It’s Time to Break It Down!

I’ve written a lot of posts, but I do not recall having ever written one that focused on the town that served as my adopted home during the last eight years of my primary and secondary education. Check; cross that off the list.

In short order, I will introduce you to the Town of Belhaven, NC and its feisty, non-traditional Mayor, Adam O’Neal. To set the stage, Belhaven is one of those poor communities that typically spring to mind when folks discuss the rural South. It is nestled in a small Eastern North Carolina County (Beaufort), and according to the 2010 Census, the population was 1,688. This is a net reduction from 1,968 enumerated in the 2000 Census.

The demographics and politics make for an interesting mix, on its face. The racial mix of the population is split 37% white, 60% black. Native Americans and Asians each comprise less than 1% of the population. Hispanics/Latinos, which may be white or black, account for 2.69% of the residents.

So what makes the demographic-political mix so interesting? The Mayor of this predominantly black town is not only white, but also Republican. But that alone is not what makes this story interesting. In the Age of Obama, we have become accustomed, if not desensitized to the strident nature of partisan politics, on both the local and national level. So much so, that when New Jersey Governor Chris Christy embraced President Obama, and spoke kindly of him when the President visited New Jersey to offer federal assistance in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the vast majority of his GOP colleagues attacked him.

I can honestly say learning that the incumbent Mayor of Belhaven was white did not surprise me. That he took a position in opposition to closing rural hospitals in general, and that he opposed closing Belhaven’s hospital in particular, also didn’t move the dial. However, when I learned there was a Republican politician who was distinguishing himself by challenging the popular GOP position against Medicaid Expansion, and that this GOP pol and the Mayor of Belhaven were one and the same, well now you have my full and complete attention.

I visited Eastern North Carolina 3 out of 4 weekends this month. I was already aware, via home-based connections that Vidant Health planned to close Vidant Pungo Hospital. The scheduled closure was executed on July 1, 2014. The CliffNotes version of the story is Vidant is a Healthcare Conglomerate that operates hospitals and medical facilities in 29 Eastern North Carolina Counties, serving a population of 1.4 million North Carolinians. Vidant bought a number of rural NC medical facilities, including Pungo District Hospital (in 2011).

After two years, Vidant Health announced plans to close what had become Vidant Pungo Hospital because it was losing money. The Vidant administration attempted to negotiate with Belhaven officials to take over operation of hospital. Ultimately, Vidant Health concluded Belhaven was unable to assume responsibility for the facility, and closed it July 1^st.

Mayor O’Neal is a passionate advocate for his community. In his version of the big picture, the bottom line is Vidant Health traded the people’s health for profit. To give a stronger, more targeted voice to his principal concerns, on July 14, 2014, he set out on a two-week walk to Washington, DC. In taking his cause to the highways, byways, and streets, he sought to elevate 3 key issues:

• Medicaid Expansion
• Endangered Rural Hospitals
• Vidant Pungo Hospital

In making his case, the Mayor argued before a crowd at a news conference in the nation’s Capital, at the end of his protest march, “The story of Belhaven is bigger than the trials of a single small town.”

In framing the specifics of the matter, he took to task both hospital officials and NC elected officials. He suggested that Vidant put profit above people’s health. He also criticized state officials for their refusal to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid. It is these additional funds that pay the healthcare bills of many of NC’s poor. Without these funds, many North Carolinians are being denied critical health care services.

UNC Chapel Hill researchers studied the economic impact of the 140 rural hospitals that closed in the 1990’s. They found that within a few years, the unemployment rate in those communities rose by 1.6% and that the per capita income fell by more than $700.

Beaufort County’s unemployment rate was 8% in May, compared to 6.4% for the state. Mayor O’Neal emphasized that the fight for the hospital could determine the future economic viability of a community surrounded by rivers and sounds. He noted, “Not only have they taken emergency room services away from our town, they’re also taking every industry we’ve got away – which is retirees moving into our area. They’re not going to come to move into an area without a hospital.”

Like a lot of high school graduates from the area, I left Belhaven shortly after crossing the stage and turning my tassel. That was 42 years ago. While I currently reside a few hundred miles away, in many ways it is light years. Still, I spent a number of my formative years in that community.

Most of the life lessons that frame my worldview were gleaned during the course of executing my varied household chores, or managing my paper route, or in the course of my summers spent priming and hanging tobacco, or in the too numerous to count church services that every PK (Preacher’s Kid to the uninitiated) is subjected to every Sunday…and many other days and nights.

So, even though I was not born there, in lots of ways, Belhaven will always be a part of me. As such, I dedicate this post to my Homies-in-the-Haven. And in closing, I offer a special thank-you; a shout out, if you will, to Mayor Adam O’Neal. For many across the country, he put Belhaven on the map over the course of these past two weeks. For me, he provided a poignant reminder that the community lives, and always will, in my heart. If you didn’t know, now you know. One Man’s Pilgrimage: Mayor O’Neal Goes To Washington!

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.” Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belhaven,_North_Carolina

http://belhavennc.us

http://www.pamlico.com/belhaven.html

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Belhaven&state=NC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_County,_North_Carolina

http://dailycaller.com/2014/07/28/why-i-walked-from-north-carolina-to-washington-dc/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/belhaven-mayor-wraps-march-to-dc-to-save-hospital/2014/07/28/0950b652-162e-11e4-88f7-96ed767bb747_story.html

http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2014/06/04/republican-mayor-from-eastern-nc-issues-emotional-call-for-medicaid-expansion/

http://egbertowillies.com/2014/06/05/nc-gop-mayor-adam-oneil/

http://www.southernstudies.org/2014/07/nc-gop-mayor-marches-to-dc-to-urge-medicaid-expans.html

http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/Belhaven-Mayor-Plans-Walk-to-Washington-DC-For-Vidant-Pungo-Hospital-266954981.html

http://www.storyofamerica.org/walk

http://www.wncn.com/story/25980495/belhaven-mayor-to-walk-to-dc-to-save-vidant-pungo-hospital

http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/america-tonight/articles/2014/7/29/to-save-rural-hospitalsarepublicanmayormarchesonwashington.html

http://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/2014/07/29/butterfield-joins-mayor-adam-oneal-for-final-leg-of-his-300-mile-walk-from-belh-a-536859.html#.U9hhEFa4lFI

http://www.wcti12.com/news/belhaven-mayor-walking-to-washington-dc-to-protest-hospital-closing/26954018

http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2014-07-25/health-issues/walking-mayor-brings-rural-hospital-issues-to-d-c/a40764-1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidant_Health

https://www.vidanthealth.com/vidant/dynamic-detail.aspx?id=11781

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Eva

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._J._Wilson_(defensive_end)

It’s time to Break It Down!

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the pending Decision Part II, and the lack of surprise that LeBron James was opting out of his contract with the Miami Heat. At the time, I really didn’t think it was surprising at all, because, I anticipated LeBron James would work the system, er, ah, I mean, explore his options, and unceremoniously re-sign with the Miami Heat. Boy was I wrong. Not only did The King ditch The Heat, he did what I considered the unthinkable; he returned to Cleveland. And when I say unthinkable, I mean, for me, unthinkable. So much so, that while I opined on a number of options, I did not even list the Cavs as a possible destination

Bloggers, journalists, columnists, and a host of highly opinionated types often regale us with their erstwhile personal prescience. The thing is, none of us is clairvoyant. As a result, on more than a few occasions, those brash and bold predictions are just flat out erroneous…just plain wrong! Such was the case in my “The Decision II” post.

With today’s post, I am defying that egotistical stereotype. Even now I readily admit, I thought LeBron was more likely to do a self-imposed stint in the D-League than return to Cleveland, where majority owner, Dan Gilbert skewered him mercilessly. In a now infamous open letter to Cleveland Cavaliers’ fans, Mr. Gilbert used the following terms to disparage LeBron and his departure:

• Former hero
• Deserter
• Self-promoter
• Narcissistic
• Cowardly betrayal
• Selfish
• Shameful display
• Disloyal
• Heartless
• Callous

In addition to that Top Ten list of denigrations, the Cavs’ majority owner noted, of James, “Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.”

And if all that was enough, in an effort to make his position crystal clear, Mr. Gilbert underscored his combination of displeasure and resolve by heaping on the this jewel of a coal lump:

“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

To that all caps slam, the Quicken Loans founder then added the piece de resistance: “You can take that to the bank!”

