Swag Award February 2-8

On paper, the matchup was one that bookmakers and sports enthusiasts alike salivated over. The first time since 1994 that two #1 seeds faced one another in the Super Bowl. Two of the games most prolific offenses and two of the games most accurate quarterbacks duking it out for one of the most coveted prizes in all of sport; The Lombardi Trophy.

On paper it appeared that the Indianapolis Colts were the better team. Led by 2009 league MVP Peyton Manning, and well-rested after a 14-0 start the Colts seemed poised to win their second title in four years.

Outcomes are not decided on paper, and that my friends is why we play the game.

For the first 15 minutes of the game the New Orleans Saints, the laughing stock of the NFL for many seasons, the expansion team that hadn’t reached a Super Bowl in its first 43 years of existence looked every bit less experienced than their counterparts from Indy.

New Orleans could have rolled over at the end of the 1st quarter when they were down 10-0 and didn’t show any signs that they were capable of slowing down Peyton Manning’s methodic passing attack. New Orleans could have rolled over in the 2nd quarter when Indy stopped back-to-back runs on 3rd and 4th and goal, but they didn’t.

A wise man once told me that “a true champion prevails despite the circumstances,” and that is what the Saints did coming out of halftime. Despite being a slight underdog, and facing a 10-6 deficit at the half, the Saints put together an impressive 30 minutes of football; starting with a recovered onside kick to begin the second half.

That play, the first time an onside kick was attempted in a Super Bowl before the 4th quarter, was a game-changer and the catalyst the propelled the Saints to a 25-point second half and their first ever Super Bowl title.

It’s hard to not to root for a team like the Saints. There’s no way to measure what a Super Bowl title does for the spirits and emotions of the city of New Orleans, and the surrounding gulf region that is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. I think sports fans around the league won’t mind yelling out a resounding “Who Dat!??” in honor of the Saints’ tremendous season.

Any successful person will tell you that winners take risks, and the New Orleans took the necessary risks in Super Bowl XLIV to be crowned World Champions at games end. To the victor goes the spoils. Swagger!

Swag Award January 25-Feb 1

It’s often been said that love knows no boundaries, and ever so often you see a couple who makes you really makes you believe that saying may have some truth behind it. Ever so often, you see a couple who makes you feel like they would do anything for their partner; travel the to the ends of the earth, profess their undying love for another, whatever it takes.

Jeff Wong and his fiancée Erin are proof that true love is not dead. Now we all remember the creative “Soul Train wedding line” that was a sensation on You Tube.. This couple blows those jokers out of the water.

Mr. and soon-to-be Mrs. Wong are set to wed on October 9, 2010, the eve of 10-10-10. Instead of sending out cheesy invites on cheesy stationary, this duo took a little less conventional route and instead decided to produce a trailer for the event of the year, AKA the wedding in October. Taking scenes from many of your favorite movies and spoofing them, the Wong’s most certainly made an unforgettable event reminder for what promises to be an unforgettable event in their lives.

Props to Jeff & Erin for overcoming the odds, thinking outside the box, and having the swagger to do something so incredibly original, so incredibly awesome. Best of luck to you guys in the future.

Swag Award January 18-24

As we draw to the close of the first month of a new year, renowned ghost-writer and Virginia representative Skillz has released his annual “Rap-Up.” For those of you unfamiliar with Skillz or his rap-ups, take this time to familiarize yourself. For as far back as I can remember, Skillz has been releasing these songs every January recapping all the major events of the previous year. Skillz cleverly touches on everything from the music world, to politics, to pop culture. By now, we’ve all seen retrospectives on the events of last year, but no one does it quite like this guy. I’ve always enjoyed these and I’m sure you will too.

Click on the video below and let Skillz take you back through 2009 and the year that was…

Swag Award January 4-17

One week after the catastrophic earthquake that rocked Haiti, the magnitude and sheer impact the quake had on the fragile island nation is becoming more apparent with each passing minute. News outlets have been covering the disaster for days, and I’m sure none of us will soon forget the images of the homeless families, injured Haitians, corpses littering the streets, and people helplessly crying out for help.

