A View From a Bridge #FreeToTweet

This was a speech I delivered at the NAACP ACT-SO National Competition after winning the regional competition. This exemplifies my freedom of speech #FreeToTweet

I have just come back from a journey in the world of nearly five months. I have traveled 15,000 miles. I set foot on three continents. I have visited five countries, four African islands and five African colonies. I have sailed under five flags. I have seen a black president inaugurated. I have walked the African big bush and heard the night cry of leopards. I have traded in African markets, talked with African chiefs and been the guest of white governors. I have seen the Alhambra and the great mosque at Cordova and lunched with H.G. Wells; and I am full, very full with things that must be said. - Written by W. E. B Dubois on December 16, 1923.

I too stand before you today full of questions that beg to be answered. Why am I a 17 year old high school senior plagued with concern in a world of uncertainty? It is perpetuated for many reasons. Some of those reasons are the lack of adult leadership, the lack of economic security, and the lack of knowing our history. The tale goes if you do not know your history; you will be doomed to repeat it. I am committed to learning and practicing the steps that are necessary to doing my part in healing our country economically and culturally.
  

Is it fair
that a young 8 year old boy was turned away with his mother from a barber shop because of the texture of his hair? That young 8 year old boy was me and at the time I did not understand the concept of discrimination. As the product of a socially accepted inter-racial couple, I understand that America has come a long way from the bigotry of generations before mine. This is exemplified in recent events such as Senator John McCain delivering his concession speech. He sited, "A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters. America today is a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States." This is proof that we are moving towards a more UNITED States of America.

When one thinks of anything that is beneficial
in times of crisis- we should not be thinking of the weapons of war or pointing the finger in order to place blame but instead think of the knowledge that is overflowing everywhere for the taking. The weapon of knowledge has saved the heart of America in economic crisis and War-time before and can do the same today. I hope the leaders of our beloved country take advantage of it. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out against the Vietnam War and his motto was saving the soul of America. I believe Dr. King was explaining that if our leaders did not use the necessary knowledge to end the war at the right time our country would be like an 18 wheeler truck going full speed without a driver. To end this present economic crisis and gain back our morality and economic security the U.S. must not be a blind pilot handing out bailouts left and right but instead look deep into the problem and see where the foundation started to deteriorate and start repairing the damage not patching it up.
 

Building goodwill and better friendships
among American citizens is the necessary first step to unifying our country. The overall enthusiasm in our recent electoral process shows proof that America is ready and willing to build a bridge over our differences to help restore our prosperity and to defend our security in a dangerous world. The Former Triboro bridge was renamed the Robert F. Kennedy bridge not too long ago and RFK Jr. believed this tribute to his father was appropriate because his father was "about bridging all the differences". I like many Americans preceding me, am a literal embodiment of what can happen when different worlds come together. A bridge; African American, Caucasian and West Indian cultures came together to create the young man standing before you today. I am the bridge between our history and the future. I am the bridge that can increase communication between young and old. I am the Bridge that can articulate why my generation's pants may sag lower than the Dow Jones stock market. I am the BRIDGE that must find a way to maintain, nurture, & restore a planet passed onto my generation in such dire state. I know that I am not alone on this interstate- 911 as you can see by the presence of my peers who are also here today. It is only by BRIDGING our gaps together that we can create a real bridge over troubled waters. We as a people must unite together and construct this bridge- Our nation, the present, and your future depend on it. Many of our former leaders built their legacy on these four points so that I could stand upon them and have a VIEW from a BRIDGE.

Nick Creegan Interviews ESPN's Skip Bayless & Rob Parker

Part 1

Part 2


Nick Creegan

Skip Bayless and Rob Parker share their opinions about Blake Griffen's race along with their thoughts on other athletes.

Give Him a Chance

Nick Creegan

Through the “Tebowing” imitations, to being considered a QB who will never prosper in the NFL and to being mocked for wearing his religion on his sleeve, Tim Tebow still manages to stay poised.

After a devastating blowout loss a week ago to the Detroit Lions, Tebow was challenged for the first time in his football career. He responded Sunday to this adversity he faced from the media and from his Denver teammates by leading the Broncos to a 38-24 victory over their division rival, the Oakland Raiders.

He not only rushed for 118 yards — the only QB to do so this season — on 11 carries, Tebow also threw touchdown passes of 27 yards to Eric Decker and 26 yards to Eddie Royal with no interceptions.

