WHITNEY HOUSTON, HUMAN BEING

Whitney Houston dead at the age of 48. This is the sad news that sparked the radio airwaves yesterday evening. One of the greatest singers of this generation had "gone on." She leaves behind a young daughter, a host of relatives, friends and fans to grieve. Unfortunately, a piece of her is left to be ground up by the rumor mill.

When tragedy strikes a celebrity as it has Ms. Houston there is, undoubtedly,a burning desire to "know." Fans, media types and gossip mags want to know how this thing could have happened. There is no human being on the face of the earth who will avoid the part of the life cycle that includes death. The disappointing part of that is everyone will look for reasons why, but forget those reasons effect the loved one's Houston left behind; most notably her 18 year old child.

It is time for Americans' to ask ourselves why the presence of money or power is a license to harass, defame, scandalize or abuse a person or their memory. It's as if a person's bank account ties them to a public right to accept any type of treatment no matter its affect on that person. I have already heard commentary about drug use, marriage to Bobby Brown, a shot career and an anxiety riddled daughter in shock at the loss of her mother.

The coming Presidential election will be a showdown about the 99% vs. Wall Street; the dream vs. the reality. An answer to the question that wonders if America is truly the land of opportunity. And this question is a legitimate one. The 99% protests were a much needed spotlight on the growing income inequality raging through American cities,suburbs and rural outliers. Not that everyone has to attain wealth, but that everyone in a country this rich has an opportunity to make a living or more. However, those legitimate issues do not make it okay for our country to treat people with money or celebrity as objects without a soul.

My wish is that Whitney Houston and her family will not be fodder for aggressive rumors, scandal-laced innuendo or outright untruth's in spite of the iconic status she holds in American culture, because, ultimately Whitney Houston's status was human being.

FORGET THAT JESSE JACKSON SAID IT. DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

Oh, he's gone and done it. Jesse Jackson has played the "race card." He's likened Dan Gilbert's mentality to a modern day slave owner, turning on a runaway slave that has done what is in his best interest. These days in America people love to get upset; people love to not listen; people LOVE LOVE LOVE to get offended and the quicker the better. Did anyone wonder if Jesse Jackson had a point?

Obviously, LeBron James, multi-millionaire is not a slave nor do I believe Rev. Jackson thinks LeBron is a slave. What he indicated is that he does believe Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, based on the veracity of his comments, was "acting" like a slave owner. Now that is incendiary. In this country when slavery or the holocaust is mentioned in any context outside of a literal, historical one causes many people much consternation. Jesse Jackson's presence is ubiquitous in the civil rights arena. He has been hailed as a hero and at the same time seen as a grand stander out for personal gain and fame. His history clouds any issue he decides to speak on, even if he might have a valid point. Some people thinks his latest comments are too far outside the box or straight dumb. One friend of mine says "Jesse's showing his behind again," but is he on to something? Dan Gilbert turned on LeBron James quicker than a Mike Tyson hook in '86. As soon as James decided to take his abilities elsewhere Gilbert went over the top with a missive attacking James' personal and professional character. The one hour special was self-centered. Gilbert was right about that. But then to call him a quitter, etc. If he was so bad why did he want to keep him there? Could it be the one hundred million dollars his franchise lost in value once "King" James departed? Well known NY Times sports columnist William Rhoden penned a book on this vary subject called "Forty Million Dollar Slaves" that called into question the relationship between athletes and their "owners."


Now did Mr. Jackson need to make this statement to the public? No. Could he have sent a letter or had a phone conversation with Dan Gilbert? Yes. Would that have been better? Probably. Why? Because most people in this country have lost a sense of nuance or the ability to analyze beyond the face of a statement. And say Dr. King had said something like this not having the baggage of Jesse Jackson, most folks wouldn't have said a thing. If one leaves their opinions about Jesse Jackson's history out of it then they can ask themselves if he has an insight that bares a hint of truth.

