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I was going to write and give you guys a progress report, but I stumbled upon this well written article I just had to share from the writers of www.urbansportstalk.wordpress.com.
Do I care?….kind of, there are so many good women and men out there. I do think you should marry at your level but you don’t have to go out of your race to do it. It’s not so much a white thing …it’s more like they’re just too lazy to find the right one. But I do seem to look at these guys differently…like a Forty Million Dollar Slave.
Kobe Bryant and wife Mrs. why do I need a 5 million dollar ring to accept your apology?
M. Strahan & Former Jean Strahan…Can we say WIPEOUT!
Reggie Bush & Kim Kardashian… is it our business to ask why he isn’t with a Black Woman?
Richard Jefferson (NBA Milwaukee Bucks) & wife Teresa Lourenco… he has a 6-yr. 78 million dollar contract… was a Black Woman ever given a chance?
Venus Williams & Hank Kuehne… raised in Compton, CA she is now one of the most famous athletes in the world… where is her King?
On November 4, 2008, America elected a Black Man as the President-Elect of the United States of America. This historic event has caused many Americans (especially w/in the Black Community) to examine many issues surrounding “race” that have been either taboo or only talked about honestly when one is in the midst of their own ethnic group. We felt that we should be no different at Urban Sports Talk & Entertainment… so we are asking you to give your thoughts about “race” as it relates to Black Athletes involved in interracial relationships.
I decided to pen this post mainly because of a conversation I had with my cousin recently. Given my background as a former football player, he wanted my perspective on Black (Male) Athletes dating White Women. He just cannot understand how these athletes are raised in Black neighborhoods, attend Black (k – 12) Schools, worship in Black Churches then go off and leave Black Women behind. His challenge to me was to defend that reality for those athletes.
I didn’t care to provide an excuse because I don’t believe a person’s decision to date someone of another ethnicity is shameful. What I did talk about is how a Black Athlete’s circumstances can lead him (them) to make certain choices. Many of which were never available prior to him/her being highlighted for athletic prowess.
For instance, the vast majority of Black Athletes are removed from Black areas when they are given scholarships to attend White Colleges. This is the initial step towards assimilating into the Majority Society. For many Black Athletes, this will be their first time attending a class as the minority student. He/she will be living around tens of thousands of non-Blacks for the coming years as they are being trained to play sports at a high level. His/her world view is being shaped during this time as he/she is experiencing independence from parents, family and their community. It is during this time when they are frequently socializing with many diverse groups of people which they will ultimately be influenced by for the years to come.
My cousin wasn’t impressed and didn’t want to hear that lame excuse as he called it. What are your thoughts? Are we passed this issue or should Black Athletes be challenged for their decisions to date outside of their race?
If Beyonce Knowles dons a Thierry Mugler gown that accentuates her curvy physique, she’s also fat. This concerns me. If gorgeous women like Beyonce are “fat,” what does that mean for the rest of us? She’s normal! Beyonce is admits she diets hard for her career before album releases and tours. That’s not different then us losing a lil for that college reunion.
She keeps a tough schedule landing the cover of Vogue. Unfortunately, in line with cultural stereotypes, the issue is the ‘Shape Issue,’ contributing to the stereotype of Black women, and Latina women too, as especially ‘curvy’….
The magazine sets up, essentially, an impossibility: ‘Have curves, but by curves we mean something very specific: breasts and an ass; You know, like Black women got. See Beyonce? She’s Black. So she’s got curves. No matter that she’s extremely thin one day and a little thick the next. These magazine want our women to ‘conquer your demons,’ we love you ‘from size zero to size 20.’ Just kidding! We totally don’t…case in point J.Lo (Damn! I miss that ass)
This is for my girl Beyonce…Can’t say I love her as an artist, but I can say I love that ass..Can I say that?
I’ve never been a real David Banner fan, but I do like his new outlook on life and his latest social conscience efforts. He took his celebrity status and did something with it! And for the very reason I will take some time to at least listen to the man.
In Men’s Fitness he discusses his favorite foods, his weight loss and how to drop five pounds in a week.
Rapper David Banner is originally from Mississippi (he’s got the state tattooed across his back), and he grew up eating lots of comfort foods. After ballooning to more than 255 lbs, his eating habits and (non-existent) workout routine had put his health at serious risk. We spoke Banner for our February 2009 issue, and learned a bit about how he decided to finally drop the weight.
