Steve McNair’s Life was Complicated
October 20, 2009
Update: Exclusive pictures of both Leah Ignagni and Sahel Kazemi have been released.
This week, Nashville, Tenn., police released an updated case summary on the murder-suicide of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair and his mistress, Sahel Kazemi. Police identified Leah Ignagni as McNair’s possible second girlfriend. Ignagni told police that she believed Kazemi had been following her in the weeks before McNair’s death. According to Kazemi’s roommate, Emily Andrews, Kazemi knew about Ignagni.
According to the report:
Andrews said that Kazemi told her that [Kazemi] found a tampon in the bathroom wastebasket in the Lea Avenue condo, and on another occasion, saw a female leaving the condo.
Police are not saying that the relationship played a role in the incident.
Dr. Boyce Watkins: The Politics of Attitude: Black Women on Trial
October 20, 2009
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University, AOL Black Voices, MSNBC’s TheGrio.com
Serena Williams has been listed as a headliner for this year’s Australian Open. The problem is that it’s not clear whether she’ll be allowed to play.
Because of a recent outburst in which she threatened a line judge, Williams may be banned from at least one Grand Slam tournament. According to published reports, Williams told the judge, "You don’t know me. You better be right. I swear to God I’m going to take this ball and shove it down your throat."Given that a ball going down your throat might actually kill you, the judge felt that Serena had threatened her life. Then again, Serena’s from Compton, a town that has become famous for finding creative ways to kill people. Serena does not, however, need to take "the hood" with her all the way to Australia.
To make matters more interesting, Serena recently got naked for the cover of ESPN magazine, certifying her status as an iconic and thought-provoking figure for the early 21st century. These two events, plus the fact that she just happens to be one of the most dominant female tennis players in history, makes her the kind of woman we’ll all be talking about for the next 100 years. Our great-grandkids won’t be talking much about the boring apolitical figure called Michael Jordan. We’ll congratulate Tiger Woods for being the first incredibly rich black man to consistently beat the crap out of the arrogant guys at the country club. Serena Williams’ name, though, will come up in classes on feminist theory, history and sociology. Like Muhammad Ali, Serena is becoming bigger than her sport, and my greatest hope is that her ability to transcend tennis is guided by a desire to serve all humanity, and not just herself. Her nude body on the cover of ESPN is her way of yelling to the world that she is more than a tennis player. I agree that she is.
If the link doesn’t work, click here.
News: Serena Gets Naked for ESPN The Magazine
October 7, 2009
In case you don’t recognize her booty, that’s Serena Williams. Yes, that’s the body she’ll be using.
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University, MSNBC’s TheGrio.com and AOL Black Voices
Dick’s Sporting Goods recently made a decision that is bad for business. Taking one of the boldest, and perhaps silliest, stands of any corporation in recent memory, Dick’s decided not to sell Michael Vick jerseys in any of their stores.
Perhaps they earned a few dog-loving customers, but they lost the support of any shareholder who cares about making money. It’s one thing for lynch mobs to embrace vigilantism, but another for a corporation to engage in the same irrational behavior. Vick paid his debt to society; it’s time to move on with our lives.
The top brass at the Nike Corporation are smarter than the management at Dick’s Sporting Goods, but they too understand the need to stay away from Michael Vick, at least for right now. When asked to respond to rumors that Vick had signed a deal with Nike, the company gave an immediate and resounding "no." After the Nike denial, Michael Vick’s agent, Joel Segal, had to backpedal faster than an NFL defensive back to kill any indication that his client has re-signed with the "big swoosh." However, the confidence with which the signing was announced indicates that the relationship might be deeper than we think.
The truth is that I don’t believe a single word of the Nike dismissal. Like the big egos in Beyonce’s song, Nike’s swoosh is " too big, too wide, too strong" for them to sit idly by as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL makes his return to the game. Nike executives have seen Vick grace the cover of Xbox games and sports magazines and often refer to him as the man who "revolutionized the quarterback position." They know that Vick is not washed up, and that some of his best years may still be ahead of him.
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Black News: Nike Denies Signing Michael Vick
October 2, 2009
Nike has sacked Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Michael Vick, contradicting the player’s agent who said on Wednesday that the shoe giant had re-signed him. "Nike does not have a contractual relationship with Michael Vick," Nike said in a statement issued Thursday. Vick was released from prison in May after serving time for killing dogs for sport and profit.
It’s understandable that Nike would be wary of resuming business with a man convicted of running an illegal dog-fighting operation that horrified the nation. Yet on Wednesday, Mike Principe, managing director of Vick’s agency, BEST, apparently believing that Nike had re-signed his client, announced as much at an event hosted by SportsBusiness Journal. Without disclosing details of an arrangement, Vick’s agent, Joel Segal, said, "Mike has had a great relationship with Nike and is excited to be part of the Nike team again."
But on Thursday, Nike denied that it had re-signed Vick but said it had agreed to supply "product" to him "as we do a number of athletes who are not under contract with Nike."
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Black News: Why Michael Vick Has Been Good for Animal Rights
September 27, 2009
Maybe it was one of the times John Goodwin found a more receptive audience while lobbying politicians for stricter sentencing against dogfighting.
Maybe it was one of the times a law enforcement training session was packed with police.
Maybe it was while he was riding along on what is an increasing number of raids on dogfighting operations.
Whenever it was, there was a moment over the past two years that Goodwin, the anti-dog fighting expert at the Humane Society of the United States, realized that of all the unexpected things, a silver lining had formed in the ugly clouds of the Michael Vick(notes) scandal.
“People campaigned against dogfighting ever since the first dogfight ever happened,” Goodwin said. “But never had there been a spotlight put on this issue like when Michael Vick was involved in it.
News: Chad Johnson Still Gettin Crazy
September 21, 2009
Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals decided to break the Packers tradition by being the first non-Packer player to leap into the stands. He did so, but only after looking around to find some Bengals Fans together who would embrace him. Yeah, you a black man in Green Bay? You better be careful!
Semenya’s Story Gets More Interesting
September 19, 2009
Caster Semenya’s gender fiasco manages to get worse. E-mail correspondence found by the South African newspaper Mail & Guardian shows that her team doctor Harold Adams and athletics boss Leonard Chuene did indeed know that Semenya was tested in South Africa before the World Championships in Berlin but kept Semenya in the race even after they found out that her test results were "not good."
Semenya crossed the 800-meter finish line a full minute before her competitors. Her time, coupled with her supposed virile looks, prompted championship officials to order a gender test.
Sports News: Titans Player Gets Fined for Message on Shoes
September 18, 2009
On Sunday, Houston Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson(notes) wore shoes bearing a message designed to get him more money. They ended up having the exact opposite effect.
Robinson was fined $25,000 yesterday for wearing customized Nike cleats with the words "Pay Me Rick" written on the heel during the team’s season opener Sunday. The message was intended for Texans GM Rick Smith, who had placed the franchise tag on Robinson after failing to sign him to a long-term contract over the offseason. After sitting out all of training camp because of the dispute, Robinson finally signed the one-year tender a week before the season began. It will pay him $9.957 million in 2009, or $9.932 million after he pays that fine.
Dr. Wilmer Leon: Serena Needs to Learn to Play by the Rules
September 15, 2009
By
This past Saturday evening, on a second serve at 15-30, 5-6 in the second set at the U.S. Open semifinals, Serena Williams was called for a foot fault by the line judge. Based upon the judges call, Ms. Williams walked towards the judge, pointed her racquet at the judge and launched into an “f-bomb” laden tie raid saying in part, “If I could, I would take this @#$#ing ball and shove it down your @#$#ing throat…"
This exchange resulted in Ms. Williams being penalized a point for unsportsmanlike conduct. This penalty resulted in the match being awarded to her opponent, Kim Clijsters. Some are now questioning the chair umpire and tournament referee Brian Earley’s decision. With Ms. Williams being African American, many are crying foul based on race. Others are objecting to what some believe to be a ticky-tack call, especially at such a key point in a match.
