2016 Mid-Yead Wrap Up and Awards

OK it's the dog days of summer, which means it's time for my mid year award list of stupidity in sports, pop culture, and entertainment. Beyonce' is back and Kanye and Kobe both managed to stay off this list.

Repeats:

Big business award: Beyonce'. First of all, Bey is one of the best marketing geniuses of our time. Her techniques should be taught in business schools and boardrooms everywhere. That being said, why in the world would you charge that much for anyone to attend one of your concerts? Even during tax season, that's a lot to ask. Maybe it's because she knows the fans will pay that price, and doesn't care if it's a six figure bank executive, or a single welfare mom.

Troubled athlete: Johnny Manziel. I mean, who didn't see this coming. Overprivileged, overhyped QB who was bound to spontaneously combust. He's like Doug Flutie merged with Stephen Garcia and Tommy Chong.

Unnecessary sporting event: The Pro Bowl. Who watches or even cares anymore, besides Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders?

Sore loser: Cam Newton. He still may be the best QB in the NFL talentwise, but he can't handle losing. C'mon Cam, you must be more classy than that after a huge loss.

Racist award: The SAEs (I have another award for police and activists so wait). You guys are awful far as your treatment towards anyone of color. Why haven't y'all been shut down yet?

Unjust award (see?): The police, U.S. Justice system, the media and our government. America is becoming an embarrassment thanks to all of you determined to keep us divided as citizens and distracted from other issues.

Social media faux pas: Status update games. They are getting wilder and more ridiculous. They seem to only end when something tragic occurs or it's a major holiday.

Crooked sport: The NBA. You guys are so desperate for ratings and to topple the NFL, you make a circus yearly out of the playoffs, the draft lottery and the draft.

Disloyalty award: bandwagoner fans. Once upon a time, you picked a team and stuck with them.  Now folks go with whomever is winning. I honestly saw this start in the 90s with the Bulls and Cowboys and is getting much worse.

Crybaby athlete: Lebron James. Well I guess now ole Bron Bron not only controls the Cavaliers, he controls the NBA. One phone call and he decides the series and brings a championship back to Cleveland for the first time in 52 years.

Can't Get Right Award: Jon Jones. Personally I think you are overrated as a fighter and Cormier would have finally beat you in 200. Don't worry, Bellator awaits in two years or less.

Newbies:

Crooked politician: Hillary Clinton. When everyone thought it was Bill or Trump, it is also you Hill. It's getting harder to trust anyone in public office.

Coon award: Stacey Dash. You have embarrassed yourself. You simply cannot go again an entire race of people like that, especially your own.

Fashion faux pas: the man bun. Why, why?

Blatant disrespect award: The Oscars. You bring back Chris Rock to host, which is good. But no minority nominees at all? Really?

Violent athlete: Lesean McCoy. C'mon dude, I thought you were trying to get paid and establish your career. You have proven that one must conquer their inner demons and watch who they hang with.

Unreliable teammate: D'Angelo Russell. Dude don't you know that what goes on in the locker room, stays in the locker room? Swaggy P, you were almost as bad as you don't blab your business. But Russell was awful.

Questionable athlete: Laranby Tunsil. It just goes to show you in this era of technology nothing you do is hidden and eventually what is done in the dark comes to light.

Dirty program (could be Ole Miss next): Baylor and Art Briles. You guys got good fast, and now your coach is gone. Who's next?

Retail rant: Lowes. The way in which you treat customers is deplorable. I hope Home Depot crushes you guys. 

Moron rapper: Joe Budden. Hip hop artists will learn one day to stop going after Drake. 

Athlete with aggression: Draymond Green. Now Dray I admire your style of play. However, you must control it, and your anger, before you cost your team multiple championships and yourself freedom as a citizen.

OK that's it for now. Moral of this post: people do not learn from the past.

2015 Mid Year Wrap-Up Of Pop Culture, Sports and other notable mishaps

July is notable to me for a variety of reasons: the 4th of July, my birthday, and of course my Mid-Year recap of the foolishness in the world. My lists are actually getting shorter over the years. Some people actually want to stay off apparently.

Repeats:

Troubled singer: Miley Cyrus. You seem headed right down the Brittany Spears path. All that's missing now are a husband and children.

Drug addicted athlete (Ricky Williams award): Josh Gordon. Until marijuana is illegal in all 50 states, you need to stop using if you wanna play football.

Criminals: Crooked ministers. Creflo Dollar may be the worst, but too many ministers falsely profit from God. Anyone get the double entendre there?

