The Big Wheel

Oscar Brown Jr. penned these lyrics for the song Dat Dere. For me, the Big Wheel symbolizes freedom. Well, not freedom exactly, but a taste of independence for a boy of my generation. The Big Wheel offered the first chance to truly venture out a bit and explore the block where you lived, which later gives way to the bicycle and a little more range before the ultimate rite of passage, the driver's license and driving a car.


Tomorrow is tax day I'm sorry to say, although President Jackass is going to try and appease everyone by giving us back some chump change. More importantly, it is also Jackie Robinson Day commemorating the 61 year anniversary of his breaking of the color barrier in major league baseball. It is only day when any pro baseball player can wear number 42, which was officially retired for all teams except for this one day every year. It's too bad that very few Blacks are drawn to baseball anymore. Such is life.