I wanna (yea, I wrote wanna) give a big thank you to my hometown and the region for blessing me with great memories and hard times, but most importantly teaching me lessons in my experiences at their venues. Where do I start, I guess I start with my first memories of going to sporting events here in Milwaukee, from wrestling matches at the Auditorium with my grandfather to being a kid and going to Mecca to seeing the Bucks run teams off the floor in the late 70′s.
I remember the 1st time I went into South Stadium and how I felt like I was in a museum but they play football in there. Thank you for all the high school basketball games at Milwaukee Trade and Technical HS, man those Friday nights in the City Conference were do or die as the are today, enjoy all those games when the crowds bring that “amped” lets go get it flavor to those gyms.
The old County Stadium deserves thanks especially in the late 70′s-early eighties when I was just starting to get into baseball. Sitting in those left field bleachers when teams like the Yankees, Orioles, A’s or especially the White Sox would come to town was a treat.
A special thanks to all the good times I have been blessed to enjoy as I grew up and got the rare chance to cover teams in my hometown. From all the nights I have spent in the Bradley Center covering everything from Basketball to Arena Football to actually heading out to State Fair Park to watch a race every now and then.
Thanks you for letting me desecrate some of your local golf courses and play pick up ball at some of the best parks around. More important thank you for all the memories and memories to come in the future.
So let me get this straight, Reggie Bush won the 2005 Heisman Award Trophy as the best collegiate football player in the country for that year if I remember correctly…that is what I remember happening from the great runs all over the land. So because Reggie allegedly took a few dollars from someone who was not exactly on the up and up at that time that makes all of the games he played in forfeits and effectively he was an ineligible player, I understand and respect rules and realize that there has to be consequences for actions that are giving someone or somebody a competitive advantage, but riddle me this Batman…Did Bush play any harder or better with these alleged payments you tell me if he did? Look when it comes to college big time sports (D1 Football & Hoops) I really have found that I’m morally bankrupt…
I just cannot pretend to be on this high and mighty horse and high ground of, “don’t take the money, don’t take the benefits, hey Reggie lets go to the USC Bookstore and see how many of your #5 jerseys sell today at 75-90 bucks a pop and you get nothing but that great education and room and board!”
I am jaded enough in living life in the real world that everybody has their hand out and these “assets” on these campuses generate a lot of revenue and give these “Mecca’s” of higher learning and opportunity at getting their message through the sports programs. I say do everything the right way the best you can but if you can get what you can get…don’t get caught and make peace with your higher being after the fact.
So USC gave back the Duplicate award and took anything that represented Bush at USC out of their achieves…that is ok, but if you want to impress me give back the money you made off of Bush in 2005, that will tell me that it is not just one big fat dump on the guy and passing the buck by the university.
Like I said a few birds in the hand are more than one in the BUSH!
Steve HaywoodOn-air Host“The Game”
Good Karma Broadcasting
540ESPN and ESPN Deportes 1510
310 West Wisconsin Ave Suite 100
Milwaukee WI 53203
I can’t believe it has been 22 years since I had this brilliance dropped on me as a sophomore at the University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater. I was Djing at the school station so I would always get advanced copies of the hottest rap albums from record companies in the NYC.
I got this and it changed things when it came to listening to rap and made me a full believer in the hip-hop culture, as well as my life. It stands the test of time…go download it and listen for yourselves. These lyrics are what I still listen to today…on of the greatest rap songs ever produced EVER! It’s on my ipod I suggest you get it on yours.
My Philosophy Lyrics – Album By All Means Necessary Boogie Down Productions-KRS-1
Voice: so, you’re a philosopher?
Krs: yes, i think very deeply.
[repeated and scratched]
[verse one]
Let’s begin, what, where, why, or when
Will all be explained like instructions to a game
See i’m not insane, in fact, i’m kind of rational
When i be asking you, “who is more dramatical?”
This one or that one, the white one or the black one
Pick the punk, and i’ll jump up to attack one
Krs-one is just the guy to lead a crew
Right up to your face and dis you
Everyone saw me on the last album cover
Holding a pistol something far from a lover
Beside my brother, s-c-o-t-t
I just laughed, cause no one can defeat me
This is lecture number two, “my philosophy”
Number one, was “poetry” you know it’s me
This is my philosophy, many artists got to learn
I’m not flammable, i don’t burn
So please stop burnin, and learn to earn respect
’cause that’s just what kr collects
See, what do you expect when you rhyme like a soft punk
You walk down the street and get jumped
You got to have style, and learn to be original
And everybody’s gonna wanna diss you
Like me, we stood up for the south bronx
And every sucka mc had a response
You think we care? i know that they are on the tip
My posse from the bronx is thick
And we’re real live, we walk correctly
A lot of suckas would like to forget me
But they can’t, cause like a champ
I have got a record of knocking out the frauds in a second
On the mic, i believe that you should get loose
I haven’t come to tell you i have juice
I just produce, create, innovate on a higher level
I’ll be back, but for now just seckle!
