Social Media: The Gift & The Curse

  We're living in a day and age of social media/networking like we've never seen it. Social media isn't just something that some are doing but majority of society can be found on there in some facet, either personal or work related. Social networking sites aren't only used for "networking" any more. They're entertainment, they're a way to keep up with your friends or favorite athlete or celebrity even... "Trolling" is also an option, but I don't recommend it.

One thing I can honestly say about social media that is a true positive quality is, it has created many jobs at a time when we needed it in America. Also, social media can be used as more of a marketing opportunity, you can use it as a tool to help you gain recognition from certain companies or even showcase your talent(s) if you're an artist. In a time, now, where it's more uncommon not to have a smart phone, computer or tablet, we've completely given in to the technology age. It's either adapt and change with the technology age or get left behind, from a social standpoint. As of January 2014 74 percent of Adults online use social networking/media sites, according to the Pew Research Center - 76 percent of women, 72 percent of men.

We've gone from the days of "Myspace" to  "Twitter" and "Instagram". What does that mean though? Well, "Myspace" was a page that was created by the users to describe themselves and make it fit more to their personality and you could do things like post music, post your photos, of course, and it allowed you write/comment on your friends wall. Yes, a lot of those things we could do on "Myspace" we can do on "Facebook" still. However, Facebook didn't begin as a site that everyone could get on. Myspace started out as a social site for all people; Facebook was started for college kids, mainly, as a form to network and communicate with other college students and young professionals. Now, let's think look into the social media site that changed everything - Twitter! Twitter is just updating your status, constantly. 140 characters is all that you get, per status. Not only can you use words but you can also upload pictures, videos, a "gif" (a moving picture)  and even what is known as a "meme" (a picture with a caption on it, usually humorous). Twitter, now, seems to be the more popular of all social media sites for the teen through young adult age-group - Facebook is still the most used site for people of all ages. But, after Twitter, it seemed society needed more but a social media site that required less but had as big of an impact. And so "Instagram" came about. Instagram is a social media site that you can use to post pictures, including memes, and you can write a caption to describe what you've posted or just comment about how you feel about your post. Also, you can comment on the persons photo.

Social media has been a way for people to meet, friends and lovers. But it also has hurt our ability to communicate in person. I know that I could personally have a conversation with someone via social media but barely speak when we see each other in person. It's just a common thing in society. I see it all the time, daily. 

In a world where an "emoji" is more powerful than words sometimes, it's scary to think about our future.

Since being involved with and observing social media/networking sites, I've noticed a few things that could be hurting society more than helping. Social sites could be creating a larger separation between social classes. Ratios between followers and the amount of people that someone follows is a true identifier of that and a person being "verified" can a show a certain status that person has or their position in society, making them "more important" in social media. Another thing. It shows that content isn't as important as  the person that delivers the content. It's nothing new to society and I don't know if this is something that people didn't already know, it's just in certain instances sad that people don't acknowledge this. We just live in a society that values more what a celebrity says more than a scientist or someone trying to do good for a community or help society (basically a tabloid society). Also, social media has seemed to cause society to overreact. It seems that a lot of people can see something, only via social media, and form their entire opinion of off that and not fully look into it, whether it's a video or see someone tweet something that they might not agree with fully.

Social media has taken sports to a "boom or bust" society. We [society] seem to judge every team/player off of what we see posted on social media, which is typically a small sample size.

In the world of sports and entertainment Twitter seems to keep us updated if we can't watch our favorite show or we can't watch our favorite team play, and that's very beneficial at times. We can still be active in life but keep up with sports. However, we no longer have to actually see anything in full, we can always watch the highlights or see the Twitter updates, right? Thinking of it like that, makes me wonder. Has television been preparing us for the social media age all along? Sports Center on ESPN is a show of mostly highlights and people giving their opinions on television on the day in sports. Fox Sports showing highlights throughout the day does the same thing. Now, everyone can give their feedback and opinions and it can make things a little more interesting and gives society a chance to be more involved.  How can this hurt sports and society both? Well, when people are "trolling" athletes or these public figures, making ignorant comments, the public figure and athlete are expected to take the higher road and criticized or are seen as wrong if they don't. Where I come from people often said "don't dish it out if you can't take it" and I agree, fully.

