KOBE!

It's time to give this guy some credit. Kobe is by far the best player in the game. D-wade, Steve, and Lebron are not at his level. The thing that has hurt Kobe has been his PR moves. First his public battle with The Big Everything. You do not go toe to toe with Shaq who is beloved by everyone in league and the majority of the people outside of it. Then there was the so called rape in Colorado, bad move but the thing that hurt him the most was that he told the world that Shaq paid numerous amounts of women hush money. Ever since he has been trying to repair his image while the league has hyped Lebron along with Nike. Kobe has the most points ever scored on film, Wilt only has a picture with 100 points written on a napkin. Kobe is the only perimeter player who can go and shut down your best player with his defense when needed and score 80 on you at the same time. Who else in the league can do that? Nash is a very good player but he should by no means have won the MVP award twice maybe once and that is it. I think a lot of the Steve Nash thing and hype comes from the corporate side of the NBA because this is where the league gets the money from and the majority of corporate America is of the Steve Nash complexion. I think it is a smart business move. The NBA is always talking about how they have to clean up their image. The guys playing B-BALL and are good at it are not the ones at the Y but at the park in the inner cities getting all the hype and praise from the HOOD. The thing with this is that the fellas giving all the hype and praise are usually not giving this same kid good advice about life. It usually goes something like get money and with those 2 little words being driven into your mind everyday over the years that is all you think about. That is all you really see! That is why Kobe was different until Colorado. He could fit in with corporate America but he wanted to fit in with the underground. He wanted the kind of respect that AI gets, but he had not been battled tested in that way. Now Kobe is just trying to get in where he fits in but no one is letting him in just yet. He is only 28 years of age and has been in the league about 10-11 years , so by the time it is all said and done he will be the G.O.A.T!

KOBE KOBE BRYANT

HERE THEY GO AGAIN! BRADY VS. MANNING

Can he finally do it? Will this be the same old song? They are not suppose to be here with that swss cheese defense and that QB who cannot seem to win the big game. Now he has a chance on his turf. This is going to be good!


Tom Brady and the New England Patriots did it again. And now they get to see if they can do it to Peyton Manning again.

New England knocked off the top-seeded San Diego Chargers, handing them their first home defeat of the season. Tom Brady wasn't his sharpest, but saved his best for last, as he often does. And Stephen Gostkowski, who earlier kicked the longest field goal in Patriots postseason history, booted the game-winner. This week, he'll get to face the kicker he replaced, Adam Vinatieri.

The Colts have reinvented themselves this postseason, using defense and ball control to limit their first two opponents to 14 points total. Despite the impressive victories, Peyton Manning hasn't looked like himself in those two contests and now he faces his playoff nemesis.

So what will happen when the Patriots hit the road to take on the Colts? Will Manning exorcise his playoff demons and reach the Super Bowl for the first time? Vote on all the key questions!


1) Which team will win the AFC title game?

Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots

2) Which team would you pick if the game was in New England?

Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots

3) Which team would you rather watch in the Super Bowl?

Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots

4) If you're Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees, which player would you worry the most about containing?

Joseph Addai
Dallas Clark
Marvin Harrison
Peyton Manning
Dominic Rhodes
Reggie Wayne

5) If you're Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks, which player would you worry the most about containing?

Tom Brady
Reche Caldwell
Corey Dillon
Jabar Gaffney
Laurence Maroney

6) Which quarterback would you rather have?

Tom Brady
Peyton Manning

7) Which pair of running backs would you rather have?

Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes
Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney

8) Which team's defense is better against the run?

Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots

9) Which team's defense is better against the pass?

Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots

10) Which Peyton Manning will we see on Sunday?

The one who has one TD and five INT and averaged 237.5 yards in two career playoff meetings vs. New England

The one who has five TD and two INT and averaged 323.5 yards in the last two meetings since (both in reg. season)

Somewhere in between -- neither spectacular or terrible

11) Which coach would you rather have preparing a team for a conference title game?

