Thank You

49 conscientious days of writing, posting and editing. 38 posts. 2 different viewpoints. 1 blog. When Ant and I kicked off the blog, we both had our ideas about what the reasoning of using this medium and what the purpose of our space would be. We knew we wanted to be more than a place for sports or celebrity fodder. We wanted to be a voice.

Yet, We never really thought about the audience and how important it would be to have readers who appreciate our work. Thankfully, we did find out that we have incredible friends, family, and new readers that value our opinions, rants, jokes and outbursts. For every comment, text message, Facebook message or call, we appreciate your support.

With our first full month of blogging under our belts, get ready for great things from the ant & mike show. We will be celebrating Black History Month to the fullest! We will have special features and posts surrounding the leaders of our past and present all month, but don’t expect the same run of the mill BHM stuff. We will be highlighting all that is dope, intriguing, and outstanding in the Black community. Also, PLEASE COMMENT! We want to have more dialogue and debate, plus in the month of February we will be having an incredible giveaway for our commenting readers.

Once again, thanks for the support and stay tuned.

-Mike



the ant & mike show

P.S. email us at theantandmikeshow@gmail.com

Kanye is One Smart Mutha...

Does this sound like the tour of the summer or what? After being left out in the cold on Lupe tickets earlier this month, I will be getting my tickets THE minute they go on sale. Not sure of dates or ticket-on-sales, but I will keep y'all posted.

-Mike

He Never Stood a Chance

The former North Carolina Senator has finally done what most people had been expecting and dropped out of the race for democratic representation in the ’08 presidential election. John Edwards, who came in second to Barack Obama only in the Iowa primaries, has played a distant third place in every other primary. After only receiving 4% of the vote in the Nevada primaries, losing in his hometown of South Carolina had to be the breaking point for Edwards.

On the positive side, Edwards leaves the race having arguably won most of the debates. He was also a pacesetter on the hot seat issues of education and poverty. After being the first candidate to create detailed plans for universal health care and education, the remaining candidates were forced to follow suit. His campaign was a respectful one, but this has been a two man race for quite some time. Now Clinton and Obama are on their own, however Edwards says that, “they have both pledged to me that as President of the United States they will both make poverty and economic inequality central to their presidencies.”

For more on the story, read this article on Time online.
-Ant

I'm Sick of This Sh*t

For the last few years something has been bothering me. It started out being just a little annoying, sort of like when you tell someone you’ll call them back and then they call you before you have a chance to. Recently it has become a nuisance and it’s gotten to a point where my mind is clouded. I’m eating, I see it. I’m sleeping, I see it. It’s like I can’t go a day without seeing it and all I can do is wish to the Lord that it stops because this is seriously ruining my life. For the sake of every teacher you’ve ever had, for every slave who risked their lives sneaking books into their rooms and teaching themselves to read and write, for every inmate who left jail with a GED, stop making grammatical errors in your Facebook status!!!!



This may very well be the single most irritating part of my life. I mean I don’t get it. There is no time limit on writing your status, so slow down and consider what you’re saying. Using “ur” instead of “you’re” and “2” instead of “to” is fine. What I’m talking about is stuff like a status I saw recently which read “the truth will come out rather u want it 2 or not.” “Rather u want it 2 or not?” Is that the same as saying the truth will come out sooner “whether” than later? You see how that just didn’t make any sense? Then we all know around May and again in Dec. the entire world starts wishing people “congradulations” on their graduation. Is that a combination of the words congratulations and graduation? Who gave out the authority to combine that shit? Misspelled well wishes for someone’s graduation are actually a mockery of the hard work they put into their education, so on their behalf, thanks, I don’t appreciate it.

All I ask is that if you’re a witness to this behavior, please let that person know what they did was wrong and it will not be tolerated. For those of you that continue to do this, turn yourself in now. Maybe you’ll get probation, or asked to repeat a grade, but that’s much better than being branded an imbecile for the rest of your natural born life. For my peers who take pride in what they learned in school, as my English teacher is my witness, you can rest assured that whoever I catch doing this is going to be punished to the fullest extent of the law…I’ll see to it myself.

-Ant

MTB4 Recap: Episode 1

It's a safe bet that most of young America was watching MTV last night at 10 pm. In case you have been under a rock, last night was the premiere of the next installment of the Making the Band franchise. Highlighted as the "ultimate" season, this year we get to watch the Danity Kane girls, MTB guys, and the lone soloist Donnie compete in the simultaneous completion of albums for the Bad Boy empire.

