Bidding Wars

Midnight on Wednesday marked the official start of the modern day slave auction I like to call the NFL free agent period. Some winners and losers will be labeled in these next few days based solely on the salaries they are able to garner from the teams that anxiously bid on them. Sports has always rivaled a slave trade or meat market of sorts and this free agency period nothing but adds to the folklore. The highest bidder and richest owner will get the best player available for the right price. Probed and prodded men go through the slim shameful physicals to make sure they are damaged goods in order to secure that guaranteed portion of their contracts. Its a circus of sorts but a circus that I often dream and wish my turn would come to be sold to the highest bidder! Rhoden said it best in his book," 40 Million Dollar Slaves" Indeed we are... proud, I don't know but the facts are there and similar to the trade that's a black eye on this countries history.

Turn my Swag Onnnnnn

Everybody think that they fly or they "swag" is at a all time high. Sorry to tell these guys but there is nothing new under the sun its not how you do something its how its done. The thing about being a fashion conscious person is staying in your lane.  What looks good on one person does not mean its a automatic for you. These skinny jeans and large sneakers work for some guys but everyone should not indulge in them. Scraf swag is to getting a little over used in my opinion but it comes down to your lane and your comfort/confidence level. If it look good on yo, then... It looks good on You. Don't mind the fact your jeans so tite you can bend down to tie your shoe, or that your mom cant find her favorite shaw because you got it on. Shm. My style is on another level because i wear my clothes well and I am confident in my choices. It very simple for me, for the most part its Adidas jackets and tees, and if i got to step out its Polo sweaters and button ups. When I throw on Polos my shoes normally end in vowels... Prada, Gucci, Louie duh. Catch up ninjas, remember do you and be comfortable. Confidence is the best accessory you can wear. 

Look at the Wheelssssssssss

The fascination with cars and the wheels we put on ced cars has become a all out obsession in our material driven world. Whats the fuss about? They are wheels and when a person decides to put these wheels on their whip they take on a whole set of responsibilities they did not have to encounter before. You have to drive differently from now on. One has to out right memorize every individual pothole in every barrio to avoid the dreaded bent rim. The bigger the rim the thinner the tire, now I live in the Midwest and we need thick tires in the Chi-Town snow...duh. Devils advocate for a minute, on some cars they do look awesome but that is not the queston. The queston here is does the means justify the end? For me no, but for the nest maybe. That's why we live in America people. The only problem I have with rims really when people start to put too much stock in them. Whatever you put your all in becomes your God, and if something either than God becomes your God than our Lord and Savior gets replaced. Not good. Moderation is key in any material goods and never forget where the blessings come from. How bout this little tidbit... When you are in your car driving on your wheels, you cant even see them. To get your satisfaction you have to look at the eyes of people on the street to see if your rims even look good. Shm. As for me, no chrome on the wheels I'm a grown up foreal.

Jesus Loves Porn Stars!!!!!

As believers we can sometimes turn our backs on what either we or the church deem as unfit to be in the house of the LORD. This harsh reality is sadly what keeps a lot of people searching for a relationship with Christ away. Some of the most judgemental people on this earth reside in vestibules and pulpits across this country. At the PAO conference in San Diego this past weekend confirmed that Jesus does in deed love us all, when I preacher spoke on how even someone as "vile" as a porn star can even find a place in the Kingdom of Heaven> Please remember that the son of GOD died for our sins and his grace alone is what can help in our walk with Christ and our eventually trip to Heaven. We all have bad deeds and good, but as long as the Good out weigh the bad with forgiveness asked of these sins you can still sit next to the father. It is just that easy. No sin is worst than another in Gods eyes. Sin is sin. That means the porn start to the shoplifter. Ask for forgiveness and mean it in your heart wholly to claim your spot in Heaven. 

Gnagsta Grillz

I come from a the Gateway to the West, but it should really be called the Gateway to the South. I'll be the first to admit that we are some country folks. I live in Chicago now and they refuse sometimes that their roots are based in the South. I say that to say this, we didn't go to the dentist a lot growing up. The second time I went to the dentist was my rookie year in the NFL (great insurance Plan) and much to my dismay  had & cavities!  Today  had to get my my wisdom taking from me. The D.D.S. said that now they are not a problem, but later he feels like it could be. I think its more than a factor of me having great insurance than a health risk but that's me. I see why I was away from the the dentist so long. Every since he movie Little Shop of Horrors the dentist has not be my friend and for good reason. I would have been better off following my St. Louis/Mississippi roots and got my mouth full of gold teeth....

We are not the same I am a Christain...

I often have very strong views on religion and church in the fact I don't always understand the reasons behind church if I have a relationship with God. It is a cop out on my part, it is a way to make the word fit my life rather than me fitting to the word. Sure there are bad apples in the church but not enough to warrant me not attending. See the bible says when two or more are gathered than to the Lord is in the mist. It always says that we need to be around believers because as iron sharpens iron a man sharpens another man. When did it become wack or offensive to praise the Lord or be proud of your relationship with the Lord? Its crazy, but the bible also says as believers we are to be peculiar to others who are of the world. I am in a constant struggle in my walk but as long as I stay in my word I will not go astray.

