College Football Power Rankings

It's time for me to unveil my Top 10 Power Rankings for College Football, but first I need to give my college and pro sport disclaimer.

First, I take info I hear and read elsewhere and put my spin and opinion on it.

Second, I believe there is an east coast bias therefore, I have a west coast bias. Plus in some ways I am a product of the west.

Third, I believe there is a Notre Dame bias, therefore, I have a bias for everybody else.

Fourth this will be short and sweet 'cause it's late and I got sleep.

OK, college now the pros later. These are Rankings not predictions. I may give those for the pros:

#1 Texas - I know Vince is gone but as the Nature Boy used to say "To be the man you have to beat the man!" Until someone beats them they are #1, plus they have plenty of talent returning....Colt McCoy better grow up fast 'cause the Buckeyes are coming to town......SOON

#2 USC - How do you replace two Heisman Trophy winners and 6,800 yards in total offense? You don't. But the cupboard is never bare at USC. They could have a dominate offensive line and All-American Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith returning at WR. This should allow J.D. Booty to easily slide in at QB. The D Should be solid. The schedule is not the worst ever but it certainly not easy. Arkansas on the road to open then dates with Nebraska, ASU, Oregon State, Oregon, Cal, Notre Dame and UCLA. All top 20 programs. Well with the exception of one but it's my alma mater. I did say I am biased to open this thing right?

#3 Ohio State - The offense will be unstoppable. QB Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. will set the Big 10 on fire. Problem is, it seems like the whole defense went to the NFL. Yes, like USC they have an abundance of talent so the D will be fine. Question is how soon? The youngsters on D play Texas in Austin in 8 days. They have Northern Illinois today as a tune up. Hardly, a comparison to what the Longhorns will bring to the table. Aside from the Texas game they have dates at Iowa, at Michigan State and at home against Michigan. Maybe I should not mention Michigan since they are making it tradition to lay down against OSU!

#4 Auburn - #4 and 5 of the 44Black Top 10 College Football Poll, play in the NFL like SEC. Winning the SEC once is a miracle and the Tigers are looking to win their second in three years. The D will be great and Kenny Irons will lead a brutal ground attack. The schedule is relatively tame for an SEC Schedule.

#5 LSU - The Tigers get Alabama at home but then go on the road against Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and Arkansas. This means they will not be here at the end of the season. Their top two running backs are coming off ACL's so the running attack may be weak unless one of the youngsters step up to the plate.

#6 Notre Dame - I really don't want to put them this high, but if I do I get the pleasure of watching them fall later in the year. The perennially overrated Irish are again too high in the polls. They are as high as #1 in some polls. Yes, Charlie Weis is the best in the college game and he got the best out of Brady Quinn last year. I have no doubt he will do the same this year but at the end of the day, the Irish are the same team they have been for the last 10 years. They are a big, slow plodding football team. Their D is so slow that they had to move Travis Thomas over from RB to linebacker. They are trying to get more speed on D and they need it. I read an article the other day about how the Notre Dame skill players were attending speed camps around the country this summer. All that means is that they will be able to run a 40 faster. They will still be slow in games. What did that old coach used to say....."You can't teach speed" Additionally, when is that NBC contract up? I am tired of being forced fed N.D. football every Saturday of football season for the last 100 years. OVERRATED,OVERRATED.

#7 Cal - Coach Tedford is the man. But you are playing at TN today. That could be a problem.
Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett will tote the mail for the Golden Bears. Today we will know if you belong here or not.

#8 Florida/West Virginia
#9 FSU - Monday vs Miami loser goes home until next year because National Titles are all that matter

Predictions - ND over GT
TN over Cal
FSU over Miami By 3 pts

I'm Out!'
44Black

Bobby Brown Could Save the U.S. from Terrorism

OK, what the hell is this world coming to????? I am freaked out and confused by things I have heard and read lately. I don't believe everything I read, in fact you don't have to read this but it is funny.

rumor has it that Bobby Brown moved in with the 'Confessions of a Video Vixen' chick. Sorry ladies after all of her escapades that is the nicest word I could come up with. Karrin Stevens is her name, not sure if I spelled it correctly. Is she even old enough to know who the pre-crack Bobby Brown was? Is this how it works for hoes, I mean tramps, I mean groupies, I mean gold diggers, I mean video hoes, I mean video vixens? They get with every rapper/singer/athlete possible from the current generation then when they are thrown on the scrap heap they start working their way backwards? What's next, the video vixen has moved in with O.J.? Now that would be funny. That would have to be a reality show.