Bill Belichick
Tony Dungy

DO YOU BELIEVE?

I know that it is just football, but what if the Saints win the Superbowl! What do you think it would mean to a city that was devastated by Katrina? I think it would make a city that really has nothing but love for one another and their SAINTS become even closer. The football team does not only play for them but also their fans. It's almost like their therapy.

Philadelphia Eagles
24

Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
PHI (1-1) 0 14 7 3 24 FINAL
NOR (1-0) 3 10 14 0 27
January 13, 2007 - Superdome

New Orleans Saints
27
Recap Play-By-Play Drive Chart Box Score Photos
Big-play Saints ride magic carpet into NFC title game
Photo Wire

Philadelphia Eagles Donte Stallworth reacts as his team loses to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC divisional...
(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
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Team Stat Comparison

1st Downs 14 27
Total Yards 355 435
Passing 232 227
Rushing 123 208
Penalties 6-39 3-35
3rd Down Conversions 5-13 6-13
4th Down Conversions 0-0 1-1
Turnovers 0 1
Possession 24:36 35:24
Air/Ground Leaders
Philadelphia Passing
C/ATT YDS TD INT
Garcia 15/30 240 1 0

New Orleans Passing
C/ATT YDS TD INT
Brees 20/32 243 1 0
Philadelphia Rushing
CAR YDS TD LG
Westbrook 13 116 2 62
Garcia 4 9 0 6

New Orleans Rushing
CAR YDS TD LG
McAllister 21 143 1 28
Bush 12 52 1 25
Philadelphia Receiving
REC YDS TD LG
Stallworth 3 100 1 75
Brown 3 76 0 32

New Orleans Receiving
REC YDS TD LG
Miller 4 64 0 29
Colston 5 55 0 19
Philadelphia Fumbles
FUM LOST REC
Garcia 1 0 0
Howard 0 0 1

New Orleans Fumbles
FUM LOST REC
Brees 1 1 0
Bush 1 0 0
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER PHI NOR
FG 5:36 John Carney 33 Yd
Drive: 5 plays, 35 yds, 2:05 0 3
SECOND QUARTER PHI NOR
FG 0:14 John Carney 23 Yd
Drive: 6 plays, 59 yds, 1:33 0 6
TD 1:22 Donte' Stallworth 75 Yd Pass From Jeff Garcia (David Akers Kick)
Drive: 3 plays, 76 yds, 1:08 7 6
TD 9:41 Reggie Bush 4 Yd Run (John Carney Kick)
Drive: 14 plays, 78 yds, 8:19 7 13
TD 14:10 Brian Westbrook 1 Yd Run (David Akers Kick)
Drive: 11 plays, 80 yds, 4:29 14 13
THIRD QUARTER PHI NOR
TD 1:35 Brian Westbrook 62 Yd Run (David Akers Kick)
Drive: 3 plays, 80 yds, 1:35 21 13
TD 5:24 Deuce Mcallister 5 Yd Run (John Carney Kick)
Drive: 7 plays, 63 yds, 3:49 21 20
TD 13:55 Deuce Mcallister 11 Yd Pass From Drew Brees (John Carney Kick)
Drive: 9 plays, 84 yds, 6:21 21 27
FOURTH QUARTER PHI NOR
FG 3:54 David Akers 24 Yd
Drive: 9 plays, 64 yds, 4:57 24 27

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Who needs Mardi Gras when you're one game from the Super Bowl?

Deuce McAllister and rookie sensation Reggie Bush gave this battered city a reason to throw itself a party, carrying the New Orleans Saints where they've never been before -- one game from the Super Bowl.

Elias Says
Deuce McAllister
McAllister
Deuce McAllister was the man in the Saints victory, gaining 143 rushing yards, scoring two third-quarter touchdowns and then running for the game-clinching first down.

