Theo's Sports Corner by Theo Abbott

Is this the year the Washington Wizards make the NBA Eastern Conference Finals?

The Washington Wizards again look like a playoff team this year. They have been one of the best teams in the NBA Eastern Conference for the last few years. 

The team has posted a winning record and has shown a lot of promise over the last couple of years. The Wizards were one game away from making the Eastern Conference Finals last year. However, they lost to the Celtics in a winner take all Game 7. This year they are again led by superstar John Wall and star Bradley Beal. There are high expectations for the team again this year. The Wizards need to make the Eastern Conference Finals when they will most likely face the Cleveland Cavs to meet those expectations. However, nobody expects the Wizards to beat the Cavs this year especially with the best player in the world, Lebron James, maybe playing the best basketball of his career. The Wizards still will be judged to see if they can take that next step in their playoff maturation process.

The Wizards are 19 – 15 so far this year and currently sitting in the 6th spot among Eastern Conference playoff contenders. They have had to play a number of games without John Wall as he has dealt with injuries early in this season. Yet, the Wizards are right in the mix among the best teams in the NBA. Recently, they had a showdown with the Eastern Conference-best team, the Boston Celtics, and beat them solidly. Again, they are showing promise this year but have had some up and down struggles. Along with Wall and Beal, they feature Otto Porter, Marcin Gortat, Markieff Morris, and Kelly Oubre Jr. which gives them a very talented group.

This year the Wizards don’t have a problem getting up for the big games against good teams. Their problem has been their lackluster performances against bad teams. Already this year the Wizards have lost to NBA bottom feeders Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, and Charlotte Hornets. Next, they face the NBA’s worst team, the Atlanta Hawks. The Wizards need to play with the same intensity they did against the Celtics in their matchup with the Hawks. Good teams are able to play that way. If the Wizards are going to make the Eastern Conference Finals they need to find a way to put together a string of victories. They definitely need to beat bad teams handily.

Could this be the year the Wizards make the Eastern Conference Finals? Stay tuned! It remains to be seen.

Theo Abbott

Contributing Writer

Cindy's Featured Artist of the Week - Moody Black

MOODY BLACK

Moody Black is a Spoken-Word, Hip-Hop, and visual artist, actor, story-teller, and photographer from Spartanburg, S.C. Moody Black is electrifying audiences across the country with his original poems and energetic performances. Fusing a blend of Hip-Hop, Soul, and Poetry, this talented artist delivers a unique rhythmic message in which each new listener finds common ground. Moody Black has been a performing artist since the age of twelve and has become a prominent force on a multi-regional poetry scene through his enthusiastic live shows and strong work ethic. Moody Black has a created a buzz in the following impressive achievements:

Spartanburg School District 7 Theater Odyssey Program from 1987-1991(various roles+SC State Theater Competition Champions), 1990 Mr. Black Spartanburg Pageant Winner: Talent-Original Monologue, 1990 USC-Upstate Shoestring Player for Colored Museum (various roles), 1991 Spartanburg Little Theater-Best Performance nomination for roles in Colored Museum, Spartanburg County Crime Stoppers Commercial 1990 (role of a gangster).

Converse College Summer Theater Camp Superior Performance Award for monologue 1990, 1991 Clemson University 4-H Second Place Performance Award for monologue, Inspirational Players Community Theater Group 1991 (Brother Boxer in “The Amen Corner” by James Baldwin), Spartanburg Methodist College Theater Group 1992 (various roles in “Macbeth Did It”), Second place winner in the University of South Carolina-Upstate Talent Show-February 1998 and 1999.

 Winner of the Coffee Beanery Freestyle Contest in Greenville, S.C- June 15, 2001; Spartanburg Poetry Slam Winner- January 10, 2004; Member of the Upstate Poetry Slam Team 2004-present and Slam Coach from 2006-present; Featured poet for Band-Aids (AIDS Awareness Program) in Spartanburg, S.C.

Featured several times in Spartanburg Herald-Journal and The Link; Performed at several elementary, junior and senior high schools, universities, and colleges. Regular host at several poetry venues in the upstate; Poem published in Still Home (Book of Spartanburg Poets); 2009 Poetry Slam Instructor for USC-Upstate’s Upward Bound Program; Competed in The Southern Fried Poetry Slam Competitions 2004-present; Competed in PSI’s National Poetry Slam 2004-2008. 

Special Guest performer at the 27th Annual Evening of Talent Expressions at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium; Featured artist at the Travelers Rest Arts Commission annual Arts Festival October 6, 2007 in Traveler Rest, S.C./ featured poet for the North Charleston Arts Festival May 2008, Stone Soup Story Telling Festival in Woodruff, S.C. in 2009 and 2010/ Featured poet for the Annual Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C., The Peace Day Festival in Charleston, S.C., featured poet for the annual Chautaugua Festival since 2008, one of the artists that opened up for Trey Songz at The Carolina First Center in Greenville, S.C. and at The 3rd Annual Millican Festival in Sumter. 

