Last month I bought The Essential Teddy Pendergrass cd which consists of Teddy Pendergrass’s greatest hits. I’ve been a fan of Teddy’s since his days with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.

One of my all time favorite Teddy Pendergrass songs is The Whole Town’s Laughing At Me from the cd Teddy Pendergrass.  I bought the album when it was first released back in 1977.

I can’t believe I punished myself by watching the entire Redskins/Falcons game yesterday.  My Skins were defeated 31-17.  Why do I put myself through this misery

Redskins go down fighting
Second-half rally isn’t enough to overcome first half marred by poor play, scuffle

By Jason Reid
Monday, November 9, 2009

ATLANTA — Of all the unsettling developments in another disappointing season for the Washington Redskins, this could be the most troubling: They have eight games remaining.

That’s a sobering reality for a team that failed again despite its most spirited second-half performance of the season in a 31-17 loss Sunday afternoon to the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Although the Redskins finally pushed back and made things interesting after being overwhelmed in the first two quarters in front of 67,982, the offensive line’s major deficiencies in pass protection and the defense’s alarming recent habit of giving up big-play touchdowns proved too much to overcome against an NFC opponent fighting to remain in playoff contention.

Washington (2-6) again fell short despite the determined performance of injured quarterback Jason Campbell, who twice returned to the lineup after leaving the game because of chest and ankle injuries after being battered behind the team’s ineffective line. In the running game, Ladell Betts displayed a burst rarely seen in the team’s past 16 games after replacing top running back Clinton Portis, who suffered a concussion in the first quarter and did not return.

Overall, though, Redskins players said they again too often executed poorly, were too undisciplined and unable to put everything together. Trailing by two touchdowns in the final six minutes, Washington twice turned over the ball on downs. Running back Michael Turner punished the Redskins’ defense, rushing for 166 yards with a 9.2-yard average. He scored on runs of 30 and 58 yards to help Atlanta (5-3) end a two-game losing streak.

For the Redskins, the loss renewed questions about every aspect of the football operation, extended their losing streak to four games and kept them in last place in the NFC East. And with half their schedule still to play, the Redskins could face two months of frustration and embarrassment unless they quickly find answers to confounding problems that seem to increase daily.

Speaking of the Washington Redskins, the Sports Bog section of the Washington Post today had me laughing. Since FedEx Field has pretty much taken freedom of speech away from fans by banning signs, Skins fans were in full force in Atlanta yesterday with plenty of signs expressing their displeasure at Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder.

Burgundy Revolution travels to Atlanta
By Dan Steinberg

I was still a few blocks away from the Georgia Dome Sunday afternoon, when I ran into a middle-aged husband and wife from a very wealthy part of Fairfax County who had traveled to Atlanta to see their Redskins. Wendy, the wife, had designed a pair of custom T-shirts for the occasion. On the front, the shirts said “Redskins.” On the back? “Love the team, hate the owner.”

“He’s breaking our hearts,” said Wendy, who said she was scared to give me her last name for fear of reprisals from the club. “We’re afraid to wear them to the stadium; we’ll get thrown out.”

A couple minutes later, I saw two friends from the D.C. area who carried a pair of paper bags. “Danny won’t let us protest at FedEx so we came to the Georgia Dome,” one of the bags read.

“Papers will be served next week,” cracked a nearby Falcons fan.

Not long after I entered the stadium, I ran into Antonio Fierro, a 23-year old Redskins fan from Miami. He was sitting in the front row, right behind one end zone, holding up a massive homemade banner that would later make the Fox broadcast. He bought the tickets on eBay, expressly so he could get a sign on television.

“CONFISCATE THIS DAN!” the sign taunted. “FIRE VINNY.”

I saw Michael Jackson’s This Is It a couple of Saturdays ago (October 31st).  I loved it.

For a 50 year old man Michael still had the moves. Seemed like the young dancers were trying to keep up with him.  I saw the film during a morning matinee.  It wasn’t sold out but the theater sure was jam packed with folks.  I spent a lot of time tapping my feet and bobbing my head to the music.  The entire movie was excellent but several performances that stood out for me include Earth Song, They Don’t Really Care About Us and Billie Jean.  After the last scene I didn’t leave my seat until the movie screen faded to black.  I sat there as the credits rolled so I woudn’t miss anything, lol.

