2007: A Tragedy or Triumph : Sports Edition

The calendar year of 2007 is just about over and I feel like I should show some love to athletes that had great years with my annual Dapper Boy Imaginary Awards show. But before I do that, I gotta show some respect to some athletes that were taken from us in 2007 - a year that was far too soon for most: Sean Taylor, Damien Nash, Darrent Williams, Eddie Robinson, Mario Danelo, Phil Rizzuto, Mike Coolbaugh, Dennis Johnson, Eddie Griffin, Skip Prosser, Evel Knievel, Robert Cade, Tom Johnson, Lillian Ellison (a.k.a. The Fabulous Moolah), John Woodruff, and Diego Corrales. Sure to see all of them at the crossroads: Back to business.

Team of the Year. The only team to finish the NFL regular season 16-0 - is there any contest?

The New England Patriots finished off a perfect regular season yesterday by defeating the New York Giants in a great game - by winning, the Patriots solidified the only team to finish 16-0 - a perfect regular season - a near perfect team. Other contenders would have to be the Washington Redskins for how they worked through and rebounded from a series to injuries to starters and the death of Sean Taylor - who will probably go down as one of the best Safeties to grace the field. Athlete of the Year:

Tom Brady passed for a record 50 TDs.

Tom Brady. There isn't much of a question, record breaking QB leads an undefeated team throughout the season. Other candidates are Lewis Hamilton, Floyd Mayweather, and Kobe Bryant - all of whom are the faces of their sports. Female Athlete of the Year: Serena Williams. Why? Take a look at the obvious and she made one of the best comebacks this year in all of sports - taking a hiatus but coming back and winning a couple of Grand Slams, only the Williams sisters. Other nominees, of course are Lauren Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam - but they don't quite have the assets of Ms. Serena - she's in a league of her own. Coach of the Year: Bill Belichick. Simply, he's a coach's coach, a competitor's worst enemy - shows no mercy, just plays the game. Additionally, he didn't let the "Spy Gate" controversy phase his performance, well at least, not for the worse - he took out the frustration on the field, that's why his team is 16-0. It's hard to determine what the best game of 2007 was but I know, for sure, that Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton led a monster year for boxing and all fighting sports as Fight of the Year.

Mayweather trounced Ricky Hatton in the 10th.

Other great fights were Taylor-Pavlik (can't wait for the rematch), Cotto-Mosley, Calzaghe-Kessler, and Bika-Codrington (there should be a rematch there, too). Finally, a list of the top 5 most paid athletes of the calendar year. 1) Tiger Woods ($100,000,000+) - what more can I say - he's Tiger Woods 2) Floyd Mayweather Jr. ($50,000,000) - two of his latest fights in 2007 were two of boxing's biggest in history. 3) Oscar De La Hoya ($46,000,000) - he's a cash cow. 4) Phil Mickelson ($42,000,000+) - Lucky Lefty 5) Kimi Raikkonen ($40,000,000) - fast money. Soon. "The hunger in their eyes, is what seems to feed me," Common.

2007 : Tradegy or Triumph? : Music Edition

It seems like 2007 just came and went in a flash - whether you want '07 to stick around forever because you're in love with the present and afraid of the future or you can't wait for it to be over - one thing is undeniable, '07 was simply a HUGE year as far as music, sports and entertainment were concerned. Gladly, it was a huge for me and mine too, let's pray that '08 holds nothing but better things for all of us. Nonetheless, a few notes on the Music industry in '07: Beyonce: deserves Artist of the Year simply because of her work ethic and originality were quite unmatched - whenever you can create a hook pleading for ladies to "pat their weaves" and for them to follow like it's nothing...that's what I call influence. The Protege a.k.a. Rihanna is honorable mention, she's following B step for step on the path to success while putting a creative and new twist on her material. Alicia Keys is always gonna be mentioned as a Artist of the Year candidate just because. '07 was a huge year for hip-hop artists from the Chi - all of the big 3's albums (Kanye's "Graduation, Common's "Finding Forever", and Lupe's "The Cool" were all some of the most anticipated for the year, and they all lived up to the hype. Every one of these guys deserve Album of the Year.Especially the homie Common - he just comes out with Classic after Classic and despite lacking record sales when you consider his material, the dude hasn't changed for no one. Outside of the Chi-3, Jay-Z's "American Gangster", 50 Cent's "Curtis" and plenty of others get some love, too. My fantasy wifey, Ms. Alicia Keys deserves Comeback of the Year - "As I Am" was certified platinum in 2 weeks - and double in 6. The Bearded Bandit, Freeway, whose album "Free At Last" is a hood classic is definitely worthy of a Comeback of the Year imaginary trophy and the homie Mario's latest "Go!" is another very good one, the dude is talented and is holding down smooth R&B for the younger generation - not that happy go lucky teeny bopper shit. You also gotta consider Jay-Z's "American Gangster" a comeback album - let's just imagine "Kingdom Come" didn't exist - it was no good when compared to the big homie's other work and I Know he knows it, too.

