“GIVING WITH A SMILE”………

 It’s easy to give, when the conditions for giving are right.  The sacrifice is when conditions are bad. It was a rainy, snowy and high wind November 25th morning in Cleveland,  true to the season.  A group of community volunteers ventured out into the elements to bring a smile to some worthy families.

We passed out turkeys today to Cleveland residents,  they received a turkey and a fifty dollar food voucher.  The smiles on their faces was worth the charitable effort.  The Cavaliers Legends, The Cavaliers Youth Foundation, The Six Duece Enterprises, Dave’s Supermarket, CMHA, The For Life Foundation and The Phoenix Component….all stood side by side, shoulder to shoulder in the distribution of the food and vouchers.

The smiles on the faces of the children, fathers and mothers was well-worth the price of admission.  It makes you feel good inside……..its a feeling of satisfaction…..this giving to others is in our nature, just like the need to worship. 

In 1965 the Moynihan Report, focused was on what it takes for communities to be healthy and prosperous, they called it a “Nuclear Family”…….Father, Husband, Mother, Wife and kids was the formula for success.  I have my doubts about it’s accuracy and acceptance…….I do remember, grandma, granddad, preachers, ministers, teachers, uncles, aunts, and coaches playing a big part in my development and any success I may have had. Today, a family should be defined as, anyone willing and committed to helping others live a life that is advantageous to being a human being.

Its amazing what humans can do, when a charitable spirit encounters human need…..it’s heavenly.  I wish that more of us would seek the blessings and the benefits of helping those less fortunate.  In a contemporary world, where you can be up today and down tomorrow….we need to stockpile our blessings for that “rainy day”.  

Over this holiday season, make sure you give yourself and others a chance to smile and feel good about themselves.  It’s in our nature to do so.

Happy Holiday’s……..and let me know how you feel about this thing called….”Giving” 

JIM

“IT’S PERSONAL….ITS BUSINESS”

The Crown Prince of Hip-Hop…Jay-Z, was asked about his relationship with Lebron James and if Lebron was coming to New York City to play….his response was an admirable one…we’re friends….. “that decision will be a business decision”.

I for one, hope its more than “a business decision”…there is an inhumanity about business decisions that has always frightened me.  Most business decisions are made without community, and people considerations. Those kinds of decisions are great in the short run, but die a miserable death in the long run.  They tell us it’s “for the common good” or it will create more jobs…you know the line….. but their real focus is on the bottom-line.  The virtues of humanity are never considered. 

There are two thing I know about New York City….when expectations concerning sports performances are not met, they move on to “the next hero of the day”…..they have a reputation of eating up the ones they love, and spitting them out like old chewing gum into the gutter once the flavor is gone.

Secondly, concerning “the media capital of the world”, you’re like a deer during hunting season in an open field, no place to hide, no sancturary….the media hunters are leaning on the farm fence and taking pop-shots at you from near and far.  They have no respect for you or the ones you love, all they care about is the next day’s story….and to defend their prowess, the reply is always, “it’s not personal, its business”.  That’s been the mantra for the financial and big business community lately….where the ”Rulers of the Planet” have walked away with the profits and the American people have been forced to walk away with the losses, in the name of……”it’s only business”.

Well that’s not good enough for me and I hope its not good enough for Lebron.  I hope that when it’s time to make that decision, he considers what he means to so many people, families and communities in Akron, Cleveland and the surrounding area.  He represents the crowning thoughts of the American Dream, to a diverse region that is looking for something to believe in; the belief and hope, that you can come from nothing and become something….that greatness is not only reserved for the old…….that you can strut your stuff and not be considered arrogant but confident……..think of all the little faces he has energized to be more than their human condition…… his loyalty symbolizes that you don’t have to leave your childhood friends and relatives behind once you become famous….”we can all go uptown together”…..He is not your traditional athlete, he cares about his people, we are his people…..he was born, raised and is grown up on our soil, drinking our water and breathing our air…..he is one of us.  In his hierarchy of importance, he has always put his family first, his childhood friends second and his beloved City of Akron third, then Cleveland…..there is something more to this young man  than the patronizing reply of, ”its only business”.

You see, its more about “Rising Up” from the ashes of poverty and obscurity…….it’s about being a“A Witness”to his athletic and humanitarian identity.  We know whatever he decides will be more than just business as usual….we know that change is inevitable….but some change doesn’t always equate to growth…….sometimes you can be better and do better, by just thinking better.

These are some of my OBSERVATIONS AND CONCERNS……What are yours…….see you at the “Q”

“FOOLS GOLD”…….CAVS

From all outside appearances the Cavs have a roster we can be proud of.  So far, this is the best group of talent I have seen in the “Lebron Era”, their record of 9 wins and 3 losses, 7 straight victories and the early statistics will support that claim.

