The NCAA Pimps

Before I begin this article understand that I write this as a former scholarship NCAA athlete of 2 years and a 2 year academic scholarship recipient. I have seen the NCAA from both sides and I can only make one assessment. The NCAA is the biggest legally allowed pimp in this country. The organization that governs intercollegiate athletics to ensure that athletes are academically eligible and not using performance enhancing drugs are also tasked with ensuring that major universities reap as much profit as they can without the players getting a cent.

Now before someone points out that they get a free education consider this. For 2 year I got a free education for busting my tail for untold numbers of hours each week. After that I got a free education for simply going to class and getting good grades. While I was working the extra hours as an athlete I was part of a product that produced revenue for my school. When I functioned simply as a student I was compensated by receiving a free education by doing the very thing that's costs money in the first place (going to college). Now in no way shape or form am I knocking academic scholarship but those athletes sacrifice class time, study time, and social life in the name of playing intercollegiate athletics.
The NCAA mandates rules of how many hours can be spent on mandatory team activities; this is easily subjugated by “Voluntary” workouts and meetings. Considering that Scholarships are annually renewable and a student can be dismissed for almost any reason from his scholarship one can see how those “voluntary” team activities are crucial and therefore will not get skipped or challenged. I have personally seen the sport pushed before academics and seen people miss classes and perquisites because they were only offered during regular practice time and etc. For those “Student-Athletes” their sport is their life and the only reason they are on that campus.
Meanwhile the “student-athletes” get a college education consider that not everyone gets a full scholarship on each team, some get half and some get none at all. As these teams come and win and gain national exposure they generate millions of dollars in ticket and merchandise sales, television deals, and even sponsorship deals that pay some of the operating costs for schools such as jerseys and pads. If I told you will pay you roughly $100,000 and so you could earn me millions how would you feel? I mean $100,000 is not small piece of change and a lot more than most of America, but how would you feel when you realized your efforts were putting millions in my pocket in exchange?




The worst of this broken system of rules comes when the NCAA has to crackdown to keep “fairness”. This season University of Georgia Wide Receiver A.J. Green was suspended for 4 games because he took his game worn jersey and sold it to someone who offered him $600 bucks for it. He could have kept that jersey for a memento and hung it on his wall but since he sold it for some nice pocket change he was demonized and treated like he took performance enhancing drugs. His selling of his jersey in no way impacted anyone on either team gave no unfair advantages or hurt anyone in any way. What he did was attempt to take a share of the profit that the NCAA guards like pimps on the street. Meanwhile replicas of his jersey are sold in 17 different options for prices as high as $150. Does nobody see a problem with this picture?
Reggie Bush just recently announced that he is going to forfeit his 2005 Heisman Trophy amidst the allegations that he took gifts during his time at USC. No matter if he got gifts or not, his on field performance was not enhanced by drugs nor was his teammates. The teams he played against were not at a disadvantage so at the end of the day he trained, practiced, and went out and performed as the best player in all of college that year winning by a near landslide. Meanwhile USC gave back their trophy and forfeited wins and records but they will not have to give back one cent or pay any fines. The school administrators who most likely were aware or enabled said NCAA violations simply resigned or moved on to better jobs becoming untouchable.


Where is the justice? Meanwhile USC has to give up some scholarships (meaning kids who always wanted to play for USC but needed scholarships will have less of a chance) and cannot play in the postseason for 2 years (also meaning the current students, many of whom were not enrolled in 2005 cannot play in any championships or bowls). In essence everyone who did something wrong got away scot free (except the shame that Bush is getting but then again he is now a millionaire and Super bowl Champion), therefore how is this fair? For every game A.J. Green misses the University of Georgia continues to sell his jersey and reap the profits. How can a system that allows such injustices be considered fair and just?
I’m not saying that college athletes should get millions but a stipend to get gas money for a car, a meal outside of the school café or to go see a movie is not unreasonable. Realize that a student-athlete doesn’t not have time to work any sort of job for pocket money. Many of these young black athletes come from families that cannot offer much to them in form of financial support, heck I used to be one of them. It’s hard when you’re freshmen and you can’t order a pizza or wash your clothes because you literally have no money. That issue is compounded when you school is raking in thousands and often millions due to your play as part of a team. All teams should get a small stipend to give some pocket money and it should be the same for every player, that way it’s fair to the team, because even the stars need their team to win. This is just a thought, but one thing is sure, this system is corrupt, broken and the exploitation of the young student-athletes needs to stop.

