throweminjoe

Just lost my right hand man!

My BLACKBERRY!!!

I dropped him in some water and now he's dead. Arrrrgh!

Gotta get him replaced and quickly!

Not exactly how i planned to start my monday.

To all of my fam and friends...email me your info (email addy...cell #...blackberry pin #...etc) b/c I'm not sure if I can get it from my old phone. I don't know anybody's info by heart...except my home #. LOL.

email it to 12kyle@gmail.com

hollatchaboi!

Off tha Dome

random thoughts...

Still in Minneapolis. It's cool. I like it. I miss my wife and kids, tho.

Strange weather here...65 degrees one day...snow on the next day

I'm not a fan of reality tv but I watch the Apprentice. They did my girl Claudia Jordan wrong! It's ok. C'mon and work for me Claudia.

I wonder how sideline reporters interview dudes at halftime or after the game. You KNOW those dudes breath/body stink!

Women are... (you fill in the blanks) lol

I heard a dude say on tv that President Obama was "doing too much." Huh? I don't even think that's possible

I shutter to think about where we'd be if McShame was runnin tha show

My brackets are looking good! What about yours?

My single boys tell me this all the time..."Women who are drop dead fine...are crazy." I can dig that

I've been very impressed with the show that T.I had on MTV.

Dude...don't talk to me when we're standing and using the bathroom. Find a spot on the wall...look at it...and shudditup!

Happy Burfday to Keith and Otis! Pop bottles, fellas

I saw 2 bums here in Minneapolis who were playing the harmonica and drums. I like that. Musical bums

Thanks to the ladies who shared their personal testimonies on the post about domestic violence. 'Preciate that

I dunno about y'all...but I don't do the ass kissin at work. That's just not me.

If I was a female, I'd wanna date me. No lie

Ever wonder why men (myself included) will watch a game for 2-3 hrs and then watch the highlights of the game for another hour. I mean...it's not like the highlights are gonna show something that we DIDN'T see!

Memo to the fellas...if your woman gets her hair done on saturday...you aint gettin none for a few days

Memo to the ladies...if you can't cook...shame on you!

What's so special about Coach or Prada bags? Please explain! It's a bag. Sheez!

I am an Ocean

As long as you have air in your lungs and the blood is flowing through your veins, you're ok

Last but not least...Happy Burfday (again) to my #1 fan. I bought Mrs12 some flowers and surprised her at work. I was glad that I was able to pull it off b/c she's very nosy and it's almost impossible to surprise her. Glad you enjoyed it. Thirty....sumthin. LoL. Love u!

Hollatchaboi!

onceapromatime

Spring is upon us. Spring symbolizes different things.

Warm weather...

Blooming flowers...

Spring Break...

and going to the prom!

Yeah. Going to the prom is always a memorable time. Good memories...or bad memories.

Last year, I was sitting in McDonalds and I saw a kid walk in and he had a tux on. Immediately, I thought..."His night didn't go too well." LoL. I went to the prom 4 times. Three times when I was in high school and once when I was in college. The prom that I attended when I was a freshman in college was my girlfriend's senior prom.

That night was memorable...but for the wrong reason. Like most kids, the objective was to go to the prom...hang out...take pics...then head to the hotel. That was our plans, too. The night was going according to what we had planned. We took pics and then we went to the hotel. Things got very INTERESTING once we got to the hotel.

We checked into the room and got settled in. We started watching tv. The night was going well. As I was anticipating our next move, I decided that I needed to get the portable radio that I had packed in my trunk. I wanted to set the mood with some soft music. Bad move! As I go to retrieve the radio from the trunk of my car, I placed the car keys in the trunk...then I closed the trunk! I immediately realized that I had locked the keys in the trunk of the car. Damn!

I went back to the room and told my girl what happened. I'm spazzin out because I'm in a jam. I can't call a locksmith and pay for them to open my car. I can't call home and say..."Hey mom! I locked the car keys in the trunk...and I'm at a hotel with my girlfriend!" I had to think fast. I knew that there was a spare set of keys at the house but I couldn't go home to get them. After about 30 mins, I figured it out.

I knew that my lil brother could get his hands on the keys. I called our house and prayed that he'd pick up the phone before my mom did. He did! I told him that I locked the keys in the trunk. I told him to call JFresh on a 3 way conference call. JFresh was gonna be my lifeline. I knew that he was in town but I wasn't sure if he was at home. He called him and he answered. I told him that I needed him to go to my house...pick up the spare keys and bring them to me at the hotel.

