Military Academy Senior Seeks Assistance
Editor
My name is Andrew J. Davis and I am a senior at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas. I have been nominated to represent my school and the state of Colorado at the National Young Leaders Conference.
The conference brings exceptional high school students from around the country to an interactive program. This will be a powerful experience, enabling me to interact with many prominent men and women who most of us only read about in the papers and see on television.
Attending this program will enable me to further develop my leadership skills and reach my career goals. Last year I maintained a 4.1 GPA and was involved in the following activities: Key Club, Judo Team, National Honor Society, Junior State of America, JROTC Leadership, and Rotary Interact
Imagine if you had been given this opportunity for a life-changing experience when you were in high school and were unable to participate for lack of funds. That is why I am writing you.
My participation in the conference depends on whether I can raise $1,500 in scholarships. The conference tuition is $1,335 and my travel expenses will cost approximately $500. Through my family and personal savings, I have raised $300.
I am hoping that the Denver Urban Spectrum readers will assist me with all or part of these costs. My tuition must be paid no later than July 28.
Your support for my sponsorship would be greatly appreciated
Editor’s note: Anyone interested in sending donations of support, or for further information, call 303-693-7547 or 703-584-9230.
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Davis

Gov. Owens To Gallop Away With His Blood-Loot, To Draftback Mountain, TX
Editor:
Gov. Owens is preparing to leave office due to term limits. He is sitting tall in the saddle, poised to gallop away on his steed, with multi-millions of dollars in blood loot in his political war chest. Owens is taking money he has stolen from Black disabled military veterans in the form of earmarked jobs and contracts, established by the U.S. Senate through appropriation laws. Owens stole jobs and contracts from Black vets in the $14 billion T-REX, Fas Tracks, and Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority. He is no better than Jack Abramoff, and Congressmen Nye, Jefferson, and Cunningham. Jefferson stole from Blacks, and so did Owens. The entire state legislative body and state auditor, turned a blind eye (eyes wide shut) to Owens' personal fraud, waste, and abuse of federal funds, coupled with RICO violations in these federally funded projects.
Owens gave Black disabled Vietnam veterans' financial opportunities to his white friends, and corrupt federal/state contractors. They rewarded him for his gifts by giving (federal monies) political financial donations to him from these federal cash-cows, which in reality are RICO kickbacks. Across all racial lines, Owens owes an apology to Colorado's 300K+ veterans and their families. Furthermore, he and the entire state legislative body should refund their ill-gotten and illegal financial gains to the families of our struggling veterans' families, who made the nation's sacrifices with their lives and limbs.  While I was serving in three deployments to Vietnam, Owens cut and ran, and sought sanctuary from the draft, under his mom's dress tail. How did Owens get a draft deferment while he was a college-jock? Was he pardoned by President Carter for his felonious draft-evading tactics? Bush wasn't (UCMJ illegal discharge/separation violations). 
James J. Tenant
Lt. Commander, USN, Ret.
Centennial, CO

NFL: No Front Office Representation, No On-Field Participation
Editor
With the kickoff of the NFL season right-around the corner, The National Football League should have a serious dilemma on its hands. The league's ownership should, logically, be held accountable for permitting exclusionary front-office hiring practices.
Can anyone argue consequences and repercussions aren't in order after an off-season which saw a number of head coaching positions become open, yet the only Black coaches involved in the shell game were Herman Edwards, going from the New York Jets to the Kansas City Chiefs, and Art Shell brought back to lead the Skull and Bones Raiders in Oakland?
This form of musical chairs ought to be unacceptable to both fans and players of all races. But it should really burn the backsides of Black folks in particular because of the exclusionary history of the game, and because of the simple numbers within the game today. Afro Americans dominate the sport, constitute the vast majority of all-stars, and have a long-standing gripe with the league over this issue. Racial discrimination is a problem in the NFL, just as it is across the USA. If there are virtually no Blacks in the front office, then there shouldn't be any Blacks on the field.

No participation without representation -- bottom line.
A boycott by African American players of the last game of the pre-season would hammer home the disgust Black fans feel upon scanning the sidelines in search of a field general that looks like us. A work stoppage would send a clear message. We're sick and tired of the company line: "Wait till next year boys.”
Blacks’ absence in the league as head coaches, assistant head coaches and, yes, as cheerleaders, is neither happenstance nor coincidence -- it is the desired climate -- social engineering at its best. There was once a sign which proudly hung over the NFL coaching fraternity house which stated No Niggers.