In the social media age, everything is seen. With the ability to screen shot from our phones, cameras and video recorders on phones, it's tough for anyone to do anything these days without someone seeing it and eventually it will go viral and it will become public. For athletes, celebrities and anyone that is considered a public figure this can help or hurt them.

In a way, people are creating their lives through social media. Anything that you post people will take that as a reflection of the type of person that you are - words, pictures, etc. - and this can either be a good thing or a bad thing. In a sense it can build expectations that you can meet in real  life or you could exceed a persons expectations.

How personal should we be making our social media sites, honestly? companies are now checking social media sites to see the applicants personality or see if they're doing anything publicly that could potentially hurt their company and it helps them decide if you would be a risk if working for their company. 

For me, I know that checking social media has become a natural habit. When I wake up for me, it's more common that I check twitter and Instagram before I turn on the morning news or even brush my teeth, and I doubt I'm the only one. But with social media being as big as it is, what happens if it hits it's plateau in the world? or has it already done that? What will society do if social media didn't work anymore? Would we have to go back to a world of actually communicating in person and meet people the old fashion way?

There are many different social media sites - I just spoke about the most popular ones- and that means many different avenues that we will have to communicate with one another and more sites seem to be created as the years go on. And with every social media site that comes about, the less content/time you're allotted and it seems like the less content/time the more popular the site.

I've once heard that you should use social media as a tool for good if you want to get a decent job and less as a source for entertainment. Social media is either what you make it, or you are what it makes you look like to others.

It's Finally Happening, NBA

  Nearly two decades have passed since we've seen the legendary Michael Jordan on the basketball court. And I'm not talking about the Jordan who played with the Wizards in 2002, let's be honest, that's not what we think of when we think of his greatness. I'm talking about the player and the man who led the Chicago Bulls to six championships in his time with the Bulls from 1985 to 1998, with a retirement in between. The player that revolutionized the NBA and game of basketball as we know it. Since his retirement, maybe a bit before, there seems to be a general consensus that Michael Jeffery Jordan is the greatest NBA player of all time.

It seems like, since Jordan's retirement in 1998, the NBA and society has been looking to crown that next person or "the next Jordan" and it hasn't really caught on, thus far. Not only as far as talent but popularity, more things factor into this than just putting up great stats. Allen Iverson was one of the  first guys that they tried to crown, but he never won a ring and he fell off near the end of his career, "team hopping" didn't really help his cause; Kobe Bryant, maybe comes the closest, but people thought he tried too hard to emulate Jordan, on and off the court; Lebron James is still in talks, maybe if he wins a title in Cleveland it'll help, but going to Miami and winning there with the "big three" hurts his chances of exceeding Jordan in the basketball world. The Jordan comparison conversation is one that's always brought up when people start talking about the next great player or whomever is the best at the time.

Lebron James, in my opinion, is still the best player in the NBA currently. However, there's a player residing in the western conference, current reigning MVP Stephen Curry might be a close second. Curry and the Golden State Warriors are off to 10-0 start and they don't look to be slowing down any time soon. He [Curry] is averaging 33 point (league best), five rebounds, and nearly six assists.

Currently, Curry has 1,243 (43rd all-time) and is on pace to make it into the top 30 by seasons end.

Known for his deadly three-point shooting and ability to shoot off the dribble like no other player, Curry is one of the most adored stars in the league by both the fans and media. After his underdog-like story - coming from a small division I school (Davidson) and some scouts saying that he might be too thin/small for an NBA player - it's almost hard for people to root against him.

Now, let me explain why I believe Curry could be the player to take the "Jordan" crown. All of the players that people wanted to be the next Jordan were all great players, yes. But, they all were missing key things, as I explained earlier. One thing that automatically would give Curry an early lead is his likability - he's a fan favorite, great with the media, and he's got a great off-the-court reputation and in a social media society that helps. Also, what's one thing Jordan did that took him to another level? he made the game exciting for the crowd/fans. Right now, Curry is doing that. It seems like every time he steps on the court there's a highlight about to happen. Think about it. Jordan revolutionized the game with his high-flying abilities, he wasn't the first person to dunk the ball, but it was the fashion in which he did it. He [Jordan] almost gave you the feeling like he was gliding or flying through the air. Stephen Curry does the same thing with his remarkable three-point shooting. Curry makes shooting the three-ball as easy as a lay-up, and does it with conviction. Curry has an assertive demeanor to his game that makes you feel like he's going to make every shot that he puts up.