Tebow’s dual-threat game complemented running back Willis McGahee well, and they became the Broncos' first quarterback-running back combination to rush for 100 yards each in the same game since Norris Weese and Otis Armstrong pulled off the feat in 1976.

Now, Tim Tebow is far from the team’s savior, but why not give him a chance to develop?

It’s too early to consider him a bust. Five starts into a NFL career do not define an elite quarterback or turn him into the next Ryan Leaf. Just look at the first five starts of some of the current “elite” quarterbacks:

• The Colts' Peyton Manning, a No. 1 overall pick, went 1-4 with four touchdowns and 12 interceptions before going on to win a Super Bowl.
• The Giants' Eli Manning, No. 1 pick (traded from Chargers after the draft) went 0-5 with three touchdowns and seven interceptions. He, too, went on to win a Super Bowl.
• The Packers' Aaron Rodgers, after sitting behind Brett Favre, went 2-3 as a starter, finally, in his fourth season. His record included nine touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also won a Super Bowl.

In his first five starts, Tebow has passed for 984 yards, rushed for 321 yards and completed 48.3 percent of his passes. So he’s in good company in terms of his mixed results, but he has shown signs of future success. He just has to fine-tune his accuracy and learn to convert third downs.

But some who follow the Broncos argue that veteran Kyle Orton should still be starting because he’s the best option that the team has for winning this season.

What are these Tebow critics basing that on?

The last time I checked Orton won only three games last year.

In the past two seasons, the Broncos are 4-15 when Tebow doesn't start; they are 3-3 when he does. So it looks as if Denver has found its quarterback of tomorrow, and it’s not Orton.

But, then again, Andrew Luck hasn’t entered the NFL draft yet.

Get Ya Popcorn Ready!

Nick Creegan

Terrell Owens said in an interview on Wednesday that he plans on playing football, and Owens said he could be ready in a month or less.

Owens, almost 38, is coming off surgery for a torn ACL, and as talented as he is, he’s often been a sideshow who serves as a distraction for most of the teams he’s played for.

But he has always produced at a high level.

When Owens was asked what a team can expect if it signed him, he said, “They gonna get the T.O. that they expect. Don’t expect anything less. I’m not gonna waste your time, so I wouldn’t expect you to waste my time. When I step on the field, you know what you gonna get.”

T.O. is definitely onto something here. An NFL team that has playoff aspirations should take a gamble and sign this guy. What do they have to lose?

Nothing.

If he’s 100-percent healthy, he can still be productive — not a difference-maker, per se, but still productive. With the Cincinnati Bengals last season, he had 983 receiving yards and scored nine touchdowns.

So if a team signs him, a coach could be looking at 550-600 yards and seven touchdowns with what remains of the 2011 season, assuming T.O. learns the offense quickly.

If everything had gone as planned and he’d been healthy to start the season, you'd easily be looking at 50-to-60 catches, 1,000 yards and eight-10 TDs. Owens has done that everywhere he’s gone.

Hate him or love him, the man can produce anywhere — well almost anywhere.

He can only be an asset on the right team, a team that can handle his mercurial personality.

If I were the GM on a team that needed a few offensive additions to launch it into the playoffs and had an experienced QB, I’d sign him, no doubt. Even though a team like the Vikings could use whatever help it can get, Owens and Donovan McNabb don’t work, as we all saw in Philly.

A team like the Texans with Matt Schaub behind center might, however, be a wonderful fit. Not just because Andre Johnson is hurt, but also because Owens would be a great No. 2 or No. 3 WR, along with Kevin Walter, to help take the attention off Johnson when he returns.

The Chargers also could benefit from signing T.O. in case Vincent Jackson gets hurt mid-season.

And if T.O. could somehow shut his mouth, the St. Louis Rams might also be a fit for this talent and a place where he’d be able to get the most accomplished. As anyone who follows the Rams can attest, Sam Bradford needs a dependable wide receiver — badly. Owens could give Bradford a No. 1 target.

Shoot, Jerry Rice or Cris Carter could help the receiver-challenged Rams at this point.

A talented player like T.O. can help any number of teams that need a wide receiver, and his return to the field might allow him to end his NFL career on a high note.

But at 37, he’ll have to leave all the drama behind him. If he can’t prove he has, he makes himself unmarketable to teams that might have even a slight interest in his talent.

NABJ: Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith shares some of his personal background information and provides advice to aspiring journalists on how to break into the world of sports journalism. This interview took place at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Philadelphia, PA. NABJ is an excellent organization and I recommend every young journalist of color to join. (Please excuse the sound quality, we were using a hand held camera)

Dream...What?