I will be running down the antics each week on the blog, due in part to a mild addiction to Diddy's semi-abusive comments and a love for all things reality t.v. So to begin, I have come to the realization that Diddy aspires to be the black Dick Clark! Keeping his hands in all things entertainment based, Puff knows what it takes to sell, market and capitalize on ANYTHING. Sidebar: I will not be referring to either group as a "band." That term should be reserved for musicians i.e. people who play instruments! Lol.

The girls of DK returned this season with some new swag (especially Dawn and Shannon) and seemingly, more vocally confident. In this episode, Aubrey was checked by Puff for being the"wild child" of DK, but she gets my props for standing her ground to the boss. 'Ol girl has some balls. The guys spent the majority of the episode not knowing how to interact with the ladies. I guess the realm of celebrity doesn't take overnight.

After a weekend of partying, the guys and girls hit the studio with different production teams at Daddy's House studios. I didn't really agree with the girls having to do the "trial" song, as the guys had to complete. They have proven themselves and sold 1 million records, in an era where that task has become virtually impossible as a new artist. But, hey that's Diddy for you. Puff put his foot in the guys ass for "over-singing." In reality, the recording process is a learning experience and on their first song as a new group, there is going to be a steep learning curve. I am sure the guys will get more comfortable in studio procedure and protocol. Detroit shout-out to the guys producer in this scene, Mike Winans. Google him if you aren't up on the Winans.

All in all, a pretty good premier episode. I will be looking forward to plenty hook-ups, mishaps, and Diddy quotables this season.

whatupdoe!

whatupdoe!

For those that don't know - whatupdoe is a phrase from my hometown, Detroit. It is synonymous with whatsup, hello, or what's good. If you are from the D, you probably use it in your everyday vocab, lol.

Well, a former classmate of mine (whatup Justin) has started a new streetwear collection entitled "whatupdoe". The synopsis on the line is that it " was created by two individuals that needed to fill an ever growing void - a void in the local streetwear scene for clothing that represents who they are and where they come from. Thus came the idea to create a clothing line called "whatupdoe." a phrase that can be commonly heard only here within the Metro-Detroit community. Cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago have already put their stamp in the streetwear culture, it's time to put the D on the map (WADUPDOE,2008).




I love this concept and being an avid Detroit supporter, I had to put the line on the blog. Check out theirmyspace and blogspot . Cop their limited edition shirt at:

Burn Rubber
202 West 4th St.
Royal Oak, MI 48067
http://www.burnrubberdetroit.com

-Mike

Can We Be Trusted?

“Trust and empower.” That’s the theme of President Bush’s final State of the Union address, to be presented on January 28th. Being that Bush has less than a year left in office, he won’t be introducing any new initiatives to Congress. He’ll be revisiting what he feels is the most important issue facing the country right now; the economy.



A White House spokeswoman said, “his address will advocate his philosophy of trusting Americans, empowering them to make good and wise decisions, especially when it comes to keeping more of their hard-earned money, rather than sending it to Washington."

Trusting “Americans” and empowering us to make “good and wise decisions.” Is he serious? The President is going to give us another shot to earn his trust and approval on how we handle money. This is the same money that has added up to nearly HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS to pay for the war he started and is now clueless on how to stop. Now he’s going to tell us how to save the economy that he has helped deteriorate.

Bush fears that our steadily declining economy will lead us into a recession and we should listen to him if we want to contend that notion. With national debt over $9 trillion, crude oil prices skyrocketing, and war dollars starting to supercede casualties, George W. is finally going to tell us how we can correct all of this. The problem is, he led us here and now expects us to handle the weight of economic recovery. Bush trusts us to make “good and wise decisions,” and listen to his proposals on Monday. We did that in 2000, and eight years later Americans are still regretting having that sort of power.

You can watch the State of the Union Address Monday night 8:00et on CNN

-Ant

(singing) I Wanna Be I Wanna Be Like Mike!

For all you sneaker heads out there, this was a monumental day for your collection. The Air Jordan XX3 went on sale today, but probably not to the same huge crowds one has come to expect with Jordan releases. In an unprecedented move to honor the most popular number ever worn by an athlete, only 23 stores nationwide received 23 pairs of the 23rd edition of the Air Jordan shoe…and they’re going for $230.00!

"The Air Jordan XX3 is deeply meaningful to me, as a celebration of both my life and career. The number 23 is obviously of great significance to me and the release of the XX3 is a pinnacle moment in the Brand’s history,” said Michael Jordan in a release from Nike. “I’m honored and humbled by the Air Jordan franchise’s loyal following after all these years. The release of this shoe is exciting and a dream come true for me.”

