's posse's, and lynchin' ropes were the things that every protester lost sleep about. Could I have remained "non-violent"? Would I have the personal restraint to fight for the greater good, rather than defend myself? Could I have to courage to stand up in the face of wrong, and proclaim right along with millions of others?

I think the most important thing here was that everyone that took part in this movement believed that what they were working for was so important that even the threat of death could deter them from continuing to push towards their common goal. And I'd like to believe that given the gravity of the situation, i would have joined the ranks.

Suai

2009-01-15T12:54:00.007-06:00

got this from my boy Rell, once again with the inside scoop. This song is bangin, and I've had it on repeat since my first listen. Check out her album, although I couldn't find out when it was coming out. And i think it's pronounced "sway".

It's Carnival Time!!

2009-01-13T10:05:00.006-06:00

For those who didn't know, it's Carnival Time!! Beginning with January 6 and the Epiphany and ending with Lent, it's time to begin celebrating the sights and sounds of Mardi Gras!! So go have some King Cake (the most yummy non-homemade desert ever), set up your parade route spots, and get ready to catch some beads!!

Dont Jump

2009-01-12T17:40:00.003-06:00

Words right on time from my boy Rell. Cause i was on the edge of the cliff. Not really, but I did call into work sick this morning.

Carolina fans — I know that you're a little upset over UNC's 92-89 loss to Wake Forest on Sunday night.

You probably have a a right to be, after all this UNC team was anointed — from the day Tywon Lawson, Danny Green and Wayne Ellington announced they were coming back to school in June — as a lock to make the Final Four and potentially one of the greatest in the history of college basketball.

Right now they're 0-2, tied for last place in the ACC with Georgia Tech.

But, I urge Tar Heel supporters not to jump off the cliff.
The season isn't over and Carolina isn't a bad team.

One thing that I knew was going to be unfortunate about this season is that too many people expected a well-oiled machine that coasted to victories and that other teams were scared of simply because of the hype surrounding them.

That's not the case and let's be clear — no team will ever be undefeated ever again. If you think that was possible, then you're the problem.

All that said, Carolina is really just one game behind schedule. The loss to BC was an anomaly that usually happens once a year to Carolina. The loss to Wake isn't a bad one, after all Wake is a top 3 (now) team and were on their home court against their biggest basketball rival.

So, it's not like that was a bad loss.

Still, the measure of this team doesn't come when they beat Michigan State to a pulp in December and it didn't come when they lost to Wake Forest on Jan. 11.

The ultimate indication of whether or not this team is a success or failure comes about 2 1/2 months from now.

The Heels only need to win their last six games to cement their legacy.
They still have a chance to do that, so don't jump off the cliff just yet.

Dang Rell...

2009-01-08T10:49:00.002-06:00

Sparks' Parker expecting first child

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Candace Parker is expecting her first child this spring, and the WNBA star will keep working out leading to the 2009 season.

The announcement was made Wednesday by the University of Tennessee, where Parker starred before going on to the Los Angeles Sparks. Her husband is Shelden Williams of the Sacramento Kings.

"Shelden and I are very excited to be expanding our family," Parker said in a statement. "We feel blessed and look forward to becoming parents."

In 2008, Parker was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft and won rookie of the year and MVP honors. She also won an Olympic gold medal and was the AP's female athlete of the year.

Parker's coach at Tennessee, Pat Summitt, and Sparks general manager Penny Toler congratulated Parker. Summitt told Parker that if she has a girl, she hopes she'll be a future Lady Vol.

Racial Profiling

2009-01-08T10:37:00.003-06:00

Son of famed baseballer shot in driveway by cop

Excerpts:

The son of a famed baseball player was shot in his own driveway.

But how this unarmed 23-year-old and his cousin ended up in the cross-hairs of an officer's gun, suspected of stealing a car, is a question sparking allegations of racial profiling.

"There's no doubt in my mind that if these had been white kids this does not happen," said David Berg, Tolan's attorney.

It was 2 a.m. on December 31 when Tolan and his cousin, Anthony Cooper, were confronted in the driveway of their home by Bellaire, Texas, police officers. Police officials say the officers suspected the two young men were driving a stolen car.

