Sweep!!

The title of this blog is really all that needs to be said. Congrats to the entire Lakers squad!

What did you think of the

Lakers/Nuggets series?

Well since we are talking about the Nuggets, I figured I'd give you a few nuggets to note.

*The Nuggets became the first 50-win team to ever be swept in the first round of the playoffs.

*Nuggets coach George Karl had never been swept in a seven-game series during his 20-year NBA career

*The Nuggets had dozens of “I Believe” signs taped throughout their weight room, on the walls, even on the machines. [What is this...the Obama campaign?!]

Good try though. Better luck next time to the no "D" playin, Enver Nuggets!

Bring on the Utah Jazz! ;)

The Art of the Pump Fake

[This was written during halftime of the Lakers/Nuggets, Game 4]

Welcome to the Mile High City! [that's Denver for you slow ones.]
A little extra altitude never hurt anybody, right? Plus, my Lakers play on a high level, not eye level.

Preach!

Let's turn now to the top play of the first half. Remember, the top play is not always the score which garners the most points. It's not always a shot by the best player.
Sometimes it's the assist that leads to the score that makes you say - I LOVE THIS GAME!

[Que the dramatic music]

The art of the pump fake.
Never have I seen the pump fake used with such finesse.
Seven minutes and 15 ticks on the clock till halftime.
Kobe Bryant beyond the arc. [Nahara on D.]
Bryant looks for the outlet pass. [Nahara takes the bait, yet doesn't waiver.]
Bryant with the double pump fake. [At this point, Nahara is about to get dizzy by triple ocho, Kobe Bryant that is.]
Then, he slips into a pirouette prettier than one of Kristi Yamaguchi's triple axles.
The dish to Mbenga [Andrew Bynum, who?] for....the....SLAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!

The Pied Piper of Preparation

Greetings all.

Today my inspiration for writing stems from an article I read about Boston Celtics star, Ray Allen. [Note: the picture is of Ray Allen & Kobe. Did you really think I'd put a picture of a Celtics player by himself on my blog...please.] The article talked about how Allen is borderline OCD in his daily routine. In the article they referred to him as the Pied Piper of Preparation. It's definitely a good read, and it inspired me to write on the subject of preparation.

Due to the fact that I was a journalism major and I love reading/writing...I am a slave to the dictionary. As a child my Dad used to always refer me to the dictionary anytime I read a word I'd never seen or couldn't pronounce. He told me to look it up, and right down the word and the definition. It's funny because I still do that to this day. It's amazing how much reading and looking up words can improve your spelling and writing ability. So in the spirit of my age old ritual, I'd like to call on Webster to define pied piper (no, not R.Kelly) and preparation.

Preparation: noun. The act of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose; "preparations for the ceremony had begun."

Pied Piper: noun. A person who influences others to follow or imitate him or her.

********The Pied Piper of Preparation is a leader who influences others to follow their practices of preparation.**************

A guy friend of mine [names are left out to protect the innocent, lol] has personally coined the phrase: preparation meets opportunity. While, I think he uses the line to pick up women, I still find it catchy, and brutally true.

Opportunity rarely finds you. It's a reward that is given when proper preparation is in place. So the question is: What are you doing to prepare for your future? I think all of us 20-somethings are struggling with that entry-level or mid-career question of what's next? Many of us want something but aren't willing to put in the work in order to receive it. I feel like as each new generation surfaces it's jaded with a false sense of "The Real World." Newsflash: It's not a reality show.

Sometimes I wonder if all my preparation is in vain. Am I preparing to be America's Next Top Reporter, when my calling is really to be a nurse? One thing I've learned in the 25 short years I've had a heart beat is that life is about the journey, not the destination. It's important to have goals, because it makes you a disciplined person. In the back of my mind, I hold the following thought: My better, is not His better. It's something I heard at my church home in Charlotte, and I've held it with me ever since. It's inspirational to me in that, I know that when I don't get what I want it's because God did not intend that blessing to be mine. Maybe me "not getting" that [insert blessing] is a blessing too.