Only two other players in NFL history had a postseason game in which they had a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, and at least 140 rushing yards. Keith Lincoln did that for the Chargers in the 1963 AFL Championship Game (206 rushing yards) and Tony Dorsett did it in a 1980 first-round game (160 rushing yards).

• Read more Elias Says.

To constant chants of "DEUCE!" or "REG-GIE! REG-GIE!" the Saints used an assortment of spectacular plays to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-24.

"This year, some things have happened for us and it's like, wow, this may be destiny," McAllister said.

"It means everything," Bush said. "All that stuff we went through as a team, these are the type of games we live for. And this game is even bigger for the city."

The Saints are the first team in NFL history to make a conference championship after losing 13 or more games the previous season.

With victory secured for the Saints (11-6) on McAllister's powerful rushes for a clinching first down to run out the clock, team owner Tom Benson did his "Benson Boogie" on the field. The players hugged and saluted their long-suffering fans while a jazz band belted out tunes.

"I think it means a tremendous amount," quarterback Drew Brees said. "You could see it and feel it after the game, people still standing and yelling and screaming."

Outside the Lines
"Outside the Lines" (Sunday on ESPN, 9:30 a.m. ET), takes a look at Peyton Manning's legacy. Full details

It was the veteran McAllister with his two touchdowns and team playoff mark of 143 yards rushing, and the rookie Bush with his collection of magnificent moves, that made the difference in the raucous Superdome.

"It's my first opportunity to be in the playoffs, I didn't want to be one and out," McAllister said. "I didn't want to say, 'If I had done this or prepared differently, we would have been successful.'

"It's just the determination of this team and this city -- to give them everything we have."

Even after Brees' high pitchout got away from Bush with 3:18 remaining and Philadelphia recovering, the Saints would not be denied. Their defense held Brian Westbrook, who was brilliant for the Eagles (11-7), near midfield.

McAllister became the first Saints player to rush for more than 100 yards in the playoffs.

"Deuce was fantastic tonight and they weren't going to stop him," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "He ran his heart out."

McAllister scored on a 5-yard run and an 11-yard pass in the third quarter.

The Eagles, who won six in a row after losing quarterback Donovan McNabb, got a superb performance from Westbrook, who rushed for 116 yards and scored twice, including a 62-yard run that was a franchise playoff record.

Quarterback Jeff Garcia's run of success ended, but he combined with former Saints receiver Donte' Stallworth on an Eagles-record 75-yard touchdown in the first half.

McAllister, who missed 11 games last season with a knee injury, has been overshadowed by the spectacular Bush and surprising seventh-round draft pick Marques Colston. But he came through when he was needed most against the NFC's hottest team.

So did Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner whose arrival after Houston passed on him in the draft lifted the spirits of the Gulf Region. He scored on an eye-popping 4-yard run in the first half and had an equally scintillating 25-yarder to set up one of John Carney's two field goals.

So let the parties begin -- at least until the conference title game.

"There's still a lot of work to be done," said Payton, the NFL Coach of the Year. "We just hope we can put a little kick in their step Monday and Tuesday, and give them something to look forward to next weekend."

McAllister's 28-yard run set up Carney's 33-yard field goal for an early lead. And Carney's 23-yarder in the second quarter that made it 6-0 also was the result of a long run -- by Bush.

The rookie started to his right, but with a bunch of Eagles in his way, he reversed field. After faking going down the middle, he sped to the left sideline and picked up 25 yards.

Brees then threw his best pass of the half for a 35-yard gain to Devery Henderson behind Rod Hood, who was in for injured Lito Sheppard, Philadelphia's best cover cornerback.

Garcia trumped that with his perfect pass to Stallworth beyond Fred Thomas, the longest pass play and longest touchdown in Philly's playoff history.

The Saints accepted the challenge and marched 78 yards in 14 plays. Bush pulled off another stunner when, from the Eagles 4, he was stopped up the middle, broke right and outraced the defense to the corner of the end zone for a 13-7 lead.

