Like millions of Americans I’m hooked on fantasy football.

 

There’s nothing like getting ready for a draft or, if you are like me, your drafts. I currently have 5 (yes 5) teams playing in different leagues. Keeping track of my players is really not that tough, ‘cause I pretty much have every player in the league on a squad.

Last year was one of my better years, making 3 out of 4 super bowls. Now if I had only won one of them then this blog would be more about my clear superiority in the game. But since that is not the case, I digress.

I recently headed down to Miami to participate in the Simply Fit Irie Weekend. This is DJ Irie's celebrity weekend that benefits the Miami Big Brothers and Big Sisters program.

 

Irie is a good friend of mine so when he invited me out again this year I did not hesitate to accept the offer. The weekend consisted of parties DJ'd by Timbaland, a golf tourney with the likes of Alonzo Mourning, Alfonso Ribeiro, and the homies Jonathon Wesley and Chris Kirkpatrick.

 

After the tourney is a dinner gala featuring a silent auction and this year special guest Ne-Yo serenaded the crowd. I was teamed up for the golf tourney with CBS 4 news anchor Jawan Strader, WSVN 7 sports reporter Donavan Campbell, and WSVN 7 sports producer Anthony Biase (aka, Roddick, look at the picture, nuff said). So in the 90 degree heat and 1000 percent humidity the "Media Moguls" stormed the course and did some damage......literally.

After selling over a million records in his first week, Lil Wayne is now fast becoming a household name. Going platinum the first week is something that Mariah, Kanye, Madonna, and recently Coldplay were not able to do.

 

All of the artists above were in or on every newspaper, magazine, television show, or whatever promoting their albums. Yet they did not sell a "milli" in the first week. Why Wayne? Because he's got 10 years in the game and hip-hop is not dead.

 

I went to his show at the House Of Blues in Hollywood and there where white, black, brown, and Asian people reciting every song word for word together with no issues. Whether people want to admit it or not hip-hop is a medium that bridges the cultural divide. Real artists get support whether they get the media hype or not.

 

The recent comments made by Spike Lee at the Cannes Film Festival while promoting his new film “Miracle at  St. Anna” have gotten him some serious attention. It’s not like the most influential black director in modern times is not used  to getting attention for comments he’s made, but it’s who and what he made the comments about this time, that have him making headlines.

 

Who? Clint Eastwood. What? “Flags of our Fathers” and its historical accuracy. The conversation started with comments about different directors and their respect or lack of it when it comes to death in film. The war of words that ensued is as follows:

 

Spike’s quotes at the press conference, "Clint Eastwood made two films about Iwo Jima that ran for more than four hours total, and there was not one negro actor on the screen... But I know it was pointed out to him and that he could have changed it. It's not like he didn't know." 

 

Clint’s response in an article to The Guardian, "The story is ‘Flags of Our Fathers,’ the famous flag-raising picture, and they didn't do that. If I go ahead and put an African American actor in there, people’d go, ‘This guy’s lost his mind.’ I mean, it’s not accurate.... A guy like him should shut his face.”

Every year Memorial Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. As we pay respect to those who fought for our freedom, we can rejoice in the fact we are free to enjoy our lives because so many died to ensure it. There will be plenty of things to do, weather to enjoy, movies to see, and live music to hear.

 

Music Festivals are one of my favorite things about the summer. There is really nothing that can compare to listening to your favorite artist with thousands of your closest friends.

 

If you are a people watcher like myself, these are a haven of great material. Where else will you find some of the most liberal interpretations of style and public etiquette? That being said, the price of tickets for festivals is not going down anytime soon. Choosing the right festival and getting the most for your buck is the key.

Los Angeles is one of the most diverse cities in the world. So, it is difficult for me to believe the hype when it comes to the show “The Hills.”

 

As I watched the season finale, I couldn’t help but think about the fact that every season I look for (and never find) people of color in any storylines. The only reoccurring black role is Spencer’s 645 BMW.

 

Yes I still watch, it’s a guilty pleasure, but who’s to blame?

As many of the gentlemen out there know, it's a major dilemma when you want to watch hours of sports on television and the wife, girlfriend, shorty, little lady, significant other, or special friend (didn't want to leave anyone out) is not going to have it. Well, here is a little gem I tripped upon while watching a fight last year. After talking her into watching it, I started pointing out the celebrities in the audience and making comments about them. It had the effect of a good jab, it doesn't really hurt your opponent, but it does set up the rest of your punches. Since celebrities are my business, I was able to watch the fight and keep an ongoing conversation about each person at the fight.

 

Before you knew it, the twelve rounds were up Money Mayweather has his hand up in victory and then sambas his way to “Dancing With The Stars.” What a victory. For me. All I had to do was do what she loves to do anyway - gossip about celebrities. GENIUS! This worked so well for me that I have not missed a fight all year and my wife watched the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Steve Forbes fight without me and reported all the ringside details. She didn't record the fight for me, but sports watching etiquette comes later on in the lesson plan.
 
Now, of course I had to try this theory out on every sport I watch. And surprisingly it works. Some sports came really easy. Thank you, Gisele Bundchen and Jessica Simpson. You made last year’s football season one of the best ever. Please continue your work on behalf of the league (at least my fantasy football league), you’re truly helping to bring families together. Sorry, Cowboys fans, I'm a Dolphins fan, someone else had to feel our pain. Thank you, Jason Taylor, for your work on the field and on the dance floor. I can hear myself on the couch now, "Look, dear, Jason Taylor just got another sack, pass me the chips."

Well it was another great race at the 134th Running Of The Kentucky Derby. Big Brown showed his superiority on the track and the celebrities jockeyed for position just outside of him. As we all now know “The Derby” is an event that brings out the who’s who in sports, entertainment, politics, and business. There is a section at Churchill Downs called Millionaire’s Row that will soon need to be changed to Billionaire’s row, because a million might not be enough anymore.

 

Rohena Miller and Junior Bridgeman of The Grand Gala asked me to come out and enjoy the festivities again this year, so of course I did not hesitate to accept the invitation. The Grand Gala is an event that benefits the 828 Foundation which, in turn, donates to other local youth organizations in Louisville.

 

The Grand Gala is the premiere event during the derby and the best part about it is a black event. Black tie with Black people, it’s a beautiful thing. Celebrities and athletes like Michael Jordan, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Michael Strahan, Nicole Murphy, Gabrielle Union, Tichina Arnold, Lynn Whitfield, Tracy Edmonds, Dwyane Wade, Vince Young, Byron Leftwich and Dwight Freeney all came out to have a good time and support the 828 Foundation.