The New Poverty!

The Charlotte Observer profiles the new face of poverty in Debra Cherry. Cherry is 47, college educated and previously making $75,000. Laid off due to job cut backs, she's unemployed and now living in an apartment after previously residing in a $250,000 home. McDonalds says that she's over qualified for working in the fast food industry. Unfortunately this is the new reality for the working class. Hopefully Cherry's profile will improve her job prospects.

What Is Carmelo Really Thinking?

Carmelo Anthony began his 8th media day with the Denver Nuggets yesterday amid trade rumors that have him being traded to either the New Jersey Nets or the Philadelphia 76ers. Anthony is a free agent after this season and has a $65 million contract on the table from the Nuggets that he has refused to sign. The Nuggets fearing a LeBron James debacle have decided to trade Anthony if he doesn't sign the contract extension.

Anthony may be making a bad decision along with "his team". It's likely that next year the owners will lock out the players in an effort to bring costs down which will likely impact player salaries. Anthony's probably looking at his last $20 million a year payday but is acting like he has all the leverage. If I were the Nuggets, I would make him play out the season. I know they run the risk of losing him for nothing, but Carmelo Anthony as much as I love him as a player is not even the leader of his own team, that happens to be Chauncey Billups, and he's definitely not LeBron James.

Eddie Long's Not A Perfect Man!

Bishop Eddie Long finally spoke to the members of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church yesterday morning stating that he's not a perfect man, but definitely not the man being portrayed amid the sexual coercion charges that surfaced last week. He stated that he's going to fight the charges, but since he never stated that the charges weren't true my guess is that settlement talks will be taking place at some point.

Long still appears to have the support of his church, but if he allows these suits to go to trial he runs the risk of being exposed if any of the charges are proven to be true. It's my guess that he won't be willing to take that chance.