Blought #25: Let Greats be Great!

Last week Le Bron joined NBA Legend Oscar Robertson as the only two players to be ranked in the top 25 in both assists and points all-time. While this is a pretty amazing feat, the story to me isn’t about what Brondo did but rather what he said. Bron made it clear he didn’t want to be compared to Big-O, as we basketball fans know him by.

Le Bron issued a statement after the game saying "I think what we get caught up in, in our league too much, is trying to compare greats to greats, instead of just accepting and acknowledging and saying, 'Wow, these are just great players,'" (Courtesy of Dave Mc Menamin, ESPN). I completely agree.


After the NBA-ABA merger of 1976 there have been several perennial Elite players for each generation or era. The “Post Merger” era elite was Julius “Dr. J” Irving. Magic and Bird were the elites of the “New NBA Era” after David Stern became commissioner. Jordan reigned as the elite of the “90’s Era” while Kobe was the king of the “New Millenium” era leaving Le Bron as the elite of this current era.

It irks me when fans, real fans and not haters of a certain player compare Le Bron to Jordan or Kobe. It’s hard to compare a 6’8” 250 pound forward with a 6’6” 216 pound guard.

Let’s just focus on playing style for a second. If anyone should be compared to Jordan it should be Kobe. They’re the same size at 6’6” with Kobe being listed as four pounds lighter than MJ. Tale of the tape shows both of them were great shooters with unbelievable clutch factors and their slim frames made them finesse slashers versus bruising slashers like Bron.

Bron’s closest comparison in my opinion is Karl Malone. Malone was freakishly built making him a hard match-up for many of his contemporaries. The same can be said for Bron. Anything else used in this argument is irrelevant. Championship rings can never truly measure a great player. Basketball is still a TEAM sport meaning you need a good TEAM to win rings.

Courtesy of: NFLspinzone.com

Too often I hear people compare Tom Brady and Peyton Manning of the NFL. Sure Tom has four rings to Peyton’s one but that doesn’t necessarily make him better. Peyton owns more statistical achievements. Tom Brady always had a solid defensive unit while Peyton majority of the time had better offensive weapons. For every single argument on both sides you have a counterargument.

It’s like arguing with a friend over what food tastes better. You both have different palettes so nothing will taste the same to you as it does to your friend. The same can be said with sports. You’re going to favor what you like more than what you dislike

Like Le Bron said, let’s just accept and acknowledge great players. In a few years the “Big Business” era will begin and we’ll be sitting around talking about the good old days when Le Bron, D Wade, Kobe and CP3 ruled the league, and we’ll miss it.

My Favorite Halloween Costumes of Social Media

Fall is finally in full swing following Halloween. Up next is Turkey Day and the Holiday shopping season as we all prepare to get drunk and ring in a 2016. But before we move into the back 9 of 2015, let’s take a look at my favorite costumes of social media this year.

Me and the girlfriend as Shaggy and Velma

Me and this Z-Fighter can spar whenever.

Drake and Serena Williams

Kelly Rowland and my stepson as Mickey and Minnie

I hate her... Call

Chuckee Finster lookin' like he's not down with Tommy's plan

A friend of mine and his lady as Bob and Linda Belcher

Dr. Dre's Classic The Chronic album

Cleveland artist and designer Dakarai Ashby as rapper MF Doom

Aladin and his flying carpet

Loc Dog from Don't be a Menace

Kevin Hart and his Fiance as Martin and Gina Payne

Biggie's legendary Ready to Die album cover

Future's hit summer album Dirty Sprite 2

Future's infamous Gucci flip flop that he fu***d your girl in.

The Fat Jew's Instagram

A mommy and her partner in crime

Blought #15: You woke? Then go back to sleep...

African Americans are entering a pivotal time in history as is the rest of the world. Blacks are finally at the doorstep we’ve been searching for since arriving on this stolen property some 400 odd years ago. Yes racism and discrimination exists but now they have become void excuses. The only thing holding us back is ourselves. Blacks have excelled in everything imaginable form entertainment to business to technology. I preach about this often but now I’m officially addressing it. YOU FAUX BLACK ELITES NEED TO STOP IT!!

What is a faux black elite you ask? My definition is as follows, any African American who claims to be “woke” and attempts to exude a higher level of knowledge of self over their fellow African Americans. I posted a meme that mirrored my sentiments. A high school classmate of mine by the name of  Daniel had this to say:

“This is something I've noticed as well. Most notably people who claim to be "woke" seem to still be limited in their thought process. A lot have the "if it glitters its gold mentality" about the information they find and the sources they receive it from. Almost like they're so excited to be classified in this group of very intelligent people of color that they've come up with to label themselves as, that they make the same illogical and poorly reasoned decisions that made them "sleep" or whatever there alternative is in the first place.

