LUPE!!!

Last night I went to one of the shortest… and best concerts I’ve ever witnessed.
Lupe Fiasco – one of the most talented lyricists in the hip hop game today – came to
Thorne Hall in a 4 song exhibition of both his old and new hits. I realize this is not quite
African music, but I thought it was close enough all things considered because he
frequently mentions Africa in his songs, such as the West African griots, or the fact that
part of his inspiration as an African American artist stems from the music
in Africa. Sitting in the back right hand corner of Thorne, I was amazed at Lupe’s ability
to control and feed off of the crowd. You see I have been a fan of “Chicago’s finest”
since he first started making mix tapes eight years ago. But I had never before had the
opportunity to see him perform live. I’ve never really seen the appeal of spending extra
money just to see someone in concert.
Lupe’s performance last night changed everything. His constant references to his record label “First and Fifteenth” or “F&F” coupled with the unparalleled fluidity of his rhymes make Lupe the greatest out there today. While on stage, Lupe maintains a wondrous swagger that even the most casual fan can appreciate and respect. Fiasco hardly ever swears, instead choosing to let the brilliance of his words do the Talking. His newest hit single, “Superstar,” exemplifies why Lupe is so special. Whilehe continues to rap his sick lyrics, he also shows that he too has a very impressive singing voice, while he sings, “If you are what you say you are, a superstar, then have no fear, the crowd is here...” as he motions toward the audience with a sudden appreciation for us as his fans.
Lupe embodies everything that is right with hip hop today. He is a young and
handsome black man who bodes both charisma and intelligence. He allows his dialect
and talent to market his success, rather than rap about how he survived 7 gunshot wounds.
I must admit I was astounded that everyone in the audience remained standing with their
arms bumping back and forth during his four songs. Lupe’s ability to hold a crowd is
attributed to not only his words and lyrics but also his talent to work all angles of the
stage and flow with his crowd. I really enjoyed the event and learned a great deal about
what hip hop is meant to be like. I have a new found respect for Lupe Fiasco even more
than before, and hope to see him live once again. After all, his new album is entitled, “the cool.”

College

I am very worried about the next week and a half. Our season is up on the air. Depending on how we fare this weekend, we could be finished playing Saturday, or could be on a plane to Des Moines, Iowa in a week. Furthermore, my workload at school finds itself steadily increasing. With three mid-terms on the horizon, I find myself filled with trepidation about how I will complete everything in the manner it needs and deserves. I desperately yearn to play in another NCAA Tournament, even though I realize it will make school even more challenging. This is why I have already begun preparing for the upcoming exams. But I recongize the fact that I must organize more study groups as well as clear my right with the profs to take the tests in a zero stress environment with extended time, given my learning disability. But I think this is a great component of the college experience. The work is important, but perhaps more meaningful is how we learn to properly balance all of the aspects of our life. My experience at Oxy and as a member of the basketball team provides me with the special opportunity to successfully deal with these necessary struggles of college life.

What is happening???

We have a huge weekend of basketball approaching us. This year our team has overachieved. We were not supposed to be particularly good, yet we won another conference title, while remaining in the top 25 poll most of the season. But as with any season, adversity has come. Unfortunately for us, its come at the worst time. We have lost two of our last three games, both to teams we had previously beaten, and frankly who had no right to be on the same floor as us. To be honest, I'm not sure what has gone wrong. Have we become overconfident? Possibly. But I wouldn't be writing this if I thought that was the only reason behind our demise. Our offense has become stagnant and predictable. The offense we ran earlier in the season known as "23" has been completely abandoned for the triangle offense known as "14." But more importantly, the chemistry of our team has suffered. We've been bickering and even in-fighting; something a championship team cannot do if it expects to win. If we do not win both games this weekend, we will most likely be on the outside looking in to the NCAA Tournament, despite having been a fixture in top 25 all season long... Wow.

Pinkberry

I absolutely love Pinkberry. It is the fresh blend of yogurt and fruit goodness. Never before have I had a treat that is so refreshing and tasteful yet remains healthy and decent. Pinkberry has in essence become the new fad of LA. On a random Tuesday night at its Pasadena store a minimum of 40 people line the street almost streching around the block waiting in line for their shot at the best invention since ice cream. A young crowd hovers in the store glancing and evaluating all of the possible flavors: raspberries, mango, blueberries, yogurt chips, and for the really young ones, fruity pebbles and captain crunch cereal toppings! "Mom, I want that one," the pudgy young boy says to his mother. Pinkberry is a non-fat yogurt that is ice cold and has a slightly sour after taste of a kick. The yogurt is very soft yet tangy, and mixed with the right combination of fruit is scary good. But the product - as good as it is - isn't the only draw of Pinkberry. The store has established itself as a hangout spot for young people: a cool place to go and chill before or after a party, or simply to hang out with friends away from the not so friendly confines of home. It is a vibrant spot to have a refreshing treat and not feel guilty afterwards.

