The Playoffs Are Here!

After winning the 2004 NBA Championship, the Detroit Pistons were poised to repeat the feat in 2005. They fell one game short, losing a tough seven-game title series to the San Antonio Spurs. Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace went through the off-season wondering what could have been. They came back in 2006 and played like men possessed, compiling the best regular season record in the league. They were red hot for most of that season and almost everyone had them penciled in as the 2006 NBA Champs. Well, that title went to the Miami Heat who dethroned the Pistons as Eastern Conference Champions.

Now, the 2007 playoffs are here. Once again, the Pistons have something to prove. The team felt it should have repeated in '05, and should have rebounded in '06. What result will the '07 run produce? That's entirely up to the players.

The circumstances are a bit different. Ben Wallace defected to the conference rival Chicago Bulls after last season. Chris Webber now occupies Wallace's spot in the lineup. Also, while the Pistons compiled the best regular season record in the Eastern Conference, securing home court advantage throughout the playoffs, they did not finish with the best record in the league. That would be the Dallas Mavericks. If Detroit is to win its second NBA crown in four seasons and fourth overall, the players MUST show up each night ready to play, at full throttle, for 48 minutes, no exceptions. They cannot afford to take any team for granted, beginning with the eighth seeded Orlando Magic. The Magic enter the playoffs with the worst record of any 2007 playoff team, but that means nothing. If the Pistons really want this title, the quest begins with a beat down of the Magic.

As I watched Saturday's Game One, I saw signs the Piston players know and understand what has to be done. Then, late in the game, I saw signs of Detroit's dreaded "let ups," making inopportune mistakes and allowing Orlando to cut a 14-point lead down to three points in the final minutes, before going on to an eight-point victory.

I know, a win is a win. But Orlando is the worst team in the playoffs. So, if the best team in the conference can't beat down the worst team and keep them down, what will happen as the opposition gets tougher? I don't expect a sweep, but Detroit needs to win this opening series 4-1. Otherwise, I sense danger ahead.

Oh, Good Evening!

Playing Catch Up

It's been rough on a brother over the last several weeks. Lately, I haven't had the time or energy to frequently update this blog. Work has been kicking my... Oops, I almost forgot, this is a family friendly blog. (Oh, Good Evening!) Anyway, I'm playing catch up with this posting.

First, let me tackle the recent flap involving Don Imus. The radio shock jock got himself in serious hot water by calling the Rutgers University Women's Basketball Team "nappy headed ho's" on his radio program, also simulcasted on television, the morning following their loss to the University of Tennessee in the NCAA championship game. He apparently thought nobody would notice. Well, people did. And they let him know, in no uncertain terms, that what he said on the airwaves was totally unacceptable. The National Association of Black Journalists immediately called for Imus' dismissal from CBS and MSNBC.

A day later, Imus issued an apology which was followed by actions that indicated the apology was not sincere. MSNBC announced it would no longer simulcast "Imus In The Morning," removing his television presence. A day after that, CBS announced it was pulling the plug on the radio show, altogether.

Imus met personally with the Rutgers team and offered a personal apology, which the team accepted. But as their coach, C. Vivian Stringer told reporters, forgiveness will take time.

Don Imus' comments were first seen as racially insensitive, and they were considering the Rutgers team has a African-American head coach and the majority of the young women playing on the team are African-American. But on a deeper level, his comments were just as much sexist as they were racist.

He pretty much got what he deserved in terms of losing his show. While the decisions of MSNBC and CBS were likely driven as much by economics as they were outrage, it is important to understand that while freedom of speech is a foundation of this great nation, there are limits to the platforms from which one may speak, particularly when the speech is offensive and the platform is public.

Oh, Good Evening!

Next, let me say something about the horrible tragedy that took place at Virginia Tech University last Monday. I was standing in a restaurant waiting for a carry-out order when I saw a news report about the shooting on campus. At the time, they were reporting at least 20 people killed. I gasped, then said a silent prayer for the victims and the school's community. By the time I got to work, the number of dead had grown to more than 30.

