Monday, January 29, 2001 Page 5B PINION o THE BATTALION Grammy Dreams Eminem’s talent, unique message merit awarding him Album of the Year . mt erce web- ecently, minute it was released. The second cartoonish-like humor. Spin maga­ 979-280- the Na­ album, named after his given birth zine named Eminem their Artist of tional name, reflects Eminem’s harsh up­ the Year, yet another prestigious per Plan R! Academy of bringing, covering issues like accomplishment. Recording Arts & poverty and single parenthood. Quick to defend Eminem’s ' Sciences As seen with his own eyes and Grammy nominations, NARAS wmdstiwc (NARAS) an­ written by his own hands, Em­ President C. Michael Greene claims nounced that Em­ inem’s powerful creation of art the controversy over Eminem’s is, new tu, 0B0, 57S- inem, a 27 year- should not be honored for its mes­ nomination is no different than the old rapper from Detroit, has been sage or its content, but solely for its actions of comedian Lenny Bruce, nominated for four Grammy awards, artistic and technical achievements. another groundbreaking performer . found offensive by some yet enjoyed lor all insr, including Album of the Year. Although millions of fans Eminem's powerful by many. Greene even called the |j around the world have grown to Eminem recording “remarkable.” H embrace his talent and creativity, creation of art This album should be viewed the , Ldw organizations are vying to keep his should not be way other verbally explicit works g phenomenal album from receiving honored for its are, without questioning the content rtremelyis the award. The news of his nomina­ or judgment of the author and the al $300, Ci tion spawned thousands of emails message or its thoughts he or she draws upon. The leppet. and calls to the NARAS office. content, but solely roads literary works have paved are ■ at 775® The Gay and Lesbian Alliance for its artistic and in line with Eminem’s intentions to ed, tote Against Defamation, has threat­ speak his mind. ihots. spas ened to protest the Feb. 21 awards technical Although Eminem’s thought ■ ceremony. The group said giving achievements. process seems twisted and irra­ H Eminem the best album award tional, one cannot overlook or dis­ '"S' I, would be a disservice to society Eminem’s explosion onto the miss the actions that speak louder Hand would serve as an approval for music charts, after years of struggle than his words. Eminem never x)fm/2b8‘> | his obscenity-laden lyrics and raw for success, has raised the level and committed any of the graphic ac­ 55-1532. * graphical style. standards of rap music pioneered tions outlined in his songs. His ac­ \ From the birth of the recording by Run DMC in the early 1980s. tions thus far have only proven his industry, rebellious works from By remaining atop the hip-hop in­ outstanding ability to create fierce fmusicians like Elvis, The Beatles dustry, Newsweek magazine hails visual fantasies and vivid illusions [and now Eminem have stirred up this white superstar as the heir to in his listeners minds. [seemingly unavoidable controver­ the legendary Tupac Shakur and It is this astonishing verbal and sies. Music’s greatest tradition — Notrious B.I.G. narrative agility that NARAS saw in ncouraging artists to be them- Conveying a message one Eminem when it nominated him for elves — now finds itself plagued should not mistake for anything Album of the Year. Eminem does y narrow-minded critics who un­ more than a joke, his lyrical style is such an extraordinary job of creating ermine artists’ originality and re- so clever and intricate the admira­ his music that one cannot help but ist the evolution of new sounds. tion of nationwide music magazines root for his success at the Grammys. Eminem rocked the rap world has become routine for Eminem. Far from being a model citizen, Tre*jf'vhen his debut album, The Slim In fact, in an interview by Eminem deserves recognition for -Shady LP became an overnight suc- Rolling Stone in response to nam­ the imagination he possesses and _____ifeess. His second album. The Mar- ing the LP their pick for best al­ the success he he has worked'so "i home •; i; '$hal Mathers LP, which sold over 8 bum of the year, Eminem himself hard to achieve. illion copies and currently stands passes these lyrics off as a cruel s the second-best album in 2000, joke. Mindful of such storytelling J.J. Trevino is a senior t faced critical opposition from the genius, with a remarkable sense of journalism major. RUBEN DELUNA/The Battalion with wasMW artmenl, i#’ jtilities. CHI-' A Waste of Time Post-sentence lockup I .