"Mannnnn, whut the hell have you done??? You did what? You locked your keys in the trunk? Haaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

He got a big kick out of it. When he pulled into the parking lot, he had a HUGE grin on his face. Of course, I didn't think it was funny. It is now! LoL. Glad that he had my back. I was glad that my brother made it happen. And my mom never found out.

Did you have a memorable or unforgettable prom story?

Hollatchaboi!

turnofftharadio

Turn on the radio take a listen
What you're missing/
Personally I'm sick of the ass-kissing/
What I'm kicking to you won't get rotation/
Nowhere in the nation/
Program directors and DJ's ignored me/
Cause I simply said f*#k Top Forty/
And top thirty top twenty and top ten/
Until you put more hip-hop in/

Ice Cube (Turn Off The Radio) circa 1990


I tried...

I mean...I really tried.

Against my better judgement, I tried to listen to the radio for an hour. Too bad I'll never get that hour back. To say that the music on the radio sucks would be an understatement. I'm a hip hip head. And I will be until I'm no longer here. I learned that hip hop aint dead...it's been replaced by rap music. Before you accuse me of being the old dude who won't give way to the new school, let's take a look at the current landscape. Gone are the days when hip hop songs had structure, meaning, or a message. If you listen to the radio, you'll hear something totally different. Every song is about the car of choice, alcoholic beverage of choice, and clothes of choice. So, if you go to the car dealership, the liquor store, and the mall...you'll see where rap is right now.

I don't begrude any artist who is trying to earn a living. I don't hate Souljah Boy. I don't know who Dream is. And I definitely don't know what a Stanky Leg is...and I'm not sure that I wanna know, either. Record executives are to blame. They seem to be more concerned with getting the "next hit" and not artistic development. They have created this "microwave rap" that we hear on the airwaves. And they wonder why people don't buy music any more?

For those who mention Lil Wayne...save your breath. I'll give him credit...he's hot right now. So what? Six years ago, Ja Rule was hot. Where is he now...Burger King? I would advise Wanye and his counterparts to save their money. Years ago, MC Hammer was the richest dude in hip hop. Look at him now. Wayne refers to himself as the "best rapper alive". He may be right about that. He aint no MC...he's a rapper. There's a difference.

Maybe it's just me. Who knows? I dare you to call your local radio station and ask to hear an old song from LL Cool J, Rakim, or Boogie Down Productions. They'll probably act like you're speaking a foreign language. Some may say I'm hating...but it's reality. Look at Ice Cube's lyrics above. He said this YEARS ago. And it's true today. The radio sucks.

And I'll never get that hour back.

Hollatchaboi!

quote of the day

"Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think. "- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

kickin it

Phrenology is a defunct field of study, once considered a science, in which the personality traits of a person were determined by "reading" bumps and fissures in the skull.

Sometimes I often wonder how our "readings" would be. There are some things that we say and do that make a lot of sense. And then there are things that we say and do that make no sense...

For example, when we say things like...

"We'll have sex with no strings attached."

Huh? Is that possible? Nope. Maybe we say it because we want to fool ourselves or the other person. But we know better. Every person that reads this post has had sex at least once with somebody who wasn't our girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse! And I think that we all have either said this (or something similar) at least once in our lifetime? Am I lying? Of course not! LOL

You know the scenario...boy meets girl...girl likes boy...boy likes girl...they have sex...they like it...they don't want a relationship...so they say to each other..."let's kick it." Or they say "let's be cut buddies." Sound familiar?? Of course it does. I'm not here to pass judgment because we've all been down this road. I know that you can't go 'round sleeping with everybody but we've all done this.

However, we ignore the facts...

Fact # 1...We are all sexual creatures. We all like sex...some more than others. And some of us are just stone cold freaks. It's ok...you can laugh. I see you.

Fact # 2...Sex is emotional. You are sharing your body with somebody else. You are sharing an experience. It's damn near impossible not to feel ANYTHING for the person that you're with. Even prostitutes feel something! Um...not that I would know...that's what I heard! LOL

Fact # 3...We can't lie to ourselves. Remember in the movie Love Jones when Darius made breakfast for Nina the next morning after a great night of sex. He could have tried to lied to his friends but he couldn't lie to himself. I think this is where we come up short. We tell ourselves stuff like "even though we're no longer a couple...if we have sex this one last time, it'll be ok. This is one for the road." Yeah right.

