I see your priorities are out of wack…

I assume that unless you’ve been under a rock for the last week, you’re aware that Tiger Woods ran over a fire hydrant and smack dab into a tree. Initially, some(myself included)chalked it up to drunk driving. Then the time of the accident was made public: 2:25AM. Uh-oh, I thought to myself. Where was he going at 2:25AM? Then we started to hear rumors about his wife beating him with the same golf club that she reportedly used to break one of his car windows and pull him out of his Escalade. From that, speculation started to run rampant. Was she beating him over a marital quarrel, or was there a more serious issue at hand? Like…adultery? It seems odd that someone would leave their house at that time of morning unless… Nah, we didn’t know anything for sure. After all, rumors are spread about celebrities everyday. Most are false, while some are true. Days go by, and still, Tiger didn’t want to address the public. He didn’t want to talk to police(which is his legal right considering he was involved in a traffic and not criminal matter). Now people were really getting antsy. Was he cheating, and caught? Did his wife hit him with the golf club? Was she merely chasing him with the golf club? Did she really beat the consciousness out of him? Days pass, and a promoter’s name pops up. Pretty, but she claims they’d never had an affair. Then all of a sudden another name pops up, this one claiming to have been Tiger Woods mistress. Now the shits hit the fan. People are wondering whether this means the end of Tiger’s marriage, or if his sponsors will abandon him. Fast-forward to yesterday, and it’s confirmed: Tiger did indeed have a sexual relationship outside of his marriage. E-mails, text messages, and incriminating voice mails. Tiger couldn’t hide anymore. The jig was up. He’d infuriated many when he didn’t want to comment on the accident, and those angered by the fact that he wanted to remain recluse were now even more perturbed by the fact that he was hiding his extramarital affairs. Both men and women were outraged. Some members of the media lashed out at Tiger. Bloggers immediately disparaged and berated him for what they deemed were “celebrity acts”. The story has ruled the news. And not just ESPN…the news. President Obama addressed the country last night with his plans to send 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, and seemingly, no one cared. Never mind that this country is in a world of debt, and that the troop surge will cot $30billion. People were so consumed by Tiger’s scandal that I guess they viewed sending men and women to their death was just irrelevant. This is nothing new. This country is infamous for ignoring real, vital issues that affect us all to instead find out via TMZ where Britney Spears eats lunch, or whether or not Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez are “beefing”. Foreigners laugh, because we are SCREWED, and don’t seem to not only not understand, but not acknowledge the severity of the situation. Unemployment rate over 10% nationally? That doesn’t matter, as long as we know the name of Lil Wayne and Nivea’s baby. Discussion about the disparity of police and media coverage of minority children that are deemed “runaways” instantly? Nope. People on Twitter would rather contribute to the #sidechickawareness trending topic. We are a nation that subscribes to Sun and the National Enquirer. We watch Entertainment Tonight in order to better get a glimpse into our favorite celebrities’ lives. We rely on Perez Hilton to give us updates on who’s having sex with who, and what celebrity has been arrested or sent to rehab. Never mind the fact that children are dying everyday. Forget that there are thousands of college students that have had to sit out a semester or two, or attend a city, community, or junior college due to insufficient funding. Ignore the health problems that so many are facing on a daily basis, and how difficult it is for a large number of them to get the care that they need. We want to know whether Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston are at each other’s throats. We want to be kept up to date on the Rihanna/Chris Brown situation. Why do we care so much about people that don’t give a rat’s ass about us? Do any of you really think that a celebrity wants anything from you more than your money? As long as you attend the sporting events, movie showings, stand-ups and concerts, they’re happy. They want your dead presidents, dinero, greenbacks, chop, dust, bread, dough…your money. Don’t invest so much time, energy, and emotion into someone that won’t reciprocate. If you’d dismiss those that are actually AROUND YOU for not returning the favor, why would you be so hung up on people you’ll most likely never even have the opportunity to meet? I wonder about the quality of life that celebrity addicts lead. If they lead any type of life at all… P.S. I miss Karen!!! P.P.S. I’m in full ’80s mode until the end of the year…