At the time, I remember thinking, this dude sounds as though he felt LeBron was a slave…rather than a man with a contract, who decided to exercise his options. So yes, forgive me if I thought it unlikely that James would return to the employ of man who had rendered such a scathing review. And I recognize the more enlightened among you may say, let the past be the past. But the letter is hardly the past. Penned July 8, 2010, it was on the team’s website at least until July 6, 2014. That is almost 4 years to the day, and until just 10 days ago.

In my own defense, if I had one, I would note that I made my great prognosticatory blunder a day before the 2014 NBA Draft. Let me hasten to add, even though the Cavs got the 1st pick, and used it to select a young man of whom I am quite fond, I would not endeavor to attempt to deceive you or myself. I would have said the same things the day after the Draft that I said the day before the event.

Though I totally missed my call on the most important aspect of “The Decision, Part II,” where LeBron would take his talents, I was spot on regarding the nature of how he executed his choice. It was everything the 2010 debacle was not. It was low key and understated. It was handled without hype, or at least with as little hype as possible, when the top basketball player in the world changes teams. It was handled without rancor from the team James left, though a number of fans reacted less civilly than the team’s ownership.

Perhaps because LeBron is not from South Beach, maybe because The Heat expected him to leave anyway, or just possibly because Micky Arison is, at his core, a better human being than Dan Gilbert, in contrast to the Cavs owner’s diatribe from 4 years ago, Mr. Arison issued a simple tweet expressing his thoughts:

“I am shocked & disappointed in today’s news. However I will never forget what LeBron brought us for 4 years. Thanks for memories ‪@KingJames‬.”

So, how was the chasm bridged that was created by Dan Gilbert’s letter? Apparently, Mr. Gilbert flew to Miami where he met with LeBron and apologized (in private). The “In private” part is significant, if for no other reason, because the letter was so very public.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, of Yahoo Sports, Gilbert told James:

“We had five great years together and one terrible night,” “I told him how sorry I was, expressed regret for how that night went and how I let all the emotion and passion for situation carry me away. I told him I wish had never done it, that I wish I could take it back.”

In the end, James established that he was the bigger man. Undoubtedly, he could have leveraged a more public pronouncement, and he might have drawn the process out at least for the balance of the weekend. But he did not. He has grown in the past 4 years, and that was evident. This time he opted to let Dan Gilbert’s wallet do the talking. Aside from that, he of course recognizes that despite Gilbert’s braggadocio in the wake of him leaving Cleveland, over the past 4 years, while he was going to 4 NBA Finals and winning 2 Titles. The Cavs, in contrast, were so woeful (How woeful were they?), they received the 1st Draft pick in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Oh yeah, in 2012, they got the 4th pick. I can only imagine, in a Karma-like way, LeBron felt that Gilbert, The Cavs, and their fans have suffered enough.

I also surmise that LeBron had his own motivations for returning home. Sure, his legacy is important, and he felt he owed the fans. But he also has a wife, a mother, and two, soon to be three kids, and their vote and influence was pivotal, I suspect. Also don’t forget his homies in Akron. They have to be thrilled. And now that The King has actually conquered, by winning two Titles, his reign in Cleveland shall resume. So, Thomas Wolfe, take that…“You Can Go Home Again!”

Since apology seems to be the word-of-the-day, I apologize Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles (Lakers and Clippers), Dallas, Charlotte, Phoenix, Washington, and especially MIA. Congratulations Cleveland!

“Highly Seasoned Please; That’s How I’d Like My Crow!” I’m done; holla back!”

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.” Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/07/11/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/258558/sports-illustrated-editors-didnt-know-of-lebrons-decision-until-this-morning/

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24616298/how-sports-illustrated-got-the-lebron-to-cleveland-story

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/07/11/lebron-james-media-messaging/12530011/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/how-sports-illustrated-landed-the-lebron-james-im-coming-home-scoop/2014/07/11/a1f18202-093a-11e4-a0dd-f2b22a257353_story.html

http://adage.com/article/media/sports-illustrated-lebron-james-exclusive/294096/

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24616298/how-sports-illustrated-got-the-lebron-to-cleveland-story

http://foxct.com/2014/07/14/sports-illustrateds-chris-stone-talks-lebron-reveal/

http://blogs.wsj.com/cmo/2014/07/11/how-si-com-got-the-big-lebron-scoop-and-how-its-traffic-soared/

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/12/sports/basketball/role-of-sports-illustrated-in-lebron-jamess-announcement-raises-journalistic-questions.html?_r=0

http://nesn.com/2014/07/how-heat-cavaliers-heard-of-lebron-james-decision-how-si-broke-story/

http://digiday.com/publishers/si-capitalizing-big-lebron-scoop/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/08/dan-gilbert-letter-lebron_n_640318.html

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/07/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-dan-gilbert-letter-take-down-website

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/7/11/5891629/dan-gilbert-letter-apologies-lebron-james-cavaliers

It’s time to Break It Down!

In July edition of The WestView News, James Lincoln Collier wrote a piece he calls “THE NIGGER IN THE WHITE HOUSE.”  I used all caps, not to scream at you the reader, but because that is how the title appears in the heading.  Often, titles are not the purview of the writer, but some editor.  In this particular instance, that is not the case.  Collier successfully fought to get the title he wanted.

Mr. Collier suggested this topic to the editorial staff of the paper.  He was initially rejected.  But he persevered, and eventually he won out because, among other things, he pointed the New York Times refuses to use the N-word.  Good, bad, or indifferent, that was the Jedi Mind Trick that proved crucial in getting the title Collier wanted in print.

To take the edge off this post, I will reveal a few things up front:

• The WestView News, a monthly publication, is a liberal voice
• The story that follows the headline is pro-Obama
• Alvin Hall wrote a column appearing on the same page, entitled, “The Headline Offends Me”

Upon seeing the headline, at first blush, one might be inclined to think, with friends like this, who needs enemies.  Yet, the gist of the column suggests that a significant portion of the resistance that President Obama receives is due to racism.  Mr. Collier cites the recent defeat of Congressman Eric Cantor as evidence of this contemporary racism, thinly veiled by the veneer of politics.  In Mr. Cantor’s case, Collier argues among other things, Cantor had taken a position on Immigration that allowed his opponent to tie him too closely to the President, which ultimately was enough to leverage a stunning defeat of the House Majority Leader.

We live in a highly competitive media savvy age.  An age in which it is fairly common for media outlets to resort to using unconventional means to attract viewers, newspaper sales, Internet clicks, and so forth.  While I find the article interesting enough, it was not a particularly exhaustive treatment to a complex and highly volatile issue.  When Don Lemon of CNN challenged Mr. Collier for not referencing or explaining his use of the word “Nigger” in the article, Collier noted that he bore no onus for people not reading the entire article in order to glean the connection between the title and the meat of the story.  He went on to say that it was not everyday that CNN called him to discuss something he’d written.

Bingo!  Therein lies the rub.  Mr. Collier apparently did not feel compelled to labor under the burden of establishing the nexus between his title and the subsequent assertion that a substantial number of persons who oppose the President do so because of racial animus.  That may indeed be the case.  However, the writer seemed satisfied to have garnered a fleeting, Warhol coined, 15 minutes of fame.

Lacking a stream of evidence, Mr. Collier’s story fails to discernibly move the dial in a prove-it-to-me world.  I believe the premise holds merit.  Moreover, there is a variety of readily available evidence to support the argument.  Some of that evidence includes, but is by no means limited to the 25 examples that follow:

1. ·      Don’t Re-Nig Bumper Sticker
2. ·      The Birther Claim
3. ·      The Muslim Issue
4. ·      Kenyan Depiction
5. ·      African Tribal Chief Obama likeness
6. ·      New Hampshire Police Commissioner Racist Obama Rant
7. ·      Phoenix Protesters sing Bye-Bye Black Sheep/
8. ·      Impeach the half-white Muslim
9. ·      California GOP claims that Food stamps would become “Obama Bucks”
10. ·      Assassination Threats
11. ·      African Witch Doctor w/Bone in Nose
12. ·      Limbaugh/Beck – Healthcare Act = Reparations
13. ·      Healthcare Legislation will lead to Affirmative Action
14. ·      Impeachment drive challenging President’s citizenship
15. ·      Welfare President
16. ·      Food stamp President
17. ·      Rodeo Clown/Obama likeness run down by bull
18. ·      Kenyan Go Home placards
19. ·      Nigger President threat
20. ·      47 Percent Negro
21. ·      Voter ID legislation to counteract the minority vote
22. ·      Voter roll purges
23. ·      Voiding key provisions of the Voting Rights Act
24. ·      Jimmy Carter: “An overwhelming portion of those opposing President Obama’s policies are racist”
25. ·      Colin Powell: “There is still a dark vein of intolerance in the GOP”

There are many Americans who reject the fact that racism still exists in this country.  Many of those same individuals point to President Obama’s election as the reason why such claims are null and void.  They argue that the vast majority of people who oppose President Obama and his policies do so because they want less, not more government, or some similar high-minded ideological ideal.  Undoubtedly, some really do believe that’s true.

