Looking for something positive...

Waking up this morning after a long three weeks in my own life, but an even longer seven days for our world. Feeling relieved in my own space, but heart felt pain for so many others. Those in Boston, those who love someone in Boston, what can we do from this far away? How can we help, support and honor those on the east coast? We send thoughts, prayers and healing light. But, it doesn't feel like enough. I walk around now with you in my heart!!! I remember when I was live on the air during 9/11, I remember when Katrina hit the gulf coast, I remember Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, this is just as horrible. I hate this feeling. It's helpless, and at times hopeless. I know I can find something positive, but not right now. I'm always searching for that, even in the worst of times when the worst of things happen. I'm looking forward to a better week for us all. I plan to enjoy life more now, love stronger, give more often and make each moment mean something. I will be cherishing my friendships, my family and myself so much more now. I vow to work more towards my goals and dreams. I promise to be the best sister, daughter, aunt and friend I am capable of being!

Jackie, Let's Celebrate, Honor and Remember #42!!!!

Wow, each year at this time I get giddy, excited and a bit melancholy. I want to spend the days leading up to April 15th, Jackie Robinson Day in MLB cheering and remembering! This year it's a little extra special. A Biopic of Jackie's life opens in theaters tomorrow nationwide. I haven't anticipated a movie this much, EVER in my life. Part of me wants to go to a local theater and camp out, awaiting the very first show at 12:40pm tomorrow! I know I'd be the only person there, but maybe it would get some media attention, anything to keep his legacy alive. Anything to teach the kids about a guy that truly CHANGED the world through sports. "42" opens tomorrow, I'll be at that first show, with a group of people, smiling, laughing, crying, cheering and remembering Jackie Robinson. A man who integrated not only baseball; he started something and he stuck it out, even when it was almost too painful to handle. He broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. He tolerated years of verbal and physical abuse. His family tolerated years of verbal abuse as well. Every single child in this country needs to know what he did for people of color in this nation. He broke into baseball years before even schools were desegregated. The military was even just integrating soldiers into regimes around our country. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, Jackie Robinson did more for this country and the civil rights movement than any of us. That came from MLK!!! He has a national holiday in his honor every January. I vote for a national holiday for JR42, and I will spend the rest of my life working to get Jackie Robinson a holiday, to get Jackie Robinson on a postage stamp and and to keep his memory alive. I ask you, I challenge you to share his legacy with young people. Please, let's all continue to tell his story and help keep the conversation going, it will make us all better people. He's left me that gift and I'd like to offer it to you. Jackie Robinson died waaaaay to young at the age of 53, but his memory and story will remain alive forever! Hip Hip Hooray for JR42!!!

Lakers are #8 right now...

So sad to see such a talented group of NBA players, the Lakers, who can't seem to find a way to work together as a team. Shouldn't the game itself be the most important? Shouldn't winning at all cost be the motto? Since when is the money, the ego and the reputation more important than winning as a team? Basketball is a team sport. These are grown-ups who just don't have the cohones to make it happen. They just can't seem to put their own boyish attitudes on the side to play like a real team and win some basketball games. I guess when you bring in the negative energy of Ron Artest and try to pretend he's changed, you're already asking for trouble. He's a sham. There is such a thing as non verbal communication. He brought his history and his bad attitude to the Lakers. Yes, he's a talented player, but he's not healed and he's not true in his recovery. Just watch him. And, as much as I'm not a fan of Kobe the man, I am a fan of Kobe the player. Even he sees through the Artest facade. Then the Dwight Howard situation just escalates this to another level. Where's Derek Fisher when you need a solid adult attitude around to keep the kids in line. I may sound naive, but I don't remember the NBA players of the 80's and 90's being such jerks to fans, media or each other. Stop blaming the coach and bring back the old skool attitude and work ethic!

Kobe....Michael...oh so different!!!

It's so easy for people to blurt out how much they'd rather have Kobe than Michael leading their perfect NBA team. Some would say Kobe is the best to ever play the game. You are wrong. Let's not forget what MJ did for the game, for the city of Chicago and for the players around him. He was amazing and at times unstoppable! The most important part of his game, to me, was his ability to be unselfish and PASS the ball. We don't see that type of passing much in the NBA as it is today. He wasn't the nicest guy, he was tough on his teammates at practice and in games. He never gave up and tried to instill his work ethic into others. He was a bully sometimes too. If he thought his teammates weren't giving 100% he let them know it. But, in his mind, all along, was his will to win and his ability to give up the ball at times, if it meant winning. He learned so much of his talents and skills from a guy named Dean Smith. Jordan went to college @ North Carolina after high school. There he played for one of the best coaches in the history of the game. This is the monumental difference, Kobe never had that. You can say a lot of the same things about Bryant that I just did about MJ. But, and this is a big BUT, he went straight into the NBA from high school. He missed the whole 'Dean Smith' step in his life. The argument will continue for years, but the facts will remain the same. Kobe missed the part of his life where he would have learned character, dignity, integrity and values. Yes, our parents are responsible for this qualities. But, in sports the rules are a little different. Coaches and Athletic Administrators do have a part in the building of these young athletes, just as teachers do. We can't blame bad behavior on parents, teachers or coaches. But, we can give them credit when an athlete or kid finds the right path to travel. When we look back at Jordan's career and Kobe's career, we will see a bunch of similarities. But, Kobe missed a significant part of life by jumping straight to the NBA. Whatever side you're on, it sure is a great discussion.

