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- » Name: Andreas Hale
- » Location: Las Vegas
- » Member Since: 04/09/07
- » Bio: The Gotdamn Editor-In-Chief of your favorite website. Bow down bitches...two times!
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- » R.I.P. Orish Grinstead
- » Mayweather Vs Hatton: Behind The Scenes
- » I'm One Of The 12 Black Men To Watch? Word???
- » Dissecting Fiascogate
- » Beyonce Shows Her Tits! (For Real!)
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Letters From The Gotdamn Editor
R.I.P. Orish Grinstead
I haven't blogged in a minute as I've been too busy maintaing DX but I was at a loss for words when I heard that one of my childhood friends passed away on Sunday. See, the strange thing about this is that I forget that many people remember Orish Grinstead as part of 702 during the early years (think the collaboration with Subway entitled "This Little Game We Play") and while I generally keep away from telling the world that someone close to me has passed away, I found it strange to see blogs and various tidbits of her death on the internet.
Many people in the industry hit me with "Damn...you know that one girl from 702 died Sunday?" and, to me, Orish wasn't ever that one girl from 702. She was the girl that used to come through to our little get togethers and play spades while drinking shots of Extra Dry Gin at 3am. She was the girl that one of my partners had a mean crush on back in the day and had me drive to her crib and try to convince her that he was the one (in which he failed miserably and called her incessantly for the next week). She wasn't ever "that one girl."
The last time I saw Orish was on a late night run to the grocery store to grab some ingredient needed to complete dinner. I hadn't seen her in a year at least. We talked, laughed about the good ol days and upon asking her how she had been, she told me she was "sick, but doing okay." Never did I know that sick would lead to her passing away from kidney failure due to a bout with cancer at the age of 27.
Strangely enough, I was out with one of her good friends at the Jay-Z concert on Saturday when I asked how was Orish doing. The response was that "she was okay...just fighting" because she had been admitted to the emergency room maybe a month prior.
Less than 12hrs later and I get a text from that very same friend telling me that she no longer has to suffer and can finally rest in peace.
To see her in blogs is a little crazy to me but its also the reality of this thing we call life. Death isn't nearly as difficult when you read about someone passing in a news story. It's almost routine and I've read comments like "my grandpa died yesterday so what?" which kind of shock me.
I know Orish's twin sister (Irish) and older sister (LeMisha) would NEVER want to see her sister's death in the news - much less dismissed by insensitive readers. Regardless, it's a harsh wake up call to how life on earth is not valued as much as it should be and doesn't seem as tangible until it literally hits you in your household.
Let's just keep that in mind the next time "some person from such-and-such group" passes away and the story hits the net. They didn't ask to be publicized, the internet just rolls that way.
RIP Orish Grinstead (June 2nd 1980 - April 20th 2008)
Mayweather Vs Hatton: Behind The Scenes
With one of the biggest fights in the last decade upon us (with the exception of Mayweather vs De La Hoya back on May 5th of this year), it's been an honor to say that HipHopDX.com has been the only hip hop outlet (media or print) who has been covering every workout, training session, press conference, weigh in and the fight itself.
Being as though I live in Las Vegas and have an affinity for the sport, it wasn't too difficult to get me to cover this event. While many have gotten a glimpse of both fighters and the hype surrounding this fight via HBO 24/7, I have to tell you that living in this atmosphere for the last seven days gives you an insight like no other. I've seen a lot of crazy things in my life, but nothing compares to the environment going into this event.
Hopefully you have enjoyed the coverage of Hatton and Mayweather that I've put together. I've always wanted to see a hip hop website that does more than just ask fighters who their favorite rap artist is or what they listen to coming to the ring. In all honesty, that shit is lame. In order for Hip Hop journalists to be treated like true journalists, we must be able to cover any topic knowledgably.
Hip Hop isn't about just rap music, its about this culture we live in. The politics, fashion, movies, sports, music, etc. Hip Hop is this generation and encompasses all. I'm glad to bring something different to our readers and hopefully you all appreciate and enjoy DX giving you first hand experiences at events other outlets do not cover like the American Music Awards, the Magic fashion convention, and this fight (there will be more to come).
So sit back and and enjoy today's updates on the fight as they come along. It's been a long ass week and I really wish I had more time to give you a daily journal of some of the things that transpired. From watching the finale of 24/7 with Oscar De La Hoya and the Hatton Family, being the only young black journalist at the media workouts and getting mistaken as one of Mayweather's entourage members, speaking with Floyd candidly about his image (some of which was revealed in "Floyd Mayweather Jr: The Ten Ring Commandments"), watching the cheerful Hatton fans literally take over the MGM and hunt down Floyd every chance they got, the Joe Calzaghe/Bernard Hopkins showdown in the media room, Mayweather's 100 or so fans from an elementary school at the weigh in getting bombarded by the 6,000 Hatton fans with chants like "You should be at school" and so much more. It definitely has been something to witness.
It's 11am PST on Saturday December 8th and I've been going hard since last week. Giving you feature after feature while spending tireless hours with both fighters, fellow boxing journalists (of which I still feel out of place), watching fight video (a ritual I do before every fight - big or small) and various other things I can't even recall at this time. I finally crashed last night after the British Invasion boxing card at the MGM and slept a good 13hrs.
But there's no rest for the weary, especially when the big fight is just around the corner.
I'll be taking off shortly to pick up my ticket and credential for the fight and will hopefully bring you round by round updates in our news or update you from the media room after the fight.
I know there still will be a good many of you that comment "This ain't hip hop" but family...how wrong you are. This is Hip Hop and don't let anyone tell you that if it ain't about rap, it ain't about hip hop. That's bullshit. We're changing the game and we need you readers to understand and appreciate that.
In the meanwhile, here's a little taste of the weigh in yesterday. You think you know what you saw on ESPN but to hear that crowd unfiltered and with no voiceovers was something to behold...
I'm One Of The 12 Black Men To Watch? Word???
Don't trip...I'm just as surprised as you are...
