I never have been a big basketball fan. No offense to the U of L diehards or the UK fanatics, I just don’t get the point of sports. A male friend of mine tells me that’s why I don’t have a man. I tell him to kiss off. Okay, I saw this Air Jordan commercial. I’m not sure if it’s old or new or what, but it’s fantastic. They show tons of men and boys (I’m not sure if there any girls) doing some of Michael’s greatest and most infamous moves: Tongue poised in concentration, flight from the freethrow line, mid air mid dunk hand switch off. It was amazing, because you’re not sure what they’re advertising. You think I’m sure it something to do with sports: shoes, Gatorade, something. After the sequence of scenes, you begin to recognize them like famous paintings or popular songs. It’s truly phenomenal the impression he has made on all of our minds. He’s like a god. (little ‘g’ don’t worry religious types) I mean he literally flew through the air like an angel. Hundreds of years of from now (if Iran or North Korea doesn’t blew us all up by nukes) there will be myths of a man that could fly and jump through the air carrying a handheld treasure while dodging enemies across a battlefield with millions of spectators cheering him on to victory.
Listening to my babydaddy Prince: Black Sweat.
3 comments:
That's interesting...
P.S. your friend's wrong as you informed him. You don't have a man because there's a shortage of quality men. It's a sad but true statement. If you're willing to settle for whatever man comes along your path...that's a different story. You're not an ugly woman. I know men be jocking you all the time. However, the question is...Are they the men you be jocking?
That's a interesting viewpoint on MJ. I don't disagree. I'm a history buff. That's a phenomenon of humanity. We elevate people to god like status.
I asked my history teach in college, did she think that MLK Jr. would ever reach that status. She didn't want to consider it. I was surprised. It's just an interesting objective question. I compared MLKJr. to the Buddah. She didn't think that was a fair comparison...
However, I pointed out.
The Bhuddah was born a prince in India. He left his palace to learn the meaning of life. The legends says that one day he was enlightened and vanished. The Bhuddah never called himself GOD or compare himself to a diety. Yet there are thoses that pay him that type of homage, building statues in his image and such.
MLKjr., never compared himself to the diety. He basically took on a life of poverty for the betterment of his people.(Those of you that don't know black history...MLK and his wife were highly intelligent individuals...they could have easily lived a rich and supptious(sp.) life even during segregation. There were rich blacks in segregation...but that's another story.)
Did MLKjr Reach enlightenment? Will his legacy reach legendary status in the next millenia?
MJ is good at what he does. However, what does it say about us as Americans. We idolize people that play sports. Why don't we idolize people that truely make a difference in the state of human affairs. Where are the commercials honoring George Washington Carver, W.E. Dubois, Marcus Garvey, Barry Gordy, Oprah Winfrey...:) These are individuals that have changed the world. MJ's great! But does his skills of jumping, dunking and running change the world? To be fair I'll list some Sports figures that did change the world or at least challenge it...
Jesse Owens, Muhammed Ali, Wilma Rudolph, MAGIC JOHNSON(Reluctant Activist and Eager Urban Businessman).
P.S. I'm not a sports fan either...
That's weird isn't it?
I'm 6ft+, Black, from Kentucky and can't play a lick of B-ball!:)
As I said I'm not a sports fan. Is there something that MJ has done to change the world besides his b-ball skills? Maybe I'm just not familiar.... Please don't list a charity foundation...almost all Pros have one....it's good business, PR, and a tax write off.
Aside from all politics, can't we just appreciate an individual on how great of an athlete he or she was. We celebrate mothers day and fathers day for what they are father and mothers, nothing more nothing less. As a society we shouldn't look at our athletes to change the world, that's your job, there just there to entertain us. I feel that we have all the right to idolize who we want, in the end it's what inspires you and gets you going that matters.
Led, One of the reasons I look forward to reading your pieces is because it always hits home. Maybe you should think about writing the memoires of a second generation Dominican in NY!!! Your book can turn into a sitcom and you will be the next Seinfeld. You never know!!!! Take care.
Post a Comment