I.N. of The Week - James Harrison

It's been a while since I gave some folks in the black community my infamous award. But here we go: THIS IS I.N.N - Ignorant Negro News. The Ignorant Negro for this week is Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison. OMG!

Some of my friends know this about me: it makes me wince when I see a black person playing into regular stereotypes on TV: You know the types, can't speak a complete sentence on TV, making ridiculous analogies. My favorite skit show of all time: In Livin' Color even featured this on one of the episodes with regular late night news with the reporters always picking the most ignorant brother or sister on the street to speak about some breaking news.

Back to Harrison about being this week's I.N. The President invited the Steelers to the White House as is CUSTOMARY for any championship team. But Harrison felt the President did the wrong thing because what if they didn't win the Super Bowl, would he have invited them then? You don't invite the first runner -up to the White House. Duh! Or any team that didn't win anything. Check this Harrison, Psst, the President has A LOT OF THINGS TO DO. This is a wonderful diversion for him out of all the serious things to honor your team.

And how does that look Harrison, first Brother to be President in the U.S. (Clinton doesn't count), for you to diss him when you made a record breaking feat of a touchdown in the Super Bowl? Slap to my forehead and an imaginary slap upside the head of your head Harrison. Perhaps the concussions through your career have affected your thinking ability. And even though you went to college (Kent State), we can clearly see you didn't spend much time in the classroom. So you choose not to go to White House because of your irrational theory, hey perhaps you'll like the dubious honor from this blogger: Ignorant Negro (I. N) of the Week.

Tags: James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers

Superbowl XLIII Musings

The Game: Oh well, the team (Arizona Cardinals) I was pulling for didn't win but hey, congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Why did I pull for the Cardinals? They were the underdogs and I've been known to have a soft spot for the underdog - it's a better story. Besides, I like Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald is one of the few guys in sports who don't make me wince when they open their mouths. The brother can put SENTENCES TOGETHER! And the readers of this blog know how I love that. Also, he's the antithesis of a "dumb jock."

About Jennifer Hudson: Great to see her back on the scene after the horrific tragedy with her family. And a spellbinding rendition of the National Anthem. Was it as great as Whitney's? Nah! In my books, Whitney holds the record for the Star-spangled banner just like Ray Charles will always hold the special place in my heart for "America, the beautiful." But Hudson is close (a close second) to Whitney.

The Boss' Performance: Loved his performance at the half-time show but was disappointed he didn't play "Born in the USA" and "the Rising" (My personal fave of Bruce Springsteen's).

And can I just say, I can't believe that guy is about to be 60 - old enough to be my dad! The energy was contagious; did you see how he sled down the stage on his knees. Whoa!

Anyhoo, as much as the Boss was great, he still doesn't top a certain "Prince." Prince's 2007 half-time show will still remain numero uno in my heart (until Michael Jackson decides to stop being crazy and perform like the best entertainer he is). Prince rocked in purple rain and partied like it was 1999. LOVE HIM.

Tag: Superbowl XLIII,

The Week In Review

Let’s go for the rundown on things I didn’t get to cover this week:

U.S. Congress Apologizes For Slavery – I’m not big on apologies without any sense of responsibility. Such is the case with this one. I’m not asking for reparations but something like our Native American counterparts achieved from stealing (I mean taking) their land would not hurt.

U.S Senator Ted Stevens Got Indicted – So the longest Republican Senator, Alaska U.S. Senator Ted Stevens got indicted on seven counts of corruption. Is something wrong with me when I didn’t bat an eye when the latest news of this charge happened? I’m hardly shocked about the state of our government or our officials.

Speaking of our officials, some of them are avoiding the indicted Senator like a plague. Honorable mention: a guy running for President (John McCain) who announced he's donating the $5K Stevens contributed to his campaign to charity.

$482 Billion Deficit – Yep that’s the figure the next President will inherit come January. Say what you want about “Slick Willie” chasing skirts, but the guy left the office with a budget surplus.

Exxon-Mobil Post Almost $12 Billion Profit In A Quarter – OMG!

