Possible Fix for CE-108255-1 ?

I stayed up many nights, refreshing and researching. One night I came upon a tip and went searching online for a Playstation 5 (PS5) and I was able to secure one.

A week passed and I picked up the system. I waited a week until the game I wanted was released and then I got into the mood. It was a ceremony. I ordered everyone to be quiet, poured a glass of whisky, and began to open the box. I quickly set it up, however, downloading the game onto the system would postpone my fun another hour or so.

After all that, I fired up the game and was amazed by the graphics and quick loading times. Perfect…until midway into my first game. The game crashed. ERROR CE-108255-1. I quickly looked it up to find that I wasn’t the only owner of a PS5 that produced this error. I researched for hours on how to fix this issue. Sony offers the following steps to possibly fix the problem.

STEP 1 – Delete and re-install the game that’s giving you problem. If the problem persist go to step 2.
STEP 2 – Start the system in SAFE MODE and rebuild the database. (More than likely this doesn’t fix the issue, so onto step 3)
STEP 3 – Reboot to factory settings

For some those steps may have worked, but for most it didn’t. So after researching for hours and speaking to Sony Customer Support a few times, I found some tips to potentially fix the problem.

Possible Fixes

(Disclaimer: These are POSSIBLE fixes and may or may not work. But giving them a try doesn’t hurt)

POSSIBLE FIX #1: Turn off the internet connection on the PS5. (Who really wants to turn off their internet connection to their game? This fix allowed me to play a full game on Madden 21, however, the fix did not last and the game crashed the next time I played without the internet. If this doesn’t work or does not appeal to your gaming preference, disregard and follow possible fixes #2 – #4)

SETTINGS>>NETWORK>>SETTINGS>>CONNECT TO THE INTERNET

FIX #2: Change 4K transfer rate from AUTOMATIC to “-1”

SETTINGS>>SCREEN AND VIDEO>>4K VIDEO TRANSFER RATE

FIX #3: Set resolution to 2160p instead of AUTOMATIC

SETTINGS>>SCREEN AND VIDEO>>RESOLUTION

FIX #4: Change to PERFORMANCE MODE instead of GAME DEFAULT

SETTINGS>>SAVE DATA AND GAME/APP SETTING>>GAME PRESETS>>PERFORMANCE MODE or RESOLUTION MODE

Since making changes to my system with FIXES #2-4, I’ve been able to play a few games of Madden, Watch Dogs didn’t crash, and I played a few hours of FIFA 21.

The Sony Customer Support Agent informed me that an update to fix this problem should be arriving. When it will arrive is the ultimate question. The most recent update was released 11/25, but it did not fix the CE-108255-1 error message issue.

Before you decide to return your system or give up until a permanent fix arrives, try these fixes. Another tip is to alter/play with the in-game graphic/video settings. They have the potential to possibly fix the problem for now. If the fixes do not work, contact Sony Customer Support. Some PS5 gamers have been able to send their PS5’s in to Sony. Hopefully, these fixes correct your system so you’re able to take in what the PS5 has to offer.

LaVar Ball is Back at it Again

He’s back in the headlines. Lavar Ball has touted his son(s) as the best player(s) in the world. His outspokenness has begun to strike an unfavorable cord with the public. Some would say he’s doing too much and is only hurting his children’s future. While others praise his dedication to his brand and energy he spends on his sons.

On The Herd, Ball is being interviewed by Colin Cowherd. While discussing his Big Baller Brand and the number of shoes sold, co-host Kristine Leahy was sure to voice her displeasure with the brand. Leahy gave her great advice that “…in order to have a successful company, you’re going to have women who like your brand,” and Lavar was ready to respond with “…yeah if you have a women’s company.”

Of course, after his comments the internet made their own interpretation that Lavar is being “disrespectful to women”. I don’t think Lavar was disrespectful at all. Women may just not be in his target demographic. What’s wrong with that?

People these days are uber-sensitive. So sensitive that it’s rubbing off on our sports. Basketball these days is a watered down version of what he was accustomed to years ago. Same could be said for a lot of things.

Many people don’t like the ones who are candid and forthright. Let’s water down how we think so it’s easy to digest. Lavar Ball is many things. He’s obnoxious, he’s arrogant, he’s outspoken, and there’s no question that he loves his children (even if it’s in faux-Joe Jackson type of way).

Let the man sell his brand. Everyone wants to feel included, but life isn’t about “inclusion”. We live in a world where there’s supposedly hundreds of genders and the “Woman of the Year” was born a man. That’s pretty much why ~~Bruce~~ Caitlyn Jenner won the award. It’s a confusing time to live in.

Get off Lavar’s back. I’m pretty sure if the tables were turned and a woman said that her company “wasn’t for men” there wouldn’t be much of a problem. But, because he’s a man and is not including women in his target market – we have a problem.

I think the real issue here is that the man is selling a $495 shoe for a player who has not stepped foot in NBA. He hasn’t even been drafted yet. Who knows if Lonzo Ball is the second coming of Darko Miličić or the next Jason Kidd? That seems to be the only issue here.

