Investigation Rules Pool Discriminated Against Campers!

A Pennsylvania investigation has ruled that a Montgomery County swim club discriminated against suburban Philadelphia campers in June after not allowing the campers to use the pool area after the first visit. The wording from the investigation is listed below:

"The racial animus . . . and the racially-coded comments" by club members at the Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley were the reasons the club revoked Creative Steps Inc.'s contract, according to a 33-page report by the Human Relations Commission and released tonight by an attorney who represents four of the campers.

The camp members reported hearing racial slurs during the first visit to the club, which has not had any minority members in 2 years according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The club also faces penalties into the millions of dollars due to complaints that have been filed, which could potentially shut it down.

The Pressures of A President!

President Barack Obama has successful avoided rumors of womanizing, but that doesn't mean that the women aren't coming after him on a constant basis. The New York Post "Page Six" reports that a new book out today titled "Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage" reports on the extent that women have gone to get to our President, often slipping numbers in his pockets and openly grabbing his behind. When First Lady Michelle Obama once sensed that things may have been getting too cozy with a female staff worker, she quietly had the woman removed from her position, and has even given the President the silent treatment on occasion.

Dr. J Takes Up Residence In Atlanta!

Julius Erving better known as "Dr. J" is now 59 years old living the life of a father and grandfather in Atlanta. Erving now owns and runs a golf course in the area, and this weekend will be hosting the NBA Retired Players Association’s Legends World Sports Summit, which will feature a banquet and seminars before concluding with a golf tournament at his Celebrity Golf Club International.

"Dr. J" had taken up residence in Utah until 2005, and says that Atlanta feels right for him, his second wife and 3 young children. Surprisingly Erving states that since he was known for his creative dunks while performing his aerial acts on the basketball court, he's always completed at least one dunk a year, but has yet to make the attempt this year. The Atlanta Journal Constitution provided the Erving update.

Pulling For Delonte West!

I was very sad to hear the report that Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West, who suffers from a bi-polar disorder, was pulled over for speeding on his motorcycle on Friday in Maryland and was carrying what seemed like an arsenal of loaded firearms. West is facing potential jail time now, and this arrest could jeopardize his career. The Cavaliers may need to shut West down for an extended period of time. While he'll likely be facing suspension by the NBA, time away from the game is probably what he needs as he battles his personal demons.

This is not a case like Paxico Burress where he simply made a bad decision. West is dealing with a severe mental disorder while trying to navigate the life of a millionaire athlete. Cavs please do the right thing, and shut Delonte down for awhile. Team wins are not as important as Delonte West's mental well being.

Sorry Mr. Paterson, It's Not Personal Just Politics!

Reports circulated this weekend that President Barack Obama's people have informed New York's first black governor David Paterson that it would be in his best interest not to run for reelection next year. While Paterson clearly has no chance to win the election next year, it's interesting that the country's first black President would inject his opinion into a state election. Obama correctly knows that Rudy Giuliani is a viable Republican candidate for governor, and pushing Paterson aside now, opens the door for Democratic front runner Andrew Cuomo to seize control and begin fundraising.

I hope Paterson wasn't counting on President Obama's support since he initially backed Hillary Clinton and didn't support Caroline Kennedy for Senator. At the end of the day, it's never personal in politics, so Paterson needs to do the right thing and step aside, although yesterday he stated that as of right now he's running. I'm sure he'll have a change of heart very soon.

Baby Left In Storm Drain By Teenage Parents Dies Near Atlanta!

There's always signs that things are headed towards crazy in our country. This story makes me wonder what people really are thinking as a teenage couple in the Atlanta area left an infant baby to die in a storm drain. Sinead A. Harrison, 18, and her boyfriend, 19-year-old Landis Bernard Stewart-Moore, face child cruelty charges after leaving their infant son to die in the drain. Harrison went to the hospital after giving birth to the baby and told authorities that the baby was left in a trash bin. Unable to locate the baby they questioned the father who informed them where the baby was located. The Atlanta Journal Constitution provides additional details on teenagers simply not caring about a child for which they were responsible.

Chris Brown Doing Community Service!