Fact # 4...Everybody tells themselves that it'll be different. Fellas, no matter how many times you tell her that you are "just kickin' it" or that you're "cut buddies"...she's gonna get attached to you. And you'll be attached to her. That's what happens. If you think that I'm lying, then maybe you should ask yourself how you'd feel if that person told you that they were also having sex with somebody else. Most of us won't go for that. You know that I'm right.

Like I said before, we are some funny people. And I say we because ole Kyle has been down that road before he got married. Some of the things that we've said or done will make you wanna scratch your head.

Ok...who wants to sign up for the first "reading"????

Hollatchaboi!!!

off tha dome

random thoughts...

have you ever wondered why your front teeth (the top 2 and bottom 2) are only used for tearing or gnawing?

this weather is crazy...snow one week...80 degrees the next week.

it didn't take long for Terrell Owens to find another team. i guess he's just like the rest of us...allergic to the unemployment line

Mrs12 calls our 2 yr old son, Brandon, "her chocolate man". wait a minute...I thought I was her chocolate man???

Rush Limbaugh wants President Obama "to fail". Funny how these "talking heads" have changed the game. If anyone had said 4 yrs ago that they wanted Bush to fail they'd call that person "anti-American".

as much as I didn't like Bush, I never wanted him to fail. When he fails...we all fail.

to the talking heads i say this...you had a chance to make a difference on November 4, 2008. now, you have to deal with this administration for the next 8 years.

Dwayne Wade is making a strong case for MVP

Bernie Madoff is looking at 150 yrs in jail for his scheme. Dude is 70 yrs old. Hmmm...I don't think he'll be able to serve all of his years.

I really have a hard time adjusting to daylight savings time

Kimmie Kennedy...Kimmi Kennedy...Kimmi Kennedy


Why is milk so high?

Lil Kim looks lighter than President Obama. What is she doing to her skin?

Chris Brown and Rihanna are back together and are reportedly doing a song together. Wow.

Speaking of couples, you know what I like about the marriage between Shawn Carter and Beyonce Carter...I know NOTHING about their marriage. Ain't that the way that it should be?

I think we're gonna have a HOT summer.

Frosted Flakes might be the greatest cereal of all time!

Liberia...Liberia...Liberia


Live from Bedford-Stuyvesant the livest one...representin BK to the fullest...

Ladies...if you're gonna have your toes out...please put lotion on your feet. Fellas...if you're gonna wear a short sleeve shirt...please lotion on your elbows! Yesterday, I saw 2 of the ashiest people that I've ever seen! Take heed to the lotion PSA

Class of ' 91...we're gonna get it together...this year!

I don't understand why someone would wanna shoot and kill innocent people and THEN kill themselves. Just kill ya self and leave everybody else here!

Were you ever the "class monitor" when the teacher stepped out of the class?

My boy JFresh is about to get on twitter...the world is coming to an end.

I think...most of us have the same aspirations in a relationship...we just have a different way of reaching the plateau

Honesty may hurt...but it's necessary


Amelle Berrabah...Amelle Berrabah...Amelle Berrabah...

igottastory2tell

I don't know Chris Brown. I really had no idea that the kid was THIS popular. I mean, I had heard a song or two. I saw him in Stomp the Yard and This Christmas. But I don't know him personally. Nor do I know Rihanna. I told myself that I'd stay away from commenting on their situation until the facts came out. Well, after reading that police report...I had to say something. I've never hit a woman. I don't know what makes a battered woman go back to an abusive man. I don't know what makes a junkie go back to smoking crack everyday. Instead of talking about 2 celebrities who I don't know...I'll talk about a situation that happened to me and some people that I know.

(true story...the names were changed to protect the innocent and guilty)

Two years ago, Mrs12 had decided to throw a 30th birthday party for herself at our home. We invited friends and family from all over to celebrate. We had anticipated at least 50 people to be there. One of the invitees was Mrs12's best friend, Paulina. They had been best friends since they were small children. I have known Paulina since I started dating Mrs12. I was very fond of her. I always liked the tight bond that they shared. My wife doesn't have a sister but Paulina is the closest thing that she had to a sister. In the months leading up to the party, the friendship was changing. Paulina, who had 2 children from a previous relationship, was now dating Todd. Mrs12 had only been around Todd a few times but she didn't like him. She didn't think that he was right for Paulina. She wasn't going to interfere in Paulina's quest for happiness but she just didn't think that he was her type.