There’s No Loyalty in Today’s Employment Game

We all want loyalty. Loyalty from a friend, a pet, family and maybe even your job. It’s something that we want. Having this allows us to feel at ease. Comfort.

We hope that we can find a loyal friend or pet. We hope that our family is loyal to us. Jobs assert that you stay loyal to them. “Be a loyal and hard-working employee”. It’s funny that employers want us to be loyal to them while their loyalty remains to be focused on the company’s capital.

Employers select the perceived “perfect” candidate and assimilates them into their team. You are expected to be hard working, dependable and ultimately a loyal member of the team. Like most, my hard working and dependable qualities will shine despite my loyalty to a company. But how can we be loyal to a company that we’re only a number to?

Jobs are hard to come by. It’s an employers playground. Hundreds of people apply to these jobs thanks to the job shortages (jobs that actually pay a living wage). Employers go through these applications and resumes and pick the best candidate or the candidate that has an “inside connection”. You work and they demand you to give your all to the company. Dedicate hours of our precious time for the good of the company. Although, letting people go does cost the company money, they are just as willing to dive into the plethora of resumes of eager applicants who would jump at the chance to hop on the team.

We are more or less a number, especially when working with big companies. Their capital is their only focus. Some companies fail to realize that their employees are essential to their success. They are quick to replace, yet demand you dedicate your life to their company when you’re only a body to them. How can you be loyal to a company that cannot guarantee the same amount of loyalty back?

I’ve witnessed this first hand. I watched as co-workers were replaced as quickly as they were let go. When co-workers pass away, we share the news and get back to work. Less than 8 hours later, we forget all about the passing away of a co-worker. Almost immediately that spot is filled and the person whose spot was vacant due to their untimely death is forgotten and it’s business as usual.

We must evaluate our importance to our company. All of us work for different companies with different views. Some companies MAY be loyal. A smaller company with a more personable presence will most likely be more loyal than these large companies. They shell out low pay rates and expect you to give your all. Pay rates will be my focus on the next article as those are subject to debate as well.

We all need sources of income to get through life. It’s inevitable. Which means we need jobs and our loyalty to the company needs to be perceived by the employer. These jobs are a necessity, without them we are no longer bringing in an income. We’d be broke without these jobs, so we must stress our allegiance with the company to stay aboard.

That’s why we see an increase in start-ups and small companies. Nobody wants to work tirelessly for years and not receive their just due. You toil for a company for years and may get a farewell party and possibly a plaque. That’s all good and well but that only applies to a select few. Once you’re not apart of that company, it’s “ASTA LA VISTA”.

This is my opinion to the subject. There may be others who feel opposite of how I feel. However, one cannot deny that the average employee is just a body in this big corporations. They have hundreds biting at a chance to take your position. A screw up will just mean the next man (or woman) is up. It’s like the turnover rate is non-existent.

So before you give your all to a company, determine if they are loyal to you. But we all know we can’t just up and leave a company merely on their lack of allegiance. We need that paper. Dinero. Mula. Pesos. CASH! Having established that it’s a difficult decision to make. Ultimately, we need to show these companies that they need us just as much as we need them and that we expect them to be just as loyal to us as we are to them.

featured picture: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwiCj6bh8rzRAhUl0IMKHSvWAjoQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inc.com%2Fjeff-haden%2F6-qualities-of-remarkably-loyal-employees.html&psig=AFQjCNG7aNPHM1l7_XesELNRLpTkDfRr6A&ust=1484320455248436

Now That That’s Over…

The most heated and anticipated election has finally come to a close. It didn’t go without wild antics, personal insults and scandal. In the end, Donald Trump is able to say that he’ll be the 45th President of the United States.

The 2016 election was marred with inept candidates. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were bottom of the barrel picks. We were forced to choose from vomit or diarrhea; both options stunk. However, that ship has came and sailed. We can’t rewind time and re-select the candidates. There’s no going back.

Trump’s antics ~~were~~ are outrageous. I think most can agree with that. Those outrageous antics, fear tactics, blunt unfiltered views and separation from being a politician were probably reasons for his triumphant Tuesday night/Wednesday early morning.

Now we’re faced with the question of “What Now?” It’s the same question we would ask ourselves if Hillary was named the winner. We can all concur that the next four years will be interesting to say the least.

What now? What’s going to happen? Many minorities are already fearful of the repercussions of Donald Trump becoming president. With his disparaging comments towards Hispanics and Muslim Arabs it’s obvious why they are fearful. Trump’s support of the Stop-and-Frisk proposal, which (in my opinion) is an indirect way to racially and even class profile. His support of this proposal, alone, is grounds to be wary of the new POTUS. African-Americans will be targeted, let’s just be honest. Arabs, Hispanics and even those people who are of the low income class will be profiled.

I think the realization of the election hits minorities much differently than to whites. We cannot say for sure, just yet, if Donald Trump will go through with all the things he spoke about during his campaign. Think of if the roles were reversed. What if an African-American, Indian-American, Arab-American or Latino-American was campaigning around the United States, speaking illy of whites actually won the election. Whites would probably have a sick feeling in the pit of their stomach the day after the shock set in.

