Manns Medium

America quickly forgets about those celebrities that actually does more for a community than they do on their chosen field of battle.  Hit several  home runs  and get the cover of a Wheaties box but donate your hard-earned cash for a worthy cause like actually helping those less fortunate and it is only useful to raise your image.  I still remain bothered by athletes and professionals who release a story only when their like numbers begin to fall and only seem to be photographed doing something good when their publicist determine that it will be good for their image.  Want to impress me, follow the example set by one of my most liked and respected favorite.  Read closely this article titled “ LeBron James Will Pay For 1,100 Kids To Go To College ” written by Lucy McCalmont, Sports Editor for The Huffington Post In the article she reports that “ for each child that completes his “I Promise” program, they’ll be awarded a scholarship to the University of ...

For as many years as I can remember, people have always sought a savior to save them from certain impending doom and when their chosen savior fails or refuse to oblige them, they lash out as if what they demanded from others was somehow their right to receive.  I guess Christians are spoiled by the reading of the Old Testament where the Israelites cried to God to save them from the Egyptians and God answered by sending Moses.  I guess we think the same should happen by screaming for LeBron James to sit out a few Cleveland Cavaliers games to effect change of the grand jury on indictment of the officers who were involved in the Tamir Rice shooting.  Really people, have we gotten so lazy, shiftless, selfish, cowardly and weak that we have to seek, find, secure and demand a savior at each and every turning point in our lives.  How about we stop asking others to do a job that we are and have been granted the authority to fix for ourselves.  Now for all you who think...

Growing up in a small town like Brownsville, Tennessee, there was very little that was going on at the time that a black kid could hold their heads up to.  What we saw on the ole black and white television were people who didn’t look like us and all the heroes of my time wore white like the Lone Ranger or blue like Adam-12 and the team from Emergency.  Some wore white like Marcus Welby, M.D. or Dr. Ben Casey but the ultimate hero for me was John Wayne another that only allowed me to watch his antics on the screen and model myself after.  That was before the Harlem Globetrotters were televised a few times and then was the only time that I could ever dream of making it on the big screen. The only downside to this dream, to me, was having the ability to play basketball and of all the skills I possessed, playing basketball was one I sorely lacked in.  The next major obstacle was over-coming the sneers and jeers I would hear about these men from people of my own race...

We all should have heard the story of Former NBA Basketball Star Lamar Odom and how so many may be attempting to use this tragedy as a stepping stone to some sort of fame.  Mr. Odom is reported to be still hanging one even though it is also reported that some of his organs have failed but what we have been is the actions of a very classy lady who may have gotten her fame from reality TV but has consistently shown herself to be totally real. Now please don’t get it twisted, I do not like this new genre of television called Reality TV because in my world, there is nothing real about it but to see the behind the scenes movement of Khloe Kardashian would make even a most ardent evader of reality shows want to watch more of her.  We all can surmise that this event is quite devastating to those who truly love Lamar, not those who just pretend and by the actions of Khloe; you can’t help but feel that this lady has nothing but real love for her husband.  I say this because ...

Much is being made about the video showing LeBron James pushing coach David Blatt during the loss to the Phoenix Suns but I find it quite amazing that more attention was not focused on the lack of calls by the referees or the obviously slant on them favoring Phoenix.  Either way none of this is the point. The point is that as soon as LeBron James stepped foot in Cleveland, the visions of an NBA Championship has been dancing through the heads of all who call Cleveland and Ohio home.  Sad because that amount of expectation weighs heavily upon those on the court and especially those sitting on the sidelines.  This unseen but clearly present pressure is where many on the team awaits to see if LeBron will step up and take over the team while LeBron is attempting to stay humble and not become the saving grace of management.  By his style of play last night, I believe that LeBron James is about to make a decision if being that floor general is the role he must take in ...

