Moments ago, Tiger Woods made a public apology to his family, friends, colleagues, and fans. In the thirteen minute speech, Tiger addressed the media, asking individuals to leave his wife and children alone as they work to heal. Tiger talked about accountability and taking complete responsibility for his actions through his actions.  At the end of the speech, he and his mother, Kultida embraced in front of flashing cameras and onlookers. Tiger is set to immediately return to rehab.



Click here to watch entire speech.

A few notable quotes from the speech:

"I felt I was entitled."

"I was wrong I was foolish. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me."

"I've hurt my wife, kids, my mother . . . and kids all around the world who admire me."

"It's not what you achieve in life that matters, it's what you overcome."

"It's hard to admit that I need help, but I do."

"Character and decency are what really counts."

There is much to be said for the implications and ramifications of celebrity and fame, particularly in sports.  Nonetheless, it's good to witness Tiger speaking publicly about these issues, and about his problems, because this is obvious something he had to do for himself and for his family. I wish Tiger and his family all the best as they embark upon a long and challenging journey toward recovery.  Here's hoping they can find peace going forward.

Did anyone happen to catch the cover picture on the latest issue of Vanity Fair?

Unless you've been living under an enormous rock for the past few weeks, you're well aware of the recent controversy surrounding Tiger Woods.  Woods has admitted to having several extramarital affairs over the last few years. Surprised? Maybe a little. Woods has done a pretty good job maintaining a clean cut image, up until this point.  There are also allegations swirling around about drug use (including ecstasy) and homosexual sex.

Shot in 2006, before the controversy, Tiger Woods posed before famed photog Annie Leibovitz.  How fitting that now this image, portraying Tiger shirtless wearing a black scully in a seemingly threatening or machismo pose, is gracing the cover of Vanity Fair.  Why now? Why this picture?

This past week, I got a chance to peruse some other blogs about the questionable photo. Even though our own blogger James warned of injecting race in this controversial story about infidelity and arguably abuse, ultimately race has taken center stage - (thanks to Vanity Fair further perpetuating racial stereotypes). 

Here's what some other bloggers had to say:

From Womanist Musings,

Since Tiger crashed his car and women started coming out of the wood works about his sexual exploits, Tiger's image has been irrevocably changed.  Gone is the family friendly nice guy; now we have Tiger Woods the sex addicted thug.  Unfortunately, Tigers activities fall directly in line with many of the racist understandings of Black male sexuality.  Not only did he have sex with numerous women, they all have one thing in common; they are white.

From A Belle In Brooklyn,

[The image is] a direct contrast to all the images we’ve ever seen of Mr. Woods, a smiling, Polo-down, khaki-wearing, come-to-life Carlton Banks if ever there was one.  And I get that in the last few weeks we’ve seen a new side of Tiger, a contrast to all we ever thought of him. The dichotomy between image and reality that the photo is evoking isn’t lost on me. But this image of Tiger doesn’t reflect what we now know of the billion dollar gentleman who prefers blonds. Tiger might be a whore, a cheat, an infidel, a sex addict, a so-called “Oreo” and a whole lot more. But whoring with white women is not a crime.  Thus, Tiger doesn’t deserve to be depicted as one in light of his “recent” scandals.

From Native Notes,

The media has successfully placed you in the category of the brute/ buck blaxploitation caricature. You are now being promoted as this hyper sexual black male. This picture is a poor attempt at making you look strong. We heard the voice mails, you’re not. Kick Rocks Uncle Tom!

I find it hard to believe that there isn't a method behind Vanity Fair's madness. In fact, the motive most obviously is to stir up controversy in order to sell magazines.  But what's the real cost of Vanity Fair and other media invoking the infamous hypersexual black male trope?  Who's paying for this? 

There is a deep seeded pathology in this country about black male sexuality or, eh-hem, hubris, that simply cannot continue to be exploited in the name of selling controversy.  But believe me, this type of mess isn't new.  Salt has been pouring over these wounds for centuries.  We are far from being a post-racial nation, despite having a biracial President.  Until we can have a grown-up conversation about what it actually means to racialize a human being while invoking dangerous stereotypes--athlete or otherwise, then we'll remain just as we are; at a stand-still.

