Yoshida: The Tide Is Changing

First girl ever drafted pro in Japanese baseball

Ain't this some stuff? That ball must really knuckle when it comes out of her hand. I'm talking about something unhittable. This is one of the world's most resistant-to-change cultures, taking in a female to pitch alongside males. Personally, I'm flabbergasted. You see young women turn pro all the time; golf, tennis, soccer, polo. But women and men aren't usually integrated in sports. Women have their own "section", because of the gender laws that govern each culture (a third cousin of the Civil Rights Movement).

But Japan? A 16-year-old girl...with men? It's going to be interesting to see how this one turns out.

-IV

First and Fifteenth...that's my cue

Clutch Magazine is right back at you, twice back at you, like Christ back at you! The much-abhorred line by Juelz Santana aside, Clutch is back up for the second time this month with 'views with .... I ain't telling. Go check it out!

But I will evince that it is an article with the inimitable Diahann Carroll in there, done by yours truly, as well as a few more engaging pieces by the other writers of the website. So check it out and show some love. The issue is on point. I'm may be a little biased.

-IV

Many men...wish death upon me...

Barack Obama is making history in the most inauspicious way possible.

Courtesy of the AP, it is now known that a litany of people want Barack Obama under. I haven't heard anything this surprising since the other day when I heard rain outside after it thundered for 20 minutes. Check out this excerpt of adject repulsion:

One of the most popular white supremacist Web sites got more than 2,000 new members the day after the election, compared with 91 new members on Election Day, according to an AP count. The site, stormfront.org, was temporarily off-line Nov. 5 because of the overwhelming amount of activity it received after Election Day. On Saturday, one Stormfront poster, identified as Dalderian Germanicus, of North Las Vegas, said, "I want the SOB laid out in a box to see how 'messiahs' come to rest. God has abandoned us, this country is doomed."

This, coupled with the report of gun sale spikes, provides for reasons that black folks need to wake up. How many people realize that Obama is in some serious martyr territory? More time praying and less time celebrating would be a start.

-IV

The Turner Speaks!

Now this is what I'm talking about. See, forget all these analysts on CNN and Fox and their pontifications on the economy. I'd rather listen to billionaires speak. I voraciously read Mark Cuban's blog for this very reason. I want to hear what Warren Buffet has to say about a faltering stock market, not Glenn Beck. So when Ted Turner mused on the economy, I was all antennas. Here's what the man with the most land in the U.S. had to say:

I think we’re going to have to change our lifestyle. And maybe it will be for the good. For the last 40 years, we’ve equated how much we had with how happy we are. Advertising tells us if you buy a big car and a new TV, you’re going to be happier. But I really don’t think we’re happier than we were in the ’50s. Back when we were living within our means and people had savings. We might have to get to know our neighbors and play bridge with them. Maybe some children will have to move back home. On ‘Sanford & Son,’ the father and son lived in the same house. They had a lot of fun.

Way to go Ted. How much consumption do people need? I have always believed that while technological advances has its place, rapid advances do not. In fact, they cripple. iPods cause people to be more antisocial, more inward. Video games give children no incentive to interact with each other without a competitive endeavor being the reason. Credits card companies routinely exploit college students with hopes of being fly and being seen in a proper light.

Businesses have to be regulated, no doubt. But what about the consumers being preyed upon? The championing of individuality is the primary reason for the mass commercialization today. I'm not sure if Ted practices what he preaches or not, but the billionaire is on to something regardless.

Put down the contraptions and pick up the board games; embrace conviviality and shun reclusion. Build communication skills instead of joystick skills. Our lives as a result will be richer because of it.

-IV

Senseless

I don't understand it. It's been a disturbing trend over the past few years. The criminal peak age for young men has progressively gotten lower and lower. Youngsters. Youngins. Lil' N----s.Hoppers. (Whatever you want to call them), has grabbed control of the murderous spirit early in life. (Queuing up my inner Hubie Brown voice) Normally back in quaint times, you had people grow up to become sociopaths. Sure you did. Now they have reached sociopathy and crossed over into sadism by the time they are 18. You know that things are going to get worse before they get better and you know that it will take the efforts of a community for that to happen.

(Turning the channel on Hubie Brown and landing on Bill Walton) The greatest crime and deprivation in the history of Western civilization is that men are growing up without men. I am firmly convinced that the loving guidance of a father is the reason that so many men grow up with bellicosity in their souls.

(Turning the TV off).

No parent deserves to read about the murder of their child through senseless killings. No parent wants to go through that, so no parent should let their child's associations go without inquisitions. Not questioning them outright, but questioning your child to question himself about healthy relationships. We talk all the time about how society and the venom that humans routinely dish against one another, but we don't question the people who allows themselves to get caught in the wrong situation. That's understandable because we are a forgiving nation, so we tend to cut somebody some slack for soundless decisions. Hey, it happens to us all.

But I seriously think that we have to vet those close to us more than we do, if we see the "train going on the wrong track". If we continue on in our own worlds, in our indifference - conscious or unconscious - towards those close to us, then we are letting somebody else fill the vacuum that your presence could occupy.

You know the saying "better you than me"? This time, let the answer be "me."

-IV

Something I thought I'd share with ya

Anthony Wilson of Bleacher Report writes a glowing - and accurate - tribute to the lone unsung hero of the Laker three-peat at the beginning of this century. My dad always told me that Rick Fox was a ballplayer.

-IV

Smoove loss

Right now, the Hawks are down by three at the half against a 1-4 Oklahoma City Thunder team. They are really feeling the Smoove blues. Russell Westbrook, who is a real player, and Earl Watson were able to penetrate into the lane with impunity in the second quarter. Statistics show that the Hawks shot 35% in the second quarter, hence the reason for their offensive struggle. But it's Josh. All Josh.

Smoove invigorated fast breaks and more aggressive defensive, because of his Nightcrawler-like ability to appear out of nowhere to smack shots into oblivion. Now the Hawks are reliant on stopping the team the good ole' fashioned hard way: man-to-man defensive execution. This tends to take compromise an offense because of the exertion needed to defend. Not saying that the Hawks are doomed without Josh; the Hawks just have to realize the implications of his loss and adjust accordingly.

As I typed that last sentence, Earl Watson dribbled coast to coast and flawlessly completed his layup drill. The Thunder have outscored the Hawks by 10 points in the paint thus far.

So in mini-tribute to the importance of Smoove, herein lies the block party countdown:



-IV