SUPERBOWL SURPISE!

AS THE WEALTHIER GIANTS FANS AMONG US PACK FOR A PARTY IN INDIANAPOLIS, THE REST OF US GEAR UP FOR A MOST UNLIKELY SURPRISE.
THE GIANTS WILL PLAY IN SUPERBOWL 46!
WHAT A PRO FOOTBALL SEASON THIS YEAR!   AFTER MONTHS OF NOT KNOWING IF WE’D EVEN HAVE FOOTBALL DUE TO A LOCKOUT THAT SEEMED LONG (UNTIL THE NBA SHOWED US JUST HOW LONG ONE COULD GET), WE GOT A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE THAT KEPT US GUESSING EACH WEEK.
THE “SPORTING NEWS” 2011 FOOTBALL ANNUAL ACTUALLY PICKED THE NEW YORK JETS TO REPRESENT THE AFC WITH THE DALLAS COWBOYS TAKING THE NFC’S SIDE FOR THIS YEARS BIG GAME.  BOTH TEAMS FOLDED RELATIVELY EARLY DESPITE HIGHLIGHTS AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE SEASON.
WHAT WE ENDED WITH WAS A TEAM (THE PATRIOTS) WHO COULD BE EXPECTED TO CONTEND FOR THE SUPERBOWL IN ANY RECENT YEAR.   AND WE WOUND UP WITH A TEAM FEW WOULD HAVE PICKED TO BE THERE — OUR GIANTS.
THE GIANTS PLAYED THIS SEASON WITH UPS, DOWNS AND MOSLTLY UNCERTAINTY.    FROM UNDERPERFORMING DEFENSIVE EFFORTS, TO RECIEVERS FEW HAD CONFIDENCE IN, THINGS SEEMED TO BE HEADED SOUTH UNTIL THE GIANTS CAUGHT FIRE JUST IN TIME TO SQEAK INTO THE PLAYOFFS.   AND BY THE TIME THE 49’ERS WERE WALKING OFF THE FIELD ON JANUARY 22ND, THE GIANTS LOOKED MORE LIKE THE TEAM THE JETS WERE PICKED TO BE AT THE START OF THE SEASON.
THAT’S HOW LIFE WORKS SOMETIMES.   WE STRUGGLE AND JUST WHEN THINGS LOOK UP, OTHER OBSTICLES ARISE.   HOWEVER TRUE CHAMPIONS KEEP PRESSING ON, EVENTUALLY TAKING THE LEAD WHILE EVERYONE’S LOOKING ELSEWHERE.   AND THIS SEASON IT SEEMED THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMEWHERE ELSE TO LOOK:
*FOOTBALL ANALYSTS AND BLOGGERS SPENT THEIR TIME TALKING ABOUT COLT PAYTON MANNING’S INJURED NECK AND MULTIPLE OPERATIONS TO CORRECT IT.   ELI, OUTSIDE OF GIANTS FANS, GOT LITTLE ATTENTION UNTIL THE PLAYOFFS.
*THE BRONCOS TIM TEBOW PROVED HE “COULD” PLAY IN THE NFL AND INDEED PLAY VERY WELL.  HOWEVER, HIS VERY PUBLIC AND NUMEROUS EXPRESSIONS OF HIS RELIGIOUS FAITH DREW PLNETY OF CONTROVERSY THAT EXTENDED FAR OFF THE FIELD.  AMONG THE MANY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DEBATE INCLUDED A SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE SPOOF IN WHICH JESUS CHRIST PAID A VISIT TO THE BRONCOS LOCKER ROOM DURING A GAME.
*CAM NEWTON BECAME AN NFL STAR OF THE FUTURE IN HIS DEBUT SEASON WITH THE CAROLINA PANTHERS.  THE HEISMAN WINNER PUT QUESTIONS TO REST ABOUT HIS ACCURACY, COMITTMENT AND INTEGRITY, SHOWING A VERY MATURE GAME FOR A ROOKIE THAT HAS CAROLNA FANS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY SEASONS.
*IT WAS FUN WATCHING TEAMS USED TO LOSING BEGIN GETTING WINS.   MOST NOTABLE WERE THE SAN FRANCISCO 49’ERS, DETROIT LIONS, HOUSTON TEXANS AND CINCINATTI BENGALS.

LIVING THE DREAM

Once again MLK Weekend reminds us of the struggle and sacrifices Dr. King endured in order to make a difference in America and the World.

I was thinking about the advances we’ve made towards the realization of King’s “dream”. Certainly there’s plenty of good news to report.