They learned a lesson last night, that early half-time leads can be “Fools Gold” when you’re playing a Division rival like Detroit. The Pistons came out in the second half, with renewed vigor and a defensive intensity that was similar to what the Cavs displayed in the first two quarters.  There is no secret to what it takes to be a better than good team.  It always starts with defense.

 Three guard deep; “Mo” Williams, Delonte West, and the “Baby” Gibson- Are a tough match-up with their quickness and playmaking abilities.

Front-line; Lebron; “Z”, Ben, and Andy - Are a defensive menace in the paint.

The Bench; Which includes Andy, “The Baby”, Wally, J.J., Sasha and Tarence – support the starters, with defensive intensity and scoring ability. While playing just under 1/3 of the total minutes this early season.

Young, gifted and a Cavalier;  Lebron James is averaging 29.5 pts., 7.8 rbs., 6.9 assts., all in 37.6 minutes of play. ( a touch over 3 quarters of action) His help defense is only second to Ben Wallace in the league.

Half-court execution; has been the most productive part of this teams new look.  Ball-movement, finding the open man, spacing and time management….has put a lot of teams on notice that the 2008-09 Cavs are no more a “one dimensional” team….they have other talents and skills that the opposition must prepare for, other than Lebron James.

Coach Brown has been complimentary, but cautious,….. demanding but understanding, in his instruction and commentary to his players and the media…….his strategy has worked well……I would add, “No need to bark, when your best friend is a doberman”…..This is a good team and their body of work will determine if they are a great one.

Let me know what you think, these are only my opinions…..see you at the “Q”.

JIM

“ITS A STRUGGLE TO BE HUMAN”….Fannie and Stephanie

 

Fannie Lewis and Stephanie Tubbs Jones had the gift of humanity…they have made our ancestors proud, the living humbled and the yet-to-be born enlightened.

Over the last 6 months, our community has suffered serious losses.  Mortgages, foreclosures, jobs and a Stock Market collapse that rivals the Great Depression of the 1930’s.  None of these economic misfortunes can compete with the loss of human life.  The lives of two women who were mothers, who through their matriarchal approach to leadership, tried to make a difference in the lives of the residents of Cleveland and the surrounding community.  One was a local City Council person and the other a Congressional Representative, who both believed that Cleveland can, should and will be better. 

A few years back, a minister from Kentucky came to preach at my wife’s church, Mt. Hermon Baptist Church in Cleveland.  He came on a Thursday, preached Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  He had a chance each day to ride around and visually see Cleveland. He was driven up and down Euclid Avenue.  He visited the East side Market, Tower City, The Flats, etc.  That Sunday, he started his sermon with a discourse on what he had observed in Cleveland during his stay.  “I had a chance to ride around your fair city…Cleveland. I ain’t never seen so many churches, temples and synagogues in one city before…….(paused)….He said, “Cleveland, you should be better”.  Those comments have been my sentiments since I’ve been a proud member of this community….We should be better.

That’s what Fannie Lewis and Stephanie Tubbs Jones invisioned for Cleveland, a better place.  They were not know for their fried chicken, their sexiness or their ability to arrange flowers on the dinner table.  They were charged to be leaders of a community that had been starving for leadership since Carl Stokes took office in 1968.

They were not your traditional, calculating, heartless, hard to reach in times of need politicians. Stephanie always had time for you.  She greeted you with a smile.  Mother Teresa said, “a smile is the first sign of love”.  She loved us all.  Fannie was approachable, here physical stature was not intimidating, but if you resorted to politics when it concerned the human-good of her community, she could eat you up.  Two different styles to get the same job done.  They were in the political area, male dominated like so many of our institutions and  positions of authority. Traditionally you could call them politicians, but you could also say they were “in the world, but not of the world”.  They were human…they cared….in spite of politics…..they believed Cleveland should, can and would be better.  Stephanie and Fannie didn’t always adhere to the customary party line of their constituents, colleagues and the “rulers of the planet”.  They didn’t always meet current and past expectations of political correctness. 

But Fannie made her stand on the corner, verbally battling drug dealers to leave her babies alone….she won…..battling a local Senator over putting a prison in her community….she won……fought for the development of Lexington Square, low-income and middle-income housing……she won.  Stephanie, the driving force behind the new and improved Longwood Estates….housing that you can be proud of.

I wanted to write more……….but you know how most of us are.  If it takes longer to read than a 30 second televison commercial, we fade…..most of the time what’s important to read takes longer than 30 seconds to write….think of all the things we miss out on, because we are conditioned to not read further….That’s why the fine print is at the end of document……they know you won’t read it until you have issues with the agreed upon content.

Both of these “sisters”, we can call them “sisters”…..they were family by actions and deeds….the moniker of Cleveland Councilwoman or Congressional Representative seems so cold and distant……..they were anything but the latter.  They stood for something, they were women of conviction…..community driven, they were human.  They were concerned about kids, seniors, housing, neighborhoods, the whole Cleveland Community……they are landmarks that will not be foregotten……….they were human beings, and its always “a struggle to be human”.

