Female Football Fan's Dream

Yes we love this game in and of itself, but we can appreciate the extra bonus of being a football fan at times like this. During Locker room post game interviews, Visanthe Shiancoe had a towel slip-up while the cameras were rolling and we are eternally grateful for it.

NFL becoming sissy's game?

Yeah, the blog break is officially over after I just heard that Justin Tuck was fined for his hit in last week's game. Everyone knows I am a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan and even I thought it was a clean hit. When he got the roughing the passer call, I knew it was a crock of you know what, but I was happy because it gave us some yardage that we couldn't get because their defense demolished our offense that entire day. But to fine the man $7500? Are you serious NFL... since when did the NFL become of game of pussy's. I am beyond livid after having worked with Tuck on several occasions, I know this is not his character at all. Yes there are some nasty players out there that play dirty but Tuck in NOT one of them. Even though I hate the Giants... if I had to defend anyone on that team it would be him. On and off the field he is a good guy so I was happy to hear that he is appealing. If he does not win, I honestly feel the NFL should just turn the game into flag instead of tackle since they want the hits to be so soft. Let the damn men play! The game is really starting to be a circus act with all these penalties and fines and fiascoes. Are you not making enough money NFL? Sure you are... so why do you need to nickel and dime the players with these asinine calls and fines? OK... I'm done!

Defense UP, Offense DOWN

Why can't we get both sides of the ball in sync?

Biggups to Jay Ratliff, Marcus Spears, Ken Hamlin, DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer... my hat goes off to you. I have complained about our defense not stepping up and this week you did.
All of you kept us alive in the first half when Romo fumbled the ball 3 times and kept Arizona from scoring after recovering them.

Second half, I know you were tired. Our offense was rarely on the field, and although you gave up some big plays in the secondary... I appreciate your effort. Larry Fitzgerald is a beast so without getting much rest in between drives, it was going to be hard to have the best coverage on him.

Now with that said, our offense (with the exception of Barber, and Crayton in the first half) didn't show up to play.

We need a new QB... many have said it before and I'm finally starting to believe it.
Romo is our weakest link. He sits in the pocket too damn long, he never secures the ball, and he has to make better decisions.

Actually I take that line about needing a new QB back. I'm not going to diss him just yet. That's my QB, but you gotta do better Tony. Come on, you have the best RB in the league (BARBER IS THE TRUTH), one of the top 3 WR's in the league, one of the top 3 TE's in the league, and you can't seem to get them the ball. Plus Andre Gurode is one of the top 3 centers in the league, he has you covered. Watch a lot of tape this week please Tony, and get your ish together.

Jason Witten didn't make easy plays that he should have, TO barely got any looks. Offense needs to get their ish together.

My boys now 4-2... uuugghhhhhh!!!

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

Black Magic Documentary

I had the opportunity to see a screening last night of the "Black Magic" documentary and it was truly amazing. Being an alumni of an HBCU made it all the more special for me to get apart of the history of the soil where I spent 4 years of my life.

If you haven't heard about it, its a 4 hour documentary that ESPN will be airing March 16th and 17th in 2 parts. The documentary tackles the injustices during the civil rights movement while using an angled that I don't feel has ever been presented before, from the mouth of the basketball player.

Street ball legends that shaped the way kids play basketball today, coaches that took chances and played African Americans knowing they might lost their jobs, the late night secret matches that HBCU's held against all-white schools in order to prove that they were better than them, but secret because at that time it was forbidden that the teams play each other. It was an absolute privilege to have been able to see the film last night. We actually saw a shorter version, not the entire 4 hours so I will still be tuning in, in March.

The most rewarding part about the screening was that the man they called Black Magic (pictured here) was in attendance. Earl "The Pearl" Monroe as well as Cleo Hill both sat on a panel following the screening with the Producer of the documentary, Dan Klores, along with ESPN's Jemelle Hill, and NBA player Jalen Rose. One thing they discussed was an incident that happened in Orangeburg where some students were gunned down by police. One of the students was a basketball player. It showed just how corrupted the justice system was in relation to African Americans, and because of the documentary, the case if being re-opened and investigated. Maybe justice will finally be served in that case, even if it is some 40-50 years later.

One point that stuck out with me about the panel discussion was there comparison to the HBCU school now, and how it was when they were playing. They talked about how they feel its a bad idea for all the HBCU's to try to move up into Division I schools when they don't have the recruiting dollars or the school records and successes to get top high school players to attend their school over say a Duke, Georgetown, etc. That HBCU basketball has always been and will forever be about the fellowship. It took me back to my days at North Carolina A&T State University, where no matter how bad our team was, we still went to every game and showed our AGGIE PRIDE.

I'm getting off tangent but seeing the old clips they showed of the Greensboro 4 sit-in just made me so proud to have decided to go to an HBCU, and gave me a different aspect on the history of those schools. This is definitely a film that you are not going to want to miss. I suggest you all check it out when it airs.

Michael Vick vs. Marion Jones

I haven't spoke about the Marion Jones situation because I was extremely disappointed and embarrassed. I was that track & field girl growing up that looked up to her. To find out that her talent was tainted by a form of steroids...well nevermind... This post isn't about that... It's about the sentencing. She only got 6 months??? Yes, 6 months. For lying to investigators about performance-enhancing drugs and a check-fraud scam. Now I'm not saying she should have gotten a longer sentencing. I think that having to pay back all her earnings and losing her metals was a huge punishment in itself, but how the heck do you only get 6 months for something that effected the world, I mean this was the Olympics people, and Michael Vick received 23 months for dog fighting. I just cant fathom how that can be justified.