When tragedies on this scale occur, something is triggered within the human heart that causes us to feel an insatiable desire to help. Call it compassion, call it sympathy, call it love for your fellow man, but in the face of tragedy people come together this week’s Swag Award goes to one such helper. I’m not talking about a Non-Governmental Organization here. Not a celebrity-led relief effort, but an individual act from a celebrity of sorts removing himself from his job to do something courageous amidst widespread chaos. The celebrity is Anderson Cooper, and today we celebrate his heroism.

As Cooper reported from the streets of Port-Au-Prince, he encountered a throng of Haitian looters scouring a store for much needed essentials. This wasn’t a normal smash & grab however. As looters tried to enter the store, other Haitians who were perched on the roof threw rocks and concrete blocks down onto the people below.

As Cooper reported from the scene, a young boy was struck in the head by one of the concrete blocks. As the boy wandered through the street bloodied and bewildered, Cooper put his camera and microphone down and literally carried the boy down the street and out of harm’s way. The entire exchanged occurred in about a minute, but in that one minute we saw Anderson Cooper’s human side. That split-second decision to help that child and not let him wander aimlessly down that street may have saved a life.

Swag Award December 28-Jan 3

As we transition into a new decade, the United Arab Emirates continues to assert its fiscal muscle and penchant for ostentatious displays of wealth, despite the economic turmoil that continues to plague most nations. Dubai, the same country that constructed three palm-shaped, man-made islands in the Persian Gulf a few years back introduced its newest architectural feat to the world yesterday in grand fashion.

Towering more than 160 stories over Dubai and the surrounding desert, the Burj Khalifa as it is called is now the tallest building in the world at 2,717 feet. It’s 50 stories taller than the next closest building in Taiwan. For those of you familiar with New York architecture, the Burj Khalifa is as tall as both the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building stacked on top of one another.

The building will include a mix of office space, nightclubs, mosques, luxury suites and boardrooms. It will have the world’s fist Armani hotel, the world’s highest swimming pool on the 76th floor, and the highest mosque on the 158th floor. The observation deck on the 124th floor will offer panoramic views of up to 60 miles.


Now I know what you’re asking yourself; “how the hell was Dubai able to afford this undertaking in this global economic downturn?” Thanks to a $10 billion donation from Sheik Khalifa of Abu Dhabi last year, Dubai was able to avoid economic unrest and complete the project. For his generosity, the name of the building has been changed from Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa in his honor. The Burj Khalifa has already sold 90% of its space to tenants, but it remains to be seen if it will be the catalyst that revives Dubai’s economy still recovering from the real estate crash a few years ago.

I haven’t made it to Dubai yet, but I’ve heard some good things from friends who have visited. I need to get over there. I think we can all agree that spending $1.5 billion in a global recession to construct the tallest building in the world, and quickly selling out 90% of the space is a power move, any way you slice it. Swagger!

Swag Award of the Week December 14-20

There’s not much to say about this week’s winner. I don’t know his name, but this little guy from China impressed the hell out of me. With moves like that, this kid will be on ‘So you Think You Can Dance?’ in no time. I’m sure he has no idea what Swag is yet, but he already has tons of it.

Watch this little guy move:

Swag Award of the Week August 10-16

Talk about an upset.. This is a David vs. Goliath story if I've ever heard one. Y.E. Yang, ranked #110 in the world at the outset of the PGA Championship out dueled Tiger Woods in the final round to win the tournament by three strokes.

Woods entered the final round with a two stroke lead and for the first time in his professional career relinquished a final round lead in a major. Woods had previously won all 14 majors when entering the final round with a lead.

With the victory, Yang became the first Asian-born golfer to win a major. For his efforts, Yang received $1.35 million, the 44-pound Wanamaker Trophy, and a five year exemption on the PGA Tour and all majors. Woods' loss means he will finish the year without a win at a major for the first time since 2004.

Congrats Mr. Yang for not backing down as the Tiger roared, as so many golfers have in the past. Watch the highlights here.

Swag Award of the Week June 22-29

King has left the building. I'm sure most of you were as shocked as I when you found out about Michael Jackson's untimely death. There is no doubt that the megastar, pop icon, musical pioneer turned freak show in recent years had an effect on your life. His music is timeless and his dance moves were impeccable. 

A few weeks back I wrote about Jackson's announcement that he was planning a world tour that was set to begin sometime this year. Fans now will not get that opportunity to see Jackson on stage again. Jackson's death reminds us how precious life is, and not even the most accomplished entertainers and celebrities are exempt. 