Throw yourself off the bandwagon, please…

I grew up on the south side of Chicago. Two blocks west of 87th and Cottage Grove, to be exact. I’m a Cubs, Bulls, Blackhawks, and Bears fan. It would be convenient for me to be a White Sox fan, seeing as how their home is on the south side, but I loathe damn near everything about the organization. It would’ve been easier for me to become a fan after they won the World Series in 2005, but I also loathe bandwagoners. I had no clue that there were so many “diehard” White Sox fans until several days after the 2005 World Series. All of a sudden, I saw hats, shirts, jerseys, hoodies, and jackets adorned with that awful ass White Sox logo. People who couldn’t even tell me who the Sox played in the WS were throwing it in my face that “THEIR team” had won a title more recently than mine. Stupid bandwagoners. Anyone who knows sports knows the Cubs haven’t won a WS since 1908, and haven’t even PLAYED in a WS since 1945. They’ve choked away late-season division and wild card leads(2004). They’ve been eliminated from the playoffs by inferior teams(Marlins, Dodgers). They’ve broken our hearts in the playoffs(2003 NLCS, games 6 and 7). They’ve employed bums as managers(Lefebvre, Riggleman) and players(Hundley, Miles). And yet, in my opinion, the Cubs have the most loyal sports on the planet. Our team has been labeled the “Lovable Losers” and we continue to fill up Wrigley Field 81 days a year. We don’t care that people ridicule us for going so hard for a team that hasn’t won a championship in 101 years. True fans should never waver. They should never waffle. Whether their team is in first or last place by 30 games, they should cheer like nobody’s business. Some watch the Bears get absolutely EMBARASSED(much like they were by the Viqueens yesterday)and absurdly proclaim they’ll never watch another Bears game again, or will relinquish their “fandom”. Bullshit. Pure, unadulterated bullshit. Those people irk the hell out of me. Sports is unpredictable. At any time, an official, fluke or outstanding play can decide the outcome of a game. It seems like bandwagoners are used to dominating video games and aren’t used to the whirlwind that is real-life sports. There are bandwagoners everywhere, and they aren’t relegated to being sports fans. Some sit back and wait for something to take off, and then all of a sudden are the first to let everyone know how much they’ve always loved it. There’s one word for that: pathetic. Do us all a favor and kick rocks…permanently… P.S. I miss Karen!!! P.P.S. #shoutout to mini-Jill Scott for the free fries, and L-Boogie for the menage a trois with Mary Jane…

Be thankful for what you’ve got…

Happy Thanksgiving! This is the day when most of us find the nearest family or friends and stuff our faces until we feel our stomachs are going to explode. We show up(sometimes unexpectedly), ready to watch football and to have a plate or two, or three, or four… Most of us don’t take the time to express what we are truly thankful for, which I suppose is okay. I don’t believe that people should let it be known how grateful they are because of a holiday, although the concept is quite nice. I’m thankful. Here goes… I’m thankful for: Karen being a ROYAL HARDASS when I was a kid. Granny B always being there, no matter the circumstances. Adam J, my little brah. Unofficial aunt Charity, Adam and I love you as if you were really our aunt. Jada, the DOPEST womanfriend a dude can have. Bfff, wherever she may be. Tiara in her tiara, my CT homegirl. Fowler, one of my best friends and a fellow sneaker freaker. Jon, my homeboy from another galaxy. L-Boogie, the illest Moneypenny ever. B, Cause, Darian, and X, my 87th crew. My hookah buddy, Lauren Action Jackson. My cousin, J-Bird, keep pushin’. Amber Rose, Jr, for picking me up when it seems like no one else wants to. Jus, you let dudes like me know that we’ll eventually find our forever. Sarahsota aka Gray Eyes! Dina, stop plaaaayin’. Desi, you’re a cornball, but I love you. Adrienne, my BBM bffn and one of the dopest mothers ever. JESSICA BOLDEN!!! G, you were right: Everything happens for a reason. Jihaan, you’re a beast. Brian, stay up. My Twitter fam. All of my dudes from the 2nd floor of Schilling Hall. Everyone that made my experience in East Lansing, MI, a much more enjoyable one. James, where you at, kid?! Ms. DJ, what up?! Lydia, my Cali chica. Dewey, reppin’ the Sag-nasty. J-mar, my dude! Ms. Noelani, aka Ms. Rock Star. Darryl, the man who’s been cutting my hair for the last 5 years. Sonya, my M-town buddy. Dion, Rock, Marcus, Charles, and anybody else I hoop with. Lana, for. being the coolest airhead in the history of airheads. My godmother Cathy and my godfather Voies, thanks for being there when I didn’t even want anyone to be. My health and mental well-being. If I forgot you, tough cookies… P.S. I miss Karen!!! P.P.S. You may not have, a car at all. Just remember, brothers and sisters, you can still, stand tall. Just be thankful(just be thankful). For what you’ve got…