America: I have a separate post coming later. In short, we must come together as a country and end all of this useless division.

Beyonce': You're back again. Your mother has rediscovered your groove, while your fashion (and dresses are slipping).

Kim Kardashian (the ditzy THOT award): Please either go into hiding, or behave, if that's possible.

Newbies:

Caught with his pants down: Greg Anthony. This is sad. I will miss you as a broadcaster, but you can't always live your personal life as you please.

Dirty sports team: New England Patriots. Karma has finally gotten the best of you. You have many haters, and now it is justified.

Athlete with attitude: Marshawn Lynch. Look here Beast Mode, every one has job responsibilities they don't like. Just do the interviews, collect your check, and keep playing.

Bobby Knight coaching award: Kevin Stallings. That is no way to treat a player, or a person. You best believe I wouldn't want my son playing for you.

Racist award: Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. It's surprising you guys haven't made my list as of yet, given all of the strife you have stirred up. You all have a lot of work to do to improve your image as a national fraternity.

Over the top National Anthem performance: Jamie Foxx. We have had the best from Whitney, to the worst in Roseanne. But Jamie, what was that? You do realize the Star Spangled Banner is not a gospel hymn, right, right?

Renegade athlete: Tom Brady. Like your team, you also got your just desserts. Stop appealing and take your punishment like a man.

Sicko award (tie): Josh Duggart and Jared Fogle (the Subway guy). Duggart may be worse because he has 19 kids and molested his own sisters. But Jared is the most surprising. Subway has already gone south enough and now they will need a new spokesperson. Simply revolting.

Fake-out award: Rachel Dolzeal. You clearly thought because you were white, the rules didn't apply to you. One cannot get careless.

Rapist: Bill Cosby. Cos, I still don't wanna believe it. I am highly disappointed. I only pray you get forgiveness from your family and God.

See you all in December!

Movie Review: No Good Deed

The big movie this week was No Good Deed and for very good reason. Many folks, especially in the black community, flocked out to see this suspense thriller starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson.

It is a quick thriller, only 84 minutes in length, but it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Elba plays Colin, an escaped convict. Henson plays Terri, a suburban mom home alone for the night with her children while her husband is away. Elba crashes a car near Henson's place in the rain, she lets him in to use the phone and from there, the action intensifies.

Elba had to really channel his antagonist/bad guy side, playing this role with ease as Stringer Bell on HBO's The Wire. He nailed this one as well. Henson played her role well also, improving her stock as an actress. The movie receives 4 out of 5 stars from me and a A rating.

Despite the positive reviews, specifically on social media, I went into the movie skeptical but open. The same producer that made the 2009 thriller also starring Elba and Beyonce' "Obsessed" also did NGD. This attempt was much much better, with more suspense and less predictability.

I say often it's not just a good black movie, it's a good movie period. If you didn't see No Good Deed this past weekend, do yourself a favor and catch it soon. It is a good start to begin the Fall movie season.

The 2012 Mid-Year Cowbell List, including repeat offenders

It's that time again! Lots has been happening thus far this year that is beyond belief and ridiculous. I have even indicated repeat offenders this year for those that cannot stay off of my bi-annual lists.

- Michael Jordan for messing up the Bobcats. Ok dude this is getting old.(repeat)

- Beyonce': hogging up the hospital for her birth.  C'mon now B, do you think you're bigger than Jesus now? (repeat)

-Metta Word Peace (Ron Artest). Changing your name is bad enough. Now you gotta go and elbow James Harden. You are the opposite of World Peace dude. You need Dr. Phil.(repeat)

- Mitt and Ann Romney: Both just need to be quiet and take their imminent whippings like adults. And to think Mitt was one of my fave Republicans back in 2008.

- The U.S. Justice System (once again, specificially George Zimmerman).(repeat)

- VH-1 (especially Basketball Wives and Love and Hip Hop Atlanta) (repeat)

- Drake (whiny lyrics, beefing with Chris Brown, etc) (repeat). Will you ever go back to performing like a man?

- Wale (for selling out and dang near stalking model Rosa Ascosta). You are a punk and a thirsty wanksta. Stop with the e-thugging.

-Ridiculous remakes in TV and movies. From Dallas to 21 JumpStreet, and the horrendous Dark Shadows, its getting out of hand. Can we please get some original ideas please?

- The summer movie season (have you notice it's extra whack this year or am I getting too old?).