MJ will truly be missed. He touched many lives during his career. Fans from Beijing to Baltimore are still coming to grips with the harsh reality that Jackson is no longer with us. R.I.P Mike.

Swag Award of the Week June 16-21

I know I'm a tad later than usual with the Swag Award this week, but for days nothing really struck me enough as "swag-worthy" for a bit. Maybe my news/blog/entertainment/etc. etc. consumption levels were down. Maybe it was because my personal swag levels weren't at all-time highs. Who knows? We all have those weeks. Long story short, after watching this situation develop over the last few days I think the Iranian citizens are more than deserving of this weeks award. 

A few days back, I blogged about the Iranians using social media to send out images of the protests despite attempts by the government to deny such actions. The situation has grown from bad to worse. It has been announced that recorded votes from 50 cities were tarnished, accounting  for more than 3 million fraudulent votes. 

Fraudulent votes..sounds a lot the 2000 election here in the states do you think? Despite the fraudulent votes, the Guardian Council(read about this group if you're sure what they're about) maintains that the results are legitimate and that the 3 million votes were not enough to change the outcome. 

The citizens are outraged, and rightfully so. There are a few other concerns the people of Iran have regarding the elections however.

An excerpt from NY Times:

How did the government manage to count enough of the 40 million paper ballots to be able to announce results within two hours of the polls closing? How is it that Mr. Ahmadinejad’s margin of victory remained constant throughout the ballot count? Why did the government order polls closed at 10 p.m. when they often stay open until midnight for presidential races? Why were some ballot boxes sealed before candidates’ inspectors could validate they were empty? Why were votes counted centrally, by the Interior Ministry, instead of locally, as in the past? Why did some polling places lock their doors at 6 p.m. after running out of ballots?

A lot of concerns, valid ones at that don't you think? The death toll stands at 17, the Iranian government continues to go forward with the results as they are and the outrage continues around the country. Iran's reputation in the world has been bruised as a result of this ordeal and Britain has expelled two Iranian diplomats in response to the Iranian government expelling two British diplomats days earlier. 

The odds certainly seemed stacked against the people, but they continue to draw attention to the situation despite the governments attempts to quash it. Keep fighting the good fight, the end result may be a favorable one..a fair one at least.

Swag Award of the Week June 8-15

Behind every great team, lies a great coach. The general, the director, the puppeteer. The person who develops the plan of action, pulls the strings and puts the pieces together in order to achieve maximum results.

With the Los Angeles Lakers' series clinching victory over Orlando, Phil Jackson etched his name in the annals of sports becoming the only coach in NBA history to win 10 titles. Think about that...10 titles. That's a championship for each finger. Pretty impressive.

There is no question that Jackson is a great coach. He won six titles in Chicago with the likes of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. He won three in Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. And the win last night ensures that he will go down as one of, if not the best coach to ever step onto the hardwood.

What I like most about Phil is his demeanor; his 'swag' if you will. Even in defeat, Phil Jackson remains collected, always composed and never flustered. Many coaches around the league let their emotions get the best of them. Not Jackson. 

Coaches on the professional level have a lot of variables to deal with in order to achieve success. Pressure from ownership, fans expectations, overly-critical journalists, over-paid players and the egos that come with their salaries. Let's not forget the X's & O's of the game as well. For his entire career, Jackson has somehow managed to put all of that noise behind he and his players to make beautiful music on the court. Speaking of beautiful music...10 titles has a nice ring to it don't you think? RESPECT.

HONORABLE MENTION:

As much as I despise the University of Connecticut in all things athletic, objectivity is important at BDumasonline.com and I must give credit where it is due.

Jim Calhoun, head coach of the UCONN Huskies was cycling in his charity bike race this weekend. Around the 50 mile marker out of 67, Calhoun hit a pothole, fell off his bike and broke five ribs.. Calhoun was not deterred, as he biked at 16 more miles to the finish with broken ribs. Upon crossing the finish line, Calhoun collapsed and was taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries. He has already been released from the hospital. 