Half a dollar…

Today, at 7:44AM, my mom, Karen Louise Brown, would have turned 50. Ten years ago today, on her 40th birthday, she told me her new attitude would be “I don’t give a damn”. I can only imagine what her outlook would be today… P.S. Happy Birthday, Karen!!!

After a brief hiatus…

I left blogging alone because I was sick. Seriously sick. The type of sickness that makes you not want to do a damn thing. Alas, it’s over now. I most definitely have a few topics lined up that I fully intend to knock out, so stay tuned…

Un Sabado aburrido…

Well, today wasn’t a COMPLETE bore. From about 1AM-5:15AM, shit was hectic. MAD hectic. To the point where I saw a battle in the middle of the street, a woman lose a tooth, and bail money had to be posted(Don’t ask). I had no plans to go out last night until I got a call from Jihaan Benoit(sorry, I just like to see her full name)TELLING(even though I like to think it was an invite)me to go out and kick it. I only had one drink, but certainly made up for it with enough cheeba. I made it home around 5:45 and was able to see the sunrise with half an L. Football was a drag today. Notre Dame lost to Navy, which was fucking awesome. Michigan State beat Western Michigan, which frankly, doesn’t mean a damn thing. Somewhere in between, I went for a run with Lauren and her annoying ass sister, Lisa. I know I was hard on L-Boogie, but I push her because she needs to work her ass off. I hate when people continuously talk about doing something, but don’t want to put in the work necessary to get it done. She knows I love her to death, though. I did my male friend-helping-his-homegirl-out thing. L-Boogie has a *gulp* date, and I wanted to make sure she looks like an actual woman for a change. I think she’s going to look hot. I’m pretty sure I smelled weed on Michigan Ave. I’m almost certain of it. I’m on my way to the crib right now. I just don’t have the energy to go out tonight. Til tomorrow… P.S. I miss Karen!!! P.P.S. #shoutout to L-Boogie. Knock him dead, kiddo…

What’s it gonna be?

