Bout damn time!

How many ways can you say goodbye? Hmm, let's see.
So long. Farewell. Adios. Adieu. Goodbye. Good Riddance. Hasta la luego. See ya. Bye. Deuces. Peace. Later. I'll holla. Have a good 'un! Either way, when Carolina Panthers fans are saying it to Jake "Mr. Bojangles" Delhomme, it sounds SO sweet!
My boys FINALLY started listening to me and got rid of one half of the Dynamically Disastrous Duo of Jakey D. and John Fox. I've been waiting three seasons for the organization to tell those dudes,'get ta steppin'! (There's another one.)
I've been blogging, writing letters and yammering on to anyone who would listen about kicking Delhomme's ass to the curb. Well, after throwing away 18 picks last season, I took matters into my own hands and had a lil' talk with Jesus. I gotta tell ya' folks, He answered bye and bye.
After having the worst season ever. After throwing away all those picks and being pissed at everyone but himself, Delhomme can just go fishing! If he had any sense he would. He should sit out for a year and attempt to get into broadcasting or coach a Pop Warner team or something because Lord knows he ain't fit to do much more than that in the way of football.
Now, if getting rid of Jakey wasn't enough, rumor has it that Mike Vick is interested in rocking the teal and black next season. I've wanted Vick in Carolina every since Roger Goddell reinstated him. Hell, I wanted him before we found out he was fighting dogs. Vick is a damn good QB and I feel like with him, Steve Smith and the Wonder Twins, D'Angelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, my boys would be in the perfect position to do some regulating next season.
I'm gonna pray. And wait. Ooh, I don't know about ya'll, but this feels like Football Christmas.
*squeals*
I'm so excited. I feel like I should dance or something. But wait, I need music!

Laila Ali interview on TV One

Interesting to see how she got in the business and how she never felt being a professional female boxer was an option for her. Chances are we'll never see her in the ring again though. She believes there's no competition out there for her right now and its not like she's getting any younger. She has already ventured out into other things and has a book out. Check the video.

She is NOT a boy, Damon!

OK, well, they don't know if she's a boy, but they've got a test to find out. *screeching tires* Lemme back up. Earlier today, I saw this story posted on a friend's Facebook wall.
Monday, at the World Athletics Championships, South African 800 m runner Caster Semenya blew by her competition to claim the gold. She beat the second place contestant by 2.45 seconds. To say the absolute least, home girl was running her ass off!
So, three weeks ago, the international federation that regulates the world championships launched a campaign to verify that the 18-year-old Semenya was in fact born a woman. Since her reportedly awesome showing at the African junior championships, her times have increased dramatically, they've recognized her muscular build and she has a deep voice. All of these things combined got folks to thinking that she, like Money Mike in Friday After Next, "is a boy Damon!"
Looking at the picture, I will admit, the chick is extra butch. I mean extra butch. She doesn't have any hips, she appears to be all muscle and has virtually NO rack. Like none. At all. But my answer to that is she's is she JUST turned 18 on July 1 (my new niece's birthday). A lot of chicks have awkward bodies until after they're grown.
Annnnnd, she's a runner. A distance runner. She's supposed to be rail thin without any fat on her. And yes, hips and breasts (and thighs and asses while we're at it) is fat. That's right guys, the more we have of that stuff you love, the more fat we have! Muahahahahahaha!!!
OK, OK, I digress. But seriously, those of us who have had experience in track and field know that you can just about look at people's body type and determine the event(s) they participated in.
For example, our very own Eb the Celeb was a sprinter. She has a sprinter's body. She's above average height, thin and she just looks like she can smoke a mofo in the 100 and 200. Me on the other hand, short, extra thick, ya'll know my ass ain't running NOWHERE unless I'm being chased by something that's threatening to take a chunk outta my ass! Clearly, obviously, I threw shot and discus.
Distance runners are long and very lean. They run for endurance, not speed. Look at all those marathon runners from Kenya and South Africa, they all look hungry - as hell. She looks hungry - as hell. I said all that to say, THAT GIRL AIN'T NO BOY! Sure she looks a little rough, but she ain't no boy.
Whatever happened to just being mannish? Why can't she just be butch? Why folks gotta automatically assume that the equipment has been tampered with? So what she has no hips? Whatever happened to just being shaped funny? You know how many "cute" girls I know who talk like Shaq? And what about those body building chicks in those fitness contests who not only look like men, but grease themselves up with baby oil to do it?
*smdh* Po' Lil' Tink Tink.
I hate it for her to have to go through those tests. She's gotta have another physical that includes reports from a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, internal medicine specialist and gender expert.
Every woman here knows you dread that damn GYN visit because you're gonna be violated before you leave. God forbid you have an irregular pap smear and have to endure the damn pelvic exam. And please don't get me started on those vaginal ultrasounds. They oughta include a free counseling session the day after your annual exam just to make sure you can cope.
I just wonder who the gender expert is and how they got their job. Sheeeit, in the country, a gender expert is the one in the family who can hold up the new puppies and tell if it's a girl or a boy. Who the hell did they get for this one, somebody's grandma?
And all this because she kicked ass on the track. After all this probing and testing, ya'll think she was kicking ass then, wait until she gets out of counseling, she's gonna really kick ya'lls asses.