It’s unfortunate that in this day and time, racial prejudice is still a pertinent issue. If things were to get any worse, we’d be inching closer and closer to the 1960s. An era plagued by civil rights injustice. We’ve come a long way since then. Things are still far from perfect, but the times have changed and any indication that we may be heading backwards in ideology is worth being worrisome about.

What people can do, whether you’re black, white, yellow, brown, tan or blue, is come together and let your voices be heard. Destructive protesting and violence won’t solve the problem. Neither will shunning someone simply because of the color of their skin, religion or disability. If those who are against Trump and feel that he is unfit to have control of our control do not effectively speak out and become vocalist for change then we’re stuck with four years of head scratching and “what’s next?” questioning. The only way we can promote change if not changing how things are altogether is to put our First Amendment right to use and speak out. Unless you’re content with the outcome, that is…

Source For Featured Image

Its Been Awhile…

It has been awhile since I last posted something. I’ve been dealing with a lot but finally feel inspired to write again. With all the current events going on, there’s a lot to comment on. The upcoming election, police shooting blacks, Terrorist bombings and even Ford moving small car production to Mexico are all topics that people have an opinion about. Including me.

Waking up and hearing news of all the turmoil going on is depressing. It’s already depressing enough that we are faced with incompetent presidential candidates who fail to address the real problems going on in the United States. Both candidates have lied, misrepresented themselves and ultimately aren’t ready to run the country. Donald Trump has divided the country. He has talked about building walls, his dislike for Muslims and his “perfect” plans to lead America. I’m just waiting for someone to come out to tell Donald Trump, “You’re Fired!”

I feel compelled to give my opinion. Just as I enjoy hearing others opinions. Close mindedness results from not hearing other sides of the problem. Keeping a tunnel vision solely on your own beliefs.I like to keep an open mind, since that’s what America was built on. Our freedoms of speech, press, assembly and religion. Yet, we don’t want to grant those freedoms. People object against the freedom of speech. If it isn’t what everyone thinks then it’s wrong (i.e. Colin Kaepernick). We speak illy of Muslims and when people protest, things get out of hand.

So, having said all of that. I plan to return to my blog and give my insight on what’s going on in the world, my personal struggles and uplifting post because honestly in this day, we need more feel good stories. I will give MY opinion. It may not be the favored opinion but it’s what I think and the great thing about humans is that we were created to all think differently. It’s time to open minds and get away from having tunnel vision. There can’t be change unless we are able to step outside our comfort zones and maintain an open mind.

-Josh Blake

The Wonderful Election of 2016

Please excuse my political informalities. I’m not big into politics but I do have eyes and ears. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, which makes America so great. It’s funny how this country was founded to escape the tyrannical hand of the British government. People traveled across the Atlantic searching for freedom. Once Independence was won, those who won their freedom turned the tides onto the other people living in the country and subjected them to years of being more-or-less a prisoner.

The purpose of this post is not to argue about racial injustice or anything in that matter. It’s about the upcoming elections and the wonderful candidates we have running. These candidates are so wonderful that many have even entertained the idea of moving out of the country. What’s comical about it is that Americans have been adversed about allowing political refugees into our country but we are so quick to disperse when faced with any type of political headache.

Donald Trump, the infamous real estate mogul who created his empire from a small loan of a million dollars. He’s the same person who wants to build a wall to keep the “Mexicans” out and would like to identify Muslims by having them wear some type of identification. Sounds a bit crazy if you ask me. Before I start bashing Mr. Trump, I’d like to say that his outspokenness is one trait that I admire in him. I’m not saying I love the guy, but his ability to speak his mind despite it not being the popular idea is a very commanding trait to have. We are required to have tact today’s society. People are sensitive creatures and words have power. Although, I like the fact that he can voice his opinions and thoughts so openly, there is a time and place for such a censor-less person. As a political candidate running for president…I’m not sure that this is the right position for such a person.

America is a melting pot. It’s full of African-Americans, Arabs, Asians, Latinos, Whites, Indians, etc. We have to learn to live together. Shielding away a group of people because of their beliefs, culture, race or color is ludicrous. Is America’s real problem the amount of illegal immigrants taking these heavily desired jobs? Or is America’s issue the terrorist? Because everyone knows all Muslims are terrorist right?

I find both these issues to be a cover up for what the real issues are. I don’t know all Muslims, but I know quite a few. There are bad Muslims and good Muslims. Same as there are good and bad Christians. In America (and maybe in the world in general) we are subjugated to stereotypes. You can thank the media for that. Mexicans are either migrant workers or in the cartel. Arabs are terrorist or womanizing pigs. African-Americans are thugs and criminals, Asians do martial arts and excel at math and Whites are stuck up and arrogant power hungry people. Right? Wrong! Have the media tell it, that’s what you’ll see.

