"Regarded for their exquisite beauty and the timeless qualities of love and devotion that they represent, diamonds have fascinated mankind throughout the centuries. The most precious and enduring of all gemstones, diamonds were formed billions of years ago, deep within the earth. Only a small number survive the journey to the earth's surface; fewer still are of a quality that can be made into a precious piece of jewelry." - Diamondfacts.org

There Is No 'Black ####', Blood Diamonds are Forever - Have Blood, Not Diamonds

This is in response to the Professional that moved too soon writing an article about a man that is gone too soon, all because of the goods he possessed, and not for the goodness in his heart.

This is about those in search of the almighty Blood Diamond. Now Blood Diamonds represent all that is material: money, clothes, jewelry, cars, and status. It is anything of no cash value or of no real value in terms of what you need in life or what you will take with you to the afterworld.

Since the beginning of a time when status became quo and having the most meant you were the best or superior to those that don't, there has always been conflict. Its almost seems second nature to hate on those that have more material than you. We don't hate on those that give of themselves by feeding the homeless, for example.

Most of us look to see where we have to climb and we want to conquer the mountain. Some of us decide the mountain is too steep and quit in the middle of the climb and some choose to just stay on the ground and cheer for the climbers. The rest climb up only to take from the top or pull on your legs to make you fall back down.

The state of Black America is not in jeopardy because of guns or hip hop, there is a prevailing mindset that places no value on life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness. While this mindset exists regardless of race, color, creed, or country, Blacks in America have a unique situation.

Our middle and lower class citizens live in the same neighborhoods. We fought long and hard for intergration, but the middle class failed to fight against Section 8. The program means well in theory, but I've seen no improvement to my community. Its actually had the opposite effect.

We are the only people that had to endure an influx of drug corners, crack dealers, crack heads, crack houses, and crack babies into our neighborhoods and even our families. Like I always say there needs to be a T-Shirt that reads "I Survived 1988-1990"!

We are the only people that promotes this ignorant message of "keeping it real", meaning money shouldn't change you or your situation. So if you come into a million dollars it is expected of you to not change the people around you. That would be true, if you were surrounded by positivity and people that loved life and loved you. But let's be real, you probably had haters before you came into your money. People hate on you because you're special. Being special and a go-getter is something that shines brightly amongst the lowlifes, for lack of a better word. Or maybe that is the right word. I'm just being nice. But its perfect low-life is exactly what it is. People that put a low value on life.

For whatever reason lowlifes have the nerve to want the same things as you, but don't want to work for it. But they will take the time to rob and shoot at will. I didn't say lowlifes were smart. The thing is lowlifes are not born, they are created. I never met a 3 year old lowlife. They are victims of their environment.

Now, for the fortunate ones, the ones that can bob and weave from time to time and socialize with the lowlifes, because you all grew up together and you still see the good in them. You work hard for yours, go to school, get a good job, and have your head on straight. But being a have amonsgt the have-nots is impossible and not very smart. Most go-getters take this time to show off, maybe its not intentional. In a perfect world, of course you can drive your Bentley to the projects and not second guess it. But in the real world, while most will stare in awe, there is always one or more plotting.

And it doesn't even have to be a Bentley, it can be a Toyota Camry. Anything that equates a certain level of status that the lowlife doesn't have. You become fair game.

So what is it that keeps the fortunate ones on the right track? Who knows. That's why they are fortunate and special. In spite of their predicament they have a determined idea to want the best that life has to offer. And that's not material wealth. Material is just something that comes with having enough income to purchase goods. It has nothing to do with who you are as a person.

In the opening of Jason Whitlock's article "Taylor's death a grim reminder for us all", he opens with, "There's a reason I call them the Black ####. The pain, the fear and the destruction are all the same." Not hardly. The reign of terror the Ku Klux Klan inflicted can be compared to no another. The Klan was a full fledged organization whose intent was to keep Blacks and their supporters in their place through intimidation, lynchings, torture, bombings, and assassinations. What's happening in the Black community is hardly organized or even deliberate.

"The Black #### claimed another victim, a high-profile professional football player with a checkered past this time." Some would say President Bush has a checkered past or any other political figure for that matter. Whitlock wrote this article too soon to speculate the real motive behind Sean Taylor's murder.