Dan Gilbert is not a slave owner. His players are not slaves. They are all million or billion dollar men. But the control of the business invariably goes to the owners in professional sports leagues. And even though Gilbert is not a slave owner his vitriolic letter and the irrational fury behind it could lead one to suspect a man who has lost more than a great player. He acts like he and the Cleveland faithful has lost a way of life; a way of making money. And THAT can be likened to slave owners at the start of reconstruction. Don't take Jesse Jackson's word for it. Get your children's history books out and read.

PARIS' DEBUT PUTS HIM IN THE MIX

Songs About A Girl Vol. 1: Cupid's Last Arrow, the new "mixtape" from twenty year old Inglewood native Paris, sounds right on today's pop music landscape; firmly entrenching himself into the modern day creation of the rapper/balladeer. The album presents Paris as a solid producer and gifted vocalist more than comfortable singing or spinning tales of heartbreak in rhyme.

Vol. 1 delves into the intricacies of the various stages of love ranging from the vulnerable "The Great Depression," "Chasing After You," the swaggerific "Push," "If You Want To," to the reflective "Songs About A Girl" with its Prince-like drum snare. Throughout the album the production is immaculate with each element, from lead and background vocal melodies to the menagerie of synth runs and bold drum patterns, getting their proper place in a mix that allows for Paris' various skills to take center-stage. Listeners who aren't music heads won't know what any of that means, but the album will sound like what they hear on the radio and that is indicative of the professional effort they are hearing.

Being Paris' introduction to 'pop world' one can understand the desire to showcase every song he worked hard to produce, but at twenty songs the album's "soul" gets stretched a bit. Listeners connect or peel away with or walk away from artists within the first three songs; so at twenty songs, even though a quality effort, Vol. 1 runs dangerously close to overstaying its welcome. This album is not the old school, gospel-blues tinged, classic type albums of Marvin, Stevie or Al that mom and pop spun on any occasion. Vol. 1 is slick, bold and produced for dancing; it's for the club, for Top 40 radio, for its time. Instant gratification rules the early new millennium. Leave music heads wanting more not less. But more of what?

Ultimately, Paris has given the music world a solid debut album that makes him an obvious peer of Drake, Kanye's 808's and Heartbreaks w/out the auto tune, Kid Cudi, Usher amongst others. He belongs, but the question is who is he really? Vol. 1 sounded a lot like what is on the radio. That's great for career ambition. That's great for earning a living. Artistically, it causes me wonder what makes Paris not just fit-in with, but stand out from his peers. Based on his debut effort we should get a next time that will let him answer that question.

THE PAIN IS REAL, THE LOVE AIN'T

People, there's still thousands of gallons of oil gushing into the Gulf Coast, ways-of-life are being destroyed by the day, the war in Afghanistan is still up for a serious debates even amongst those who voted President Obama into the Oval Office. You get the point. There are real issues going on in the real world. But in our reality TV culture, LeBron James "decision" on his hoop game future took on must-see viewing. Where would he go and why? It was obvious having a press conference did not include the possibility of an announcement saying he was staying in Northeastern Ohio. Unless you were a hopeful Cavaliers fan.

Being from Buffalo, NY I understand the pain of fate in the athletic arena. Four straight Super Bowl losses, a skate in the crease in triple OT of the Stanley Cup Finals and other slights will do that to a fan. Especially the talk of "small market." LeBron jersye's were burning within minutes of his decision. Dan Gilbert, the Cavs owner wrote a scathing diatribe reserved in most situations for scorned lovers or disgruntled employees. () Wait, he is the owner right? Although he shouldn't have written the letter in the way that he did the pain within it was real and understandable. LeBron is an Ohioan. He's one of their own. They must feel betrayed and embarrassed in the public fashion in which LeBron chose to inform them of his single-quickly-in-a-new relationship status.

The way he broke the news to the Cleveland faithful was dirty pool; it could have been done in a press release without the indignity of Cleveland fans being whored out on television and laughed at by an American public that largely does not understand the Cleveland's, Buffalo's, Detroit's, Denver's or Milwaukee's. These professional sports franchises are more than a team; they are a real and believed reflection and representation of a town and its people. They are an extension of the locality. When the team is ballin' out of control so are the residents. When the team is down so is the city psyche. That team is their hot club, their grand opening, their VIP room. They bring glory to a place many look down their noses to see. But even in their pain, Ohioans have to remember the truth.

