The Soundtrack of My Life 1998-99

Third Year at Morehouse 1998-99
Resident of: The Villages of East Lake Hillside, Apartment 322/Belmont Hills/The Phoenix Towers/Brailsford R. Brazeal Hall
Hung Out With: Seth Pickens, Antoy Bell, Rob Francis, JC Love, Wayne Davis, David Smith, Faraji Whalen, Johnny Moore, Jamal Dedeaux, Corey Richardson, Kevin Holley, Alpohnza Hamilton, Latresa McLawhorn, Julia Sessoms, Drew Hubbard, Jason Boulware
Roomed With: Jonathan Daniels, Seth Pickens, Wayne Davis
Fashion: Ralph Lauren, The Gap, Banana Republic, Kenneth Cole, Armani Exchange
Always Seen With: Seth, Antoy, Dave or Faraji
Fads: Hawaiian shirts, the Dirty Birds, Tequiza beer, joining a fraternity
Dated: Melissa Haydel, Celia Robinson
Crushes: Leslie Elliot, JaDawnya Butler, Evin Cosby, Latresa McLawhorn

Aquemini - OutKast
Feeling: This odd mix of brilliance and craziness 'all blended perfectly' in what I regard as the greatest rap album I've ever heard. My favorite song, 'Y'all Scared' still sends chills down my bones and is easily one of the most lyrically deft songs that the 'Two Dope Boys' have ever recorded. Forget about the scene stealing big singles, but just turn it on from track 1 and let that bad boy ride on out and enjoy yourself. This was the only album that I listened to the whole year. Other music just wasn't important to me. Not Jay-Z, not Diddy, not Cash Money...nothing else was important to me.

Me at 20 and Me at 30

My brother (jordancarlos.blogspot.com) writes a great piece about how his younger self speaks to his older self. That cracks me up and truly has me in stitches. So...I'm gonna do it here...It won't be nearly as funny as Jordan's, but I'm gonna give it a shot.

Oh, before I forget...quick shoutout to the Osiris of this Blog thing for me Calvin Miles Smith, III aka Tradition. Also a shout out to DJ C Rich aka Animal Thug, Raj Whalen aka Sebastian Valmont and my main man Chuck Price.

So here it goes...basically this is my 20 year old self speaking to my 30 year old self. So the date is January 14th, 1995. The location is the Howard University Plaza Towers West. Apartment 620.

Me at 20: Man, the Cowboys look good. They're gonna win it all this year. 3-peat baby!
Me at 30: Slow down pally. That first quarter might give them trouble.
Me at 20: Whatever man. The Cowboys have outscored everyone in the league in the first quarter. It'll be a clean sweep by the Boys all the way to the Super Bowl!
Me at 30: What if it rains at Candle Stick Park? The field is already pretty messy.
Me at 20: Whatever man.
Me at 30: So, how are your classes?
Me at 20: They're cool. I'm finally really getting into the major, ya know?
Me at 30: How are those other classes outside of the major? Shakespeare, American History, Black Diaspora?
Me at 20: Oh, they'll be cool. It should be smooth sailing. Shakespeare is a breeze, I had it in high school. And I've been to American History a few times.
Me at 30: Did you buy your books and your meal plan?
Me at 20: Sure.
Me at 30: Are you forgetting that I'm you...then?
Me at 20: Then you already know that I bought a few books and cashed in my meal plan.
Me at 30: How's your love life?
Me at 20: Well...I kind dated a girl last semester. It ended crazily though man. I thought it was gonna be something that would last, but in the end, it kinda faded. I'm through with her though man. She's dating some baseball player anyway.
Me at 30: It's probably best that you let that go. Trust me.
Me at 20: How's your love life?
Me at 30: Up until last week, it was pretty tip top. This past week I hit a few bumps in the road, but we should be alright. I mean, I love her very much. But enough about me, how's Dorian, Jimmy, Tim, Benji, Jeff, Ace?
Me at 20: Dorian's cool. Crazy as ever. He studies all the time. He's playing tennis for the team ya know? Anyway, there's a girl on the team who's always smiling at me, LaShawnn. She's cute and a great player. We'll see. I was just playing catch with my new football in the hall with Dorian actually. Ben is smoking cigarettes now. I don't dig that too much. Tim is Tim. Jeff is under the dillusion that the Niners are gonna beat the Cowboys on Sunday. Ace is still with Breon. We don't seem him as much. In fact, he has my tie and my Garth Brooks cd. Braedan still gives the ill free haircuts and Jimmy is crazier than ever too.
Me at 30: Keep in touch with those guys, you're lucky to have them.
Me at 20: Of course.
Me at 30: What about Willy Ray and Tom and Gene?
Me at 20: Ray is crazy, simply put. He now has his apartment all to himself. Tom and Gene are still the coolest cats around. Gene is supposed to pledge Alpha this semester, so we'll see how that works out.
Me at 30: Can you make me a promise man?
Me at 20: Sure, what?
Me at 30: Be true to yourself.
Me at 20: Always. Why did you say that?
Me at 30: Well, the next coupla months aren't going to be easy if you don't buckle down. You've got to go to class man. Don't get suspended, please.
Me at 20: Please relax. I've got this. I hear you though. I truly do. Don't worry.
Me at 30: Okay. By the way, what do you think of guys from Morehouse?
Me at 20: Morehouse...nigga please. That little school down in Atlanta? No, seriously, I guess it's a good school. It's no Howard. I don't think I could ever go there, let alone like it or love it.
Me at 30: Good to know.
Me at 20: Oh, I almost forgot, how does the 3 J's work out with the Mavs? And how many championships will Shaq win in Orlando? Is Pulp Fiction gonna win Best Picture? Can you believe Bush was elected Governor in Texas? And this Newt Gingrich guy is damn annoying.
Me at 30: I wish I could tell you about those things, but you've got to experience them for yourself. But it's gonna be a fun ride.
Me at 20: You know, I was watching the local Fox affiliate, and a woman named Paula Jones, grotesque looking chick, came on talking about a relationship with President Clinton. It'll probably blow over though, right?
Me at 30: Sure...sure it will.
Me at 20: Well, is there anything else?
Me at 30: Stay off the MD 20/20 and call home twice a week. And yes...GO TO CLASS.
Me at 20: That's it?
Me at 30: That's it.
Me at 20: I got it. I'm gone. Mookie from Do the Right Thing.
Me at 30: I know that.
Me at 20: Just checkin' man. Don't be slippin' on the quotes. Later man.
Me at 30: Be safe.
Me at 20: Go Cowboys!