I’ve never claimed to totally, or even partially understand women. Even though I was raised by a single mother and my grandmother, I’ll never make that claim. Even though the majority of my closest friends are women(who I talk to regularly), I STILL won’t make that claim. I’ve heard a woman’s point of view basically my entire life. I NEVER had anything that closely resembled a father figure. And yet, I know I couldn’t possibly even begin to say that I know women. However, I am very observant. I pay very close attention to words first, and then actions. Example: A female friend(who shall be called “Amy”)and I were discussing men who push for sex…EARLY. As in, “I know this was only our first date, but…” She complained that “too many guys try to get you drunk”. I totally felt what she was saying, and understood why she would be upset by the notion that a guy would EXPECT sex after a first date. Or even bring up the possibility of it. Or even make a futile attempt at urging a woman to get intoxicated. Fast forward two weeks, and while a few of us are sitting around having a good time with Mary Jane, she starts singing, “Don’t wanna disrespect ya, know I just met ya/But we both know we want/ First date sex”. What is the difference between Trey Songz TELLING a woman what SHE wants and a guy simply bringing up the idea of sex after the first date? Two words: Trey. Songz. Not the regular guy on the street or in the club, but the famous, rich, popular R&B artist. I’m not sure why it is that some women clamor about being disrespected by men, and yet support artists who virtually do the same thing through song. Trey Songz is obviously not the only artist guilty of this, but right now, he seems to be your girlfriend’s fantasy. I hear a good number of young women speak of him as if he is their Marvin Gaye. As if he is the king of swoon. A man who makes songs titled, “Cheat On You” and “Stickyface”(yes, the song is what you think it’s about)is not swooning anyone, even if he does make a song that tugs at a woman’s heart every once in a while. I had this same feeling 3 years ago when Webbie dropped the single, “Gimme Dat”. He pulled no punches, telling women to, “Gimme dat pussy”. And women ate. It. Up. Fellas, imagine walking up to a woman and repeating those same three words. You would either get laughed at, slapped, punched, or kicked in the gonads. Or maybe all four. And what’s the difference between the average guy and Webbie? Well, Webbie is a celebrity(at least he’s seen as one in some circles). That’s honestly the only significant difference that I see. The song “Tip Drill” got PLENTY of women in clubs to shake their asses, as well. Besides a group of young women at Spelman University, I wasn’t aware of any other large groups of women that spoke out against Nelly’s poor excuse of not only a song, but a video. I am a man that LOVES women, but that video was totally unnecessary. And it alarmed me that for about three months, women in clubs in Chicago and parts of Michigan went absolutely CRAZY when this song came on. Women that would most likely harp about men and their lack of respect for women. It’s ignorant music, plain and simple. Have I ever listened to ignorant music? Sure I have. Hell, it’s hard to ignore, let alone avoid. Would I ever support an artist that contributed to this “semi-genre”? Not in a million light years. I know that there are a good number of women that couldn’t care less whether Dwayne Carter the rapper or Dwayne Carter the average Joe Blow said, “I just wanna fuck every girl in the world”. They’d be offended just the same. What is alarming to me is the number of simplistic songs telling women things that they claim they don’t want to hear from the average guy. And again, they eat it up. Gucci Mane, Dwayne, Trey Songz, Yo Gotti, and other male artists that partake in this behavior and show such “creativity” don’t make those songs for men. They make them for women. I just don’t think it’s fair for a woman to expect me or other men to be Prince Charming, yet allow a “celebrity” to address them as if they’re nothing more than a sex object. In no way, shape, or form am I condoning the chauvinistic, misogynistic actions that are exhibited by some men. It’s vile, obscene, and there’s no place for it in ANY society. But for the few women that contradict yourselves when it comes to the matter of how a man addresses you…get a grip. P.S. I miss Karen!!! P.P.S. #shoutout to PB the Dealer and Vanilla Thriller Killer

