Get off the Rod, Man! (Who's Dennis is he?)

When the tears ran rampantly down the cheeks of Dennis Rodman during his Hall of Fame Speech last weekend, the Detroit/Chicago side in me figuratively produced enough water to fill up both Lakes, Erie and Michigan.

I was torn and at a crossroads! The situation was inevitable yet I hadn't come to grips with the decision. The Hall of Fame caught me off guard. Which city should I pledge my allegiance, highlights and identity for Dennis Rodman? Detroit or Chicago? I'm one of the few people in the world who can say he lived in Detroit and Chicago during the years Rodman played for those teams. Rats!!!! Or in this case, Worms!!!!!!!!

It seems like it was yesterday I was on Steel and Puritan on a cold December night, watching channel 50 and hearing the voice of the Pistons George Blaha, commenstrate: "Worm cleans the glass and dishes off to the Captain (Isiah Thomas).

Make no mistake Dennis Rodman, the NBA player, was born in Detroit, MI on October 31, 1986. He was raised by his father Chuck Daly, and groomed by his brothers Zeke, Joe, Spider, Buddha, Microwave, Lamb, and Dantley. Collectively they became the "Bad Boys."

We know the history and feats that notorious unit contributed to the NBA: designing a defensive blue-print that serves as precedence for winning teams to this day, implementing the "Jordan Rules", and representing the only team in the play-offs that ever gave Michael Jordan problems.

After the "Bad Boy" era surpassed it's prime and ultimately concluded it's run, it was off to San Antonio. This marked a pivotal point in the Worm's career. SA is where Dennis began to develop, well enhance, his off the court persona.

Donning a new blonde salad, it was clear this was a different Rodman. It was as if Dennis left "home" (Detroit) for the first time and begin to explore and experiment with different things in "college" (San Antonio).

Like most people, you know when your welcome is over, and so did Dennis. His antics proved to be too much for San Antonio, so the Spurs shipped him to Chicago in 1995, and the rest is history.

With a brand new number that would make a defensive lineman proud and the same production on the court, the Bulls went on to win 3 straight titles from '96-'98. For what they each brought to the table, Jordan/Pippen/Rodman may have been the greatest trio to ever play. Initially, when they assembled, I was taken aback.

How dare Dennis sign with the Bulls? I'm a man that needs to have a strong, contextual analogy, and to me, Rodman going to the Bulls was a NY born Tupac leaving jail screaming "WestSide!" or a brother switching sides during the Civil War to fight his own brother.

Thankfully the Worm brought it all together during his induction and made it make sense. Clad in a tux jacket that had both Pistons and Bulls colors, as well as the numbers he wore fore each respective team, Dennis diffused any and all confusion.

Standing on the stage cracking jokes with Scottie Pippen, a man he once slammed to the floor and constantly abused, I was reminded that it usually takes a traumatic experience or adversity until we really know someone and gain respect for them.

After years of battling, I'm sure there is an implicit, mutual understanding and respect Chicago and Detroit has for one another. And when it comes to Dennis, I'll just treat him like a step-child.

When he's in Detroit, he is ours. When he's in Chicago with his step-family, he's one of theirs, or vice-versa depending on your perspective. In any case, when he played in those cities, he represented the characteristics of those cities to the fullest!

*Quick "Worm" Stats

*Dennis averaged a "double-double" his first four years in the league, including 16.0 ppg and 12.0 reb in 1987-88.

Miami Vices (Shapiro Scandal)

At this point in NCAA Athletics, any news of illegal activity or monetary scandal is a bit desensitizing.

It's like hearing a new name pop up in MLB with connections to steroids. We all know it's going on.

Aren't we all numb from the allegations, investigations, indictments, and convictions from the Fab Five's, UNLVs, USC's, and Miami's of yesteryear?

Well the Miami's of today is the current headliner in sports controversy. Recently, convicted felon and super-booster Nevin Shapiro dropped an atomic bomb worth of accusations on the University's football program that he insists will lead to an inevitable "Death Penalty."

And according to what's being reported, Shapiro's claims of excessive cash and gift giving to players appear to be totally plausible.

The whole operation has been described as "the passing of the baton from Uncle Luke" regarding rapper Luke and his transgressions from the early 80's.

This is where I have a problem with the story. Luke illegally rewarded players with money, but it came from a space of love and support. Luke, for most accounts, genuinely cared for the kids because a lot of them emerged from the same dire background in which he did.

Shapiro on the other hand is an outsider "wannabe" who wanted to buy his props instead of earning it.

He was that guy who wanted to be included in the cool guy circle and be a "Big Man On Campus." Once he accrued enough money through his ponzy schemes, he did just that.

But now that he's doing 20 years in prison for a crime that's unrelated to the University of Miami, he wants to get his Magic Johnson on and drop dimes?

I guess there isn't honor amongst thieves. A lot of people want to point fingers and blame each other, but the bottom line, the system is flawed. What's happening in Miami is an isolated story that is being perpetuated across the country, just maybe not to the same debaucherous and disregarding degree.

