By Jayar Jackson

Every time a big championship game is played, I wonder what it would be like to watch it with a person not involved but very personally invested in the outcome. When Lakers head coach Phil Jackson won his 9^th NBA Title as a head coach in 2002, tying legendary coach Red Auerbach's number of titles, I wondered what Auerbach was saying and thinking as the man he openly criticized as a head coach was accomplishing what he had sole possession of.

When Peyton Manning watched the Super Bowl this past season, what thoughts did he have about his conference rival Patriots going against his younger brother's Giants? Sure, he gives glowing answers to the media when they ask him about the respect he has for the guys representing Boston, but what kind of things was he saying about Tom Brady over a few beers with friends? The uninhibited trash talking fuels me; it's like the sports bet to an out-of-control gambler that makes the competition all the more exciting.

Now that former Lakers star and avid trash talker Shaquille O'Neal has voiced a few of his thoughts about Kobe Bryant's recent NBA Finals loss at the hands of the Boston Celtics, I can take one person off my "I Wonder What He Was Saying" list.

A video surfaced at the beginning of the week showing Shaq in a New York nightclub doing a freestyle rap for the fans. Let's not get into the hip hop styling of Mr. O'Neal, since it's pretty much confirmed that his lyrics,

"Once again it's time to get braggadocios, the tall human being and that's right, Shaq-a-tocios, check out my lyrical slam slam, watch me flip flam flam, I re-frack the crim-clanks, I biggity bitch the bam bam"

aren't exactly lyrically killin 'em in the streets.

As he ripped into Kobe from the very beginning, taunting him for losing the championship without him, the crowd knew they were in for an unexpected treat. It quickly became obvious that the thesis of his rap was "Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes.

"

You can disagree with the insensitive timing; only a week after Kobe suffered the devastating loss in his MVP season, disagree with the vulgar words, which everyone should just calm down and finally get used to, but you can't fight the fact that this has rebuilt the excitement NBA fans have to see these two rival teammates go up against each other again next year. The season just ended and I'm already looking forward to November just to see how this will play out on the court. We have the never ending antics of Shaq to thank for that; people love him when he's talking for their side, but hate him as soon as he's against them. Just ask Lakers fans, that's some effective trash talking.

And I'll admit it, I had Shaq's album back in '93. The truth shall set me free!

Do you remember those students in high school that used to sit in the back of the class, pass notes, talk, disrupt, and simply not listen to the Chemistry teacher's details about the Periodic Table? The ones that thought Barium was the new chant aimed at opponents during football games? I know...corny, but you get the picture.

It's no mystery that a great number of our students aren't receiving the education they are sent to school for everyday and accordingly, only close to 70% are graduating nationwide. In the state of Georgia the number falls to an astounding 56%. Obviously, these children aren't purely dim-witted or don't have the capacity to learn, they simply don't have the motivation to find interest in school, specifically in math and science as they grow up.

In case you still don't care, the 2001 Hart-Rudman Commission identified the nation's failure in math and science education as the second-biggest threat to our national security. If we don't keep up with the world in education, we won't be participating in the decisions made.

The Learning Makes a Difference Foundation has created the "Learn and Earn" program that provides the kind of motivation that every human can relate to: cash. With its sights set on the Fulton County schools in Georgia, the program focuses on students underperforming in math and science classes by offering them to earn $8/hour in after-school sessions. Coupling the universal language of money with a smaller instructor-to-student ratio of 1 to 10, a majority of the students become tempted for the money, but stay for the teacher interaction so many of our high schools lack.

In its infant 'pilot program' state, the results to this possibly controversial approach to learning are promising, gaining praise from parents that say their child has turned a new leaf. Where some students were once failing a class they are now passing and are interested in the subject matter.

Sounds good for them, but if Joe Slacker gets $8/hour to come do some after school studying after spending the morning daydreaming in class, what motivation is there for the students that had the drive from the beginning? These rewards for bad behavior could create an environment that tells everyone studying is only worth it when it immediately stuffs your pockets. The urge that everyone has for instant gratification could soon be satisfied, taking some students' sights off of the more rewarding route they originally bought into.

The answer has to be discovered somewhere in the middle. In an effort to boost underachievers, the school cannot ignore self-motivated individuals. Obviously, the measly $8/hour for a couple of hours of work isn't going to get any adult concerns taken care of like paying off mortgages, but the goal that is actually achieved is igniting the pilot light in young people's brains that gets them interested in subject matter they were never really told they should or could understand with a little bit of work.

Motivation is the key, and sadly, money is the only factor left in high school students' minds that gets them going. As long as they are not written off and presumed to be lost cases incapable of learning, maybe we can discover the tactics that get them interested. It may take a few dollars to get them in, but once they realize they can succeed, the rest is on the house.