Bellaire is a prominent, mostly white suburb in southwest Houston.

Tolan's relatives say the two young men had just arrived from a late-night run to a Jack-in-the-Box fast food restaurant.

As they walked up the driveway to their home, Anthony Cooper said an unidentified man emerged from the darkness with a flashlight and a gun pointed at them.

"We did not know it was a police officer," said Cooper. "He said, 'Stop. Stop.' And we were like, 'Why? Who are you?'"

The officers ordered both men to lie down on the ground. Tolan's parents heard the commotion and came outside. Police will only say an "altercation" took place. Tolan's family say it involved his mother.

"The cop pushed her against the wall," said Tolan's uncle, Mike Morris.

Relatives say Tolan started to lean up from the ground to ask the officer what he was doing to his mother. That's when the family says Tolan was shot in the chest, the bullet piercing his lung and then lodging in his liver.

But Tolan's SUV wasn't stolen. Both men were unarmed and relatives say they were hardly a threat to the police officer. Anger over the shooting has been building over the last week.

Freeze

2009-01-06T18:35:00.001-06:00

Breezy and Pain took it back with this video, i think it's hot

buckets

2009-01-05T12:18:00.001-06:00

lil bro at it again...

I guess we are human...

2009-01-04T19:34:00.004-06:00

It's all good though. It's not March. It's not even February. Heck, i think it's better this way. All that undefeated talk can be put aside now. I really don't care about us being undefeated. I just want us to win the last game of the year, and hopefully it's not in Madison Square Garden. Cause that would not be all good. At all. Hats off to BC, they were the better team on the court tonight. But if I were them, I would not be looking forward to the rematch.

Heels Fall to Boston College

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T03:15:00.002-06:00

rather than type a long, deep post on how life will change because of the flipping of the calender's page, I'd much rather put a youtube clip up.

Check out the 1:44 mark (sick dunk) and the 3:56 mark (thats your boy)

highlights

2008-12-18T09:00:00.003-06:00

surfing ESPN.com, and came across maybe the best compilation of UNC basketball highlights ever...check it out.

Clip Reel: The Tar Heels

Who do you choose?

2008-12-17T09:13:00.005-06:00

so, this morning on the radio i tuned in to a debate on who is the better group, the Isley Brothers or the O'Jays. In order to make an informed decision, I did a little research and made a playlist of the top 8 songs i could find from each group for comparison. Who do you choose? I would say make decision on quality of hits, amount of total hits, and of course personal preference of style and type of songs produced. For me, it's a toss up, depending on the mood I'm in. If I'm in a dancing, party type mood, happy feelings and whatnot, it's the O'Jays. If I'm in a romantic mood, seduction and love songs, then it's the Isleys, no doubt.

whats up..

2008-12-15T12:07:00.003-06:00

couple things.

1. The Heels do it big everywhere. Womens' soccer National Champions. Mens' Soccer National Runner-up. Womens' Volleyball ACC Champs, NCAA 2nd Round. Football, Meineke Car Care Bowl. So don't say I'm just a Tar Heel Basketball fan (men ranked #1, women ranked #2)

2. I love Christmas Music (if you couldn't tell already). Sit back with someone you love, put on some good tunes, and enjoy the holiday season. Let's be real, gas prices are high. Fellas, this is a good time to share some intimacy, show some affection, and it's way more fun than going to the movies. And it doesn't cost a thing.

3. In my preparation for the quickly approaching Mardi Gras season, I will soon be accepting donations for my first time as a Krewe member, as i will be riding in the famous Zulu Parade on Mardi Gras morning. If you're interested in contributing to the "throws found", hit me up and i'll give you more info.

4. In spite of all, God is good!

Christmas Music

2008-12-11T15:03:00.016-06:00

pretty good mix of hits, i like it.

What a day

2008-12-03T11:43:00.005-06:00

so, December 2, 2008 was a day of first! I'll give you the quick down and dirty.

1. My baby sister had her first child, a beautiful little boy named Asheton Randall, and both baby and mother are well and recovering nicely.

