Cam Newton will be the Heisman Trophy winner

The 49-31 win for Auburn over Georgia on Saturday is quite evident: Cam Newton WILL win the Heisman Trophy. He gashed the Bulldogs for 299 yards and 4 touchdowns. Despite the recent allegations about how he was recruited, Newton is putting up mind-boggling numbers while leading his team to the forthcoming SEC championship in Atlanta and a possible spot in the BCS National Championship against a most-likely #1 Oregon. He is clearly the Vince Young of the SEC and is better than Tim Tebow was at Florida two years ago. Yes. You read that right. Cam Newton is better than the 2008 Tim Tebow. He is 4th in the nation with 1297 rushing yards and 48th in passing yards, however; he is a bigger threat on the run versus a three-step drop. Most believed that it will be Denard Robinson from Michigan who would run away with the prize but injuries have put him out of the discussion. Newton is the QB that most SEC teams have trouble planning for because of his 6'6 frame and amazing speed in the open field. Hopefully, the nation will see Newton in early January. The Auburn Tigers have a bye before ending the season against rival Alabama in the always competitive Iron Bowl on November 27.

NFL Lockout in 2011? It could happen.

The NFL is the most watched sport in America. Thousands of Americans wake up on Sundays about 11, 11:30 AM just to prepare watching their favorite team do battle on the field. Although many of the superstars of the league make upwards of $10 million a season, would you believe it if I told you that the NFL is broke? You read it corrrectly, it's not a mistake or a typo. The NFL is broke. As of March 14, 2011, the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in the NFL will expire, meaning a new agreement has to be reached by the owners and the NFLPA. The issue with whether or not the NFL is broke is that the players need factual proof that the league is financially strapped. The players believe that the system isn't broken because the 32 teams aren't losing money---19 of the teams are worth at least $1 billion. However, the owners claim that there isn't enough money being made to continue payements to players. Despite the legality of the matter, from a fan's standpoint, we could care less about whether or not the NFL is broke. All we care about is watching football on Sundays. We enjoy indulging in conversation on who is the best team and who isn't, having the choice to be a couch potato when we feel like it and stuff our faces with hot dogs and beer. I disagree. We should watch closely how the league addresses its labor issues because if we were to lose football to a lockout, we would be disappointed but we would survive due to college football and the return of the NBA season. The last time there was an NFL lockout was in 1987 so hopefully there is football in 2011.

Katrina: 5 years later

August 29, 2005 was a day that changed the lives for the people of New Orleans, LA and many cities along thee Gulf Coast as Hurricane Katrina waged its wrath on that region. This category 4 storm was one of the worst in US history, packing winds of over 100 mph and destroying homes and flooding communities in its wake. Hundreds of people fled the port city just days before Katrina made landfall, but those who stayed  or were unable to flee scrambled to seek shelter and help from local authorities. Many people placed blame on the government during Bush's tenure for his slow response as thousands, many of them African-American, basically had no where to go except to FEMA trailers and to the New Orleans Superdome. BET held a special telethon to raise money for the victims of this great natural disaster. What was rather mind-boggling was the media's role  on the crisis, with them stereotyping the black survivors as "refugees" as opposed to a politically correct term. However, I see the tragedy as a blessing in disguise. People who had a rough life and lost everything in New Orleans came to Houston, TX with a fresh start at life. Students who were attending college in the Big Easy came to Texas Southern and have become more than conquerors and have achieved many things such as graduating from college. About a couple of years after the storm, some heard the news from New Orleans officials that you can only come back if you plan to work. Now we know what that means....if you're black and on welfare, you're not welcome back. In fact, Kanye West said it best when he said the infamous statement "George Bush don't care about black people." But I digress.  Now that the 5th anniversary has passed, some say that New Orleans is all the way back, while others beg to differ. The question still remains will the Obama Administration learn from the mistakes from Katrina and have a more profound plan of emergency or will history repeat itself.

