MUHAMMAD ALI… GONE AND I DOUBT THAT ‘THE GREATEST’S’ FLAME WILL EVER BE FORGOTTEN… OR GO OUT… and ORLANDO GAY CLUB KILLINGS…

Well, even his illness Muhammad Ali managed to avoid having passed long ago.   For sure

some will say he fought a great fight… and perhaps his greatest was out side the ring fighting Parkinson.

I really do not know many people who have had the staying power of Muhammad Ali when it comes to battling the disease of  Parkinson.   And I guess 1 can say Ali fought and won because he managed, regardless of all the shaking… to keep his humor and be able to see the world in a light that most of us have no idea of… and the blessings we all have who do not have to battle to live or do for ourselves.

I will never forget when Ali stood before the cameras and said because he did not believe in killing people based upon his religious belief… he, therefore, refused to be drafted and go to war, and fight in the Vietnam war.  That action caused many who hated this young black kid, who was so skillful in the boxing ring to get the ammunition to really go after him.  But though that action did color his earlier boxing achievements… and ended up with his title being taken from him, Muhammad Ali never let that stop him from being  the regal sportsmen he continued to be until the day he died.

Another time I will never forget is when Ali during his time from being not allowed to box by the U. S. government… came to visit our college campus.  He was in our Black House… the black student organization building… and he came to talk to us.  I cannot remember what Ali talked about… as all I can remember about that day was that there were a number of us black students in the our Black House that day… and Ali took a hundred dollar bill and bought McDonald’s for all of us.  This may not sound like much to you but to a whole bunch of mid-afternoon starving college students it was something truly great.  We were ecstatic that this great boxer was on our campus and we had a chance to  meet him 1 on 1.  Could not get home quick enough to tell my daddy… who was a major Muhammad Ali fan.

Those of us who were fortunate enough to witness Ali from the

beginning until his end can truly say that he was indeed ‘the greatest of all times.’  No other box has bought to the prize ring the kind of interest and excitement of an Muhammad Ali fight… which was always colorful and full of rhythms such as, ‘Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.’   Or give us a thrill like the ‘Thriller in Ma’nilla.’

Not many have lived to see the greatest basketball player of all times... Michael Jordan.   Or the greatest female sister tennis players of all times… Venus and Serena Williams.  Or the greatest base ball players of all times… Hank Aaron.  The greatest golfer of all times… Tiger Woods.   Or the greatest female vocalist of all times… Whitney Houston… and the greatest entertainer of all times… Michael Jackson.  And Muhammad Ali the greatest heavy weight boxer of all times… from the Olympics into the professional boxing ring.  And what a gift for trash talking

…until 1 day God shut all that down… but did not take his life until now.

Yes, he was pretty.   No boxer prettier… or sharper or more on point than Ali.  And an Ali fight was guaranteed to be exciting and filled with the unexpected.

Watching the funeral on the television and seeing all the religious leaders seated on the stage at Ali’s funeral, and being fully aware of Ali’s own religious beliefs… I could not help but think, ‘If you serve anything other than the 1 and only living God, and his son Jesus… than you can belong to as many religion groups as you want, and be the very best person in the world and never make it to heaven.’

It is my hope that Muhammad Ali’s last and fight battle was 1 he also won… and came to professed that Jesus is Lord, and not a lower prophet under Allah.

Odd how that massive and very powerful man was never stopped by any of his opponents,  who were also big strong  massive heavy weight men with plenty of strength.   But having

suffered so many head injuries brought about a disease that ‘the greatest’ wrestled with for a very long time… and now probably never was overcome by it… but by age instead.  And he went out of here smiling at the ripe old age of 74…smiling because he defeated Parkinson too… but could not overcome age though many have tried.

One thing is for sure …Foreman… Frazier… and all the rest would never be nothing if there had not been an Ali, who allowed them the privilege to claim into his ring…

Well, God bless… and hope you have a beautiful weekend this weekend.  But as I close I cannot help but think about the terrible chain of events that took place in Orlando just this week.

After over a hundred people were shot and more than 50 killed it is insane to me to hear any pastor or supposed religious man laughing and stating from his pulpit that the cold blooded murder who shot and killed those people should have killed everybody who was in that gay club?

I have wonder what Bible are people studying from?

What manner of doctrine are they reading where it says, ‘God hated homosexuals enough to want them all dead.”   If that were the case I am more than sure that God even back in Biblical times surely would not have stopped with merely Sodom and Gomorrah… especially since it is widely known as recognized as almost customary for such things as that among men in Greece during that time.

There is no way that this Orlando gay night club shooting should not be classified as a ‘hate crime’ irregardless of the ethnic background of the shooter and his religion… because this crime was perpetrated solely against the gay men in that club for reasons of hate… due to their sexuality … perhaps because he found them to be attractive… and of interest to his sick perverted sexual desires, which to the shooters ethnic group were both against his religion and ethnicity.   Whom himself frequent that club trying to date many of those men… and met up with Hispanic gay men over the internet.   And there can be denying that this all came about just as we entered into June, which is gay pride month.

Our God has not given unto us the spirit of hate… or hate mongering.   But of love.  Biblical scripture tells us that we are to love one another as we lover ourselves… this comes without conditions or any special exemptions.

http://www.advocate.com/religion/2016/6/14/baptist-pastor-who-cheered-orlando-murders-isnt-alone

I’m off my band wagon for now.   But I pray that God sincerely touch every heart and change ever deprived mind that seeks to do evil.

