Open Letter To NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

Dear Commissioner.  Last night fans in Memphis, Tennessee came out to see the stars of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love.  Fans paid for tickets in advance in anticipation of seeing these stars perform.  What they got was an announcement that all 3 players were not there.  Instead they were back home in Cleveland resting!

Another instance where the fans are thought of last.  Another reason why NBA fans should reassess purchasing tickets to NBA games.  Especially if the teams feature marquee players.  There is no guarantee those stars will play the game.  The players do not have the loyalty to the fans who are paying the high priced tickets.  The players do not care if you spent 3 months of entertainment money on this one game.

Teams should start providing refunds if this trend continues.  Fans are being ripped off.  You as commissioner are doing nothing to support the fans getting their money's worth. Maybe it will take declining ticket sales to get your attention.

NBA fans, save your money for viewing parties at your home when the star players are playing at home on TV.  When the stars come to your town don't buy tickets unless you get a guarantee that unless the player is injured, they will show up and give you your money's worth.  Stop letting NBA players slap you in the face after you pay your hard earned money.

Self Service/Customer service evolution

Self Service/Customer Service Evolution

I was made aware of another event in the evolution of self service this past Friday.  Southwest Airlines, the champion of “you find your own damn seat” thinking, has taken it to the next step.  Now customers scan their own boarding pass when getting on a plane!  Yes, another “do it your damn self moment”.  I was flying back from Orlando when the gate attendant  told us that they “do it differently” in Orlando.  Along with having the pleasure of standing between two lightning rods as you await seating, now Southwest Airlines apparently is having customers scan their own boarding passes.  You know what’s next don’t you?  Soon passengers will have to load their own bags into the cargo hold of the plane.  So, after you clear through security you will be asked to go out onto the tarmac, find your plane, find your bag in a pile of bags, and then load your bag(s) into the cargo hold.  The next “do it your own damn self” moment will be when boarding the plane you will be asked to grab the drink you want out of a cooler positioned strategically by the  by the door as you enter the plane.   That way the attendants will not have to get up and take your drink order during the flight.  

Most modern planes already have a video showing what to do in an emergency.  So what does that mean for the future of flight attendants?  Well, they probably will become Anti Terrorist/Homeland Security Attendants.  Their main job will be to keep rowdy passengers under control and to prevent any possible incidents from occurring.  Criminal Justice majors in college, you just had another lane open up for you in possible career choices!

So passengers scan their own boarding pass, get their own drink while boarding, find their own seat, watch a video on emergency procedures.  I forgot that also while boarding the plane they could grab as many pretzels and peanuts as they can humanly consume on a 2-4 hour flight!

You know what’s going to happen.  To get pampered and get real customer service, you will have to pay a customer service fee for someone to do those things that you don’t want to do.  I hope this kind of service doesn’t come to the restaurant business.  Some restaurants have already started bringing a bottle of water to your table, pour you one glass then leave the bottle for you to pour your own damn water afterwards.  Self services truly is the wave of the future!

Standing Rock - North Dakota Pipeline Issue

When is enough, enough?  Haven’t Native American tribes been through enough turmoil, treachery, deceit and abuse since European Americans first came to their land?  The North Dakota pipeline issue is the latest incident and continuance of mistreatment.  Allegedly the plans for the North Dakota pipeline were coordinated with and approved by impacted Native American parties.  If that was the case then why are Native Americans now protesting the path of the pipeline?  Is the situation just a continuance of European American  beliefs in “manifest destiny” the belief that God approves their efforts to expand across the land of others?

European Americans took  land and resources from Native Americans hundreds of years ago to establish the United States of America.  Would it be too much to divert the pipeline around the area in question?  When is enough, enough?  Is it not enough that an entire civilization and culture was dismantled by European American self interests and greed? Haven’t Native Americans paid enough for the progress of others?

Sometimes decisions that seem economically sensible need to be weighed against other factors.  If  Native Americans have valid concerns about the impacts of the pipeline why not change the plans, despite any increased costs?  Do European Americans have to win at every dispute?  If so why?  “Experts” state that the pipeline will never leak.  More self assurance in European American technology.  Just check history to see how many times we’ve been surprised by events we thought would never happen.  Things that man builds do not last forever.  Deterioration happens.  If you don’t believe so look at the infrastructure in most cities in the United States and the maintenance/repair needed on water lines, gas lines, bridges etc.

Just because the US Army Corps originally met with Native American tribes on plans for the pipeline does not mean they listened and responded to their concerns.  Obviously Native Americans have enough concerns to attempt to physically block continuance of the construction.  Thankfully protests have brought attention to the situation.  Now we will see if the same approach used hundreds of years ago will be used to respond to concerns of Native Americans.  Or will the government of the United States barter a compromise agreement that results in changes to the pipeline plans?  If a compromise occurs it would offer hope for the future direction of the United States.  It would mean this country actually understands the impact it had on the demise of the Native American culture.  It would mean the United States can actually react humbly to the needs of all citizens in this country to include Native Americans, the original citizens.