McNabb Goes Down – Going to Michael Vick?
September 14, 2009
The Eagles potentially suffered a big blow in their 38-10 road win Sunday over the Carolina Panthers as quarterback Donovan McNabb cracked a rib.
McNabb will not play next week at home against the Saints. The quarterback’s status beyond that is unclear.
Did Serena Really Threaten to Kill the Lines Judge?
September 13, 2009
Rain gave way to bedlam tonight at the U.S. Open.
Defending champion Serena Williams was charged with a point penalty on match point after yelling at a line judge for a calling a foot fault on her previous serve. The ruling gave Kim Clijsters a 6-4, 7-5 victory in their semifinal match, which had been delayed 32 hours because of rain.
After the line judge called the foot fault with Serena serving at 5-6, 15-30 in the second set, the youngest Williams sister intimidatingly stared her down beforescreaming at the official with a jabbed finger. After a few seconds, Serena turned back around to serve, thought better of it and resumed the badgering. The chair umpire then called over the line judge to ask what Serena had said, rules officials were summoned, a brief summit occurred at the net and it was determined that Serena would be assessed a point penalty for a conduct violation. The point gave Clijsters the match.
The initial foot fault that began the fireworks was a terrible call. It was unconscionable. It cannot be made at the end of any match, let alone in the semifinals of the U.S. Open. This isn’t because a foot fault is a ridiculous call at that juncture (even though it is). It’s because it wasn’t a foot fault. The replays show that Serena’s foot was behind the line when she served. You could make the argument that it was close but not close enough to make the call.
Did Michael Jordan’s Speech Reveal His Insecurities?
September 12, 2009
The tears tumbled, flooding his face and Michael Jordan had yet to march to the microphone at Symphony Hall. He had listened to the genuine stories and speeches of a remarkable class. He had watched a “This is Your Life” video compilation of his basketball genius. Everything flashed before him, a legacy that he’s fought with body and soul to never, ever let go into yesterday.
Yes, Michael Jordan was still fighting it on Friday night, and maybe he always will. Mostly, he was crying over the passing of that old Jordan, and it wouldn’t be long until he climbed out of his suit and back into his uniform and shorts, back into an adolescent act that’s turned so tedious.
This wasn’t a Hall of Fame induction speech, but a bully tripping nerds with lunch trays in the school cafeteria. He had a responsibility to his standing in history, to players past and present, and he let everyone down. This was a night to leave behind the petty grievances and past slights – real and imagined. This was a night to be gracious, to be generous with praise and credit.
Dr Boyce Watkins Speaks on LaGarette Blount Suspension
September 12, 2009
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
When I saw the video of the punch out by LeGarrette Blount of The University of Oregon, I was shocked and disappointed. This knock out blow that the athlete laid on Byron Hout of Boise State certainly has no place in the game of football – at least after the clock has struck zero. The University of Oregon acted immediately, suspending Blount for the entire season, effectively ending his career with the team. This incident is also going to likely hurt his chances of having an NFL career.
Here are some reasons that Oregon State was dead wrong in their decision.
1) The the university has no right to be judge and jury on this case. Where’s the union for college athletes? Oh yeah, they don’t have one. This incident is a reminder and sick reflection of the fact that college student athletes should have the same labor rights as the rest of us. Instead, they are subject to the harsh decisions of universities who care more about their revenues and reputations than the athletes themselves. Before you destroy a young man’s career, there should be hearings and a full investigation by a trustworthy panel of individuals who consider his well-being as part of the process. The idea that someone moved so quickly without knowing all the facts is absolutely ridiculous.
2) He is young. Since when can’t one 22-year old football player punch out another one and not pay for it for the rest of his life? Does it really make sense that the university feels that this man’s years of hard work are so disposable that they can simply throw them in the trash without consequence? Coaches are arrested for DWIs, commit crimes and do all kinds of egregious things, and are simply expected to go find another job. Blount, because of NCAA restrictions, can’t simply join the team at another university. His career is over.
News: Is Gender Testing about Race or Races?
September 11, 2009
MSNBC’s TheGrio.com
6:20 PM on 09/10/2009
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
The world is now talking about Caster Semenya, the South African athlete who has been subjected to gender testing after dominating the field in the 800-meter run at the 2009 World Championships. Recent reports by the Daily Mail of London and the Sydney Morning Herald of Australia state that the test has revealed that Semenya "is a hermaphrodite with no womb or ovaries." Some have argued that Semenya was the target of the investigation because she is black, but I am not sure if I am on board with that presumption.
If the reports are true, I am not surprised. Race issues to the side, I too found myself wondering if I was seeing things, as I watched Semenya thump her chest in victory and speak with a voice that could bring Barry White back from the grave. I was disturbed, but open-minded, for I considered Semenya’s case to be an opportunity to explore cultural variations in gender perception.
Another use of the word "race" applies when analyzing Semenya’s time in her race of choice, the 800-meter run. Not only did this 18-year old come out of nowhere to run a time which instantly dominates the world’s most highly trained 800 meter runners (1:55.45), but her time was nowhere near the world record (1:53.28), set by Jarmila Kratochvilova of Czechoslovakia in 1983. Like Semenya, Kratochvilova could easily be mistaken for a man.
Results: “Hermaphrodite with no womb or ovaries”
September 10, 2009
The world of athletics is reeling today after a claim that South African champion runner Caster Semenya is a hermaphrodite with no womb or ovaries.
A Sydney newspaper claims it has a world exclusive in revealing the very private information about the sex of the 18-year-old runner.
Quoting a source closely involved with the IAAF, the Sydney Daily Telegraph said Semenya had internal testes – male sexual organs which produce testosterone and which in turn produces muscle bulk, body hair and a deep voice.
Sports News: Is She a Man or a Woman? Track Star Does a Photoshoot
September 9, 2009
Remember the girl who got the gender test? She just did a photo shoot to prove she is a woman. Not bad…kinda
Oregon Athlete’s Punishment Too Harsh
September 8, 2009
Oregon not only lost the battle of their opening game against Boise State, but they also lost a general, in standout senior running back LeGarrette Blount.
Following a disappointing performance against Boise State in which the Ducks suffered a 19-8 defeat, Blount was walking off the field when he decided to sucker punch BSU player Byron Hout. Prior to the right straight to Hout’s jaw, Hout ran over to Blount antagonizing and instigating confrontation by yelling in Blount’s face and tapping him on the shoulder pad.
Once the skirmish was broken up by Boise coaches and Oregon players, Blount was escorted off the field, but a sports fight would not be a fight until the fans were involved.
1969: The Year that Was for Black College Football Players
September 8, 2009
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez College football’s centennial year, 1969, also happened to be my senior season at Notre Dame. I played against three teams that year—Georgia Tech, Tulane, and then Texas in the Cotton Bowl—that had not yet integrated their varsity football teams. This was actually a mark of progress. By 1969, the integration of the Southeastern Conference and the old Southwest Conference was finally well underway. It started in the SWC in 1966 at Baylor and SMU and in the SEC with Kentucky in 1967; it ended with Texas and Arkansas in 1970, then with Georgia, LSU, and Ole Miss in 1972.