The Truth About Lebron's Decision

The truth about Lebron James’s decision to leave his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in pursuit of building a dynasty in Miami is that he did what was best for him. Lebron had the pleasure of playing for his hometown for 7 years in which he took them to their first NBA finals in history and made them relevant in the basketball world. In return the front office of Cleveland failed to bring him a legitimate second star and he was forced to be EVERYTHING for his team leading them in Points, Rebounds, Assists, Blocks, Steals, etc. Meanwhile they fell short year after year including losing to a formidable Boston Celtics team this year (that came a quarter away from winning the NBA title). Now in his free agency he must pick where he will hang his hat for the prime of his career and he decided to leave.

In Cleveland nobody expects those fans to be happy, but they are burning his jerseys in the street, rioting and even the owner of the Cavaliers Dan released this open letter claiming “You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal” and “This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn”. That is the most classless and outrageous thing I have ever seen from an NBA Executive. Lebron isn’t the first player to leave a team in free agency yet an unprecedented amount of hatred is accompanying the unprecedented amount of anticipation to hear this decision. The truth is Lebron does not deserve such a knock for making a smart decision for himself and his career. Even Kevin Garnett said himself he wishes he would of left the Minnesota Timberwolves sooner, that he spent too much of an outstanding career there not winning anything. Lebron decided to not make this same mistake and to leave while he is in his prime instead of after.

For all the critics claiming Kobe didn’t have to leave, Kobe Bryant was playing for the Lakers!!! Which was a storied franchise with many titles, not a hometown team that has never been. Playing for Los Angeles gave him the luxury of winning 3 titles while not even being the best on his team, and when thing got rough he began to publicly criticize his beloved Lakers demanding a trade. Then more money and eventually Pau Gasol fell into his lap for nothing and they won a Championship, they went on to add the best defender in the league and they won again. He was able to have to talent come to him, Lebron does not have this luxury. He never complained and he finished out his contract with no felony cases and without forcing teammates away like Shaq. Of course Kobe’s tirade was erased by 2 titles in 3 years, and Lebron will have to win it all to do the same. In a few years Lebron, Wade, and Bosh will be forming the dynasty of the 10’s and this hatred will be a memory in Cleveland long list of disappointments.

Finally for all those who think the Miami Heat will win a title next year we must remember that they only have 5 people on roster at the moment, their next moves should be to acquire a solid Center to rebound and defend, and solidify their point guard or get a pure shooter to simply hit open shots that the others create. Also solid role players off the bench must be acquired for a bare minimum. Give them time and patience and they will be a dynasty, but all eyes will demand that they do it now. For Cleveland they squandered 7 years of having the best basketball player on the planet with incompetent coaching and poor roster decisions, They drove LBJ away. As they eventually win it all he will go down as one of the greats with a few titles, for all those claiming his legacy his through, more than half of Kobe Bryant's legacy comes from Shaq being the best player on the Lakers. Other NBA great end up getting paired with other great at the end of their careers, when they are past their primes; Clyde Drexler and Charles Barkley both ended up in Houston with Hakeem Olajuwon when it was too late (Drexler did finally win his first here after leaving Portland). Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabar both bolted to LA for NBA titles, Garnett and Ray Allen join Paul Pierce for one. All these guys and way more moved around to maximize their championship chances. Lebron will be no different, except for the fact that he did it while he was still young. All that matters in the end are the Championship Rings, by any means necessary.

Back Up & Running

I have been on hiatus from writing for almost 6 months now. Now that I am a College grad I have new found time to get back to writing (You can see my Commencement Speech by President Obama here).

I seem to have lost my fans in my absence but rest assured I am back in business. Expect new poetry pieces and opinions of life coming soon. The Profound Perspective on life is back!

100% Relationship

A Romantic relationship involves two people who stake an interest with each other to be together for an extended period of time (with the eventual goal of the rest of their lives, though this isn’t always the case). They are partners in life during that relationship and in order for a relationship to work each person must bring their half, their full 50% in order to get a complete 100%. The problem with any struggling relationship or one that went bad can be identified when one or both didn’t give a satisfactory percentage to the other resulting in discrepancies (arguments, disagreements, and overall unhappiness).



