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.
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.
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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.
Lebron James is Stunned After Loss
May 31, 2009
Head down and shoulders slumped,LeBron James(notes) headed off the court as the Orlando Magicstreamers shot off above him.
Dwight Howard(notes) was hugging Hedo Turkoglu(notes), dreams of Beating L.A. dancing in their heads. James wasn’t bothering to stick around to shake hands, offer congratulations or pretend there was a bright side to the Magic ousting his Cleveland Cavaliers from the East finals with a 103-90 victory in Game 6.
James was off the floor before the confetti could hit his shoulders.
He later dressed in silence in a corner of the locker room then put on some gold, oversized headphones and headed for the door. Normally one of the last to leave, he was now one of the first. With anger and frustration evident in each step, he charged through the back halls of Amway Arena without greeting anyone, got on the team bus and soon was off to the airport.
There was no looking for his mother, Gloria. There was no talking with Nike executives. And forget addressing fans and media – Mo Williams(notes) was left to answer for the defeat.
LeBron was gone. The King was silent.
The fallout from this defeat will echo loudly all summer, though, the pressure mounting on Cavs general manager Danny Ferry.
Serena Williams Accuses of Opponent of Cheating
May 31, 2009
PARIS – Serena Williams was sure the ball went off her opponent’s arm, a no-no in tennis. The opponent, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, insisted the ball went off her racket.
Williams accused Martinez Sanchez of "cheating." Martinez Sanchez thought that was a "stupid" thing for Williams to say.
Then consider that the point in question helped Martinez Sanchez win the first set of their French Open match Saturday. Oh, and that Williams had a coughing fit during a third-set changeover. All in all, what eventually became a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory for Williams stands as the latest example of the athlete/actress’ penchant for theatrics.
"I’m, like, drama. And I don’t want to be drama," a hoarse Williams said, straining to get the words out. "I’m like one of those girls on areality show that has all the drama, and everyone in the house hates them because no matter what they do, like, drama follows them. I don’t want to be that girl."
Is there More that Lebron Can do?
May 29, 2009
He is averaging an outrageous 42.3 points in the Eastern Conference finals while shooting 50.9 percent with 7.3 assists — numbers that exceed his MVP season. So what more is LeBron James supposed to do?
"Just try to win ball games," he said less than two hours before he contributed 44 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to Cleveland’s loss in Game 4 at Orlando, stranding the Cavaliers with a 3-1 deficit heading into Game 5 here Thursday night. "Just try to win ball games and put our team in a position to win every game. I’ve been able to do that."
But the Cavs have wasted those chances. Despite his gaudy numbers, James hasn’t been blameless, as he acknowledged after committing an unusual seven turnovers in the final 12 minutes of regulation and overtime in Game 4. Those mistakes were forced by a Magic defensive strategy that is enabling LeBron to score while limiting opportunities for his teammates. The failure of those teammates is the story of Cleveland’s series. Knowing that he can’t outscore Orlando by himself, and wired as he is to make plays for others, James was forced to take risks in hopes of rallying his team.
The University of Memphis is responding to an NCAA notice of allegations accusing the men’s basketball program of major violations during the 2007-08 season under John Calipari, a newspaper reported Wednesday.
The allegations include "knowing fraudulence or misconduct" on an SAT exam by a player on that season’s team, which finished runner-up in the NCAA tournament, The Commercial Appealreported on its Web site.
Lamar Chance, spokesman for the basketball program, declined comment Wednesday night when contacted by The Associated Press.
Because of privacy laws, the player’s name was redacted in the report, which was obtained by the newspaper through the Freedom of Information Act.
Memphis, which received the notice on Jan. 16, is scheduled to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions on June 6.
Calipari, who left Memphis for Kentucky on March 31, is not named in the report, the newspaper said.
DeWayne Peevy, sports information director for Kentucky, said Calipari had no immediate comment.
Between 60 and 80 percent of athletic departments’ revenue in Division IA of the National Collegiate Athletic Association comes from "activities that can be described as commercial," according to a studyissued Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office.