In the mean time, they conveniently overlook, or just flat deny the existence of the numerated items above…and many more.  That friends, is why they say, “The Nile (denial) is much more than a river.

In summation, this story could have been so much more.  But In the end, Mr. Collier’s column, “The N____r in the White House,” will likely be remembered as the story that wasn’t…if, it is remembered at all.

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com.  Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.”  Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://westviewnews.org

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lincoln_Collier

http://westviewnews.org/2014/07/the-nigger-in-the-white-house/

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/black-westview-news-columnist-avoiding-controversy-newspaper-president-obama-n-word-headline-article-1.1857918

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/news/obama-offensive-headline

http://www.dailystormer.com/new-york-newspaper-headline-the-nigger-in-the-white-house/

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2014/07/08/ctn-bpr-collier-newspaper-n-word-headline.cnn.html

http://mic.com/articles/93019/a-new-york-city-newspaper-called-obama-the-n-er-in-the-white-house

http://www.dailyslave.com/new-york-newspaper-writes-article-entitled-the-nigger-in-the-whitehouse/

http://www.chimpout.com/forum/showthread.php?384091-The-Nigger-in-the-White

http://newsninja2012.com/pro-obama-man-pens-story-theres-a-nigger-in-the-wh-to-prove-racial-point/

http://massappeal.com/ny-newspaper-calls-obama-the-nigger-in-the-white-house/

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/07/n-word-in-the-white-house-nyc-monthly-shocks-with-pro-obama-column/

http://jezebel.com/anti-racism-piece-ironically-dubs-obama-the-n-gger-in-1600819593

http://www.nation.com.pk/international/08-Jul-2014/us-newspaper-under-fire-for-calling-obama-n-word

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/07/06/newspaper-headline-calling-obama-n-word-white-house.html

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niggers_in_the_White_House

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/house-majority-leader-cantor-defeated-primary

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2261796/Colin-Powell-says-Republican-attacks-Obama-racist.html

(Disclaimer: This post appeared originally on June 29, 2011.  It contains references that are graphic in nature, and which may be considered offensive; reader discretion is advised.  The initial catalyst for posting this information was my 2011 Colonoscopy.  I had a second procedure recently, and it seemed like a perfect time to reprise this post).

A couple of days ago I had a Colonoscopy, which is the endoscopic test of the colon and the distal part of the small bowel with a camera.  The procedure is recommended for men over age 50, on a periodic basis; every 10 years if no irregularities are found, and more frequently if non-benign polyps or other issues arise during the test.  Mine was scheduled as a regular sequential step in my Annual Physical regimen, not from any kind of alert or scare.  That is as it should be.

This is not intended to provide a by blow-by-blow of my procedure.  I am addressing this topic to provide a public service.  I have observed both anecdotally and from numerous data streams, men in general and African American men in particular, are notorious for neglecting our health.  There are too many reasons to enumerate, but a few include:

• Distrust of doctors (Some black men still reference the Tuskegee Experiment)
•  Fear…of doctors, of medicine, bad news, of pain, of surgery, of anesthesia, the

unknown

• Unawareness of early warning signs
• No regular doctor
• Lack of health care benefits (African Americans are more likely to be

Unemployed or Underemployed, and therefore less likely to have insurance)

• Misplaced priorities (some men take better care of their homes and/or cars than

they do their personal health)

• Good intentions; bad execution (Many of us “intend” to” schedule an appointment

to see a doctor, but don’t)

• Procrastination (Delay, delay, delay)
• Superman complex (The perception that one is young, healthy, and totally bullet

proof)

• We are on a super secret suicide mission (No, we just act like it)

Those are 10 of my own very unscientific, totally straight off the top of my head reasons.  After setting them to paper, I decided to look for an expert opinion…OK; I checked to see what a doctor thought.  Not surprisingly (to me anyway), there was a fair amount of overlap.

Dr.Sharon Orrange, Assistant Professor of Clinical General Internal Medicine at the University of Southern California has weighed in with what she believes are “The 10 Real Reasons Men Don’t Go to the Doctor.”  Since she actually practices medicine, I will allocate more weight to her opinion than mine…though keep in mind, I do have the inherent advantage of being a man.  Dr. Orrange’s 10 most compelling (or real, as she puts it) reasons are:

1. You are afraid we will put our finger up your butt.  We will, especially if you are over 40 or have any complaints related to your bowel movements.  Yes, you get a rectal exam after the age of 40 once a year for a feel of your prostate and so we can check your stool for microscopic blood that you can’t see.
2. You are afraid we will examine your balls.  We will, if you are 40 or younger. The peak age for testicular cancer is 18-40 so guidelines recommend you get a once a year testicular exam. Don’t worry it won’t hurt at all.
3.  I feel FINE.  I am glad you feel fine, but you can feel FINE with high cholesterol, high blood pressure and elevated blood sugars.  Your mother or wife won’t feel fine when they are taking care of you after you have a stroke.  Don’t wait until you feel awful to come see us.
4. Going to the Doctor is a chick thing.  Many of you feel this way but remember we live longer than you do.  If doctor visits are a chick thing well, then, nursing homes are a guy thing.  You have to get over this.  It’s true, the waiting room magazines are not for guys but when you come see us you will see that many of the medical assistants, doctors, phlebotomists and medical records folks are men.  Real men go to doctors.
5. You are embarrassed to talk about what’s going on with you.  The bright red blood on the toilet paper when you wipe, the red itchy rash in your groin and on your feet, the problems you have at times getting a boner, getting up at night a few times to pee, we hear it all the time.  You are not alone and our job is to show you how common this is and help fix it for you.
6. You don’t find the office hours convenient.  I get this and urge you to find a doctor who is accessible and can work around your office hours.  Seriously though. The average guy watches 16 hours of TV a week, you can come for a 30 minute visit once a year and maybe a couple of follow-up visits as needed.
7. Going to the Doctor is giving in to your nagging wife.  I had a patient who gave his wife for her 20^th anniversary a copy of his Lipitor prescription, thinking this was a GIFT to his wife that he was taking care of his medical issues.  It is true, women rightly so nag their dads, brothers, and husbands to go to the doctor because they are tired of square dancing with women at the assisted living facilities.
8. You don’t realize we are here for prevention.  You don’t have to be sick to come see us and if you establish a relationship with us you have easy access when you do get sick.  Once a year we can touch base with you to discuss age appropriate screening which we KNOW helps keep you well.
9. You don’t have a relationship with a physician.  If you are not attached to a regular physician by the age of 40 you are more likely to get in trouble.  Unlike women who need annual pap smears and contraception, you haven’t had to see someone regularly from the age of 18-30.  Find someone your friends use or enlist your partners help to find someone that might be a connection.  You want someone accessible and younger physicians are much more likely to e-mail so look until you find the right match.
10. You think we will pick on you for your habits.  Drinking a 12-pack on the weekends, not exercising and eating bad foods, among other things.  These things are not as uncommon as you might expect.  We will put you on a long leash and let you pick and choose the habits to get rid of as needed.

If you are a Doctor Dodger, the reality is, it is of little consequence whether your reasons for doing so more closely resemble Dr. Orrange’s list or mine.  If your recalcitrance leads to a preventable heart attack, some form of cancer, or a stroke, you will have contributed directly to reducing your quality of life, as well as that of your family members.  Such actions could also lead to premature death.  It really is pretty simple; fear, embarrassment, death (sooner rather than later)…pick one dude!

Let’s be clear here, human beings are not immortal.  Psalms 90:10 advises us: “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”  Proponents of the Bill Maher School of Thought dismiss such biblical advisory as akin to magic, wizardry, or witchcraft.  But I am reasonably certain even Mr. Maher would concede that we all will die.  Moreover, I wouldn’t bet the farm that he doesn’t have a regular physician, regardless of his rationale.

