Power to the Player: How Athletes Are Taking Back Their Agency
From player empowerment, tough contract negotiations, social justice advocacy, ownership amongst athletes, and more, we're witnessing a shift in sports culture. We discuss it here!
By: Prince Hakeem
Since ancient Greco-Roman times, athletes have been some of the most admired members of society. From Koroibos in the first Olympic games in 776 B.C. to LeBron James playing at an elite level in 2021, athletes have long enamored spectators with their god-like abilities and accomplishments.
These physical feats have garnered them riches, influence, and celebrity status. As a result, the concept of the athlete has grown as well. They've gone from being human marvels to the driving force behind today's sports business. More than anything else, the modern athlete has become a symbol—a representation of teams, countries, communities, and traditions. However, what happens when the people who embody these symbols become forgotten and their autonomy diminished.
Ironically enough, the same platform which grants privilege, success, and visibility often becomes their prison—turning them into prisoners of lofty expectations and coerced groupthink. In an increasingly individualistic American society, the line between "team first" vs. the athlete's goals and overall health is becoming blurrier. There's always been this tightrope within sports, especially with social media bringing it more into focus.
From player empowerment, tough contract negotiations, social justice advocacy, ownership amongst athletes, and more, we're witnessing a shift in sports culture. It's no longer "shut up and play ." Better yet, athletes have more control of their narratives and destinies than ever before. They now realize that the sports business model cannot function without them. It's led to more advocacy for radical approaches to the game, compensation, mental health, and legacy. You do not have to look far to find examples of this change.
For starters, look at the developments surrounding tennis star Naomi Osaka. Known for her shy demeanor, Osaka garnered a lot of attention back in June when she announced that she would not participate in press events ahead of the French Open. The 23-year-old cited mental health struggles as her reasoning.
"I've often felt that people have no regard for athletes' mental health, and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one," she wrote in a Notes post. "We're often sat there and asked questions that we've been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds, and I'm just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me."
Naomi Osaka pulled out of the French Open after refusing to attend press conferences. Osaka says she suffers from depression and experiences, "huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world's media."
TPN/Getty Images
This, however, did not stop controversy within tennis and the media from arising. Osaka was labeled "selfish" and "entitled" by several media members and old-guard veterans of the sport. The French Open organization hit her with a $15,000 fine and threatened "further and greater consequences if she continued to decline her media obligations." In response, Naomi took matters into her own hands, withdrawing from the tournament altogether.
Instead of giving any further explanation, she advocated for her well-being. Osaka leveraged her power and pulled out of Wimbledon as well. On a bigger scale, the major tournament groups missed an incredible moment. The French Open could have used the opportunity to send a message of support and compassion. It certainly would garner positive publicity, positioning the sport as progressive. They instead opted to "flex" their muscles of tradition to prove a point. Now Naomi sits in a better light-publicly- all because she chose to do what's best for her, sending a message for others to do the same.
The ability to act with agency is more feasible for some athletes to do than others. Someone like Naomi would have an easier time doing this due to the individual nature of their sport. An athlete making personal decisions within team sports is challenging. None more so than in football.
Football is a cultural focal point within American society. The sport has served as the vehicle for racial and social integrations, celebrating the ideals of community and teamwork. It is one of the last and oldest institutions where subordinating one's individual goals for a collective objective is essential. Altruistic-yes-realistic, not so much. Today's football is more about commercial success rather than small-town virtues and values. And when it comes to business, everyone with a stake in the game moves accordingly- in their best interest.
This form of advocacy can be seen with today's NFL stars. There is a multitude of reasons which explain why. It all starts with the NBA's LeBron James. The kid from Akron changed the sports landscape with his infamous "Decision" to join the Miami Heat. Since then, the league has transformed into a player and star-driven commodity. Superteams are the norm, and players leverage their skills to have a say in front office decisions. This influence has crept its way into the NFL.
Despite not having fully guaranteed contracts, players are more empowered in today's game. Thanks to tougher agents, higher standard salaries, the players union, and a stronger CBA, NFL stars can disrupt the system in their favor. Quarterback Tom Brady is a clear example of this. Towards the end of 20 years with the New England Patriots, Brady wanted to help provide some personnel decisions. He wanted the team to surround him with better offensive talent. By the fifth Super Bowl ring, he had more than earned that luxury.
However, he was met with disrespect and even multiple attempts to move on from him. Brady, in the end, had enough of begging the Patriots and went to an organization that respected his word. He leveraged his winning experience for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get every receiver he needed for a seventh Super Bowl ring.
