The Man Who Saved Lil Wayne!

Police officer have been getting criticized all over the country, and hurt by the "bad apples" that give all of them a bad name. All police officers put their lives on the line daily in an effort to protect private citizens. Robert Hoobler was a police officer in New Orleans on Nov. 11, 1994, when 12 year-old Dwayne Carter Jr. was walking home from school, came upon a 9 mm handgun and accidentally shot himself in the chest. Carter Jr. was able to call 911, and Hoobler answered the call taking the young boy to the hospital and saving his life.

Dwayne Carter Jr., of course is none other than rapper Lil Wayne. The two had the opportunity to meet again, and the reunion went like this:

One night, as Hoobler dined at a restaurant on St. Charles Avenue with a friend, a large man tapped him on the shoulder and told him, "Lil Wayne wants to see you."
Hoobler cast a puzzled glance around the room and locked eyes with a man sporting wild dreadlocks and shiny chains. The man motioned him over. Hoobler didn't recognize him until he stood over the table.
"This man saved my life, " Lil Wayne said to several men and women around him, according to Hoobler. "I almost died, and this man saved my life. I'll never forget him."
He reached out and bumped Hoobler's fist. They spoke briefly before they each returned to their meals.
Hoobler finished eating. When he went to pay for his meal, the waiter told him not to worry about it. Lil Wayne had picked up the tab.

Thanks to the the The Times-Picayune for an uplifting article on the good that police officers have done in the past in times of need.

23 Schools Closing In Detroit!

The Detroit Free Press reports that as a result of facing a $305 million budget deficit, the Detroit Public School System will close 23 schools impacting 7,500 students. In addition to the closings and supposedly unrelated, 600 teachers are expected to receive layoff letters.

R.I.P. "Human Eraser"

Former NBA player, Marvin "Human Eraser" Webster was found dead in a Tulsa, Oklahoma hotel room on Monday, he was 56. Preliminary reports indicate that the cause of dead was coronary artery disease. Webster played for teams such as the Seattle Supersonics, New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks during his career. Prayers go out to the family.

R.I.P. David "Pop" Winans Sr.

David "Pop" Winans Sr., patriarch to the gospel music Winans family died yesterday after complications from a stroke and heart attack suffered last October. He was 74. Prayers go out to the family for their loss.

Have You Ever Seen A 401K For A Crack Dealer?

Rapper T.I.'s MTV show "Road to Redemption" concluded last night with T.I. primarily being interviewed by Sway and later meeting with the young men and one young woman that he tried to impact during the show. Unfortunately one young man has been arrested for attempted murder and wasn't able to be at the meeting, however, T.I. true to his word has vowed to stand behind him.

Towards the end of the show T.I. gave an analogy that was so simple, yet made so much sense. He talked about taking two 15 year-olds with one working at McDonalds and the other dealing drugs. He correctly stated that all things being equal the McDonalds worker will be much better at the 10 year point. The drug dealer undoubtedly will probably be in jail, or worse dead in 10 years, and that everything has to be looked at from a long term standpoint. He also correctly stated that from a simple financial planing standpoint that crack dealers don't get 401K's set up for them. Just a little wisdom from someone who will begin serving jail time next month, but has been fortunate enough to apparently beat the odds and wants to spread a little wisdom.

Chris Pleads Not Guilty!

As expected, singer Chris Brown pleaded not guilty to felony charges in Los Angeles yesterday. Watching the baby faced 19 year-old walking into the court room and facing truly adult charges made me take a step back with a little sadness. Unfortunately for Chris, when you can't control emotions, very daunting consequences result from your actions. Too bad do-overs aren't allowed in this thing we call life.

Finally Letting Go!

The greatest basketball player of all time Michael Jordan was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame along with 4 others including David Robinson, John Stockton, C. Vivian Stringer and Jerry Sloan. Jordan hinted during the press conference that the election was a love/hate situation for him, because he finally had to realize that his playing career was really over. Jordan's legacy is completely intact, and we have all of the memories of living and watching simple poetry in motion, and a will to win probably not rivaled by anyone except maybe Tiger Woods. Thanks for the memories MJ.

Philly Cops Gone Bad?

Pennsylvania State Representative Jewell Williams, who is a former police officer, had the misfortune of attempting to assist an innocent older man who was being frisked by a police officer in his North Philadelphia neighborhood on March 28th. As Williams proceeded to intercede, he was subsequently handcuffed even after identifying himself to another police officer on the scene.

The stories of police officers taking the law into their own hands without provocation is getting pretty alarming, especially when it always appears that African Americans are the ones on the other end of the treatment. Perhaps African Americans do have a reason for being paranoid. Thanks to the Philadelphia Daily News for the article.

Attempting To Strike A Plea!

