Friday, February 15, 2013

MJ at 50: Still above the rim

The enduring staying power of Brand Michael Jordan is as phenomenal and his stellar NBA career. It's been a minute since Mike has laced up a pair of, uhh, his own MJ kicks for a NBA game. Yet and still, Mike remains one of the top trending stories of the sports world.

The Charlotte Bobcat owner -- at age 50 -- is still among the sports world leaders in income. Mike rakes in a cool 60 to 80 mill a year. Check out this article:


Michael Jordan turns 50 on Sunday and retrospectives of his career have been getting heavy airtime this week. The highlights include his six titles with the Chicago Bulls, his impact on athlete marketing and countless unforgettable moments on the court (“flu” game; switching hands driving the lane; the “shot” versus the Cavs). Los Angeles Lakers forward Antawn Jamison opined last week that Jordan could still average double-digit points in the NBA. I think it is safe to say we’ve seen the last of MJ soaring above the rim after hitting the half-century mark with three retirements already under his belt. But Jordan the business? It is stronger than ever.
Jordan earned an estimated $80 million last year from corporate partners Nike, Gatorade, Hanes, Upper Deck, 2K Sports, Presbyterian Healthcare and Five Star Fragrances. Other Jordan assets include six restaurants, a North Carolina car dealership, a motorsports team and his 80-percent stake in the Charlotte Bobcats. Jordan out-earns almost every member of the world’s highest-paid athletes 10 years after his last NBA game (Floyd Mayweather topped Forbes' June 2012 list with earnings of $85 million).
The Jordan Brand, a division of Nike, is responsible for the vast majority of MJ’s earnings. Jordan partnered with Nike after being drafted by the Bulls out of North Carolina in 1984. The original five-year deal was worth $500,000 annually, plus royalties. The terms of Jordan’s current deal with Nike are a closely guarded secret, but royalties now generate more than $60 million annually for MJ, according to sources. read more

To the haters
His loot and he can do what he wants. I am just hoping that instead of being like Mike he would be a lil more like Magic --  by investing in urban America. Magic, btw, has set the template: Investing in urban America is about making profits by tapping into under-served and under-developed markets.
As Magic states:
“Improving the quality of life for people residing in urban areas is my life’s passion, and through Magic Johnson Enterprises we have been part of positive change in these communities.”

Happy 50th MJ!


Sunday, February 10, 2013

Manhunt for ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner drags on in the California mountains

Hero to Outlaw?
Charles Manson blamed his killing spree -- Helter Skelter -- on tensions caused by race relations.

Timothy McVeigh cited USA government policy as what incited him to bomb and kill 168 innocent people in Oklahoma City.

Ted Kaczynski, aka Unabomber, blamed technological modernity for his homicidal crimes.

And now, Christopher Dorner, former LAPD cop, blames his alleged killing spree and threat to kill even more on the racism and police abuse of the LAPD.

Christopher Dorner, the shooting suspect who allegedly went on a rampage and killed an officer on Thursday, wrote an online manifesto on his Facebook page detailing his violent plan.

The long and disturbing writings threaten harm to police officials and their families. It also makes references to Dorner's former position as an LAPD officer, before he was fired in 2008.

"The Violence of action will be HIGH," Dorner wrote. "I will bring unconventional and asymmetrical warfare to those in LAPD uniform whether on or off duty ... You will now live the life of the prey ... I have the strength and benefits of being unpredictable, unconventional, and unforgiving." source

And why?

I know most of you who personally know me are in disbelief to hear from media reports that I am suspected of committing such horrendous murders and have taken drastic and shocking actions in the last couple of days. You aresaying to yourself that this is completely out of character of the man you knew who always wore a smile wherever hewas seen. I know I will be vilified by the LAPD and the media. Unfortunately, this is a necessary evil that I do not enjoybut must partake and complete for substantial change to occur within the LAPD and reclaim my name. The department has not changed since the Rampart and Rodney King days. It has gotten worse. The consent decrees hould never have been lifted. The only thing that has evolved from the consent decree is those officers involved in the Rampart scandal and Rodney King incidents have since promoted to supervisor, commanders, and command staff,and executive positions. source

The LAPD is probably guilty as charged. The legendary corruption and scandalous culture of LAPD has been well documented since the 1940's: Police units acting outside of the law, police brutality, police/street gang ties, extortion, shake-downs, evidence tampering etc, are all examples LAPD malfeasance.

But in the case of Christopher Dorner -- like Tim McVeigh, Charles Manson -- it is more a psychotic break than fighting injustices. Simply put, he is using past perceived or real injustices to justify his murderous rage and acts of terrorism.

Mr. Dorner is simply just another madman with WMD (weapons of mass destruction).

The Dorner rampage comes only a week after the killing of Navy SEAL sniper (America's top sniper 160 confirmed kills) by a former Marine suffering from PSTD.

Eddie Ray Routh, the former Marine corporal accused of killing Chris Kyle, an author and retired Navy SEAL sniper, had been released from a veterans hospital here four days before the shootings over the objections of his parents, Mr. Routh’s court-appointed lawyers said.

Mr. Routh, 25, and his relatives told the police in recent weeks and months that he had been deeply troubled and was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to court documents. He had a series of run-ins with the authorities in parts of North Texas, and had threatened to kill himself at least once, police records show.
 
Mr. Routh had been undergoing treatment at the Dallas V.A. Medical Center and Green Oaks Hospital, a psychiatric center in Dallas. On Jan. 24, Mr. Routh was released from the Dallas V.A. center but soon returned, and he was again released on Jan. 29, said his lawyers, R. Shay Isham and J. Warren St. John. On both occasions, Mr. Routh’s father and mother, Raymond and Jodi Routh, had protested his release, the lawyers said.
 
“She was begging them not to let him loose,” Mr. Isham said.  source
 
How sad, our citizens in need of mental health treatment instead receive WMD... Brings me to a famous Ghandi quote -- when asked what did he think about Western Civilization, Ghandi remarked:
 
"I think it could be a good idea"