So There Is This Other Team From New York.......

…that is creating much buzz around the world of basketball. They haven’t been a contender to make the NCAA tournament since 2000 and have not made any noise in college basketball since 2003. Their name is the St. John Red Storm.

Now when you think of basketball, you think of New York; Rucker Park and Madison Square Garden. It is a hoop star’s dream to make your name there. Now During my time the Knicks was okay with Ewing, Bernard King, Oakley, Big Mase and his many haircuts, John Starks, Reggie Miller taunting Spike Lee, Jordan, Lebron, Melo, and Wade going for 50, and the infamous John Starks rising on Jordan.

What people don’t remember is that while all this was going on. The St. John Redmen (AKA Red Storm) was the one of the beast of Big East with other teams like Georgetown, Villanova, UCONN, and Syracuse in the 80s and early 90s. The Red Storm has the 7th-most NCAA tournament appearances (27), two Wooden National Player of the Year Award Winners, 11 consensus All-Americans, 6 members of the College Basketball Hall of Fame, and has sent 59 players to the NBA Led by the one O.G’s of the “Sweater Committee,” Lou Carnesecca. The Redmen (name at that time) was a dominant force in the 80s led by one of the best playground basketball-turned NBA star in Mark Jackson and one the sharpest shooter in the NBA in Chris Mullin. It is also the alma mater of one of realist and craziest character of the NBA. This might help you out…….

Now the Red Storm has not been that team since 2003. Even Rutgers, who was always the laughing stock of the Big East was getting better player than they were. That was until Steve Lavin actually saw the Red Storm play in the Big East Tourney in 2010 and had a thought that most of the player from NYC were going to other programs such as Duke, UNC, Syracuse, Villanova, and UCONN where some of the NYC best high school players were leaving to become part of the their dynasty. He wanted to bring the NYC talents back home to play in the Mecca thus taking the job at St. John’s. This year’s Red Storm looks like the Old School Redmen, knocking off top 15 – caliber teams such as Notre Dame, Connecticut, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, and the Mighty Duke Blue Devils. Now, the Red Storm is in the ranked polls for the first time since 2000 and they are not trying to stop. Could the Johnnies be marching back into the ranks of the NCAA Elite? Only time will tell and we will find out soon if the Johnnies are back.

….but for now, the climb is waiting for the Red Storm.

- Stay Hungry My Friends!!!

-SA

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day to all the Armed Forces Veterans who lived and died for us. The Ace really appreciate it.

63 Years: The Loyalty of a Teacher

Now anybody knows me on my blog post I rarely post about my hometown because unless it is Vicksburg, Jack-town, Natchez, or any other town that I travel to everyday, there is nothing to post. Well actually Sunday I had something to hit up about my hometown, but the only reason I post it today because of my busy schedule. The thing is it is not about no Negro-Nonsense because we have that almost everyday. I am going to talk about a woman that I know.

….Well I knew she was old, but wow the accomplishment she achieved is beyond “the average educator.”

When Emma Brandon began teaching she earned $36 a month, walked three miles one way to school - seven miles if overnight rain made the creek too swollen to cross - and toted her own lunch of biscuits and syrup.

A lot has changed in the 63 years since. There are computers and standardized tests. Schools have been consolidated and integrated. Principals have come and gone.

Last week, Brandon decided to step out of the classroom for good, becoming one of the hundreds of Mississippi school teachers to retire this summer.

Roughly 800 to 1,000 teachers have retired each year for the last decade, the state Public Employees Retirement System reports.

The average tenure for those teachers is 24 years, said Pete Smith, spokesman for the state Department of Education.

Brandon went into teaching fresh out of high school in 1946. It was her escape from the farming life destined for so many others in her rural community.

Now I have been knowing Mrs. Brandon since I was born, and I am not going to tell you how old I am but let say this, she has more years than how old I am. Mrs. Brandon was always so nice to our class. She was a class act from generation to generation. Come to think about it, let’s recap the things that was going on in 1947

I mean seriously, black people had No chance in h-e-double hockey sticks that an full-fledge African American would be in the White House.

There was no tennis stars in the WTA.

Brown vs The Board of Education was not even mentioned.

Civil Rights was a scary word.

World War II was 2 years done.

Truman was the Prez.

IBM was a younging.

And the Klan was running (see Dixiecrat).

The average teacher tenure is close to 30 years, but Mrs. Brandon has taught men and women, their sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, sons, grandsons, daughters, grand-daughters, great grandsons, great granddaughters, and even a great-great grandson for 63 years.

So to Mrs. Brandon, I tip my hat to you.

Do you think the old-school teachers are the most under-appreciated? How many people have know anyone who have taught for over half a century?

Mrs. Brandon retires after 63 years.

Weekend Jam - Mother's Day

Well after doing exams, cramming, fatigue, and other stuff that I did not know my body can go through, I had to take time to wish every mother, aunt, god-mother, and motherly woman a Happy Mother's Day. So for the Weekend Jam, I am just going to play my all-time favorite Mother's Day song. I will be back shortly with major post, an upcoming post on Black Man's Law, and a week of guest bloggers with a catchy theme call "Who's at the Ace House."

...for now enjoy the tune and Happy Mother's Day.

A Smoking Ace Repost- When the Saints go "Jiggin' " in the NFL

Around 9:30 PM CST Sunday night, the following things were happening in the South:

Some drunk redneck and a black guy were doing the back bump during happy hour in Mississippi

Some Bama guy and Auburn guy forgot all about the Iron Bowl game and was hi-fiving each other like the Walter Payton-Fridge Hi five in eastern Alabama.

Some guy from the Metarie and some other guy from the 9th ward are second line dancing, doing The Ratchet, and Jiggalating off the song “Jigga Juice” at Bourbon Street

The reason why is because the New Orleans Saints is in the Super Bowl.
Maybe because Greg Williams is mad because he got shafted for the heir apparent to Joe Gibbs for Snyder’s boy Jim Zorn.

Maybe because Drew Brees was shafted by San Diego for Phillip Rivers.

Maybe it is just how the Saints felt shafted after Hurricane Katrina.

Whatever it was, we thank them, because everybody in the Miss-Lou-Ala region are doing the jig over the Saints being still undefeated. I like that they have a high-potent offense and still a stingy defense. I am so getting me a Saints hoodie after years of futility.

Before I go, That Drew Brees’ pregame is just as hype as Ray Lewis. Check it out.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day. I wish everybody in the whole world a Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s day. Had to play ole Stevie on this one.

SA