The point of seeing health professionals on a regular basis is not to live forever; none of us will.  Rather, the idea is to leverage the best possible existence out of our all too brief time here on earth.

As most of us know, women live longer than men.  Once upon a time, this was largely attributable to the rigors of backbreaking manual labor, and long before that, due to the results of men losing too many battles with the lions or other members of the Wild Kingdom, in the quest to determine who would eat…and who would be dinner.

Neither of those historical tableaus aligns with today’s American reality.  No, the underlying contemporary contributory factors for those of us now living in the USA are that poor exercise habits, irresponsible dietary choices, too much smoking and drinking, and eschewing regular checkups and prevention screenings combine to lead to a lower quality of life (health wise), and ultimately, to a shortened lifespan; on average five years less than for women.

According to a 2007 Harris Interactive survey that included over 1,100 men, the American Academyof Family Physicians found that:

• Many men go to the Doctor only when they are very sick
• Before they did, many of these men waited several days to see if they felt better
• Most of these men had a regular doctor
• Most had currently active health insurance
• Most said they felt comfortable talking to their physician

In an even more recent survey, conducted by Esquire magazine in January of 2011, researchers found that:

• Roughly half of American men ages 18-50 had no primary care physician
• One third had not had a check-up in more than a year
• More than 40% had never had their cholesterol checked
• 70% had never had a prostate exam

Do you perchance know the leading causes of death in America?  According to the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention (CDC), complete information available in 2007, broke down like this:

Number of deaths for leading causes of death:

• Heart disease: 616,067
• Cancer: 562,875
• Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 135,952
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 127,924
• Accidents (unintentional injuries): 123,706
• Alzheimer’s disease: 74,632
• Diabetes: 71,382
• Influenza and Pneumonia: 52,717
• Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 46,448
• Septicemia: 34,828

Source: Deaths: Final Data for 2007

Based on CDC research, Heart Disease and Cancer, the top two causes of death in the United States in 2007, led to nearly twice as many deaths as the cumulative totals of causes 3 through 10.  In fact, the number of deaths attributable to Heart Disease alone, (616,067), nearly equaled the total for causes 3 through 10 (667,589).

It is important to recognize that the relative death rate for men is higher than that for women for all of the Top 10 causes.  While there are hereditary factors that contribute to individual proclivity to develop Heart Disease, a timely and committed change in lifestyle in concert with an appropriate medical remediation, prevention, and/or maintenance strategy can help most men (and women) live a relatively normal life.

In summary, this post is a cry for help on behalf of men.  Perhaps, more aptly stated, it is a call for men to step up and help themselves.  As a general rule, ours is an interdependent society.  That means, someone, somewhere relies upon you.  So men, I urge you to unite on behalf of a cause that intuitively selfish, but intellectually selfless.  I entreat you to recognize this undeniable truth; “Men’s Health: A Compelling Quality of Life Issue!”  Yes, this is a cause that requires you to think of (and act) for yourself first.  But in doing so, your wife, or significant other, your children, your siblings, your parents, your friends, your co-workers, your career, your civic association, your fraternity, and yes, your state of mind, will all benefit.

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.  A new post is published each Wednesday.  For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonoscopy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_(anatomy)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endoscopy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ileum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCD_camera

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmoidoscopy

http://www.medicinenet.com/disease_prevention_in_men/page5.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/colon_cancer_screening/article.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/mens_health/article.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/disease_prevention_in_men/article.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/human_body_quiz/quiz.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/disease_prevention_in_men/page6.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/triglyceride_test/article.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypercholesterolemia

http://www.theschwartzcenterblog.com/2011/06/why-men-dont-go-to-doctor.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Maher

http://www.usc.edu/health/internal/doctors/profile.html?id=2184

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephritis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephrotic_syndrome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephrosis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepsis

Has it really been nearly four years? Why yes, it has.

On July 8^th, 2010, LeBron James, known in some circles as The King, and others, as the “Best Basketball Player on the Planet, orchestrated a fantastical media extravaganza entitled “The Decision.” James had spent the first seven years of his career playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he amassed an impressive array of honors and recognition, including 6 All-Star appearances, and two League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards…but zero NBA Titles.

Tomorrow night, the Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, NY, will host the 2014 NBA Draft. By the time the Draft officially ends in the wee hours of Friday morning, less than 96 hours (4 days) will remain until the onset of this year’s Free Agent Class. An always-important dimension of any NBA season took on added importance yesterday, as LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, announced that James will exercise the early termination option in his contract and become a Free Agent on July 1^st.

In the original “Decision,” James, a native of Akron, Ohio, elected to leave near-by Cleveland, and “Take his talents to South Beach to play for the Miami Heat.” In Miami, he joined Heat star Dwayne Wade, and Toronto Raptor star Chris Bosh joined them both. The Big 3, as they have become known, went on an impressive run, appearing in 4 consecutive NBA Finals; losing to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2013, and the San Antonio Spurs in 2013, and losing in a rematch this year to those same Spurs.

It is important to note that this year’s LeBron Show will likely be very different than the media event of four years ago. Then, there was a fairly broad expectation that James would seriously consider leaving Cleveland, and little surprise when he did. This year, while it is certainly conceivable that he will leave MIA, it will not evoke much surprise if he ultimately opts to stay in South Beach.

It is no surprise that LeBron chose to opt out. MIA was summarily spanked by San Antonio in The Finals. They managed one victory, and that, only by a couple of points, while losing the other four games by 15 points or more, including two maulings at home in MIA. Ultimately, James may not wish to leave the Heat, but he certainly wants Pat Riley and the Heat to ensure that the team is more competitive moving forward. If I were to hazard a guess, I’d surmise Riley got the message loud and clear.

In addition to the possibility that the outcome (leaving his current team) may be different, my gut suggests he will not replicate the elaborate backdrop for his 2014 “Decision.” Mr. James endured a resounding backlash for his handling of that situation. While I did not find it as off-putting as some did, LeBron has usually been amazingly media-savvy. He is one of the more successful product pitchmen in contemporary culture. My expectation is, no matter what his “Decision,” LeBron will communicate it in a more understated manner than he did in 2010.

In the coming days, there will likely be quite a buzz regarding the possible destination that LeBron choose. Some have reckoned that he may lead the formation of a new Big 3 with Carmelo Anthony as a key player. There are a few teams that stand out in the mix, including the Houston Rockets, where he could join Superman and the Beard, also known as Dwight Howard and James Harden, the Chicago Bulls, who are also expected to vie for the services of Carmelo Anthony, the Los Angeles Lakers, who could create the cap space, but would not have a robust supporting cast, were they to do so, the Dallas Mavericks, though Dirk Nowitzki would likely have to absorb a sizeable pay cut, the Los Angeles Clippers, though they might have to jettison both DeAndre Jordan, and Blake Griffin, in which case they become a lot like the Lakers.

There are also teams that cash rich, but cachet poor, like the Charlotte Hornets, the Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards. I’m ready and willing to be surprised, especially in the case of the Hornets, but I put the chances of James “Taking his services to on of these three teams nestled between slim and none, and resting closer to none.

That leaves the team that I believe sits in the catbird seat in this year’s LeBron sweepstakes. Suffice it to say, I have no inside intel, but in my humble opinion, “The Decision, Part II,” will end just as the Decision did; with LeBron in South Beach. The NBA rules of engagement allow MIA and all teams to exceed the cap to re-sign their own players. MIA needs to re-tool, and certainly have the motivation to do so, and…I think they will.

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.” Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/24/us/nba-lebron-james-free-agency/index.html?hpt=hp_t4

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/decision-part-ii-lebron-free-agent-article-1.1841611

http://www.thewire.com/culture/2014/06/the-decision-ii-get-ready-for-a-super-annoying-summer-sports-fans/373284/

http://www.sbnation.com/2014/6/24/5837880/lebron-james-free-agent-opt-out-miami-heat

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/06/24/lebron-james-announces-big-decision-about-his-future/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2014/06/24/lebron-james-opt-out-miami-heat-free-agent/11303749/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2108170-pat-riley-facing-major-pressure-challenges-to-keep-lebron-james-in-miami

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/11128294/las-vegas-sports-books-pull-nba-title-odds-due-lebron-james-opt-decision

http://voices.suntimes.com/sports/could-the-bulls-be-in-on-james-decision-2-0/

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/dwyane-wade-holds-the-cards-in-lebron-s-next-big-decision-062414

http://live.drjays.com/index.php/2014/06/24/how-will-tim-duncans-decision-to-return-to-the-spurs-next-season-affect-free-agents-like-lebron-james-carmelo-anthony/

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/19527/lebrons-decision-cant-alter-bulls-focus

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/19527/lebrons-decision-cant-alter-bulls-focus

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/11127329/lebron-james-opt-contract-miami-heat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decision_(TV_special)

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/17853/lebron-james-decision-the-transcript

This will be a relatively short post.  Despite the brevity, do not equate short with unimportant.  This issue is deeply entrenched in contemporary American culture, and as is frequently evidenced, can unexpectedly affect any of us.

