Stop giving him money for doing nothing!

Well sports and politics, and government work.  But anywhere else, failure is punished not rewarded. Yet in NY basketball fans are embracing hope unrealistically.  Buying tickets this year for a team that is continuing the same level of slop that we have come to expect over the past 10 years.  Buying tickets for next year when almost every writer is saying the chances of his coming to NYC as more than a visitor are slipping to 0%.  Google it Lebron James Knicks the top articles will be depressing and the reason for hope will be non-existent.  I stopped watching regular season basketball about 3 years ago simply because I didn’t like the players, front office, and the direction that my favorite team was taking.  Once free agency finishes the way things look I think I won’t have a reason to watch the new season unless the knicks can pull off a trade.  Cause the Lebron answer isn’t going to be it.

Hope this isn’t a strategy…and I see next to no change with this organization….

Honesty: NOT the Washington way!

Everyone already knows that there will be at least 1000+ articles / opinion pieces about the Health Care bill, as many as the pages in the bill.  By now everyone has heard Rush Limbaugh, conservative talk show host and future feature of Street Verse’s own Kick Rocks Series (promo!) say that he will move to Costa Rica….(or not) upon the passing of this bill.  Rather than sit here and claim I’ve read the text book err bill or act like I understand it, aside from a few points, I’m just going to look at the process to some degree that Democrat Mos, Republican Luc…errr President Obama went through to get the bill passed, which I think speaks to the issue of American politics as a whole.

During his campaign, President Obama ran on a platform of change, a platform of hope, and a platform of not doing this the ol’ Washington way.

He also made healthcare reform one of his key pillars.  I can honestly say that before healthcare reform was a trending topic on twitter (#hcr) or before it was a bill that caused reactions more extreme than those exhibited to the prospect of going to war (to make “them” pay!), The healthcare bill was pretty good when it first started. It addressed multiple problems.

But in typical Washington fashion, (something President Obama said he wouldn’t do) the bill was altered, changed and bloated. It grew to a couple of thousand pages because of side deal after side deal–payments to LA just because, to CT for hospitals among others–as a means to getting the bill across. In typical American political fashion, something good and valid gets mutated to satisfy everyones ‘personal interests’ — a process of mini power plays to prove that every senator has some measure of authority.  This pissing contest typically hurts the spirit of the bill and the people most impacted by it. Yet, politicians have ways of spinning it so that the voters only hear the relevant parts and allow the pol’s to get re-elected.  This is the way it has always been and it seems like there is no end in sight for this practice. We have been down this road before…and the last time we saw ‘Mission Accomplished’, the real battle was far from done…

I too can sell out for the right price

At one point he pulled together some interesting movies, that had a good deal to say & were of a good caliber. But after a while he started making the same movie. Blacks in x situtation. It was beyond belief. While he didn’t resort to Tyler Perry status he unquestionably became predictible and boring. More than that he started going after others questioning ‘where are the brothers‘ in their movie. Locally it became a running joke actor x could only get fim money in spike lee movies which aren’t that good & the requirement to be in them.

If that’s that enough. In america having fame for any reason regardless how insignifcant gives you a platform to be heard. This aimless twit, gets air time to discuss his thoughts on the knicks& yanks (which he claims he’s a fan) usually he’s dead wrong with his analysis but they go back to him. One of his most egregious instances of this was his blind support of isiah thomas. Like a groupie for Isiah, Lee defended him & even lauded his moves!?! Spike also likes dick…One other key point he was featured prominently in the Dan Klores film winning time, in the same vein as Cheryl…er I mean Reggie Miller,  which stoked his ego and further played up his faux celebrity

I suspect it had more to do with Isiahs skin color because his track record nor performance earned the praise being heaped on him but hey in the eyes of spike if its black it can’t be wack!

Crack is Wack but if its black its not wack...ask spike

One last point. Personally I may not agree with your ideology, or your take one or many things for that matter. Obviously this is the case with spike lee. But I actually had the displeasure of meeting the lil guy. & he was an asshole in person. So he doesn’t even have personality as a redeeming quality.  This lil quirk was reaffirmed by others I spoke to who like him. “Its just spike lee & who is he”. Just like manny being man is bullshit. A person being an ass & passing it off as a slight character trait is bullshit.

Spike Lee congrats on another first. Spike is the first to be asked to please go kick rocks…

“The evidence suggests that terrorists care about influencing political outcomes. They are often motivated by geopolitical grievances. To under stand who joins terrorist organizations, instead of asking who has a low salary and few opportunities, we should ask: Who holds strong political views and is confident enough to try to impose an extrem ist vision by violent means? Most terrorists are not so desperately poor that they have nothing to live for. Instead, they are people who care so fervently about a cause that they are willing to die for it.” –http://www.american.com/archive/2007/november-december-magazine-contents/what-makes-a-terrorist

I’m willing to bet if you perfom a survey on 100, a 1000 or any statistically signifant sample of reasonably educated adults to describe a radical or the person most likely to commit an an act of terrorism – the description would fit the description of an arab or an indian (since many americans are just that ignroant). If you put up pictures I’m sure Bobby jindal (R-gov of lousiana,indian)

Do you even know who I am?

would be selected more times than say, Glenn Beck (self described conservative, media personality).