We saw an old interview you did, where you explained that you tried to lose weight, not to get girls or to look better, but because you had health concerns. Can you talk a little about that?
I had high blood pressure, really high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and I was really close to diabetes. And the doctor was like, “that’s a deadly combination.” The doctor said, “you really gotta’ get it together.” I just took it as a challenge. After I did an interview with allhiphop.com, I had so many young black and Latino people come to me to say, “dude, I’m in the same situation.” So, I really took it as an initiative to help people get healthy. And that pushed me that much further, and motivated me to push that much farther.
That was a year and a half ago. To be honest with you, I had a motorcycle accident, and when I went into the emergency room, my blood pressure was so high that the doctor really didn’t treat any of the injuries from the accident. He’s like, “dude, you have a blood pressure problem that you need to handle.”
That’s pretty scary. Have those numbers significantly dropped?
The numbers have significantly dropped. The sleep apnea basically doesn’t exist anymore. The bad thing about the high blood pressure is that it’s genetic. The doctor said until I lost the weight, he wouldn’t be able to tell if it was genetic or not, but that’s still better, and the diabetes, we’re good.
You’re from Mississippi. What kinds of foods are hard for you to give up and what have you replaced them with?
Macaroni and cheese is probably the hardest thing for me, so is fried chicken, but what I tell people is this: once you submerge yourself into healthy eating, I am willing to bet any amount of money that you will find the same amount of healthy things that you like and dislike, that you would unhealthy things. I don’t like every unhealthy thing in the world. I don’t like fried catfish. There are certain things I don’t eat. But in the healthy world, there’s the same amount of things that I like and dislike, there’s certain things that I consider to be sweet. There’s a vegan smart cookie that they sell at Smoothie King that I love, and I really can’t taste the difference. There’s certain healthy salad dressings that taste as good as the unhealthy ones, but you just have to take the time out to submerge yourself in that world to find those things.
You’re on the road a lot. How hard is it to eat healthy when you’re away from home?
The exercise is harder than the diet thing. One thing I learned from LL Cool J: it’s just as easy to stop at a grocery store. I don’t know a city that doesn’t have a grocery store. We make excuses for both the positive things and the negative things that we want to do in life. There are excuses for anything. Health is just something that you have to agree on, that you’re serious about. You’ll find a way to make it happen.
Was anyone in the industry really supportive? Was anyone clowning on you for trying to change?
Surprisingly enough, I got more support than anything. T-Pain came up to me and said he lost 30 lbs because of me. My trainer, Scott Parker, has had his roster triple since me. I see artists being more health conscious, and the thing I figured out is you can use people’s envy and turn it into something positive. People hear what the general public is saying, so I was just taking it and turning it into something positive, and hopefully, motivate people to do bigger and better things, to feel better. I know I feel 100% better than I ever have.
Have you noticed a difference in day-to-day things? Going up a flight of stairs, stuff like that?
Man, I feel better than I did when I was 20. You know, I’m running 5, 6, 7 games of basketball again, I run the canyon a lot in LA, and I actually enjoy doing it. I set a goal for 215 pounds, and I really honestly didn’t think I was going to get to 215 pounds, and when I got to 215, I was like, “Well, I want to dunk a basketball one more time before I die. Let me see if I can get down to 205 pounds.” It’s like, when you’re able to set those goals for yourself, those goals are similar to life goals. We set ‘em and we knock ‘em down.
Because it doesn’t really end, there’s no finish line where you’re done working out. So what are you trying to do now, put some muscle on, or just keep it steady?
I’m trying to put a little bit of muscle back on. I think I lost just a little bit too much weight. But now, I can sculpt myself up. With the programs that Scott has implemented for me, I know how not to — and this is strange, he said he’s never seen this before — but I can knock off five pounds in a week. I know exactly what to do. I know how to run, how to set my own plans, just based on my body chemistry and my body makeup. I know what to eat, I know how many times a day to run, I know how much water to drink in order to really control my bodyweight. So now I’m in a position where I know my body.
How do you feel after making your transition?