Just before the party got started, Paulina and Todd arrived. They drove 5 hours from South Carolina. I greeted Todd at the door with a firm handshake/half hug. It was the first time that I had met the dude and I wanted him to know that everything was cool even though he probably knew that wifey didn't like him. I also gave Paulina a big hug. She looked happy. After about 20 people have arrived, I noticed that Todd was sitting alone in a corner. This was a party and he wasn't socializing. I understand that he didn't know anybody there but I found that to be strange. I knew that I'd have to keep an eye on him.

Thirty minutes later, Joey walks in. Joey is one of Mrs12's cousin's. He's a month older than her. They grew up together and are very close. Joey also knows Paulina very well. He grew up with her, too. I'm sure that he probably viewed Paulina as a lil sister. After getting comfortable, Joey starts cracking jokes with Paulina. Very innocent. They laughed. There was no sexual innuendo. She was having fun. Apparently, Todd thought that she was having too much fun. He was still sitting in the corner but now he was getting pissed. He asked Paulina to step outside so that he could talk to her. She did.

Todd was pissed off but he decided to take his frustrations out of the house...away from the other guests. While they were outside, he began to yell at her and accuse her of a bunch of things. Then...he PUNCHED her in the face. TWICE. In my front yard!!! Paulina ran into the house...with a busted lip...and yelled for Mrs12 to call the police. When Mrs12 saw that she had been punched, she raced to the door to FIGHT HIM!!! Luckly, one of her cousins grabbed her before she could get to him outside. Joey ran outside to get him but Todd drove off and left. We were in shock. Paulina was crying. Mrs12 was crying. It was a tough spot to be in because she had come to Atlanta with this dude and he beats on her and leaves. The police came and she gave a statement to them and filed a report. She was embarrassed...hurt...wondering how she was gonna get back to S.Carolina.

I paused...then I said what I felt..."Paulina, is this the 1st time that he's hit you?" She replied yes. I told her that I didn't think it was. I don't know much about domestic violence but I know people. I know how people act and how they think. For him to do that hundreds of miles away from home, in front of strangers...let me know alot about him. Domestic violence is about a punch, slap, or kick. But it's also about mentally dominating someone. It's about removing someone's self esteem and self worth. It's about control. The control is re-inforced with the violence. Paulina never had high self esteem. In my opinion, she spent a lot of time trying to "outdo" her friends. That stuff doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is what you have on the inside.

In less than a year, Todd went to jail (child support) and then came home. Later on that year, Paulina married Todd. Why did she go back? Ignorance...yeah. Stupidity...probably. I can't answer it. I know that she and Mrs12 aren't close like they used to be. Paulina will usually call her every 5 or 6 months. I used to feel bad for Mrs12 because she lost her best friend.

But Paulina has lost so much more.

Hollatchaboi

mixtape monday

Enjoy the mixtape!!!

LL Cool J
Jingling Baby





Kool Moe Dee
I Go To Work



Brand Nubian
Punks Jump Up




Geto Boys
My Mind Playing Tricks On Me




A Tribe Called Quest
Award Tour



BONUS!!!!

I must add a video for one of the best MCs to ever pick up a mic. He is one of my favorites of all time. Tragically, we lost him 12 yrs ago today. Gone...but never forgotten. RIP Christopher Wallace aka The Notorious B.I.G aka Biggie Smalls

iz she too close???

This is not a relationship blog.

However, I think that I know people pretty well and I know a lil bit about relationships. Over the last few weeks, there have been some discussions here about different topics about relationships. I like that. Today will be no different.

After watching the movie Brown Sugar for the 925th time, I had to ask the question...

Can a woman be too close to YOUR man?

What happens when he has a close female friend before you meet? I think men and women can have plutonic relationships. You know...FRIEND ZONE relationships. However, what do you do when she knows everything about YOUR man?

Should YOU try to be close to her so that YOU can keep an eye on her?

Hmmm....

Hollatchaboi!!!

from me 2 u

Wow

I really don't know what to say. Nor do I know where to start.