I know one thing, hip hop has nothing to do with it. Unlike Hollywood, which has a talented force of writers who can create a tale that is brought to life on screen, music is the other way around. Life creates the music. And in the commercial realm of hip hop, ignorance sells. Even the so called King of Hip Hop, Jay-Z, at close to 40 years old still spits the same tales he did 10 years ago. Why not rap about being president of Def Jam and being part owner of a NBA team? Now that's American Gangster. Throw up that Diamond sign!

R.I.P Sean Taylor and to all the others that have lost their lives due to senseless violence.

Today I am forcing myself to write. Its been close to a month since my last post. I've just been too uninterested to keep up.

I just wanted to start off by saying, yesterday was a very moving day. The City of Philadelphia said goodbye to a fallen hero, Officer Chuck Cassidy, who was killed in the line of duty on October 31, after walking in on a armed robbery at a Dunkin Donuts. This was in my neighborhood, a place I ride by every single day. Every murder is senseless, but this just really struck a cord in the city.

I made it my business to be outside to see the motorcade yesterday pass through our streets and it was pretty rough.

A few hours later, two more innocent lives were taken. Both victims were shot in the head in two separate incidents in two separate parts of the city. One was a heating oil delivery man, the other a man inside of a corner store. In both incidents there were no motives and no suspects. I just wish more could be done in solving murders of those that are not police officers, maybe reward money could motivate a lot more people to speak up. Officer Cassidy's killer was an #### and confessed to his family. A family friend tipped off police. More than likely he was motivated by the $115,000 reward money which rose to $153,000 and will be split 3 or 4 ways with some tipsters in Miami.

So while some of us need money to prompt doing the right thing, the second lead story has been about Andy Reid and his family. Coach Reid was so moved by this tragedy he reached out to Officer Cassidy's 16 year old son and invited him to the Eagles v. Cowboys games last Sunday. He even told him if he ever needed to talk, he would be there for him.  Is he trying to make up for something he didn't do with his own sons? I mean, that sounded all good, but the question is how long were his sons up to no good before getting caught with guns, drugs, waving guns at old ladies, and crashing into cars?

Its too late for Andy Reid to give up his coaching job. He should have done that about 10 years ago when he could have made a difference. His sons have no respect for him. At 22 and 24 years old, they're old enough to suffer the consequences. But honestly, they could care less. So this won't be the last incident. Anyone that would sneak 89 pills into jail is in need of more than rehab or months in prison. That is where race comes into play, like Jason Whitlock wrote about today. That's why crack gets you more time than powder. But this isn't forum for that conversation.

So in NBA News:

Another NBA season has started and I have no interest yet. I started my fantasy basketball over on NBA.com and now I don't even care. I see why I never did it before. I can't stay on top of it.

But on the real, this is really bothering me.

Its been a year or almost since Allen Iverson was traded, and I've been noticing a lot lately that the Philly media is starting to address Andre Igoudala as A.I. This must stop immediately. Yeah they share the same initials, but come on people, he needs another nickname, that's just wrong. Andre will never be Allen, no where near it, so he needs to have his own identity and that's just out of respect.

I believed Marion Jones.

I really truly did.

Now I wonder why now?

The guilt must have really been heavy on her conscience for her to confess. I rooted for her to get those five gold medals and watched every competition that summer and I wouldn't change a thing. But I am starting to wonder is she came in third on purpose for two of those competitions, although I recall her looking exhausted from extending herself. Steroids are good, but not that good.

I'm not really sure how I feel about steroids.

In third grade, we had an assignment to find an article in the newspaper and give a report on it the next day. My parents helped me choose an article about Ben Johnson who won the gold medal in the 1988 but tested postive for steroids. His gold medal was eventually awarded to Carl Lewis who came in second.

That was my first encounter with steroids in sports. I had no clue what they were or what they did before then.

That's why I laughed every time a reporter asked Little Billy about Barry Bonds and they would respond "He should have an asterisk!" then he would look up his father with the 'did I say it right' look on his face.

In the 12th grade, I participated in a mock trial competition and portrayed a high school track coach accused of giving the star runner steroids. The runner eventually suffered from "roid rage" and injured herself to the point she could no longer run. It was this experience that really gave me insight on what steroids were really all about.

Originally the topic of steroids was less complex in my mind. It was flat out cheating. During the mock trial and what eventually led my school to the citywide semi finals was that fact that steroid usage in competitive sports is not so simple.