S.C. Moody was one of the presenters at the 2011 TedX Greenville SC Event and the 2011 Pecha Kucha Greenville SC. In addition, Moody Black is the Coffee Underground Grand Poetry Slam Champion of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. 2012 Poetry finalist in the 1st Ignite the Mic Talent Show at TD Convention Center, and Champion of the 2nd and 4th Annual Slam Madness Poetry Slam Competition, 2012 Grind Flu Magazine Spoken Word Artist of the year, and tied for first place in the Southern Fried Poetry Slam Slam Master’s Slam (2012 Tampa FL and 2013 New Orleans, LA), and co-host and co-organizer of the 22nd Annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam, 2015 National Poetry Awards Host of the Year and Open Mic Venue of the Year. Greetings, and 2017 All Def Poet.

Contact info- 864.357.7148

www.iammoodyblack.com

iammoodyblack@gmail.com

Twitter: @iammoodyblack

http://www.facebook.com/iammoodyblack

Instagram: @iammoodyblack

http://www.moodyblack.bandcamp.com

Introducing Denise Pope - Simply Cindy's Newest Team Member

It's my pleasure and honor to introduce Denise Pope, who joined my team as a Recruiter.

Denise is a Procurement Management Analyst, overseeing multi-million dollar contracts at the U.S. Department of Treasury in Washington, DC. She is currently attending additional classes in the procurement field of contract administration and project management. When she is not glued to a computer screen, she spends time with her grandson, making ceramic pieces, attending wine tasting events, dancing, and traveling. She currently resides in Maryland.

Please help me welcome Denise to the Simply Cindy Blog team and to our blogging community!

Connect with Verse - Poetry Corner! Featuring: Glacia Townsend

Glacia Townsend

RIP

My foes, as well as my friends, have stabbed me in my back

You stabbed me in a main artery under a sneak attack

The scars on my back were stitched up and I was basically okay

But living after the stab to my heart, there was just no way

As my soul was leaving my body I heard the doctors say

Her heart had too many bruises we couldn’t even make her stay

We could do surgery but it would only waste our time

One Dr. said to bring her any more pain would be committing a crime

This woman has lived a short life, and according to the wounds, full of pain

I don’t know how her back never broke from carrying so many chains

Her arms and legs were shackled and no clear spot can we find in her heart

She was scarred before her life could really get a start

This young lady fought many battles taking blow after blow

And every scar tells a story but we will never really know

All she had gone through to make it this far

With every area of her body bearing the story of an enormous scar

But what we can tell is she tried to carry the weight of the world

According to her shoulders, ever since she was a little girl

Her heart was big and she wore it on her sleeve

She was pure at heart and she was very naïve

Her brain shows that she thought everyone to be a friend

She had a forgiveness factor that never would end

You could hurt her, again and again, time after time

She would forgive you at the drop of a dime

It has been said a straw can break a camel’s back

From my examination that is where she was at

It was just one more stab wound, but her heart couldn’t take any more

This was her final battle, the end of her emotional war

Written by Glacia Townsend

Q: My boyfriend is boycotting the NFL and I chose not to because it’s not that serious to me. My boyfriend says that I’m not supporting him. How do I make my boyfriend understand my rights?

Signed: M.B. ~ NFL Blues

A: This is a conversation that will be ongoing if you plan to be together. Relationships are based on trust and respect for each other, including different views of life. You will have different opinions and it’s ok. Many times it’s the perception and tone of the conversation. Quite naturally, if someone doesn’t agree with us, we tend to get a bit defensive. 

Give him your reasons for why you don’t feel the need to boycott. Let him know that you have no problem supporting him but boycotting the NFL is not something that you choose to do. There will be other events that will need you. This should open dialogue on the current events and what you both think. Don’t argue but simply discuss. My husband and I don’t share the same views on many current events BUT we respect each other and move forward. Respect is key and he has to respect your views.

Until next time, live, laugh, and love life to the fullest!

Love,
AunT

Trinette Collier Green is a Certified Relationship Stylist
Submit your questions to simplycindyblog@gmail.com

Beverly's Beatitudes by Beverly Branch

Too many people underestimate their potential and accomplishments because they haven't reached their final destination, or things didn't work out as they planned. But maybe, just maybe, it all works out how GOD planned or saw fit, by our obedience or disobedience in Him. 

Don't get so distracted by your own ambitions to reach your goals, that you miss out on celebrating your current progress in small beginnings, starts and finishes. Celebrate yourself, every idea, your journey, every little thought, plan, preparation, step and progress Big and SMALL!!!. 