Well...let me start by saying thank you. Although I'm not a guy that can spit out 5 Bible verses off the top of my head, I do consider myself to be very spiritual. I want to thank YOU for bringing me this far. There were days when my mind wandered and I was unsure how I was gonna make it. But YOU brought me through it...Thank YOU!

I remember the days when I dreaded going to work. I mean, I really didn't like the job. Not only was I overworked but I was underpaid. I wanted to really complain about the job but how could I? In a time when 600,000 people have lost their jobs. How could I complain about mine? I never brought my frustrations to the 12th Planet b/c I never wanted to change the vibe of this blog. I vented...but I wouldn't complain. Instead, I took the advice that I had passed along to so many of you who read this blog..."pray, trust God, have faith, and believe." It's funny how I could advise others to do it when I couldn't completely do it myself. But then I did. I prayed for that new job that I wanted to come. YOU listened. And I got it! Thank YOU!

On February 20, I walked into my office (on my day off) and quit the old job. There was no need for a 2 week notice b/c I was done with them. I had given them enough. I felt free. Not only did I have a new job but it involved doing something that I loved doing. Not to mention, the pay is a whoooole lot better than before. I've often heard the saying that "God has a sense of humor". Well, YOU must have laughed when you answered my prayer because you've given me what I wanted but this job will take me away from home for days at a time...like I am right now. I'm cool with traveling but I'd much rather be at home with my family. But I guess that's why they say "be specific when you pray". LOL. But it's cool. Thank YOU!

I also have to thank someone else. A good friend of mine. In fact, we've never spoken over the phone but we talk every day. Thanks to Keisha the Kitten. Two months ago, you emailed me and told me that this day would come. You said that I'd land my job and I'd write a testimony. Well...here's the testimony as to how good HE is. Can I get an amen?

This is about more than YOU getting this job for me. It's about my spiritual growth. It's about the dude who has only missed 3 Sunday services this year. More importantly, it's about the empty feeling that I had when I didn't go. I used to go...just to say that I went. Now, I'm getting something out of it. But don't get it twisted...ole Kyle ain't no saint. I'm a sinner just like everybody else. But I'm trying to become better. I've always done the right things when it came to my sons, wife, family, crew, and friends. That won't ever change. I'm still a work in progress. We all are. Each day we get another opportunity to become better. And for that...we are extremely thankful. Amen

Your humble servant
Kyle

partyallthatime

Whut are you gonna do this weekend? Me? Well, I'll be in Charlotte, NC for the CIAA Tournament. It'll be a weekend of non-stop partying. If you're on twitter, you'll get some updates as to how it's going down.

Whut about you? What are your plans?

Be safe!

Hollatchaboi!

too old or too young???

Age ain't nuttin but a number...

Well...that's what they've always told us. But is it just a number or does it really matter?

I was having a discussion with a blog crew member who asked about how we handle the age difference between us and our mates. Society tells you that you should be involved with someone who is close to you in age. But sometimes that just doesn't happen that way.

For example, one of my childhood friends is 35, single, no kids, and college educated. He is not interested in being married right now. He's too focused on his career. I always tell him that he's gonna be that dude who gets married at 45 but his wife will probably be 25! LOL. I know that he's gonna marry a woman younger than him. There's nothing wrong with that. Personally, I couldn't do it but what do I know.

If the roles were reversed and a 45yr old woman married a 25 yr old man, society would call her a "cradle robbin cougar." Is that fair? No...but that's a double standard that we live with.

Personally, I've never dated a woman more than 6 yrs younger than me. Never dated a woman more than 3 yrs older than me. I guess it just kinda worked out that way. What about you? What is the biggest age difference that you've had?

Would you date/marry somebody more than 10 yrs older or 10 yrs younger than you?

Hollatchaboi!

off tha dome

random thoughts...

if you have a second...check out clnmike's piece about domestic violence...deep!

don't think that it's an open and shut case vs chris brown. we all thought that rkelly was going to jail for having sex with (then peeing) on that child. but this fool is still steppin in the name of love

i still don't get madea. a 6-5 black dude in drag ain't funny to me.

i hate it when people invade my space...you know...when they stand too close to you.

ladies...if a escort (prostitute) gave you some excellent tips on how to keep/satisfy your man...would you listen?

sometimes...you just wish it was ok to punch a co-worker in the chest!

it was 43 degrees and this FOOL is standing outside with short sleeves and jean shorts. WTH???