Why so much drama???

I sit around lately, ok, no I'm not usually sitting. Truthfully, I'm hiking, running, skating, or walking when I think most of the time. Why don't athletes spend more time being people of high morals or character? Why isn't there more focus put into their training regime at all levels, high school, college, and professional; on integrity, honesty, health and reputation? Is winning and making huge money more important than the kind of person we become? More important than the image we portray? More important than our CHARACTER? Marion Jones, Lance Armstrong, Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Tonya Harding, A-Rod, Manti Te'o, Chinese gymnasts, Bill Belichick, Tim Donaghy, Ben Johnson, John Calipari, Rosie Ruiz, Danny Almonte, Donald Crowhurst... These are the first that come to mind. But, it's not about those folks specifically, it's about what we're teaching our young people. I'm not a parent nor an educator. But, I give a crap about what our children become and how our world will look to them later. If we gave less attention to unintelligent people who'll do ANYTHING to get ahead and more on the ones that teach our children life's lesson about truth, honesty, character and respect, wouldn't our world be that much better? Maybe it sounds Pollyanna, or too idealistic, maybe even like a dreamer. But, but, but, I'd rather live this way, without desperation for success. Cheating, lying, or hurting others should NEVER have a reward or payoff. I'm afraid for our world when we give so much attention to the negative, the crime, the dark. Where did we go wrong when we started worshipping the winners only or the richest only or the "best" only, the Hilton's, Lohan's, Kar-somethings? Reality TV is poisoning our youth. The reality of our sports stars is poisoning our youth. Irresponsible TV and movies are poisoning our youth! When oh when will we stop the MADNESS??? I'll answer my own question...when our heroes become our parents, uncles, aunts, neighbors, teachers...REAL people. Here's to my true hero...my mom, Renee!!! And some props to my sports hero, Jackie Robinson who would have turned 94 years old on January31st!!!

Ah a new year...

Seems like I wasn't in touch for a bit. I wasn't. Planning our new show time slot...Wednesday nights at 7pm on ESPN Radio 1280am. Yeah! New time, new day, same big name guests, same crazy fun, same local angles and even more listeners!!! Life has taken some turns the past few weeks and it's been good, sometimes bad. I honor the challenges and struggles, knowing it makes me fuller and stronger...even a bit more interesting, at least to a few. I'm excited about what 2013 brings, in work and in life. The CJ Silas Show is growing and working towards syndication this year. I couldn't do it without my loyal and supportive partners: Community VW of Santa Maria, Dr Brad Kurgis Dermatology, Lido Restaurant @ The Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, Brian Wampler & the staff @ Star Automotive, Dentists Daniel Lapidus & Larry Ackerman, Tim Holt at Preservation Capital, G Brothers Smokehouse, El Rancho Marketplace, Chiropractor William Baird, Mike Brabanac and Billy Gibbs of Golf Talk Radio on ESPN Radio 1280am. You are all awesome and have been with me through the first nine months of The CJ Silas Show. We will continue on this journey together, beginning this Wednesday January 9th at our new time, 7pm!!! Please, follow me on Twitter @cjsilas and find me on FB, C.j. Silas. Cheers!

I salute you...Jackie Robinson

I'd heard about Jackie's accolades at UCLA and Pasadena City College. I'd read all about his excellence in sports, lettering in track, basketball, baseball and football at each school. I've heard people speak about him and what he'd done for our country through sports. He was the first man of color to play professional baseball. He had the courage to go to the stadiums, into the clubhouses and locker rooms knowing it would be difficult because he was different. The only reason he was different, his skin was a darker color than the other players. During the late 1940's, when this happened, people all over the world were quite ignorant, therefore, he wasn't welcomed. But, he managed, he more than managed, he pushed through and truly changed the world. Even Martin Luther King Jr. once said Jackie Robinson did more for the civil rights movement than anyone of his time. He's been my hero for most of my adult life. His struggles and adversities motivate me to push through mine. If Jackie could do it, then I surely could. So, last night when I had the pleasure of standing in front of Jackie Robinson Stadium on the campus of Pasadena City College, I was mesmerized. I felt him there with me. I know his strength and perseverance have been by my side through the celebrations in my career and the pain of the disappointments. Being there last night, right where he'd studied for two years, 75 years ago, meant more to me than anything in a long time. I don't want us to lose his memory, I want young people to know the significance of his lifetime. I want to be sure kids always know who he is and what he did for so many of us in this country. He made it possible for people of all races and backgrounds to play sports. In the military and competitive sports were the first two places men of color worked side by side, reaching out for the same goal. I salute you Jackie Roosevelt Robinson. You have led me and inspired me year after year. I thank you for your guidance and vision. I've celebrated good times in my life and my career, because you taught me how to work through the challenges with a smile on my face. What would Jackie do? He would never give up. Cheers to Jackie Robinson. Hip Hip Hooray! I'd like to thank my partners on The CJ Silas Show for believing in me and supporting one of my dreams and encouraging me to Never Give Up!!!! Community VW of Santa Maria, Dr. Brad Kurgis Dermatology, Lido Restaurant @ The Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa, Dr. Daniel Lapidus & Larry Ackerman, G Brothers Smokehouse, Breven Baima @ Farmer's Insurance, Star Autmotive and Tim Holt of Preservation Capital. Without you by my side believing, The CJ Silas Show would be only a mere idea in my crazy little brain.