As singer Chris Brown prepares to appear in court today, the New York Daily News reports that intense negotiations are taking place behind the scenes so that Brown can avoid a felony charge and jail time in California for allegedly assaulting Rihanna. Since the initial hearing, Brown has been seen publicly mainly in his home state of Virginia. I'm sure at some point once the legal proceedings have concluded Brown will begin to enter "salvaging career" mode.

Detroit Public Schools $300 Million InThe Red!

How does a public school system operate with a $300 million deficit while at one point spending $15.2 million in unrecorded invoices and contracts to 597 employees that weren't supposed to be on the payroll? Well the Detroit Public School System can claim this fact, without many answers. Essentially the system has been robbed blind by greedy people looking out for their own self interests over the years. This is probably a tale that has been duplicated throughout the public school systems in our country. Thanks to the Detroit Free Press for the article.

Touching The Queen!

Our President and First Lady are obviously the hottest thing going in the world right now, and both are obviously savoring and enjoying the moment. Michelle Obama has caused a little stir by placing her arm around Queen Elizabeth II during their visit to England, which apparently is a breach of protocol. Our First Lady is the Queen of Firsts, so I'm sure she didn't think twice about chatting it up and touching the Queen of England.

Could It Be Over For The Answer?

Mercurial guard Allen Iverson has had a Hall of Fame basketball career, but with the wear and tear of years of pounding on his small frame have led him to a crossroads in her career. Iverson, who now plays for the Detroit Pistons has logged 18 minutes in his last 2 games while coming of the bench, and he's none too happy about it. In typical Iverson form, he's complaining about lack of playing time and venting to anyone who will listen. Iverson is a free agent after the season, and truthfully his days as a superstar are probably over, which is tough for any elite athlete to accept. He has hinted to possibly retiring, but I doubt if that's a realistic option with millions of dollars still out there to be made.

Mr. Iverson, welcome to the real world, where you're only as useful as long as you viable and useful to your employer. Hopefully you've banked a good portion of your millions just in case you really do decide to retire.

Describing Black People As Animals!

A Philadelphia police has been placed on desk duty after making disparaging comments regarding the residents in the district that he serves. William Thrasher who is white made some of the following comments to a Temple University student who was riding with him during a ride along on January 30th. Below are some of the comments published in an article supplied by the Philadelphia Daily News:

"don't care about each other. . . . They'll shoot each other for drugs, for money, for bull----. All they care about is their reputation. They want to look tough."

"These people are f------ disgusting," he told McDonald. "It's like they're animals."

To be fair to the officer, who is 24 years old, he did state within the article that he isn't racist, but comments as hateful as the one's he's being quoted as saying if true, probably disqualify him from being able to serve all people.

The Next Bailout Victim!

While AIG has received a lot of attention for bailouts and bonuses, the Los Angeles Times reports that the next wave of bailout victims could be life insurance companies. AIG's life insurance division has suffered massive losses due to bad investments. Allstate is another company that has suffered major losses but remains well capitalized according to reports.

I'm not sure if this figure is correct, but I've read that 78% of African American families don't have life insurance. If this number is indeed correct, it's a very sad commentary on our planning for final expenses. Worst case scenario, the government will make sure these companies honor their commitments to policyholders if that is necessary. Expect the losses to subside over time, however, as the companies become more conservative in their investment options.

Slow Down Andre!

Rapper Andre 3000 was arrested for driving his Porsche 109 mph in a 65 mph zone in Stockbridge, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Andre 3000, whose name is Andre Benjamin, please slow down and drive at least close to the speed limit.

Obama Fires Wagoner!

When you essentially run a company into the ground leaving many of your employees unemployed, and have to borrow billions from the government, with more to come, your time as the CEO has to eventually end. Rick Wagoner was essentially fired by President Barack Obama yesterday as CEO of General Motors while the government continues to inject money into the ailing auto company.

This may have been our president's first act of toughness while in office. He'll have some other tough choices to make if certain people in his cabinet don't start performing better very soon.

Vick's Plan!

Michael Vick does have a plan once he's released from prison as he attempts to rebuild his life according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and in terms of coming out of bankruptcy it depends on his return to the NFL. Vick is hopeful of earning $10 million a year, and only keeping $750,000 of that with the remaining going to creditors on a sliding scale.

This plan does come with hurdles, however. Primarily Vick's NFL future is solely in the hands of Commissioner Roger Goodell, who must allow Vick to be reinstated back into the league. Perhaps upon his release from prison, Michael Vick will have a renewed sense of right and wrong and make better life decisions. Vick could take a page from a youngster, LeBron James, who was profiled on "60 Minutes" last night. James credited his mother and God with looking after him, as he's avoided the pitfalls of going down the wrong path.

When Getting High Is A Bad Idea!

