Rafa, un ejemplo de oro y mas

¿Quién podría haber percibido que Rafael Nadal acabaría por ganar el 2009 Australian Open, recomendó "el golpe de jugador," después de que ganar en 2008: el French Open, Wimbledon, Davis Cup, y una Medalla de oro en las Olimpiadas de Pekín? ¡Uhm...este tipo!

Rafa, como él es llamado, es no sólo el número uno del mundo, pero un ejemplo en la clase y la deportividad. El todavía admite eso, en 22, él todavía aprende, crece. ¡Espantoso! ¿Podría ser esto el año que un Español, el primer jamás ganar hacia abajo, gana el Gran Slam?

Puede usted imaginar si él pasa a ganar el Francés, Wimbledon y quizá su primer US. Open. Puedo realmente, porque aquí está un tipo que comprende sus limitaciones (que, discutiblemente, hay ninguno) y las miradas para aprender, escuchar.

Esto es el principio de sabiduría, sapiente. Un hombre que escucha, aumentará a aprendera. Los tenistas, sí -- tenistas, pueden ser ejemplos para el resto de nosotros en la vida que compiten, compiten, compiten. ¿Toma en casa mensaje: todo es posible? No. No todo, pero con entrada y deliberación buena, uno puede cambiar sus debilidades en fuerzas.

La comunidad beneficia del crecimiento individual, no.

Rolle, a not so common exemplum

In a New York Times article, Pete Thamel comments on the rising stock of a Florida State University safety--not for his athletic prowess, but for his academic and sagacious decision.

You see, Myron Rolle's decision to suspend his potential career in the NFL, for a better, a stronger candidacy--to attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, is the "stuff," the "middling" of greatness!

I applaud Rolle not only for his decision to attend a fine university, but for his long-term projection skills. He knows that the NFL will always be there, but a chance to go to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar...not so much.

I write this blog also for another reason. The trend of student athletes to go into the professional arena, privy to their sport, is a common one. Yet, when a student decides to choose education over a fleeting season of millions--this draws attention.

Rolle should receive all of the attention he is getting, and I hope student athletes pay razor-close attention to his example. Mark Sanchez recently announced his decision to enter the 2009 NFL draft, but he completed his degree. Tim Duncan completed his degree at Wake Forest, and 4 championship rings later, we know the story.

This is a trend I hope to see continue, and one that I hope the new president can acknowledge. Rolle should be invited to the White House. He should be made an example--period! I do not know Rolle personally, but I do know that his personal decision spoke personally to many--even myself.

So Croix From Home

I have forgotten how awewsome home can be. I was born and raised on the island of St. Croix and it is simply beautiful. I am enjoying it immensely!

I surprised my newly-minted fiancee on the eve of Christmas at her parent's house with an engagement ring and a trip to St. Croix for an engagement honeymoon. Let's just say she has become the darling of my family, and I am the chopped liver.

That's okay though--she's gorgeous, holds a Ph.D., is a Professor of Rhetoric, has the most beautiful heart and actually loves me. What you gonna do man? The blessings of God continue to flow over me like the waterfalls of Annaly Bay, or the beauty of the sunset by the Frederiksted pier.

I brought her home to meet my family, but to also know where I grew up. She has adapted quite well--hiking, swimming and even trail-blazing through the rain forest! On Monday we head out to the famous Buck Island National Park where we will be snorkeling along the underwater trail/reef, sailing on a large catamaran, drinking strong, yet sweet island drinks, and enjoying all things Cruzan.

We're working on the jet skiing and the island hopping to St. John and the British Virgins. Not a bad life huh? Jealous? Me too!

The JOY d'esprit de la memoria

And a little child will lead them, but will the direction be leader-like? As the HOLYdays amalgamate into good food, great familia and much blessing--this one thing I ask and plead for humanity.

That with love and faith, and hope we would all plead for memories. Yes, the recapturing and re-telling of articulated story. The extension of history, the archiving of a generative space.

