So I've gotten soft, you say?

I don't mind being called out. In fact, I welcome it. If someone sees me doing something wrong, tell me. If i'm out of line, pull me to the side and let me know about it. Granted, I may not agree with you and I may be a bit stubborn, but I respect the fact you could to me (not behind my back) and tell me about it. I especially expect this from my closest friends. They are the ones who know me the best and should be comfortable coming to me in an appropriate fashion. I find it disturbing when people I know, see me out of order and don't say anything about it.

I know you're wondering, "what did you do now?" Well to me, nothing. It's a new year, I've turned over a new leaf and I thought I was doing a good job and having fun in my return to bloggin'. But as always, when you think you're doing something wit' yourself, you get brought back down to size, so to speak. Ever direct and always quick to tell me about myself, my dear friend "EJ" said in so many word that my bloggin' was soft. I had to step back for a minute. I know, I don't bring the "fire" like I did back in the Boom-Boom room, but that Big J is gone. I think different, I look at the world different. I'm more mellow that in the past. However, that doesn't mean I can't get my juices flowing from time to time.

As I complete this blog, I'm watching Around the Horn on ESPN. They're talking about Tank Johnson and his rants of being a victim of racism. Tank's a punk who should be in jail, but is getting the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl for no other reason I can think of, other than the Chicago judge is probably a Bears' fan. If you don't know Tank's story here it is. So I laugh at Johnson's claim of racism. Racism isn't having loaded guns in your house with your kids like you're about to go to Vietnam. Don't cry racism when YOU have been arrested three times in 18 months. Don't accuse the white man of being racist when YOU are the one putting yourself in these situations. We as black people easily blame others when we are in trouble. Yet we rarely take responsibility for our own actions. Tank is a prime example.

But right on cue, Brother Johnson got all religious on us as my girl Jemele writes so eloquently. It's easy to call on Jesus when you're in trouble and everyone is "out to get you" So I want to ask Tank, where you actin' Christ-like when your boy got shot up in the club? Were you talking to God when you got into a scuffle with the cop? I have a beef with guys who cry racism when people call you out for something YOU did. It's time for someone to be accountable, to be a man about theirs once in a while.

Don't be like Tank and don't take it when someone says you're soft.