But Philly's resourcefulness on third downs highlighted an 80-yard drive to the go-ahead TD on a 1-yard leap over the pile by Westbrook. Garcia found Reggie Brown for 32 yards and Hank Baskett for 25 on third-down plays, with both receivers wide open.

The half ended in confusion. First, punter Steve Weatherford gained 15 yards and a first down when he saw his kick was about to be blocked and he took off to the right. Then Brees' desperation pass into a group in the end zone momentarily was caught by Colston. William James then ripped it loose, and the Saints stayed on the field hoping for a video review by the replay booth. The Eagles, meanwhile, headed to the locker room, soon followed by the officials.

Game notes
Eagles All-Pro tackle Shawn Andrews injured his neck in the first half and was taken to a hospital with swelling. ... Eagles LB Shawn Barber injured his ankle. ... The Saints also beat the Eagles 27-24 here during the season. ... Stallworth finished with 100 yards on three catches for Philly, while Colston had five for 55 and seldom-used tight end Billy Miller caught four passes for 64 yards for the Saints.

THE LAKERS!

What is up with the Lake Show? They beat Dallas and then lose to Memphis( I thought this team was band for bad play) and The Rockets, w/o Yao,Young Asian Offspring,. I guess the bright side is that Kobe's Jersey is The #1 selling jersey so far this year. Lebron James = OVERRATED

THE YEAR THAT WAS! PART 2

Making emotional decisions. Yep, that sums up this move in a nut shell. We made this decision based on what we were told by someone we trusted very much. I knew at the time we should have waited, but with my wife not liking what was going on and him telling us things at the time were not right with the church we are attending and with him being a pastor also, the wrong decision seemed like the best one at the time. So I resigned and moved to S.C. and this place is very different from the G and L.O. It has been a very stressful time as well as an interesting one. I learned that what he was telling me was going on just about everywhere, even with him. I use to wonder why people did not find church cool. I don't wonder anymore, now I can see it.

TRAGIC!!!!!!!!!

By Jemele Hill
Page 2

"Wrong place at the wrong time."

Who knew the wrong place to be on New Year's Eve was at a party welcoming in the new year? Who knew the wrong time to be murdered was now – when people are so callous about death that it's almost as if we're asking the victim, "Just what did you do to get yourself murdered?"

There are many words to describe the senseless killing of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams. Unfortunate. Heartbreaking. Sad. But here's the one word we can't use in describing such a death: Unexpected.
Williams memorial
AP Photo/Jack Dempsey
Why are we no longer shocked to hear that a black athlete has been murdered?

Over the past 12 months, three NFL players have been shot, and in the past couple weeks, police discovered one NFL player, Bears defensive lineman Tank Johnson, had enough weapons in his home to mount a terrorist attack. University of Miami lineman Bryan Pata was shot to death at his apartment complex in November. In Denver alone, three notable athletes have been shot since 2003 – Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, Denver Nuggets guard Julius Hodge and now, tragically, Williams.

One unavoidable commonality about these episodes of gunplay: all of the athletes are black.

It leads to an inevitable question from all of us, but particularly mainstream America: Why do black athletes often seem to find themselves either holding a gun or staring down the barrel of one?

Real talk for a moment.

Contrary to stodgy opinions, young men have a right to go out. They want to hang with their peers. They want to talk to women. They want to show off a little of their success. Nothing wrong with any of that – as long as they're careful.

Who they're with, what time they're out and what they have is only a small part of the issue. The larger problem here is the one no one is ready to openly discuss.

While America is generally a violent place, no culture in this country glorifies violence more than the African-American community. And consequently, no other racial group is as disproportionately affected by it.

