28 Days

No, this doesn't have to do with Black History Month and its lack of being a full month. No, that ship has sailed. It's March and I know it. And no, this has nothing to do with the movie 28 Days Later, which is a good movie but doesn't really relate to my life in any way. No, this post is all about the next 28 days of my life and how excited I am for them.

Let me give you the quick rundown. The 28 days started Sunday at 7pm when the NCAA Selection Show was over on CBS. It will end around 7pm on April 12th here in Augusta, when I am on the 18th hole of Augusta National Golf Course, watching a pro golfer win the Masters. During these 28 days, I am making myself a promise (no pun intended). I am vowing to make each day the best day possible. As the movie/musical RENT would suggest, "No day but today".

So what made me think of this? Well, I got the idea when I woke up Sunday, making my final bracket for my bracketology segments on my sports blog. As I was doing them, I was continually getting frustrated and annoyed as I tried my hardest to predict the field of 65. But once it was over, this feeling of accomplishment came over me. I set my mind to this time-consuming task and despite countless nights of going to bed at 4 a.m. and the lack of huge readership, I didn't stop. Too many times when it comes to these blogs (and other things in my life), I start something with good intentions but inevitably, forget about it. But not this time.

So as I looked at my wall bracket, I told myself, you know what, this was fun. If I died right now, I'd be a happy man because I put my mind to something and did it. Yeah, I know I didn't cure cancer or bring about world peace, but I did something, enjoyed it, and wouldn't take back one second of it.

So that's when I started thinking about the days to come. There are gonna be a lot of fun days. I mean, Tuesday, March 17, I am playing 9 holes of golf for free and covering the regional final between the two Division II basketball teams in our region (Think UNC-Duke). On Thursday, March 19, March Madness begins with 16 college basketball games from noon to midnight. On Thursday, April 2nd, I am going to Charlotte to party with some OU intramural peeps and probably IM peeps from other schools too. And from April 6 to April 12th, I will be on one of the most famous golf courses in the world, covering a golf tournament I have watched religiously since 1997.

So what's not to like right? That's why I told my co-workers emphatically on Sunday that if they see me not smiling or in a bad mood, let me know because there's no reason for me to be in that mood. First off, because these 28 days should be the best 28 days of my life if you look at all the events that are set to occur. But more importantly, a day of being depressed, disappointed, or just plain pissed off is a day wasted.

So I'm gonna really give this a try. Hakuna Matata is all about not worrying but doesn't exactly include living each day to its fullest. So I'm gonna do just that.

- It means exercising/running everyday, because when I do, it's a great start to my day, physically and mentally.
- It means writing on a blog everyday, because it's something I love to do.
- It means talking to a good friend or a family member everyday, something that is sure to bring about a laugh or in the case on one friend in particular, a philosophical moment.
- It means not eating fast food, because why spend money on unhealthy food when I can cook something and have a feeling of pride as I devour my creation.
- It means really enjoying all the sporting events I am going to see and experience in the 28 days, because without sports, I have no job and probably have no life.
- It means going to work with a great attitude and leaving work the same way because the day just goes by faster when I stay in a great mood.
- It means continuing to wake up to "Hakuna Matata" in the morning because honestly, there's nothing better to hear in the morning than Timon singing my life motto.
- It means continuing to watch a movie every week, allowing me to lose myself in something funny or dramatic.
- And above all, it means being thankful everyday for everything. From my family, to my friends, to my health, to my job, to my dependable car, and so on...

When some people think of living life to the fullest, they think of doing crazy things like skydiving or bungee-jumping, or traveling abroad. But I have to live within my means and all of the above are just some of the ways I can make sure that day is the best I could make it. And when these 28 days are over, I am gonna look back and see just how well I did. Cause I know if I can make it 28 days, I can make much longer than that.