I still vividly recall that one of the suggested responses by the Gun Lobby and proponents of unfettered access to firearms, in response to the December 14, 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut was arming the teachers and administrators.  In fact, similar advice emerged after Century Theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado on July 20 of the same year.

As a card-carrying Concealed Handgun Permit owner, not only am I personally comfortable with firearms, I am properly trained, and have been qualifying on shooting ranges for more than 20 years.  Still, the notion of vigilante justice gives me pause.

First, I am concerned because I respect the power of firearms to instantly and irreversibly change the dynamics of any human encounter.  Second, just as people may be skilled vocal artists, or chefs, or public speakers, not everyone who engages in one of those pursuits is good, or effective at doing so.  The same is true with handling firearms.  A clear distinguishing feature is that typically the consequences of hearing a song poorly sung, or eating an improperly prepared meal, or listening to an agonizingly dull speech, are not fatal.  Alternately, a bad encounter with an armed individual may be one’s last.

On Sunday, June 8, 2014, Jared and Amanda Miller, a married couple, shot and killed Igor SoldoandAlyn Beck, two police officers while they dined at a Las Vegas pizzeria.  They left a swastika on one, and covered both bodies with a Gadsden Flag, which is a yellow banner depicting a rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike.  The words “Don’t tread on me” are positioned below the snake.  The flag is named for Christopher Gadsden, who designed it in 1775 during the American Revolution.

After killing the two officers, they stormed into a nearby Wal-Mart with Jared firing his weapon, ordering shoppers to evacuate, and shouting an anti-government message.  The two, apparently were supporters of Cliven Bundy, the Nevada Rancher who engaged the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in a 20-year standoff over unpaid grazing fees.  In April they tried to join the armed standoff against federal agents at Bundy’s ranch.  According to Bundy’s son, they were asked to leave for being “too radical.”

It was at the Wal-Mart that the Right Wing bromide that holds, the best way to counter an armed mischief-maker is to be armed, met with an epic fail as a strategy.  Mr. Joseph Wilcox, 31 years old, happened to be inside the Wal-Mart.  As fate would have it, he happened to be armed.  After observing Mr. Miller in full rant, Mr. Wilcox decided to intervene by confronting Jared.  Unfortunately, he was unaware that Mrs. Miller, who was behind him, was with Jared, and also armed.  At that point, she shot and Killed Wilcox before he could successfully intervene.

Kathleen Parker wrote an article that appeared in the June 10^th edition of the Washington Post, entitled, “Armed and Dead.”  I think her caption writer nailed it, as least as it pertains to my position.  While noting Mr. Wilcox’s good intentions, Ms. Parker argues that this example should give pause to any who believe arming citizens is the best deterrent to a would-be killer.  She goes on to note “the would-be hero in Tucson — when Rep. Gabby Giffords and others were shot — was an armed young man who almost shot the wrong person.”

I understand one or two instances do not constitute a statistically significant data pool.  However, neither do the well-worn talking points of the Gun Lobby.  I believe in the Second Amendment and its explicit conferral of the right to keep and bear arms.  Moreover, I also believe in and affirm the Supreme Court’s ruling that such rights are not unlimited, and may be regulated by the State and Federal governments.

Ultimately, I am persuaded, the chicken in every pot, or in this case a gun in every belt prescription is just, well, “Dead Wrong!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com.  Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.”  Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/kathleen-parker-armed-and-dead/2014/06/10/e721ca56-f0d7-11e3-9ebc-2ee6f81ed217_story.html

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-jerad-miller-timeline-20140609-story.html

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/bundy-blm/rejected-revolution-jerad-and-amanda-miller-decided-start-their-own

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_flag

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattlesnake

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_revolution

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/11/jerad-and-amanda-miller-shootout-video_n_5485412.html

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/jun/11/-metro-confirms-police-fire-took-out-cop-killer/

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/vegas-cop-killers/police-fatally-shot-las-vegas-gunman-jerad-miller-during-gunfight-n128546

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-amanda-jared-miller-father-las-vegas-shooting-20140609-story.html

By the time this post is delivered, three games of the 2014 NBA Finals will have been played. The focus of today’s blog, however, is Game 1. In a contest played last Thursday night in San Antonio, the Air Conditioning apparatus failed at AT&T Arena. The circumstances surrounding the malfunctioning AC were not immediately available, but in the second half officials from Spurs Sports and Entertainment released the following statement:

“An electrical failure for the power that runs the AC system in the AT&T Center has occurred, we are continuing to work on resolving the problem. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

This explanation, while perhaps plausible, maybe even totally accurate, did not reassure countless Miami Heat fans, or an array of conspiracy theorists. Americans are never at a loss when confronted with the opportunity to contemplate and propose various bases for good conspiracy theories.

In fact, there is a rich history of events colored by the lens of supposed conspiracies, ranging from the Kennedy, King, and Malcolm assassinations, to Nicole Simpson’s murder (Did OJ do it?), to the alleged Benghazi cover-up. Of course, many of us know people who still insist that Elvis, Tupac, and Biggie are still alive. Perhaps you are one of them. These are all events that when mentioned, easily generate as much of an enthusiastic reaction today, as when they unfolded.

While historical events in general lend themselves to the notion of conspiracies, the frenetic mixture of competition, the unbridled zeal of fans, and the steroidal commercialism of pro sports serve to make the “arena” a breeding ground for generating conspiracy theories.

Sports in general have gifted us with a number of interesting, if not compelling, conspiracy theories. Key examples include:

• 1919 – Black Sox (Chicago White Sox) scandal; eight members of the White Sox were alleged to have conspire to throw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Several players careers were terminated as a result
• 1965 – Sonny Liston was alleged to have fixed/thrown his Heavyweight Title Bout against Muhammad Ali, falling to what some deemed a phantom punch, and what slow motion later revealed to be a blow unlikely to have rendered the then Champion unconscious
• 1973 – Bobby Riggs was alleged to have bet against himself, and thrown the famous Battle of the Sexes Tennis Match against Billie Jean King. He had easily defeated Number 1 ranked women’s player Margaret Court earlier
• 1980’s – Baseball owners’ were alleged to have conspired to collude to drive players salaries down. This claim was eventually validated in court
• 2013 – The NFL was alleged to have orchestrated a power outage after Beyoncé’s Half Time performance at Super Bowl XLVII in order to keep the Baltimore Ravens (who had built a substantial half time lead) from running away with the game against the San Francisco 49’ers

Baseball, boxing, tennis, and football all play a prominent role in American sports culture. This writer, however, is a huge basketball fan. As such, here are a few examples of basketball related conspiracy theories that have emerged over the past half-century or so:

• 1972 – After the USA’s domination of Olympic Basketball (never having lost a game since its introduction as an Olympic Sport), the Soviet Union upset Team USA in a controversial game that still rankles many Americans, including and especially, the players associated with the game. Team USA members declined to claim their Silver Medals
• 1985 – The first year of the lottery era was also one of the most controversial drafts ever. Even today, speculation rages that the lottery was rigged to allow the New York Knicks to receive the first pick, which was anticipated to be (and actually was) Patrick Ewing. Whether the luck of the lotto, or the will of the Commissioner, the pick led to a revival of the Knicks, who had been struggling
• 1993 – Michael Jordan’s first retirement is rumored to have been more of a forced suspension, rather than a voluntary retirement. Jordan had garnered a significant amount of attention for his extra-curricular activities, and it is alleged that Commissioner Stern suspended him for gambling, and that the retirement was a convenient ruse to avoid dealing with what would have been the ensuing controversy embroiling the NBA’s marquee player
• 2002 – The NBA is alleged to have rigged the Western Conference Finals to save the Lakers’ Season. The Lakers trailed the series 3-2, and were tied with the Sacramento Kings going into the fourth quarter. The Lakers shot 27 free throws in the quarter, scored sixteen of their last eighteen points from the line, and went on to win the game by four. They would eventually win the NBA Championship
• This year, and every year since the advent of the Draft Lottery (i985) – The worst NBA teams tank (throw games) to improve their position in the Lottery. Anyone who watches the sport regularly has noticed that some teams appear to lose late season games, almost inexplicably. At the same time, other teams near the bottom exert maximum effort, and fight to the end, in search of the last of the sixteen Playoff spots, rather than one of the fourteen spots in the Lottery

That brings me back to Game 1 of this year’s NBA Finals between the Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs, the team with the best record in the NBA, and the defending Champion Miami Heat. By attaining the League’s top record this year; the Spurs earned home court advantage throughout each Round of the Playoffs, as long as they continued to win, including the Finals. As a result, the first two games of the Finals were played in San Antonio, with the next two set for Miami. Any necessary additional games will alternate between San Antonio and Miami, until one of the teams wins four games (Best of Seven).