While athletic officials have long tried to describe their activities as fundamentally similar to the rest of their institutions, the Congressional report suggests otherwise. It finds that the proportion of commercial revenue is seven to eight times that for the rest of the institutions’ activities. As a result, athletics programs may have "crossed the line from educational to commercial endeavors," the Congressional review found. (Outside of the NCAA’s top division, it found significant, but much reduced commercial revenue — 20 to 30 percent in the rest of Division I).
Some critics of big-time college athletics have hoped that this study would prompt challenges to the tax-exempt status enjoyed by college athletics, but the report suggests otherwise.
"Removing the major tax preferences currently available to university athletic departments would be unlikely to significantly alter the nature of those programs or garner much tax revenue even if the sports programs were classified, for tax purposes, as engaging in unrelated commercial activity," the report says. "As long as athletic departments remained a part of the larger nonprofit or public university, schools would have considerable opportunity to shift revenue, costs, or both between their taxed and untaxed sectors, rendering efforts to tax that unrelated income largely ineffective. Changing the tax treatment of income from certain sources, such as corporate sponsorships or royalties from sales of branded merchandise, would be more likely to affect only the most commercial teams; it would also create less opportunity for shifting revenue or costs."
Mike Tyson’s Daughter Dies
May 27, 2009
The 4-year-old daughter of boxer Mike Tyson died at a hospital Tuesday, a day after her neck apparently got caught in a treadmill cord at her Phoenix home, police said.
Exodus Tyson was pronounced dead just before noon, police Sgt. Andy Hill said. She had been on life support and police have said their investigation showed her injury on Monday was a "tragic accident."
"There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Exodus," the family said in a statement. "We ask you now to please respect our need at this very difficult time for privacy to grieve and try to help each other heal."
Police said Exodus either slipped or put her head in the loop of a cord hanging under the console. Her 7-year-old brother found her and told their mother. She took Exodus off the cord, called 911 and tried to revive her.
Boxer Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter is on life support after she was found with her neck on a treadmill cable Monday.
Phoenix Police Sgt. Andy Hill said the "tragic accident" happened at Tyson’s Phoenix home when the girl’s 7-year-old brother found her on a treadmill with her neck on a cable attached to the exercise machine.
Michael Jordan no longer has the most famous buzzer-beater in Cleveland sports history.
The Shot has been topped.
LeBron James(notes) made one better.
James dropped a 3-pointer from the top of the key over Orlando’sHedo Turkoglu(notes) as the final horn sounded Friday night to give the Cavaliers, their season a heartbeat from major trouble, a 96-95 victory over the Magic that evened the Eastern Conference finals at one game apiece.
From 23 feet—matching his jersey number and Jordan’s—James hit a shot that will go down as one of the defining moments in a career that’s just hitting its stride.
“That guy is not in the league any more,” James said of Jordan. “The other 23 is on the good side now.”
NFL May Expand Rooney Rule to GM Spots
May 21, 2009
NFL teams looking to hire general managers may soon be required to interview at least one minority candidate.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday the league’s owners discussed expanding the Rooney Rule — which already applies to coaching openings — during the final session of their two-day meetings in South Florida. No vote was taken, though Goodell indicated any changes could be made soon.
"It’s a judgment I will make with the diversity committee," Goodell said.
The Rooney Rule is named for Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who was not at the meeting for a good reason: He’s at what Goodell described as "ambassador school."
Rooney, a lifelong Republican, was picked by President Barack Obama earlier this year to be U.S. ambassador to Ireland.
Roland Martin says Michael Vick has served his sentence and should be allowed back on the field.
(CNN) — When Michael Vick completes home confinement in July, he will have served the 23-month prison sentence imposed after he pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges.
After his release from a Kansas prison Wednesday, he headed to his home in Virginia to serve the final two months under home confinement, because all the beds at halfway houses in the area are taken.
But that hasn’t deterred the Vick haters who are still in an uproar over the heinous details of his dogfighting kennel. Yes, reading the details of the treatment of the dogs, including the killing of some of them, could make anyone sick. Yet what’s the point of sentencing someone to jail, then having them serve their time and be released if we still want to imprison them for the rest of their lives?
Frankly, I’m sick of Americans who talk all day about "do the crime, then do the time," then still want to treat a man like a criminal when he gets out of prison.
