there is still time, don’t fret

 

I know. I know. In my earlier post, “Hi Haters,” I defended my champion Saints. Guess what? I am still defending them. The loss to the Cleveland Browns last weekend was hard for me to watch, too. I mean, we are talking about the Browns here. WACK, but they’ve beaten the previous Super Bowl Champions for the past three years. How ironic is that? It’s not ironic, it’s football. There are no games guaranteed just because you are the Super Bowl Champions.

It was nice last year to go almost undefeated, but we still won that Lombardi Trophy with a couple of losses. So, I am not tripping on the fact that we are not undefeated. Right now, we are at 4-3, still in pretty good shape but we can ill afford to lose any more games! I mean, technically, we still could, but we don’t want to think like that! lol

I know I keep harping on the injuries, but that is a huge part of why this temporary roadblock has stopped the Saints. There are also more sleeper teams in the NFC this year, which were not a factor last season (e.g. Eli’s N.Y. Giants, McNabb’s Redskins, Freeman’s Bucs, and Ryan’s Dirty Birds). Da Bears are pretty good this year as well and will continue to be as long as Cutler remembers he is a Bear and throws to his teammates. He also needs to stay off the ground. I think he likes getting sacked for some reason.

How about Aaron Rodgers and the Packers? Most seem to think the “Black Cloud of Brett Farve” is lifting, giving Rodgers some air. Well don’t speak too soon. Rodgers and his crew finally beat Farve on Sunday night; however, we’re talking about the Farve here. He is totally crazy with the most interceptions thrown by a quarterback and is still the most decorated players in NFL history. Farve has started 291 consecutive games and he is 41. Crazy.

And just like that, the old and the restless Brett Farve is still a factor and his soap opera in Minnesota is right there with him. I’m saying Brett Farve really gets on my last nerve. All this courtship of traveling to the Sip to beg him to play, these injuries to his old bones, the creepy voicemails he sent to Jenn Sterger in 2008 when he played for the Jets – C’MON SON! (*Ed Lover Voice*) That’s too much drama for one Viking in my opinion. Now he has a new character in Randy Moss, whom Coach Childress and the rest of the Viking nation believe is going to carry them well into the post season like last year. I don’t doubt it. Moss is a freakazoid and he wants that elusive ring. That’s why, even with Farve and his drama, the Vikings are still contenders.

*IMPROMPTU PSA*

Let me take this time to thank the Dallas Cowboys for their demise this year. THANK YOU! #CLAP4THEM #ROUNDOFAPPLAUSE #STANDINGOVATION America’s team is already 1-5 and it’s week eight. Unless they win every game from now on, it does not look pretty for Papa Jones to have his team playing and hosting in Arlington next year. They are right down there with the Panthers, Lions and 49ers. GASP! Not America’s team! Nooooooooooooooooooo! Yes.  

*Now back to your regularly scheduled programming*

So, as you can see, my boys in the Black and Gold, the road to the Super Bowl won’t be as clear as it was last season. All those teams are out for you! So, WAKE UP!

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the decision part two

 

So, Bron Bron’s newest “give me more face time” spot hit the viral scene on Monday – just before the opening tipoff to the most talked about season of the NBA. What a strategic move from the folks over there at Nike. Bron Bron’s “What Should I Do?/Rise” 90-second spot, which by the way was shown in its entirety during the game, was great. I am not gonna lie, when I first saw the commercial, I was giddy. However, I watched it a couple of times to actually see the message.

To Cleveland fans, this spot just added insult to insult on top of the injuries. It was like three million gallons of Morton in an open wound. Well, maybe not that much, but you all get the point. I wonder if this was his friends’ idea, as he refers to them and says ‘Why shouldn’t I listen to my friends? They’re my friends!’ Or, was this just simply a great idea conceived in the minds of Nike’s creatives. Either way, I thought it was great. LeBron wanted people to know, in his arrogant way, that he did what he had to do and he feels he shouldn’t be criticized for it.