The case of the malfunctioning air conditioning at the AT&T Arena is now officially added to the long list of NBA-bred conspiracy theories. The reasoning goes something like this. LeBron James, the Heat’s best player, and by most accounts, the best basketball player today, has a history of having trouble playing through cramps. Overly warm arenas are thought to be a key element in players, particularly LeBron, cramping in games.

Of course, the primary event that drives the notion of a conspiracy in this case is that LeBron cramped up, and missed more than half of the fourth quarter, including most of the last eight minutes (There are 12 minutes in a quarter). It is not difficult to reason, if you subtract the best player on the planet from your team, production will decline. The Heat went on to lose Game 1, and the pushback against the “nefarious” Spurs was immediate.

Facebook, the Twitterverse, Instagram, the office water cooler, conversations at the gym, and between men and women on the street frequently buzzed with the notion that Gregg Popovich (the Spurs’ Coach) and Company had purloined Game 1 in an underhanded scheme designed to render lame the most potent force in the game.

Not to be left out of the conversational frenzy, at least one basketball player joined the fray. Jason Terry, of the Sacramento Kings, and formerly the in-state rival Dallas Mavericks, opined:

“You know what, Pop [Spurs coach Gregg Popovich] has done that so many times. I don’t know if it’s a conspiracy, but I’m telling you, going into San Antonio is a tough place to play.

And I can remember very well one time where it was cold showers, there were about a thousand flies in the locker room. This year, there was a snake in the locker room. So, they’re going to pull out all the stops to get into your head.

When you go to San Antonio, expect something like that. And Miami fell victim to it.”

The snake Terry referenced was found by Thomas Robinson of the Portland Trailblazers in his locker prior to Game 2 of the Blazers’ Second Round Series against the Spurs. There are certainly a lot of snakes in Texas, but one making it into a locker room/locker; deep inside an NBA arena is a lot less likely than an AC malfunction, at least, in my view.

The temperature in the arena reached 90 degrees during last Thursday’s game. That’s hot if you were doing nothing but sitting. Playing a basketball game under such conditions would undoubtedly be uncomfortable. So why do I not believe it was a conspiracy/intentional? The propensity of LeBron to be affected by cramps notwithstanding, how could the Spurs discern that LJ would be the one person, of all players on both teams, to be so negatively impacted by the ensuing conditions that he would be unable to play effectively, or not at all? Moreover, how could they be sure that the debilitating effects would not extend to members of their own team?

I have sobering, if not good, news for those concerned about there having been a clandestine operation to derail Miami, in route to its third consecutive Title. Because the Spurs have home court advantage in this series, the Heat was always going to have to win a game in San Antonio in order to win the series and the Championship. The absolutely great thing about this is, there is nothing whatsoever that ever suggested it had to be Game 1. They have up to four shots at it, if needed, as long as they win at home. Moreover, the Heat won Game 2 Sunday night, which in effect, allowed them to steal home court advantage for themselves; mission accomplished…problem solved.  Well, momentarily anyway. The Heat, with no AC problems that we know of, at home in American Airlines Arena in Miami, gave it back. This marked the Heat’s first home loss during this year’s Playoffs. They have still not loss two consecutive games in the postseason this year, so expect them to bounce back tomorrow night. Of course, that won’t get home court advantage back; they must win again in San Antonio to do that. No question they are capable, but will they?  We shall see. By the way, lest you Heat fans feel inclined to throw in the towel because your team trails 2-1 after 3 games…last year at the end of Game 3, the Heat trailed 2-1…to the Spurs, so chin up!

Yes, “Another Day, Another Conspiracy Theory!” You may of course believe that which you are inclined to, or can imagine. As far I am concerned, this one fails the reasonable man test. Of course, that conclusion is based upon my temerity to presume I am a reasonable man. I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.” Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://www.nba.com/2014/news/06/01/nba-finals-schedule/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/05/heat-spurs-air-conditioning_n_5457043.html

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/11/five-sports-conspiracy-theories-jfk

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1955061-craziest-conspiracy-theories-in-sports

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10545306/nba-most-conspiracy-theories-sports-espn-magazine

http://athlonsports.com/5-biggest-conspiracy-theories-sports-history

http://radaronline.com/photos/25-conspiracy-theories-photos-galleries/photo/571316/

http://www.sportspickle.com/2011/05/the-8-biggest-sports-conspiracy-theories

http://www.totalprosports.com/2012/05/18/9-classic-sports-conspiracy-theories/

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/10/28/conspiracy.theories/

http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Sports-Conspiracy-Theories-All-Time/dp/1602396787

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10545306/nba-most-conspiracy-theories-sports-espn-magazine

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10545306/nba-most-conspiracy-theories-sports-espn-magazine

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1231520-debunking-the-10-biggest-conspiracy-theories-in-the-nba

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1231520-debunking-the-10-biggest-conspiracy-theories-in-the-nba

The concept of reparations vis-à-vis the African American community is not new.  It is a notion, well traveled, much debated, occasionally promoted, and frequently dismissed…casually by some, and with malice by others.  Its proponents have ranged from Abraham Lincoln to the Black Panther Party to Quakers (and me); conversely, opponents range from John Wilkes Booth to Rush Limbaugh to the contemporary GOP-Tea Party (not to be confused with Lincoln’s Republican Party), and undoubtedly a number of people I call friend.

You probably know by now that Ta-Nehisi Coates has written (what I think is) a compelling essay, which appears in the current edition of “The Atlantic,” entitled, “The Case for Reparations.”  You can find the article, accompanied by multi-media augmentation, by clicking on the first link below.  Though be forewarned, the piece requires some degree of commitment to read and watch in its entirety, as the narrative alone contains 16,000 words, spread across 10 chapters.  I read them all, each and every one.

Mr. Coates lays out cogently the key metrics that underscore the pro reparations argument.  Simply put, those numbers are: 

1. Two hundred fifty
2. Ninety
3. Sixty
4. Thirty-five

One of the common reactions to even the mention of reparations is the retort that notes how long ago the atrocities of slavery occurred, and that is when there is even a concession that any offense actually occurred.  Cliven Bundy, the Nevada rancher I wrote about several weeks ago, actually posited that blacks were better off during slavery.  The point of that time sensitive reply, apparently, is to suggest that after such an extended passage of time, we (the African American we, that is) should just let that go!

Well, think again hombre.  The numbers that Ta-Nehisi provides should disabuse the most ardent reality deniers of that notion.  Let’s revisit those numbers, complete with what they mean.  When viewed this way, you might be surprised: 

1. Two hundred fifty years of slavery
2. Ninety years of Jim Crow laws
3. Sixty years of so-called separate but equal treatment practices 
4. Thirty-five years of racist housing policy

While some of the above eras overlap, let’s be clear and stipulate that the evils represented by those numbers cover the period from 1619 (when the first indentured servants and slaves arrived on America’s shores) until today (or if you prefer, right here, right now).  In other words, there has been no cessation of the crimes, only a variation of type and degree.

Coates describes the slavery era as a war upon black families and black people.  He noted that John Wilkes Booth wrote before killing Abraham Lincoln :

“This country was formed for the white, not for the black man.  And looking upon African slavery from the same standpoint held by those noble framers of our Constitution, I for one have ever considered it one of the greatest blessings (both for themselves and us) that God ever bestowed upon a favored nation.”