- Facebook, trying to become an empire. Zuckerberg is evil, and now apparently has been messing with the creator of Twitter.(repeat)  

- Google + (a complete bust so far). 

- Sandusky. You sick bastard, you deserve everything coming to you.

- Overcommercialized holidays. Everyone is trying to hustle a buck now. Many people have even forgot the true meaning of Independence Day (The 4th of July)

- NBA refs (need instant replay in ALL sports). The refs were out of hand during the final couple of rounds of the playoffs this season. Let those grown men play!

- 2 Chainz and Plies. You guys are college educated, but rap and act like a couple of 13 year old horny boys.

- Hurricane Chris (apparently he performed at WU this past spring and the crowd was sparse). Your career is dead dude, time to get a real job, or a good side hustle.

- The makers of GI Joe Retaliation, for pushing back GI Joe: Retalliation to March. I realize much was involved, but I'm thinking mostly so it wouldn't compete with Channing Tatum's other summer blockbuster, Magic Mike.

- Steve Harvey (doing too much right now). First, the radio show and book. Now the movie, Family Feud, and supposedly another TV show. Stop now please!

- James Harden. Please see your nearest barber and trim all of that hair.

- MiAKAs. You are insulting the NPHC, and embarrassing yourself. There are better ways to handle that.

-Desmond Hatchett. Ok man, 30 kids? Trojan needs to sponsor you so you can adequately support these children, and hopefully use their product.

- WorldStarHipHop. It's embarrassing, coonish, and the modern day chitlin circuit. I feel I lose brain cells everytime I go to that site.

- The Soul Man. Are the cast members (Cedric, Niecy Nash, and Wesley Jonathan) that desperate to revive their careers? The writing and acting is horrendous. Cancel this show and fast!

- Anthony Davis. You're a millionaire now, shave that God awful unibrow!

-Creflo Dollar. You should know better than to beat up your own daughter. The Bible says spare the rod, spoil the child, not fight and beat down the young one.

- The lottery craze back in March. Don't people know that when more people play, your chances of winning are lowered?

- Detroit Lions. You're finally winning after a decade. Now your players can't stay out of trouble. And now Megatron is on the cover of the new Madden. Can we say one year wonders?

- Saints and Bountygate. I've said it before, nearly every team does it. But you guys were flagrant with it. You may never recover from this now, even with Drew Brees still around.

- The BET Awards (enough said)

-Bobby Petrino. You are a dirty dude man. Yeah it was tempting but you have tainted your career and the season of The University of Arkansas.

- Adidas. Why in 2012 would you release a shoe with a shackle on it? You knew that wasn't gonna end well.

Have a Happy 4th and don't be a repeat offender!

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2011 End Of Year Cowbell List

It's that time once again.  2011 is ending and 2012 is about to begin with my final blog of the year focusing on some of the craziest things since the summer. Once again, my lovely and intelligent friend Regina Wright assists me in pointing out what could use more cowbell.  Enjoy and feel free to comment or suggest your own.

- Ndamukgong Suh of the Detroit Lions. Dude you are wasting your talent and ruining your NFL career with your bad temper. Two words for you man: Albert Haynesworth

- Atlanta Braves:  Blowing the wild card lead in the final month of the year and allowing the St Louis Cardinals to get into the MLB playoffs and win it all. 

Trifling women and men. You guys continue to put a damper on romance and keep the divorce rate climbing.

Cellphone companies:  Many of you except for Sprint are capping data usage.  You are going to have to give in sooner or later before you lose millions.  Sprint already has the Evo and the iPhone 4s

CP time: its not an excuse black people, its just careless and irresponsible, and must end.

Jack and Jill: Great fairy tale, below average movie. C'mon Adam Sandler, what were you thinking?

December movies: Usually the month of December is filled with compelling, Oscar worthy movies. This year, its starting to mirror the middle of summer with subpar sequels and sappy comedies and love stories.

Urban Meyer: Why do college coaches continue to lie when they are about to take another college job? And at The Ohio State of all places, which won't be a contender until probably 2019.

- David Stern: You are becoming quite the DICKtator. How are you going to block the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers, then allow him to go to the Clippers? I understand you are trying to give small market teams a fighting chance, but it seems that ship has sailed after Boston, Miami, New York, and Chicago have all upgraded. Be fair across the board.

Kobe. You just cannot stay off of this list. Now Vanessa is finally divorcing you, and will still get 50% despite a prenup per California law. Hope all those affairs were worth it.

