NBA Power Rankings

Well it is about to be NBA playoff time which means its time for my 44Black Power Rankings.  Not predictions just power rankings with a couple weeks left in the season.

#1. Oklahoma City - The boys from 'OKC' Durant, Westbrook, "The Beard" they are putting it on the league.  They don't have the best record in the league but they are damn good.  They lack some defensive intensity at times and that may be their downfall in the end but for now they are #1.

#2. Chicago - 'Da Bulls' have the best record in the league and have played a third of the season without Derrick Rose and even more without Rip Hamilton.  Luol Deng is playing like an All-Star on both ends of the floor and J. Noah is grinding it out like he always does.  They have shown that they are a true team. 

#3. Boston - These old dudes just keep 'ballin'.  Doc Rivers has moved some pieces around.  KG is playing well at the 5 spot and Ray Allen is coming off the bench some.  They have handled Miami twice in the last week or so.

#4.  Miami - I put them here but they should be higher.  They underachieve and they are soft.  In the last three weeks I have watched them lose to the 3 teams above them in these rankings.  They don't seem to want to 'be the man.'

#5.  San Antonio - Another geriatric group that still know how to rock n' roll......They don't truly have a shot to win the whole thing but hopefully the can give some body a good series


That's All I Got!
I'm Out!
44Black

I'm Back

Rashad Evans,

"Strength is only measured when a man is at his weakest not at his strongest."

You find out what kind of man you are when all the chips are down.  That's when you find out what you are made of.  Can you turn the chips over? Can you turn the ship?

I am saying it now.  The work is done.  The ship is turned.  I believe it.  I have faith in it.  The chips are in my hands and I (with the force of God behind me) will be placing them on the table.....face up.

They say it is darkest before the dawn.....it's damned dark out here and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.  That game changing day has already happened.  I'm just waiting on the game changing call.  2 weeks and counting......Start the clock.

I love and hate challenges.

That's All I Got!
I'm Out!!!
44Black

Keep Young Chicks off Your Motorcycle!!!!

Another colossal failure in leadership for the young men in our country.  First Penn State, then Syracuse and now University of Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino.

So let me get this straight.  The 51 year old Bobby Petrino, who is a celebrity in the state of Arkansas, gives a ride to a 25 year old female ex-athlete U of A athlete on the back of his motorcycle?  What's the big deal right?

Well, they had an accident, they slid into a ditch on a country road.....No big deal right?

Well, he broke a vertebrae and some ribs.  She was OK.  No big deal right?

Well, they didn't accept help initially when someone offered to call 9-1-1 for them.....Odd but OK?

Well, then he tells his bosses that he got into a motorcycle accident...ALONE.....WTF?

Well it turns out that Petrino was smashing the 25 year old who is the fiancee of someone else who works in the U of A Athletic Dept. 

Oh, you know I'm not done.  You can't make this shit up!

It turns out that he had recently hired the chick to work for the football program and had given her $20K.  A bonus I guess.  Now there have been over 4000 text messages uncovered including some butt naked pictures of Petrino!?!?!  WTF?!?!?!  Did I mention that he is 51 years old?  Again WTF?

There are many lessons in this mess.  The serious one is that this guy was paid millions of dollars per year to lead and mold 18-22 year old men.  Another in a long line of horrible leadership in this country.

Here are a few thoughts about  this mess:

First, if you are 51 years old you should not be sending butt-naked pictures of yourself to anyone who has not been your wife for a long time.  See how I left a little wiggle room there in case my wife didn't delete the Canada pictures.....long story.  Anyway Bobby, she's 25 so all of her body parts are still in place.  So it's OK for her to send butt-naked pictures.  You're stuff has moved south a bit so you should think twice.

Second, why are you riding her on your motorcycle?  No I am not saying you are too old to ride a motorcycle.  What I am saying is that you should not be riding with your mistress on the back of your bike.  You should always be thinking "What's the worst thing that could happen here?"  Obviously you did not ask that question.  You're trying to be 25....why?  She knows your old so why not do some smooth old man shit like sitting in the back of the jazz spot drinking Macallan 25 and buying your hot 25 year old whatever she wants.

Lastly, your lack of leadership and judgement has cost you your job, reputation and a lot of money.  See my earlier post on Kobe, "The Black Mamba."

That's All I Got!
I'm Out!
44Black

The Big (Letdown) Day

So I had these 3 huge back to back to back interviews yesterday with my company.  When I say huge I mean this position would be an immediate as well as a long-term game changer for me and my family. 

Yesterday has been building in my mind for so long yet the day was a little bit of a let down.  2 of the 3 interviews went very well and 1 I think I did OK but I'm not completely sure.  But the day was not as perfect as I thought it would be.  I envisioned coming out being sure I had the job.  Kind of like little Ralphie was sure he would get an 'A' on his report in "A Christmas Story" I was sure I was so prepared that I could not 'not' get the job. 

Instead, I left the interviews being confident that I did very well but did not feel that I 'knocked it out of the park.'  So now I have to wait at least two weeks, maybe 3, to find out what will happen to my future.  I have to put these doubts to rest and not worry by putting and leaving it in the hands of God.  He has the plan, that is much better than mine.  Things have been on the upswing so why wouldn't it continue that way?

Anyway at least I get to take my ass to Jamaica for part of the time!!!  I can't wait for that!

That's All I Got!
I'm Out!
44Black
 

A Big Day

I apologize for not writing more when things are good.  It seems I write when things are bad or something is funny.

Well, I am trying to write just because things are good and tomorrow is a big, big day.  Things have been great from a career standpoint.  I got a promotion that I have been working for and now I have been invited to interview for another job within my company.  Truly a blessing!!!!  The interview is tomorrow and I am ready for the next adventure in my life. 

The drawback to all of this is that we will have to leave the great city of Chicago but the move will be a great blessing for us!  I hate that my wife will not finish her school program and my son would have to switch schools but I am praying that it will help them grow as people. 

On another note I saw the "Occupy Indianapolis" protest today......5 guys and a tent......impressive!

That's All I Got!
I'm Out!
44Black