The first pair of Jordan’s were released in 1985 and since then the shoe has revolutionized not only basketball, but young men’s fashion. Air Jordan has easily been one of the most successful brands of the last two decades, and it’s dominance in shoe stores is just another example of the legendary greatness that Michael Jordan brought to the game. Congrats on 23 years of excellence!!

-Ant

Open Letter to the Mayor

Kwame:

I hate to pass judgment, as the majority of Detroit and the rest of the Nation has (yes, this scandal is across the nation for all you Detroiters out there), but I have to speak my piece on this situation. I believed in you as a young voter. Your campaign was the first political entity where I felt viably connected and involved. From debates to rallies, I felt passionate about walking the campaign trail behind you. I felt empowered that a young, black male who loved the city and was actually qualified for the job, would be the Mayor of my city. I sat at your inauguration, dressed in a suit with camera in hand, and felt proud that there was a chance for change in Detroit. Your first four years in office were riddled with equal parts scandal and forward motion for the city: Super Bowl, All Star Game, Greektown Casino, MGM, Motor City, Campus Martius, Riverfront Conservancy, and the list goes on. You survived another campaign and I felt that maybe the tides had turned and you had learned from the mistakes of your past. But as the saying goes, what is done in the dark will always come to the light. Well, the spotlight is on you. I hate the situation that you are in. Moreso, I hate the situation you have placed my city in. With unemployment at an all-time high, a dying auto industry, and the worst housing market in the US, did you have to add anything to Detroit's overflowing plate? Kwame, I guess I said all that to say... not only did you let down Detroit and yourself, you let me down. I believed in you and you spit on that belief. Good luck with your current situation. You are going to need it.

-Mike

For more info on the potential perjury scandal of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick click here.

One Dream

On this day, we at The Ant & Mike Show would like to show the utmost respect to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. From his dream, we all have been given the right to dream without limitation. Thank You, Dr. King.

-Mike

Public Service Annoucement

So when we created this blog, we wanted it to be a place where Ant & I could sound off on any random thing that we value or despise. The time has come for me to speak on a random instance that has begun to irritate me to no end. Being a product of Gen Y, I am on Facebook and Myspace most of my non-nocturnal hours of the day. In doing so, a few months ago a trend began to surface in my female peer photo albums. Upon initial discover, I thought I was witness to the act of facial spasm or random display of child-like nature, but in actuality, I was witnessing an epidemic. This plague began to spread to the photo albums of every young lady I knew. I remained quiet in spite of this outbreak, but I will be silent no longer. I hereby denounce the flagrant and excessive use of the female-cultural phenomenon of “The Kissey Face”.



LOL. I hate when I am perusing a Facebook album and I am bombarded with 20 self-portraits, all with pursed lips inches from the Cybershot screen.

Why? What is the significance of this “face”? Why is it so prevalent? Will it ever end?

If you are one of the young women in question who can’t help but pucker up at the shudder of a digital camera, take this post as your personal invitation and motivation to fight the temptation and merely smile. We here at the Ant & Mike Show are starting a campaign of our own this year: VOTE NO ON “THE KISSEY FACE” IN ‘08.

That is all.

-Mike

Don't Forget What You're Voting For

I read this on Steve Harvey’s website and found it pretty interesting:

“Last night during Wyclef's stop at New York City's Nokia Theater, special guest and Fugees bandmate Pras shared a few words with the crowd aimed at BET founder Bob Johnson's alliance with presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton. "Vote for Obama - don't be a coon like [Bob] Johnson," Pras shouted as he exited the stage. Fans roared in excitement, capping a night of performances from 'Clef, Lyfe Jennings and newcomer Estelle, prodigy of singer John Legend (who was on hand to watch).”

These comments come a few days after Bob Johnson said he was “frankly insulted” by the Obama campaign tactics and the implications that Hilary and Bill Clinton would “denigrate the accomplishments of civil rights marchers,” [if Hilary is voted in]. Johnson even alluded to Obama saying in his new book that he did drugs when he was a teenager. Personally I’m indifferent on both Pras’ and Bob Johnson’s petty commentary. These are pretty harsh words from Pras, especially given that Bob Johnson has probably had more to do with Pras’ success than anybody. On the contrary Johnson’s comments were unnecessary as well. If you support Clinton, you don’t need to attempt to discredit Obama (Johnson has since apologized for his comments). This current race for democratic representation in November’s election has gone too far past politics, and has now entered the realm of racism, sexism, and personal attacks being disguised as support for a particular candidate.