She's baaaaaaaack ...

Reigning WNBA MVP Candace Parker made her return to the L.A. Sparks earlier this week after missing the months of May and June on maternity leave after giving birth to her daughter Lailaa.
In her rookie season, Parker nabbed the coveted MVP trophy after winning her second straight NCAA title and MVP of that tourney along with a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics. If that wasn't enough in her year, she married Sacramento Kings forward/center Shelden Williams. Simply put, the woman has been busy!
***side note*** I predict that in 13 years this baby is going to be recruited by University of Tennessee for a full basketball scholarship for the class of 2031.
While I am an Atlanta Dream fan, I have been a huge fan of the L.A. Sparks since the very first WNBA season. Since the ladies in the city of angels are off to a 3-5 start, I am glad to see her back in the purple and gold. I do wonder though if it is too soon.
When women are pregnant, their bodies go through so many changes just to carry the baby for nine months and be able to push them out. I've seen instances where women who do office work are out of work three or four months after they have kids. So I wonder, is Parker returning to the court too soon?
I can understand that she wants to get back in shape and everything, but should she be going through the intense work outs and game situations not even two months after giving birth?
In the league's inaugural season, one of the most recognizable names then was Sheryl Swoopes. She was the first player signed to the league but she didn't play a single minute until very late in the season because she was pregnant. She only played nine games that year.
She only took six weeks to recover from the birth of her son, and averaged only 7 points and 2 rebounds a game. The very next year, her point average per game doubled and she grabbed three times as many rebounds. Given those stats, I wonder what it would have been had Swoopes opted to sit out the entire first year.
With Parker, I worry that she's doing too much too fast. I know she's young and she's got that bounce back, but recovery from child birth is not something you want to rush. I'm sure she knows her body, but I just hope her numbers don't suffer. Last year, she averaged 18.5 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. I'm anxious to see how this year will turn out for her.
What do you think?

Allow Me To Introduce Myself…

Hi, I’m The Jaded NYer, and I’m a baseball-aholic.

Hi, Jaded!

With that out of the way, I wanted to take the opportunity, before I get into full swing with post after post about how the Mets are making my blood pressure go off the charts, to explain to you my obsession with the sport. The following is taken/revamped from a previous blog post, written during the 2008 post-season after my team CHOKED yet again, that should clarify it all for you:

My love of baseball has nothing to do with the home team or the stats or even the players that make me swoon (I see you Johan!).

It's the stolen bases, the double plays, the grand slam home runs, the outfielder diving to catch the not-so-easy out, and then playing the rest of the game with a stained uniform- a badge of honor that stain, a reminder of his heroic feat.

It's the crowd booing the umpire, it's the coach getting kicked out of the game, and it’s the empty-dug-out fights on the pitcher's mound.

Shut out games, no-hitters, extra innings, 3 men on 2 outs and 2 strikes in the bottom of the ninth... you hold your breath, and the man at bat knows it feels it and the fate of his team rests........on..........this..........next........pitch

The crowd follows the ball... will the outfielder catch it or will he let it fall? Will it leave the park or bounce off the wall? Fans keep watch with hearts stuck in their throats...

It's watching the older guys pull miracles out of aching bodies, and the young’uns making themselves known

It's the peanuts & crackerjack & hot dogs and beer

It's the 7th inning stretch

It's wearing your favorite player's jersey proudly on your way to the game, and for me and mine...



...it's being able to pass down your love for the game to the next generation.

