NCAA ''Reform'' in 2 steps

     Yesterday, I saw an article about a recommendation to change college sports, and I disagreed with everything . . .  So I wrote my own response and recommendation!

    In summary, the article says people who make/made millions from the current college sports model, are making a recommendation to change the current model, because they're "reform-minded"? . . . Sounds fishy . . . The only reason they want "reform" is because they don't want to address the only problem that exists.  Players should receive financial compensation and additional benefits.  College coaching salaries are well into millions per year and that's one measure that can be adjusted.  Here's my plan below:

• Players compensation:
• Revenue sharing agreement with coaching staff (80/20) for staffs making over 1M per year
• Merchandise, TV deals (60/40)
  
• Can make money off their own likeness (endorsements, etc.)
  
• Free healthcare for up to 10 years after leaving the program
• Free education for 1 BS, MS, and/or PHD degree for life
  
• Remove amateurism rules 
• Read them here: ( http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/amateurism )
  

    Those two actions would make college sports even more attractive to fans without completely abolishing the current model.  If eligible NCAA athletes are being compensated during their matriculation, maybe they're more likely to stay in school, complete their education, help build the school's profile, try to win games/championships, be more involved after they leave, etc. . . 

 

Hope you enjoyed.  Leave and comment with your plan to change the NCAA below

 

Article Summary:

• The Knight Commission, a reform-minded independent group of university presidents, former athletic directors and others, spent the past year studying the current state of college sports before making its recommendation.
• Creating a separate system would allow schools, conferences, and programs to set and enforce all rules governing the new body.  These rules would include, setting health and safety standards, enforcing disciplinary action, determining eligibility, etc.
• Plan only includes a new body for FBS schools, but lower level football schools and all other sports would remain as part of the NCAA.

 

Sources:

• ESPN Article on Knight Commission: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30444422/knight-commission-endorses-fbs-split-ncaa
• History of College Football Coach Salaries: https://www.bannersociety.com/2019/8/15/20732192/coach-salaries-history-highest
• Current College football salaries: https://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/

Laugh of the Day: Dr. Seuss Changed My Life

Below is a new post from the newest member of the Brothers Blog, Wobbly. Enjoy!

   

It was National Dr. Seuss Day in 2007. As I walked into Compton elementary school all I saw were the doorways to the classrooms decorated like The Cat in the Hat, Oh the Places You’ll Go, and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish. I walked down the hall and made a right to get onto the Pre-K hallway.

      Every morning my teacher, Mrs. Green, would come in wayyyyyy too excited and loud for this time in the morning. She would come in, sing a song, and have us play a game where we interacted with others. Now adults always say that kids should never be tired and have boundless energy since they’re young but asking a kid to hug some white people at 8 o’clock in the morning is a bit much.  After “friendly time” was over, Mrs. Green told us that because of the holiday, we would be sitting in the classroom all day listening to her read books and she began with Green Eggs and Ham. . . I was asleep by the time she got to the part where the character ate the food.
    

      I woke up to the smell of some Oreo cookies and quickly realized that I had slept until snack time. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to pack one earlier that morning, so for the next 15 minutes I played around with some toys that I’d snuck to school. Usually, my mom or dad packs my snack for me but since I was becoming a “big boy” they suggested that I do it myself. So up to that day I’d have a snack to hold me over until lunch at 1 o’clock.

      Today when Mrs. Green said it was lunch time, I was the first in line. On the way to the cafeteria I was constantly rushing past my teacher in a feat driven by an intense desire for food. We finally made it to the lunch line, where Mrs. Green stopped us. “Now children, since we’re celebrating our favorite author today, the lunchroom staff has prepared a special meal for us.” When she said the word “special” it registered in my brain as, “Maybe we’ll have some cake!” so I didn’t think about it too much. Mrs. Green finally moves out of the way so that I can try see the wonderful spread of food they have to offer. As I peered over the glass window separating us from the food, I saw that the metal coverings were still over the food. The lunch lady looked at me and smiled. She pulled the lids off of the trays and the food was....green eggs and ham!

     Instantly, my throat started burning as stomach acid was making it’s way up my throat and into my mouth. I was positive that the throw up that was in my mouth tasted better than the green eggs. Growing up, my father never bought ham or used it in any way, shape, or fashion so both parts of this meal horrified me. I was stuck in a very difficult situation. Do I risk getting food poisoning or go hungry for the rest of the school day? March 7, 2007 happened to be a Wednesday, which according to my father was “Try Something New Day.” Unfortunately, I decided to try the green eggs and ham. 

    I got my plate and sat down at a table, optimistic about this meal. “Well I like eggs, and ham comes from a pig like bacon does, maybe I’ll like it.” Famous last words. I stuck my plastic fork into the pile of eggs and put a forkful of it into my mouth. Let’s pause here. At Compton Elementary School, the lunch ladies don’t see use in draining a 20 pound tub of eggs so what happens? The green eggs absorb the green egg water. This means that if someone were to bite into such eggs, then they would get a massive volume of green egg water bursting in their mouth and dripping down to their chin.  Take a moment and imagine how you would feel if you were five years old and had this happen to you. Now take that feeling and add the fact that you were longing for some nourishing food, but have to wait several more hours to get some.

