By Steve Haywood Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Nov 04, 2007 at 12:39 PM

Just a non-sports related observation:

Why can't my folks ever get to the movies on time? I went to see "American Gangster" late on Friday night, and it always amazes me why black people are late getting to and finding seats at the movie.

I know this is blatant stereotyping and it may sound to some people like flat-out racism, but I'm as black as coal soaked in oil in a tunnel at midnight, so it's not meant as a racial commentary as much as an observation.

Enough with justifying my thoughts to the politically correct police, back to the topic at hand, and that is showing up at least during the opening trailers at the flick.

Now, I understand when a big movie comes out that most people usually (black folks, too) plan ahead to see this showing at this time, but also plan for the parking, lines to get a ticket and get in the building, food line and time it takes to find a good seat.

For whatever reason, execution does always stay faithful to preparation. That being said, I don't see a lot of white folks heading in to movie 20 minutes into it. My boy Jeff Hardy called while I was writing the blog and reminded me that back in the day we rolled into movies whenever, and would just hang around for what we missed in the next showing of that movie, but that is no excuse. If you know the movie is going to run at 8:30 get your backside there by 8:20.

If we can show up sporting events, barbecues, weddings, and comedy concerts on time, then it can happen at the movies too. Just nod your head; you know it's got some truth to it. 

Steve Haywood Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Steve Haywood is the host of “That Being Said,” which airs weeknights at 6 p.m. on Milwaukee’s ESPN Radio 1510 Days / 1290 Nights. A lifelong Milwaukee resident, Steve has been working on the radio since 1996 and also is executive producer of Sports Perspectives on MATA Community Media.

After graduating from Milwaukee Tech High School in 1985, Haywood attended college at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he graduated in 1991.

He has covered a number of major events, including the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2002 and the NBA All-Star Game in 2003.

Haywood, 39, is married with two kids, a dumb cat and a dog described as a “real curmudgeon.”