Packers Offer $20 Million to Brett Favre To Stay Retired – It seems every week comes with a new thing with Favre. Can you imagine someone offering you money just to stay away? The Packers are willing to pay Favre $2 million each year for the next 10 years if he stays retired. They must be really desperate or just want a peace of mind. In any case, such action doesn’t make a case for good business sense.

Ron Artest Becomes A Rocket – If there’s a guy who gives me a pause in the NBA, it would be Ron Artest. And I'm a proponent of not putting all my attention on a guy's off-court or off-field's questionable activities as long as he has served the consequences and wants to play. Afterall, we have Ricky Williams who's coming back to the Dolphins for the upteenth time after drug use suspensions.

But when it comes to Artest, I'm tempted to renege on my theory. Why? Oh there are so many instances to count but let me oblige you a little. He was the main culprit in the worst brawl in sports history. Only to come back from the suspension to ask for time off to promote a rap album, a few domestic situations with a significant other and then a spouse, smashed a $35K video equipment after a loss in Madison Square Garden, got in the great Pat Riley's face during a Miami Heat game with his then Indiana Pacers in Miami then giving us fans a nice salutation with the middle finger.

I'm already tired of listing his colorful history and there is still a LOT more I didn't list. Let's just say NBA Commissioner, David Stern owes a few nights sleep and gray hairs to Ron Artest. Artest says he's changed, well good for him and all the best to you Rocket fans.

Tags: U.S. Congress, Apology for Slavery, Brett Favre, Ron Artest, Sen. Ted Stevens, Pat Riley

Thanks For The Memories Taylor

He's gone! Jason Taylor was traded from the Miami Dolphins to the Washington Redskins late last night after 11 seasons.

Let me say I wasn't surprised by this trade since there have been mumblings for the past few months. But it was still a tough news for South Floridians to hear. But I would say this to Redskins fans: You are getting a CLASS ACT! A class act off the field and a ferocious beast on the field - you can't ask for anything more.

Tags: Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins

Brett Favre's Double Talk?

This is why I NEVER believe any athlete who announces retirement. I don't care if he or she (but let's stick with male athletes since they are the main culprits) says this is DEFINITELY a speech of calling it a career. The last person with the most public retirement speech after flirting with the idea for two seasons was Brett Favre. Check out his tearful speech here:

But four months later, here we go again with an athlete changing back his mind on not really retiring with Favre demanding the Green Bay Parkers give him a release. Picture me rolling my eyes as I heard many sports commentators expressing their surprise.

My cynism started as a teenager with the greatest person to ever played basketball, Michael Jordan announced his "retirement" to play baseball. Then he came back, won three more championships, then he "retired" in 1998 after his sixth and last championship. But Jordan wasn't done, he came back again in 2001 to play for the Wizards stayed through 2003. Now he is officially "retired."

Not only that, Jordan's sidekick, Scottie Pippen was no different. He tried getting back to the NBA over a year ago with trying to join the Miami Heat for the 2006-2007 season. Just because you're in better shape than most guys your age after years of "retirement" doesn't mean you can play on the professional level as you did. Seriously!

There is something about walking away from the spotlight after many years of reveling in it every week. Many athletes have spoken publicly about their private pain of retiring, whether they thought it was too early or too late wasn't the point. It was not being used to the sound of silence. If they haven't planned (and some who have - think Jordan)for such deafening silence, they could go crazy. Now they are not seen as mini gods when they played, they are now regular everyday citizens like everyone else. Think about how that state could be when you've been told since you were a kid as the greatest thing since slice bread.

Then folks who go against the narrative by retiring at the height of their career a la Detroit Lions famed running back, Barry Sanders get so much flak for retiring too early or not caring about the fans. Wow, a person who actually thinks his life is his and nobody else's. Imagine that!

So for all the people who calling Favre to task for his decision to come back to the NFL, put the mirror to your face and see if you will joyously walk away from a gift you were born to have and you've being using it well for over half your life. I don't care if he's pushing 40, he still (currently) a top five quarterback. And even this cynical writer will change her tune, and welcome him with open arms if the rumors are true and Favre decides to be a Miami Dolphin! It will be like the second coming of an older Dan Marino - think about it Favre, playing in the below 0 degree Winter in Wisconsin or the sunshine of Miami?

Tags: Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Athletes Retirement