This isn't to say black people invented violence or have a penchant for it. But far too many of us glorify shooting people for revenge, perceived slights or to prove toughness. Two things you almost always see when "MTV Cribs" features a black superstar: a poster of Tony Montana and a poster of the Godfather. Montana and Michael Corleone, though fictional, are considered heroes by young black men everywhere. Montana and Corleone had one thing in common: both killed people to gain respect.

BET, the same network that saw fit to cut its nightly news program, has a new show called "American Gangster," which "chronicles the life and times of some of Black America's most notorious crime figures." It's explained that the program has a strong moral component and doesn't seek to glorify violence, but on BET's Web site the show is promoted by showing Ving Rhames, the king of cool, in slick gangster apparel – as if he were promoting a music video, not a show about violent criminals.

And sure enough, right beneath Rhames' promo ad, a BET dot.commer says, "Young, black males will look at this [show] as an inspiration."

Now, criminal biographies appear on The History Channel all the time, but the difference is that violence is often marketed to blacks in a way that makes it appear more sexy and daring.

Black men constantly receive the message that they can't make it in life through using legitimate means, and the only way they gain society's respect is through the street game.

This is the mentality black athletes greet when they go to the club. A recent Public Library of Science Medicine study shows black men living in urban America have the shortest life expectancy of any other racial group in the country. The life expectancy of a black man in Cleveland is closer to that of West Africans than the average white American. So wearing a jersey every Sunday doesn't protect you from anything.

Of course, movies and songs don't make people kill people, but they can influence the way people think and live.

But ultimately, if we want to see fewer black athletes as victims of violence, African-Americans must stop worshiping at the altar of their own demise.

Jemele Hill, a Page 2 columnist and writer for ESPN the Magazine, can be reached at jemeleespn@gmail.com.

THE YEAR THAT WAS!

Where do I begin? I have not posted on this blog in over a year. A lot of things can happen in that period of time. For starters, the reason we moved here turned out to be a total disaster. Well not a total disaster. Actually it was not that bad but it was quite bumpy. I moved my family to a place that was unknown to us and the others that followed. It was for the correct cause we kept telling ourselves but it turned out to be the right cause for one not all. Why? Was it always a selfish motive? Did the one have the best interest at heart for all or just himself? I can ask myself these question but when it all comes down to it the one constant for me is The Word Of God will not steer you wrong if you follow it. Philippians 4:6-7

DIARY OF A NEW BEGINNING

It has been a long hard road. A new job and a new baby on the way. Moving is not easy. It seems like things can go oh so right and wrong at the same time. My wife is pregnant and some old couple wants to hang out with her in our bedroom. Isn't that crazy. She goes to sleep and about 1 hour later she wakes me up with her screams. First it was the old gray haired lady now her husband shows up. We should close on our home by the end of the month, thank GOD! So many things going on at once. A new land awaits with a new chapter in our life its exciting and frighting at the same time. My wife asked me if we are making the right decision and I said yes and she asked me again and again. This is a big move for us with new memories to be made. WOW!

FORGIVE ME FOR NOT POSTING.........................

It has been a long time since my last post. I have been praying and preparing for a new chapter in my life. My family has seen a lot of changes in the last few weeks. Change is good. I have been looking for a job and looking some more. I have been with sears for 6 years and I would like to continue that if I am able to stay in management. I have seen other places in my area of business and I must say that I have been sheltered in the automotive business. I thank everyone for their prayers It truly is helping.I need to take a step back from career hunting and get our home ready to sale. This is a new chapter in our life. OUR LATTER SHALL BE GREATER!

WHAT!

He is leaving. What? He is leaving. One of the most influential men in my life is leaving. You have to understand what I am saying. The man who led me into salvation. The man who gave my wife away in our wedding. The man who taught me how to be a man, father, husband, and a son is leaving. This is a HUGE BLOW to me and my family. What do we do? Do we follow? Do we stay? I do not know. I do know that God will lead me in the right direction. This is life-changing for my family. If I was single I would be gone. I am not single, so I have to make the best decision for my family. God's will mUst be done. The impact this man had on my life is so powerful. He has always been there for us. He is the vessel that was used to get me to this point in my life.