    This story gets worse. Apparently, my father had volunteered to read books to one of the classes that day so he was at the school during my lunch period. Of course, he was trying to find me so that we could have lunch together, which I had no problem with. Except on this particular day we had green eggs and ham. If we went out eat eat as a family or ate at the house, my dad would not let me leave the table until I’d either finished my food or thrown up trying. By the time he’d found me, I had already given up hope of finishing my tray so it was just sitting on the table in front of me, green slime and all. 

    My dad saw this and asked why I wasn’t eating and I told him that eggs aren’t supposed to be green. “Don’t disrespect the lunchroom staff by throwing out a full plate of food that they made for you. Finish it all.” So as my classmates got to leave the lunchroom and go back to class, I was stuck alone in the lunchroom, with my dad, ingesting green egg water.

- Wobbly

Reasons I'm Done with My iPhone

iPhones Used to Be Cool
Apple has made some great devices over the last decade or so.  When the iPhone first came out, I was eager to get one because it just looked so cool and Apple was known for making great products.  I had a Macbook in 2008, an iPod nano in 2004, and an iPod touch when they first came out.  Recently the quality of their products has significantly decreased.  My iPhone continually glitches and closes apps for no reason.  My nano and touch are long gone due to their own issues.  And my Macbook is basically obsolete, mostly because I'm too cheap to upgrade my software (and even if I did, macbook gurus say that it will not run as efficiently for several reasons).  Since my software isn't updated, I cannot sync my phone with my itunes and put the songs I want on my phone, or upload my pictures to iPhoto.

These are my own personal problems I have with the company, but in all honesty, things have been on the downside since Steve Jobs passed several years ago.  Their latest unveilings have been more of the same and I'm no longer impressed by the company.  iPhones were cool in the beginning because they could do things that other phones couldn't.  Now however, other companies have caught up and iPhone is no longer the only nice looking, touch screen phone with lots of applications, and that is easy to use.  The luster wore off a long time ago.  Below is a list of more reasons I'm done with my Apple iPhone.

Ten Reasons

1. Apple Emoji's were unveiled in 2011 and it took four years to incorporate racially diverse ones.  Seriously.
2. My phone repeatedly shuts off and restarts on its own for no reason whatsoever.
3. Updates seem cumbersome and unnecessary.
4. The iPhone 6 is wack, it looks cheap and generic.
5. In the most recent phone update, I was forced to download an app for Apple Watch.  Who told them I was getting one? How presumptive!
6. I feel like my privacy is being invaded. I was asked if I'd like to scan my credit card and save my information on my phone to make online purchases go smoother.
7. I'm continually asked what my location is whenever opening certain apps and websites.
8. Siri can't answer any of my questions.
9. It's ridiculously expensive to get any repairs or replace my phone if something bad happens to it.
10. Having one makes me feel like a member of a cult or a worker ant.

I just need a phone that can make calls, text messages, receives emails, plays music, and has twitter and internet capabilities.  Any suggestions?

Peace.

Everyday is Black History

Here at Brothers, we've been slacking.  I have been meaning to post something about the month of February and its significance but there's one problem.  The reality is that we should be celebrating black history every day.  If you're a person who is truly black and proud, Black History permeates each and every single second of every day of your life.

Black History is something you have to live and understand your importance and position in culture.  In a country where black men are murdered and imprisoned at alarming rates, we must all remember our ancestors that were enslaved, tortured, persecuted, and humiliated in order to improve our own lives.  While shopping at Barnes & Noble, I discovered this gem of a book with hundreds of quotations from Black people.  I read from it every day.

The video below shares some enlightening sentiments from Detroit Red aka Malcolm X.  I leave you with some words of advice via the great El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz!

"In the ghettoes the white man has built for us, he has forced us not to aspire to greater things, but to view life as survival."

Peace and Love

K. Plattinum

Top Five, Bruce Wayne, and Moses

Well I'll just make this quick.  When first hearing news of the new Chris Rock movie, Top Five, I knew I would go see it as soon as I got the chance.  I've always liked Chris Rock and the movie features a star studded cast of comedic geniuses.  The various interviews that he's participated in leading up to the film's release increased my anticipation to get a big bag of twizzlers, sit on my butt for a few hours, and get some hearty laughs.

I went to the nearest movie theater the week before Top Five came out to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (I read all the books and couldn't resist, it was okay).  However, this forced me to start planning my next trip to the movie theater and I realized there are no theaters near my home showing this film.  I live at the intersection of Pomona, La Verne, and Claremont, California.  Upon further research, I see that black people make up 7.5%, 3.4%, and 4.7% respectively in these cities.  I'm not really surprised by the figures but it helps understand why I won't be able to go see Chris Rock's new movie.


I'm just appalled that a movie that has garnered so much attention, wouldn't even make it to my local theater.  But it makes sense, during my daily adventures I rarely see black people unless it's on public transportation.  However, I wouldn't be telling the whole story without mentioning that all the nearby theaters are showing this Exodus bullshit with numerous time slots.  And that is America for you.  A place where a black man can't go see Chris Rock's new film at his local movie theater, but I have many opportunities watch some white people pretend that their Africans.  Never thought I'd see the day when Bruce Wayne and Moses were the same person.