I pre-ordered the dvd before I saw the movie and I’m glad I did.  I can’t wait for the dvd to be released.  This Is It grossed over $100 million worldwide during the weekend I saw it including over $65 million overseas where Michael still had a strong fanbase compared to here in the U.S.  This Is It was originally scheduled for a two week run but has been extended through the Thanksgiving holiday.  If you’re a MJ fan I highly recommend this film.

Yes, I’ve got the Monday blues after watching the Washington Redskins blow a fifteen point lead yesterday to the Carolina Panthers and eventually lose to the Panthers 20-17

Carolina Blues
After Letting a 15-Point Lead Slip Away, Redskins Players Insist Zorn Isn’t the Problem

By Jason Reid
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 12, 2009

CHARLOTTE, Oct. 11 — In the moments immediately after another unsettling defeat that prompted the Washington Redskins to question much about themselves, many team leaders were united on this: Changing the head coach alone will not solve their problems.

To be sure, many things are going poorly for the Redskins, as evidenced by a 20-17 loss to the formerly winless Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium. Washington was undone, in large part, by a strange sequence of events on a punt in the fourth quarter that resulted in a turnover that Carolina quickly capitalized on to score the go-ahead touchdown.

The only thing that is keeping me sane right about now is looking through my new Michael Jackson book and the fact that today is a holiday.

I actually thought there was some hope after the Skins defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week.  I’m not thrilled about next week’s opponent.  We play the 0-5 Kansas City Chiefs.  The Skins don’t do too well against lowly teams.  But hey, right now the Skins are lowly too.  Should I throw in the towel now and cuss out Dan Snyder ahead of time?  Or should I wait until next week after the game

A couple of months ago I mentioned a new photography book coming out by Todd Gray titled Michael Jackson: Before He Was King.

I pre-ordered the book through Amazon.com. Well early this morning my book arrived via a special courier (according to Amazon.com).  Since today is the Columbus Day holiday I was home when the courier arrived.

I just finished looking through the book for a second time and I love it. The majority of the book contains pictures of Michael but their are also pictures of his brothers and their fans.

Mr. Gray posted a comment in my blog when I mentioned the book in August. You can check out his comment in my post titled Michael Jackson News Part 2. Mr. Gray, if you’re reading this just wanted to let you know you did a great job on this book. The picture of you waking Michael up is priceless. And I saw the picture of you getting payback from Michael days later

Now you know I have to post a Michael Jackson video up in here   I was listening to his Invincible cd today at work.

Butterflies is one of my favorite songs on the cd.

I heard this song on the TJMS last week and I love it. Give It To Me Right is by Canadian singer Melanie Fiona.

According to Wikipedia her cd The Bridge is suppose to be released in the United States sometime this fall.

The cd has already been released in Canada and Europe.  You can check out Melanie’s official website here.

Those of us living in the D.C. area who are Washington Redskins fans aren’t in the best of moods right about now.

Fail to the Redskins
Team Faces Myriad Issues After Loss To Lowly Lions

By Jason Reid
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 28, 2009

DETROIT, Sept. 27 — As the small crowd of long-suffering Detroit Lions fans hugged and exchanged high-fives in the stands, the Washington Redskins trudged to the visitors’ locker room Sunday afternoon at Ford Field to begin what figures to be another difficult week early in a season that finds them already at a crossroads.

Players and coaches acknowledged there would be much to reevaluate in the coming days after the Lions ended a 19-game losing streak with a 19-14 victory over the Redskins in front of an announced crowd of 40,896 at Ford Field. The job status of embattled Coach Jim Zorn — whose two questionable calls in the first quarter helped shift momentum to the Lions — is among the issues Redskins owner Daniel Snyder might consider in assessing the team’s embarrassing performance for long stretches against the Lions. It appears, however, there also are pressing football matters the team must quickly address with 13 games remaining.

Even 340 yards passing from quarterback Jason Campbell and a breakout performance from wide receiver Santana Moss (10 receptions, a personal-best 178 yards receiving and a 57-yard touchdown reception) were not enough for an offense that has been among the main targets of frustrated fans since long before Zorn arrived at Redskins Park.

After watching Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions I was pissed.  I had a bad feeling that the Redskins would let the Lions losing streak come to an end and I was right.  I’ve supported the Redskins since the 1970’s but I’m wondering how much longer my love for this team will last.  Dan Snyder has got to be one of the worst football team owners ever.

