Minstrels of the Gridiron

The coupling of the NFL's most prominent megalomaniacs - Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco - is a monumentally stupid idea. And quarterback Carson Palmer, who reportedly pushed for the Bengals to sign Owens, has nobody to blame but himself. The question is, which of them will go off on Palmer when they don't get the ball thrown their way. As for Marvin Lewis, he must be asking himself whether he was hired to coach a football team or run an insane asylum.

The Sherrod Affair

The Shirley Sherrod affair is sorry commentary on the Obama White House's manner in handling racially charged situations. What is particularly galling is how they allowed themselves to be punked by right wingers determined to bring them down. So hypersensitive to charges of preferential treatment for black folks that they never bothered to get all the facts before rushing to judgement. And the mea culpas by Administration spokesmen, including Obama himself and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, are too little, too late.

The Passion of Mad Mel

The seemingly endless revelations about Mel Gibson imploding over girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva has been a delightful source of summer entertainment, with the former A-lister finding himself twisting in the wind.

Vonetta McGee 1945 - 2010

Vonetta McGee, who died from cardiac arrest July 9th, was an actress who starred in several blaxploitation films, including Blacula and Shaft in Africa.

The Not So Iron Mike

As an example of brutal honesty in self-analysis, Iron Mike Tyson's reflections stand alone. There isn't another public figure who would even dream of describing his life as "a fucking waste." Then again, there was always a tinge of vulnerability that sometimes bordered on self-loathing in Tyson, even during the halcyon days when he was the self-described "baddest man on the planet."

Compared to What

From 1969, pianist Les McCann and saxophonist Eddie Harris performing Gene McDaniel's Compared to What with the lyric that continues to resonate to this day:

The President, he's got his war
Folks don't know just what it's for
Nobody gives us rhyme or reason
Have one doubt, they call it treason
We're chicken-feathers, all without one nut. God damn it!
Tryin' to make it real — compared to what? (Sock it to me)

Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Mayfield, one of my favorite musicians, is often spoken of as providing the soundtrack for the civil rights movement of the sixties. But in my opinion, he was that and so much more, as evidenced by these socially conscious and relevant tunes.

A Childish Response

The Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert's childish response to LeBron James's departure is, by any measure, somewhat over the top not to mention hypocritical, because loyalty never prevented Gilbert from firing two coaches, Paul Silas and Mike Brown, chasing away general manager Danny Ferry, and trading players. As the expression goes, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. In the final analysis, it was all about business:

A transcript of an open letter from Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert:
Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

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. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....

Dan Gilbert

Majority Owner

Cleveland Cavaliers

Friends

From left to right: Chris Bosh, the Narcissist, and Dwyane Wade. Only time will tell whether the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Crying Time, Again

Unless something radically happens for her to change course, this pathetic child is irreversibly on the path toward self-destruction; and an insatiable tabloid press will fall all over itself in serving it up to a celebrity-crazed public that delights in such bullshit.

Harvey Fuqua 1929 - 2010

Harvey Fuqua, who died yesterday, was the founding member of the doo-wop group the Moonglows but will be long remembered for launching the career of Marvin Gaye.

The Annointed Great White Hope

Besides marking the 234th birthday of the Republic, today also marks the 100th anniversary of the thrashing of former heavyweight champion Jim Jeffries, who was coaxed out of retirement to restore the honor of the white race by defeating the uppity and arrogant Jack Johnson. It was Jeffries who was first anointed with the rather dubious sobriquet "The Great White Hope." As the fight unfolded, it became clear that Mr. Jeffries was neither great nor hopeful.

Standing on Shakey Ground

Republican Party Committe National Chairman Michael Steele again finds himself in trouble for diarrhea of the mouth, an apparently chronic condition. This time several people are calling for his ouster for statements about Obama's prosecution of the war in Afghanistan.