Over the years, the Super Bowl has morphed into more than just a NFL championship game that culminates with one team hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy in victory. It's become the high water mark of American consumption and consumerism. Everything is over the top: the festivities, the analysis, the commercials, the gluttony and so on. And, oh yeah, somewhere submersed in all of that is an actual game. With the full picture of Super Bowl Sunday in mind, I've taken the liberty to list a few things that we may have learned - some football related, some not.
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We learned:
1.) Both Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith belong to rival street gangs - either that or they belong to rival fraternities. I'm not a member of a gang or a frat, so I'm not sure which is which. But I was curious as to why the hell they both seemed to be flashing what looked like gang signs on national television during their Hall of Fame inductee recognition.
We learned:
2.) The smartest "Pate-in" involved in last night's game was New Orleans' head coach Sean Payton and not Peyton Manning, contrary to what the all the talking heads told us in the pre-game conversations.
We learned:
3.) Companies and advertising firms know what I know: the average American male is a henpecked neanderthal that wears man panties and loves guzzling cases of cheap ass beer. While many of the spots were humorous, I can't recall such a concentration of commercials, in past years, on Super Bowl Sunday that depicted the American male to be so goofy and sophomoric. A man can actually be well dressed, well behaved and funny. It's true. Unfortunately, the advertisers and their hired guns on Madison Avenue have yet to stumble across that concept.
We learned:
4.) The political left wing, perhaps including myself, overreacted to the pro-life commercial featuring Tim Tebow and his mother. The damn thing looked liked and came off as a commercial for E-Harmony.
We learned:
5.) Indy's head coach Jim Caldwell, despite not showing much emotion on the sidelines, has the best "what the f%*k just happened here" facial expression, which we saw right after Sean Payton called that ballsy onside kick to start the second half.
We learned:
6.) Speaking of ballsy, it's a shame that Sean Payton wasn't coaching for New Orleans when the levees broke. They could have used his ca-hones. Those things are steel fortified.
We learned:
7.) Even though Janet and Justin's nipple-gate from a few years back has banned any chances of "urban" halftime entertainment for a while, rock bands from decades ago appropriately named "The Who" could still put on a hell of a show (in my personal opinion).
Until next year.
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Editor's Note: Check out the guest post from friend and fellow blogger, Curtis J. Baker, who I met last year in Chicago at Blogging While Brown 2009. When it comes to men, women and relationships, there is so much to consider and to comment on. I appreciate him contributing to the conversation and I look forward to future guest posts from him and others. Mason
We all are familiar with the feminine quip: "It's hard to find a good man these days". And finding a good black man is socially portrayed to be a study in cryptozoology! Nevertheless, disheartened sisters everywhere chant this slogan as if it were the gospel according to John. This hopeless hymn among women is filled with "What the Hell's, No He Did Not's, and the classic 'I Can Do This by Myself' verses. It's a one-sided peer group, where each soror can adequately contribute personal examples contrary to the topic. Click Here to Finish Reading
Continued: But, where are our heroines supporting good men by yelling it from the rooftops? Are there really no good men in America ? Or are women’s vocal cords forever silenced in the grip of the ever-present 'playa'? Ladies, good black men everywhere need to hear you!
The definition of a good black man is debatable. But what is agreed upon, among men, is there is a lofty ideal that women possess. Their ‘good man’ ideals fall either short of the ability to fly or at her father's perfect feet! For the sake of this post, a good man is simply a provider, a lover, and a friend, with all the nuances inherent to each descriptor.
There is power in the title of 'a good man'. And I believe this power is the rich source of a woman's reluctance to acknowledge him. Follow me, if you will ladies. Your fears are laid bare in the following…
- A good man creates a safe haven for his family. A woman today may fear this is a threat to her 'new womanhood'. And in advertising she has a good man, weakens the beauty society has created in her womanhood.
- A good man today allows his woman tangible, unobtrusive freedom in any endeavor she undertakes. A woman today may consider this a weak characteristic. She does not recognize the 'good man' who asks the hard questions, steps aside, and lets her face her ultimate fear…flying.
- A good man loves your family as equally as his own. A woman today may fault her man for being brutally honest with her about a sibling. Honesty is the first step in progress. Do not fear your family will gravitate towards such sensibility.
- A good man is in high demand. Yes! There is a huge demand on the market for good men! Truthfully, other women have noticed your 'good man'. And many have even told he is so! But have you? Praising your man will not make him more susceptible to being unfaithful.
I could go on and on. The above are just a few examples. But my point is simple ladies: If you have a good man, overcome your fears and TELL HIM HE IS! If you dare, venture beyond the 'I appreciate what you do' comment. In the mind of most men, this sounds like the trophy you get for just participating in a sport. FYI, we want the MVP trophy!
If you tell your man today he is a good man, do not be surprised how he lights up and how more open he becomes. I can attest that hearing these words makes me proud and validates my daily efforts.