I love you baseball, whether my team wins or not.

------------
MetsWatch '09: W33-L34-GB2.0
Next game: 6/22/09 VS. STL @ Citifield, Tim Redding (#44, 0-2 for the season) pitching

Sports Voice of Harlem

It's amazing how you think the industry is so big and little things remind you about how small it really is and how important it is to network. I had been in dire need to speak to an another woman in sports about the challenges I had recently been facing being a double minority (black and a woman) in an industry that is predominately ran by middle-aged white men. I heard about Ms. Stephanie Stepp, the struggles she had in the television world, how she looked towards radio as an alternative, and how that move has catapulted her career a lot faster than television ever could. After speaking with her I felt it only right to share some of the things she shared with me to the blog world.


What inspires you?
I love what I do. Just love it! There's nothing in this world, but God that could make me quit. Not my color, gender or someone else's tactics.

What separates your radio show from that on say ESPN radio?
What makes my show different from other shows is me. Anywhere I go I bring what I have to the table. There's only one me. I try not to be anyone else.

What was your most memorable interview?
To date, my most memorable interview was former running back and current Cleveland Brown Hall of Famer, Jim Brown

What one thing would you say is the reason for your success?
I don't walk around thinking I'm black, I'm a woman, it's going to be hard for me.

What are some challenges you’ve personally had to face being an African American Female working in the sports industry?
The greatest challenge overall is not giving up when things aren't happening fast enough. When I'm broke and can't pay my rent on time. When my talents and abilities aren't always enough because in some cases I don't know "the right people" as some would think. It's 2008, whoever doesn't like seeing my face in the locker room, at press conferences or TV is not my problem. I have bigger fish to fry.

What advice would you give to young females trying to get into this industry?
My advice is to find a way to keep going when your tank seems empty. Surround yourself with positive people who want to see you succeed and believe in yourself.

What's next for you???
A TV show, I want to do TV and radio simultaneously... and I want to write a couple books about childhood experience as well as about working in this industry. I have a passion to write about mother/daughter relationships and living in NYC being from Baltimore, and I'm quite sure at one point in time about the sports industry itself. I'm currently working on a book tribute to family members and friends with drug addictions. It's tentatively titled "AA."

Her radio show "What's going on?" airs on 90.3 FM every Sunday from 3pm-4:30pm. If your not in the NYC area you can listen online.

AND EVEN THOUGH I AM STILL BITTER ABOUT THE GIANTS BEATING MY COWBOYS, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY CHECK OUT "WHAT'S GOING ON?" THIS WEEKEND AS SHE WILL BE BROADCASTING LIVE FROM FOXBOROUGH.

She also has a myspace page - www.myspace.com/whcr

Eb on Vick situation

Jemele Hill of ESPN's page 2 is stirring up a little controversy with her most recent column she wrote directly to young black men regarding the Michael Vick situation. I agree someone needed to step up and say something. I was just having a conversation with some of my homeboys in the car last night when we were leaving ESPN the magazine's fantasy football kick-off event and we laughed and joked about how stupid Vick was for putting everything in his name and using his credit cards to pay instead of cash so their weren't any records of it; but on the real this is not a laughing matter. He is about to go to jail! As of yet, no one knows what he has plead guilty to but that's not the point. Why would someone of his caliber result to being involved in something so frivolous? I don't think this is at all a racial situation and I think African Americans need to stop using that as an excuse to get by. We know that we have to work harder for everything in life, we know we cant give them any excuse to shut us down because they will run with it, and yet we continue to fall in the trap. STOP giving them excuses to put you under the bus. This whole situation is very unfortunate but I feel the way the NFL is handling it is a piece of crap. They are rumored as not running the sentence respectively and even if Vick only gets a year... they will suspend him from playing in the league for another year after he is released. Now that is straight bull. When he's out, he should be able to go straight to the field. It still bothers me that we have people in this world that care more about animals than other people... (*ahem* PETA). With all the poor people we have around the world, with all the stuff still going on in New Orleans with the Katrina victims that are still suffering almost 2 years later, and we have a group of activists that are working hard to protect dogs rather than mankind. That completely boggles me and I am an animal lover. I have always had a dog. If Michael Vick goes to jail shouldn't every person that shoots a dear or bear and hangs the head up like its art in their house go to jail too? Why is it OK for them? What do you guys think about the situation?