Pauley Hall

Will somebody please tell me why we have a residence hall on campus that supports the segregation of students based on their ethnic backgrounds? For the past year and a half at Oxy, I have sat back and haven’t said a word about this. But I refuse to sit in silence anymore. From my understanding, the purpose of Pauley Hall is to allow students of color to feel more comfortable in their daily settings. This is not what the current residents of Pauley believe. The other day I met with a professor in Pauley. I approached the hall with an open mind. I may not have agreed with the message such a dormitory sent, but I wanted to be respectful of their preferences. I was immediately disturbed when I noticed some of the peculiar looks I received from the Latino students who lived there. It was like they were saying, “Who are you, and what the hell are you doing here, Whitey? You already have the rest of the campus to inhabit, so why are you here trying to fit in our dorm?” Such looks and faces left me flabbergasted and utterly sickened. After all, we are all unaccomplished college students still trying to find our identity and passion in life. Although no component of me was attempting to fit in (I was simply asking around of the location of Prof Mills), the thought that Pauley Hall was “their hall,” very much irritated me. Whether it’s my sheltered life or not, I do cannot comprehend why a young person would want to avoid the social education that the college experience offers to simply feel better and more comfortable in their own dorm. Such an experience and outlook will not benefit you post undergrad when you enter the workforce and deal with people of completely different socio-economic backgrounds. Good luck…

Pauley Hall

Will somebody please tell me why we have a residence hall on campus that supports the segregation of students based on their ethnic backgrounds? For the past year and a half at Oxy, I have sat back and haven’t said a word about this. But I refuse to sit in silence anymore. From my understanding, the purpose of Pauley Hall is to allow students of color to feel more comfortable in their daily settings. This is not what the current residents of Pauley believe. The other day I met with a professor in Pauley. I approached the hall with an open mind. I may not have agreed with the message such a dormitory sent, but I wanted to be respectful of their preferences. I was immediately disturbed when I noticed some of the peculiar looks I received from the Latino students who lived there. It was like they were saying, “Who are you, and what the hell are you doing here, Whitey? You already have the rest of the campus to inhabit, so why are you here trying to fit in our dorm?” Such looks and faces left me flabbergasted and utterly sickened. After all, we are all unaccomplished college students still trying to find our identity and passion in life. Although no component of me was attempting to fit in (I was simply asking around of the location of Prof Mills), the thought that Pauley Hall was “their hall,” very much irritated me. Whether it’s my sheltered life or not, I do cannot comprehend why a young person would want to avoid the social education that the college experience offers to simply feel better and more comfortable in their own dorm. Such an experience and outlook will not benefit you post undergrad when you enter the workforce and deal with people of completely different socio-economic backgrounds. Good luck…

Baseball sucks

I cannot take any more of the basbeall congressional hearings. Sitting at home watching Roger Clemens and former trainer Brian McNamee l(in all likelihood) lie in front of congress makes me so sick I could throw up. For the past few weeks I have watched as McNamee insists he illegally injected one of baseball's greatest pitchers with growth hormones and steroids. He even went as far as saying he injected Clemens' wife with steroids to improve her body for the 2004 Sports Illustrated photo shoot. Today both parties are on Capitol Hill speaking at a congrssional hearing claiming their stories are accurate. Whether true or not, the fact remains that baseball has lost me as a fan. The league has by far the worst testing policy out of any professional league in America, and up until last season, had the lowest suspension time for such a conviction. Baseball representatives think they can continually have such pitiful policies without the repercussions and consequences. It is up to the American public to demand better policies and to demand for MLB to stop taking the fans for granted.

What is wrong with ESPN? (cont.)

Recently I have become more and more disgruntled with ESPN as I’ve noticed the quality of its shows disintegrate. I used to love Stuart Scott. The dynamic duo of him and Dan Patrick was the face of Sportscenter in the late 90’s. But in the past couple years, something has changed about him. It starts with that ridiculous earring he added to his left ear. What is that? He is reporting sports, not playing them. Secondly, who is dressing that man? Some of these suits… wow. Purple pinstripes? My God. He just isn’t the same guy.