A few things here:

A. I'm not even sure if I can bike 67 miles in one day

B. I definitely can't bike 16 miles with 5 broken ribs

C. Jim Calhoun is 67 and he biked 16 miles with 5 broken ribs

D. Damn! That's impressive!

Much like Phil Jackson in the pro ranks, Jim Calhoun by most accounts is one of the best coaches in college. His 805 wins puts him at #6 all-time and second among active coaches. Calhoun has already been inducted into the NCAA hall of fame and I'm sure his efforts today will earn him even more respect from his players and fellow coaches. Get well soon coach.

Swag Award of the Week June 1-7

This pains me, but for the sake of objectivity I have to give Kobe this weeks 'Swag Award.' His performances last week in the NBA finals have been impressive. His 40 point performance in game one of the finals helped the Lakers cruise to a 25-point victory. In game two, Bryant dropped 29 as LA won in overtime.  

In addition to his efforts on the floor, Nike has been hanging from Bryant's (and LeBron's..) jock strap with its series of MVP-Most Valuable Puppets commercials. 

To top off the love fest, Lil' Wayne, arguably the hottest MC in music right now blessed the internet with a tribute to Kobe and all of his greatness...

LeBron will be there soon, but this past week showed us that Kobe is still the NBA's top dog. 

Swag Award of the Week May 18-25

Congrats to the mighty Syracuse Orange who defeated Cornell 10-9 in overtime today to win their 11th national championship in school history. The Orange were on the verge of defeat, but scored three goals in four minutes, including the game-tying goal with 4.5 seconds left to send the game into overtime. With the win, Syracuse defended last years title and became the first school since Princeton in '97-98 to win back-to-back championships.

Highlights of the overtime thriller:

I've become a lacrosse fan since attending Syracuse. As a young, aspiring sports journalist it was imperative to not only become familiar with the schools rich football and basketball traditions, but lacrosse as well. While at Syracuse, I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown who was also a standout for the lacrosse program. Brown is the only athlete to have been enshrined in the NFL, NCAA Football and NCAA Lacrosse Halls of Fame. His speed and power (he was an NFL fullback in case you forgot) revolutionized college lacrosse, and a rule was implemented after his departure to even the playing field.

Jim Brown during his LAX days

Congrats again to the Syracuse lacrosse program. With its 26 final four visits, 16 championship appearances and now 11 national titles, SU LAX continues to validate its reputation as one of the premiere programs in college lacrosse. 

Swag Award of the Week May 11-17

Yesterday, I received an email from Dr. Boyce Watkins, an accomplished and outspoken finance professor at my alma mater, Syracuse University. The email was regarding his denial to be granted tenure by Syracuse. He was selected as the Top Graduating senior in Finance by the Wall St. Journal during his college years. He was the only African American to receive a PhD in finance in 2002, and has been a professor at SU since. 

As a professor of  finance, Dr. Watkins often offers financial advice and tips for people of color in the 21st century. He also uses his websites, yourblackworld.com & boycewatkins.com to speak out on issues and injustices concerning the black community. In addition to his websites, Watkins often appears on news outlets to offer commentary on issues regarding African Americans such as compensation for NCAA athletes, the Jena 6 trial, Hurricane Katrina, Don Imus & financial matters. 

In his email, Watkins announced that Syracuse had denied his request for tenure meaning he will soon be dismissed by the university. Here is the letter:

Hello to my friends, 

In case you don't know, my tenure case was denied, which means I'll be dismissed by Syracuse University.  I personally am not offended, as I didn't expect to receive tenure after the attacks by Bill O'Reilly last year and the work I've done speaking out on behalf of NCAA athletes (Syracuse earns tens of millions from athlete families and likely lost alumni donations after the Bill O'Reilly attacks - I stand by every word, however, since I won't allow a racist like O'Reilly to speak of lynching Michelle Obama or any other Black woman for that matter).  Additionally, our business school (The Whitman School of Management) has not, to my knowledge, recommended tenure for any African American, in any department, in its entire 100 years of operating history (I can't concur with the conclusion that every Black scholar on the planet is unqualified to be here).  So, while we can say all we want about elusive and idealistic concepts such as academic freedom, most scholars understand that the rules change when you are an outspoken Black man with no significant Black male power presence on your campus.  My role was to support pre-existing intellectual, social and administrative paradigms, not to engage in active, progressive scholarship.