2. My team got their first road win of the season, and their first win verses a Div I team, as we beat Southern 84-75 in Baton Rouge.
-as a side note, this is the first time i've ever been called "my nigga" in a professional setting. like, i'm all for keepin it real, but this was a little much. and it happened more than once. i thought of making this a post all to itself, as this dude looked like a former pimp, and was wearing every championship ring he had ever been given all at once (3 on one hand, 2 on the other). but needless to say, it was a bit much.

3. I was robbed for the first time in my life. In the locker room after the game i received a phone call saying someone had broken the passenger side window out of my car, still back at school where the team loaded the bus. I asked if anything was taken out of my work bag, and was told there was no bag in my car. the got me for my laptop (and all my music...), work cell, bible, my CS Lewis books, jump drive, and wallet, complete with credit and debit cards, driver's license and social security card.

What a day.

You know what time it is...?

2008-11-28T16:35:00.005-06:00

Letter Home

2008-11-27T11:11:00.003-06:00

So, on this thanksgiving day, I'm unable to join my family at home for food and memories. But rather than have a pity party, I'd like to take this time to express how grateful I am for them. At some point in the 48 hours surrounding this day (last evening and probably tomorrow morning) i will try to talk to each one of my brothers, sisters, nieces, nephew, mother, father, grandparents, and as many others as i can get in touch with. And my message to all will be thanks. Thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, well wishes, and everything that you do and have done done to help me become who i am today. As always, i think of you all every day, and i hope to continue to make you all proud. I know we aren't able to see each other as often as when we were all riding in the blue van together, but i love all of you more than ever. The memories of my family sustain me even when I'm not able to be home, and I look forward to making many more in the future!

Speaking of memories, i'll give you a quick few off the top of my head:

-playin football in Sis. Boone's yard after church in Va, with complete 3 piece suit still on.
-driving to texas to see uncle eddie and the fam in the brown van
-Children of God performing in Memphis
-U Sac YOUUUUUUU...enough said
-Christmas at grandma and granda's house, all the family spending the night (i'm goin on a trip and i'm taking my quilt and a soccer ball)
-Brute, the best dog ever
-josh hittin the parked car, and still gettin numbers with a messed up grill
-connie buyin free water (cause it was free)
-anthony...put your leg down, we trying to take a picture
-portia and crystal fightin with the baton
-kellie, stop pickin your nose
-raymond, always sucking up his spit when he talk (yall know what i'm talkin bout)
-bonney WHY YOU ALWAYS SINGING???
-da, ask josh what me and him talked about on the phone yesterday
-ma, wakin us up every morning before school, family prayer, bible verses, WHO DO YOU LOVE???

i love you guys

Q

Best of Both Worlds

2008-11-24T22:34:00.005-06:00

This is what i call the best of both worlds: Tar Heel Basketball and Soulja Boy. It gets no better. I bet Roy was Crankin That in the terminal with Coach Holliday. Look out for their next dance hit on youtube, right behind da stanky leg.

Tar Heels Hang Loose With Soulja Boy

Tyler Hansbrough returned to the Tar Heel hoops lineup on Friday night in Santa Barbara, and he admitted afterward that he might need to knock a little rust off his basketball skills. His rap star identification skills, however, are very polished.

The Tar Heel traveling party was hanging out at Gate 48A in the Los Angeles airport Saturday morning when Hansbrough nudged Ty Lawson. "Hey," Hansbrough said, "there's your guy. It's Soulja Boy." Lawson shrugged in disbelief. But upon getting a closer look, Lawson said, "Hey, that is him!" The individual in question was accompanied by a bodyguard roughly as tall as one Neil Fingleton and about as wide as three freshman year Sean Mays. Soulja Boy was sporting a platinum chain that was so large is almost certainly counted as his one allotted carry-on bag.

The rap star--who, for those of you with the rap IQ of Eric Montross, is most famous for his song Crank That, which is accompanied by a dance that Hansbrough could certainly replicate flawlessly--spent a few minutes chatting with the Tar Heels before moving on to record his next catchy hit.

i hope you can sense my sarcasm...

not good...

2008-11-20T09:40:00.005-06:00

Broken wrist likely to sideline UNC forward Zeller for season

I told yall Kanye has lost it...

2008-11-17T16:34:00.003-06:00

...and this article confirms it. WWJD (and not Jesus...)
Sad.