Don’t vote for Hilary Clinton because she’s a woman or because Bill is her husband. Sen. Obama shouldn’t get your vote simply because he’s black. The things that separate the two democratic front-runners shouldn’t be based on gender or race relations. Who you vote for should deal with where these candidates stand on issues. What does Sen. Clinton propose to do about the budget concerns this country faces? What are Sen. Obama’s plans on foreign policy? How does either of them plan on logically ending the war in Iraq? These are the things I want to hear about when someone is encouraging me to vote for a particular candidate, but these issues get lost in a pool of malicious banter and mud-slinging. Save the schoolyard bickering for homecoming court voting, this is the presidency of the United States.

Both Clinton and Obama have established their fan base in these primaries, but this is not a popularity contest. The concerns the next president of this country will face are real and immense. The last eight years have proven more than any that we are in need of political modification. When telling people why your candidate is better than the next, tell them about that candidates campaign instead of denouncing another nominee.

Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama would both make history if either of them becomes president. She can become the first female president in the U.S., or he can become the first African-American president. If citizen’s vote based solely on the gender, race, or celebrity support that either of them possess, and not on their plans of implementation once they’re in office, then we’ll be dividing the qualifications of both candidates based on the same kind of discrimination that would have kept the two of them from being president 100 years ago.

-Ant

Must See TV: MTB4

As much as I wanted to hate it, The last season of Diddy's "Making The Band" franchise was ignorantly entertaining, lol. I am sure this new season will deliver the same antics that only Diddy can deliver. Set in Miami with both Danity Kane and the MTB guys all in one house, there will surely be some regulatory hook ups, beefs, and breakdowns. In the words of Ant, "Diddy, you are a fucking genius!" Check out the trailer below.

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

Tune in Jan. 28th on MTV.

-Mike

Macbook Air... I'm not sold

All I can say is - NO OPTICAL DRIVE. Ok, Steve Jobs - You really don't want us to buy CD's anymore do you? I know this a wireless era, but let's not get outta hand.
-Mike

For The Sake Of Fashion

Anybody who is a fan of the classic Prada America’s Cup leather high tops is about to be disgusted. Fila, the Italian sneaker company from back in the day, used to be the hottest shoe on the block. Though the last pair of Fila’s I bought was a pair of Grant Hill’s back in elementary school, they were making somewhat of a comeback with this resurgence of 80’s themed fashions. However their latest creation, the Fila Helmsman, is something that should be detached from the shoe company’s name. I’m still in shock at the blatant bite that Fila took out of one of Miuccia Prada’s prized designs. This shoe looks like a mix of the Prada high top and the Jordan XI’s with the patent leather.

This isn’t the first time Prada has taken a hit in the knock off game. Steve Madden had a line of shoes that were introduced at the top of the century. They possessed the red stripe on the heel of the shoe which is a staple in most of the Prada designs. Coincidentally the Steve Madden knock off looked like the low top version of the Prada America’s Cup shoe.

I know that in the shoe industry, products are designed to compete with other companies, but Fila vs. Prada ... there is no competition. As a consumer, I understand the need for a bargain, and I know how hard times can get, but if you can’t get the real version, don’t sweat it. There are some perfectly good shoes that don’t look like knockoffs. The Fila Helmsman will be available worldwide in February 2008. Please DON’T get caught in a pair...

-Ant

It's All Fun and Games 'Til Someone Gets Hurt

I’m not big into the celebrity gossip…especially with celebs I don’t really have an interest in. However, I have to make an exception this one time and talk about something that is rather disturbing to me. I’m not psychiatrist or any type of mental health professional but isn’t it painfully obvious that tabloid darling Britney Spears is a danger to herself and should be on some kind of suicide watch?

Am I the only one who thinks they [the media] should really leave her alone ASAP? It seems to me that the constant cameras and the onslaught of negative media surrounding her personal life are the things sending her over the edge. I know she provides a good cover story for tabloid magazines and a few excellent pictures for gossip sites and bloggers to drool over, but she seriously needs personal help, not unconstructive backlash.

The media somehow feels it has a backstage pass into the personal lives of celebrities and thinks it can exploit everything that these people do. There’s a saying that goes “it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” Well I think Ms. Spears is way too close to hurting someone [namely herself] for the media to keep poking fun at her. Just as Anna Nicole Smith was harassed until and even after she died, things are once again going too far with this obsession over someone else’s personal life. Spears has lost the right to see her son’s (temporarily for now), and the ongoing custody battle is not in her favor. This is not a joking matter. Imagine losing the right to see your children because you aren't deemed a good enough parent.

Then at the MTV Awards she had the infamous opening performance, which became a lead in for late night talk show hosts and comedians everywhere. Personally I never saw the full performance (I'm not a fan of MTV), but I've seen clips and pictures and she didn't even look that bad. Her performance was awkward because not too many people knew the song at that time, not because she sounded bad. She sounded no worse than most of the artists who do more singing than dancing in a live performance. Her outfit was a little risqué, but she didn't look fat at all. How many women do you know can have two kids born within a year of one another, and still look like she did? I've seen plenty of less attractive bodies than that.