Scripture of the Day

"And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

The Lebron James/Dan Gilbert Fallout Pt.2

The following is a link to a blog post that hits the nail on the head about reasons why LeBron left and why Gilbert is a bumbling idiot.

http://bit.ly/dhM6Li

Scripture of the Day

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and He shall direct your paths."- Proverbs 3:5-6

Bob Marley Quote of the Day

"Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality . Wake Up and Live!"

Do We Really Trust God?

This is something that I heard today while my stay in Dallas at a nearby church. During the sermon, it really clicked in my mind, resulting an epiphany If possible, take out a $5 dollar bill, $1 dollar bill even, and turn it to the back. What does it say in the top left corner? "In God We Trust." America today is one of the richest nations in the world yet people are unhappy. Divorce is running rampant because people are unhappy. Why is that? The reason is that we claim to love God with our whole hearts, we still fall short of the glory when we decide to not trust God and put our trust in man. Man may be the resource but God is the source. Why do you think is bad things or infrequent storms rise up and disturb our lives and we end up panicking? It's because we fail to trust God. In Malachi 3:10 it talks about testing God by trusting him with your tithes and see if doesn't open the windows of heaven and poor out a blessing so large your room can't even receive it. Black people shouldn't look to Obama as our savior merely only as a resource through the work of Jesus Christ. So I challenge you and myself as well that we trust God with our whole hearts and not put our trust in man. Remain Blessed my brother's and sisters in Christ.

Lion of God H-Town's Own

Jamie Jamarcus "Ariel" Hancock better known as Lion of God is an up and coming artist from the streets of Houston TX. He has been singing since the ripe age of 12 and considers himself to be a conglomeration of 2Pac, Lupe Fiasco, Curren$y and Andre 3000 all wrapped up in one. He is currently signed to SFS, an indie label and strives to make it to stardom. One current single he shared with me is Elevator Musiq. I liked it. You should too. Be on the lookout for Lion Of God.

Here is the link to Elevator Musiq     http://bit.ly/cJdNYh

Pen to Paper

He’s struggling. Writer’s Block.

Unable to fathom the courage to

Delve into the mental; to fabricate a

Vernacular specific enough to illustrate

The meaning why things are the way they

Seem…or maybe perhaps he’s struggling to

Find a purpose in this labyrinth called life with

Its many mazes…..it’s many puzzles.

Or is it that he tries to muster up the audacity to express his

Love for her but chickens out subconsciously;

Until there is a psychotic break in his inner conscience;

Rubic’s cube of a mind; the ashes of what was once despair

Now rises like the Phoenix and he finally puts the pieces

Together like a scene from Law and Order and graciously

Has the drive and the confidence…the confidence to put

Pen to Paper.

The Wait is Over: LBJ goes to South Beach

After a month of anticipation and suspense, LeBron James made his decision to join the Miami Heat for the 2010-2011 NBA season. Some respect him. Some hate him. Yea, I do mean hate. LeBron decided what was best for his NBA career, not his ego and certainly not about money. He left $30 million dollars and then some to go to South Beach and take less money. I see that as a humble move. LBJ is a born winner. He wants to win an NBA championship before he retires and it wasn't going to happen in Cleveland. Kobe complained about needing help and he got it in Pau Gasol. Cleveland had 7 years to get it right, get him some help and they failed miserably. So, the best you could come up with was Shaq past his prime and Antwan Jamison? Seriously? Get out of here. LBJ did what he needed to do. In addition, I'm disappointed in Cleveland fans for burning his jersey.  LBJ revitalized basketball in that city. You owe him big time....I would retire his jersey in the rafters. LBJ took Cleveland to the NBA Finals for the first time. If you want someone to blame, blame Cavs management. If and when LBJ wins in Miami, he will most likely have a parade in Ohio. Now Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is calling LBJ a traitor saying that he took the easy way out. Hello? Do you hear yourself? When LBJ signed the extension in 2006, he basically put y'all on a timetable to get him some help so he can get a ring. What happened? Bounced from the playoffs. In short, stop being salty, your bitching and crying and get over it.

