The Deck at 260 Volume 38

April is ending and I can't even hang on my Deck without a mask due to this thickening pollen. I've had to wear a mask the past two days and will likely have to due to lack of rain. 

WU, new license plate, pollen thickening, MJ movie , Kendrick v Drake 2?

This pollen is out of hand, driest April I can remember.  We need a good week of rain. Not just for the farms and plans, to end the burn ban, etc. These allergies are legit killing folks. I won't lie I can't hardly stand it. I pray for those that have to work outside because I cannot. I love the outdoors also. 

Racism is showing out almost as bad as the pollen. First we have the controversial Revolutionary War license plate for the state of South Carolina. It's commemorating the 250th birthday of our country. Now while not completely historically accurate nor blatantly racist, it's triggering. The images of those soldiers represents a time for black people where our ancestors did fight in the war but were not free. We were servants, in the cotton fields, etc. Our freedom would come decades later (largely because of winning the Revolutionary War). That said, I have no issue with the license plate but I understand the oppression. 

Now this nonsense going on at Winthrop University (the WU) I take great issue to. If you're not already aware, please follow @projectcato on Instagram for more. To sum it up, these comments/slursmade by board members and high ranking officials have been a long time coming. If you went to the WU when I did, it was evident that certain people in power were uncomfortable with the Black community, our organizations, values, styles etc. I've watched it all close up and afar. Removing the benches in front of Richardson and Wofford Halls. Restructuring the parking lot so that loud, vehicles couldn't park in front but still parked in the giant X in front. When the campus was remodeled, it was done in a fashion so that people/Rock Hillians couldn't cruise around during the day with ease (I wasn't very upset with that one.). Letting organizations such as SGA, AOE, and even some NPHC organizations go under. The manner in which WU Homecoming tailgating has been treated for so long once more and more Black people started coming and staying for a long time like a tailgate should be. Changing the official logo of the university from the Tillman Hall clock and allowing the WU Black Alumni to have a huge, successful 2025 celebration (still wondering why nothing happened in 2026). Now we have this mess. I'm over it now, I want answers, I want the folks that FINALLY decided to show their behinds to be held accountable. This is not a good look for the university I hold near and dear to my heart. They do not stand on what they're supposed to. Until further notice, I'll continue to support certain university events, games, Homecoming of course, alumni mixers. But no #drewfromdawu and I'm not giving the University any extra monies nor donations. I encourage ALL Winthrop alums to join me in this until this is made right! 

Ok now that I got that off of my chest, I will say the new Michael Jackson movie did not disappoint at all. Great performances, acting and choreography. It really focused on Michael in the early years until the late 80s when he FINALLY broke away from the controlling, abusive father Joseph Jackson. I am so awaiting how they are going to frame the 2nd part. 

The Internet debunked the rumors but will Kendrick Lamar actually release a "Fireman" type album to combat Drake's "Iceman"? I'm here for it if K.Dot does. It's been two years since Kendrick won that beef and I think it would boost both of their streams, sales and tour proceeds. 

Until next time

The Deck at 260 Volume 37

Welcome back to another edition back on the deck where it's warm, too warm. The burn ban is still in effect and lots of things are lighting up otherwise. I'm not Levor Ross or any other politics based guy so you better go on his forum for that. 

Annexing/building up the city of Gaffney 

Mother's Day baskets already? 

Younger people (Gen Z, YNs) potentially going to war?

Ok the only thing hotter than the Southern weather right now is the annexing war in Gaffney right now. The three council members, including Mayor Lyman Dawkins, are under fire for voting to annex city limits out to Hwy 11. This area is mostly farmland (the Grassy Pond community) with some notable areas such as Love Field and very little commerce. Approximately 150 homes would be built out there, including a fire station and add to the development near the outlet (Yellow) mall and the area that Spartanburg Community College has. The city is in a huge deficit tax wise since Limestone University closed last year and are trying multiple things to close this gaps. 

Here are my points of order and what I think will happen (I have allies on both sides so I'm merely playing devil's advocate). Gaffney will ultimately get what they want and at least some of that area will be annexed. The council keeps pushing it so a deal must be in place someplace. Gaffney is in a good position to grow. I don't think everyone wants Gaffney to turn into Boiling Springs, Rock Hill and Fort Mill. More homes are needed for this growth. Obtaining the Limestone property and even the dilipated Hwy 29 areas are other goals. There will be lawsuits, pushback and not everyone will lose their properties that date back centuries. It will get ugly for a while, council members may resign or not be re elected. City of Gaffney, change has to come either way. I live outside of city limits myself and although I have sizable work commutes, it's worth it at the end of the day from that standpoint. However I have to drive to Rock Hill, Gastonia or Spartanburg for many things. That gets taxing (no pun intended). If you want a Target, Krispy Kreme, Publix, etc., some of this vacant land between Grassy Pond and Union Highway needs to be developed. I take it the Grassy Pond area is a prime target given it's proximity to the interstate. I say continue to fight it but come with empathy and a civil mind (council and Mayor also). Both need to explore all opportunities. I'm still salty as a pretzel that Blacksburg still doesn't have a Waffle House and no growth near the interstate. Both parties need to ensure this is profitable and reasonable for the long term and to fix the other crooked areas in the city.