 Just like I said in my previous post, “The Decision,” I feel the way LeBron left Cleveland was not professional. Charles Barkley was very critical of how that played out and LeBron took a shot at him in the commercial. Pay close attention to the part where LeBron says he is not a role model, and then he chumps down on the infamous pink frosted Homer Simpson doughnut. After that, he winks as he says ‘Hi Chuck.’

 Barkley was a guest on Tuesday’s episode of PTI, one of my favorite shows on ESPN. Wilbon and Korneiser asked him if he was upset at the LeBron diss. In typical Barkley fashion, he said he loved that Nike and LeBron thought enough of him for the mention. I thought that was great! Charles Barkley is hilarious. He wanted to make sure that it was understood there is no “beef” with LeBron – just a disagreement of how he handled his decision to leave Cleveland earlier this year.

There was apparently a jab at Michael Jordan with the “shiny shoes” comment. Yeah, I get it. Bron Bron idolizes that man. So, I really don’t think that was directed at MJ, but I could be wrong. However, if LeBron truly, deep down to his toes did that, then he is crazy! Why would you do that? LOL! Newsflash, where is your ring? Don’t go around dissing MJ like that sir! It’s just not healthy! *Inserts BBM Can’t Watch Emoticon here.*

If you did not catch the piece ESPN reporter Chris Broussard did on the LeBron-Afterlife in Cleveland, here is the link:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5714406

Oh man! These people are so serious. Do not ever cross a Cavaliers fan. One of my classmates is from Cleveland and she is still pissed! We were talking about current events earlier this week, poor thing was irate. She looked at the commercial with me and was just mad.

Truthfully, LeBron had to make this decision for himself and his family. We can talk all day about how wrong it was, but like Barkley said on PTI, people still love LeBron James and he is still a freak of a basketball player. He is #6 now and he resides in Miami. He decided, so let’s get on with the season and see how this mega-team is going to play out. Of course, this will all blow-up in his face if the Heat do not at least get to the post season this year.

People are already saying if they don’t win the ‘Ship next year, this mega-team will be for naught. The first test was the rejuvenated Big 4 in Boston on Tuesday. Yes, the Big 4. Shaq is now with the Celtics. I guess he figured the “Win the King a Ring” campaign failed in Cleveland, so why not go to Beantown. He could not follow the King to Miami because he already won a ring with D. Wade there in 2006. So, the next stop on the Shaq Tour would likely take him to Boston.

Well, if you missed the game last night, the Big 4 thwarted Miami’s mega-team in the first half. The heat made a comeback in the second half, but it still resulted in an eight-point lost to the Celtics. The Heat bandwagoners were ready to write them off after one game. There is still lots of ball to be played. One team had to lose last night and the Heat players are still trying to learn to play together. Although I did see a little déjà vu last night on Bron Bron’s end. He scored 31 points and made Miami Heat franchise history for the most points scored in a debut game by an individual player. Hmmmm….didn’t he do that in Cleveland like every game at the Q?

Time will tell and we shall see what Miami is going to do. I am not going to say they are Fakers just yet and I still want to see how they will mesh together once the season progresses.

As T.O. would say, ‘Get your popcorn ready.’

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Hi, Haters!

*SIGH*

Whelp, we have arrived at the early part of this football season where the haters, yes I did say H-A-T-E-R-S, begin to dump on the Saints. Superbowl slump…lack-luster performances…the team – defensively and offensively – is not the juggernaut it was last year. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hear you haters, oh I hear you clearly.

This happens all the time to every Superbowl team. The season after, analysts are the most critical. For the most part, everyone thought the Saints were a joke and could not make it out of the NFC South – let alone dominate teams as they did and win the Superbowl. Should the Saints be in panic mode? Should they be worried? Drew Brees threw multiple interceptions against the Cardinals, what’s wrong with him? Ok newsflash, The Farve throws enough INTs for all the quarterbacks in the NFL, UFL, SmackSomebodyFL, PeeWee Football, any and all football leagues put together, so back off Drew! Football stars are entitled to have some bad games, right? Right!

