BREAKING NEWS: Stephen A. Smith Hates The First Amendment

Pardon the interruption: I'd like to take a break from posting my poetry to address something that has been bothering me all day.

It seems to me that ESPN's Stephen A. Smith hates the following things:

• The Internet
  
• The First Amendment

In a recent interview, Smith had this to say about the internet:

"And when you look at the internet business, what’s dangerous about it is that people who are clearly unqualified get to disseminate their piece to the masses. I respect the journalism industry, and the fact of the matter is ...someone with no training should not be allowed to have any kind of format whatsoever to disseminate to the masses to the level which they can. They are not trained. Not experts."

When I read that, I was in complete shock. Not really, Stephen A. Smith is nothing more than a loudmouth who gets paid to say dumb things on the ESPN family of networks.

Now that I've got that out of the way, I'd like to break down what he said.

First, I'd like to address the idea of "people who are clearly unqualified get to disseminate their piece to the masses."

I wonder if Stephen A. ever learned about the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..."

How does Stephen A. ignore the First Amendment, after all, it is the same amendment that allows him to speak and write what he wants.

But wait, there's more!

"Someone with no training should not be allowed to have any kind of format whatsoever to disseminate to the masses to the level which they can."

Thankfully, I am in training because I am a journalism major at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which is one of the best journalism schools in the country. It boasts the award winning student newspaper, the Daily Egyptian.

But seriously, just because I'm a professional (yet) doesn't make what I have to say valid?

And really, how am I supposed to reach out to the masses without putting my work out there? It's the ultimate catch-22 and I've been there before. Last year I was not hired to work for a Cubs blog because of my lack of experience.

How can I get experience when no one will hire me because I have no experience.

I digress. Next topic.

"They are not trained. Not experts."

Does that mean that the fans that call into your radio show shouldn't be calling because they are not experts? I didn't think so.

Furthermore, I'd like to reference Stephen A.'s cameo in Chris Rock's movie I Think I Love My Wife. According to Stephen A.'s logic, he should have never been close to the, seeing that he is not a professional actor.

Maybe Stephen A. hates the internet because of sites like this, that criticize guys like him. Maybe he hates the internet because there are guys out there with opinions and beliefs that are different than his. Maybe he hates the internet because there are guys like me on sites like this that will one day take his job.

Maybe he hates guys like me who don't have to scream just to get a point across.

In closing, I'd like to finally welcome Stephen A. to the United States of America. A country that allows you to say what you want, when you want as long as you are not slanderous or libelous.*

And always remember: just because you're loud, it doesn't make you right!



*Thank you JRNL-332 (Journalism Law) for teaching me something!

Midterm Madness!

We're a little more than halfway through the semester and I am relieved.

Again, this semester has had its fair share of peaks and valleys, but I am surviving. That is where the difficulty lies in these semesters. Sometimes, they feel long and frustrating--while other times they fly by and you don't even know what hit you.

Midterms have come and gone here at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and I am feeling good about myself. I have not missed many classes, though my goal of perfect attendance for the semester is unreachable now, I'm not hurt by the handful of classes I have missed.

CLASSES I LIKE

JRNL 311: Reporting & News Writing with William (Bill) Recktenwald

• This has been my absolute favorite class, so far. Mr. Recktenwald is a Chicagoland native who wrote for the Chicago Tribune in his heyday, and his experience in the newsroom is one of the reasons I like that class so much. Someone that can teach to you from experience is more valuable than anything a book can tell you. I could honestly gush over this class for days, but won't. Bill is the type of teacher (and this is the type of class) that helps me enjoy my journalism major.

JRNL 332: Journalism in Law with Professor Hlavich

• My "Journalism Law" class was one of those classes that worried me as the school year started, mostly because of my fear of the legal system. But Professor Hlavich does so much so her students understand what is going on, and it really makes the class interesting too. I've been quite successful in that class, which surprises me to be honest. It's educational and informative...AND can be applied to stuff I will need in the future.