That was college football’s quiet racial revolution. The noisy one took place on northern campuses. At Oregon State in February 1969, a black linebacker named Fred Milton was suspended from the team after an assistant coach spotted him on campus with a moustache and goatee, in violation of the team’s ban on facial hair. Black students on campus responded with a boycott of classes, many of them left the university, and both the football team and the institution struggled for years afterward against a reputation for racial intolerance. Two months later, 16 black players at the University of Iowa boycotted a spring practice and were suspended; seven were reinstated in August. That summer, John Underwood wrote a three-part series for Sports Illustrated titled "The Desperate Coach," describing the incidents at Oregon State and Iowa, along with dozens of lesser ones in athletic programs throughout the country, as a full-scale assault on coaches’ authority. "In the privacy of their offices," Underwood wrote, "over breakfast in strange towns, wherever two or three coaches get together, they talk about The Problem."
Black News: Iverson Can’t Get a Job?
August 25, 2009
Dr. Deborah Stroman, a leading scholar on Leadership and Sport, was asked why Allen Iverson can’t find a job. Here is what she had to say. Other notable athletes, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison and Derrick Brookes are also on the sidelines.
“Money is only one aspect of a good veteran not being picked up by a team. The other factor is leadership. If the organization is trying to develop new leaders, the coach and/or general manager will not gamble the new leader’s development and team chemistry with the introduction of a veteran leader. And this veteran leadership may be displayed by performance or verbal acumen. For example, you may have a veteran wide receiver or running back who doesn’t talk much but has the potential to dominate on the field. A younger player may be drawn to that performer as a role model and not the new leader (often times the quarterback) who is trying to gain influence and control of “his” team. Or the veteran leader may be charismatic and draw attention to himself and away from the leaders that the organization is rightfully trying to impose on the other players. The organization feels that the signing of the veteran player is just not worth the risk.”
Dr Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
After reading about Kentucky Coach John Calipari being found guilty of cheating by the NCAA, I wasn’t surprised in the least. Calipari has never been known for producing the most highly educated athletes in the world (his graduation rate among African American athletes is 44 percent), and he seems to want to win above anything else. The idea that my alma mater, The University of Kentucky, would immediately step in to pay tens of millions of dollars to a coach that has been proven to be a cheater makes a powerful statement about the ethical disposition of this university. Kentucky is like many NCAA institutions in their mass pillage of African American athletes for the sake of their multi-million dollar fortunes.
John Calipari and his old school, The University of Memphis, have been charged with having an SAT exam taken for a player on the basketball team (believed by many to be Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls). According to several published sources, the SAT exam was falsified during the 2007 – 2008 season. The team has been required to give back 38 wins from that season, costing the school millions in revenue. These kinds of abuses don’t just occur at The University of Memphis. The University of Kentucky’s basketball program has nearly received the death penalty for its long list of violations in the past, so it is only fitting that they hire yet another arguably unethical coach to continue their storied tradition. Here are some quick thoughts about John Calipari and The University of Kentucky:
Dr Boyce Watkins and Wilmer Leon speak on the NCAA Lawsuit
August 23, 2009
Dr. Boyce Watkins of Syracuse University and Dr. Wilmer Leon of Howard University speak about the NCAA class action lawsuit. The NCAA is being sued for illegal use of player images. The controversy grows, as the NCAA’s method of operation may soon be questioned by Congress.
News: What’s Wrong with the American Relay Teams?
August 23, 2009
Try as they might, the Americans just can’t seem to get that baton around the track in the 400-meter relay without some sort of misadventure.
First the men were disqualified at the world championships for making an exchange outside the allowable zone. Then the women didn’t finish after Muna Lee pulled up with a hamstring injury.
It was shades of Beijing all over again, when the two relay teams dropped the stick at the Olympics.
"We’re not panicking," said Doug Logan, the CEO of USA Track and Field. "To lose on something technical rather than on a speed basis is disappointing. We’re going back to the drawing board and teach the rules of the relays better and practice better."
That’s been attempted before.
In the aftermath of Beijing, Logan and his staff did a comprehensive study looking into what went wrong with the 400 relay teams after the baton clanged to the track not once, but twice. They established new rules and protocols.
Then this happened.
Your Black News: Carmello Sues Former Business Manager
August 23, 2009
When athletes finally make it to the professional level, they’re immediately surrounded by people they don’t know but are forced to trust. And young athletes in their twenties who don’t have any money-management skills whatsoever are ripe for being taken advantage of. That’s what happened to Carmelo Anthony, but now he’s fighting back.
Melo filed a $2 million lawsuit against his former business manager, Larry W. Harmon and his firm, Larry Harmon & Associates P.A. The suit alleges that Harmon breached their contract by transferring $1.75 million of Anthony’s money without his knowledge or consent to a company formed by Harmon, most of it in 2008, according to the Associated Press. There was another $265,000 invested in companies that Melo had no knowledge of or given consent to.
Vick Expected to Head to the Field Thursday
August 22, 2009
Michael Vick is expected to play for the Eagles on Thursday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. I guess this is the end of the most interesting 2 years of his life.
Is this Athlete a Man or a Woman?
August 22, 2009
No 1: Caster Semenya celebrates as she wins gold in Berlin Photo: AP
Semenya crowned a spectacular season by triumphing in 1min 55.45sec while Britain’s Jenny Meadows produced a lifetime best of 1min 57.93sec to take the bronze – Britain’s third medal of the championship. Fellow Briton Marilyn Okoro was eighth.
But instead of being able to celebrate her victory, Semenya found herself facing uncomfortable questions about whether she should really have been lining up in today’s first-round heats of the men’s 800m.
Click to read more.
Tennessee Running Back Has Eligibility Questioned
August 21, 2009
Tennessee is trying to make one final plea on behalf of freshman running back Bryce Brown with the hope of keeping him from missing any games this season.
The NCAA has been investigating his amateur status dating back to his high school days in Wichita, Kan., and Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said Wednesday that the NCAA has handed down its initial ruling.
Tennessee isn’t saying for sure what that ruling is, but it sounds like Brown could be suspended for a game or two and have to make restitution for any funds or extra benefits he might have received back in high school as part of his relationship with his adviser, Brian Butler.
Tennessee officials have gone out of their way to clarify that the Vols aren’t under investigation. This issue deals with Brown’s amateur status and goes back to before Tennessee was even recruiting him.
The whole thing has weighed heavily on Brown and angered Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, who feels that Brown is being singled out.
Calipari Found Cheating – Kentucky Coach Must Give Back 38 wins
August 20, 2009
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—Memphis will be forced to vacate the record 38 victories from its Final Four season of 2007-08 under former coach John Calipari because of NCAA violations, The Commercial Appeal reported.
The newspaper, citing an unidentified source close to the situation, said on its Web site Wednesday night the NCAA will release findings of its investigation Thursday. The Commercial Appeal said it was unaware of any penalties beyond this season.
The NCAA investigated whether someone took the SAT exam for a player on that Final Four team. Memphis was notified of potential violations in January and met with the governing body in June.
The NCAA has said an unknown person took the college entrance exam for a player—with his knowledge—and that the player used it to get admitted. The governing body says the athlete played for the Tigers only in the 2007-08 season and the 2008 NCAA tournament. Just one person fits that description: Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls’ No. 1 overall draft pick in 2008 and its rookie of the year.
Black News: Michael Vick’s Interesting Words
August 19, 2009
In his first interview since being released from federal prison and conditionally reinstated in the NFL, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick admitted he didn’t stand up to his peers, talked about disappointing team owner Arthur Blank, and said he’d earned his fall from grace.
“I deserved to lose the $130 million,” Vick told CBS commentator James Brown during the interview that aired on the Sunday night TV news journal 60 Minutes.