My NFL Picks for the Divisional Playoff Weekend

Okay, here it goes...

On Saturday in Pittsburgh, the Steelers will defeat the New York/New Jersey Jets. This will occur because of a few reasons...
A) The Jets, while deserving of being there, are not nearly overall talented as the Steelers
B) The win will come not from the phenom frosh Roethlisberger, but the wily vet, Jerome Bettis
C) Even on their best day and in their best game to date, the Jets lost to the Steelers in the regular season at Heinz Field
D) The Steelers have enough MOJO Magic to make it to the Title Game that they'll be hosting anyway
If the Jets are to win it is because of one reason...
A) The total breakdown of Roethlisberger

On Saturday in Atlanta, the Falcons will defeat the St. Louis Rams. This will occur because of a few reasons...
A) Mike Vick at home is a thing to behold
B) The Atlanta D will stifle Bulger over time
C) Despite the far superior receivers that the Rams have, they will once again be no match for the totally healthy Atlanta D
D) The Rams weapons are getting old...fast
E) Warrick Dunn and TJ Duckett are going to be a big factor
M) Magic City is back up and running.
If the Rams win it will be because...
A) They stopped Vick. If you stop Vick, the Falcons shut down.

On Sunday in Foxboro, the Patriots will defeat the Indianapolis Colts. This will occur for the following reasons...
A) Steady and slow wins the race...period.
B) Bellichic has had two to three weeks to prepare his guys for this game. He had one week last year, and look what he did to them. Imagine two weeks.
C) Despite Peyton's brilliance, his defense will let him down. There's no question about that.
D) Corey Dillon will be a difference maker.
E) The elements.
F) They have cooler uniforms.
If the Colts win it will be because...
A) Peyton had a flawless game and was not rattled by the Patriots vaunted D.
B) Edgerinn James has big numbers.
C) The D gets to Brady early and often.
D) If they put it out of reach early.

On Sunday in Philadelphia, the Eagles will defeat the Minnesota Vikings. This will occur for the following reasons...
A) Randy Moss was shut down.
B) Freddie Mitchell has a big day.
C) The Minnesota D gets played by Donovan.
D) The Minnesota coaching staff.
If the Vikes win, and I hope they do, it will be because...
A) Randy Moss was not shut down.
B) They can't win without T.O.
C) McNabb has car trouble.

I'm Joe and this is how I see it...

PS
What if this were Joi's shout out and she didn't see it?

20 Questions by Tom Hagen

Back at Morehouse, in the cozy confines of The Maroon Tiger office, we used to write some hilarious little questions every edition of the paper known as '20 Questions.' I got to thinking that I hadn't seen them in some time, and I wanted to take a whack at them, so here it goes...

1. Is it okay to laugh at Armstrong Williams, in a 'chickens coming home to roost' kind of way?
2. Was what Randy Moss did all that bad?
3. Is it me or are the Philadelphia Eagles almost destined to lose their fourth straight NFC Title game?
4. Why do I still get emails from John Kerry?
5. Aren't 'On Demand' and cable modems the two greatest inventions for couch potatoes everywhere?
6. Do you really believe that Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen are in love?
7. When are they going to have reunions for: 'A Different World', 'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air', 'Martin', 'In Living Color' and 'Living Single'?
8. Aren't all the Brothers in America pulling for Philly, the Falcons, the Colts, the Jets and the Vikes?
9. I love watching him as much as the next fan, but isn't it time for Brett Favre to 'Pack' it in?
10. Despite other reasons, aren't you waiting just like me to see what Michael Irvin will wear if he's elected to this year's Hall of Fame class? (other than the fantastically stuntastic Hall of Fame blazers of course)
11. When will you all realize that Jamie Foxx will probably win an Oscar this year, but not for 'Ray'?
12. Am I the only thirty year old male who recently bought Madden 2005?
13. Do you really care that J Lo has a new album coming out?
14. And the title, 'Rebirth'...what's being reborn? mediocrity?
15. Despite all the things going on in the world, why were US Weekly and the Star the top seller at Borders last week?
16. Will Joi see her shout out?
17. I like John Legend as much as the next neo-soul/R&B fan, but was he whining on a coupla those tracks?
18. Is it wrong for me to be excited about the Morehouse v. Clark Atlanta game next month? (knowing I'll be front row)
19. Why did Eddie Murphy make 'The Distinguished Gentleman'?
20. Are you still sleeping?