The 2008 NFL Training Camps and Preseason have begun. Before you know it, the Warriors of the Gridiron will be clashing on the field for real. For now, it’s time to get their bodies and minds right for the upcoming season. Rookies and veterans are reporting to camp with one thing in mind; the championship. For some, this is a new beginning. For

others, it’s just another day at the office before the regular season begins,

and for some, it’s a “do-over”.

 

Every

year, we see players, who are cut or traded from teams during the off-season, only

to get a “do-over” with another team. They’re given an opportunity to re-invent

themselves. Some guys bounce back from injuries and go on to have a great

regular season. Others may have had a rough year from a statistical standpoint,

only to find a team, with a system that can best fit their abilities. Then

there are those who just fell into bad situations with one franchise, only to

be given a “do-over” with another team.

 

Look

at Randy Moss. Moss played for the

Minnesota Vikings for 7 years. His troubles with the law and discord with the

team, lead to the Vikings trading Moss to the Oakland Raider in March,

2005. Moss spent two years with the

Raiders and within that time, the Raiders stunk and Moss was still unhappy. That led to Moss being irate and vocal about

the Raiders’ organization and an eventual trade to the New England Patriots

during the 2007 NFL Draft.  

 

Once Moss landed in New England, the “do-over” was in effect. Leading up to 2007-08 NFL season, there was nothing but praise from his teammates in New England during the preseason workouts. Moss became the total opposite of what he once was in Minnesota and Oakland. He was a new man and it showed throughout the season in his play.

 

So

much so, he and Patriots QB Tom Brady hooked up for 23 TDs last

season. That’s an NFL record. Although the Pats made it to the Super Bowl and lost to the N.Y. Giants, Moss should still hang his head high because now he’s looked at as a team leader. A category many wouldn’t have put him in a few years ago. 

 

Another example is Terrell Owens. Owens was unhappy with

his role with the San Francisco 49ers. He was very vocal about his role and the direction the team was going in 2004. So the 49ers traded Owens to the Philadelphia Eagles. With Owens and QB Donovan McNabb leading the offense, the

Eagles’ found themselves in Jacksonville,

Florida for Super Bowl XXXIX. Although the Eagles didn’t win the Super Bowl, the ground work had been laid out for the Eagles to finally be a major player for Super Bowl contention for the following season.

 

Displeasure with his contract and his off-field angst with McNabb led the Eagles to release Owens in March 2006. When it looked as though no one wanted to touch Owens with a 100-yard pole, the patron saint of lost football players’ souls, Jerry Jones, signed Owens four days

after his release from the Eagles to the Dallas

Cowboys.

 

Since Owens has joined the team, the Dallas Cowboys have made the playoffs for the past two years. Despite the fact that both playoff appearances have resulted in second round knockouts, the Seattle Seahawks in 2007 and the N.Y. Giants in 2008, the Cowboys have entered this season as the favorites to win the NFC East again, with a possible trip to the Super Bowl. 

 

Owens, whose nickname is T.O., was labeled as a Team Obliterator by Skip Bayless of ESPN’s First Take. His passion for winning and his willingness to take a bullet for his teammates, from the media, in order to keep media attention from them has proven that he’s able to make the most of his “do-over”.  His nickname should be T.L. for Team Leader.

Now, there’s a new “do-over” in the works in Texas as we speak.  Pacman, excuse me, Adam Jones has been given another chance; a “do-over.” After being traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Dallas Cowboys during the 2008 NFL Draft Week, Jones has already made a positive impression with his Cowboy teammates. He’s also making his presence known by going “toe to toe” with the aforementioned Terrell Owens during practice at the Cowboy’s training camp this week.

He has also been accepted by the Cowboy’s family with Hall of Famer Michael “The Playmaker” Irvin and Deion “Prime Time” Sanders as his

“guidance counselors” of sorts. They’ve been talking with the young CB and guiding him in getting his life straight on and off the field. Both of these men have had issues personally and professionally, and they too, have been able to experience their fair share of “do-over’s.” So like EF Hutton, when they talk, people should listen.

If Jones continues to stay out of trouble during the pre-season, he should be re-instated into the league by September 1, 2008.

So make the most of your “do-over.” We all get “do-over’s” in life, it’s what you make of them that counts. By the way; if Moss, Owens, Irvin, or Sanders doesn’t make you believe in “do-over”, then look up Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers. That’s the best “do-over” story of the

year.

On a side note: This weekend is the Pro-Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony. Congratulation to all of this year’s all inductees.

