Please don't call me "African-American"

I am not an "African-American." In fact, I hate the term "African-American".

Somehow that became the acceptable term for black people in America because the words nigger and negro just wouldn't do.  Wikipedia defines an African American as "citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub Saharan Africa".  Why does America find it necessary to define only one set of people's ancestry? That definition says nothing about color, but if you are American, and from South Africa, but happen to have white skin, what does America call you? Not African-American.

Caucasians are just called white, not German American, English American, Scottish American, Italian American, etc.  Typically, only 1st generation descendants will go by those terms, yet I can go back my family ancestry for six generations and find nobody from Africa yet. In fact my great-great-great grandfather was a white man, does that mean anything? No. Why? Because as much as America likes to try to deny it, people are placed in these ethnic groups due to the color of their skin.  I would love to see the census for every "white" person of African descent and see what boxes they check.

If I was truly an African American, I or my parents would have been born in Africa. I know plenty of true African Americans, what do people call them? African. Are they not Americans? It's a travesty that this takes place.  I have never been to Africa, neither has anyone in my immediate family. I would love to go, but how am I supposed to claim something that I have never seen? It's a slap in the face of true African Americans.

America, since we love color so much, let me put it simply. If white/Caucasian Americans of German, English, Scottish, Italian, etc. descent are referred as simply American or White American, then black Americans of African descent should be referred to as simply American or Black Americans. 

Why does this happen only in America?  You know what people call black English people? English. Black french people? French. But black Americans are ??? African-American? Nationalities and ethnicity's are not the same thing...unless you live in America. Why do people not realize this? America! It's OK to call me black.  If everyone in America was referred to where their family came from prior to America or where the family was in the 1800s, we'd have a lot more "Inset Here - Americans".

Somehow we found it ok to just to pinpoint one ethnicity and separate them from the rest. How is that ok America? I cannot claim being an African America, because I am not one. I am an American, and if color is a requisite, a Black American.

SportsTown USA? Can you say MIA?

New York? Boston? LA? No. No. No.

Sports Town USA is officially... Miami.

You heard me, Miami. The city of sun, south beach, the art-deco design, the funky peach/orange, teal colors, Little Havana, the home of the Hurricanes, Heat, Marlins, and Dolphins is officially Sports Town USA.

Yes, I know St. Louis is the home of the world series champs, New York is home of the super bowl champs, and Dallas is home to the NBA champs. St. Louis has nothing else, good luck getting the Rams to win another championship. New York always has the Yankees, but it also has the Mets... Dallas has the Rangers and the Cowboys, the Rangers have a shot at a championship, but the Cowboys? I'm a fan and I know that they don't have a chance anytime soon.

So why Miami? It's the hottest place in sports right now. The Heat will be odds on favorites to win NBA championships the next 3 years, The Dolphins, well, if they get Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne (I think they will), they become super bowl contenders. Manning a QB, Reggie Bush/Daniel Thomas back field, Jake Long and a solid O-line, Cameron Wake and a solid D, Brandon Marshall and Reggie Wayne? That's a more talented team than Peyton EVER had in Indianapolis and he led them to two super bowls, one win.  The Miami Marlins just picked up Jose Reyes and Marke Buerhle, have some young prospects in Mike Stanton, they still have Hanley Ramirez. That's a promising team.

The challenger to Miami's reign? New York of course, the Knicks stand a genuine shot of being a legit contender if Amare can turn back into 2006 Amare and Melo and Lin can get along.  The Yankees are always among the best teams in baseball and can win a World Series any year. The Giants can sneak up and win one when no one expects it.

The wild card to Miami's reign? Detroit. Yes, Detroit. Home of the Red Wings (NHL's best), the Tigers have potentially the most dangerous line up in baseball (Carbrera, Fielder, Martinez) and have the games most dangerous pitcher (Verlander), the Lions are a nice up and coming team and even in college you have Michigan football on the rise and both UM and MSU basketball teams are highly rated. The problem? It's a Detroit, nobody cares.

Current SportsTown USA rankings:

1. Miami
2. New York
3. Boston

Future SportsTown USA rankings

1. Miami
2. New York
3. Detroit

Of course, if Peyton Manning signs with the Jets, New York automatically shoots to the top of the list. Even if the Dolphins don't land Manning, if they can get a good QB (Matt Flynn in free agency or Ryan Tannehill in the draft) their futures ranking will stay high.  The key is the Heat, if they win a title this season or next, it will trump all because of all the fanfare that comes with LeBron.  Despite the Giants just winning the super bowl, the Yankees have not won a championship in 3 years (a long time for them), the Mets stink, and the Jets are in turmoil, and thus Miami without a championship in forever still ranks above them. 

Am I giving the Heat too much credit? probably, but it's my blog and I can do what I want to.

Tell me how you feel!