Captain Jesus!

Let us walk with Him and not be lead by ourselves. Too much we try to do things our way, on our own, and too many times we lead ourselves the wrong way. How do we know? Well, that feeling in your gut that you get when you're doing something wrong and when you're doing something right is probably Him assuring you of your decisions in life. But, we tend to have get the wrong feeling about something and go with it anyway. Then, we ask Him to bless what we've done. If we go against Him, we will not be blessed. We will simply be left on our own until we find our way in seeking Him again. And when we do, his mercy allows us to get back into Him. He does not get mad or upset, He simply waits for our return. He is merciful and fogiving in that way. We also must trust in Him with all that we have. He knows what He's doing. He has immeasurable experience in this life. He will always do the right things by us. We are His children. Just like with any good parent, He cares for His children a great deal. So He will not steer us wrong. I pray that He is with me in my times of trials and tribulations as well. And that all my sins and all my shortcomings are forgiven in His name. I need Him in the worst way, before I completely lose absolutely everything. But since He is here with me I am all good. He loves to be praised and talked about, and I will spread his word as much as I feel. He is the king, we are merely servants. Serving Him is our duty.

We do have our own contributions that we have to input into our lives. But, continue to follow captain Jesus, and he will lead us in the direction of where we need to go. I pray for all of those around me and even those who are against me. They need Him just as much as we do. Be Blessed!!

Too much ax for Plax?

Is it just me, or do people feel bad for the punishment that Plaxico Burress will serve starting yesterday? I mean, I know he did something that was terribly wrong but this mistake does not fair up to other mistakes i've seen in society that hasn't endured the severity of Burress' 2 year sentence. ESPN's coverage last night made me even more heartwarmed to the situation. They spoke of Burress kissing his kids and his wife before the authorities took him away. And to Riker's Island nonetheless. Now, I'm really hoping they transfer him from there because as much as this was a horrible mistake by Plaxico, I do not feel he should be in Riker's Island. Part of this is because of his celebrity, yes. As much as people may feel that it's not a big deal, his celebrity would play a part in how he's treated. I'm sure the last thing New York would need on their hands is something to happen to him while he's in there. Plaxico Burress is no Foxy Brown or Remy Ma. Get him the heck out of there if he goes in at all. I don't feel he's in line with the criminals and thugs they hold there.

Of course, in the aspect of life I feel horrible for him. But he is an extremely talented football player as well. And it is also ashamed that this talent will be confined for 2 years. These next 2 years are critical for Plaxico because in football years, he's entering his 50's. By the time he gets out he'll be 34 years old and who knows what he'll have left in the tank by that time. The image of him catching the winning touchdown pass from Eli Manning may be the last great image we see of him on the football field. Outside of the great talent he is, he also seems like a good guy. Everytime i've heard him speak it's been eloquent and very mild-mannered. His teammates have also always seem to speak highly of him as well. As much as there was a punishment deserved in this crime, maybe what they gave him could be a bit extreme. Let's face it, he did accidentally use the gun on himself. While in the meantime, we have dirty cops using their multiple guns on other people and continuing to get away with murder. So, what's really worse.

Either way, I will pray for the brother and hope for his safe return back home to his family. We all will be judged, but the judges and the juries that we face in the long run do not occupy a courtroom.

Give Sugar Shane a shot NOW!!