how many of y'all sat through President Obama's speech last night? raise your hand! well, I did! lol

did you see the lil girl from south carolina who wrote a letter to President Obama about her school and they brought her to DC for the speech? wonder what would've happened if i had written Ronald Reagan a letter when I was in school??? nottahdamnthang!

i wonder why people will almost run you off the road while they are on their way to work when you know that they hate their jobs?

the oscars were on tv the other night. so was lebron james and the cleveland cavs. guess which one i watched?

facebook has helped me confirm something that i lost sight of...i went to high school with some cool azz people!

my 6 yr old son, kameron, asked me the other day..."daddy, if you flunk out of college...do you go back to the first grade?"

where is eminem?

too bad that there are no minority editors at the ny post. if there were, we would've never seen that racist cartoon!

tiger woods is back! the experts are marveling at his speedy comeback but he ain't foolin me! tiger's ole lady just had a baby and tiger is ready to get out of the house so that he can go back to sleeping normal!

the music industry had better find real artists and stop putting out this garbage or THEY will need a bailout.

i tried to explain to my boy JFresh what twitter was. i couldn't explain it but i told him that he needs to join. lol

gimme some fried chicken and black eyed peas and i'm strrrrrrrrraaaight!

the nfl combine is must see tv

to all the deadbeat dads...take care of your children. do more than just send a check.

a SORRY woman should never get with a SORRY man. If they do, they'll be SORRY together. Prolly have some SORRY kids. They'll live in a SORRY house. And bring nuffin but their SORRY ways to school...with the intent on making my kids SORRY...just like them.


halle and taraji...halle and taraji...halle and taraji...

whut's in a name?

I got an email the other day from someone who just started reading this blog. The email said...

"Just wanted to say hello. I enjoy reading your blog. I've been "lurking" for a minute. Maybe one day I'll comment. LOL. I have a question...is Kyle your real name or your alias?"

I responded to the email.
But it got me to thinking about names. I use my full name on Facebook. However, on Twitter, my name is @12kyle. And in the blogosphere I'm 12kyle.

For those of you who may be new to this blog...yes...my name is Kyle. Really! LOL The number 12 was my football jersey number in college.

What about you? How did you come up with your blogger name...or your twitter name...or your myspace name? How did you become to be known as "TastyDiamond69" LOL? What is your real name (first names only please...some of y'all might be running from the police and I don't wanna get anybody into any trouble. LOL)

mixtape monday

Enjoy the mixtape...

Jay Z
Song Cry

Jay-Z - Song Cry
Uploaded by Jay-Z

Nas
Made You Look



Ice Cube
Jackin 4 Beats



DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Summertime



Tupac
Holla If Ya Hear Me

in the zone

In the zone...

Most of us have heard that term before.

In basketball, you've heard players talk about being in the zone when they can't miss a shot.

In football, you've heard players talk about finding the holes in the zone of the defense.

But there is ONE zone that most men fear...the FRIEND ZONE.

The FRIEND ZONE is that place that no man wants to be. It is when he is physically or emotionally attracted to a woman but she does not feel the same way. She only wants to be "just friends". Most men dread the FRIEND ZONE because once you're in that zone...you can't get out of it. You're there forever. It doesn't matter how much he's attracted to her, he can't break that zone. So...what is a man to do?

Most of you who read this blog are 25+. And most of us want the same things when it comes to a member of the opposite sex. Single men generally get to a point where they "have enough female friends." Adding another friend...one who he's attracted to... is not gonna happen. Most men are aggressive in their pursuit of women. So, this leaves him in a dilemma. Should he continue to try to break out of the FRIEND ZONE and win her heart and risk playing himself? Or should he just tell her that he can't be her friend?

Ladies...how do you handle your dudes in your FRIEND ZONE? You can't say that you don't have em b/c every woman has at least one male friend that they know that likes them. Well...maybe not you married women but the single ladies do.

Fellaz...how do you handle it? Lemme know.

Hollatchabooi!!!

know your role...

I am an athlete.

Always will be.

Although I no longer play football for South Carolina State University, I am still an athlete at heart.

I will, for the most part, see things through the eyes and perspective of an athlete. That is not to say that I will defend my brethren but I view them from a different perspective. In other words...I understand them. However, there are SOME things that I just don't understand.

