#BHM

The other day I heard someone pull out an oldie but a goodie.

Word.

During Black History Month this is exactly the energy I’m on. Please also be advised that my observation will also be on CPT (ask a friend). The first of the month is for paying rent. The second is for me to mentally recover from all the bills I paid on the first. But the third day of February? Don’t let the late start fool you! It’s going down and best believe I’ll be making up for my late start on the back end. 

My Christmas tree doesn’t come down until MLK Day and Black History Month celebrations don’t end until sometime in March, usually around Mardi Gras. 

Those are the rules! Don’t be upset with me. I’m just the messenger.

One thing I’ve noticed is most places in our country have reduced a meaningful opportunity to reflect into a trite trivia marathon. 

Black history is awesome. Black history is important. And Black history is still being made. 

The other day I went to a program where a panel of attorneys was discussing the unique aspects of navigating the legal field as Black women. Each of the attorneys was forging her own path and making history in the process. For a small, meaningful few in the audience these women served as an elusive proof of concept. Many of us could relate to their stories. All of us left the room with increased empathy.

This is how we should spend Black History Month. I would love to see more programming devoted to learning from the trailblazers walking among us. It’s a tall order to be “the first” anything. I think we should be mining these folks for wisdom that can be applied to our own lives.

Here’s an Example…

Not only would this content be more engaging. It would provide unique value to the audience. Anyone with a public library card or access to the internet can look up facts and a picture of MLK, respectfully.

So @BigMedia, this is your freebie. Attach this email to the meeting invite. You need to retool your Black History Month strategy and this is the way. It’s too meaningful and expensive not to do it right.

Super Bowl Recap (Charlie’s Version)

You might’ve heard that there was a big football game over the weekend. The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22. 

It. Was. Glorious.

The score was 34-0 until late in the third quarter. It was just so satisfying to see such a thorough romping of the Chiefs. The way they eked out wins week-after-week by less than a score just felt so smug. For the second year in a row it felt like the Chiefs stumbled their way through the overwhelming majority of the regular season only to metamorphosize into championship favorites in the postseason.

This L doesn’t change my stance on Patrick Mahomes. I still think he is the best quarterback to play the game and will have the resumé to prove it before he hangs it up. 

One bad game can’t erase 7 years of evidence.

Forgive me for burying the lead. The real story of Super Bowl LIX is the Philadelphia Eagles! How about a little commotion for my Super Bowl MVP: Jalen Hurts. I told y’all last week that I’m a fanatic. Jalen dealt with a lot of adversity and questioning of his ability to reach this point. These doubts made it all the sweeter for me as a fan to see him win. 

I watched Philly all year and it was clear to me they were probably the best team in the NFL after Detroit (when healthy). They don’t really have a weakness as a football team. Dominance on both sides of the ball is exactly what we saw on Sunday. 

Still, what’s most exciting for me as a Philly fan is that the ceiling for this franchise is literally and figuratively nowhere in sight. Philly has a ton of salary cap room to add more talent in the offseason. Most of their starters, with the notable exception of Zack Baun, are under contract for the next couple of years. Perhaps most persuasive of all, Philadelphia has great management. Just ask Cowboys fans what a difference that makes. 

I have complete trust in the people driving this bus. I think Philly is good for two more NFC Championship appearances and another Super Bowl win in the next two years. Mark your calendars!

By now, you’ve probably talked this game to death while reheating leftovers by the workplace microwave. 

Nevertheless, here are my Super Bowl Call-Outs:

• Ledisi performed the first non-drowsy version of “Lift Every Voice And Sing” that I’ve ever heard.

• Southern University’s ‘Human Jukebox’ Marching Band dazzled proving the NFL is better when you get out of the way and let Black people carry on.

• Not to be outdone, I think Jon Batiste’s jazzy national anthem is the best we’ve heard since Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game.

• As it turns out, “Not Like Us” is still an incredibly hurtful song even when censored to meet FCC standards. Sorry, Drake. Serena Williams is married with children and still left her home and crossed state lines to C Walk at Drake’s funeral. Maybe she got the biggest lick back of all?

• Nike embodies the “stay ready so you don’t have to get ready” mentality. They probably had my favorite two commercials of the day with the Jordan brand and  ‘So Win.’

It’s easy to get lost in all of this Philly greatness, but I think they should still be wary. 