CLASSES I DON'T LIKE

ZOOL 115: General Biology with Prof. Nsofor

• I'd like to preface this by saying I hate science. Not as much as I hate math, but I hate science nonetheless. I'm not fond of the lecture in this class, though I'm doing very well in my lab section. But the lecture is quite unbearable. Nsofor's lectures are long winded, making paying attention difficult. Having the notes online is great, however, there is no substitute for a teacher that is well spoken and can simplify science for non-science people like myself.

JRNL 335: Graphic Communication with Tommy Xie

• I am finding this to be the most difficult of my journalism classes, mostly because in this class I am unable to use my writing abilities to save my grade. The focus of this class is design--and that is not my strength. Everyone knows I can be sloppy and the fact I have no graphic design experience is of no help. I don't mind the lab with Heather Lose, who really simplifies things to the point where an idiot like me can make sense of the InDesign program. But Tommy, our lecturer, isn't on my happy side. Mostly because of the difficulty of the questions on his test and his lecturing abilities. He's not terrible, but he's not great either.

ENGL 382B: Creative Writng: Inter. Poetry with Alberta Skaggs

• Shocked? So am I. Everyone knows how much I love poetry, and that if not for poetry I'd likely be in an isolated mental state. My two poetry classes last year help me vent about my sophomore and junior year's at SIU in the best way possible. So maybe it's because I'm not the motivated mind I was last year (albeit motivation due to frustration.) Maybe because I've resolved some (but unfortunately, not all) of my issues that go back to sophomore and junior year. Maybe it's that prolonged writer's block that has been going on since June. Or maybe it's the fact that my teacher really ahsn't done anything to motivate me. In any case, I'm not happy with my poetry class (for several reasons.) I'm not motivated, the class is unorganized, it's taught by a teacher who had never taught a poetry class before....among other reasons. Still, the poetry is coming (though not at the pace it did last year.)

LET'S TAKE A TIME MACHINE, SHALL WE?

Now that I've got "Midterm Madness" off my brain, I decided I'd take a look back at what I was writing about this time last year and lo and behold we've got ourselves something that is worth a damn. As of now it's 11:56 p.m. on 10/17/07, and on this date last year I wrote this blog found at my old site.

In summary, I took a look back at a blog from 11/15/06 in which I referenced a conversation I had with my (now former) roommate. I referenced that note only because of what happened only hours before that post.

The Chicago Bears beat the Arizona Cardinals 24-23 on Monday Night Football behind three turnovers that turned into touchdowns and a game-winning punt return by Devin Hester. That game would go on to be known as "The Monday Night Miracle" and afterwards came my response:

"2007 JUST MIGHT BE THE YEAR! Maybe then MAYBE this can be my year too."

The next night, I would write about my epiphany. Unfortunately, that World Series Championship never came to fruition. Though technically I never said World Series--I said "championship." Damn! I should have been more specific!

So anyway, the point of that whole mini-rant was to prove how much I have changed. Even though those two posts aren't the biggest pieces of supporting evidence, there has been a significant change in my life.

No longer am I the bitter, frustrated young man that some people loved (while others hated.) No longer am I throwing my computer chair around my room in disgust. No longer amI beating my bed senseless with a baseball bat (mostly because I don't have my bat anymore, but that's besides the point.)

The point is that I feel like I'm moving forward in my life. And I'll be honest, sometimes I back-track. Sometimes I'll get into a state of mind where I'll just sit lonely and thing about "what could have been" or "what should have been." Sometimes I fall into the traps that got me down in the first place.

But then I'll have a happy moment, and all is right with the world.

IT DOESN'T GET EASIER

In closing, I'd like to take a short look at what I have ahead of me. (Hint: it's not gonna be pretty.) In order to graduate in Fall 2008, I'm gonna have to pull off the following miracle: 18 credit hours next semester, and 17 the semester after that.

