Comments Feed the Soul!

Sports heads!!!

I'm so thankful to have you as my readers.  It means tons to have you frequent my blog as often as you do. I even appreciate you calling me out when I haven't posted anything in a while.  It shows me that you value the content I offer.  You care!!!

BUT!!  To be honest, the best way to show me love is to leave a comment here and there.  I'm not asking you to comment on every post unless you want to (smile!), but whenever the spirit moves you works too.  I know you have an opinion, so just take a minute or two and share it!

It will also give me an idea of how well I'm doing with this whole blogging thing.  Only been at it for about 5 months and I'm sure I can approve.  Share your likes, dislikes, and anything else with me.  Want to know what I think about a particular subject?  Ask.  I'll hit you back!

Admittedly, blogging takes more time and effort than I imagined.  I love it though and I'm glad that I started All Sports Everything.  However, my goal is to make this more engaging and I need YOU to help me make that happen!

You're appreciated!

S. Renee

Tennessee Titans Chris Johnson: The New Face of the NFL?

I recently received the latest issue of Sporting News with Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans featured on the cover with a headline that read, "The New Face of the NFL".  No question mark.  They are boldly declaring that title! 

Hmmm.  Interesting.  Well, my first thought was not if they don't pay this man that's currently in the middle of a contract dispute and threatening to miss training camp.  But more than that, this headline caused me to pause for a second and ask myself (outloud), "really?"  I understand he's a beast on the field, rushing for 2,006 yards last season.  And, anyone that plays Fantasy Football must agree that he's most definitely worthy of the first pick in this year's draft.  So, me questioning Sporting News' claim has zilch to do with his athleticism and more to do with his image or appearance.  

Yes, I'm speaking of the appearance of unkempt dreads, gold fronts, and a black leather bomber in blazing hot temps, which is how he was most recently spotted on the red carpet.  If you watched the ESPY Awards this week, then I'm sure you can at least see where I'm coming from, even if you don't agree.
 
The reason I was frozen in my footsteps upon reading the Sporting News headline is because I don't think we've evolved enough as a country or are progressive enough as a people to deem someone that looks like Chris the face of a multi-billion dollar brand.  Especially a business that is run by white men in custom suits.  Yes, we have a black president, but let's be real, President Obama and Chris Johnson come from and exist in two very different worlds. 

If Chris' phone suddenly started ringing off the hook and he was offered all of the endorsement deals that are reserved for Peyton Manning, the current face of the NFL, I'd be beyond shocked! 

Well, so far, Chris has managed to secure one major endorsement deal.  Powerade came calling and Chris answered. 

His Powerade campaign debuted during the World Cup.  When asked why they teamed up with Chris, Powerade went on record to say, "We really want to connect with high school athletes, with multicultural youth.  The only way to do that is to be genuine with the person you partner with, " Powerade brand director Frank Bracken says.  "Powerade has got a little bit of edge, a little bit of personality and rawness to it.  Chris embodies those as a player and with his personality and how he carries himself."

I can't disagree with that.  I actually commend Powerade for exploring uncharted territory.  As soft spoken as Chris may be, he is known for his in-your-face touchdown celebrations, superlative declarations, and his raw and gritty style of play.  He's also able to connect with the youth because he comes from a challenge-filled childhood which resulted in Chris getting kicked out of school in seventh grade after being falsely accused of stealing, only to get into a fight in the first week at his new school.  But, his devotion to football inspired him to do better and redirect his focus.  Qualities that young athletes will certainly admire and respect.  So for that, I love Powerade for partnering with Chris Johnson because they feel that his attributes are representative of their brand.  In my opinion, that should be the foundation of a any good partnership.  Although, not many brands would look beyond Chris' outward appearance and the stereotypes that come along with it; and fork over millions of dollars.  Because regardless of how successful you've been on the field, how many odds you've beaten to reach the top, you still share the burden of your peers that were less disciplined and unable to leave the past behind.

Chris Johnson knows the value he holds and the opportunities that await him.  He's already claimed to be better than Adrian Peterson and everyone else, likening his "new reign" as the face of the NFL to Obama becoming our first Black President.  Johnson's exact words were, "Obama was the first black president.  I could be the first black face of the NFL."  OK, I think he's reaching with regard to his first black face of the NFL reference.  There have been a few people to hold that spot down in the past....Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Bo Jackson, and OJ Simpson. But, I see the point he was making.  The boy next door isn't exactly the first thought that comes to mind when you think of Chris Johnson, so it would be noteworthy if he was offered the same mainstream marketing opportunities as Peyton Manning.