20th March 1922: Members of the white supremacist movement, the Ku Klux Klan standing by an aeroplane, out of which they dropped publicity leaflets over Washington DC. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)

I guarantee there are no Muslim, Ku Klux Klan members. The Ku Klux Klan terrorized the minorities for their own gain in attempts to “Make America Great Again” in their eyes. I’m sure many Ku Klux Klan members owned a bible or attended church. They ~~were~~ are a domestic terrorist organization. If some can be identified as Christians does that make all Christians domestic terrorist? If all Christians are not domestic terrorist then all Muslims certainly cannot be terrorist. It’s uneducated ideology that brings us to these assumptions. That and close mindedness.

Jobs being given to illegal immigrants is not the issue. These illegal immigrants aren’t occupying high ranking positions or in lucrative careers. They are doing the work that Americans simply don’t have a desire to do. What about the thousands of jobs being outsourced to Mexico, China and India? What about the international workers who are being brought in by large companies to work for them? A wall is superficial barrier that exudes power and authority. Kingdoms in the Medieval times created walls to keep their enemies at bay (i.e. Game of Thrones). It’s not like the movie World War Z where like the zombies, the immigrants are trying to compromise the gates. It’s just not like that. I wonder who would be working on the wall anyways? Immigrant labor? Who knows?!

Donald Trump who probably do best in a time when closed minded thinking was far more acceptable. Maybe in the 40’s or 50’s his ideology would of sufficed but in today’s more progressive society when need to learn to get along and co-exist instead of excluding and targeting on a few minority groups. No one can say for sure what Trump’s impact on the government would be. However, one can hypothesize that if Trump does become president that we’d be in far worse shape than we are now. Then again, most candidates would put us in far worse shape than we are now. The ideal Utopia is not realistic.

Trump is the easy scapegoat. The easy target. With an unfiltered mouth, terrible hairdo and absurd suggestions, it makes sense that he’d be the one with the large KICK ME sign. What about the Democrats? I don’t want you to think I’d give them a pass either.

Hilary Clinton…a name synonymous to Bill Clinton (our 42nd president). Bill had a love/hate relationship with the citizens. Some loved him for what he did in office while some hated what he did in office. On one hand I’m happy to see that over 9o years after the passing of the 19th Amendment that we have a real chance at seeing a woman being elected as president. While on the other, Hilary may not be the right woman for presidency.

Hillary has many of her own issues. On the plus side of things she has a political background, however, her stance on issues may leave proponents and those on the fence to scratch their heads. Then comes the whole e-mail scandal. I’m not a hundred percent knowledgable about the whole ordeal but when it comes to our national security and the measures put in place to insure it, there’s no wiggle room for misconduct. With threats looming all over the world, it’s important to have a candidate that we can trust. We don’t need a president handling TOP SECRET documents from their personal account. I could go further in depth on Hillary’s political stance on various topics but that’s not what I’m addressing. It’s simply about who we have running for president.

I’m not rooting for either candidate. I’m lost in this whole political “show” going on. The next four years will be quite interesting to say the least when either Trump or Clinton takes office. Each candidate feels like their just chomping at the bit for the power the presidency entails and not in a good way. I didn’t forget about Bernie Sanders either but is he still legitimately in the running? We’ll speak on ol’ Bernie later. For right now I’m just focusing on some of the outlandish things I’ve heard.

Trump’s antics are a bit overboard when compared to Clinton’s. No one knows what the outcome will be in November. Why worry? Just think – in 2020, we will be honored to have Kanye West running for president! This whole political thing is becoming a joke!

Can Cleveland Rebound?

Down two games to none, the Cleveland Cavaliers are facing an uphill battle. In the two games played at the Oracle Center, Golden State had Lebron James and the Cavaliers’ number. I foresaw the Cavaliers losing in the Bay Area but not in the type of fashion that they did. The Cavs lost back-to-back games by a total of 48 points. With the possible loss of Kevin Love for game 3, the Cavaliers are in a bit of “pickle”.

Before the series, I kept saying that matchups would be key. A mismatch can provide for some big advantages. Last year, Cleveland was without Kevin Love and lost All-Star point guard, Kyrie Irving in game one. LeBron put on his superman cape but despite his valiant efforts his team fell two games shy of hoisting the O’Brien trophy.

This year, Lebron didn’t have to wear that cape (or so he thought). Love and Irving were healthy and ready to go. They added deep shooter, Channing Frye to potentially tap into his inner Robert Horry. Their head coach, David Blatt, was let go in favor for Tyronn Lue. Everyone saw as Cleveland dismantled the Detroit Pistons, whacked the Atlanta Hawks and gave Drake and the Toronto fans something to cheer about as they gave up two games in the six game series. At the end of the day, Cleveland made sure to take down their foes from across the border.

Golden State was supposed to be here. They won 73-games, best regular season record in NBA history. Oklahoma City Thunder had Golden State on the edge. Reminiscent of Oklahoma City they choked. Giving up three straight games to bow out of the Western Conference Finals.