So now I ask you, what are you doing? Are you really trying to live each day to the best of your ability? Or are you just going through the motions? This is a crazy world we live in these days and well, you just never know. Don't spend one day thinking about what you could have done. Instead, just do it. Again, "No day but today". That's enough for me now. I have to get some sleep for what's going to be a great day. A day that I'm gonna make the most of from start to finish.

Black History Month 2009: Recap

Yes, I know Black History Month is over. Trust me, my friends let me know right when midnight hit on March 1st. But I told myself and Luke that I would do a quick recap of the month as well as some final remarks on the countdown Luke put together. So here we go.

First off, I gotta give Luke a huge THANKS. Black History Month would not have been the same without his countdown. When we first discussed it, I wasn't sure if it would actually happen. Trust me, Luke and I are both notorious for starting stuff and not finishing it. But this time, Luke came through in a big way.

What he did in this countdown exceeded all my expectations. I mean, just think about the time he put into each post, adding videos and doing research. He even included a clue just to make it even more fun. And everyday, he referred readers to my blog, something that I always appreciate. So again, thanks Luke. This was just further proof of why you are one of my really good friends.

Now after heaping all that praise on Luke, time for me to share who I think should have made the list. Of his 28, I only didn't like one pick ("Chef" from South Park). All of the others, I could live with, including Alton Williams from The Real World/Road Rules/Gauntlet, who I've never seen on TV in my life.

Among the folks who I think should have made the list are:
- Jamie Foxx as "Jamie King" - "The Jamie Foxx Show"
- Steve Harvey as "Steve Hightower" - "The Steve Harvey Show"
- Jaleel White as "Steve Urkel" - "Family Matters"
- Mark Curry as "Mark Cooper" - "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper"
- Joseph Marcell as "Geoffrey" - "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"
- Kenny Smith - "Inside The NBA"
- Earl Hindman as "Wilson Wilson" - "Home Improvement (Was he black?)
- "Gerald Johanssen" - "Hey Arnold"
- Omar Gooding - "Wild and Crazy Kids"
- Gary Dourdan as "Warrick Brown" - "CSI"
- Numerous people on "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race"
- Thaj Mowry as "T.J. Henderson" - "Smart Guy"
- Arsenio Hall - "The Arsenio Hall Show"
- "Skeeter" - "Doug" (Blue = Black in this cartoon)
- "Vince" - "Recess"
- Biff Henderson - "Late Show with David Letterman"

Now if you noticed, Luke did not have one woman on his countdown. Not that he is sexist or anything, but no Black woman was one of his favorites. I came up with a few though that may have cracked my list.

- Phylicia Rashad as "Claire Huxtable" - "The Cosby Show"
- Keshia Knight-Pulliam as "Rudy Huxtable" - "The Cosby Show"
- Oprah Winfrey - "The Oprah Winfrey Show"
- All 4 women in "Living Single"
- Maya Rudolph - "Saturday Night Live"
- Paula Abdul - "American Idol"

I never made my own list and don't plan on it because well, I have enough on my plate. Plus, Luke's list is the one that is more important, so I'm sticking with it.

Real quick, let me tell you about my Sunday, March 1st. I wake up at noon, yet again, sleeping longer than I want and not giving me the chance to get a run in before work. I head to a local bar and grill at 1pm to watch the second half of the Ohio-Buffalo game on ESPNU, the one and only time I've been able to see my Bobcats this season. I have to wait 20 minutes for the TV in my booth to be changed. By time it does, there are 14 min left in the game with OU up by 1. At the 12 minute mark though, ESPNU has technical difficulties. They never figured them out. My chicken fingers came (they weren't good) and I watched a bracketology special I couldn't hear.

It didn't stop there. The Blue Jackets lost a critical game to the Vancouver Canucks. I didn't win one matchup in my ESPN Streak For The Cash. There was a threat of snow for the next day in Augusta so the phone was ringing off the hook at work. Oh, and my boss came in that day too, making the usual relaxed weekend just feel a bit awkward. Yeah, all in one day. And that's why I hate March. How long until next February?