God is working to make better...and best in your life. You just have to be patient and prepare.

What you think is better or will be best for you right now, is nothing close to what God has in store for you. I know He has plans for me, because when I'm down to nothing - the Lord is truly UP to SOMETHING! I just want to make sure that when that blessing comes I'm ready. I don't want to get an opportunity and then have to retreat and say, "You know what, that's my dream job, but I'm not ready." Preparation meets opportunity.

I like to think of myself as the Pied Piper of Preparation. I'm a Libra, so it's in my nature to be a compulsive procrastinator, yet when I really want something I will go all out. It's in our nature as humans to mimic behavior that we view as prosperous. For example, look at Robin Roberts, Michael Jordan, Oprah, or Jay-Z. They all possess qualities we try to align ourselves with because of the success it has produced in their lives. So I'd like to share some of my tips on preparing for success. Before you become successful, you've got to build confidence. No one will believe in you, if you don't believe in yourself. It's time to lose self-doubt. I hope this inspires you...

[This is where you take notes....] :)

How to build confidence...

• Find a role model in the field you aspire to excell in.



• Hold your achievements close to you, b/c it will help you build confidence faster.



• Continually work on your skills.



• Be thankful for what you do have



• Give yourself a pat on the back. Having an ego is not illegal. In fact, it's essential.

~Crossy~

Move Over BET...

Black Entertainment Television, better known as BET. I think at one time, this network was relevant. However, I can't recall exactly when that was. Maybe it was back when Joe Clair was hosting Rap City, or when Dajour and Ananda Lewis hosted Teen Summit. Either way, I can't stand the network. BET does not represent me. Nor does it uplift our youth or teach them anything. If you're bored, College Hill might keep your attention...or there's always Hell Date! Now that's quality television programming!

Here's the good news: The Black Television News Channel (BTNC) has announced plans to start up the nation's first 24-hour cable news network dedicated to the African American community. It's expected to begin in 2009, and will be offered in Philly, D.C, Atlanta, and Baltimore. No love for the West coast I see...but I guess they are trying it out in areas heavily populated with "us" first to see how it is received.

The mastermind behind the BTNC is J.C Watts, a former republican congressman from Oklahoma.

I think BTNC will be welcomed, because it fulfills a certain niche that has yet to be tapped. For those of you who remember, the only news programming BET ever offered was BET Nightly News with Jacque Reid. Now while Miss Reid is a Clark Atlanta University grad, a diva of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, a former CNN news anchor, and gorgeous to say the least - the show was pretty irrelevant. It came on at 11pm and the presentation was simply not appealing. For lack of a better term it looked "BOOTLEG!" Even though the black-owned TV One boasts a substantially better television programming lineup than BET, it still only offers small news briefs throughout the day - which doesn't suffice.

BTNC's move comes right on time. With Senator Barack Obama vying for the title of President in the White house, 24-hour coverage will be essential. Owners of BTNC say it's formatting will mirror the like of CNN and Fox News Channel, but will hold a different point of view. This means not only will there be Black on-air talent, but there will also be talented Black producers, directors, and editors making magic behind the scenes. Let's just hope they pay better than BET! Word has it that I could make more working at 7-Eleven! I'm just saying...

It's a known fact that African Americans exponentially make up the majority of TV watchers. However, news is the one arena where we are underrepresented. It's not that Black folks don't engage in seeking out news, it's just many times the "majority" tend to only pay attention to news that affects them. For example, the Jena 6 movement where everyone wore black for a day, or the presidential debates.

I'm not sure who they plan on recruiting as anchors and reporters for the network, but standby...

My resume is a send button away. ;)

I hear Michael Baisden is also interested in BTNC's effort. Michael Baisden is popular for his self-titled radio show: The Michael Baisden show. His ultimate goal is to host his own late night show. Baisden has not only become a familiar voice on the radio, but he's also a political activist too. I wouldn't mind seeing him do his thing on the TV side. Plus, he'd have a good following that would draw people to tune into the network. Name/face recognition goes a long way.