The reason I have to do this is because of my sophomore year, which I consider the worst year in my life. It was the most tumultuous year, and what I mean by that is that I went through a period in which anything bad that could happen to me, did happen.

I honestly have difficulties finding silver linings in what happened that year. Not saying that there weren't any (because I can think of one in particular), but I say that because the bad outweighed the good--and it was a major setback.

Now I can take a look back at that and say that for the most part, I've moved on. And on graduation day I will be able to say, I survived SIU despite that. And if there is one thing I have learned from the 2007 Chicago Cubs (yay! baseball reference!) is that if you can make it through the rough times, you'll be stronger in the end because of it.

Good night folks, and sweet dreams.

Finished @ 12:13 a.m.

Miscellaneous Baseball Thoughts

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts from Wednesday September 26th 2007.

AN OPEN LETTER TO TONY LARUSSA:

Dear Tony,

Thank you for beating the Brewers tonight. If the Cubs end up winning the NL Central, next time you're in Chicago, drinks are on me. And so is the cab.

Sincerely,

Cubdom

THE THREE PHASES OF THE TRUE CUBS FAN:

THE ETERNAL OPTIMIST: Yeah, the Cubs have lost the last two games but look on the bright side. The magic number is down to three. Meaning any combination of three Cubs wins or Brewers losses makes the Cubs the NL Central champions. The Brewers have to play the Padres who are fighting for their playoff lives and will likely face Chris Young, Greg Maddux and Jake Peavy. The Cubs go to Cincinnati to face the Reds who are already eliminated, and without their two biggest power threats: Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr.

THE PESSIMIST: The Cubs are gonna blow it. You know why? Because they're the Cubs and they always blow it. It's what they've always done and it's what they will always do. They always find a new and interesting way to blow it, so at least we all know it will be entertaining!

THE REALIST: With four games left and the magic number standing at three, the Cubs chances at winning the division stand above 90%. The Cubs have played way below their potential and have three of their best pitchers going for them this weekend against the Reds. They also have a manager who has been in this situation before, and unlike some managers, will put the importance of the game at hand above retaliation.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:

• If the Padres can somehow take three of four games from Milwaukee, Cubs fans might have to take back all of those nasty things they said about the Padres in 1984 (at least for one weekend.)
• Miami's Joe Robbie/Pro Player/Dolphin Stadium is the new house of horrors for Chicago sports fans. Between the Bears and the Cubs, they are winless in their last 11 games against the Miami franchise--and are winless in 2007 in Dolphin Stadium.
• If the Cubs can't beat Dontrelle Willis (who entered Tuesday's game 9-15 with a 5.32 ERA) or Daniel Barone (1-3, 5.30 ERA entering Wednesday) then how are they gonna beat Cub killers Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo?
• Also, why do I have a feeling that former Cub Buck Coats is gonna come back and bite the hand that once fed him.
• I know that Steve Trachsel is scheduled to start against the Marlins on Thursday. I don't think that's a good idea. Start Rich Hill on normal rest--every game counts--especially ones that could decide the fate of the NL Central.

That was one moment inside this Cub fan's head.

Kanye West vs. 50 Cent: The Showdown

The biggest debate in hip-hop since Jay-Z vs. NaS will be decided starting today when Kanye West's third album Graduation* goes up against 50 Cent's third album Curtis.

A lot of media types will hype this as a "Battle Of The Titans," which is correct in a way. However, the media types don't seem to be focusing on the music aspect of each album. Instead, they seem to be hyping each artist's ego.

It'd be easy for me to pile on to that debate, but since I've listened to each album completely I am going to analyze Graduation and Curtis for their value in music.

GRADUATION, KANYE WEST

Following the theme of school related titles, West fittingly drops his third album Graduation. The title fits the album well, seeing that Kanye has developed into a bonifide hip-hop star since his first album and you can clearly hear it.