The New York Daily News reports that singer Chris Brown began serving his 180 days of community service yesterday in his home state of Virginia. Brown's location was supposed to be a secret, however he kept everyone abreast of his whereabouts via Twitter. While it's debatable whether Brown will be able to reclaim his crown as the heir to the Usher's of the world, I'm sure he'll be glad when he serves his penalty for his altercation with Rihanna, and can get back to making his fans happy with his music and dance moves.

Is The Obama Backlash Racist?

President Barack Obama's election last November as the first African American President became the true litmus test in our country concerning how far we've come in terms of race relations. Opposition to Obama views seems to have become extremely passionate as the health care reform debate has gained momentum on both sides. Opposition to reform in Town Hall Meetings has become increasingly rowdy, and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during the President's speech to Congress was especially disturbing.

Former President Jimmy Carter has stated that Wilson's outburst is tied to racism. It's obvious that the racial divide in our country has not diminished with the election of Barack Obama, however a faltering economy may have as much to do with the opposition's passion as much as anything. The reality is that President Obama was elected during one of the worst economic downturns in our country's history. His success ultimately will be determined based on his ability to impact change as he promised. So far the jury is still out on whether he can deliver on his promises, and that will ultimately drive public perception of Barack Obama, not the color of his skin.

Is Kanye West Really This Important?

Kanye West set the whole country into a frenzy when he interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech Sunday night at the VMA's. Everyone it seems, including President Barack Obama has an opinion on Mr. West's outburst. The President reportedly called West a "jacksass" in an off the record remark. Perhaps President Obama has forgotten that his responsibility is to run the country instead of commenting on a rapper/producer who is obviously dealing with a few demons.

West made an appearance on Jay Leno's show last night and was clearly uncomfortable and at times incoherent in his responses. He appeared to be sincerely sorry for the outburst, and appeared to be calling out for help, stating that since the passing of his mother he hasn't had a break and that he plans to take some time off. It's amazing with all of the problems that we're having in this country that our president has time to worry about Kanye West. While Kanye may not be perfect, he has done a lot of work to uplift young people through his foundation. At the end of the day, he's still a talented multi millionaire, and flawed like the rest of us (I even think that knowing that he was going to be on Leno that West possibly orchestrated his outburst). In the big picture of all of our problems, while it's interesting to psychoanalyze Mr. West, he's really not that important.

Kanye Upstages Swift's Award Win At VMA's!

Kanye West continued his sometimes bizarre behavior last night after singer Taylor Swift won Best Female Video at the MTV Video Music Awards show last night. Swift's win in the female video category apparently didn't sit well with West who ran onstage proclaiming "Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!" "One of the best videos of all time!" Boos began ringing through Radio Music Hall, with Swift unable to finish her acceptance speech. Swift later reclaimed a sense of normalcy when Beyonce asked her to come back on stage after winning her own award for Video of the Year.

Kanye West is obviously a musical talent, but he has to realize that his relevancy can be taken away from him if the public decides that they've had enough of his behavior. While Kanye did later apologize via his blog, If Kanye wants to "blame it on the alcohol" that excuse may not be acceptable after last night.

Tyler Perry Still #1!

Tyler Perry continues his hot streak, as his latest movie "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" made $24 million over the weekend making it the #1 movie. The movie starring Oscar nominated actress Taraji P. Henson proves that Perry is one of the top brands in the movie business, and his movies rarely disappoint.

Mom Doesn't Defend Serena's Meltdown!

Serena Williams had a major melt down last night during her semifinal match against Kim Clijsters, when a line judge apparently made a wrong foot fault call. Serena started dropping the f-bomb, yelling to the judge "I swear to God, I'll f --- take this ball and shove it down your f -- - throat. " This tirade resulted in Serena receiving a code violation (her second violation during the match), causing her to lose the point and subsequently the match. Serena's mother, Oracene, did not defend her daughter's behavior, stating that "She should've kept her cool."