When I was told that he was leaving, time seemed to have stopped. I was hurt and I CRIED LIKE A BABY. This is the only man I had known that when I first met him, he was faithful to God and lived his life accordingly. He is not the Apostle, but one of the team pastors. He is the one I developed a deep and intimate relationship with. He is the one I could call at 3 a.m., literally. He is the one who reached out to me. He is leaving! This is a CRUSHING BLOW! In the midst of it all GOD IS IN CONTROL.

NO MATTER HOW BAD IT HURTS YOU HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

FATHER, FAMILY MAN AND HUSBAND

Being a husband can be tough(for me). The tough part is dealing with a different, very different, extremely different person. My wife and I disagree on about 90% of the things we talk about. The more I think about it, the only thing we agree on is GOD. Don't get me wrong, being a husband has its perks(hint hint). However; it can be difficult. It seems as if we have a lot of discussions and that frustrates me. I wish that we could just agree on everything, but we don't. I know that total agreement is not normal, but it seems that it would be awesome.

I know that these discussions build character and help with the plan God has for my life. No matter how bad things may seem they are always better than they used to be. So my pray is not to change my wife, but to be the husband God intends for me to be. To love my wife as christ loved the church. To give myself up for her. To tuck her in bed at night. I do not like to tuck my wife in bed because it takes away from my time. I know it sounds selfish, but it's the real deal.

I know that my day of being the perfect husband is coming and it is all up to me because God has provided me with everything I need to do it.


OAK, LOVE FAITH JUST AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER TO MAKE HER HOLY, CLEANSING HER BY THE WASHING WITH WATER THROUGH THE WORD, AND TO PRESENT HER TO HIMSELF AS A RADIANT CHURCH, WITHOUT STAIN OR WRINKLE OR ANY OTHER BLEMISH, BUT HOLY AND BLAMELESS. EPH. 5: 25-27

I HURT CUDDLES FEELINGS !

My wife is hurt. She is sad because Angelina got all 4 letters in P.H.A.T and she got 1.

CUDDLEY POO YOU ARE P.H.A.T TO ME!

P.H.A.T

My wife is Pretty. Florida is Hot And there are Temptaions around me daily. My wife asked me, how do I deal with the women I see at my job (I work in a mall)? I stay focused on my family and most of all God. Holy spirit is so cool. He lets you Know when you are playing patty cake with satan and how that can lead to trouble. It is not easy but I choose to win daily.
My toughest challenge comes when my wife is annoying and rude, at least that is what I think. This is when I can look at another women and my imagination can run wild, if I let it. I have to rope it back in and just say no. There are so many beautiful women, but I have only one wife.

My wife thinks Brad Pitt-iful is good looking. This guy is so tiny. I think Angelina is P.H.A.T, so I guess we can call it even.

PEACE!

TO AGREE OR NOT AGREE..................

My wife and I had a discussion about THE PAST and we disagree on somethings. I can not talk about everything, but this is it in a nutshell. Faith believes that I am responsible for some of the things that happened. I agree. I say everyone is responsible for their own actions. She disagrees. What do you think? Are we responsible for the actions of others? Can we make people do things against their will? If so, then why isn't everyone doing it God's way?

CAN YOU BELIEVE.........................

My wife's name is not Suzy, but it's Suzanne or something like that. I can not even spell my wife's name. She calls wing zone to order some food and they ask her what's her name. SHE SAYS SUZANNE or something like that. We have been married almost 3 years and I have always called her Suzy. Count the years before that and that's about 8 years. I have always called her Suzy and now what do I do? I know I will call her CUDDLES!

AMAZING!