His first album, The College Dropout contained a lot of old school soul samples mixed with fresh drum beats lead by singles "Through the Wire" and "Slow Jamz" while his second album, Late Registration added the sounds of an orchestra and the co-production of Jon Brien to compliment the sounds of sped up soul samples led by the singles "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" and "Gold Digger."

Now with Graduation Kanye takes his game to a whole new level, adding the sounds of a synthesizer, popularized by Timbaland's album Shock Value. Kanye's effort on this album clearly makes it his best work to date.

One of the more noticeable changes is that the album contains no skits which helps move the album along seamlessly. In addition, Kanye has guest spots by only two rappers, Lil' Wayne and Mos Def. Wayne appears on the track "Barry Bonds" while Mos only sings on the track "Drunk and Hot Girls."

With that said, Graduation is more of a dissertation with Kanye wanting the listener to focus on what he has to say rather than what supporting rappers would.

The album is headed by two hot singles, "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and "Stronger." The first single, "Can't Tell Me Nothing" is Exhibit A of Kanye's improved lyrical ability with a slew of consecutive punchlines to go along with the infections "La la la la, wait 'til I get my money right" chorus.

In addition, the pattern of Kanye being one-upped by collaborators (i.e. Common on the track "Get 'Em High or Mos Def on the track "Two Words") ends with the track "Barry Bonds", his collaboration with Lil' Wayne in which 'Ye spits punchline after punchline including the gem " I'm insulted/ you should go 'head/ and bow so hard till yo knees hit yo fo' head."

"Stronger" is more of a club banger with pounding drum sounds that remind the casual hip-hop fan of "Gold Digger." Here Kanye samples Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" perfectly providing hip-hop with a hit that could make its claim as the song of the summer.

The third single "Good Life" features T-Pain, another perfectly timed collaboration because of his recent run of hits. His use of the vocoder blends well with the track. Another intriguing collaboration occurs on the track "Homecoming" which features Chris Martin, the lead singer of the band Coldplay. Another example of Kanye capitalizing on what's hot in music now.

The album closes with the track "Big Brother" which is Kanye's ode to Jay-Z. Really, you can't have Graduation without giving credit to those who helped you get to that point. As a whole, Kanye earns an 'A' with Graduation.

CURTIS, 50 CENT

50 Cent came onto the hip-hop scene strong with his debut Get Rich Or Die Trying, riding the coattails of mentor Eminem, legendary producer Dr. Dre, and the street-banging single "Wanksta." 50 made more early waves with his very public beef with rapper Ja Rule, whose career would be ended by several Eminem and 50 Cent diss tracks.

Since then, 50 Cent's musical career has drastically changed course.

In his second album, The Massacre, 50 seemingly started to sing on tracks which was something he dissed Ja Rule about, discrediting Ja as a rapper.

Though he had several hits from the album including the Dr. Dre produced "Disco Inferno" and the Scott Storch produced "Candy Shop" and "Just A Lil' Bit", 50 felt the wrath of the hip-hop community.

Whether it was his competition who he dissed in the track "Piggy Bank" like Fat Joe, Jadakiss and NaS or former label mate The Game, 50 turned off a lot of fans with his "beefs" in the industry.

50 took some time off from the game to star in a movie loosely based off his life and the accompanying album that didn't fare too well in the mainstream.

Now, 50 returns with his third studio album Curtis challenging West in the music stores. And admittedly, the album isn't completely terrible.

Led by the hit single "I Get Money," also 50 seems to go back to his early days with tracks like "My Gun Go Off", "I'll Still Kill" which features Akon, and "Come & Go" featuring production by Dr. Dre. 50 also changes the pace with the mellow "Follow My Lead" which features R&B singer Robin Thicke. 50's best move is letting singers do the singing while he raps.

However, that is where the compliments end with this album. 50's biggest shortcoming is that he still hasn't evolved lyrically, and that is clear in the smash single "Ayo Technology" which features Timbaland and Justin Timberlake.