I guarantee the fear you hold in telling your man he is good, will vanish. Sisters, you are not losing the beautiful, phenomenal power of your womanhood in such a profound act. You are proactively increasing a man's ability to love with you and securing his manhood. In today's society, a black man's manhood is seen as more suspect and insecure than ever. Ladies, let a few simple words will change your relationship and the world!
Curtis J. Baker is a colleague of Mason Jamal and author of the progress centered blog www.thejobagroup.org
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One of the upcoming Super Bowl Sunday commercials will feature Florida Gator standout Tim Tebow expressing his pro-life views. The spot is funded by the far right Christian conservative group called Focus on the Family. In a preemptive response, Planned Parenthood has released their own commercial featuring former Viking Sean James and Olympian Al Joyner. In the ad, the athletes say they "respect Ms. Tebow's decision" not to have an abortion when she was pregnant with her son Tim, but they are also "working toward the day where...every woman's decision about her health and her family will be respected." As a man, sports fan, and someone who is also pro-choice, it's refreshing to see male athletes step up and deliver this message. It's also cool to see it delivered in such a classy and tasteful manner. Click Here to Finish Reading & View the Commercial
Continued: I am wondering, however, if there are any pro-choice present day athletes that are more prominent and popular who could have delivered this message or are they all too chicken-sh*t to "take a stand" on something other than choosing Sprite over 7-Up or Nike over Reebok. It reminds me of when Michael Jordan famously refused to endorse the opponent of racist Senator Jessie Helms in his home state of North Carolina because, as he put it, "Republicans wear sneakers too". Utterly shameless. Jim Brown should have kick-dropped him and Muhammad Ali should have bit his lip, shook his fist at him and spit out some clever rhyme in response to Jordans's cowardice.
For that matter, even though I disagree with Tim Tebow's pro-life position, I respect him for standing up and supporting something he believes in. Most present-day athletes, with endorsement deals hanging in the balance, don't have the heart. That's why Planned Parenthood had to go and unearth these two almost forgotten former greats. Okay, for real, I have no clue who the hell Sean James is, other than I read he used to play for the Minnesota Vikings. But I'm glad to see him, whatever position he played, along with Al Joyner doing this spot. Well done. One
Roll Tape!
(Question from reader) My girlfriend has issues. She gets upset every time I go out to a strip club with my friends. I try to tell her it's just entertainment, but it's always an argument when I get home. Why can't she just relax about it?
- Myron
So here's the deal: every couple has their own version of what's known in broadcast media as "standards and practices". They guide the moral and ethical decisions that are made within a relationship. Ideally, both parties are in agreement on what they'll tolerate in terms of edgy content, but that's not always the case. Specifically, the entertainment value of disrobed women, seductively gyrating in stilettos for a night's pay, seems to be a point of contention for a lot couples. Click Here to Finish Reading Click Here to Finish Reading
I'm bothered by things the average man doesn't pay attention to. In a way, I feel it's my job to be bothered and to blog about it. This is what I do. I observe and report. With that said, I'm growing extra weary of men and their cellular sensibilities or the lack thereof. Something must be said. The respectability of millions of men is at stake. To remain silent, makes me complicit to the problem. I can't continue to have this on my conscience. So consider today's post an intervention of sorts. Men, if any of the following applies to you, take note. If it doesn't apply, take heart that you are making good decisions when it comes to your sense of technological style. On that note, there are five things that all metro-savvy men need to know about carrying a cell phone: Click Here to Read the List
(Continued:)
1.) Men, with any sense of self-respect, don't carry Blackberry Pearls. For those offenders, today would be a good day to stop. It's one of the un-manliest things a guy can do - right up there with going to aerobics class and getting excited about the season finale of Grey's Anatomy. Another way to look at it is men simply shouldn’t carry phones that have ever been described as cute. Ever wonder why the good folks over at Research In Motion (RIM), the makers of the Blackberry, branded it something as effeminate sounding as the “Pearl”? Think about it: they got other phones named the Blackberry "Storm" (crap device by the way) and the Blackberry "Bold" - both very strong, if not aggressive, names. And you got the nerve to pull out of your purse pants something called the Pearl. It's not your defining moment as a man. More importantly, it’s 2010. If you are going to carry a smart phone, man the f#*k up and get a full keyboard.
2) There are only three colors to choose from when it comes to a man’s cell phone: black, blacker, and blackest. Minus some chrome or metallic trim, your phone should be militantly black. It should be so black that they throw in two sides of macaroni and cheese and collard greens (with packets of hot sauce). Any other color is simply not respectable. Show me a man carrying a primary colored phone and I'll show you a man women would never throw their panties on stage for. The choice in color, even if it's sub-conscious, is indicative of how he sees himself and runs his life. This is what I'm saying.