Now although my mother has been gone in the physical for nearly 3 years now, I make it a mission to make mother's around me feel celebrated especially in the workplace. I'm currently trying with my engagement team to do it within budget and still make it glorious. I'm ok with making something like baskets or bags but I need the time and people. Balance, balance, balance! 

Now that the US is fighting with at least two countries, there's talk of bringing the draft back. For those of you that don't know, it won't take much. At age 18, every person is required to register for selective service. The target audience are Gen Z (the YNs, main Tik Tok influencers, the BBL crew, etc). Laugh all you want but Druski, GloRilla, Sexy Redd, Morgan Wallen, even athletes such as Stefan Diggs, Deion Sanders's sons, LeBron James sons (well maybe not Bronny) could all go to fight. We have eligible national guard/current active duty soldiers so this may not be necessary. Just a thought though. 

Enjoy the last of winter/first of summer! 

The Deck at 260 Volume 36

Happy Easter/Final Four weekend! It's sizzling on the Deck and these are weekends I love. 

Pooh Sheisty v Gucci Mane, Good Friday, Lent is Over, CB kissing married woman on stage, SC beating UCONN, Dawn v Geno

Gucci Mane was confronted by Pooh Sheisty and his crew over a record deal gone wrong. Many were calling Gucci out for not reacting differently. It's called adulting and not knowing every angle of the situation. Plus you have to move differently when a person openly calls himself Sheisty. 

Speaking of reacting differently. the debate of the weekend was no doubt Geno v Dawn after the SC/UCONN women's game was over. Dawn reacted as she should have, like a lady. She has a region and culture of supporters that back her. Geno sadly does have a history of behaving this way especially towards female coaches. He has a huge inferiority complex that the late great Pat Summitt called out years back. It hasn't stopped UCONN's women program from countless wins, championships and high profile recruits. What we're witnessing now is the apex of Dawn's/SC dynasty run and the ending of UCONN's under Geno. Quite frankly after 54 straight wins he's highly salty about it. 

Let's not let this tiff take away from what SC girls accomplished last night. Outmatched on paper. Losing 3 key players, including the controversial transfer of Lay Fulwiley and SC is back in the championship game. UCONN star Sarah Strong was so shook at the real-time matchups she ripped her jersey. Joyce Edwards is developing into a star before our very eyes and Raven Johnson is the leader we always knew. Now they have to finish the job on Easter Sunday against UCLA. 

Good Friday is one of the most underrated holidays of the year. It's the start of one of the most sacred weekends in religious culture. I don't always get nor take off for Good Friday. It's quite a time even if folks don't always remember the reason. 

Another reason for the above is Lent is over! If you're a non-Catholic like myself that practices it I will say Good Friday hits differently. It means while your sacrifice is small compared to the one Christ made, it's meaningful as well. I come out of Lent every year feeling accomplished. I encourage anyone of any faith to try it out. 

Also Chris Brown can't stay out of the news long. With Cardi B shaking her booty on her way to our region soon, Breezy had a married woman on stage (didn't know) and she tongue kissed Chris. Now first of all, that doesn't speak well to the woman to be going around kissing anyone. Secondly, what type of marriage does she have? There are too many questions here and especially after watching the clip, I don't think this one is on C-Breezy. 

Happy Easter all! 

The Deck at 260 Volume 35

Whew this pollen out on the deck as well as hot topics! 

Hubert Davis v Belichick, GLP, Lent, Easter, New Big Stuff, Shortcuts in life, Tank and Tyrese Versuz

UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis was fired this week after the Tarheels were bounced in the first round of the NCAA men's tournament. Now while Hubert's teams underachieved and this one imploded after losing their best player, there are some things to look at. One is that he didn't have a losing record. Two in football, legendary coach Bill Belichick stunk it up in his first season and got an extension. Racial or otherwise bias, I would say so. I would also say it shows that Black people even in 2026 cannot be average. Let's keep watching other coached like Kelvin Sampson and Marcus Freeman. I have to be careful also as a man of color. I'm held to a different standard also. 