  • President Barak Obama has taken numerous challenges as President head-on and while there’s a lot he needs to get done quickly, he’s head and shoulders above anyone the Republican Party has fielded to run against him in 2012 so far.
  • Here in New York African Americans continue breaking new ground on Broadway and entertainment including Alicia Key’s supported and critically acclaimed play “Stickfly”. And the fiction drama imagining Dr. King’s last night alive, “Mountaintop” has extended it’s run. Also just getting underway, a newly revised version of the famous George Gershwin Opera “Porgy & Bess” is poised for success, directed by the young, and amazingly talented African American Suzan-Lori Parks.
  • Black spending power in America is quickly approaching One Trillion Dollars! It’s an astonishing feat that puts a large chunk of the U.S. economy in our hands. On the other side of the coin however the distance to victory seems at times like we haven’t left the starting line;
  • African American unemployment is nearly “double” the overall National average. Some analysts place our rate as high as 16.7 percent when the National average overall is closer to 8 percent. Meantime; Federal, State and Local non-profit programs seeking to bridge the gap continue to be first on the chopping block when budgets run short.
  • Gun violence in predominately African American neighborhoods from New Orleans to Brooklyn is once again on the rise. And due to lax laws along with lobbying from the National Rifle Association, guns are easier to come by than ever. Last year for instance, law enforcement officials traced an astonishing 2500 gun crimes in Inner-City Washington DC to ONE Southern Maryland gun store.
  • Public Schools in predominately Black communities Nationwide continue to lag behind. Access to a quality, diverse education for every American remains far from being realized outside of a few bright spots. And while charter schools have been touted as a solution in lower-income areas, results continue to be mixed at best.
  • Health Care remains another obstacle. Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity and HIV/AIDS continue to disproportionally impact our communities. Health insurance costs, outdated hospitals and clinics combined with a lack of quality grocery stores in many urban areas continue to devastate many.
  • And while we’re making all this money, not much is being invested back into our communities. We need more minority business including construction, retail and financial institutions that will actually “loan” money. And we MUST own a piece of the “digital” universe. Hi-tech companies that put the “smart” into smart phones, “apps” on our tablets, music to our ears and video to our eyes generate profits and create today’s greatest opportunities.
  • We must continue to stand against racism and hate. It’s hard to believe that in 2012 we must contend with housing discrimination and predatory lending. We also must stand with our brothers and sisters of Jewish ethnicity who continue to fall victim to senseless hate crimes, most recently in Northern New Jersey where several families came home to Nazi symbols spray-painted on their homes. And popular area Rabbi Nosson Schuman suffered minor burns during a firebomb attempt on his home. How does this kind of hate continue to exist?

We’ve got plenty of work ahead of us. Dr. King’s dream is certainly an ongoing task, but one the human race is certainly capable of achieving. Each and every one of us possess gifts and talents that can close the gap. From mentoring to tutoring, from funding initiatives that make a difference to voting; this year let’s all find something we can do that will bring positive change wherever we see the need.
We haven’t forgotten you Dr. King. Your “Dream” indeed lives on. Once again MLK Weekend reminds us of the struggle and sacrifices Dr. King endured in order to make a difference in America and the World.
I was thinking about the advances we’ve made towards the realization of King’s “dream”. Certainly there’s plenty of good news to report.

We’ve got plenty of work ahead of us. Dr. King’s dream is certainly an ongoing task, but one the human race is certainly capable of achieving. Each and every one of us possess gifts and talents that can close the gap. From mentoring to tutoring, from funding initiatives that make a difference to voting; this year let’s all find something we can do that will bring positive change wherever we see the need.
We haven’t forgotten you Dr. King. Your “Dream” indeed lives on.

Great Artists Who Left Us in 2011

ROLL CALL! 

Heavy D and Skip Dillard

Heavy D and Skip Dillard

ROLL CALL! 

Moving into 2012 we won’t forget great artists who left us in 2011.   My mind goes back to last year’s freak Northeast Snowstorm that closed out 2010 coupled with the loss of a Teena Marie, who was still making new music and performing her classics with a passion seldom seen by an artist so many years into the game.  

The legends continued to leave us in 2011 faster than we’ve been able to find “new legends” to replace them.   Thank God these great artists will live on through their music.

Heavy D-44 Years young and still in his prime, his passing from heart complications due to a blood clot is still hard to accept.

Phoebe Snow-Her song “Poetry Man” summed up a life filled with challenges and the ability to convey them to the World through her music.

Sylvia Robinson-Artist, CEO, Mentor and Pioneer who heard the sounds of the New York City Streets and made sure everyone else took a listen.

Nick Ashford-With his wife Valerie, this “perfect pair wrote and performed music that touched the heart.

Clarence Clemmons-The flamboyant sax virtuoso of Bruce Springsteen’s “E Street Band”

Gil Scott Heron-An Activist who spent his life in pursuit of peace and justice through music.

Amy Winehouse-Super-talented British R&B vocalist unable to  escape her demons.

Glady’s Horton (Marvelettes)-Another Motown “voice” gone but not forgotten.

Vesta Williams-A true R&B Diva!   Her 1989 Top-5 Hit Congratulations became a women’s anthem.

Nate Dogg-Proved that “Gangta Rap” could still have a “smooth side” as well.

Pine Top Perkins-Born in 1913, he was among the last of the great Blues artists who paved the way for Rock N’ Roll.