We'll probably never know why Cho Sueng Hui went on his violent and deadly rampage, killing 32 people-- faculty and fellow students-- then killing himself. But, it does appear that he wanted the world to know since he sent a disturbing package of writings, photographs, and video messages to NBC News in the hours between his two shooting episodes.

May the victims of the Virginia Tech Massacre rest in peace. May the family of Cho Sueng Hui find peace as they live on in the shadow of his heinous deed. And, while I'm sure it's very easy for some to wish that Cho Sueng Hui, himself, rot in Hell, I have faith that there is redemption for everyone who seeks it. I pray that Cho is seeking redemption in whatever after world he now exists. It's clear he didn't feel at peace in this world. It's a shame he could not resolve his issues before destroying so many lives.

Oh, Good Evening!

The Best CSI Franchise

I thought the original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was good. The show grabbed my attention because it's set in Las Vegas and I loved the way the producers took you through the murder investigation process. Then came the first spinoff-- CSI: Miami. I can't even tell you what night the original airs, now. CSI: Miami is as hott as South Beach. David Caruso is da bomb! The entire cast is da bomb! And, they all drive HUMMERS to boot!

Oh, Good Evening!

An Unexpected Honor

Two weeks ago, I got an email from the Vice President of Print of the National Association of Black Journalists asking if I would be attending the Region III Conference in Montgomery, Alabama March 8-10. Normally, my response would have been, "of course I'll be there." I attended my first regional in 1994 and have only missed the '95 meeting since then. Unfortunately, I had to inform Ernie Suggs that I would not be able to attend this year's event due to the relaunching of WACH FOX News at Ten, the newscast of which I serve as anchor and managing editor.

Thinking that Vice President Suggs was looking for some assistance with the conference, I asked if there was something I could do from afar. His response floored me. He informed me that I was a finalist for induction into the Region III Hall of Fame for my service to the former Region IV. (Region IV became Region III in 2006 after NABJ reorganized.) I later learned that I had, in fact, been selected for induction on Saturday, March 10th. The news truly stunned me. Something my friends and colleagues don't understand.

I became a broadcast journalist while in high school when I began participating in the Teen Profile program in Detroit, Michigan. The nation's first black-owned television produced the program which was created and administered by Dr. Mary Wilks, a co-worker and friend of my father's in the Detroit Public School system. David Berg, one of my former middle school teachers, introduced me to the program during my sophomore year in high school. From there, I went to the U. S. Naval Academy where I got involved with the Brigade Line program as an extra-curricular activity. Brigade Line was produced bi-weekly as a 7-minute news magazine televised on the Academy's closed circuit channel. When I transferred to Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I created and produced a cable program called Campus Perspectives. The success of that program, coupled with my internship at WBRZ-TV, prompted that station's then-news director, John Spain, to give me my first job as a weekend producer and assignment editor in 1987. I was still in school at the time. Since then, I also have worked in Las Vegas, Nevada (KVBC-TV) as a sports anchor and reporter; in Jackson, Mississippi (Love Communications and WAPT-TV) as a news anchor and reporter; and in Columbia, South Carolina (WACH-TV) as a news anchor and managing editor.

I love the Southeast! Fifteen of my nearly 20 years as a professional broadcast journalist have been spent in this region of the country. Though every stop along the way has been special in my career, it's my time in Mississippi and South Carolina that hold special prominence in my heart, particularly the South Carolina years because of the opportunity I had to serve in the National Association of Black Journalists' leadership.

Since 1997, I have had the honor and pleasure of serving three years as a regional deputy director, two years as a regional director, two years as chairman of the national council of presidents, and two years as national vice president of broadcast. Also, I twice had the honor of running for national president, though the campaigns were unsuccessful. While each of those positions provided me with wonderful challenges and opportunities to grow professionally, the most fulfilling work I've done has been with the annual NABJ Broadcast Short Course at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro. Having the opportunity to help develop the next generation of broadcast journalists has been exciting and satisfying.

Having the opportunity and privilege of holding leadership positions within NABJ and help chart the organization's future has been both invigorating and exhausting. But at no time did I ever think that my work would lead to induction to a hall of fame.

