Much Ado About Nothing

All of the hoopla surrounding the alleged "quarterback controversy" involving Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco is much to do about nothing if you ask me.

With that comment you may assume Im totally won over either way from Smith or Kaepernick, but the truth of the matter is Im not.

In the old school professional sports world, a starting player didn't lose his job to injury.  In the modern NFL, the climate is heated with a 'win now' attitude and I get it.  Winning and employment ($) is intertwined like the thread and needle, and that intense pressure is the common denominator that is shared amongst ownership, coaching staff and players.

But is head coach Jim Harbaugh really under that pressure to make such a rash decision?  Turning around a losing culture that has plagued the 9ers in recent years and winning Coach of the Year in his rookie year earned him some leeway, I would think.

We all know that Alex Smith mightily underachieved until Harbaugh arrived, but it's also well documented that Smith took the 9ers to the Championship game last year and if you recall, botched plays on Special Teams primarily cost them that loss.

When I think of recent qb's who usurped the starting position from injured qbs, these are the scenarios that come to mind: Steve Young for Joe Montana, Philip Rivers for Drew Brees, Michael Vick for Kevin Kolb and a guy name Tom Brady for Drew Bledsoe.  In the last two games, has Kaepernick resembled Young, Rivers, Vick, or Brady? Granted Smith isnt Joe Montana either, but that reinforces my point: theyre equal...and if theyre equal, then Alex Smith should keep his position!

In two games as a starter, Kaepernick has averaged 237.5 yards passing, completed 66% of his attempts, has an overall 102.3 rating and has a 3:1 TD to Int ratio.  For the season Alex Smith is 5th in the NFL with a 104 rating, LEADS the league in completion percentage (70), averaged 217 pass ypg, and had a 2.6 TD to Int ratio.  So whats the difference?

I thought maybe it was the rushing dimension that Kaepernick brings to the game. But is he really that electrifying?  Is he a RG3, Vick, what Mc Nabb or Cunningham was?  At most he's probably a lil better (athletically) then Tebow.  And if memory serves me correct, Smith was mobile enough to trot 30 yards for a big TD in the playoffs against the Saints last year.  So again, whats the difference?

I will say this, the greatest indictment against Alex Smith was when I saw Harbaugh call a running play for Smith on a long third down conversion attempt (I want to say against Seattle but don't quote me).  To me that showed the lack of confidence Harbaugh had in Smith as a playmaker and winner.

Clearly HC Jim Harbaugh is being a prisoner of the moment and going with "Kaep." But what Harbaugh has to realize is that you leave the party with who you came with.  This is twice now that Harbaugh tried to ditch Smith during the dance (remember he tried to court Manning during the offseason then acted as if he really wasnt).  But we all know the old adage, "when you have two qb's, you have none." 

But the end we know if this teams win the Super Bowl, it will be remembered for and defined by its defense, a la the '85 Bears or 2000 Ravens; hence the controversy is much ado about nothing.

*Am I reading in too much by assuming Rice preferred Montana over Young with his advocation of Smith? (Kaep the perceived rushing qb in the vein of SY and Smith more of a drop back passer i.e. JM?)

Week 2 NFL Picks

NYG 31             Clev 10
TBB  20             Cincy 24


Oak 24                N.O.S 31
Mia  13                Car     34

Hou 29                 StL  23
Jax   16                 Wash 17

KC  23                  Tenn 9
Buf  20                  SD 24

Phi 19                   Pitt 20
Bal 17                   NYJ 16

Az  14                   Dal 17
N.E.33                  Sea 20

Min 17
Indy 21

Sunday Night
Detroit    27
SF9ers    23

Monday Night
Den   27
Atl     21

2012 NFL Picks

Playoffs

NFC                                                                      AFC

North                                                                     North
Detroit                                                                   Pitt

West                                                                      West
Seattle                                                                    KC

South                                                                     South
Carolina                                                                 Houston

East                                                                        East
Dal                                                                         N.E.