In all seriousness though, I want to end this post with this. Black History Month is not a game or funny event to me. It really does mean something to me. I am proud of my heritage and proud of all of the amazing things Black people have done. If the countdown and my use of capital letters bothered you, I don't apologize because I find no problem calling attention to a month that celebrates the great things people of one race have done. And this is a race that has gone through a lot. I know I haven't but that's because of what those before me did.

Luke's countdown was also not meant as a joke. That list was meant to celebrate the great achievements of Blacks in television. It wasn't that long ago there weren't any of them on TV. So while some may think our countdown was a disgrace to what is supposed to be a more serious month, lighten up a bit.

I've always said I wish they would get rid of Black History Month because while it does call attention to Blacks and their history, it only does so for one month. If there were no such thing, it may force people to recognize the achievements and celebrate their legacies all year and not just for 28 or 29 days. But you know what, forget that. I want to keep things the way they are because for one month, Luke and I provided what I think was a damn good series on both of our blogs and well, that's enough reason for me to keep B.H.M. the way it is.

Black History Month 2009: Day 28

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Well that's the case with Black History Month. 28 days is just not long enough but alas, it is what it is. I've enjoyed every second of it from the impressive display of restraint from my friends to the numerous texts/messages from friends wishing me well during the month. But by far, my favorite part about the month has been this countdown. Big thanks to Luke again. I'll give him more props in my recap which will come soon. But for now, the time has come. Luke's favorite Black TV character/personality is....

February 28, 2009
#1 - Will Smith as "Will Smith" - "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"

Read Luke's full post here (you'll enjoy it)

Luke's Take: Was there ever any doubt? Come on, you have to admit, when you learned that I was making a list of my favorite black TV characters you had to know Will Smith was going to be #1. It's a no-brainer. He beat out the likes of Bill Cosby, Redd Foxx, Bernie Mac, and The Rock. Smith is very much deserving of this high honor. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air lasted just six seasons, the same number as The Cosby Show. But, in that short period of time, The Fresh Prince somehow made a lasting impact on myself and countless others. It's one of those shows that I will continue to watch and laugh with until it's all said and done.

My Take: Well Luke, there was no doubt. I knew from the start Will Smith would top this list. If I were to make my own list, Will Smith would top the list for many of the reasons Luke points out in his post. Will Smith was the guy everyone wanted to be. He was cool, smooth with the ladies, great dancer, great rapper, great friend, good family man, and HILARIOUS.

There wasn't much hope for this series at first. Many thought it would be a bad knock off of "The Cosby Show". You know, it included a family with money. The humongous house. But what this show had that "The Cosby Show" didn't was Will Smith. He was the star of this show. And it wasn't just comedy sometimes. One my favorites episodes is when he takes a bullet for Carlton and later, pleads with his cousin to relinquish the gun he bought to defend himself. For a 10-yr old, that's a powerful moment.

And you know, the sign of a good show is that you can see it on TV, no matter where it is in the episode, you stop and watch the rest of it and enjoy. Well, that's how I feel about "Fresh Prince". It was a show my whole family could watch. It was funny but thought-provoking many times. Seriously, I learned a lot from that show. In fact, I still remember the day when my dad, my best friend and I hauled ass back from my little league baseball game (or practice, not absolutely sure) to get to my house to watch the final episode. And for the first (and only) time in my life, I cried at the end of a TV show. It was the end of an era.

So again, this was a no-brainer for the top pick. To this day, Will Smith is my favorite actor. He planted the seed with "Fresh Prince" and now, continues with great movies every year. And even though he is 40 years old, I still look at him as the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". The guy who always had a fat or short joke queued up. Always had a line for that girl walking by. Always had that great idea to make money or be successful. And of course, always had his family first. Without a doubt, he deserves the top spot on this prestigious list.

B.H.M Quote Of The Day: "Yes we can!" ~President Barack Obama