No words can adequately express my emotions as I accept this honor. I recall closing my final regional conference as director in Raleigh, North Carolina. One of my deputies and the local conference chair surprised me with a presentation that nearly brought me to tears. On that Sunday morning, as we all prepared to go our separate ways, I accepted their gift with words of gratitude and and the message that it was not expected or necessary. I said then and I say now, I have never approached my service to NABJ and its many members based on what I would get out of the experience. My service has always been rooted in wanting to help others. The needs of NABJ often took priority over my personal needs and responsibilities. "I do what I do because of you," I told the members attending the gospel brunch that morning in 2001. "I do what I do because I love this organization and I love you." Those words still apply today.

I am truly humbled to be considered worthy of the Region III Hall of Fame by my peers. To join the ranks of Chuck Stone, Sidmel Estes-Sumpter, Vic Carter, Herb Frazier, Jimmie Gates, Condace Pressley, Angela Robinson, and other regional and national legends is, quite simply, overwhelming. I am blessed to have the love and support of so many people on this journey that is my career. To all who have played a role in my success, I can only say thank you. May you continue to enjoy all of God's favor as we all continue to do the important work we've been called upon to do.

Dreamy Disappointment

Near the end of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Darth Vader learns that Luke Skywalker, his son, has a twin sister. After acknowledging that Obi Wan Kenobi was wise to hide her from the Dark Lord of the Sith, Vader utters the line, "now his failure is complete." The same can be said of the marketing strategy behind the hit film "Dreamgirls."

I am a big movie fan, but watching the Academy Awards is not a "must do" annual item on my calendar. I watch when I'm truly interested in some of the nominees. This was one of those years. "Dreamgirls" was one of the must-see films on my list last year and I was so excited to see it as the Christmas holiday season approached. Then we learned that the marketing blitz promoting a Christmas Day premier, was only for a limited number of cities, not nationwide. I've already opined on that subject, so I won't rehash. But since then, much has been reported about the strategy and how it was designed to do for "Dreamgirls" what a similar strategy did for the film version of another Broadway stage production, "Chicago." That film ended up earning several nominations, including a best supporting actress nod for Queen Latifah, and winning the best picture award.

"Dreamgirls" was the most nominated film going into last night's Oscars ceremony with eight nods. An unlikely clean sweep would have produced six statues since three of the nominations were in one category, Best Original Song. The film ended up winning just two awards. The marketing strategy failed, miserably.

It was a wonderful night for newcomer Jennifer Hudson. The former American Idol finalist, who finished seventh to Fantasia Barrino in the show's third season, walked away with the best supporting actress Oscar for her performance as Effie White. The win caps off a great award season who Hudson who also won the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards, among many others. Her dream came true last night. Co-star and fellow nominee Eddie Murphy's dream did not. Murphy was upset by Alan Arkin who won the best supporting actor award for his performance in "Little Miss Sunshine." I haven't seen that film, but I found it interesting that his character was described as a foul-mouthed grandfather with a taste for heroin. Eddie Murphy's character in "Dreamgirls" could be described as a foul-mouthed R&B performer with a taste for heroin. He played the role well and deserved his nomination, even the win. Between Arkin and Murphy, since both played heroin junkies, I guess the Academy voters decided the older white one should win out over the younger black one. Oh, Good Evening!

The only other award "Dreamgirls" garnered was for sound mixing. All three nominated original songs lost out to a tune Melissa Etheridge penned for former Vice President Al Gore's Oscar winning documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth." The costume award went to "Marie Antoinette." It seems that award always goes to some "Antoinette" type film leaving me with the thought that the voters are wearing horse blinders when they consider their choices. They only see 18th century style, anything newer be damned. "Dreamgirls" also lost the art direction award.

So, let's review: The "brilliant" marketing strategy which called for telling America the film would premier on Christmas Day, only to have it not show up in most cities until mid-January did not produce an opening weekend box office victory; did not produce any weekend box office victories; did not produce an Academy Award nomination for best picture or best director (considered shocking by most critics); did not produce wins for best supporting actor, best original song, best art direction or best costume design. Remind me not to hire that marketing team.

Oh, Good Evening!