The Warriors are off to the best start in franchise history and their confidence seems to be at the highest level. The season is still young, but it feels like this Warriors team, led by Curry, could be on the verge of another magical season and if Curry wins another ring in the next two years, especially in the arduous western conference, don't be surprised if the Jordan comparisons heat up around the media and social media atmosphere.

Do I think that there will be another player better than Michael Jordan? No, he did things for basketball that no player had ever done before him. However, we're moving into a new generation, the social media age and the people that are younger and seeing what Stephen Curry is doing and the fashion that he's doing it have never seen Michael Jordan play. And, let's be honest, the new generation mostly hear stories of Michael Jordan and know that he has a popular sneaker line. I don't know if Curry will surpass Michael Jordan, as far as being named the greatest player through a general consensus, but I do believe that if he continues to play at this level over the next several years he has a really good chance to be right next to him in the conversation.

Saving Kaepernick?

  San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula announced at a press conference earlier this week that he has decided to bench starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The Niners (2-6) are off to their worst start since 2010, the year before former head coach Jim Harbaugh was with the team.

"I met with the quarterbacks on Monday. I've made a decision to go with Blaine Gabbert this week. It was a tough decision," said Tomsula.

Gabbert, a former first-round draft pick, selected No.10 overall in 2011 by the Jacksonville Jaguars was traded to the Niners in 2014. he [Gabbert] has 23 passing touchdowns, 24 touchdowns and 4,395 yards for his career, so far. In his last three games as a starter in Jacksonville (2013), Gabbert had one touchdown, seven interceptions, 481 yards passing while only completing 48 percent of his passes. 

"In no way is 2-6 all on Colin Kaepernick. That's all of us"

Kaepernick, 28, has over 10,000 career passing yards, 56 touchdowns and just 26 interceptions in his four years as the full-time starter. Tomsula said that he wants Kaepernick to be able to just "step back" and look at things through a different lens.

Kapernick has a career record of 27-20 as a starter (regular season).  

Coach Tomsula says that he's seen Gabbert improve in the two years since he's been with the team and he feels that this is the correct decision for the team right now. he[Tomsula] never came out and said if this were a long-term decision. He said that this is the decision, this week, going into Atlanta.

Through the first eight weeks of this season Kaepernick has 1,615 passing yards, six touchdowns, five interceptions while completing 59 percent of his passes. Also, adding a rushing touchdown.

We can't honestly sit here and pretend as if this is a move that's going to hurt Kaepernick. This move hurts the team and Tomsula, essentially. After trading former all-pro Vernon Davis to the Denver Broncos Monday, it seems as if the 49ers are in full rebuild mode. Davis was the last foundation piece to what the Niners had used to build around Kaepernick. Frank Gore had departed over the summer, going to Indianapolis; the once intimidating defense is not the same as it was just two years ago, or one for that matter, with defensive lineman Justin Smith and Aldon Smith no longer on the team, or former team captain and all-pro linebacker Patrick Willis.

The defense is currently ranked 28 out of 32 in yards per game, 23 of 32 in points per game.

Expectations and anticipation are hurting the perception of Kaepernick. After seeing him go to the Super Bowl and two NFC Championship games so early in career, we became use to seeing him win and after losing in the fashion that he and the Niners are it's only normal that we question weather or not he's declining. His recent failures have, in my opinion, have been most in-part due to his lack of talent around him. Sure, Carlos Hyde is going to be a very good running back. However, it's his first year as the starter, he has to learn and grow and also overcome these injury issues that he's dealing with right now.

The Niners are struggling right now on both sides of the ball. Kaepernick takes the blame because he's the quarterback ... They [quarterbacks] take the glory, too ... but in reality the team isn't very good and his talent at the receiver position isn't the same as it was in the 2013 season.

Receivers in 2015: Anquan Boldin (35 years old), Vernon Davis (31), Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington

Receivers in 2013: Michael Crabtree, Anquan Bolin (33 at the time), Vernon Davis (29), Kyle Williams, Quinton Patton.

Also, he had Frank Gore a hall-of-fame running back who took a great deal of pressure off of him and the passing game.