Heading into week six, the Superbowl Saints are 3-2. Yes, I do remember this time last year; the team was undefeated and did not lose a game until the end of the season. Up until last weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs were the lone undefeated team in the NFL. No, I am not jiving, I said the Kansas City Chiefs. Who would have thought that? However, this is why football is great – any given Sunday people!

Now, I know the Saints have been playing rather sluggishly – well, just plain unacceptable for that matter. Let’s not sugar coat anything here. The injury bug hit the saints hard – Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Tracey Porter, Darren Sharper, etc. All of these players were key to the Saints’ glorious season last year which led to the organization’s first Superbowl title. Lesson: The injury bug is one that will never be exterminated when you need it the most. That pesky bug is going to be there no matter what. It’s unfortunate, but that’s part of football and there is really nothing you can do to prevent injuries.

So people calm down and bandwagoners unite, because the Saints will be fine. There is lots of football left to play. The team will finish strong. There are some teams *coughs* the Cowboys and Vikings *coughs,* who are in worse shape than the Saints. I would not want to be in their shoes right now. Now, those teams should panic!

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who dats visit the white house

Barack Obama received an extra special gift from the Who Dat Nation. The New Orleans Saints are champions of Superbowl XLIV (44). Obama is the 44th President of the United States. How sweet?

Bless you boys and you have arrived. The New Orleans Saints visited the White House on Monday.

I am….dancing, singing, second-lining, yelling, shouting, two-stepping, back flipping….*PAUSE*….but most of all WHO DATTING!!! That’s right, I am! Please feel free to insert another jubilant action I may have forgotten in the comment section. Bless you boys!!!

we three kings

What do you get when you put three major, MAJOR, top-tiered NBA players on one team? Well, they got a championship in Boston in ’08, but something tells me the Miami “Big Three” is a little bit more spectacular. Pause. #dontjudgeme! Now hold up before y’all start getting on my case! I am not knocking KG, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. I am not! They did the damn thing and got the ring, but Wade, James and Bosh….well they are all under the age of 30.  PLUS now the big three are like the big four and five and six because Shaq has signed with the team. Shaq has already stated he is willing to do whatever and play any role for the Celtics.

Side note right quick: I mean poor Cleveland man. First they are ousted out of the playoffs early. They lose Mike Brown. Then LeBron – A – Gate. Then LeBron pulls a Trey Songz, ala I don’t wanna leave….but I gotta go right now. First he takes Big Z with him. Now Shaq is headed to the sea of green clovers and 17 championships. I know that’s a lot, but I still did not support the burning of LeBron’s jersey #imjustsayin.

Yes. We are talking about some younger stilts in Miami, and they are more explosive. I don’t care if you don’t like the situation, but please don’t fib to yourself and others! You know you’re going to be in front of your television watching all Miami games because they are going to be on ESPN every Wednesday and Friday. As I will be doing!

Wade. James. Bosh. This is going to be interesting. The person whom I am the most happy for is Chris Bosh! Dude finally got the hell up out of Toronto. Talk about a Uni-Team if there ever was one. Bosh did everything in Toronto and it was just inevitable that he would be running out of that Raptors locker room. Dude probably could not wipe that smile off of his face after their last game this season. I am uber excited he cut off that hair, too. That was a mess! Now he looks less like a raptor. Kudos to Chris Bosh and his new Miami swag.

Wade kind of had people in Wade County gasping for air for a minute. The two meetings with the Bulls were not supposed to happen; it was only supposed to be one. Wade had a heavy heart because of his current custody situation of his sons and he is the hometown kid. However, in the end South Beach prevailed.

Low key though, I really wanted LeBron to come to Chicago. I feel like the Bulls fans here were split on bringing King James to Jordan Land. The billboard was up, and grassroots campaigns were flourishing all over the place. Others did not want him here at all! Especially after “The Decision,” many people felt he was arrogant and not worth a one-hour special to announce where he would lace up next season. Many teams – New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles (Clippers, that is) and his now scorned hometown Cleveland – were doing the most to try to court King James.

