A few random thoughts: Charles Barkley, Gilbert Arenas, Mike Greenberg, Haiti
I see, hear and read things throughout my day that enlighten me, disgust me and more often than not just leave me scratching my head. I often wonder if other people ponder these moments in their busy, sensory overloaded lives.
NBA star Gilbert Arenas is a disappointment as a man. He brings guns to work, displays them during a threatening confrontation with a teammate then to add insult to injury he mocks the entire episode. He does all of this while playing for a team that changed its' name from the 'Bullets' to the 'Wizards' in Washington DC. A city like many others that has seen families and countless young lives destroyed by gun violence.
NBA legend and analyst Charles Barkley is difficult to understand. I was once a Barkley fan. I purchased his books, appreciated his no-holds barred pull no punches style. He seemed a refreshing alternative to his PC BFF's... but I've finally stopped drinking the Kool-Ade. His 'white-face' skit about Sammy Sosa, his constant butchering of the English language and the latest reasoning behind why Gilbert Arenas shouldn't forfeit the remaining $90 million of his contract finally did it for me.
ESPN radio host Mike Greenberg is in hot water for a mumbled intro to his hugely popular sports talk show. Was his garbled MLK reference a glimpse into a dark soul or just a matter of talking to fast? Only he knows for certain. But to me it is not really about 'Greenie'. The more central issue is that America will only be truly free when we can discuss race in an open and intelligent manner. I'll know that America is finally the 'land of the free' when a person can be discussed or disliked without feeling the need to reference their skin color.
I fear that Haiti will become the latest New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina devastated the 'Big Easy' in 2005 and the world mobilized its' efforts, focused their collective attention then promptly forgot and moved on. Once all of the media careers have been launched and photo-ops have been exhausted where will Haiti be then? My prediction is that when we look back in 5 years, Haiti much like New Orleans will be right back to where they started...left behind.
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NBA star Gilbert Arenas is a disappointment as a man. He brings guns to work, displays them during a threatening confrontation with a teammate then to add insult to injury he mocks the entire episode. He does all of this while playing for a team that changed its' name from the 'Bullets' to the 'Wizards' in Washington DC. A city like many others that has seen families and countless young lives destroyed by gun violence.
NBA legend and analyst Charles Barkley is difficult to understand. I was once a Barkley fan. I purchased his books, appreciated his no-holds barred pull no punches style. He seemed a refreshing alternative to his PC BFF's... but I've finally stopped drinking the Kool-Ade. His 'white-face' skit about Sammy Sosa, his constant butchering of the English language and the latest reasoning behind why Gilbert Arenas shouldn't forfeit the remaining $90 million of his contract finally did it for me.
ESPN radio host Mike Greenberg is in hot water for a mumbled intro to his hugely popular sports talk show. Was his garbled MLK reference a glimpse into a dark soul or just a matter of talking to fast? Only he knows for certain. But to me it is not really about 'Greenie'. The more central issue is that America will only be truly free when we can discuss race in an open and intelligent manner. I'll know that America is finally the 'land of the free' when a person can be discussed or disliked without feeling the need to reference their skin color.
I fear that Haiti will become the latest New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina devastated the 'Big Easy' in 2005 and the world mobilized its' efforts, focused their collective attention then promptly forgot and moved on. Once all of the media careers have been launched and photo-ops have been exhausted where will Haiti be then? My prediction is that when we look back in 5 years, Haiti much like New Orleans will be right back to where they started...left behind.
follow me on www.twitter.com/drjcbenjamin
Posted by Johnny Benjamin MD at 1/19/2010 7:11 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Charles Barkley Gilbert Arenas Mike Greenberg Haiti
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Charles Barkley Gilbert Arenas Mike Greenberg Haiti
Those were very powerful statements. I'm left speechless and trust me that never happens. I truly like what was said. My thoughts exactly.
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