Being "benched" is never a good thing for a players confidence. But Tomsula could be trying to salvage him from the media's perception of his abilities. I don't know if pulling the Gabbert card is the answer this early in the season. Maybe coach Tomsula is seeing something that we aren't from Gabbert? or MAYBE he's seen a breakdown approaching with Kaepernick through frustration?

The benching of Kaepernick is either Tomsula's way of saying that the team needs a fresh start and Kaepernick might not be the answer like they assumed before resigning him to a long-term contract. Or it's his way of saving Kaepernick on a season in which they've clearly struggled in and would like to keep his confidence high, as well as his winning percentage as a starter.

Is 2015 The Year of the Underdog?

2015 has been the year of the Underdog and I explain why. Also, I talk about the Tennessee Titans, where they're headed, and explain why I'm not sold on Stephen Curry as the most exciting player but everyone else is.

NBA Predictions for the 2015-16 Season

I give my top eight picks from both the east and western conference and I also give my top five MVP candidates.

PS: I made this right before the season started; the content is still relevant.

Patience and Persistence

  In a day and age where we crave having information fast and we want to know everything at the moment it happens, social media allowing us to do so, we often forget the importance of patience when it comes to our lives. We, as a society, sometimes forget to enjoy and appreciate the process of progress in life or as some would say the "journey of life".

But, in a time where we have the ability to give and receive information almost every second of the day, is it right to blame any person that tries to rush success or become impatient with their life's progress? Even though you should remember a rushed product might also lead to failure and a lack of patience in life can lead to that same result. This can be applied to any profession and almost any situation.

Oct. 23 the New Orleans Pelicans announced that they had waived guard, Sean Kilpatrick after signing him a little over a month prior to this.

Kilpatrick, 25, was an first-team All-American his senior year at the University of Cincinnati. He was also a Wooden award and Naismith trophy finalist; he [Kilpatrick] is the second leading scorer in team history (2,145 points) behind Oscar Robertson, better known as "The Big O" (2,973).

After not being drafted in 2014, Kilpatrick was picked up by the Philadelphia 76ers to play in with their summer league team - averaging an impressive 11.5 points per game on 44 percent shooting - but his performance didn't appear to strong enough to land him a roster spot for the regular season team. However, he would be able to make his NBA debut in the 2014-15 season after being signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves in March to a 10-day contract. But, after appearing in four games and averaging 5.5 points, the team decided to move forward without giving him a contract extension.

He [Kilpatrick] also made a brief stop in Golden State before being waived by the Warriors soon after being signed early in October of the 2014 season. 

A tenacious Kilpatrick would be picked up again for the 2015 summer league, this time with the Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 18.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and shooting 47 percent from the field, averaging 28 minutes per game. However, once again, his performance wouldn't be strong enough to earn him a roster spot.

In September it seemed Kilpatrick had found his spot and would finally get his chance to show the NBA what he's made of. - clearly a great shooter with a lot of potential, especially on offense, to contribute to a team - when it was announced that the New Orleans Pelicans had signed the young guard.  And with Tyreke Evans going down and Jrue Holiday being a liability due to previous injury issues, it was looking promising that Kilpatrick would get ample playing time with the chance to contribute to a young team on the rise. Unfortunately, like the times before, he wouldn't get that opportunity. Kilpatrick would be waived from the team in October for veteran guard Nate Robinson - who wold later be waived by the team as well.

Sean Kilpatrick is on a journey like many other players, currently and previously, breaking into any professional business is hard. Breaking into professional sports is that much more difficult, especially the NBA. In a league in which teams only hold only 14-15 players on a roster and there are hundreds of guys fighting for an opportunity, it's almost impossible. However, Kilpatrick has shown growth in his game and he continues to strive for his goal and getting a guaranteed contract and a roster spot.

I'm confident that with his will and determination, when and if the right opportunity comes, Kilpatrick will be ready to contribute. His story is a common one and we've seen players year after year trying to break through to the next level all the time. Some players fail to make it on an NBA court, some are skilled and fortunate enough to be in the right system and things work out for them, and some players get their opportunity after years in the developmental league (NBA D-League) or overseas and capitalize on that opportunity. 

Like any job/career, timing and your fit to the company/system can make or break your performance... in sports that's especially true... When you wait for the right opportunity and when the feeling and timing is right then you have a better chance of performing at a higher level and your chances to succeed can be greater.

Remember, CONSISTENT hard work pays off, and timing is key.