Dewey Bozella: A Dream Realized
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- Created on Tuesday, 18 October 2011 22:12
This week my final word is the most inspirational story I have heard all year. The story of Dewey Bozella, it reads like a Hollywood script to me. At 9 years old Dewey watched his father beat his mother to death. At age 12 Dewey’s brother was stabbed and killed during an altercation on the streets Brooklyn, NY. When he turned 17 Dewey moved to upstate NY to escape the mean streets of Brooklyn and found himself being accused of murder and later found guilty. Dewey served a 26 year sentence in Sing Sing for a murder he did not commit. However during those years in prison, Dewey never lost hope. He used boxing as a means to set his mind free from the pain of incarceration. While in Sing Sing, Bozella developed a reputation as a skillful and powerfully quick boxer. When Dewey fought behind bars the first man to knock down Roy Jones Jr. he knew he had the talent to become a professional fighter. So when Dewey was released from prison 2 years ago he vowed to still become a professional fighter even though he was at an age in which most fighters had retired 25 years prior. But what is most remarkable about Dewey is his attitude on life. With no malice in heart the hulk like man adopted the philosophy of Mother Teresa. “People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” The Fight That Made Boxing Relevant Again
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- Created on Tuesday, 20 September 2011 01:57
This past Saturday night the fellas from “The Bottom Line Sports Show” got together to view the Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz fight. And I didn’t think we would bear witness to history but we sure did. On this night boxing became relevant again. I don’t think anyone expected Ortiz to win but for the first few rounds he did have a few bright moments. However, the lights quickly went out on the WBC champ as quickly as you can say “Protect yourself at all times.” But in case you missed it the real entertainment of the night was the verbal altercation that ensued at the post fight interview between Floyd Mayweather and Larry Merchant. This feud had been boiling for many years. For many years Larry Merchant has consistently questioned Floyd’s dominance over the welterweight division via tough questioning and innuendos. Always acknowledging his talents but never really sipping the Mayweather cool aid. In years past Floyd tried to charm Merchant… that didn’t work. In years later, Mayweather tried to just ignore Merchant’s questions Sarah Palin style… that didn’t work either. Merchant as hard nose as they come refuses to be deterred; he questions Mayweather with the exact same strategy every time. He gives the complimentary acknowledgements of Floyd’s talents then questioning his decisions to pick fights that fit his style. Mayweather has never been able to convince Merchant that he is the best pound for pound fighter and this Saturday night with a controversial knockout and an electric atmosphere in Las Vegas the situation boiled over and eventually erupted. Thanks to this moment boxing became relevant again. So ladies and gentleman one last time let’s recap the fight Bottom Line Sports Show style. Usama Young
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- Created on Tuesday, 11 October 2011 15:28
This humorous, humble humanitarian is the newest edition to the
Cleveland Browns. Being referred to as a jack of all trades, free
safety #28 goes into OVERTIME w/theprettyphd to discuss
his bottom line on life, the league and the love for the game.
usama young of the cleveland browns
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My best childhood memory is winning the Super Bowl. Yea, I was 24, but
I don't wanna grow up. I'm a Toys R Us Kid. Seriously, I'd have to say
getting my first bike. I couldn’t ride it, but I had my own whip!
I am inspired by my brothers. They've always pushed me to reach my
goals. They remind me that potential is great, but it can also be my worst
enemy.
In the locker room, I try to clown around and just enjoy that camaraderie
amongst my teammates.
My favorite trait in the opposite sex is..... I gotta choose 1?
intelligence/humor/honesty/loyalty/BEAUTY... oh yea, I love legs
The advice I give to youth is to always push to achieve your goals; if you
work for it and put your all into it, nobody will keep you from reaching that
goal. Never let naysayers tell you otherwise.
A great skill of mine is versatility. I pride myself on being able to do
many things at a high level. That makes your demand a lot higher in any
workplace.
I have learned that I'd be a fool to take this life for granted. I'm in a position
to help out; and any chance I get, I will; which is why I started the Usama
Young Youth Foundation. I love doing what I do and I will always put my
best foot forward to help others.
My longevity in this game will be attributed to God. I’m humbled and happy
that I get to take care of my family, playing the game that I love.
I have an obsession with electronics. I always want the newest gadget. I
try hard not to get them, because a lot of the time, they are a waste.
If I could meet anyone it would be Muhammad Yunus because he's done
great things to guide this world in the right direction. Many of his ideas
seem overly ambitious to some, I would like to pick his brain and ask where
he gains his insight.
My anti drug is staying busy. I'm always into something. Something
positive, that is. My parents started that at a young age. Every season I
played a sport and I never just sat around doing nothing. Boredom is a
curse word. Make sure you blank that out.
The bottom line about my life is that it's far from over. I have so much
more that I want to accomplish. And I'm gonna keep working to get there.
Every day is another challenge for me.... to continue to get better
To learn more about Usama Young and the Usama Young Youth Foundation, visit him
at www.usamayoung.com
Overtime w/the pretty phd is written by Dr. Leelannee Malin, of Malin PR. With over
10 years of communications and public relations experience, Malin PR specializes in
Sports & Entertainment, Non Profit and Corporate Communications. To learn more,
about MPR, visit www.malinpr.com and stay tuned on twitter @theprettyphd.
The Beginning and the End of College Sports As We Know
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- Created on Wednesday, 21 September 2011 17:10
At the time I’m writing this blog we are hearing that the ACC has officially accepted Pitt and Syracuse as new members leaving the Big East after 25 plus years to join the ACC and that Oklahoma & Texas may jump from the Big 12 to join the Pac 12 which many believe will be the Pac 16 if Oklahoma St and Texas Tech jump ship as well. WHAT IS GOING ON PEOPLE???