By Jayar Jackson

Alright, I know I'm about a week behind on this one, but the back and forth online debate over Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant's Aston Martin jumping stunt could use some discussion for those of you that missed it. For the inconsistent YouTube surfers and sporadic NBA fans, here is what many have been talking about.

While 16 year old kids have been taping themselves attempting to jump over moving cars for years, resulting mostly in face plants and broken egos, a multi-million dollar asset to possibly the #1 team in the Western Conference of the NBA hasn't been documented doing such a pointless activity. With its explosion onto the internet, in a home video style quality, the debate over whether or not Bryant really jumped over a speeding Aston Martin was sparked. After the most careful analysis and rigorous consultation with the most reliable of sources; YouTube commentary, it's obvious to me that the fake scene was staged.

It's not that I don't believe the 6'6" sometimes super human athlete that jumps out of the gym couldn't clear a 4 foot-high vehicle that is traveling fast enough to pass under him in .5 seconds, it's that he wouldn't dare risk his career, or life with a mistimed jump as the car approached. All for what is obviously a shoe commercial without all the bells and whistles of a hyped up music track highlighting some of the athlete's most impressive aerial acrobats on the court. Here's an example of one of my favorites...

The one simple camera angle showing Bryant's profile was the first indicator. They never showed where this car was coming from, his teammate and "boy" Ronny Turiaf scattered off camera until the stunt was over, and his "concern" for Kobe's safety was oozing with most athletes' inability to act. At the height of his jump, he looked oddly suspended in air, possibly an indicator of some slight post-shoot special effects at work. Beyond all of that, it looks like the front tire of the car is turning as he "jumps" over it, showing that the car was probably to his right when it passed him, instead of directly in front of him, if there was even a car and Kobe there at the same time at all. But hey, that's just me being a skeptic, a Laker-hating skeptic? Many others swear that Kobe did it, because there's nothing he can't do.

I'll try it next weekend, all I need is for someone to donate a V12 Aston Martin Vanquish to me, and I will prove whether or not this ex-athlete can get even close! I'll take it in black, thank you.

By Jayar Jackson

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart may have finally gotten himself in some trouble over his much publicized partying ways. Pictures have surfaced on the internet of the USC alum and Heisman Trophy winner partying at his house in Arizona with his roll dog Nick Lachey and several women. Red cups and beer bongs decorate the background...and foreground of the photos, with the two guys looking like regular frat boys having a good time with friends.

Now that the embarrassing pictures are making their rounds throughout everyone's inboxes and "check this out" pages, the Cardinals head coach, Ken Whisenhunt told reporters that although Leinart warned him of the images before they surfaced, he was still upset over them. "We obviously reinforced there's a standard we hold all our players to that we expect them to keep. I'm obviously disappointed that those pictures showed up."

It's obvious that Whisenhunt had no choice but to deliver comments that show disappointment in his 24 year-old quarterback, since so many people in this country scour the gossip pages for a new way to correct someone other than themselves. The coach has the organization that he works for to protect, he has to cater to the ultra-sensitive fans that still actually expect professional athletes to stop being human and be role models for their children.

If you look closely, you'll see that Whisenhunt said he's disappointed that the pictures showed up, NOT that Leinart was partying in the off-season with beers and women. He understands that Leinart is a party guy and that a majority of professional athletes do the same type of thing. If you still think that these grown men with ridiculous paychecks are living the life of a priest...bad example...the life of a Doug Christie or an A.C Green, you're living in a fantasy world.

Now, it's been rumored that these girls are under the legal age for drinking. If this is the case, Mr. Leinart has an entirely different problem on his hands. So far, the proof to this includes the always reputable comments left on gossip sites saying that they know the girls and their graduating year, and fool-proof myspace pages that do nothing but tell the truth. Once some real proof comes to the light, that condemnation...and criminal charges will come right along with it.

Some argue that this unproven golden boy doesn't have time to play around like this, off-season or not. His pedestrian numbers on the field, his battle back and forth with the antique Kurt Warner for the starting position, and ultimate collarbone injury last season gives much credence to this case. After staying around for a 5^th year at USC after winning a National Championship, many questioned his commitment to football over partying. He just may end up being a bust due to his apparent lack of dedication. To this I say...who cares? Are you his parents? If he wants to ruin his career before it gets started, why does it have you punching walls?