 

After three years in other markets, the NAMM show

finally returned to Nashville for its summer session, and as the old saying

goes, there’s no place like home. Popular consensus leans toward the belief

that this trade show and “Music City” belong together, and activity in both the

Nashville Convention Center and the surrounding clubs after hours certainly

supported that theory.

 

Rather than do the standard “what happened at NAMM”

coverage, we’re going to break this into a couple of key components for you.

First up, we’re looking at hot headphones and music software that were demoed and

displayed at the show.

 

American Audio has so much cool stuff. Their HP headphone line—consisting of the 900’s, 700’s and 200’s—is well known, with the 700s leading the popularity chain.

 

For Summer NAMM, American Audio was all about

their new HP 550, which use similar drivers and input through a mini-plug with ¼ inch right angle adapter. They come with an extra set of ear pads, bag, and the flexible design means easy fold-up and the option of double- or single-ear monitoring. The HP 550 is American Audio’s high-quality, lower-priced alternative at $49.

 

Also from American Audio, check out the EB 700 and new 900 earbuds.

These were created for DJs and Hip-Hop artists, meaning they have good bass

response and noise reduction up to 20 dB. All metal, with carrying case, nine-foot

cord and compact design, they’re perfect for stage use. The 900’s list at $169,

the 700’s at $129.

 

Seems we always associate the Numark name with controllers, mixers and all things DJ, yet we often forget that they also make headphones.

 

Their PHX premium headphones, featuring 50 mm magnet drivers, come with two styles of interchangeable cuffs, three cables, are fully adjustable and made for comfort, thanks to a two-part ear cup design that incorporates rubber and silicone casing and fits securely between your ear and shoulder. They also fold and store easily in the accompanying carrying case. Pick them up for $99.95.

 

Numark’s HF-125 headphones are made for mixing. They feature flexible, seven-position, independently adjustable dual ear cups, large 40mm Mylar speaker drivers, a six-foot tangle-resistant cord with 1/4″ connector and padded headband. They street for an unbelievable $18.

 

From Future Sonics, makers of the original Ear Monitors® custom earphones, comes the second revision of their acclaimed

Atrio® professional earphones, making them perfect for stage, studio and broadcast, as well as gaming and digital media players. The Atrio offers full bass response accuracy, natural midrange, detailed treble and maximum comfort with multiple fitting options. Unique to these earphones is their single studio-grade dynamic driver, designed and manufactured by Future Sonics.

 

New features include QuietCables™ II for excellent audio quality, more flexibility, less tangling and more comfortable fit, improved performance

with TrueTimbre™ frequency response of 18Hz – 20,000Hz—meaning less need to

crank up the volume to achieve the wider range of audio quality, and improved

cable slider for more secure positioning and greater comfort when cabling is

worn behind the ear. Invest in the Atrio for $199.

 

Sony offers a full range of headphones in their MDR line, beginning with the 7502. Designed for basic listening, this is a cost-effective, general-purpose headphone, lightweight with deep bass response and high sensitivity. It lists at $65.

 

The 7505, with acoustic design, zeroes in on detailed listening and more power. The Auto-Swivel earpiece makes it ideal for DJs and videographers who prefer single-sided monitoring. It stores easily in the included bag and lists at $115.

 

Sony’s

top seller is the 7506, an industry standard, with larger diaphragm and full ear enclosure for better isolation. The lightweight model, which also folds neatly into its bag, was designed for comfortable extended wear, making it perfect for the studio at $130.

 

The 7509HD is Sony’s newest model. Larger and more comfortable, it features a bigger pad, handles twice as much power—3000 mW power handling capacity and 80 kHz ultra-high frequency reproduction for 96-bit recording—and was designed for critical listening and studio reference. The driver units were designed to eliminate pressure in accordance with the angle of the ear. It’s Sony’s most expensive model at $265, but if your time is spent in the studio, where every detail counts, this is the way to go.

 

Yamaha’s new RH10MS professional monitor headphones feature S-Logic three-dimensional Surround Sound, ergonomic design for extended wear, and accurate digital-music reproduction, with frequency response at 18-21 k and sensitivity to 96 dB. S-Logic technology sends sound around the listener’s head and off of multiple surfaces of the ear canal,

eliminating the need for artificial echo or digital processing. By purchasing

earphones with S-Logic, you ensure monitor accuracy and perfect detail. The RH10MS headphones sell for $129.

