Dome Pondering

So it seems Stephon Marbury cannot keep himself out of controversy. Marbury stated camp in October that, "he refuses to come off the bench in New York." In an ironic twist of events. Marbury was granted his wish. No matter how much Marbury has claimed to become a new man, there seems to be flashes of the old Starbury lingering. Marbury, who has stated that he refuses to accept, "a penny less" than the $21 million he is owed, has been relegated to Jerome James Universe, otherwise known as the inactive list. The Knicks refuse to jeopardize their growth and development for Marbury, who will not be wearing orange and blue after the 2008-09 campaign anyway. With the second highest salary in the NBA, Marbury is untradable, unmovable, and basically stuck. As long as this "stalemate" of a standoff between Marbury and New York Knicks management continues, he will continue to be an issue, and a dark cloud (with a Starbury logo stamped in ofcourse) over the Knicks or...

Here comes the pain! It's a reference many fans of Brock Lesnar have heard throughout his career. Whether it be professional wrestling, professional football, or mixed martial arts, Lesnar has always done just that - brought the pain. Standing six foot two inches and weighing two hundred and sixty five pounds, and boasting a freakishly massive frame combined with his remarkable athletic background, Lesnar had few doubters regarding the potential of a bright future. Following his historic collegiate career, Lesnar joined the WWE in pursuit of fulfilling his career. Lesnar wasted no time capturing World titles, the main event, and even headlining Wrestlemania XIX. However, the grueling life and travel of a professional wrestler (340 days per year) began to grow and wear Lesnar down mentally and physically. In a decision he was highly criticized for, he soon opted to quit, giving up fame and millions of dollars in return for his happiness. Crtitics jumped all over the decision. ...

President Elect Barack Obama. There is so much emotion, thought, and recollect that emanates from that statement. For the first time in the history of this glorious nation, the highest office in the land is held by a man of color. There isn't much that can be seen, written, read, or said that hasn't been already. It was a historic moment for people of color. The issue hits the heart with many people who are just generations away from segregation and Jim Crow laws, children who are constantly battling stereotypes and lasting racism, and those today who are trying to shake the gorilla, and move forward toward a better America - a better day. That all culminated on November 4th, 2008 - that better day. Yours truly has experienced the awkward aura and almost disappointing look on an educator's face faking emotion and fabricating a positive vibe when a young ten year old child claimed he wanted to become President of the United States of America. It's a look seen too often b...

Every Sunday, about 85,000 people fill FedEx Field in the nation's capital to support the Washington Redskins. Million more cheer on from local bars, pubs, and from the confines of their home for one of the wealthiest and most valuable franchises in the National Football League. However, with so many looking to support the Redskins on every, and any given Sunday, there are many more that are against the Redskins, their management, and even FedEx. If you guessed its the Dallas Cowboys and their fans, you are incorrect. It is not the Giants, Eagles or any other NFC East divisional rival. In fact, this large assembly of people and their issue with the Washington Redskins has no ties to football at all. Give up? Well, the answer is Indian Country. "What, and who is Indian Country", you may say? Indian Country is comprised of all Native Americans from every tribe within the borders of our great nation. Indian Country for many years have fought for rights, freedom, and equaliti...

Joba Chamberlain made the biggest mistake of his life. No, it was not a hanging slider to blow a save or a hold. No, it wasn't a pitch up and over the head of Kevin Youkilis (again). In fact, his mistake did not even take place on the baseball diamond. Joba Chamberlain's biggest mistake this week revolved around his recent DUI back in his hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska. After being well over the legal limit, speeding, and having an open container in his car, Joba's judgment lacked the sharpness usually displayed in his blazing fastball and wicked slider. And there lies the problem. The problem being that Joba's recent mishap is directly tied with his on-the-field talent. Joba's recent DUI was met with mere passes and excuses such as, "he deserves a second chance." Or, "He's only twenty three, he's young, he will make mistakes." Although everyone does deserve a second chance (and a third as suggested by Hank Steinbrenner), lets not forget ...