We don't even know that his partying in the off-season like so many others is his problem. Many fans can't get enough of the iconic image of Joe Namath jogging off the field with one finger in the air after winning Super Bowl III, but if his partying ways were documented back then the way Leinart's are now, the same nosey people would be in his business, calling him a sure failure. The only obsession left that makes this everyday ordeal so personal to some is that they wish they were in his shoes. I hate to point out such an ugly truth, but jealousy is not very becoming.

By Jayar Jackson

The words and explanation from Senator Obama regarding his pastor's wildly unpopular and racist rant raised awareness for many, evoked conscious thought for others, but still turned some of his opponents away from him even more. How anyone could actually listen to the truth packed into this speech and conclude that his words were bogus was perplexing to me. Even after reaching out to the concerns of these very opponents, some still felt he was only telling them how much he was against them. I can understand that some don't agree with his policies, but I couldn't understand how they rejected the idea that race relations in need to be improved.

In an effort to practice what I preach, I've searched for a way to understand the reasons some still feel such resentment to the person that is thoughtfully looking for a route to move this country forward. I noticed that the most constant, blanket argument from the disagreeing mass was "Reverend Jeremiah Wright is a horrible racist." To that I thought, "I agree, good thing Wright isn't running for President. I'm glad Obama proved to us he doesn't think that way."

In attempting to put myself in the shoes of some White Americans, I've noticed that many are afraid of expressing everything they may think of minorities, particularly Black people. There have been instances where if they utter something that sounds like they're speaking negatively of a Black guy; the tag of "racist" is immediately slapped upon them. When they know they truly don't harbor racist or prejudiced feelings, and in fact dislike people that do, the worst thing in the world is to be considered just another racist White person. They've seen much of the dreadful history of truly hateful racist people in that opposed equality among the races, and they're sick of paying the price for things they never had anything to do with. Being misunderstood so quickly and easily causes feelings of resentment towards the accusing group, as they only wish these Black people could know what it's like to be in this situation. They may feel that Black people get a free pass in the game of racism. We get to say the N-Word we despise so much, while White people can't, we can dislike a White person for simply being who they are or for what some people that look like them did in the past.

When Reverend Wright opened his mouth in front of his congregation, he opened the door for the rare opportunity many White Americans took to call a racist a racist. No matter what explanations come, no matter how much Obama tried to take the discussion to a place of understanding and conclusion, Reverend Wright hasn't been lambasted enough by the man he taught, so the declaration of racist remains the only subject.

This feeling of making sure the other race experiences the pain felt by the other side of is nothing new. The country was fixated, racially divided, and somehow personally involved in OJ Simpson's "Trial of the Century." Upon hearing the verdict of not guilty, so many Black people celebrated as if we were the #16 seed of the NCAA Tournament that just took down the undefeated #1 powerhouse with a last second shot. Many Black Americans were overwhelmingly frustrated at the futility of the world's best judicial system to convict the many murderers in the past while obviously favoring White criminals over their Black victims.

The celebrating group didn't love the fact that OJ Simpson got away with killing two White people, they took delight in knowing so many people on the other side finally experienced what they had experienced so many times. Now they could say, "get over it, move on, and it wasn't your sister" the way they had been told so many times before.

Barack Obama's honest declaration that he cannot despise a pastor that brought him to his level of faith, married him to his wife, and baptized his kids kept this Reverend, an elephant-sized target in the crosshairs, right alongside him. The sooner we begin to understand each other, the sooner we will figure things out.

The barrage of clips showing Barack Obama's pastor of 20 years using incendiary and highly offensive racial language surfaced last week, threatening to leave a huge blemish on the campaign of the Democratic frontrunner. After first trying his hand at the cable news network cycle, looking to explain his affiliation with a man that could think this way about , Obama stepped out to a podium in Philadelphia on Tuesday and truly spoke to the American people. The speech was highly regarded as historic, breathtaking, and extremely thought provoking. The reason so many think so is because it's true.

Opponents to this speech entered with closed ears, looking for a way to continue to find something wrong with the situation. We wanted to know, "Does Obama believe these things" and why didn't he leave a church led by a pastor with such negative racial feelings towards White America?" Not only did he answer these important concerns, but he felt the need to explain where these horrible thoughts and feelings came from, feelings that he repeatedly said he doesn't agree with, but this was proven anyway as this speech understood the multitude of mindsets in based upon race.

The angry mob that tuned in looking to hear simply that Obama rejects and condemns this man knew that wasn't going to be enough to pacify them. That politically standard response to such a firestorm would have just led them to cry out, "why didn't he leave him alone? It's because he's racist, too!" Upon hearing a devastatingly intelligent and painfully truthful speech that relates to everyone, the only thing he left his conveniently deaf opponents was their original charges he had already addressed.