Wild Card:                                                             Wild Card:
Phi/GB                                                                   Indy/Den

2 potential p'off teams
N.O./Chi                                                                Balt/Oak


NFC Chip:
Detroit 34 Philly 31

AFC Chip:
Hou 27 NE 22

SuperBowl:

Detroit 31 Hou 22

MVP: Matt Stafford or Calvin Johnson
League rushing leader: Darren Mc Fadden or De Marco Murray
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Luck

Peak of Interest (Volume 3): HipHop/Rap Music

MUSIC

This is for Hip Hop primarily.  Question: What were your parents listening to growing up? You'd probably say some old Motown, or that 70s disco/soul stuff.  And your grandparents were probably rocking out to some "Rocking Robin."

My point is this: your parents weren't listening to the same music that their parents listened to, and so on and so on.  When I went to St. Mary's in the D as a 5th grader, I know Sister Jean wasn't knocking "Fuck the Police." I know Ms. Bivins wasn't playing "We got the Jazz" at Chicago's Ray School.  But don't be surprised if you hop into any random middle school in America where both the teacher and student are in class rapping, "...I'm ridin' round with that Nina."

Why? That's because creatively, music has topped off or reached it's limits in the Hip Hop/Rap genre.  Ok screw it, I'll make examples for Hip Hop like I did for the other categories.

Wayne, Drake, Ross,ASAP Rocky, and the million other popular/contemporary artists are cool, but there will NEVER be another "Illmatic", "Reasonable Doubt," "36 Chambers," "OB4CL", "Ready2Die," "Life After Death," "Amerikkkas Most," "Chronic," "Aquemeni/SPlayalistic", "Straight Outta Compton," "The Infamous," "IronMan," "Paid In Full" "Its A Big Daddy Thing" "Supreme Clientele," "Resurrection," "Low End Theory," "Midnight Mirauders" "BluePrint," "The Sun Rises in The East," "Hard to Earn" "What Thee Album" "We Come Strapped". 

What's really popping or are the tenements of contemporary hip hop? Drug Dealing, "p" popping music, flossing, dancing music seem to be the most popular.

Ok with the drug dealing/street music/flossing, what more do you need to learn or hear that Big, Hov, or Illmatic didn't explain? With the "p" popping music, cant we just throw on some Luke? "Shake ya what ya momma gave ya" and "I wanna rock" can do the trick.  Holla at Hammer and Diddy for the dancing music.

The sad thing about it is the one major phase that Hip Hop endured, political/conscious rap, has yet to recycle.  I used to hear boasts of afrocentric reaffirmations permeating in the lyrics of Quest, Public Enemy and X-Clan.  That doesnt seem to fly nowadays or even 10 years ago.  Even when Hov questioned Nas' propensity to kick knowledge, Nas flipped it with this retort: "Naw Im just tryna kick that ish you need to learn tho." Kick that knowledge Esco!

Obviously that proud state of hip hop wont resurface because hip hop is global and a lot of big time checks are being signed by hands that usually dont have melanin.  And the consumers dictate what's popping, and I dont think the consumers (who are 80% non black) are trying to hear that. That 'don't bite the hand that feeds you' mentality has got us in a rut and I'm looking at these suckers like sell outs.

Overall, cats nowadays are just copycats.  Wayne self-admittedly studied and emulated the G.O.A.T Hov, and these young dudes rocking all the 80s styles (snapbacks, high top fades, hair designs, retro shoes,etc)  are copy-catting the best this hip hop genre has to offer.  Yes you could say 'Things happen in cycles" but when I was starter jacket fresh with my Jordans on in the years of 1988-1991 I wasnt trying to copy nothing from the 70s. No one in my generation did. We were too busy inventing new styles.

There are some cats out there making substantive and quality music, unfortunately the problem is they're being drowned out by an over saturation of wackness.  Hip Hop scholar Dr. M.E. Dyson once  said "The wrong niggas are holding the mic."  

Contemporary rap is like Mc Donalds, and these rappers are the drive thru clerks or managers of said Mc Donalds. We need those Rakims, Krs Ones, Mos Defs back in the forefront playing the role of "Big Momma" to serve that substantive soul food.

Until then, billions will continue to be served and you rap consumers are going to end up like buddy from "Super Size Me."