But honestly, this isn't just an individual award. I credit this one to the team I work with and the readers that made us get to the spot we are today. It shows that you appreciate what we do at DX and empowers our staff to keep it pushing...
Thank all of you (and yes the haters too because you still read the shit)
http://clutchmagonline.com/lifeculture/feature/12-black-men-to-watch/
Feature > 12 Black Men To Watch
Saturday Dec 1, 2007 — By ClutchEveryday we are bombarded with news and reports that talk about our men in a negative light, but rarely do we get to read about the millions of our beautiful men who are beating the odds and putting stereotypes to rest. We invite you to meet 12 of them who are definitely on their way up the ladder of success.
Current Gig/Occupation: Editor-In-Chief of Scheme Magazine
Motto: Everyday is a new day
Favorite Quote: “I love this way cause I got it as a kid” (c) Common
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion?
We bring honesty to our magazine and we keep it there. We leave all the gossip to the other mags. We believe that there has to be more to our hip-hop generation and culture than what mass media informs us about. If you care about rumors, beefs, and money you know where to go. If you want to learn something and be inspired check for Scheme.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far?
Anything is possible. Our culture is looking and searching for the truth. In addition to that, technology and media are very powerful tools that can be used for a variety of things. To sum it up - I would say some people accept what is fed to them because it’s force fed. I’ve learned that we can do the same thing and force feed them another viewpoint from an authentic place.
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?
Jay Dee aka J Dilla - I started writing a few months later after he passed away and I would have loved to sit and have a five hour conversation with him about family, life and music. Such a genius that was looked over and to this day people still don’t get it, and I would have loved to the opportunity to expose him a little bit more to the world.
Q: Describe a typical day.
Wake up around 6:30 a.m., lay in bed for a sec and kiss my wife good morning. Head to the train and get to work around 8:45 a.m. Do some office work and then sneak in a lot of magazine work. Close shop around 5 p.m. head home and crack open the laptop and get to my real work, may have some interviews to do, grab some dinner that my better half has cooked. Write some reviews and interviews, hit up Myspace, check my email and call it a night around between 12:30 and 1 a.m., thank God for the day, wake up and do it again.
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
(laughs) We just started this magazine in February of 2007 and people are still finding out about us. This magazine is an extension of my partner Khary Campbell and our love for music that can inspire and change thought. We can’t wait to see our magazine sitting next to Fader, Rolling Stone and Wax Poetics.
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft?
Journalism with integrity - we just don’t put anything on our site. We want to be the first mag that throws events, conferences and concerts with Apple, Microsoft, Black Enterprise instead of Heineken and Tangueray. There are plenty of mediums that focus on everything that is mainstream from Jay-Z to Lil’ Wayne, we focus on the whole culture across the board from Nikki Giovanni to Sa-Ra, Pete Rock and Jeff Chang, we do our best to encompass the whole culture. One of the major things we’ve learned is that there is so much more culture and music in the hip-hop realm out there to learn about and that’s what we try to bring to the forefront.
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years?
Sitting in Scheme’s office somewhere in New York so we can have access to everything and everyone with a staff of eight or so dope individuals who are all on the same page and fighting for the same mission. I can give them 401k’s and they can wear dunks and vans and work hard and play hard. Also, I hope to have one or two children by then (laughs) and a place my wife and I can call home.
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master?
Balance, between family life and pursuing dreams. I watched one of Questlove’s YouTube spots and he had to miss his Moms b-day because Pharrell called him in to hear the beats that he did for the In My Mind remake. I can’t have that, I would have to pick up my mom or something, she wants to meet Pharrell anyway (laughs). So just balance and finding that co-existence.
Current Gig/Occupation: Editor-In-Chief of HipHopDX.com/Activist/Journalist
Motto: If I Haven’t Caused You To Think Twice, Then I’m Not Doing My Job
Favorite Quote: “We Must Be The Change We Wish To See In The World” (c) Gandi
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion?
Honestly, I couldn’t tell you. Hopefully - it’s because I’m bringing new and thought provoking ideas to the table and proving that real journalism lives in Hip Hop culture. The days of activism, artistic integrity and good ass music needs to come back. I want to be that spark that ignites the inferno of upcoming great thinkers and if I need to be watched in order to influence that, so be it.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far?
What you may consider unpopular is only that because you haven’t said/done it yet. There are probably millions of people who share the same likes, complaints and interests as you but as long as you remain quiet, you’ll never find each other.
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?
Che Guevara & Malcolm X…together for brunch.
Q: Describe a typical day.
Wake up at 8:30 a.m. and go through what feels like an endless stream of emails while editing, creating ideas and concepts, writing, handling phone calls, listening to new music, instant messaging up to 20 people at a time and all before noon. If I get lucky, I can sneak a meal in. The rest of my days consist of plotting to take over the world one person at a time.
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I’m a nerd yo…and not one of these “Hey I want to be a nerd because Lupe/Kanye/Pharrell made it cool” nerds. I read graphic novels (slick way of saying comic book), I play video games often, I watch wrestling, bump 80’s music (Journey, INXS and Depeche Mode holmes!) and all of this has been a part of me since birth.
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft?
An alternative and innovative way of thinking. I always say what people think but cannot articulate or are fearful to say because of it being “unpopular” opinion. Whether it be musical, political, social commentary, etc. I’m bringing the voice for those who haven’t been spoken for.
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years?
My life is so scattered now, I don’t know where I’ll be. Hopefully, HipHopDX will prevail as the #1 hip-hop website and my evil genius will have influenced others to create new media outlets to provide an alternative way of thinking for those that have been brainwashed by corporate interests and bad television shows. I’d love to be mentoring a bunch of young kids who are ready to take that step.
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master?
Balancing work with life. I yearn for the days when I can concentrate on friends and loved ones and still be able to do my job (which I also love) effectively. Who knows if I’ll ever overcome it as there aren’t enough hours in the day.
