It's Not a Game

I'd say a little more than half Twist visitors are women and less than half are sports fans, so I don't mean to bore you with another sports related posts. But as you know, sports ain't nuthin but sociology havin some fun. Which brings me to two matters, Dungy and Manning; and Shaq and Kobe.

-- The Shaq and Kobe pound and hug yesterday was an incredible statement if you ask me. Trust that it wouldn't have happened if it werent MLK Day and that's my word. Yeah Russ encouraged Shaq to make amends, but do you really think that was the first time that someone Shaq deeply respected told him to quit actin like a spiteful bish? I sky-highly doubt it.

But sometimes -- and I'm talkin about an every-once-in-a-blue-moon sometimes -- these stupid secular holidays actually make people take a step back and think. Like, maybe three times in the last 30 years there may have been someone who actually thought Jesus and not electronics on his fake birthday. And maybe, this one time, some black people REALLY considered the life of MLK and what that meant.

Boondocks, which is absolutely murdering it right now, I mean, classic, revolutionary, historic, landmark type ish is happening on Sundays at 11pm...anyways, Boondocks Sunday episode had MLK wake up out of a coma in 2000, aghasted at what his marching and near martydom had produced, which was a wayward black community. It ended with MLK giving a "nigga" filled speech at a church and announcing he was moving to Canada. The monologue at the end really did make a nigga pause and think about the black communities priorities and direction and, if nothing else (especially for someone like me who doesnt celebrate birthdays) thats what something like MLK Day might do. And, I think Shaq was moved.

Think about how nigligent and defeatist it would have been for the two biggest NBA stars to continue that petty, derisive beef in front of millions, as black men, on the only day this piss-wack country seems to acknowledge black-accomplishment.

You can tell it was a weight off each others shoulders. The punded up like 3 times. It got to the point that some started speculating whether it was a move for the cameras and not genuine or sincere. OF COURSE it was a move for the cameras, it was MLK Day and this was two black millionaire susper stars showing some solidarity. But i also believe it was genuine. I totally expect The Judges to come with a bunch of cynicsm and snarky-smarm...but it won't change the fact that the Shaq-Kobe truce was probably the most compelling moment of the season for me. I hope the kids got a chance to stay and watch the begginning of that game or watched sportscenter this morning and learned something from that. u'd be surprised how much weight these athletes hold. Kudos to my blodd-brother Kobe and my prodigal-nigga Shaq-Dies.

-- I'm gonna hit this Dungy and Manning thing really quick, because I'm sure some of my compadres are already expecting this.

FACT: during the 13 game winning streak, Dungy played a distant secondary role to the genius of Peyton Manning. Sure Dungy had the defense finally playing sufficient football, but it was Manning's genius that had grown to other-worldy magnitude. If the Colts were to go all the way, it'd be because Manning walked up to the line and pointed in three different directioons and changed plays 6 times. That Manning is so astute.

FACT: the defense held Pitt to a semi-respectable 21 points, a total the vaunted Colts offense shouldve been able to deal with, especially since the Colts kept Pitt off the board for the latter portion opf of the game. Manning and the Colts offense, who managed to score 3 points in the first half, couldn't bring the business, though. Manning gave us these hero-legend-halloffame-cementing drives: the last drive of the second quarter when his genius couldnt even get the Colts in field-goal range so they could go into halftime with some momentum. The interception late in the fourth quarter that the refs negligently overturned. The stupid and errant 3-2 pass on the last possession. As smart and genius as Manning was, he wasn't keen enough to get the first down? Ya boy played horrible.

FACT: This dude, in my estimation, is a loser. He's never won a big game. Let's get this straight, Elway didn;t need those last two super bowls. homeboy had already been to 3. Marino went to a SuperBowl his second year and he also never operated with and Edgerin James. Ya boy Manning is a mark. Yet, The Judges have, for some reason, chosen to look at this rationally and try to be objective about things. Smells like haddock.

FACT: I'm not sure what happened during that 4-down Manning wave off. But I do know this, because people give Manning SO MUCH credit for the offense and trivialize Dungy's role, they automatically believed that Manning was usurping Dungy's shakey, nigger-authority. If Brady wouldve done that Belichek, I GUARANTEE the announcers would have said something like, "Oops, looks like the punt team got a bit antsy. Belichek and Brady are gonna go for it."

REQUEST: Can we please dispense with all praise of Manning until he plays well in a big playoff game. Maybe the squad loses by 3 or 7 points, but as long as Manning shows-n-proves. Until then, I don't care if the dude has 4,500 yards by Week 9 and 78 TDs by Week 6. I'm not trying to hear no accolade thrown his way. Not after four seasons of this submarine act.

And it's not just MAnning, on the hoops side, I'm like that with Lebron, and thats my lil brother. But ask my niggas what I've been sayin...no joke, this is the last season of lil dude's grace period. If the Cavs fail to make the playoffs this year (baby steps) then I don;t wanna hear anymore "O Gosh Bron is the greatest" from anyone. Niggas gotta start winning something meaningful.