The other thing I read (I don't believe this but it is funny) is that Osama Bin Laden's ex-sex slave said that during her time as a sex slave she discovered that Osama was obsessed with Whitney Houston?!?!?!?!?!?! Now that is funny. I can see Osama in the mountains of Afghanistan in a cave with Whitney posters all over the walls. Maybe, if we gave Bobby some extra rocks he would trade Whitney to Osama if he would knock off all this terrorism crap.
My other thought here is how do you become an ex-sex slave? Do you put that on the resume?

OK, I saw pictures of K-Ci's album listening party on this blog http://ybf.blogspot.com/ . You must go here and scroll down to these pictures. If K-Ci is not the 'Don't do crack' poster boy, I don't know who is. I laughed until I cried when I saw these. I had to walk away from the computer to compose myself.
Just think of how many babies, maybe yours, was made to his music. Does that mean that those kids are more likely to smoke crack? Quick throw out all of your Jodeci!

While you are at the blog mentioned above, get a load of Kelis......WTF?

Oh, and LisaRaye is going to quit acting? When did she start?


I'm Out!,
44Black

Is Bryant Gumbel Crazy?

OK, who peed in Bryant Gumbel's cornflakes? OK, has he been drinking? OK, has he been smoking something? NO?! Well, maybe he is just plain crazy. Or maybe what people have said about him over the years is true. Maybe he is a white guy in disguise.

As an African American man I find Gumbel's comments regarding Gene Upshaw, the head of the NFL Players Association and a Black Man to be highly offensive. He referred to Upshaw as the "personal pet" of outgoing NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Additionally he said that Tagliabue should show his successor, Roger Goodell, "where he keeps Gene Upshaw's leash."

Yes, I am serious he said that! Even white people are like, "he shouldn't say that should he?" I don't care what color you are, these comments are highly offensive in reference to an African American. The fact that (I think it's a fact) Bryant Gumbel is African American does not give him a pass to spew such rhetoric out of his mouth. These comments show how out of touch he is with his blackness.

Knowing the history of African Americans in this country and being a Black man should have prevented Gumbel from ever making these comments. Now the point could be valid. Maybe Upshaw has gone along with the NFL over the years to prevent labor problems, but certainly Gumbel could have put it into different words.

Maybe this is a media ploy to get people to watch the NFL Network games that he will be announcing later in the upcoming season. If it is bad, bad, bad choice of words. Now I will be watching with the sound down.

White people, we appreciate you taking Michael Jackson in exchange for a future draft pick which turned out to be Eminem. Not really a fair trade in hindsight. I think we got the best of that one. How about we throw in Bryant Gumbel as a freebee and call it even?


I'm Out!,
44Black

Please Don't Mess Up the Cowboys T.O.

Terrell Owens????? T.O. On my team? T.O. on the Cowboys? Well, camp has started and we have seen very little T.O. A bad hammy has him on the sideline. This is a chemistry experiment waiting to go bad. We have a year tops before this thing goes sideways. Philly managed to make it into the second year before the wheels completely came off. So far things have gone OK with the exception of the hamstring. Just so you know I love the cowboys so everything I say about football will be biased towards them.

It's funny though to watch and listen to the media report on T.O. and Head Coach Bill Parcells. They are continually trying to pit them against one another. Sure, this is not Parcells guy, this is Owner Jerry Jones' guy. That does not mean there has to be a problem between them. I do acknowledge, however, there will be a problem between them at some point I just hope it is not this year. Meanwhile it seems that the media is walking around Cowboy camp with gas cans and matches so they can start a fire over any small issue and then report on the fire that they lit!!!!!! Ridiculous.

I love 90% of T.O. Problem is the other 10% I not only dislike but I don't understand. He seems to be an extremely sensitive artist. Yes, I said artist. Most people don't perceive athletes as artists but they are. They dedicate themselves to one passion so much that they become unbalanced in other areas of their lives. If that is not an artist then I don't know what is.