My boiling point recently occurred during my nightly Sportscenter viewing at 11. My eyes perked when I saw the Sportscenter ticker read “ESPN NOW.” The series is a daily breakdown of two of sports’ biggest stars going head to head in an on the field and off the field battle of both relativity and popularity. We are currently in the second round of the 32-athlete field, and the three team panelist team has shifted from the incumbent Keyshawn Johnson, Kirk Herbstreit, and Michael Wilbon, to the stars of the upcoming movie comedy Chuck and Larry; Kevin James, hottie Jessica Biel, and Mike Greenberg. As I tuned in (only to watch Biel), I couldn’t help but fume over James’ ridiculous drawn about comments about how he beat Tiger Woods in a hole of golf. James – who at 5’9,” 285 plus hardly qualifies as an athlete, then proceeded to choose Ladanian Tomlinson over Steve Nash in the next match-up because he is a former running back himself. James made the outlandish comment that he used to run a 4.6 40 in high school. Trust me, the only 40 he’s ever run is the liquid kind. In an epic first round match-up between Tony Parker and Roger Federer, Wilbon took TP not because he was the final’s MVP, but because he finds Eva Longoria to be sexually stimulating. I am not watching Sportscenter to learn who Mike Wilbon thinks is hot.
It must be noted for anyone who has yet to see this segment, that “Who’s Now” occurs during Sportscenter, in between Indians-Mariner highlights, and a Tom Rinaldi tear jerker.

The segment is not only absurd, but it’s completely irrelevant. Does anybody care? I am actually shocked that people are even voting on each match-up. In fact, perhaps I should conduct a further study and track where the votes are coming from. I bet the same Chinese population who surge Yao Ming as overwhelming vote winner in the All-Star game the night before balloting ends are the same group who vote on the outcome of who is more now, Danica Patrick vs. Derek Jeter. Scott reports the information with such anticipation in his voice that you’d think another war was starting. “Dude is just sick, and he’s dating Gisele.” Or “the kid is a flat out freak!”

For years I have long loved the efforts of Sportscenter to bring fans the most up to date information and interesting stories. But with recent shows such as Dream Job (the contest where one aspiring sports anchor wins a job on ESPN), Baseball Tonight, and the useless segment Who’s Now, I have reached my television boiling point capacity. From here on out, I refuse to subject my eyes and ears to Kevin James’ fat face talk about how he beat the greatest golfer in the world at his own game, or why Mike Greenberg thinks Dwayne Wade got shafted in his Who’s Now tournament seeding. Most importantly, I will no longer watch Stuart Scott and his assortment of revolting suits and fake Claire’s earring host anymore… ever.

What is wrong with ESPN?

Somebody tell me what is wrong with ESPN? On one hand, I love the network. It has wonderful HD capabilities, the best show on television in Sportscenter, and the second best show on TV in College Gameday. In the past 25 plus years, ESPN has flourished from Bristol baby to booming media giant. Owning the right’s to more games and events than any other sports network, it has become the Michael Jordan of media. But somewhere in the shuffle of millions of games, anchors, and guest hosts, ESPN has lost its identity. The self proclaimed Worldwide Leader of Sports will literally give a microphone to anyone. You’re a former pro athlete with drug problems? Come on down? You’ve been charged with assault? Say hello. Michael Irvin and Keyshawn Johnson were wonderful NFL receivers, yes, but that is precisely it. They are not “professionally” qualified broadcasters. Dee Brown had one of the greatest dunks I have ever seen with the “blindfold” and “pump” at the 1991 Dunk Contest, but he is a terrible broadcaster. Swin Cash may be an All-Star in the WNBA, but she is atrocious in front of a teleprompter. I admittedly watch ESPN on a tri-daily basis. I wake up, pour my cereal, and turn it on. I follow it during the day in the office, and I watch it every night before bed with a cold brew. It’s the only show I religiously watch other than Entourage, although it should be noted that Katherine Heigl’s efforts on Grey’s Anatomy last spring made a respectable push. At the end of the day, ESPN provides the 24-hour sports coverage that the sickly obsessive sports fan such as myself requires. Baseball Tonight is a wonderfully hosted show by Karl Ravech that provides great highlights and used to provide great analysis. But with the recent additions of two former baseball players in Fernando Vina and Eric Young, the show now dramatically suffers in that department. Seriously, Young was so bad the other day that I muted the TV every time he spoke, and Vina hasn’t made a significant point in two months.