 But the goal of this interview is not to talk so much about my tenure case, since I don't need tenure in order to be validated as a scholar (I get supportive email every day).  The goal is to speak on behalf of my colleagues, many of whom are absolutely petrified of standing up to the administration in public (they typically agree with me behind closed doors and then say that they can't go public without being punished).  A supportive senior colleague (who is not Black, by the way) made it clear to me that if I do not stand up on these issues, then it may be another 100 years before another Black scholar has the platform to do so. Being that I was the only African American on earth to get a PhD in Finance in 2002, I am used to fighting battles alone. I am willing to sacrifice the rest of my academic career in order to do so, for I see this as a great opportunity to help others. 

 But I stand out of respect and love, not out of hate or anger.  Anyone familiar with the history of Syracuse University knows that racial progress has never come without struggle, so this is my opportunity to contribute to the legacy left by Jim Brown, my respected brother and spiritual predecessor.  I would not be here were it not for the sacrifices of those before me. 

So, this is the first of a series of conversations I plan to have on this topic, as my discussions with Cornel West and others have helped me to realize that what I am experiencing at Syracuse is not an idiosyncratic phenomenon. Academia is racially sick, and we must all give it the necessary medicine.  

 The first interview will be on "Make it Plain with Mark Thompson" on Sirius 146 and XM 167 at 6:30 pm EST.  I hope you'll tune in.  Also, if you want to see some of my commentary on AOL Black Voices, please click here. God bless.

Dr. Boyce

For all of his appearances on national media outlets, none caused more controversy/brought more attention to Dr. Watkins and the University than his spat with Bill O'Reilly & Juan Williams of FOX News. In 2007, O'Reilly made some inflammatory remarks about his first trip to Sylvia's restaurant in Harlem for dinner with the Rev. Al Sharpton. On his radio show, O'Reilly expresses his disbelief that patrons at Sylvia's were as well mannered and well-dressed as patrons at an Italian restaurant in the suburbs. Are you serious? Listen to O'Reilly's comments and read a full transcript here. 

Dr. Watkins appeared on CNN shortly after to offer his opinion on O'Reilly and his intentions.

Watkins drew fire for his remarks about Bill O'Reilly and calling FOX's black analyst Juan Williams, a "happy negro" for continuing to agree with O'Reilly and not challenging him for perpetuating stereotypes about black people. I'm sure the university received a lot of phone calls and emails calling for Watkins' head from parents and donors who watch Bill O'Reilly and were outraged at Watkins' comments.

As I have said before, 'swag' is a loosely used term, but a major component in my mind is being confident in yourself and your actions despite the circumstances. Dr. Watkins embodies that swag. As a professor of finance at a predominantly white, private university, at a business school that has not tenured an African American in its 100 year history, I'm sure there were more than enough reasons Dr. Watkins could have chosen to keep his mouth shut and not challenge O'Reilly. He continues to put politically correctness aside in favor of holding people accountable and stimulating uncomfortable but necessary dialogue. 

It saddens me that my alma mater, home to one of the most reputable journalism schools in America, a school that champions freedom of speech and protecting first Amendment rights (and even has the words of the First Amendment in six foot letters on its windows outdoors) would rather dismiss Dr. Watkins than keep a man with as much intellect and passion as he in its ranks. Jay-Z said it best, "swagger is not a must, it's a liability..." Keep your head up Dr. Watkins.

Swag Award of the Week May 4-10

Earlier this week, the NBA crowned LeBron as the league's Most Valuable Player. At 24 years old, King James edged out Kobe Bryant & Dwyane Wade for the league's most coveted individual accolade. In his sixth season, LeBron averaged  28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists and lead Cleveland to a 39-2 record at home and the best overall record in the league at 66-16.

That dominance by LeBron and the Cavs has carried over to the playoffs where they are a prefect 6 for 6. After sweeping Detroit, Cleveland is off to a roaring start against the Atlanta Hawks. Last night, James scored 27 points in only three quarters as the Cavs again crushed the Hawks 105-85. This postseason, LeBron is averaging 32 points, 11.3 rebound and 7.5 assists and has lead his team in scoring in all six games. 