$700 Billion Rescue Plan. Passed. On October 6th, 2008, the global market took yet another huge hit as the Dow plunged below 10,000 points, with effects looming to spread beyond Wall street to what most politicians and financial economist coined as, "Main Street." It seems the "Rescue Plan" which lends financial firms over $700 billion of American tax dollars is not stabilizing the market, or even fooling investors into committing to it. In fact, most are beginning to repel from the market, due to its unpredictability, as the bottom of the global economy continues to fall out. $700 billion dollars. A Rescue Plan is what the government has tried to spin it. However, lets be honest and call it what it is - a bailout. A simple, "Uncle Sam, we messed up badly, now fix it." It's very much understandable for the reason for this bailout. If several more financial firms fall under- mortgages, 401k's, loans, and employment go with them. And attempting to fa...

With the change of the calendar to the tenth month of the year comes October. Playoff baseball. It is the time of the year where each pitch is as important as the next to come. Where lineups and today's starting pitcher are reviewed as the tale of the tape before a big fight. It is where each call, each bounce, and each inch can change an inning, a game, and a series. It is a month where baseball reigns supreme. A month where goats become heroes, and heroes can become legends. It is also a month where Bartman and Buckner happens. It is unpredictable, unfathomable, and downright the best sporting month of the year. It's October. It's playoff baseball. And it cannot be scripted. Nonetheless, part of the fun is attempting to do so, so here goes... ALDS - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeat Boston Red Sox in four games. Anaheim takes care of business out west before dropping game three in Fenway. Game 4 will see John Lackey take the hill and dominate the sox for eight innings ...

After the lights were shut off for the last time on September 21st, 2008 in Yankee Stadium, many have reported and reminisced on the history of the historic stadium. It's been written and talked about everywhere. The perfect games. The legendary players. The Papal visits. The football games. The big fights. The world series games. Yankee stadium was the stadium. And like many, yours truly will be sad to see the stadium at 161st and River Avenue go. It was a place that I too grew up with. There were many, many games in the early nineties watching a putrid Yankee team, yet rooting for my favorites in Mike Stanley, Jimmy Key and my main man, Don Mattingly. There were many arguments of how much the Yankees were going to miss Roberto Kelly (Only to be replaced by some guy named Paul O'neil). Getting excited about Kevin Maas. Experiencing Derek Jeter replacing Tony Fernandez...and watching him grow over the years. Accepting that Kevin Maas was not the guy. The surprise of the 1995 s...

With all the problems that face this great nation moving forward into a new presidency, Monday, September 15th, 2008, added yet another to the growing list. Lehman Brothers. Meryll Lynch. Never before have financial and investment banks become as popular as they have in the last 48 hours with the United States market and fiscal atmosphere continuing to crumble. An atmosphere that includes a wacked housing market, a shattered credit market, an unemployment rate nearing six percent, a Meryll Lynch buyout, AIG borrowing over forty billion, and The Lehman Brothers becoming another paragraph in Chapter 11, the next presidential regime has as big of a financial problem since President Roosevelt on the heels of the depression. Oh yeah, lest we not forget Hurricane Ike, the damage that it has done, the cost of relief, and the impact on the American oil and energy refineries. However, in this race for the White House, we continue to see the typical political "strategies" played out b...

Don Haskins. 38 Seasons with the University of Texas-El Paso. 719-353 record. Seven Western Athletic Conference Titles. 1 National Title. With all those accolades, many still know him as the coach from the Disney movie and his biography, Glory Road as well as his famous decision to start five blacks against Kentucky University in the 1966 NCAA Championship game. The title, very fitting for the biography and movie, as Don Haskins led a life of glory: One of simplicity and truth. Haskins was a man of respect, honor, and integrity as he represented and expected the same qualities in and from others that he held for himself. He did so without discrimination of gender, color, race, creed, nationality or anything else society attempts to divide itself with. In a time when discrimination and segregation was as thick as the Texas heat he enjoyed, Haskins turned a small school in south Texas into an NCAA powerhouse through hard work, sacrifice, and what was then considered, controversial recru...