For instance, I never understood the sit ups in the driveway of his home last year. I never understood shooting hoops in the driveway last year. I never understood the press conference in the driveway last year. Hopefully he can get more done on the field this year and less in the driveway.

Hopefully T.O. can get off the stationary bike and on the field soon without the media getting a fire storm started between he and anyone else. It was fun watching Philly burn last year. Now let's hope history does not repeat itself.


I'm Out!,
44Black

Blogs and Kobe

OK my last post was a little sappy, but I like it. The previous post....a little negative. The one before that a little alarming ( my crouch and tomato allergy are doing just fine).

So I'm still not really clear on this blogging thing. I'm not really sure how to get more people to read it. I'm not sure if I want anyone to read until I know what I'm doing. You are probably saying 'We wont read it 'cause you have nothing to say'.

Problem is, I have too much to say. I got sports, poetry, short stories, opinions on race, and a lot of other random thoughts. Is that one blog? Or is that several blogs?

Do I ruin you getting your sports fix by throwing in some poetry? Can you handle me telling you how much I hate Kobe and then ending it with a poem about how I've lost my way?

OK, writing this shit down is confirming what I already know.......I'm neurotic.

Since I mentioned Kobe, I think he will be the subject of my first sports blog.

I HATE KOBE!!!

Thank you and good night.

Seriously, I don't like the guy. I will set aside the whole rape thing. I don't think he did it by the way. They did the nasty and he didn't want to cuddle. He told her to 'get the hell out' when they were done. Which is totally appropriate according to groupy edicate. Only wives and certain girlfriends come with cuddling requirements. If groupies also had cuddling requirements they would be much less attractive. Somehow, thinking she was not a groupy she got upset and decided to teach him a lesson.

Wow, and what a lesson. Your boy purchased his girl a $4,000,000 ring? And cried on national TV? Punk. That was all public. What do you think he was doing behind closed doors. His wife probably does not have to go to the bathroom any more. She can just pee or crap where ever she wants to and Kobe has to come clean it up. He deserves everything she puts him through. We know she ain't going nowhere right???? KA CHING!!!!!

But hey, if my wife was giving up $4,000,000 everytime she slipped? She could be screwing Wilt Chamberlain, Woody Allen, mini me, Kobe and Shaq at the same time and I would be like, "I don't need a ring honey, can I get cash?"

OK, I went too far. I said I would set the case aside so don't read any of that above. Anyway I just don't like the guy. He was groomed to be in the league and he is an unbelievable talent. I am amazed at his abilities but he is too contrived and too selfish. Every interview I see, it seems like he is trying to be like Mike instead of just being Kobe. His mannerisms, the way he answers questions, it's all about Mike. It's all fake.

His fallout with his teammates, Phil and most notably Shaq, only shows he lacks the ability to be a team player. All of the great players have been selfish but not to the point where they cannot trust their team that their team hates them. While Kobe surely wants to win, winning comes after making sure he got his points in.

I was almost back on the Kobe bandwagon in last years playoffs in against the Suns. Over a couple of games he 'got it' he trusted his team and they had the Suns on the ropes. Then all of a sudden he went back to being selfish Kobe. When his team needed him most he chose to make a statement. By taking the whole second half of the game he showed told management, "I can screw you at any time." He was also trying to say that he needed some help by adding better players. I am sure that if he would have played like he always does and they lost (which they would have) Mitch Kupchak is smart enough to see they need help.

Anyway, as a former Kobe and Laker fan it felt great to see the Shaq and the Heat win the title!
No time to write about this but is what I heard about D-Wade and Hoopz true? If so, I guess he can find a $4,000,000 ring in Miami somewhere.

Next up? T.O. on my team?

I'm Out!
44Black

Going Home to His Love

Going Home to His Love


His flight took much longer than he ever expected, not in real time but in psychological time. His mind tortured him with thoughts and fantasies of what the evening would bring. How cruel could he be to himself? He wanted to see and hold her so badly but those thoughts seemed to only prolong the flight. With every thought or daydream his heart would race. He couldn’t get her out of his mind.

