Serena's Burden (An Opinion Piece)

I am so very disappointed at the situation that took place at the United States Open in the women's semi-final match between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters. I mean I am not even going to go into the call the lines woman made because that is not my concern. But Serena Williams is so I have to take a minute and examine the situation. I have been watching her grow and mature on and off the tennis court for about twelve years now and I must say she has been through it all. She has been booed off of stadiums and criticized throughout the majority of her tennis career. But she still has remained gracious and one of the best through it all.

But let me tell you something. The way she has been treated is utterly ridiculous. I mean I am outraged this is one of the iconic figures of tennis in this generation and she makes one mistake and the United States tennis Association is really going to treat her like this? I mean besides this incident, her mere presence helps the extremely lacking WTA tour. Serena and her sister Venus are two of the most recognizable faces in the world of tennis and without them women's tennis would suffer. Most people that come to see women's tennis come to see them anyway.

What makes me the most upset about this situation is the fact that the media is starting to get it's dirty little hands on it. And of course everyone has an opinion. I have watched several of these shows and many of the Caucasian reporters are having serious issues about how Serena conducted herself. One reporter said she thought it was disgraceful and talked about how her kids would be effected by seeing the event. What people fail to realize is the racial relations related to this incident.

Serena is clearly the dominate player in woman's tennis at this moment and they (the USTA) have clearly been upset about this. They have tried at various times in her reign to distrupt her. Mary Carillo a popular commentator talks about Williams and how she embarrassed the sport by her actions. But what about the sport and what it has done to Serena Williams. Everyone needs to remember the several instances which this has happened before to Serena. I have a theory that Venus is too reserved to display such emotions on the court but Serena is not because she is more emotional and is also a bigger threat to the popular Caucasian stars atop the tennis ladder.

2004 U.S. Open Quarterfinal against Capriati where she was constantly cheated



2003 French Open Semifinal Against Justine Henin where she was booed out of the match (the hand up incident) (Mind you she was right on ever thing, the calls and even the hand up rule)



What about that code violation for the crowds unsportsmanlike conduct????? Not to mention Justine's blatant cheating!!!!!!! I am a justine fan but right is right and rules are rules. Funny how they can be bent for anyone except Serena

Trust me, if this was Maria Sharapova a.k.a. the great white hope in women's tennis we would have heard whispers in the media instead of this onslaught of negativity we have seen over the past few days and trust me I know what I am talking about I have been watching this sport for over 15 years....

Here are some examples of other stars breaking racquets and having outburst and receiving no penalties.......

John Mcenro



Here is another more recent outburst!!!!!



Jennifer Capriati



Roger Federer



So let me get this straight when Federer does it, it's a good thing because he is having a bad day and this release of frustration may help him. Did anyone hear a fine or violation called???? When Serena does it she gets a code violation and a $500 fine from the U.S. Open for racquet abuse??

Fernando Gonzalez



So when Gonzalez does it, it's considered intelligent and a good thing because now he has the crowd on his side and notice he was coded only after smashing it (his racquet) four times.

Andy Roddick



Don't even get me started on Andy Roddick a.k.a the great white hope in American tennis. Look at how he is constantly in the same match belittling the umpire. Yelling at him, asking if he ever finished school and calling him an idiot. I mean really people, did anyone hear a code violation????

Most people would say but why at the U.S. Open she is American right??? No, she is African American and there are completely different standards for us as these videos prove.

Finding Kanye

Well well well, I was talking to a professor of mine today who is a great journalist/writer and we were discussing the incident that involved Kanye West humiliating the young Taylor Swift at the VMA's. She had a most interesting theory that West hurting caused the outburst. I was thinking that since West's mother passed, he has been lost without her. Either way someone needs to talk with this young misguided star before his shine fades. His fame has completely shot to a new level of outrageous antics and stupidity since his mother, who was also his rock, passed.