Current Gig/Occupation: CEO/Founder of Konsole Kingz
Motto: N/A
Favorite Quote: “I can’t say I totally agree with that.” and ” You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion?
I am one to watch because I created the only true video game lifestyle brand for the urban audience. Konsole Kingz is the only urban content provider with a channel on Microsoft’s XBOX Live service for the XBOX 360.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far?
Network. Network. Network. Always take advantage of networking opportunities. In my experience they always comeback to reward me in some form or fashion.
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?
My Mom and Dad’s parents. They pretty much passed away before I could hold meaningful conversation with them. I only have three memories of my Mom’s mother and none from my other grandparents. Now that I’m older, I would love to sit down and have a conversation with all four of them.
Q: Describe a typical day.
A typical day consist of a 10 a.m. wake-up with no breakfast. I check my Blackberry for all the missed messages that have quick replies and perform my daily SPAM removal ritual while driving to the office. Once I’m in the office, I reply to all the important emails that required more than three sentences of typing on the Blackberry. After that I map out all the actions items that I would like to get to during the day. I get lunch and my day starts at 1 p.m. From 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. - I am doing a combination of the following: in a meeting, on a conference call, working on a proposal, producing content for konsolekingz.com or XBOX 360 Playing XBOX 360 (research…you know), working on ways to expand the Konsole Kingz brand, researching new media technologies and platforms, getting a second lunch, networking at an event and power napping at the computer.
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
Are you trying to get me in trouble? I’m a dedicated to New Orleans Snowballs. Shout out to Just Loaf’n
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft?
A brand that is solely dedicated on serving urban video gamer. Many video game companies have marketed to urban gamers, but there has never been a reliable trusted company they could partner with to accomplish their goals.
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years?
On a vacation abroad.
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master?
A harmonious work-life balance.
Current Gig/Occupation: Neurosurgery Resident. Duke University Medical Center
Motto: Whatever you do, strive to do it so well that no man living and no man dead, and no man yet to be born can do it any better. (c) Dr. Benjamin E. Mays
Favorite Quote: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. (c) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion?
In my opinion, I am one to watch because I am going to be an extraordinary neurosurgeon. I am ambitious, focused and determined to make a difference in the lives of my patients. I hope to be the next Ben Carson, making the impossible…possible!
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far?
Surgeons commonly are compared to God because we hold people’s lives in our hands. However, I have learned that when one (surgeons) feed into this belief, more mistakes are made and their patients and their families become victims of malpractice. It is important for us to remember that we are not God, but are vesicles that make God’s power possible.
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?
If I could meet anyone, I would want to meet Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so that I could thank him. It is his dream that provided the opportunity for many African Americans to achieve their dreams, including me.
Q: Describe a typical day.
A typical day begins at 5:00 a.m. with morning hospital rounds. The rest of the day is spent in the operating room and/or providing patient care. My day ends around 8 p.m.
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
My second passion in life is criminal justice. I hope to one day join the FBI or CIA and use my medical knowledge to help solve criminal crimes.
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft?
I bring diversity, sincerity, compassion, and a belief in a higher power. I believe in the power of prayer and I am not afraid to pray with families who share the same beliefs.
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years?
I hope to be in the final stages of my neurosurgery residency training and evaluating different job opportunities.
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master?
The balance between fulfilling my duties as a husband and as a neurosurgeon without compromising either one.
Current Gig/Occupation: Artist/Producer
Motto: You can’t do anyone else better than you can do yourself!
Favorite Quote: “I’ll know I’ve made it when all the haters say ‘I hate it!’”
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion?
Well first off, I’m extremely flattered that I’m being considered “one to watch”. Other than the obvious reasons of maybe catching me trip down some stairs, one might find it interesting to see me attempt to make a major musical social impact in popular music doing the same thing I’ve been doing since high school. I think people will enjoy the slightly left-of-center ear candy that I, as well as my crew, the Honor Roll, have to offer. In this new media climate, almost everything that was traditional about creating a successful career as a musician is up in the air. I’m hoping that a fre$h new business and creative approach will prove a winning combination.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far?
It’s funny because ever since I decided to pursue music as a career path, I’ve learned so much everyday. There are many things I can speak of, however they all seem to point in one direction. The music business is just that - a business. What’s even funnier is, while I was an undergrad at the University of San Francisco as a business major, I realized that figures, negotiations, power lunches, and legalese were not things I was interested in dealing with everyday. Now, it seems that in order to make sure I maximize the reach of my creative potential, some of these have crept their way back into my daily grind. But still more important is the music - it’s originality, integrity, honesty, and with popular music, social relevance. Without these, there’s no reason to be in business.
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?
I’d love to talk with Stevie and J Dilla and ask what planet they’re from! I would love to have met my grandfather. He came to the U.S. from the Philippines and was in the Navy during WWII. I’d also like to sit down with James Brown just to see if I could smell the funk! There are too many people to name …
Q: Describe a typical day.
Three days a week, I instruct high school students around media literacy at Youth Radio, a non-profit based in Oakland, CA. Its real interesting getting teen perspectives and insight on what they’re into.
As far as the creative process, the best time is at night, so I’m usually in the studio for at least six to eight hours from the night till the early morning. In between everything, I’m usually at the gym, or dividing all the money I make between shopping for records and clothes. Anytime you’re in the process of making something go, a lot of things get put on hold. I don’t really know what “free time” is any more!
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I love the outdoors! I grew up going backpacking during the summertime in the mountains. My father used to work in the California State Park system before I was born and was always interested in nature. If I weren’t so attached to the cityscape I would be in the mountains or on the coast. Wherever I settle the number one factor is the natural regional aesthetic.
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft?