[verse two]
I’ll play the nine and you play the target
You all know my name so i guess i’ll just start it
Or should i say, “start this,” i am an artist
Of new concepts at their hardest
Cause, yo, i’m a teacher and scott is a scholar
It ain’t about money cause we all make dollars
That’s why i walk with my head up
When i hear wack rhymes i get fed up
Rap is like a set-up, a lot of games
A lot of suckas with colorful names
I’m so-and-so, i’m this, i’m that
Huh, but they all just wick-wick-wack
I’m not white or red or black
I’m brown.. from the boogie down
Productions, of course our music be thumpin’
Others say their bad, but they’re buggin
Let me tell you somethin’ now about hip hop
About d-nice, melodie, and scott la rock
I’ll get a pen, a pencil, a marker
Mainly what i write is for the average new yorker
Some mc’s be talkin’ and talkin’
Tryin’ to show how black people are walkin
But i don’t walk this way to portray
Or reinforce stereotypes of today
Like all my brothas eat chicken and watermelon
Talk broken english and drug sellin’
See i’m tellin, and teaching real facts
The way some act in rap is kind of wack
And it lacks creativity and intelligence
But they don’t care cause the company is sellin’ it
It’s my philosophy, on the industry
Don’t bother dissin me, or even wish that we’d
Soften, dilute, or commercialize all our lyrics
Cause it’s about time one of y’all hear it
And hear it first-hand from the intelligent brown man
A vegetarian, no goat or ham
Or chicken or turkey or hamburger
’cause to me that’s suicide self-murder
Let us get back to what we call hip hop
And what it meant to dj scott la rock…
[verse three]
How many mc’s must get dissed
Before somebody says, “don’t f*** with kris!”
This is just one style, out of many
Like a piggy bank, this is one penny
My brother’s name is kenny – that’s, kenny parker
My other brother i.c.u. is much darker
Boogie down productions is made up of teachers
The lecture is conducted from the mic into the speaker
Who gets weaker? the king or the teacher
It’s not about a salary it’s all about reality
Teachers teach and do the world good
Kings just rule and most are never understood
If you were to rule or govern a certain industry
All inside this room right now would be in misery
No one would get along nor sing a song
’cause everyone’d be singing for the king, am i wrong?!
So yo, what’s up, it’s me again
Scott la rock, krs, bdp again
Many people had the nerve to think we would end the trend
We’re criminal minded, an album which is only ten
Funky, funky, funky, funky, funky hit records
No more than four minutes and some seconds
The competition checks and checks and keeps checkin’
They buy the album, take it home, and start sweatin’
Why? well it’s simple, to them it’s kind of vital
To take krs-one’s title
To them i’m like an idol, some type of entity
In everybody’s rhyme they wanna mention me?
Or rather mention us, me or scott la rock
But they can get bust get robbed, get dropped
I don’t play around nor do i f*** around
And you can tell by the bodies that are left around
When some clown jumps up to get beat down
Broken down to his very last compound
See how it sounds? a little unrational
A lot of mc’s like to use the word dramatical!
Fresh for ’88, you suckas…
One of my favorite weekends of the year is here because of what it represents…It’s Thanksgiving baby!
That’s Redneck and Hip-Hop Thanksgiving…aka the Daytona 500 and the NBA All-Star Game.
It is sad that we can’t joke about certain stereotypes that exist in our society because of political correctness, but I tell you what, I ask for your forgiveness instead of your permission in writing this blog about the similarities and “unique differences” between the culture of the crowds that watch and attend these events.
I start with the fact that there are a lot of fans that cross-over to events more than one would think. For example their are more people of color(that’s PC for black people), that watch the big race. Not black rednecks like Karl Malone and Charlie Pride, but real hood cats that can tell you about “Little E”, Tony Stewart and the Busch Brothers more than they should know. And a few straight suburban types(PC for white people) who can tell you all about the 88 dunk contest, Spud Webb, and who won the three point contest and where they won it at. There are other things these fan bases share, a love for firearms, drinking beverages that alter the mind state, the local casino getting a contribution from most of us and finding the gentlemen’s club, “Excuse me, can you tell me where the Sugar Shack is?”
Now this is where the fun starts, it is in the perceived stereotypes that some have about the culture of those that enjoy these events. 1st off the chances of a dice game breaking out at Daytona National Speedway during the race in the bathroom not good, at the NBA All Star Game…eh. You won’t hear a YEEEEEEEEEEEEE-HAWWWWWWWWWWW courtside at the game during All-Star Weekend, at Daytona…a right of passage. In terms of attire, flip flops are common place at Daytona, at the NBA All-Star Game now later gators are the footwear of choice. You will not see a patron at the track wearing a zebra hide suit with a matching bow tie, that can be seen at All Star Weekend. Headwear is prevalent at both venues, the difference is the type and style of wear. At the track you will see baseball hats with the favorite driver of choice front and center, at the All-Star Game you will see fedoras, berets even top hats, and if baseball hats are worn, lets just say they will be worn with a unique flair. At the track you can see grown men dressed up in fire suits, all the way down to the shoes, there may be a jersey or two worn at the AS game, but not shorts and league sanctioned socks in the stands.