Favored nation?  I guess the idea of “Exceptionalism” goes back a long ways. 

In his treatise, Mr. Coates introduces a number of characters.  At least one of them, Clyde Ross, left what Coates described as the kleptocracy (in Mississippi) to make a life for himself in Chicago.  In Chi-town he made a stable wage, married his wife, had children; his paycheck was his own, there were no Klansmen to strip him of his vote; he could walk down the street without having to move or avert his eyes because a white person was passing.  Mr. Ross sought only one additional thing to complete his entry to middle class – a home of his own.

The acquisition of this final piece of his personal hurdle proved vexing.  Ross bought a home on Chicago’s West Side, in a community called North Lawndale.  However, he did not actually have a mortgage.  He had bought his home “on contract,” as it was called at the time.  As such, he had ensconced himself in a predatory agreement that combined all the responsibilities of home ownership with all the disadvantages of renting – by signing an agreement that offered the benefits of neither.  As it turned out, from the 1930’s through the 1960’s, blacks across the country were largely precluded from the legitimate mortgage market.  Such was the case with Mr. Ross and his black neighbors in North Lawndale.

This scheme was part of a larger stratagem known as Redlining, made even worse by policies of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).  The FHA employed a system that rated areas on a map from A to D.  The A rated areas were colored green, and residents therein were perceived as excellent prospects for insurance.  At the opposite end of the spectrum were the D rated areas, coded red.  Neighborhoods where blacks lived were rated D, and as such, were usually ineligible for FHA backing.  Neither the percentage of black people, nor their social class mattered.  Ultimately, Redlining went beyond FHA standards and spread to the entire mortgage industry.  Blacks suffered the double indignity of being steered to Redline areas, where they were then systematically excluded from most legitimate means of obtaining a mortgage.

Ta-Nehisi points out that the early American economy was built on slave labor.  Slaves built the Capitol and the White House. Today, a number of policy analysts and academics lament the deficiencies of the black family structure.  Moreover, it is true there are certainly elements that need to be shored up.  However, no serious contemporary analysis can minimize the deleterious and lingering effects of slavery, and its subsequent kindred machinations, on the contemporary State of Black America.

That’s right, the pervasive destruction did not end with slavery.  Discriminatory laws served to pile on to the morass by combining the equal burden of citizenship with the unequal distribution of the great American bounty.  This construct is so not new.  President Lyndon Johnson said in his famous civil rights speech:

“Negro poverty is not white poverty.”

Of course, there are similarities, but they are not the same, and they are not simply racial in origin.  They are the consequence of ancient brutality, past injustice, and present prejudice.  It is unacceptable to recall the past, only when the past is flattering.  There is no question, black history does not conform to the quintessential American ideal, and yet, without the fully exploited contributions of Black America, there is no America, as we know it.

Slavery’s contribution to America the Beautiful is not merely a function of having tilled the soil and harvested the crops.  “In 1860, slaves as an asset were worth more than all of America’s manufacturing, all of the railroads, all of the productive capacity of the United States put together.  Slaves were the single largest, by far, financial asset of property in the entire American economy,” wrote Yale historian, David W. Blight.

In January 1989, Michigan Representative John Conyers introduced H.R. 40, legislation designed to form a Commission to study the financial implications of slavery and various reparations proposals for African Americans.  The proposal itself does not seek to enact reparations, but rather seeks to determine the impact of the institution of slavery, and establish what it would cost to repay such a tab.  Representative Conyers has introduced the bill every year since 1989.  It has never reached the debate stage on the House Floor.

It is worth noting that Congress has on one occasion approved reparations.  On April 16^th, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act into law.  The bill ended slavery in Washington, DC, and provided compensation to slave owners for the loss of their property.  Let’s be transparent here; what that law did not do was compensate the slaves!

At the outset of this post, I mentioned that the problems related to practices and policies stemming from slavery persist even in the current era.  As recently as 2010, the Justice Department filed a discrimination suit against Wells Fargo alleging the bank had steered blacks into predatory loans, regardless of their creditworthiness.  In 2011, Bank of America agreed to pay $355 million to settle charges of discrimination against its Countrywide unit.  In 2012, Wells Fargo settled its discrimination suit for more than $175 million.  For many, it was too little, too late.  In 2009, half the properties in Baltimore, whose owners had been granted loans by Wells Fargo between 2005 and 2008, were vacant; 71% of those properties were in predominantly black neighborhoods.

Back to the title question; “Why Reparations?”   There is little doubt that approving reparations is a political, if not financial, impossibility…at least at this point in time.  Nevertheless, imposing the will, the sheer intestinal fortitude to have the conversation is important.  It is essential to act on Mr. Conyers’ bill and discover not just the scope of the actual debt, but to foster a broader and deeper understanding of how and why black poverty is a function of the combination of public policy and private theft facilitated by racism.  There is a lingering and unfair notion that blacks are asking for a handout and that we have already been given too much…when in fact, there has been a trenchant refusal to consider just how much has been appropriated (stolen) from African Americans, from the time of our arrival on these shores until now.

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com.  Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.”  Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/05/the-case-for-reparations/361631/

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/5/29/the_case_for_reparations_ta_nehisi

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/5/30/part_2_ta_nehisi_coates_on

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2014/05/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-reparations.html

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2014/05/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-reparations.html

https://www.britannica.com/presidents/article-9116926

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/05/29/no-college-isnt-the-answer-reparations-are/

http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/a-college-degree-is-no-guarantee

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/117834/ta-nehisi-coates-atlantic-magazine-slavery-reparations-essay

http://www.buzzfeed.com/shani/ta-nehisi-coates-reparations-buzzfeed

http://conyers.house.gov/index.cfm/reparations

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c101:hr3745:    

More times than I can recall, but to often for sure, I have written about accounts of senseless violence, usually mass shootings.  Last Friday night, Elliot Rodger executed a vile and violent shooting rampage in Isla Vista, California, near the campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB).

Mr. Rodger, a 22 year-old Santa Barbara City College student, murdered six, stabbing three men in his own apartment (two roommates and one visitor), shooting three women at the UCSB Alpha Phi Sorority House (killing two of them), and moving on to a local deli where he shot and killed another man.  Then, “according to authorities,” he took his own life.  But before he initiated his vicious attack, he wrote a 137 page, 107,000 word Manifesto, which he referred to as “My Twisted World: The Story of Elliot Rodger,” detailing his brooding and pent-up anger due to constant rejection by women.  He characterized his existence as that of a “kissless virgin.

Several themes or points of emphasis emerged from a summary of what would become Mr. Rodger’s digital introduction to the world.  Some of those include:

• A commitment to wage a war on women – “I will attack the very girls who represent everything I hate in the female gender: The hottest sorority of UCSB”
• A bitter form of envy – Elliot Roger around the fringes of Hollywood, but really in it.  He was close enough to see the world of the rich and fabulously famous, but never experienced it in a first person way.  He resented that his “damnable mother” had not “married into wealth instead of being selfish.”  After attending a private Katy Perry party at the largesse of wealthy friends, he was reminded again of the many perks of wealth and fame.  About that he wrote, “I couldn’t help but feel a bitter form of envy at all the rich kids at the concert.”
• Sought advice in the art of love from Dale Launer, the writer of “Blind Date,” Love Potion #9,” and “Ruthless People.” – According to Rodger’s writing, Dale Launer tried to teach him how to get a girlfriend.  It didn’t work.  Ultimately, Rodger felt there was nothing Launer and people like him could do to help him get girls and lose his virginity.
• Believed winning the lottery was the only way out –  “I knew I was always destined for great things. This must be it! I was destined to be the winner of the highest lottery jackpot in existence. I knew right then and there that this jackpot was meant for me. Who else deserved such a victory? I had been through so much rejection, suffering, and injustice in my life, and this was to be my salvation. With my whole body filled with feverish hope, I spent $700 dollars on lottery tickets for this drawing. As I spent this money, I imagined all the amazing sex I would have with a beautiful model girlfriend I would have once I become a man of wealth.”
• Realized he needed to start planning for the Day of Retribution – “Without the prospect of becoming wealthy at a young age, I had nothing to live for now. I was going to be a virgin outcast forever. I realized that I had to start planning and preparing for the Day of Retribution, even though I hadn’t yet had any idea of what day that would be.”
• His first “act of preparation” for the massacre was the purchase of his first gun – “I had already done some research on handguns, and I decided to purchase the Glock 34 semiautomatic pistol, an efficient and highly accurate weapon. I signed all of the papers and was told that my pickup day was in mid-December. That fell in nicely, because that was when I was planning on staying in Santa Barbara till. After I picked up the handgun, I brought it back to my room and felt a new sense of power. I was now armed.”
• He would eventually purchase three handguns – Purchased a Glock 34 semi-automatic pistol after failing to win the $120 Megamillions Lottery in September 2012; bought a second handgun in the spring of 2013 when he began to seriously think about the Day of Retribution; a year later he bought a third handgun…just in case one of them jammed

One of the undeniable themes that arose from this “massacre” is Elliot Rodger was a sick individual who hated women…and men.  The center of his enmity seemed to be the women who rejected him, but, he also bore a robust resentment for men, the wealthy, and beautiful people, many of whom it seemed to him, managed to get the things he wanted most, but could never obtain.

