As always, days like this start off a bit chilly with a chance of rain.  Theresa (my new NYC home girl) and I were somewhat concerned that this year’s AIDS Walk in Central Park would be ruined by Momma Nature.  

The joke was on us.

Thousands turned out for the annual AIDS Walk in Central Park, one of several events held nationwide.  This was my first experience at an event of this caliber.  Honestly, I didn’t expect much: people with colorful signs, free food, even funky guys dressed in condoms. Meh.





But oh, ye of little faith - and morose.

Like I do over and over again, I have this horrible tendency of going into some events jaded.  My fault, of course.  I think it’s all those years of life that’s made me such a Debbie Downer . . . initially.

But! Like clockwork, after every event I attend, I’m always changed.  I get an amazing opportunity to experience life as it is for others and then I’m able to reflect on my experience while blogging.  (Yes, I know, my job is awesome).

This time around, I experienced that same epiphany; the kind where you realize life is really a beautiful concept because you get a chance to view it through the eyes of those who know better than yourself.

This year’s AIDS Walk afforded me the chance to meet people from all walks of life who have an unique insight into the devastating effects of AIDS.  I met family members, fabulous drag queens, sisters, brothers, friends, and volunteers who know all to well the importance of AIDS awareness.

I never had a family member contract HIV or die of AIDS, so I don't have an intimate frame of reference when it comes to the disease.  I do, however, have family members and friends who can identify with those I met this past weekend. And because of that, I’m compelled to share my unique experience with the YN community.

Just to give you an idea of how powerful the AIDS Walk was; think about this: No matter how elevated the threat of rain, or no matter how jaded yours truly felt, the love and solidarity coming from family, friends, and supporters of the AIDS Walk still connected with and changed me, and for that, I’m grateful - and aware.

Give me 3:30 and I’ll show you what I mean.

Many, many thanks to all those who contributed to the making of this video and experience.

All photography by Tara L. Conley

The AP is reporting a delicious story about Blackwater, formally known as a "private" security company armed to protect American diplomats in Iraq - but better known as an organization of heavily armed frat brats who largely went under investigated during the Bush Administration and who also made loads of cash from the Iraq War while touting around their big bad guns - oh, and killing innocent citizens in the process.

Blackwater says they're a private organization but since the federal government extended contracts to them during the Bush Administration, you and I paid for it through our tax dollars thereby rendering them completely fraudulent. (I refuse to link to Blackwater in this blog post.  If you want more info about them, Google it.)

Now that Blackwater's contracts aren't going to be renewed by the federal government, looks like the good old boys figured out a new way to make ends meets.

Get this.  Blackwater is offering arms training to professional athletes.  No joke.  Seriously, I cannot make this ish up even if I tried.

Blackwater's VP, Jim Sierawski says that "high-profile people need to be able to protect themselves and their families," He continues. "A lot of times gun handling and gun safety is a big part of that protection package."

All this comes after the embarrassing incident when NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress shot himself in the thigh.  Plaxico - are you reading this?

I don't even know what my point is, but I do know that I'm absolutely dumbfounded by this story.  We've actually come to a point now where professional athletes - who are discouraged from carrying weapons by the league - are actually being recruited by an organization who should be tried for war crimes (along with their buddy Dick Cheney).

WTF?

To give you an idea about Blackwater, take a look at Jeremy Scahill's (The Nation) well-researched investigation about this "private" security firm.  

Now you tell me, why in the world is all this necessary?

Like my father would say after hearing something completely asinine: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

Photo courtesty of Mr. Smashy's Flickr page.

Candace Parker and her husband Sheldon Williams

22-year-old newlywed and WNBA superstar Candace Parker has a bun in the oven.  Parker and her NBA husband Sheldon Williams are expecting their first child this spring.

Luckily for Parker, she's not actively playing right now, but mind you, the WNBA season officially kicks off in June.

In an interview with the LA Times Parker admits that she'll probably get right back on the court because she's "very stubborn" despite knowing she'll still be recovering from labor.

I honestly was surprised by the news.  First I didn't even know Parker got married in November, nor could I imagine that she'd end up pregnant a few months later.  Parker has shatterd many glass ceilings in the women's game, and now she's probably one of the youngest players to get pregnant.

She looks and sounds very happy about the news.  And why not?  She's a successful women with a successful partner, and together they'll probably produce the next basketball phenom - or President, or the next decent citizen.  Who knows.

WNBA Commissioner Donna Orender said that Parker's pregnancy "can be a very usable symbol of how you can have a family and a career."

Parker will undoubtedly have to juggle many roles in the next few years - mom, wife, superstar - while the world watches this young woman and nit-picks her balancing act.

The question is, how will Parker's new role as wife and mom impact her marketability?  Parker has been touted as a fresh "beautiful" face in the WNBA. 

Considering the society we live in - a society that tends to judge high-profile mothers (Angelia Jolie, the octuplets' mom, etc..) - do you think the role of motherhood will lessen or enhance Parker's stock value in the sports marketing world?  Perhaps it won't make a difference - but, if I were a betting woman, I'd say that Parker's new role off the court will no doubt impact her image.  Question is, in what way?