With the added man power Cleveland has this year, they should be able to put up a fight. Like, Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier in ’71 – “The Fight of the Century”. Instead, the Golden State Warriors are looking like Ali in the Sonny Liston rematch.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, we must remember that this is the NBA. This is the Cleveland Cavaliers with the best all-around player in the world in LeBron James, uber-talented guard Kyrie Irving and the man they traded their #1 draft pick (Andrew Wiggins) for in Kevin Love. They are going back home to the “216”. There’s no place like home! It could be a whole other story by game 4.

I’m no Charles Barkley, Kenny Anderson, Mark Jackson or Jeff Van Gundy. It doesn’t take an expert to see that Cleveland is in matchup hell. While James is being hounded by Andre Igoudala or Harrison Barnes, Klay Thompson is handling Kyrie Irving. Kevin Love continues to channel in his inner shooting guard and linger around the perimeter making it easy for Andrew Bogut to man the paint against Tristian Thompson. Stephen Curry handles the other guard and Draymond can concentrate on taking advantage of his matchup against Kevin Love.

Then comes the bench. The Warriors bench has been able to manipulate Cleveland. Shaun Livingston’s length is wreaking havoc while Iman Shumpert’s hair struggles to resemble a hair-do. The Warriors are so hot right now that it’s making everyone thirsty.

So what does Cleveland have to do to beat Golden State?

LeBron…be LeBron!

When you’re the best player on the court you have to act like it. Game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals, LeBron shot 38 times. Game 2, he put the ball up 35 times.

What about this year? Game 1, he shot the ball 21 times and game 2 only 17 times. Simply put, LeBron shot more times in game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals than he has in the two games in this year’s finals.

What’s the difference? Last year, Cleveland was without Love and Irving. Timofey Mosgov had a bigger impact but ultimately, Cleveland was tied 1-1 in the series last year and the games were much closer. Either LeBron takes over or his team will falter…yet again.

Limit Turnovers

The more turnovers you have the less likely you are to win. That wasn’t the case in game 2. Despite, Golden State’s 20 turnovers they were able to do more than squeak out a win. If the Cavs want a legitimate chance at rebounding from being 2 games behind they can’t turn the ball over as much. Twenty is a lot of turnovers but so is 17. The Cavs had 17 turnovers in game 2 and LeBron had 7 of those! You simply can’t do that especially when going up against the reigning NBA champs and arguably one of the best teams in NBA history.

Where’s the bench?

Richard Jefferson is the grandfather of the time. At 35-years-old he’s an old man in the NBA world. That didn’t stop him from being the best player off the Cavs bench. Surprisingly (so far), he’s the leading scorer off the bench. Where’s Shumpert, Frye, Dellavedova? Maybe put Shumpert into the starting lineup to try to have some fire power off the bench in J.R. Smith. He was the Sixth Man of the Year in 2013. Obviously he thrives coming off the bench as he did last year with the Cavs. They simply don’t have the production off the bench to compete.

No love for Kevin

Kevin Love has been beaten, battered and bruised during his short stint in the NBA Playoffs. The playoffs were a mirage in the distance for him while he was in Minnesota. In his two years with Cleveland – he’s made it past April but staying on the court has been his biggest hurdle. Last year, he was injured in the Boston series. This year, the “power guard” has been able to keep on the court but still hasn’t played like his former Minnesota Timberwolves-self. A blow to the back of the head by a Harrison Barnes elbow might leave Love out of the lineup for game 3. A very IMPORTANT game 3. Kevin is going to have to find some love in the playoffs if Cleveland is to challenge Golden State.

It’s all about the GREEN!

Draymond is the X-factor. Cleveland shut down the “Splash Brothers” in game 1. They still suffered a loss. Golden State’s bench was far more superior. Game 2, Draymond went Draymond. He’s not the same Draymond he was last year. He might be even more effective this year. He has the staunch defensive poise and put his offensive skill on display in game 2. His energy is contagious and he’s a workhorse on the court. Taking a page out of Dellavedova’s 2015 Finals Handbook when he was the pest on the court. If the Cavs can’t contain him then they’ll be looking forward to June 23^rd earlier than thought.

With the Cavaliers heading back to Cleveland they’ll be working out the kinks. Tyronn Lue is a new coach, so was Steve Kerr last year. Cleveland got the players they needed and now that everyone’s (mostly) healthy there can’t be no more excuses. I’d hate to see a sweep after such a great series in the last round. I’m not looking for the lack of sports on TV until football rolls around if this series becomes a short one. Luckily, I’ll have the Olympics to watch after the Warriors give Tyronn Lue and the Cleveland Cavs the Allen Iverson Treatment.

Pistons Show Improvement as the Cavaliers Finish the Sweep

It came down to the wire. With less than fifteen seconds left in the game, the Pistons came up with the loose ball. Reggie Jackson dribbles down the court, goes through the legs and attempts the three for the win and….it never makes it close to the rim. Reggie is on the ground and quickly bounces to his feet to argue that he was in-fact fouled on the last play of the game. I’ve seen a lot of players argue with the refs and plead their cases but I’ve NEVER seen a referee change his call due to the player’s complaints.

The three pointer would have given the Pistons their first win in the best of seven series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Had they won, they still would have to best the Cavaliers three times in a row. A feat I never thought would be possible. The Pistons were in 3 of the 4 contest; neck to neck with last year’s Eastern Conference champions.