Thank you for reading this blog…and my others. Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…” http://www.bsmith101.wordpress.com ©2016

/news/190704_muhammad_ali_remembered_during_islamic_funeral_prayer_service/

 

Add a comment June 18, 2016

Venus & Serena US Open…and women’s health and heart attack issues

Busy in New York City, Venus and Serena Williams are at it again.    Busily working their way through the Women’s Single and Doubles tennis matches…truly they are a force to be reckoned with. 

Though injured…Venus  limping and  with a heavily bandaged knee…yet a true fighter all the way, she is  refusing  to give up…or in.   Determined to not let a little thing like severe pain or a weak knee stop her from attempting to take yet another grand slam tournament  title.   While all the while…her little sister is hoping  for the exact  same  thing.

Currently ranked Number 2 & 3 in the World of  Female Tennis players…clearly Venus and Serena can be ranked right up there with all of the top all time tennis greats such as…Althea…Martina and Christie…and Billie…as being not only highly talented athletes…but gifted as well.  

They really should be making lots more money for  what they have managed to accomplished… not to mention for the beauty and excellence that they both have brought to the game of women’s tennis.    Venus and Serena are truly endowed with that something.   And I think that Billie Jean Kings says it best in the article linked below…if you care to read it.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/08/29/2009-08-29_10_years_after_us_open.html

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-us-open3-2009sep03,0,2200533.story

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32658936/ns/sports-tennis/

UPDATE (September 7, 2009):  Venus is out in the 4th rounds of the US Open…and Serena is still in after having won her match.

There is no doubt that going in…Venus knew that her shot at another championship was going to be an up-hill battle…due to the problem with her knee.  But she didn’t let it deter her. 

She went for it…and took the pain fighting her way through every round…every point…and every game.   She didn’t cry about it.  She went out there on the court knowing what it was that she had to if  she wanted to make it into the finals…and she almost made it.

http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2009/09/06/aged-venus-williams-will-compete-again/

http://tennis.fanhouse.com/players/wta/serena-williams/168339

Packaged as the ‘all American girl’,  Melanie Oudin an attractive young blonde from the deep south…is being touted at as ‘the Great White Hope.’    A tennis power house who may be able to do for those too shallow to feel that they can cheer whole heartedly for 2 young sisters born and raised in a ghetto in the worst side of Los Angeles, CA…known as Compton.

Yeah, they come from Compton…though they currently live in Florida.  Compton with police helicopters patrolling the neighbors night and day…one of the toughest and most dangerous areas in L.A.  The home of  hard core rappers like Snoop Doggy Dog, Ice Cube, NWA…etc…etc.   But yeah…it was the place of  their humble tennis beginnings.  And some how they beat those mean  streets of southern California.

It is sad that since the days of  Jack Johnson the heavy weight boxer of  the 1930’s. ..many white people in this country still feel that it goes against their grain to totally except and celebrate anything or anyone but someone who looks like them.    The same is even quite evident in how many in this country feel about Barack Obama.  Many have yet to truly embrace him as President of  this country.  And are strongly oposed to him…and intended to do everything they can to make it as hard on him and his administration as possible…with a sincere desire to undermind his ever move and effort.   This kind of thinking is truly sad…and quite sick.

Oh, sure they love to win the games and do take to the athletes who possess the skills to make it happen for their favorite teams.  But it is the white players  on the team that they make the coaches…move to the front of the team…and put in front of the TV and newspaper cameras…etc.

It is sad that as much as Venus and Serena Williams have managed to do…and from very humble beginnings…without the benefit of  suburan country clubs and well kept tennis courts.  They are a true American success story…and well worth celebrating and holding up before the world as the stars and champions that they truly and really are…and gracious and humble young women regardless of  their vast success both on and off the tennis courts.

You can read the below story on Oudin by CLICKING the LINK below…to clearly understand my statements regarding this issue of  ‘the Great White Tennis Hope.’

http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2009/09/08/oudin-serena-final-would-be-love-american-style/?icid=main|hp-laptop|dl5|link3|http%3A%2F%2Ftennis.fanhouse.com%2F2009%2F09%2F08%2Foudin-serena-final-would-be-love-american-style%2F

UPDATE: (September 8, 2009)  Serena is on to the Semi-Finals…and the predictors are saying that she is on her way to taking her 3rd Grand Slam win this year…having take both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=tennis+serena&aq=f&oq=&aqi=http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/usopen09/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=4458868

Turning 28 on the 28th of this month, Serena has won 11 Tennis Grand Slams, 2 Olympic gold medals and over $25 million…having become the first woman athlete to win over $22 million a few months ago.  To date Serena has won the US Open in 1999, 2002 and 2008.

She and Venus are on their way to taking the Women’s Doubles at US Open, Wimbledon  and the Australian Open…etc…etc…  Venus who is 29 years old…and yet they continue to keep reeling in the wins.  And as a team they are unbeatable.  CLICK the LINK BELOW to the full stop and to see video footage of the Open.

Didn’t know though that Venus and Serena are part owners of the Miami Dolphins.  Wow…they are really smart.  Not to mention being authors having written some books…Serena working on a screenplay…and Venus working doing interior designing and fashion.  And I almost forget…Serena designing and selling jewelry (as you caught in the video above).  But check out their videos below and Serena will tell you all about it herself.

