Manns Medium

  When a Dream becomes so much more than just Reality   Adam Dixon had a dream, he dreamed of one day creating a space for at risk youth and adults that would go beyond the typical programs and offer something that no other has ever. He did not expect that this dream would materialize into far much more than that. He created The Adam Dixon Perseverance Foundation in 2014 after 3 year professional football career playing arena football and brief stints in the Canadian Football League. He recognized the immense and immediate need for this kind of organization providing not only sensible solutions but educational scholarships, mentorship, and leadership development. He was acutely aware that there were many others at-risk youth and adults programs out there but there were still a very large part of what was needed to guarantee the success of the students missing. He made it his heavenly mission to not only discover what they were but solve those issues.   It is n...

One of the factors that many of us seem to forget is the one factor that is often times over looked and is the most inconsistent part of not only the way we see things but the way we reaction to things. This factor is the “human factor” and when I say human, I mean human. We as individuals reaction based upon the knowledge that we have about any subject and since the bulk of that knowledge comes from our experience or what we have been taught at one point in our lives it is also gained from what we have been exposed to either directly or indirectly. Direct exposure tends to lend itself to something that we know and sometimes will not only base our existence around but flatly refuse to change or modify that stance for any reason. Indirect exposure is malleable and can be shaped by thoughts or opinion of others so it could be fluid and quickly changed or modified. Our divine over this George Floyd murder and many of the other atrocities when it comes to the authorities’ heavy...

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 ...

Was watching one of my favorite westerns “Gunsmoke” and heard James Arness quote a passage.  He said that “there’s never a horse that can’t be rode and a man that couldn’t be thrown.”  Thinking about that gave me the inspiration to pen this article and attempt to educate as well as warn others about what this passage means today and how appropriate it is. Some take this “survival of the fittest” thing way too far which means that the above quote is even more pertinent now.  Because there has never been a horse that can’t be rode or a man that could not be thrown, we need to understand that no one is bigger or better than the other, that every person has a match and can be defeated at any time by anyone.  Look closely at all of your professional sports team.  None of them is unbeatable which makes the times when we see a team go undefeated like the Miami Dolphins did, we should take time to marvel at it.  This proves that every horse can be rode and eve...

While we celebrate the 5-2 victory of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team against Japan, we can’t help but to see this as historic but maybe not in the way you would think.  Yes to say that they took their defeat last year hard but never let it stop those from working even harder at their tasks for this victory would be an understatement.  They put in the work and the results speak for themselves.  This victory is historic for what we learned after the win. According to an article written by Chris Isidore for CNN Money titled “ Women World Cup champs win waaaaay less money than men ” it reports that “ the U.S women's World Cup team are champs. But they're being paid far less than men on losing teams. The women's team won $2 million from FIFA for winning this year's tournament. Last year, the German men's team collected $35 million after winning the 2014 World Cup.  That works out to a little less than 6 cents on the dollar.  In fact the 16 men's teams that were el...

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 ...

The media is all ablaze with the Adrian Peterson story and the lessons are many but seldom does the media ever really get things right for fear of not getting high enough ratings that they often times sensationalize stories.  What should be happening right now is when something as critical as this takes place, lessons should be drawn, compared, contrasted and dissected in order to give those struggling parents another avenue than just corporal punishment.  I stand as guilty as many who never spared the rod for fear of spoiling the child but as Chris Carter so eloquently put it, “there are thousands of things that I have learned since then that my mom was wrong. You can't beat a kid to make him do what you want to do." What I discovered was never discipline a child when you are angry, it tends to grow and you make your own child of victim instead of teaching them a valuable lesson that will help them make better decisions later on in life.  I had to learn that the har...

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...

The most surprising thing that appeared in Good Morning America Christina Ng’s article titled Former Rising Football Star Exonerated in Rape Case was not “a rising football star in southern California whose career was brought to a sudden halt by a kidnap-rape conviction that landed him in prison was exonerated today after his accuser contacted him on Facebook recanted her story. It was information hidden in the eighth paragraph saying " the problem was that Gibson did not want to tell prosecutors the truth because she feared she would lose the $1.5 million she and her family won in a civil suit against Long Beach schools after the incident.”   So his “high-school acquaintance—Wanetta Gibson—accused Brian Banks of rape and kidnapping following a consensual sexual encounter."    Another life halted in its tracks because of what I think was completely one-sided investigations.   It was probably more about two sides attempting to just get this case over instead of t...

"Joe Ricketts is prepared to spend significant resources in the 2012 election in both the presidential race and congressional races," Brian Baker, the super PAC's president, told the Times. "He is very concerned about the future direction of the country and plans to take a stand."   Remember this statement because if this continues to be any part of the line of attack against President Obama, he will defy Mitch McConnell and get his second term. This quote was taken from an article written by Dylan Stableford for Yahoo News titled Super PAC plans to attack Obama’s ties to Rev. Jeremiah Wright.   The article further reported that “a conservative super PAC is considering an advertising plan to attack President Obama's ties to Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright  Jr., his controversial former spiritual advisor, and "do what   John McCain would not let us do" during the 2008 presidential campaign.   Chicago Cubs billionaire owner Joe Ricketts commissioned the $...

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...

Parts of me have to wonder why this story has surfaced now and how long ago this may have happened.   Not having met either Tiger Woods or his ex Elin Nordegren, I can by no means be considered an expert with their relationship but like many others I do have an opinion. Shane Bacon of Devil Ball Golf in the article titled Tiger Woods’ ex-wife bulldozes $12 million home, his question was “Why in the world is she still in Florida? Wouldn't you want to move back home for good?”   I can not answer that question but it does bring up a few ideas on the subject.   We did not hear much from or about her until Tiger began to make some strides in his possible “comeback”.   We did hear a little from his former caddy but not so much from his ex.   I’m thinking that they were quite content to see his game suffer and his life follow suits but now that things may be turning around, they may become a little more bothered. With $100 million dollars, it is my guess that you c...