Personally, I would love for Chris to clean up his appearance a bit.  Nothing major...just lose the gold fronts that's he's been rocking since high school and tighten up the locs.   There's so much money to get, I don't want judgmental people (slowly raises hand) to overlook an incredible talent .  As the old saying goes, perception is reality.  And, if your appearance gives off the perception that you're easily distracted by vices from your past, you may never get the opportunity to prove otherwise, fair or unfair.

However, if Powerade is comfortable with cutting Johnson a check, then I should cut him some slack and let him do him.  I'm just extremely passionate about the perception of young black men in America and advocate for them.  Many athletes catch flack for living flashy, selfish, overindulgent lifestyles and are also criticized for how they look while doing so. If removing a few attention grabbing accessories will open more doors, line his pockets with money, and eliminate stereotypical chatter, then I'm all for it.  But, I also respect people that don't compromise who they are and stay true to themselves. 

Chris Johnson will be a fun and interesting player to watch over the next few years.  ESPN has already crowned him the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.  There's no doubt he'll continue to do his thing on the field, but I'm curious to see if he'll also breakthrough barriers off the field. 

Stevie Williams: Street Skateboarder Turned Mogul

Last weekend I chilled with Philly's finest skateboarder, Stevie Williams. Skating since his early teens, Stevie is credited with popularizing skateboarding among black youth.  Once Stevie recognized how much of an impact he's had on the sport, as well as how much it has enhanced his life, he successfully transitioned from skateboarding to the boardroom.  A few of Stevie's business ventures include building a multimillion dollar lifestyle skating company named Dirty Ghetto Kids or DGK for short, Educate to Skate Foundation, and a skate mansion debuting in Atlanta later this summer.  He's also been featured in all five of Tony Hawk’s video games—American Wasteland, Project 8, Proving Ground, Tony Hawk Ride, and the newest release Tony Hawk Shred. Even with the amount of success he's attained at the young age of 30, the international skateboarding icon isn't content.  He is continuously brainstorming new ways to build an empire as well as give back to the same community that helped raise him.

While in Philly, Stevie and I were joined by ESPN's E60 camera crew.  I tagged along as they shot footage of Stevie in his old hood for a feature story which will air later this summer during X Games.

Word quickly spread that Stevie was in town and was shooting at the popular Love Park in downtown Philly.  Once we arrived at the park, lots of Stevie's friends and young admirers kick-pushed their way to the park excited to see his familiar face.  Love Park, a tourist attraction, and haven for homeless people is also where Stevie first learned to skate.  He's spent countless hours at the park learning tricks and perfecting his craft.

Although Stevie made skateboarding popular in Philly, the cops in the City of Brotherly Love show the skaters no love.  As people grabbed their boards and ran from cops, I quickly learned that the city of Philadelphia does not support skateboarding at Love Park or any other place in the city.  Every time you ride your board, you risk getting a ticket from the cops.  However, you have a higher chance of getting away with it if you skate after 10pm.  The cops are more lax at that time.  While I was at the park, the skaters were chased away by police officers at least two times. This was amazing to me because no harm was being caused to anyone while they were skating.  Meanwhile, there were over two dozen homeless people chilling in the park.  Granted, they weren't causing any harm to anyone either, but I'm just saying.  It seems as though the police officers could definitely make better use of their time by focusing on things that matter.  Also, there's a fountain at the park filled with ankle deep water and large signs that say, "No Swimming in Water".  However, those signs were ignored by families with toddlers wearing bathing suits, swimming in the water.  Did the cops say anything to them?  No.  I just don't get it.  It's not as if Philly is a model city which leaves the cops with so much free time forcing them to create work for themselves i.e. harass the youth on a Sunday afternoon.  Just leave them alone!

Anyway back to the kids.  I was filled with admiration watching those young skaterboys (and girl!) with their fearless spirits do their thing.  In order to master skateboarding, you must be disciplined and patient.  Watching them attempt the same tricks over and over and over again blew my mind.  Skateboarding, like all sports, requires lots of practice and certainly cannot be mastered overnight.  It's a lot of repetition largely resulting in scrapes, bruises, and wrist sprains.  Never once did they complain about falling.  Never once did they look as if they were frustrated with trying.  Never once did they quit.  Then when you add the cops to the mix, it only makes the journey that more challenging.