It took their full team healthy to beat the rookie Jayden Daniels while his team collapsed around him in the NFC Championship. This offseason there are some absolute gamechangers hitting the market who might be looking for a new home in the NFC. Ever heard of Myles Garret? Cooper Kupp? Tee Higgins?  If the Eagles want to replicate this year’s success, they can’t afford to rest on their laurels for very long in the offseason.

Their competition will absolutely be getting better.

Sing Sing

We’re in the thick of awards season. As usual, all of the problems I put off for Future Me have come home to roost. The Oscars are coming up March 2 and I’m hustling to see the movies on my list before the ceremony. 

A movie that’s been on my list for a while is Sing Sing. The film tells the incredible story of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program at max-security Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York. It follows the men who participated in the program and tells the story of how their lives were changed. Sing Sing stars Coleman Domingo alongside several men who were formerly incarcerated at Sing Sing.

The acting in this movie is incredible. I know Best Actor is the award of the night and a political game as much as anything. However, Coleman Domingo is nominated for this performance and I wouldn’t be upset if he walked away with the award. He was excellent. 

The true stars of the movie though are the actors playing themselves. I can’t imagine what the process was like for these men as they brought the script to life and relived such raw moments to be captured on film. I’m really grateful for it though.

Sing Sing is one of those movies that helps you get perspective and reset. It reminds us of the things that are truly important and encourages us not to abandon our humanity even in the ugliest of circumstances. 

You MAY need a tissue, but only one. 

This movie hit home for me as it reillustrated how patently unfair our criminal justice system can be. It was especially painful considering how disproportionately the system impacts impoverished communities and those of color. There is still so much work to be done.

I also have to give credit to the cinematographer. The filmmakers made such thoughtful choices with the way they shot each scene. They used the camera to make the audience feel a sense of confinement along with the characters to great effect. 

There’s a shot where Divine G and Divine Eye are silently looking out a window. For me it was one of the most powerful moments of the whole movie. 

Sing Sing is not a light watch, but it’s absolutely worth it. This story deserves to be told, retold, and then told again. I have no notes.

Hidden Costs of Being a Pro Athlete

It was the trade heard around the world. Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis headlined a trade between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers. This was truly mindblowing news because prior to the trade both Davis and Doncic were considered indispensable to their respective teams and, for my money, easily two of the top 10 players in the NBA.

The conversation since then has mostly revolved around who won the trade, whether LeBron James is better positioned to win another championship before retirement, and if he was consulted ahead of time. 

The most interesting story to me is the fact that this seismic trade happened without the knowledge or consent of the superstar players directly involved.

We all know being a professional athlete can have tremendous upside. Many get paid nearly incomprehensible sums of money for playing a game. It’s a job with amazing perks: private flights, nice hotels, adoring fans, and a team of professionals who are obsessed with keeping you at your physical peak. What’s not to love?

Sure we’ve heard about the taxes and commissions that come out of those eye-popping salaries, but it can’t be that bad…right?

• Athletes pay taxes in every state in which they earn income, unless there is no state income tax. Additionally, most of the money from an athlete’s contract is taxed at the highest available marginal tax rate in each jurisdiction. This will take a fat chunk out of a player’s take-home pay.

• Most athletes will also have to pay between 3 and 5 percent of their contract to their agents as commission.

After these deductions, most athletes will pocket approximately half of the money they earn. In most cases, this is still a dizzying sum of money. Allow me to lay out some other costs.

• A dip in performance or failure to live up to expectations can create a hostile environment for players and their families.

• Fans might feel entitled to weigh in on your life off the field, making things rather unpleasant.

• Your whole life can be uprooted in a moment and it’s beyond your control. 

• Your individual success and personal fulfilment is secondary… 

  • To the whims of the team owner (Dallas Cowboys)

  • To the ability of teammates who don’t show up in big moments (Patrick Mahomes)

  • To economics (Luka Doncic AND possibly Micah Parsons?!?! Pray for Dallas y’all)

The job of a professional athlete isn’t to go out and live your dreams by scoring as many points as you can. The job is to show up when and where you’re told, put your body on the line,  and perform if and when management tells you to.

When reflecting on the lack of personal freedom after achieving success, Bruce Springsteen has been quoted saying, “that’s the price you pay for living your dreams.”

Do you think this dream is worth it? Is it time we dreamed a new dream and encourage our kids to do the same? What if we told our them instead that they could own their favorite teams? 

“Why not you?” It’s what the rich are doing.

The Last Word

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