Views from Point Breeze

Sports are a necessity in my life.  As I have become a student of world history, I know that sports plays a part in the lives of many people like myself around the world.  Whether it is rugby, soccer, cricket or tennis, those of us that are so inclined, get a positive release from sports activities.  I just read about a cricket player, Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored like 15,000 runs during his career.  I don't know much about cricket but that sounds legendary . The NBA playoffs have provided a serious measure of entertainment over the last few weeks. I am a Philadelphia 76ers fan.  My team faces an elimination game tonight against the Boston Celtics.  I am proud of my team regardless of the outcome tonight.  We are playing against a team that is comprised of three future Hall of Famers and we are competing like heck.  Elton Brand even showed up last game.  Andre Iguadala should shed some of his choker status.  I need Lou Williams to...

Tomorrow, I will make my acting debut at Waters Memorial Church.  I will play a drug dealer/pimp named Hassan.  I would say that this character is a stretch for me.  I was volunteering at the Church on the Martin Luther King Day of service and Barbara Walker was cooking the most wonderful food.  I was asked by my big Sister Joanne Hemingway, a Church Elder, if I would like to act in a play that Ms. Walker had written.  I accepted.  After numerous rehearsals, tomorrow is my big day.  I have a dress rehearsal tonight.  In spite of the fact that the Sixers are playing the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, I will not miss it.  I am impressed by the singing of the cast members.  There are some touching scenes and the stories of addiction, losing one's family and recovery are ones that I know.  It is a faith based play also with some powerful spiritual references.  I need to get my last few ...

I am following with interest a sequence of events that are unfolding on a construction site in Philadelphia.  Two young developers are facing staunch opposition from the building trades about using non-union workers on an apartment renovation project.  There are no public dollars involved so there really should be no debate.  The unions in Philadelphia have had a stranglehold  over the majority of construction that has occurred so they do not like it when an entity challenges the generous wages and benefits that they enjoy. One of the problems is that most Philadelphians know that outside of the Laborers, the majority of the building trade membership is comprised of non-minority males that do not live in Philadelphia.  My experience with Pat Gillespie, the President of the Building Trades membership for life, began when we tried to get minority owned firms to start their own unions.  As long as prevailing wages were paid to their workers, it was an easy ...

Cole Hamels intentionally hit Bryce Harper with a pitch the other day in a game involving the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals.  Bryce Harper is a 19 year old rookie who has already been featured in Sports Illustrated.  He actually left high school early to play Junior College baseball.  He has been a phenomenon since he was 12.  Cole's rationale was that he was going back to old school baseball to intimidate this young man.  I disagree with his actions.  Apparently, the Baseball Commissioner did too.  Hamels was suspended five games for intentionally hitting Mr. Harper.  The Phillies lost the game and are struggling to regain the dominance that we displayed in the National League East for the last few years.  Only desperate teams and players resort to actions like Cole's.  He was subsequently hit by a pitch in the same game.  What if he had been hit in the elbow or hand?  We are already m...