RIP MC BREED

A trail blazer with "Ain't No Future In Yo Frontin'" MC Breed was a unique MC. Long before the world jumped on Pac's bandwagon, MC Breed had a smash with "I Gotta Get Mine". Classic mindset, classic video, classic MC.

"And when I get my Jeep I'm putting Breed on the chrome!"

RIP Holmes!

The End of MY Season

This blog actually started in my mind on Monday evening in section 25, row L, seat 4 in Dodger Stadium.

It was the 6th or 7th inning, I was in my seat at the game partying with Danimal.

Little did I know the bullpen for the home team LA Dodgers was about to meltdown and give up 4 freaking runs in the Top of the 8th.

So 3 days later, after the Phillies finished off the Dodgers and Tampa Bay is up 7-6 on the Red Soxin the bottom of the eighth, my rooting season has come to a close.

Overall it was a disappointing season for the Yankees, with the Pinstripes not even making the playoffs. All that talent and nothing. Derek Jeter, the captain, missed the playoffs for the first time in his career. FIRE JOE GIRARDI!

With the Dodgers, it was probably one of the most exciting seasons since Fernando-mania. So many people found baseball again in Los Angeles, which I am excited about, with the arrival of Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers winning the West.

So for the first time in my young writing career, I have thrown my hat into the ring to trade emails and phone calls with sportswriters, talk shows and so called baseball experts.

Experts?

Sportswriters?

How do you become one? Is the average Joe's opinion even valid among these titans of radio and print?

I remember calling into the Hacksaw Hamilton show a few years ago to talk about baseball acquisitions and the upcoming 2004 season. I was very nervous on the cell phone on hold. I did stumble a bit, but I did get my point out. Javier Vasquez had been acquired by the Yanks and here was Hacksaw telling everyone within earshot of his show how good Vazquez was and how he would energize the pitching staff of the Yankees. I called into debate this point and tell him Javier Vasquez wasn't energizing anything but his bank account. In the end, I was right, he was wrong, Vasquez lasted one season with the Yanks posting a 4.91 ERA and going 14-10. Needless to say I never listened to Hacksaw again and I guess no one else did either. Hacksaw was off the air in 2005-good riddance. Stick to San Diego football and Charger tirades on air HACK!

The only reason I tell this tale is to say that not even the experts are experts.

Like a student of the game I read everything baseball. I read the dailies, watch the pre season, listen to people's opinions, watch the off season moves and develop my OWN opinions.

My Fantasy baseball skills have gotten better too, I went from coming in 5th last year in my league to tying for 1st this year. I have seen huge stars emerge such as James Loney, BJ Upton, Andre Ethier, Dustin Pedroia and Evan Longoria. Great pitchers shine like Johnathan Papelbon, Tim Linceum and even Taikshi Saito. Lookout for James Mc Donald next year!

Like a student studies daily for a class, baseball is my class.

So my question is: Why can't these Bozo the Clown front office guys for MLB teams figure out what they need in the off season?

As early as today, the Dodgers were still wondering if they were signing Manny or not? If they have the money? Are you kidding? Parking is $ 15 and Manny wigs are $ 30! Dont be stupid Ned and Frank!

Manny is the only reason the Dodgers made the playoffs. I didn't say it Larry Bowa did!

SIGN MANNY RAMIREZ AND ENERGIZE THE CLUB FOR NEXT YEAR!

As for the Yanks, I knew bringing back Petitte and Mussina was NOT the ticket. These guys were not going to carry the Yanks (Dan made me change this) to no pennant. I saw that 162 games ago. I saw that in the freaking pre season. Why didn't Brian Cashman? But they just gave him a new contract. So I am hoping Hank kicks a little ass in the Bronx and gets what the Yanks (Dan made me change this) need because no one wants an empty billion dollar stadium-dig?

I will watch what looks to be a great World Series, I can only think what could have been and what is yet to come.

In some ways a new season is just beginning....Goodbye to Dodger Stadium for now

I LOVE LA!

Los Doyers and the Postseason!

So a few blogs ago I was way down on the Dodgers. So much I had turned my attention to picking a football team (Cowboys 3-1!). After winning and looking solid at home, the Dodgers hit the road and dropped 8 straight to the Nationals (who?) and the Phillies. Luckily, the D-Backs were in a tail spin as well and we didn't lose as much ground as we should have. Since then, I have attended a few more games, rooted a little harder and cast my undying devotion to the Pinstripes to the wind (for now). FIRE JOE GIRARDI!

Los Doyers are in the post season and are 2-0 against the Cubs ON THE ROAD!

AMAZING!

I must credit my man Dan "Danimal" Posner for keeping hope alive, staying froggy and rooting for Big Blue too. This season Dan and I went to a lot of games and are headed to see the Doyers close on Saturday. Manny Ramirez you bastards!