I’m not the biggest fan of her music, but she’s probably the biggest solo artist we’ve seen since Prince, Michael Jackson and Madonna and to see her career and personal life go from prominent to disturbing, is nothing to be made light of. We tend to forget that people with unfathomable wealth are still people and the line between what’s personal and private gets crossed far too often. The line that leads into the private sector of a celebrities’ personal life, can sometimes be more delicate than we assume. Britney Spears, in my opinion should be watched daily, not because her career is at an all time low, but because her potential to do harm to herself is at its highest.

-Ant

He Got Me Invested In Some Kinda Fruit Company

"Before Steve Jobs made the iPod..." - Jay-Z

For all the Apple-heads out there (myself included), tomorrow is a big day. The Macworld Conference & Expo, Silicon Valley’s largest technology trade show, began today and tomorrow (1.15) Steve Jobs will deliver his annual address, which always brings the announcement of a new revolutionary product or two. In past years we have been introduced to slim and trim iPods, Apple TV, and the most hyped product of 2007, the iPhone. Not being a technical person at all, I have no idea what Jobs is gonna throw at us, but Fortune.com has made some speculations.

Excerpt from Fortune.com

· A Skinny MacBook. Probably the leading candidate for Jobs’ one-more-thing moment, it’s already been named — Macbook air, thin, nano and mini — and imagined in PhotoShop (see here, for example) by bloggers who should know better. Likely specs: 12 to 13-inch. LED backlit screen, under 3 lbs., half as thick as today’s MacBooks, 32, 64 or even 128GB solid-state flash drive, priced around $1,600.

· iPhone updates. A bump in capacity from 8GB to 16GB and maybe 32GB is expected, as well as a preview of the software developers toolkit (SDK) promised for February; we might even get a few demos from developers, like EA, who were seeded with the SDK last fall. A 3G iPhone and a Newton-type tablet are reported to be in the works, but not yet ready for prime time.

· Movie rentals. This is the item Hollywood is following most closely. It’s been widely reported that Fox and Disney are likely to make movies available on iTunes for overnight rental (at $3 to $5 for 24 hours) or for purchase for roughly the price of a shrink-wrapped DVD. If, as rumored, Paramount, Lions Gate and Warner Bros join them, the flood of fresh video content could breath new life into the Apple TV. (The Associated Press reported Sunday that Netflix (NFLX), anticipating such a move by Apple, will offer unlimited monthly video streaming.)

· DRM-free Music. Having famously championed the cause with his February 2007 Thoughts on Music memo, it would be surprising — and disappointing — if Jobs did not use this opportunity to announce a significant expansion of the DRM-free offerings in the iTunes Store, especially after the last of the major labels announced last week that they were putting their music on Amazon.com (AMZN) without copy protection.

· Microsoft (MSFT) Office 2008. No surprises here, since the reviews are already in, but an excuse for what should be the most lavish after-hours party of the show.

· The Beatles. It’s about time. Just in case, Yoko Ono’s John Lennon Educational Tour Bus mobile recording studio is making the trip from its Las Vegas unveiling at the Consumer Electronics Show to be at Macworld. A few hours after Jobs’ speech, there’s a press reception in the bus that’s co-sponsored by Apple.

Check out the full article here and I definitely will be updating tomorrow once the announcement has been made.

-Mike

Sunday Sports Wrap Up: NFL Playoff Edition...Hold Ya Head Peyton!

So Sunday was an absolutely devastating day for me in the world of football. As far as this season goes, Peyton Manning is no more. In a shocker, the Indianapolis Colts went down at home to a solid San Diego Chargers team, 28-24, ending my hopes for another classic Colts vs. Pats AFC Championship game. The defending champion Colts had plenty of opportunities down the stretch to regain and hold the lead, but their defense, led by Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders, didn’t stop San Diego early enough. With Ladanian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers sidelined during the game with injuries, the Colts defense should have handled the backups no problem. Instead, backup QB Billy Volek led a Chargers drive downfield like he was an All Pro.

Even with this random turn of events, Peyton and the Colts offense still had a couple of chances in to regain the lead, but couldn’t seize it. Dungy had the Colts go for it on 4th down in the red zone and the pass was high and out of reach. The defense gave Peyton one more chance to work magic. With under two-minutes left, Peyton tried to engineer another classic Manning comeback drive. However the magic was gone. The Colts went four and out, including a pass to Reggie Wayne that would’ve been a first down had he not gotten popped and lost the ball.