“Why would a guy who was making a $130 million … on the flip side … killing dogs … he don’t deserve it.”
Just two years ago, Vick was the highest paid player in pro football, with the $130 million deal from the Falcons and endorsement contracts with Nike and Atlanta-based AirTran Airways, among others.
But he lost it all when he admitted to bankrolling and participating in an interstate dog-fighting ring.
Instead, Vick faced a 23-month prison sentence — 18 months of it served in a federal penitentiary in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas — and millions of dollars in debt.
News: Mike Tyson Speaks on his Daughter’s Death
August 18, 2009
Mike Tyson Photo: GETTY
The former world heavyweight champion described his daughter’s death as a "dark moment in my life".
Tyson’s daughter Exodus died in May after choking on a power cord hanging down from a running treadmill at her mother’s home in Phoenix, Arizona.
The boxer rushed to his daughter’s bedside from his Las Vegas home after she was placed on a life support system, but doctors were unable to save her.
Tyson, who has seven children by three different women, said Exodus’s death had left him in "denial".
"I am working with dealing with it. I have spoken to a lot of people. I have become a member of an exclusive club no one wants to join," Tyson said.
"I have been told the pain never stops but you get over it. I am going through a process, trying to heal. I am in denial, because I don’t know how to handle it. I don’t know what to do or say. I appreciate everybody who supported me."
Usain Bolt – New World Record
August 17, 2009
Usain Bolt isn’t just rewriting the record books; he’s redefining what the human body can do.
Bolt became the first man to run 100 meters in under 9.6 seconds and still left people wondering how fast he can go.
Bolt clocked 9.58 seconds Sunday night, smashing the world record of 9.69 he set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He won his first IAAF world championships title in the same stadium where Jesse Owenswon four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics.
"I don’t think I’m in Beijing shape, but I think I’m in very good shape," said Bolt, who was in a car accident earlier this year that took away from his training.
Tyson Gay did his part in the highly anticipated showdown, but was overshadowed by the ebullient 6-5 Jamaican.
Gay, who is 5-11 and wore the U.S. team’s "JO" patch honoring Owens on his singlet, set an American record of 9.71. He eclipsed his own mark of 9.77.
News: Tiger Woods Gets Defeated
August 17, 2009
CHASKA, Minn. (AP) — In a year of spoilers at the majors, Y.E. Yang was the biggest of all.
He toppled the mighty Tiger Woods.
Yang became the first Asian-born player to win a major Sunday with a stunning performance in the PGA Championship, memorable as much for his clutch shots as the player he beat.
Woods was 14-0 when he went into the final round of a major atop the leaderboard. He had not lost any tournament around the world in nine years when leading by two shots.
None of that mattered to Yang, a 37-year-old South Korean who hit the shots everyone expected from Woods. Leading by one on the final hole, Yang slayed golf’s giant with a hybrid 3-iron that cleared the bunker and settled 12 feet from the cup.
Yang made the birdie putt and shouted with joy as he pumped his fist. That gave him a 2-under 70, and a three-shot victory when Woods missed yet another short par putt and shot 75.
“I tried to master the art of controlling my emotions throughout the small wins I had in my career,” Yang said through his agent, Michael Yim. “I think it turned out quite well today.”
Tiger On Top at the PGA
August 16, 2009
Tiger Woods (FSY) is poised to take one more step toward Jack Nicklaus‘ record of 18 victories in golf’s major championships Sunday at the PGA Championship.
But Woods will have to step lively at Hazeltine Country Club because longtime foe Padraig Harrington (FSY) is in the hunt.
SCORES: PGA Championship
TWITTER: Keep up with action from the scene
Woods, who shot 71 Saturday, is at 8 under par, two strokes ahead of little-known Y. E. Yang and Harrington, both at 6 under. Henrik Stenson and U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover are another two shots back at 4 under.
"You have guys who understand how to win major championships," said Woods, who is playing for his 15th victory in a major. "They believe in themselves. They know how to get it done. They can say, ‘I’ve done it before.’ I can say that. Padraig can say that."
Black News: What’s Up with Marvin Harrison?
August 14, 2009
A Philadelphia man who says he was shot by NFL receiver Marvin Harrison last year remains in critical condition after being shot again.
Marvin Harrison made eight straight Pro Bowls for the Colts from 1999-2006. (Harry How / Getty Images)
Dwight Dixon was found shot multiple times in the city’s Fairmount section late Tuesday morning.
A spokesman at Hahnemann University Hospital said Dixon, 33, remained in critical condition Wednesday.
Police have not made an arrest in the case.
Dixon, who sued Harrison after his criminal case was dismissed, was shot seven times while sitting in a parked rental car, the New York Daily News reported. He was shot in the arm, chest and stomach. The Philadelphia Daily News reported that Dixon was found leaning against the car after the incident.
Michael Vick’s Return is Good for All of Us
August 14, 2009
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
He’s back. After a 2 year saga that kept my head spinning, the young man who made a terrible mistake is finally being allowed to make a living. I have supported Michael Vick all along, but not because I felt that he was innocent. I’ve supported him because I do not believe that dog fighting is the kind of crime that deserves a lifetime punishment. So, to the extremists at PETA who want to see Michael Vick burn in the hell of unemployment and incarceration for the rest of his life, I only have one thing to say: grow up.
Michael Vick’s reinstatement to the NFL and recent signing by the Philadelphia Eagles unleashed a plethora of thoughts within me. On some level, his return is a bit of an "Athletic Juneteenth" for those who tire of seeing our country make African American athletes into public enemy number one whenever they screw up. To this day, we act as if Marion Jones is the devil, Barry Bonds is a monster, and Terrell Owens is some kind of criminal. This treatment is nothing new, as black athletes have been getting villified for decades, and their molehills are consistently turned into mountains, ripe for high-tech lynchings. This is the tradition of America.
It only seems appropriate that Michael Vick sign his contract in a city like Philadelphia, the place that I love and fear at the same time. I love the city because they’ve supported me in my work with the great Wendy Williams, Dom Giordano andCharlamagne Tha God. But there is a dark side of "Killadelphia" that shows itself in the way they support their sports teams. They are the fans that cheered when it appeared that Michael Irvin may have broken his neck, so they sure as heck aren’t going to pay much attention to animal rights protestors blocking their path to a Super Bowl. In a city like Philly, the slogan is simple: "If you win, we forgive all sin." Vick will be right at home.
Finally – Michael Vick Gets a Job
August 14, 2009
Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
Courtesy of CBSMichael Vick discusses his situation with James Brown.
Related Falcons stories »
- Report: Vick to be an Eagle
- Bulldog QBs to take centerstage in Falcons’ opener
- Vick regrets dogfighting, accepts full responsibility
- Schedule and results
- TV Listings
Vick will return to the NFL after two seasons away, including 23 months in federal prison, and a league suspension that will end after Week 6 this year.
The Falcons host the Eagles in a Sunday game on Dec. 6, at the end of the regular season.
The controversial signal caller has gone through a whirlwind of highs and lows since the Atlanta Falcons drafted as the No. 1 pick in 2001.
He inked a $62 million deal that included a $15 million signing bonus. After a year waiting in the wings, took over the starting position in the 2002 season, and led the team to its first playoff berth since the 1998 NFC Championship season.
Donte Stallworth Won’t be Playing This Year
August 13, 2009
Many have felt that Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth may have got off easy after killing a pedestrian while driving drunk, but the NFL aren’t so lenient. While Stallworth was sentenced to 30 days in prison and is on probation for awhile, the NFL suspended Stall worth for the entire upcoming season without pay.