I think one of the major things that I bring to the craft is accessibility. I was the type of music consumer that didn’t know where to find the type of music I was interested in. I was fortunate enough to have people around me who would put me up on game, playing me all different types music that I may or may not like. From there, I was able to search out the all types of mediums to go out and get it myself. Either way I was able to make informed decisions about what I liked, having more than one radio station format to choose from. The fact that I make a different, but familiar brand of “hybrid” music is great for people who aren’t up on a lot of my influences. I want to make sure that people are aware that the world is “bigger than hip-hop”, and ultimately bigger than whatever is in their comfort zone. I like to listen to a lot of different things a lot of people aren’t into simply because it hasn’t been presented to them. I think I’m a bridge of sorts between musical aesthetics, with a main focus to get all different types of people in the same room and party. One nation under a groove and all that, lol…
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years?
It’s funny because today I’m not even in the field I thought I’d be in five years ago. As far as the music goes, I’ve never had huge aspirations. I’m just excited to be here and have these opportunities. As far as the future though, I hope to be respected as someone who’s earning a good living doing what they want to do. I’d love to see the Honor Roll do very well. There’s nothing better than having fun while making money with friends. On the hedonistic side of things, I’d love to own a few pieces of property (around the globe!), a nonprofit organization for teens aspiring to become successful business people, and a bunch of muscle cars… Camaros are my favorite!
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master?
I’m still trying to master my own creative process! Honestly, I’m not sure it’s something that can be perfected. Anytime I make music or write songs that I truly love, I don’t know how to repeat it. Inspiration is something that just comes and goes as it pleases. There have been so many instances where I’ve lost it so now I’ve learned to drop everything in attempts to capture it when it hits.
Current Gig/Occupation: I’m in artist management (Currently: Trackademicks, Josie Stingray, The Honor Roll .. Formerly: J*Davey, Che Grand .. I luh all you fools!) and I’m also a freelance graphic designer (J*Davey/Puma, Okayplayer.com, Blacksmith, Madison Square Boys & Girls Club), I’m “A&Ring” Che Grand’s debut album “Everything’s Good Ugly” and Donwill of Tanya Morgan has crowned me “Idea Consultant” .. that’s my favorite job, probably cause i don’t do much of anything in that one!
Motto: “Miss me with that shit.”
Favorite Quote: “At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since.” (c) Salvador Dali
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion?
See - I don’t really see what I’m doing as anything the would make me “one to watch,” I just love what I do and hopefully folk will love it to.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far?
Wash dishes as you dirty them … don’t let ‘em pile up - cause then it becomes such a task. Oh and hang your towel up after every shower, if not - it gets that nasty damp smell. Oh how important the simple things are.
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?
Just one? I’d have to go with Serge Gainsbourg. He had sex at Dali’s house on top of Picasso paintings. Slept with Bardot & Birkin (what gams!). Wrote songs & poetry, composed music, painted, had a song banned by the Vatican and told Whitney Houston he wanted to fuck her on live TV. Now that’s living. I’m sure he’d have a ton of crazy stories to tell.
Q: Describe a typical day.
Wake up at around 8 a.m. so I can see my girl out to work. Take my ass back to bed. Get up around 9:30 a.m. Shower. Check emails, make calls…by the time I’m done with emails/calls it’s usually close to noon. Get lunch (I gotta cut down on the beef patties with coco bread and cheese). Design for the majority of the afternoon. Hop on calls for a chunk of the evening since some of my clients are on the west coast. Dinner. TV. Sexy time! Sleep. Somewhere in there I manage to find time to play with and train our new puppy, and scratch my balls … not at the same time tho. I should add lunch with psuedo celebrities to make my day look like more fun, huh?
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I served a small stint for Uncle Sam, in the U.S. Army - right out of high school. I shipped out three days after graduation. It wasn’t the career for me but it definitely was a valuable experience. Plus I got a really dope army jacket out of it … but I lost the jacket so I guess that’s not a win.
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft?
Nothing. I don’t usually believe people when they act like they’re bringing something new to the table. Most every thing has been done already. I think there are still people that put their own twist on things but I don’t really buy the brand new bit. I just work hard and only work on things I really believe in. Unless it’s design - I get my whore on with design … get paid with whatever the client wants and that allows for room to do what I want on my own time.
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years?
In exactly five years I want to be on vacation in the Galapagos Islands with my darling and hopefully our lil munchkin. I know this was one of those questions about where I want to be in my life/career in a broader sense but fuck that I wanna be riding giant turtles.
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master?
Eating right. I can’t seem to overcome my need for fried, fatty and greasy foods. GOTDAMN they taste so goooood. Burgers, Fries, mozzarella sticks! thank God my darling loves my lil belly.
Current Gig/Occupation: Emergency Medicine Resident Physician — John. H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County (Chicago)
Motto: “Give 110% to each task you are involved in”
Motto: “No Man is an Island”
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion? I remember when I was in medical school, a black doctor gave a group of my fellow black colleagues an inspirational talk, and in it he said “A lot of patients are dying for a good black doctor”. This is a goal of mine, to promote more youth in the black community to strive to be that good black doctor. I am one to watch because I will be aggressive in breaking down all barriers, be they educational, financial, or psychological, that may impede our community from producing more good black doctors.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far? I believe the most important lesson I have learned is via direct observation of a mentor of mine in Saginaw, MI and that is to always be genuine. By being genuine, you have productive interactions with all people, no matter their financial status, no matter the prestige they have attained, which ultimately, help you grow as a person.
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be? I would want to meet Harriet Tubman. She is a symbol of perseverance as well as ingenuity. She led hundreds of slaves to freedom, inventing new ways to avoid capture, despite suffering from the after effects of a severe head injury as a child. I think that a five minute sit down with Ms. Tubman discussing leadership qualities would be more beneficial than five self help books that Tony Robbins could put together.