Daytime Believer, Nighttime Dreamer

Daybreak.

The sun arises from its slumber;

Peeks from under the covers of

Night; politely greets its followers

With its radiant smile.

Flick of the switch, God has turned world

On; simultaneously she arises from her slumber,

Peeks from under the Covers of worry and stress,

Collects her thoughts, processing how to achieve her

Dreams, her greatest desires.

Wondering, Hoping, and Believing;

Paces frantically in her humble abode

Not realizing that a beam of light is manifesting in her

Inner being; a child-like substance created by the hand of God;

Housed within the depths of her Soul

Shaped to be revealed on the grand stage of Life, for you see

Things such as this requires patience, requires a testament of obedience,

Knowing that one day it will come to pass;

Time elapses.

Daybreak is exhausted.

The sun is sleepy.

He puts the sun to bed.

Tucked under the covers of night.

With many stars to keep company.

Nighttime.

Time to dream.

Don't Erase our History

The Texas State Board of Education is on the verge of erasing significant amounts of African-American and American history from student textbooks.

Among the many proposed changes are attempts to paint the Confederacy in a positive light, rewrite the civil rights era, downplay the contributions of nonwhite characters in Texas history, and ignore the atrocities committed on our own soil by groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

These revisions are deeply offensive to not only African-Americans and Texans -- but all Americans.

Make it known throughout your state that if Texas textbook standards pass, they won’t be coming into your classrooms.

American history -- the good, the bad and the ugly -- is what makes our country so special. Let's keep it that way.

Poems off the Dome

Here are a few poems I did while sitting in my room.


2010

2010....
What can I say?
It's another year in the 21st
Century but something is not right....
There is something that screams New
Beginnings and New Mercies bestowed upon by
God through Jesus Christ. It also brings new ideas
and a new mentality. The arrival of 2010 signifies that
Trials and Tribulations of not only 2009 but the years prior
Are no longer relevant. Thank God for 2010
and Thank Jesus for interceding on oure behalf
to Grant us the opportunity to praise God for bringing
Us into thwe next decade
Still standing
Still strong
2010....
Let's Get It!!!!!

Exposed

LMFAO at you idiot retards
Your lies and deceit bleeding through
Your hardened Hearts. What's done in
Darkness surely has come to light so cut the BS
And reveal your plight. The jig is up,
The cat's out of the Bag,
Might as well spill teh beans 'cause what YOU
have to explicate is something the World has heard
And seen. YOU must feel real feel feeble and inept like
An unborn Fetus 'cause the convoluted and facetious gameplan
You laid out has imploded and smeared across your Face. So
Come correct or don't come at all 'cause at the end of the day,
YOU are just another Snake in the Grass....with your Lying Ass.

Lena Horne

On May 9, 2010, the great Lena Horne died at the age of 92 in a New York Hospital. Some say she was born 50 years too early because she never got the opportunity to be a big movie star because of her skin color. Horne was the first African-American to be signed to a major movie company. She was yet another civil rights activist who used her celebrity to make an impact in the world. Horne worked with Eleanor Roosevelt to pass anti-lynching laws. She was a strong supporter of the NAACP but due to her ties with the organization, she was blacklisted from doing any movies after her contract with MGM ended in 1950. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She will truly be missed.

NAACP Region 6 Conference

I know it's a bit late but here are some pics from the 2010 NAACP Region 6 Conference in Midwest City, Oklahoma.

Honda Campus All-Stars

       

Texas Southern University was chosen among 48 HBCUs in the nation to participate in the 2010 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge in Orlando, FL on April 10-13.  It is a college knowledge bowl that consisted of topics such as current events, sports, science and of course black history. The teams from the SWAC were Prairie View A&M, Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Jackson State, Southern-BR, and Mississippi Valley State. Our rival down 290, Prairie View emerged as champions with Mississippi Valley as runner-up. It was an amazing experience to be among collegiate scholars from the "Great 48".