Attention, man-bashers…

I love ALL of my homegirls. I love #myfuturewife(because she’s my homegirl as well as my womanfriend), the tomboy, the prissy diva, the closet lesbian, the flamboyant lesbian, the nerd, Grace Jones(yeah, you, Carly), the workaholic, Peach, the Animal, my PB, T-N-T, and the bfff. I love all of them as if they were my sisters. I’m here whenever they need me. I’ve had conversations about periods, men, women, pregnancy, oral, vaginal, and anal sex, heartbreak, infidelity, bad ass children, “hating” females, crazy ex-boyfriends and ex-girlfriends, a desire to be married and have kids, insecurity issues, mammograms and pap smears, and sometimes I sat with the phone to my ear while they cried. I don’t mind any of it. I appreciate that when they’re down or need advice(especially advice from a male on how to “deal with males”), they come to me. Be it Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, text, phone call or BBM, they know that I’m here for them. One thing I want NO part of: man-bashing. I am not in the business of hearing, “Niggas ain’t shit”, “All men are dogs”, “There are no good men available”, and my personal favorite: “I hate men. I’m done with them.” I totally understand that some women get frustrated with us(men). Correction: I totally understand that most women get frustrated with us(men). I truly do. But does that give you the right to generalize and throw the good guys on your shit lists along with the bad ones? I applaud those of you that call out poor examples of men. I think it should happen more often, actually. However, I just don’t understand how it helps to make a statement denouncing the ENTIRE male species. Example: A former friend, “Taye”, called me and told me about a consecutive string of bad dates. Either the guy didn’t want to pay her way, answered phone calls or replied to texts while on the date, or made it clear that he was ultimately interested in sex. Obviously, I could see why Taye would be frustrated. “Men ain’t shit, I swear. I’m just gon’ leave ya’ll alone.” Those were her exact words. Now, she told me about 5 or 6 failures(in her world, at least). Last time I checked, there are MILLIONS of men on this planet, and in this country. So how can you make a statement about an entire group of people based on your experiences with a very small, microscopic, minute number of that population? Isn’t that the same as a racist that sees a story on the news about black male gangbangers that sell drugs, and uses that information to claim that all black males gangbang and sell drugs? In my opinion, it’s VIRTUALLY the same. It pains me to hear a woman complain about the horrible men she’s been with, and apply the “loser” tag she’s given to those men to men everywhere. It reeks of immaturity, and to an extent, bitterness. If you’ve found yourself involved with 5 or 6 losers in a row, please, do the following: Take a step back from the relationship shtick. Hell, don’t date for a while, either. Examine the men that you’ve been dealing with and what they have added to and subtracted from your life. Then examine yourself and analyze whether you’ve made some bad choices, or bad luck(in the form of men)happens to find you. All man-bashing serves as is a reinforcement that men are no good. That, eventually, we’ll cheat on you, take your money, lie to you, hurt you, and just plain ol’ let you down. That we present you with roses, only for you to discover later on that they were fake all along. It’s WACK, ladies. I know that deep down, most of you man-bashers don’t really believe what you’re saying. You’ve mainly said it out of frustration. You’re pissed. Tired of exerting the maximum effort and not seeing any reciprocity from his end. Exhausted by the fact that you’re willing to do anything for him while he’s oblivious to your wants and needs. It’s a horrible feeling, to be let down in any way. I don’t think it gives you good reason to turn your back on an entire group of people, though. Something else that man-bashing does is turn off prospective suitors, ladies. No man with good sense wants anything to do with a woman that feels as if a few bad apples should spoil the bunch. I know I sure don’t want to hear from Jane that because her last 3 boyfriends cheated on her, she feels as if she can’t trust men period. It’s called maturity. And I believe maturity would come through in that situation, allowing Jane to realize that those 3 guys were dishonest assholes, and not representatives or spokesmen for men everywhere. To all of my homegirls and ALL women(especially you mb’ers), I understand that we put you through too much much, too often. We put more on your plate than you need to or should consume, and too many of us are abstracted from giving you what you need. I hear your cries, complaints, and pleas. There are PLENTY of other men that hear them as well. All we need is a chance(well, I don’t need one, because my womanfriend is dope)to show that there ARE good men, available, and waiting to snap you out of your man-bashing ways… P.S. I miss Karen!!! P.P.S. #shoutout to all my dudes and chicks that keep a level head when bullshit rises to the surface…

Morehouse said what?