 

DJ Flex, Timbaland, Diddy’s band members, Kanye

West, Chris Brown, John Legend, Joss Stone, Shania Twain and Vernon Reid are

among the many artists who swear by Ultrasone headphones. Even a dedicated headphone hater like the Gadget Inspector can attest to the comfort and quality of Ultrasone, having test-driven several sets at the NAMM show. (Granted, the ’phones were plugged into the Cream reunion DVD, which would sound good through tin cans connected with string, but honestly, through the Ultrasones I heard every note, every nuance, with amazing clarity—and no outside noise seeping in. Bliss!)

 

Paul Taylor, president of Ultrasone Inc., told us

a bit more about S-Logic, noting, “Most headphones pull sound directly down the

ear. We’ve offset the drivers and angled it to push sound from front to back,

not directly into the ear. S-Logic uses the natural reverberation of the outer

ear down into the canal to tell you where sound comes from and to create

natural Surround Sound. We don’t use any digital signal processing or enhancers, just an offset driver.

 

“What’s also very important is the 40 percent

reduction of decibel levels this provides for the potential of not developing

hearing problems or tinnitus. A lot of DJs, gamers, mixers and producers live

in their headphones and the radiation goes directly into their heads. We use a

metal buffer board to reduce that radiation up to 90 percent.”

 

Ultrasone employs S-Logic throughout their HFI, DJ

and Pro lines, with prices beginning at $109, increasing incrementally based

upon your choices and needs. All headphones come with a two-year manufacturer’s

warranty.

 

The HFI

line features six models, beginning with the ultra-lightweight 15G,

Ultrasone’s smallest HFI model that’s perfect for personal listening, and

ending with the HFI-2200, which comes with velvet earpads and detachable cable.

The Pro line, with four models, begins with the 550, professionally designed

and equipped, and maxes with the 2500 open-back. All models include hard case,

detachable cables and spare earpads.

 

The DJ line features two models: DJ1 and DJ1 Pro. Warning: Unless you plan to purchase on the spot, do not test-drive these headphones, as you will never want to take them off. Parting with them can be heart wrenching! Finally, if “simple and portable” is your thing, you’ll want Ultrasone’s iCans. Also featuring S-Logic technology, sleek, foldable and adjustable, they’re perfect for your iPod or MP3 player.

There were some firsts in software at the Summer

show, with guitar and amp manufacturers debuting amazing new gear.

 

VOX

Amplification introduced their first-ever software product, JamVOX, which will be in stores in

October 2008 (price TBA). Mac- and PC-compatible, JamVOX provides drag-and-drop

access to virtually any combination of amp and effects models and allows you to

import your MP3/iTunes library or favorite CD tracks.

 

Using Korg’s

new GXT Guitar XTraction™

technology, guitarists can extract or “solo” guitar parts, reduce and

essentially “mute” guitar parts from any prerecorded track, or record their own

guitar performances over favorite tracks. GXT technology can also extract or

reduce vocal tracks. Guitars and microphones can be directly plugged into the

USB-powered hardware component. WAV/AIFF recording capabilities enable the

player to overdub vocals as well as guitar.

 

JamVOX features precise

models of 19 of the most sought-after guitar amps, 12 popular cabinets, 54 vintage

and modern effects and a choice of guitar pickup simulations, as well as a

Korg chromatic tuner and an array of drum tracks. The JamVOX head can double an audio interface for popular software programs and for listening to music downloads on your computer.

Peavey enters the market with ReValver MKIII, their revolutionary 64-bit amp-modeling software. It captures the true characteristics of vacuum tubes while giving you unprecedented control over their tone and gain structures. ReValver models 15 of the most popular amps, including several Peaveys. The software is user-friendly, thanks to its drag-and-drop interface and customization tools. You can add and subtract components such as amps, preamps, power amps, stomp boxes and effects, and program more than 15 features on each tube stage. Effects include chorus, distortion, wah, tremolo,

compression, limiter, delay, octaver and many more. Retails for $299.99.

Yamaha unveiled Audiogram 6 and Audiogram 3, two new computer recording systems shipping in August that can turn your computer into a powerful, intuitive tool for recording and editing audio from virtually any microphone, instrument or audio device.

 

The Audiogram

series is packaged as a complete computer music solution, bundling a hardware

interface with audio inputs and outputs, software for recording and producing

music, and a USB cable for computer connection. Simply install the included

music-production application, Cubase AI, on your computer, connect the audio

interface via USB, and you can begin recording from instruments, mics, CD

players or MP3 players.

