The Media

The media has long created biased opinions that influence multitudes of folks. The latest example of the media flexing it's "journalistic" muscle occurred yesterday.

Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, as they have been referred to the last few years, exited the playoffs yesterday evening. After a 21 point first half, James was held to 6 points in the second half of a game seven. The media's spin on this is the Cavs need a better supporting cast.

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, as they have been referred to the last couple of years, exited the playoffs two weeks ago. After a 23 point first half, Bryant scored a single point in the second half. The media's spin on this is that Kobe quit.

There is no need to mention the anti-Kobe wave that has struck number eight for the past 2 1/2 to 3 years. Nor is it necessary to spit on the love Lebron receives. But one must ask, how can comparable results be so disparately received?

Lebron lovers will say that Lebron was making the effort because he continued to shoot the ball in the second half. Watching that game, I think a lot of those shots were forced. Kobe didn't shoot as much but he also didn't create as well as he could of which is about the only difference between their two efforts. But to say Kobe quit when the gameplan hadn't changed since Game 1 of the series seems more emotional than factual. At the same time, wasn't it just a few days ago we were praising Lebron for his ability to get his teammates involved, meanwhile he's throwing up shots that have no chance of seeing the twine. (I know I'm exaggerating slightly but if paid media folk can lie, surely I can exaggerate).

Lastly, Lebron walked off without the hand shaking routines attributed to good sportsmanship. Kobe did the same thing. But when Kobe does it, suddenly there are reports that he told his teammates to do the same thing. Now this information is what 'reportedly' happened, no confirmation, no eyewitness, no one saying they actually heard Kobe tell his teammates these things. Much like Kobe reportedly broke up the Lakers a couple of years back (no voicemails, memos, conversations, nothing to support that other than media conjecture). Now why hasn't the media made anything of Lebron's sportsmanship?

Thousands of volunteers fanned out across Los Angeles Sunday for the annual clean-up and community service day, with officials estimating that the number might exceed the target of 25,000.

"We've run out of T-shirts," quipped David Levinson, a screenwriter who founded the community service project eight years ago and is now billing it as the biggest in the United States.

More than 10,000 people signed up for the event via the internet and another 12,000 signed up through the city, Deputy Mayor Larry Frank said, adding he believed the actual turn-out would be still higher.

"It's a day where we have a chance to build partnerships with community organizations and individuals all over the city," Frank said. "There's more work in the city than the city can do on its own. It's really about getting everybody participating to make the city work."

The Big Sunday program was a communal effort from the top-down to beautify the city and help the needy.

Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles IPA: /lɒs.ˈæn.dʒə.lɪs/ (from Spanish Los Ángeles /los.ˈaŋ.xe.les/) also known simply as L.A., is the second-largest city in the United States in terms of population, as well as one of the world's most important economic, cultural, and entertainment centers. It was incorporated as a city in California on April 4, 1850, and is the county seat of Los Angeles County.