Thursday, January 24, 2008

My Letter to Ms. Fisa

Ok, so apparently someone who was on the wrong end of my criticism here on my blog has responded. I made a post that was critical of the content of a particular groups music at a party at the Broadwater Mansion. You all can read the blog and the comment below. Of course, I must reply to the young lady.

http://geedell.blogspot.com/2005_07_10_archive.html

Dear Ms. Fisa,

Thank you for reading my blog. I appreciate any and all attention I get and welcome all responses good or bad. I really enjoyed your response because it sparks debate and I like that.

One of the first things in your comment is you talking about talent and how you choose to use yours. You are a grown woman with a great talent and you can use it any way you want. There have been a lot of talented people who've done great things such as Martin Luther King and Michael Jordan. However there have been some talented people who done bad things.

Adolf Hitler was one of the smartest men to ever walk the face of this earth. He was the first man to truly use public relations to sway the opinion of the public. He managed to turn his country against a race of people and then get other countries to go along with him.

Now your lyrics are not comparable to the Holocaust, but you rap about, in your words, "bangin and grindin." I understand that there are certain social forces that put black folks at a disadvantage, but you had enough sense to write that nice comment to me so I got to call you out. I'm sorry, but what you rap about perpetuates a lifestyle that endorses the killing, encarceration and drug abuse of African-Americans and I can't get with that. Then you talk about how dudes die for less and how women are out there on that grind with reverence as if there is some nobility in the continued self-genocide in the black community. And that doesn't make you much better than Der Fuhrer.

Second is this idea that I'm hating. Contrary to what you may think, I WANT you to be successful. Any black person that is trying to do something positive with their lives, I'm all for. Besides, what show have you missed because I told the promoters not to book you. What award show did I pickett because you woman Underground Artist of the year. None. Unless I'm actively trying to keep you from being successful, I'm not hating. I just offered some criticism and kept it moving. I hadn't thought twice about you from the time I wrote that blog to the day I noticed your comment. As for Lil Kim. I was just stating a fact. She sold a lot of records by slutting it up in her lyrics. I actually like some of her music.

In the end, you'll continue to rap about the things you rap about. You'll have your fans and you'll have people who don't like it. I think you said "everything ain't for everybody." You tout the lifestyle of crime and poverty and that shouldn't be for anybody.

I await your response.

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Wednesday, January 23, 2008

BRACKETOLOGY: Youth is Served

Right now, there are four teams in the country that have freshman who can lead thema far into March: USC, Memphis, Indiana and Kansas St. Today, we're talking about Michael Beasley and Bill Walker at Kansas St.

I must admit, I was skeptical of the Wildcats were going to make it work earlier in the season. However, they've shown major signs that they'll be tough to deal with down the stretch. Two big men who can rebound and score from anywhere (and I do mean anywhere) on the court. They're a match-up problem for anyone. As long as the Wildcats get solid play from the back court, this is a team you do not want to face in March.

I have my eye on the Big South Conference. Winthrop has pretty much owned the conference for the past decade, but now that Greg Marshall has moved on to greener pastures, things aren't so clear. UNC-Asheville is a legitimate contender to knocking Winthrop off of the pedestal this season. Should be interesting to see how the race for #1 shakes out.

On to the bracket:

You'll notice that I have multiple bids from teams in the Colonial, Horizon League, and Mid-American Conference. They deserve to have multiple bids RIGHT NOW.

I was ready to give Tennessee a #1 seed. Then they lost to Kentucky. That's NOT getting it done.

The numbers seeds rank in this order: 1. Memphis 2. Kansas 3. North Carolina 4. Duke

Last Four In: Purdue, Boston College, Arkansas, George Mason
Last Four Out: Arizona, Connecticut, Miami (FL), NC State

This bracket is good for games played through Tuesday January 22, 2008.

SOUTH
1.Memphis16.Jacksonville/Alabama St Little Rock, AR
8.Kansas St9.Providence
5.Butler12.Virginia Commonwealth Tampa, FL
4.Stanford13.South Alabama
6.Pittsburgh11.Kent St Little Rock, AR
3.Wisconsin14.UNC-Asheville
7.Baylor10.USC Birmingham, AL
2.Tennessee15.UMBC
WEST
1.Duke16.Wagner Raleigh, NC
8.Notre Dame9.San Diego St
5.Xavier12.Purdue Denver, CO
4.St. Mary’s13.Davidson
6.Marquette11.Boston College Denver, CO
3.Texas14.Oral Roberts
7.UMass10.Florida Anaheim, CA
2.Washington St15.Cornell
MIDWEST
1.Kansas16.Austin Peay Omaha, NE
8.Gonzaga9.Clemson
5.West Virginia12.Cleveland St Tampa, FL
4.Vanderbilt13.Siena
6.Rhode Island11.Arkansas Omaha, NE
3.Michigan St14.Cal St. Northridge
7.Villanova10.Texas A&M Anaheim, CA
2.UCLA15.Hampton
EAST
1. North Carolina16.Lafayette Raleigh, NC
8.Oregon9.Louisville
5.Drake12.Akron Washington, DC
4.Dayton13.Stephen F. Austin
6.Mississippi11.George Mason Birmingham, AL
3.Georgetown14.Utah St
7.Arizona St10.Oklahoma Washington, DC
2.Indiana15.Northern Arizona