Q: Describe a typical day. A typical day is anything but the sort in the emergency room. We work in shifts which randomly rotate, from day, evening, and night throughout the month. So, you may come in at eight in the morning one day, midnight another. On arrival, we have sign out where patients from the prior shift are re distributed to the oncoming shift. Then the organized chaos begins. Anything, anyone, and any situation can present to the emergency room. On any given day, you may have to resuscitate a person with late stage lung cancer who is unable to breathe, suture a laceration suffered when a patient was stabbed with an object, give a 12 month old a breathing treatment because of reactivation of there asthma, or let an unassuming new mother see the pictures of a bedside ultrasound of her eight week old fetus. It is hectic, but with all these differing presentations, it provides a work environment, that is fun, exciting, and challenging
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you? That, I too, can do the Superman. Though hip hop is at a rough stage right about now, it just is something about that song and that dance, that when I see it on BET, I gotta get up and do my thang.
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft? I believe I bring a sense of comfort to patients who I see in the emergency department based on my attempt to “stand in their shoes”. I understand to begin with a patient may feel vulnerable, at the fact that they have an ailment that they cannot cure on their own, and now must come to a hospital, where they may have had previous bad experiences, to allow a stranger to cure their problem. With this in mind, I try to enter the room, introduce myself, and shake hands prior to any interaction, in an attempt to lessen some of these vulnerabilities. I try to simplify medical terms and describe illness in a way that a patient can explain to there family members as well as involve family members in treatment plans. I believe that with decreasing numbers of home physicians and increasing numbers of patients without insurance that more frequently in the emergency room, we will have to bring a level of comfort because more times than not, we will be there only link to health care.
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years? In five years, I see myself practicing emergency medicine in the south. At the five year mark, I also see instituting an outreach program focused on self esteem, self awareness, and preparing for academic excellence, that myself and some classmates from medical school initially developed in Detroit, to black youth in middle and high schools on a regional basis within the South.
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master? The interesting thing of practicing medicine is that it is always evolving, new methods of treating previously incurable diseases, new information to learn to promote better practice of medicine. I believe an exciting challenge that medicine affords me is that learning will be lifelong.
Current Gig/Occupation: Owner/Creative Director of The Brooklyn Circus Nyc, The Bkc Collection, The Brooklyn Circus SF, and Rich Yung.
Motto: RPD: Respect,Passion and Discipline . . .
Favorite Quote: Talent without discipline is worthless, discipline without talent is worth something.
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion? I’d have to let the people answer that. I have a vision to bring the world to The Brooklyn Circus and The Brooklyn Circus to the world so that in itself should be a show to see.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far? Do your homework and show up on time. People’s integrity and what they believe, that says a ton about who they are and what they will be. That’s a great lesson in doing good business vs. bad business.
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be? Not interested in meeting any dead people, but if I were alive in the 60’s, I’d have to say Malcolm, Martin, JFK and Henry Kissinger. Today - I am very interested in being friends with, not just meeting, Oprah Winfrey, Ralph Lauren, Steve Jobs, and Jay Z.
Q: Describe a typical day. Wow! Having a company like The Brooklyn Circus, there’s never a typical day. I sleep about 5 to 6 hours a night. Wake up, watch the news, to reaffirm my sanity. Monday: Check email on the hand-held, shower, eat breakfast and head out to The BKc showroom/office in Brooklyn. There, I meet with my staff about the upcoming week. My assistant goes through my meeting calendar for the week, I’ll normally add or delete from it at that time. I go through store performance sheets with my NY store manager, he also handles shipments and product allocation to our other doors (Chicago: The Brooklyn Circus x Solemates), our SF store, our Japan distribution and all the other stores that carry our brand.
I normally take in a meeting with our production manager and designers about line direction, calendar, production samples and corrections. That meeting would be followed by a meeting with our field photographer about what our goals are for the week. Once all the meetings are done I jump on the phone to speak to potential distributors and buyers. In summary a typical day includes: meetings, planning, product development, proofing and approving samples.
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you? That I am tougher on myself than I am on the people around me. Also, that I enjoy being alone a lot more than the social settings that I am a part of.
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft? 100-year plan, lifestyle and dedication to the past and the future. Not a simple interest to be rich without a legacy.
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years? In five years on the cover of DNR, Black Enterprise, Inc. Magazine, Oprah, MSNBC, for receiving a CFDA award and giving Ralph Lauren something to stay in business for.
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master? Still trying to master the art of balance: work, family and my personal life. I’d love to add to my current family and be as devoted to them as I am to The Brooklyn Circus vision. My girlfriend will be happy to read this, she helped me see that as my weak point and I love her for it.
Current Gig/Occupation: Media Director at Burrell Communications
Motto: You Like It I love it….
Favorite Quote: “It’s not enough that we do our best, sometimes we have to do what’s required.”
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion?
In my opinion, I am the one to watch because I hope to be a change agent in the way that marketers and advertisers handle marketing and media.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far?
One of the most important life lessons I have learned thus far is that trusting your instincts are invaluable. No matter the outcome - it has prepared me in several ways - ‘whether it’s understanding how to do things better next time around or building the confidence within myself to push forward through to the next stage or challenge in life.
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?
If I could meet any one dead or alive it would have to Leonardo da Vinci because of his vast knowledge and appreciation of art and science. It’s rare to find any one that has a strong passion for things that are seemingly so polar opposite.
Q: Describe a typical day.
A typical day for me is very layered with several different types of meetings from client conference calls to sales representatives. The work flow usually includes juggling client requests, meeting with my team and project managing integrated marketing ideas on behalf of Toyota. Another essential part of my day includes bringing media properties together to create unique and distinctive media campaigns. This also typically includes meetings with key figure heads within respective media companies to discuss how to separate Toyota marketing efforts from it’s competitors.
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
The one thing most people don’t know about me is that plan on being fluent in Spanish by the end of 2008.
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft?
I will not claim to bring something to my craft that has NEVER been done before, however what I have provided is a different prospective that has led the Toyota team at Burrell to all time highs. Our recent successes with the connecting with the targeted demographic and pleasing the Toyota client is direct result from enforcing positive change within the African American media landscape. During my tenure at Burrell I have adjusted some roles and responsibilities internally, but more importantly I have challenged the African American media companies to evolve with current state of the industry and provide marketers with smarter and richer thinking that is more reflective in the Hispanic and General media spaces.