My father is really excited about this baseball post season and he sees the importance of having a great post season to bring more people to the game. Ultimately, that is what it is about-the game.

I love that the Mets choked 2 years in a row, they are a sub par team and play second fiddle to the Pinstripes. FIRE OMAR MINAYA! I feel bad about what they did to Willie Randolph (ex Yankee)-you should've known Willie not to go over there. You could be sitting on the bench with Joe in sunny LA right now, in the playoffs-duh!

The Brew crew fired Ned Yost, made it to the playoffs and the flyin Hawaiian Shane Victorino, hits a Grand Salami off CC "put that hot dog down" Sabathia in Game 2. Can you say game over? Looks like the Doyers will be playing the Phillies unless the Brewers activate Rollie Fingers and Paul Molitor for Game 3. No mascot should be given the opportunity to slide down a 3 story slide when a home run is hit. That is not baseball.

Over in the American League, there is also no room in baseball for rally monkeys and I hope Boston sweeps the Angels. How dare you lay claim to the Los Angeles sports arena with a freaking waterfall in center field. No water falls in baseball either! Sorry Artie! As far as the Sox and Rays, who cares, obviously not anyone in Tampa cares either. I have baseline seats available for 12 dollars-ha!

So tomorrow we WILL win at home, I will supply pics, talk truck loads of manure and hit anyone with a Cubs jersey, hat or t-shirt with plenty of peanut shells.

GO BLUE!

GOD BLESS MANNY RAMIREZ AND THE PEOPLE OF THE DOMINICAN (see you Dec 10)!

My Man Bear

So once again I have fallen off of my blog.

Today a few thoughts hit me on topics to write about.

I mean so much is going on in OUR world and MY world it is hard to know where to start.

I figured I would start with a tribute to my man Bear. He was a huge part of my life, I figured I should pay my respects before rambling about baseball, football or anything else.

So here is my tribute to Eric Terrell Bowden or my main man forever Bear.

A few weeks ago I received a call from one of my out of state partners about a rumor that he had heard on my main homie Bear. He had heard that Bear was killed in Vegas over the weekend. Of course, I didn't believe it as I had just talked to Bear two days before. I quickly called Bear's cell and it shot to voicemail and the voicemail was full.

I am really afraid of bad phone calls and immediately all the ones I have received over my 37 years flashed before me. This one hit me different. It was disbelief (that's usual) but I felt like I was floating in space. Weird I know, but I could not come down to earth to deal with this. I made a few more calls including one to the morgue and they confirmed my worst fears. The lady offered her condolences but they floated in the air with me. Still weird.

Bear is only one of many people very close to me that has passed on. I mean all the way back to High School I can remember losing close associates and friends to car crashes, suicides and the other.

Death is a weird subject for me. I guess everyone deals with death differently. It is hard to lose young people. I miss my grandparents and aunts and uncles but they have lived full lives. To lose someone so young is unexplainable. I have a strong belief in God. But I always go back to a song written by Depeche Mode (Blasphemous Rumours) in which they said that "God has a sick sense of humor" in taking someone so young. The way I deal with death continues to evolve but I still cannot grasp why God takes good people.

So, as usual, I dove into my work, went out on the weekend and tried to have fun while constantly thinking about my friend.

I met Bear through my man Sleep. Bear was full of energy and wide eyed when I met him. He loved being in the mix. I put Bear in as many situations as I could and he always delivered. I trusted Bear with a lot . He honestly never let me down.

I remember once, I had this chick and she was talking shit about me while Bear was around. Bear got so upset he chased her out the spot with his pistol. She called me and was frantic. She called and said "Bear just shot at me! You need to call him-he crazy!" I called Bear, he laughed, we both laughed but that was the kind of loyalty Bear possessed.

I helped Bear to see more than LA and sent him out on the Guerrilla Black nationwide tour. Bear got to go to Texas, the South, the Midwest and through the Rockie Mountains. Bear fiend ed to go back to Miami, it was always a blast. Bear was tireless when doing what he loved. He never complained and always got it done. After business slowed down in LA, Bear moved to Las Vegas to get it going for himself. Bear picked up some accounts and was having a ball in Vegas. He once said to me that he was so happy that he moved there because it was new and LA was just "too hectic for him". Every time I landed in Vegas Bear was there.

This weekend I went back on tour to Vegas with Maino. It was so hard to be in what I thought of as Bear's city without him there. We ate Chicken and Waffles at a spot in Vegas and no Bear. We hit the video show with Tva Parks, who Bear really liked, and no Bear. One of the people who liked Bear a lot and took him on the promo stuff was my man Rory McAlister. Rory is a staple in Las Vegas and always has been. Rory was in about as much disbelief as I was around the whole event. I went to the club, no Bear. I felt so empty this weekend.I know Bear is in a better place, but I miss him. I feel he is still going to call and I am going to hear him laugh. I choked up and cried the morning of the funeral and that was hard. I am still numb to death, still numb to the thought my friend is gone.