Even though the Cavaliers were able to dig deep and pull out the series sweep, there is no reason for the Pistons to hold their head’s down. The Pistons are finally on the move to become a force in the Eastern Conference.

Stan Van Gundy came to the Pistons after the many ups and down of Joe Dumars’ tenure. To be frank, Joe Dumars really did not have a vision for the Pistons after Rasheed, Chauncey, Ben and Rip Hamilton were gone.

Pistons_starting_5 — Joe Dumars created a team that made it to the Eastern Conference Finals 6-years in a row!

In Dumars’ defense, the Pistons were one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference during the mid-2000’s. He crafted a well oiled machine that produced winning season after winning season.

After the departure of Rasheed, Ben Wallace, Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups, it was year after year of disappointment, coaching changes and lack luster play. Van Gundy came in a immediately started putting his stamp on the Pistons. He traded for Reggie Jackson last season. This season, he traded some unfavorable draft picks for Marcus Morris who turned out to be the better twin this season averaging 14.1 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game and 2.5 assist per game. As the season progressed, the Pistons’ Brandon Jennings returned from his debilitating ACL injury. He eventually (along with Ersan Illyasova) were traded to the Orlando Magic for Tobias Harris, a young forward with a lot of upside.

The Pistons squeaked into the playoffs and were matched up against the loaded Cleveland Cavaliers, the favorite to represent the East in the NBA Championship. Despite their loss, the Pistons’ roster has improved by leaps and bounds over the past year. A complete makeover from a year ago.

Andre Drummond is arguably our best player. His dominance on the glass is insane. Drummond averaged 14.8 rebounds per game this season and is starting to show signs of some sort of offensive ability. He developed a hook shot and his presence underneath the basket provides insurance for missed shots. He averaged just under five offensive rebounds a game this year (previous two years he averaged 5+ offensive rebounds per game). Despite his woes at the free throw (35% woeful), Drummond improves year after year. Just imagine, if he improved to at least 50% from the line how effective he would be?! Andre is still young, he won’t be 23 until the beginning of next season. Still well beneath his “prime” years. His talents and physical build make him standout from the rest. What if he developed a 15-foot jump shot?! Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself but Drummond has the physical tools and still undeveloped talent to become a centerpiece for the Pistons, hopefully for more years to come.

Comparing last season to this season, the Pistons have made improvements. Their roster is young with a lot of upside. This off season, Andre Drummond is priority number one. He’s an All-Star, league leader in rebounds and a big-agile crafty center capable of giving you around 20 and 10+ every night. The Pistons’ bench depth is another concern. Although, the bench did improve over the course of the year, there is still glaring issues that need to be addressed.

Backup Point Guard
- I’m not going to knock Steve Blake. He came into the season the 3rd or 4th string guard. After Brandon Jennings was traded he became the next available point guard off the bench. Van Gundy obviously has not had much confidence in Spencer Dinwiddie, our other available point guard. This off season, the Pistons must fill this hole with a formidable backup. The upcoming draft does not boast many players that would be able to come in at the point guard position and provide an upgrade to Steve Blake. The Pistons must look into available free agents to fill this role.
A Stretch Four
- Aron Baynes helped lessen the brunt of the center position, but he’s no “shooter”. Anthony Tolliver isn’t your typical “big man” and besides Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris and the official seat warmer, Joel Anthony there is no one who can come in and defend the 4 or 5 positions. SVG could look to the draft to fill this hole as there are many available prospects that would be able to come in and play the stretch four position. OR, the Pistons could look into free agency (I’ve heard a lot of buzz around Ryan Anderson) to fill this void.
A Veteran Player Who Can Lead
- This would be simple yet difficult to fill. The Pistons lacked leadership during the season. There was no player that was able to lead this team in the right direction during difficult times in the season. An effective veteran player that would be able to contribute would be an added addition to the Pistons.
DEFENSE
- This concern does not have to be addressed by a new player or scheme. At times during the season our defense looked TERRIBLE!
  There were missed assignments, players left open, lack of motivation and the mismatches created from switching ultimately hurt the Pistons (especially in the Cavaliers series).

It’s definitely not impossible to make these changes in the off season. We’ve seen SVG change so much with the team in his 2 years as head coach and president of basketball operations. In the upcoming months expect to see SVG align a team that would be able to be even more competitive next season.

I applaud the Detroit Pistons! It’s been years since Pistons fans have been able to enjoy a post season game in their city. This team is young and far from being on the top of their game. They will continue to improve and with SVG coaching and putting together this team, I can only hope that we are able to relive the success the Pistons had in the early to mid 2000’s.

My bold prediction??? ….50+ wins next year for the Pistons! I’m confident of that!

Bomani Jones and the Name Game

I woke up this morning and did my daily morning ritual of looking up the sports news from the day before. Bomani Jones, co-host of the Highly Questionable show on ESPN, angered many viewers yesterday with his choice of apparel.