San Diego should feel pretty good about itself having won eight straight going into New England next weekend. However they did get blown out 38-14 back in week 2 by the Pats. Since my favorite player, Peyton Manning is not in this game, I really don’t care about the outcome (bitter…yep!).

Next Game: AFC Championship, San Diego vs. New England, Sunday 3:00pm ET

Now onto a game I really didn’t watch (still in a daze about the Colts game), but the outcome was still a stunner. The New York Giants beat the NFC’s best team Sunday, as the Cowboys lost 21-17. Amid all the drama surrounding quarterback Tony Romo and his Mexican getaway with Jessica Simpson, everybody wondered how the ‘Boys would respond. Well with an ok game from Romo (201 yards on 18 for 36 passing and a TD), and a sub-par game from the “100%” Terrell Owens (4 catches for 49 yards and a TD), we got our answer.

Meanwhile the most shocking thing to me is that Eli Manning is still in the playoffs. Eli (or Peyton’s little brother) is finally starting to make a name for himself in the postseason. Though he only threw for a measly 163 yards and two touchdowns, the biggest number is zero, as in interceptions. Eli kept the ball out of the hands of the Cowboys defense and did just enough to preserve the win.



Even bigger news is that TO CRIED during his post-game interview when answering questions about Romo. Owens said, "You can point the finger at him, you can talk about the vacation, and if you do that, it's really unfair. That's my teammate. ... We lost as a team." Now that’s a different Owens than we’ve known over the years. He has a heart, now all he needs is a ring.

Next Game: NFC Championship, New York vs. Green Bay, Sunday 6:30pm ET

-Ant

Saturday Sports Wrap Up: NFL Playoff Edition...Pat's Stay Dominant

The seemingly unbeatable New England Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars Saturday 31-20. The Jags played a close game, going back and forth scoring with the Pats in the first half. They even took my MVP Randy Moss out of the game playing him in double and triple coverage. But the Pats have weapons, and as much as I want to throw up saying it, they’re some pretty damn good ones. America’s darling (and my archenemy) Tom Brady threw for 92.9 completion percentage which broke Phil Simms’ longstanding completion percentage record in a playoff game. Laurence Maroney had another huge game on the ground, rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown. The Pats also eliminated the Jags vaunted two-headed rushing attack, leaving Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew with a combined 66 yards on the ground. The game basically came down to Jacksonville having no answer for Brady and his 262 yards passing. The Jags also lost the turnover battle 2-0 and when you’re playing a perfect team, you have to play them perfectly.

Next Game: AFC Championship, San Diego vs. New England, Sunday 3:00pm ET


Continuing in Saturday’s games was Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers facing my pick for most boring playoff team, the Seattle Seahawks. Everything about the ‘Hawks from their colors (what is that random lime green about??) to their players (snooze) is really irritating and I was hoping the Redskins would handle them last weekend, but my wish was a week late. The Packers beat the Seahawks 42-20 on Saturday. Brett Favre, at 38 years old is getting younger by the game. He was in his element (a snowy game at Lambeau) and he picked apart Seattle’s big defense. Favre had 193 yards and 3 touchdowns and he even took a minute to hit Donald Driver with a snowball.

However the big name in this game was Ryan Grant. If you’ve never heard of him, you will. Just a few months ago, all the sports writers talked about the lack of a running game in Green Bay, and how they wouldn’t go far in the playoffs without one. Well in the snow globe that was Lambeau Field, Grant silenced all critics of the teams rushing attack with 201 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 201 rushing yards was a team postseason record and ranks 7th all time in the playoffs. All this came after Grant fumbled twice on the Packs first two possessions. "I thought, 'Oh boy, this ain't too good,' " Favre said. "This is the exact game I didn't want to be in." Grant said of his early ball-gripping woes, "I appreciate everyone sticking with it, staying with me.” Seattle opened the game up with two early scores of those fumbles making it 14-0 in a couple of minutes, but from that point the Packers turned it into the Lambeau Show, turning in six touchdowns on their next six possessions. Favre is 43-5 when temps are lower than 34 degrees at Lambeau and he’ll have a chance to improve that record now that the Cowboys have been eliminated.

Next Game: NFC Championship, New York vs. Green Bay, Sunday 6:30pm ET

-Ant

Do You Love Each Other Enough To Wait?

Disclaimer: This is not meant to disrespect anyone, nor am I specifying one particular instance when I speak on this extremely sensitive topic. If you feel in anyway upset at something said in this post, please accept my apology in advance, but these are just my thoughts and in no way are they meant to affect anyone personally. That being said…

Why is the entire “under the age of 25” world getting married? What the hell is the obsession with giving your entire life away to someone before you’ve had a chance to live it? Oh my goodness if I see one more wedding album, engagement ring, or the word fiancé associated with anyone in my age bracket I’m going to commit suicide twice!!

