Trump's "SOB heard 'round the world" has been covered by every media outlet. The latest unprofessional display by the United State's highest office has finally touched the purest of American sports: football. Wishing that owners would "fire the son of a bitch that takes a knee", sent owners into a frenzy. Already suffering from down TV ratings, owners decided to take a stand against the words of the president, sorta.
Across the country owners showed up on game fields, locking arms with their players showing a united front. The owners who did this, showed that they were for their players and that they wouldn't allow a "divisive statement" to tear their teams, their league apart.
This move was a scramble on their parts to try to mask their feelings toward the issue, feelings of nonchalance. The issue of taking a knee for the killings of minorities by police officers was something that was started last season by Colin Kaepernick. Not one owner said a word all of 2016. Each owner had at least 20 opportunities, (4 preaseason and 16 regular season games) to speak on the conflict and show their support for an NFL player who decided to take a stance. This year, each owner had 6 opportunities this season to take a stand for the cause. Not until Trump called one of their players a SOB did they care about the topic, neither had any owner directly spoken about the topic. The threat of losing more money, the threat of losing a product, is what made these owners "take this stance."
Ever since he stepped on the scene Jerry Jones has taken any opportunity to step into the spotlight. Whether it's employing questionable players with questionable backgrounds, or being the first to build one of the coolest stadium in NFL, Jones has loved seeing his name in lights and people praise him. So when last night he stepped out in Arizona and took a knee with the entire team, it wasn't Jerry standing up for his players. It was Jerry seizing the moment and allowing himself to be the topic of conversation once again. If you honestly believe that Jerry believes in this cause and the interest of his players Lucky Whitehead would still be a Dallas Cowboy.
All that being said................. "How 'bout dem Cowboys."
The thing that draws us to music is that we want to relate to it. When an artist opens their heart and share situations and scenarios that the audience can feel and experience, we fall in love with their music. So this summer one of the greatest musical works I've listened to came out from the unlikeliest of suspects. SZA, a 26 year old, who is normal as hell, released "CTRL" and I've listened to it at least once every week since I bought it. I got my first taste of SZA's vocals through Rihanna's "ANTI," but hadn't heard a body of work prior to "CTRL." Hailing from TDE, the same label as Kendrick Lamar, the young singer shares her world of vulnerability and struggle that most 20 year old's go through.
Her album starts with off with piercing truth in "Supermodel" and leads to the best song on the album, maybe of the year, "Love Galore." The lyrics "Why you bother me when you know you don't want me? Why you bother me when you know you got a woman? Why you hit me when you know you know better?"
These expressions are something that every man and woman has experienced in their lives. It's a reoccurring theme in the album, leading up to the most popular song on the album "The Weekend." The Weekend has an interesting take that belongs in the realms of SWV, with the admittance of being a side piece, but having pride in it. There's absolutely no shame when she lures out, "My man is your man, heard it's her man too..."
Transparency is what we all look forward to. We want to feel in and apart of the process and experience. In The song "Garden," SZA shares that she understands that we mask who we are in our relationships. "Broken Clocks" feels like a scene from "Player's Club", following Diamond from class to work at night. "20 Somethings" ends the album and it's just as consistent and honest as the songs that precedent before it.
There's value in listening to people's stories. You share their experiences and become empathetic and find yourself caring about that person. I find myself rooting that SZA figures it out, but selfishly hoping she doesn't so she can keep producing awesome records.
Across the country owners showed up on game fields, locking arms with their players showing a united front. The owners who did this, showed that they were for their players and that they wouldn't allow a "divisive statement" to tear their teams, their league apart.
This move was a scramble on their parts to try to mask their feelings toward the issue, feelings of nonchalance. The issue of taking a knee for the killings of minorities by police officers was something that was started last season by Colin Kaepernick. Not one owner said a word all of 2016. Each owner had at least 20 opportunities, (4 preaseason and 16 regular season games) to speak on the conflict and show their support for an NFL player who decided to take a stance. This year, each owner had 6 opportunities this season to take a stand for the cause. Not until Trump called one of their players a SOB did they care about the topic, neither had any owner directly spoken about the topic. The threat of losing more money, the threat of losing a product, is what made these owners "take this stance."
Ever since he stepped on the scene Jerry Jones has taken any opportunity to step into the spotlight. Whether it's employing questionable players with questionable backgrounds, or being the first to build one of the coolest stadium in NFL, Jones has loved seeing his name in lights and people praise him. So when last night he stepped out in Arizona and took a knee with the entire team, it wasn't Jerry standing up for his players. It was Jerry seizing the moment and allowing himself to be the topic of conversation once again. If you honestly believe that Jerry believes in this cause and the interest of his players Lucky Whitehead would still be a Dallas Cowboy.
All that being said................. "How 'bout dem Cowboys."
The thing that draws us to music is that we want to relate to it. When an artist opens their heart and share situations and scenarios that the audience can feel and experience, we fall in love with their music. So this summer one of the greatest musical works I've listened to came out from the unlikeliest of suspects. SZA, a 26 year old, who is normal as hell, released "CTRL" and I've listened to it at least once every week since I bought it. I got my first taste of SZA's vocals through Rihanna's "ANTI," but hadn't heard a body of work prior to "CTRL." Hailing from TDE, the same label as Kendrick Lamar, the young singer shares her world of vulnerability and struggle that most 20 year old's go through.
Her album starts with off with piercing truth in "Supermodel" and leads to the best song on the album, maybe of the year, "Love Galore." The lyrics "Why you bother me when you know you don't want me? Why you bother me when you know you got a woman? Why you hit me when you know you know better?"
These expressions are something that every man and woman has experienced in their lives. It's a reoccurring theme in the album, leading up to the most popular song on the album "The Weekend." The Weekend has an interesting take that belongs in the realms of SWV, with the admittance of being a side piece, but having pride in it. There's absolutely no shame when she lures out, "My man is your man, heard it's her man too..."
Transparency is what we all look forward to. We want to feel in and apart of the process and experience. In The song "Garden," SZA shares that she understands that we mask who we are in our relationships. "Broken Clocks" feels like a scene from "Player's Club", following Diamond from class to work at night. "20 Somethings" ends the album and it's just as consistent and honest as the songs that precedent before it.
There's value in listening to people's stories. You share their experiences and become empathetic and find yourself caring about that person. I find myself rooting that SZA figures it out, but selfishly hoping she doesn't so she can keep producing awesome records.
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