Me Against The Word: 30 Years Later

When I checked out TAFKA Twitter this morning, one of the things I came across was a lot of people noting that yesterday was the thirtieth anniversary of a 2Pac album.

Me Against The World was released when Tupac Shakur was serving time in prison. It is one of his most iconic albums featuring classics like Dear Mama and Temptations - which appeared on 2Pac's greatest hits album a few years after he died.

I've written in the past about how some of the songs on Me Against The World could be used as a soundtrack to my life back then.

I recall watching the videos of the aforementioned songs on MTV during the daytimes shortly after I had left school to revise for my GCSEs. 

2Pac had entered my life almost a year earlier via two songs he recorded for the Warren G and Nate Dogg Regulate single. I loved Loyal To The Game and Pain so much that I would always stop to catch the videos for those two songs from Me Against The World whenever they aired on the music channel.

But - that's not all.

The most significant memory I have of the album also involves my GCSEs. 

A few of us walked up to the school on results day to find out our grades. As we were leaving, with our grades in hands, a lad from our year was being driven into the school grounds with the title track booming out of the speakers.

It was the first time I had heard Me Against The World. I vividly recall thinking to myself 'ahh, that must be from that 2Pac album'. Back then, my friends didn't know 2Pac. They were going to soon enough, though.

I ended up buying the album. Eventually. It must have been over a year later, though. That's because the first 2Pac album I owned was All Eyez On Me, which came out in early1996. 

I'm sure I'll write about that one when it celebrates its 30th next year. For now, I'm going to pop in my earbuds and listen to Me Against The World.

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Day Four

It's the final day of this year's Cheltenham Festival and I am going out with a bang. Here are the horses I've picked.

1:20 JCB Triumph Hurdle: East India Dock
2:00 County Handicap Hurdle: Irish Panther
2:40 Mares Chase: Dinoblue
3:20 Novices' Chase: The Big Westerner
4:00 Cheltenham Gold Cup: Inothewayurthinkin 
4:40 Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase: Shearer
5:20 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle: East India Express

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Day Three

Only three horses today. 

1:20 Mares' Novices Hurdle: Sixandahalf

2:00 Jack Richards' Novices' Limited Handicap Chase: Firefox

3:20 Ryanair Chase: Jungle Boogie

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Day Two

I only have four horses for today. The times, races and selections are:

1:20 Turner's Novices Hurdle: The New Lion
2:40 Coral Cup: Comfort Zone
3:20 Cross Country Chase: Busselton
4:00 Queen Mother Champion Chase: Jonbon

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Day One

I have just placed my bets on the Cheltenham Festival. 

And I haven't spent a penny.

That's because I've opted to start off this week using free bets that are available from the UK bookmakers. 

Here are all the horses I've gone for. 

1:20 Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Workahead
2:00 Arkle: Majborough
2:40 Ultima Handicap Chase: Broadway Boy
3:20 Mares Hurdle: Lossiemouth
4:00 Champion Hurdle: Constitution Hill
4:40 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: Stencil
5:20 National Hunt Challenge: Captain Cody 

All bets were each way.

The first five are in a £1 each-way fivefold, Stencil is a £2.50 each-way free bet and Captain Cody is a £1 each-way free bet. I chose 'Captain Cody' only because the name stood out with Cody Rhodes being the current 'captain' of WWE.

Something I'd Like To See This Week In Free Agency

It's a big week for the sports I have an interest in.

As I wrote the other day, Cheltenham begins tomorrow. However, the stories I am keen to watch the most over the coming few days are those in the NFL.

That's because in a few hours from now, free agency in the NFL officially begins.

Players with their contracts due will be looking for better deals. Elsewhere.

Of the many people I'll be looking out for. The one at the top of my list is Aaron Rodgers. But - there's a good reason why.

I predicted - at the start of the year - that Rodgers would retire in 2025 after being released by the New York Jets. The team has already revealed its moving on from Rodgers. He, however, seems to be looking for a new home.

The Minnesota Vikings COULD be an option for Rodgers and I would love it if he went there.

For one reason.

Remember when Rodgers was ready to play at Green Bay so the Packers' head office decided to part ways with their long-time quarterback - Brett Favre? He was sent off to the Jets and spent a season there before winding up in Minnesota - a huge rival of the Packers.

Oh, and bear this in mind: when all this was going on between the Packers and Favre, there was apparently heat between he and Rodgers.

If Rodgers were to sign with Minnesota, it would be quite an ironic story considering he would have travelled a similar career path as the person he succeeded at Green Bay all those years ago.

Luger Going Into The WWE HoF

World Wrestling Entertainment has announced Lex Luger as an inductee for its 2025 Hall of Fame.

It's a long time coming, if you ask me. 

Luger was a major star in the business from the 1980s right through to early in the 21st Century.

He was a world champion in World Championship Wrestling and spent a short period in the then WWF (now WWE) as the top babyface. 

Luger's WWE run ended controversially in 1995. He worked a house show without a contract one night and then showed up in Minnesota the following night as a surprise on WCW's debut episode of Monday Nitro.

That wasn't the only controversy in Luger's career and life. In 2003, he was with his then girlfriend - Miss Elizabeth - when she collapsed and died at their home.

Then, years after that, Luger suffered some health issues that have left him in a wheelchair. 

Cody Rhodes and Diamond Dallas Page surprised Luger with the news last month. The video of Cody's meeting with Luger wasn't revealed until a couple of days ago.