The most inspiring takeaway from my time in Philly was seeing the impact Stevie has had on these youngsters.  He started skating at a young age just like them, but unlike them, he didn't have someone lead the way.  I'm not sure if he'd consider himself a role model, but his actions speak volumes.  He spent hours talking and skating with the kids.  I don't know many pro athletes that would spend that much time with their fans when cameras aren't rolling.  I hope their time spent with Stevie will leave a lasting impression on them and continue to push them toward fulfilling their dreams.

Although I've spent lots of hours shooting with many athletes, this may have been my favorite shoot.  I was given the opportunity to understand Stevie's story-- where he comes from and what inspires him daily.  As I drove around the city with Stevie, ESPN, the crew, and Stevie's dad, I immediately got it.  Like many other professional athletes, Stevie used skateboarding as a ticket out of the hood.  He recognized his talent and parlayed it into a profitable business.  Love it.

My respect and appreciation for the skills required to pursue skateboarding are currently on a hundred, thousand, trillion!  No...really!  I'm a fan!

If you're unfamiliar with Stevie, get acquainted via this new G-Shock video posted below.
 
RANDOM NOTE:  For the record, not all black skateboarders are skinny jean wearing blipsters (black hipsters) that rock out to punk rock or electronica (not to be confused with Jay Electronica).  Hip hop plays a huge part in their lives.  Completely unrelated, but I had to get that out there.  The media's false portrayal of this teen segment irks me.

PUSH PLAY:  G-Shock Brand Ambassador Stevie Williams

Jack Move!! (from the Wall Street Journal)...Bobby Bonilla is Still Sticking the Mets for their Paper

Today's post was jacked from the Wall Street Journal and Mike Sielski.  Thanks for the assist @l_adjah.  I'm posting on All Sports Everything because you rarely read stories of athletes making smart decisions when it comes to a buyout or a contract, in general.  It's definitely a story that should be shared with today's athletes.

From the athlete's perspective, this is a great deal.  If I'm the team or a fan of the team, then I feel some type of way about having a retired athlete on the payroll for 25 years. I also find it interesting that this story was released on the first day of NBA Free Agency.  Take notes boys!

Thanks to a Deferred Buyout, the Mets Still Owe Bobby Bonilla 25 Annual Payments of $1.19 Million

SAN JUAN, P.R.—One year from today, the Mets will add to their payroll a 47-year-old, past-his-prime power hitter who has a reputation as a malcontent—a player who has been retired from professional baseball for nine years and won't play another game again.

Nevertheless, starting on July 1, 2011, Bobby Bonilla will remain on the franchise's payroll for 25 years, collecting an annual salary of $1,193,248.20. Those are the terms the Mets agreed to Jan. 3, 2000, when they bought out the final year of Mr. Bonilla's contract.  "That beautiful thing," he said here Monday.

Former Met Bobby Bonilla calls his Mets contract, which will earn him $29,831,205 between 2011 and 2035, 'that beautiful thing.'

At his best, Mr. Bonilla was a versatile player and productive hitter during his 16 years in the major leagues. Seven times, he hit at least 20 home runs in a season. Four times, he drove in at least 100 runs. He played third base, first base and the outfield at various stages of his career. He was on six playoff teams and won a World Series in 1997 with the Florida Marlins.

This unusual arrangement between him and the Mets, though, is characteristic of his time with the team—4½ years marked by controversy and unmet expectations. By the time Mr. Bonilla departed, the Mets were so eager to be rid of him that they agreed to defer payment—with interest—of the $5.9 million they owed him in the final year of his contract.

When Mets fans think of Mr. Bonilla and outsized contracts, they usually remember the free-agent deal he signed with the team in December 1991—a five-year, $29 million agreement that made him the highest-paid player in Major League Baseball. He then became the emblem for one of the worst periods in the franchise's history; the Mets were an aggregate 75 games under .500 over Mr. Bonilla's first three full seasons with the team before they traded him to Baltimore in July 1995.

But it was actually Mr. Bonilla's second free-agent contract that led to his upcoming financial windfall. He signed with the Marlins in 1996 for four years and $23.3 million. After Florida traded Mr. Bonilla to the Los Angeles Dodgers in May 1998, the Mets then re-acquired him that following off-season, sending relief pitcher Mel Rojas to the Dodgers for Mr. Bonilla on Nov. 11, 1998.

Mr. Bonilla's second tenure with the Mets was far briefer, but no better, than his first. He hit just .160 with four home runs in 60 games in 1999. He feuded with manager Bobby Valentine. In perhaps his most memorable transgression, he played cards with teammate Rickey Henderson as the Mets lost the deciding game of the National League Championship Series in Atlanta. The Mets didn't want him around any longer, and Mr. Bonilla wanted the freedom to pursue another contract with another team, but the Mets were still on the hook for the $5.9 million due Mr. Bonilla in 2000.