Before I go any further lets take a quick run through at finding the right partner to even try a relationship. I hope everyone realizes that looks are not everything, and neither are the things that go with it. I know many people who only go after certain “type” or “look” and wonder why they don’t have much success. Also be sure that you are on the same page as far as goals and expectation page being on the wrong page leads to many relationship failures. And finally before we get into this a disclaimer, everyone must realize that in searching for their significant other you are at risk to run into the immature, trifling, damaged, or downright ignorant possibilities that exist for both males and females.



A big problem I find with many relationships is people who are not complete themselves trying to be in a relationship. No matter the reason, be it some form of mental, physical, or emotional abuse in their past, or a series of bad experiences with relationships, one cannot shortchange the possibility of future relationship success by carrying bad luggage. Even worse is hanging the mistakes and faults of past partners gone wrong over this person you are trying to be in a relationship with. You cannot make person C pay for the mistakes of the previous A and B. If you find yourself still struggling with issues from a previous relationship then take the time to avoid them (and subsequently dealing with anyone) until you take the time to heal properly. There is nothing worse than allowing your own emotional issues ruin another relationship (and possibly create bad experiences for someone else). Also one should ask themselves am I mature enough for a relationship or would I rather be “open” to running around and “experiencing” other people as I grow (make sure you figure this out and don’t hurt anyone while trying to find you own way).



The other issue is that people don’t know how to give their all properly. They either give too much (trying to cover for the other’s deficiencies) or they give too little (creating said deficiency). Nobody can give more than 100% despite what many motivating clichés may say. Trying to go beyond your own 100% for any reason, be it compensating for your partners lack of anything from esteem, respect, priority, or even love and care can cause damage to yourself and the overall relationship. Doing so puts a strain on yourself and does not help your partner grow or get better at what they are lacking. Instead make sure proper communication about your wants and needs (and your partners too) are communicated, and do your best to find out what you guys need to work on in order to meet them for one another.



Finally realize that all relationships either last till death, or unfortunately end badly (with the rarity of a “good” ending). Someone once asked me “what’s wrong with me? Why do my relationships keep coming to a heartbreaking end?” First one must realize that a relationship is an emotional and spiritual investment, so if it doesn’t work then there WILL be pain and questions left behind. Just because there is a failure doesn’t mean there is necessarily anything “wrong” with you. As with any situation one should always look realistically in the mirror to identify what they did wrong and could do better, and everything isn’t automatically the other persons fault. Sometimes two people who are nice and good just are not the right match for one another, also just because it didn’t work doesn’t mean there is no hope. Fearing failure is one of the worst attitudes you can have in life, and can prevent its full potential.



In the end communication can never be stressed enough when it comes to relationships, especially early on in them. By figuring out your goals and expectations you can avoid many headaches before they start to become painful. When early on don’t try to portray yourself as the “perfect” partner, being upfront here will make a better relationship and save you future troubles. After you guys are on the same page make sure each person is a complete individual, capable of being on their own, not needy of each other, but wanting. Finally cast aside all preconceptions, mistrusts and doubts and judge each person on their own character and what they display to you. Never forget your past lessons, but learn to properly apply them, so that you can find what you’re looking for. Remember to never give up hope, and never let a demon of the past capture your potential for future victory; by holding on to those bad experiences, you give the person responsible for them power over you. Let go, live, and learn.

Love, Faith & Patience

Anything can be overcome with Love, Faith, and Patience. All three go hand in hand and struggle without each other. At any point in your life if you wanted to make a change, if you wanted turn things around, or get things back on track then Love, Faith and Patience is what you need.

Love is the most powerful force on the planet. Love is a common attribute that we can share with our creator. God’s love for us is so powerful that he sent his only son to die on the cross so that he may forgive us, sinners, people who are not worthy, people who are inherently wrong, people who are prone to make mistakes and transgress against him. God’s love is unmatched in that it is nearly infinite; he always makes a way, and never gives up on us, even when we sometimes give up on him. That being said it is the love that drives us and our lives, our love for our families, our love of God that makes us do the right thing, even our love of ourselves, our morals, who we are and want to be that makes us strive in the right direction. When love is focused it can have great results, it can make you the best at anything from music, to sports, or it can make you the best person in the world to someone. Focus your love, your passion, your drive, and you can achieve many things however, love needs its partners.

