Best Damn Sports Clinic Period (continued)

As the NBA playoffs vastly approached, everyone thought that the wild, wild, west would put on a show for the ages. Let me tell you, they have not disappointed the fans. I’ll get to the east momentarily. Most people were chopping at the bits for a Kobe v. Shaq championship series. I just wanted people to take me serious when I said that Utah had a chance. While I don’t think they’ll be laughing in the end, Utah is a good team, but a championship series is not in the cards, yet.

As for Phoenix, all I can say is the coach of this team, the Denver Nuggets and poor Avery Johnson will probably be searching for employment. I like Avery Johnson. I like Jason Kidd, but the trade for Kidd was the wrong number. Jason Kidd had nothing in his body of work to suggest he could lead a team to a championship much less shared in the sweet success of one. As a Spartan (MSU) alumnus, I take issue with the constant comparison to Magic. I am Cal alum also, but Kidd is no Magic. Michael Jordan isn’t either, but that is a nugget for another conversation.

Speaking of Nuggets, the Denver Nuggets is a really good team with really good players who are currently underachieving. As much as I like Tracey McGrady, I’ll just pay him respect with the mentioning of his name. Frankly, I am sick of San Antonio. I haven’t forgiven Ginobli for all the 3-point shots against Detroit in their series three years ago. You see were this is headed.

The wild, wild, west is culminating into the best damn sports clinic period. I can’t wait until the Lakers play New Orleans. I love Chris Paul, but Kobe is getting ready to take this brother to school. It may hurt to watch, and it may also hurt Kobe more than Chris Paul, but it will be a lesson well learned for the future(typical parental psychological mumbo jumbo). Look out Kobe, Chris Paul has officially put the NBA on notice. After the Lakers and New Orleans, everything else is anti-climatic.

As far as the Boston Celtics, they look flawless. If were not from Detroit, I would be rooting for them. Kevin Garnett in my opinion is the NBA MVP. I know it is a season by season award, but his body of work and currently season accomplishments make him most worthy.

After Chris and Kobe, LaBron will be an after thought. Now let’s get to DEE-TROIT Basketball. I see Detroit handled their business last evening. The 76ers, too, will soon be a memory. The eastern conference championship will not be as exciting as the west, but I suspect Detroit and Boston will do us proud. In the end, the smart play and early season use of the Detroit bench will tell the story. Boston has a great sixth man at best, but this will not be enough. This series requires a bench. Boston is lacking in this category.

Best Damn Sports Clinic Period

The NBA's wild, wild west. To be continued.....

Can somebody tell me…?

I said I was done writing for the year, which did not allow me until now to express my concern about Tim Tebow winning the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore when in the past there were awesome, more awesome sophomores than Tebow, like Hershel Walker and Bo Jackson to name a few who could have been awarded that trophy who were not specifically because they were sophomores.

I let that concern slide. Today, I was presented with a bigger fight. Can somebody tell me why the hell Charles Woodson is not in the Pro Bowl? How many times does a brother have to show up and show out? Now, no average citizen hooped and holla’d over Sean Taylor’s senseless killing more than me, but with all due respect to his Family, Girlfriend and baby daughter, Mr. Taylor will not be showing up for the Pro Bowl, okay. I feel the gesture was great, but a moment of silence in his memory would have been more appropriate.

As far as the Minnesota Vikings receiving seven slots, I say, “WHY?” Did not the Green Bay Packers beat the Vikings twice convincingly? And pardon me if I am wrong, but the only Viking name I have heard this season with any real regularity was Adrian Peterson. I can name the Purple People Eaters faster than I can name the current roster's defensive or offensive line.

Sports announcers from Jaws to Deion Sanders have referred to Charles Woodson and Al Harris as the best DB tandem in the NFL. Webster’s Dictionary defines tandem as one following or behind the other like Fred and Ginger, Sonny and Cher, Gayle and Oprah. Not to throw salt on Al‘s parade, but that tandem couldn't exist without Charles Woodson.

Charles Woodson has been disrespected two years in a row. I am still trying to figure out why the hell his #2 jersey has not been retired at the University of Michigan. Shawn Crable or Clark Gable have no business wearing the jersey of the only defensive back in the history of college football to win the Heisman Trophy. Charles Woodson is the "Big Cheese" among college football players. He stands alone.

I heard Ron Jaworski just yesterday mention something about a player having a comeback year. Well in order to comeback, one would have had to have a career worth mentioning in the first place. Charles Woodson is such a player. I am mad as hell, and I could care less who knows it.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch- Charles Woodson!