Beverly Hills Sports Council represented Mr. Bonilla during negotiations with Steve Phillips, then the Mets' general manager. Attempts to reach Mr. Phillips through his agent, Steve Lefkowitz, were unsuccessful, and agent Jeff Borris, who is still with BHSC, said through a spokesman that he had "no comment at this time."

Jeff Wilpon, the Mets' chief operating officer, and David Howard, the team's executive vice president of business operations, also did not return calls seeking comment. A Mets team spokesman said of Mr. Bonilla's contract: "It's old news. There's nothing new here.''

Dennis Gilbert, who had represented Mr. Bonilla earlier in Mr. Bonilla's career and remains one of his friends, said in a phone interview that there was no need for Mr. Bonilla to strong-arm the Mets into such a lucrative buyout.

"The idea wasn't completely unilateral," said Mr. Gilbert, a senior partner at Gilbert-Krupkin LLC, an insurance and estate-planning firm. "It wasn't one way. Both sides thought it was a good idea."
In fact, according to Mr. Gilbert, the only real sticking point in the deal was the interest rate. The two sides eventually agreed on 8 percent. In January 2000, the U.S. Prime Rate was 8.5 percent, according to FedPrimeRate.com.

Years earlier, Mr. Gilbert had negotiated with former Mets general manager Al Harazin a similar deal for Bret Saberhagen, who pitched for the team from 1992 to 1995. For 25 years starting in 2004, Mr. Saberhagen receives annual deferred payments of $250,000. So when the Mets decided to buy out Mr. Bonilla's contract, they had precedent and a template already in place for such an agreement.
By postponing their payments to Mr. Bonilla for 11 years, the Mets freed enough money to trade for starting pitcher Mike Hampton and outfielder Derek Bell and sign first baseman Todd Zeile. Those three players earned a combined $15.1 million in 2000, and the Mets reached the World Series that year for the first time since 1986.

But the team has reached the postseason only once since, and it can be argued that the short-term gain of the arrangement with Mr. Bonilla wasn't worth the long-term cost. Because the Mets are repaying him with interest, Mr. Bonilla will earn $29,831,205 between 2011 and 2035—more than he earned in his first contract with the Mets.

"Bobby's a very smart person," Mr. Gilbert said, "and he understands the value of income."
Working as a special assistant to Michael Weiner, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, Mr. Bonilla was at Hiram Bithorn Stadium this week for the three-game series between the Mets and Marlins, two of the eight teams he played for during his career.
He spent time Monday mingling with players and coaches. Mets rightfielder Jeff Francoeur, the team's representative to the players association, chatted with Mr. Bonilla in the Mets' clubhouse. Mr. Francoeur said he was unaware of the conditions of Mr. Bonilla's buyout and had never heard of such a contract.

"But it's awesome," he said. "You pull something off like that, and later on you don't have to worry about [stuff]."

As he sat in the visitors' dugout talking with manager Jerry Manuel, Mr. Bonilla could see the Mets beginning their pre-batting practice calisthenics. Among them were several important players who are earning less in guaranteed money this year than Mr. Bonilla will earn next year.

Those players include; infielder Fernando Tatis ($850,000); pitchers Hisanori Takahashi ($1 million) and Jon Niese ($402,000); and catchers Rod Barajas ($500,000) and Henry Blanco ($750,000)."Hey," Mr. Bonilla said, "a blind squirrel can find an acorn."

Story Credit:  Wall Street Journal, Mike Sielski

Photo Credit:  Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport

NBA Free Agency: I Hope...

As all of the NBA Alerts hit my inbox and time ticks away on the clock, I'm actually starting to get pumped about this whole Free Agency thing.  I'm surprised to say that I haven't been following it as much I thought I would.  It's partly because I think a lot of the info that's shared by the media is bullsh*t.  I believe none of what I hear or read until it's officially official.  I think most of these NBA analysts are opportunists and are just making up information to get more media attention.  None of these NBA insiders have Lebron James, D-Wade or any other free agents' ear like that.  Everyone wants to be the first to break the BIG story, but the enormous amount of conflicting reports exposes everyone for simply speculating as much as the next man.