California Love

My wife and I will be in the sunshine state for the next 5 days participating in a conference that brings Christan couples together through various building exercises. The backdrop to this series of couple building days is lovely San Diego, California. Now i have never been here but if Tony Toni Tone taught me one thing it is that it never rains in Southern California so I will enjoy these few days outta the Chi. Let us not forget the real reason we are here as well, Jess and I will only grow in our marriage as we go in Christ. Our views on religion are not always on the same accord but we are trying to obtain the same goal and end result. I brought my chucks and i learned the dress code out here. I don't want my hood passport revoked so i will abide to the rules of the land, at the same time STL will be well represented here. They will be able to tell how I walk I ain't from around here!

The Streets are Blogging

We are truly in the age of technology. It is what drives our nation and feeds our every growing need to be in contact with the world. I often find myself glued in front of my MAC for hours in search of news, politics, sports and when the wife is in a mood even porn. I will come clean on it you other guys do too. I started this blog because I read a lot of peoples blogs and figured hey I can do this. I love to read others ideas and views on various things. In my opinion it is the best way to learn diversity and how all sorts of different people feel about themselves and others. Blogs have vastly become a multitude of news media relations and spin cycles to get ones "truth" out to the masses. Its a beautiful thing and I hope all that read this start there on.

Whats Beef????

I love hip hop, it is a part of my everyday life. I use music period as the soundtrack to my life the same as in a movie, yet hip hop is at the head of this deal. I don't go out on the field on Sundays without either listening to 2Pac, " Ambitzions As a Rider" or Freeway, " What We Do". Like this is how I pump myself up.(pause) I know that RAP beef is a part of hip hop, and it is healthy and good for the game. You gotta be able to say yo I'm better than you and I'll prove through these bars. Nas vs Jay-Z for example was great for hip hop, and the end result was even better cause they were able to squash the beef(not rivalry, rivalry is good keeps you sharp) and work together on a few projects. Recently Bow Wow and Soulja Boy put out diss records vs each other with sharp swords and harsh words. I admit I listened to both songs and was like wow the gloves are off. Then like grown men not the young men they are the beef was deaded. Just like that... They sat down and came to a mutual understanding and moved forward. Wow. It begs me to think at 25(Pac) and 23(Big) could not do the same thing. No diss to the two younger hip hoppers but their bodies of work will never measure up to the two legends demos. Yet they will have longevity because they were able to let cooler heads prevail. The "New Nigga" will have to take a cue from the two rug rats of rap. Its to much money out here to let rap beef end your career or life.

False Phrophet....... all Profit

I consider myself a child of God. As in other areas in my life it is a situation were I need to improve, but how do I go about that improvement? I don't like to attend church for personal reasons. "So called Christians" beat us over the head with the point that we are bad people because we don't attend the "club" on Sunday in our best suits and give the preacher man his weekly allowance and scream and shout. Try to see over the lady in front of huge ugly hat from far back because of course the usher board going to make you sit in the way back if you not on the church "VIP" list. Smh. Church is a joke. Why should I attend church if my voice and the things I learn in bible study and change the world. God has blessed me to be on a platform through the NFL where I can reach so many young people and old people alike in a casual setting where they don't have to feel they are being judge by the ole so holy church folks. I don't need a suit or tie to bring people to Christ or even a offering for that matter. Church is big business and likens it self in my opinion to modern WWF with all its showmanship. I often find myself asking for forgiveness and for my Lord and Savior to understand me when I pray. I often feel no one else on this earth does, they look at me as if I have a third eye. I don't mind and I'm not stubborn either I want to attend church with my wife, but I just cant pull myself to it. Its not being true to myself or my conflictions with these false prophets. Remember this...America was founded by those looking to escape religious persecution so don't stone me because I go about my relationship with my Savior different from you. I don't want religion I want a relationship. See you at the collection plate.

America History X

America is a country that was founded by men and women escaping religious persecution. We are young as a country seeing the fact that the other countries were already established and booming for centuries before we were able to get our feet wet.  How can a country so young oppose its real so harshly to other countries in the world? Maybe its a bigger tougher persona we have, but when will other countries get fed up. Our oldest city is Philadelphia, all our other territories are babies compared to everywhere else. I stamped my passport a few times and although we are young as a country our arrogance is stifling. I'm proud to be a American but on matters of foreign policy we should not be the police for all the other countries. We should no our role a little more.

I got a good life man....

My 1 year old English Bulldog is the most confusing creature I have ever encountered. If men are from Mars and women are from Venus then where the heck are dogs from? Doughboy as we call him around the way seems to always stare at me like I'm the dumbest person he has ever came across. This guy farts all day and on a constant chase for food and the attention of every human he sees. If i decide its Wii or PS3 time he walks in front of the  tv or he sits on my feet and wine. I love him to death be if it came down to it and we had a intruder this lazy sack of Lima beans wouldn't do any thing! Its my fault I chose a dog that most represents my personality i thought and look how its paid off. Its your world Doughboy.

Black Hollywood?

This weekend the fellas and I planned a super bowl trip to the A. Now I been to Atlanta with my parents back in '93 to see MLK church and the memorial and all that but never been to the A! All the videos and stories you here are true. This place is bananas people. Black Hollywood is what I compare it to. Expensive clothes and cars make you feel like you aren't in the south but the sweet tea and the women that are thicker than snickers reconfirm your surroundings. The food in the titty bars are better than some restaurants I've been to and if that doesn't tickle your fancy please believe somebody is outside the clubs frying some kind of food. In Lew of coming off like Donnie Brasco I will not unveil the ins and outs of our trip just rest assured that it was all amazing. Atlanta... great place to visit