I am really happy for them.  I like to see successful people…and they also give back to their community via their tennis camp for inter-city youth.  Bravo!

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/usopen09/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=4458868

UPDATE: (Women’s Semi-Finals…September 13, 2009)   Evidently Serena  had some type of melt down today during her semi-final match  against Kim Clijsters.  Maybe it was bound to happen at some point or other.  I mean how long can you just sit around…or go out one game after another…come out the winner and never get the claim or fame …or the real big bucks for having done so?

How many times can you get called the “N word” during a tournament…heckled…boo-ed…or look into the eyes of  your opponents knowing what and how they really feel about you.   On  top of   that…to be ignored by the tennis world in general…who run after the young blond haired girls with  their batting blue eyes…with their microphones and cameras…and can’t  seem to get  enough of  them.  And they didn’t have to do half  the work  or  win a  game…but reap all the fame.

How long can you tolerate that…and not experience some type of  emotional melt down?

http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2009/09/13/serena-knocked-out-in-bizarre-finish/

http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2009/09/13/serena-williams-calls-it-quits-with-disgraceful-eruption/?icid=main|hp-laptop|dl5|link3|http%3A%2F%2Ftennis.fanhouse.com%2F2009%2F09%2F13%2Fserena-williams-calls-it-quits-with-disgraceful-eruption%2F

http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2009/09/13/serena-williams-fined-10-500-for-tirade/

http://www.nj.com/sports/njsports/index.ssf/2009/09/serena_williams_outburst_will.html

It is unfortunate, because it is what they had been waiting.  Something to tarnish your squeaky clean image…taint your name…some character fawl to justify why they haven’t cover you the way they cover your white opponents…plastered your face over all the popular magazines…or offered you some of  those major big dollars advertising contracts.  

Oh, they were waiting alright.  And finally the right button was pushed…the straw that broke the camel’s back…and the flood gates burst open.  And all those nasty little words started flowing out…and when the flood gates opened up…all you had been trying to hide and hold back for months just came rushing out.

 

It is not like melt downs haven’t happened during tennis tournaments before.  

Who could tell you more about that  than John McEnroe?

Who by the way said what amounted to that Serena’s behavior was shameful.   This from a man who never walked out on the court without wild outbursts and one swear after another.

I am certainly not condoning Serena’s behavior…but I have seen a lot of black folk who after awhile just got plain fed up.  And once they did… Well…you can figure out the rest.

Baby, it is just hard to contain them…until they get it all…and I do mean all…off  their chest.

Serena’s apology…

I don’t know…I guess as we all get older we start to think more and more about our health.   Maybe it has something to do with seeing others go through some many different kind of  health issues…that we suddenly begin to think about our own mortality more and more. 

Whatever the cause that brings us into a mind that we need to start taking better care of  ourselves…it is all for our good.  And hopefully for a better and healthier future…or for our continued good health.

As women our schedules, families, jobs…and various other choices all sometime supercede us taking care of us.  But the truth of the matter is this…if  we’re not in good health…nothing else can operate well either.   And everything comes to a halt.

So, before that happens…now is a good time to start caring for you. 

I now find myself  listening to my body.  Mostly, because my body now has began to make me listen to it.  Whereas I used did not…I now have to.  Otherwise, my body will put me out of commission for days…and  I  do mean days.    And in a way it is like listening to your car.

Who doesn’t listen to their car?

Only a fool wouldn’t. 

And that is how we should fell about listening to our bodies when it starts sending warning signals out to us. 

In the link below…listed are some warning signs that women  should pay close attention to in regards to on-coming heart attacks.    One of  the  first  keys  to  prevention is being informed.  Information is important…then paying heed to it can be essential. 

http://www.aolhealth.com/health/senior-health/heart-attack-signs?icid=main|main|dl5|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolhealth.com%2Fhealth%2Fsenior-health%2Fheart-attack-signs

I set my glasses down the other day…then carelessly knocked them over onto the ground.  While searching for them…I stepped on them.   Now, I am working with a pair of  broken eye-glasses.   What a cross to bare…when I have so much work to do.   And can barely read a thing with these lopesided glasses.

Spent my whole day…well, most of  it  outside today on my parent’s front porch reading.   Well, as best I could…considering my delemma with my glasses. 

But the weather was great…and I am trying to soak up as much of  it as I can…as I believe that we will be in for a very cold winter this year.   Sorry,  I know your probably did not want to hear that. 

So, I am already laying my plans for it.  I only wished the fireplace worked.  And it does…but I am afraid to lite a fire in it because I don’t want to burn down my parent’s house. 

I have read and heard too many stories about faulty fireplaces to want to risk it.

Still looking very much forward to the day that  my book, THE BISHOP’S WIFE, rolls off the press.  

So, I am going to go back to working on my website now that  I have completed my book trailer for youtube.  And I will also finish the radio commercial that I intend to air in  various markets to promote my book.    Since I have to wait…I might as well use this time well.  Because when my book is finally pubished…I will have to hit the ground running.  And I won’t have a moment to spare.

Well, God bless… and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2009

  THE BISHOP’S WIFE  is now on sale…CLICK this LINK to purchase my book.  You do not need a paypal account to purchase, and you can purchase using a debit card.  Thank you. 