He read the airline magazine article about a 3 day excursion Santiago, Chile. The trip sounded so romantic and imagined that they were holding hands walking through the outdoor market on the beach picking out fresh seafood. “One day I will take my love to such a place” he proclaimed in his mind. Again and again her beautiful face flashes in his mind. The almond shaped eyes and honey brown skin that only a mix of the Asian and Black persuasions can produce. “She is so unaware of how exotic and sexy she is “, he thought. “Oh well, that’s my department.”

Finally his flight arrived. He walked with his normal stroll through the airport. He was tall, black as night; cool as shade in the summer, calm as a lake on a spring day. That was his exterior, which very seldom changes; inside his heart was the true story. Inside he was jumping up and down, smiling and crying tears of joy because he was about to once again see the love of his life. He had been away from her for much too long.

He claimed his bags and the next wait began. When would she call? He stared at his cell phone, trying to will it to ring. He checked it for a dial tone to insure it was in working order. Paranoid behavior you might think, but to him it was necessary. Anything extending the separation between him and his love must be pushed aside. You see, their love was formed out of genuine friendship under circumstances much less than perfect. In fact, one would say it shouldn’t have happened. But somehow it did.

The phone rang, “Hi love, I am on the way” she said with the voice of an innocent angel.

He can’t stop smiling “Please hurry, I miss you!” he says anxiously.

She maneuvers her vehicle through the traffic at baggage claim. As she is doing this he spots her and she has that smile on her face. It melts him every time he sees or feels the rays of sunshine that beams from it.

“Love is a wonderful thing,” he thinks to himself.

As she pulls to the curb she jumps out of the car leaving the door open and rushes into his arms. The rush of joy is overwhelming to him as they squeeze their bodies closer together. Once they are able to wedge an inch between them they look into each other’s eyes.

“I love you so much” she proclaims with so much passion no man could doubt her sincerity.
As she is looking into his eyes he breaks eye contact only to study the lips that he has missed pressed against his. They are as soft as rose petals as far as he can remember. He moves slightly down towards her and pulls her up on her toes to kiss her with the passion of a thousand years of lost love.

“I am so glad to see you, so glad. You just don’t know” he says as he feels his insides quiver with each breathe.

They get into the car and leave for home. “Are we going to my place or yours” he asks.

“Don’t worry about that I got plan for you” she says in a strangely devilish voice without turning her head towards him but peering out of the corner of those beautiful almond shaped eyes.

“Where are we going, I’ve got some work to do tonight”

“Not tonight you don’t! Just be quite and ride”

“But” he says.

“But nothing” she playfully snaps.

They continue to ride and they constantly touch in some fashion. Her hand is on his leg, his hand is in hers. His lips are nibbling at her neck as she struggles to stay in her lane. As they pull into the parking lot he starts to get the picture. They are going to a familiar place. The place they first made love. The lovemaking was not planned that night last year, but it seems to be on this particular night. Their first experience together was the next step in a long friendship both distant and close. Their friendship has somehow become embedded in the love they made. They made themselves naked in front of each other as friends, long before every removing a stitch of clothing or even discussing their feeling for each other. They discussed it many times but could never fully understand the depth and the passion that they produced between them.

As she put the car in park she leaped at him and they locked in a 2-minute kiss unmatched by any in the history of the world. He felt himself become excited as he whispered what he wanted to do to her in her ear. He knew she was listening closely as her lips parted slightly with a sigh. He aggressively pulled her to him and turned her in the driver’s seat so that he could attack the back of her neck. As he smelled her familiar floral scent as he kissed her and ran his hand through her hair. She started to nibble slightly on her finger as she closed her eyes to make a picture in her mind to refer to whenever she needed to see and feel him. He knew a night of passion was ahead of them.

When they walked into the suite something happened and he lost control of the situation.

“Don’t move I’m running this now. Do you understand?” she whispers.

“But” he interrupts.

“But, nothing” she said as his visions of the evening slowly became reality.



