The Ultimate GOAL

On By kassienetteIn Heroes, Soccer2 Comments

Well, it has been a while.

There has been a lot that I have wanted to write about. I honestly just have not made the time to blog.

With all the division taking place in the US, it was great to finally be able to “come together” and get on one accord for a change. Huge thank you to the US Women’s National Soccer Team. If you missed it, the ladies brought the World Cup Championship back home.

For weeks, the news has been full of talk about the murder of nine innocent, black men and women in Charleston, what the Confederate Flag does and doesn’t stand for and debates over same-sex marriage. I have my opinions on all three topics and do not mind sharing them. However, I will write about them if and when the urge comes.

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About this lack of institutional control at UNC-CH….

On By kassienetteIn College Basketball, College football, Controversy2 Comments

This post is probably not a surprise to most. It is probably more of a surprise that I am just now writing about it.

Yesterday, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill released the Notice of Allegations that was sent to them on May 22. The report was a redacted version but what was released was damaging. We found out what many, including myself, have been saying for years-there is some shady business happening in that athletic department.

Now before you get your t-shirts all in a bunch, please do not come at me with this whole I am only saying this because it is UNC-CH mess. The rivalry between my alma mater and this school has absolutely nothing to do with my stance regarding this situation. Contrary to what you may believe, I have a great deal of respect for this university as a whole. To some extent. Let me rephrase. I have a great deal of respect for those who work at the university and are not a part of this scandal. The ones who do their job the right way on a daily basis. I have a great deal of respect for my family, friends and colleagues who are graduates of this university; the ones who did things the right way. However, the allegations that keep spilling out of the hallowed walls of the buildings in Chapel Hill are disturbing, damaging and sickening.

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Random…

On By kassienetteIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Hey ya’ll!! It has been a while, huh? Sorry I have been celebrating my birfday all last month. No really, I have been celebrating my birfday(with an f).

I am back though and just in time to give my thoughts on a few things…

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For the love of boxing…

On By kassienetteIn Boxing, ControversyLeave a comment

I want my money back! Ok, I want my brother to get his money back.

The “Fight of the Century” was anything but that. It was more like a dance off.

But let me back up. We, the die hard sports fans, have been waiting five years for this fight. We sat and watched as folks on both sides of the aisle bickered about money, drug testing and how their opponent utilized their free time. Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather. It was finally happening! Years of back and forth finally culminated in people all across the world tuning in to watch what we all hoped would be one of the best fights ever.

Welp. So much for hopes. I cannot recall the last time I was so bored watching a boxing match. Oh yes I can. It was the last time I watched Floyd Mayweather fight.

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I am not feeling it…

On By kassienetteIn Baseball, Basketball, College Basketball, College football, Football, Hockey, NASCAR, NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL, Soccer, SportsLeave a comment
{Source: Google Images}
{Source: Google Images}

 

I have a confession. 

I have not been feeling very “sportsy” lately. 

What does that mean exactly? Well, my life often revolves around sports. I have been known rearrange activities or even skip them because “the game” is coming on. I watch SportsCenter daily. I read ESPN.com daily to stay abreast on the latest happenings. And I answer at least one question a day from someone regarding something sports related.

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Go Timmy Go!!!

On By kassienetteIn Basketball, NBALeave a comment

I went to bed early Wednesday night and I wish I had not. I mean I needed to be at work early the next morning. Since I am not a morning person, regardless of how much sleep I get, I knew I needed to go ahead and get some shut eye.

I was watching the end of the second quarter between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers. It was a tight game that could either way. However, what was most intriguing about the game was the immortal Tim Duncan. Timmy was being Timmy. In the first half, he was seven of eight from the floor for 16 points. He was tossing in floaters, posting up one the the league’s best defenders, DeAndre Jordan, and he was creating space to allow his teammates to knock down easy baskets.

For some reason, the Twitterverse was shocked. I was more shocked to see Steve Blake still in the league playing for the Portland Trailblazers. There was absolutely nothing shocking about Timmy doing the same thing he has been doing for the past 17 years. Were people shocked because he will be 39 on Saturday? Were people shocked because he plays for the Spurs, a team many label as boring? Or were people simply shocked because it was Tim Duncan.