The bottom line is chilling; seven dead, 13 injured, and countless lives of friends family, students, and others, changed forever.  Inside Rodger’s car, police found three semi-automatic handguns and over 400 rounds of ammunition.  In the past, I have discussed previous abuses of firearms and the need for appropriate legislation to address the scourge of gun violence in America.  That position still stands.  However, this time, I have a simpler suggestion.  One that even the gun lobby should be able to embrace.   I ask that each of you (readers) in your own space and time, observe a moment of silence to honor all the victims of this tragedy, including Mr. Rodger.

“Another Shooting Pervades the American Psyche”…and that is literally, “a crying shame.”  I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com.  Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.”  Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/killed-mass-murder-shooting-uc-santa-barbara/story?id=23853918

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/05/24/315425094/shooting-near-uc-santa-barbara-leaves-3-dead

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/05/24/shooter-kills-at-least-six-people-in-rampage-near-uc-santa-barbara/?tid=pm_pop

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/dead-drive-shooting-uc-santa-barbara-23853689

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-isla-vista-shootings-uc-students-solidarity-20140527-story.html

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/05/7-dead-in-drive-by-shooting-near-uc-santa-barbara-103446.html

http://news.yahoo.com/7-dead-drive-shooting-near-uc-santa-barbara-103951856.html

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-shooting-near-uc-santa-barbara-people-urged-to-stay-indoors-20140523-story.html

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/shooting-isla-vista-uc-santa-barbara-260505021.html

http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/nation/2014/05/24/drive-by-shooting-near-uc-santa-barbara/9540399/

http://www.people.com/article/7-dead-drive-by-shooting-uc-santa-barbara

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-sorority-isla-vista-privacy-20140525-story.html

In the world of octogenarian racial slurs, 80 year-old Donald Sterling is not exactly fading into the sunset, nor going gentle into that good night. In actuality, he has figured out inventive ways to pile upon his own dubious case. Still, we live in a world of what’s happening now, and right now, while the NBA is figuring out how to proceed with concluding the Sterling matter, Robert Copeland, 82, insisted on leveraging his opportunity to step to the head of the class.

Mr. Copeland, a police commissioner in Wolfeboro New Hampshire, erupted onto the national scene last week as he unrepentantly admitted using the N-word to describe President Obama. Ms. Jane O’Toole, a Wolfeboro resident finishing dinner at a local bistro in March heard a gentleman she did not know announce loudly that he

“Hated watching television because every time he turned on the TV he kept seeing that fucking nigger.”

The “nigger” to whom he referred was the President of the United States.

When she found out who Mr. Copeland was, she complained to the town manager in a letter. Initially, Mr. Copeland acted unfazed by the complaint. In an e-mail responding to the inquiry about the incident, he replied:

“I believe I did use the N-word in reference to the current occupant of the Whitehouse. For this I do not apologize – he meets and exceeds my criteria for such.”

According to the 2010 Census, Wolfeboro is a community of 6,269. News reports have indicated the population of the resort community is 97% white; there are about 20 black residents. As with most instances such as this that make their way into the sphere of the public square, there were supporters and detractors for the commenter. In this instance, however, the detractors greatly outnumbered the supporters.

By last Thursday when the town meeting convened, there was a contingent of citizens, more than 100, calling for Mr. Copeland’s resignation. He declined comment during the meeting. Meanwhile, the town manager indicated there was no mechanism to remove Mr. Copeland from office.

The good news is this was not an incident that needed to be considered in isolation. Yes, the actor had to stand on his own merit, or lack thereof, but because there have been a series of these off-putting divisive slurs recently, a number of people responded quickly calling for Mr. Copeland to be held accountable for his offensive remarks.

A number of prominent political figures denounced Copeland, including Senators Kelly Ayotte (R), and Jeanne Shaheen (D), and Governor Maggie Hassan. Even former and possibly future Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney, who owns a vacation home in Wolfeboro, called for the commissioner’s resignation. Governor Romney said in a statement to CNN:

“The vile epithet used and confirmed by the commissioner has no place in our community: He should apologize and resign.”

Local elected officials also condemned Copeland. The town manager, David Owen, issued a statement last week indicating he and the town’s board found Mr. Copeland’s behavior:

“Reprehensible and totally inconsistent with the Town’s open and welcoming character. Mr. Copeland’s views are in no way representative of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Wolfeboro, its administration, or the men and women of the Wolfeboro Police Department.”

Early this week, Mr. Copeland, despite his initial resistance, tendered his resignation to the town manager. In response, Ms. Linda Murray, chairman of the town board told the Associated Press:

“The resignation gives us the opportunity to move on. We are a very accepting community that really takes care of each other.”

Ms. O’Toole, who initially reported the incident also weighed in on the subject. She told the New Hampshire Union Leader she was:

“Happy he’s done this, not only for the town but for him. Hopefully we’ve taught our children a lesson that you can stand up and make a difference.”

On the surface, this can easily be viewed as another happy ending. But is it? Sort of…but the deeper truth is this is much bigger than old white men refusing to adapt to current day realities. That meme, while popular and easy to digest, is simply not the story in its entirety.

Racism is real, and it is not just the province of octogenarians, or even sexagenarians, as is Cliven Bundy. The sad truth is there is a pattern of discrimination planted by history, nourished by politics, and nurtured by economics; a pattern that ensures some groups face inherent disadvantage. I repeat racism is real. The idea that we have evolved into a post-racial society just because we elected Barack Obama President (twice) is simply a non sequitur; perish the thought.

Contemporary racism is epitomized by the marginalization of groups, executed with acute discretion and lack of fuss by well-mannered and too often well-intentioned people operating deeply flawed systems. For example, a US Department of Education report notes that black preschoolers (mostly four year-olds) are four times more likely to be suspended more than once than their white classmates. According to a 2013 report by Release, a UK group looking at drugs and drug laws, blacks in England and Wales are far less likely to use drugs than white people but six times more likely to be stopped and searched for possession of them. In both countries black people are far more likely to be convicted, and to get stiffer sentences and longer jail time.

Racism is alive and well. Not only that, it mutates to adapt to the body politic. As a case in point, President Richard Nixon once explained to his chief of staff:

 “You have to face the fact that the whole problem is really the blacks.”

There is no simple solution; no one size fits all remedy. There is much work to do to eradicate this most pervasive of scourges. Never doubt that. For now, “Move Over Donald Sterling; Make Room for Robert Copeland!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.” Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/n-h-towns-police-commissioner-resigns-after-calling-obama-n-word/

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/05/police_commissioner_who_called_obama_the_n_word_resigns.html

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/05/police_commissioner_who_called_obama_the_n_word_resigns.html

http://news.yahoo.com/police-commissioner-resigns-wake-obama-slur-180725668.html

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/19/police-commissioner-new-hampshire-obama/9289763/

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/19/police-commissioner-in-n-h-town-resigns-over-obama-slur/?hpt=hp_t2

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/05/16/3438576/town-police-chair-wont-remove-commissioner-who-admits-to-calling-obama-the-n-word/

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/05/16/3438576/town-police-chair-wont-remove-commissioner-who-admits-to-calling-obama-the-n-word/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2014/05/18/ddd9aa1e-dede-11e3-810f-764fe508b82d_story.html

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/robert-copeland-obama-n-word-new-hampshire-police-commissioner-106761.html

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/05/16/video-police-commissioner-who-called-obama-the-n-word-snaps-at-skunk-reporter-as-angry-residents-call-for-his-resignation/

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/18/racism-more-than-old-white-men-using-n-word