Beyonce': Another repeat list member. We're honestly happy you and Jay are finally having a child. But you all (and the media) acted as if it were a seismic event. Babies are born everyday Bey, you were on 9-4-81!

The U.S. Judicial system. You all really dropped the ball in 2011. From Casey Anthony to Troy Davis, this system just needs to be scrapped and reset from scratch.

Herman Cain: You are/were almost as bad of a candidate as Sarah Palin was.  9-9-9, c'mon man! The smartest thing you did was suspending your campaign.

DJ Khalid:  First off, I've grown to hate the "N" word. And you being Palestinian have absolutely NO business in using it. Your ethnicity is your business, but you act as if you're trying to be fake and/or down another race.

TNT, for canceling HawkthoRNe, and just when it was hitting its stride.  Apparently you guys do not know drama.

People that watch trashy, fake reality television such as all of these fake Housewive shows, American Idol, X Factor, and Jersey Shore, instead of quality programming such as Awkward Black Girl, Breaking Bad, Swamp People, Sons of Anarchy, Beavis and Butthead, Big Bang Theory, Mike and Molly, and The League.

Kim Kardashian: You know you didn't love Kris Humphries, you just wanted to outdo your sisters and apparently the Royal Wedding. A true example of someone wanting the wedding instead of the marriage.

Autocorrect: It's always getting folks in trouble, and making me look like a jackass.

College presidents: enough with the BCS already! We need a playoff in Division I college football

Chinese buffets: even if you have a hibachi bar, you can't hold a candle to your Japanese counterparts. The Chinese buffet craze has died down, its just gross now

Folks that joke on Amy Winehouse: Yes she did have alcohol in her system. But the deceased should be showed more respect. God rest her soul, she was sick and disturbed.

Sheree, Marlow, and Peter from RHOA. Y'all have officially stolen the drama queen and trouble making crowns from Nene and Phaedra. Congrats I guess are in order.

The Penn State scandal:  Joe Pa, c'mon man, you must have thought you were bigger than Jesus if you thought you could let that pass without repercussions.

FAMU Band Scandal: Hazing and sexual abuse has seemed to become very problematic in schools lately. But this takes the cake. That was just murder, literally.

Frankie (Keyshia Cole's mom). The Frankie Leg, really??? Didn't you think you were already a big enough coon on your TV show. You have officially out buffooned Fantasia and her "Cornbread and Collard Greens" dance.

WHEW!!! Happy New Year folks!

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2011 VMA commentary

- Wait, is that Lady Gaga dressed like a man?
- OK I'm getting bored
- Finally she's singing and performing
- Justin Bieber looks very nerdy
- Is this a Westside Story spoof?
- Who's that old fart on the guitar?
- I'm feeling this song though
- NOOOO!!! Kevin Hart is helping host
- Wait, there's no host this year?
- Jonah Hill really slimmed down!
- Nicki Minaj's hair looks like a bunch of balloons
- Slick plug for your movie Moneyball, Jonah!
- Brittany has come first circle in winning the night's first award
- OTIS!!!
- Miley Cyrus, WTH?
- Who is Foster The People?
- So these VMAs have a house singer?
- It's the Dougie!
- That guy from the Beastie Boys looks like Jack Black
- We have a dance battle!
- Now Nicki is a winner, OMG!!!!
- And this is the coon portion of the show
- Beavis and Butthead, returning October 27 #ftw
- Katy Perry is fiiine!
- Please don't act a fool Kanye
- Time for Pitbull and Ne-Yo!
- Lots of women on stage
- Can anyone understand what Pitbull is saying?
- Kevin Hart is sooo corny!
- I like Katy Perry better with black hair
- Adele's got some pipes, and some talent, but her performance is boring
- Beavis and Butthead meets Nicki!
- WHAT?? Justin Bieber won?
- Gotta love Victoria Justice's legs
- Rock it Chris Brown!
- Gotta love the WU-Tang clan homage
- Chris is flying and flipping
- And Lady Gaga is still dressed like a man
- I've always thought Brittany was talented
- OK its Beyonce' time!
- This is a Beyonce' song off of "4" that I actually like
- Do it Bey!!
- Bey is pregnant!!! It's about time
- Selena Gomez has gotten waay too slim.
- Tyler the Creator (whoever that is) is now Best New Artist
- He sure is cursing a lot
- Zoe Saldona is gorgeous!
- Mo and the Giant?
- Why is Cloris Leachman with those Jersey Shore skanks?
- Wow Gaga wins! Hard to believe nearly a year ago she had just named her next album
- Hope this Amy Winehouse tribute is good
- Wow, Tony Bennett!
- I never knew Tony and Amy sang together
- Bruno Mars can sing! What a great Amy Winehouse tribute!
- Katy Perry wins again! But what is that block on her head?
- Ok now Lil Wayne!
- Weezy looks like Slash, and a lil like Lil Jon
- OK I'm ready for this to be over already
- Dang Eminem didn't even perform!