Now, as much as I feel Mayweather hasn't gotten ANY credit from some, and he does deserve it, he still has some more work to do to validate his career. Meaning, there are some fighters that are left in the ring that he has yet to face. Namely, the figher I mentioned in my last post, Sugar Shane Mosley. There are others, Miguel Cotto, (maybe) Margarito (although they won't match him up against Margarito most likely. I wouldn't see his team creating that fight). Here is the thing though. The reason I say let's not be hypocritical is this, we will all (fans, media, promoters, etc.) will engage in all the hype and hoopla over a fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao, as we did with Marquez. We will see all the footage, the 24/7 HBO series, and all the marketing for it. It will be the biggest payday for either fighter in their careers thus far. At the same time, we want to discredit Mayweather for not fighting these big fighters that are mentioned. The ones who would, most likely, give him the biggest tests of his career and possibly push him to the point that every great fighter needs to validate themselves in the sport. Ali had it with Frazier, Ray Leonard had it with Hearns, Holyfield and Bowe did it to each other, the list goes on. So I am certainly all for matching Mayweather up with a real tester. If this is going to be the case, though, we can't overwhelmingly back a fight with him and Pacquiao, then (hypothetically at this point) he handles Pacquiao, and we say that he was the bigger man fighting somebody not his size or caliber and that he needs to fight somebody up to his ability. Well, let's say it NOW, don't wait. Match this guy up with Sugar Shane right now, and don't get into all of what they are going to put into a fight with Pacquiao. As I said before, Shane does not have much time and he would need a fight with Mayweather right away, if it is going to happen at all. He can't afford to wait another year or two to get into the ring with this guy. Then, if it were to happen, and Mayweather were to beat Mosley, we would say Mosley was older and slower, not as fast, etc, etc. So let's do this RIGHT NOW!! While there are no excuses, no doubts. Because as of right now, I feel Shane would put it to Mayweather. He may not be QUITE as fast as Mayweather but he may be pretty close, he's stronger, smarter, just as mobile, and is not afraid to take the fight to him. So before I get myself all worked up to see Mayweather fight Manny, I want to get my juices flowing for a epic battle between the warrior and the road runner.

As for Manny, let's not automatically put him past Cotto just yet either. He's had a great run and done some things against De La Hoya and Patton, respectively, that nobody expected him to do. But Cotto is a different guy. He won't stand there and be target practice for Pacquiao. Cotto can box AND punch. He will get out of the way of some of Pacquiao's shots and let's not forget, Cotto can also take a punch as well (if Margarito hadn't laced his paws with bricks, Cotto wins that fight hands down). So, first, even before we put Mayweather and Pacquiao in the same ring for this huge event, do not look past November. Pacquiao will have some back-breaking work to do.

Mayweather is still #1

Yes, Mayweather is #1...and unless/until somebody beats him he will remain in the top spot. That includes Pacquiao. Manny took the spot, though well earned, but by default. Last year, Mayweather left the spot vacant voluntarily. His return to the ring with a convincing win against a very worthy opponent, Juan Manuel Marquez (the no 1 figher in Mexico) assures him of his throne. What fascinates me is that people still find a way to not give Mayweather his credit. In the post fight news conference (and thereafter), people will make the excuse of the size difference, being that Mayweather was the bigger man, and other factors to discredit Mayweather's performance on Saturday night. Yall better stop and show Mayweather his proper due. He is undefeated, has beaten some quality opponents, and has not missed a beat even after 21 months off. Now, there are some opponents still out there who I would love Mayweather to fight but he remains the king of the hill until proven otherwise.

I see that Shane Mosley took it upon himself to call out Mayweather after the right in the ring and at the press conference. In fact, at the press conference, the entire Golden Boy promotion team got in on the act to try to sway Mayweather. Although Mayweather indicated he found that a bit disrespectful let's keep some things in mind. One, Mosley does not have the reputation to blatantly disrespect anybody or stealing anyone's shine. Two, Mosley is 37 years old (or thereabouts) so he has to get Mayweather in the ring as soon as possible if it is going to happen at all. With that, he has to pull out all the stops NOW before it's too late. Mosley cannot afford to wait too long and step in the ring with a quicker, younger opponent. It would be in Mosley and Golden Boy's best interest to even try to get Mayweather to sign something BEFORE the Cotto/Pacquioa fight, although many of us fight fans know that will most likely not happen. Mayweather is smart and has too many people in his ear and knows that a fight with Pacquiao is the big money fight. And that's assuming Pacquiao gets past Cotto. Don't you guys look past Cotto either. So Mosley & Golden Boy have to do everything they can to try to get Mayweather as soon as possible. And three, fighters of the past always pulled out all the stops to get the opponent they wanted, even if that meant taking the moment from them in a fight to do so. Ali was a big orchestrator of that as you guys well know. So what Mosley did to call out Mayweather Saturday night is nothing new at all. And can somebody tell Oscar De La Hoya to get over his short end of the stick on May 5th 2007. Ever since, he has backed ever opponent Mayweather has faced. He even had the nerve to make comments at the weigh in Friday evening saying "he's all bark but no bite." WHAT R U TALKING ABOUT?? In case you were in a blackout that night in 2007, you are part of his unbeaten record sir. Sorry to inform you.

