Friday, May 8, 2009

Hey Bud Selig......Everybody's On Roids!

Manny Ramirez got busted yesterday after Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), a female fertility drug that is also used by steroid users to fight side effects at the end of a cycle was found in his system. Hey Bud Selig, let's finally tell the public the truth and admit that probably every player in baseball has either used steroids, or presently using it. I know that admitting the truth would take too much effort. If a person has a chance to make $25 million in a year as Ramirez is doing this year, most people will take the risk of not being exposed. Even with Manny taking a $7.7 million hit with the suspension of 50 games, I'm sure it's all worth it to him and all of the other players.

Soulja Boy Proving He's Here To Stay!

Soulja Boy is quietly establishing himself as a viable force in the rap game at 18 years old. 2 years ago he could've been described as a "one hit wonder" with his hit “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” but with his second cd release “iSouljaBoyTellem,” Soulja Boy has crafted two hits, “Kiss Me Thru the Phone,” featuring Sammie, and “Turn My Swag On,” that have made hm a force to be reckoned with throughout hip-hop.

He tells the Atlanta Journal Constitution how he's dealt with the criticism from "haters" and emerged ready to take on the world with his talent.


Thursday, May 7, 2009

Oprah's Blackberry Moment!

Oprah Winfrey agreed to write about Michelle Obama for Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People" issue, and had proceeded to write the article in the memo section on her Blackberry. Unfortunately, the Blackberry wasn't as cooperative, as Winfrey recounts:

"I had written the whole piece on my BlackBerry, and I was feeling really so great about it," Winfrey told us at the Time Warner Center gala event Tuesday night. "I wrote it in the memo section, and I went to hit save and I hit another key — and it disappeared. I lost the whole thing!"

She continued, "I had been writing it for a long period of time. I'd add a line when I heard someone say something that I liked, and this is how I wrote it for, like, a month. I figured I would sit down the day it was due and polish the whole thing, but it was just gone!"

"I just stared at the BlackBerry for about 30 minutes," she laughed. "I hit every single key to make it come back. I called the IT guy and then I sort of stared at my computer. I couldn't even think of a sentence or a word [I had written]. It was like, 'Oh my God. This has never happened to me, but of course it happens for [Michelle's piece].' I had to start all over. I was panicked. It was an absolute deadline, so it was crazy."

Thanks to the New York Daily News for the article. Too cool that Oprah is still grinding after accomplishing so much.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Dave Bing, New Detroit Mayor!

Dave Bing stunned Ken Cockrel Jr. yesterday in the special election for mayor of Detroit. Bing defeated Cockrel Jr. running as a "change" agent and stunned the city with his victory. Bing brings to the position, a previous Hall of Fame basketball career and having established himself as a successful businessman in the Detroit area.

2 Bone Marrow Transplant Matches Found For Jasmina!

The New York Daily News reports that 2 matches have been found for 6 year-old Jasmina Anema who has been hospitalized since January with a deadly form of leukemia. If cancer cells are once again undetectable in Jasmina, and either of the donors passes a medical screening, prepping for her transplant will likely begin in a few weeks. Prayers continue to go out for little Jasmina.

Ola Ray Wants Her "Thriller" Money!

Ola Ray who is famous for appearing in the "Thriller" video with Michael Jackson filed a lawsuit yesterday against Jackson claiming she's owed royalties from the 14 minute video that celebrated it's 25th anniversary last year. Ray, now 48, and raising her 14 year-old daughter in Sacramento, CA is a stay-at-home mom. Thanks to the New York Daily News for the article.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

LeBron Not Obama Is Proof Anything Is Possible!

Yes, he's been blessed to be 6 ft. 9 in. and weigh 260 lbs., but LeBron Raymone James was born to a single mother in Akron, Ohio and could have made all of the bad decisions that youngsters make while navigating his way through sports at a young age. He made all the right decisions, and yesterday the work paid off with him being chosen the Most Valuable Player of the NBA.

All you need to know about LeBron is that he chose to receive the award at his high school, St. Vincent-St. Mary, and requested that only faculty and students be admitted to the festivities. This article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer shows how LeBron really hasn't forgotten the people who helped him get to where he is today. Just a brief section of the article below:

As Barbara Wood listened Monday, the school's librarian remembered how a young James would walk into the library and sit on her desk to talk. They'd Google his name on the computer, how there were only a few mentions at first -- then thousands.

She thought of how she corrected his grammar: "There is no such thing as fiddy cent. It's fifty cents ... with an S. It's more than one S."

She fought back the tears as he spoke with such poise, usually keeping the syntax and sentence structure together.

"He didn't have it easy growing up," said Wood. "But he wanted a better life for himself and his family."

James stops by the school a few times each year, "just him, not with his entourage," said Allison. He still wanders into the library and sits on Wood's desk. He also visits Beth Harmon, an English teacher for the last 11 years at the school.

"I had him as a freshman and sophomore, he was a solid B student," she said. "He was a pleasure to have in class, punctual and polite. As a senior, he'd come to my room and grab some of the candy on my desk. I used him to help me grade papers. We stay in touch, we text 2-3 times a week, and he always answers quickly."

After winning the Olympic gold medal, he brought it to the school on Maple Street to show the teachers and some students. He comes in private, not wanting the media or anyone outside of the Irish family to know he's there.

While our president, Barack Obama is inspirational for what he's accomplished, LeBron James was the product of a broken family, teenage mother and didn't waste the talent that he was given. All of us have talents that are never developed, thus we become disillusioned and despondent because of the pressures of our environments. Youngsters, please look at what Mr. James has been able to accomplish and say "Yes I Can!" Take the beauty of learning seriously and develop your God given talents to the fullest. Riches and money shouldn't be the goal, but simply doing in life what makes you fulfilled.

Monday, May 4, 2009

NAACP 54th Annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner!

The NAACP held it's 54th annual Fight For Fund Dinner yesterday in Detroit. Rev. Jesse Jackson was the keynote speaker, and Rev. Al Sharpton an Aretha Franklin were among the honorees. Jackson stated the following during his speech:

"One hundred years later, we're free, but we're not equal," "The banks are too big to fail; the neighborhoods are too small to matter. Don't be silent."

It's hard to believe that Rev. Jackson has essentially become irrelevant in our community. I guess when you become a millionaire on the backs of your people, becoming irrelevant is just reward.

James Stewart: Motocross Champion!

James Stewart is 23 years old, and escapes the public consciousness even though he is the premier motocross rider in our country. Like Tiger Woods, his father introduced him to the sport at an early age, and he's taken his talents to unsurpassed heights. Stewart won the 2009 Supercross Championship this past Friday. His website can be accessed here.