The truth is that LeBron James is one of them, by birth, and his birth certificate will shout that out until the end of records being kept. He is also one of them in circumstance. How many Ohioans have had to seek greener pastures in another city or state because there was a lack of employment or because they could make more money elsewhere? LeBron is of Ohio, he is from Ohio, but he is not owned by Ohio. Scream, curse, burn his jersey; fine. But to act like LeBron owes something to the city and its people is senseless. The same people that booed him and the Cavs of the court in game 5, and rightfully so, now "boo" him for bouncin' out. He stunk against Boston and folks were within their rights to boo. And he believes he has a better chance to win elsewhere and struck out for greener pastures. That is the American way and it's done all over this country on a daily basis regardless of one's class, race, gender or religion.

LeBron hooped hard for seven years in Cleveland. Nothing lasts forever. Fans say they loved LeBron, supported him, raised him even. But what's a selfish love worth? True love would mean wishing the man well. LeBron choosing to ride D. Wade's coattails to a title is another topic altogether, but if that's what makes him happy so be it. If he does win a title he will do it as a native of Ohio that went somewhere and did well.

HARD WORK DOESN'T ALWAYS PAY OFF

JaMarcus Russell, the big man from dixieland with the bigger arm and the bear-like agility to move quicker than a man his size should be able to. He was the number one pick of the Oaktown Raiders owned by AFL original Al Davis, a man dedicated to speed and putting the ball in the air as far as it can be thrown. He didn't care about the whispers about Russell's work ethic; his bouts of excess weight gain; his nine-to-five mentality about a position on the field that has no off-days, let alone off-hours. Quarterbacks in the NFL are 24-7 maintenance men in a complex where a loss must be fixed immediately and at any cost. JaMarcus never clued in to the responsiblity he held as "the man" in Oaktown.

The NFL is a multi-billion dollar business that has, without question, become America's past time; it's game of choice; the bully of the American professional sports landscape that makes a schedule other leagues work around and television conglomerates cater to. Every team in the league represents a vehicle that is supposed to move toward a bottom line that provides millions for the league coffers and those of the owners. The QB, by virtue of the position, holds the keys to the truck. But JaMarcus Russell was still operating on a learner's permit, failing to see the need to take more instruction. He just didn't "get it." The Raiders released him then embarrassed him with the news that they were considering suing him to regain some of his bonus money.

So now comes the news that Russell has been busted in Alabama for downing too much of the "purple drank" that has roots in the south and gained popularity in certain circles of Hip Hop culture. I don't know if a man should be arrested for drinking what essentially is the cough medicine we all took for the slightest cold as children, mixed with soda and candy, but the fact is he was arrested. Was he downing the "drank" in Oakland? Did it drain his focus? Did it cloud his mind? Work ethic was the downfall of JaMarcus Russell in the NFL yet his physical talent was getting him some consideration from the New York Jets. It seems Russell's work ethic in obtaining the purple drank was better than his on the field ambition and his hard work might have cost him his last chance in the NFL. And that's a sad thing to say about a man with more physical talent than half the QB's in the league.

CYBER GANGSTERISM

The culture of the new millenium is one moved by technological advances that cater to the fast paced, the ultra-new, the demand for immediate gratification. The immediacy of news and information has led to a communal meeting place that some call a "forum" and still others refer to as the "message board." The ability to congregate with people from anywhere around the globe at any time is an intoxicating notion. Gathering of information, sharing of opinions could only lead to the possibility of changes, movements and simply learning something new that one did not know before the encounter. Those are all positive ends Unfortunately, something that could be labeled a grand ambition is still prone to the imperfection of those that utilize or abuse the opportunity.

