These are “taboo” topics I’ve covered so far in this basketball history related blog: race, politics, sex, religion, war, mentality, and money.

Conventional wisdom said “don’t do it” since after all, this isn’t The Assimilated Negro, Huffington Post, BlogXilla, Dissident Voice, Gawker, or other great blogs that push the envelope in these areas one way or another. But I couldn’t resist.

So here’s the Black Fives Blog’s own Top Taboo Topics List:

Race

Time Out For A Moment

Every once in a while, maybe even once in a lifetime, a moment becomes so important that it requires a time out from what we’re doing, from the day to day and the usual topics. “Time out!”

For me, Senator Barack Obama’s speech just now — they’re calling it his “Perfect Union” speech — was such a moment in time.

Continued …

Politics

Black Fives Endorses Obama For President

In February 1915, when the Black Fives Era of basketball was just hitting its stride with teams like the St. Christopher Club and the New York Incorporators, this country had a president named Woodrow Wilson who staged a movie screening at the White House of a film called Birth Of A Nation.

This, despite widespread protests about the film’s viciously racist depiction of African Americans and glorification of the Ku Klux Klan.

“It’s like writing history with lightning,” said an enthusiastically overwhelmed President Wilson afterwards. “And my only regret is that it is all terribly true.”

The stain of that film has helped define political strategy in America ever since. But that era is now over.

Continued …

Sex

Schwarze Herren Schokolade, Bitte.

I was in Germany earlier this week

It was for a family reunion on my mother’s side, and I had a great time.

One of my sisters picked up this chocolate bar for me, thinking about Black Fives, she said, and knowing that I would just, well, eat it up.

Her instincts were right.

“Schwarze Herren Schokolade” translates to “Black Man’s Chocolate” in English.

Continued …

Religion

Genesis 12:1-3 Holds Key To Winning On The Road

The Bible says, “Win on the road.”

Sure, you’ve heard coaches and N.B.A. analysts preach this, and it’s hardly ever been more true than in the 2008 N.B.A. Playoffs. Winning on the road is a blessing.

But did you know it’s a mandate from Holy Scripture?

Seriously. In so many words.

Continued …

War

The Tee I’ll Never Wear No More

… We had been at a neighborhood get-together, kind of a housewarming, earlier in the afternoon, and since the invitation said “casual” I wore my Black Fives Philadelphia Panthers Legends by Nike, and my matching dark gray Marvin Gaye “War Is Not The Answer” tee shirt.

But the tee shirt felt funny, and not because there were a bunch of hard core McCain supporting registered Republicans there, in the middle of Greenwich, Connecticut.

Continued …

Mentality

Why So Many Black Athletes Self-Destruct (And How To Avoid It)

You won’t hear so-called leaders talking about this: not politicians, not clergy, not educators, not business people, not bankers, not financial managers. And especially not commissioners, agents, team personnel, or player’s union execs.

So listen up …

Lately, it seems like every week another African American pro athlete in the prime of their career self-destructs, or (sadly) worse.

Why is that? (Not why that impression, but why the black pro?)

I believe I know why, and it’s for the same reasons every time.

Continued …

Money

Bill Gates On Creative Capitalism: Why We Need To Listen

I disagree with the Wall Street Journal’s take on the important speech Bill Gates is giving today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Gates is calling for “creative capitalism” that will use market forces to address the needs of the poor.

Continued …

To me, “conventional wisdom” is an oxymoron. Conventional, well, that’s all about the past. Wisdom, that’s about taking knowledge and knowing how to use it, which is all about the present and the future.

Have a great unconventionally wise weekend!