Peak of Interest (Volume 2: Movies/Literature/Public Figures)

When it comes to popular culture, sports and entertainment (specifically football, basketball, baseball, music, literature, movies, public figures/role models), we have already seen the best of what that category has to offer already.  As a creative and original society, I think our talents have reached a limit.  There's nothing new underneath the sun. No one is creating anything new, people are just customizing styles/ideas that have been proven before and at best signifying or expanding those styles/ideas.

(*Just because something is new or different doesnt make it of quality, either).  

MOVIES

Will there ever be another movie with the impact of the GodFather trilogy?  I doubt we'll see another flick that changes the game visually via special effects as we did when "The Matrix" came out.  Those are just two examples of an infinite amount of classics that came out in the 80s-90s and could take big dumps on these crappy modern movies!

And umm, in terms of quality, cinematography, message and content, are Tyler Perry movies better than Spike Lee movies?

LITERATURE

With the exception of Pablo Coehlo, occasional Cornel West and my old man, I don't read too many contemporary authors but I know there aren't too many new classics added to the vintage and illustrious literary cannon.  Where are the "Black Boys", "There Eyes Were Watching God", "Talented Tenths" or "Souls of Black Folk?"

You know what books are generating the most impact on society? Freaking "Twilight" or "Harry Potter!"

I know there are brilliant writers out there but my point is, no one has written "that book" since yesteryear.

PUBLIC FIGURES (heroes/role models)

If it wasn't for Barack O'bama, there would be no clear cut rock star, "it factor" public figures. Where are the JFKs, Bill Clintons, Dr Kings, or Malcolm Xs?  

PEAK of Interest (Volume 1: Sports)

When it comes to popular culture, sports and entertainment (specifically football, basketball, baseball, music, literature, movies, public figures/role models), we have already seen the best of what that category has to offer already.  As a creative and original society, I think our talents have reached a limit.  There's nothing new underneath the sun. No one is creating anything new, people are just customizing styles/ideas that have been proven before and at best signifying or expanding those styles/ideas.

(*Just because something is new or different doesnt make it of quality, either).  

SPORTS

As good as Kobe, Lebron, and Durant are, will there ever be another Michael Jordan?  Will another athlete present the multitude of dynamics that Mike brought? Dynamics meaning mastering the sense of theatre, drama, physical/mental dominance, ability to ALWAYS come in the clutch when it most mattered. Dynamics meaning possessing the power to effect/dictate the compass of the sport, on the court and transgressing it off (economically, spiritually---yes, spiritually) the court.

Just like Michael Jordan was a PERFECT 6-0 in the Finals, as good as Tom Brady is, his SuperBowl record isn't 4-0 like Joe Montana or Terry Bradshaw for that matter.  There will never be another better combination of athleticism and personality like Deion Sanders, a pure runner with the catlike escapability skills of Barry Sanders, the intangibles of Jerry Rice or Hall of Fame units like the Cowboys.

Was it worth it?

Roughly 8 years ago former Eagles WR Terrell Owens forever engrained a vision in our mind when he did sit ups in his home's driveway, entangled in a bitter contract dispute with the Eagles organization.

To say the least, it got messy and somehow he not only through the organization under the bus, but teammates as well, most notably qb Dononvan Mc Nabb, at the time the franchises leader and perennial pro bowl qb.

Before the contract hold out, and for roughly 20 games, the duo of Mc Nabb to Owens was the best in the league and you can argue were the best 20 games of football either player had in his respective career.

Now it's 2012 and both players are on the outside of the league looking in, and they're both healthy.  Theres no reason these two players should be in that precarious position, especially with their resumes.

This blog isnt about the numbers but what couldve been.  Kobe and Shaq didn't like each other but they stuck around long enough to realize its about winning, and like it or not they made history and won titles together.

Because of that, Shaq never had to worry about playing or signing for a team and Kobe is who Kobe is.  The point is, winning gives you stats, money and leverage.  If the McNabb/Owens couldve stayed intact for another 3 or 4 years, we'd probably be talking about two Champion players with sure shot Hall Of Fame careers.

Now, the image that comes to my head when thinking of T.O. and Mc Nabb are "Will play for peanuts."