LeBron James: Are We Not Entertained?

Update: “I think the major factor, the major reason, in my decision was the best opportunity to win, and to win now and to win into the future also," ... "Winning is a huge thing for me." – LeBron James on his decision to join the Miami Heat. (July 8, 2010)

With literally thousands of news articles, blog posts and counting, LeBron James, and the spectacle surrounding his decision for which team he will allow the privilege of paying him millions of dollars to entertain us, has reached a fever pitch.  A self-anointed King,  James has recently indicated through his newly acquired Twitter account,  @KingJames, and perfectly timed self-named website launch, http://www.lebronjames.com/, that our appetite for the spectacular will be rewarded when he names the team he will join on Thursday, July 8^th.

A professional basketball player, with amazing athletic skills, an almost un-matched work ethic, and arguably one of the most recognized athletes on the planet, James will reveal which professional organization he will call home on ESPN (Entertainment Sports Programming Network), in a nationally televised one-hour special in the highly coveted prime-time slot.

As we watch, yes, I will be watching, we will not only bear “witness” to James announcement, but also the emergence of  ESPN’s, ability to create and break news.

From the clever LeBron Tracker to the countless articles and tweets, ESPN has managed the marketing of the LeBron James free agency period less as a niche specific platform, choosing instead to go global as a “fan experience”.  

James coming-of-age and ESPN’s behemoth influence on popular culture have converged to create the “perfect storm” of entertainment, sports, and economics.  Among the teams in contention for LeBron’s services, are the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, and the Chicago Bulls.  I expect, whichever team James selects,  will be thrilled with the sustaining economic benefit, as well as the heightened interest and audience in all things ESPN and NBA.

James and his career curators have identified the non-profit organization, Boys and Girls Club of America as the recipient of all the sponsorship income generated from tomorrow’s broadcast.  In a time of severe economic stress and fundraising challenges, this was an astute business decision, and will aid in extending the legacy and brand of LeBron James well beyond the court.

           

            Do I really care where LeBron goes?  Not really, I’m enjoying the spectacle of it all too much.  An African-American from Akron, Ohio, grows up and conquers the business world with a basketball as his weapon.  No one could have scripted this --- but here we are, caught up and participating in a real life game changer.  Are we not entertained?

[Note to ESPN: The time is now to launch ESPNWomen]

Photo courtesy of @NBA _Photos

Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America (A Favor8Art Review)

            Did you get a chance to view VH1’s “Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America” the documentary last night?  I sure hope so.   Featuring footage from the long running hit series, this doc teases you with the promise of “more to come”, and archival footage would confirm it.

           

            As a native of Los Angeles, it was impossible not to watch the program.  You went to school, lived next door to, and often times, rode the bus with local Soul Train dancers.  They were at the time, the “insiders inside”, and as stated in the film, you were indeed proud of them.   Each weekend, we settled in to watch, my two older brothers and I, laughing and yes, dancing along as we watched.  Now that I think about it, we didn’t often sit and watch Soul Train.   We usually danced through it, as if we were dancers too, and only sat during the guest performances.

            At 90 minutes long, Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America, is a priceless collection of r&b, soul, funk, rap, and dance performances, interviews and music. The featured clips, from the program archives, celebrate historical Black culture, community, and art.   It’s only agenda: informative entertainment.   It overwhelmingly succeeds.

Celebrating 40 years of Soul Train during Black History Month 2010 is appropriate, but anytime is a good time  With its narration by Terrence Howard and special appearances by Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Antonio "L.A."  Reid,  Smokey Robinson,  and songwriters extraordinaire, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff,  it reassuringly shares the importance of this cultural phenomenon.  From one generation to the next, Soul Train continued to define accomplishment, and encourage greatness.   The center of the overall piece is subtly woven in the fabric of each shot:  the vision of Don Cornelius, was formed by his pride as an African-American.

Soul Train was our all access pass to what was cool and hip, in music, in ads, in fashion, and in people. 

An overdue thanks,  to Don Cornelius, who dared to dream, despite the political and commercial hurdles of the time.   He identified what television executives continue to seek:  audience.  Before MTV, BET, and even VH1, Soul Train and Don Cornelius had already proven the profitability, and popularity, of urban artists with the Soul Train Music Awards, and later, the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.    Many artists received their first industry recognition with these awards, before the American Music, and the GRAMMY awards that would come later.

