Do Better: Alex Collins' Mother

As big of a sports addict as I am, National Signing Day is one of the few sports-related things I just can't get into; along with hockey, regular season baseball, and pseudo-sports/skilled hobbies like NASCAR (I've had plenty of arguments about that one). However, I do recognize that for a 17-18 year old kid to have a nationally televised press conference revealing where he's decided to play his sport in college could turn out to be the highlight of his life. I was an all-ACC college athlete and I've seen so many athletes let laziness, attitude or drugs still their potential, have devastating injuries, get killed or end up in the legal system, have children and consequently have to kiss their dreams goodbye, or even just not fit into the system they entered. I say all that to say, there are a lot of #1 ranked high school prospects who never made the pros, never won college awards, etc. It's had to keep succeeding as you increase competition level. Combine that with the fact that choosing your college is one of the more important decisions in your life and National Signing Day is huge for a kid at that age. That's why I was so disappointed when I heard that Alex Collins' (#13 RB from Plantation, FL, a Miami suburb) National Letter of Intent never made it the fax machine (this is the only time its likely still used) at the University of Arkansas, because his mother came to his school and took and hid it because she disapproved of his decision. She and the family had been pressuring him for years to attend the University of Miami, less than 30 mins from home. He committed early there at one point, and later de-committed to explore more options. She likely assumed he was still going there, as she drove to his school to sign the letter (he's not yet 18 and needs a parental signature too). When she saw what school was on the letter, she snapped and left with the letter; he had to cancel his press conference and everything. Lady,  this isn't about you. I get that you don't wanna let your son go, it happens to a lot of parents. But it's not your choice to make. I mean damn, he picked as SEC school. He didn't opt to turn down Miami to sell dope, or to try to become a rapper; it was a legitimate alternative. My parents taught me that the difference between being a child and being an adult is the ability to make your own decisions and live with the consequences. For a kid in his shoes, this may be the first meaningful decision that was every truly his to make. He went on visits, he talked to coaches, he made his mind up. And now his mother has not only snatched his nationally televised TV moment, but also his confidence that he could make this decision for himself. How is he going to grow into a man if you won't let him pick the school HE will have to live at, study at, eat at, and play ball at for the next 3-4-5 years? As a man, much of what has given me the confidence to make and stand by my decisions is trial and error; I've made decisions that work, that don't work, and had to deal with the consequences even when they're ugly. It's part of life. My parents, regardless of their personal preferences, have sat me down, made sure that I've thought through my big decisions (which I always do before discussing it with them) and supported my decisions, even when it's something drastic they wouldn't do like going to live in Southeast Asia for 18 months. It's been essential to my liberation as a man. I'm 25 and out on my own, when I'm making a decision , the thought "Are my parents going to LET me do this?" doesn't cross my mind. She's crippling her son to this kind of thought process. Ma'am, let this moment, which was created by your son's talent and hard work, be about your son and not you. He has to start being a man at some point. Do Better baby...

Do Better: Cornball Rob Parker

Attention Rob Parker (pictured with headset), u're not only embarrassing urself, u're embarrassing Black men everywhere. Rob Parker, a personality on ESPN who frequently the show "First Take" hosted by Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, has been suspended 30 days because last week he made comments stating that Redskins rookie QB Robert Griffin III (pictured in uniform) isn't Black enough to be considered a "real brother". He instead called him a "Cornball Brother." That's right, Black on Black racism. This is not a topic that should be discussed on National TV...even if he's somewhat right. Look, if this topic comes up in a bar or in someone's living room while we're watching a game, I would have participated because there is a lot to discuss. RG3 in terms of appearance was the Blackest QB we've ever seen. We know that in America if you're to have a Black man as the face of your government, company, team, an award winner, or anything else, he typically needs a universal appeal: handsome, fairly clean cut, and light to brown skinned. RG3 is (pardon my judgement on the man) ugly, has long hanging plait braids (not even Larry Fitzerald style clean cut dreds), and is as dark as the night is long; This ain't Obama or Cam Newton we're talking about. Then he was drafted by "Chocolate City" Washington DC where he looks more like Wale than anyone else...but he's not that kind of dude. Despite being from Louisiana and Texas, it's widely believed that he typically is surrounded by white people. It's reported that he's more politically aligned with the Republicans. He's engaged to a cute but somewhat plain White girl (pictured with Griffin). I could only imagine the looks that he may get walking around with her in DC; hell, he might pass up Adams Morgan, U Street, and more typically Black areas (that Michael Vick or my hometown QB Cam Newton would go if they lived in DC) and instead take her out in Georgetown or something. I say all of this to say that even if I knew him, he might not fit in at my cookouts. He might not roll to the spots we would go to or listen to the music we would. That's relevant socially...but not athletically. So why the hell is this being discussed on  ESPN? I'm not naive enough to believe that people's social lives and professional lives are completely disconnected. But I don't feel like you should report on something on ESPN if it's not directly connected. Is it truly my business that Torrey Smith's brother got killed? Actually, not really. But it was reported because it affects whether he will play and possibly the quality to which he played the game a day or two after his brother's death. I'm a LeBron James fan, I criticize him harshly for two moments of his career; Game 5 of the 2010 series against Boston and his disappearance in the 2011 NBA Finals. That game 5 terrible performance happened the day he found out his teammate Delonte West  had slept with his mom. It's not my business, but I do see how that may affect your performance that night. My mind may have been more on breaking the jaw of this Mother fucker (literally) than being the best basketball player in the world. The fact that RG3 might not fit in at my cookout does not affect my respect level for Robert as a quarterback. Honestly, I don't know if Rob Parker would fit in at my cookout; I don't know him, but he strikes me as a bit corny himself. That's another reason this seemed odd coming from him. As much as he's criticized for his level of animation and occasionally controversy, I'm a big Stephen A. Smith fan because I think we could share some beer and have immensely entertaining conversations about sports or anything else. The same could be said for many sports writers, but not I'm not sure Parker makes that list. Skip Bayless, Smith, and may others say controversial things and express really strong opinions often approaching the line of what's "over the top"; it starts conversations. It gets people watching "First Take" to see what perspective they're gonna take on a hot issue, whether you agree with them or think they're ridiculous. That controversy is fine when discussing sports...not gauging someone's Blackness. So all in all, we live in a society where Blacks have come a long way and are excelling in many facets (politics, sports, music, cinema, etc) at unprecedented levels. Is this really what white people need to see us doing on National TV? Trying to turn us against each other on the basis of someone not being Black enough to be supported by the Black community? Do Better...