True intelligence does not have to be thrown in your face, its to be recognized. Nor does it make any sense to educate yourself for the purpose of bragging to others.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself. They are most easily identified by wearing African diaspora garb and regurgitating insanely inaccurate memes and information regarding our history. Faux Black Elite, you’re hurting the cause. Peace.

Blought # 12: Don't be so Insensitive Bro

Social media has become a staple of our everyday lives. Just like we brush our teeth, put gas in our cars and go grocery shopping we have to stay connected.

We update our status, post photos and share videos or links that we find interesting or entertaining with others. Social media is a place where we humans now congregate for networking, promotion or just to tell our family member in California "I love you" (Hey Jacob!).

Sadly the social media world, much like the real world, is a place where ignorance and insensitivity is prevalent. The opposition of removing the Confederate flag this past July reminded us all that racism is still very much alive. If those guys won I'd probably be a slave somewhere in Alabama making smart phones or laptops, who knows?


The main point to be made is this. Just like a person would hold their tongue in public (racists, homophobes, etc.) they should also do the same on social media. Now if your page or profile is private and the only people viewing your status updates are like minded individuals then spew all of the hate that you very well please. But if you comment on a public post about a touchy subject shut it!

We understand the 1st amendment. Sometimes it's best to keep your views to yourself (Ben Carson). Conservative middle white America, you aren't slick. 

Any adult with half of a functional brain can see the subtle racism in your Facebook comments. You live in communities where the demographics say "95.7% White or Caucasian" and your children know little to nothing about life outside of the social shell you have placed them in. 

On top of all of that you pass down your prejudiced and lopsided views grooming a future hateful white middle American conservative. You’re the oil at that won't mix with the water in the faux American melting pot.

The story about NFL referee Ed Houchli allegedly refusing to give Carolina Panther's quarterback Cam Newton a call because he wasn't "old enough" has sparked debate for various reasons. Being an avid sports fan since I was four I know this kind of thing happens all of the time. 

My problem was all of the comments from people who look like Houchli downing Cam who looks like me. They called Cam a bum and a crybaby who should man up. Well Cam went 20/31 passing, 315 yards and three total TD’s this Sunday.

Sounds a lot like the sentiments shared when Mike Brown and Eric Garner were killed. Comments like "listen to the cops and you won't get shot". Coming from a white boy in a camouflage hat from Georgia sounds like subtle 21st century racism to me. 

A former history teacher of mine, Aimee Grabski, made a comment on Facebook unrelated to this blought but I think they can correlate.

"Monday rant: When you're having an online 'discussion' about an important issue and someone comes along and says that the whole thing should be deleted because 'some people have nothing better to do than fight online.'... 

Sorry, but there are some things that are worth discussing, worth educating people about, worth trying to get people to change their views. Lives have already been lost because of the intolerance of others and any time you think you can change one person's opinion, it's worth it."

Close mindedness to me is a form of insensitivity. You refuse to hear the other side and understand it. You don't have to change like Aimee alluded to, but at least try to understand the other side. 

My comments on the Cam Newton story ruffled feathers and I know the people who replied are probably subtle racists. I didn't read anyone's comments in opposition of my point bacause I knew they wouldn't understand where I was coming from.

And a bit of advice, know your audience and act accordingly.

Blought #6 '#F*** Yo Followers'

Is it me or does it seem like my generation has become infatuated with a new addiction? My fellow millennials seem to be wrapped up in this thing called "followers". While I admit I am an avid instagrammer (@sneakersmcgee) I don't get wrapped up in my follower count. I follow a bunch of celebs and personalities with a few friends and family thrown in there. I started to notice this obsession with follower count back in the Myspace years. The more friends you had, the cooler you were, although you only knew like 25 of you 762 myspace friends. Facebook was a completely different beast. This was when I started to see followers hit the thousands. Why in the hell would anyone want 2000 people in their business? Not I.

The sad part about all of this is the vanity and the lack of human interaction this is causing. Most guys with a high number of followers is usually what I call an "internet playa". They bag girls with lame song lyrics or questionable selfies in an attempt to bag the ladies. The ladies they bag are usually the girls who post, well meaningless song lyrics and the not so occasional but rather too often self revealing and most of the time self depriving selfie. This usaully contains her exposing a little breasts while wearing some scantily clad outfit. Sure, I met my girfriend of three years on Facebook but at least our pages are something our parents won't be too ashamed of.

This a call to my generation. Don't use social media as your outlet for emotion or the pics you took of yourself half naked after a shower. Get up, get out, and do something. I'm not perfect but I surely practice what I preach. Use your Twitter, Instagram, FB, or whatever else is out there these days to showcase your passion, talent, or just a simple pic of a bluejay you saw or your favorite Starbucks drink. Don't think because you have 1500 followers and 850 "friends" that you've accomplished something, because you haven't. Fuck Yo Followers nigga!!!