Former Secretary of State COLIN POWELL’s endorsement of SENATOR BARACK OBAMA, Democratic Presidential nominee, announced on MSNBC’S Meet the Press Sunday morning, was a shot in the arm for the Senator who many argue lack the experience to lead this country! Powell validated Obama not because he’s a Black man, but has the RIGHT STUFF to lead the country in these troubling times!!!

STILL admired and respected by many, ALTHOUGH tarnished by his involvement with the Bush administration WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, believed what was told him, testified like a “good soldier” there were weapons! Sad a man of Powell’s brilliant Military career and dedicated service to his country was put in a TRICK BAG!!!

Powell spoke about his disillusion with the Republican Party and leadership; and that Senator Obama represents a “TRANSFORMATION” of power!!! Expressed Senator John McCAIN’S campaign was NOT good for the country or its reputation around the world.

McCain and Obama are near the FINISH line. The The race fluctuates in its closeness! Come November 4, one candidate will be declared the winner. At this writing the POLLS READ OBAMA IS AHEAD with plenty of money! REGARDLESS what the Polls say, which can be misleading, Nothing can be taken for granted UNTIL the LAST VOTE IS COUNTED AND THE FAT LADY SINGS!!!

SPORTS BREAK - The BIG SPORTS NEWS came Monday afternoon when it was announced that 49ers COACH MIKE NOLAN HAD BEEN FIRED!!! AND Assistant Head Coach MIKE SINGLETARY would take over the team as INTERIM coach; hopefully he will GET THE JOB!!!

I was not surprised over Nolan’s dismissal; especially after SUNDAY’S LOSS TO New York Giants in what was shabby performance by QB J.T. O’SULLIVAN, whom at the beginning of the season gave me high hopes that this would not be an abysmal year, as has been in the past few years! MEDIOCRE COACHES COME AND GO!!! Nolan was stylish in his dress, made front page on a major magazine, FINE, BUT fans were not impressed, GIVE US A WINNER!!! SUNDAY, The SEATTLE SEAHAWKS will be at Candlestick so lets see what changes SINGLETARY will make on field!

TONIGHT THE WORLD SERIES BEGIN between the PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES, AND THE TAMPA BAY RAYS! The gutsy young Rays learned it was not going to be easy when up against The Boston Red Sox in ALCS Series, that lasted 7 games, when it looked like the Rays would win in GAME 5, champagne chilled in the visitor’s locker room at Fenway Park, home of the Red sox, ready to POP the cork and celebrate victory THAT NIGHT A FANTASY!!! The OVERCONFIDENT young Rays had to wait until the 7th game!

The Ray’s FRANCHISE began 10 years ago, finished at the bottom of their league - the WORSE TEAM! JOHN MADDON was hired as Manager in 2006; under his leadership the team excelled. 2008 season plummeted them to the PLAY-OFFS - AWESOME RISE. It’d been a long time coming to not only reach the PLAY-OFF, BUT now in the World Series!

BACK TO POLITICS...COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS on THIRD STREET!

IS THERE AN OBAMA SATELLITE OFFICE IN THE BAYVIEW? LAST SATURDAY afternoon drove over to Bayview District and Third Street looking for an Obama satellite office (surprised 10 people could not tell me where)!

SIDE TRACKED! Parked in front of YVONNE’s Praline sweet shop. Stopped in to say hello to the young woman I’ve known since she was in grade school. Purchased a few large Butter Cookies - melt in your mouth, AND delighted to buy a cup of ice cream (two scoops vanilla coconut - nothing like cookies and ice cream!). Strolled a few blocks, eating my cream, to the Plaza at PALOU Street, attracted by the crowd and music.

Learned the activity was a weekly event EVERY Saturday in a day long gathering. The UNITED FATHERS COALITION (UFC) Presents “BROTHERS - KEEPERS” Health and Well being Weekly MEN’S meeting. BRIEFLY...The UFC is a intergenerational organization dedicated to the mission of cultivating, strengthening, motivating and empowering a core of successful, productive and committed adult men and youth in our communities for the development of our youth and families and for an enhanced quality of community life.