Real American Hero?

Yet if you listen to the rants / words of both these individuals & put them in isolation I’m willing to bet Beck’s words would come off more like the rantings of a radical, more like a man willing to kill for what he believed in. A man who is willing to take lives of others just to send a message.

This past week CPAC conference was a great study in contradiction. (After listening to some online, & reading about it / hearing about it from what passes as news it scared the piss out of me (fore the record I’m an independent). For conservatives as well as staunch liberals there is no such thing as a center. Like any radical group, any deviation from their belief’s put you squarely in the emenies zone & makes you a member of the other end. Worse yet they are wishing for your death damn near since you stand in the way of realizing their dream.

At cpac where the goal was attempting to embrace the youth, & unifify the conseravative movement in the face of these flakey centerist republicans & progressives, in the end they basically rallied around their same tenents & loudly condemed those who dare devaite from the script. They even called out the organization for allowing GOProud to be a sponser since the organization was too progressive in its advocacy of gay rights. (One quick question when it comes to gay marriage – I’ve heard its against multiple religious prinipals these people beleieve in, but doesn’t it generate greater revenue in the form of higher taxes & lower cost to insurance co’s?  There is a fiscal component to this & I guess their religous political needs take a higher priority to their fiscal oh well…) Either way I’m sure there is a liberal counter to cpac that will be happening soon & they’ll be screaming & clapping just as they were at cpac.

But the irony is this these events will mirror each other & also mirror what occurs at terrorist / radical gatherings. Great furor, claims of being disenfranchised, an attempt to gain youth invovlment & a singular goal of mobilization to bring their world closer to their vision. Its funny we are trying to bring the suni’s & shites to be closer to our image of how government is run & power is distributed yet we are coming closer to them in how our country acts & is divided. Small factions big beliefs.

What’s worse is that football season is over, baseball season is weeks away and in NYC, we have the Knicks so the season has been over since Dolan purchased the team in ‘94. Being the sports fan that I am, it’s a painful, painful time. Pretty boy I’m all about the money when I know I can win. Floyd Mayweather has managed to ruin the super fight so that’s not an option. Also looking towards the the tourney is going to be tourture since the genius…

We're just "friends"

who traded the Knicks first round picks for talents like chinese starbury & eddie the bench heater has made watching college ball an excerise in pain!  So this is the longest part of the winter given the dearth of sporting enjoyment.

But seriously can someone explain to me what the f’ post racial means?  I really don’t get it.  I am assuming it is intended that america is now in place where it beyond racism.  I’d call BS on that one.

Maybe its because thoughts on race are out in the open?  Umm I still don’t think thats it.

The fact that a black president can get elected where blacks are still apart of the minority must be it.  But what does that represent?  I’m going to stay on the look out to understand it but in my opinion based on what I can gather – post racial is another way of saying I’m not racist but I can say ridiculous and absurd things with out worry of penalty….

The aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti was not all bad. Yes the death and devastation are horrible. Beyond belief, in fact. And before I say anything else, if you haven’t donated, please do so. That said, a byproduct of the earthquake has been the attention on Haiti as the world’s poorest country and the plight of its residents.  By the way, another thing that came about was the media’s attempt to use this event as a means to spew racism and bullshit.

But that isn’t the focus here. Haiti has been suffering since forever as the country hasn’t had the opportunity to really prosper as a nation. Many say that the powers of the developed world bent to the will of its previous occupiers — the French. There was a lack of dealings with Haiti. Combine that with the delay in development as a former colony, it is easy to see why Haiti had it so bad. So hopefully this attention shines a light and is an opportunity for the powers of the world to make amends and make up for lost time to rebuild this country. At the very least, hopefully the lives lost won’t be just another drop in the bucket that can be ignored after the media coverage subsides. Kind of like New Orleans. In the end, an additional tragedy is that it takes a world-moving event for the news to shed any light on a problem.

Well let me get to it…as we all know, a few weeks back Eldrick ‘Tiger’ Woods was outted due to his infidelities.  Note this didn’t impact most of America unless you were Elin, his children, family, business partners and possibly friends.  Everyone else… not at all. Yet for some reason, because Tiger is a role model (more on that in a sec) – he owed the public at large an apology.  BULLSHIT.  For various reasons, the aforementioned parties were certainly owed an apology and an explanation.  Beyond that, he owed everyone else 2 fingers (on the same hand for peace) and that’s about it.  The only thing funnier than the unnecessary staged apology was the pre and post apology outrage and analysis.  I’m pissed because not only was this not necessary, but it also ruined a day of sports radio during a slow sports new cycle.