In 2008,  Cornelius sold the Soul Train rights to Mad Vision Entertainment, a Los Angeles based production company.   Note to Mad Vision:  The greatest lesson Don teaches is that it isn’t the television or music business…. the audience is the business.  Now come find us!

The Ragin' Cajun 2005 and 2010: A Matter of Dignity

 "They went into stores to get food to stay alive.  Looting isn't the right word.  I call it survival."

- Retired LT.  General Russel L. Honoré, US Arny

in response to looting coverage by mainstream media in New Orelans

post Hurricane Katrina, 2005

“It’s a shame that we pull pistols on people trying to get food.”

- LT. General Russel L. Honoré, RT

in response to military aggression as reported in Haiti

post 7.0 Earthquake, 2010

Photo courtesy of General Honore, LLC 

A Sustainable Donation: Haitian Relief Efforts

            The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that shook the country of Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, brings images and real time footage of human loss and suffering, structural damage and regional ramifications too horrifying and complex to fathom as the search and rescue efforts continue. 

            I am proud of the American citizens, and Federal government response to this unimaginable disaster.   Many want to do more and Desiree Adaway, a non-profit professional, urges us to wait in the blog post “Volunteering During Disasters”.  I agree with her.

            I believe, as do many, that the immediate relief efforts are just one piece in a large pie of needs that will exist in Haiti for possibly the next two decades.  Our commitment and contributions should be sustainable.   As the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the complications will mount in an already difficult social, political and regional environment, and the media will not be there to capture it. 

The road to recovery and reconstruction will be long and hard, and this is where we will be able to provide more than donations.   The U.S. Haitian population is spread out widely across the nation.  We can begin the work of contacting local organizations within our communities to volunteer our service.    There are a few organizations listed below who work in Haiti long term.  They will need our help to maintain their efforts now and when the mainstream media moves on.

·      Direct Relief International – non-profit to help people who confront enormous hardship to improve the quality of their lives. 

·      Beyond Borders – non-profit for justice and peace out of devotion to Christ by fostering sharing and understanding across cultural and economic borders. 

·      Danita’s Children: Hope for Haiti Children’s Center - a non-profit organization with the intent of rescuing and caring for orphaned children, meeting their needs spiritually, physically, academically, emotionally. 

Today in Los Angeles, a meeting will be held with Congresswoman Maxine Waters and The Coalition in Solidarity regarding the emergency relief efforts in Haiti.   I will ask the question that will provide the most direct answer:  How can I help you?  

Please feel free to leave information on other organizations in or working directly in Haiti that you may have.

4½ Inch Heels: The New Shoe Game

Fashion is like the id. It makes you desire things you shouldn't. ~Bob Morris

Why is it that every shoe that I crave, I mean really desire, comes with a 4½ to 5 inch heel?

I am curious as to why so many designers have chosen to take their shoes to such heights. The reluctant diva in me declares, "Embrace it... be fashionably glamorous!". That sounds very close to suffer for sexy, something I did when I was 20-something and actually believed a little discomfort was worth it.

From the age of 16, I've had an ongoing love affair with shoes, and notably, high heels. From platforms to chunky heels to stilettos, I've always loved elegant shoes with a high heel. Towering in at new elevations however, I'm unable to indulge this fashion "do" as a matter of personal comfort and challenged by the lack of heel options for many of the shoes that I would acquire given the advantage of choice.

For many women, this has become a growing issue and was addressed by shoeblog.com as recently. Hannelore Daniel, trend expert for the online shoe and handbag Web site Endless.com, explains designers have taken the sky-high route in heels because of what they've heard from women. "Women want to feel sexy and confident, and really high heels do that," she said. Maybe... but not all women equate their sexuality with the size of their heels. In fact, there are more articles on this subject as I happily discovered, creating a source of discussion which should, but does not, include the designers perspective.

A sliver of selections for the 40+ crowd cannot be considered smart marketing in a smart economy. Women within this age group, professionals and entrepreneurs are brand loyalists, and dare I say in this economy, financially independent consumers and curators of fine living. Likely influencers in their given communities and connected to most media and social sites, the brand that talks to this group will win big. Jimmy Choo: ✔ Christian Louboutin: ✔ Guiseppe Zanotti: ✔ Can I get these with 3¾" heels instead of 5?

While the designer is seeking a youthful showcase of their product, they need not exclude one demographic for another. Unsure about this strategy? See Michelle Obama, she is a grand participant in one of the hottest and heavily populated consumer bases: 40+ women in full. Her shoe game ain't bad either.