 

Audiogram 6 ($199.99) features two XLR combo

inputs with preamps and one-knob compression. One input has switchable phantom

power for using high-quality condenser mics. Two stereo inputs, stereo and

headphone outputs, and a USB jack complete the unit’s connections. Audiogram 6

includes separate controls for audio inputs and computer playback for complete

control while recording.

 

Audiogram 3 ($119-139.99) features one phantom-powered

combo input switchable for microphones or instrument recording, a stereo input,

a stereo and headphone output as well as a USB jack for connection to the

computer.

From Numark comes ArKaos Grand VJ—next-generation, powerful video mixing software for VJs, DJs bands and clubs. Hardcore VJs know and trust the ArKaos name; as the Cadillac of VJ software, Grand VJ features user-friendly, customizable interface, dual synth/mixer mode, real-time access to all mixing parameters, high-res output, an effects library and multiple camera support.

 

The Mac and PC-compatible software supports

Quicktime, MPEG2, MPEG4, Windows Media, Flash text and animations, and most

other common media formats. Whether you’re looking to enhance your events with

existing content or create video from scratch, Grand VJ delivers.

Demoed at NAMM with the Akai MPK 49 USB/Midi performance controller/keyboard, Grand VJ is perfect for layering all video footage and attaching text and audio. Look for it in September for $399.95.

 

Illseed is an AllHipHop.com columnist and independent cultural critic. The views expressed with in this editorial don’t necessarily reflect the views of AllHipHop.com or its staff.

I will be brief.

Reps for America, you can take your apology for slavery and shove it.

What does this apology really mean?

This apology means absolutely nothing (read the AllHipHop.com news story). You are about 140 years late! Be clear, American slavery lasted about 400 years here on American soil during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Rape. Murder. Death. Lynching. Terror. Free Labor. And Much More.

First of all, we as a people cannot go back in time and reverse the evil and devastation on African Americans. We cannot (or will not) reverse or equalize the benefits that White people have gained from slavery. Nobody is truly regretful for anything and this admission of guilt is likely an attempt to pacify people or for some other political end. Here is why:

An apology of this magnitude has to be backed up by some sort of sustained action. Generally, when you have harmed or done damage to somebody’s life, property or otherwise, there is measurable restitution for the crime or offense. Displaying a sincere apology means offering to pay the wrong parties and also show a plan to solve the problem. Oftentimes, the guilty party will even ask the other group to reveal the best way of rectifying the situation.

Nobody in government asked, but AllHipHop queried people like rapper Killer Mike. who suggested that a different sort of reparation be doled out.

“When they start talking about reparations, let’s not make it about the money,” outspoken rapper Mike told AllHipHop.com. “Let’s make it education based. I think every Black person in America should be able to go to college for free.”

We know that won’t happen, even though it really is an excellent alternative that should yield results. It is actually more favorable than money if we could get our school systems together enough to prepare kids for college.Apologies should really show how much you know the other person[s] were hurt by your actions. Obviously, if you say sorry you are opting to speak on behalf of your “body” (which is America) or your actual ancestors that owned slaves. America is supposedly admitting to this domestic holocaust, but what do we really get when it’s all said?

Whenever I talk to White people and some younger Black people, all I get is:

“I didn’t own any slaves.”

“This is a new generation and we don’t see color.”

“Get over it.”

“Its time to move on.”

Well, how do you expect somebody just “get over” slavery when people treat it like a bad break up. Somehow, the “sincerity” of the governing bodies isn’t trickling down to the rest of the country, even though I admit progress is being made. But how much advancement has really materialized? We are constantly reminded of the disparities in everything imaginable (health, wealth, quality of life, etc, etc) and most of the differences travel down the fault lines of race (and class).

New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina, Sean Bell, Amadou Bailo Diallo, the AIDS rate, murder rates, educational inconsistencies, the Black family in ruins…the list goes on and on and on. Most, if not all of these ills, are related to slavery or allied with the Father of slavery – White supremacy. I am still impacted, bothered and outraged at slavery and its racist aftereffects.

I see very few – if any people – willing to accept responsibility for slavery in any sincere way.

On top of it all, Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), felt as though the House deserved some sort of pat on the back for doing something that should been done decades ago. Cohen said. “I’m proud we did this as a part of this Congress.” I will be proud when these sentiments trickle and permeate through to the society at large and we can see improvement in the minds and lives of a mighty, but severely disenfranchised people. I want a commitment to bettering peoples’ lives from federal, state and local governments!

