People in history they never teach you about: King Lapu Lapu

I grew up in a black and Filipino household.  My parents married when I was really young.  As a result I grew up with a historical perspective that the majority of my peers were not exposed too.  Half of my family was Filipino, and my grandparents just so happen to be historians who stressed the importance of embracing ones culture.  Almost every gift I received from my grandpa was about history.  

Whether it was "Time lines of African American history" or a book about black men during WWII, he made sure that the encouragement was met with endless amounts of knowledge.  It started at a very young age like 8 or so.  

One of the first books that helped me develop my perspective on history was a children's story about King Lapu Lapu, who is considered the first national hero of the Philippines despite the fact that the Philippines was not a nation in 1521.  

The book took place on the Visayans Island of Mactan which is located within the Philippines.  The focus of the book was  the Battle of Mactan which saw King Lapu Lapu defeat the Great Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.   My dad talked about King Lapu Lapu with great pride.  He was extremely proud of the fact that King Lapu Lapu defeated the Portuguese explorer.  

Although I am sure that my dad knew all about Magellan, it was not until one day in elementary school when we were talking about Europe and explorers that I learned that Magellan was credited for Circumnavigating the world.  

I noticed that my teachers talked about the Spanish and Portuguese with high regard, while my dad thought they were the worst most evil people at one point in their histories.  My father felt this way  due to the fact that the Spanish were what we consider terrorist today, pillaging, and murdering Indigenous tribes throughout the world; more specifically, Spain colonized the Philippines at one point,.  The Portuguese enslaved Africans, murdered the indigenous people of the land and created a caste system still in place today down in Brazil.  

My teacher made no mention of King Lapu Lapu, nor did he mention the fact that Magellan did not actually finish the expedition he started due to the fact that he was murdered by a group of "indigenous people".  I was confused but it was that day that I learned that school only teaches history from one perspective.  So with that said, I want to introduce some people in history that school does not teach us about. 

I said not weird.

Love this commercial.  hahaha

The NBA believes in Money Over Everything

Although I do commend NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for making the decision to ban Donald Sterling, I hate to say it, the decision to ban Sterling had everything to do with money and very little to do with racism.

 

The Clippers have surpassed the Lakers as the best team in the 2nd largest market in the United States.  The very idea of boycotting the Clippers was enough for the NBA to take action.  We are commending the NBA for doing what was in the best interest of the league.   

Some people will say that I am being cynical.  At what point is it okay to think that people are motivated by self interest?  We have reached a point in our society where the rich continue to get richer while the wage gap widens.  

We are praising the NBA instead of questioning why it took them so long.  In 2009, Mr. Sterling settled a lawsuit with the Department of Justice in which he was alleged to have discriminated against Latinos, and blacks.   According to the lawsuit, Mr. Sterling said  "black tenants smell and attract vermin".  Why did it take a private conversation when Donald Sterling had a very public record of being a racist.  

Some writers are excusing the NBAs lack of action on the fact that the Clippers up til recently were traditionally a very bad team that fans paid little attention too.  Although fans may not have known, the fact that the NBA had that knowledge further leads me to believe that they took action to protect the NBA's image, and cared very little about race relations. 

Although they have dealt with a racist, they have not dealt with racism in the NBA. 

Freedom

We learn about our struggle.  We hear the stories, we know what our ancestors went through.  We were enslaved for the love of money.  We are never suppose to be motivated by the same thing.  Although we need money to live, I always thought it was more about self respect, freedom, justice, equality, and independence.  Who are we? What do we stand for?

Is this what they had in mind when they fought for us?

Jamal Crawford: The Ambassador of Basketball in the 206

Courtesy of Ricky Frazier 

Courtesy of the NBA

Seattle is a basketball city.  Always been a basketball city.  Only professional teams that had won championships previous to the Seahawks winning this year were basketball teams.  The Supersonics in 1979 and the Storm in 2004 and again in 2010.  Although not from here, the great Elgin Baylor played his college ball here in Seattle, at Seattle University.  The great Bob Houbregs led the Huskies to the final four in 1953 averaging 26 and 11.  Seattle natives have contributed to not only Seattle basketball history but NCAA, and NBA history as well.  

Courtesy of the Bleacher Report

Courtesy of Sportspressnw.com 

Courtesy of WNBA/Getty Images 

Courtesy of Notinthehalloffame.com

Before 1999, there were players from Seattle who had been part of championship teams, and won awards for their great play.  Game 6 1983 Clint Richardson, a Seattle native, Odea high school graduate, who also went to Seattle U, hit a game winning shot to win the NBA championship for the Philadelphia 76ers.  James Edwards, another Seattle native, Roosevelt graduate, played for the University of Washington in the 70's and had career numbers of 14.5 points and 7 rebounds.  He went on to play 19 seasons in the NBA, and won 3 championships with career numbers of 12 points and 5 rebounds.  He was a key contributor on Pistons back to back championship teams in 89 and 90.  Doug Christie, who also went to Rainer Beach High School had a very successful career in the NBA.  One of the best perimeter defenders to ever play the game.  