In closing, I find it hard to take someones life. I find it hard to believe our generation does not find it hard to take someones life be it through war, money, cars, clothes or women. It is a sad state of affairs when people are disposable. Hopefully the next generation of young kids growing up will be a little more cognisant of how valuable life is.

I apply music to my life. A lot of songs stand out. I dedicate this song to my friend Bear.

Sometimes it Snows In April

by Prince

Tracy died soon after a long fought civil war

Just after I wiped away his last tear

I guess he's better off than he was before

A whole lot better off than the fools he left here

I used 2 cry 4 Tracy ‘cause he was my only friend

Those kind of cars don't pass U every day

I used 2 cry 4 Tracy ‘cause I wanted 2 see him again

But sometimes, sometimes life ain't always the way

Sometimes it snows in April

Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad

Sometimes I wish that life was never ending

And all good things, they say, never last

Springtime was always my favorite time of year

A time 4 lovers holding hands in the rain

Now springtime only reminds me of Tracy's tears

Always cry 4 love, never cry 4 pain

He used 2 say so strong, “Oh, I'm not afraid 2 die?

Unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized

U know, staring at his picture I realize

No one could cry the way my Tracy cried

Sometimes it snows in April Sometimes I feel so bad, yeah

Sometimes, sometimes I wish that life was never ending

But all good things, they say, never last

I often dream of heaven and I know that Tracy's there

I know that he has found another friend

Maybe he's found the answer 2 all the April snow

Maybe one day I'll see my Tracy again

Sometimes it snows in April

Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad

Sometimes I wish that life was never ending

But all good things, they say, never last

And love, it isn't love until it's past

PIGSKIN TIME (no tears please)

So as I contemplate the end of the baseball season and how two of my teams may NOT even be in the playoffs, I have decided to pick a football team to root for this season.

Now before you say, you can't just pick a team, let me remind you that we have NO pro football in LA.

I have never really rooted for the Raiders, because Ice Cube said "Stop giving juice to the Raiders, cuz Al Davis never paid us!" Don't believe me look it up.

I never rooted for the Rams after they moved to Orange County so I have never really had a team.

When I was real young, I liked the Steelers (Terry Bradshaw,Franco, Lynn Swann) and I liked the Cowboys (Roger Starbuck, TD, Too Tall Jones).

So in 2008/2009, I wanted to be able to watch a team and really root for them. Now by "root" for them, I don't mean buy the jersey and hat and be done with it. I mean follow them, know some stats, know some players numbers and all that.

I just finished watching the HBO special on the Cowboys (Hard Knock Life).

Good behind the scenes show, giving up all the info on why cats get cut, get hurt and why some dummies should have played 4 years of college before opting out for the draft.

Soooo I have made my choice based on a few things:

1. My childhood "like" for the team


2. My homies here in LA are BIG fans of the team and it would be fun to root along with them.


3. My M-Town homies are big fans of the team and it would be fun to root along with them.


4. They are my big boss Azim's favorite team (something to talk about other than records on Monday)


5. I really like the town where they are from and I have found two real good sushi joints there
   

So my 2008/2009 NFL team I will root for all season long IS (insert drum roll please)

THE DALLAS COWBOYS!

And lastly, My BIG homie Steve Nice will probably be DJ'n a shit load of after parties, so I plan to bring a football and a sharpie!

Your thoughts on my pick are welcome:)

My Tardiness

In between the flights, the clubs, the family events and baseball games, I am now making a HUGE effort to blog as much as possible.
I think about the blog daily, but I write, re-write and edit so much it is tough to get all my thoughts out in a legible manner.
I am once again in it with alot of BIG things around the corner
So please stayed tuned

Baseball Game Ticket and Arrival Etiquette

So I am on my "grizzly" to attend as many baseball games as possible this year.

The baseball park is quite difficult for first timers and even when you are a vet like me, it still packs a bunch of frustrating moments.

So I am writing my blog today to list my gripes and hope they dont happen again, but I know they will.

ARRIVAL

I am a big fan and I arrive early (for batting practice)-so should you!

Arriving in the bottom 3rd inning is not the business. Stay HOME! Watch it on TV, you have a missed 1/3 of the game!

I paid too much money for you to take your middle two seats and have me miss two batters.

Down in front!

SEATING

Every stadium in the world has a seating chart on line. Look at it, memorize it, bring it to the park-tattoo it on your forehead!

Last time a checked 3 came before 4 and 8 after 7. Why would your two seats marked 12 and 13 be anywhere remotely close to my aisle seats at 1 & 2??

When I was in pre school I learned the alphabet. Say it with me: A-B-C and DO NOT sing it!

So why do people with Row M or S, look directly at my row AA or A and think they are sitting by me.

UGH!

Come to the park early, leave late and always bring a "froggy" person with you to completely enjoy the game.

CHEERS and PLAY BALL!