Single of the second: Kanye West & Young Jeezy "Amazing"

Kanye unveils the latest leak from 808's and Heartbreak, "Amazing" featuring Young Jeezy. We had the opportunity to speak to Kanye on the phone yesterday and he had this to say...

"Jeezy came down to Hawaii with us because anytime I'd write a chorus or write any type of hook, I'll be like, 'what would Jeezy do?' You know how people have stuff that say What Would Jesus Do? I say, What Would Jeezy Do? What would he say on this record? At the end of the day I make my s**t white tee shirt ready at all given times."

A-buse

2008-11-15T19:28:00.003-06:00

So, here's my text message convo with a fellow UNC alum after the Heels' 17-15 heartbreak in College Park this afternoon.

Me: BTW, graduating has made me no less of a sore loser, i hate turtles >:o

Fellow Alum: Umm yeah i had bad flashbacks of tarheel football of our days when they make me care then dash my dreams at the end

Me: Yes...they suck me into an emotional attachment then ruin my day

FA: Haha they do it to all of us

Me: It's like an unhealthy relationship but i can't bring myself to leave, and they keep promising not to hurt me again but they do

FA: Haha, tarheel football the ultimate manipulative b!*@h

Me: Lol, i couldn't say it any better than that

FA: Its good to know we all still think alike

Me: Yeah, it definitely helps me cope to know i'm not the only one like this

FA: Thats why they call it a family

College Gameday

2008-11-14T13:08:00.002-06:00

So, tomorrow's ESPN College Gameday is being held in Tallahassee, FL, hosted by Florida A&M University of the MEAC. While I think it's wonderful that a predominantly black university finally gets to showcase their student spirit on national television, why this game and why now? This isn't a premiere match up, these are two mediocre teams, and it's not a rivalry game...but it is the first weekend after the election of the nations first black president. Coincidence? ...i think not. You?

Obama girls

2008-11-11T09:21:00.003-06:00

so, if there was any doubt that Obama or his kids were "mixed", just take a gander at those 2 heads of hair. They're black. Side note, Malia has a flute in her hand. Musical is good.

Snakes on a Plane

2008-11-07T20:48:00.001-06:00

by far the absolute worst movie ever made...

November 4th, 2008

2008-11-04T11:41:00.003-06:00

Today will go down in history as a great day in this country's history, no matter who wins the presidential election. We will either witness the election of the first African-American president in US history, or the first female vice-president. I hope any of you who read this blog and had an opportunity to vote will look back on this day glad that your voice was heard and your vote counted. I would like to remind all, however, that this election was to elect a man or woman for a job. I hope you all understand that we are not electing a perfect person, a idol, or a god. This is still a human. And this human will make mistakes. Do not think for one second that there is a candidate running for president that shares each and every opinion with you on every matter facing this country. So when, months or even years from now, there is a situation where the President of the United States makes a decision that you disagree with, take it in stride. It is bound to happen. What you must remember is that you voted for the person you thought would make better decisions, and fewer mistakes. And ultimately you voted for the person who you thought would make decisions that were in the best interest of this country. And those things have nothing to do with race or sex. So please don't judge the results and draw a conclusion using race or sex as a factor.

Sunday talking points

2008-11-02T16:27:00.006-06:00

1. Gotta show some love to my lil bro on his senior night football game...ma and da out there doin the whole "gimmie some flowers" thang...they know they cold. Also notice pops rockin the Carolina Dad sweatshirt. And for the record, those shoulder pads are about 6 sizes too big...

They don't fool around with box scores in Camden, NC, but i know Ray(mond) had at least 1 catch, an 8 yard touchdown.

2. Election Day is coming up this Tuesday. After thinking about it for quite some time, i decided not to vote early. I really wanted to be a part of the whole election day experience, missing work in the morning to wait in line, watching the news in the evening to see the real time results, and knowing that i had a part, however minuscule, in making it all happen. I encourage all of you to get out and vote as well.

3. Yes, Tyler Hansbrough is hurt, and at latest reports will likely be out at least 2 weeks. How do i feel about it? I'm at peace. We are deep. We are talented. And IT'S NOVEMBER. North Carolina has the best sports medicine staff in the country, and they will do everything to ensure the safety of Tyler, just as they do with all student athletes, and have him back in action as soon as safely possible. And hopefully this will Deon time to grow a pair. AND Coach Williams will get a chance to see what these freshman are all about, and if they're up to competing in practice.