I had a very short work week this week and I’m still glad it’s Friday. Livin’ For The Weekend by the O’Jays is a perfect song for today.

Livin’ For the Weekend is from the O’Jays Family Reunion album/cd.

Or are we dealing with lazy parenting?  That’s the question some black folks in Tennessee are asking especially after a violent disburbance in a movie theater parking lot in East Memphis last weekend. A promotional flyer from a local radio station encouraged youngsters to see two R rated movies that opened recently. Many of the young folks were under age for R rated movies and they were dropped off by their parents. When the young folks were turned away they had no where to go except to hang out in the parking lot and you know what that led to.

Police to increase patrols around Paradiso theater in East Memphis

By Hank Dudding
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Shantique Brady saw the potential for trouble in the way parents offload teens outside the Malco Paradiso on weekend nights.

“It’s like we’re at a parade of minivans, with kids coming out of every door,” said Brady, who manages the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream parlor nearby.

The gathering of youths reached critical mass Saturday night when brawls broke out among hundreds of people gathered in the theater’s parking lot at 584 S. Mendenhall.

Memphis police detained 10 people ranging in age from 12 to 18 for disorderly conduct, issuing misdemeanor citations to some and taking others to Juvenile Court.

“I wish there was a camera so everyone could see how chaotic it was,” said Brady, 29, who closed her store early that night. “It was really crazy.”

Nearly two dozen Memphis police cars responded to the scene. Officers blocked cars from entering the parking lot while vehicles inside were allowed to leave.

The department plans to increase patrols around the theater this weekend, said spokeswoman Karen Rudolph, who encouraged citizens to call police if they see problems.

“We’re hoping it was a one-time thing, and we’re not going to have to deal with it again,” she said.

Malco executive vice president Jimmy Tashie blamed the chaos on underage kids who were dropped off for the R-rated scream flicks “The Final Destination” and “Halloween 2.”

When the teens were turned away, they had no place to go but the parking lot, he said.

“We’re going to let parents know that they can’t drop their kids off … and expect them to go into an R-rated movie,” he said. The Paradiso’s Web site now includes an advisory warning parents that minors will not be admitted to R-rated films.

Memphis Commercial Appeal columnist Jerome Wright states that many of the parents are to blame.

Jerome Wright: Parents share blame for Paradiso fights

By Jerome Wright,
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Given that this is Memphis, where bringing up race can be like stepping on a land mine, the local media, police and Malco officials have avoided saying that most of the teens involved in the Aug. 29 brawls outside the Paradiso movie theater were African-American.

But that fact hasn’t been lost on talk radio shows and in the community.

The chaos that Saturday night outside Malco’s flagship theater once again has left many African-Americans asking why our teens have to act like knuckleheads when they gather in large numbers without direct supervision. Anecdotal news reports of fights and shootings, some fatal, at these kinds of gatherings feed that perception.

Many people believe that roving groups of loud, cussing and N-word-using African-American teens helped kill the Mall of Memphis, Peabody Place shopping mall and the movie theater in Peabody Place.

Some African-Americans reading this are seething about now. How can an African-American write such things? And some whites are probably saying “Tell it like it is, brother!”

You all need a reality check.

Teens, black and white, like to hang out in large groups, whether it’s at a movie theater or shopping center parking lot after hours. They do things they normally wouldn’t do within sight or earshot of their parents or teachers, such as illegally swigging alcohol, smoking and cussing. African-American kids, however, generally are louder and more demonstrative, and that feeds into all the usual racial stereotypes.

I don’t go to the movies on Friday or Saturday nights anymore because there is too much hubbub inside and outside the theater. I cringe when I hear African-American teens loudly calling each other the N-word, especially in front of whites. Inside the theater, some kids are constantly moving around and talking. Teens and adults alike hold long-running cell phone conversations during the movie. Catching a flick on a weekend afternoon is a lot calmer.

You hate to read that young black folks are the cause of shopping centers or movie theaters shutting down. But what normal, law abiding person wants to shop or go to the movies where rowdy, unsupervised young kids are running wild? That’s why you hear some black folks say that they don’t shop at such and such shopping center or mall. Or they avoid going to certain movie theaters or only go the movies during a certain day or time. No one wants to deal with those headaches.

Check out the following articles for more info about the East Memphis incident:

Police to increase patrols around Paradiso theater in East Memphis

Where were the teens’ parents?

Malco Paradiso theater tightens security; vows better crowd control