Rescheduled Rihanna concert or full refund? I'll take the refund.

I decided to skip Rihanna's Diamonds World Tour on April 24 in Baltimore.  It was a rescheduled date, since she had laryngitis earlier.  Originally I looked forward to the concert, but as the date approached I had a change of heart.

I'd seen/heard Rihanna perform before.  I heard her when she opened for Kanye West on his Glow in the Dark Tour in 2008.  She also performed (i.e. a year or so ago) during an NBA All-Star weekend, and I thought it was great.

However, last week I just couldn't motivate myself to go and see her again.  Maybe it is/was all the entertainment news about her and Chris Brown.  With their make ups and break ups on display for everyone with internet access and entertainment television, all that on and off and on and off again, turned me off.  When given the opportunity to receive a full refund from Ticketmaster, I pounced.

I'm not sure what it is, but I'm just not a Rihanna fan anymore.  I enjoyed her early material (e.g. "If it's Lovin' That You Want", "Umbrella") but in hindsight I had buyer's remorse and wasn't willing to pay approximately $140 to see and hear her newer material.  Yes, there are are couple of her newer songs I enjoy, but there aren't ten.  There may not even be 5.

Further, with all the Chris Brown nonsense, Rihanna just seems so "emotionally heavy" and drama filled that I didn't think I would've enjoyed the show.  Different strokes for different folks, but personally I think all of that mess sends a bad, mixed message to girls.

I'm sure if you're true Rihanna fan, you enjoyed the concert.  You may have even had the time of your life.  I was happy I was able to stay home, and I can't wait to see the full refund appear on my credit card statement.  I can watch the light-hearted, happy Rihanna anytime I want on youtube.




THE WIRK

Ron Artest's NBA Championship post-game interview and celebration

So many people are so quick to hate and not congratulate.  Have you see, Ron Artest's post-game interview after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 7 for the NBA Championship?  The sincerity in his emotions and the joy in his actions and his voice are visibly and audibly genuine.  I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the biggest Ron Ron fan, but I cannot help but like him after watching him come up huge in a couple of games in this series and after this interview. 

Sports are one of the few forums where men will actually let down their guard and let out their human vulnerabilities.  Men can play the game like boys and still come out champions!



Want to know what happens after the interview, when Ron went to "the Club".  Well, according to the following ESPN article by Sam Alipour, Ron Ron went out to "the Club" in full uniform and then eventually gave his uniform to Chris Brown.  Why not?!?!  It's Ron Ron...  He's come a LONG way from the Pistons-Pacers brawl.  He's a Champion now.


THE WIRK