The 'Clutch' Gene

After sealing a 101-88 victory against the Boston Celtics in Game 7, the Miami Heat now prepare to face the young, vibrant Oklahoma City Thunder. Before we prepare to indulge in another sure-to-be dynamic series let's analyze just what gave Miami the edge in Game 7.

Lebron James is arguably the most criticized player of the NBA. With hundreds of thousands awaiting his faliure, the pressure to succeed mounts on his shoulders almost every game he plays. And that he did. With a whopping 31 points and 12 rebounds he was a key contributor to the Miami Heat's success. Though his stats didn't top his electric performance in Game 6 (45 pts 15 rbds) he answered the question of his 'clutchness', especially in the 4th quarter. However, he wasn't the only one to be a playmaker. In fact, Chris Bosh was the difference factor. Bosh hit his third 3-pointer with 7:17 left in the 4th quarter, giving the Heat the momentum they needed. Wade scored 23 points, Bosh finished with 19 and Shane Battier added 12 for the Heat. With home court advantage and a sense of unity the Miami Heat undoubtedly earned the title of Eastern Conference Champions.

On the contrary, the Celtics played a terrific game. They were so great that they were leading for the most part of the game.

But, when it mattered most they became overwhelmed by Miami's build up. Jeff Van Gundy has said before that the NBA is a make or miss league, sometimes the shot just doesn't go. Whether the outcome of Game 7 was a matter of fate or chance is something we'll never know. But one thing is for certain...

The relevance now lies in Oklahoma on Tuesday evening when the Thunder face the Heat. Are you ready for this highly anticipated series? Who do you think will win it all?

Conflicted Justice

Happy Mother's Day! If you haven't done so already, today is the day to show your mom or someone who is like a mom to you the gratitude and appreciation they deserve.
But, in the midst of celebrating your own mother(s) don't forget about the moms who have lost children and the children who have lost moms.
Marissa Alexander, a mother of three, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing what she calls a warning shot at her abusive husband.

 She says that she believed she would be protected under Florida's Stand Your Ground Law. Despite, not shooting nor harming anyone she was convicted of three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Along with that, she didn't have a criminal record prior to her conviction.
On the contrary, Angela Corey, the state attorney who headed the case against Alexander, said that justice was indeed served and that Alexander was angry and reckless, not fearful, on the night of the shooting. "Just because no one was harmed in the incident doesn't make the shooting any
less a punishable crime," Corey said. Nonetheless, there are three children without a mother right now. If Alexander is to serve her full sentence, by the time she gets out of prison her twins will be 31 yrs old and her youngest will be 22 years old.

I mentioned earlier the Stand Your Ground Law, which is being featured in the controversial Trayvon Martin case.
 Martin was a 17 year old who was shot and killed by 28 year old neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman. On Feb. 26, 2012 while on a private errand, Zimmerman saw Martin walking inside the gated community where Martin was visiting his father and his father's fiancée. Zimmerman called the Sanford Police Department to report Martin's behavior as suspicious. Shortly afterwards, there was an altercation, which ended with Zimmerman fatally shooting Martin once in the chest at close range. The circumstances surrounding Trayvon's death, the original decision to not charge Zimmerman, and confusion about Florida's Stand Your Ground Law caused both a national and international uproar. On April 11, 2012 charges were finally filed against Zimmerman of murder in the second degree. After turning himself on April 20, 2012 a judge approved Zimmerman's bail on $150,000 bond. 3 days later he was out of jail and remains out of jail until his trial.
Nonetheless, Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother, remains without a son.

Do you think Marissa Alexander's fate would be the same had she been a white woman? Or what about George Zimmerman's had he been a black man?

Although we may never know if things would be different with different circumstances there is one thing for certain. We are only given one mother. And before she is taken away from you, or you are taken away from her make it your duty to make her feel like the queen she is.

Table Talk?

As we approach Mother's Day in less than 12 hours, the recurring theme of family is being tossed around. In the black community specifically, a lot of children are left to celebrate a woman who has been both the mother and father. In fact, kids are born to a staggering 70% of single mothers in America. I always wonder why can't we all have the standard family unit. And then I watched a webisode titled 'Red Table Talk' with Jada Pinkett-Smith, her mother, and Willow Smith.
click the link below to watch video
Red Table Talk
Then I came up with a theory. Maybe what the black family structure is missing is simple communication. How many of you can say that your family eats dinner together? And if so, do ya'll talk with each other about anything? Strong communication builds strong relationships. Too many times we are too scared to ask our parents about things vice versa. This may not change your family situation now, but it will be helpful to you and your future children. Every family should be together, even if it all it takes is a little table talk.