These are not the hoodies you're looking for.

It ain’t about hoodies; it’s about fear, and guns, and the vigilante impulse, and race, and, well… hoodies.

And, it’s not about race. But, then, everything in American society boils down to race eventually. Race is just a fact of life in a former slave state. Period. So, it is about race, but maybe not as much as people would have you believe.

Where hoodies are associated with race, you might say the Trayvon Martin killing is about the fact that he was a black teenager and black teenagers are associated with hoodies. But I wear sweatshirts with hoods, always have. Of course, when I was 17 I would never have admitted to wearing any article of clothing with ‘ie’ at the end. I did, then, and do, now, wear sweatshirts with hoods. Sometimes they are black sweatshirts with hoods.

It would be naive not to realize people sometimes wear hoodies to stick up liquor stores and Churches Fried Chicken.

And, when you’re all down inside your hoodie, you are intimidating. Why else would you be down inside a hoodie when the temperature is 80 degrees? Of course, the temperature wasn’t 80 degrees in Florida Feb. 26. It was raining lightly. Read more…

Had one class in this building; it didn't have any A/C. It was super hot.

The time when any athlete signs their name on a college scholarship is special. It signifies the opportunity to play a given sport and get better, while at the same time, getting your education.

However, only half of the deal is being honored at Park University.

I was watching Duke play Michigan State in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament when I started thinking: what was it that made these players choose these schools to play for?

Did J.J. Redick pick Duke for the academic prowess or the incredible law program? Did Luther Head and Dee Brown choose Illinois for communications? You’d like to think the answer to those questions is “yes”, but, let’s be realistic, it most likely isn’t. Read more…

photo courtesy of www.ParkAthletics.com

Daytona Dreamin’

It starts on Wednesday Nov. 16, and it doesn’t end until the following Tuesday. Seven days. It’s just seven days. So, what’s the big deal? Well, some 200 teams are trying to get in, and only 20 are allowed.

With just two more victories, the Park University men’s soccer team can consider themselves part of one of the most exclusive soccer clubs in the country, and the National Tournament club.

With just 20 spots available, and most of those going to automatic bids earned by region winners, the Pirates have this weekend to prove they belong among the elite.

“We know we have to win to go to Nationals,” said Head Coach Efrem Shimlis. Read more…

One heckuva road map.

Every once in a while you get the chance to sew what other people are doing with their college experience. The goals that they’re working toward; the things they’re trying to accomplish; the lives they’re trying to touch. It’s when you’re around these people that you realize you haven’t done anything of significance yourself.

Two weekends ago I had one of those experiences.

I was asked to take part in a softball tournament, a harmless request that I though would be a good way to spend my time of a Saturday before I went into work. It wasn’t until I got there that I realized there was something tangible, important, going on.

Many of you have seen the email sent out through Imprint Express, but then again, many of your are probably like me and delete all things that don’t come directly from people you know or professors. Read more…

A condescending use of the ellipsis

This is getting old. Another person in the spotlight apologizes for something stupid he or she said. It was Mark Wahlberg, this time, for saying he would have done what he does in movies if he had been on one of the planes that were steered into the World Trade Center.

I don’t want him to apologize. I want him to stand up and say, “Well… really, that’s what I would have done. Call me stupid, that’s what I said and I meant it.”

But, no.

I don’t want the speaker of the Kansas House to apologize as he did for a really stupid e-mail message he sent about Michelle Obama. I want him to stand up and be proud.

You read that right. I’m sick of apologies. I’m especially sick of forced apologies. Read more…