Until as a whole figure out a way to pay these athletes and monitor the money exchange themselves, big time NCAA sports programs will continue to be a sunny place for shady boosters and agents.

Who U Calling A B@#$%? (Prt 2)

Just to follow up on the previous blog, I wasn't advocating for the liberty to use the word "Bitch."

If you parallel the ascension/status of the "n" word to that of the "b" word, then you can observe similar symptoms.

When the white boys listened to hip hop (80% of retail rap consumers), they were conditioned and became numb to the word in regards to engaging that word with black people and it's application.

So when I say '...I want to be allotted the freedom to do so if that's what it is in 2011!" , I'm foreshadowing the next progression of mentality for male's if not echoing their current sentiment. I'm sure that was the mentality for non-blacks after years of hearing the "n-word" (If they say it, call themselves that, why can't I?")

Also, My main point was NOT to focus on deterring from women degradation. That's implicit.

I'm focusing on the usage of that word being shared between women, women claiming that word as a source of empowerment/identification, and the acceptance of that whole phenomenon.

I contest that at this rate, the application of the word "bitch" will be on par to that of the word "nigger."

Some people may say that it's already on par, but I don't think government officials, corporate America workers and preachers are calling their colleagues "bitch" behind closed doors.

But keep it real, how many government officials, corporate America workers and preaches call their colleagues "nigga" behind closed doors? A lot would be an understatement.

I'll put it in another perspective. If a black guy came to a group of black females and one of the females said a funny joke, it wouldn't be out of bounds for the guy to tell the females: "Ya'll niggas are crazy."

Now take that same scenario and change the words of the guy's reply to the joke. In a pleasant and non-threatening tone, if he would've said "Ya'll bitches are crazy", it would've been received in a negative way.

My friend asked me earlier why I don't devote as much energy into the "n" word as I do the "b" word. That's because, at this point, the "n" word is in it's terminal stages of cancer. It's a wrap for the "n" word. We can only hope that a non-black doesn't step out of bounds and says "nigga" in your presence,regardless any connotation, and in that same breathe that non-black should implicitly know the punitive ramifications of making that mistake.

There's still a chance we can prevent this "bitch" phenomenon from entering said "terminal" stages of the word 'nigga.' I believe the situation is only benign, but we've got to stop the "bitch on bitch crime." (Said in a provocative, harmless, bust your balls, ironic, intended to be sarcastic tone)

I have a little princess of a niece. I cringe to think of a world where females feel empowered by claiming to be anything bitch.

The same friend I mentioned previously told me the only way or only answer to this crisis is in the word, so with that said I'll leave you with "The Wife of Noble Character" (Proverbs 31:26):

She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

I Wonder Why They Call You…..

Bitch. In 2011, the usage and semantics of the historically insulting word, "bitch" has morphed into a new stratosphere and overall connotation.

Of course we're well beyond using it to refer to a female dog. In my era and time coming up, it was reserved for rancid, vile, nefarious, unpleasant attitude having women.

Nowadays, it seems to be un par with the other taboo and hot-button word, "nigger." Only trickier.

Don't judge me, but I recently saw a Season 3 re-union special for VH1's "Basketball Wives", and in a scene Tami Roman proudly claimed to be a "real bitch." I mean she really sold it and owned it.

Now I'm NOT foolish enough to believe that a show ironically called "Basketball Wives" (a show that entails a 2% cast of wives; and these grown women,for the most part,are acting a hot,childish,ignorant mess) is hardly the template for how mature women should conduct themselves. But the truth of the matter is, it's highly viewed and sub/consciously affects a lot of people.

So that train of thought had me thinking about other media/entertainment references where the word "bitch" was condoned.

I'm knocking KanJay's album "Watch The Throne", and I'm noticing how Jay-Z continues to reference his wife, Beyonce, on his hip-hop records.

There's a song on the album entitled 'That's my Bitch', and on 'Niggas In Paris', Jay says "I got that hot bitch in my home…" And of course, there's the classic "Me and my beautiful bitch, in the back of the back" on 'Brush Your Shoulders.'

By no means am I trying to attack Jay, as the aforementioned rhymes were for the most part received in good will. I'm just tripping and confused with the appropriation of the word.

Where's my "wigger" at or 'white-person using the "n-word" apologist' at to deconstruct bitch for me like they do 'nigger.'

My internal ethics, principals and upbringing will prevent me from ever being comfortable to call a young lady "bitch" off GP, but dammit I want to be allotted the freedom to do so if that's what it is in 2011!

It appears when black people call each other "nigger", it's a term of endearment or a way of combatting centuries of oppression and hate bottled in that word (the black people in the know, not the one's who use it absent-mindedly).

When women call each other "bitch", it seems like their using it as an "empowering" word. But how can you be 'empowered' using that word?

Ladies, will it ever get to the point where you feel comfortable if your man, friend that's a male, male family member, or a guy period ever says any of the following in the UPMOST, pleasant and endearing scenarios?

"Hey fellas, I want you to meet my bitch so and so…."

"You know you my favorite bitch, but I'll call you later b/c the game is on."

"You're the baddest bitch I ever had."

"I love my bitch."