Add a comment September 6, 2009

The attitude of champions…

Because when you loose…you hate yourself.  Because you know down deep…your fullest capabilities to win.   It is the mark of a winner…and time after time they push to continue to reach that mark.

Capabilities are good.  Many people have them…and never end up living up to them…their fullest capabilities.   Because it takes work…hard work…and plenty of dedication.   And many of us are just not willing to make the sacrifice…or sacrifices required to make it happen.

Just imagine how many of us have the capabilities to become champions.  But just lack the attitude of  champions…not to mention that burning desire to make it happen…which of course also encompasses…dedication and a displine to develop the craft to its highest level. 

But Michael had it…and probably still processes it as a businessman.  Tiger has it…Densel has it…Muhammad Ali…many have it.   They can iBut it takes that something more…that many of  us are just not willing to do…or add into our being.  But imagine the possibilities if we did.

Certainly, losses are to be expected…it goes with the territory.  You will some…and loose some…Tiger, Michael and Muhammad have all experienced it.   Even Denzel has experience a flop in the theaters…when a movie did not met its expectation in box office sales.  It is life.  But it makes winners work all the harder for the next time.

http://www.fanhouse.com/news/main/serena-williams-upset/505834

I am twiddling my tumbs waiting on the publishers to finish.  I am counting down the time when my book will soon be made available for sale.  God is good…I am so happy to finally  have gotten it done and out…and into the final stage of the process…besides getting out to aid in selling it.

 Well, enjoy the rest of your day and evening. 

God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…” http://www.bsmith101.wordpress.com ©2009

 THE BISHOP’S WIFE  is now on sale…CLICK this LINK to purchase my book.  You do not need a paypal account to purchase, and you can purchase using a debit card.  Thank you. 

1 comment June 16, 2009

Who doesn’t have a clue?

I just finished listening to the most hypocritical piece of garbage I have ever heard…or maybe I should say in a long time.  It has to do with some white woman announcer talking about First Lady Obama who recently paid a visit to a local D.C. school and began sharing with the young students about her earlier years growing up.  Being bright and well spoken the kids in her school and neighbor used to tell her that she ‘talked like a white person.’

This white woman announcer pounced all over that and began saying, “We have trash in the White House.”

Clearly, she is in need of loosing her job…besides having been way off the mark.

For some reason white people just can’t seem to get it right.  They think everything is about them.  They have no understanding of the black experience…yet want to say that they do.

Because we are the only group of people who came here in chains…there is no other group of fellow country men who can quite grasp this with any kind of clear understanding because they never went through it.  Sure, many groups were ostracized, joked about, called names, belittled and many hated…some more so than others…as they came here to this country in search of a better way of  life for them and their family…same as those who came before them.  But their experiences were still not the same as ours.

Having worked on a job…my last job with a bunch of black folks.  The first time in my life I had ever worked with all black people.  I must say it was the worst job I ever had.  They put me through the ringer…and it was all because…as I came to find out over time…because I had a highest level education than anyone else in the building including out of all the workers, other managers and upper management.

I did not talk like them…I did not swear…nor did I stand around telling nasty jokes…and I did my job far above average.   They hated me because I was not like them.   They hated my work ethics…everything about me.   To them…I have no doubt…they felt that I thought I was white.   Because this is something which many black folks have been called when they were smart, or well spoken…good workers… etc…etc…  Which for those of you who may be white…it means they thought that I thought…I was better than them.

So, that white woman radio announcer had not a clue of what she was talking about when she started to bite into Michelle Obama.  Because had she had a clue she would have known that Michelle Obama was telling the students in that class that it was okay to be smart and not to be ashamed of making good grades…and not to worry about what the other kids might call them.   This was indeed what Michelle Obama was telling those students…and vast numbers of African Americans, if not all, hearing that speech knew right off what the First Lady was saying without thinking twice about it.   She was not talking about some ‘white/black thing’…but a ‘black on black thing.’

But white people do not have a clue.  They feel they know us.  Have a handle on how we feel about things…how we operate…behave…and react.  But really…they do not have a clue.

Take for instance shock jock-Imus in the Morning.  He thought he was being funny…that what he was saying was cool and that he could get away with continually degrading and belittling black folks.  And he felt this because of  Pop culture…rapp music…rapp videos…and how the brotha’s talk in the streets.

But he failed to understand that there are other groups of black folks who felt that even the brotha’s and sista’s on the streets, in the videos etc…speak things we too find offensive and unacceptable.  Because the kids…the rappers etc…do not have clue…didn’t mean that Imus could also operate within that same clueless realm and feel it was okay…because as he said, “They say it.”

Like Imus…the kids are clueless.  The kids know nothing about the history behind much of what they say…nor take it, unfortunately, as being serious.   But those of us who know the history…know also the pain…and saw the cost…we know.  And not only take it seriously…but personal.

But…so isn’t that female announcer who would dared to want to call the First Lady of this country ‘trash.’ She is definitely quite clueless…and maybe so to a even higher level.

Would anyone dared to have called Barbara Bush that…and then felt that they could have gotten away with it?

How about Jacqueline Onassis-Kennedy?

Never.

And if you tried…everybody would be up in arms coming at you.

