...to be different. This blog features a unique opinionated view of Music, Higher Education, and Sports that will be conceptualized within the context of culture and society.
"I Think I'm Big..."
My mom has told me a few times in my life because of something I said or did (whether it was good or bad)..."boy you act just like your daddy." I tend to disagree sometimes but hey, it's mom, what can I say.
Well the heirs to Michael Jordan's throne seems to be a spitting image of their pops and a small part of me says...I can't blame them.
The Story (ESPN):Things could get interesting at Central Florida University this year. MJ's oldest son (Jeff) in transferring there where the younger (Marcus) currently plays and is still causing headaches. Marcus and Jeff spent the weekend with their dad in Las Vegas, where the elder Jordan was hosting his ultra-expensive fantasy basketball camp. And, as you'd expect, they had fun doing so. From a since-deleted tweet by Marcus Jordan:
"Last night was stupid," Marcus Jordan wrote on his Twitter account. "… 35k at Haze… Totals 50k something the whole day.. Damn!! Going to the pool again today.. Gotta relax!"
"Haze" is Haze Nightclub and Liquid Pool Lounge, which, at least from photos, seems about as swanky and Vegas-y as you'd imagine. According to the site, Haze "a cutting-edge space in where [sic] guests will be challenged to question their sense of perception and reality." Oh, night clubs. Somehow, you always get more ridiculous.
So why is this news? Mostly because Marcus Jordan is not yet 21 years old, which means he probably shouldn't be having his perceptions challenged in a Las Vegas nightclub. Nor should he have been so conspicuous with his Vegas excess. Everyone already knows Michael Jordan loves to tear it up in Sin City, but that's probably not an image he -- or UCF, frankly -- will want his sons associated with.
Final Analysis: 50G's for the day (wow), that's some families combined income for one year, some two years. In fairness to MJ and his kids, it's none of our business what they do with their money, they've (MJ's)earned the right to spend however they choose. My issue is making such information public as if this is everyday life for American society. Even though he later apologized, he never said it didn't happen. Who knows what backlash UCF is going to get, if any. In the same manner...who cares? In MJ's hall of fame speech he looked at his kids and said, I feel bad for you guys, you are going to have a hard life. Is that before or after they blow his airness' fortune...don't worry, I'll say it myself..."IMPOSSIBLE!"
Shouts out to them with the following music video...
Not only does Plaxico Burress keep getting denied for early release as well as work release, he may have another problem on his hands when he is released from jail.
The Story: Former New York Giants punter Jeff Feagles(notes) told Sports Illustrated that Plaxico never paid for the No. 17 jersey the receiver purchased from him after joining the team in 2005. Feagles had negotiated the deal with Plaxico's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and the two reached an agreement: Plaxico got No. 17 in exchange for paying for some of Feagles' housework. It worked out perfectly, except for one little detail:
"I never got paid for it. I asked [Burress] for it. Every time I went to Drew he said, 'That's between you and Plax.' Bottom line, I never got paid. He basically stole my number."
The Analysis: I'm willing to debate, not argue (if you argue, you have to dance lol), anyone that if he doesn't pay this poor ole punter, no NFL team will sign him once he trys to pull a Michael Vick and re-enter the league. And his agent Drew Rosenhaus is a snake. He got T.O. all messed up in the head. And this is why you don't conduct even the smallest of business deals with black people without signing a contract.
...and Backwards!"
The price tag for the new 18,000-seat stadium for Allen High School appears set at $59.6 million, which is just under what Allen Independent School District voters approved in a bond election a few years back.
Allen ISD trustees gave their OK Monday night to a maximum construction cost of $53.5 million. When furniture, architectural fees and other costs are added in, the cost increases by about $6 million.
After doing some research on the Allen County Independent School District, Allen High School is not only the lone high school in the district, but it's bigger than Shaw University and St. Augustine College put together. If you include every school in the district, there are over 18,000 students. Allen ISD enrollment is projected to increase steadily at a rate of approximately eight percent per year over the next 10 years.
The one thing I will applaud the school district on is they do graduate their students. Based on preliminary numbers from 2009, 99% percent of the class graduated. My question is how many of those students enrolled in institutions of higher education? In addition, how many of those students who were high achieving but unable find the state or local funds to enroll at these institutions because they were unable to receive money federally because of their ethnicity or status within the U.S? Why not invest money into these students versus a stadium?
I'm sure Allen ISD is not the only one of its kind. But when you are in the state of Texas where High School football is worshipped more than one's faith, news like this tend to stick out...regardless if it makes sense or not. Some things are just more important in life...
