Mike & My Youth

Welcome back readers. I have decided to write a quick blog before the 2009 NBA Draft which should be taking place within the next hour or so. However, I must depart from sports for a minute and share my thoughts about the pop icon of the true '80's babies', Michael Jackson, who passed on today. I send condolences to his family and loved ones and I ask the fans who are reading this just go to youtube.com, put on the MP3, spin that CD or go waaaaay back in the day and run that cassette tape.

While on the subject, it made me think not only of my mortality, but also conjured up some of the memories from the past. Yes, I had the Thriller album poster on the wall and begged my mother for jheri curls as a snot nose. I remember the MTV world premier of the 'Thriller' video which was one of the most entertaining videos I've ever seen...to this day (pop stars of today, please take note). The thoughts of Mike defined my youth in many ways from the little kid listening to 'Off The Wall' to the 'Thrilller' era to my teenage years when I grew out of his sound. I am not stunned about this by any stretch because death is a part of life and is never a matter of if, but when for ALL OF US. Enjoy the memories and the music and in celebrating his life, you are indeed celebrating yours as well because many of us grew up with him. I started thinking about all of the things that went on in my life during this time...Jessie Jackson's run for the Presidency, space shuttle Challenger's explosion, the U.S.'s invasion of Grenada, a young hip hop culture emerging, Nancy Reagan's hollow 'Just Say No' campaign, the nasty rumor about 'killer clowns' that drive a white van and hunt kids during Holloween, the Iran Contra Affair, Larry v. Magic, heck, the New England Patriots were in the Super Bowl back in these days... As you can see, the music of Jackson binds into the memories of my youth. For instance, when the 'Thriller' single first dropped, my family was coincidentally on the way to Gary, Indiana (Mike's hometown), for the funeral of my uncle. I had the Fisher Price recorder (stop laughing), pressed to rear speakers of the car and made sure to tape the song as it played at least three times an hour on the radio.

Another quick memory from back in the day: I remember being the chubby 9 year old wearing the tight 'mom chosen' Sears & Roebuck brand 'Husky' jeans with holes in the knees patched up, running around Parkside Christian Academy on a rampage. In my 3rd grade class, there was a kid named 'Reggie' who was a quiet, constructive type of fellow who was the class representative for Michael Jackson. He would wear the high water, leather pants with white socks and well polished penny loafers. He even had the well sought after 'Beat It' and 'Thriller' leather jackets and was sporting white tee shirts before they became very popular. Whereas me and the rest guys, we weren't so fortunate; remember 'Members Only' folks? Zips, the suede Ralph Sampson Pumas w/ fat New York laces, Kangaroos and Izod shirts before they became $100? How about Nike when they were sold at Stride Rite before a gangly kid from North Carolina changed the way the youth viewed footwear? Shoot, I thought argyle was a brand name when I was young...yeah, that's how in touch with style my mother was back in the day. Anyways, Reggie's biggest talent however was his propensity of drawing photos of Mike ALL THE TIME. He studied his 'swag' and drew pictures from the Grammy Award ceremony photos, Mike's public appearances to his album covers. So what he always drew Mike with a huge square head and the body of a toothpick? Thinking back, it kind of looked like a cross between Razor Ramon and one of the Olsen twins. We would even have competitions in class as to who was the best singer: Michael Jackson or Prince? Yeah, these were the times that defined my youth.

Sadly, the Mike I grew up with, which captivated my generation, is not the same as the Mike we've seen over the past 15-20 years. Age had changed his appearance and his view of music/entertainment while many of us children that listened to him became hardened adults...some even fragile in response to the rapid changes of our world. Despite this, I have learned to accept that I too am no longer that young kid that was mezmorized by Mike's talent; my music tastes grew over the years and I am unable to think as I did when I was younger. All I can do now is enjoy the memories and think when Wu-Tang Clan, w/ Gladys Knight sample of course, asked 'Can It Be That It Was All So Simple Then?' it meant more than just the passage of time, it meant that our lives weren't so compartmentalized and complex; and if it was, did we stress it the same we do as adults? It just so happened that Mike provided the soundtrack for many people during that time. But alas, change is a part of life as much as death. It took me a time to realize this and whatever happened in Mike's personal life in recent times will not tarnish my memories of his music...it defined many aspects of the times I 'came up' in.

