Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Newbos are coming!
There is a new book called, "Newbos: The Rise of America's New Black Overclass," and Sunday night on CNBC there was a series featuring the subjects in the book which focuses on this new generation of wealthy stars mainly from the sports and entertainment world. Stars like Lebron James, Tori Hunter, Kadar Masenburg, Kurt Franklin, Lil Wayne, Bob Johnson, T.O. and others shared the joys and pains of being the first in their family to make it big and the pressure and pleasures that go along with that responsibility of being a member of the black overclass.
I found the special fascinating in many ways. The gaudiness of Baby from Cash Money records with $500-thousand worth of platinum and diamonds in his mouth and 15-carat black diamonds on each ear. But also his company's entrepreneurial acumen that gave him and his partner Robert "Slim" Williams the insight to negotiate a distribution deal that paid them $30-million and allowed them to keep the masters.
I was most impressed with the vision of Lebron James who was criticized for firing his agent and going with a team of childhood friends. I remember listening to the critics make comments, like he had handed his millions over to his homeboys. He did, but these homeboys had cut their teeth in promotion at Nike and they had planned this move since they were all kids. He also checked with his mentor Warren Buffett before he made the move. So in addition to being one of the most dominant players in the league and one of the youngest, James also has a business strategy for his brand and his days after basketball.
Former B.E.T. owner Bob Johnson (Johnson and Oprah are the only two black billionaires in America) said he would like to see this successful generation of entrepreneurs work together more and even merge for business projects. Ironically, he and black-owned TV One are currently not partnering but battling, as TV One made an FCC filing that basically opposes digital must-carry for networks such as Johnson's Urban Television, LLC. So much for teamwork.
While most of us are struggling in these trying economic times, a new term has been coined - the Black Overclass. I hope I can join soon.
I am Tiger Woods!!
Tiger Woods won again over the weekend and this guy has taken the term "focus" to another level.
If they could just put the way he can focus in a can and sell it, I would buy a lifetime supply. I could finally finish all the dreams of my Gemini mind. I would finish the book I started on weight loss and achieving your goals (after achieving the goal of losing the weight of course). I would finish the exciting musical play I started about radio (after I found the original draft). I would even finish the song I started about the joy of the birth of my first baby. She's nine, and I have two more kids.
If I could buy Tiger Woods' hocus pocus focus pill I would have a great life. Not just me, but others also would benefit. Vice President Joe Biden's daughter would have been so focused she would have listened to her father's anti-drug message and not have taken a toot of cocaine at that party...in front of a camera. Michael Phelps would have been so focused he would have passed on the bong hit at that now infamous party.
Unfortunately, there will be no Tiger Woods' hocus pocus focus pills on the market anytime soon so I'll just have to watch him hunt down his prey each weekend on the golf course. Oh well, gotta go. I promised the wife I would winterize the house.
AP photo by Reinhold Matay
Troy and Marc live on April 8
Monday, April 6, 2009
Girl Power!
I am captivated by first lady Michelle Obama. As I observe the first family barnstorm Europe I am impressed by her grace, style and realness. I was moved as I watched her interact with the students at the all girls school in London. Her message of pursuing education resonated not only with the students who shared the same working class background that she does but throughout the world. I think of the students who were there and how they witnessed first hand how anything in life is possible. One minute they were chillin' on a typical school day, the next they were huggin' the First lady of the United States, only in President Barack and first lady Michelle's new world.
It's a great time for girls. I asked my eight-year-old Sydney what she likes about her and she said "she's like a leader, ....sometimes it feels like she's like a second President.....it's really cool" ... From the mouths of babes.