Besides the issue of media perpetuating racial stereotypes as a major factor in this controversy, if we look at this entire story as it has unfolded, we notice an incredibly sad situation.  If the allegations of drug use are true, then what we're witnessing is something far more damaging than a casual affair.  Tiger Woods is a troubled athlete who has, for whatever reason, permanently scarred those around him, including himself. I'm hoping he and his family can find some sense of peace this year, but if cover stories like the one Vanity Fair released this month is any indication of what's to come, then unfortunately 2010 is going to be another rough year for Woods.

Did anyone happened to catch Texas A&M's newly released media guide for the 2009-2010 women's basketball team?  Or Florida State's women's basketball team website?  Oh how times have changed since I was a college athlete.

The Seattle Times reporter Jayda Evans recently wrote about the newly redesigned women's collegiate media guides and websites with an overt feminized message.  One has to question if this is some kind of attempt to re-brand female basketball players based on widely accepted views that if you're a female college athlete who plays basketball, odds are you're a lesbian.  Evans article examines this seemingly new wave of over-feminizing female basketball players as a way to mask "butchness." (Yes, even the WNBA has attempted to sex up feminize its gals).  Evans highlights Training Rules, a recent documentary film by Dee Mosbacher and Fawn Yacker about former Penn State coach Rene Portland, who supposedly touted three rules for her female players: No drinking. No drugs. No lesbians.

Here's the trailer clip from Training Rules



Evans writes:

"The film is fascinating in its inside look at how homophobia has a choke hold on women's sports in general. How it's used against each other in recruiting, tagging programs as full of lesbians, and how schools/coaches over feminize themselves to not appear lesbian. All under the "innocent" veil of wanting to show women athletes can be "powerful, beautiful, strong and accomplished." Or, to put it more simply, heterosexual, too."


As a former high school basketball player and collegiate track athlete, I've experienced first-hand the turmoil female athletes (whether they identify as lesbian or not) endured at the hand of coaches and peer athletes.  These same athletes, who were also my friends, were labeled as "butch" and "lesbos" and misjudged accordingly because of what others assumed or "saw." 

In high school, I was called a "man" a "horse" and a "dinosaur" for the way I appeared on the basketball court and track.  My legs were huge. I'd curse when I got upset. I was faster than all the other girls (and some guys).  And at times, I walked around with a head scarf wrapped around my head because 1) it was hella comfortable during track meets and basketball games, and 2) it was hella cold in Cleveland, Ohio.  The folks who called me a man, horse, or dinosaur learned somewhere that if the fastest girl or best long jumper in the state didn't act (or hell, look) like a lady or wasn't girly in nature and in stature that she, that I, must be the opposite of that; manly, animal-like, and monstrous.  Some people's logic is the epitome of #epicfail.

The sexualization and over feminization of female athletes is nothing new, and neither is the ridicule female athletes experience because who they are and how they act don't measure up to another person's standard of womanhood.  I share in Evans position that dressing up these women for a website or media guide is offensive because it works to undermine the ability each one of these athletes have worked to master since childhood. And I'll take it a step further; the fact that these universities are promoting an overtly feminized "illusion" is asinine and creepy (Texas A&M coach Gary Blair adjusting his tie in the picture above is just all kinds of weird).

Whether these women like to wear dresses or not, or whether they identify as homosexual or heterosexual isn't the issue.  The problem is disconnect: What does wearing a silky prom dress circa 1999 or posing in a sultry manner while wearing a black cocktail dress have to do with how many boards these women can grab per game or how accomplished they are on and off the court?  What does one thing have to do with the other? If my school or coach would've ever suggested that I pose wearing a dress or high heels for the sports media guide/website so as means to appear "powerful, beautiful, strong, and accomplished," I would've laughed hysterically in their face and redirected them to my stellar grade point average, field goal percentage stats, and scholarship awards instead. 

Don't play me for a fool.