Is the greed for TV revenue that great that these Fortune 500 companies EXCUSE institutions of higher learning can abandon their current conferences because they feel they aren’t getting a bigger cut of the TV revenue money. On Monday Oklahoma and Texas board of regents respectively granted both presidents the authority to take action regarding conference alignment. Basically they have the permission to seek out acceptance to the Pac-12. Do you think the Texas-UCLA had other implications besides a football game? Neither OKLA nor Texas has informed the Big 12 that they are leaving but its just a formality until they do. Oklahoma President David Boren said over the weekend he had “very warm and constructive discussions” with Pac-12 officials. That doesn’t bode well for the remaining 5-6 institutions left in the Big 12. Last year the Big 12 went through this losing Colorado and Nebraska as the remaining team members pledge to stick together. Oh how a summer can change things !!! By not deciding to create a conference network similar to the Big Ten and Pac -12, not agreeing to split revenue equally, and allowing Texas to create the Longhorn Network with ESPN (discussion for another time), estimated at $300 million for 20 years, the Big 12 or Small 12 has backed themselves into a corner that doesn’t seem promising. Yes, there may be light at the end of the tunnel, if there is a merger with the now defunct Big East, but that light without Texas and Oklahoma in the conference looks like a train coming.
Hey Guys, has anyone taking into account the scheduling and traveling that we are asking our student-athletes and parents to endure when choosing a school. Over the last few years it has become a cool trend to stay and home and play for a nearby school so that your family and friends can attend a game. What if my parents can’t afford to fly across the country to watch me play every other Saturday? Will I sell my game jersey to pay for a ticket for my mom? Oops, that’s a violation. And speaking about violations, where is the NCAA? The so-called Governing Body of College Sports. So you can suspend a few players for getting free tattoos and put schools on probation for rules violations, but you just stand by and watch the total realignment of college sports and do nothing???? Do we even need the NCAA when the presidents and athlete directors calling all the shots?
This trend is on-going as the ACC (previously mentioned) announced it was adding long-time Big East Companies Syracuse and Pitt. And UConn is also reported to have strong interest in joining the ACC. Remember when the Big East had Virginia Tech, Boston College, and Miami just a few years back. When they left for the ACC it was tough but the conference moved on. By the way have they won anything recently in the ACC?? Now losing Syracuse, Pitt, and UConn from a basketball standpoint will be devastating to the Big East.
We are talking about three basketball programs that at one time were all in the Top 10 last year. Two of them (UConn and Syracuse) have one national championships, with UConn winning last year. From a regionally standpoint Pitt seems more like a Mid-Western team that should be considered for the Big Ten not the ACC.
The most likely Big East candidates to be scooped up by remaining Big 12 schools are Louisville, Cincinnati, South Florida and TCU, with the prospect that UConn and Rutgers may not be available if each school can land in the ACC. There are reports that the SEC has its eyes on West Virginia
Without Syracuse and Pittsburgh, the Big East still has six football members, Cincinnati, UConn, South Florida, Rutgers, Louisville and West Virginia. Add on TCU joining the Big East conference next year giving them a presence in Big 12 country. And the ACC already with 14 members will probably add UConn and Rutgers giving them a presence along I-95 from Miami to Connecticut and all in between.
I haven’t even mentioned Notre Dame who remains an independent in football, but plays all other sports in the Big East. Has the luck of the Irish run its course?? Has loyalty, rivalries, and integrity been replaced by the greed of money in college sports? Somewhere Gordon Gecko believes it has.
Coined as the NFL’s next elite safety, Malcolm Jenkins goes into OVERTIME w/theprettyphd
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- Created on Monday, 05 September 2011 17:37
My best childhood memory is Christmas when I was around 5 yrs old. I got just about every Ninja Turtles toy that was out that year. I was a huge Ninja Turtles fan at the time and I never had a Christmas like it again. I don't know what my parents were thinking.
I am inspired by people who can be disciplined in their beliefs and dreams regardless of what the world tells them. That shows true commitment and faith in a world in which everyone usually does what's "in" or what's comfortable and easy.
In the locker room it is always freezing cold!!! Even in the winter the AC is on full blast. I think the coaches don't want us to hang out in there or something.
My favorite trait in the opposite sex is their ability to use their vulnerability to their advantage. Women in their willingness to be vulnerable are strengthened by it but men on the other hand try so hard to be strong that it often weakens us. We become devastated by failure, adversity, or anything that may hurt us.
A secret talent of mine used to be writing poetry but I stopped a long time ago. I was afraid of people actually wanting to hear it. Now I just enjoy other people's poems and spoken word.
I have learned that God has a plan for everyone and will use anyone to carry out his will.
I have an obsession with my wife... We just got married a few months ago and we are still in that "honeymoon" stage so I can't get enough of that woman.
If I could meet anyone it would be Jill Scott.
My anti drug is my drive to be great!! I won't let anything get in the way of it besides my lord, my wife, and my family.
The bottom line about my life is I am a servant of God first and foremost; the rest falls in line after that.
To learn more about Malcolm Jenkins, visit him at www.malcolmjenkinsfoundation.org
Overtime w/the pretty phd is written by Dr. Leelannee Malin, of Malin PR. With over 10 years of communications and public relations experience, Malin PR specializes in Sports & Entertainment, Non Profit and Corporate Communications. To learn more, about MPR, visit www.malinpr.com and stay tuned on twitter @theprettyphd.