I look forward to seeing where J.C Watts' vision for the network goes.

Stay tuned...

Get Set for Your $600

This just in...

President Bushy has finally said something worth listening to.

Remember those tax rebates congress approved back in February? Well Bushy has announced that checks will start going out Monday, earlier than previously stated. I don't know about you, but I sure could use $600! With gas at an ignorant $4/gallon, and the cost of groceries soaring to ridiculous levels...I need a little relief.

I'm trying to find a bootleg man that sells gas for $2!

Ok, so the Economic Stimulus package entitles any single person who makes under $75K to get $600, married couples get $1200, and an extra $300 goes to anyone with a child. Anyone wanna go half on a baby?! lol I'm sorry, but the thought of $900 is lovely.

As long as you filed a tax return by April 15th...You're good!

Direct deposits start Monday, and for you old school folks who like to receive a check...those won't be sent out until May 9th. House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi (whom I've actually met) agrees that the rebate checks will help get the economy moving, but that we will definitely need a 2nd stimulus package. I knew I loved this woman for a reason. She's incredibly smart and is exactly right. Word on the street is that the Dems have already started talking about a 2nd stimulus package with the Republicans. Now that's a good look! ;)

So $600, huh? What are you gonna do with your cut? Ideally, I would love to save $300 and use the other $300 on bills, gas, or necessities. However comma....

Let's be real!!

I mean the more I think about it, I may save $200 and spend $400 on something I really want. As an American citizen it's my duty to get the economy moving right? So what's wrong with getting a 40" flat screen tv? Or a few pairs of pumps?

I'm just sayin...

Long Distance Love

Hey folks. Welcome to the 2nd Edition of the Classifieds.......

I'm speaking on the subject of long distance love tonight.

I think I'm the Queen of Long Distance romances. I can only think of a couple guys I've actually called my "man" who have lived in the same city as me. By no means do I intentionally look for guys in other states, but it seems like the "good ones" are no where near me.

It just occurred to me that I may not know what it's like to have a guy cater to me and live like right down the street. The thought of being able to see my significant other (SO) without having to log on to orbitz.com first, would be amazing.

Wow. Let's marinate on that for a minute....

I mean, the thought of being in love is attractive to me. I love romance. Cards. Flowers. A sticky note saying: I love you. Corny stuff. Attention is key. I just want to know that what you do for me, can't be done for the next chick. I mean, c'mon...it's easy to send a mass text to every chick you know in your phone saying "Hey Cutie, Have a great day!" But what have you done for that special someone to let them know they mean the world to you?

When you're in a LD relationship it's even more important to call, text, email, send a picture, or visit that person as much as you can. You have to keep the flame burning. Shoot...even a local relationship can get boring if it's predictable. I feel like the older I get, the more routine things get. A change of pace is always a breath of fresh air......

Note to self: The Man I marry will be spontaneous and romantic (and hopefully in the same zipcode, timezone or state) lol ;)

Intro: It's Not About the Shoes!

"You don't know what it's like to be in my shoes."

It's a saying that we've all heard one too many times...but what does it really mean?

When you visit the Crossy Classifieds, I want you to kick off your shoes and relax your feet and try on my shoes for the day.

The Classifieds is My ad...

and I'm selling you on my opinion...

Are you buying? ;)

So the inevitable question I have to answer in this post is: Who am I?

Many of you who know me, know that I am a huge Kobe Bryant fan. Yes, he is easy on the eyes, but it's not a physical attraction that draws me to him. It's his hunger to win and the passion he puts into everything he does. With that said...I'll let Kobe do the talking for me in the commercial below.

Someone wise once said...if you give it all up in the beginning, then there's nothing to come back for. ;) So as I ration it out for y'all, here's a sprinkle of what Crossy is about in this video...Enjoy!