The rise of cyber gangsterism has grown to epic proportions in the past several years and today stands at it's all time worst. You have been there; reading an article on political policy or last nights NBA game or a fashion blog turns into a diatribe of racism, sexism, homophobia mixed with bad punctuation, misspelled words, CAPITALIZED FRAGMENTS TO TRULY GET ACROSS THE POSTERS' ANGER!!!!! Sigh. What the message board has turned into is an opportunity for those who sit in some basement in 'anywhereville' to gain power through their keypad. The ability to dehumanize, defame and debase faceless contemporaries, political parties or entire cultures.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said during a critical point in the civil rights struggle (In Texas the civil rights movement, but that's another post altogether) that people must learn to disagree without being violently disagreeable. Violence does not just come in the form of physical confrontation. Mental or spiritual violence can be just as harmful and in today's culture of high technology where interpersonal interaction is disappearing behind a DSL connection, the violence of tone becomes even more pronounced. The discovery of fire, the creation of the automobile were just as important as the advent of the technological age. The uses were many, the convenience revolutionary; yet there are arsonists and drunk drivers. Within every sweet thing hides a bitter taste. The trolls of the message board who use it to advance pure ignorance without needing the courage to face the object of their derision is a necessary price to pay for the access to those of good will who can inform each other and provide well thought out viewpoints in intelligent ways even in the face of disagreement.

But there are millions who wish they could meet the cyber gangsters of their favorite websites in the school yard just one time.

Can Major League Baseball Overcome It's Class Problem?

Major League Baseball, also known as, The National Past Time is intimately familiar with its place on the vanguard of societal issues. Jackie Robinson breaking a shameful color barrier in 1947 to the advent of free agency in professional sports in the 70's. Baseball once again finds itself at a cultural cross-roads, but this time the narrow path doesn't lead to broad social change in racial and economic areas. No, this time that narrow road points inward at the competitive viability of the game itself.

Full disclosure here: I am a New York Yankee fan; have been since I could walk. I am grateful for ownership that cares enough to reinvest its profits into fielding a team with the sole objective of winning. However, after spending over 300 million dollars on contracts of super pitcher C.C. Sabathia, face of the game, Mark Texeria and the potential of A.J. Burnett the Yankees have drawn the ire of baseball fans in the outer regions of economic equality. Milwaukee G.M. Doug Melvin and numerous "anonymous" sources have been critical of the Yankees spending habits. These habits have been adopted in recent years by the Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Cubs. Big city baseball teams spending big city money.

For fans of teams such as Kansas City, Florida, Tampa Bay, Oakland, Pittsburgh and just about any team not in New York, L.A., Boston or Chicago, all hope for a title is abandoned after early June in most seasons. Yes, Florida has won two world series. Yes, Tampa Bay was a 2008 world series participant. But after each world series victory the Marlins did not wait two months before gutting their team in a fire sale of its high impact performers. And the Devil Rays have been below putrid since they came into the league. Only after years of building and retooling their farm system were they able to offer a viable product. Can they repeat that success this year?

Baseball is the petri-dish for the have and have-nots. Baseball was on its deathbed in 1994 when an unpopular strike canceled the World Series.
Then a steroid fueled home run era brought baseball back to national prominence with broken records and raised attendance.

Today, baseball's World Series showcase draws lower and lower national ratings every year. Now that possibly is a result of Fox Sports moribund and sanctimonious announcing duo of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, but more than likely is the fact that the Tampa Bay's, Florida's and Arizona's of the basball world are not sexy enough to garner attention. Those cities have home grown talent that peeks in a given year, but is widely unknown to those outside of baseball. And this is where baseball suffers. The die-hard fans and purists will complain, but always come back for another hardball fix. But baseball is not gaining new fans in an era of sports where football and basketball have taken over the imagination of the youth.

Without new fans baseball will die. But without a competitive parity in the world of Major League Baseball that allows fans in out of the way places to believe their teams have a chance to be champions or teams, outside of big cities, that capture the imagination of casual observers, baseball won't be able to sustain its television life. Which will further erode the ability of small market teams to compete with their big brothers.