It is as if he is almost a different person these days. Since she passed, West has put out an album of singing which while entertaining is not his forte. And he is obviously disturbed about where he is in life. Now what am I saying? Am I giving West an excuse from his behavior? Oh no not at all. I am saying that this most unpleasant outburst came from somewhere deeper than the bottle of liquor he drank on the red carpet before going into the event.

All in all, Taylor Swift is a gifted song writer that will be around for years to come if her fame so far is any indication. Her album "Fearless" has gone number one in fourteen different countries. The song "You Belong with Me" which she won best female video over Beyonce and Lady Gaga, shows her tremendous crossover ability by landing as high as number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Amid all of the success her first VMA win will always be tarnished by West's inappropriate actions.

Alright I'm Back

I am soooo sorry you guys, I mean I have been swamped with work and life in general....But I am back and refreshed and ready to work work work......I am always taking suggestions for topics that you guys want to read about but I already have a few things in mind for the coming days so sit back relax and enjoy the read. 

A Serious Question ????!!!!

I am sitting here watching this Real Housewives of Atlanta Marathon they are having because of the season premiere that will happen tonight at ten. If you didn't know now you know. I am a little frustrated watching this because a situation that happened on the series currently happened to me and I just realized it. So of course I had to share it with you. My question is, if you are my friend I mean my true friend, why would I ever lie to you? I mean my personal belief is if I am a true friend of yours I wouldn't lie to you. I would not tell you that you looked good in something if you did not because I would be setting you up to look a hot ass mess in public. One of my latest tweets the other day was: Real friends tell you the truth, fake friends stroke your ego. Also, it is not about keeping someone down because I would not do that to a friend but if your wrong then I am going to tell you your wrong and that will be that.

On the show, Kim and Sharae started to get close and they decided that they had haters. Now this is kind of off topic but something that needs to be addressed IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!Now a hater is someone that tries to put you down for no reason. Someone who cannot do what you can do so they try to pull you down in the dumps with them. What most over-sensitive people fail to realize is, sometimes people are just trying to help you. Because it is worse when you get out in the public eye and everyone is laughing at you because you thought you were talented and their laughs confirm that your not.

A friend is someone who is just keeping it real and has your best interest at heart. Now Kim wanted to be a singer and Nene being the good friend she was told her that she couldn't sing which is true. I mean I know we are all entitled to our opinions but truth is truth. Anyone can listen to that women and know that she is not a singer. I mean it just is not in her deck of cards the almighty gave her. So to call someone a hater because someone told you the truth breeds an insecurity one has with themselves. This is just my opinion but it is unbelieveable that people are so quick to call someone a hater just because they were honest.

So she gets mad at Nene for telling her the truth and goes to Sharae that will only soothe her ego by telling her to believe in her dreams and all of this bull...Now I am all for having dreams but you have to have the tools to at least work toward attaining the dream or goal you have in mind. I mean you cannot be a dancer without having danced or trained to be one. It's just common sense to me but I am fully aware that everyone does not think the same way I do. In the end Nene was labeled as a "hater" and Kim basically abandoned a friend because that friend told her the truth. I mean it makes no sense to me at all.

This happened to me which is the main reason I am writing this post. But now that I look at it, my friend and I had more holes in our relationship that reached deeper then just me telling him the truth. We really had little in common except the fact that we are both writers and black men trying to make it. I don't think we will ever be as close as we once were because I am not here to pad a person's ego or listen to someone who is so self involved that it makes my ears bleed. But I hope that for professional purposes we are able to be cordial to one another and still become fab journalists.

Stop the Presses

Ok so I have a serious question you guys that has been filling my mind for the last few days. If someone wants to be with you aren't they suppose to take you as you are? I mean fully love and cherish the person you are no matter what. This person in my mind, is supposed to understand all of your little quirks and at least tolerate them. I mean I do not expect in the least for this person to act fake and try to put up with me if they really don't want to, but if you love me you have to deal with certain things.