I can lift clean hands to GOD! I am not bound in sin. The more I think about this the more amazed I am. I CAN LIFT CLEAN HANDS TO GOD! Think about it. There is no guilt in my life. No shame. That is amazing! I owe it all to God.



CAN YOU LIFT CLEAN HANDS?

BUSY ABOUT THE FATHERS BUSINESS

I have been busy. So I really do apologize about not posting. PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

God is awesome! I was able to get the kids involved in a free basketball league. So I had to coach them. We did not win the championship, but these kids had a fun time.

Listen, concentrate, work hard, get better, and never quit. This is what you would hear me tell these kids over and over. I would tell these kids the 5 keys to success and they would laugh. Why are you having us repeat this coach? They would ask. However, I knew at some point they would get it.

There is so much to write about. The things that took place over the past few weeks were sooooooooooooooo cool! I love spending time with kids!

FATHER, FAMILY MAN AND HUSBAND

FATHER: Being a dad is so cool and I think I do a pretty good job at it. I love my kids more than you can know. I love teaching my kids about God and how to live for him. However, being a father doesn't always (for me anyway) mean just at home. I, you , can be a father to those kids without a father.

Why should programs be headed by the goverment? Why not the family of God? This reminds of a story....my own.

A long time ago, I lived in a dirt-poor, seedy section of a small little country town. I lived with my maternal grandmother, who was single and struggled to make ends meet. I remember how angry she used to be, constantly yelling at me and always saying mean things to me.

Yeah, I had a dad. He lived just around the corner from me and my grandmother. And even though we were so close, he had nothing to do with me. I finally met him when I was about 6 or 7. And for some reason, I loved him very much even though there was no established relationship there.

As I started growing up, my feelings of love for my dad began to dissappear. And I think that I pushed that pain so deep inside of me that I began to hurt other people just so I wouldn't feel. I began to run around with girls, cheat on them, fight with them (or whoever). I admit it. I was abusive.

All I ever wanted to do was spend time with my dad and do things like, go to football games, fishing, and play sports .
COULD THE LOVE OF A FATHER HAVED CHANGED ALL THIS?

I wonder what would have happened if my dad was around? I could have become president or better yet I could have learned the love of a father. This was my true need, the love of my dad.

Now, I see my past everyday in my neighborhood. My heart is to stop these kids from growing up thinking they are insignificant and teaching them the truth. This takes alot of LOVE.


1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8a
LOVE SUFFERS LONG AND IS KIND; LOVE DOES NOT ENVY; LOVE DOES NOT PARADE ITSELF, IS NOT PUFFED UP; DOES NOT BEHAVE RUDELY, DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN, IS NOT PROVOKED, THINKS NO EVIL; DOES NOT REJOICE IN INIQUITY, BUT REJOICES IN THE TRUTH; BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS. LOVE NEVER FAILS.

THINKING

HELLO BLOG WORLD,

I've been thinking about things to do. I love spending time with the kids in my neighborhood. I also love being with my kids. I really do like coaching. I love to see smiles on the kids faces when we are able to do things.

I was also thinking about how easy it is to get in trouble. Trouble is free and attractive to kids. In this neighborhood it is T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. Yes, it used to be very attractive to me also. Women, fast money, violence and more women. Why does it seem so cool? No rules, do what you want when you want. Why is it cool to be hard. To be totally disconnected from your emotions. Not to show any signs of weakness. Fear drives you to be as bad as possible. No trust for anyone,therefore no respect for anyone.

In my younger days, after I found out the woman I had been calling mama since birth was my grandmother. My uncle taught me about women and my cousin, a distant relative, molested me. I had no guidance. I was truly little boy lost. The people I had some since of respect for, the people I looked up to, were teaching me how to sin. Now of course my grandmother did not know everything that was going on or did she. All of this by the age of 7 was being poured into my brain.
No one was there to teach me right from wrong except for God through Superbook which was a christian cartoon. I had all these bible stories in my head from Adam and Eve to Jesus, but what did it all mean to me at that time. It was hard for me to figure out on my own without someone to explain the true meaning. Now don't get me wrong my grandmother taught me the basics don't steal or lie. However, that was my life stealing and lying. I took those very basics and used them for evil as I grew older. This is a true saying, you are what you eat and I was being fed some pretty wild stuff, violence, constant violence, sex, drugs, and Eddie Murphy.