BUT, I can't help but admit that I'm starting to ooze with excitement about the possibilities that lie ahead for the NBA and its fans. Starting tonight at midnight, the NBA will be front and center of the sports world.  A league shakeup is less than 3 hours away.  What a treat for the fans!  We all think we can do a better job than a team owner or GM, if given the opportunity.  That's what fantasy sports is all about.  Organizations finally have the opportunity to get top notch talent.  It'll be very interesting to see how the NBA capitalizes on their time in the spotlight.  The amount of talent eligible for free agency, in the same year, will probably never happen again.  This is historic, people.

Once the players have swapped jerseys and changed area codes, I'm hoping three things will happen as a result of the free agency moves. 

1.  BEAT LA!!!
As you know, I'm not a Lakers fan.  I practically stopped watching the NBA Playoffs after Game 5 of the Celtics/Cavs series because it was pretty obvious that we were on our way to a rematch of the 2008 Finals.  Been there.  Done that.  Wasn't interested in doing it again.  I dislike the Lakers and Celtics equally so it made it difficult to cheer for either team.  As much as it pained me, I sat out most of the NBA Playoffs and Finals.  I watched Game 6 and 7 of the Finals, but that was it.  And, once the game was over, I didn't feel any type of way.  I just turned the channel as if it was any other game.  Moral of the story is, I'm tired of The Lake Show starring Phil Jackson as the "Zen Master" and Kobe Bryant as "Snitch".

With that said, I want all teams in contention of landing a major free agent to understand that their purpose is to build a team that has a serious chance to BEAT LA !!  If their roster doesn't stack up well against the Lakers, then they've failed.

Not only will that be a fail for all of the teams, but it will also be a fail for the NBA because this year's free agency period is allowing a lot of teams to hit the reset button and get a do over.  If one team can't manage to deliver a championship team and wipe out the Lakers, then this was all for naught. Which leads me to #2.


2.  NBA:  WHICH ORGANIZATION WILL EMERGE A WINNER?
I touched on this a little earlier, but I want to go slightly deeper.  This year's free agency period is bigger than Lebron James.  He's only one man, and he can't do it on his own.  He proved that in Cleveland.  This year's free agency is about acquiring the right pool of talent to create a championship squad. 

The NBA and team management must recognize that they're under a microscope.   Everyone will judge, critique and scrutinize every move made.  The organizations are all being graded.  It's similar to teams being graded after the Draft.  No different. Each team/owner/GM must impress and show how innovative and business savvy they are.   How good they are at assessing the needs of their team and implementing a plan to fill the holes.  How creative they can be with eliminating the dead weight to come under the cap.  How well each organization will sell or market its team to a player.  How well  they will convince the player that poor decisions of the past are exactly that, in the past and won't impact the future.  A pitch deck or 3-minute video about what the team and city can offer isn't going to get the job done.  The business of basketball is what I'm interested in.  The organization that's most successful at all of the above will emerge the winner.  

This leads me to #3.

3.  NY KNICKS:  DON'T EFF THIS UP!
It's no secret that the Knicks organizations has destroyed its reputation.  Players no longer jump at the opportunity to play at the World's Most Famous Arena.  How embarrassing.  Knicks fans have suffered long enough.  It's finally time to close the chapter on the past and return to the Glory Days of the 90s.  The time is now.

Knicks fans have been waiting for July 7, 2010 longer than anyone.  We've had this date circled on our calendars for years.  All of the bad moves that were made over the years and presented as strategic decisions to get us under the cap are excused.  The slate has been wiped clean.  I, along with ALL Knicks fans, know that it was BS, but all is forgiven as long as the Knicks don't eff this up!
 
The best way for James Dolan and Donnie Walsh to restore our trust in the organization is to make  something happen!  We're not asking for a Miracle on 34th Street, but we'd like something close to it.  I think most of us have realistic expectations.  We don't expect to land Lebron.  After all, we're Knicks fans.  We're very accustomed to getting the short end of the stick.  But, on the other hand, we're Knicks fans!!  We don't expect to be straight disrespected by everyone either.  So, we better be #1 on someones list...Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudamire, Joe Johnson, somebody!

It would be a catastrophic disaster for the city if we weren't able to land one or two of the Big Boys, especially after you consider all that we've been through. Despite being the laughing stock of the league for the past decade, Knicks fans are ride or die.  Through it all...Frederic Weis, Allan Houston's $100 million contract, Isiah Thomas, Stephon Marbury, Jerome James, Eddy Curry, Lenny Wilkins, Larry Brown, Tim Thomas, Steve Francis, and the list goes on and on and on, we remain naively optimistic that something good will happen for us.  As long as we're saved the embarrassment of being the last kid picked on the playground, I'll be grateful.   I hope that's not too much to ask.