This doesn’t just apply to Michael Vick. Look at all the individuals who are sent to prison, get out and then can’t find a job. Why? Because they have the Scarlet Letter on their record, which is a big fat "F" for felon. Don’t think I’m looking for any sympathy for someone who goes to jail. I firmly believe that you deserve all that you get for breaking the law. But listening to some of these zealots go on and on and on about Vick needing to continue to be punished is ridiculous!
Michael Vick Leaves Prison
May 20, 2009
Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick left a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, early Wednesday, according to his publicist and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Michael Vick, left, arrives at federal court with attorney Billy Martin in Richmond, Viriginia, in 2007.
He will serve the last two months of his 23-month sentence in home confinement in Virginia, his publicist Judy Smith said. He is a native of Newport News, Virginia.
Vick, 28, pleaded guilty in August 2007 to a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in Virginia.
He will return to professional football as soon as September if reinstated by the NFL, according to the sports agent who negotiated Vick’s 10-year, $140 million contract with the Falcons. Meanwhile, Vick’s attorneys have said he will work at a Newport News construction firm following his release, and he has also agreed to participate in a documentary for $600,000.
Last month, a federal bankruptcy judge denied a Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan presented by Vick, urging him to offer the court another plan to emerge from bankruptcy. The plan called for Vick to come up with $750,000 to $1 million in cash to be paid to creditors, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank Santoro said, but added he saw no evidence Vick could come up with that much. Santoro suggested Vick’s next plan not call for him to keep two houses and three cars, as did the rejected proposal.
In testimony, Vick acknowledged committing a "heinous" act and said he should have acted more maturely. He said he has been earning 12 cents an hour as an overnight janitor in prison. His Falcons salary, he said, was between $10 million and $12 million. He acknowledged failing to handle his money well.
In this episode of Financial Lovemaking, Dr. Boyce and S. Tia Brown speak with Jason Robertson, a former New York Yankee, and his fiance Marshawn Evans. Marshawn is a prominent attorney and sports marketing agent. Jason was a top draft pick and all-American baseball player, who learned the flaws of improperly managing his money. He has since recovered financially and become one of the top entrepreneurs in the United States. The couple discusses the challenges in their relationship and ways they plan to make good financial love. When is the best time to start talking about money in a relationship? What if your partner is not as comfortable talking about money as you are? What role does trust play in the formation of a financial lovemaking relationship with another person?
Wayman Tisdale Dies
May 15, 2009
Wayman Tisdale, a three-time All-American at Oklahoma who played 12 seasons in the NBA, died after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 44.
Tisdale died Friday morning at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, hospital spokeswoman Joy McGill said.
After three years at Oklahoma, Tisdale played in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. The 6-foot-9 forward, with a soft left-handed touch on the court and a wide smile off it, averaged 15.3 points for his career. He was on the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.
After basketball, he became an award-winning jazz musician, with several albums making the top 10 on the Billboard charts.
“Wayman Tisdale is one of the best people I have ever had the privilege of knowing,” Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel said in a statement. “He had an incredible gift of making the people who came in contact with him feel incredibly special.”
Tisdale’s death was announced on the Oklahoma Senate floor Friday by Senate Majority Leader Todd Lamb, who led the chamber in prayer.
“Whether you’re a Cowboy or a Sooner, Oklahoma has lost a great ambassador,” Lamb said. “He was a gifted musician, a gifted athlete and he just wore that well wherever he went.”
Jason Taylor: Punked by the Dolphins?
May 14, 2009
Jason Taylor’s newest step has him back where he started. The dancing linebacker signed a $1.5 million, one-year contract Wednesday with the Miami Dolphins.
Taylor played his first 11 seasons with Miami before being traded a year ago to the Washington Redskins — a fallout from his stint on the TV show "Dancing With the Stars." He was released by Washington in March after one injury-plagued season.
The New England Patriots courted the 34-year-old Taylor in recent weeks, but he wanted to return to South Florida, where he still lives. He will make $1.1 million in base salary and $400,000 in easy to reach incentives.
"My heart has always been in Miami, and so I’m truly excited to call myself a Dolphin once again," Taylor said in a statement. "I was presented with a number of different opportunities, but in the end the combination of this being the best situation for my family, my love for this community and my tremendous loyalty to a great organization made this an easy decision."
