Free Mr. Tony!

Earlier this week one of my favorite television and radio personalities was suspended from his wildly popular tv show PTI for two weeks regarding his comments toward fellow sportscaster Hannah Storm. Yes it’s true Tony Kornheiser probably could have kept his opinion regarding the attire of Hannah Storm to himself, but for years ESPN has profited for years off his abrasive attitude and willingness, nay excitement to say whatever was on his mind. Did they really expect him to bite his tongue on this?

Now here is what Mr. Tony said that apparently was so egregious that he had to be exiled from the airwaves for two weeks:
“"Hannah Storm in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today, she’s got on red go-go boots and a catholic school plaid skirt way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now. She’s got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body. I know she’s very good, and I’m not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won’t … but Hannah Storm … come on now! Stop! What are you doing?"

Now before you jump on me for just contributing to a boys will be boys attitude, allow me to show you what Ms. Storm was wearing:


Now that seems to be a bit unbecoming of someone in a professional setting. If you look at all the men on set, they are wearing suits and ties, women wearing professional blouses etc and not looking like a rejected character from Candyland. I get that it’s difficult and sometimes downright unfair for women in the world of journalism in a mainly male arena, but when you dress in a manner such as that do you expect to be taken seriously?
Michelle Tafoya, Sage Steele, Dana Jacobs, Suzy Kolber and countless others who do their job without resorting to dressing like a tart and rather letting their work speak for them are being done a grave disservice when attention is given to those dressed in a salacious manner rather than those whose work actually encourages you to think or enlightens you on a subject.

I guess the point of this is not to say Tony’s comments should go unpunished. A public apology, a fine, maybe a day or two from his show would have been fine but this appears to be nothing more than over reaction by ESPN which has had problems with claims of sexual harassment and romantic entanglements amongst it’s employees (See: Steve Phillips, Sean Salisbury, & Harold Reynolds).

Hopefully through this whole episode unfolding as it has maybe Ms. Storm can be the journalist anyone who has seen her work knows she can be and not just another person imitating a journalist.

Don't Drop That Sh#$!

NBA Trade Diary

Nothing makes the Chocolate Puma hapier than the possibe deals done around the NBA trade deadline. With that in mind I present to you my NBA trade diary.

2/17/10: 12:50 PM
Looks like the biggest deal of the day is going to be the massive swap of the legendary Darko Milicic for the unstoppable Brian Cardinal between the Knicks and the Timberwolves. Where’s the alleged Amare deal or T-Mac moving?

2/17/10: 1:30 PM
Current rumors have the Bulls sending Tyrus Thomas, Kirk Hinrich and possibly Jerome James or Brad Miller in a deal for T-Mac. The deal is being slowed up now due to the Rockets not wanting to take on the contract of Hinrich.

2/17/10 2:15 PM
Cavaliers get: Antawn Jamison, Sebastian Telfair
Wizards get: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, rights to Emir Preldzic, 2010 first-round draft pick from Cavs and Al Thornton
Clippers get: Drew Gooden
Appears that this is going to be the biggest deal of the day, I hope Gooden didn’t unpack his bags from his trade earlier this week from the Mavs to the Wizards. With Jamison going to the Cavs this effectively ends any dream of re-teaming Amare with the Diesel.

2/17/10 2:45 PM
Rumored deal sending Nate Robinson to the Celtics appears to be stalling.

2/18/10 7:10 AM
John Salmons is no longer a Bull. At the current moment it appears that we’ll be receiving Joe Alexander and Hakim Warrick after last night it was reported we would receive Kurt Thomas and Francisco Elson. I am kinda meh on this deal.

2/18/10 10:05 AM
So Amare isn’t going anywhere according to the owner of the Suns. Truth or is this just a negotiating ploy? Miami was unwilling to part with Michael Beasley.

2/18/10 11:15 AM
Blah blah blah trades so far, Sixers and Bucks just exchanged players of no real consequence including Royal Ivey, Primo Brezic, and Jodie Meeks.

2/18/10 12:20 PM
An explosion of information all of a sudden. First T-Mac gets his wish to play in New York. The deal according to ESPN is “The Knicks will acquire McGrady and Sergio Rodriguez from Sacramento, The Rockets get Kevin Martin, Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries and will have the right to swap first-round picks with New York in 2011 as well as take on New York's 2012 first-round pick, Sacramento will get Carl Landry, Joey Dorsey, and Larry Highes.

The biggest shocker so far has Tyrus Thomas being traded to Charlotte for Acie Law, Flip Murray, and a first round pick. Not sure how I feel about this one. I feel we could have gotten more for Thomas instead we got an all right guard in Murray and a draft bust in Law. Time will tell as they do have expiring contracts.

Chi-town Gold!

Domination. Pure and simple.

Find a new scapegoat

I have had numerous conversations over the years touting the positive aspects of the hip-hop culture. Yet constantly I am berated with the same argument over and over again. “It’s so misogynistic.”