The Bulls moved Hinrich, got Boozer and a team with DRose, Noah and Deng was just not enough to get the King to come to the Windy. Chicago had the best team in place for LeBron to contend for a Ring in 2011. There were reports that an unidentified box showed up at his Cleveland home. In the box, were of course, Jordans!!! Yes, someone sent him some Jordans talking about can you fill these shoes? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Trying to mess with that boy head. Did it work?

I believe, if there were one active player to be “compared” to MJ would be Kobe (chokes, coughs as I say his name), but it is true. I don’t like to make comparisons to “greats,” but it is true. LeBron is great, don’t get me wrong, but as the cliché goes championships define your legacy in the NBA, and last time I checked, LeBron had nada! Do I think he was kind of creeped out about playing in Chicago? Hell yeah! What other player has a statue outside of their arena like MJ does in front of United?

LeBron also made waves when he said he would change is jersey number from “23” to “6.” LeBron said “23” should be retired for every organization in the league. Yeah right, LeBron. There you go fibbing to yourself and the world. You know you did not want to wear “23” anymore because, personally you did not feel worthy enough to wear the number. Maya Moore from the UConn Huskies wears “23,” she’s got two championships though. Yeah, I went there.

Anyway, I really think LeBron just felt like he was not producing at an elite level to wear Air Jordan’s digits. So, that’s my theory on the new “6.”

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here we go again

I know this image is from the 2008 Finals, but I like the pic! LOL

 

And then there were two. 

The Boston Celtics silenced the Orlando Magic to make another push at the Finals for the second time in the last three seasons. The Los Angeles Lakers got past a pesky Phoenix Suns team whom everyone deemed old, but received a jolt of energy to push the Lakers to a game six. 

So it is set. The Celtics and the Lakers. Honestly, does it get any better? If you are a fan of the game, you do know that every time these teams meet, especially in the Finals, it’s going to be EPIC. The Celtics and the Lakers own the NBA. They have 32 championships between the two – Celtics with 17 and the Lakers with 15. The match-up has all kind of greats associated with it: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and a host of others. 

Fast-forward to 2008. The rivalry was off hiatus and was reborn. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen….the Big Three….were all set to deliver Boston’s 17^th championship banner to the Garden.  They had to get past a hungry Kobe Bryant who was on a personal mission to win a championship without Shaq. The Lakers put forth a valiant effort, but the Big Three prevailed and Boston won that series. 

So later today, the rematch happens. Game one of the Finals begins this time in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. Kobe has something to prove. He most definitely wants revenge and he is going for his fifth ring. This Laker team has added pressure because of Kobe’s revenge. Y’all think Kobe ain’t told them how much this means? Please, that boy done got all in that! I can hear him now: “Y’all better not mess this up for me (insert whatever expletive you would like to here)!” 

I think this series will go six or seven. I counted out Boston way before the Finals, but when you have talent and a PASSION like they have, you can’t help but win games. I have not seen a player as passionate as Kevin Garnett in a long time. You know Jesus Shuttlesworth, I mean Ray Allen, is going to show up. Paul Pierce just might have that wheel chair from 2008 there for good luck. And the kid Rondo is definitely going to run rings around Kobe and his crew. Perkins is just gonna have that mean face he always has and try to stay out of foul trouble. He does not want any more technical fouls, but please believe he is gonna bring it. And Big Baby is gonna be great too! 

Kobe has a solid starting cast but I am sorry, besides Mr. Kardashian, that bench is garbage. #yeahIcalledhimMrKardashian. LetShannonBrown.com (Chris Brown’s twin but I don’t see it), is wack. Jordan and Luke….IDK what’s going on with them. Vujacic is an aggravating lil summa….(Bernie Mac voice). And that dude with the cornrows…well he likes wearing that warm-up. 

As for Kobe’s main posse, Pau Gasol is so luke warm to me and Bynum is right there with him. Derek Fisher is going to bring it just because he is old and has been here before. 

I will tell you, when the Lake Show signed Ron Artest last year, I was like #GTFOH! What?! Who does that? But, Ron Artest really saved some Laker Butt from Jack Nicholson with that last-minute lay up in-game five against the Suns in the Western Conference Finals. So, Ron Ron is trying to help in any way possible. However, this is the same Ron Artest, who pulled down Paul Pierce’s pants during a game once! Punched that fan in Indiana! C’mon SON?!! This dude is seriously bipolar, I tell ya. 