Nick Creegan

Philadelphia's so-called “Dream Team” is starting to look like a nightmare. 

Once viewed as the Super Bowl favorite in many people's eyes, the high-profiled Eagles now sit in last place in the NFC East. They have been on a free-fall for three straight weeks, and their fall does not seem to be slowing. 

Going into yesterday's game, the Birds had lost two straight, including their home opener.

The worst part about these first two losses was that the Eagles held leads going into the fourth quarter, and Sunday proved to be the same.

It was yet-another embarrassing meltdown for the Eagles as they gave up a 20-point lead in the second half at home to the San Francisco 49ers — which was the franchise's biggest blown lead since the Eagles blew a 21-point lead in 1999 against the Arizona Cardinals. 

The only Eagle who's living up to expectations is Michael Vick — injured hand and all. He threw for a career-high 416 yards and two touchdowns; he also rushed for 76 yards. Vick's stellar performance was wasted by these floundering pigeons. Vick would set up rookie kicker Alex Henery with big plays, including the 61-yard bomb to DeSean Jackson, and Henery failed to come through, missing a field goal from 39 yards out. LeSean McCoy, who was the leading NFL rusher in yards going into Week 3, rushed for only 18 yards on nine carries. 

In the last three weeks, Vick and the Eagles have been owned in the fourth quarter. They have been outscored 36-0  and have turned the ball over three times. Their “shutdown” secondary has not been able to force one turnover in any of those fourth quarters. 

The Eagles defense is proving to be a weak link of “star” athletes who are not playing good football. They're playing downright awful. The interior defense is continuing to get exposed. It has given up the most yards in the league on runs of the middle and 6.2 yards per rush, and the defense is allowing the third-most rushing yards per game in the league (139.5 yards). 

Are the Eagles defensive backs going to learn how to tackle? 

Will the linebackers get faster and more alert? 

The Eagles have 12 games left to do so, or they can kiss the division title, and maybe even they playoffs, goodbye.

They have come back from early-season deficits before and still ended up with a winning record, such as when they were 0-2 in 2003 and finished 12-4. The problem with this year's team is it hasn't proved itself in situations like this yet. There are many new faces that have never played together, and they are under more pressure than some Eagles teams have faced in the past. There has to be a point where these talented players get sick of losing games they were expected to win and actually feel embarrassed enough to take action.

Coach Andy Reid and his coaching staff are not free from blame here either, but they aren't the ones out on the field missing tackles, missing field goals and fumbling. There is enough talent on both sides of the ball to turn the season around, but Philly better find that sense of urgency -- and fast. 

Unfortunately, signing big-name free agents does not guarantee a championship for a team.

Just ask Dwayne Wade.

Two Mo' Saves

Nick Creegan

Love him or hate him, Mariano Rivera is the best closer to ever step foot on the mound.

Period.

The 41-year-old Yankees star picked up his milestone 600th saves on Tuesday.  Rivera needs two more saves to pass Trevor Hoffman, the current record-holder, for most in Major League history. The closest active pitcher to Rivera and Hoffman is Francisco Cordero, who is in his 12th season and has only 323 saves.

Not even close.

Sure, Rivera’s 600th save wasn’t as climatic or as publicized as Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit, but it should have been. For

Rivera has been the most consistent and most dominant closer of the past decade. Since he took his permanent position as the Yankees closer in 1997, he has averaged four blown saves a season; meanwhile, he's averaged 40 saves per season. Rivera has only allowed 65 home runs in the 1,207 innings he has pitched. That means there was a home run for only 5.4 percent of the innings in which Mo was on the mound. These kinds of stats have given him the satisfaction of being selected as the closing American League pitcher in the All-Star Game 12 out of the 17 seasons he’s been in the league.

I don’t want to take anything away from Hoffman, but he floated around the league before he reached 600 saves.  The most satisfying Rivera statistic of them all is that he did his closing all in one uniform. He has been a part of the "Pinstripe Dynasty" since he first came out of the bullpen. That says a lot, especially since the late George Steinbrenner’s favorite slogan was “You’re fired!”  Rivera’s consistency and championship poise has kept him a gem in the eyes of his bosses as well as fans.

But he cemented his spot in the Hall of Fame way before he reached 600 saves. He has a career ERA of 2.22 in the regular season and a 0.71 ERA for the postseason. Those are numbers that will never be seen again. What's amazing about Rivera's dominance is that he did it all with just one devastating pitch -- the cutter. Is Rivera's cutter the best pitch in baseball history?