Serena did not want to discuss what she said during her press conference, and was so cool she could've frozen water. She'll learn from this episode, but her image may take a short term hit. The outburst does show the fire that burns within Serena, next time she just has to allow it to ignite after the match. It will be interesting to see how the mainstream media slants this episode. Yes, Serena was clearly out of line, but the call apparently was a bad call. Referee's in any sport should not determine the outcome. Thanks to the New York Daily News for the link.

La Toya Talks MJ With Barbara Walters!

La Toya Jackson sits down with Barbara Walters and talks about her late brother Michael in an interview that will be broadcast tonight on "20/20." La Toya describes how MJ was dressed and made up as he was finally laid to rest last week. La Toya along with Jermaine are the Jackson siblings who never met a microphone that they didn't like, so I'm sure the interview will be lively.

The Jordan Legacy!

Michael Jeffrey Jordan takes his place among the other NBA greats tonight when he will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Jordan's legacy is secure as simply the greatest basketball player of all time, and for me it's not even an argument. He's arguably the greatest athlete of all time, with perhaps Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods providing argument in that conversation.

Jordan made it cool to be bald again, he always dressed impeccably when doing after game press conferences, and hopefully set an example of how a black man should carry himself in a professional setting. While the black male continues to struggle with an identity crisis in our society in some cases, Jordan's will to win and competitiveness are attributes that would set anyone on a positive path towards success. Jordan is simply the standard in which all basketball players are measured, and the Chicago Tribune offers a special report on "His Airness."

Ludacris Gives Away 20 Cars To Those In Need!

The hip-hop community is fast to be criticized for doing the wrong thing, but rapper/actor Ludacris took time out to help 20 people in need by giving away 20 used cars at a Morrow, GA car dealership near Atlanta on Sunday. Recipients of the cars had to write an essay to Ludaris' foundation explaining their need for the car, which comes with 30 days of free gas. While recipients are responsible for taxes, registration and insurance for the cars, Ludacris did remove the burden of having a car payment to the lucky winners. Thanks to the New York Daily News for showing "Luda" some love.

Jordan Chooses Thompson To Present Him To Hall Of Fame!

Michael Jordan will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday. He could have chosen anyone from Dean Smith to Phil Jackson to present him to the esteemed group, but instead he went will a fellow North Carolinian, who he idolized as a kid, David Thompson.

In case most people don't know Thompson is in the Hall of Fame, and was nicknamed "Skywalker" because of his 48 inch vertical leap. It was rumored that Thompson could snatch a quarter off the top of the backboard at one time. Thompson played college ball at North Carolina State, then played with the Denver Nuggets first in the ABA, the NBA when the league's merged. I've included footage of Thompson's top 10 plays for all of you to feast your eyes on, he was truly great, although injuries and drugs derailed his career at the end.

Van Jones Finally Resigns!

It's not a good sign when your "Green Czar's" most controversial comments can be Googled for the world to see and hear and really not a good sign when the White House didn't give Van Jones a vote of confidence this week. Very quietly, Van Jones resigned from his position with the Obama administration this morning.

Jones had come under fire from Republicans and talk show host Glenn Beck for his comments from calling George Bush an unflattering name to his name appearing on a 9/11 petition questioning whether high level government officials had allowed the attacks to happen.

President Obama erred in a major way on the appointment of Jones, and even with his resignation, conservative pundits will be armed with more ammunition to challenge Obama's true views as they see them. The other interesting part of this story is that the mainstream media really didn't cover the Jones' story until this weekend. The best thing for the President to do would be to compromise on health care reform, even if it's watered down, get it passed and move on with running the country.

Basketball Argument Leads To Killing In Philly!

A West Philadelphia Recreation Center which for years has been a safe haven for neighborhood boys and men turned deadly yesterday afternoon when an argument resulted in two brothers being shot, one of them fatally during a basketball game. One of the 2 brothers, who were not identified, was 23 and killed after being shot in the abdomen. The other brother, 19, was grazed in the head by a stray bullet and subsequently released after being treated at a local hospital.

It seems that no place is safe from violence, and the sad commentary on our country with violence being the easy answer continues. Thanks to the Philadelphia Daily News for the article.

Michael Jackson Finally Buried!