4. Took a leisure drive for the first time since gas exceeded $2/gal today. It was great to have good weather, open the sunroof and listen to the Ellis Marsalis Quintet. Great sunday afternoon.

Enough said.

2008-10-30T08:10:00.000-05:00

so it begins...

2008-10-28T09:32:00.002-05:00

i wonder how many stories like this will come out in the next 12 months. i hate to say I told you so but...i did...and again...

2 men accused of planning massacre, targeting Obama

Excerpts:

Federal authorities have foiled an alleged assassination plot targeting Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama that was hatched by two men with reported links to the white supremacy movement, prosecutors said Monday.

The two suspects allegedly began discussing the plot a month ago. They planned a "killing spree" that would first target a predominately African-American school, federal court documents say. They planned to kill 88 people, the documents say, including beheading 14 black victims. The rampage allegedly was to include "a final act of violence" with the assassination of Obama.

Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., and Paul Schlesselman, 18, of West Helena, Ark., were arrested and charged with federal weapons violations and threatening a presidential candidate.

The suspects separately told investigators that they planned to fund the killings through home robberies, the documents say. The alleged plot included the planned robbery of a firearms dealer to get weapons and ammunition.

After the planned attack on an unidentified school, Schlesselman said, they "planned to drive their vehicle as fast as they could toward Obama, shooting at him from the windows," documents say. The suspects also told investigators they planned to dress in white tuxedos and top-hats during the attack.

Concussion...

2008-10-27T08:36:00.001-05:00

Along the same lines as Rell's article (for the record, he did his first!)

The economy is so bad that...

2008-10-23T09:31:00.005-05:00

my co-worker found this on Perez Hilton's blog. And yes, that is in fact an Ol' Miss sticker on the shirt. Check their website out, Rednecks4obama.com.

Gimme what you got...

2008-10-21T16:04:00.004-05:00

usually not a huge fan of Chris Breezy or Wheezy, but this is smooth...

Melendez a Globetrotter

2008-10-20T11:24:00.004-05:00

Congrats to Orlando. Never got a chance to meet him personally, but he was definitely in one of my classes at UNC (he sat in the corner with Joe Forte and Julius Peppers). And he spend his time at Carolina preparing for this job. Before each home game, right after the players finished their open shooting and right before the organized portion of the warm up was to begin (running out of the tunnel, etc.), Melendez would be the last player to leave the court. And he would always give a crowd-pleasing, through-the-legs or 360 dunk to warm the crowd up. And he always used his showmanship, playing to the crowd and waving his arms to make people cheer louder before his dunks. This guy had stupid crazy hops, and was named by Marc Davis as maybe the best college dunker to ever play basketball at UNC. And this man has seen them all up close and behind closed doors. Thats a pretty high compliment, considering we're talking about the likes of Vince, Worthy, and yes, even Jordan...

Melendez adds a new country to Globetrotters' resume

Excerpts:

Lloyd Church has never been a fan of the dunk.

"It's just two points," he says. "Nothing more."

In 22 years as coach of the boys' varsity team at McDowell High School in Marion, N.C., Church hasn't had to raise an objection very often. But the first time Orlando Melendez put on a McDowell uniform, Church was forced to amend his stance on dunks.

After an opposing team scored on the first play of a game, point guard Jenis Grindstaff received the inbounds pass, took a dribble and heaved an alley-oop pass to a skying Melendez, who jammed it.

"We had never practiced that, never talked about it," Church says more than a decade later. "I never did get on him for dunking after that."

It's fortunate for Melendez, because his taste for theatrics -- the ups, the dunks, the behind-the-back and through-the-legs -- will suit him well in his new job as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. Melendez is the first Puerto Rican-born player to don the most famous candy-striped shorts in all of basketball.

Melendez averaged 20.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.9 blocked shots and 2 steals a game in his one and only year as a Titan. But his body of work was enough to get a scholarship to North Carolina.

