Coming Attractions

After a couple of weeks off to take care of some family business and rest my throbbing brain, I'm back on the blog and ready to keep you guys abreast of what's happening with your favourite sports writer.

And I'll update you on myself, too.

This month, for instance, I'll be a pretty busy guy.

Not only am I just 20 days from departing for my first-ever MLB spring training, but in case you guys didn't notice, it's February.

February means Black History Month.

And Black History Month means that for 28 days I become one of the most sought-after freelance writer/social critic/public speakers in the city. Yes, just about everybody sweating me now will forget about me as soon as March starts (though I'll be too warm in Florida to notice the cold shoulder), but for now I'm cashing in.

For this week, you can look for me at one of two places.

First, I'm I'll be one of three guest speakers at the CBC's Black History Month Celebration. That happens Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 4, with your boy taking the mic sometime between noon and 1pm. I'm hoping it's closer to noon because I've got a press conference (yes, big stars like yours truly still attend those) at 1:00. Luckily it's right across the street, but I still might have to flash some of that 4.4 speed (I think I still have 4.4 speed... over 30 yards at least) if I want to arrive on time.



Anyway, it all takes place in the Atrium at the CBC Building, 250 Front St., downtown T-Dot. If you're in the area, feel free to stop by and support me.

Bring signs. Scream my name. Ask me to autograph keepsakes and body parts.

Do whatever, just make sure you make me seem important. As I've said, we're building a brand here.

After I finish that speaking engagement I head back to the office and resume doing what they actually pay me for -- writing great reads.

Right now I'm writing an essay I hope will run in Sunday's Star examining the concept of post-racialism.

Basically, the election of pioneering president and newspaper industry savior Barack Obama has a lot of folks hoping we're on the precipice of a post-racial era in (North) American Society. You know, a time when differences between races will dissolve, nobody's ethnic background will matter, and we'll all be colourblind brothers and sisters in the human race.

A noble ideal at first glance but really a shitty proposition if for anybody who, like me, actually enjoys being black. So my essay, is a a defence of race in the face of all the post-racial optimism folks have been spouting since November.

Alongside that I hope to run a sidebar explaining why our "Post Racial" president really is black, despite how certain black folks (he's not black enough) and white folks (he's half white) classify him.

And all that's just in the first week.

What else will Black History Month bring, besides some work in the Sunshine State?

As soon as I know, I'll let you guys know too.