"Your conduct endangered yourself and others, leading to the death of an innocent man," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to Stallworth released by the league according to NFL.com. "The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations. As you recognized both at and following the hearing, guilt or innocence as a matter of criminal law is not the same as a violation of NFL policies."
Black News: Michael Vick Interview on 60 Minutes Sunday
August 13, 2009
Michael Vick spoke with CBS’ James Brown today in an interview that will air on 60 Minutes this Sunday.
Vick has been largely silent since leaving federal custody last month after completing his sentence for a federal dogfighting conviction.
NBA Ballers Rap it Up Ol School
August 13, 2009
Every now and then an athlete will feel the need to grab a microphone and rap about how much money they got, how well they play on the field, or how nice they look when they’re dunking on people’s faces. And when these athletes do feel the need to kick a rhyme or two, we as a sports loving community of fans let them know that…. it’s not a very good idea.
Now we have the huge corporation of Nike along with Foot Locker working against our efforts. In a new commercial, Nike recruited Mo Williams, Kevin Durant and Rashard Lewis, collectively known as the Hyperizers, to spit some lyrics over an old school hip-hop beat that appears to be produced by DJ Quik (who makes a cameo in the video). The video, "Don’t Criticize (Hyperize)," features the ballers wearing late 80’s and early 90’s hip-hop garb, walking down the street with their crews, and playing basketball on outdoor courts. Sure the video is all in fun, but we don’t want to give them any ideas do we? Check out the video below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g1ujNWI9jA
News: Tiger Woods Get Fined by the PGA Tour
August 11, 2009
Tiger Woods will be fined by the PGA Tour for his public criticism of a rules official after winning the Bridgestone Invitational, a tour official said Monday.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the tour does not publicize fines.
Woods was bothered after his four-shot victory Sunday because he and Padraig Harrington were put on the clock at the par-5 16th. He said that caused Harrington to rush three difficult shots, leading to triple bogey.
Yes, He is the Man
August 9, 2009
World number one Tiger Woods overhauledPadraig Harrington with a spectacular burst of scoring to grab a two-shot lead midway through Sunday’s final round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
In pursuit of a record seventh victory in the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event, the American holed two putts from more than 20 feet to cover the front nine in a sizzling five-under-par 30.
That left him at 12 under overall with Irishman Harrington, leader for the first three rounds, alone in second place after reaching the turn in level-par 35.
British Open champion Stewart Cink of the U.S. was a further two shots back at eight under after completing 12 holes on a hot and humid day at Firestone Country Club.
Lebron Is Keeping His Options Open
August 9, 2009
LeBron James is going to make the Cleveland Cavaliers wait — and sweat.
James indicated Friday that he is unlikely to accept a contract extension from the Cavs until after the 2009-10 season and presumably will become a free agent.
At an event in his hometown to unveil Nike Air Max LeBron VII, the latest sneaker in his signature line, James made his strongest comments yet about his future. The NBA’s reigning MVP said he signed a three-year contract in 2006 to give him more options once it expires.
"I signed a contract in 2006 with an option, and it would make no sense for me to sign that contract if I didn’t keep my options open," he said. "I’ll let you fill in the blanks."
The Cavaliers offered James a contract extension on July 18, the three-year anniversary of the signing of his current contract. The team could offer the extension — at the highest salary allowed — of up to three years. James can sign the extension offer anytime before June 30, 2010.
James, who will make $15.7 million next season, also has an option in his current contract that can extend his deal through the 2010-11 season.
However, it appears for now that James does not intend to sign the extension or pick up his one-year option for $17.1 million anytime soon.
Michael Vick: Now the Dog and Pony Show Begins
August 9, 2009
Michael Vick returned to the area that once celebrated his brilliant play on the football field, this time for the first of what he vows will be dozens of appearances around the country to urge low-income youths to avoid the tragic trail left by dogfighting.
Few got to hear Saturday’s message, however.
Vick’s visit to a suburban Atlanta community center was largely off limits to the very neighborhood it was supposed to be helping. In an agreement between Vick’s handlers and the Humane Society of the United States, only 55 people and one media crew were allowed inside. AnAssociated Pressreporter, videographer and photographer were among the media banished from the property by police.
Most people who live in the largely black neighborhood southeast of Atlanta were unaware of Vick’s appearance. Several showed up after the former Falcons quarterback had already left in a black limousine.
Black News: Another Day, Another Liar?
August 9, 2009
NEW YORK (AP) — David Ortiz (FSY) thinks legal supplements and vitamins likely caused him to land on a list of alleged drug users seized by the federal government, and Major League Baseball and the players’ association said some of the names on the list never tested positive for steroids.
MLB said in a statement Saturday that at most 96 urine samples tested positive in the 2003 survey — and the players’ association said 13 of those were in dispute.
The government seized the samples and records the following year from baseball’s drug-testing companies as part of the BALCO investigation. The list of 104 players alleged to have tested positive has been the subject of a five-year legal fight with the union trying to force the government to return what federal agents took during raids.
NBA Baller Accused of Gang bangin on Twitter
August 5, 2009
Hours after The Denver Post raised questions about whether his tweets were written in a way commonly associated with street gangs, Nuggets guard J.R. Smith pulled the plug on his Twitter page on Tuesday. He presumably didn’t think it was worth all the bad publicity.
His last message to fans before it was closed late Tuesday afternoon: "ok people i love all of my fans im sorry but this will be my last tweet you know why but it is what it is love all an tke Care"
Smith’s tweets raised print eyebrows after someone noticed he was occasionally replacing words that would have a "C" in them with a "K," giving some the impression of an association with the Bloods street gang. (Kudos for the capital "C" jab above, kid.) Smith tried to correct the issue in a tweet late Monday night, but ultimately decided to close the account, according to The Denver Post.
The NCAA Finally Gets Sued by Players
July 26, 2009
I’ve written extensively about the NCAA and what I perceive to be their consistent efforts to exploit the black community. They spend millions on public service announcements to protect their deception, but eventually the athletes and the public are going to wise up to what they are doing. The truth is that college athletes should be paid for the same reasons that any actor in a Hollywood blockbuster film would expect to receive compensation. The problem is that the families of athletes don’t quite know how to organize and fight for their power. So, when I read about the recentlawsuit against the NCAA for allegedly misusing the images of athletes for videogames, I was a very happy man.
Let me break it down for you:
Based on my 16-years of experience as a college professor (I currently teach atSyracuse University, a school that earns millions off black families every year), collegiate athletics is not, in my opinion, about amateurism and it’s not about education. It’s about making money. Period. Many athletes are admitted to college every year and they would not be granted admission were it not for their ability to play sports and make money for the campus. Making money is not a problem, but the problem comes with the fact that universities do not share this revenue with the families of the players.
Michael Vick Finally Released: What This Means
July 20, 2009
Michael Vick is finally out of prison. He is not just being transferred from one prison to another, but actually free. I am happy for Michael, but I worry. I never agreed with the way the world treated Michael Vick, and I stated this fact everywhere people would listen. At the same time, I never thought that Michael Vick was innocent, and I actually thought he was a knuckle-head. The truth, however, is that treating him like a mass murderer over his youthful indiscretion was simply uncalled for.