Any athlete that will subject their body to steroids is desperate. The advantages of steroids, especially when used by an already talented individual are endless. The combination leads to glory, but often that glory is short lived and as Marion Jones spelled out in her letter, riddled with eventual guilt.

I think about the regimens that most athletes have and wonder how they make it without enhancement drugs or supplements - both legal and illegal.

Steroids can give you that much needed edge to sustain workouts. So instead of 2 hours you can go for 4 hours. It won't make you run faster if you dont already run fast. It won't make you a better hitter if you are a below average hitter. You already have to be good at what you do. But instead of crashing, you keep going.

Again, I'm not really sure how I feel about steroids.

Do I think Marion Jones should have confessed? Honestly, she should have made them prove it instead of admitting it. She already said she didn't use steroids during the 2000 Olympics, now she admits to starting in 1999. Her ex-husband, CJ Hunter, who she was married to at the the time was a admitted steroid user.

But everyone thought Marion was clean. Then there were other things she admitted to lying about including her involvement in a check fraud scam. This admission threw me for a loop, but I wasn't surprised. Usually where there's smoke, there's fire.

Telling the truth is always the right thing to do, but it seems you get crucified more for it.

Do I think Barry Bonds should have an asterisk by his record? Not if Mark McGwire doesn't.

I find it impossible to believe that Bonds is the only one.

My whole thing is prove it.

You still have to see the ball to hit it and steroids have nothing to do with hand-eye coordination. It may be more power behind the ball, but you still have to hit it. Feel me?

I don't care how big your muscles are, you still have to hit the ball.

There is nothing pure about sports anymore.

Whenever money and competition is involved, there is no more purity. Even Little League gets pimped. Damn, spelling bees get pimped.

I'm not saying you can't enjoy sports for the moment and the intent, just know its more than a game if you bother to let your mind even wander and take you there. Some people choose to remain in the dark even when the light is shining dead in their face.

The truth shall set you free!

Competition is just one hell of a drug.

I read an article from the Seattle Times and came across an interesting tidbit....

"Before last season, each team presented a version of the same slide show. The first slide depicts rap mogul Jay-Z seated courtside in an oxford shirt, sweater and necktie. "I'm not a businessman," a caption on the slide show reads, "I'm a business, man." The slide show preaches the importance of image and the need to change the public perception of NBA players." (Source)

Who in the hell left the gate open?

Today, Sandra Rose, pointed out the discrepencies that are Shawn Carter's grill.

"They can spend money extravagantly on unnecessary things, but can't spend a couple of dollars to fix their teeth? No wonder Jay Z rarely smiles - and for that we are grateful."

"Not only can you see his crooked front tooth, but are those weed stains on his teeth? Wow, has Jay ever sat in a dentist's chair in his life?" - Sandra Rose

In spite of having more than enough money and making the Forbes list, Mr. Carter chooses not to take care of his teeth. And neither does Sean "Diddy" Combs. 50 Cent got shot in his mouth and has great teeth. Even Kanye has nice teeth.

I have no real point.

I read Sandra's blog and then read the article that mentioned Jay-Z on a NBA slide show about image.

And it made me laugh.

I thought about the NBA players I've seen over the years with bad teeth (Reggie Miller) and bad skin (Dennis Rodman) and it never was an issue.

And I noticed its because they are men.

If Beyonce was sporting Jay-Z's grill would he still be interested in sporting her on his arm?

Can a woman have acne and blemishes and still be considered sexy, like Diddy works so hard to perserve and maintain?

I noticed Alicia Keys has some acne problems, but she wears make-up so you would never know it.

Is Jay-Z really a good example of image?

All he really has is stylist.

Business-wise, he's overrated. (Rihanna and who else?, What's his percentage of the Nets, and does he really own the 40/40 Club?)

And he's 40.

Why tell 20 somethings to portray the image of a 40 year old man?

Do you know what Jay-Z was in his 20s?

Allegedly a drug dealer and but realistically a starving rapper.

There are better examples.

Diddy never sold drugs, why not show him instead?

And he really did start his own empire.

Maybe he was the next slide.

Then came Usher.  

I guess Jay is more relatable to the players now, but I would never want to see my employer do a presentation on image and use Jay-Z as an example.

Am I supposed to take that seriously?

Should I be offended?

It's just ridiculous!