After the hate filled Presidential election campaign, a positive decision in favor of Native Americans would be a breath of fresh air.  It would be a compassionate decision not based only on economics and faith in technology.  It would be a compassionate decision based on respect for human feelings and maybe even an attempt to correct some sins of the past.  If you have not followed the issue, spend some time learning about the facts of the situation.  Then express your views on what should be done to bring the situation to a close.

New Age NBA Players Resting on Your Money for Tickets

It happened again.  But, I learned two years ago.  NBA fans who purchase tickets in advance should be forewarned that the star player you are paying $150 plus per ticket to see may not play in the game.  That's what I discovered two years ago when I paid big bucks to see Lebron James play for Cleveland against the home town Indiana Pacers.  Well unfortunately on game night, Lebron was no where to be found.  It was announced that he was resting.  He was no where to be seen on the bench so I assumed he was back home in Cleveland watching the game from the comfort of his home.

So my wife and I were entertained by the rest of Lebron's teammates.  With the absence of James I think our team won, but it didn't sooth the hurt in my wallet from paying premium cash for the honor of seeing Lebron and his team.  NBA tickets are now priced based on the marque value of the opposition.  So tickets to Cleveland and Golden State are higher than a ticket to let's say Charlotte or Memphis.  Unfortunately NBA fans don't get a refund if the marque player or players for the opposition decides he wants to rest that day.  Or if the coach decides to rest the player.

Back in the 1960s, 70's and 80s, there was no thought of a player taking a rest day.  The players and owners understood that fans were coming out to games to see the star players play.  That viewpoint no longer seems to be in place.  The NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, apparently is on the players side rather than the fans side.  So, why can't we the fans get a refund if a star player wants to rest?  We overpaid so we could see the player and now you tell me, "Oh, he needs to rest that night."  That's okay with me as long as you give me a refund if I don't want to see just his teammates play.

Fans now might as well wait until game night to decide if you will purchase a ticket, yet alone pay the high price for a parking spot near the arena.  The other night, Cleveland came to town to play the Pacers.  Again as before, Lebron did not play.  The reason given was, rest.  So all those fans who came out were treated to Lebron on the bench, while Mr. Love and Mr. Irving tried to give the fans their money's worth.  What a rip off to jack up prices for some teams but then not refund the money when the team's star player rests instead of playing.

Maybe most of the fans, at least season ticket holders, can afford to drop $300 plus to see bench players.  But those hard working fans who sacrificed to take a son or daughter to the game typically can't do so.  Come on NBA!  Honor your ticket contract with the fans and ensure your star players play!  Otherwise do like me.  Don't even bother getting tickets in advance for early season and late season games.  Those are prime games when aging stars will be rested.  Instead invest that money in yourself.  A nice expensive meal.  A trip somewhere.  Or even better just put the money into your savings account until you find a better use for it.

Thank You America - Affirmation of Who You Are

Thank you America!  The 2016 Presidential election results was affirmation of the mentality of millions of the citizens of these United States of America.  Over 47% of those who took the time to vote, supported a person who throughout the campaign spoke in a hateful, racist, bully tone.  Thank you America for reaffirming how you feel about minorities.  Thank you for sharing your views on how only European American immigrants are entitled to receive the best that this land offers.  Some say they voted for “change” and a non politician to lead that change.  But, did you listen carefully to what your non politician was saying about various groups?  Or is it that as long as he didn’t mention your category of human being, you didn’t care what he said?

For me as a black man life moves on.  I calmly went to bed election night before the final results were in.  My view was God is in control, no matter who became President.  When I heard the results the next morning, I nodded my head and told myself, “okay, affirmation has been received.”  Even before the results of the election it was clear to me that neither candidate would improve my life or the life of black people.  No, instead it was up to me to make my life better and to assist in helping other black people improve their lives.  Investing my money in black businesses and our youth is something I have always tried to do.  I will simply increase those efforts and strengthen my resolve to have a positive impact on as many black people as I can.  The only thing I expect from the government is to use my tax money wisely.  I’m not waiting for the government to come to my rescue or to rescue struggling black families or individuals.  Those days are gone and never really existed.  These days if you want something you go and get it or make it happen yourself.