Coming off an MVP season, Aaron Rodgers is fighting for his career and legacy. The 37-year-old quarterback is currently in a stalemate with the Green Bay Packers. After years of keeping the organization competitive, Rodgers has had enough of general manager Brian Gutekunst and the front office's dismissive attitude towards him. The tension has been brewing for a while, most notably since the Packers' decision to draft Utah State's Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 draft. An MVP season including 4299 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, and back-to-back trips to the NFC Championship game is what Rodgers has as a bargaining chip. And even that could not garner Rodgers enough cache to have input in offensive personnel decisions. So now he is using his status as a player to send a message to his team. He has gone on record claiming that he loves his teammates, coaches, and the fanbase. It is not about money or wanting his ego stroked. For Rodgers, it is about legacy and respect for his contributions to the game.
Additionally, athletes are now the source, thanks to social media. They hold their own press conferences on Instagram, make career announcements on Twitter, and dictate negotiations with just a "Like" button. Times have changed, probably for the better. These instances demonstrate how a shift in agency and power is good for the individual athlete and necessary for sports as a whole. It sends a message that doing what's best for oneself should be the norm, not a spectacle.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
The Olympics’ Recent Rulings Reinforce The Historic Demonization Of Black Womanhood
Some of the recent rulings made by the Olympics, particularly against Black women, invoke double standards and reinforce the historic demonization of Black womanhood. We discuss it here!
Gwen Berry and Sha’Carri Richardson
By: Cory Utsey
The Tokyo Summer Olympics commence in a mere two weeks. Through the various Olympic Trials, spectators were able to witness the raw talent of a number of athletes across the world.
For Black women athletes especially, household names such as Simone Biles and Allyson Felix maintained their projected success, while newcomers such as Sha’Carri Richardson claimed the hearts of many. It seemed as though there would be many Black women that would dominate their respective sports.
But unfortunately, excelling within one’s sport is not good enough. Many Black women athletes have faced much scrutiny, at times complete disqualification, while the political and cultural agency of Black athletes as a whole has been limited. Black athletes are not allowed to wear regalia related to the Black Lives Matter movement, nor are any athletes permitted to express any form of political messaging, due to the International Olympic Committee’s Rule 50. And while the International Swimmer Federation (FINA) is currently in the process of reviewing the decision to disallow Black athletes from wearing swim caps made for Black natural hair, the rule’s initial existence is indicative of the way in which widely used standards are often centered around whiteness.
For many people, some of the recent rulings made by the Olympics, particularly against Black women, invoke double standards and reinforce the historic demonization of Black womanhood.
Sha’Carri Richardson Disqualified for Marijuana
Sha’Carri Richardson - Credit: Steph Chambers
Although marijuana is legal in many US cities, including Oregon--the city in which Sha’Carri Richardson consumed the substance--, she was placed on a 30-day suspension and left off of the USA Track and Field roster after testing positive for THC. In an interview with the Today Show, Richardson revealed that she was aware of the potential consequences from testing positive for marijuana, but still chose to ingest the substance. Reeling from the recent death of her mother, the drug almost served as a form of escapism from the pain she had been experiencing.
It is true that rules are rules, and it is also true that Richardson must take accountability for her actions; however, the validity of this rule remains widely questioned. Not only is marijuana legal in 19 states, but it is not a performance-enhancing drug and would therefore not increase her stamina or performance as a runner.
Richardson’s suspension is quite reminiscent of the way in which Black and Brown people are often met with demonization and legal punishment for their dealings with marijuana, while white people are able to open dispensaries. Where white people are labeled entrepreneurs, Black people are labeled offenders, and Richardson was given neither grace nor empathy in an emotionally-charged time of her life.
Christine Mboma, Beatrice Masilingi and Testosterone Testing
According to CNN, Namibian sprinters Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi were banned from competing because of their naturally high testosterone levels. The Namibia National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association (NNOC-CGA) states that their testosterone levels exceed the limit placed by a World Athletics’ Policy on Differences of Sex Development (DSD).
In 2018, World Athletics ruled that women with higher testosterone levels must take medication that would reduce their levels in order to compete in certain events, as it would make competition “fairer”; however, neither of the athletes were aware of this rule prior to their competitions. Although Mboma and Masilingi will still be able to compete in the 100 meter and 200 meter events, other Black women athletes have been barred from competing as a result of this ruling. CeCe Telfer, a transgender woman, was disallowed from competing in the Olympic trials for the 400 meter event last month, and Caster Semenya has been banned from competing in any event (from 400 meters to one mile) since 2018.
