Tiger, Big Ben the Rapist, and selective reporting of the news media

I'm going to make this short and sweet. Don't get me wrong, I love ESPN. I go to sleep and wake up to ESPN. Check my phone app at least 5 times a day. Check it on the computer at least 5 times a day. I have always loved their professionalism and objective reporting, but of late?? It's been US weekly status. Despite the 27000000 articles and specials and apologies about Tiger Woods, you know what? I REALLY DON'T CARE THAT MUCH. I'm 28, and I don't play golf. I do like to see Tiger win and chase history, because he is a great athlete, BUT THAT IS IT, NOTHING MORE. Must we be subjected to watching 39 different anchors or columnists give their 2 cents? IT'S HIS PERSONAL LIFE, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GOLF. I haven't heard one convincing arguement on why I should really give a s#!t about Tiger and his infidelities.

Before I talk about the latest stinker, lets go back a few years. Kobe Bryant, NBA superstar, is accused of rape while getting treatment in Colorado. This is huge, stop the presses news on ESPN and everywhere else (besides how stupid it is, and how famous he is, the only real significance is that he could miss time playing basketball to go to court, and seasons if he is convicted). For months, sponsors dropped him, racists pissed on him (figuratively), and it was front page news. However, the angle was FAR from objective. The media, including ESPN, painted Kobe as this monster, this big black guy preying on innocent white girls, and it went way too far. So far that even after the "victim" was found to have the semen of 5 different men in the underwear she wore when she was checked out, AND the case was dropped due to lack of evidence, Kobe's rep was ruined, and he CONTINUED to be villified. It took 8 years, 81 points, a 2 million dollar ring and 2 finals appearances to erase MOST of that ordeal. Although I hate to go to a black/white thing by default, there is the case of Big Ben.

Ben Roethlisberger is (in my opinion) an overrated, overpaid QB who has ridden an elite defense, luck, and a hail mary catch to 2 superbowl victories. He is also a twice accused rapist. I remember it clearly, when the news of the first assault broke to other outlets (curiously not ESPN), and it took a user backlash and complaints before there was a statement explaining why the story hadn't been front page news on ESPN. As my brother would say, HOGWASH. I say ESPN was protecting the big white QB of the defending SB champs. I know what you might be thinking: "you threw the race card too quick", but hold on. I definitely understand what an opportunistic female would do, and I do not envy this part of a stars life, but the details of that first accusation sure as hell painted a monster. But why would you do that when you're on top of the world? Usually the people that do the craziest things either have everything, or nothing, and it wouldn't be the first of last time. As quickly as that first accusation fell out of conversation just like that, the steelers were out of the playoffs, because the heart of that elite defense (Troy Polamalu) was injured most of the year, and the big white hope QUIT on his team. When the details broke on this second accusation (and it was maybe the 4th or 5th story on ESPN), I was pretty shocked. Big Ben? with a blacking out 20 year old college student? In a bathroom stall? Dude is sick. Now, nobody but Ben and his accuser know what really happened, but as the DA put it this morning: "many questions persist". I just realized I pulled a "sports guy" and went a bit long. I think Ben just got a SERIOUS free pass number 2, and I'm kind of disgusted that it went down like that. No one is squatting on Ben taking a dump on his rep like they did Kobe (or Michael Jackson, or Mike Tyson, or Michael Jordan, or Marvin Harrison, or Chad Johnson, or even Gilbert Arenas, though I do not condone what he did), and if the Steelers make it to the Superbowl, it will all be ancient history. Since the law's hands are now tied, I hope Roger Goddell and the NFL do what everyone in the media has been afraid to do to Ben: speak the truth, and punish him for embarassing himself, his family, and team, and for most importantly (and stupidly) putting himself in those positions.

The biggest COP that we've seen thus far....is undeniably talented

I'm not going to disrespect BIG's memory and write something about Rick Ross that is comparably long, but I will do a little background before giving the new music. I am definitely a Rick Ross fan. Rick has definitely stepped his rap game up, hanging out with Jay, Nas, and Game. But people say Rick Ross is a FRAUD...or is he? Rick Ross is a rapper, and 95 percent of all rappers are perpetrating a fraud in some fashion (rented cars, fake jewelry, from the suburbs, college graduates, etc) so I think the Boss has gotten a little bit of a bad rap in that regard. Rappers sell a provocative image, and that sells their records...and NONE of it necessarily has to be true. True, the fact that he lied about not being a Corrections Officer then was later FORCED to admit after undeniable proof definitely hurt his reputation, but I would say Rick has bounced back nicely. Whether or not Rick has sold coke, owns everything he flaunts, or has ever gone to jail is not my business or concern. I really care about the quality of the music. For years, Rick played the background to Trick and Trina, and eventually bogarted his way to an opportunity the old fashioned way: Getting in the studio, putting out a hot mixtape, and aligning himself with a popular DJ (Khaled of Miami). The result was the smash hit "Hustlin'" and his port of miami debut. He followed that with (in my opinion) a more cohesive CD, "deeper than rap," which despite classic material being left off the album (lost intro, cigar music, mafia music remix, yacht club remix, throw it in the sky, etc) was mostly a great listen. Evident from the choice for the first single ("magnificent", and most of the other incredible beats on that CD) Rick has a great ear for smooth beats (albeit beats that wouldn't be considered typically "southern sounding"). This is very clear once again on the first song released from his soon to be released opus, "Teflon Don". The song is called super high, and features Def Jam crooner Neyo. To put it plainly, it's FIRE. I dont know how the hood is going to feel about it, but according to my ears, Officer Ricky has another banger. Sounds like a Sade sample and loop. Listen to it by clicking here