I can understand what the kids in my neighborhood go through. The challenge is getting them to understand that it is deadly. T.H.U.G L.I.F.E has a true meaning also and a cycle that I see being played out everyday. You know what thug life means, it is an acronym for: THE HATE U GIVE LITTLE INFANTS F#%#% EVERYONE. Now how many of them know what they are really attracted to and that it is deceiving them?

OUR PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.

How will they know if we don't teach them?

DISCIPLINE

I need more disciplined in my life. What about you?

Ten things I need to be more disciplined about:

1. Exercising. ( I am in pretty good shape but it could be better)
2. Money. ( a better plan)
3. Reading my Bible. ( setting a consistent time)
4. Balancing my time.
5. My thoughts.
6. Getting to work on time.
7. Not playing video games. ( NCAA FOOTBALL)
8. Spending more quality time with my wife.
9. Having more productive time for myself.
10. Loving my dog ( I really do not like our dog). Can I be more disciplined about my dog? ( the dog is no more)

My wife will probably read this and make all the corrections. She is a special lady.

I LOVE YOU SWEET BERRY! THANKS FOR READING MY BLOG. YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL TO ME.

I REALLY DO LOVE MY FAMILY.



P.S. Please do not suggest that I read books. I really do not like reading that much.

I am more of an audio visual type person.

PART DEUX

Today was a very frustrating day at work and sometimes I wonder if it is worth it. I guess I need to explain my occupation. I am the asst. manager at Sears Automotive. I do make enough to take care of my family,but it could be better. I think that I am too intellegent for what I do. Then again,is it about me or God? There is history here, but maybe I will tell about it some other time.

Now where did I leave off? My mother met my father when she was 15 and gave birth to me at the age of 16 in Miami at Jackson Memorial. I made that sound so simple, but it wasn't. My mother and my grandmother have a terrible relationship. I can understand why my grandmother had custody of me, she raised me since I was 5 days old, but why the bad blood?

There is so much I don't know,but what I do know is sometimes saddening. For instance, things I don't know: why did she go to Miami, did she run away or was she sent? Why did my grandmother have my mother labeled as an unfit mother? Why not teach her how to care for her child? Why didn't my father step in? Why did my mother live in Atlanta and had to be introduced to me when I was 5? Why did the cow jump over the moon(lol)?

There are so many questions, but the truth is God has a plan for my life and maybe someone somewhere will hear my story and believe that God is the only way through his son Jesus The Christ and they will confess their sins and be saved. Or better yet my children will see and hear about my life and that will be something that can help them draw closer to God. WITHOUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, WHAT DO WE HAVE? PEACE!

The beginning

Back in the day, in a small town in florida, I was about 5 or 6 when I remember being introduced to my mother. But I think I need to go back a little further.

My mother was 15, alone and angry, Why? Well, how would you feel if you were always told that you will never amount to anything, you aint s#%#,you're stupid, you're just like your old good for nothing daddy,you could have been an abortion or 'I should have told your daddy to pull out.'

After being told these lies,and so many more like it, my mother went looking for love in the arms of men or women. At the age of 15, she was confused. It is around this time she met my father,who was engaged to be married. He did what all men do when there is no relationship with God: He ran game, told her everything she wanted to hear, which was the opposite of what her mother always told her.
She believed those lies that her mother told her and that's the sad part. What my father told her triggered a sense of curiosity.This game has been played before... telling someone something to arouse curiosity and hoping they take the bait (read Genesis 3). Opps! look at the time. Gotta go, C-ya!