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NAACP Southwestern Region VI Conference

From March 18-20, 13 TSU students, including myself had the opportunity to attend the regional conference in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Being my first NAACP conference I was really looking forward to meeting new people and also finding out what we need to do as members of the Youth & College Division to enhance the image of the oldest civil rights organization in history. I was able to reconnect with the students from Sam Houston State and also meet new people from San Antonio and from nearby Langston University. National president Benjamin T. Jealous via telephone spoke to us about the issues that are facing Black America such as the ever-increasing dropout rate of high school students in America. I especially had fun mingling with the students from the different schools and being able to create a long-lasting bond. I truly thank the TSU administration for allowing us to put the school on the map and hope to send us to the national convention in Kansas City, KS this July.

Experience at the 2010 SWAC Tournament

I was truly honored to cover the 2010 SWAC tournament in Shreveport, Louisiana. This was my first major sporting event and was excited of seeing the action from a courtside point of view. The Lady Tigers played well in their first game against Grambling State but fell short to eventual champion Southern. I really enjoyed all the free food I got in the media room. Shrimp creole, chicken jambalaya, and all the sweet tea you can drink. I was also amazed at the fan support for the respective teams, including ours who took two fun buses to see them in action. President Rudley and Dean Saunders also made an appearance along with the Coach Cole of the football team and AD McClelland. I also got to meet the media personnel covering their teams, especially two beauties who just happened to cover Grambling State, go figure. The men did a great job despite losing to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the championship game. However, it was nice sending Prairie View home in the first round in a blowout fashion. Finally, we ended the trip going to the El Dorado casino in downtown Shreveport. I played a few games such as blackjack. I won 80 cents. However, it would have been nice if TSU had won SWAC then won the play-in game so I would have the opportunity to cover my first NCAA tournament game.

My experience at the sit-in ceremony

The experience of hearing the original pioneers tell their individual stories was truly inspirational. I enjoyed every aspect of the commemoration of the sit-in, from the symposium to the unveiling of the marker. I had a chance to march with current and former TSU students to the marker because of the actions of a few led to major changes around Houston. I also was able to meet smooth jazz artist Joe Sample. The march reminded me of marching with the students at Prairie View in 2008 when they were going through their voting struggles. The one thing I took away from this was that young people changed history and that the young people today are too complacent and assume that everything is ok when it's not the case. I also liked how the cars stopped in the streets just to see what was going on and the singing of songs by the marchers. It immediately painted a mental picture of what took place in the 1950s and 1960s. Life changing events of this accord is what makes TSU one of the most unique HBCUs in the country. I believe that if the student body could take the time to learn about the history of the school, then they can embrace it more instead of complaining about the negatives of attending Texas Southern University.

50th anniversary of first sit-in

On March 4, TSU will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Houston's first sit-in, spearheaded by TSU students. Living in the Jim Crow south was a harsh reality and a daily reminder that Blacks weren't welcome in many public places such as restaurants, movie theaters and schools. In fact, TSU was establishes from the efforts of Hyman Marion Sweatt, who was turned away at the University of Texas because of him being black. 13 TSU students met at the flagpole and marched to a Weingarten's supermarket and sat at the lunch counter, knowing they wouldn't be served. The actions of a few led to major changes within Houston that led to many businesses desegregating. I'm proud to be a Texas Southern University student.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month and many young people seem to have forgotten where they came from and/or their roots. They are more concerned with trivial matters such as sporting the latest fashion what may be than to pay tribute to the pioneers that came before them. I'm not being critical but generation Y seem to have a blind eye on their roots and vital info about their history falls on deaf ears. It's really sad that kids today can spit a Lil' Wayne verse verbatim than knowing who was the first Black woman to own a radio station, which was Cathy Hughes by the way. The state of Black America is still in shambles despite Obama being in office. Crime is still at an all-time high and the high school dropout rate is climbing day by day. We also need to stop blaming others for problems within the Black community and hold ourselves accountable. When will it stop?

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