Keri Hilson is the total package...and very talented in the facial region.

I'm thinking to myself, who deserves a Dapper Boy Newcomer of the Year imaginary award? And I'm wondering who would be the nominees? I guess, Gym Class Heroes - their experimental style appeals to a lot of people, who else? Amy Whinehouse? Despite her drug issues, the chick could make music - mix the heroin and mary jane - you make hits who else Carrie Underwood I guess...she sold a lot of records but do people really listen to what she's saying? My boy Rich Boy, Pollow the Don, and Keri Hilson are also 3 ground breakers that plan to reshape their particular craft - whens the last time you heard of a rapper from Alabama, and a producer that has perfected the drum machine, and a singer/songwriter whose legs are just stunning like Ms. Hilson's? Nah, but on the real, Ms. Hilson sure can write...and I bet y'all thought that those were actually Britney Spears' words on her "Blackout" album, LOL. I'm just doing two more of these things, I promise

The pride & joy of Def Jam.

Dapper Single of the Year is tough between, "This is Why I'm Hot," MIMS, "Umbrella," Rihanna, "Shawty is the Sh*t," The Dream, "No One," Alicia Keys, "Buy You a Drink," T-Pain/Young Joc, "Irreplaceable," Beyonce. And some other shit in the mix. But I don't any single was touching the status of "Umbrella." Everyone one of every kind from ages 2-75 was singing the hook to that track - shout to The Dream, who wrote it. For single of the year do you have to separate "one hit wonders" from actual quality artists?

Is there any real question as to who is the entrepreneur of the year?

Finally, in retrospect the music industry and every other industry for that matter has become a path to further entrepreneurial obstacles for artists and 2007 was no different as we continuously witness artist become actors, owners, producers, writers, etc. But no one has perfected the art that is entrepreneurship quite like Jay-Z - whether it's the Brooklyn Nets (formerly known as the New Jersey Nets), an International 40/40 Club takeover, Rocawear, or his new line of "J Hotels" in the Chelsea section of the greatest city in the word, (I know, I define objectivity) the guy does it all - takes risk and gets high rewards (did you peep Beyonce?) No one quite matches his level of entrepreneurship, especially in the music industry - despite what MTV says - giving it to Justin Timberlake...? No disrespect at all, but be serious, what does MTV know about music anyway?

I'd rather not put a picture up of him topless or kissing Baby, his "daddy"- both equally hard to find. His pics w/ Baby fit with the homosexual revolution in the city.

And really, finally, seriously this time, I think that Lil Wayne should be recognized for Street Artist of the Year by coming out with out 44,000 mixtapes in the calendar year of 2007 and still not dropping "The Carter III" - he has quite the following in the hood now, some young kids really think he's the best rapper alive for some reason - I need more proof. Let's hope, for his sake, that "The Carter III" lives up to the hype - or he'll certainly be 2008's "Disappointment of the Year" to everyone...not just me. "The Plan is to wake up, cuz time reveals,"- Nas Soon.

An Original Poem...inspired by women throughout my life

In no way have I ever claimed to be a poet - although writing is what I do, I wouldn't call poetry my strength and I'm sure those that know me personally wouldn't either. I go where my mind takes me - whichever journey or endeavor that he leads me to. The latest happened at 4 in the morning ("I never sleep, cuz sleep is the cousin of death") - I don't know why I was up - you see what insomnia did to Edward Norton in Fight Club - but I was up and thinking about mainly my girlfriend and other girls that might wear sticky lip gloss.

Miss Sticky Lips

I can’t help but laugh/ Is it the joy that you bring me?/ Or the shape of your ass?/ I don’t want to be too forward/ Because that’s really not like me/ But I would like to move forward/ Because I could see you like me/ And I like you, too/ So much that if love found us two/ I’d express it on youtube./ Don’t get it twisted – I’m not saying I’m in love/ More like lust – I wanna wash your body with Dove/ Lust - all I think of is your touch, your bust – your kiss/

Miss sticky lips I’m lovin’ your slender hips/ I’m lovin’ those tender lips/ They send me into bliss/ A tap on my cheek : Let's wrestle with sheets/ As I lay down the beats/ Call me producer - my mission, to seduce ya/ Baby let down your guard - get a little looser/ I’ll throw on some Luther - proceed to roof ya/ Turn the lights down low, now go a little low/ I usually take it slow but those lips make wanna blow/

Miss sticky lips Its no longer lust - we’re together now and I love hearin you fuss/ The angry look on your face gives me a little rush/ My compliments calm you down – I love seein’ you blush/ Let out a little giggle then you show me your little jiggle/ It’s our world now - everything else is fickle/ Everything else is little –/ Compared to what we share – A physical connection when I pull your hair/ A mental connection that just can’t be bared/ A spiritual connection – that’s how you know I care/ 3 years deep – you’re in the King’s Lair/ I’ll drop down on one knee/ As long as you promise me/ That you’ll keep wearing what makes your lips healthy. Miss sticky lips.