The institution of marriage is something sacred. If you want to wear a nice dress take your little brother to prom. You shouldn’t have a wedding just because you haven’t seen a lot of friends in a while. This is you pledging before God, to honor one person for the rest of your life. If you’re fresh out of school and without a job, I don’t think you’re ready to be somebody’s husband or wife. What do you have to offer someone else when you haven’t even figured out what you can do for yourself?

I need people to realize that this goes far beyond one day. Start asking yourself, do I want a wedding or a marriage? There is a BIG DAMN DIFFERENCE. My parents have been together since the 4th Grade and even they took the time to date other people before they got married. I feel like a lot of folks are jumping into engagements and marriages because their relationship is at a standstill, and they need something refreshing to happen. You want to do something new, save it for the bedroom, not the wedding chapel.

I can ramble on about this for weeks because it’s such a popular trend right now. There's a new instance to talk about everyday. My point is, most people don’t find true love their whole lives let alone by their early 20’s, and if you have found it by then, it’s hard as hell to hold onto. However, those who have been together for a while may start to feel like they’ve done everything in the relationship, so marriage is the only next step. Marriage is NOT the only option. If you feel like you’ve been together too long, take a break and see what the world looks like outside of your relationship. Don’t be afraid to give each other some space. If you’re really meant to be, and you’re comfortable in your relationship, then what’s the rush. Take some time to get to know that person more. Take time to get to know yourself. Atleast take time to get your credit right before you mess up someone elses.

To put it simply: If you’re engaged or married, between the ages of 20-25, and you’re actively on Facebook, YOU WEREN’T READY!!! Stop changing profile pics and go be somebody’s husband or wife. Engaged/Married people on Facebook are like that old dude at the club…trying to hang on to their youth, unsure about the choices they made when they had it, and looking extremely foolish trying to relive it. You’re married now, time to grow up...

-Ant

Read the post under this...knowledge for the day

Genarlow: The Rebirth

“It’s like a rebirth – a breath of fresh air,” - Genarlow Wilson

During my random daily search of the local and national news, I ran across the Atlanta Journal Constitution piece on Genarlow Wilson, the Atlanta teen who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for consensual oral sex with another minor. Wilson, now 21, was released from prison this past October after Georgia Law was changed, making this crime a misdemeanor due to the close age of both sexual participants. The article detailed how Genarlow is making a fresh, new start and beginning courses at HBCU Morehouse College next week. Wilson’s education is being sponsored by national radio and television personality, Tom Joyner and his Tom Joyner Foundation.

This story made an impression on me two years ago and has especially influenced me presently. As African-American men and women in this society, sometimes the odds are stacked against us. All it takes is one day, one hour, or even one minute of carelessness and our lives can be drastically changed or ruined forever. Genarlow fell victim to this realization. But by the Grace of God through the work of individuals dedicated to upholding justice, this man, not unlike any of us, has been given a second chance. Whether it is drinking and driving, sexual encounters, or reckless spending, we all have to take a second and think about the consequences of our actions. Every one of us has the opportunity to be apart of the most accomplished, intelligent, wealthy generation of Black people this country has ever seen. I am glad that Genarlow is getting the opportunity to join us.

-Mike

This Made Me Feel Good

I don't really want to write a story about this because details ruin the initial shock, so I'll keep it short and sweet. A Hurricane Katrina Victim is suing for 3 quadrillion dollars in damages. This hefty number, added to the sum of other claims filed by insurance comapanies, citizens and the city of New Orleans brings the total dollar amount of Katrina related suits to $3,014,170,389,176,410 (and counting). No country on this planet could survive losing 1 quadrillion dollars let alone 3, but I love the point thats being made. The damages are endless, the lives lost were priceless, and the U.S. can not even begin to compensate the people in Louisiana and Mississippi whose entire lives were gambled on account of an unstable levee.

-Ant

When Lynching Became Funny!

So I just wrote a piece a little while back posing the question, is America still racist. Well I got somewhat of an answer this past Friday. An anchor on the Golf Channel named Kelly Tilghman was talking about Tiger Woods’ dominance of all things golf related and she went on to say that the young players on the PGA Tour should “lynch Tiger Woods in a back alley.” WHAT??!!?!?!?!?!?!?

That is a pretty bold statement to say the least. However this isn’t Tiger Woods’ first time being the butt of racially driven “humor”. In 1997, fellow tour member Fuzzy Zoeller repeatedly called Tiger Woods a “little boy” in an interview and said “You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year…or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve.” These reckless statements came after Woods had just become the first African American to win a major golf tournament, with his record setting display at the Masters.