I'm Out,
44Black

Interview

I had an interview today. I am not looking for a new job but I feel like you should always listen to what is out there. I was reminded once again how difficult it is for Black Men in the corporate environment(not that I am not reminded daily). During the interview I realized how fake I was being. Not telling lies, just acting like I care when really I don't give a damn. Corporate America and many other places in our society demasculates Black Men.

I am much taller than the average man and I am dark skinned. As a result I am perceived, for no other reason than my size and color, as more aggressive and less intelligent than the next person. I am sure the fact that I don't grin all the time and I don't waste words does not help. But why do I have to 'skin 'n grin' if no one else has to? Because I am Black?

In the past, I have watched others overcompensate for being a Black Man by being Mr. Nice Guy. When you become Mr. Nice Guy you might as well rip your balls off and sit them on your manager's desk. Unfortunately it does not change the perception that others have of you. They still think you will go off and kick someone's ass at any minute. Unless you go overboard with the nice guy routine. Then they think they can take full advantage of you because you are not smart enough nor brave enough put a stop to what's going on. In some cases, they are right because we think some damn job is the most important thing in the world.

It is physically exhausting to try to be something that we are not. We are fully capable of creating our own space and workplaces in this world. So brothers, be you as much as you need to. If you can't. You are in the wrong place.

Here is the first taste of the Poetry:

Who Am I?

How do I live this long and not know me? What is it that I want? What is it that I don’t want? What is my passion? What do I fear? What do I feel? What do I think? I have no answers, only questions. There is no true life with out these answers. Will I ever let myself live?

I'm out!
44Black

First Time So Be Gentle With Me

Well, I had a thought yesterday, "Why don't you start a blog?"
Then I had another thought, "What is a blog?"
I managed to figure out enough to get to this point so I can't be totally retarded. Does anyone even read these things? I didn't read one until yesterday. How do you get people to read your blog anyway?
Oh well, if no one is reading then I guess this will be an online journal that will be subpoenaed at my upcoming trial. I have yet to do anything wrong, be arrested or charged but I am a Black man so why not be prepared:) My humor is dry at times so does that mean I need to put that stupid ass smiley face at the end of my jokes or should I assume that you get it. Oh yea, I forgot it doesn't matter because no one is reading this. Anyway the smiley face feels really feminine to me for some reason. Maybe I should rename this blog "Random Stupid Shit." Maybe I should be more confident in my rugged masculinity.
Anyway, the title to this blog sounds so intelligent. Yet in just a few lines I have lowered any expectations you may have had of me. At some point I will get to Poetry, Politics, Religion, Sports and Race. But for now there is something more important for me to discuss.....My new found allergy.
I have always had sensitive skin (again I am ruggedly masculine) and finally decided to go to a allergy Doctor to find out exactly what I am allergic to. What is the one thing that I am allergic to? TOMATOES!?!?!?!?!!? When the doctor first told me I thought, 'No big deal I just won't eat tomatoes.' Now that I have had a few days to think about this, and realize how important tomatoes are in my life, I am very upset.
No tomato on my burger? OK, I can live with that. No tomato in my salad? OK, I can live with that. No red or marinera (or whatever it's called) sauce on my spaghetti or anything Italian? Now I am getting a little upset. No Ketchup?! Are you frickin' KIDDING ME?! Not only is ketchup the #1 condiment (no not condom, that would be saran wrap) IT IS THE #1 FOOD FIXER IN THE WORLD. So now whenever I go to a friend or relative's house and the food is shitty I can't tell my normal lie, "Oh yes, auntie I always put ketchup on my greens and banana pudding! Ummm this is good you wanna try it." Ketchup fixes all! Think about those couple of hot dogs at every cookout that get burnt so bad that the only reason you know that they are hot dogs is 'cause you took 6 off the grill and you know you put 8 on. So those two sticks laying on the grill you thought somebody used to stir the coals are really two hot dogs. What's the only way you can get little cousin Henessey to eat them.....Cover them in ketchup before he sees they are burnt as hell. Little Henessey then turns to his momma, Tequila and tells her how good your skills are on the grill. From then on Little Henessey's daddy, Remy would go on and on about how little Hen' loves your food.
Sorry, I got a little off track. The point is, I can't have ketchup, tomato sauce or anything having to do with tomatoes. They got to have a shot for this.

I'm OUT
44Black