Category Archives: sports

The Cost Of Entertainment

It’s amazing the things we’ll overlook for the purposes of entertaining ourselves.  There’s a quote that says, “Spend money on making memories, not material things to be happy.”  And in some instances that’s what we’ll do to satisfy our desires to capture those moments that’ll linger with us forever.  Here in Miami, the “On The Run Tour” featuring Jay Z and Beyonce’, appeared before a sold out house at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.  To see your favorite superstars and attend the biggest venues, we’ll often in affect “rob Peter to Paul” just to be a part of the most happening events.  To quench our thirst for entertainment, often times we overlook what mechanisms take place to allow those events to happen.  This year’s World Cup is no exception.  Thousands of Brazilians are living illegally on land near World Cup Stadiums and the impoverished people are blaming the construction of these venues for rent increases that drove them out of their homes.  The Homeless Workers Movement, an organized group to combat these measures and fight for residents rights, has participated in helping families set up tents.  However, this is nothing new.  Homelessness has been an issue during the past twenty (20) plus year at Olympic locations: (Seoul/1988; Barcelona/1992; Atlanta/1996; Athens/2000; Sydney/2004 and Beijing/2008); as well as during Super Bowls or Political Conventions.  When a city, state or country is scheduled to be showcased, the “powers that be” will remove the riff-raff off the street, increase the cost of living and disenfranchise their own residents for the sake of presenting a magnificent image of the host location.  According to a report, more than two million residents, mostly poor, were displaced by Olympic development in the past two decades, including 720,000 in Seoul and 1.25 million in Beijing.  “In Barcelona, some commentators claim new house prices rose by 250 percent between the 1986 announcement of the election of Barcelona as Host City and the actual event in 1992. In Sydney, real estate speculation led to the eviction of long-term tenants throughout the greater city, and the number of homeless nearly tripled over a five-year period.” (COHRE, Fair Play for Housing Rights, 41.) Today, Americans both domestic and abroad, will either be in the stadium, watch from home, stream online or a local tavern, to see if the United States can qualify for the “Knockout Round” against Portugal at 12 p.m.  All the while, unaware of what steps took place to allow them to be able to champion their patriotism.  We pride ourselves on being a forgiving society; willing to sacrifice for the greater good and for human kind.  Although it’s a lofty tasks, as you continue to watch the competition with the country of Brazil being the world’s stage, keep the unfortunate in mind as you cheer your team to victory.  “I believe that we will win!”  In the broader scheme of things, under these circumstances, humanity loses.   “We Are The Change!” I’m gone! (b)

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Bouncing Back

It was a long, grueling season.  An attempt to 3-peat fell short as the former defending champion Miami Heat lost to the superior San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the best of seven (7) series in the NBA Finals.  To some, it was considered a five (5) game series sweep, as the only Spurs’ loss came as a result of Tony Parker being temporarily injured and visibly shaken as a result of an elbow from Heat point guard Mario Chalmers.  However, the questions were raised as a result of the Game 4 and 5 performances of one Dwyane Tyrone Wade; who shot 7-25 in those contests contributing to the defeat at the hands of the newly crowned champions.  This was a bit of a surprise considering that Wade had shot a career high field goal percentage of 54.5%, averaging nineteen (19) points per game.  It was tied for the highest shooting percentage by any shooting guard in the past twenty-nine (29) years, and the highest of any player playing the same position since the NBA implemented the three-point shot in 1979-80; something that the fabled Michael Jordan had never done over a full season (53.9% in 1990-91). Even more shocking was the NBA Finals was the stage that the Heat prepared for all season, placing Wade on a “Maintenance Program” to ensure his long-term health and maintain his “bounce” when needed in pivotal moments.  But as the Finals footage will reveal, the athleticism abandoned him, and his craftiness used to get by after playing fifty-four (54) games during the regular season was not enough to assist in retrieving a third (3rd) straight title.  The moment has arrived for the artist former known as “Flash” to bounce back; after falling down and appearing broken, it’s now time for him to pick himself up and prove his doubters wrong yet again.

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Seems like only yesterday, Wade burst upon the scene as he lead his alma mater, the Marquette Golden Eagles, to the Final Four in 2003 with an epic performance over the Kentucky Wildcats.  Wade’s performance during the Midwest Regional Final justified his selection as a First Team All-American, recording a triple double with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.  Wade elected to forgo his senior year and enter the NBA draft.  The Heat selected him with the fifth (5th) overall pick and he has been a mainstay of the team ever since.  The 6’4” pocket rocket, filled with quick twitch muscle fibers, swiftly became a fan favorite and during his rookie season lead the team to the second (2nd) round of the NBA Playoffs, eventually losing to the Indiana Pacers.  And though Wade’s accolades includes three (3) NBA Championships, a 2008 Olympic gold medal, all-star appearances and All-Star & NBA Finals MVP trophies, his career has been defined by his ability to overcome adversity and “bounce” back.

Dwyane Wade v. Rodney Carney

If anyone has that ability it’s definitely Wade.  While many others may have crumbled under the weight and burdens placed upon them, D. Wade appears to relish in it; using it for motivation to fuel his desires.  Who else could have overcome their parents being divorced, their mother being addicted to heroin, a bitter and public divorce from their high school sweetheart (Siohvaughn Funches), lawsuits filed by former partners over the defunct restaurant chain (D. Wade’s Place), a host of injuries and a love child outside of a relationship with their current fiancée (Gabrielle Union).  Wade has dealt with these adversities and in typical fashion, accepted responsibility, used each episode as stepping stones and moved forward.

This may be Wade’s biggest challenge to date.  At age thirty-two (32), though not considered old by normal human standards, in the field of athletics it’s considered a lifetime; old; too much mileage and wear & tear.  During Game 5 of this year’s NBA Finals, Wade’s attempt at the rim was met by a Tiago Splitter block.  There was no lift in his legs and the rejection wasn’t even at the summit of his leap. So now it’s presumably back to the lab with long-time trainer Tim Grover to see if he can revive Wade’s broken body and get him in condition to handle the rigors of an eighty-two (82) game schedule and relieving some of the load placed on teammate and good friend LeBron James.  Of course people won’t be expecting the same player that returned from injury during the 2008-09 calendar years that helped lead the “Redeem Team” to a gold medal over Spain in Beijing, China, or who lead the league in scoring, averaging 30.2 and finishing third (3rd) in MVP voting.  The Heat organization, particularly James, assuming that he remains with the ball club, is looking for a healthy Wade to solidify the team’s lineup and be a solid contributor for the foreseeable future.  If Wade can accomplish that, the team can continue to make more title runs and he can further entrench himself in the annals of NBA lore.  The man who’s moniker was once fall down seven (7) times, stand up eight (8), is being asked to pick himself up, brush himself off and return to greatness.  The vultures (the media) have swooped in and are trying to pick at Wade’s battered carcass; many basketball analysts are leaving him for dead and saying he’ll never be the same.  If anyone can do it, Wade has proven he can.  And the fans of Miami-Dade County, appropriately called “Wade” County, will be anxiously awaiting his bounce back.  “We Are The Change!”  I’m gone! (b)

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