Mayweather is still #1

I Look To You

Who doesn't know Whitney Houston's story? Who doesn't know what this woman has gone through in her life and career, especially the past 10 years. Well, if you haven't, you certainly did if you catched her interview on Oprah the last 2 days. I certainly was not lost on what she went through and found myself very dissapointed in her, as was the rest of her fans and support. If I ever made a joke or said anything sideways about her drug use, or marriage to Bobby Brown, I realize now it was all in the dissapointment of what I felt about what she was doing to herself. At the height and peek or her career, things seemed to fall down very fast.
What didn't Whitney attest to in the interview. She basically covered everything. And whatever we thought we knew, she certainly confirmed for us. Let me tell you about trials though, Whitney's testimony is a culmination of what we all go through in some aspect or another. The key is getting through it and coming out on the other side. And she has done just that and more. She looks great, she seems to be doing so much better, and of course she has the greatest support system and fans in the world. No matter what jokes we may have said, or things we expressed that seemed to put her down, i'm sure I speak for a whole lot of people when I say how proud we are that she has made it through. I don't have to tell you what got her through it all now, do I?
Is Bobby a bad guy? Certainly not. Those who know me knows definitely that Bobby and the New Edition crew are my boys 100 grand. I will always be fair though and not let my bias form uneven opinions of anybody. But people will always continue to label him with the stigma he's been known for for over 2 decades. So the Whitney Houston interview will probably not help his reputation with the people that have their minds set already. However, Bobby has always been Bobby. He's gone through things just like Whitney and the rest of us. He did the drugs just like she did. Now, maybe Bobby Brown has no business doing anything to enhance his already crazy behavior because that's when things will get dangerous for somebody like him. I am all for the staying together of any couple, especially married couples. But I guess Whitney could take but only so much and she had to do what she had to do in the end. I still do hope there was something, anything they could have done to repair their situation. Once someone gets spit and cheated on (numerous times) though, i'm sure that would be hard for anybody to come back on. To Whitney's credit, she certainly did try. With all of this though, Bobby seems to be doing much better himself and will hopefully get and keep his act together. He's currently touring with Heads of State (featuring him, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill), was recenly part of the New Edition tribute to the Jackson 5 on the 2009 BET awards, and will hopefully be part of the New Edition tour when that comes back around again. I pray for him just as much as I pray for Whitney Houston and their beatiful daughter Bobbi Kristina (yes guys, she is lovely, but I am not R. Kelly so do not worry).
So, no matter what we may say, do or think, we cannot judge. As i've said before, we will only be judged by Him. I know for sure though, He is smiling down on his angel Whitney for pulling through and trusting in Him once again. That's the testament of a true spirit who didn't "know her own strength." So true isn't it, we normally do not know our own strength until we are tested, down and out, backs against the wall. So thank you Whitney, for the inspiration, courage, and perseverance you have displayed.

The title of her album is apply named "I look To You". We all look to someone. I know who I look to. And He is here with us always!! Believe in Him and all will come to past.