Faith is equally important with love; I believe God has faith in every person, no matter how far they have erred to make their way back onto the righteous path. Without faith many things are not worth your efforts. How can one achieve anything, or succeed if they do not believe it is possible? How many games will a team win if nobody on it thinks winning is possible? How far can one go if they don’t believe there is a glimmer of hope? Your attitude is so important in so many ways that simply believing in yourself can make all the difference. If you believe or have faith that you can accomplish something, then you are on the right track so long as you have the love and their binding factor, patience.
Patience is rooted in love and faith, if your love a child or a person you will have patience for them, also if you have faith that they will get it together or get it right then your patience will grow. God’s patience is incredible because for every person on this planet he will wait up to their entire lifetime so that they may find him. As with God or anything else in life, things may not come when you want them to. You must be able to endure the hardships, endure the fact that things will get better before they get worse, and have the patience to withstand it all without losing love, or faith, because without them you will lose your patience.

If one can focus their love, stand on their faith and use both to strengthen their patience, then they are truly limitless in what they accomplish. Whether you are Michael Jordan or Jackson, Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein or even Barack Obama, the only way they could be who they are, as good as they are, and accomplish what they did is by using these three powers. By having Love for what they did and their purpose, by having faith that they could achieve what they wanted, and having the patience to endure until they were there, they like many others accomplished great things. So if you have a goal, or know that you can do better or need to make a change, then find your love, faith and patience and give them your all.

The New Millenium Man?

I’m not even sure where to begin on this one; I think to myself how has the idea and concept of being a “man” gone so wrong? Men are supposed to be the backbone of the family, the support, the breadwinner, the first example to baby boys of how to be strong and loving, and the first example to baby girls of what a real man looks like, and what a husband should be. I think it’s when the “man” decided to decline into the anti-family, responsibility skirting, proud to do wrong, overall poor excuse that he has become today. I can only address those 3 issues (there are more but I believe these are the worst offenders) at a time, so let’s begin:

The “anti-family” man is now the norm, what a shift from the good old days of the proud family man. Society and culture has shifted from a young man running around and finally settling down to raise a family, to blowing clean into full even middle aged and beyond adulthood with no regard or care to family. Isn’t there an age limit on being a bachelor? I guess 30 is the new 20 because the lack of maturity in 30+ year old men still dressing like they did when they actually were 20 is ridiculous. Sure not everyone is or should be married, some guys just aren’t the type that could or need to get married cause it would only lead to calamity. However some people never grow up, and clubbing it up well into your mid 30s is nothing to be proud of (this goes for women as well).

Skirting responsibility? No not real men? Right? Another sad but true statement. A great turning point in the decline of American society is the age where men got women pregnant and didn’t step up to the plate. Whether it was your main squeeze or women on the side, your child is your child. There was a once upon a time when men and women got married if the women was pregnant or at least got together in an effort to TRY to make it work. Now instead men just keep it moving and never look back, they carry on with their lives or with their main squeeze (after getting women on the side pregnant) like nothing ever happened. This has create a generation where having a single parent is way too common, and now that generation is trying to raise children of their own while hitting the same pitfalls that their parents hit for lack of guidance and example. Then there are guys who figure if they send some money, pay child support, and give a call or visit from time to time they can say they took care of responsibility and are worthy to be called fathers. Responsibilities are not just financial, they are emotional and spiritually to your children to do right by the women they call mom, and by them to show them a good example and give guidance.

The standard of what is now easily accepted as man hood has fallen so low that we are now proud to do wrong, and we don’t hold ourselves or those around us accountable for their misdoings? We applaud a man who goes and uses and abuses women, even gets them pregnant and keeps it stepping, and if we aren’t applauding with praises of “pimp” and “player” we are condoning by not speaking up at all like it’s all good. Even when we do call a guy a “man-whore” or “ho” it’s still not negative, we still act like its ok. How can one man call another trustworthy or reliable when they lie regularly and skip their responsibilities to everyone but their “boys”. If we had the fortitude to hold each other accountable, and challenged and treated wrong for what it is, then maybe we wouldn’t live in a world where such behavior is acceptable.