In this economic environment it's tough for many to keep their heads above water. Imagine being a successful entertainer, who has plenty of money, but the love of pot has clouded your senses to the point that you allow your vehicle to be repossessed due to owing back taxes. Rapper Method Man admits to being a pothead and tells the New York Daily News, “Myself, I’m a pothead,” he said on the set of a video shoot for his new album, “Blackout 2,” with Redman. “It’s no secret. Everyone knows that. I go on the road and forget everything else. Sure, [the tax department] sent letters to my house saying, ‘We need this money.’ They started sending them in 2002.

Method Man admits that he has checks at the house that haven't been opened worth significant amounts of money. Must be nice to be in that situation. This is a situation where you have to at least respect his honesty.

Keri's Perfect World!

Imagine being only 26 years old and already having writing credits for some of the biggest songs produced in the last few years. Now as of this past Tuesday, you've released your debut cd and it's expected to debut in the top 5 on the album charts.

Well Keri Hilson can claim credit for all of the above as her new cd "In A Perfect World" was just released. Led by the current single "Turnin' Me On" Ms. Hilson is steaming up the charts. Not bad for a young lady who hails from Decatur, Georgia, and once attended Emory University. She's a strong role model for young women looking to take control of their destiny.

R.I.P. John Hope Franklin!

Black historian pioneer John Hope Franklin died Wednesday of congestive heart failure at Duke University, he was 94. Franklin is considered one of he great scholars of the black experience and contributed research to the Thurgood Marshall legal team with Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 case that barred the doctrine of "separate but equal" in the nation's public schools.

Franklin's other accomplishments included: being the first black department chair at a predominantly white institution, Brooklyn College; the first black professor to hold an endowed chair at Duke; and the first black president of the American Historical Association. We owe an eternal debt to Mr. Franklin.

Rough Times And Good Times!

Actor Isaiah Washington reportedly is facing eviction from his home after not paying a $20,000/month rent obligation for 5 months. If Mr. Washington can't come up with the $100,000, he does have a bit of good news as he's signed on to play singer Lou Rawls in a controversial movie co-penned by Rawls' son which will focus on the dark side of the famous singer's life.

A Little Tense!

President Barack Obama gave another prime time press conference touting his budget as he drives to get the economy out of the doldrums. Although it appears that the press corps were preselected to answer questions, they didn't go light on our new president. President Obama got very testy with a CNN reporter who asked him twice about the slow response to the AIG bonus debacle. The president responded curtly "Well, it took us a couple of days because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak," and quickly moved on to the next question.

Many pundits described President Obama as appearing tired, but I thought he was on his game in responding to questions. His biggest challenge now is persuasiveness. He'll have a major hurdle in selling the excessive spending budget to Washington and the American people if we're not convinced it's really going to result in millions of jobs being created. It's really hard to imagine that with all of the layoffs that companies will turn around and rehire workers because billions of dollars are being pumped into the economy, especially if the specific industry isn't being directly impacted by the cash infusion.

Beyonce In Her Sixties!

While it may be difficult to envision today's entertainers older and wiser. The New York Daily News projects what today's stars may look like as they advance in age. I guess it's true that nothing stays the same.

Putting Vick Back Together!

Attorney Daniel Meachum has apparently taken over the lead in assisting Michael Vick in putting the pieces of his life back together. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Meachum has signed an exclusive 3 year contract to represent Vick and he made the following comment:

“My concern is helping Michael get back to his family and surround him with people like Julius Erving, Tony Dungy and Bishop T. D. Jakes. We need people around him who can help him and his family get back on the right track. I’m more interested in that than anything else.”

Vick could be released to a halfway house as early as late May. Hopefully Meachum will steer him in the right direction as he works to reclaim his life as a productive citizen.

Coming Back Home!

Bernard Hopkins is now 44, retired from boxing and living the good life in Delaware. He's now far from the mean streets of Philadelphia that he called home as a youngster. Hopkins went to prison at 18, got out 56 months later and was able to turn his life around to become a legendary boxer. He still ventures back to the rough streets of his childhood to give back and talk to the folks who perhaps don't have any hope of escaping. The Philadelphia Inquirer profiles Hopkins who gives this advice to youngsters:

"Everybody can't box their way out or dribble a ball," Hopkins said. "That's already been established. I'm not saying they shouldn't try, but I think if you get all the education you can get, you got a better chance of getting a good job and establishing a situation than making it in boxing.

"With me, it was something different and unusual. I didn't have an education, but my athleticism and my winning ways got me there. Then I had to think quickly, and I learned quickly, and I was fortunate. But it's not a path I would suggest to a known enemy."

Hopkins still has an apartment in Philly, and still gets his hair cut in the city, so he's never ventured too far away. His primary focus now is promoting fights as a means of income. He says that he's saved and invested conservatively so hopefully he can continue to give advice to the youngsters from his old neighborhood and give them hope for a better life, while leading by example.