"Dang bitch, it's 4am, could you turn the music down?"

If the answer is no, you may want to reassess your complicity of the perpetuation of the word Bitch. Be a smart B.I., truly yours, D.I.

*Ladies, don't get it twisted. The more you publicly address yourselves in such a manner, you're going to find yourself being called that, a la the "n-word." Do you really think only black people are calling each other 'nigga' ? So I don't want to hear all that "we just say it to each other."

DETROIT SPORTS OF MIND

It may sound like I'm the guy who gets the downloaded message tardily in those phone commercials currently airing on television, but I need to vent about what has recently transpired in the sports world of Detroit.

PISTONS

First of all, who is Lawrence Frank? Oh yes, he's the guy that was last seen leading, or misleading New Jersey to an 0-16 record before the Nets inevitably fired him.

I don't know what kind of "brotherly rivalry" that was forged between the players of the 'Bad Boys' era, but clearly Joe Dumars is set and content with one-upping or competing with his former teammates, because there is NO reason Isiah Thomas or Bill Laimbeer shouldn't be coaching the home town!

A marriage between the lowly, cellar dwelling Pistons, and one of their heroes of yesteryear as their coach is just the thing that would breathe life and revive the city as a whole with anticipation and optimism.

LIONS

Unfortunately, the injuries sustained to top draft rookies Nick Fairley (DT) and Mikel Leshoure don't come as a surprise.

Not to say the Lions organization is "snake-bitten", but when it comes to bad breaks for the Lions, I've become numb to bad news.

We all know the chronic issues of injury concerning Matt Stafford, now Fairley has broken his foot and Leshoure tore his ACL.

Fairley should be back before the season starts, but the most devastating blow will be losing Leshoure for the season. The big, bruising back was just the dynamic the Lions offense needed to move the chains, and get those tough yards in the trenches and between the tackles.

Not to discount the contributions of second year back Jahvid Best, but in today's NFL you definitely need a 1-2 punch at the RB position. Out of those two backs, you need to have that one back who's willing to carry the majority of the rushing load. Best is best-suited as a 'specialist', a la "Reggie Bush."

TIGERS

It appears the one consistent bright spot in the Detroit sports scene is illuminating from the Tigers.

But before you drink the Kool-Aid or buy the car, buyer beware!

Ever since Detroit has been under the watch of veteran and league respected skipper Jim Leyland, the Tigers have shown hints of imploding and melting down.

I won't even mention the loss in the 2006 World Series, but in that same year we squandered the Central Division title to the Minnesota Twins on the last day, and in 2009 Detroit relinquished a 10 game lead in the last month of the season, and lost to the same Minnesota Twins team in a one game playoff that decided who would win the division.

Yes that's all in the past and the team that is presently constituted is that much experienced, better, and hopefully wiser, BUT. There's always a "but" with the Tigers, just because.

Justin Verlander should be the Cy Young Award Winner and Miguel Cabrera is a perennial MVP candidate, and yet I'm still nervous. I predict a Tigers/Braves or Tigers/Phillies World Series right now, but in the meantime, I won't hold my breathe.

Politics As Usual?

President O'bama turns the big 5-0 today and as he changes age in the 2011 calendar, the change we've been waiting for and were promised has yet to come.

"Yes we can" and "Change" were the popular mantras that the O'bama administration adopted in 2008 that implicitly suggested imminent radical change in the government, economy and society contingent on election (at least I thought).

But in 2011 "Yes We Can" and "Change" simply means this: Yes We Did change history by electing a black president.

The great political commentator and HBO show host Bill Maher recently said on MSNBC: "Wouldn't it be a shame if four years of democratic rule came to an end, without ever trying democratic policies?"

If the majority of bills are under a Republican policy, including the Stimulus, does this imply that President O'bama is NOT manifesting radical change? If there is NO tangible evidence of significant Democratic policies implemented, then yes, it's fair to draw that conclusion.

Yes, it was radical milestone that a black man was elected as President, and it was radical that he captured Bin Laden, but the radical change this country needs the most concerns the economy.

Right now there is dissension within the Republican Party, with the "Neo-Republicans" in agreement with the Democrats that it was the old school Republicans that got us in this mess (recession) in the first place.

But while they don't have a clear-cut leader, they are buying time and gaining momentum for 2012 with the ever passive and "not wanting to step on toes" O'bama.

My point is this O'bama(if he were reading this): if you're going to go out, go out with your guns blazing! Don't be mad to channel your inner "mad black man" side because that's so taboo; it may be what the country needs and what may ironically win your next election.

Unconditional and staunch Afro-Am advocates of O'bama say "He's not the President of us (blacks), he's the President of America. We can't expect him to act a certain way (i.e. 'Angry Black Man').

All I know is, I'd rather have millions of people that have a job as a result of an "Angry Black Man" President opposed to a "hunky dory" pacifying President with millions of jobless Americans! (*insert applause or '2 snaps in the air in a "Z" formation').

You don't have to pass bills during a cook out while you're barbeque'ing on the front porch to prove any points, just do what you know it's right, no matter who it offends or rubs the wrong way.