It didn’t take long for me as a novice, to see that in order for the Cleveland Cavaliers to make a run at anything this season, they were going to have to do four things.  Get rid of Dion Waiters, re-educate Irving on what a true point guard is, get first year coach to stop just showing up on camera and start coaching and bring a little more hustle after loose balls to their play.  With the new article as evidence, apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought that way.  The article is titled “ Cavs Acquire Shumpert and Smith in Three-Team Trade ” and it appears that two maybe three of these concerns have been addressed.  Now it’s  Show Time . The article reports that “The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guards Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith from the New York Knicks and a protected 2015 first round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder. In exchange, the Cavs will send guard Dion Waiters to the Thunder, and Lou Amundson, Alex Kirk and its own 2019 second round ...

There is a major rumbling and it centers on National Football League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell and his handling of the Ray Rice Domestic Violence Incident.  So many are screaming for his head on a platter and a few are hastily racing over to stand in his corner.  Between these two camps we have heard everything that could have ever been dreamed up for defense and prosecution but has anyone ever though to just stop to see the bigger picture. Yes, there is a great point made saying that the cover-up is all about big money and the serious chance of a huge loss in revenue.  This might mean that the owners may have to sell a few of their many vacation homes and high paid players might have to give up a few time shares and there are a few well-paid non-essential people who attach themselves to players and teams who may have to revise their resume but in the end, it is more than just about money. Yes, there is a great point about domestic violence not being toler...

Never let it be said that some people do not know how to exit the stage in style.  Yes, I must agree with those that said his exit from Cleveland was not the most compassionate way to leave but his stay in Miami was worth all the trash and crap he had to take because of it.  His temporary stay in Miami brought that city the glory that they so craved and now he has decided to finish what he started some time ago.  LeBron James has decided to go home. Look out Cleveland, the King is returning so all of you who burned his jersey and spoke nothing but ill-opinions about him are now about to eat your words and more.  You see, King James is not only returning to bring Cleveland a long awaited championship but he is there for a few more important reasons.  Now this is me talking not him so do not make it sound like he said all that I am about to say.  I honestly believe that if management listens carefully to what he says and not what they want to hear, Cleve...

2014 NBA Championship Poem Now the stage is set And the time draws near, The NBA Championship Is almost here. The San Antonio Spurs Are going for five, And since they been here before, Expect their crowd to be live. But mistake free ball Is what they must play Otherwise the Miami Heat Will end their day. They have planned all year King James and the crew To taking the crown This is not new. So we gather together, One and all To watch this great battle Knowing one must fall. The Spurs or the Heat So who will it be? We’ll just have to take our seats And wait to see. Ronnie Manns 6/1/14

So much has been said and written about the escapades and rants of the Los Angeles Clipper’s Owner, Donald Sterling.  About what he is alleged and admitted to saying which many have found quite offensive.  While the conversations are about the penalties imposed upon this owner and whether they are just or not, there is one major issue that seems to not be so important to talk about. The ultimate sin reported to have been admitted to about this owner was adultery.  While racism and bigotry is a major thing and should always be exposed where ever it rears its ugly head, one should take care not to use these to overshadow something worse.  I am very disappointed and dismayed by the lack of religious leaders making this point more often than it has.  It appears that many leaders have chosen to remain silent instead of using this opportunity to defend the position of Christ when it comes to sins being committed.  Many of them jumped on the band wagon o...

When I was discharged from the Marines and moved to Illinois, I wasn’t really following basketball.   Then I began to see the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan, Scotty Pippen and Dennis Rodman play that game in such a way that made it hard to turn away.   I began to learn more and more about this game and see things that I did not pay attention to earlier.   I discovered that Phil Jackson was more of a guru than anyone had ever thought. The Chicago Bulls is not as entertaining as they once were and I have found myself searching for that one inspiring team that would hold my attention as the Bulls once did.   I thought I had found it in the Miami Heat with LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh but I can see very clearly that they are missing one very important ingredient and it is not a player on the floor.   It’s another Phil Jackson. I, like most sport fans, tend to get overly involved with the game and try to coach from the couch.   I had alwa...