"Love is blind, you just see bright light, you up in the club feelin' the night life, lookin' for the right type. Blood rushing to your heart making it beat when she swept you off your feet and made it complete"
-Talib Kweli

Yeah, I can see that. I know what some of you are saying, what about songs like “Move bitch” and “Get Low?” I say to you, what about the forms of music that’s not hip-hop that has the same kind of degradation people are so upset about. What you may be saying to yourself, hip-hop didn’t invent the objectification of women? I know shocking. Let’s see there is the classic tune by Prodigy aptly titled “Smack my bitch up.” How romantic. There is the Rolling Stones tune “Brown Sugar” thought to be one of the more racist songs of its time. Not to mention all of the songs that paint men in a negative light such as Tyrone by Erykah Badu, Goodby Earl by Dixie Chicks and every other man is a dog song that spurned women have been singing for years.

What is the point of this rambling and possibly incoherent rant? It’s quite simple; it’s not just hip-hop. So when the talk of misogynism comes up let’s not automatically cut to a Jay-Z video, how about a corporate boardroom or even a random living room. Hip-hop didn’t invent the unfair media portrayal of women, and they’re not the only ones succeeding off of it.

Instead of finding a scapegoat how about we find some solutions.

Rant over.

Joe the Plumber

Dear Joe the Plumber,

Shut the hell up.

Signed,
America

Lost Love

Valentines Day is coming up which leads all of us who are living the bachelor/bachelorette lifestyle to take stock of our romantic lives and wonder is it time for us to settle down, or in some cases we ponder those whom for some reason we have let escape from our lives. Here is the tale of a delicate flower who slipped out of my life almost as soon as she entered.

The night was one like many I have experienced before when I left my apartment. There was a chill in the air; the promise of good times with friends, and of course the uncertainty of meeting new people. The night went mostly as planned. I had a few beers with friends, talked football, and generally laughed and talked as I usually do. The night grew late and I decided the time had arrived for me to leave the party. I bid adieu to my friends and went outside to hail a cab…that’s when my life changed.

I stood in the busy Chicago street when I saw her, a delicate flower stumbling out of a bar, no doubt celebrating some momentous occasion in her life. I stood there, perhaps frozen by her grace and beauty as she proclaimed to the darkness of the night, “I’m soooooo drunk!” I of course naturally assumed that someone of her refinement and elegance was married or at the very least betrothed. I of course was wrong as she sauntered toward me and said the words that any lovesick young man wants to hear from a potential bride. “So,” she slurred saucily, “who’s man are you?” Awestruck, all I could do was stammer and stare blankly. At that very moment a cab pulled up and I was spared any further embarrassment. But being the true angel she was she hopped in the cab as well.

As the cab pulled away I let it be known where I live and she appeared to be cool. I assumed she lived in the area and said nothing further. We arrived at my stop; I jumped out of the cab, yet this delightful seraph followed me and informed me that she felt quite drawn to me. I was flattered, but felt at the time I was not worthy of a woman of her magnitude. I sheepishly explained this, as I spoke she swayed with the wind, her balance dwindling, and then it happened She closed her eyes and out flowed a torrent of vomit in the Chicago street. “Whoa! That was intense!” was her reply. She was right, the greatness that stood before me and subsequently vomited in front me was too intense for me, nay any man to withstand. I called her a cab and saw her go away into the night.

Maybe one day my sweet drunken and off balance queen will return to me. Until then all I can do is lament this lost opportunity.

Basketball

Dear Basketball,
To some you are just a game, but to me you are so much more. You are the calming factor that is needed in a very hectic day to day life. You are the friend who has been with me the longest, and most importantly you have always been there. Yes, to me you are more than a game. I hope you never change.

Sincerely,
The Chocolate Puma

Hip-Hop How I Love Thee…

For all those that know me they know I love the music of Common and I love Chicago. So for that very reason alone you may have deduced that my favorite song from the South side MC is “The Corner.” After the general panning of his previous album there was much pressure to come back with a “Common album” and the man did not disappoint. The first single released was The Corner. With a slick beat from Kanye West who was at his scene stealing best with this beat and topped off with a phenomenal appearance by the Last Poets one would find it hard to disagree with Steve Juon of RapReviews.com assesment that the lyrical content of Common on this trackcontain profound observations of urban life that show why hip hop is the "black man's CNN.”

So in an age where hip-hop is constantly being bashed for being misogynistic and driven by excess, I would challenge you all to take a minute and as a friend of mine stated on numerous occasions “listen to the words, not for the words.” Simply meaning that because a song has profanity it does not take away from the creativity and originality of the genre, which has infused itself with every part of our culture. For you hip-hop novices allow me to give you five tracks you must listen to in no particular order.
5. Juicy: Notorious B.I.G.
4. Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek: The Blast
3. Outkast: Spottieottiedopalicious
2. Jay-Z: Mama Loved Me
1.Common: I Used to Love H.E.R.

Well friends go out there and immerse yourself in the real hip hop music, it will be a decision you will not regret.