Tuesday, August 21, 2007
A poem, second draft (Word to D-Wil of The Starting Five):
The Grand National Nightmare is over –
Barry Bonds FINALLY hit his fucking home runs.
Now we can move on to hating Michael Vick
because electrocuting puppies is waaay worse than doing steroids.
And he happens to be back,
so we won’t have to demonize any white athletes.
Barry Lamar Bonds.
Leftfield.
San Francisco Giants.
Black.
Already established as the best player of his generation,
Bonds sets a career high with 49 home runs in 2000.
He is 35.
The next year he hits 73.
The next three, 45 in each.
He collects four straight MVPs.
This is one more than anyone has ever earned
in their career.
He is named in a federal investigation
regarding performance-enhancing drugs.
So is Gary Sheffield,
black,
a training partner who couldn't keep up with the regimen.
Reporters seek Sheffield for comment.
Two books are written.
The world wants its records back.
William Roger Clemens
Pitcher
New York Yankees
White
In 1997,
after four straight seasons of 11 wins or fewer,
Clemens leaves Boston for Toronto as a free agent.
He is 34.
During the next 10 years,
he wins four Cy Young Awards for three teams;
three of the other seven seasons rank among his best.
He is named in a federal investigation
regarding illegal Human Growth Hormone.
So is Andy Pettitte,
white,
a training partner who couldn't keep up with the regimen.
Reporters pass by Pettitte's comments.
There are no books,
and Clemens gets paid $3 million per month
to start seasons two months late,
and only join the team on days he is pitching.
Adam Bernard "Pacman" Jones
Cornerback
Tennessee Titans
Black
In two years as a pro,
Jones is questioned by police in 10 separate incidents,
famously "making it rain" during the NBA All-Star Weekend.
He has not been convicted once.
April 10, 2007
Jones is suspended without pay for the entire season.
There is a chance of reinstatement after Game 10.
An appeal is made,
but withdrawn when it appears futile.
He is not allowed to practice with the team.
He has turned to professional wrestling
because he needs to make a living
and he has got a lot
of fucking time off.
Jared Scot Allen
Defensive end
Kansas City Chiefs
White
Twice convicted of Driving Under the Influence.
First time:
May 2006
Enters a diversion program.
Second time:
Sept. 2006
Pleads no contest.
April 28, 2007
He tells the KC Star he has been suspended 4 games without pay
under the NFL's Substance Abuse Policy.
After expressing remorse and becoming involved in local charities,
focusing mainly on juvenile diabetes,
an appeal is made.
July 16, 2007
4 games becomes 2.
Sports
they're at the forefront of society.
Baseball broke the color barrier
seven seasons before
Brown beat the Board of Ed.
And now that Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith
squared off in the Super Bowl,
landmark leadership
showcased on sports' most spectacular stage,
we might
just might
be prepped for a President.
In politics.
We are
Team America.
Fuck.
Yeah.
But remember,
don't hate the players,
hate the games
we keep playing
with race.
The Grand National Nightmare is over –
Barry Bonds FINALLY hit his fucking home runs.
Now we can move on to hating Michael Vick
because electrocuting puppies is waaay worse than doing steroids.
And he happens to be back,
so we won’t have to demonize any white athletes.
Barry Lamar Bonds.
Leftfield.
San Francisco Giants.
Black.
Already established as the best player of his generation,
Bonds sets a career high with 49 home runs in 2000.
He is 35.
The next year he hits 73.
The next three, 45 in each.
He collects four straight MVPs.
This is one more than anyone has ever earned
in their career.
He is named in a federal investigation
regarding performance-enhancing drugs.
So is Gary Sheffield,
black,
a training partner who couldn't keep up with the regimen.
Reporters seek Sheffield for comment.
Two books are written.
The world wants its records back.
William Roger Clemens
Pitcher
New York Yankees
White
In 1997,
after four straight seasons of 11 wins or fewer,
Clemens leaves Boston for Toronto as a free agent.
He is 34.
During the next 10 years,
he wins four Cy Young Awards for three teams;
three of the other seven seasons rank among his best.
He is named in a federal investigation
regarding illegal Human Growth Hormone.
So is Andy Pettitte,
white,
a training partner who couldn't keep up with the regimen.
Reporters pass by Pettitte's comments.
There are no books,
and Clemens gets paid $3 million per month
to start seasons two months late,
and only join the team on days he is pitching.
Adam Bernard "Pacman" Jones
Cornerback
Tennessee Titans
Black
In two years as a pro,
Jones is questioned by police in 10 separate incidents,
famously "making it rain" during the NBA All-Star Weekend.
He has not been convicted once.
April 10, 2007
Jones is suspended without pay for the entire season.
There is a chance of reinstatement after Game 10.
An appeal is made,
but withdrawn when it appears futile.
He is not allowed to practice with the team.
He has turned to professional wrestling
because he needs to make a living
and he has got a lot
of fucking time off.
Jared Scot Allen
Defensive end
Kansas City Chiefs
White
Twice convicted of Driving Under the Influence.
First time:
May 2006
Enters a diversion program.
Second time:
Sept. 2006
Pleads no contest.
April 28, 2007
He tells the KC Star he has been suspended 4 games without pay
under the NFL's Substance Abuse Policy.
After expressing remorse and becoming involved in local charities,
focusing mainly on juvenile diabetes,
an appeal is made.
July 16, 2007
4 games becomes 2.
Sports
they're at the forefront of society.
Baseball broke the color barrier
seven seasons before
Brown beat the Board of Ed.
And now that Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith
squared off in the Super Bowl,
landmark leadership
showcased on sports' most spectacular stage,
we might
just might
be prepped for a President.
In politics.
We are
Team America.
Fuck.
Yeah.
But remember,
don't hate the players,
hate the games
we keep playing
with race.
Labels: poetry
Comments:
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Thanks, man. I'd like to hear you/see you do the piece some day.
Believe it or not, I pursued spoken word at one time, too. I was actually invited to, and did a set at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas. It was especially cool because I lived in Austin at the time and there was a super bias against local residents performing in SXSW. So, to get in and do a set with the best of the best was nice.....
Believe it or not, I pursued spoken word at one time, too. I was actually invited to, and did a set at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas. It was especially cool because I lived in Austin at the time and there was a super bias against local residents performing in SXSW. So, to get in and do a set with the best of the best was nice.....
Np, sir. If I get the video or audio, I'll throw a link your way. Feel free to hit me up with your own.
That's dope that you did SXSW. I was in Austin the other week for the National Poetry Slam. It was a good time, that one.
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That's dope that you did SXSW. I was in Austin the other week for the National Poetry Slam. It was a good time, that one.
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