In conclusion is I say it once I will say it a thousand times, nobody is perfect and we all do wrong and make mistakes, but real men (and yes real women) own up to them and make them right. I will be the harshest with the men, because we are supposed to be just that, men. Even in light of the recent tragedy of Steve McNair, who was an outstanding NFL QB, and humanitarian, who was murdered by the women he was cheating on his family with. No matter how good we would like him to of been, he died because he was doing wrong, and he didn’t get a chance to make it right, he lost his life and in the process failed his wife AND children. When a man cheats on his wife with kids, he cheats on the children as well. It’s hard to explain the love and care you have for a person when you disrespectfully do their mother wrong. And for the record let it be known if you are in a relationship, break it up before cheating, be a real man and tell her you’re not happy and end it right before you end it wrong and cowardly. For all those who may read this, and you know you are guilty of the above or worse, then it is never too late to turn it around and make things right. Don’t be content to just let it be, or discouraged by the right rage and hardship that owning up may bring, because as we saw not everyone gets a chance to fix things. Life is short, so live it, that doesn’t mean go buck wild, it means live to the fullest with respect to it, to yourself, all those whom you will encounter and affect, and the potential children you will leave behind.

The Chance

Oh so close, yet no cigar
So out of reach yet not so far
The closer I get, the further you are
There’s the reason for my hearts biggest scar

Anything could happen if we gave it a chance
Together each other’s lives we would enhance
The ability to send you a chill with just a glance
A life time of love and romance

If I said how I feel where would it go?
Would it even matter if you decided to know?
Together one day, possibly we could grow?
Or would I end up with nothing to show?

If only I knew the answer first
The time and effort, would it be worth?
The slim chance of a beautiful birth
A masterpiece to exist on this earth

Dangerous Kiss

Yours pressed against mine,
Frozen in a moment of time
Always a memory of bliss
Still thinking of that dangerous kiss

Softer than rose pedals
Worthy of award medals
Nothing sweeter exists
Than the beauty of a dangerous kiss

So much trouble it can bring
Like a once in a lifetime fling
Never knowing something was amiss
Because we got started with a dangerous kiss

I would do it over and over again
Knowing what means would justify the ends
Now I wait, and always will I miss
The source of that dangerous Kiss


This is dedicated to all those lovely moments that are often overlooked.

Women Are Queens?

First of all, I believe all women are queens at heart. They are beautiful in every way that makes them unique, they were designed by God personally out of a piece of our side to be our companion, equal, and partner. Inside every woman is what it takes to be a true queen, however it is each women’s throne to take or abdicate.

Every woman makes choices that will push them toward their throne to become a true queen, or drive them away as they make themselves unworthy. Women, you control so much more than many give themselves credit for. You control the people you deal with, associate with and talk to in every way. Far too often I see women drag themselves down by the friends they keep (both male and female), the guys they talk to and deal with. No offense to anyone out there (we all encounter people who we should of never met) but it is hard to be a queen when you deal with scum. This problem gets compounded when the list of people you have dealt with grows at an alarming rate (if you know what I mean). I may be beating a dead horse but if you wish to be a queen choose those who you feel are real kings in all facets of their lives.

Lastly aside from the people you deal with, the most important factor is in how you carry yourselves. One cannot become the queen they are meant to be if you don’t act like it and believe in it yourself. No matter what you have been through, think you look like (I know far too many beautiful women who have issues with their bodies), or have done (everyone makes mistakes), it is never too late to wake up and realize that you are a queen. You cannot do or accomplish anything unless you believe in it and work towards it. Realize how precious your mind, body and spirits are. Stop allowing any of those three to be compromised by anyone or anything not worthy of your royal selves. If you allow it then it is what you are, half of the problem with women realizing their crowns is the lack of true kings out there. However part of that flaw is due to the lowered standards given up by women. All women are beautiful queens, gifts from god, but sadly far too many abdicate their thrones.

Life Is Short

Life is short, how many times we hear such a cliché, but what does it really mean to us? How often do we even think of it? Why does it take the most extreme of circumstances that we can come by in our lives before people wake up and realize that some things are more important than people’s petty differences? Far too often we don’t think about the bigger picture life has to hold when we deal in our relationships with friends and family, and even with significant others.

We are inclined to argue and “beef” with other people for the simplest of reasons. How many times do we think twice when arguing bickering and rejecting opportunities to express how we feel? People have heard the idea that at any moment you say goodbye, walk away, or turn your back on someone it may be the last time you ever see them. Being as it may, based on the things I believe we have all witnessed, experienced, or said ourselves it is clear that people do not think about such a thing. Before you decide not to say how you really feel, tell the truth, be open and honest, or end things on a bad note, beware of that fact, and be more appreciative and respective of life.