I don't understand getting caught with weed, cocaine, or guns in your car...
I don't understand getting a DUI when you can afford to pay someone to drive you around...
I don't understand getting robbed for 100k in jewelry...
I don't understand beating up or spitting on a woman...
I don't understand blowing millions because you wanna win thousands on a dogfight...
I don't understand steroids...
I don't understand paternity suits for thousands of dollars to random women...
I don't understand rape charges...
I don't understand fighting or shooting at a club or the shoe show (aka strip club)...
I don't understand testing positive for drugs when you know that you're gonna be tested...

I don't understand what some athletes do. However, we all must understand that sports are a microcosm of society. If you have drugs and crime in society, then you will certainly find them in sports. No matter how dumb you think some athletes are, there will be another one to come right behind the first one who will do something even more crazier than the first guy.

There were times when I was in college when people would say..."you don't sound or act like most football players. you're smart, articulate...blah, blah, blah". Is that a compliment? Did you expect me to stand in front of the class and say..."I be a good football player." I was one of the few who came out of our vaunted School of Business (Marketing). There were times when I'd do class presentations and leave em speechless. Yeah...I guess you could say that I still do that to this day. (snickering).

Nevertheless, when athletes do wrong...you'll always hear the term role model come up. Are athletes role models? Yes...we are. But so are you. Even if you don't think that you're a role model, you are. There is somebody who watches and admires what you do right now. They may never tell you but you are their role model. I think we'd be foolish to think that athletes like Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Tom Brady, Alex Rodriguez should be the images of what is truly a role model. Athletes are role models but most are not concerned with being a role model because they are disconnected to from the people who put them on a pedestal. Do you think that LeBron James is concerned about my 3 sons? No, he has 2 sons of his own that he's responsible for. I have more influence on my 3 than he ever would. Athletes are to be admired but not idolized.

When an athlete gets into trouble, you'll hear people say..."How do I explain this to my kids?" You just do it! Explain to them that we all make choices...good or bad...that all have consequences that come with each decision that we make. You be the living example how to live right. Don't leave that up to your favorite athlete who may or may not do the right thing. We are all human. And no human is mistake-free.

off tha dome

random thoughts...

first things first...gotta give congrats!

congrats to mrs12 who just became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc Sorority over the weekend...

congrats to my homegirl PCD who is expecting her second child. I'm happy for you! If you're having a boy...you can him Kyle!

congrats to my nephew, Tyler. He turned 5 yrs old today! Happy burfday! Uncle Kyle loves you!

President Obama took the First Lady out on a date to a restaurant for VDay. Talk about setting the tone for playas around the country.

gas is going up!

Martin, Living Single, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air...what happened to shows like these?

this kid can recognize every letter in the alphabet and he can count to 20. i think we'll enroll him at Harvard in 4 yrs.

we're in a recession. we all know that. sometimes i'm amazed at how we manage to keep pushing on. we are some resilient people. if you listen to some people, they'd make you think that the world was coming to an end!

i found myself explaining to my 9 yr old son what chris brown allegedly did to rihanna. i told him that you never put your hands on a woman...period. he got my point

on the other hand...you don't let a woman put her hands on YOU! we don't play that!

gotta love shaq! the dance before the nba all star game was classic. how can you hate on a 7 foot, 350 pound dude who doesn't take himself or the world too serious.

memo to alex rodriguez...if you tell one lie, then you'll have to tell 3 more to cover that first lie that you told

i have like 800 channels on directv but i only watch like 10 channels

every man that i know really appreciates a woman who knows something about sports

does the fear of rejection ever prevent you from stepping to a man/woman?

on a scale of 1-10...where do you land when it comes to flirting? me? well...i'd say 7 but i've been told that i'm higher than that.

when i get mad...i put it down on a pad. give you something that you never had

to my old hip hop headz...does anybody know what happened to the Bomb Squad??? if you have to ask who the bomb squad is...then you ain't an old hip hop head!

lil wang (yeah...i spelled it wrong on purpose) has ESPN tatted on his forearm. WTF???

i hate squash.

i also hate watermelons! i may be the only black man that you know who hates it.

don't you hate it when you leave your desk and you come back and you can tell that SOMEBODY has been at your desk in your absence????

hey look...it's the HATERMOBILE!!!! I could say alotta things about this idiot who put this on this car but i'll let y'all do that...


did i tell you that i had to speed up on em just to take this picture???

