"You Jive Turkey" - College Football Picks of the Week

Happy Thanksgiving!  You can sort of compare the Notre Dame footall season to my fantasy football season...loosing and loosing fast after an excellent start!  Unlike the Irish though, I'm falling but still fighting.  Apparently Jimmy Clausen, who's sporting a fresh black eye, got "coldclocked" leaving a bar near downtown South Bend in the early Sunday morning hours after loosing to UCONN.  Read here.

SMH at the "Jive Turkey" who sucker punched him.  Fight like a real man.  This lead us to rivalry weekend in College Football.

Last Week 3-2
Overall 33-27

It's the Bayou Classic (Arguably one of the best historically black college football rivalry games)
Grambling State vs. Southern University
It's going to be a party down on the bayou.  Prarie View is the best team in the SWAC west but these two teams are playing for more than just 2nd place.  They are competing for the best band, who's going to bring out the best musical guest during the halftime show and Louisiana bragging rights until next Thanksgiving...SU 35-31

No. 24 North Carolina at North Carolina State
The defense is at it again.  We (UNC) have no choice but to revenge that loss to the Wolfwack we suffered last year.  As someone tweeted over the weekend, "how come when we need a score, I'd much rather our defense be on the field."  He said it, not me!  If the O compliments the D, Gator, Champs, or maybe even Chik Fil A bowl here we come...31-27

No. 2 Alabama at Auburn
My upset pick of the week.  Alabama and Florida took last week off with those cup cake wins.  Auburn played well enough to beat UGA last week although they didn't.  This week they play well and win.  Look for Auburn's rushing attack to out play Ingram... Auburn 28-24

No. 25 Mississippi at Mississippi State
No let down here.  Ole Miss is still riding high off of LSU's clock issues on last week.  The score really shouldn't have been that close, in the rebels favor.  Snead and company have rebounded well from the early season swine flu that knocked out just about half the team...Ole Miss 24-16

No. 17 Miami (FL) at South Florida
Miami almost lost to an improved Duke team last week before turning it in over the last quarter and a half.  This time they won't be as lucky on the road against South Florida.  Ok, so I was wrong, Jacory Harris has a long way to go if he wants to be a top quarterback in college football.  Look for SF to feast off Jacory's generosity (INT's)...SF 42-21

"I'm a Flirt"

 Man Winds Up "Ex-Posed" Nude On Facebook
An Omaha, Neb. man said romance turned to revenge when he was victimized by his girlfriend and then exposed on Facebook.

He said that he didn't realize his 21-year-old girlfriend had caught him flirting with another woman on Facebook.

He said he also didn't know that she had his Facebook password until he had agreed to be handcuffed to his bed and photographed.

Click the title for the article.  Click here for video on the story.

Now you know if a male does this to a female, he's going to jail, no questions asked. Just be careful in the Facebook world. Everyone don't use it for the same reason.  Another Story. And Another.

"All Betts Off" - Marginalized Males Part II

An inspiring story of a young man who was at the top of his class but let one mistake cost him almost 9 years of his life.  However unlike many who are confined to the walls of a prison cell, R.Dwayne Betts transformed his life from former ex-con to husband, father, college educated, and author.  In his his memoir, "A Question of Freedom," he talks about wanting to connect with the community that he comes from and how he beat the odds after incarceration.
The video story begins at the 1:20 mark.

"It's Just Getting Started" - College Football Games of the Week

This is not a good time to be married to someone who loves to watch sports all day...everyday!  The College Football Season is almost over.  College basketball and the NBA are just tipping off and the NFL is starting to heat up.  What an exciting time to be a die hard sports fan.

What's not exciting, the college football schedule this weekend and the fact that Florida and Alabama are playing teams we only hear of during college basketball conference tournaments in March.  Here are my picks...

