Author: kassienette

Oh Sherman…

On By kassienetteIn 49ers, Controversy, Football, SportsLeave a comment

One week later and Richard Sherman is still headline news…

While in the gym this morning at FIVE AM, I caught of glimpse of Sherman on ESPN. Not surprisingly, he was the choice candidate for SportsCenter’s weekly Sunday Conversation. Since I was unable to listen to the conversation at the gym, I made it a point to watch it when I got home. I still love the fact that ESPN shows the same SportsCenter episode repeatedly for like eight hours during the night and into the next morning. You never have to miss a thing! Upon sitting down to watch the interview, I did not anticipate Sherman saying anything that I had not already heard him say in the past week. Boy was I wrong.

Sherman’s conversation was conducted by Kenny Mayne, one person I know never shies away from the tough questions and always creates an environment that allows his interviewee to feel comfortable being his or herself. When Mayne referenced Sherman’s comments about Michael Crabtree being mediocre, my ears perked up. If you will recall last week I made the claim that I do not believe Sherman really thinks Crabtree is a “sorry receiver”(click here if you missed that post…https://kassienetteskorner.com/2014/01/21/why-they-mad-bro/). Boy was I wrong.

Mayne: “Crabtree. You called him medicore. Do you really believe that cause I don’t think he’s mediocre, personally.”

Sherman: “I do, I do. I do…I really think that it’s one of those situations where I’ve watched the film, I’ve played him, I’ve done everything…”

Welp. Bloop! And there you have it. He was dead serious. I loved the fact that Sherman stood by his words. Again. As if this rivalry needed more fuel to be added to the fire. Crabtree, he called you out, again. Now how you gone respond, on the field?? Is it too early to start counting down the days to 9ers vs Seahawks 2014, Vol. 1??

 

P.S. I do NOT agree with Sherman’s assessment of Crabtree. He’s no Jerry Rice but he is far from being an Andre Holmes. Who? Exactly.

Why they mad, bro??

On By kassienetteIn 49ers, Controversy, Football, NFL, Sports9 Comments

I knew it was coming.

From the time Richard Sherman opened his mouth after his Seattle Seahawks won the NFC Championship Sunday night, I knew it was coming. Yesterday, it dropped. The apology. Ugh.

I was hoping that maybe, just maybe, the unpredictable would happen. I was hoping that maybe this would be the one time an athlete seized his first amendment right with no apologies. I was hoping that maybe there would be an unequivocal silence that would speak for itself.

However, I get it. As a PR consultant, I totally get it. It had to be done because this story had become bigger than the result of the game. More than 36 hours later, Sherman is still the number one trending topic on Twitter. Some are praising him. Some are enjoying the moment. Some are calling him names. There are memes, spoofs and t-shirts popping up all over cyberpace. I have read articles of support, articles of condemnation and articles of indifference. I have shaken my head so many times

Thug. Bully. Uneducated. I have seen those words thrown around so many times I need an assistant to keep count. Thug. Bully. Uneducated. Maybe there is a different Richard Sherman people are referring to. Surely, none of the talking heads are referring to the Richard Sherman who graduated second in his high school class with a 4.2 GPA and holds a degree in Communication from Stanford. Oh, and he graduated from there with a 3.9 GPA. Surely, they are NOT referring to THAT Richard Sherman.

As I sit here, typing earnestly, at the computer, I am wondering when did sports become so watered down that everyone has to place nice in the sandbox at all times even in the midst of battle. I think a lot of people have forgotten that we all are different. Every player does not study the game the way Peyton Manning does. Every player does not display the fiery passion for the game that Ray Lewis did. Every player does celebrate their on-field accomplishments the way Deion Sanders did. However, is that not part of what makes sports so enjoyable for most? Men and women from all walks of life with different personalities competing for the same goal.

As I have stated previously, Sherman’s actions at the end of the game were less than desirable. However, I stand by my previous statement that I have no problem with his words and the more I think about it, I am beginning to think I do not have a huge problem with his actions. Was the pat on the behind and the “friendly” extension for a handshake from Michael Crabtree necessary? Absolutely not. That had potential fisticuffs written all over it. Things could have gone left really quick and no one in their right mind believes Sherman was thinking good sportsmanship in that moment. That is sports!! If he apologized for anything, it should have been for the that. Again, I get it. I really do. Sherman had just made the biggest play of his career, thus far, to send his team to the Super Bowl. Many of us would be excited in that moment, operating off pure adrenaline. Many of us would want to celebrate. Many of us would want to rub that in the face of the opposing player whom the play was made on. Yet, some have crucified him for being caught up in the moment as if we have never gotten “caught up” when someone cuts us off in traffic.