there are 3 dangers of trying to make someone love you...it can affect you EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, and FINANCIALLY

have you ever been unpopular? i'm curious...seriously. i only ask b/c i've always been popular. just wanna know.

ok...i admit it. kobe bryant is the best in the game. buuuuuut WHY did he need to take damn near 30 shots in the all star game?

if anybody hears from oj simpson...tell him to keep his head up and don't drop the soap

is condi rice working or is she unemployed?

white or brown liquor?

if you're gonna be in Charlotte for the CIAA tournament next week...hollatchaboi!

you can go into any office and find the bad news person. that's the person that will always bring you the bad news. "kyle, do you know that the stock is down today? do you know that we have to work on saturday???"

if you've got air in your lungs and blood is flowing through your veins...you're ok. you can overcome anything.

self respect...have it...flaunt it...show it to the world!

memo to the twitter weirdos...stop following me

mike tyson is gonna write a book about his life. i wonder if it'll be in pencil or crayon?

where's das efx?

i bought bone thugs n harmony's first cd and after all these years...I STILL don't know what they were saying!

happy bday (2-17) to the GOAT...Michael Jordan! there's a rumor going around that you're gonna get married again. take my advice...DON'T DO IT!!!

gabby and b...gabby and b...gabby and b...

make em smile

When your woman is happy...the house is happy.

I used to hear that all the time when I was growing up. I understood what they were trying to say...gotta make sure that YOU make your woman happy. I dig that. But what about us men? What is the woman gonna do to make US happy. It's a 2 way street. Now...before I get all of this hate from the females, I'm sure all 20 of the male bloggers have my back! LOL.

I got this email the other day and decided to share it with the class. Hollatchaboi!

13 Ways to Keep Your Man Happy

1. After washing your beautiful locks, don't forget to pick up your hair from the shower drain. It may not bother you but he doesn't like untangling your hair from his big toe.

2. Be understanding of his work schedule. An occasional afternoon call to see when he will be home is fine but when you begin to stalk him daily at 5:01, his boss starts waiting for your call.

3. Let him play with his friends. As long as they are not 5'9, single, intelligent, beautiful and looking for a husband. Seriously, guys need guy friends to hang out with and do boy stuff. Your man will be happier and won't be so impatient when your girlfriends call you during dinner, breakfast, lunch and sex.

4. Speaking of..., don't let yourself go. That doesn't mean you must maintain a certain weight or length of hair for the sake of your relationship, but it is a gesture of love to take pride in your appearance. You may expect the same from him and you both deserve a mate that is clean, showered, shaved and cares about their health. Remember all those sexy ladies you see as competition? He sees them as potential mates. Step your game up.

5. Buy your own razor. Quit sneaking his razor out of his bathroom to shave your legs and underarms then attempt to conceal the offense by drying it off with his face towel so it doesn't get yours dirty and put it back as if you never used it. He always knows!!!)

6. Compliment him, genuinely and often. Let him know how much you appreciate the little and the big things he does for you and the family. Taking out the trash may be part of his "routine," but acknowledging his efforts will keep him motivated to continue.

7. Don't hide the credit card bills. Be honest with him, even if it hurts. It's better to hear the truth from you than your creditors.

8. Take the initiative to practice random acts of kindness. Don't wait for Valentine's Day or his birthday to buy him a little "love gift" or write him a love letter. Hug him going out the door in the morning and coming back in the door at night. He's going to wonder what you are up to!

9. Don't talk bad about his parents or his siblings. It's difficult for him to kiss someone that just20called his mother a Bitch and his father an Dead Beat. Remember that he is an offspring of that union, which would make him a Son of a Bitch and Dead Beat.

10. Treat him like you did when you first started dating. Keep your sex life spicy and don't forget simple words such as "please," "thank you" and "excuse me."

11. Remember all those bodily functions you tried to keep discreet while you were in the throws of wooing him? Just because you have been together for a while and are very comfortable around your beloved doesn't mean you can now fart, blow, snort and pick to your heart's content.

12. Plan a date night to do something he loves, even if you don't. Instead of seeing the latest chick flick, compromise and see an action movie and go to dinner at a place you mutually enjoy. Have a couple of glasses of wine so you can sleep through the car chases.

13. Never go to bed angry. Cliché, yes, but true. A well-rested man is a happy man. It's much better to go to bed next to someone that you can curl up next to, rather than someone you must put pillows in between.