Not long after Melendez arrived in Chapel Hill in 1997, Dean Smith, the Hall of Fame coach who recruited him, retired. But any questions about the kid from the mountains of North Carolina by way of the sugarcane fields of Puerto Rico were answered before Melendez ever wore Carolina blue.

Lloyd Church tells the story. He heard it from some UNC assistants. During his campus visit, Melendez played some pickup games with several Tar Heels, including Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter.

They heard "El Gato" could jump a little bit, so Carter issued a challenge.

"Orlando goes first, and throws down some monster dunk, I don't even know what he did," Church says. "And Vince just walked off the floor and said, 'You win.'"

Melendez's memory of the event is a little more specific.

"Oh yeah, I think I went through the legs and behind the back," he says.

And Vince?

"We went at each other a lot," Melendez says, smiling. "I don't think either of us ever won."

Get him...

2008-10-17T09:39:00.001-05:00

At it again...

2008-10-16T13:29:00.004-05:00

good article by my boy...

McMillan: (Athletic) Trainers can save lives

Imagine your son or daughter plays for an athletic team at a Robeson County high school.

Your child strives for perfection each day at practice, meeting every demand and challenge their coach throws at them.

And behind them, each step of the way, you're there.

Ensuring that they are well-fed, have a good attitude and have the proper equipment necessary to achieve in their chosen sport.

Then imagine -- lord forbid -- that they are seriously injured in a game or practice.

The coach can't help them, you can't help them.

*
Really, only a few people can.

Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC's).

What's scary, is that not every school can afford ATC's -- a proposition that leaves prep athletes severely at risk.

That could be about to change.

The Sports Medicine Committee of the N.C. High School Athletic Association was told last Thursday morning to recommend that every secondary school in the state have a licensed athletic trainer or recommend that football, boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls soccer and wrestling be dropped, according to the Raleigh News and Observer.

Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, the chairman of the Department of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of North Carolina and a national leader in concussion research, said eliminating sports would be a dramatic step, but said if school systems say they cannot afford full-time licensed athletic trainers that the system should drop those sports and save the money until they can.

Guskiewicz believes that each school should have an ATC and that they should be a full-time staff member, not a teacher who adds training duties.

If implemented, the recommendation would cost Robeson County school's $240,000 per year, as the County would need to hire six trainers at an annual salary of $40,000.

That seems like a lot of money -- but there are more costly penalties to not having full-time ATC's.

Since August, three N.C. high school football players have lost their lives on the field.

On August 12th, Chapel Hill High School football player Atlas Fraley complained to his coaches of severe headaches during a scrimmage ,and later died at his home. He had a history of heat exhaustion-related symptoms.

On August 22nd, Reynolds High School player Matt Gfeller was hit under his chin in a helmet-to-helmet collision.

He later died at a hospital in Winston-Salem; his autopsy shows his cause of death as traumatic brain injury that tore a small blood vessel.

On September 19th, JaQuan Waller of Rose High School in Greenville collapsed on the sideline after being tackled in a game. Waller suffered a concussion during a practice just two days before the game in which he died.

North Carolina's three deaths account for a large percentage of the 14 high school football-related deaths so far this season.

This is not to say that having an ATC on-sight would have prevented these tragedies, but it certainly couldn't hurt to have an expert around to help diagnoses and treat injuries immediately.

Catching early, and dealing with injuries expeditiously can be the difference between life and death.

"I do think that all schools with those high risk sports should have an ATC there and available for all games," said Quinton Sawyer an Associate Athletic Trainer at Southeastern Louisiana University. "It's money well spent. If you ask the parent of any kid who has injury or severe injury resulting from athletic participation, then they would agree, it's money well spent."

Sawyer, who played football and grew up in tiny Camden County, says that ATC's are important because they are rare.

"There are few health care professionals that are trained specifically to handle athletically related emergency situations," he said. " I think that in the long run, having an athletic trainer on-site is going to save money. I honestly believe that. Proper management and care of injuries on the front end, will help save money on the back end."

Let's hope the NCHSAA listens to people like Guskiewicz and Sawyer.

Sherrell McMillan is a staff writer at The Robesonian and can be reached at (910) 739-4322, Ext. 118 or by e-mail at smcmillan@robesonian.com