Bottom line is this: its football! A brutal sport that is not for the weak. It is rough, you have to be tough and trash talk happens, a lot. There are some players who passion oozes out through the way they approach the game. Then, there are players whose passion oozes out through their words in a way that scares some. At the rate things are going, soon players will not be able to express themselves at all for fear of being labeled everything they are not. Well, unless you are Tom Brady because then you can berate officials all you want and no one will say a thing.

Yeah, this San Francisco 49ers Faithful went there.

Not againnnnnnn!!!

On By kassienetteIn 49ers, NFL2 Comments

faithful

Lawd ha mercy.

In 2011, my beloved San Francisco 49ers lost the NFC Championship courtesy of a fumble on a punt return in overtime by Kyle Williams which lead a game winning field goal for the New York Midgets, I mean Giants.

In 2012, my beloved San Francisco 49ers lost Super Bowl XLVII despite having the ball at the seven yard line with under 2:15 left in regulation. Four downs+no paydirt=HEARTBRAK.

So in 2011, we lose the Championship game. In 2012, we lose the Super Bowl. This would be the year we got back to the Super Bowl and finally completed our Quest, right?????

Wrong. Lawd ha mercy.

Down six with 33 seconds left and TWO timeouts, our beloved QB Colin Kaepernick tried it. With Michael Crabtree in a one on one matchup with Richard Sherman, Kap tried it. NOOOOO!!! Now let me clarify. Yes, I do believe Sherman is the best corner in the game. Revis Island has sunk, for now. I also believe Crabtree has some of the best hands in football. However, with 33 seconds left and TWO timeouts, that was NOT the time to try Sherman especially when throws have not been very accurate the majority of the game. We were moving the ball on them, at will, during that drive. Why not stick with what works?? I will never understand. The more I question it, the more frustrated I get.

We have the best collection of players in the league and when it matters most we cannot seem to get over the hump. FRUSTRATIIIIING.

Hopefully, this will leave the bitter taste in the players mouth that will FINALLY propel us to a Super Bowl victory.

#BangBangNinerGang

P.S. I did not see Sherman’s postgame rant but I have kind of pieced together what he said, thanks to Twitter. I have always been a fan of Sherman’s play and his quotables. His fiery, passionate and one of the best in the league. While I do not agree with his assessment of Crabtree being a sorry receiver, he deserved to talk whatever smack he did. He made THE play when it counted most. Was getting in Crab’s face necessary? Nah. Was the choke sign necessary? Nah. I have issue with his actions not his words.He was interviewed IMMEDIATELY after the game was over and I am pretty sure that the majority of the players in the league would be just as excited as he was. Maybe not as loud but definitely excited. A reporter stuck a microphone in my face after my 9ers beat my Panthers last week and I could barely formulate a decent sentence :-}. It is much harder than it looks. Oh and that handshake he offered was definitely sarcastic.

P.P.S. The league has GOT to do something about the zeebs(refs) and the replay system. Now before you try me and assume I am blaming the refs for this lost(you should know better than that by now), I am not. I am still dumbfounded over the NaVorro Bowman play. That rule has got to be changed ASAP. Aaaaaaand, the fact that the referee CLEARLY did not know the rules for “running/roughing” the kicker. Lawd ha mercy.

P.P.P.S. My thoughts and prayers are with arguably the best LB in the league, Bowman and starting guard Mike Iupati.

P.P.P.P.S. I will let ya’ll know next week who I will be rooting for in Super Bowl XLVIII. If you know me well, then you already know who I am going with.

faithful

Is it student-athlete or athlete-student???

On By kassienetteIn ControversyLeave a comment

My column that appeared in my hometown newspaper, today.

http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20140116/COLUMNISTS/301169995/0/FRONTPAGE#gsc.tab=0

Deuces…not for long tho :-}

On By kassienetteIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Taking a much needed break. I’ll catch y’all in the 2KayOneFour!!!

image

No, I don’t want to see the #3 car back on the track

On By kassienetteIn Controversy, NASCAR, SportsLeave a comment

Imagine my surprise when I turned on SportsCenter the other day and heard the crazy news, NASCAR’s #3 car is coming back. Seriously? Even more crazy is the fact that Richard Childress’ grandson Austin Dillon would be driving the car. Seriously?? Seriously??? For those of you that are clueless, the late, great Dale Earnhardt drove for Childress’ RCR team.

I have nothing against Childress or Dillon. It has been 13 years since Earnhardt passed away coming out of turn four at the Daytona 500. It is a day that lives in infamy in the NASCAR  world and in the world of us who love sports. No one was as big of a name in NASCAR as Earnhardt was and still is. His stare, abilities and the mustache drew a whole new sea of fans to the sport. Immediately, after his passing, NASCAR issued a memo stating no one would be able to drive a #3 car for a year. And no one has driven it since, until now.