But you can get away with things when you are talking about black people or other minority groups that would never be acceptable or allowable when talking about  someone white who sits in such a high position as the Obamas…or anywhere.

After all the stuff that Bill Clinton did while he was in the White House with Monica…never once did anyone call him outside of  his name.  They may have went after Bill but they never called him anything but Bill Clinton…or Mr. President.

Two semesters ago in a communications class we had to read about the uproar about the making of a TV movie about Ronald Reagan.  The first part of the controversy was about the belittling of an American President…making him to appear erratic…and lost.

The second part of the argument had to do with party lines…the Republicans were staunchly against the TV mini-series about their beloved President Ronald Reagan claiming that the mostly liberal Democrats of the Production’s Executive Directors and writers were trying to tarnish the memory of an American hero, as well as, President…which should not be allowed.

I doubt that any of those people will stand up for First Lady Obama.  But clearly large groups of people should including the owners and affiliates of that radio station that she works for and the syndicated stations she airs on.

Not only did not the woman have a clue as to what she was talking about by trying to under-cut what the First Lady had said to the students…but she was also highly out of order and offensive…and racist.   There was an air about her tone which spoke…”I can say whatever I want about those n…..s and nobody will stop me.  Because they are just n…..s anyways.”

So, it is not Michelle Obama who has a problem.  No, but anyone who thinks and talks like this woman announcer.  CLICK the LINK BLOW…if you want to read more about what this woman had  to say…and you will also hear what it was that Michelle Obama said to the students.   This woman clearly did not have the slightest clue to the real meaning of…outside of possibly pushing up some negative ratings for her radio program.

http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2009/03/24/tammy-bruce-calls-the-first-family-trash-in-the-white-house/?icid=main|hp-laptop|dl5|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blackvoices.com%2Fblogs%2F2009%2F03%2F24%2Ftammy-bruce-calls-the-first-family-trash-in-the-white-house%2F

I wish I were the Program Director or manager at that radio station…she would have been pulled immediately…and sent packing.

And oh, yes…I purposely did not call her by name.  Some people just are not worthy of the bother…I have given her more than enough play…(many of you might not understand that either…but I will let you try and figure it out). She is in dire need of a proper education.

This is America…and we do have freedom of speech.  But she went way overboard.  And for that there should be a penalty…as was in the case of  Imus.  And no appology will do.  We are in the 21st Century…when do people start to grow up?

I get so tired of people saying whatever they want to say whenever it comes to black people…and then have the nerve to feel that there should and will not be any reprecautions for doing so.

Still working on the web site.  I have to admit that it is really shaping up far better than anything I have done in the past.  God is so good…He has endowed me.

And oh, yes…the weather has turned again.  It is freeeeeeezzzzing.

God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on “

www.bsmith101.wordpress.com ©2009

1 comment March 25, 2009

The Tiger is back..Family…true investments…

Out for 9 months and the game just has not been the same.  First of all who has been all that interested in watching  the tournaments since Tiger Woods has been out due to knee surgery?  And during his recovery his wife gave birth to a new baby too. 

Now, the proud father of 2, a daughter and son…Tiger hit the green this past Wednesday in his big return to  the PGA at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. 

I did watch as he played his last tournament prior to the surgery…and how even through the pain of the injury Tiger pulled it off.  He just refused to give up…or in.  That is the same way most athletes approach their sports.

In fact, I happened to come across this clip of Serena Williams who had gone out to play while fighting with a stomach virus.  Watch this youtube clip below…and you will understand the amount of commitment professional athletes have for their game.

All I can say is that we have all been hit with it one time or another.  

But if I had…had a stomach virus…they wouldn’t have seen me.  It is hard to get away from the toilet with a stomach virus.  But I guess you have to…when you know that thousands of people have come out to see you win…or get beat…or just because they love the sport.

Before Tiger hit the pro golf circuit…I have to admit that I never watched golf at all…that was near the beginning period when I started to watch less and less television.   One of the reasons for which I have kind of kicked television to the curve is because of something my father would always say to me.

He would say-

“They have theirs and you’ve got to get yours.”

I used to hate hearing that.  I would hear it after my mother would go to school for Open House and come back telling my father all the things the teacher had to say about me. You know…how I wasn’t doing this or I wasn’t doing that…or how I needed to improve in this or that…and how much Imay not have been paying attention while in class.  Which often led to my getting a whipping. 

When I would try to explain to daddy that the teacher had said all of those things because she really didn’t like me.  But before I could open my mouth and get half of that out…daddy would usually cut me off saying-

“The teacher got hers.”

And he would say that sternly…and then he would start whipping.

And I am definitely all for parents whipping their kids.  I whipped mine.  But it is because of whipping…that I refused to do many things that others I knew didn’t hesitate to do.  I will never forget when I decided to try my hand at smoking.

In Junior High School the girls during lunch period would gang into the girl’s bathroom down by the cafeteria smoking after lunch. One day, I had bought a pack of cigarettes and after eating lunch headed for the ladie’s room.  Just as we were just getting started passing around the cigarettes and lighting up in came the vice principle of the school.  We all went running scattering like a bunch of I don’t know what out through another door.  I dashed back into the cafeteria took a seat at a table and started pretending as though I had been their the whole time.

The vice principle had caught one of the girls…and as he marched her through the cafeteria she pointed at me and said-

“She was there too.”