I’m going to be honest with you — it’s an honor, because it was hard. We, as entertainers, not just rappers, have a tendency to influence people to drink Crystal and buy high-priced cars, to do so many other things, but we’re in a position to help save people’s lives. I honestly believe this, and I know there’s no way to quantify it and really prove it, but I really believe that I put 10 years on my life. I can look at my skin, I can look at my face, I can look at my body, I know I’ve put 10 years on my life.
A awesome trainer from www.bodybuilding.com shared this with me today… I’ve been on a tear this week with my A.M. workouts. The summer is here ….don’t let up!
She’s prepping for a show and looks amazing…what are you training for? Are you working out or just going to the gym? Are who looking cute or working out? Are you trying to get some attention or breaking a real sweat?
“What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?
Motivate yourself, or be miserable. Either way, it’s your choice.
My strength comes not from my physical ability, but by my incredible will.
So this morning didn’t happen for me. All I needed to do was get up and take a 30 minute walk. I fell victim to the snooze button. For some reason, it is a lot easier for me to get to the gym when there are people waiting for me…but getting up on my own needs work.
If anyone wants to start calling me in the A.M. feel free. (email me for my phone number…lol)
This mourning at 5:30a.m. I was at the gym. I’m switching to the A.M. workout so I can be more productive during the evening. A lot of my friends,family and clients are asking me what do I think about the A.M. workout. For beginners there are some pluses and minuses, it might not be for everyone.
Why I love the A.M. workout:
I feel fully rested and my testosterone is at its highest.
It gives me an instant boost in metabolism
Fasted workout hopefully targets fat for fuel instead of any stored carbs
Not to many times where I can say I started the day doing something for myself (not my boss,family or neighbor)
After waking up early and working hard …I’m a little more commited to eating clean and geared to having a productive day.
A couple of reasons why I don’t like it:
I’m a little rushed and off by the time I get to work.
I usually do get going until my 3rd or 4th set.
Works up a little appetite.
I love my sleep.
Overall, I tell people the best time to workout is when you can!
I’m doing this so I can lose 15-20lbs, getting me down to 9% bodyfat…can we say hello beach? It will take me some time getting use to the new schedule but they say “…3 straight weeks and you got a habit.” I also have a workout partner, so the commitment is a no brainer. Finally, I can squeeze in some cardio and improve my fitness before I hit the sack.
Interesting weekend! I was working on growing some tomatoes and peppers and my co-worker suggested a plant box. This cool site set a pretty cool template on how to do it. I just felt growing my own veggies would be healthier and just plain fun. It would promote eating better and cleaner. I did spend more money then I wanted to, but I feel so good about this and I haven’t even eaten anything yet.
Growing your own herbs and vegetables can be very rewarding but the ground in your yard may not be the most fertile. If that’s the case then consider building your own garden box that only requires the use of a drill and procuring some redwood from your local lumber shop.
Before you go out there saying “Damn I wished i looked like …..” consider this:
You are unique, remember that. There is no one else like you!! Acknowledge what it is that makes you special and unique. Do Not compare yourself to others!
It is Normal to want to see how we measure up in comparison to others – especially if we think that they are better than us (for some reason) or have more of something that we want. There is no reason to do this because no one is like us, we are all so unique and different in our own ways. This is something to remember, as we step on stage or undergo a show prep. We tend to compare ourselves to others but we can’t. Especially when it comes to physiques, metabolisms, etc. there is no way to compare ourselves! We are are all so different and come in so many different shapes and sizes. It is sometimes almost easier to look outside of ourselves and feel like we are deficient in comparison to other people rather than seeing how we are uniquely different and special in out own ways! It actually takes more courage to be self-referential and look at ourselves to see whether we are measuring up to our standards or meeting our full potential.
Each of us has very special gifts, and we are here for very specific reasons. We each have a life purpose to fulfill and with this come the lessons that we must learn and the circumstances that we must go through in order to evolve as spiritual beings. To compare our lives to other people’s lives when we have no idea of what they are here to learn or fulfill doesn’t benefit anyone – especially you.
Instead, if we can accept ourselves, appreciate the special talents and qualities that we alone possess, and realize that each of us is going through certain kinds of experiences for a reason, we are less likely focus so much on what other people have or are doing. Realizing and valuing our uniqueness enables us to bring out the best in ourselves so we can get on with living rather than preoccupying ourselves with meaningless comparisons. Try to not compare yourself to others, and you will see how much you have and how special you are.
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