I hope. Somewhere. Today. At this time. Reggie is a healthy adult and happy with his life. I hope he understands that I along with all of our classmates are thankful he was able to show his love of Mike to all of us. I also hope that he is still not drawing those distorted Mike pics. It is truly sad that young people can so effortlessly show adoration with such genuine fervor while adults seem only to ride with what is the most popular opinion...in a very disingenuous manner. With that, I say to all of his fans, only YOU can keep him alive. I hope you use it as a porthole to examine your lives and understand the unique journey that life gives us all. Play that music and enjoy not only his talent, but your life.

***I will have exciting news available to all members of the AlphaleticArticles blog community soon. It will involve prizes, raffles and good times, so stay posted.

30 Days to Nowhere

Today's trivia question: Who was the last NBA player to average a triple double for an entire season?

I was just thinking about time…about a month to be exact. Like, in a month's time, I will be mentally preparing to go back to Houston and commence my second year of law school. It seemed like it took me a month to write a 'simple' summary judgment during my first year and yes, in the span of one month, I will STILL be sleeping on an army cot in my father's basement with two psychopathic cats. Within this seemingly short (or long, depending on your situation) amount of time, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will have probably flip flopped first place in of the American League East Division multiple times and several NBA players will have found a new place to call home complete with a trophy wife and a 'why should I work hard anymore, I've hit the jackpot' attitude via the spending frenzy that is free agency. Heck, within a month NFL players will be prepping for training camp, Iranians will still be protesting the recent presidential 'election' and we won't know truly, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop. Wonder where I'm going with this huh? Well, in order to get some perspective on my thought process, it may be in your best interest to read my entry, Mike's Con-Vicktion Should Be Change. In that article, I referenced the unusually long jail term (a year and change plus probation plus the complete destruction of his financial viability) former NFL quarterback Michael Vick had to serve in Federal Prison for animal cruelty.

According to various media outlets, NFL wide receiver Donte Stallworth has reached a plea agreement in regards to the vehicular manslaughter charges levied against him in connection with the death of 59 year old father and husband, Mario Reyes on March 14^th. The plea agreement details his punishment for driving while drunk (double Florida's legal limit) and speeding on a Miami street, which is 30 days in jail, 10 years probation and he had to pay the family restitution for the death of Reyes. Now, I am all for good lawyering, but come on now. Vick was practically put under the jail and his life spread eagle for the American public to spit at him and scrutinize his very being. His employer (the NFL) turned its back, the team he played for, the Atlanta Falcons, bid him adieu, the legal system bankrupted him and finally, his creditors decided to cut bait and go after everything he owned. Makes me wonder…dogs and humans. Man's best friend verses a man who was quite possibly a friend to many other people including his family. Federal time for a dog and a short stint in State prison for a human. Is something wrong here? Is this a money issue or is this a dangerous precedent that can trickle down throughout the legal system allowing others to serve the same amount of time for a similar crime? In my opinion, it is a combination of both. Stallworth says in an official statement, "I accept full responsibility for this horrible tragedy" and further states "I will bear this burden for the rest of my life." It is fitting that he says that he will bear that cross for his entire life, but so will the family of Reyes. In Vick's case, what heirs or family members of the dogs he participated in killing will suffer?

Animal cruelty is a part of all of our lives at some point or another. Whether one participates in legal abuse such as horse racing (which only is legitimized by widespread coverage in the media and mummified millionaire horse owners who throw insane amount of money behind the process of breeding a quality 'stud', those who wear leather or fur clothing, sleep on goose down pillows, eat animal flesh as a part of their diet or love the feel of ivory on their skin as jewelry are connected to cruelty. However, there is commerce circulates behind those various industries and the infrastructure of our economy cannot sustain itself without it…so if dog fighting is not something that can line the pockets of the same elements that dictate the economy, go get Vick, lock him up and destroy his life!

I guess it is an entirely different story when we talk about the killing of another person. It is understandable if someone dies in an accident. It is not understandable when one drinks alcohol until legal inebriation, decides to cruise the streets of Miami at dawn beyond the speed limit and kills another human being. I cannot see the justification for how 30 days in jail and 10 years of probation (with a couple of bucks thrown in for the family to boot) can adequately replace a life of a man. In 'Mike's Con-Vicktion', I touched upon the fact that a dog does not have the capabilities to change the world. If that dog did gain this ability (we'll call him Underdog), it was from the training of a human. The value of a human is immeasurable as one can invent an apparatus that can change other's lives. One has the potential to cure disease, build shelters for others and provide peace and security for those around them. These are things that dogs cannot provide humans unless a dog carries a gene that can cure cancer or be the base for an HIV serum; a dog can only find shelter in what they may dig for themselves or what they find pre-existing in nature. Now dogs can provide security…however, it is only through the hand of a human being. There is no reason Stallworth would serve less jail time than Vick except the possibility that either Reyes' life is looked at as less than a dog, Stallworth greased palms in various places, he had a pit bull (pardon the expression) for a lawyer or maybe a combination of all three elements. Now, I am not saying that Vick should not have been punished at all; I do however believe a more reasonable sentence…like 30 days and probation, seems more appropriate.

Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL has a sterling opportunity to make his league come across a sterling example of management of its 'citizens', the players. Goodell can hand down a punishment that is even more severe than that of Florida courts and will be able to say the league is more intolerant of crimes by its employees than the States are of its citizens if the viability of the league wanes in the eyes of the government (see Major League Baseball Senate Hearings). The Stallworth punishment not only sets forth a slippery slope for high profile individuals but also citizens such as myself…wait…can I pay a family a large sum of money to make them go away? Would his lawyer even talk to me without my father putting up his house (with cot included) as a retainer? Better yet, I would probably be shuttled from my 2000 Mitsubishi Galant straight to prison. I admire the fact that Stallworth owned up to the killing and didn't come up with a 'Juiced-Up' story about how he didn't do it (listening O.J.?), as he comes across as a responsible person. However, in this case, when gets to prison, being a nice guy with a heart of gold will only get him so far. There are going to be guys in the prison he will be incarcerated with that were locked up for a long stretch due to a similar crime, who may resent him. I guess that's what Protective Custody is for eh? At any rate, I hope Vick has his chance to play professional football again. He was the big name in an investigation that included numerous people who were engaged in the same activity. Stallworth acted alone. I still wish him well, but it painfully apparent that a dog's life is worth years while Reyes' life was only worth 30 days. Something needs to change.

The answer to today's question: Oscar 'The Big O' Robertson, who during the 1961-62 regular season averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game.

Coaching With The Best…Well, Until It Counts

Trivia Question and of course, the winner gets nothing: Who was the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 1995?

You know, I'd bet some of you would call me a soothsayer or maybe even psychic if Blogger hadn't messed up two days ago. I wrote a very interesting piece about the blunders of certain coaches and how they seem to doom the teams and sometimes the organizations they work with. I discussed Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy's stupid decision to bench point guard Rafer Alston in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers due to Alston merely barking back at him during a time out…a very under-represented turning point of the series that is hardly discussed by the major media outlets. It seems that Shaquille O'Neal was right about Van Gundy as being 'the master of panic'. I wrote in that post about how the Lakers will come into Game 5 and apply the same pressure as they did in the second half of Game 4 and we can all sit back and watch the Magic fold up shop and show us all what a real 'magic' disappearing act is supposed to look like. But painfully, it was all for naught and many of you are sitting back saying…Phillip is so full of sh**, whereas I sit back and yell out…DAMN YOU BLOGGER, DAMN YOU!!! Yeah, it may be time to hasten my process of converting this to a full-fledged website and call it a day. But then I think, 'when you are living in the basement of your father's house, sleeping on an army cot and working an internship with no pay within an economic meltdown, it's best to count your blessings and keep writing.' With that, I will…while damning blogger for taking away a potential moment of glory.

Moving on, I wrote about several coaches from several different professional sports leagues that have been notorious for not getting their teams to the top despite their all world coaching credentials and supposed reputation. But before I get into that, I'd like to take some time to congratulate the target of many black women's ire, one Kobe Bryant for winning his fourth NBA title this evening. I wish I could say that he had to work for it in the Finals (which he would have had to if the Cavaliers had been the opponent) but nonetheless, he is writing a nice piece of history for himself. Also, the walking mummy himself, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, won his NBA record 10^th title as a head coach. Now, I respect all that he's done as a coach but…something is telling me that he does not deserve as much due as he is taking from the ABC's and ESPN's of the world. He never really had to put together a really good team himself; he merely had a all world superstar player guzzle his tall, heaping glass of Zen Kool-Aid and put him in a domineering position within a team full of capable role players who are scared to death to let him down…or else be banished to the Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder or whatever garbage pail team is out there.