It was reluctantly and begrudgingly removed. I don't think there's any denial of opposition to inclusion and fairness. The mentality which objected to diversity is far from dead and gone. I know I'm hoping and wishing Black players in the NFL exhibit a form of sophistication and cohesion they really are not capable of. This idealistic response to institutional racism could only occur if the league were composed of informed and educated Black players -- ebony Spartans enlightened about the past history of the game and of the nation in which it is played, while knowledgeable of their individual responsibility,

and the current power they harbor and could justly wield. That would be Black Power.
Sadly, this ain't reality. These mostly fatherless and thus somewhat rudderless men don't have the knowledge, convictions or guts to wield that power.
These young Afro American gentleman, most having tragically been under-educated by a woeful urban public school system, just as their parents were, don't have any idea what their duty is to Martin and Malcolm, let alone what they directly owe Fritz Pollard and Dick “Night Train” Lane. They have no idea what they should collectively be bargaining for. They're too busy. As Dr. Dre says: Spend time out the hood, take they moms out the hood. Hit my boys off with jobs, no more living hard... Barbeques every day, driving fancy cars. Still gon' get mine regardless.
They should be in the process of a decided, calculated and defiant stand -- not merely threatening to wear black arm-bands, but rather promising to boycott the last 06' pre-season game to convey their condemnation of the league’s continued condoning of front office discrimination via the owners’ silence and inaction in the face of obvious discrimination. If this happens again after this season, maybe not participating in the whole 2007 pre-season line-up is the next move.
I'm sorry, but I tire from having to witness the parade of 30-something Caucasian cats -- guys who have some Dr. Doolittle gift of talking to animals - being anointed with boy-genius tags and head coaching slots -- Negro Whisperers, while guys like Mike Singletary sit. Still, and this point is critical - Blacks, in the face of this form of blatant corporate exclusionary activity, remain loyal to a league which maintains this fake, artificial, white man-made good ole' boy network. Despite understanding, the unspoken rule of, “If you're Black, stay back,” is obviously still being applied to the Head Coaching position. Nonetheless, Black folks shuffle on into Wal-Mart to purchase NFL gear, and Black players continue to dance from the end-zone to the bank lobby. America, where God is money -- and money is God.
Horrifically, we’re looking at a generation of Black gridiron gladiators who don't grasp they're being pimped and exploited. Why? In part because they’re being paid so very well -- far beyond the financial realms of reality their formal or street education could bring home. And we are looking at a Black fan base so lacking the knowledge and convictions of our forefathers, to even give a damn that, we too, are being slighted and shorted: Black folks just happy to be a part of the biggest show on the planet.
Pathetically we ignore how Blacks have elevated the game to unbelievable levels of popularity and profitability, yet Black cheerleaders still occupy only token status in the league. Who and what standards, values and preferences are applied to choose these ladies? Black is beautiful baby, from birth on, without butt-pads, sprayed on color, and lip thickeners. I've watched the making of NFL Cheerleaders on the NFL Network, and it is a network of aging Bambis and Buffys -- girls they find suitable. It is a slap in the face of Black people. What does it say to the young Black girl watching the game with her dad? That Black girls just don't, or can't be cheerleaders?
At a super bowl held in Motown (Hitsville, USA), the half-time headliner was a group of geriatric rockers, symbolic of a whole generation of blue-eyed Soul singers half-assedly imitating and emulating the real thing -- Jackie Wilson, The Isley Brothers, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix and James Brown. Mick Jager couldn't sing in the shower with Aretha Franklin. And, even as skinny as he is, he couldn't fit in there either.
Nevertheless, the half-time line-up spoke volumes about how the NFL brain trust regards Black fans -- expendable and highly pimpable. It also demonstrated how the league views its Black players -- as predictable and dependable -- all day suckers. No matter how much African Americans are disrespected, both players and consuming fans still show up. Can't Dr. Harry Edwards and Jim Brown sit down with the NFL's lost Black lads, conjure up the spirit of Ralph Wiley, and together overwhelm these young man-cubs with a sense of social duty and obligations? These boys need a wake-your-ass-up call.
Today, Black ball players are so busy calling each other nigger, they can't hear the beat of the real drummer. If the NFL could, the Euro -League would change the face and color of the NFL. Should I not be able to suggest these cats ought to know better than to perform for ownership, and an audience, which are not quite sure if Blacks are truly capable of organizing and leading a football team? Hell, millions of white folks are still debating if we are actually humans or apes.
I don’t think it is wrong to saddle these young millionaires with the title of role-model, and to additionally expect this type of political/social savvy and activity. Taking a stand is simply a part of the "hero" job description. If you can't stand the heat, go get a job at your uncle’s cleaners. Forgive me, but more is expected from these self-labeled alpha-males than hanging out with Snoop and Fitty.
It struck me as interesting that the Denver Broncos hosted the former Ivy League Cheerleader, President George W., John Elway and other current players, and supported and stumped for Little Lord Flat-Bush. Where are Black players’ political ties and interest? They, too, ought to take social and economic stands. Man-up, stand up and speak out about obvious injustices and inequalities, not merely within this nation’s official pastime, but within the nation itself.
In 1965, Ali pointed out, "Ain't no Viet-Cong called me Nigger!" Well, here it is almost 2007, and if this White House has its way, U.S. GIs -- our sons, and daughters -- will be in Iran, sooner than later, and a national draft will be required. Not so much if, but when this happens, I'd like to hear Randy Moss or TO stand up and declare, “Ain't no Iranian called me Nigger.”
desi cortez
e-mail: freehuey68@wmconnect.com