Thursday, October 27, 2005

Uncle Greg chillin' with DaGirlz




So, after a long day at the office I figured I'd stop by my sister's house to see my nieces. I tend to see them at least once a week and I try to spend as much time with them as I can. Well, let's just say that we had fun!!!!

Uncle Greg chillin' with DaGirlz (pics)

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Celebrate the life of Rosa Parks


Rosa Parks sits at the front of a Montgomery, Ala. bus in December 1956. Her refusal to give up her seat a year earlier led the U.S. Supreme Court to declare the city's segregated seating law unconstitutional.

-Civil rights icon Rosa Parks dies at 92

-Rosa Parks remembered for courage - video clip

-Rosa Parks Profile - Academy of Achievement

-TIME 100: Rosa Parks

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Everybody Hates Chris



Yo, if you aint had a chance to check this joint out... you've lost. This is without question, the funniest show that I've watched in some time. I've watched each episode at least 3 times. This show is loosely based on the life of comedian Chris Rock and it's funny as hell!!!!! That's about all I gotta say right now. Come Thursday night at 8pm, be sure to check it out. Do wha'cha gotta do, TIVO it, DVR it, VHS it... just watch it!!!!

Official Website

Episode Guide

Thursday, October 06, 2005

'Eggum Power' is back baby!!!!

Over the past few months I’ve been very energetic in my recreational activities. Through the months of August and September, I participated in our summer basketball league at work. Nothing too intense, just a bunch of guys (and one girl) out there playing competitive basketball. We played our games every Thursday afternoon after work. This was my third year playing and probably the best basketball I’ve played since… ummm… let’s just say my ‘Wonder Years’. We had a decent squad and made it through the first round of the playoffs before being eliminated by the top seeded team. Hell, our entire team was under 6 feet and when we played against teams with 6 footers, it required a lot more hustle and determination. I never let that deter me from crashing the boards or driving to the basket.

Anyway, back to where I stand today. They started a flag football league at work and I decided to play. I honestly hadn’t touched a football in probably 10 years at least. However, due to my aggressiveness and fighting spirit on the basketball court, I was recruited by a few folks trying to get me on their football team. So, I roll up to the field, stretch out for all of 3 minutes and walk over to where everyone is lined up to be picked. The guy in charge threw a wrench into everyone’s plans by walking down the line and counting off in groups of four. That’s how the teams were picked. It didn’t matter to me who was on my team, I just wanted to play.

I walked over the the fence, grabbed the belt with the yellow flags attached to it and fastened it around my waist. I check the tightness of the laces on my Nike Goa Dome boots, tucked my shirt in made a final adjustment to the drawstrings on my sweatpants. My team was receiving the opening kickoff and I was ready…. ready to rumble. I had no idea what I was in for, but it was gonna be fun. For the next hour I would spend my time on offense playing wide receiver and running go routes straight down the field. Problem I failed to realize when I was using all of my energy streaking down the sidelines like Terrell Owens, was that my quarterback was not Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick. Although he’d call plays for me to run straight to the end zone, he couldn’t make those throws. Thus, I was wasting the electricity that I did have at the beginning tryna make a big time play. On defense, I was playing middle linebacker/free safety. Look we were playing 7 on 7 aiiight, not like we had 11 players on the field. You gotta make due with wha’cha got. I was making plays on defense though. I was knocking balls away in the first half and had my concentration been a lil’ bit better, I would’ve had an interception.

The halftime score was 18-16. Our team had three TD’s, but couldn’t convert any extra point attempts. Their team however had just two TD’s and two 2 point conversions. The second half began and I was trying not to be frustrated with my role in the offense. I hadn’t caught a pass all game. The QB kept calling plays for me, but I was blanketed by the defensive coverage. Neither team scored in the 3rd quarter, just a lot of turnovers. The 4th quarter started and we had the ball. Somehow my QB threw the ball right into the hands of their best defender and he returned it for a TD. We got the ball back on the kickoff and two plays later he threw another interception. Now we’re in their Red Zone and our backs are against the wall. They were trying to finish us with less than 5 minutes remaining.

I took my position in the middle of the field. Their QB hiked the ball, I read the play as a screen pass and my guess was correct. I lunged in front of their RB and grabbed the ball slam outta the air and landed in a pile of dirty grass. I had finally made a big play. I wanted to get up and do a dance or somethin’, but we were still down. 3 minutes remained on the clock and we had the ball. We drove down the length of the field trying to run the clock out. We were about 2 first downs away from the end zone but it was fourth down. It was less than a minute remaining and we decided to go for it all. The play that was called was for the wide receiver on the right to do a corner route to the end zone. Being that they keyed on me pretty much during the game, it was my job to try and get their safety on defense to think the play was going to me on the left side. My QB hiked the ball, I ran straight down the field like I had done a multitude of times during the game, yet I had no receptions. I looked back to see my QB being blitzed and I immediately threw my hand up to signal to him where I was. He cocked his arm back and threw the ugliest pass of the game. The ball was wobbling and spinning out of control. I cut toward the center of the field to where it appeared the ball was gonna land. Only two players were in that vicinity, me and one of their cornerbacks. I jumped up (slightly pushed off) and did my best Randy Moss imitation to try and get the ball. Seconds later I was cradling the ball in my arms like a newborn baby. TOUCHDOWN!!! TOUCHDOWN!!! TOUCHDOWN!!! Score 24-23. I had done it. I had just made the biggest play since playing football in the 3rd grade in 1981. Our team lined up for an extra point and again we failed. We kicked the ball off to the other team with 20 seconds left. They ran two plays to no avail. WE WON!!! WE WON!!! WE WON!!!

