The Not-So-Great Smollett Hoax

Well, it looks like the cat is finally out of the bag on Jussie Smollett's fake "hate crime". When this thing was initially reported, I immediately sensed a distinct aroma of liberal bullshit. A noose, bleach, "MAGA country" ramblings, etc. Come on, could this thing be any more orchestrated?

Honestly, I had never even heard of Jussie Smollett before this story went down. Maybe that's because I've never watched an episode of "Empire". But Smollett has definitely made a name for himself now. They say that any publicity is good publicity. But the jury's still out on that one. Smollett, who is now charged with felony disorderly conduct, will have to do some serious spinning to come out of this one looking good. 

Even with these latest developments, many on the left will still defend Smollett. I expect to hear how he fabricated his story to expose a bigger problem in our society. Many will view him as "sacrificing everything" for his cause (By the way, remember when Colin Kaepernick sacrificed "everything". That was, of course, before he got a reported $60 million pay-out from the NFL). This is just another example of how the political gears of our society turn. If it's your guy or your cause, the end ultimately justifies the means. In layman terms, this is known as throwing a bunch of shit against the wall to see what sticks.

What I find most ironic about Smollett's stunt is that is was intended to paint Trump supporters as racists and himself as the victim. But in reality, he screwed the pooch in more ways than one. First off, Trump is always reminding us of the "fake news". Well, Smollet just gift wrapped a perfect example for him. Before the media investigated anything, they immediately ran with their predictable narrative. It's similar to the way they pick and choose which cop-shooting stories to run. Secondly, if one has to actively seek out and fabricate a "hate-crime", is racism really as bad as the media wants us to believe? Was oppression so bad for Smollett that he had to hire two Nigerians to "oppress" him? 

I am certainly not saying that racism does not exist. It does. And it's wrong. However, making up a story as Smollett did, serves no useful purpose in resolving anything. It only serves to set things back even further. As a result. Smollett's antics will now cast inevitable skepticism on any future "hate crimes". In essence, he sabotaged his own cause.

This whole thing was a powder keg that had the potential to explode at any moment. People could have gotten hurt or even killed over an incident that never actually happened. And for what? Apparently, Smollett was unhappy with the salary he was receiving as an actor on "Empire". So. he recklessly tried to fuel racial tensions in a lame attempt to boost his career. As a result, he is now facing three years in jail. Probably not the best move for career advancement.

A few additional things to note....

A year or so ago, Rosanne Barr was forced off of her show for an alleged racist tweet she made. Not only did Rosanne create the show, but it also happened to be the hottest show on TV at the time. So, she obviously paid a hefty price for her actions. So, will Smollett's racially motivated actions be as damaging to him?

Smollett's legal team recently said their client deserves the presumption of innocence. Fair enough. But it wasn't that long ago, according to reports, that Smollett had commented on how then Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh should not be granted presumption of innocence on charges of sexual misconduct. I guess things are different when the shoe is on the left foot?

If this incident was indeed staged, can Smollett  himself be charged with a self-inflicted hate crime? Inquiring minds want to know...

The premeditation of this whole incident is what's most compelling to me. Knowing that the media salivates over stories like this, Smollett fed the beast and they ate it up. Thinking that he could actually get away with it seems kind of ludicrous at this point. But nice try....

kw

Super Bowl 53 Ramblings

So, here we are, on the dawn of another Super Bowl. There was a time, not so long ago, when I used to really look forward to this day every year. Whether I was hosting the party or I was joining friends somewhere else, it was always a festive occasion. Not so much anymore...

I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't interested in tonight's game. After all, Tom Brady will potentially cement his place in history (again!) as the greatest NFL quarterback of all time. He's exciting to watch. Remember that comeback against the Falcons in Super Bowl 51? That was nothing short of spectacular! Sure Brady's got a lot of critics, but I think it has more to do with jealousy than anything else. I mean the guy has everything anyone could ever want: money, fame, success, beautiful wife, etc. I used to hear Raven fans try to elevate QB Joe Flacco by saying "all the guy does is win". That claim would be a vast understatement when it comes to Brady.

Tonight's match-up boils down to the old versus the new. You've got an aging but experienced Brady/Bellechick team taking on the young, hungry Rams led by QB Jared Goff and 33-year-old head coach Sean McVay. It should be an interesting contest.

By the way, am I the only one who likes the old Patriots uniforms of the 80's better than the modern ones?

I have dinner plans this evening, so I really don't plan on watching the game. Although, if it happens to be on, I'll likely glance at it every now and then to check the score. After all, I do have a few football pools for the game.

I don't feel the need to rehash the reasons that I don't watch much football anymore. Some friends agree with me, others don't. That's fine, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

With this being said, there is a potential controversy brewing over the halftime show. There is pressure on Maroon 5 and others to "make a statement" during their acts to show solidarity with Colin Kaepernick's "knee campaign". No one has revealed if anything will be done or not. But I suspect that we'll see some form of protest. I think most people have become somewhat numb to it and will generally just ignore whatever the statement-du-jour happens to be.

I remember a Super Bowl a few years ago where Beyonce made her whole half-time act a political statement. As expected, it inspired/angered equally. I happened to be in the latter end of that group. I personally like to see politics left out of my music and sports. Of course, music can be a lot trickier because it's often fueled by politics. I get it. But the divisiveness is what really turns me off. As the old Coca-Cola commercial used to say, "I'd like the teach the world to sing in perfect harmony..." I know it's a pipe dream but it's still a nice thought.

Anyway, enjoy the game if you happen to be watching it. For what it's worth, my random prediction is Patriots 38 Rams 24.

kw