And I guess she pointed out a few others.  And we all ended up in the principle’s office.

One by one the principle, Mr. Romano, called us into his office and began calling our parents.  He left his door open so I could clearly see him and hear him on the phone.  As I took a seat outside of the his office awaiting my turn to be called inside…I started crying.  I was just a boo-whooing…and I do mean boo-whooing the whole time.  I was crying and sobbing my poor little self to death…because I knew that my parents were going to kill me.  I was the last one that the principle called into his office…and to my surprise he counseled me and warned me…and then sent me back to class.  He had not called my parents.  And from that day to this I have never touched another cigarette either.  And have never been tempted to do so again.

So, yeah…I believe in whipping the child.  Not in anger but out of love.  I hated whipping my son…some times I even would go to him and just wrap my arms around him after.  But I loved him…and prefered that I taught him rather than a bunch of police who would have no compassion for him…if they found themselves whipping him later.  It is something I have never had to worry about…outside of the fact of him a young black male in America.   Because he has never had a brush with the law…though I had had my share of going back and forth to school about him…like my parents did for me.  And I have had to sit in the back of some of his classes…but by the time he got to the 10th grade he told me-

“Ma, I’m too old for you to still be sitting in the back of my classes.”

And he was right.  Sometimes, parents just hate to let go.  But the kids have to grow up.  They have to be allowed to become their own people…but that doesn’t mean we stop parenting them.  They will always be the children…and we will always be the parent.

Their can be no denying the privotal roles that both Earl Woods and Richard Williams…as well as, Joe Jackson (father of the Jacksons)…played in the lives of their children.  Without whom their children lives may have been very very different…and they certainly may not have become the people we now recognize them to be. 

Investing time in your children can really pay off…and as you see by the examples of Joe Jackson, Earl Jones and Richard Williams.  Many times it can also put your children on their path.

Going back to why I really do not watch much television…well, besides my schedule and really not having ever been a big television person except for when I was child.  Then I stayed up under the TV…but not now…and not for years.  Besides there’s not really much on TV but a bunch of junk.  How many different shows can you watch of someone trying to win a million dollars?  After a while you have to get bored.  And I have to say that it is because of my father and what he would always say to me-

“They got theirs already. You’ve got to get yours.”

Meaning the teacher had a job already and was making a living…and that I had to work to get mine.  This meant I had to learn something…pay  attention in school…get my school work done etc.  And that I didn’t have the leisure of wasting any time in order to work towards learning what I needed to learn in order to make something out of myself. 

Daddy would say the same thing about television just as he was about to cut it off and tell us to go study.  

“They got theirs.” 

Meaning I wasn’t learning nothing sitting in front of the TV…and those people had already learned what they needed to know…because they were now making their living.

And so…I hear those words still today as I sit and work…whether it be on class work, or writing screenplays or even this blog.  Or even while working on my books.  I am always working towards my goals.

Talking about my books…I hope you have not forgotten about “THE BISHOP’S WIFE.”  The date is nearing for when you can get your copy.  And I am sure you will enjoy it…it is probably not anything else you have ever read because it is a bit radical.  But you will love the storyline…it will keep you reading I am sure. 

So much for my station break…now, back to what I began writing this blog about.

Already the top grossing athlete of all times, Tiger Woods by  September of 2007 had already earned over $86 million on the golf course.  He is widely recognized as the first athlete who will exceed the billion dollar mark before his career is over.  And that $86 million…mind you was only in tournament money…not inclusive of all those little added perks called endorsements and things like that which he also has.  I known you have seen Tiger in all those television commercials…e.g.  American Express…Nike…and what is that?  Buick…or whatever it is…you know those automobile commercials.  So, yes…Tiger is raking it in. 

But since Tiger’s absence off the golf circuit for the past 9 months the golf world has been hurting.  Their number one drawer had been sidelined…and the tickets and interest in the golf plummeted.  I must admit that I myself never watched the game one day in my life until a little young man decided to end his college days and step out into the pro-golf world.  Thus was the beginning of my interest in the sport of golf.  Though I will also admit that prior to Tiger Woods ever hitting my television screen…I always wondered why they bothered to show golf on TV.  When they took those long shots following the ball into the air…I never saw one thing.  But that was before Tiger…I can see those balls clearly now, baby.

 http://www.sportsbusinessradio.com/node/1312

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/columns/story?columnist=harig_bob&id=3920284&campaign=rss&source=GOLFHeadlines

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/tigerwoods

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/flash/zoomGallery?section=gen&photoGalleryId=3443525

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3914982

http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?id=3922207

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3921802&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Sent almost my entire day in bed and I am not ashamed to say it.  And I have enjoyed every minute of it.  Though I did get up to wash some clothes and to mop the kitchen and bathroom floors…and oh, cooked me a little something.  But that was it.   And I plan to do the same thing tomorrow minus the washing of clothes and the mopping of the floors, of course.

And oh, yes…it is still Black History Month.  But I included so many photos already in this blog…I will save my Black History stuff for my next blog.  Definitely hope you are learning something…or trying to find out more on the people whom I have already placed into my other blogs this month. 

