Old School Video of the Week - Anita Baker

My old school video of the week is from one of the best in the business, Anita Baker and the classic, Giving You The Best That I Got. Anyone who has someone that loves them as much as Anita expresses her love in the lyrics of this beautiful ballad is truly blessed.










I will be in attendance when Anita Baker performs in Kansas City this weekend. It will be my first time experiencing her live. I can hardly wait. Anita if you're reading this (wishful thinking on my part...), please release another studio CD soon. Your audience is ready for new material.

Why I Won't Frequent The P&L And Crossroads Districts

My first reaction to the news of a patron being shot during an attempted robbery in the Crossroads District was the typical (I hope the perpetrators aren't Black...), which is probably the reaction to news of this nature by most law abiding Brothers in this city.

As it turns out, the perpetrators of this cowardly crime were caught Monday and yes, they were Black. Jaevaun D. Griffin, 19 and Lawrence D. Sneed, 30 were charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action. If you think we (Black men, law abiding or crime committing, fear doesn't distinguish between the two...) were unwelcome in those places before, you haven't seen anything yet.

This opinion is not based on the P&L dress code, which I personally have no problem with, this opinion is based on the perception of Black men in this city. People get nervous when two or more Black males walk into an establishment, no matter how we're dressed. I've witnessed and experienced this for myself.

As much as I blame prejudice for the fear that grips some in our city, I really feel the bulk of the should be placed at the feet of the worthless, lazy, irresponsible criminal element that preys on the innocent, responsible and hard working (of all races and backgrounds) in this city.

I hope these two cowards are punished to the full extent the law will allow. I pray for the victim's recovery. I cannot begin to imagine what she has had to endure as a result of their cowardly actions. These two worthless individuals have inflicted more damage on an already divided city than their feeble minds can comprehend.

This law abiding Blackman will avoid the P&L, Crossroads and Westport. Call me crazy, call my stance rediculous, I choose to think of it as a survival mechanism.

A Few Thoughts from Week 2 of the NFL Season

• Dallas Cowboy fans should come away from last night's game with mixed emotions. On the one hand, a win is a win especially against a divisional foe..... BUT, the defense surrendered 37 pts and 337 yards of total offense.

• Speaking of the Cowboys/Eagles game, Eagles wideout DeSean Jackson has to be the NFL Idiot of the Week (and I'm not just saying that because he cost me 7 fantasy pts, sonnava b*tch) for tossing the ball prior to scoring. From where I sit, (on a leather sofa with a platter of hot wings, nachos and a cooler of ice cold Pepsi), it would seem common sense would kick in and say, "Hold on to the ball until you've crossed the goal line." That being said, this is a talented player, two games over 100 yard games receiving in his first two games as a rookie will attest to that fact. The problem with this knucklehead is this wasn't his first offense. He did the same thing in a high school game. Something tells me this won't be the last time he does this.

• File this under, LARRY JOHNSON IS UNHAPPY?! NOOOOOOOO!!! Chiefs All-Pro running back Larry Johnson is very unhappy about not getting the ball in Chan Gailey's offense. Chan is spreading the carries among three backs, LJ, Kolby Smith and rookie Jamaal Charles. After Sunday's embarrassing loss to an over-achieving Raiders squad, LJ questioned whether or not he is being phased out of the offense in favor of the younger players. Face it Larry there is good news and bad news with as it relates to this team, the good news is this is a young team with no where to go but up. The bad news is this a young team with no where to go... as far as it relates to the playoffs this season and probably next season. The person I feel sorry for most of all in this rebuilding phase is tight end Tony Gonzales. This guy has spent his entire career with the Chiefs and has yet to experience a playoff win. He will someday end up in Canton Ohio however unless the Chiefs mercifully trade him to a contender, his HOF resume will not include a Superbowl championship.

• Anyone ready to write off the New England Patriots should think again. I am not predicting another Superbowl appearance for them but they remain a solid football team and you don't have to look too far back to find examples of teams that won a Superbowl championship with a good defense and an average QB leading the offense. (Baltimore Ravens in 2001 with Trent Dilfer and the Tampa Bay in 2003 with Brad Johnson)

• Green Bay GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy look like geniuses for their handling of the Brett Farve fiasco, particularly after quarterback Aaron Rodger's performance against the Lions last Sunday. Yes, it was the Lions but the kid has looked good in his first two games and they're 2 - 0 as a result.

• The call or no call in the San Diego/Denver game was indeed a blown call but the Chargers need to get over it. They had a chance to stop the Broncos from scoring on 4th down and again when they went for the two point conversion. Ed Hochuli is one of the best officials in the NFL. Yes he missed a crucial call in a game that could shape the outcome of the division but the Chargers have themselves and only themselves to blame for this loss.
  

A Few Random Question.....

An all white jury was selected for O.J. Simpson's robbery and kidnapping trial. Do you think he is beginning to realize party is over?






With hurricanes Rita, Katrina, Andrew and Gustav being fresh in our minds, why would anyone choose to ride out an approaching hurricane (Ike) with an eye that was in 60 mile diameter as it approached land?


What the hell is Lil' Wayne talking about in that song 'A Milli'? What the hell is Lil' Wayne talking about in any of his songs?

Assuming the recent stories concerning Vince Young's mental state are true, how would he respond if he were playing in front of the crazed football fanatics in Philadelphia, New York or Oakland?

Charles is in Charge (I know that's weak but it's my first posting.... cut me some slack!)

Well, after months of putting it off and coming up with every reason under the sun for why I should not create my own blog, I've set my doubts aside and just did it! Despite my thinking no one will care about what I think (probably true), I've decided to create my own blog and let the world know just what I think. Whether you care or not really isn't my concern.

This blog will be dedicated to absolutely nothing in particular. I will use it to post my thoughts on everything from the critical issues like the upcoming elections (yep, it will probably be predictable too...) to items that will make you say, "WTF?!" (Like when is the new season of Cheaters going to begin?!)

While you ponder all of this heavy information I've just dropped on you, take a sec and enjoy this classic clip from the classic band, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. Folks, they just don't make music like this anymore.





Until next time......

Charley