I didn't realize people were so passionate about GLP-1s or passionate against me or just passionate! Here's my simple take. I only implied I wasn't a fan of them (which I'm not). I do stand on the concept they are not a natural weight loss supplement. They are a medical supplement for sure. Hollywood and other famous people have used them as the latest diet fad.If your doctor prescribes any of these medications for T2 diabetes, take them. However know the risk, use with care, and don't forget about consistent diet, exercise, stress control and rest. I say the same about surgeries. They are a tool. Just like anything else I discuss on the deck, you do not have to disagree and can keep it moving. I don't agree with many things I don't discuss but you know what I do? Keep it moving. Those that know me best know that's growth for me as I'm almost 48. 

Lent is almost over and Easter is almost here. I cannot believe in 2026 people are still debating Christians for observing Lent. Point being, it's healthy to debate and talk things over. I think people need to mind their own business. Second, I LOVE Easter! I'm not a fan of attending church if you only attend on Easter and/or Christmas. I've made peace with it though. 

Winthrop University (the WU) has a new remastered athletic logo with the beloved mascot, Big Stuff. I've had a love/hate relationship for years with the current academic logo. This logo helps out a lot to balance an ambiguous logo. I do love the classic Eagle head though! 

Tank and Tyrese had their Versuz last night. While Tyrese is talented, Tank is a little more talented and has a greater cataloged. I don't know many other songs from Tyrese other than "Sweet Lady". It wasn't completely one sided, I just want to see a Versuz similar to Cash Money and No Limit with more balance. 

Finally I want to address shortcuts in life, which like it or not, that's what the majority of people use GLP-1 shots for. I won't go into full detail, I will just say I was accused of using shortcuts, cutting corners, etc. Far as your health, one should never do this. I did hire a trainer (and I may rehire her soon or another) so I stay fully on track. Do what is best for you but also do the right thing ethically. Please match your work ethic and body of work with what is actually happening. I've been a bigger advocate of this for abojt a year now. We live in a world of free will. Live how you wish but don't feel you have to fake nor lie about how you live. Be authentic and genuine! 

Until next time,...

The Deck at 260 Vol 34.

We are back at a couple of wild weeks. The Deck is Spring ready and here we go! 

Gaffney girls basketball, small v large venue, Bam 83, ex players charging, MBJ, March Madness, Click bait lists

Gaffney girls basketball did not win the ultimate prize. However they are set up for success for seasons to come and definitely the next couple of seasons. I love seeing this as a Cherokee County native and a fan of the game. 

Speaking of champion teams, there were neutral venues for the UpperState Championships, some were high school gyms, others in college such as Wofford University. The college campuses offer plenty of room while high school gyms can be packed out and even turn away fans. I remember 30 years ago when Clover and JL Mann (both teams coached by legends Bennie Bennett and Mark Huff). The game was so packed the fire Marshall had to demand that other fans go to a room and watch on closed circuit television. Venues such as Wofford and even having the state championship back at Colonial Coliseum in Columbia will accommodate high school fan base. However the excitement and intensity of a packed house is lost. 

Bam from the Miami Heat scored 83 points last week, surpassing Kobe Bryant as 2nd all time. Sports fans are stating that Bam's score was forced and not as real since the Heat was up by 20 and Bam's teammates were doing things such as missing foul shots just to give the ball back to Bam for3 easier shots. I think that a point is a point and the game has changed. I'm good with Bam getting 83 regardless. 

This is the season for area football players that made it to college and the NBA to hold camps. Many of them do it for free or cheap. Spartanburg and NFL star Deebo Samuel got mad flack for charging local kids more than $300 for a 1-2 day camp and clinic. Apparently it was Deebo's people, not his. I've seen several athletes, including my own cousin, conduct camps on the regular without all of this drama. The point is you can't defend everything as a professional, you can only allow your consistent work in the community speak the necessary volumes. Many athletes do lose connection in this communities due to stuff like this and have to be careful and persistent. 

Michael B. Jordan won the Best Actor Oscar for his dual role in "Sinners". MBJ has been grinding for two decades now and is simply that it actor right now. It's great of course for a Black actor/actress to win and also great for someone that's made such an impact in big roles and films. I love the praise he's been given and I can't wait for his next appearance. 

March Madness is already off to a great start (more next week). High Point took down Nebraska and Siena fought Duke to the bitter end. Both of the men's and women's tournaments are simply must see TV and a tradition for me every end of March. I love watching the games either at home or out with friends. I'm not cool with paying outrageous prices to watch 1st and 2nd round games locally. 

My circle and I discuss hip hop occasionally (another good topic for the Deck). I don't like click bait arguments anymore than politics nor apples v oranges debates. This list I saw on social media was ridiculous. I like how it allows for the debate to begin. The responses were like saying questionable responses like Greg Oden was the best NBA player or that deviled eggs is the best Thanksgiving dish. I won't start nor post debates just for click bait although I am very opinionated and passionate. 