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years?
In the next five years I hope to leverage my years of experience into a my own venture specializing in integrating marketing and co-branded alliances.
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master?
One thing I still trying to overcome or master is remain grounded and centered within all aspects of my life.
Current Gig/Occupation: Director / Co-Owner Desedo Films
Motto: See everything. Don’t fear anything. Read more. Sleep less.
Favorite Quote: Besides hip-hop lyrics, many of my favorite quotes were written on bathroom walls and are probably not fit for print, but I saw this one once: “If I saw you on the street I don’t know if I’d kiss ya or kill ya. It probably wouldn’t matter to you anyway.”
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion?
I’ve got a sharp wit and a pair of dancing shoes to match.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far?
Never trust a man who wears white shoes. (sneakers excluded).
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?
I’m looking at a three way toss-up between Curtis Mayfield, Malcolm X and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Q: Describe a typical day.
You mean after I step out on the streets looking fresh? (ya heard?) It’s to the office where I’m usually short on sleep and time trying to catch up with all the ideas buzzing around among the team. Creative work is funny in that way. There is always the impulse to create things, to be on to the newest and freshest idea, but that impulse has to be balanced with the discipline to finish projects — to add the polish and details that make one idea stand out from the others. When I’m in my creative space it’s all about questioning and polishing — whether that be writing scripts, treatments, etc., or in the edit room with footage that we’ve shot.
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I’m undefeated in the game Boggle since age 16.
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft?
I want to know where the soul meets the intellect and study that place with a camera rolling.
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years?
Living on the beach outside Barcelona or on a hangman’s noose or in a bungalow on a Hollywood lot or right where I am except with a few more employees and still riding my skateboard. Somewhere remarkable.
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master?
I wish there was only one thing. The self is a wondrous thing and in some ways it’s all we have, but I’d really love to master leaving the self behind — to simply be.
Current Gig/Occupation: Former Attorney/Co-Founder of Zippyjobs.com
Motto: Impossible is nothing.
Favorite Quote: “If you believe it, you can achieve it.”
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion?
I consider myself someone to watch because I believe that my passion for life, confidence in my ability, and determination to achieve my goals will allow me to achieve everything I set my mind to.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far?
The most important lesson that I’ve learned is that you cannot do ordinary things if you want an extraordinary life. You’ve got to follow your calling and have faith that life will provide you with all of the necessary resources, even if they are not apparent when you have to make the tough decisions. You must see the world and your life as it can and should be, and not just for what it is right now. If you continue pushing towards that goal, the world will provide you with whatever you need to get to that end goal.
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?
Marcus Garvey or Richard Branson
Q: Describe a typical day.
Up until this week, I used to wake up at 6 a.m., work with programmers until 9:30 a.m., go to work at the firm from 10-8 p.m., and then return back home and work on Zippyjobs until 1 a.m. Fortunately, I am now able to run Zippyjobs full-time, so now all of my energies are completely focused on my passion.
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I bungy jumped from the world’s highest bungy jumping point. It’s located at Bloukrans River Bridge, South Africa and is 216m above ground.
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft?
The ability for students to easily link with households, small businesses, and corporations to make money while they are in school.
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years?
In 5 years, I plan to continue growing Zippyjobs in other markets in the United States and easing the financial burden experienced by students across the country.
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master?
The one thing that I wished I did better is to find more balance in my life. I have not been very good at balancing my determination to follow my passion and pursue my dreams with making time to foster worthwhile relationships with the women that I have dated.
Current Gig/Occupation:Engineer/Event Planner/Concert Promoter
Motto: Only The Best
Favorite Quote: “Never ante up to buy champagne. Poppin’ bottles is not a team sport. It’s a lifestyle.”
Q: What makes you one to watch in your opinion? If you like exclusive events, phenomenal music, trendy concepts, star power and a quality social atmosphere - check for us. We are expanding to various major markets with events across the US with exclusive membership clubs, so stay posted to the live roll out of our lifestyle sites: www.urbanlifestyleent.com and www.digunderground.com
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned so far?
Live every day as your last, because one of these days will be your last. That is one thing that is guaranteed.
Q: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be? Many people. There is a lot of knowledge and talent in the world. But for the sake of answering this question, I would say Ghandi.
Q: Describe a typical day.
Emails…phone meetings…callbacks….meetings…emails…proposal writing…financial projections…artist booking…venue booking…contract writing…who needs lunch?…emails…booking travel…selecting catering…concept brainstorming…other than that it’s pretty chill.
Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I’m a big on healthy living, for the most part.
Q: What do you bring that hasn’t been brought to your craft? We are alchemists of urban luxury and organic culture. From concerts to exclusive trunk shows, we customize a variety of trend-forward events that mix a diverse crowd of professionals, execs, athletes, thespians, entertainers and other cool people that you wouldn’t typically expect in the same room. We couple this with an unparalleled level of guest innovation and customer service. All of our guests are treated with the utmost importance and we strive to make all events have a very intimate personalized feel, no matter how many people. Your enjoyment is our pleasure.
Q: Where do you hope to be in five years?
Living well, in good health, and on top of my game.
Q: What’s the one thing you are still trying to overcome or master?
Being in more than one place at the same time.
Dissecting Fiascogate
(Editor's Note: "Fiascogate" is the dumbest name ever, couldn't someone call this "Lupe's Fiasco" or some other quirky play on words? Damn...)
There was once a superhero with amazing powers. Well…he wasn’t actually a “superhero” but more like an individual with great abilities that we would assume should do great things.
One day, the superhero saves a poor little kitten from a tree. Because of this presumed heroic event, the superhero is thrust into the limelight but becomes uneasy because he isn’t what people think he is or wants him to be.
The fact is, he doesn’t even like kitties…it just so happens that he did it because some sexy ass woman was the owner of the cat. Now our adopted superhero is on edge because he’s pigeonholed as this cat saving/kitty loving/friendly mu’fucka.