So I ask this question because honey I am in a little bit of a pickle *In Karen Walker voice* I am dating this guy which is hard for me in the first place because I am frankly already tired of keeping track of the people I am dating, and I feel he likes me. So you may wonder what is the problem?? It seems he likes me but that he wants to change me. The reason I suspect this is because he is always talking about which "workout" he is going to put me on. There are also other things that he does and says that lead me to believe he is kind of superficial and heavily influenced by appearance. Anyone who knows me has to know this is the fastest way to turn me off. Now it is possible that he thinks he is helping me because I want too work on my stomach, but I don't need a daily reminder of it.

Now, the other part of the story is better but I am afraid just as complicated. So I was in Baltimore over the past week and I saw an old friend and was really caught off guard. He is someone I have dated before and I really loved him at one point. The reason we had to part was because he did not have his shit together. I mean the first night we met he asked me for money. I was nice and gave it to him but in my head I was like really, I just met you. Another reason and probably the biggest why I had to let him go was he was soooo negative. I am a very upbeat person so he was bringing me down. Everytime I would call something was wrong. Anywho, I like him still and he has changed or it at least appears that way.

So we talked *after doing a few other things, insert smile* and he just laid it on thick. He started to share with me how he was so in love with me and the fact that he couldn't lose me again. He also gave me a ring which carried sentimental value to him and told me that he was saving it for someone special and that he wanted me to wear it. I gagged ok!!!!! I am really stuck between the two of them, HELP ME!!!!!

I tell this little story to try and figure out who to choose? Both have pros and cons but the bottom line is one accepts me for who I already am while the other is trying to create something that is not there yet. Don't ever let someone change you unless you are ready or want to be changed because in the end you have the final say.

Protected

Have you ever heard the true sounds of the forest? Ever really listened to birds flying in a unison that is unmatched by any other group on earth. The smell of the trees and the pitch of the animals running, the scream of the rabbit dying and the fulfillment of the snake eating it. I sit here and watch all of these things unfold from my spot in this union of life. I am in the center of the forest and perhaps one of the tallest beings. I am the king of the forest because my limbs touch everything and tend to form green armor in autumn until the seasons change and my limbs are bare, helpless and unprotected. I have been here the longest as well. Who knew that those little seeds could create something so incredibly massive? I feel the wind whisper in my ears and the birds lay in my skin and create a home of their own. I protect the little ones from the crying of God, and the wrath of the Devil. It is not an easy job but one that I have decided to take on because I feel that I am responsible for these creatures. I am the father of the forests and my children need to be protected at all times. They are small, delicate, scared and dying left and right because of the stronger beings that require us to survive. You see, I am everywhere-in parks, zoos, and lurking in playgrounds. There is only one thing that can stop me is the world. The sound terrifies me because death is knocking on my door. It is cold, uninviting and mocking. This is the one thing that can beat me. I can’t go, who is going to protect my children in our home? Have I failed them because I am not strong enough? No. I am strong but I have to burn now, am I really dying if I am just going to be cut up and used for a different source of pleasure now. I guess I will be watching the other beings grow and have pleasant dinners and watch them watching the box where sounds fall out and they tend to laugh or cry. Either way there is no one to protect me from this, the blade slides through me and I scream like the rabbit and I understand that every life is important. Once I am fertilized and grow again that rabbit will live, because I now realize I could have done more to save his life. I am sure he left behind someone that needed to be protected.

Defected!!!!!

I AM DEFECTED!!!!!!!!!!!!
Something has to be wrong with me
I am not taking you seriously
I don’t wake up with the urge to call you at all
Don’t want to break your heart trying not to let it fall
The urge to be with you in your presence
You fill so much for me
But I Feel empty
This nothingness disturbs me to the core
I want to feel like you do
But I am torn inside
Numb
Still Dealing with the side effects of other failures
I am presently not operational
Like a toy overused
Why can’t I feel this love that is so evident in my life?
I am missing out on this joyous experience
I am defected
Broken, Erased, Reset
Trying to restart and become functional once again
So I can play my part
In this love story I am living