Vick’s treatment by the media is nothing new: Every year, there is at least one black male athlete chosen as public enemy number one. This person is villified as if they’d stabbed the pope and shot a newborn baby. Before Vick, there was Randy Moss, Ron Artest, Latrell Sprewell, Barry Bonds, OJ Simpson, Muhammad Ali, Jack Johnson and others. The funny thing about it is that white athletes also commit crimes, but we are somehow convinced that most of the perpetrators of bad behavior are African American. What you see through the camera lens is largely a function of where the camera is pointed, since the media can only report about .1% of everything that happens at any given time. The camera is usually aimed away from black athletes doing good things, like Myron Rolle, the former Florida State Seminol who passed up on the NFL draft to study at Oxford. Instead, it tends to be pointed toward athletes who do things that embarrass their families. Simultaneously, the 2006 exposure of the drunken chaos at places like Duke University reveals that athletes of all ethnicities get themselves into ridiculous situations.
Michael Vick is Finally Free!
July 20, 2009
Michael Vick was finally released from prison, for real this time. He now has a long list of problems to deal with, including his bankruptcy, parole and getting reinstated in the NFL. Many don’t think he’ll get back in the league this year, but only time will tell.
Black News: Man Arrested for Gun that Killed Mcnair
July 18, 2009
The Tennessee man accused of selling the gun used to kill former NFL quarterback Steve McNair is in custody facing a federal charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, authorities said Friday.
Police say Adrian Gilliam admitted he sold Sahel Kazemi the gun she used to kill NFL quarterback Steve McNair.
"This is another example of what can happen with a gun when a felon is selling it on the street with little to no interest other than just selling it for 100 bucks," said Nashville, Tennessee, Police Chief Ronal Serpas.
Authorities said federal agents traced the gun used in the Fourth of July murder-suicide to Household Pawn in Nashville, which sold it in January 2002.
"Further investigation revealed the 9 mm pistol was later sold for approximately $100 to Adrian Gilliam approximately one to one and a half years ago," Nashville police said in a news release.
Gilliam, 33, of LaVergne, Tennessee, told detectives that on July 2 he sold the gun for about the same price to Sahel Kazemi outside a shopping mall.
Police said Kazemi, McNair’s 20-year-old girlfriend, used the gun two days later to fatally shoot McNair — a former Tennessee Titans quarterback and married father of four — and herself in McNair’s condominium in downtown Nashville.
Tiger Struggling Unlike Never Before
July 17, 2009
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- Woods shot a four-over-par 74 to drop to five strokes over par for the first two rounds. At the time he finished, the projected cut line was at four over. Woods was well off the pace of the inconceivable leader, the 29-year-old American Steve Marino.
As Woods approached the tee on No. 11, the overwhelming tournament favorite had just endured a calamitous three-hole thud, going from even-par to 4-over-par after bogeying Nos. 8 and 9 and then, continuing a troubling knack for driving it waywardly right, causing a search party for his ball on No. 10.
Black News: The Tangled Webs We Weave
July 16, 2009
Back in December, Antoine Walker was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies and wasn’t picked up by another team. So what did he do with all that free time? It looks like he was gambling. According to the Associated Press, Walker is facing criminal charges over $822,500 in gambling debt to three Las Vegas casinos.
The Clark County District Attorney’s office says that Walker is facing three felony counts of writing 10 bad checks totaling $1 million to Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and the Red Rock Resort. Apparently, Walked repaid $178,000 of that debt but is still on the hook for more than $800,000. He also owes the district attorney’s office more than $82,000 in legal fees regarding the criminal charges. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
McNair’s Death Tells Us A lot
July 12, 2009
Danny Aller
Sports Editor, Albany Herald
Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair’s tragic death eight days ago today is one that, looking back years from now, certainly will be – for me – one of those passings where I’ll someday say, "I remember where I was when I heard the news."
For some who don’t follow football, or even sports as a whole that closely, maybe that feeling is not shared.
But for this American sports journalist – and other writers around the country – I think the effect was slightly different. And I say that because of an experience once early in my career that opened my eyes to what I was in for when it came to one of the lows of the biz.
About five years ago when I worked as a sportswriter for a newspaper in Florida, I remember a night quite vividly that still sticks with me today.
Kids Kept Out of Swimming Pool for Being Black?
July 9, 2009
WHEN YOU call The Valley Club, in Huntingdon Valley, a recorded message by a chipper-voiced man says, "Things are really starting to heat up here in July!"
Things are heating up, all right, but probably not in the way that the club’s board would prefer. That’s because families of minority children enrolled in Creative Steps Day Camp, located inside Carnell Elementary School, in Oxford Circle, are alleging that racism is the reason their kids have been kicked out of the overwhelmingly white club.
The accusations are ugly.
In early June, Alethea Wright, founder and director of 13-year-old Creative Steps, registered her 65 campers – online – to use the pool on Monday afternoons from 3:30 to 5. The special arrangement, a first for the club, was approved by its board and was to run from June 29th through Aug. 10th.
McNair Was Shot While He Slept
July 9, 2009
More details are starting to come out about the murder of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair and his 20-year old mistress Sahel Kazemi. According to the Associated Press, Nashville police believe that McNair was killed while he was sleeping. The evidence is leading investigators to believe that Kazemi shot McNair in the head while he slept on a couch, then shot him twice in the chest and then in the head once more. Before shooting herself, Kazemi apparently tried to position herself to fall on McNair’s lap, but instead her body slid to the floor and lay at McNair’s feet. The gun was found under her body.
Tiger Woods Wins Another One
July 6, 2009
Long before it was over, the 2009 AT&T National had become a character study of the reigning sovereign (Tiger Woods) and the man who could be king (Anthony Kim).
The former has been golf’s most jaw-dropping natural talent for most of the last 15 years, the latter the most promising up-and-comer for the last 15 months.
So when Woods and golf’s would-be Li’l Tiger clashed at the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club outside Washington, D.C., over Fourth of July weekend, few could imagine a more compelling scenario.
Despite a surprise run by Hunter Mahan (62, 12-under), Woods prevailed, shooting a final-round 67 to edge Mahan by one stroke and Kim by four.
"I don’t think you can go through the history books and find anyone as consistent as Tiger," Rod Pampling said on the eve of a third-round pairing with Woods. "Even Jack I don’t think was as consistent as Tiger."
The results of the autopsies Sunday, via The Tennessean:
Steve McNair was shot twice in the head and twice in the chest.
His girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, was shot in the side of the head. A semi-automatic pistol was found on the floor under her body. The police have not announced whether they think she was the victim of a homicide or committed suicide.
The Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said at a news conference this afternoon:
“While it is clear McNair’s death is a homicide, the police department is not classifying Kazemi’s death, pending further investigation and interviews with persons who knew her and McNair.
“We can’t be close-minded. All scenarios are on the table.”
Where was Steve McNair’s Wife when He was Killed?
July 4, 2009
There are rumors circulating that the murder of Steve McNair may have been a murder suicide between himself and the 20 year old female who was also found dead. While his wife was reported to have been in Mississippi at the time of the shooting, there are some who are speculating on whether or not she played a role in the murders.
Read more on the Steve McNair murder.
More to come!
Steve McNair Killed in Nashville
July 4, 2009
Image: Dr Boyce Watkins with Steve McNair in 2004
Media outlets are reporting that former NFL MVP Steve McNair has been shot and killed in Nashville, TN. The incident is being reported as either a double homocide or murder suicide, depending on the outlet. McNair, 36, was found to have died from a gunshot wound to the head. McNair was the third overall draft choice by the Tennessee Titans in 1995. He led the team to one Super Bowl and was named co-MVP in 2003.
Black News: Serena Wins Wimbledon Again!
July 4, 2009
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Serena Williams kept telling herself she was facing just another foe in the Wimbledon final Saturday, just another woman who hits the ball quite hard, just another player trying to deny her a Grand Slam title.
