|
AN OPEN LETTER TO BERNARD HOPKINS
HIP-HOP B-HOP, PLEASE STOP!
May 22, 2011 (New York) Do you hear them dogs? Arguably the
best club record of the early '80s. "Hip-Hop Be Bop, Don't Stop" by Man Parrish. In this open letter to boxing
legend--no boxing immortal, Bernard Hopkins-- we say: Hip-Hop B-Hop, Please Stop!
Boxing, that is. In hip-hop, more than a few original MC's have been known to say, "And you don't stop."
That applies to the party, to the beat, but not to boxing. After beating Jean Pascal for the light heavyweight title
last night at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, in front of a record-breaking crowd of more than 17,000, it's time for
you, Bernard, to stop. Not because you can't perform at a high level. Not because you're going to end up punchdrunk.
Not because you can't be boxing's savior. None of the above. Boxing just doesn't pay. What Pacquiao
is to the Phillipines, you can be to the World.
Everybody who lives, gets older, and when someone isn't getting older, it's because s/he is no longer living.
It's just one of those situations where you can't have your cake and eat it too. Getting Older = Life. Not Getting
Older = Death. The math is obvious and simple.
You defied the aging process, kinda, sorta. In the roughest of sports, a few years away from an AARP
membership, you became champion. Broke Ol' George's record.
Now, a few weeks ago, you acted out. You did your periodic diss of Donovan McNabb just before your historic
rematch with Pascal. Timing Curious. Kyle Greene and I discussed it at length and had a laugh or two. Stephen
A. Smith revealed on his radio program what's really behind the beef. He told listeners that after beating Trinidad,
you visited the Eagles and all the players embraced you--except for McNabb. That bothered you. Understandable.
Completely. But...
It's time for you to make money--real money. George Foreman money. Nah, Bill Gates money.
Just give me your eyeballs, Bernard, for a few more paragraphs, and I'll explain.
You're the ultimate product pitchman for anti-aging (poor choice of words; "Progressive or Positive Aging"
better, much better). B-hop cream, B-hop lotion, B-hop sun screen, B-hop vitamins, B-hop workout, B-hop juice machine,
B-hop abs, B-hop grill (sorry George), B-hop bodywash, B-hop mattress, B-hop diet, B-hop glasses, B-hop detergent, B-hop
bathtubs, B-hop B-hop! (In terms of Ideas, Eye-deas and I-deas--I, won't stop.)
B-hop: The Dance. B-hop: The Movie. B-hop: The Movement. You see where I'm going or coming,
Bernard. It's not about being a brand. Let Justin Bieber be a brand. Let the Beatles be a brand. Let
Jay Z be a brand. Let them be a brand, and you be the Land. The Man. And the Band!
Tell folk that physical deceleration is made up by mental, emotional, and spiritual acceleration.
Many companies replace "seasoned" employees with "younger" employees to save money--even though productivity
is a usual casualty. Tell "seasoned" employees that their value is appreciating. Tell employers that wisdom closes
the age gap. They'll listen to you. You didn't beat Pascal (twice) with physical dominance. You beat him
upstairs. With the head and (Oops) Upside the head (Gap Band reference of a Parliament-Funkadelic-Bootsy's Rubber Band
ripoff).
Age wins. Age won. And Age One. Tell young Black males who have a death wish ("I know I
ain't gonna see 30." "Well I know I ain't gonna see 25." "Man, I won't see 20." And then they race to see who
will get killed first. That crazy, ready-to-die, doomsday, tomorrow-ain't-promised mentality. Other young
men are told to "get rich" not die trying. Just get rich. Dying is not in the equation.) Tell young
men that getting older is a good thing. Prepare for it. It's the best years of your life. It's clarity.
It's wisdom (not Wiz-dumb). It's discovering self. It's enlightenment. Then tell females the same thing.
Tell them that a "cougar" is a poor-person's lioness. Tell all people to Get older. Embrace "olderness"/"olderism"/"olderocity."
You get my drift, Bernard.
Ha, Ha, and you don't stop! B-hop.
EBERSOL THE HNLIC (HEAD NO LONGER IN CHARGE)
May 19, 2011 (New York) He wasn't driving dirty, but they did him
dirty. He was the Soul, the Heart, and the Head of NBC Sports. Long-time television exec, Dick Ebersol, who was a fixture
at the network, could not come to terms with parent company, Comcast, regarding the renewal of his contract which was
to expire at year's end.
The timing is so curious. NBC will be bidding for the 2014 and 2016 Olympics that will be held in Russia
and Brazil respectively. NBC has had the lockdown on the Olympics for over two decades, and that run is seriously jeopardized
without Ebersol being in the mix.
What's really behind the departure? We may never know. Ebersol clearly was pushing for a deal
before the negotiations where his leverage would be highest. If he pushed for the deal after the negotiation, Comcast
could more easily allow him to leave. So, Ebersol did the right thing to stage the negotiation push "before" the Olympic
bidding.
Obviously, Comcast wasn't buying what Ebersol was selling. But don't cry for Ebersol. Your options
should be as good. He has enough loot to retire for a few years or for good. Competing networks like Fox, Turner,
ABC, and CBS are probably preparing offers right now. Ebersol could serve as a consultant and/or hit the lecture circuit.
Comcast just took over NBC this year. The 2010 Vancouver Olympics lost a cool $200 million. The
International Olympic Committee (IOC) knows this could scale down the bidding. If Comcast could let Ebersol walk, they
probably are willing to walk away from the Olympics. The Olympics have been part of NBC's recent legacy so they were
more likely to overbid. Those days are apparently over. Comcast's position is more likely, "We want it (the
Olympics), but not at any price."
It's the same thing they did with Ebersol, "We want you (Ebersol), but not at any price." Since Ebersol
and Comcast could not reach an accord, Ebersol became the HNLIC--the Head No Longer In Charge.
|