I can’t wait! I am choosing Boston to win in six. I know I will receive a lot of “hater” comments because most of my friends (y’all know who you are) are Laker Nation all the way. It’s ok. Bring on the Shamrocks and the Celebrities! 

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the lions are ready…go blackhawks

The lion statues in front of the Art Institute in Chicago...go Blackhawks.

Chicago has gone to frenzy.

The Lions at the Art Institute are fitted for their hockey helmets, and Blackhawk fever is officially underway in Chicago.

I don’t do hockey, but congrats to the Chicago Blackhawks. I have lived in three hockey cities – Nashville, St. Louis and Chicago – and I have never been to a hockey game. I just don’t get the sport. The closest I have ever come is air hockey at arcades, LOL! And they do too much brawling and fighting for me! I don’t hate, I just don’t see the need to go to any games. Now, if I got some free tickets, most definitely I would attend. Who wouldn’t?! #dontjudgeme

I cannot name one member on the Blackhawks team without doing some research, LOL. I know the hockey basics: Goal, goalie (SP?!), hockey puck, Wayne Gretzky, Stanley Cup –  the usual stuff like that. Anything else, I couldn’t even tell ya! *SHRUGS*

I am going to end this post right here because I just really don’t know what else to write about this hockey sport, LOL. Good luck to the Blackhawks! I hope they bring the Cup back to the Windy City.

I ain’t gonna lie. The first time I saw those lions I thought they were cool because I am a LEO *WHOOP, WHOOP!* The lions are actually cooler now because of those cute Blackhawks helmets! =)

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boston’s wacky road to the finals, perhaps?

Quick! Someone call the paramedics. Wednesday night, Amway Arena transformed into a hospital emergency room during the second half of the game five between Boston and Orlando. First, if Boston had taken care of business in game four, this would not have happened. They could be coasting, and waiting to see who they would be playing in the Finals. But nooooooooooo. They had to let Dwight and them come back and gain some momentum. Boston was up 3-0 and now it’s 3-2.

Glen “Formerly known as Big Baby, but people still call him Big Baby and he does not want to be called that anymore” Davis got hammered by #DwightHowardsElbow. Davis was trying to contest one of Dwight’s shots and just ended up on the bad end of that massive structure he calls his elbow. Now, we have all seen Dwight – dude is humongo! I would not want to be on the receiving end of that blow! No way!

The rest of the players ran down to the other side of the court while Davis was still lying helplessly on the ground. It was definitely shaken up. Doc Rivers, was motioning on the sidelines trying to hurry Davis, so that he could join the rest of his teammates. Davis got up, but he appeared to be slipping and stumbling at the same time. He then got a little balance to stand up, but I noticed his equilibrium was still off. He then collapsed into the arms of Joey Crawford, one of the refs from that night. It was serious! No one wants to see anyone go through that. If you did not see what happened, peep the clip below.

It was later ruled; Davis suffered a concussion and lost a tooth. His teammate, Marquis Daniels also suffered a concussion after smacking head first into Orlando’s Marcin Gortat. Dude fell straight to the floor, and was brought to the bench by teammate, Nate Robinson. Rasheed Wallace also suffered some back spasms. Wallace should be ok for tonight’s game, but Davis and Daniels are a game-time decision. Rightfully so. You do not want to play with concussions.

This game began crazy because the refs were really on some Tim Donaghy stuff. Throwing out techs like it was just some preseason game that did not count. Boston’s Kendrick Perkins was T’d up twice, and both were just ridiculous. He was ejected from the game before halftime. League officials have the right to review the techs and retract them if needed. Here’s the bigger picture. Last night’s two techs gave Perkins a playoffs tech tally of seven, which means that he faces a possible suspension for future crucial games.