Last Week 4-1

Overall 30-25 (watch out, I'm 8-2 in the last two weeks)

North Carolina at Boston College
One of the best defenses in the country, without a doubt.  I'm still waiting on Yates to have a breakout game, if he does, ChikFil-A bowl here we come.  The defense will be challenged though, BC is offensive minded.  But we hot right now...UNC 23-21

No. 8 LSU at Mississippi
A lot of folks who get paid to big money to analyze games think this is the game that LSU tanks.  If they paid me to make such picks, I would "almost" have to agree.  But since they don't, the bayou boy in me and fan says...NAW!  LSU wakes up after being tested by La Tech...  Tigers 31-24

No. 25 California at No. 17 Stanford
Stanford dominated one of the best college football programs of this decade last week.  Trust, it won't stop here.  Standford  40-28
 
No. 14 Penn State at Michigan State
This is my upset game of the week.  MSU could easily be 8-3 this year in a tough conference.  Win this game and they assure themselves of a bowl game.  Win big and it might be a decent one.  PSU is overrated after a strong start.  MSU 31-27
 
HBCU Game of the Week
Mississippi Valley State vs. Alabama A&M
Patiently waiting on the bayou classic game next Thursday(Thanksgiving), which will mark my last picks for the HBCU games of the week...A&M by alot 35-7

"On Track for Greatness"

He won't make it because of his jumpshot. He definitely won't make it because of his handles. He probably won't make it because of his passing or his defense either. And all CNN gives you is instant credibility, and sometimes that's not always what it's hyped up to be.

The pressure! The sacrifice! At nine years Dakota Simms has so much ahead him that not even his amazing basketball talents won't be the final factor that determines how far he succeeds in life and in basketball.

Ultimately it will be mom, dad, grandparents, and or guardian. It will be the life lessons taught at home and in the classroom that will continue to allow young Dakota to keep playing and keep maturing both on and off the basketball court. It all starts at home with self-discipline, self-respect, self determination.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." -Proberbs 22-6.

Keep it up young man and maybe one day you will be able to blaze your own path to greatness.

"Dunk You Very Much"

Ty Lawson vs. D Wade

Ty Lawson may be everyone's pick as ROY.  D. Wade just might have the DUNK of the year.  I'm going to go with D. Wade!



                                vs.

"Say it ain't SOsa?"

Kids, this is what steroids will do to you. 

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Race, Education, and Hunger

A study conducted at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis finds that 49 percent of all American children will at some time in their childhood be in a family that qualifies for food stamps. The study, published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, also found a huge racial disparity. According to the data, 90 percent of African-American children will at some time in their childhood be in a family that qualifies for food stamps. For whites, the figure is 37 percent.

The study found that black children in a single-parent family, whose head has less than a high school education, have a 97 percent chance of being in a food stamp family by age 10.

Interesting enough, growing up as a kid I was embarrassed a few times when my mom sent me to the store with the paper food stamps although I never admitted it to her until yesterday.  She wasn't upset at all but she quickly pointed out that "not one of my kids ever went hungry."  The older my siblings and I get, the more she share some of her old school tactics from back in the day when she use to sell some of them stamps in order pay the light bill.  And that is Life...!  It has nothing to do with race or education.  It has everything to do with the quality of life!

Those numbers are scary because I can't imagine them decreasing in the current economy we live in.

"WHY?" - College Football Games of the Week

There are so many different things wrong with this situation: Pellet Gun, black hoodies with Tennessee on them, you are around the corner from campus, drugs, freshman, and black males.


Personally this story hits home for me because of one of the individuals involved, but yet the truth of the matter is some things are just not worth it. Click here or the title for full story.

I traded emails today with a friend and former colleague who expressed that these are young people, young men at that, who made a mistake. Although the email conversation never got to the point of either one of us giving our thoughts are whether or not the young men should be able to return to football at the Univ. of Tennessee, we did talk around this idea of whether the university and or football program should receive the negative press and shameful stereotypes that will ensue over the next few days, weeks, and months. Should these young men be held accountable? YES! Should they be kicked off the football team? YES! Should they be stripped of an education, the emotional support, and the right to make amendments for what they did? NO, but they will be there is no one to blame but themselves.

