Notre Damn

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — April 2nd, 2004

__________________________________________________________________________________

Notre Damn

We're back on this stuff again. I thought that was water under the bridge. I guess it won't stop until everyone "Se abre los ojos."

 

I shouldn't have to say his name or tell you what happened, but for those who need it:

 

Paul Hornung, a former Heisman quarterback at Notre Dame, suggested that schools, particularly Notre Dame, needs to alter their admission requirements in order to get more black athletes.

 

I agree with him...y'all can't be surprised?

 

This is an issue about simple economics. Professional leagues and teams are picking students straight out of high school, thus taking the excitement from institutions of higher education. And once the excitement is gone, the fans go and with them their money.

 

Let's not forget this trend that has been instilled in our black youth: what am I gonna to do, tell my peeps I got four years of schooling and a piece of paper with my name on it. Naw homie, I could be schoolin' peeps for years making paper with names on it. 

 

We're in a sad state when 10 year olds are about that paper chase and not chasing grades, on the court practicing their jump shot thinking theiy're going to be the next "King" James.

 

Quick, name the last white kid to go from high school to the pros? You can't. 

 

How 'bout this one: name the last black kid to finish college and go in the first round of the corporate draft? Kinda hard. You know why? There's no fame or name in it. 

 

Y'all know what America wants. People eat, sleep and drink drama or they'll change the channel. Forget American Idol, America's Next Top Model and The Real World; athletes are the epitome of reality TV stars. 

 

Take the NBA, it's a soap opera. And with every good soap opera you need a love triangle, only Phil Jackson's Triangle is a quadrilateral. 

 

Will the East ever beat the West? Can Kobe avoid jail to lead his team to another title or will this be the end of the Laker dynasty? Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of Natural Born Athletes. 

 

Drama.

 

But that's not the issue here. It's about truth. 

 

If people would just say what they mean and mean what they say the first time, there would be no need for apologies and retractions. 

 

So, Hornung, keep it real (even if it does go wrong). You're not a racist, you're just stating facts. And Notre Dame, stay true to your guns, you're just one of the thousands of HWCUs (Historically White Colleges or Universities) and it just so happens you hired a token black coach. 

 

The truth will set US free.

 

Ahh, the Bush Administration. If they told masses the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth...lets just say we'd make Iraq look like a playground scuffle under the monkey bars. 

 

They've decided that we can't handle the truth. 

My response, WHAT...huh!?!