LeBron has often looked unstoppable this season, shedding defenders, blocking shots, hitting jumpers, and throwing down some of the most ferocious dunks I have ever seen. Yes he is good, correction, he is great. What I like most about him is his demeanor and humility. Often times athletes who achieve at a high level become overly cocky and have an air of entitlement. That is not the impression I get from Bron Bron. For the MVP ceremony, LeBron chose to have it at his high school in Ohio, and invited all of his teammates and coaches to take part in the celebration. In LeBron's eyes, despite its individual nature the MVP award is a team accomplishment.

Congratulations LeBron. You are my favorite player in the league, and it doesn't upset me that you are embarrassing my Atlanta Hawks in the postseason because that's the kind of monster you are. Your persona, attitude, and love for the game are refreshing and it is a pleasure to watch you play. I'm hoping for a Cavs-Lakers finals so that all of the Kobe Bryant lovers will understand that we are now in the era of Lebron and Kobe's reign is over. We are all witnesses. 

I'll leave you with LeBron's 10 best plays of this season. Click on the 'HQ' button for the hi quality version:

Swag Award of the Week April 27 - May 3

To say that the Democrats had a big week would be an understatement. President Obama got the party started as his epic presidency reached its milestone 100th day. Pundits and average Joe's alike reflected on the accomplishments, and highlighted the work to be done as the Obama administration reached its first checkpoint. It must have been a big day for the Democrats as FOX was the only broadcast network that refused to show President Obama's speech to the nation on that night...

The jovial mood within the party only increased as Arlen Specter, a 29 year Republican Senator from Pennsylvania announced that he was jumping ship and joining the Democrats. Specter admitted that he had grown discontent with the message of his party and knew his odds of winning re-election representing the GOP in Pennsylvania, a state that skews bluer every election were slim. Specter was a moderate, and was one of only three Republicans to vote in favor of the Obama Stimulus package. He supports abortion rights, stem cell research, and opposes bans on same-sex marriage. 

Specter's statement about switching to the Democratic party:

Specters move could be the final component Democrats need to obtain a filibuster proof majority in the Senate. If Al Franken wins (they've been trying to decide who won since November) the contested election in Minnesota  which is looking more and more plausible, the Democrats would have the 60 seats needed to avoid filibuster by the GOP. The importance of those 60 seats for the Dems will be helpful as the Obama administration plans to reform health care, tackle climate change, etc. 

The party that brought us the America's first black President also welcomed one of the most senior Senators from the GOP into its ranks. Not a bad week. Swag levels and approval ratings for the Democrats are extremely high right now. 

Swag Award of the Week April 20-26

Susan Boyle captivated audiences last week when she stunned judges on Britain's version of American Idol last week with her stirring rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream' from Les Miserables. Everyone who was present that night  has minimal expectations from the 47 year old spinster from Scotland, but she raised the bar as soon as she belted her first note:

Boyle was back in the news this week following a $50 makeover where she plucked her eyebrows, colored her hair, and upgraded her wardrobe. Seen here, wearing a leather jacket & Burberry scarf, Boyle looks like a completely different woman than the one who graced the stage last week. 

Make no mistake about it though. Although the looks have changed, the angelic voice is still the same, and more importantly...the swag levels are higher than ever. 

Susan Boyle is proof that you should never judge a book by its cover, and despite what others think about you, if you are confident in yourself and your abilities then the sky is the limit. Now that's what I call swagger.

Swag Award of the Week April 13-19

Over the last few weeks, piracy off the coast of Somalia has been receiving a tremendous amount of coverage worldwide following the attack on the Maersk Alabama and subsequent hostage situation that ensued with its captain, Richard Phillips.

While piracy occurs worldwide, the lion's share of pirate attacks have occurred off the coast of Somalia. Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, and the waters off its coast are notoriously some of the most lawless in the world. In addition to not having a functioning govt., Somalia sits next to one of the busiest shipping routes in the world as ships from the Middle East and Asia sail past towards the Suez Canal en route to Europe & the western hemisphere.

Piracy in the region is not a new occurrence, as Somalians originally began attacking commercial fishing vessels that were illegally exploiting the country's abundant tuna population 10-15 years ago. The pirates kicked it up a notch last year though, attacking more than 120 ships and netting more than $150 million in ransom...or booty I guess we can call it. Get your money up Jack Sparrow. In November 2008, Somali pirates seized the Sirius Star, a Saudi oil Supertanker the size of an aircraft carrier carrying over $100 million of crude oil. The pirates were paid $3 million in ransom, divided it amongst themselves and left the boat.