3) Look, I know you’re trying to take extra precaution, but stop placing your phone in those hideous protective cases that look combat-ready for overseas duty. While you're at it, lose the rubbery case. It looks and feels like a phone wrapped in a heavy duty impenetrable condom. Personally, I’m all about the unprotected conversations. Get a grip you candy-asses and stop being afraid you might drop your phone. It's comparable, in tackiness, to having expensive post-contemporary furniture only to be covered in those 70’s plastic “slip covers".
4) For the love of God, stop carrying your cell phone in a holster. Unless you work in the IT Department or you want to look like you work in the IT Department, I strongly advise against it. Holsters are for guns, not cell phones. And I strongly advise that you don’t walk around in the public domain wearing a holster carrying either one.
5) And finally - cease and desist with the ringtones. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, I’m guessing you’re north of 30 years of age. No one needs to hear the newest obnoxious ringtone that a grown ass man just downloaded because he wants everyone to think he keeps up with the latest music. It’s the epitome of trying too hard.
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Glen "Big Baby" Davis of the Boston Celtics is tired of his nickname. Posting to his Twitter account the other day, the six foot nine power forward stated "I’d rather let my play on the court be what I am known for, not some nickname. So feel free to call me Glen." Well, la-di-dah. This hefty bastard has come of age and is ready to assume the identify of a grown ass man with a dignified name.
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(Continued) Most will agree that the moniker of "Big Baby" doesn't exude the gravitas of "King James" or suggest the surgical precision of "Dr. J", but neither does his game. See, having a nickname isn't so much the problem. But having a nickname that's wack, yet seems to be befitting, is a problem.
So how can you blame the guy? After all, the ultimate litmus test for a nickname is not how well it plays on the court, but rather how well it plays in bed. You know what I'm talking about - the timeless call and response ritual of "what's my name?" Having a woman answer with "give it to me you Big ass Baby" fails the test. And don't ask me why Osama "Glen" Laden came to mind as an alternative, but I don't think that plays well either - in bed or over the public address system.
There comes a time in a man's life when he must examine his nickname, should he have one. Some are keepers. Others, as in the case of "Big Baby", are meant to be set on the curb at some point. Good decision Glen. One
You can follow Mason Jamal on Twitter @masonsays.
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Perhaps, you've been living under a rock. If not, you've heard something about the salacious episode of bad judgment starring Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers. Straight from central casting of clichés, Oden stars in naked 'self-portrait' that he took while standing in a bathroom aiming a camera phone at the mirror. Damn, that's so 2008. Actually, that's when the photos, that are now strewn across the internet, were allegedly taken.
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(from a reader) I have a male co-worker who is married - happily married from what he says. But I notice he hardly wears his wedding band. I asked him about it and he said he's not a fan of jewelry. I have no reason to suspect he's not being faithful to his wife but as a single women I'm always disturbed by married men who don't wear their band.
- Cheryl
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(This post is also available on Tavis Smiley's PBS site)
Haiti, unfortunately, is no different from the others. Tragedy strikes and the media arrives in full occupying force. It's the story of the moment. Everyone cares. The information and images take up temporary residence in our collective conscience. Our hearts go out. But, invariably, so do the lights. The bulbs stop flashing. The cameras stop rolling. Heads stop talking. Then what? Do we look the other way, as usual, and forget about the people of Port-au-Prince and its surrounding provinces? Sadly enough, most of us will. Click Here to Finish Reading
(Continued) Prompted by the media, our attention and focus will turn elsewhere; this way folks - on to the next story. Meanwhile, the death toll will continue to soar and, for the survivors, so will the pain and suffering. To make matters even more grim, Haiti is haunted by the reality that it will be a country of amputees for the foreseeable future, many of whom, are orphaned children.
Relatively speaking, it wasn't nearly as horrific, but the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina provides a similar case study in media attention deficit disorder. Nearly 2,000 people died and countless more were permanently relocated by the natural forces of the hurricane coupled with the economic forces of government neglect. For the poor, it's a one-two punch in the gut. And even though media coverage bubbled over at first, it eventually fizzled out. And with it so did public interest. If this is how American citizens were treated and nearly forgotten, can we really expect anything different in Haiti?
Pardon my cynicism, but human tragedy is big business for the news industry. It's not that members of the media don't have hearts. It's rather difficult not to, even for the most hardened journalist in a situation as catastrophic as this. But while this story has legs for now, they too will soon be amputated. And will the American public care as much then when the cameras stop rolling? Most won't. Just as we saw with the coverage of New Orleans and all the talk about how America will never be the same, this too shall be out of sight and out of mind. Then what? One
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This past Sunday I missed Monique snagging her much deserved Golden Globe for best supporting actress . The following morning, however, I caught the highlights of the ceremony including the customary critiques of what actress wore what and how she wore it. Normally I turn the channel, but this time I just went with it. Seconds into it I remembered why I typically reach for the remote. First, this whole male testosterone thing I got going on never fails to interrupt my interest. Second, unless it's the portion of the program when they discuss best cleavage of the night or what form fitting dress Beyonce managed to slink herself into, I could really care less.
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