When the game means more than wind sprints and foul shots. When it takes on a different connotation. When it becomes as much about how these women look as about how they play and hustle on the court. When young girls, hoping to one day play for schools like Penn State, Texas A&M, Florida State, or the WNBA, think that part of being a powerful, beautiful, strong, and accomplished female athlete means looking good in a dress or high heels, then society--touting tolerance in the guise of fear and cowardice--has officially failed its daughters.

The day we start asking our men's teams to pose for media guides and websites in Rambo outfits with machine guns strapped to their backs to appear, you know, "manly" instead of appearing like, you know, basketball players is when you'll catch me on the first flight to a desert island. Ok, maybe that was kinda an exaggeration of epic proportions, but arguably not as ridiculous as female basketball players posing for "glamour shots" in collegiate sports media guides.

*head desk*

Almost a year ago to the date, I had the opportunity sit and listen to activist, Liepollo L. Pheko of The Trade Collective, speak about racial justice in a global economy. Throughout her speech, she referred to those that are largely deemed invisible by a majority as "The Many." These, We, The Many, she said are otherwise known as The Other, but in numbers, in potential, and in the spirit of the collective, We, The Many - despite being Otherized, are gifted, powerful, and necessary.

As James reported on Sunday, the prelims of the 2009 Knicks Poetry Slam was held on Saturday, November 7th at The Manhattan Center in New York City.  Along with James and other Play City folk, I had the opportunity to witness what I deemed as The Gifted Many. Brooklyn's, Harlem's, Queen's, the Bronx's, Manhattan's, Jersey's, and Philly's finest were definitely in the building. A showcase of young poetic, dance, and musical genius commanded the audience's attention over the weekend. I was forced to not only reminisce about my fleeting youth but also wonder in amazement at how these young minds can be so entirely insightful, intellectual, and exuberant.

Like, for example, Alexis Marie.  This young queen took to the stage armed with some of the most powerful words I've ever heard uttered from a teenager's mouth (mind you, I used to be a middle school teacher). Her poem was about womanhood, strength, struggle, courage; "things" you'd assume a young teenage girl wouldn't have any clue about. But while listening to Alexis I got a sense that she's encountered some very deep and soulful life experiences that inform her ability to express herself through poetry.  Alexis exhibited an astute awareness that spoke to who she is and who she is to become as a woman of color.  Her performance was simply stunning.



Equally as powerful was another spoken word performance by two young boys from NYC.  As soon as they were introduced, teens rushed to the front of the stage. At that point, I kinda knew something amazing was about to happen.  The young men stood side-by-side as they recited, in sync with one another, the beginning of their poem entitled Switch.  As they continued, their voices split, like a call-and-response with separately distinct voices.  As I listened, I began to understand that Switch was a poem about a young black boy's struggle with being homosexual. The young boys took the idea (and gesture) of "switching" and turned it into social commentary.  I'm not quite sure if this idea of switching also spoke to the way in which marginalized people have learned to "switch" language, mannerisms, or consciousness as a way to (temporarily) assimilate into a situation largely controlled by a dominant group. (See: W.E.B. DuBois double consciousness and Gloria Anzaldua mestiza consciousness).

In any event, the performance left me in awe, so much so that when it was over, I looked at James and the only word I could muster was simply "Wow."







In addition to the performances, students were given the opportunity to learn more about participating colleges and universities at the event.  Syracuse University, the University of Wisconsin, Mercy College, among others were in attendance.  Each student was welcomed to obtain more information about higher education throughout the day.





In looking back, I can better understand the importance of Saturday's event.  It was a time when youth of varied colors, ages, sexualities, and abilities can all at once be recognized for their unique talent and be encouraged to use these talents to advance in education and situation.  More often than not, these same youth are the ones overlooked or taken for granted despite talent, creative genius, and sheer numbers to influence the communities around them. 

Thanks to The New York Knicks, Nike, the Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation, and participating colleges/universities for acknowledging these kids; The Gifted Many.



Oh, and did I mention that there was an awesome beatboxer by the name of Anointed S AND and contortionist in attendance on Saturday?