Happy to see and chat with JIM MARTIN whose working with the group as a consultant, shared information about the organization. ALSO on the scene REV. MEDARIS, Pastor Double Rock Baptist Church, looked well, STILL debonair in his aging years. Rev. spoke on the mike to the group;

A table of can goods spread out, believe for sale or give away; Barbecue dinners sold and the fine JAZZ sounds of keyboardist DWAYNE CHARLES and his group, who also perform for a church within the vicinity of the Plaza. NEVER did get to the Obama office, located at 4636 - 3rd St., INFO: (415) 821-2847.

THE BLUES WAS JUMPIN’ OFF THE HOOK LAST FRIDAY NIGHT AT BISCUITS AND BLUES, San Francisco’s TOP Blues club located in the heart of Union Square! These are BLUESY TIMES when thinking about one’s predicament in life - SURVIVAL in the current economic state of this country! BUT HEY, the Blues can be joyous, FEEL GOOD foot pattin’ thang’ as was the feeling Friday night partying with headliner Grammy-Award winning BOSS TALKIN’ Guitarist/singer JOE LOUIS WALKER who knows all about the Blues, lived it, know how to weave the feeling into his music.

FIRED UP Friday night, so much so snapped 3 guitar strings! The evening celebrated his NEW CD RELEASE entitled “WITNESS to the Blues,” TESTIFYING, singing new cuts mixed with old sounds, performed ”ROCKIN’ 88,” high tempo, bluesy kick off straight out the pocket letting us know this would be NO ordinary night! Followed by “It’s a Shame” workin’ up a sweat early...bleeding heart confessing “Love That Woman”...gave her everything I had...”A Nervous Fella’” (good jump)!;
Heard Interesting song titles like “I Got a Mind to Give Up Living and Go Shopping Instead!” AH, Walker makes his instrument, his woman, cry, moan, knowing her every mood, caress, as he smiles , grinned, holler would be a better word, he was HAPPY - you felt his joy!

Closing out the First set , Walker performed on Harmonica, in sweet Blues tone, as he slowly walked around the room, one hand reached out to touch somebody’s hand in greeting ! GREAT SHOW with SIDEKICKS JIM MONROE on keyboard (down with it!), drummer JEFF MINNIEWEATHER, and BIG MAN HENRY ODOM on bass guitar, who has been with Walker over 20 years.

Walker returned from tour in PARIS, France, earlier that week. GOOD THINGS have been happening for him, signed with STONEY PLAINS record label, cut FIRST CD this year. Surprised to learn he had moved to New York a year ago! Walker is a HOME BOY, raised in the FILLMORE District - DA ‘MO. Started his career in the mid-’60s with veteran bluesman MIKE BLOOMFIELD who introduced Walker to many of the blues artists who came to the Bay Area to perform at the FILLMORE WEST.

Walker never forgot his religious roots, influenced by gospel and Blues, he will often perform a gospel or two in his act. He has performed with the Spiritual Corinthians. 1986 on Hightone Records, released his FIRST BLUES album, “Cold IS the Night.” An immediate hit!

GREAT SHOW FRIDAY NIGHT...Sure my friend - Blues writer DOROTHY HILL, fresh from the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival, Helena, AR. B&B her frequent hang, as is radio station KPOO’S Wednesday morning BLUES JOCK NOEL (HAYES), 9-12 noon. (Since January of this year I’ve been announcing ENTERTAINMENT happenings at 11:30a.m.). Noel is a great fan of Walker, calls him “BAAAAD A-- TALENT“ and rate Walker’s new CD “The best!” There he was seated in his favorite corner at the bar. Both he and owner STEVE SUEN were happy to see me - FINALLY!

HEY, IT’S NICE TO BE NICE AND TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE ... LOOK FOR ME ... I’LL BE THERE ...
E-mail Rochelle at iheard@earthlink.net