The Chances of hearing a Clint Black song at the club during the All-Star Weekend; not good, while I feel rather confident that Gucci Mane is not blaring through the tailgate in the pre-game in Daytona. I don’t think that the good ole boys make it rain in the club, but I could be wrong about this one…maybe?
The talent at the events is impressive in both venues, but presented in different packages. Daisy dukes and halter tops are a common site at Daytona, while skin tight body dresses and 3 inch pumps are the norm at the All-Star game all weekend long. While there is enough beer to drown a small state in and around the track Daytona weekend, the crowd at the All-Star Game tends to drink high end hooch, can you say “Gin and Juice.” The Race is the event that matters even though there are so many events that surround the race all weekend long, while at the All-Star game is kind of the anti climatic close of the weekend of parties, league meetings, events and more ceremonies.
I mean it also is different for the participants from a cultural point of view. You won’t see Tony Stewart tell Jeff Gordon the Friday night before the race, “Holla at ya boy, get at me!” While at the All-Star Game brothers come to bond. You wont see Kyle Busch give Jeff Gordon some love before the race. At the AS game its all love all the time. The media even bring a different kind of style to the weekend, think about the TV coverage; Rusty Wallace-Charles Barkley, Dr. Jerry Punch-Craig Sager…see what I’m saying.
The schedule makers respect the cultures too. The race is in the early afternoon so if you party too hard Saturday night all you have to do is roll over, scratch, open the RV door and climb on the roof, you’re all good. At the AS Game it starts late and that’s for good reason, by the time you leave the club, get some breakfast, figure out the location of where you are staying at, get a nap and figure out what you’re pimpin for the game(slang for attire), it’s time for the the tip-off. My guess is the RV park doesn’t fill to the capacity in the All-Star weekend city, while don’t be shocked if Pookie, Dre, Tyronne and dem show up at your house unannounced if the game is in your town that year.
Unless there is a brother in the winners circle of the 500 as a driver or a White American born player that wins the slam dunk contest and the game MVP, just admit in your mind what you know to be true…this is truly Redneck-Hip-hop Thanksgiving. Sit back and enjoy all that comes with it, I know this pimp will now that he is “retired”.
In the seedy underground world of pimpin & prostitution it is known as “gettin knocked”…or in the family friendly definition, taking ones asset that provides a service from ones organization and adding it to their own for profit.
Well, well, well…as college basketball goes this was nothing unusual that a high profile recruit changed their mind and went a different direction.
I don’t live in North Carolina or Los Angeles or New York where college recruiting is the end all be all, I live in Wisconsin where we have some issues rise up from time to time with top flight players deciding if they are staying in state or out of state or if they are wanted by 1 or the the other big time in state programs. Then we have every once in a while instances like we have with hot D1 prospect Vander Blue of Madison Memorial HS.
Vander is rated by most recruiting services as one of the top thirty players in the country going into his senior year. At the tender age of 15 he made an oral commitment to the big local school which is Wisconsin, but there have been rumblings that all was not well with this deal for at least a year now. As this saga has carried on there has been a pipeline that has been established between Madison Memorial HS and the #1 rival of UW Hoops in the state in Marquette University. State players of the year in Wesley Matthews (now with the Utah Jazz) and Jeronne Maymon have come east and joined the Golden Eagles program in recent years, now Blue has followed them down Highway 94 after de-committing from Wisconsin 6 months ago, he Orally committed to Marquette this past weekend.
What will make this situation unique is the fact that with the recent success of both programs and the past rumored dislike between former coach Tom Crean and Bo Ryan that this will heat up the rivalry even more with Buzz Williams. Can you imagine Marquette going into the Kohl Center with star players from Madison Memorial beating Wisconsin on their home floor? Alumni always have been at each others throats as well as fans of the different programs, and trust me there are few fans that cheer for both teams, now it will heat up even more with the rumors, innuendo and speculation on how the recruiting trails lead up to these players choosing these schools.
I look at most college basketball & football programs as the brothels of higher learning, and the coaches of these programs as “pimps” who in a lot of ways turn these young men and women out to us, who are the “tricks”, or paying customers. The better the service provided the more money the brothel makes and the pimp gets more status and power. I am not trying to disrespect these institutions of higher learning by using this analogy, I’m just putting it in kind of crude street terms for this blog.
Bo got “knocked” by Buzz, UW got knocked by MU…as I quote Max Julian who starred as “Goldie” the pimp in the the 1973 blackplotation classic, “The Mack” explaining the rules of the game to a rival pimp; “Mr. Pretty Tony, your bitch choose me, now we can handle this like gentlemen, or we can get into some gangster $hit!”
What do you think is going to happen??? Like this pimp in his prime expect anything.