Where are we going

Kanye West has been in the forefront of media and fan attention for the past 2 days. Rightfully so? Of course not. Because what he did in essence is take away a moment from an innocent young artist aspiring to capture her dreams. Also, the moment that Janet Jackson emotionally tributed her late big brother should have been what we are all speaking of in the aftermath.
If we did not have enough to deal with, Serena Williams also showed her a** (not the one on her back). The heat of battle and the competition of sport can bring out the fires in any of us who love the competition. But, there is a time, a place, and appropriateness for everything we do. Now, for Serena to be upset about a call, lash out, say some things and let it go and play on are one thing. But to threaten to shove a racket up somebody's behind is another. Once you take it to that level, the consequences are immeasurable. And for those of you who think the dark skin color still has nothing to do with it have another thing coming also. All of the profanity and disguisting actions that were displayed by Serena leaves her in a situation where she'll have to face some questions. She was slapped with a $10,000 fine but that's like us going to the grocery store to buy milk. I normally would give her, or any other athlete, the benefit of the doubt in this situation. Serena, though, took this one too far. If she needed her voice to be heard to express her displeasure in a call, so be it. What Serena did was take a tirade off the court. Threats are not even tolerated in the real world anymore, let alone a tennis match. I have to admit, I have not yet been able to see the tirade on video for myself, but am utterly dissapointed in Serena Williams for taking a game that she loves further than it had to go. There are a number of things Serena could have done in response to an erroneous call. We see it all the time from athletes. But, the golden rule is, do not ever threaten a person to bring harm or danger to them in any way. Especially not a line judge who would not stand up to you if you paid her.
I pray for Serena Williams and the upcoming days and months ahead. She certainly is deservant of the accolades and praises she has received over the past decade (and some change). It would be extremely unfortunate if an incident like this were to hinder her career or image in any way. We all make mistakes, and are all entitled to 2nd and even 3rd chances. We will all be judged by Him and only Him when this is all said and done. But to Kanye, Serena, and the rest of our brothers and sisters who take matters into their own hands, and egos in some cases, realize that 'they' are watching, no matter what year we're in, no matter what time it is. We have come too far to allow arrogance, egos, emotions, or any other sort of detriment ruin what people before us have fought so hard for. The ones who were lynched, raped, murdered, hosed down, shot at, spit on, etc, etc. We have to realize that this is about them just as much as we think it's about us. The generation before us was conscious and strong enough to put up with what they did for the greater good of the generation that would come after them. And in their honor, if nothing else, we have to be smarter and wiser and even more conscious to pave the way for the generation that will follow us. Because right now, where we stand, they have not much to look forward to. We are leaving them scraps that will not carry them through tomorrow. We need to pick up these pieces, and let God back into our lives with whatever we do. We will never be perfect, but we can always strive to be the best.

Get back to Michael

If only Kanye West knew that his place in music history is about as minute as Manute Bol's was to basketball, maybe he wouldn't think so highly of himself. Maybe he wouldn't proclaim himself as a king. Maybe he wouldn't have taken away a special moment from a young lady who HUMBLY won her first MTV award last night and only wanted to enjoy her moment. For Kanye to jump on stage and take the mic out of a young lady's hands is nothing short of bitch ass. And for him to do it right after Michael Jackson's tribute, which Janet did a fine job of, is disrespecting THE REAL KING. I felt so bad for Taylor Swift but what Kanye did not realize in his self indulgence is that his gimick only backfired and got everybody in Swift's corner. Not to mention, the person he was vying for, Beyonce, was just as mortified as the young lady who's moment was stolen from her. So when it came time for Beyonce to do the right thing and, with all the class she has had in her entire career, she turned her moment over to Taylor Swift so she can continue hers.

I did not know Taylor Swift before last night but NOBODY, absolutely nobody, deserves what she received last night. Fortunately, she did not allow that to ruin her night as she stepped back on stage and handled HER MOMENT with the class and dignity that Kanye attempted to take away. Only a bitch girl such as Kanye would grab a microphone out of a young lady's hands and proceed to jack her of a happy honor. I would love to see him do anything similar to that to someone like, say, hmm......50 Cent, somebody that might have actually put Kanye to the canvas. Take the mic out of one of their hands and look at your watch when you wake up out of your sleep.

And what is up with Lil' Mama. Doesn't she have an etiquette class to attend, or some 12th grade class that she needs to make up?? I won't even go into the unexpected, unpleasant surprise she put onto Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. She looks like she could use some girly features to help her with her masculinity. Wow, I wonder how Jay-Z reacted to that AND the Kanye situation.
Most of these artists today act like they invented music and without them we wouldn't have anything. If Kanye exited music today, it would go on and wouldn't miss a beat. Lil' Mama is so irrelevant I don't even know how to comment on what she did. But she was the top trending topic on twitter so I guess the game now is about gimicks and beef to up your status. But if this was all in the spirit of Michael Jackson, they are not honoring that man AT ALL. That's not what he was about and not what him or any other old school artist had to do to gain any sort of status. Their MUSIC always spoke for itself. So after all this, will MTV now have to have top of the line security at their events to prevent the classless artists they are honoring from continuing to kick themselves in the buttochs.