Michael Jackson was finally laid to rest last night at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, CA. The service, which was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. was delayed by the late arrival of the family who arrived in a 26 car procession. Among the estimated 200 guests at the service were Elizabeth Taylor and Quincy Jones. Hopefully Michael can rest in peace now.

Oprah To Dedicate Sept. 16th Show To Michael Jackson!

Oprah Winfrey will dedicate her September 16th show to the memory of the late Michael Jackson, offering clips from her interview with the pop star from 1993. Jackson is scheduled to finally be buried tonight at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Cosby Attempting To Impact Detroit Schools!

Comedian turned education activist Bill Cosby was in Detroit yesterday trying to impact the faltering Detroit Public School System. Cosby walked through the streets of Detroit with school financial manager Robert Bobb promoting the city's "I'm In" campaign urging residents to enroll their children in a school system that has seen declining enrollment in the last decade. The campaign is being spearheaded by a $500,000 marketing blitz according to the Detroit Free Press.

Cosby is doing a good thing by supporting the public school systems throughout our country. It's the only educational option for most children, especially those from impoverished backgrounds. Hopefully Cosby's efforts will not be in vain, and parents will encourage their children to take the educational opportunities seriously and use it as a source for a better and brighter future.

Well At Least Whitney Gave It A Good Try!

Well it looks like Whitney Houston's long awaited comeback may be stalled before it even starts. The New York Daily News reports that Whitney's voice cracked as she sang every song yesterday during a taped performance that will air on "Good Morning America" this morning. The first single from her new album has stalled on the charts and the album released this week is expected to sell in the 200,000 range for the first week. Not a bad debut in these times, but not good numbers for a highly anticipated release.

Whitney blamed her lackluster performance on a taped segment of Oprah which will be shown on September 14th. Unfortunately by then, it may be too late to save her new album from disaster.

Detroit On The Brink Of Financial Ruin!

When Dave Bing took over as mayor of Detroit, he knew that the city was in a financial mess. Now he may be forced to layoff as many as 1,000 workers to offset an $80 million budget shortfall according to the The city is facing a $300 million budget deficit, and declining tax revenues continue to plague the city. Bing is facing some tough decisions that will not be popular according to the Detroit Free Press, including dealing with the various unions if he's forced to layoff workers. Bing has a successful track record as a businessman, so he'll do what's best to keep the city afloat.

Atlanta Mayoral Race Going Black!

Atlanta has had an African-American in the position of mayor since Maynard Jackson held the position in 1974, and it's possible that the city could have it's first white mayor since then. Presently, two African Americans are running for the office, Kasim Reed and Lisa Borders, along with Mary Norwood who is white. There is now a letter is circulating endorsing Borders and promoting a "black agenda." Below are the contents of the memo being circulated at the insistence of Atlanta political insider Aaron Turpeau courtesy of the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Introduction

The debate over the best strategic option for black leadership and the African American community as we approach the Mayoral election in Atlanta has become critical based on the fact that for the last 25 years Atlanta has represented the breakthrough for black political empowerment in the South.

It is debatable to what extent the objective socio-economic and political position of the African American community has improved. At the same time, most would agree that the Jackson breakthrough represented an unprecedented opportunity for black political representation nationwide.

A passionate argument has been made for us to develop a unity of purpose and position, and for that to be defined immediately, given the short amount of time remaining between now and November 2009 election day (two and ½ months from now).

There are unstated assumptions that need to be examined. Perhaps the most critical factor is the lack of an agenda against which to evaluate candidates. An agenda, beyond just electing a Black Mayor, would allow us to move from the margins of the debate to controlling the expectations associated with gaining our support.

Three basic assertions have been made. They are as follows:

1. There is a chance for the first time in 25 years that African Americans could lose the Mayoral seat in Atlanta, Georgia, especially if there is a run-off;

2. Time is of the essence because in order to defeat a Norwood (white) mayoral candidacy we have to get out now and work in a manner to defeat her without a runoff, and the key is a significant Black turnout in the general election;

3. The reasons support should be given to Lisa Borders is: 1) she is the best black candidate in the race who has a chance to win the election because she can attract downtown white support; and 2) based on polling data drawn from a host of sources between May 2009 and July 2009, the numbers suggest Borders is growing stronger as we move closer to the election, while the most recent polling data suggests that the other black candidates are falling further behind over the same period.