Jones decided to wear a Cleveland Caucasians shirt during the airing of Highly Questionable. People were up in arms over this. Twitter went chaotic, speaking on how Bomani Jones was a racist and his poor lack of judgement wearing the shirt.

Some argued that if a white man wore a shirt saying “Cleveland Negroes” then it would be lambasted all over the social media world. He’d be automatically labeled a “racist”. Correct? I believe so. But there is a major difference between Bomani Jones’ shirt and a “Cleveland Negroes” shirt.

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, Caucasian is “of, constituting, or characteristic of a race of humankind native to Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia and classified according to physical features —used especially in referring to persons of European descent having usually light skin pigmentation”. It simply refers to a person of light skin color being of European descent (or of North African or southwest Asian descent). There’s no derogatory history behind the word “Caucasian”.

Now when you try to flip the script and say “What if…” you have to look at the meaning of the words. Let’s be fair. Let’s look into the definition of negro. A negro is “a member of a race of humankind native to Africa and classified according to physical features (as dark skin pigmentation).” Same as Caucasian, right?

The word “negro” has many negative implications throughout American history. Just as the “F-word” is one of the most vulgar words in the English language is basically an acronym for Fornication Under The Crowned King. Even though the word is more-or-less an acronym it is considered extremely offensive and vulgar.

Bomani Jones’ shirt is a parody on the actual name of the Cleveland baseball team, The Cleveland Indians. The Native American namesake or characteristics are a common sight in sports in the United States. There is the Washington Redskins, Chicago Blackhawks and numerous college teams that attribute their name to Native Americans. Granted, many collegiate teams have changed their nicknames but there are others who haven’t.

Let’s be honest, Bomani Jones was not wearing the shirt to show his fashion sense but his intentions were to rile the public. He knew A LOT of people would find the shirt offensive but his point was made. What’s the difference between wearing a Cleveland Indians shirt or a Cleveland Caucasians shirt? The number of people affected.

The Native American population is certainly not as large as the Caucasian population in the states. More noise can be made when something offends the majority rather than the minority. Jones’ shirt was no different than a Cleveland Blacks or Cleveland Arabs shirt. It raised the question of, “is this offensive?”

Personally, I believe naming a team after a ethnicity or race of people is wrong. Obviously, people would be upset if the shoes were on the other foot and their race or ethnicity was being mocked. Don’t you think the Native Americans feel the same way?

Strictly Out of My Mind: Puff…Puff…Fail

Everything has its risk. Guess what “bad habit” caused over 88,000 deaths per year in the United States from 2006-2010? What “bad habit” has over 16 million people in the United States suffering from chronic diseases? What everyday thing kills 33,000 people in the United States? Which “bad habit” has too few deaths to even report?

Take a guess…Ponder hard. Over 88,000 people die per year from alcohol. Alcohol use is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Whether it’s driving under the influence or an over dosage, alcohol has the ability to harm the user seriously. If it doesn’t kill you it can lead to serious diseases that over time can eventually kill you. The same can be said about the answer to question number two. Sixteen million people in the United States suffer from TOBACCO related illnesses. Much of which cause deaths eventually. Finally 33,000 people die per year in the United States from what?….car accidents. Car “accidents” are called such because no one intends to smash their car into another car or into a tree. The other two are choices people make, bad choices that take years off your life and could put you in a coffin (or a furnace if you choose to be cremated.) Cue the drum roll please… The last answer which causes too few deaths to even report (if there are any at all) is marijuana use. The illegal narcotic that is criminalized on the federal level across the country.

Now you tell me what’s worse. We need to drive. It’s a necessity to travel from point A to point B. Is it a necessity to buy a pack of Marlboro and smoke every single last cigarette in the box. No! Is it a necessity to buy a pint of Jack Daniels or 1800 and drink until your inhibitions are gone? No! So why are these legal while the most harmless and natural substance is deemed illegal? Marijuana is less deadly (if deadly at all) than both tobacco and alcohol. Yet, alcohol is served in most establishments and cigarettes can be found any and everywhere. Why is marijuana the red-headed step-child?

Honestly, looking at all the statistics and facts for tobacco and alcohol makes you want to reconsider your use of the two. Marijuana is illegal. Jobs test for drug abuse through many different methods, most commonly the urine test. Marijuana latches onto the fat cells and stays there for a period of time. Illicit drugs, such as cocaine, heroin and over-the-counter drugs stay in a person’s system for days. An abuser of those illicit drugs can easily ready themselves for a drug exam. A few days of neglecting to sniff, smoke, or inject and they are clean and ready to go. Even though they are drug users of very serious and dangerous drugs they can easily pass drug exams. Marijuana users, on the other hand, have to wait days, weeks, and maybe even months depending on the user’s habit to rid themselves of THC.