The Lakers, if all stays relatively the same, you know, with Kobe diagramming the plays, Jim Cleamons falling asleep behind the bench, Kurt Rambis trying to look cool in search of his first head coaching job (despite his former appearance) and a hungry group of former first round draft pick flame outs (Adam Morrison and Shannon Brown) on the bench, big things may be on the horizon. As for Orlando, I am not sure the outlook is so rosy. Van Gundy is fast developing a reputation of not being able to push his teams over the top through expert coaching. This is the same guy who coached the 2006 Miami Heat for half the season and general manager Pat Riley, sensing that the moment and stage was too big for Van Gundy to handle (or too big for Riley not be in the spotlight) took over as head coach and pushed them past the soft butt Dallas Mavericks to win the NBA Finals. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds in the following season, but keep this in mind: Dwight Howard has already criticized the coaching of the team and if he and other players feel that Van Gundy's personality will only allow the team to go so far, expect the pink slip to arrive soon after a slow start to the 2009-10 NBA regular season.

Watching 'The Master' Van Gundy conjures up many memories of all of my favorite whipping boy coaches who even when given teams ripe for winning a title, failed to deliver. The first head coach would be former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Now don't get me wrong, Marty was a great coach who inspired his teams to perform beautifully…until when it counted the most. If it wasn't for poor Marty of the NFL's greatest comebacks (or collapses) would not have happened. Anybody remember Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway's famous 'Drive' in the 1986 AFC Championship Game against Marty's Cleveland Browns? Before this game, he delivered a stirring speech to the players that inspires me to laugh off of a chair…it's called 'The Gleam' please click here for a sample of the audio. If anyone had a chance to see the footage of this on the field speech, or has a chance to look it up, please look at the players faces as he speaks…you can see several of them saying 'what the f*** is coach talking about?' 'He never gave a speech like this before any other game this season and he waits until now to give it?' 'What the heck is a gleam anyways?' Well, whatever the gleam was, it obviously was firmly seated on the opponent's side of the field and enabled them to not only pull off 'The Drive' but also helped them win the game in overtime on the strength of a Rich Karlis kick that was obviously wide left and no good click here to view. Marty's wizardry (another Magic reference, ha-ha) didn't stop there either. He coached the dominating and top seeded Kansas City Chiefs team to a quick exit in their first playoff game in 1995 at home no less, and against a lesser opponent. Apparently, place kicker Lin Elliot, who missed three attempts in the game, didn't feel 'the gleam'. New England Patriots fans may remember the 15-1 San Diego Chargers team in 2006-07 that hosted a playoff game against a wild card Patriots team that had no business winning…until Marty's team lost 'the gleam' and the game…again. Sadly, Marty was forced out of the Chargers organization after this game and in my opinion, is stuck with the stigma of being a horrible big game coach…which is something I feel Stan Van Gundy is well on his way to becoming.

I also touched upon another coach whose resume out performed his coaching ability, NHL coach/general manager/president/PR nightmare, Mike Keenan. When I researched him on Wikipedia.org of all places, this one of the opening headlines in his profile states 'His inability to maintain working relationships with players and team organizations has resulted in a lack of long term coaching positions. His coaching resume includes abrupt terminations or resignations from coaching or general manager positions, sometimes at bafflingly inopportune, or peak, moments of his career.' Keenan alienated many of his best players during his NHL odyssey and amazingly his teams accomplished what happens when any polarizing coaching personality does when they leave a team, they got better. Want proof? The Florida Panthers were 5-8-2 in 2003-04 when he was fired and after the 2004-05 lockout season, the team finished with a 37-34 record in the 2005-06 season. Okay, maybe a reach. How about the 1996-97 St. Louis Blues who sported a 15-17-1 record when he left and rallied to make the playoffs with a 36-35-11record. More you ask? How about the 2000-01 Boston Bruins? He led the team to a 33-26-7 non playoff record that season before abruptly resigning. In the 2002-03 season, the team posted a 43-24-6 record which was good enough for a playoff appearance. He was recently fired by the Calgary Flames after the 2008-09 season, when the team lost in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year. So according to the percentages, I expect the Flames to be right in the thick of things next season especially in light of a potentially large free agent market due to the projected lowering of the salary cap for NHL teams next season (more on that at another time). Now, Keenan did win a Stanley Cup, coaching the 1994 New York Rangers to the title, but I attribute most of the credit to a great all around playoff performance by Mark Messier.

Answer to today's trivia. Remember, the winner gets nothing: Vinny Testaverde. Kudos to those who got it right. Now a follow up question: who was his back up?

A)Todd Philcox
B) Eric Zier
C) Brady Quinn

Please send your answers by either responding with a comment or send an email to alphaleticarticles@gmail.com