Go out and get something for yourself, pat yourself on the back, salute yourself, reward yourself, and/or bless and encourage someone else's beginning or finished project, as a way or token of showing self-love and self-appreciation to you and them. You know how it felt when you were there or being there even NOW. 

Be proud of all you've THOUGHT, PLANNED, PREPARED FOR, PRAYED FOR, AND ACCOMPLISHED OR STUMBLED AND OR FAILED at in 2017! It was part of the PLAN!!! There's a Lesson in it ALL!!! CELEBRATE YOURSELF AND THEN LEND A HELPING HAND TO SOMEONE ELSE!!! Each One Teach One! These days we are so into getting it for ourselves first, and sometimes, just sometimes, it's meant for us to help others along even as we're helping ourselves. 

Remember, we're NOT in competition with one another; neither are we putting into existence the comparison of our vision with theirs or vice versa. We need one another to succeed!!! REMEMBER TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK! GOD gave us all a MEASURE, of all we can handle in our Power, that HE invested in Us. So let's remember, we all know and receive different things on different levels, that doesn't make one better or less than the other. But it creates a paradigm that results in us all needing each other and coming together adding each Ingredient to create the exact MEASURE for the Final MASTERPIECE!!!

Beverly Branch

Founder of Women In Fellowship Ministries

Mindset Matters by Cassandra Williams-Herbert

              

Holiday Creative & Cheers    

It’s the most wonderful and most emotional time of the year. For many, it’s a season of joy, giving and wonders. Although all these are precious, I would like to include creative. 

Creative thinking helps me find ways to get in and through the holiday spirit: by indulging in bittersweet memories of the year especially during the past holidays, by helping those who are less fortunate, by watching our favorite holiday movies or hosting Christmas socials with the people we love. The joy of being creative gives me time to do something I really love. Decorating for Christmas brings me joy and holiday cheer. Christmas decorating may be simple or lavish but either way, it will help you bring the beauty and joy of the holiday spirit into your home.

Do what you love! We hear this all the time. When I was about nine years old, I had developed the mindset I could create the lifestyle I wanted when I grew up and enjoy it. It took me years to understand this process. It took time to reflect on the things that gave me life during my childhood. Often, we are told to look back to the passions that transpire in our childhood, so I thought about how I like things to appear organized, neat, elegant breathtaking in visiting, filled with peace, warmth, and love. These things were essential for me growing up. I thought about everything this young girl would want to see growing up and moving forward in life. Staying in touch with your motivator instincts is an important step in finding your passion and creative side.

One of the benefits I found was, my creative side was driven by the loss of my father. Before his death, I had no ideas within me but since his death, I have a stronger sense of focus, balance, order, well -being, and personal growth. Inspiration and ideas often arise seemingly out of nowhere. You will ask yourself, where in the world has this gift been hiding; being creative requires a distinct form thinking process.

For example, you have a vision about your life whether its who, what, where, how and why; plans to be a writer, speaker, designer etc. - are you producing? Are you writing, speaking - whether it's reading the announcements in church or creating your own decor? As long as you're producing, you need to know that the essential part of finding your joy is to keep doing what motivates you.

Your gift should ultimately lead to financial security, the Bible Proverbs 18:16 tells us your gift will make room for you, believing it for financial security is a defining motivator, but it comes with seeking the correct guidance for you to do what you love. Have you ever been asked the question what amount of money would you need to make your dreams come true? Well, many could not answer this question. Picture this, if money is no object - what would you do? Money cannot be overlooked but one thing is for sure, your gift will not let money dictate your choices.

Wow!!!

What a way to think about our next moves, whether it’s a dream career or turning your hobby (a gift from God) into a career. It’s great advice, but it’s not always that simple, it can be challenging if you don't know where to start. We are usually told to take the leap of faith until we start, and when we do, is when we truly find joy. I didn’t like quiche until I tried it, thanks to my Master Coach, Dr. Gail Hayes.

One of the biggest tasks you will never face is creating and activating the vision. I was at a conference that awakened my mind, body, and soul. If you are looking for something and can’t find it, then create it. These are words that would forever change the way I look at life; thoughts that would now alter my living a reality that was essential for me.

In the design of our lives, as in the design of most other things, you get better results when you are directed by your true desire to act on what makes you happy. So unless you are sure, it’s ok to continue on a journey called "options".

I found my passion and I’m grateful for that. Before you sign off, I’m Cassandra Williams-Herbert. I create my own atmosphere, my own style, make my own décor. Remember no matter what it is you want to do or become, happiness is loving what you do and doing what you love. I personally am blessed with both. “Mindset Matter.”

I create and design my lifestyle. Always Produce.

Happy Holidays!

Cassandra Williams-Herbert
Founder and Executive Director of POW-WOW, Inc.