Last Week 4-1
Overall 26-24

No. 14 Miami (FL) at North Carolina
YES!  Another top 25 team we can add to our resume when it comes to getting a decent bowl game nod.  Miami has cooled off a little, although still tough.  We will need our top 25 defense to keep us in the game until the offense find a groove.  Things should be interesting with Houston carrying the load...Heels 23-16

No. 16 Utah at No. 4 TCU
If I didn't know any better, I'd say LT was playing running back for TCU and the year was 1999-2000.  At this point, it's real simple, they win out and they get a BCS bowl bid.  They are good because they score, early and often...TCU 45-31

No. 10 Iowa at No. 11 Ohio State
Penn State let me down last week while OSU keeps trying to turn me into a believer.  SIKE, that will never happen (shout out to Eddie Kane).  However, they are getting better and how come nobody can tackly Pryor, he reminds me of an unpolished Randall Cunningham.  Iowa's out of the BCS, maybe even a conference title shot...OSU 27-20

Notre Dame at No. 12 Pittsburgh
Pitt hasn't played anyone all year.  They have one loss and that's to NC State.  However, if they can pull off a win here, Charlie's coaching internship at Notre Dame could be over.  I'm a little uneasy over this one, ND is mad so they will come ready to play. (crossing my fingers)...Pitt 31-28

HBCU Game of the Week
North Carolina Central at  Winston Salem State
I'm a little upset at myself, Bowie State (what up G-Money) played Fay State in the CIAA championship game last week and I didn't even feature it on my blog.  These two teams left the CIAA for greener pastures...but that also means less W's in the win-loss column.  (SMH)...WS 28-24

"Win at all Cost"

NAW!  I'll take an L if it means keeping my job.  Again, another example in my opinion where society is placing greater emphasis on things like high school athletics versus education.  Click the title for full article. 

Coaches Toby Belt and Quirino Silva -- both assistants -- were suspended without pay last week. They are accused of tampering with evidence that may have implicated a varsity football player.

The incident started when Dena Sandoval started asking questions about injuries her son suffered during a fight at school. He claims a football player stabbed him and a district police officer beat him up.

Both Sandoval and the district were hoping surveillance video would shed some light on the situation, but when district police went to retrieve it, the tape was gone.

According to CISD's superintendent, Belt and Silva were let into the locked room where the school's surveillance videos are kept by the principals' secretary, Maxine Zeringue. She's been fired over the situation. 

"Who let the Katt Out the Bag"

What in the heck is wrong with this guy?  First, he alledgedly holds a 17 year old boy hostage and now they say he's stealing jewlery. 

I don't know, listen to the 911 call by clicking here and you be the judge.  Sound like somebody got tired of playing hide and go get it (GROSS).

This should be a lesson to all the kids in the world.  Say no to DRUGS!  I'm thinking this guy may really need some help.

What do you think was really going on in that house?

"Head High to the Finish..."

...See it Through!

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

"Marginalized Males of Color" - Part I

A sense of urgency: Marginalized males of color


Historically marginalized males of color remain underrepresented in higher education. These disparities affect an entire generation of young men and prevent the nation from tapping a potential pool of talent needed to compete globally and improve the economy at home. Higher Education Success Among Historically Marginalized Males, by Loren Harris, examines the core issues responsible for higher education attainment gaps among this group. Also, hear what Harris says about Lumina's big goal and listen to this podcast.

It's no secret that across the various colleges and universities, woman are being admitted, enrolling, and graduating at higher rates than males. When it comes specifically to black males, the numbers don't compare. We've discussed before who should be blamed (parents). There has also been talk about where these young people end up (dead, jail, homeless). What about the why?

Here is some insight that discusses the "Why" in my opinion. The Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based, private, independent foundation, strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access to and success in education beyond high school.

Stereotype Threat Theory evolved by Claude Steele, this hypothesis posits that underachieving African American students downplay the importance of academic achievement because they fear fulfilling negative group stereotypes about being intellectually inferior. Steele advances the notion that Black students disengage from academic settings rather than face the prospects of failing and confirming stereotypes about intellectual inferiority or laziness. Tested in both controlled settings and everyday contexts, the stereotype threat hypothesis seems to hold true.

The stereotype threat theory is one of a few theories offered in the article. After thinking about Steele's hypothesis, I will have to agree to some extent. Young people, especially males who are not confident in their own abilities rarely take risk in an academic setting. They'd much rather not try at all and simply give up thus confirming Steele's beliefs.