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2011 Mid Year Cowbell List

The year is halfway over, and I'm back with my list of things thus far that lack major "cowbell". I would like to give a shoutout to my friend Regina Wright for inspiring and assisting with my bi-annual lists. Maybe one day we can get our own cowbell column.

Ok without further adieu:

- LeBron. You made that big spectacle on TV to leave for the Heat, then go to the championship and choke. You have got to control the women in your life better and deliver in clutch situations.

- Planking. It's out of control, idiotic, and folks that do it obviously do not know its historical origins. Who started this fad anyway?

- Ohio State football. Y'all are basically screwed for a while. You guys remind me of Miami or Alabama in the 90s. Looks like Michigan will be beating you for years to come now.

- Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Many of you were sore losers after my Packers beat you in the last Super Bowl. Some of you even questioned my loyalty thinking I was a bandwagoner. Anyone that knows me well knows I'm a longtime Green Bay fan.

- Sarah Palin. Please just keep your mouth shut, and stay out of the public eye. You will not get the GOP nod for the presidency, and you're lucky if you can even become president of the PTO at your child's school.

- Beyonce'. The first 2 singles off of your newest album, as well, as the videos, were well below par. B, you turn 30 this year, your heyday is wearing down, you can't afford a setback, especially now that you fired your father as manager.

- The NFL and NBA. Stop being greedy and just come to an agreement already so that America will not be deprived of its top 2 sports. You will lose waay more money if the lockouts or shortened seasons come.

- VH-1 for its continuously bad programming. Basketball Wives, Mob Wives, and now this mess of a show, Single Ladies.

- Tamar Braxton. You need to simply sit down and shut up. Behave.com! America is laughing at your ignorant, obnoxious self, not with you.

FB updates. They're getting worse. First its SNs, now its ridiculous hashtags, reposts, spam, voting contests, and now getting tagged to these horrendous looking shoes!

-Charlie Sheen. Dude you are definitely NOT #winning #thatisall

- Apple. You guys do not run the technology spector, so please get a reality check.

- Kevin Hart. Funny, yes. But you're no Chris Rock, Chapelle, Redd, Eddie, or Pryor. You are overrated in a comic industry lacking a dominant black comedian.

-Rihanna. You are just a mess, loving the way guys lie, into S&M, and now you're on speaking terms with Chris Brown once again.

- Wiz Khalifa. It appears the need for ignorant, coonish rappers is not stopping any time soon.

-Amber Rose. You are a very gorgeous woman, but please leave other women's men alone. Less @$$, more class, please and thank you.

Pirates of the Caribbean 4. One of the low points of the franchise, and this summer movie season. I'm not so hype for 5 now.

- Lace front wigs. They're getting out of hand! It appears for every black woman going natural, two are buying a week's worth of lace front wigs.

Lupe Fiasco. Dude, first you release the disappointing "Lasers", and now you make these brash statements about President Obama. Perhaps you should go into hiding for about 2 years.

- Folks that won't get pedicures but need them. They are relaxing, and almost necessary, especially if you love open toed shoes.

- Women wearing booty shorts with extreme cellulite. Yeah its really hot, but you should dress with discretion. Those clothes are a privilege and NOT a right!

- Text message language used on resumes. Really are you kidding me? And you folks are typically the first to complain about not being able to find a job.

- People that complain about not being able to find a good mate and when they actually do, do not know how to act or treat them.

Video stores. C'mon, stop trying to stay open! Redbox and Netflix are holding down the movie and game rental business. Even Blockbuster is now slowly transitioning to Redbox-like Kiosks. Get with the program!

- Marvin's Room It's an overrated, sad song, and lacks substance and cowbell.
- Ted Williams. The world was your oyster and you have tainted your 2nd chance. I pray that you finally get the help you need.
- The Royal Wedding. There's no reason Americans should make a fuss about it, and it's waay too expensive and unrealistic. Plus William and Kate are simply people, NOT the Sun and the Moon.

Happy 4th of July, enjoy the fireworks (uggghhh) and try to stay off my next list!

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