Marijuana is not a dangerous drug. Some say it’s the “gateway drug” and causes people to act crazy. Users of marijuana are usually the most subtle and calm people you’d ever meet. Their main intent is to find something to eat (mind you that helps local restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores, and gas stations) and relax. Where is the crazy actions occurring? People have been brainwashed by the biased media and the corrupt government to condemn those who use marijuana. They want to emphasize the crimes caused by people who may use the drugs. How many people who use alcohol or cigarettes during, before, or after a crime does the media address? None. It’s no big deal that Outlaw Jimmy smokes a pack of menthol before deciding it is a good idea to rob a bank. It’s also no big deal that Kim Doe drinks a few beers and throws down a few shots of vodka before getting behind the wheel and hitting a family of four. Yeah, the media may say alcohol played a factor but does that stop the government from initiating a second wave of prohibition? Not at all!!

More and more people are put behind bars for their use of marijuana than drunken drivers. Cigarette users are exempt from the law since it’s legal to smoke a cigarette. It’s ridiculous that people are penalized for “calming their nerves” with an occasional toke of Mary J. The government is the most crooked and corrupt organization that has ever existed. Why is it okay for Senator Al Doe, to beat his wife, have relations with a person of the same-sex behind the back of their spouse, receive kickbacks from governmental contracts to receive a lifetime of free healthcare and salary. Many Americans struggle to pay bills and keep up in life while these decrepit individuals live off the blood and sweat of Americans.

Many jobs require the administration of a drug screen. Crack heads, cocaine heads, heroin addicts, alcoholics, chain smokers, wife abusers, child abusers, pedophiles, Satanist, etc. are able to bypass the drug screening while honest hard-working Americans who occasionally take a puff of the herb are subjugated to discrimination and are turned away from jobs. How is this a fair assessment of a person’s work ethic?

Over-the-counter drugs are prescribed to people everyday for their ailments. Many of these drugs have commercials to promote the drug. Along with the promotion comes a long list of side effects. Swelling, risk of heart disease, suicidal thoughts, drowsiness, high blood pressure, impairment of motor skills, death, etc. etc. are all included (quickly said) in these pharmaceutical drug ads. Why are these legal while a drug, whose only side effects are sleepy, hungry, and relaxed illegal.

Population control? Is the government allowing deadly drugs to be legal because it may control the population? Jobs are lost due to the use of marijuana while Crack Head Dan is allowed to keep his job because the drug last in their system for a few days. It’s totally unfair and unjust. Why should an honest worker be subjugated to the scrutiny of the law and workplace? People are fixated on the stereotype more than anything. A user of marijuana is commonly referred to as a “pothead” or “stoner”. These users typically are hippies and dangerous and out of touch with the world…blah, blah, blah. That’s like saying all blacks are criminals or all white people like hummus and mayonnaise. Common stereotypes which are constantly refuted and proved wrong. Don’t get me started with the whole stereotype ordeal.

It’s upsetting that marijuana users are condemned for their use of a harmless drug while a serious drug abuser is able to skate under the radar. That’s like a person guilty of disorderly conduct receiving 20 to life in jail and a child murderer receiving probation. It’s totally unfair and unjust. Drug test are a way to weed (no pun intended) out candidates that use drugs. Which often times leads to inefficiency in the workplace. Why punish those who use a drug (mind you, marijuana is used to treat chronic diseases) and let those who abuse more serious drugs possibly escape without prosecution. The mayor of Toronto smokes crack. He’s admitted he does! Where is he now? Still reigning over one of Canada’s largest cities. Yeah he’s a politician and for some reason politicians are held to a “godly” like standard so it’s remarkably okay for them to abuse harsh drugs.

Why is THC tested in a urine test? Let’s be real here, marijuana isn’t the one killing all these people and harming the bodies of its users the way some LEGAL drugs are. If I hated my life and wanted to commit suicide I wouldn’t buy an ounce of bud and smoke it one sitting. The worst thing that would probably happen is, I’d eat the whole pantry dry and fall asleep. On the other hand if I wanted to do some serious bodily harm I’d grab a fifth of Ciroc and some Oxycondone and do myself in.

There needs to be something about the drug testing for these companies. If we are going to allow alcoholics, chain smokers, and users of illicit narcotics the ability to easily pass drug examines and gain employment we need to stop criminalizing and condemning marijuana users of a harmless recreational drug that has caused a very LOW (to low to even calculate) number of deaths. Canada has even made drug testing for employment unlawful. Is the United States that archaic that we cannot look at alternatives? The United States and its higher education system already rapes the pockets of students and puts the hard earner meager earnings of graduates into these college presidents pockets. That’s a whole another topic though. America needs to follow after Canada and rid of the drug testing process employers utilize. It’s an unfair way to select potential job candidates . We are in the 21st century, there must be another way. Until that day we must follow the rules and abide by the unfair and unjust practices the government allows these employers to administer. What do you think?

featured picture: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwiCj6bh8rzRAhUl0IMKHSvWAjoQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inc.com%2Fjeff-haden%2F6-qualities-of-remarkably-loyal-employees.html&psig=AFQjCNG7aNPHM1l7_XesELNRLpTkDfRr6A&ust=1484320455248436

So what does Cleveland have to do to beat Golden State?

Joe Dumars created a team that made it to the Eastern Conference Finals 6-years in a row!

My bold prediction??? ….50+ wins next year for the Pistons! I’m confident of that!