And one more thing…   Daddy had only a 7th grade education and could barely read yet he owned his own business…put us all through school…Princeton, Moorehouse, University of Alabama, University of Kentucky , Brandesis University etc.  He and my mother both believed strongly in education.  He was a highly successful businessman, as we lived very well, who never paid a bill when it due but always as soon as he got one.  He never tried to cheat anybody or do anything illegal…and he never owned one charge card.  Yet, he owned his business, had 2 houses…and paid for everything that we needed as he was definitely the head of our house…though my mother was the boss (smile).  They made a great team.

My mother was always taking classes.  She had graduated from nursing school and was the first black nurse in the little town down South that I was born in.  Having graduated from nursing school down there at that time in history…and being the only one…I can’t imagine what my mother must have had to go through.  She, however, took great pleasure in studying…she loved it…and these were classes she took many years while we were growing up.  She took typing classes, accounting classes…and I can’t remember what else.  But she even had a lady come to our house who taught us piano…and gave her voice lessons. 

My parents were something else.  I have to admit though that though we (meaning their kids) thought we were rich…we never really knew that we were rich until years later as we looked back over our life with our parents compared to those who lived around us.  We were the riches people on our street.  The riches people in our church…and the riches people most places we went.  We never walked anywhere except to church on Sunday mornings to Sunday school as young children as my parents always had a car…and didn’t drive junk.  Not that they flaunted anything either…that was not their nature.  But they had moved North to ensure a better life for their children.  And that they did…even for their grand children they did it…and they did it marvelously well.

Our riches were far greater than anything financially my parents may or may not have had.  It was something that cannot be purchased for a price…and worth more than rubies.  They gave us love.

Well, God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on” www.bsmith101.wordpress.com ©2009

3 comments February 22, 2009

Serena Williams…. the top paid female athlete… Cha-Ching!

Serena is on her way…she made it through the women’s semi-finals.  If she wins it will Serena Williams 4th win in the land down-under.  She won her semi-final match 6-3, 6-4.    If she continues to win, Serena stands to become only the 2nd female athlete to have eclipsed over $22 million in prize money earnings. 

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus09/news/story?id=3870020

Even if Serena were to loose the Australian Open…she has already with her total winnings thus far…including what has won already in Aussie land this past week is $22 million.  And to think that in the first tournament she ever played…she received just a mere $250.00.  But I guess it was enough to continue to motivate both her and Venus and master their craft…and they did it without the help of any professional coaches…just some little known guy they called ‘daddy.’ 

Serena Williams of the United States celebrates after winning over Russia’s Elena

Dementieva during their Women’s singles 

championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aFSSc3E1T2KU&refer=latin_america

And I am so happy to see that Serena nor Venus take any junk from anyone trying to disrespect them.  You have to watch the embedded videos below to understand just what I mean.  It is refreshing.  And what makes it even more refreshing…is the fact that it was done without cursing and swearing…or getting mad…but showing that a good intellect is worth its weight in gold. 

Clearly the parents of Venus and Serena Williams, Richard and Oracene Williams,  should be highly applauded.  They have taught their daughters well.  And through it all they have remained close and protective of each other…though they have had their share of folks who have tried to tear them apart including agents, professional tennis coaches…and rival forces etc.  Hooray, for them.

http://www.nndb.com/people/205/000023136/

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus09/news/story?id=3868015

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/index.html

http://www.tennis-x.com/story/2008-01-11/i.php

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/1006465.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&refer=home&sid=aQsUC0gi84i4

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jEDQ9pl_KRtKk617Xx2lIJL60Xpg

Well, it snowed again the night before last…then came the sleet and the rain.  So, it is pretty slippery.  But while shoveling I happened to meet a young man who was out trying to earn money by shoveling people’s sidewalks.  Mine was just about done when he came upon me but one of my neighbors…a new family…I had noticed that they really didn’t care to shovel.  So, I told the young man to try them.  And he did…and he got the job. 

You would have to have seen the job that he did.  It was very well done…and he was quite pleasant as occasionally I would speak to him.  When he finally got his money and turned to leave…I called out to him saying-

“I look forward to seeing your face upon the cover of Black Enterprise magazine.”

And to my surprise he was what he said back to me-

“And you will.  My name is Mingo Patterson.”

And I said to him-

“Undoubtably you possess the same spirit as Barack Obama.”

He kind of grinned at me…and slowly said-

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

“And that is why he is the success that he is today.  And I am sure you will be too,” I said to him as he dashed a way to search out another sidewalk to shovel.  And I am sure he will be…because he possessed all the right qualities.  Success takes hard work…and people who are willing to get up and go after it.  And those people do everything they do…well…and they do it with all diligence without respect of cost or pay.

There is nothing like money earned…and earned well.  It turns everyday folks into the future entreprenseurs…millionaires and executives of tomorrow.  It cannot be beat…nor substituted for…it really can’t.

There have been a lot of great opportunities for young people who wanted to…to get out and make some money this winter.  Almost everybody is tired of shoveling except me.   I love it.    And I just keep thinking…’how I am shoveling my parent’s property.’     That makes me feel real proud…to know that I am doing something for them in their absence.