I have no doubt Dillon is worthy of a chance to participate in the Sprint Cup Nationwide Series but in my opinion he is not the one that should bring #3 back to the track. No one should. Not even six time Nationwide Series winner Jimmie Johnson. And that has nothing to do with his abilities on the track and everything to do with the respect that Earnhardt earned before he passed.

Most of us naturally assumed that if anyone ever drove the car again, it would be driven by his son, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. I personally think NASCAR should pull a MLB move and retire the number across the board. The number is iconic, sacred and should only be connected to Earnhardt. The man gave his life to the sport and has forever been immoralized as NASCAR’s biggest star. #3 should stay in the garage. Childress owes The Intimidator that much.

Respect: Maurice Clarett

On By kassienetteIn College football, Controversy, Football, Heroes, NCAA, Sports2 Comments

Saturday night, I found myself exhausted. I had an extremely busy and productive week which consisted of meetings, work, fundraising and the cherry on top: my little cousin graduating from college with honors. As I lay in the recliner Saturday night flipping channels, I stopped on one of my favorite channels: ESPN. A new 30 for 30 was about to start entitled Youngstown Boys. It was the story of Youngstown’s most famous sons, Maurice Clarett and Jim Tressel. As tired as I was, the thought crossed my mind to DVR it and watch it later. However, I was intrigued from the opening scene and I decided to watch it. To say that I am glad I did would be an understatement.

The media. The media. The media. Boy has the media torn apart  Clarett. The media would have you to believe that Clarett is a young man who squandered away the opportunity of a lifetime all because he was self-centered, self-righteous and self-appointed to be the next big star at Ohio State University. They labeled him a troublemaker. A traitor. A modern day Benedict Arnold in the state of Ohio.

Now, I have closely followed Clarett’s story since he burst onto the scene at Ohio State. During his freshman year, I was a Senior at North Carolina State and we had a freshman that was making a lot of noise on the football field as well: T.A. McLendon. Both were hard nosed runners who could dart through a hole almost before it opened. There was a lot of hype surrounding both players especially before the season began in 2003, the  year my beloved Wolfpack would make the trip to the infamous Horseshoe for a show down with the Buckeyes. Unfortunately, the showdown between two of the best in the backfield did not happen. Clarett was in the middle of serving what would eventually become a year long suspension from football. That suspension marked the beginning of a downhill spiral for Clarett. For those of you who are not familiar with his story, watch Youngstown Boys.

Before I watched the documentary, I assumed the focus would be on Clarett’s and Tressel’s “fall from Ohio State grace.” That was how it was promoted. I was presently surprised to see that the focus was mainly on Clarett with Tressel’s story weaved into the mix. Not that I would not have enjoyed hearing about Tressel’s rise from the relatively unknown city in Ohio, it is just that I wanted to hear Clarett’s story. In his own words.

As much as I love writing and the whole idea of reporting, it is stories like Clarett’s that make me want to scream when it comes to the way the media tends to portray athletes. Especially black athletes. Now, as a writer, I understand that the media is driven by what society wants to hear. Society thrives off negativity. However, there is a large portion of society that thrives off positivity and restoration. Those of us who thirst for the good in the world could be found with big smiles on our faces and tears streaming from some of our eyes at 11 o’clock Saturday night.

I can personally say I never had a really negative opinion about Clarett. Sure, I thought he made some horrible decisions. I thought he got tangled up with some people who were only concerned about what he could for them. I thought he had just given up on life and did not care that his life was spinning out of control. And when he was sentenced to jail time, I actually thought that may be the end for Clarett. His fall from grace had been a long one. And he hit the ground hard. And when he was released, it was to very little fanfare. And maybe that was for the best. From the time he was young, he was surrounded with fanfare. That can be overwhelming, for anyone.

Our society sets up kid’s like Clarett for failure, daily. We focus on their accomplishments on the field, court and diamond while forgetting to nurture their minds through learning.

I am glad Clarett was able to share his story. There were many things that happened that were NOT reported in the media. His story is admirable, impactful, honest, real and intriguing. It is stories like his that convince me on a daily basis that GOD is real. There is no one else that could have gone through what Clarett went through and still come out a winner. He was created specifically for this journey. His determination to turn his life around is more inspiring than anything he ever did on the gridiron. The endurance it took for him to reach the point he is at now will sustain him for years to come. Clarett has definitely gained a new fan and I look forward to the next chapter of his life.

P.S. His mom deserves her own 30 for 30. Talk about strength! There is nothing like a mother who NEVER gives up on her children. Phenomenal woman, she is.