With open eyes and ears, they would have understood that his explanation of the origins of Reverend Wright's racist thoughts were from his experiences of racism and discrimination. If we don't understand where these thoughts came from, they will simply continue to produce more racists. Obama was trying to avoid this. Racists are blind to other people's lives so that they can continue to see them as sub-human. This is what Martin Luther King fought with, words and understanding. If he fought back the way many of the oppressed wanted to, these racists would have kept thinking that Black people are just wild animals that don't have the intelligence or character to reason. Their blind hate would have been validated. Understanding others kills this blindness. Obama was tearing down the root of Rev Wright's WRONG AND RACIAL feelings. He condemned them, but some don't want to understand that. When we don't try to understand, we never get anywhere.

The lack of the knee jerk answer that his opponents were expecting threw everyone for a loop. Obama pointed out that Rev. Wright brought him to his level Christianity; so obviously, this isn't all he preaches about. Do we really think that Obama would step into the Oval Office and proceed to try to oppress and keep down White people? Since we've now heard some of the things that his pastor believes, some automatically mold the two into one person. We are not considering for Rev. Jeremiah Wright for President. We have to remember what the bottom line is: What does this have to do with how he will lead the country?

Once we make up our minds to simply close them and look for something, anything wrong, we have decided to do exactly what Senator Obama courageously warned against for 37 minutes. We will have decided to be no better than the people that rejected Martin Luther King's aspirations for racial tensions to be lessened through words that lead to understanding. Are we going to listen to Barack Obama's words or will we close our eyes and ears to a way to move forward in this country?

Another state, another victory for Senator Barack Obama. With Mississippi's votes counted, the man that makes the word hope sound like an ice cold glass of water after more than 7, going on 8 years in the desert, has seemingly taken the momentum right back from the hands of Senator Clinton. Over the last two weeks, this political see-saw of a race has supporters for each candidate on edge. These two front runners have the Democratic faithful up in arms over every word or insinuation that they or one of their staffers has to say.

Geraldine Ferraro, the first female vice presidential candidate back in 1984 and current fundraiser for Clinton has become the latest to thoughtlessly stick her head in the lions den with idiotic statements. She asserted last Friday that if Barack Obama was a White man, he would not be in the position of having a 130 pledged delegate lead in the race; that he is lucky to be who he is.

It seems that every time I assume that people in prominent and influential positions got there due to their intelligence, logical reasoning, and life experiences, I get decked by 6^th grade-level statements like these. Even if she is foolish enough to believe that Obama's "Blackness" is the main reason for his voters' love for his message, she has to have enough brains to realize that saying this is definitely the wrong way to go. When I was four years old, I was naïve enough to think that my mother could make time go by faster. Although my mother never actually made the boredom that was the Flintstones go off sooner only to bring Tom & Jerry to my anticipating heart right away, I still believed it. This deep rooted adolescent ignorance still didn't prompt me to go tell my friend next door that my mother is the 1984 version of TiVo and that he'll never guess how Jerry got out of THIS jam! Common sense asked me, "You don't REALLY believe that, do you?"

The point of campaigning is to convince the people that your candidate is the person that will do the best job in office, (or to trick them into thinking so). It seems quite obvious that pointing out Obama's African American background as the reason many people are enamored with him would not pick up support against him, but turn more people off to her entire message. (He is actually from a multiracial heritage of a Kenyan father and White American mother from Kansas). Has the frustration of battling him really made these politicians that carefully choose their every word lose this thought process?

After a couple days of being called a racist, an idiot, and not worthy of her position with the Clinton campaign, many would think that this common sense Ferrero left on the kitchen table that morning would crawl back into her ear. Sadly, Tuesday's response to the outcry attempted to put her in the victim's role in this "racist" conversation. The assertion that she is being attacked from all angles because she is White won't make anyone forget that she began the discussion by bringing up his ethnicity in the first place.

In the end, I don't believe that Geraldine Ferraro is a racist; that she thinks Black men are simply lucky to have the opportunity to work their asses off in order to graduate from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. She doesn't really think that he was lucky enough to be elected an Illinois State Senator before losing a bid for a House seat and moving on to his U.S. Senate seat. She is simply a person trying to understand the reasons so many Americans are looking to him as the way to help move the country forward. After scratching a groove in her head and scouring his background with the hope she'll find a mind-control device wired to so many Americans, she mindlessly resorted to the only tangible thing, his appearance, not his substance. Is this why she thinks Hillary has made it this far; simply because we love the novel idea of a female President?

Open your eyes and face reality Geraldine, the Flintstones are still on and mom can't do anything about it. The big cat will soon throw Fred out on the porch and he'll have no clue how to get back in, don't worry.