"Pass or Fail..."
Introducing 50 Tyson...
I think the larger issue (if there is one) here is that I hope this young man is not being exploited or being taking advantage of. At least get paid off of your talent, or lack there of. He has over a million YouTube hits on multiple video posts. Kevin Hart just ain't right...
Black Graduates Owe More Debt Than White, Asian, or Hispanic Graduates By Ashley Marchand, published in the Chronicle of Higher Education
Key Findings of this Article...
Students who borrow the most are disproportionately black, and are more likely to have attended a private nonprofit or for-profit college than a public four-year college. But debt levels did not necessarily reflect family income.
Borrowing for college makes a lot of sense, but some students seem to be borrowing more than they will be able to reasonably repay. It's better to realize that in advance than to realize that after you've already taken the debt.
According to the report, the problem is not that all students are borrowing too much, but that difficulties in predicting earnings after graduation, and students' lack of understanding about the financial impact of loans, leave too many of them borrowing more than they can manage.
Despite the loan debt that students built up, borrowing can be beneficial, as long as students make wise choices about whether or not a college fits with their financial resources, and whether they are taking out the best loans available.
Final Analysis: I honestly think many young students and parents fail to evaluate the quality of education they plan to receive compared to the cost of tuition and fees. It's as simple as weighing public school versus private, free money versus loans, can the student sustain for four years and not 6. Often time students spend too much time finding ways to borrow money versus taking advantage of the free money/fewer loans (i.e., making good grades, not being ruled ineligible) when they first arrive on campus their freshman and sophomore years versus piling debt in their junior, senior and the years that follow.
#If I could do it all over again...(you finish the statement).
(All the people on tweetface (facebook and twitter), see below and make sure you tag http://www.itoodream.blogspot.com/ as it relates to this article.)
If I could do it all over again, no summer school (and the loans that came with it) for me. I went when I didn't have too. That's what I get for not wanting to go back to the ville.
"Run Tell DAT..."
What an unfortunate situation, I think everyone agrees with that. See below what a million You Tube hits will do for you though. This dude is literally famous...seriously!
- When will the BET Awards ever be a match for MTV, how the heck you present Prince, wearing his bedtime clothes i might add, with an award and not get him to the perform...major letdown! "I would die for you" is my jam!
- Eminem just might be the best at selling records, Drake almost made the list of having the hottest mixtapes, but a weak album...he probably could have left 3 tracks off.
- If you close your eyes and play a Trey Songz track, he sound just like R. Kelly...YUP!
* Listen here and you be the judge of two versions of "Already Taken"...Songz vs. Kels
- FREE WEEZY (sorry, I couldn't help myself) "Life is a beach, I'm just playin in the sand"
Final Analysis: Alicia Keys did what every girl now a days (at least it seems that way) wants to do and that's marry or settle for being with a baller although, ONE, she didn't have too, b/c she's already ballin. Besides, who else do you know 3 months preggars and can roll around on a piano (I"m thinking Beyonce) and TWO, was Swizzy already taken? Not according to the NY law. Now that North Carolina law is something else, just ask Fantasia.
- T.O. to the Bengals is probably the best free agent move all offseason
- Sam Bradford = BUST, especially if we judging by his first preasason game
- Farve is back as well, I'm just tired of hearing about it
Final Analysis: Football is back and it couldn't have come at a better time, I was just about to start watching the Canadian Football League (shout out to Shack). LOL! Why you playing, I would watch if it came on TV here in the US. The Bengals and the Cowboys are buzzing, the Eagles will be a sleeper but they won't top the Redskins. Unless Peyton get hurt, I suspect the Colts will be in the mix and so will the Jets if they can find some offense. And I have just under 6 months to call my SAINTS Superbowl Champs until they are knocked off the throne.
- With this move, the NBA is really back and should get interesting. If it works, Lebron goes back to Cleveland after a winning a title or two and everyone lives happily ever after, but only if Dan Gilbert apologizes for calling him a slave.
- Shaq to Boston...why it might not work you ask, everybody has bad knees!
- Pippen got his due and MJ was by his side as he was elected to Naismith HOF, top 50 NBA player and probably the most underrated
Final analysis: One could argue that Lebron, Wade, and Bosh are the new MJ, Pippen, and Rodman/Kukoc/Horace Grant. I don't see the big deal with them teaming together, still don't think they win 72 games like the Bulls and lets not forget that Kobe Bryant,Slam Dunk Giant, is the best player in the NBA!