The answer in overcoming generational impacts of slavery lies within each of us as black people.  Within my own generational family there are members who made bad choices.  My success is due to making fewer bad decisions, not because I was smarter.  Maybe we as black people went too far in absorbing the values of European Americans, who let’s face it stole this country from a native population that was already here when European American’s “settled” in this country.  We can’t get away from that basic foundation.  These United States of America are based on a group of invaders feeling they were entitled to land that was already inhabited by a burgeoning population of indigenous people.  The formula for success was to take someone else’s  land then forcefully enslave people from another continent to do the hard labor work that was needed to make the “new” country flourish.  Then hundreds of years later, preach the doctrine of building of a wall to keep immigrants from coming into the country.  It’s a great strategy.  A strategy of lessons learned from what the original settlers did to take over the country.  Self interest.  An attempt to keep what you stole.

So again.  Thank you America for the wake up call.  But, I already had received my wake up call many years ago.  Your decision only serves to motivate me to do what has to be done, by any means necessary.

Observations at a hair supply store

I recently went to a hair supply store seeking products for men who shaved their heads for the bald look.  I went into one store which has the name of a European American female, but is operated by Asian- Americans.  In response to my question as to where were the male products, I was directed to a corner of the store.  On the way to the “male corner” I passed by numerous items of false hair of all types, lengths, and colors.  I gazed across the store and at the walls and saw more of such items across 10 aisles.

My thoughts as I walked through the aisles was “why do black women feel the need to buy this fake hair?”  I thought of the timeframe in the late 60s and early 1970s when we as black people became collectively proud of our “natural” Afro hair styles.  I also thought of the time frame before then when black men would get their hair “processed” to make it look “smooth” like those of male  European-Americans.  Then came the era of the jeri curl which seemed to be the compromise between getting your hair processed and having an Afro.

Somehow we have bought into the European American view point that the straighter and longer your hair, the better is your hair.  I never have prescribed to that viewpoint.  It is sad to see that many black women have fallen for the hype that their natural hair is not good enough. To me anytime you have to resort to wearing something fake you have compromised your acceptance as to who you are.  I can recall seeing many black women over the years who have had short hair who looked very attractive.  Somehow we’ve allowed ourselves to believe the images shown to us in the media as to what is pretty, or what is attractive.  Then we try to buy that image to replace the naturalness of who we are.  Accepting the image forced upon you is an act of giving up your power to decide what you want to look like.  Why would you want to give up power to someone else?  Especially if doing so makes you have to spend money to fit the image someone else has defined for you as being acceptable?

Throughout history there are examples of men and women wearing fake hair.  The underlying reason was to present a specific image.  But, there is nothing wrong with presenting your natural image to the world.  While in the Asian American operated store, I thought about how I had always heard that Asian Americans dominated the hair supply market and that black people were primarily consumers not profiting from the business.  So in both instances I feel something is wrong.  Number one, we don’t need fake hair products.  Number 2, it’s an additional painful act that the money we spend on the fake products doesn’t go to black businesses.

I admire the women who refuse to buy into the straight hair is good hair viewpoint.  For those who are not quite there yet, I hope one day you awake and decide that you are more than beautiful with your natural hair.  Everyday does not have to be Halloween where you put on a costume to be accepted!

Understanding and Respect - The Flag and Anthem Protest

You're angry because I don't feel overly patriotic when the national anthem plays.  You fail to understand, or maybe you just don't care that I was once considered 3/5 of a person under the flag you proudly display.  You are proud of your family heritage and can track your descendants flawlessly through centuries of records.  You fail to understand that my descendants were forcefully taken from Africa away from their families, enduring inhumane conditions in a ship traveling across an ocean and forced into slavery. Simultaneously the government of the flag you are proud of was sanctioning the annihilation of the original inhabitants and culture of this country, the Native Americans.  Those same Native Americans you now honor by naming sports teams after.

But then I realize maybe you don't understand that enslaved Africans in these United States of America did not have the same normal family life your ancestors had? Any attempt to start a family was disrupted by the children of slaves being sold away from the mother and father.  Or the father or mother could be sold away from the family.  Many black families can never track their descendants based on this disruption of the normal family environment in the days of slavery.  So, you want us to still stand up straight, and put a hand over our heart when the national anthem plays?

You try to hide behind the mantra of "People who don't respect the flag of the United States are dishonoring the military by not standing."  I say you dishonor yourselves by hiding from the truth that the flag symbolizes more than just the military.  We agree that the flag can be a powerful symbol.  Just as you can agree that the  the Confederate flag raises up a variety of feelings among various people.

In a period where authorized officers of the law are killing black people as a first option, how can you expect black people to stand and pay homage to a symbol which we feel does not respect our lives? I wonder about those who don't accept the outrage we feel that our lives are not being respected.  It's as though you feel the number of black lives lost to law enforcement are within the realm of acceptability?

Well, it's not acceptable.  So we protest against the symbols you hold in such high esteem.  Apparently you've gotten the message as your outrage against the protests speaks for itself.  Reaction, counter reaction.  The nature of the human experience.  Maybe you want us to forget the past?  That's not the message we get when the anniversary of 9/11 comes around.  Then we're told, "never forget".