If you don't understand white supremacy . . . Everything else will confuse you

A Day in the Life

Intro
Amidst the Eric Garners, Trayvon Martins, Mike Browns, and countless others, America still has no idea what the life of a black male consists of.  White supremacy has pervaded every level of society all over the world and it has systematically made us enemies in the subconscious of everyone, including our own people.  That being said, black males must learn and understand how the world views them in each and every possible situation that can occur in a given day.  Read on and I will detail the daily interactions I experience as a young, educated black male living in America.

Growing up with four older brothers, I have been conscious of how society views me for as long as I can remember.  I credit my parents, home life, personal experiences, and propensity for reading black literature, for helping me to see the world the way it is. Unfortunately, the bulk of young black men don't have a strong support system of brothers AND/OR a father figure to teach them how to navigate the proverbial cloud of white supremacy.  This causes a lack of knowledge that is essential to the SURVIVAL of black males in this country.

The Package
These days, I wear whatever clothes I want because I enjoy comfort while out running errands and whatnot.  Whether it's a tee shirt, polo shirt, jeans, khakis, or shorts, I make sure that my clothes fit properly and my pants aren't sagging. Why? Because if you look unkempt as a black male, people think you're a criminal.  Each day I have to be careful about the package that I present in public because otherwise, people will assume I'm just another "robbing, stealing, killing nigger."

I walk with a purpose, keep my head held high and I speak to all people using proper english because that's how I was raised.  I walk with my head up because I enjoy seeing the reactions of white folks and others when this skinny black guy is walking down the street.  Rarely do I see another black man during my ventures and if I do, they always get a hello or nod of recognition.  Others however, stare at the ground, clutch their purses tighter, walk faster, and my personal favorite, refuse to acknowledge your presence.  I see the looks and I know what they're thinking based on their facial and physical demeanor.  And these are just the cases of strangers whom I don't know and will never get to know.

These are just the little things that happen everyday that I notice.  There are always the store associates that follow me around the store, policeman shining their flashlights in my face whilst riding my bike home at night, the elementary school teacher that told me I'd never amount to anything, getting arrested and the cops letting my white friend go home free while me and two black dudes are sent off to jail, and the list goes on. . .

This is America
I don't let these things affect me anymore, because I expect it to happen.  This is America, a country founded on the backs of free labor and white supremacy.  They brought our ancestors here against their will, and now they don't want us here and will continue to kill and imprison us at every chance they get.  So black men, know that white supremacy exists and we are at the bottom of their hierarchy.

It's our job to survive and support our families, so don't even give them the opportunity to say they were "defending themselves" because as we know, it always ends with an acquittal or lack of indictment, and a dead black man.

Brothers
In order to get a better understanding of self, I urge my brothers to read the books of the past by black male authors.  Their stories are just as relevant today, if not more so.  We have to get an appreciation for what they went through in order to find your path and figure out how you can make a positive impact.  Some must reads include: Native Son by Richard Wright, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver, and The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X & Alex Haley just to name a few.

It's not about hating white people, it's about loving yourself and your people.  We define the culture.  Know that you have worth!!  Black is Beautiful!!

"The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less." - Eldridge Cleaver, Soul on Ice

Peace
K. Plattinum

Why I Hate Kerry Washington and Scandal

Now before you jump to any outlandish conclusions, I was once a huge fan of Kerry Washington.  However, her antics as of late have really just pushed a nerve with me.  I was first introduced to her when I watched the Spike Lee film, She Hate Me, in which she plays a lesbian and love interest to Anthony Mackie.  No problems with me here, mostly because of the great romance scenes she has with Anthony Mackie and Dania Ramirez (MY GOD!!).

Rise to Stardom

Since 2004, Washington has had unparalleled success by starring in numerous blockbuster films (including Ray, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Fantastic Four, The Last King of Scotland, I Think I Love My Wife, and several others).  I had to do some research and looked back at her older movies.  The Details (with Tobey Maguire), Lakeview Terrace (with Patrick Wilson), Fantastic Four (with whoever played The Thing), and The Last King of Scotland (with James McAvoy) were movies that contributed greatly to her success, where she just happens to be the love interest to some random white guy.

                                                      

Scandal

By 2012, Scandal comes out and she's the envy of women everywhere.  Starring in this television show, she's a "political fixer" who just happens to be having an affair with the President.  I watched the first season and enjoyed it . . . But the way she is portrayed in the show wouldn't allow me to continue watching the second season.  (I tried to watch the first episode and had to turn it off)  The show builds her up as this amazing, independent, smart black woman but for some reason she can't escape the grasp of the President. (Oh yeah, he's a white guy)

Recap
In conclusion, Washington is a huge star today, with young black women emulating her at every chance.  But as a black male, I just can't endorse the subliminal messages the show sends.  We criticize celebrities like Taye Diggs, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Kobe Bryant for their on and off camera interactions with white women, so how is it different for her?  . . . . 

P.S. I don't hate black women, I promise lol