695-6994. XFL football promises poor quality, trashy entertainment decision is fair for all orld Wrestling ones too old for college football and not good NBC, McMahon’s partner-in-crime, has n a major deci­ ety without proper treatment for then- enough to contribute in NFL Europe, the scheduled XFL games to air during prime of-fun.Ui Federation sion last week, malfunction. The Washington law is a M-T(rs, . . (WWF) owner Canadian Football League or the Arena time on Saturday nights. Great, the kids will the U.S. way of protecting society against men­ ja^BanKow*1 Vince McMahon, the same League — much less the NFL. be awake, so they can learn poor sportsman­ ISupreme Court tally ill sex offenders. According to 3St priceman who rakes in millions Drew Pearson, general manager of the • ship and possibly a new expletive, and still be ruled that post- sen­ The Associated Press, this type of lock­ 16 6117 L.every week by objectifying New York-New Jersey Hitmen, echoed these in bed by 11 p.m. up has been compared to “the state sentiments, “You’ll notice the drop-off from The new league may turn into a public re­ tence lockup of vio­ ■Women, stereotyping mi- GEORGE lent sex predators is practice of involuntarily committing the [norities and promoting ho- DEUTSCH the NFL... these guys ... they’re here because lations black eye for NBC, which is supposed mentally ill for treatment.” This law is this just may be their last chance in football, to be a class act. The same network that is not punitive and -mophobia, has partnered does not constitute not limited to those who are already im­ t'eTgie5 j-with NBC for his next twisted vision of fami- and they are going to leave their hearts out home to the Olympics, the World Series and there on the field.” ^ the Superbowl is now home to the ^(FL. double jeopardy, the prisoned, but to people who are found -gg^Mly entertainment — the Extreme Football law that states one cannot be tried twice not guilty by reason of insanity and ; league (XFL). Player salaries, ranging from $40,000 to The upstart XFL will also be a financial $50,000, based on position, can by no means gamble, reportedly costing over $100 million for the same crime. those who are incompetent to stand trial ___—Flamboyant and uninhibited, this new The case came before the court as well. iondoTio^waguc is intended to appeal to those sick of be considered competitive in an age where for the eight-team league. WWF stock took a top cyclists and skateboarders make hundreds 25 percent plunge after McMahon announced when a six-time convicted rapist was Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the >026.__ Me penalty flags, referees and head coaches of thousands of dollars annually. plans for the league because many Wall Street placed in Washington state’s Special only dissent to the verdict. “If the con­ the Mosjjmat give the NFL its sense of discipline. “If you pay a guy $40,000, then that’s analysts fear it will go the way of the U. S. Commitment Center after his criminal ditions of confinement are such that a o^pboduc1'1 Lately, McMahon has been trashing the what you’re going to get: a $40,000 football Football League, the All-American Football sentence had expired. While many may detainee has been punished twice in vi­ |NFL, calling it the “No-Fun League,” but player, which ain’t much,” Chet Simmons, League and the World Football League, which see this Act as extended punishment for olation of the double jeopardy clause, it -)gS this label is little more than a pitch for his former USFL commissioner and ESPN presi­ all failed miserably. McMahon’s response: criminals, the opinion of the Supreme is irrelevant that the scheme has been L. new brand of football. Debuting Feb. 3, the dent, recently commented in Men’s Journal. “Wall Street can kiss my ass.” Court was based on a multitude of legal previously labeled as civil without full FL promises to be a more-violent and “If the level of play is significantly below Among the changes to be implemented by precedents and Constitutionality. knowledge of the effects of the statute,” shameless brand of football, complete with what they are used to, then they are going to the XFL are: no fair catches, a 35-second According to the Supreme Court according to Stevens. helmet-cams, celebrity guest appearances stop watching.” play clock, and cameras and microphones majority opinion, ‘The Washington Stevens said he believes that even »NEY and silicon-laden cheerleaders. But the American viewing public has more everywhere — on coaches, players and even State’s Community Protection Act of though the statute was once consid­ : But what the XFL does not promise, and to fear than just bad football. McMahon, who in the locker rooms. But Vince, for decency’s 1990 authorizes the civil commitment ered civil it may not be if the court cannot promise, is legitimately good football, has all the class and character of Howard sake, keep the cameras out of the bathrooms. of ‘sexually violent predators,’ persons does not know all the conditions of the ipn After all, this league will not be composed of Stern, has built his reputation (and fortune) by confinement. OINtU' premjere athletes of NFL-caliber talent. In­ who suffer from a mental abnormality glorifying sleaze on his wrestling broadcasts, George Deutsch is a sophomore or personality disorder that makes them While Stevens has a legitimate stead, it will feature the sport’s rejects — the and the XFL will be his new outlet. journalism major. likely to engage in predatory acts of point, the Washington Supreme Court sexual violence.” had already decided the Act was civil, The court reviewed the statute, therefore, this was not the question the which was ruled to be civil (not per­ U.S. Supreme Court was deciding. taining to criminal charges) by the The Supreme Court was asked to de­ Washington Supreme Court, to deter­ cide if the Act constituted double jeop­ mine whether the criminal could claim ardy “as applied” to the defendant. Ac­ the statute was punitive “as applied” cording to O’Connor, in the majority to him. The court decided that the “as opinion, “that kind of case-by-case applied”(how the law affects the indi­ analysis of whether an individual pris­ vidual in question) decision is not oner’s confinement was civil or puni­ double jeopardy. tive is ‘unworkable.’ ” According to Reuters, Justice San­ The court’s decision to reject the “as dra Day O’Connor said “that a law applied” theory of looking at laws has found to be civil in nature cannot be left little room for confusion. By making deemed to be punitive as applied to a this decision, the court has clearly said single individual in violation of the con- laws do not change with the individual. stitutional protection against being pun­ This statement solidifies the idea that the ished twice for the same crime” in the law is the same for everyone. opinion of the majority of the court. These detainees still have other op­ Since the law is civil, and a defen­ tions to sue for their release, but the dant cannot use the “as applied” theory, Supreme Court has closed one avenue. double jeopardy is not a factor for re­ The Act has the ability to protect society lease because double jeopardy only ap­ from those criminals who are mentally plies in criminal cases. unstable, and calmed fears of criminals To many post-sentence confinement returning to their prior way of life. may seem harsh, but it is not. The new statute is being used to keep habitually Brieanne Porter is a junic violent offenders from returning to soci­ political science majo me Dcncw/T,,.