Eric (@Akcantune, good look, bruh) brought this (http://www.allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2009/10/25/21997091.aspx) article to my attention. “New Morehouse College Policy Bans Sagging”. First, let me say that I DESPISE sagging jeans, slacks, khakis, sweats, and shorts. It looks tacky, and gives off the image that a man has no respect for himself or others. I do not appreciate having to see a man’s underwear, and if more men knew that in some areas, homosexuals are known to sag their pants purposely, they might not be as quick to sag theirs. This is not something that only black men do; I’ve seen plenty of white and latino males do the same. I HATE sagging. However, this new “Appropriate Attire Policy” does not just prohibit sagging. Wearing grills, du-rags, hats, “stunner” shades, hoods(I assume they mean hoodies), and pajamas to class will also be against the new policy. So will students wearing anything constituted as “female clothing”, which obviously is directed towards the gay students on campus. Morehouse President has instituted this policy with hopes of bringing back the “Renaissance Man”. Good luck with that, Mr. Franklin. College works like this: Most of the student population forks over thousands of dollars a year to an “institution of higher learning”. In exchange, students receive an education and are groomed to enter the “real world” after commencement(should they be lucky enough to make it that far). College students are seen as adults, virtually. Well, maybe young adults, as there are still rules and regulations that those on campus must adhere to. When a student doesn’t go to class, a professor does not call his/her parents. When a student does not do his/her work, again, parents aren’t involved. No extensions are given. Students are not babied; they are seen as social security numbers at most colleges and universities. President Franklin, if you have no plans to make attendance mandatory, or involve parents in campus life more…why dictate what kinds of clothes and accessories your students can wear? Granted, some believe that without all of the “gaudiness”, students can focus on what is really important, which would be their education, and how they represent themselves and their university. But shouldn’t you stress better study habits and work ethic? What about more involvement in student organizations? Or more contributions to the campus community? Will there be some sort of seminar advising students on how to properly dress for class, job interviews, work, or even a date? Although you consulted with the school’s gay rights organization before coming up with the ban against female clothing, weren’t you a little more than afraid of basically singling out that group of students on campus? I mean, I think it’s safe to say that a heterosexual male college student wouldn’t show up to class wearing a dress and pumps. And last time I checked, homosexual males do indeed wear grills and du-rags, so banning tunics(what the hell is a tunic, anyway?)would be a rule relegated to the gay community on campus. When I was an incoming college freshman, one of the things that I was excited about was that I could pretty much be able to wear what I wanted to class. I could wear a hat, hoodie, or even my big ass Columbia jacket, which I could not do in high school. True, I did not show up in pajamas or with a grill in my mouth, but seeing as how we were supposedly seen as “young adults”, I figured that if we wanted to show up looking like idiots, it would be fine. After all, WE paid to be educated, and not to be told what attire is appropriate or not in a CLASSROOM. Sagging? Get rid of it. Grills, hoodies, pajamas, and (for those brave males who dare to wear them to class) purses and pumps? I just don’t see how that TOTALLY adversely affects someone of being “well-spoken, well-read, well-traveled, well-dressed, and well-balanced”. Honestly, I think it creates an even bigger generation gap. I completely understand what President Franklin is trying to accomplish by adopting this policy. I’m just not sure it’s fair to place this kind of mandate on “young adults”. Let your students know that you don’t believe the way they express themselves is necessarily wrong; only that you wish(key word, wish)to show them a better way. Your institution is preparing young men to become husbands, fathers, and professional members of society. President Franklin, expose…don’t impose… P.S. I miss Karen!!! P.P.S. #shoutout to all of my brothers, no matter what race, that keep it classy…

A fried Saturday

Booooy, howdy! Today has been a good day so far. Two of my favorite people, Head 2 and Head 3, came over in the morning with breakfast from Valois and dro. After killing our breakfast, Quick and I laughed at PB as she attempted to effectively pearl a swisher. She went through an entire box before she finally got it right. Bless her heart, she’s learning. Because of her futile attempts with the first 4, I had to walk to the local gas station and buy another box, where I saw quite possibly a chick with the hottest walk of all time. PB and I had a dance-off, which I won, of course. She almost had me with the Beyonce “Crazy In Love” move until she stumbled and fell on her face. LAUGH. OF. THE. DAY. She said she’s going to give me my tropical Skittles tomorrow for winning. If she doesn’t, she KNOWS I’ll send someone after her. I kind of halfway watched football today. None of the games mattered that much to me. Obviously, the one that does, Michigan St/#6 Iowa, is on now. I really hope MSU can pull off the upset. Actually, I wouldn’t really view it as an upset. I feel Michigan St is a better team. It’s just that my Spartans have been the victims of some close losses this season. Had they not lost to Central Michigan and Notre Dame, they’d most likely be a top-15 team right now. I seriously had no intentions of partying tonight until I heard “Saturday Night”, on Nicolay’s “City Lights Vol 2: Shibuya”. Carlitta Durand’s voice is so…EEE!!! I blame her for my newfound desire to go out tonight and “get it in”. No liquor tonight (maybe a blunt or 4); just good old-fashioned partying. I know for a fact that at least 7 people that I know will be at the party, so I’m pretty sure one of them will come equipped with some sticky icky. I hate having a case of the randies. This is one of the downsides of a long-distance relationship. It doesn’t help when chicks make themselves “available”, but I have self-control and the willpower to simply ignore them. It would be a lot easier if she were here, though. I’m not used to this, obviously, and admittedly, I’m internally struggling with it a little bit. During times like this, I want to say, ‘Fuck this’, but I adore her. I really do. I’m tempted to v-neck it out tonight because I figure that it’s going to get VERY hot in that basement. 6 o’clock, I’m geeked. That’s all I got… P.S. I miss Karen!!! P.P.S. #shoutout to everybody in East Lansing, MI, cheering on the Spartans tonight. GO STATE!!!