Well, God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on” www.bsmith101.wordpress.com ©2009  

2 comments January 29, 2009

Olympics 2008… Williams’ …Track & Field, baby

The Bijing Olympics Games 2008 are almost over…and to date we’ve have only grabbed 22 gold metals compared to China’s 39…and Great Britain l2.  If you have been like me and haven’t watched any of  Olmpics yet…it is till not too late.  There are still plenty of events straight through to the 24th of this month.
       1. Track & Field
       2. Basketball
       3. Canoeing
       4. Equestrian
       5. Gymnastics
       6. Swimming
       7. Volley Ball
       8. Diving

CLICK BELOW for scheduling of events….

http://www.chinaorbit.com/2008-olympics-china/olympics-2008-timetable.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92642187

For their second time in the Olympics, Serena and Venus have walked off the courts with the gold in the Women’s Double’s match…they walked all over the competition delivering 6-2, 6-0 to take home the gold.

And if you’re like me…and missed them during the Olympics…but can’t get enough of the Williams’…here’s something for your Williams sisters’ habit.

Just love those Williams sisters…Venus and Serena. Now, that is what I call family…and as all families should be.  CLICK BELOW for the full story.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-sp-olytennis18-2008aug18,0,2450347.story

Cannot close without mentioning a little Track & Field…just love the sport.  In fact, many would not believe this…but when I was growing up…I used to fantasize about being a Track and Field star. 

Well, lets face it if you’re going to fantasize…why not put yourself at the very top.  So, yes…star.  And I really really did fantasize about it…and often.  In 9th Grade, I was the fastest girl in my class.  During gym…as a warm up the teacher would take us outside (our school had a track) and he would have us all line up and then count us down to ‘go.’  For the first 50 yards…no one could catch me…but I would always be the last one walking around track…into the finish.  But I prided myself on that first 50 yards…I could not be caught. 

Once my father took us out to one of the local tracks and raced us.  He shouted ‘go’ and let us all start running before he started running…but once he started running he blew right pass us.  I recall feeling the wind as he sweep pass me, my other sisters and brothers.  I will never forget that day…because I never knew daddy could run.  But he’s a Jamaican…and even though he was years older than us…and we were not young kids when he did it…nevertheless, he beat us hands down.  I marvelled at it…I was amazed by it…I thought about it all the way home as daddy drove us first to get some ice cream cones, and then home from the track.  I wondered how he had done it.  And when I say ‘flew pass us’…you would’ve had to have been there.  It was definitely one for the books.  Today, when I think back on it…and realize that maybe I could have been that Track & Field star…as speed evidently was and is in my genes.  “Go, Jamaica!”

Boy, I could have been a Wilma Rupdolph or an Evelyn Ashford…Flo-jo…Marlene Ottey…if only somebody could have seen my potential.  I could have been the Tiger Woods…Venus and Serena…Cullen Jones…all wrapped in one of the track.  And yes…as you see I am still fantasizing.  But I could have been it though…I could have…   I know I could have.

http://www.2point6billion.com/2008/08/14/asians-win-31-gold-at-the-olympics/

Jamaica…1-2 & 2…in for gold and a tie for double silver…what an Olympic story.  Go Jamaica…go!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2008/08/jamaicans-1-2-3.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news;_ylt=Ah24XJNC6a6GcIOmprJ5SabQ1Zl4?slug=ap-ath-womens400hurdles&prov=ap&type=lgns

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news?slug=ap-ath-trackandfield&prov=ap&type=lgns

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news?slug=ap-ath-mens200&prov=ap&type=lgns

More men track & field events….

And of course Cullen Jones…taking home his gold…

To read more regarding the Bijing Games CLICK on the LINKS below…and check out the info on the Women’s and Men’s basketball beneath it.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/basketball/news;_ylt=Aljh9uKZD4lc_j89VmEfzE2qvZ14?slug=ap-bkw-unitedstates-australia&prov=ap&type=lgns

Congratulations to Lisa Leslie and American Women’s Basketball team from bringing home yet another gold metal…their 6th total…straight.  Go, USA!

http://www.abc.net.au/olympics/

http://news.yahoo.com/fc/Sports/Olympics

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing

http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/news/olympics/

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/olympics2008/index.html

http://www.examiner.com/x-426-Sports-Examiner

Women’s basketball…

http://www.lsusports.net/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&KEY=&SPID=2167&SPSID=27830

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/basketball/story/2008/08/11/olympics-basketball-women.html?ref=rss

Men’s b-ball…

http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/lateNews/fibaEven/olymMen/p/openNodeIDs/3818/selNodeID/3818/teas.html

http://www.sportsline.com/olympics

http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=2008molyschd

Enjoy your day…and the Olympics. 

Bring home the gold…

Had a busy weekend.  But it was a good weekend…I am paying for it now.  But I won’t regret it.

Be encouraged…love the Lord…and always believe.   God bless…

And keep reading…thank you for reading. 

And I do hope that some of this is making sense to you…if so ‘pass it on…’ www.bsmith101.wordpress.com ©2008 

Loving You – Minnie Ripperton

Don’t forget that your vote counts…so, please get registered if you are not.  And if you are registered…stop by your local Voter Registration Office to double check on your registration…so, there won’t be any surprises on Election Day.  It has happened to me a couple of times.  Once they claim I hadn’t filled out a US Census form…and I hadn’t.  But did that have to do with my vote?  It is a game…to keep down certain numbers…any ol’ thing to hinder you.  That is what they will do…throw up anything ol’ thang to stop you from voting.   So, don’t be hindered…double check your registration before November just to ensure you won’t have any problems casting your vote come Election Day November 2008. ©2008

Add a comment August 18, 2008