Yesterday, NBA officials retrated the second tech, so Perkins is available for game six in Boston tonight. He still is not in the clear. Even if the Celtics make it to the finals, one more tech, he could be gone for a crucial game during that series. So, he must be careful.

If you refer to my earlier posts, I got all these match-ups wrong! The Cavs are gone, and just messed up my whole playoff flow I had going. I did not even have Boston in the Conference Finals, not even giving them a chance to possibly make a solid run to reach the Finals. Well, they must mend themselves now because they are facing elimination – even in game six. Boston has to win this game because trust me they do not want to stretch this to a game seven.

I want these Eastern Conference Finals to end tonight, so #showupBoston. This is your game seven.

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venus: french maid gone #fail

Ok. Let me preface this by saying I love the Williams Sisters! They’ve got black people watching tennis again since Althea Gibson (My mom’s namesake) and Arthur Ashe. They are some fierce divas on the tennis courts.

Now that I’ve got that out of the way…what the hell Venus?! This black, red, lacy, cheap goodwill looking outfit is not cute. What were you thinking? You are a fashion designer and you put that hideous mess on?! Why would you even put yourself out there like that?

I know the Williams sisters have always pushed the envelope when it comes to on-the-court fashions. I do applaud them for trying to spice up tennis. No doubt. I am all for it, but Miss Venus was just clueless on this one.  

Venus Williams

As you can see in the picture above, Venus wore this “French Maid” costume gone terribly wrong during her matches at this week’s French Open. The outfit drew a lot of attention – most surprisingly in support of it. The fit drew so much attention; Venus got an episode of ESPN’s Outside the Lines earlier this week. The discussion was tailored along the lines of how appropriate the ensemble was for the French Open.

Even if it was appropriate or inappropriate…that mess was just ugly! PERIOD. I mean, it really looked like a cheap Halloween costume. It was just really that awful. Venus also had some nude-colored shorts on under that craziness, which left me scratching my head with the look of “Huh?” on my face. My mamma always told me to make sure the undergarments matched. I just did not understand that at all. Venus, your attempt at trying to create whatever the hell you were trying to create gets a huge #EPICFAIL!

 Now, we all know Serena is the powerhouse of this duo. Yes, I know it is not right to pit two sisters against each other, but Serena is the one that gets the movie and television roles, dates Common, has the bionic body that every man drools over.

Serena Williams

Remember her Cat Suit (visual above if you need a refresher). She got mad criticism for that one as well. In comparison, Serena’s Cat Suit looked better than Venus’ French Maid number. At least with the Cat Suit, you could understand what was going on. It was just a tight, pleather all-in-one body suit that really, and I do mean really “hugged” Serena’s curves. Could her body breathe in that thing?!

Venus’ fit was just too damn hard to even look at. Again, it was just that fugly.

I do give Venus props for her high-esteem, because a woman needs confidence to wear some tragedy like that. So, she does get points for being confident, but that’s about it.

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One of the most Infamous Game Sixes

The Cavs are who we thought they were…*in my Denny Green voice!*

Nah. No Roger that! Hold up! Stop the suggies in The Q! The Cavs were supposed to win this damn series. I thought Bron Bron and ‘em were going to just beast through the Green. I totally and honestly counted the Celtics out. I know the majority of you guys out there did not have them getting past the Cavs. But they did, and congrats. I know one thing; you can never, ever underestimate the heart, will and skill of champions. And that’s what the Celtics are – been that way since the peach basket was a basketball goal. So, hats off to the Celtics.

Everyone says that Bron Bron gave up, his team quit, his elbow died on him, etc. I clearly don’t know why the Cavs lost this series. It just absolutely puzzles me how you can have 60+ wins during the regular season and can’t show up during the playoffs. #YouScared?!

So now starts this summer’s saga: Where are you going to go Bron Bron? What uni will you be rockin’ come October? Will you join the concrete jungle where dreams are made of? Or will you join its stepsister in Jersey? Will you come to the Windy City and help recreate what your idol mastered while he was here? If you sign, with the Vikings, maybe Brett Farve will make his final decision a little earlier, rather than the week before the regular season begins!! Just a thought…*shrugs.*

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