We haven’t done one of these in a while but, when someone so badass comes around, we just gotta point it out. This edition of Afrothought’s Badass of the Moment is Isaiah Mustafa, also known as “The Old Spice Man” or “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like”. The first time I saw the Old Spice commercials, I wasn’t really paying attention (I was in the middle of cooking), but from what I saw I thought it was hilarious. It wasn’t until the second time I watched the commercial in its entirety that I knew I had seen something special. It reminded me of those old Izuzu ads in the late 80s/early 90s. Still, something about the commercial clicked with me and that same thing made me burst into laughter and tears. Since the commercials have been airing, the Old Spice channel on Youtube has been seen over sixteen million times and sales have skyrocketed over one hundred and seventeen percent. That, my friends, is smart advertising.

Isaiah Mustafa is a man’s man. He played as a wide receiver in the NFL for the Oilers, Raiders, Browns, and Seahawks. Dude even played Moses in the 2005 remake of The Last Supper. And now with all the publicity and manly accolades, Hollywood is starting to give a brother some opportunities. Since the commercials, he’s been seen on Ellen, Oprah, signed a talent agreement with NBC, and landed two roles in the upcoming Tyler Perry Movie as well as the Jennifer Aniston/Jason Batemen movie, Horrible Bosses..off of just a few 30 second TV ads. Now that’s impressive. The only thing its seems Mustafa hasn’t been considered for is playing a superhero in an upcoming Marvel movie, although he has expressed interest in playing Luke Cage in the upcoming Marvel movie. All that from one commercial. Now that’s badass. Check out the video below and listen to him explain his latest “one-take” commercial and breakdown of this badassery.

Couldn’t we make it the rest of the year without a Fail?

(BBC News) – The US football star who scored the winning touchdown in this year’s Super Bowl faces criminal charges after shooting himself by accident.

Plaxico Burress, who plays for the New York Giants, has been charged with possession of a loaded firearm, which is illegal in the city.

If found guilty he could receive a prison sentence.

He is the latest player to be arrested, further damaging the reputation of the National Football League NFL.

Earlier this year Plaxico Burress was a key member of the New York Giants team which won the Super Bowl, the most prestigious prize in American sport.

He caught the winning touchdown pass in a narrow victory over the New England Patriots. In September he signed a $35m £23m contract which would keep him at the Giants for the next five years.

But his future as a player is now in jeopardy.

He faces a possible prison sentence after shooting himself in the leg by accident in a Manhattan nightclub. In New York possession of a loaded hand gun carries an automatic jail term of three-and-a-half years.

The city’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, said there should be no exceptions.

“I don’t think anybody should be exempt from that and I think it would be an outrage if we didn’t prosecute to the fullest extent of the law particularly people who live in the public domain, make their living because of their visibility,” he said. “They are the role models for our kids.”

Bad behaviour

The episode has highlighted an embarrassing trend for the National Football League.

Many of the incidents have been alcohol related, but a growing number of the offences concern firearms.

The NFL has implemented steps designed to protect its integrity. There is a code of conduct. Players who have broken it have been suspended without pay.

But it does not seem to have halted the pattern of bad behaviour amongst some of the League’s high profile stars.

The situation prompted one online bookmaker to post odds on which NFL player would be the first to get arrested this season.

The Dallas Cowboys star Adam “Pacman” Jones was the favourite. He has been arrested six times since he joined the NFL in 2005.

It seems players appearing in court or going to jail could become more the norm than the exception.

(Source: BBC NEWS | Americas | NFL star Burress faces gun charge.)

Editorial:

Well, I guess we only did ask til November 5th before brothas/sistas resumed doing stupid ish.  From my understanding the Burress shot himself in the leg whilst trying to keep the gun from falling through his sweatpants.  ::sigh:: But hey, lesson learned.  I’m mean hopefully he doesn’t have to shoot himself to learn all his lessons but still I imagine the logic has been etched in his brain (or at least his leg).

Which brings me to my real beef with the situation; Michael Bloomberg.  Mayor Bloomberg feels Burress should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.   You know, the whole “set an example” BS mixed with the ‘anti-celebrity privilege’ sentiment.  Now the ‘full extent’ would put the brotha in jail for 3 1/2 years.  Is that really necessary?  Burress already embarrassingly shot himself in the leg.  I think that plus a hefty fine and some community service should be punishment enough.  This is on top of injuring one of those two legs he needs to maintain his livelihood as a star NFL wide receiver. I mean dude is set up to be ridiculed for the rest of his life. Hell, I’m sure more people know him for this attempt at a Darwin Award rather than his Super Bowl win.  And I’m sure Bloomberg had nothing but praise for Burress when he was winning New York that Lombardi trophy but now he is quick to put a noose up for the brotha.  Dang.  Remind me to take any praise from that Mayor with a grain … shoot… a gallon of suspicion.  Bloomberg acts like the brotha tried to shoot him or something. I mean it’s cool to play politics and all, but not with jail time.  Bad form, Smee. Bad form.

Strangely, I was shocked.  Inexplicably so.

(BBC News) – OJ Simpson has been found guilty of 12 charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to kidnap and assault with a deadly weapon by a court in the US city of Las Vegas.

The former US football star and actor was accused of robbing two dealers of sports memorabilia in 2007.

The armed robbery charges carry a mandatory jail sentence, and kidnapping carries a possible life term.

Simpson, 61, who denied the charges, was acquitted in 1995 of murdering his former wife and her friend.

That was dubbed “the trial of the century”.

CHARGES AGAINST OJ SIMPSON

Conspiracy to commit a crime: guilty

Conspiracy to kidnap: guilty

Two counts of first degree kidnapping: guilty

Burglary in possession of a deadly weapon: guilty

Two counts of armed robbery: guilty

Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon: guilty

Two counts of coercion with use of a deadly weapon: guilty

The charges in the latest trial centred on an incident in the Palace Station hotel in Las Vegas in September 2007.

Simpson was accused – and convicted – of kidnapping two sports memorabilia dealers and holding them in the hotel.

The former National Football League running back seized the pair in an attempt to reclaim items in their possession related to his sporting career, which Simpson claimed still belonged to him.

(Source: BBC NEWS | Americas | OJ Simpson convicted of robbery.)

Editorial:

Let this be a lesson.  You really only get one “Get Out Of Jail Free” card with stardom for your felonies.