Those people made me laugh. If it was Kobe Bryant or LeBron James or Kevin Durant, shock would be the furthest thing from their mind. Newsflash, ain’t nobody doing what Timmy has done for as long as he has done it. The man is immortal. He barely ages. His energy level has barely diminished. And after watching him play last night, I am convinced that he is capable of catching up with Michael Jordan this year in the rings department.

For 17 years we have been witnessing greatness and we better embrace it while he is still dishing it out. He has stayed true to himself since he raced up and down he courts at Wake Forest. He will not draw you in with his cockiness. He has none. He will not draw you in with his outward display of emotion. It is rare that you see it. He will not wow you at a press conference. He is not a many of many words. Where he will wow you is on the court. Watching him play makes me smile. His fundamentals are some of the purest I have ever seen.

Often, I do not hear Timmy’s name mentioned in the top 5 category. Let me tell you this, Tim Duncan is one of the five greatest players to ever step onto an NBA court. Want to debate it? Come on. I have plenty of facts to back it up. Until then, sit back, relax and enjoy the Timmy show! #GoSpursGo

 

{Image: ESPN}
{Image: ESPN}

 

 

Another day. Another shooting.

On By kassienetteIn ControversyLeave a comment

Again?

Not again?

Please do not tell me it happened, AGAIN!!!

Another black man. DEAD. Another white cop. SHOOTER.

I am so tired of crying. I am so sick of these stories. I am starting to become numb.

How many more black males have to become a #hashtag before we see some real change?

This story. I cannot even bring myself to read about it. All that I know about the story I have learned from Twitter. And I still do not know the whole story. Nor do I want to. All I know is that Walter Scott was black. Michael Slager is white. Walter Scott is dead. Michael Slager killed him. Walter Scott was running for his life. Michael Slager fired fatal shots from behind. I have heard that Michael Slager said Walter Scott tried to take his taser. I have heard there is video of Michael Slager attempting to plant the taser beside Walter Scott. I have no idea why or how Walter Scott and Michael Slager came into contact. I have no idea how this incident started. But I know how it ended. Another black man, dead and the culprit is one who took an oath to protect and serve.

It is not that I do not care. I do. I just do not want to know what happened and I definitely do not want to see it. As a writer, I am very visual and it is hard for me to shake certain images sometimes especially images that are disturbing. I know enough. My mind knows enough and I am doing all that I can to prevent the image of Walter Scott running and falling as bullets pierce his body from running rampant in my head.

As much as I want to avoid the talk of it, I know I cannot. I have got to do something. I want to do something. But I do not know what to do. Sure, I can organize a protest. I can organize a roundtable discussion. I can stir the pot. But will any of this be effective? We have been protesting, discussing and stirring since 1991 when Rodney King was beaten like a rag doll.

I am frustrated because I do not know what to do. By nature, I am a fixer. I try to fix everything. Weary minds, broken hearts, unhealthy bodies, wayward children, difficult relationships, reduced bank accounts. You name it. I have probably tried to fix it. But I do not know how to fix this. Seriously, how do you get a percentage of white cops to stop using a percentage of young black boys and men as target practice? HOW? What is the solution?

I do not know.

Last year I wrote about how I have NEVER been afraid of the cops(https://kassienetteskorner.com/2014/08/14/i-have-never-been-afraid-of-the-police/) until now. In August, I was struggling. My feelings were all over the place. I was up. I was down. I was sad. I was mad. I was disappointed. I was hopeful. The one thing that was consistent was that I was disturbed. It was too much then and it is too much now.

As I am typing this, a thought came to mind. It is going to take cops stepping up to the plate saying enough is enough to see some real change. I get the “fraternity” of the profession but wrong is wrong and it is time for those who serve us to say this. I really believe the key is police policing the police but that must be done by police who are fully committed to the oath they take.

For now that is all I have but trust that even if I am not “saying” anything about these incidents, my wheels are always churning. I have never been one to just sit around and do nothing. And I am not about to start now. Even if I do not know what to do. All I know is that me doing nothing is not helping the situation. You sitting around not doing anything is not helping either. It is time for us all to step up to the plate. Our black males NEED us. ALL OF US.

NOW.

 

Rest in Peace Walter Scott.

 

Walter Scott