In the first installment of B.O.D.C.A. (Barack Obama Didn’t Change Anything), we at TSI have chosen Cowboys tight end Martellus  Bennett and his interpretation of the “Black Olympics” as the target of our assertion that besides bringing class, intelligence, dignity and common sense to the White House, the election of President Barack Obama has done little to prevent the same self-destructive behaviors that have plagued black folks in America prior to his inauguration.

Bennett, a second-year tight end out of Texas A&M, has a known affinity for fried chicken, but it was a video (see above) of him and his brother, Seahawks rookie Michael Bennett, participating in a three-tiered race that included eating fried chicken and watermelon and drinking Kool-Aid that compelled me to pen a slap not only for Bennett’s apparent obliviousness to perpetuating racial stereotypes, but also a warning to athletes and those that surround them of the pitfalls of feeding the ever-burgeoning social media beast.

The stereotype that black people are born with an inclination to like fried chicken, watermelon and Kool-Aid has been around for a long time (see above), and was recently brought back to the forefront with the election of President Obama and the resultant photoshops of the president exercising his apparent birthright to enjoy the aforementioned foods.

While these images can be easily dismissed as pure and utter ignorance, what can’t be so easily dismissed is the embracing of these stereotypes by someone like Bennett. Regardless of whether or not you believe it was Bennett’s intent to offend through the device of superficial humor, the result is still the same. Two grown ass black men, both of whom attended college, eating fried chicken and watermelon -- in a manner that would make Malcolm X do somersaults in his grave -- all while beaming with pride in the name of entertaining their audience.

As recently as five years ago, Bennett wouldn’t have an audience and would just be another prospect with a high ceiling. However, thanks to platforms such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc…we live in a world where everyone is a star and the number of friends and/or followers one enjoys is a validation of their importance in this new media sphere. Professional athletes are among the biggest stars in social media, as evidenced by Shaquille O’Neal’s 1,632,250 followers -- and counting -- on Twitter.

As a result, this new media explosion has fostered the kind of trite “humor” employed by Bennett and the “Black Olympics” is a perfect example of athletes trying to satiate the cravings of their fans to know any and everything about their favorite stars.

However, you don’t have to make a complete fool of yourself and make light of America’s sordid past to attract attention for your media ventures, regardless if you feel that your public is awaiting and nothing but the most coonish of acts will satisfy their hunger.

Kenny Badd: I’ll never forget the day my father came home from work with the ‘Thriller’ album. He was known for randomly bringing gifts home for my mother and I, but this was something else all together. This was ‘Thriller’, Michael Jackson’s opus, the work that would come to define his unprecedented career. After staring in awe at the front and back covers, I maniacally removed the plastic wrapping, and carefully placed the album in my record player. I put the needle on it oh so gently, and proceeded to listen to it over and over and over, with the only interruptions being those from eating, sleeping and going to school. While I didn’t understand it at the time, I was actively participating in the greatest cultural phenomenon this world has ever seen, and more than likely, ever will see. His music redefined generations, and touched millions of people in ways those unfazed by the outpouring of emotion at his memorial service will never quite understand. Rest in peace Michael, your legacy will live forever.

MBJ: The launching pad of modern media has lent itself to many entertainers, politicians, educators and thinkers. But Michael Jackson, in my opinion, is the last great icon to pass through those rites. He was the first ever cross-cultural megastar and he was the only one to do it through traditional media. MJ was a world renowned superstar in 1983. Kids passed out at his shows in India in 1985. He was a 9-year-old prodigy. Do you know what it took for more than 10 people in India to recognize your face in 1984? I think we, our generation that is, take for granted the fact that we are living in the era of the amateur. With blogs, microblogs (Twitter) and social networks, we have been given the keys to the mass media machine and been told to be home by 11. Any and everyone is a star. Reality TV, D-list celebrities and mixtape rappers are all syptoms of a starved culture but MJ was authentic. He showed us the blueprint for an icon and since then, no one has touched it. R.I.P. MJ.

RJ: My fondest memory of the late “King of Pop” has to be the first time I saw him do the Moonwalk during Motown 25 in 1983. It was also the first time I’ve ever cursed in front of my parents. 26 years later, it’s still the illest dance move of all time. I can go on about the countless memories I have but the ones that stand out involve both of my parents and I appreciate them sincerely for giving me the opportunity to witness his greatness. My pops once took me to the car show at the DC Convention Center where they were showing a special preview of ‘Thriller’. I have to say that I was creeped out and amazed at the same time…one of the strangest feelings ever. My moms took me to see the Jacksons on their Victory Tour at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. The show was colossal. “Can You Feel It” and “Torture” were the shyt! Side note: I remember my cousin Maurice (four years old at the time) was so excited to see his cousins from DC that he slid down the hallway in his socks, couldn’t stop himself and tumbled down two flights of stairs, uninjured. I was rollin’. Those were great times indeed. Watching Michael Jackson perform was the equivalent of watching on Michael Jordan on the court. With this said, there will never be another MJ.