Everyone expects him to save every cat from every tree and although he benefited from the spotlight, our superhero is now being pushed to the darkside because of the extra pressure to become the person the people made him out to be.
He finally declares “I don’t even like cats yo!” and a collective gasp comes from the onlookers as criticism (just and unjust) fires from all angles.
The clouds cover the skies, thunder and lightning immerse the night and a torrential rain pounds the ground.
Our Anakin Skywalker is officially Darth Vader and will probably kill tons of kitties because of this “Fiasco”
You can blame this new villain all you want (and rightfully so in some cases) but you gotta blame yourself for your part in creating this monster as well.
On the other side of the coin, the more you keep saying “I fucking hate cats” to cat lovers (and to add insult to injury say "I'll fucking kick a cat if I see one" simply in spite), the more you are going to piss people off and turn them against you. It’s pretty much like “Okay I get it but if you want to wear it as a badge of honor than FUCK YOU!” If you care what they think then this point is moot, if you don’t care, maintain the speed you are already at.
Feel Me?
The moral of the story is this…
You can’t expect someone to be everything you think they should be because they accomplished something that you hold near and dear to your heart. You can’t be upset because this person crushed the box you put him in.
Martin banged mad chicks, Malcolm was a hustler, Che killed people, Gil Scott Heron was an addict, Kanye isn’t “political”, Al Sharpton has a perm because of James Brown, Michael Jackson likes little people (monkeys, Webster, your kids, etc)…
The list goes on and on. Nobody will be this picture of perfection you want them to be. Either you accept it or you don’t.
You’ll never know what makes him do what he does. Maybe you should just enjoy the music and move on. If it offends you that much then don’t cop the music. Whatever it is you choose, stand by it and don’t let the winds sway you. I respect that more than when the superhero accomplishes something else considered great and everyone is sucking on his super penis again.
I can agree to disagree with anyone who is honest about his/her stance.
The more pressure you put on him to become this “thing” you want him to be, the further he will push back to make sure he NEVER becomes what you want him to be.
Regardless of his superpowers, he’s still a human with faults and growing to do. He’ll never be perfect. Cry a river, build a bridge and get over it.
Do I agree with everything said superhero has declared? Nope. Does it really matter? Not really. Do I understand where he’s coming from? Absolutely. Whether I condone the way he handled it or not, I’ll still keep it cool regardless and enjoy the show.
And there it is…
Point Blank Period
Beyonce Shows Her Tits! (For Real!)
First this...
Beyonce Falls Down Stairs
Uploaded by Duuuhhude
Now this...
She may have bad luck but Beyonce never misses a beat. She done busted her head nosediving to concrete and hopped up head banging like a madwoman. Now her dress flies up showing her goodies to mad King magazine masturbators and teeny boppers but just smiles and keeps it pushin. I'll give her a thumbs up on not being rattled. What about you?
LOL @ NBA, Media & David Stern. In Yo' FACE!
Ayo...
Sometimes the media gets so out of control about the problems with the NBA & NFL players that it seems like a never ending stream of "So and So did this" and "Black athlete anonymous did that" reports are all there is to talk about in between the plays of the week and World Series of Poker. I could go on a rampage and blast ESPN and the various media outlets for never really giving burn to the athletes that actually do something in their communities (Stephon Marbury always gets the selfish tag but have any of you seen his resume for community work?), but I won't for now.
And don't mistake this for being about Michael Vick getting a bad rap. Dude fucked up - plain and simple. Yeah, they could lay off just a bit on the guy because it doesn't need to be blasted as much as it has and Bill O'Reilly's attempts to link Vick's dogfighting accusations to Hip Hop warrant me to slap him with a white glove and challenge him to a duel. But for someone of Vick's stature to be caught up in something as inhumane as this deserves whatever he gets for just being dumb as fuck. If there are holes in the accusations will they apologize a la the Duke Lacrosse team? Don't think so but I digress...
David Stern has been dealing with some "cleaning up the NBA" issues that have linked the black athlete to the image problems within the league. But something happened this morning that brought a pretty cynical smile to my face. A heinous crime took place that had absolutely nothing to do with any athlete who's skin contains melanin. As a matter of fact, the dude who committed this act that is certain to haunt the NBA for possibly the next 10 years looks like this...
"Wait! hang on a second," I thought as I rubbed my eyes figuring my mind was playing tricks on me this morning. I shook the morning cobwebs out and squinted real, real hard (you know, that good squint like when you are tired and drunk driving home from the club) at the TV...
"Yeah...he's white," I said under my breath in semi-amazement. Fam, when I tell you that I turned on the closed captions to make sure I wasn't hearing wrong I definitely am bullshitting you not...
REF ACCUSED OF BETTING ON GAMES
The FBI is investigating allegations that veteran NBA referee Tim Donaghy bet on basketball games over the past two seasons, including ones in which he officiated.
The law enforcement official said the bets involved thousands of dollars and were made on games during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Donaghy officiated 68 games in the 2005-06 season and 63 games in 2006-07. He also worked 20 playoff games, including five last season -- Pistons-Magic on April 23; Warriors-Mavs on April 27; Suns-Lakers on April 29; Nets-Raptors on May 4; and Spurs-Suns on May 12.
In a statement issued late Friday afternoon, commissioner David Stern said the league will help the government in any way it can.
"We would like to assure our fans that no amount of effort, time or personnel is being spared to assist in this investigation, to bring to justice an individual who has betrayed the most sacred trust in professional sports, and to take the necessary steps to protect against this ever happening again," Stern said. "We will have more to say at a press conference that will be scheduled for next week."
The FBI probe, which began recently, also involves allegations that the referee had connections to organized crime associates. Other arrests are expected, the official said.
Holy Shit! A crime that truly affects the game of basketball was NOT done by an African American? No way! Organized crime associates? FBI probe? Get the fuck outta here! David Stern woke up this morning with an epic sized turd in his bowl of cereal.
