Lolo Jones

The Love for the Game-jannai smith

My love for all sports is overwhelming. It used to be the only thing I could ever think about awake, or sleeping. I don’t necessarily think of politics when I think of the game I almost feel I try to get away from politics through sports. Sports allow you to do what you love without being judged. Sports are like an outlet away from the world. The only relation I see between sports and politics would be the statistics.   

Zirin talks about color being a major factor in sports and although I partially agree, I feel as though there was a bigger impact in history. He fails to see that it is hard for us as a country now to relate because we didn’t go through it. When I watch any game with my friends we aren’t rooting for a certain team based on the color ratio of the team. We pick our team based on our location, family choices, or even who is the best team that year.

Sports have come a long way and it has opened a lot of doors for women and certain races. So maybe he’s right in the past it did play a major role in politics but today I don’t think they are as much as a key role like he believes. I also think that the reason the army and other political influences come into play is that a majority of our country can agree on the idea of sports. We might not agree on a certain sport or a certain team but we can all almost agree that the idea of sports is a factor in our country.

Lover Boy- jannai smith

My parasocial relationship is with no other than Channing Matthew Tatum born April 26, 1980. Although he has stolen the heart of many, his heart will always belong to me. He recently was awarded Sexiest Man Alive(duh?). He is also an American actor, film producer, dancer, and former model, best known for his roles in Step Up, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Dear John, The Vow, 21 Jump Street, and Magic Mike.

After watching Magic Mike with my roommate, I couldn’t help but fall more in love with him. We decided that by far he has the hottest body in the world and the best smile not to mention the best personality. I feel like this is a little unhealthy on how excited I am to write about him. Sometimes I even envision myself as the character he is in love with or even kissing (weird, I know). Ugh…. You just don’t find men that are so passionate about what they do and you sure don’t find men that are as faithful as him!

Parasocial relationships have been one of my favorite sections. It has made me open my eyes though and wonder if it is doing anything for me or is it just leaving me with broken dreams and unfulfilled desires? I believe one of my colleagues mentioned “because it is human nature to seek out other things or people that help you achieve a sense of wholeness. In a sense, the parasocial relationships we find ourselves in are more of a passion than a relationship at all.”-Kayla Bachman Although I have a love for all of Channing Tatum’s movies I don’t know if what he portrays on the screen is the same in real life (but a girl can dream right?!)

You're BEAUTIFUL!!!!- jannai smith

I have come to find as women we are too hard on ourselves, but I feel as though the media plays a big part in this. Media is always down our backs about how we look rather it be the clothes we are wearing or the way our hair is done. We are constantly being told that we aren't good enough for example we aren't funny because we are women, you aren't pretty because you look different, you can't be a model because you are not tall enough or you are too big. But as a society we wonder why women are so self-conscious and constantly trying to be and look better. Why is it so hard for the media to give a compliment or even congratulate women for their success? If the average women were to stop for a second and look at reality she would come to realize that what society is asking for is almost impossible.

I think what bothers me the most besides the obvious that we can’t be perfect is that men are never really criticize for what they look like, say, or do. You never see the media at the VMA’s saying “Oh my gosh did you see what Will Smith was wearing? What was he thinking?” Maybe the reason women appear not to be as funny as men are because they can get away with more. For instance a man can say that they have to fart and everyone laughs, whereas when a woman says it everyone just looks in disbelief.

I believe that if media wanted to they could honestly make a positive impact on everyone’s lives. If they told women it’s okay to be different and to embrace it. We aren’t all meant to look alike that’s what makes the world such an interesting place to live in. Men and the media should be putting women on a thrown and treating them like queens. If it is to be true, that women are more emotional than men, then why make our lives harder than what is.  

My Secret Obsession- Jannai Smith

I can’t really call myself the typical gamer. I like video games and I don’t mind playing them but it’s not something that consumes my life, like some of my colleagues. But I do have an obsession with a particular game. It goes by the name of Mortal Kombat and I could play at any time of the day or night for hours upon hours. Guys are presently surprised how good I am at it.

I tend to question the real reason I love the game so much, is it because it is a childhood memory; the game that my whole family always played or is it the simple fact of winning. The competiveness takes over in me and I refuse to lose, I wonder if unconsciously it is important to beat the opposing opponent or am I fighting like it is real life. At the end of the fight they have an option of doing what is called a fatality. Although my brother and dad love the opportunity I steer away. The thought of brutally hurting someone more than needed, effects my moral judgment. Then my thought is, maybe it’s because I’m a girl and can’t handle little things such as taking revenge on a soul that was fighting for the same reason.

There is more to the game than just fighting though, they also have a section that veers and you can go on a conquest to earn coins that allows you to buy special features from the krypt. New outfits for the characters, new characters, and new combos for the characters lie in the krypt.

But I don’t know if I agree that the game influences me so much that it could make a difference in my community let alone the world. I guess it gave me some good combos if I decided to join the neighborhood watch team. The only empowerment I really embrace is when Scorpion uses his favorite line “Get Over Here” (in a deep and scary manly voice!)