Timbaland drops one of his most sinister sounding beats in recent memory, not to mention he raps on the bridge too. Timberlake does his thing, crooning "Aaayooo I'm tired of using technology, why don't you sit down on top of me / Aaayooo I'm tired of using technology, I need you right in front of me."

Bass heavy beats and top-bill collaborators can only take you so far. That's why Curtis can't come close to Graduation. Kanye seems to be able to do it all. His production improves seemingly with every track. Lyrically, Kanye continues to step his game up.

And even though 50 does come up short on the lyrical end of things, hearing the name 50 Cent is almost like hearing about the Yankees--you either love them or you love to hate them--no matter what they do.

Graduation: 5-stars
Curtis: 3-stars

*"Bittersweet Poetry" appears as the I-Tunes bonus and features John Mayer. The Japanese edition of Graduation contains the tracks "Good Night" which features Mos Def and the "Can't Tell Me Nothing Official Remix" which features a new verse from Kanye and an additional verse from Young Jeezy. Those tracks were not taken into consideration when reviewing this album.

This Is What The Blogosphere Does To Me

I should have known that it was only a matter of time before I was back to my old blogging self. This blog is very reminiscent to the work found on firejoemorgan.com. FJM is a sports blog site that points out inaccuracies in statements, stupid things people say and other stuff about sports.

So, while browsing SalukiTalk, I found an article in the Daily Egyptian (the student paper at SIU) with the headline Bonds deserves to be cheered, not jeered. Of course, that hit me immediately so I had to read it thoroughly. After reading it thoroughly, I have to pick it apart, just like FJM does.

First, I'd like to go on record of saying that it is a well written article with some interesting views. However, I disagree. I'll just pick that apart. Remember my credo: "ya gotta crawl before ya walk."

This is a shame because Bonds is, without a doubt, the greatest baseball player of our generation.

"Without a doubt" is quite a strong message to make. Bonds is arguably the greatest player of our generation. Some would argue Ken Griffey Jr. My argument is that the greatest player of our generation is still in his prime, Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod is on the verge of being the youngest player to reach 500 home runs, and many believe that he will eventually surpass Bonds as the home run champion.

Unfortunately, though, Bonds is cast as a media-dodging, steroid-using jerk that has no respect for the game or the home run record...

With Bonds perception is reality, his image is his own doing. I will go out on a limb saying that he respects the game and the record, but knowing the baseball line he comes from (father Bobby Bonds and Godfather Willie Mays.) With baseball lineage like that, you better respect the game.

Many fans link Bonds to steroids and say he has tainted the game. Well, in his defense, there is no proof that he has used.

This is where EVERYONE is wrong. Dead wrong. It's called Grand Jury testimony in which Bonds admitted to unknowingly using "the clear" which he thought was flaxseed oil. OK, so the testimony was illegally leaked, but the man who leaked it is getting the punishment he deserves. Meanwhile, Bonds seemingly gets off scot-free from silly media types that ignore THE FACT that Bonds went in front of a jury and said he unknowingly took steroids. Next topic.

When Mark McGwire was in the process of breaking the single season home run record in 1998, no one raised an eyebrow. McGwire certainly had visual characteristics of a juicer - as does Bonds. The difference with McGwire, though, was that fans applauded him for his pursuit of history.

Let's go back in time to 1998, shall we? McGwire was seen in the same light as Bonds, a crotchety baseball figure dubbed by WSCR's Terry Boers as "The Big Red Penis" for his irritability around the media. However, McGwire opened up when he was befriended by Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa. Sosa's fun loving act rubbed off on McGwire in what would become the summer that saved baseball. Bonds could have warmed up to Griffey and it could have been Sosa/McGwire II. It just wasn't meant to be.

Is it because he is black? Maybe. Is it because the media has portrayed him as an outcast? That certainly adds to it.