In time and times of hardship and loss, memory of plenty will hold us; in time and times of suffering and pain, memory of hope and joy will sustain us; and, even in time and times of misunderstanding, memory of better days, of better nights will keep us.

Memory is sacred, is romantic and culpable to an indefinite existence. It is perfectly, imperfect; it is hopelessly hopeful; and even consistently inconsistent. May this falling year awaken in the one to come--a new collection, a new memory for the memoir that is...to live, to be.

A Pause of Concentrated Thanks

This is the day that many people groups, in their own manner, celebrate a moment of thanks. For what exactly? Well, for the pilgrims that came over; that family member who is still with us; the news of distress, which turned into eustress and all good things followed.

On this day--I am thankful for the plenty, the little; the large, the small; the successes and the failures; the pleasure, the pain. Most of all, I am thankful for the memories.

My beautiful better half is with me on this day, and I am fully elated. Our adversity cannot even begin to compare with all the rich blessings that have unfolded our way! And, yes--for that I am thankful, thankful, thankful.

Many people will play it "cool" on this day, and settle for some reductive and materialistic nomenclature to sum up this moment, this event. It is rightfully called Thanksgiving Day--period! Still, whatever you wish to call it--be thankful, give thanks.

Bill Maher said what?

So I am sitting on my couch listening to Larry King--Live on CNN. The time is 12:15 a.m. Larry is interviewing Bill Maher. Yeah...an interesting night. Bill Maher is rattling off some witticisms and trying to be funny. At one point he succeeds.

Maher states that Obama troubles comedians because he is intelligent, loves his wife and children, is skinny, and just plain likable. "Nobody wants that kind of person around!" Ha. Ha. Then it happened.

Maher continues to suggest to King that we, as comedians, need to put Obama in the on-limits category. He is after all the president. Maher further states, "He is not a black man. He is the president."

I thought to myself about this statement, and wondered if in context Maher was attempting to continue the punchline. This would be me being gracious, and giving him the benefit of the doubt. Let's just assume though that he was not being facetious and that the comment was made by a sagacious agent.

To think of Obama in the category of "president--only," minus the black hue he embodies, is to diminish his ontology to its fullest sensibility. Like it or not--Obama is categorized in this country as the first African American president of the United States; the Obamas will be the first African American family in the whitest of houses; Michelle Obama will be the first African American First Lady of the United States. I do agree with Maher that Obama as a political cartoon icon hopeful is not off-limits, but to state that his new "job," his new "status," his new "estate" is to be president absent from being a black man--is silly, wrong and itself comedic.

On 4 November 2008 Where were You?

At 11:15 p.m. a young, African American male was elected as the 44th president of the United States. He is an educated man, an experienced man, an African American man.

His candidacy, verified as not only a viable Democratic representative, but now as a president of the country.

As a young, African American man, I have not wintessed the atrocities of slavery, the disimissal of the human tag due to the color of one's skin, or the shameful tolerance and ignorance of (in)visiblity.

I will remember the journey from within my generation, from the geo-political spaces I have since traveled, and for my future family, my children.

I will note this, however, I am not fully convinced that this country is still without its culpability, its racism, its shortcomings. Still, I am quite lucky to be alive. In terms of electoral votes thus far: Obama 338, McCain 156.

This moment, this event is tearful to all, and if MLK, jr. had survived, if DuBois had been alive, and others had witnessed what I have had the privilege to follow, to behold for the last 2 years--just...awesome.

Here are the facts: Barack Hussein Obama, a reflection of the African, a reflection of the American has transcended the color line--at least long enough to be judged amidst his peers, his citizens to be the 44th president of the United States.

There will be many, many, many blogs, books, op ed pieces and so on. To quote The Preacher, "of making many books there is no end." I urge us all to embrace this moment, and enjoy the present. I am overjoyed, humbled. I now believe.