Courtesy of the NBA

Courtesy of the NBA

Courtesy of the NBA

Jason Terry was a few years ahead of Jamal Crawford. He went to Franklin High School, and won a NCAA championship with Arizona in 1997.  He went on to be named Pac-10 Player of the Year, as well as a First Team All American his senior year in 1999.  Terry has arguably had the most decorated basketball career of any of the legends from Seattle. Terry went on to be drafted 10th by the Atlanta Hawks.  It was the highest a player from Seattle had ever went in the draft at the time. I remember my dad being excited, I remember how excited my peers and I were that someone from Seattle went that high in the draft.  Jason Terry was big time.  I still remember my first year at UW, when he would work out with us occaisonally during the off season.  Jason Terry has won a championship at every level he has played at.  No other basketball player from the city of Seattle can say that.   

Courtesy of the NBA

With that said, being the ambassador of basketball is not necessarily the one who has won the most championships.  Nor is he the won who won the most awards, although that does help.  Jamal Crawford is the ambassador of basketball in the 206.  Not because he has the most points, or because he is the best player from the city.  Has nothing to do with who did it first, or how many All Stars a player has.  
When I look at the picture of JC at Michigan, I think about Michigan versus Duke 1999. To me thats the day he became the ambassador of basketball in the 206.  Although Duke would win the game, Jamal Crawford outplayed Jason Williams, who at the end of the season would be named ACC Rookie of the Year and National Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News. 

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated 

Jamal scored 27 points in 38 minutes and only commited 1 turnover.  Clearly outplayed Jason Williams.  The only criticism of Jamals game that day is that he shot 2-9 from the 3.  Although players have proven it before, Jamal reminded the nation that 206 could play with anyone.  It let the nation know what Arizona coach Lute Olson already knew, Seattle has talent on the hardwood.  I was fortunate enough to play with Jamal Crawford on the courts of Seattle.  
 He gave me advice that made me a better ball player. Gave a lot of kids hope and the confidence, and the know how to make it on the hard wood.  When I was overseas the first player people mentioned from Seattle was Jamal Crawford.  This is after Nate Robinson another Seattle great won a dunk contest, and Seattle legend Brandon Roy, won rookie of the year.  He has a summer league that was the largest in the nation last summer.  Thats huge considering every major city has a summer league.  That means Seattle beat out cities with 2 times the amount of people.

Courtesy of the NBA

Courtesy of the NBA

His league serves two purposes.  It gives Seattle basketball during the Summer, and it allows Seattle to showcase the talent that we have hear in the Northwest.  Thats huge if you are a ball player that did not get much exposure during college.  I know that I got a job due to his league.  He should be considered a Seattle Landmark, His story is one of perseverance, his game is art in motion.  A jumper rivaled by only the best in the game, and arguably the best handle the game has ever seen.  Its more than that, the fact that he has allowed others to be seen by using his name, and his knowledge makes JC, the Ambassador of basketball in the 206. 

What do we love?

This is very hard for me to talk about, due to the fact that I love and admire, and look up to my family, and friends that have walked down a different path than I.  I have people in my life that never encouraged me, never wanted me to have anything to do with that life.  I use to be mad and feel less than as a result but as I grew older I realized why people in my family involved in the streets no matter how cool they made it look wanted me to have no part of it.

I use to hate not knowing everybody by their street names, but rather by their government names.  I use to hate that my mom would never let me throw up gang signs, and do the handshake haha.  I use to feel left out when people would talk about my family in a way that led me to believe some of my family members were ghetto celebrities.

I remember one family member in particular use to tell me stories, and explain how the streets worked.  Even then it was never him glorifying, it was more like if you grow up in the CD, you have to have some idea of whats going on.

Nobody wants to talk about the fact that we praise characters like this!!!!

No one wants to act like thats a problem.  We have embraced and glorified this life.

 We were suppose to watch these movies and ask how can we make things better. Instead we ask who was harder O Dog, or Nino Brown.