Taylor made the Pro Bowl six times with Miami and was NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.
The Redskins released Taylor after he turned down a chance to play another season with them for $8.5 million. Taylor didn’t like being away from his wife and three children last season and wanted to rejoin the Dolphins regardless of how much money they offered, said his agent, Gary Wichard.
Dr Boyce Watkins: Why I applaud Jeremy Tyler
May 11, 2009
In light of Jeremy Tyler’s decision to skip his senior year of high school in order to play basketball in Europe, I thought I would provide some perspective.
You see, I’ve taught at 5 major universities over the past 16 years, nearly all of whom have big time athletics programs. I have long been confused regarding why the NCAA is allowed to restrict the labor rights of college athletes and keep many Black families away from the multi-billion dollar revenue stream that they themselves enjoy. What is even more interesting is how they seem just so downright offended when young players decide to head out into the world to earn some of this money for their own families.
I am proud of Tyler, especially since he appears to want to get his education, in addition to earning a living from his talent. He will likely get a better education by being home schooled in Europe than he would get from the farce of an education he is likely to receive from a university that is using him for his basketball talent. I’ve seen this system up close for many years, and it is my greatest dream that Black men will wake up and realize who is actually getting the money from all of this.
Some people don’t understand how the system works, so I thought I would explain it all in a poem. I call it "The Big Brown Baller." Read on …
Continue reading Young B-Ball Star Takes European Money – Good for Him!
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Electronic Arts Inc. and the National Collegiate Athletic Association were sued by a former college football player who claims athletes’ images are used in video games without their permission and in violation of NCAA rules.
Electronic Arts, the second-largest video-game publisher, circumvents the rules by allowing customers to upload player names directly into games and creating images that closely resemble student athletes to increase sales and NCCA royalties, according to the complaint filed by Sam Keller, a former quarterback for Arizona State University.
The practice is sanctioned by the NCAA and a licensing company for the association, Keller said in his complaint filed yesterday in federal court in Oakland, California. Keller seeks to represent all NCCA football and basketball players featured in Electronic Arts’ NCAA video games.
“Electronic Arts is not permitted to use player names and likeness,” Keller said. Yet the company “with the knowledge, participation and approval of the NCAA and Collegiate Licensing Co. extensively utilizes actual player names and likeness.”
Study: NCAA Athletic Scholarship Falls Short of Expenses
April 28, 2009
‘Full scholarship’ can leave college athletes with as much as $30,000 in expenses
With the 2009 NCAA men’s basketball tournament heating up, the National College Players Association (NCPA), formerly known as the Collegiate Athletes Coalition (CAC), released results of another significant study revealing the estimated shortfall between college athletes’ full scholarships and the actual cost of attendance at each Division I university.
The NCPA asserts that, by and large, universities have been deceiving recruits, many of whom are under the age of 18 and from disadvantaged backgrounds, into unknowingly being responsible for paying thousands of dollars while on “full” athletic scholarship.
“The fact is, coaches fill high school recruits’ heads with promises of free rides and full scholarships, when in fact no such things exist. The NCAA designs full scholarships to fall short of the advertised price tag of a school, leaving recruits scrambling to make ends meet,” stated United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard.
NCAA rules prohibit universities from providing athletic scholarships that equal the cost of attendance. That means that a full scholarship athlete is expected to pay out of pocket for expenses that are not covered by a full scholarship.
“It’s deceptive to call it a ‘full’ athletics scholarship when it doesn’t fully pay for a university’s estimated price tag. These same universities offer ‘full’ academic scholarships that do cover the price tag of a school. This appears to be a deliberate attempt at misleading young high school student-athletes, their parents, and current college athletes,” stated NCPA President Ramogi Huma.
Ex-NBA Star Jason Williams Reportedly Suicidal
April 28, 2009
Officers stunned a drunken and agitated Jayson Williams with a Taser at a swank Manhattan hotel Monday morning after reports that the troubled ex-NBA star appeared suicidal, police said.
Police were called to the hotel in Battery Park City in lower Manhattan around 4 a.m. after a report that the former New Jersey Nets star was suicidal, authorities said.