Let's discuss more basketball on next week! 

The Deck at 260 Part 33

We're ending February on the Deck. One more day/week closer to Spring. Here's the lineup. 

50 cent v TI, SneakerBall Gala recap, Upper State v Lower State, Raising Canes, lambchops, Trouble in Mexico

Ok Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson is doing way too much with this TI beef. He's become like a middle school girl instead of a grown ssa man. TI is an adult and from Atlanta where beefs are handled like men: in the studio. I'm seeing more and more why someone would want to detach from 50 and even be mentally drawn to violence towards him. 50, history does repeat itself, just saying. 

The BruhMentor SneakerBall Gala was fun per always. There seemed to be a different crowd there though and the vibe wasn't off, just different. It's time to move it to a bigger venue. It's been time, Spartanburg/the Upstate expects the Gala and there's no good reason to keep it in that cramped cultural arts center. Also a big thumbs down to the aftermath at the nearby Flying Biscuit Cafe. I will continue to support this business but not the after party. It started 45 minutes late, waited outside for 30 minutes in the cold and it wasn't a brunch buffet. It was served (one serving per ticket) and the portions were tiny. It was NOT worth $20 and I'm glad I ate beforehand per my upbringing. 

The high school basketball playoffs continue tomorrow and Saturday. The Upper State has returned to neutral site venues that are actually neutral, in the evenings and appeal to fans, players and coaches. The Lower State still has all of its teams going to the Florence Civic Center. This seems to be due to lack of neutral site venues down there. However, there is an opportunity for some of the colleges down that way to capitalize. Otherwise, the run down Florence Civic Center will continue to make bank. 

Raising Canes opened in Rock Hill this week and has stayed packed. I've seen this effect in Gaffney and Spartanburg but not usually Rock Hill. I guess because it's been a while since a chain came to Rock Hill first. Either way it will cause more larger towns to bring Raising Canes, Whataburger, Shake Shack, etc in. I'm still all about supporting local businesses of course. 

Speaking of chain restaurants, Longhorn restaurant has their world famous lambchops returning to the menu next week. Longhorn has long been known for their inconsistency with keeping lambchops on their menu. It's like the McRib of the steakhouse world. Longhorn is already a family and national favorite so no need to ruin this. 

I won't be planning a trip to Mexico for a while. Now that this cartel has a stranglehold over the country, I'm good planning trips elsewhere. I do wonder how that will effect cruise ships that embark there. 

Next week we welcome March! 

The Deck at 260 Part 32

It's February 14th on the Deck (those that know me well know I feel the same way about Valentines Day as I do about deviled eggs). Here's this week's lineup post Super Bowl

Bad Bunny v Kid Rock, Valentine's Day, new Mexican spot in Blacksburg (growth or no growth), Confederate Flag being lowered. 

It seems every year for the past couple of years a certain group doesn't like the Super Bowl halftime show (or the messages conveyed/artists). I did a poll in September and it comes down to the current mainstream music. I feel this is similar to the "devil's music" crew. Turning Point USA literally turned a new one with their "alternate" halftime show. How bad do you dislike Bad Bunny or any other performer that you go and create another halftime show? To me this is the equivalent of not getting your way, and taking your ball and going home because you don't want to play anymore. Also Bad Bunny's show was all a message about love and Puerto Rican culture. You did not have to know Spanish to get the message. Heck an actual couple got married! It seems one of the biggest conflicts is simply having a diverse show without an overload of messages that is simply entertaining. Snoop Dogg's Christmas Day halftime show or the 2022 halftime show both fit these bills. 

Valentine's Day has no concrete origin and models as a day of love. It's more of a day of capitalism and commercialism. Please change my mind as I'm all about love and showing love. I just don't get why we need another day dedicated to doing this when every restaurant is packed, flowers and candy are both marked way up and it's an expectation to get your mate/partner something as if you don't already. When is the next holiday, please? 

You asked for it, they delivered. Blacksburg now has another small business: a Mexican restaurant! Another one is coming soon as the final details are completed with more businesses expected shortly. If you're my age or older and not only remember how downtown Blacksburg used to be, you look at other small towns and their progress and feel more defeated. The residents will have to continue to support these, bottom line. It's the same in any small town and it's simple. No support means these business cannot operate nor sustain. Then you can't complain (see what I did there?)

The Confederate Flag that is near I-85 exit 77-78 has asked to be lowered due to zoning restrictions. The owners of that property placed the flag up there and found a loophole and it appears SCDOT and Spartanburg County found another. I will just say there is a time and place for everything and your private thoughts and beliefs do not and should not leak out into the public area. 

Next week will be one week closer to Spring, beginning of Lent and the Bruh Mentor SneakerBall Gala!