Let me know what you think…..especially about the length of the comments…

“DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME”

Many times being in the company of greatness is an after thought, or a taken for granted event by a privileged few.  This was my first time hearing Coach Kyle speak, other than before or after a game sound bites……what a privilege to hear him speak on the importance of passion and brotherhood.

His humble physical stature,  in no way diminishes  his intellectual, spiritual and humanist conversation.  He is truly a Cleveland treasure.

Charles “Chuck” Kyle, St. Ignatius, Football coach and recent State of Ohio Division One Champions for the 2008 season.  He is no stranger to success with a career record of 262-57-1 .  In the last 26 years, he has won three national championships and ten division I state titles.  He has been named Coach of the year in Ohio in 1988 and 1989 and national Coach of the year in 1989 and 1993.  He has taught and coached nearly a dozen current and former NFL players.

Not withstanding, he teaches English  and Literature (Chaucer and Shakespeare). 

The latter is what I would like  to discuss with you today.   Coach talked about titles given to people, (coach, leader..and President) and the underlying responsibility of the labels.  He spoke of using Shakespeare as a metaphor for “expanding the horizons” of  his students and players: through Shakespeare’s emphasis on challenging his characters faith, courage, morality and views on justice.     

He asked the question, “what is my role…as a coach and teacher?…he felt that his ability to interact and teach the virtues of right behavior was more important than winning football games…”now winning the game is important to us, however I doubt that God cares about who won or lost”…..”we humans care about such things as occupation, but God cares about our vocation”…..and that is where he as a man, father, coach and teacher was putting his efforts.  He also stated “there are no great secrets in coaching and teaching”….”they  have faith in you”…as a coach, you look at what the opposition is doing and you decide on what you can do to overcome the situation and be successful…”they  believe in what we do” (on the football field and in the classroom)

In addition he also said, “We are family….team-mates, and  “brothers”…..”a good-team is a group of guys, not individuals”….we make them “passionate” about what we do.   “Passionate  is defined as commanding love and devotion beyond reason”.  “We prepare them mentally, physically and spiritually…we let them know where they stand….we realize that the kids are human beings”.

Coach Kyle’s closing comments I will never forget, he quoted Jesus at the Last Supper……“do this in remembrance of me”….”a quote and ceremony he could have made in front of thousands….but he did it in front of his disciples….his brothers….who believed in him, who had faith in him, who had a passion for service to him, who through his word and the practice of faith had achieved an intellectual, faith-based approach to life”.

Coach Charles “Chuck” Kyle, is more than a coach, a father……he is a teacher…..and so was Jesus.

Yes We ALL CAN

If you listen closely you can hear the voices of Abe Lincoln, Fredrick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, W.E.B Dubois, Booker T. Washington,  and Dr. Martin Luther King whistling in the “winds of change”, after 300 years of slavery, over 65 million slave deaths and 232 years after the Constitution was signed sealed and delivered to America.  We find ourselves at this monumental point in History, it’s amazing how God can use us if we are humble and sincere in our motives, actions and judgments.  Barack Obama, part Black, part White, an American, has taken the best attributes of his heritage and made the “American Dream” a reality. 

 This morning people are saying, “he is a symbol of whats best in America”, but I say to you, his achievement is also a narrative on the fundamental importance of the human spirit.  The will to overcome immeasurable odds.  

He is an unspoken…spoken attestment to the true greatness of this country.  America is more than, race, gender and class.  America is more than history, economics and social forces.  It is more than language and education;  It is about the power of the human spirit;  It is about the enduring powers of hope, faith and belief;  It is about a government of the people, for the people and by the people.

Dr. Martin Luther King, at an awards ceremony for a grade school in Washington D. C., when asked what he thought of the awards presentation.  He hesitated, “It would be better if they believed in themselves”….Now is the time to believe…..Yes We Can is a declaration of fact, reality and actuation that Change can happen if you believe in yourself and if you believe in America.

America is more than labels, more than liberals,  conservatives,  democrats,  republicans,  blacks,  whites, hispanics………Its About Being American. 

Spike Lee said it best this morning, “This is the only place this could happen”…………..Yes We All Can, America.

What are your thoughts……

ITS MORE ABOUT DIRECTION, THAN COMPLEXION…..

I was out they other night with some friends.  We were watching Larry King Live……One of my friends said, “you’re just voting for Obama cause he’s black….(I paused)…..”I love the idea that he is black, but I have voted for white candidates in the pass and that question was never asked…..Quite frankly I would have voted for Mrs. Clinton if I agreed with her approach to the campaign……I didn’t……

Look at it like this, do you really think I would have voted for O.J. Simpson, no…..Michael Vick, no……Dennis Rodman…..no baby, I’m about content…..its not about complexion, as much as it is about direction……

We cant afford to be wrong this time……I agree with his direction for this country.

Blog me….let me know why you voted for McCain or Obama..

Later