She wasn’t facing just anyone, of course. She was playing her older sister Venus. And when the latest all-Williams final finished, when Serena wrapped up a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory for a third Wimbledon championship and 11th major title overall, she jogged to the net with her arm extended for a handshake.
Venus pulled her close for a warm embrace, instead.
"I didn’t think about Venus at all today. I just saw her as an opponent," said Serena, who also beat her sister in the 2002 and 2003 finals at the All England Club. "At one point, after the first set, I looked on the side of the court at the stats, and it was like ‘Williams,’ ‘Williams.’ I couldn’t figure out which was which."
That also might have been because she was facing the only other woman who can equal her power and court coverage on grass courts. Monday’s rankings will say Serena is No. 2, and Venus No. 3 — behind No. 1 Dinara Safina, a 6-1, 6-0 loser to the elder Williams in the semifinals — but it is clear who the best woman in the world is at the moment.
Why Don’t We Support Women’s BBall?
June 29, 2009
by Dr Boyce Watkins
My beautiful daughter Carmen just helped her school win its first state championship. She is the shortest person on team, the quickest and the scrappiest – both a lady and a monster when she has to be. As I sat in the stands cheering like a lunatic, I noticed that there weren’t enough parents cheering along with me. The stadium was half empty, and most of the people cheering in the stands were women and children. I wondered how these young women felt, knowing that while their stands were only partially full, the boy’s game (which they lost) had been sold out.
I couldn’t quite figure out why we don’t support women’s sport the way we should: The fundamentals of the WNBA are better than the men, and the women are incredibly talented and competitive. But after some long reflection on the disparity of support, I gave myself the answer to my own question.
When planning our trip to New York City. I said to Carmen, "How would you like to see a Knicks game?" Her eyes brightened like Times Square and she shook her head up and down so hard I thought she was going to break her neck in the process. I then realized my mistake: While it was quite natural for me to think about inviting my daughter to a Knicks game, I didn’t think for one second to invite her to see the New York Liberty, the women’s team in the city.
For years different people have always grumbled about the lack of activism and social change involvement of professional athletes. Specifically our most successful athletes like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods. In a recent interview with HBO’s Real Sports, former NFL great Jim Brown went in on the lack of activism for social change from both Tiger and Jordan in recent years.
"There are one or two individuals in this country that are black that have been put in front of us as an example," Brown told Real Sports host Bryant Gumbel. "But they’re basically under a system that says, ‘Hey, they’re not gonna do a certain thing.’ Yes, that
www.blackbloggers.wordpress.com
Michael Jordan’s Son Quits Basketball
June 27, 2009
Jeffrey Jordan is Michael Jordan’s son. That little proposition, as it relates to basketball, can not be an easy one for any offspring to undertake.
It’s not just that your dad was a great NBA basketball player. Your dad was the single greatest basketball player who ever lived. Your entire life, you’re not just a classmate to your friends. You’re the son of their hero. Imagine that! For all of the sundry benefits of being Jordan’s son — the money, the basketball shoes, the unimaginably awesome toys you’d get as a kid — the specter of anticipation, of "hey, that’s Michael Jordan’s son out there" would haunt you for as long as you played basketball.
It appears those days are over for Jordan’s eldest offspring. Jeffrey Jordan, a walk-on-turned-scholarship-athlete at Illinois, has apparently decided to hang up his balling kicks for good:
"I loved playing for the Fighting Illini and appreciate the support I was given by my teammates, coaches and the great fans here," Jordan said. "But I have come to the point where I’m ready to focus on life after basketball. I will concentrate on earning my degree from the University of Illinois and the opportunities that await upon graduating."
A judge on Monday will consider whether former NBA star Jayson Williams should be sentenced for covering up a fatal shooting at his mansion in 2002, given Williams’ recent erratic behavior, including an assault arrest in North Carolina.
Williams, 41, was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter in 2004 but convicted on four counts of trying to cover up the shooting of a hired driver at his Hunterdon County mansion. The jury couldn’t reach a verdict on a reckless manslaughter count, and State Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman has delayed sentencing pending Williams’ retrial on that charge.
www.yourblackgossip.wordpress.com
Lebron Visits Barack Obama
June 21, 2009
The White House. A movie premiere in Maryland. A store opening in Harlem.
LeBron James is making the rounds this summer.
Fully recovered after undergoing surgery two weeks ago to have a benign growth on his jaw removed, the NBA’s MVP is keeping a busy schedule.
On Monday, Cleveland’s All-Star forward and a group of close friends visited President Barack Obama and were given a tour of the West Wing before attending the U.S. premiere of "More Than A Game," a documentary about the basketball star and his friends’ rise to national champions while playing at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio.
Looks like Michael Strahan’s post-NFL keeps getting better. Awhile back we announced that Strahan just signed a deal with FOX to star in his own sitcom this fall and now he’ll be marrying Eddie Murphy’s ex-lady, Nicole Murphy. The two have been dating for some time now and according to People Magazine, Strahan popped the question on a beach in the Bahamas.
"I have a great relationship and she’s a great girl," Strahan told People. "I don’t like to talk much about my private life, but I’m really happy."
“Chosen One” Leaves High School at 16 – Only Because he doesn’t play football or Basketball
June 16, 2009
Read below about Bryce Harper, the 16 year old who is going to college next year only so he can be eligible for the 2010 MLB draft. If he were a basketball or football player, he would not be able to do this. So, not only does this story make a mockery of our educational system, it also points out the hypocrisy which exists in the way basketball and football operate relative to sports dominated by non-black athletes.
When big Bryce Harper made the cover of Sports Illustrated two weeks ago, I knew we’d soon again be hearing from the 16-year-old ‘chosen one.’
But not quite this soon.
On Sunday, the sophomore from Las Vegas found his way into national headlines again when his father announced that Bryce will forgo his final two years of high school and use a GED to enroll in a community college this August. Though it more or less makes a mockery of our education system, the Harpers’ plan would make Bryce eligible for the 2010 draft, where he could conceivably be the Nationals’ No. 1 pick and eventually join forces with Stephen Strasburg to save Washington baseball from itself.
Dr Boyce: How Kobe Bryant Rebuilt His Brand
June 16, 2009
Kobe Bryant started his career with the LA Lakers as a tremendous athlete with a valuable brand. His stock rose like an elevator, as Madison Avenue loved him as much as Laker fans. Then life took a strange twist. First, there was the nasty departure of Shaquille O’neal, which instantly reduced Kobe and the Lakers to "also-rans" in the NBA playoffs. A man who was used to winning championships was reduced to simply playing for pay.
Off the court, things got even worse. In 2003, Kobe was accused of a horrifically embarrassing sexual assault, a case that was later dropped. But even though the charges were dropped, the case still had a lasting impact on Bryant’s reputation: Sponsors ran the other way and everyone wondered if Kobe might turn into another "coulda, woulda, shoulda" black athlete.
But he persisted. The Lakers got a little bit better every year, with that improvement culminating in what some believe to be Kobe’s first "real championship" this year; a title without the boost of a dominant big man. For the first time, the Lakers are champions under Kobe’s watch. He has proven that he is more than a replica of Anfernee Hardaway.
Where does Kobe Stand in History?
June 15, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. — Where does Kobe Bryant rate among the modern superstar NBA champions? Here is a good place to start:
Michael Jordan — 6 championships
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — 6
Magic Johnson — 5
Kobe Bryant — 4
Tim Duncan — 4
Shaquille O’Neal — 4
Bryant may now be viewed as being on the same tier as Shaq, who was the dominant force in basketball and MVP of the Finals during all three of their championships together with the Lakers from 2000 through ‘02. The tension that ultimately divided them was created by both of them, but one of the obvious issues was mired in Bryant’s ambition to fulfill himself. He wanted to become more than Shaq’s "sidekick," as he referred to himself disparagingly in Phil Jackson’s book on their final season together.