Though Tilghman’s comments were less detailed than Zoeller’s, she was just as crude, if not more, for her statements. Kelly Tilghman is the first woman to become a full time play-by-play announcer in PGA Tour history so she should be able to appreciate Woods’ ability to overcome adversity and do things that before him were unprecedented. But instead of respecting what he’s done for golf (he’s probably one of the few reasons there even is a Golf Channel), she wants to see him “lynched” because his supremacy of the game is making it difficult for other players to win. Is she serious? Tilghman apparently made an apology on Sunday and is trying to reach out to Tiger Woods and his representatives so they can talk personally.

After 2007, a year where America had quite a few derogatory statements and gestures made (Don Imus, Dog Chapman, Isaiah Washington, etc.) and almost 11 years after Fuzzy Zoeller made the worst of his camera time, you would think people would be wise enough to leave this kind of "humor" alone. Maybe when Kelly Tilghman gets in touch with Tiger Woods she should take him out for some fried chicken and collard greens; that should lighten the mood.

-Ant

Can't Stop, Won't Stop

"I always knew that one day, they'd try to bring me down" - Kanye West

So, yesterday I got up and started my day by moving my ibook (yes, I am patiently waiting to upgrade to a macbook, lol) out to living room so that I could go full force on my many entrepreneurial pursuits. The day was going very productive. I was able to do some planning in regards to my brand consultancy, Paragon Brand Marketing (myspace.com/paragonmarketing), as well as a couple other projects that will remain under wraps for a minute! In the middle of this, a business associate called me and among other things, expressed that I am spreading myself thin and should just focus on one thing.

Well, I will not. I won't just work on one project at a time. I am a multi-faceted person and I have to engage my many skills. I do understand that I cannot take on the whole world all at once, but if I only work on one thing - am I really goin hard in 08? I don't think so.

I won't be held back this year, even by those who feel they have my best interest at heart. We are only 6 days into the new year and I am already getting things rolling with new prospects, collaborations, and business initiatives. Today at church, Pastor Murphy stated that in 08 we have to be obedient, consistent, have faith, and be focused. I think those are words to live by and I won't be applying it to just one thing, but to many things! So the moral of the story is don't let anyone dictate or interfere with the goals you set for yourself, period.
-Mike

Next Up: New Hampshire

-Mike

CRS (Pharrell, Kanye, & Lupe) Makin’ Moves

I'm sure everyone has heard by now that Pharrell, Kanye, and Lupe will be teaming as a super-group (CRS) in 08, but in the meanwhile, each of these rap mega-stars has their own individual projects brewing in this new year.


Pharrell’s uber-cool sportswear lines, Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream, return with their Spring/Summer 2008 collections. Each line includes clever styling, complete with emblazoned t-shirts, hoodies, and jeans. The Look Book (http://www.bbcicecream.com/lookbook/) was shot in Miami and features all three members of N.E.R.D (Pharrell, Shay, and Chad). Check out the Look Book and remember to keep up with all things BBC/IC at their blog, bbcicecream.com/blog/.


After a couple months of silence following the untimely death of his mother, Ye’ is back! Kanye is back to blogging on his KanyeUniverseCity.com site. Among recent updates are Kanye’s thoughts on hot cars, gadgets and pics of him and Beyonce playing Connect Four, lol. Check it out here. Look out for Kan-yezzy on the "Glow In The Dark" Tour later this year.


For all the ATL residents out there, Lupe Fiasco will be doing a show at the Roxy Theatre on January 25th, 2008. I will definitely be there with my “go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go gadget flow.” The tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster – www.ticketmaster.com . Check out the tour dates below.

Lupe Fiasco 2008 “The Cool” Tour
Jan 10 Portland, OR Roseland Theatre
Jan 11 Seattle, WA Showbox Sodo
Jan 13 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
Jan 14 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
Jan 15 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
Jan 17 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
Jan 18 Las Vegas, CA House of Blues
Jan 19 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theatre
Jan 20 Denver, CO Gothic Theatre
Jan 22 Austin, TX Emo's
Jan 23 Dallas, TX House of Blues
Jan 25 Atlanta, GA The Roxy
Jan 27 Baltimore, MD Sonar
Jan 28 Norfolk, VA The Norva
Jan 30 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Jan 31 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore at TLA
Feb 1 Richmond, VA Stuart C. Seigel Center
Feb 2 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
Mar 1 New Haven, CT Yale University
Mar 25 Fredricksburg, VA Great Hall

-Mike