When officers arrived, there were empty bottles of prescription drugs strewn around the disheveled hotel suite of the 6-foot-10 Williams, police said.
Emergency Services Unit police, an elite team trained to deal with emotionally disturbed people, responded and stunned Williams with a Taser, handcuffed him and took him to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
Williams played nine seasons in the NBA with the Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers before retiring in 2000.
He was convicted in 2004 of trying to cover up the shooting death of his hired driver Costas "Gus" Christofi at his mansion in Alexandria Township, N.J., in February 2002.
Williams was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter, but the jury deadlocked on a reckless manslaughter count. A retrial is pending. Williams has been free on bail since the shooting.
His wife filed divorce papers this year claiming he was abusive, adulterous and had a drug problem.
Lady Drama: The Celebs are out for ESPN
April 27, 2009
The reaction to the news of California high schooler Jeremy Tyler’s plan was as predictable as it was tired. The New York Times reported Thursday that Tyler, a 6-foot-11 junior at San Diego High, plans to skip his senior year in high school to play professionally in Europe. In two years, when his high school class is one year past graduation, he’ll return to the U.S. and enter the NBA draft.
The tongue-clucking was deafening. You’d think the Book of Revelation had been revised to include skipping a year of high school to play pro basketball right between the sun turning black and the moon turning red. This will kill college basketball, some said. This kid is throwing away his future, others said.
Since no European newspaper sports editor offered me a six-figure salary to skip my senior year of high school, I don’t feel qualified to rip Tyler’s choice. I’ve never walked in his high-tops. But I do have a few questions for the folks who consider Tyler’s move an abomination.
If he played golf, would you feel differently?
If he played tennis, would you feel differently?
If he had gotten his own show on the Disney Channel, would you feel differently?
Isiah Thomas Gets an Interesting Deal to Coach
April 23, 2009
If FIU makes money on Isiah Thomas’ name, the Hall of Famer will cash in as well.
The former New York Knicks coach and president will earn $1.29 million in base salary and scheduled bonuses from FIU if he stays for five seasons, plus be eligible for incentives and any state-approved raises.
He also could reap plenty of additional money along the way, according to documents obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
As a bonus, Thomas will receive nearly half of any gross revenues from ticket sales, commissions collected on food and beverage concessions and sponsorships — excluding the existing naming rights deal with U.S. Century Bank. In all three cases, FIU will keep the first $1,000 collected, then split the rest with Thomas.
Ex-NFL Star Arrested on Drug Charges
April 23, 2009
Former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith was pulled over Wednesday afternoon and found with crack cocaine and marijuana in his car, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Smith, who played 10 seasons for Jacksonville, was pulled over on Interstate 95 in Jacksonville for excessive window tint on his 2009 Mercedes Benz, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Bill Leeper said.
The trooper reported that the inside of the car smelled like burnt marijuana. During a search, the trooper found crack cocaine, marijuana and a business card with powder cocaine residue in the car’s center console.
Smith faces multiple drug charges, plus a charge of driving with a suspended license. He was being held at the Duval County Jail with no bond set.
“The Fridge” in in Serious Condition
April 22, 2009
Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman William “The Refrigerator” Perry is in serious condition at a South Carolina hospital, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Perry, 46, was hospitalized to deal with complications from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a chronic inflammation disorder of the peripheral nerves, the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune reported.
Aiken Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Melissa Summer declined to give additional details Tuesday.
Perry’s nephew, Purnell Perry, told the Sun-Times his uncle was admitted more than a week ago but was expected to recover.
UFC Apologizes After a Boring Fight
April 19, 2009
Anderson Silva wasn’t one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s biggest pay-per-view draws despite a slew of highlight reel knockouts and a reputation as the finest mixed martial arts fighter in the world.
After Saturday’s performance, the toughest job in sports may belong to the person who has to devise a marketing campaign for his next fight.
Silva won a unanimous decision over Thales Leites in the main event of UFC 97 on Saturday night at the Bell Centre, but it was such a mystifying and dreadful performance that it left UFC president Dana White angry and embarrassed.
“I can honestly tell you that I’ve never put on an event that I was embarrassed to be at until tonight,” White said. “I want to publicly apologize to all the fans.”