When it’s all said and done, an apology is a request for forgiveness. The recipient is completely allowed to deny the request.

Apology not accepted, in the immortal words of Latin singer Lisa Lisa. Still, I pledge to progress along with everybody else willing to do so, but I will accept that apology when those sustainable advances are made in and outside of the Black community.

Sorry. That wasn’t so brief, but neither was the time it took to get that apology.

Epilogue:

“I believe that this apology is way over due and it was just done strategically at a time when Congress is at an incredibly low approval rating. I think its a step in the right direction, but since slavery without a doubt built up the capital for capitalism [in America], there needs to be a discussion in Congress about some sort of reparations. That and the social, religious and educational mechanisms that facilitated the justification for slavery and the modern form of racism, that was born from it.”

-Immortal Technique to AllHipHop.com

 

My

mother is my best friend, and she has been for several years. However, this

between she and I were not always so blissful. 

I distinctly remember the time in High School when I “ran away” down the

block to my aunt’s house…for two extremely long weeks. 

 

As

I sit here reminiscing about that turbulent time, I realize that there was one

thing, and one thing only that brought my mother and I back together… communication. Communication

is the heartbeat of any relationship, and in a relationship that can be so

complicated and volatile like the one between parents and their children, it is

the only lifeline.  

 

In

my Hip Hop 4 Life program, we recently held an empowerment workshop where we

addressed the issue of parent/child relationships. When we posed the question:

“How many of you have a great relationship with your parents?” Less than half

of the young people raised their hand. 

 

At

another workshop, one of the young ladies who participated in my program pulled

me aside after the workshop and asked for me to escort her to get tested for a

sexually transmitted infection because she was too afraid to tell her

mother. 

 

Parents,

I can’t stress enough the importance of a clear and consistent line of communication

between you and your children. Believe it or not, young people would not mind

at all having a great relationship with their parents, where they can talk with

them about issues and things on their mind. But what stops them is the fear of

being judged, or punished because of doing so or that their parents are way too

out of touch to understand. Other times they feel like their parents either

don’t have the time or just don’t feel like being bothered.    

 

I

have a few words of advice.

 

Take

a moment to talk with, and most importantly, really listen to your kids. Listen

to what they have to say and what is going on with them.  Dedicate

the time to learn what issues young people are dealing with today.   Learn

more about what your child likes to do, their interests and where possible join

them in some of their favorite activities (video games, etc.)  Take

some time from work or from watching TV and spend that quality time with your

kids.  Most

importantly, do not hesitate to have the discussion about sex, drugs, alcohol,

gang/youth violence or any of these “sensitive” issues. 

 

In

our country, our children are becoming more endangered each day.   Let’s take a look at some of the devastating

statistics:

 

According

to the Bureau of Justice 2005 statistic, Black males 18-24 years old had the

highest rate of committing and being the victims of homicide.  Additionally, young adults (18-24 years old)

have the highest victimization rates in each racial and gender group.

 

Based

on research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, African American

youth, ages 13-19, represent 66% of new HIV/AIDS cases.

 

The

National Survey on Drug use and Health reports about 10.8 million (or 28.2%)

persons ages 12-20 reported drinking alcohol in the past month. Nearly 7.2

million (18.8%) were binge drinkers, and 2.3 million (6.0%) were heavy

drinkers.

 

If

parents educated their children more about these issues, there is bound to be a

decrease in some of these staggering statistics. Think about it, if you are not

talking with your kids about these important subjects, they are more than

likely learning it from their peers, the television or worse, education through

experimentation.

 

The

National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that youths ages 12-17 who

believed their parents would strongly disapprove of their using a particular

substance were less likely to use that substance than were youths who believed

their parents would somewhat disapprove, or neither approve nor disapprove.

 

This

is a topic that is so extremely important. Through my life and work, I see the

negative effects that lack of parental communication, guidance, love and

support has on so many of the young people we work with. I also see how much of

a positive effect a supportive, encouraging and loving parent-child

relationship has on children.  

 

I

am hoping that through my words, I can help begin to mend some of these

impaired relationships. No, I am not a psychologist. I am just someone who has

first, second and third hand experience with the situation, and someone who

cares so very much about empowering our youth! 

 

Tamekia

Flowers is the Founder/Executive Director of Hip Hop 4 Life, a non-profit

organization dedicated to engaging, educating and empowering young people to

adopt a healthier lifestyle while impacting positive social change within

communities across the nation. She can be reached at

in**@***************ne.com.