For more pics, check out YouthNoise/Play City Flickr page.



[Anointed S]



Um, yeah.


All photography by Tara L. Conley

Last week, I presented at the Cool Twitter Conference in Brooklyn, New York. I discussed ways in which people can use Twitter to disseminate and promote services, products, and ideas. I detailed my work with YouthNoise and how I use Twitter to engage in social conversations.  My presentation was based on this idea/space I called Twitter Society. I define Twitter Society as,



The more I engage with folks on Twitter, the more I notice how this type of social space functions similarly to our 'offline' societies.

In Twitter Society, there are patterns of written language, etiquette rules, and by golly, there's even a Twitter jail!  There are networking groups and clicks made up of academics, activists, celebrities and regular Jills and Joes.  All of these people are engaging in some sort of dialogical relationship. Though Twitter has over 50 million users, not all of them are active. But the ones that are active sure do tweet a lot, including yours truly!

During my presentation I cited specific examples of how people engage. I mentioned one of my first ever encounters with an active tweeter; NBA player Shaquille O'Neal (@ THE_REAL_SHAQ).  I joined Twitter about a year ago, but have only been active within the last 3-4 months (@taralconley). When I first joined, I began following Shaq because I heard his tweets were interesting (read: engaging).  I noticed right away that Shaq tweeted a lot.  One of the ways he would engage with fans was to send his followers on scavenger hunts. I remember one time he tweeted about being at the local mall in Miami and said the first person to find him at this particular mall would win a free pair of his sneakers.



Fans and followers have noted how cool Shaq is for actually responding and talking "directly" to them.  They feel a sense of intimacy with their favorite NBA star.  Arguably, before Twitter came along this type of "direct" intimacy with celebrities - namely professional athletes, was non-existent.  Sure, athletes have Facebook pages and blogs, but it's Twitter that provides a sense of immediate gratification and direct engagement fans and followers seem to embrace.

But Shaq isn't the only one using Twitter to connect with folks. Orlando Magic superstar, Dwight Howard is using Twitter to engage with fans too (@DwightHoward). 

Mashable reports:


From a PR perspective, it seems as though pro athletes are adopting social media outreach for branding and image control purposes.  While this may be true, I'm also incline to believe that celebrities and professional athletes are drawn to social media the same way you or I are drawn to these social spaces.  They too desire to be a part of communities made up of diverse people and ideas.  Call it narcissism, call it altruism, or call it our psychological need to be loved and belong to a social space. Whatever the case may be, it's apparent that these social networks speak to something human and societal, and they are changing the way professional athletes communicate with others.



As I mentioned in my presentation, "Twitter makes us more aware of our purpose in the conversation." Those active tweeters know that Twitter requires time and commitment, perhaps even more than Facebook and Myspace.  Twitter also forces us to choose our tweets wisely.  We've seen what happens when tweeting goes awry for public figures. 

Just recently, Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs was suspended and fined $213,000 for tweeting a gay slur to a follower.  Johnson's (@Toonicon) comments were infantile and derogatory. He deserved to be reprimanded by the NFL.  Fans and followers will heckle, that's going to happen in the wide world of sports. In this case, Johnson lost a sense of his purpose in a Twitter conversation.

So while Twitter and other social networks allow people to connect instantly and directly, all of us are still responsible for our social behaviors and actions in these spaces.  We've gotten accustomed to rethinking a position before uttering it to a family member or friend, but because we live in such a terribly fast and invasive age with the advent of the World Wide Web, we're now forced to rethink our (re)thoughts. And maybe, in the end, that's a good thing.

Johnson, Howard, and O'Neal are among many high profile athletes whose tweets will be scrutinized in Twitter Society. These athletes aren't only being watched by fans in the stands, but also by followers lurking behinds Twitter avatars.  As a 'snew ' (social + new) media consultant, I'm hopeful these athletes can use online platforms of social media to further engage with fans and serve their communities off the playing field.

For a full list of professional athletes on Twitter, visit www.twitter-athletes.com
 

Images courtesy of Sports Networker, Inside Social, Hoopiquity.