Equipped with fast-moving boats, guns, grenade launchers, and grappling hooks, these dudes speed up to the much slower vessels, hop on board and hold everyone hostage until the money arrives. Pretty ballsy. They even target yachts and smaller vessels, which is the case of the French yacht Tanit that was attacked last week.

The situation involving the Maersk Alabama was the first attack of its kind on an American ship. Navy seals had to be parachuted in to the location, and snipers took out the 3 pirates who were holding Captain Phillips hostage on speedboat. 

Many thought the use of sniper fire to eliminate the pirates would send a strong message and deter them from future attacks... The Somalians said F!&K THAT! and attacked another U.S. vessel, the Liberty Sun on Monday. While the grenade launchers and guns damaged the ship, pirates were not able to board. Here's the catch though...the USS Bainbridge, the same Navy destroyer that was sent to help rescue Captain Phillips and bring him to safety was sent to rescue the Liberty Sun with Captain Phillips still on board! Wow. 

It is apparent that more than one warship and a handful of snipers will be needed to deter the Somali pirates from their objectives. With more than a decade of experience and a hefty sum of money to purchase weapons and other resources, Somali pirates do not appear to be backing down. The African waterfront could become our country's next foreign theatre. President Obama has already vowed to take a more active approach in confronting the issue. I have no idea how and if this situation will end, but one thing is certain...the Somali pirates have swag for days. YARRR!!! 

Swag Award of the Week March 30-April 5

This week saw a tremendous dichotomy for women worldwide. In Afghanistan, women's rights have seemingly taken a substantial blow as Hamid Karzai and the Afghani government passed a law that makes it legal for a Shiite husband to rape his wife. According to reports, Karzai passed the law to "bolster re-election prospects," as Shiite Muslims constitute 20% of the Afghan population.

Contrast that with the massive media coverage Michelle Obama has received during the Obama's trip overseas this week. President Obama is at the G-20 Summit negotiating the financial crisis, gathering allies for the fight against terror, changing the way the rest of the world views and responds to America, and mediating disputes between leaders of other nations...that's a lot to get done in a week in your first 4 months on the job.. 

All of that has seemingly taken a backseat to Michelle, her wardrobe, and the way she and other female heads of state have reacted to one another. From the time she stepped off Air Force One in London, the press has been raving about what Michelle Obama has been wearing. First there was the Michael Kors dress she wore as the Obama's left the White House, and the Jason Wu dress she wore when they arrived. J.Crew loves her, because everything she wears sells out instantly, and the cardigan/skirt combination she donned earlier this week was no different. The company's stock is up↑10.6% as well, and I'm sure she had something to do with it. 

The much anticipated meeting between Michelle and the Queen of England did not disappoint either, as much was made of the embrace the two shared. It is considered a political faux-pas to make contact with the Queen, but by all accounts, the Queen put her arm around Michelle first and Michelle reciprocated. SWAG incarnate. 

The icing on the proverbial cake occurred today when Michelle Obama faced off against Carla Bruni, France's fashionable first lady. Even Bruni, an ex-supermodel, was slain by the fashion beast that Michelle Obama has become. Bruni's Dior dress did not receive nearly the same high marks as Obama's outfit from the fashion experts who care about such things. 

What a week for Michelle Obama. Holding her own with the Prime Minister of England's wife, schmoozing with the Queen of England, standing next to Carla Bruni of France and making the world forget who used to be a supermodel. All of this while hubby is off trying to rally the troops at the G-20 Summit.  

Barack Obama is living the dream right now. Every man to some degree wants what he has; a great job and a beautiful woman by his side. Yes, things at home and abroad are less than ideal, but every man wants to be with a woman that has traits like Michelle Obama. To say she has beauty and brains is an understatement. As President of the United States every move is scrutinized, especially when in front of the world at a summit such as the G-20. The photo-ops and discussions that have taken place at the conference are back page events compared to the photo-ops and discussions that the first ladies have had, largely because of Michelle Obama's impact and presence. Congratulations Michelle Obama for continuing to redefine what it means to be a 21st century woman. Your swag is contagious, not only in America, but around the world.