"From the standpoint of responding to the challenge," Bryant said Sunday, "from people saying I couldn’t do it without him, [winning the title] feels good because you prove people wrong." But he chooses to focus more on what they accomplished, as opposed to the additional titles they might have won.
Read More black sports on our Black Athletes blog.
ATL Falcons Release Michael Vick
June 14, 2009
“It’s a situation that we have been thinking about for quite some time,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “We did our due diligence. We’ve been searching around the league and were looking for some interest as far as a trade.
“In the very end, we came to a conclusion that it was time. It was best for both us and Michael Vick to move on, to turn the chapter.”
McNabb Signs a New Contract
June 14, 2009
PHILADELPHIA, June 12 (UPI) — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has agreed to a restructured contract with $24.5 million guaranteed, his agent said.
The deal was announced Friday at a news conference attended by Coach Andy Reid.
McNabb agent Fletcher Smith told the Philadelphia Inquirer the deal makes his client one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL.
McNabb signed a 12-year contract in 2002, but had the final three seasons voided after incentive clauses were reached with the restructured deal.
"The Philadelphia Eagles organization and the entire city of Philadelphia are fortunate to have a quarterback the caliber of Donovan McNabb," Reid said on the team’s Web site.
"It was appropriate to make some adjustments so that he was rewarded commensurate with the way he plays," team President Joe Banner told the newspaper.
Derrick Rose Gets heat for gang signs
June 14, 2009
Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls is trying to say that he’s not flashing a gang sign. But let’s see – he grew up around gangs and his fingers probably don’t naturally look that way. I’m not sure if I believe his story.
But here is his statement:
"Recently, a photo has been circulating on the Internet which appears to depict me flashing a gang sign," Rose said in the statement. "This photo of me was taken at a party I attended in Memphis while I was in school there, and was meant as a joke … a bad one, I now admit. I want to emphatically state, now and forever, that Derrick Rose is anti-gang, anti-drug, and anti-violence. I am not, nor have I ever been, affiliated with any gang and I can’t speak loudly enough against gang violence, and the things that gangs represent.
"In posing for this picture, I am guilty of being young, naive and of using extremely poor judgment. I sincerely apologize to all my fans for my mistake. I pride myself on being a good citizen, and role model, that young people can look up to and I want to urge all my young fans to stay away from gangs and gang-related activities."
Boxer Mike Tyson Remarries….Again
June 12, 2009
Most likely riding a wave of emotion after the death of his daughter, Exodus, Mike Tyson married his girlfriend, Lakiha Spicer. According to the Associated Press, Tyson and Spicer, who is not the mother of Exodus, married at the La Bella Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas’ Hilton Hotel-Casino.
Chapel owner Shawn Absher told AP that the couple came straight from the Clark County marriage bureau and got married around 10 p.m. This is Tyson’s third marriage. His first to Robin Givens in 1988 lasted less than a year, and his marriage to Monica Turner in 1997 lasted five years.
From Sports to Money: Making the Transition
June 11, 2009
Jason Robertson is a man of many gifts. As an young man, he was an All-American baseball player, drafted by the New York Yankees straight out of high school. He was also listed by Essence Magazine as one of the most eligible bachelors in America for his good looks and success. If that were not enough, Jason retired from baseball and re-invented himself as a leading, award-winning entrepeneur.
Besides being a model of success for his 3 sons and celebrating his engagement to fiance Marshawn Evans, Jason is on a mission to teach other young men how to make the transition from successful athlete to outstanding businessman. Black Voices got a chance to catch up with Jason.
1) What do you do for a living?
I own an industrial packaging company. We sell corrugated boxes, bags, films, pallets, and we also provide warehousing and storage.
Slugger Barry Bonds Separates from Wife
June 10, 2009
Barry Bonds’ wife has filed for legal separation.
The former San Francisco Giants’ slugger and Liz Watson were married in 1998 and have a 10-year-old daughter, Aisha.
Tiger Woods wins another one
June 8, 2009
DUBLIN, Ohio(AP) No need to worry about Tiger Woods heading into the U.S. Open.
Woods broke away from a four-way tie for the lead Sunday at the Memorial with birdies on his final two holes, the last one a 7-iron that stopped a foot away from the cup for a 7-under 65 and a one-shot victory over Jim Furyk.
With a high-charged rally from a four-shot deficit, Woods revved up the crowd and silenced those who questioned his game heading into his title defense at Bethpage Black in two weeks.
He didn’t miss a fairway in the final round, the first time he has done that in more than five years. He missed only five fairways all week, his most accurate tournament off the tee since the 1998 Masters.
Woods won the Memorial for a record fourth time, and tournament host Jack Nicklaus was there to greet him behind the 18th green. It was his second victory this year after missing eight months from knee surgery, and Woods figured he will only get better.
“I knew it was coming around,” Woods said. “I just wasn’t as consistent as I needed to be.”
Check out Dwight Howard’s Crazy New Commercial
June 7, 2009
Click the image to check it out!
Congressman Compares NBA Age Limit to Slavery
June 7, 2009
Steve Cohen, Democrat of Tennessee, wrote that the four-year-old rule, which requires that players be 19 years old and one year removed from their high school graduation, is of “deep concern.”
“It’s a vestige of slavery,” Cohen said Wednesday in a phone interview, noting that most of the players affected by the rule are African-American. “Not like the slavery of 150 years ago, but it’s a restraint on a person’s freedoms and liberties.”
Cohen said he was dismayed to hear that N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern was hoping to extend the age limit to 20. He added that his office was in the process of looking into the legalities of the limit and that a hearing and legislation were possible. He said the issue would fall under the jurisdiction of the House’s Judiciary Committee.
“Hopefully, they’ll just do the right thing,” he said.
The One-Armed Wonder
June 7, 2009
Think there’s anything you can’t do? Check out this one-armed basketball player who just got a college basketball scholarship!
Click the image to watch.
Kobe’s Performance Unfairly Hurts Lebron James
June 6, 2009
As the Lakers and Magic prepped for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, LeBron James was undergoing five hours of dental surgery to remove a benign growth from his right jaw. Which was less painful than the metaphorical dental surgery he had to endure later.
Yes, rarely has a man been so conspicuous by his absence as the King was before, during and after Game 1 at the Staples Center. In the days leading up to the championship series, James had been torched for walking off the court without shaking hands after his Cavs had been eliminated by the Magic in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, and compounding it by blowing off the mandatory media session.
Then, before Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday, commissioner David Stern announced that he had reversed his initial position and decided to fine James $25,000. Stern indicated that the walkoff and the media blowoff were both factors in the fine, but I don’t buy that. James was fined for skipping the interview session, which is in keeping with precedent.
Kobe vs. Lebron: Not Going to Happen
June 3, 2009
Don’t you just love those Nike commercials that feature puppet versions of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James? Those are hilarious.
How can you not laugh at the overload of chalk due to LeBron’s excitement for the postseason?
Tell me you didn’t laugh at Kobe getting on LeBron’s case looking for his championship rings. I dare you.
Whichever commercials you enjoyed, you have to think about how much Nike has been freaking out about the fact that the Kobe vs. LeBron final that everybody and their momma wanted is not going to happen.
After winning a franchise record 66 games, it looked as if the Cleveland Cavaliers were on their way to a potential NBA championship. I repeat: potential—as in it may not happen.
When I first saw the Vitamin Water commercial in which people are debating over who is better between the two players, I knew something was going to go awry.