And we all know and understand the American concept of "guilty until proven innocent" (or is it vice versa *shrug*) but Donaghy has already resigned. He also a chronicled history of gambling problems, which really doesn't help his case whatsoever. Not to mention that trends in games he officiated (including a head titlting Heat-Knicks game that found the Knicks shooting 39 free throws to the Heat's 8 and included technical fouls called on Heat coach Pat Riley and assistant Ron Rothstein. The Knicks won by six. What was the point spread? New York favored by 4 1/2) are slowly turning up.
So forgive me for celebrating on this glorious day when I won't have to be bombarded with reports of Barry Bonds "tainted" home run record (fuck Bud Selig and Hank "Uncle Tom" Aaron btw). Pacman Jones won't be forced down my throat with whatever the fuck it is he's done now (and if I hear anyone reporting his "Making It Rain" again I'll bash my skull against the nearest brick wall). Vick and his dogs, the gotdamn Bengals and even the B-Hop/Winky Wright scuffle will take a backseat to this (don't be fooled though...the shit isn't getting as much attention as it would get if Donaghy looked like Allen Iverson).
So excuse me as I beam from ear to ear because today is a day that the black athlete gets a day off (a partial day is one small step). There's no personal effort by an athlete that will impact the actual game like this shit right here. This is like a drive by shooting Vs Halliburton. A dirty gotdamn secret David Stern wishes would go away right about now. I'm sure they are wishing this could get swept under the rug. But the truth is that this ref affected a whole bunch of people's money and possibly the credibility of the NBA for a long long time.
So Dave, media and everyone else that has consistently blamed the player for fucking up the game, I have one thing to say to you...
"The Chickens Have Come Home To Roost" - (c) Malcolm X
Excuse me as I treat myself on this wonderful day because tomorrow it'll be Pacman, Barry Bonds and some other anonymous negro making headlines again.
But until then...
You Want Real Hip Hop With A Message? Fuck Yeah You Do!
Yeah kids,
I've been super busy with keeping DX up to speed which is why you haven't seen a blog or a Who The Hell Am I in a minute (hope you are digging the content...if not, fuck it. My bad?), but before I bless all of you with "Stop Rapping And Get A Job" as my next editorial I have a gift for you....
I (like some of you) yearn for the days where you can actually learn something from Hip Hop music. But we all know that the days of a dope video with a message being blasted on MTV and BET are loooooong gone. So how do we get the message out to the youth?
I got this video from a fellow National Hip Hop Political Convention member that went a lil something like this...
Yo someone sent this video to me and said that he played it for his 7th graders stuck in summer school because they all failed again. When I first saw it I thought it was funny but then I realized we basically have to treat and or tell people they are stupid in order for them to become motivated to learn. That is sad! So without further a due here (it) is...
Is this what it has finally come to? Probably...
How To Control The $40 Million Slave
Racism: Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
Prejudice: An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts.
So here we are, a few days removed from the NBA Rules? Racist As F*ck blog that set some of you smooth the fuck off. The dialog is appreciated. As it is obvious from the great lot of comments, many of you simply don’t agree with the blog. Some see it as a direct comparison between the NHL and the NBA (which is not the basis of the argument). Some see it as black vs. white. A couple actually made sense out of the direction of the blog and the purpose behind it.
The isolated rule in itself isn’t “racist”, it’s stupid. David Stern may love or loathe black people, we’ll never know. White people may or may not be better fighters than black people, that’s a case by case basis. There’s no hardcore facts to support any of this. But David Stern’s “cleaning up the game” rules have been built upon racist viewpoints created by the media’s portrayal of the black athlete in conjunction with Hip Hop culture (although the two should not have to be synonymous).
You don’t believe me? Well here’s an excerpt from a Yahoo! Sports article (By Adrian Wojnarowski; Oct 30 2006) that quotes Stern and his concerns during his “cleaning up” stages…
"Stern is reluctant to discuss the racial overtones that seem to find their way into criticisms of his league, but he will say, "When Ron Artest went into the stands, it was, 'All those players are …"
He doesn't fill in the blank. Plenty of people do it for him.
And then he says, "And I know for a fact that they're not [all the same], so I wonder why they're so easily generalized. Maybe we're not doing as good of a job as we should be doing, or maybe there's something else at work."
Something else? I wonder what that is? And who is “they”? Stern has done a helluva job tiptoeing around the topic but to say that race has not played a factor into how any of these rules have come into play or are interpreted over the years is ridiculous. The criticism is there and we can act as if this has nothing to do with the fact that the players are black but I won’t. But I won’t blame the NBA for making the rules, I’ll blame the media for its portrayal of the black athlete. I’ll also blame the media for making times difficult for Stern and Co. to appease his fans and supporters.
See, the NBA’s rules of “cleaning up” the league (whether it be the dress code, no celebrations, taunting, fighting, arguing with refs, long shorts, headbands, etc) are in response to what the media thinks and in turn projects to the public . When I used the term "cleaning up the league" and likened it to "whitening up the league", I meant it. Regardless of what you may think; dress code, celebrations, taunting, long shorts, dress code and everything else were all introduced by African American ballplayers and were subsequently removed via the “rules”. The media has convinced you that style and swagger are all "unsportsmanlike conduct." But why is that? What's wrong with a little shit talking? What harm did long shorts really do? Celebrating after a great play may piss off the other team but is it really that big of a deal?
The NBA wants to make it a friendly and relatable sport so when Fox News, CNN, ESPN and other news networks constantly report about “thugs” who “ruin the game” and it is broadcast into millions of homes do you think Stern and Co. are not paying attention? And what color pops into your head when the term “thug” is used?
Still don’t believe that race plays a role in any of this? Oh okay, apparently that’s not enough for those who were utterly disgusted for me calling the NBA rules racist. Here’s Bill Simmons (who is a white guy by the way) from ESPN.com’s Page 2 answering a question posed by a reader (posted May 18th)…
From Alex in Puyallup, Wash.: ‘I was reading the comments of some of the other NBA experts on ESPN and one of them mentioned the fact that people