There are also at least three unstated assumptions that should be further explored:

Unstated Assumption

1. With the “Black Mayor first” approach there is an unstated assumption that having a black mayor in Atlanta is equal to having a black social, economic and political agenda or at least someone in office who would be sensitive to that agenda if not a full promoter of that agenda;

2. By coming out for Borders now would eliminate Reed, Spikes and Thomas as viable candidates. Some would argue that if the polling data is correct then those candidates who are only polling at 8%, 2% and 1% respectfully, are already effectively out of the race; and

3. It is unlikely that there will be a unified preference among existing black leadership and in the African American community for one candidate prior to the general election.

The Missing Factors in the Current Approach

There are at least seven real world common knowledge factors that must be taken into consideration as we debate how best to manifest our support in the run-up to the November elections. They are as follows:

1. The impact of current alienation among Black Atlantans from the political establishment;

2. The imperiled state of the Jackson Machine, (in part because of the displacement of close to 100,000 black residents over the past few years) and the effect operation of the NPU system by whites;

3. Shirley Franklin’s perceived poor performance;

4. The changing demographics in the city, the potential role of new city voters and the diminished role of religious and labor leaders in mobilizing the black vote;

5. The importance of the City Council races (which to date seems to have been ignored);

6. The persistent poverty in the city, the educational crisis in the schools; the human security/public safety concerns; the type of economic development policies being pursued; and the city’s awful financial management issues;

7. A Black Agenda that any candidate should be evaluated against.

What’s At Stake?

Determining what’s at stake depends on perspective:

1. The view that the times are too serious to stand on the sidelines is absolutely correct from the perspective of a black mayor at all cost. In fact, if a white candidate were to win the 2009 mayoral race, it would be just as significant in political terms as Maynard Jackson’s victory in 1973.

2. Therefore, the question becomes, if that were the case, how would African American interests be addressed; thus, the need for a comprehensive agenda. At the same time, just having a black mayor doesn’t guarantee that African American issues and concerns would be effectively addressed either (as the current administration’s relationship to the African American community clearly demonstrates). In other words, are we simply providing votes without any expectations of the candidate that would enjoy our support?;

3. While some may think that Franklin represents the last link to the Jackson Machine, it is not widely known that both Borders and Reed are directly connected to Franklin; or that Spikes and Thomas are Republicans, as is Norwood. Additionally, it should not be overlooked that whoever is Mayor of Atlanta will be in position to play an important role in the upcoming 2010 Georgia Governor’s race;

4. The changing demographics which show a more rapid growth in the city’s white population (faster and a higher percentage than anywhere else in the country) requires that we critically evaluate all candidates;

5. To ignore the alienation that exists among black voters towards the Franklin Administration’s performance is naive at best and dishonest at worse; and finally,

6. We need an overall governance strategy and a definition of who really governs in Atlanta. In other words, in 2009 we have arrived at a place in time where we can no longer afford to just look at race in the Mayor’s race or individual council races.

At the end of the day, “when the morning comes,” a black agenda would better enable us to have our interests respected by and our influence realized in any administration.

While the memo may make some valid points, the political process has to simply evolve over time with the best candidate eventually emerging. A potentially polarizing memo does a disservice to both African-American opponents.

Vick's Smiling Again!

Michael Vick ended a 2 year hiatus from football last night when he made his preseason debut with his new team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick played in 6 series going 4 for 4 in completions and running the ball once. Vick looked like he still has all of the skills that made him a Pro Bowl quarterback, but he clearly needs repetition and playing time.

Clearly this has to be a situation for Vick to get re acclimated to the NFL because he is a starting quarterback, and two stars Vick and Eagles starter Donovan McNabb will not be able to co-exist long term if this experiment is a success. As I've stated previously, Vick's ordeal has humbled him, so he will be a team player for the sake of his career.