 Im Guilty, very guilty but this is a problem.  If we want to change things, we have to change how we view this lifestyle.  Although there is reality in all of these characters, its a very small part of reality.  These movies do not emphasize the terror these characters cause for the majority of the community.  Kids cant play at parks because of these guys.  Moms, and dads will be strung out, and broke unable to feed their families due to the shit these guys are selling.  We always say that we dont bring drugs into the country.  We always point out that the CIA brought drugs into the hood.  Okay thats right, now ask yourself who is selling those drugs when they get there?  Just because our reality presents drugs, and negativity, that does not mean we have to accept it.    UNTHINK  

My daddy said were all from Africa... Even you!!!

Without even knowing it we are embracing and perpetuating white supremacy. Do we realize everyday we deny the fact that we are from Africa, we are embracing the confederate flagl and the ideology behind it as our own.  Rejecting Africa and embracing a tradition of oppression. As another black man loses his life at the hands of another black man when will we learn that we have to love ourselves.  We have to love all of ourselves.  We have to respect the struggle of our elders, and we have to begin the process of thinking communal again.  Its not the solution but it is a necessary step.    

PEACE AND LOVE

Historic Vote for Unionization to take place today at Northwestern

The issue here is not whether or not schools make money.  The fact that players receive such a small percentage of the revenue compared to the coaches and administration is the problem.

 Last month the National Labor Relations Board ruled Northwestern scholarship football players should be considered employees of the university and therefore had the right to unionize like other workers.  

Since that time, politicians, the NCAA, and Northwestern have tried their hardest to convince America that these kids are not employees.

 NCAA President Mark Emmert who is paid $1.6 million annually calls a Union "grossly inappropriate".  He has pledged to give students a $2,000 stipend.  That's nothing when you think about how much money the NCAA has brought in after expenses the last two years.   College sports are big business.  In 2012 the NCAA had a $71 million dollar surplus.  In 2013 the NCAA had a $61 million dollar surplus.  There is clearly enough money to pay players.  If nothing else the NCAA has enough money to provide better healthcare, as well as ensure that students receive a guaranteed scholarship.   

In response to the NLRB's decision, The Ohio State House has passed a bill that says college students can not be employees.  That to me is insane and goes to show how big of a deal this really is.  The emphasis on sports is so strong that the very people that should be regulating college athletics have actually helped the  NCAA maintain a system that can only be compared to Indentured Servitude. 

Since the historic decision, Northwestern has done everything in its power to try and defeat a unionization vote that is scheduled for today.  School officials have gone as far as saying that if student athletes are allowed to unionize Northwestern athletics could be at risk.  Former players are visiting campus in order to encourage kids to vote against the Union.  Players have even been given gifts, which Northwestern claims has nothing to do with the the vote that will take place later today.    

Northwestern's Head football Coach Pat Fitzgerald emailed his team saying “Understand that by voting to have a union, you would be transferring your trust from those you know — me, your coaches and the administrators here — to what you don’t know — a third party who may or may not have the team’s best interests in mind,".    

What does the best interest of the team mean?  The best interest of the team can mean many things.  The best interest of the team can mean the coach making an example out of a player deserving/undeserving of punishment in order to establish order and maintain control of the team.  Coaches ignore injuries, they encourage, and in some cases pressure players to play injured for the best interest of the team.  The administration, coaches, and the NCAA should be focusing on the best interest of the kids.  As of right now the best interest of the team benefits coaches and administration.  

Northwestern generated $235 million dollars in revenue from 2003 to 2013.  Last year the football team brought in $22 million dollars and had expenses of around $15 million dollars.  If not for the football team there would be no money for other sports programs on campus.  That is reason alone to give these kids a bigger share of the revenue.   

The University says that the profits were used to subsidize the other sports teams within the program.  What they fail to mention is that they also used the money generated to pay coaches and administration.  

Coach Pat Fitzgerald makes 1.8 million dollars per season . In comparison, the value of a 4-5 year scholarship at Northwestern ranges from $61,000 to $76,000. For 85 players that's around $5 million dollars.  

The issue here is not whether or not schools make money.  The fact that players receive such a small percentage of the revenue compared to the coaches and administration is the problem. 

  

The College Athletes Players Association, is the name of the new union, founded by former Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter.  The CAPA is asking for guaranteed scholarships, and long term medical care.  Players are being treated like villains as a result.  Its sad because a lot of people that do not agree with these kids are part of Unions and receive protection from their employers that allow them to make a living off the hard work they do.  Why are we telling kids that generate millions of dollars that they are wrong for wanting a voice and some type of protection from coaches who practice absolute power and very rarely have the best interest of the kids in mind.   

 Regardless of what the Northwestern Players vote today, its a new day in college sports.  If nothing else the sacrifice of the players has brought the conversation out in the open.  Hopefully kids around the country see whats going on and realize that they are commodities that are worth way more than the scholarship that they are given.  Medical coverage, and guaranteed education is not asking much considering there would be no NCAA without these kids.