Yes.

Save 602 will most likely come this weekend in Toronto against the Blue Jays. It would be more fitting, though, to see save No. 602 in the Bronx, see at New Yankee Stadium with Jorge Posada behind the plate.

But the way Mo is throwing, save No. 700 doesn't seem impossible. Fans should have plenty of chances to see more saves as Rivera marches toward 700.

Don't Call it a Comeback !

Nick Creegan

Is it Sunday yet?

Plaxico Burress has been waiting for that question to be answered for 34 months — 20 of which were spent in prison because of a gun charge. His return couldn't have been on a bigger stage.

Thousands of fans packed into New Meadowlands Stadium for the NFL season opener against the Cowboys, which commemorated the 10^th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This was more than just a football game, more than Rex Ryan getting a win over his twin Rob; Burress and the Jets had to win this for the city.

Going into the fourth quarter, the chances of a comeback win for Burress and the Jets looked dim, especially because the Cowboys had never lost a game leading by 14; in fact they were 242-0-1 in game-time situations like that. Shaun Greene was nowhere to be found, running for only 19 yards the first three quarters, and the Cowboys defense had their way so far. On third and three with only 12 minutes left, Burress reached deep inside and set the tone for another “Miracle at the Meadowlands.”

Burress gave Mark Sanchez a reason to count on him when he needed to by dazzling into the end zone on a 24-yard connection. After his first touchdown as a New York Jet, Burress handed the ball to his four year old son in the stands and gave the Jets the momentum to pull out this unbelievable comeback. Burress ended up leading the Jets wide receivers with 72 yards and One TD. Burress will definitely be a difference-maker in games to come.

This was a very emotional win for Burress, and I see this momentum carrying on into future weeks with him only getting better. Don't be surprised if after his long awaited comeback from prison, he earns the Comeback player of the Year Award.

Sound familiar?

What Hangover ?

Nick Creegan

While Rick Reilly was busy consuming foreign objects out of an overjoyed Texans fan’s carpet, thousands of relieved Americans were tuned in to a long-waited — emphasis on the long — kickoff to the NFL season.

Thursday night, Aaron Rodgers reminded everyone that he is not Zack Galifianakis and the Packers are not a part of the “Wolf Pack.” In other words, no “hangover” folks!

Rodgers & Co. picked apart defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ scheme from the beginning, and it almost seemed unfair at times. After two Packers possessions, Rodgers was 9 for 10 and threw for two touchdowns. This guy is looking like a monster! The Pack was 4 for 4 in the red zone and 8-12 on third down. They did their thing on offense, and they look even better now than they did last year in the Super Bowl!

Think about it, Charles Woodson, Jermichael Finley and Ryan Grant -- even though he isn’t looking like himself -- are all back ready to win one for them! Yes, these guys have a ring, but they still have a hunger to attain one while playing on the field instead of cheering from the sideline.

There is also some new exciting talent in the locker room, especially from Randall Cobb. He came out of Kentucky and is proving to be a future offensive and special teams threat. Not only did he score with a 32-yard catch, Cobb decided to put the icing on his own cake by disobeying his coach and running the ball out the end zone, tying the NFL record with 108 kickoff return for a touchdown. I think you should rethink your rule, Coach. This return kept people entertained and maybe even caused Roger Goodell breathe easier knowing that there is still an opportunity for an exciting return even with the new 35-yard line kickoff rule.

What I will say about the Saints is that even though their defense seemed somewhat impotent, Drew Brees still produced-MVP quality numbers . He threw for 419 yards and three touchdowns of his own. If the Saints had converted on some short-yard situations and didn’t turn the ball over, the game could have easily gone their way. Heck, Brees threw equally as well as Rodgers, if not better.

Coach Sean Payton, with all due respect, please don’t try to run it up the gut to win the game with Mark Ingram when you could have put the responsibility in Brees’ hands to complete a bootleg for a TD. Yes, Ingram is a Heisman winner who is very capable of being a star, but he is not a power back.

But this NFC showdown that opened the 2011 season was exciting. Regardless of how lethargic the defenses seemed, there's a high possibility that the game was a preview of what the NFC championship game will look like.

To all you Fantasy Football fiends out there, make sure you pick up Cobb if you haven’t already done so. Also, remember that Marques Colston is out for four weeks with a broken collarbone, and Lance Moore is banged up. So watch out for Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson to be getting a lot of looks from Brees in the next few weeks.