Enough said.

“Who needs Tom Brady when you got Brett Favre?”

In the words of Steve Urkel, “Did you see that?” Brett Favre to Greg Jennings, 82-yard touchdown, game over dude, it’s a wrap, call mamma to pick you up and the Packers win!
Before pre-season and the first snap of the regular, I told people that the Green Bay Packers were going to the Super Bowl. Nobody believed me. I got this to say to all the non-believers, “look out Dallas, we coming to git yo ass.”

For all you Detroit Lions fans out their saying hold the phone we are 5-2, I say you are of no consequence to this equation. I grew up in Detroit. I went to Thanksgiving games in Tiger Stadium on Trumbull. I’ve seen Mel Farr, Charlie Sanders, Lem Barney, Billy Sims, Barry Sanders and still no Super Bowl.

Lastly for the New York Giants who play in New Jersey, Michael Strahan looks lean and mean, but beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. My eyes looked into the magic ball, shuck it and it said, “Packers.”

Daddy. Daddy wasn't there.

Inductee: Michael Boddie
Date: August 2007

Our society has sank a new low when we hand off the microphone, give the floor and lend credibility to a “dead-beat” father whose children by their own volition do not carry the last name of Boddie. If this is not disgraceful enough, he further demonstrates his immaturity and disloyalty by seizing the opportunity, “for fifteen minutes of fame”, at the expense of his sons’ reputation. Still further to add insult to injury, slaps Brenda Vick, a woman he did not marry until five years after the birth of two children, in the face who, with the assistance of her people, carried the load of both mother and father.

In times when we struggle to protect our children from Internet predators, instill in them values that protect them from bad choices and improper influences, where was daddy? Daddy wasn’t there.

Growing up in Detroit, I remember the role and importance of the alley. A lot of men matured as well as met their death in the alley. Michael Vick’s father should be escorted into an alley. Station a brother to the east and west of it and allow Brenda Vick, her family, her children and anybody else relevant to this party to pull this “bitch up”. If he is not dead by lessons end, then maybe he will resurface a man.

For those of you who feel that these comments are harsh, I only have this to say to you. There is nothing uglier than to be brought into the world due to no fault of your own only to have the experience of feeling unwanted, unloved and being unprovided for. If our children are angry, uncouth, classless, ignorant and make bad choices, we should look to ourselves. It is our blame. It is our shame.

"MICHAEL WINS"

Last week, I kept myself busy by responding to the people of Fort Myers, Florida in their response to Deion Sanders’ article on Michael Vick and the subsequent response of the NFL Network to him.

As the comments went back and forth, it was always my intention to remain respectful and I did. After all, I felt I was stepping in for a voice, similar to mine and others, which had been silenced all the while thinking and speaking not in his exact words, but marking how I thought those words might be used and articulated. I am not sure if I educated the people in that community, but they most definitely educated me. I learned that no matter how many gains and contributions African-Americans make, we still have a great work to do. This is by no means to suggest that change is our sole responsibility, but charity always starts at home and spreads abroad.

This lesson was best taught Saturday as I watched the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Since first watching and comprehending the magnitude of what was happening, it was never more heartfelt, spiritual and memorable. Each man as well as their presenter had something very significant to say in terms of the honor itself, their lord and savior who was clearly at the head of their lives, and the careful selection of who was responsible for their success. But no one say it better than Jerry Jones when he said, “Michael Irvin is a Dallas Cowboy.”

There is nothing more American than apple pie, the World Series and being a Dallas Cowboy. All of these things represent what our nation hold dear and sacred. Even though African Americans have proven success when given the opportunity to participate in the American Dream, yet we are still made to feel unworthy.

I thought Michael Irvin’s induction was bitter sweet because I feel that Drew Pearson should be in the Hall of Fame. Drew Pearson was the original number 88, but after Michael spoke, where he was at that moment in time made me realize that it’s much greater than the respect given to a number, but the importance of respect due a man. Michael Irvin gets much respect, and his words were worthy to be praised.

Having said all this, we (African-Americans) must encourage and make sure our children feel good about themselves. Perhaps, we need to redefine who we LOOK UP to. Perhaps, we should GET UP from being complacent and NEVER GIVE UP on the fact that the road ahead is still paved with struggle. The mistakes we make are apart of a process that will eventually get us to place called, “Equals.”