I can't believe he pulled the race card. Race has NOTHING to do with it, except for those who still march around with the Confederate Flag ignoring the process made in this country since Brown v. Board of Ed. One of (if not the most) beloved athlete of our generation is a black male, Michael Jordan. Tiger Woods is quite beloved, and he represents two minority groups! Race isn't an issue when it comes to Bonds. As for the media portraying him as an outcast: he requests a locker away from everyone else, a locker with stuff others don't have....and he even had his own TV show which really did the portraying for us.

Pete Rose gambled on baseball and lied to the nation for years but is still honored as a legend of the game. Ty Cobb was a documented jerk but is enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, Bonds is shunned.

While Rose is honored for what he did on the field, he is still banned from being in the Hall of Fame for breaking a rule. Cobb was more than a documented jerk, he was a known racist. Cobb is recognized for what he did on the field, but the racism is not acceptable. Bonds is shunned because that's what he has made himself out to be. As the saying goes, you reap what you sow.

Here's the kicker for me:
As unlikable a character he can be sometimes, Bonds deserves to be cheered in his chase of 755, not jeered.

I would like to thank JRNL-310 with Anita Stoner for teaching me to catch this red flag and immediately delete it from my writing. It's in the headline already...and besides that, it's already implied that you think that Bonds should be cheered, not jeered. You give your side with evidence, that's your job as a journalist. That line should just be cut out. I don't know if I should blame the writer or the editor.

That felt good to do that. Maybe someone from the DE will catch this and put me in the position I believe that I rightfully deserve: sportswriter.

Well, there's always next semester.

Oh, To Be Rich!

Breaking news from this morning, Paris Hilton is a free woman.

I'd like to start this post by saying shame on whoever let Paris free on this B.S. excuse of a 'medical condition.' I didn't know crying and pouting were 'medical conditions' that would allow someone to finish a jail sentence at home, wearing an ankle bracelet.

House arrest still is an unfair punishment for Hilton, who probably lives in a multi-million dollar mansion. That doesn't sound like punishment at all. That's like when parents these days 'punish' their kids by sending to their rooms---rooms that they've filled with toys and games that they still allow their children to play with.

Back to the whole 'medical condition' B.S. excuse. Unfortunately, we will never find out what the 'condition' was because of its confidentiality. Also, don't you think that the people at the jail would have already known about the condition and then thought twice about putting her there anyway.

Seriously though, we should have seen this coming. Paris was due to get 45 days in jail, but it was reduced to 23 days because of good behavior. Her good behavior? Showing up to her court hearing. Since when did that become "good behavior?" So now, 23 days was turned into 3.

Also, I don't buy the bullsh*t five days that the people out west are saying because she showed up on Sunday night and was released this morning. She was there Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. They also didn't give her a cell mate--again--more proof that this "punishment" was a bunch of B.S.

Don't get me wrong, if I was rich and was able to buy my way out of prison I most certainly would. However, buying your way out of jail shouldn't even be an option.

Alas, this just might be the beginning of something bigger. Everyday people seem outraged about the whole deal, and I'm in agreement with them and I'm sure that someone out in Cali will be taking the fall for setting her free. I know that if it was my Puerto Rican ass they would have locked me up, thrown away the key and put me in a cell with Bubba and Tiny.

FINAL THOUGHT (I): This is a shame that this is making major headlines. This should be a blip on the national scene. Instead, someone who is famous for being famous and spreading her legs is a major news story.

Shame on this society for letting it get this far. Hopefully Paris will learn her lesson. Unfortunately, these Hollywood starlets won't learn their lessons until they kill each other off in drunk driving incidents.

FINAL THOUGHT (II): If I was as rich as these rich little bitches out in Hollywood I wouldn't drive anywhere. You're rich, hire a personal driver and let's not put people's lives at risk because of your drinking habits!

FINAL THOUGHT (III): An incident like this just looks bad. It just goes to prove that there are two systems of justice, and that is just not right.