I often times am surprised by those who say that they speak their minds and are not influenced by personal feelings when it comes to commenting on sporting events.   Many analysts say that they are impartial but then come an event which shows their real colors.   I expect it from everyday fans or those of us who are not paid to sit and critique teams but it is still surprising and somewhat discouraging to hear it coming from them. Almost to a Tee, many of those spoke about above had nothing but mean things to say about the elbow from Ron Artest/World Peace to James Harden during the Lakers Thunder Game   and according to an art5icle written by Kevin Kolczynski of Reuters much of what was quoted could have been contributed to many of these knowledgeable and partial commentators and analysts.   The report quoted NBA Commissioner David Stern as saying “The concussion suffered by James Harden demonstrates the danger posed by violent acts of this kind, particularl...

It became apparent in Game 5 that the Miami Heat was lacking something.   It was not the “killer instinct” that many experts talked about nor was it impressive scoring from LeBron James in the 4 th quarter that everyone else likes to point the finger at.   What the Miami Heat was lacking was the reserve tank required to win an NBA Championship.   The Dallas Mavericks did not have it when they first attempted to win the title but this series, it was on total display. You heard the Heat players and some of the coaches always referenced how they played during the regular season and that in itself was the problem.   How a team performs during the regular season is not how they should perform during the playoffs.   Each playoff game needs to show something different in a team, a bench guy who suddenly comes to age but doesn’t start the next game.   An aging player coming off the bench who has not seen much game time but is only needed for a few minutes at t...

After watching the first two games of this series, I often had to check myself to make sure that I was watching the same two teams yesterday.   Miami stepped on the floor and as soon after tipoff became a team of novice 1 st year players mired in mud.   Their shot selection and even fear of taking the shot was so evident.   Chris Bosch was more a uniformed players running up and down the court with one-eye than he was relevant.   They played like they had been paid by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to lose the game in order for them to make bigger revenue on extending the series than a team looking to advance. The article by Jimmy Golen of the Associated Press titled Rondo returns and helps Celtics beat Heat 97-81 puts it best “Miami led 46-44 at the half, but the Celtics scored nine of the first 10 points, capped by Rondo's first basket of the game, a driving layup with 3 minutes gone in the third that gave Boston a 53-47 lead. In all, the Celtics s...

From the tip-off of game 4 between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers, it was like seeing a well rehearsed play falling apart scene by scene.   For dire-hard Heat supporters like me, it was very painful to watch and the only solace was when Dwayne Wade and LeBron James finally decided to take over the game.   That feeling soon died and even though they had the lead, it never again felt like the Heat was in control. Dan Gelston, AP Sports Writer said it best in his article titled 76ers rally to beat Heat 86-82 in Game 4 , “The sweep for the Heat was 95 seconds away. Miami held a six-point lead, had The Big Three on the court and a bevy of clutch plays behind them.   All the 76ers had was their unwavering belief.   When they told Doug Collins in the huddle late in the game, “We’re going back to Miami,” his reply was a simple one.   “I’ll be there with you,” said Collins, the Sixers coach.”   The Heat appeared to be mired in mud and completely disorientated...

According to a 10 News out of San Diego, California article titled   Group Accused In Sports-Bribery Ring To Appear In Court, “ FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter said the investigation, dubbed "Operation Hookshot," began more than a year ago and started out as a drug probe.” Here is what this article says happened “several people arrested and charged in connection with an alleged sports-bribery ring that offered bribes to college basketball players to fix games are scheduled to be arraigned in San Diego federal court Tuesday.   Former USD assistant basketball coach Thaddeus Brown and two former USD players, Brandon Johnson and Brandon Dowdy, were among 10 people named in a federal indictment unsealed Monday in San Diego.   Federal prosecutors said the organizers of the ring conspired to bribe players to alter the outcome of games so the defendants could profit by betting on games in Las Vegas.   The indictment accuses the group o...