Photo courtesy of the WNBA

Today, I found out that Serena Williams just surpassed female golf legend Annika Sorenstam as the all-time money leader in female sports.  Nice.

Several months ago, when I was applying to be a blogger for the most fantabulous organization in the world (eh-hem, YouthNoise), I wrote a sample blog post about female athlete salaries.

Take an EXCLUSIVE peep at my sample:

Female Pro Athletes ‘Got Next’ Salary Checks

6/16/08
By Tara L. Conley

Long before the WNBA dubbed “We Got Next!” for their national campaign slogan, young girls, like me, were on the sidelines antsy as jitter bugs waiting for a chance to play with the big boys.

During the 80’s, women like Cheryl Miller and Billie Jean King were revolutionizing basketball and tennis, respectively.  Yet, despite the 100-point games and multiple Grand Slam championships, both women still weren’t as monetarily valued as their male counterparts.

Enter: The twenty-first century, and although young women playing in the WNBA only receive a fraction of male NBA salaries, there’s actually a glimpse of hope in the field of female pro tennis.  Unlike WNBA players, female pro-tennis athletes receive the same amount of prize money as male pro-tennis players.

Yet some in the industry still choose to criticize pro-female singles players for making equal pay.  They claim that since male tennis athletes play 5 sets and female tennis athletes only play 3 sets, then the latter should receive lesser pay.

Wuzza-what?!

Considering that, across the board, women (even college educated women!) still only pocket on average $.76 for every dollar earned by their male counterpart, it’s nice to see that some industries, especially within pro-sports, are closing the gender salary gap.

To those who complain about female pro-tennis salaries, stating that earnings aren’t fair – I say, FINALLY—progress!

Besides, if you ask any Joe/ann Blow on the street to name three top U.S. tennis players, I bet among those would be Venus and Serena Williams.  Pro tennis is a business, and celebrity-status is BIG business. Salary earnings have lots to do with the celebrity-status of certain female athletes.  Billie Jean King may have revolutionized women's tennis, but the Williams sisters have taken the sport to an entirely different level in terms of pro-tennis visibility in the U.S.

Take even, Anna Kournikova.  Although homegirl isn’t considered as talented as the Williams sisters, that hasn’t stopped her from landing major endorsement deals, modeling contracts, and gracing the covers of numerous fashion magazines.  And good for her!  Here’s my theory: Americans seem more drawn to female tennis players—cause-um-a-rah—they’re just more interesting than male players.  Arguably, not since John Mackenrow would throw his ever-classic temper tantrums has men's tennis actually been worth watching.  

Heck, men are dominating every other sport salary-wise (deserving or not).  If French and Wimbledon officials are handing out fat checks, then more power to every female tennis players who cashes in!
 
A new voice of young female athletes are chanting “we got next!” all across the nation not only because they want to rumble with the big boys on the court, but also because they want their turn in the capital gains market too.

(Incidentally, Serena is covering the July issue of Ebony Magazine4, she’s also rumored to be dating Common, famed hip-hop artist.  Um, let's see Andy Roddick top that!).

###

Well, well, well, looks like somebody in the universe was listening to yours truly :-)

Okay, okay, maybe it's not such a big foresight as, well, predicting the exact date of the next California earthquake, but I did recognize women's tennis as one of the few sports leading the way in salary earnings, particulary at a time when nay-sayers were really trippin'. (BTW - that's me, "Friday025" responding to the author's ridiculous argument.)

Now if the rest of society would just get on board and start paying women the money they deserve in sports - and in practically all other industries - life would be grand!

Reminiscing is always so much fun.

Photo courtesy of Ebony Magazine

Trina's latest post inspired me to share some vintage videos of Obama playing ball back in the day and revel in the rebirth of cool that is Obama.

You know, I gotta say we've got a cool a** prezident (with a "z").  I mean really, politics aside Obama brings a vibrant and youthful energy to the White House.  I'm sure he'll end up disappointing me at some point (in fact, I know he will), but still, I  think it's cool that we've got a leader who uses the same lingo as folks I know.  For instance, last night at the Youth Ball he told the audience after dancing with the First Lady that "that is what's called old school [dancing]."

Yes, our president just said "old school."  

And then, when Obama paid for a hotdog a few weeks ago at some press event and the cashier wanted to give him his change back, Obama responded, "no thanks, I'm straight."

Yes, our president just used the phrase "I'm straight" as an informal way to politely decline a minor offer.

Plus he's got rhythm. 

Aaaand, he wants to build a basketball court in the White House.  For reals!

In any event, watch as our Prez gets-down-with-the-get-down (another fantabulous phrase I'd love to hear Obama say) on the basketball court. 

(Notice he's a lefty - woohoo, go lefties!!)

Vintage Obama (sporting the hip-hugger basketball shorts)

Obama playing ball last April