However I'm convinced that the more risk you take academically, the better your chances of learning. Ultimately, one has to want to learn and excel academically. We have to re-emphasize academic achievement and decentralize America’s stereotypes and culture which learning takes a back seat to (video games, cell phones, television, etc).

"Gimme Twenty Dollars"

The NFL should really be called the No Fun League.  I have to give it to Chad Johnson, T.O (when he didn't play for Buffalo), and others mad props for making the game entertaining.  Roger Goddell need to stay off them steroids and relax.  Chad OchoCinco, although he shouldn't, probably will be fined a large amount of money for trying to give that official a dollar.  "Probably should have gave him twenty..."
Click here to see what happened!

"HOMECOMING" - College Football Games of the Week

The activities and the people.  The fellowship with friends and former classmates.  Family (shout out to my pops).  The food.  The football game.  The parties.  The drive, ride, or flight back home on Sunday...the memories. 

At the end of the day it's about the experience, your experience.  It's almost like life itself, you get what you put into it.

Nobody comes back or particpates in this celebration to hear 10 different people ask...so what are you doing these days, or at least not in the middle of the party or at the bar.  How about this, catch them at the cookout or on the yard and then you can ask all the questions you want. 

If you are anything like me, you're walking around to your own theme song (play below) and doing a HOP in your head hoping your song come on so you can "set it owt."  And if it doesn't that's cool.  You know why?  Because it's HOMECOMING!

"Did you realize that you are a champion in their EYES?"

"YES I DID..."



Last week 2-3
Overall    22-23

Puke vs UNC
Let's be honest, Puke is no pushover and they have more wins in the ACC than UNC.  But I don't believe the hype, at least not yet.  It's HOMECOMING in Chapel Hill therefore I expect Yates and others to have their stuff together...UNC 31-30

No. 9 LSU at No. 3 Alabama
This will mark the second straight week I go against one of my two favorite teams.  Unlike last week, I think I will get this one right. Jefferson will be a good quarterback for LSU one day, but right now he's too inconsistent.  Alabama is playing at home and in the SEC, that's a legitmate advantage...Tide 34-28

No. 16 Ohio State at No. 11 Penn State
Pryor will make OSU fans cringe once more.  PSU got a decent quarterback of their own.  PSU is more of a complete team then OSU on all sides of the ball.  If Pryor makes mistakes early, PSU will rout OSU...PSU 42-31

Florida State at Clemson
FSU will be looking for more than a defensive coordinator after this season.  Too bad Bobby Bowden thinks he's going to be the one to hire that person.  It's time to hang it up.  Clemson runs all over FSU but unilke UNC, they seal the deal at home...Tigers 27-17

HBCU Game of the Week
North Carolina A&T at Florida A&M
A&T still might be feeling the affects from their HOMECOMING weekend celebration last week.  Even if they weren't, it wouldn't matter.  They are no match for A&M's band nor football team...A&M 30-14

"Welcome Back - NBA"

I was actually looking forward to the NBA season this year until I heard about Glenn "Big Baby Dummy" Davis punching his best friend, breaking his thumb in the process. Now he will likely miss half the season with injury and suspension (DUMMY). Who fights when you make that much money? I know it's early but I got a few NBA predictions...


MVP: The usual suspects will contend, but Bron Bron will win (shout out to Fallis). Check out his numbers from 1st game although Boston was the better team last night
Sleeper: Brandon Roy

ROY: Tyreke Evans had a nice preseason (so did Ty Lawson), look for Evans (he's starting) to win since Griffin is injured and will get off to a late start.
Sleeper: Dejuan Blair (Spurs)

Comeback Player: Gilbert Arenas
Sleeper: Sean May (had a good camp in Sac Town)

Coach: Phil Daddy, Lakers will have best record in NBA
Sleeper: Larry Brown, just make the playoffs and you win me over as a Bobcats fan, i promise.

6th Man: Rasheed Wallace (tar heel)
Sleeper: Paul Milsap, he got a lot of money to stay in Utah

DefPOY: (TIE)Dwight Howard and Bron Bron
Sleeper: Chris Paul

CHAMPS: Lakers! The east teams (Magic, Cavs, Celtics) will have beat each other up and by the time they reach the finals, it won't matter which team the Lakers play.