First, you had the Golf writers of America association who boycotted the event due to an inability to ask questions.  And there was the post game analysis looking at his body language and analyzing his sincerity.  Why does it matter?  This is again an issue of the public putting its faith in public figures simply because they have a unique talent.  And more times than not, the talent isn’t leadership, but something athletic.  Role models should be parents, mentors, community figures, people who actually have a vested interest in your success and can really give you a good example for how to pattern your self.  Beyond that, if we have to place these public figures on a pedestal, model a certain part of yourself after the ‘public portion’ of them.  In Tiger’s case, his determination and focus on the golf course can be applied else where in the lives of others. But he isn’t nor was he ever (before the infidelity came out) a role model. He didn’t ask to be, nor should he have been.

Like I said, Eldrick owed me nothing and everyone who thinks he does, should really look in the mirror….

The one bright side is waiting to see how he gets roasted over the next few days by late night / sketch shows…

Tiger WOOOOOO (skip to 2:55…)

…as many of you know, I am a native New Yorker.  Growing up in the this city, a story that many can relate to is as follows:  Learned about and enjoyed baseball, but getting a field to play on with equipment was virtually impossible.  Football was relegated to the streets for the same reason, lack of field and equipment – so learning the fundamentals around blocking, tackling technique etc. was lost on me. But basketball….all that was needed for basketball was an inflated basketball, a hoop and an even number of people.  So, for me and many others, basketball was where it was…Part of the reason why I believe NYC is called the mecca of basketball is because it is the sport everyone plays, without exception. So who killed it? One man is responsible.  His name is James Dolan.  The same man who was mentioned in the root of the NYC MTA article I wrote a few days back, has committed a much more egregious crime .  He killed basketball, murdered the mecca through mismanagement and an overvalued sense of sense.  The member of the lucky birth club, the spoiled rich kid has treated the team as his toy and has made moves based on “his idol worship” of basketball figures like Isiah Thomas, rather than basketball people.  The NBA had to step in to advise him to get a real GM to run this team rather than keeping Isiah, cause he’s so cool.  Note: prior to Isiah, the spoiled lil rich kid wanted Magic Johnson, but opted for the next best thing – a man who has failed at every level of his professional post playing days.  Prior to the merciless destruction of the Knicks under Dolan’s watch, Thomas had a track record that ran like a rap sheet.  Toronto Raptors, while drafting well (to give credit, he’s a really good scout and should have been nothing more than an advance scout – but his name opened doors his skill didn’t warrant) could not even achieve a record of more than 25 wins.  Thomas then subsequently purchased and bankrupted the CBA in a matter of 3 years.  But he wasn’t done building his post playing resume.  He then went on to run the Indiana Pacers into years of failure, going no further than the first round of the playoffs with excellent teams stacked with talent…

James Dolan, not without failure, probably saw a kindred spirit in Isiah.  But unlike Zeke, Dolan had never earned or done anything in his life on his own.  He was handed Cablevisions investment in one of the best chains of electronic stores in NYC, resulting in losses of $250MM & also purchased a movie cinema chain that generated little to no revenue.

In 1999 James Dolan took over ownership of the New York Knicks.  That same year, he hired Dave Checketts, the architect of the 90’s NY Knicks.  All was not lost yet, as Ernie Grunfled took over and managed. He did a decent job until Dolan began exerting more of his power.  He brought in Scott Layden, an unremarkable Utah Jazz executive who was well over his head in NYC. He managed a few more playoff runs based off of the work of others and spent money wildly, without reason, in an attempt to recapture past glory rather than rebuilding.  There is a myth that you can’t rebuild in NYC, when in fact the Knicks have proven that you can rebuild. But, why bother when you can create a club the wrong way.

Layden’s last year proved to be the final stage for the Knicks to enter into the really dark ages. Isiah Thomas was brought in by Dolan who idolized him and he proceeded to trade away the future for a worse present.  The team got worse and worse.  This made his CBA failure pale in comparison – He and Dolan were in the process of ripping the heart out of basketball in the city.  Real fans realized this and became more disenfranchised.

“Super” fans like Spike (if its black, its good!) Lee applauded the move and continued to jump around in support of his team (and he can now have it, given the state of affairs). The Knicks went from a bad stretch to the Clippers of the east.

Thanks for nothing

The team has spent the last 2 years attempting to get out from under Isiah’s mess, which no one within the organization seems to admit was a mistake (including “super” fan Spike “jump around” Lee.) Then he proceeded to cheat the fans by putting out a less than compelling product on the court in hopes of landing a great free agent or 2 in the summer of 2010.  My guess is that none of the big free agents came to NYC, people talk….and the Knicks does what only the Knicks can do and that is overpay for 3rd tier players and manage to barely get back to winning, but not get any where closer of bringing a championship to NYC.  In the end,  Dolan’s goal is to turn a profit by simply qualifying for the playoff and getting the 89th game in for revenue’s sake.  I highly doubt tha Dolan cares anything about a championship.  He thinks so highly of his business management that he fails to remember how little he knows about business or about basketball given his “rise to power.” Playoff run? Possible, but true success? No way. Not under Dolan’s run. Sadly NY has come to grips with this and pretty much has given up, leaving NYC basketball dead. At least we can be thankful the spoiled rich kid didn’t buy the Yanks…