Shortly after everyone walked off the field, I reminisced back to my grade school years. The years when I played WR and Safety when we had football games from 1st to 3rd grade. I got the nickname ‘Eggum Power’. Long story made short. My name is Greg, they said I had an egg head and I had skills in all sports. Thus came this ridiculous nickname. It was my nickname for dodgeball, kickball, basketball, football and softball. Basically all sports that kid’s play in elementary school. That moment last night made me smile. It made me reflect on my years as a kid when I was carefree and just had fun playing sports. Now, I was at a stage where I had to walk slowly to my car and think about how many days my knees and shins were gonna hurt after playing a one hour football game. Don’t worry, I have plenty of anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers and painkillers in my bathroom cabinet. That cold pack and rubbing that Mineral Ice on my legs sure made em feel better though. Just wait til next Wednesday’s game…

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Standing Ovation



Now you know I'mma be biased in my review of the play right??? Okay then, as long as that's understood. The play itself was very well done. The actors and the choreography was excellent. Now I did have a major problem with the sound though. Being that I'm a audio-visual technician, I tend to get really bothered when I attend events and the sound is crappy. I've been doing A/V work since I was 12 years old. Yes, I was the kid sitting in the back of the church with the headphones on assisting with the recording of the pastor's sermon. I was the kid making copies of the gospel concert for the Tape Ministry. I've worked in many environments and have been doing sound for over 20 years. I have my Bachelor's degree in Radio Production from Howard University and it was well earned. Anyway, enough about my skills, let me get back to what I was saying.

In the case of The Wiz this past weekend, the sound was terrible!!!! Only the major characters wore lavaliere microphones and therefore anyone else who spoke could barely be heard. This led to a li' bit of confusion because only the people in the first 5 rows or so could heard everything. I was sitting in 8th row on the right side and could barely hear when lines were spoken by those who's voices were not amplified. The sound technicians who ran the show didn't have a clue as to what they were supposed to do. It was obvious that they didn't have a script back at the sound booth. At times when the main characters spoke, you would miss the first few words they spoke because their microphone was not open on the mixing board. A few times I was ready to jump up, walk back to the booth and offer my professional assistance. Call me whatever you want, but I cannot stand to go to any event and the sound is jacked up. It drives me nuts!!!! It could be church, a concert, the club, any live event that utilizes a sound technician.

Back to the reason I attended the play... my baby sister. She did a remarkable job in the role(s) that she played. Yes, that is plural. She had numerous roles. She was a crow, a winkie, a poppy, a gatekeeper and a citizen of OZ. I looked at my mom during the play a few times as if to say "she's doing something else?" I knew that she wasn't in any of the lead roles, but she still shined in all the scenes that she acted in. She's been singing and acting ever since I can remember, probably since she was about 8 years old. She's a very talented young lady and I love her with the greatest love only a big brother can have. I only want the best for my sister. I will do whatever I can as she goes forward in pursuing a degree in the Fine Arts, whether that be music, theatre or a combination of both.


C'mon now... you know I had to give my baby sis some roses


Being the oldest allows me to act a fool anytime I feel like it
(especially when I'm the one taking the self portrait) Ha! Ha!

Monday, October 03, 2005

Speaking of The Wiz...

RIP - Nipsey Russell

It's very ironic to me that I've been talking about The Wiz for a few days and word comes today that the original Tin Man, Nipsey Russell has lost his battle with Cancer. Anyway, that's about all I'mma say. Here's the article from CNN on his death...

CNN.com - Actor Nipsey Russell dies at 80



Actor Nipsey Russell dies at 80

NEW YORK (AP) -- As the "poet laureate of television," actor and comedian Nipsey Russell delivered his signature four-line verse during frequent guest appearances on TV game shows and talk shows.

His impromptu lines and witty quips quickly secured his place as one of the first blacks to be a regular panelist on the shows.

Russell died Sunday afternoon at Lenox Hill Hospital at age 80, said his longtime manager Joseph Rapp. He had been suffering from cancer.

Although widely known for his television career -- including appearances on "The Dean Martin Show," "Hollywood Squares," "The $50,000 Pyramid," and "Match Game" -- Russell also received critical acclaim for his role as the Tin Man in the 1978 film version of "The Wiz."

Russell also appeared in the films "Nemo" in 1984, "Wildcats" in 1986 and "Posse" in 1993.

Born in Atlanta, he settled in New York after graduating from the University of Cincinnati and serving as an Army captain in Europe during World War II, Rapp said.

Russell launched his television career in 1961 as Officer Anderson in the television series "Car 54, Where are You?" He also appeared in the 1994 film version.

But his gift for gab and timely poetry made him a national television personality.

Russell told the Los Angeles Times in 1993 that writing poems "is very simple to do.... I start with the joke line and write backward."

One example: "The opposite of pro is con/ That fact is clearly seen/ If progress means move forward/ Then what does Congress mean?"

He also took his poetry on the road for readings and performances.

Russell left no immediate survivors; He never married.

"He always said, 'I have trouble living with myself, how could I live with anyone else,"' Rapp said. "But he was a wonderful guy, very quiet, never bragged."

Saturday, October 01, 2005

The Wiz



click for more detailed info on The Wiz

In about an hour or so I'll be rollin' outta the house to check out The Wiz. From the time that I can remember, my sister has been involved in theatre and the arts. I've attended a number of plays that's she been part of from elementary school through high school. However, tonight will be the first time that she'll be part of a theatre production that is more of a professional nature. I know she's been extrememly busy with rehearsals over the past month or so and I do look forward to seeing her shine tonight. When I gave her the info about the tryouts, I honestly didn't think that she was gonna be as serious as she's been about this, but that's what I get for underestimating my baby sister. She's done nothing but prove all the doubters wrong over the years. I'm happy and proud to be the older brother of such a determined young lady... :)