Not only does the rule police the bodies of Black women, but it reaffirms transphobic notions on what it means to be a “real” woman. Women, including those who are transgender, should not be forced to take medications that alter their natural body production. Once again, it becomes clear that whiteness and white womanhood are centered as the standard by which all women should be aligned with, and when non-white women (inevitably) fall outside of these confines, they are punished.
Gwen Berry Condemned for Activism
Gwen Berry (left), DeAnna Price, and Brooke Andersen during the national anthem at Saturday’s U.S. Olympic trials
Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
As stated previously, the International Olympic Committee’s Rule 50 states that athletes cannot sport politically-centered regalia, nor can they engage in any forms of political activism at the Tokyo Olympics. Gwen Berry, a hammer thrower, chose to turn her back on the flag while “The Star Spangled Banner” played at the Olympic trials and faced much criticism from American lawmakers.
Berry, who previously displayed her political outspokenness at the 2019 Pan American games, has not yet decided if she will observe Rule 50 in Tokyo. While the rule was likely enacted in order for the focus to remain on the sports alone, athletes should not have to compromise or abandon their political agency, as politics impact various sectors within one’s life.
Each of these rulings are presented as impartial to race and gender; however, the ramifications of these rulings undermine the nuances of Black women athletes, and ultimately reinforce the historic demonization of Black womanhood. With many potential spectators stating that they will not tune in if Black women continue to be scrutinized or barred from competing, there are hopes that Olympic committees will seek to review the rules and understand their historical implications.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Tokyo Olympics: 4 Black Women Who Are Chasing Gold Medals
The Tokyo Summer Olympics are set to officially commence on Friday, July 23 and there will be a number of Black athletes competing for the gold-- especially Black women. Here are four Black women expected to dominate the Summer Olympics!
Sha’Carri Richardson and Simone Biles look to dominate at the Tokyo Olympics
By: Cory Utsey
The once-postponed yet highly anticipated Tokyo Summer Olympics officially commence on Friday, July 23. This means that the Olympic trials are in full effect, and American athletes are competing to be a part of the anticipated 600 qualifiers being sent to Tokyo.
It is already clear that there will likely be a number of Black athletes competing for the gold-- especially Black women.
Here are four of the Black women athletes expected to dominate the Summer Olympics.
Sha’Carri Richardson - Track and Field
Sha'Carri Richardson celebrates after winning the first heat of the semifinals in the women's 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials on Saturday in Eugene, Ore.
Associated Press photo by Ashley Landis
The 21-year-old Dallas native first came to prominence in 2019. A freshman at Louisiana State University at the time, she ran 10.75 seconds and broke the 100 meter record at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships, winning her the NCAA title.
Despite losing her mother just days before the U.S Olympic Track and Field trials, she secured her spot in Tokyo on Juneteenth by running 10.86 seconds for the women’s 100 meter event. Immediately running to embrace her grandmother following her success, the bright-haired beauty warmed the hearts of many.
Richardson continues to trend, not only for her immense success on the field, but for her confident candor off the field. Letting everyone know that she is “that girl”, many are excited to see her compete on Team USA Track and Field.
Simone Manuel - Swimming
Simone Manuel - Getty Images
At the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, Manuel became the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal, and she will now be competing in the 50 meter freestyle.
The trailblazer revealed that she was recently diagnosed with overtraining syndrome (OTS), a form of burnout which causes fatigue and temporarily declines the performance of athletes despite intense training. Experiencing symptoms such as anxiety and sore muscles, she was forced to take a three-week hiatus from training.
Fortunately, none of these tribulations stopped her from securing her spot on Team USA Swimming.
Allyson Felix - Track and Field
Allyson Felix at the Olympic Trials
Credit: Ashley Landis/Associated Press
Felix has nine Olympic medals-- enough said.
After qualifying for the 400 meter event, she will compete in her 5th olympics. Felix is currently the most decorated Olympic runner in U.S. history.
This three-time World Champion is expected to make great strides, regardless of which event she competes in.
Simone Biles - Gymnastics
Simone Biles competing in the floor exercise during the 2021 Olympic Trials
Credit: Carmen Mandato/ Getty Images
The five-time Olympic medalist is set to compete once again at the Olympics.
Known as one of the most decorated gymnasts in the world-- third to be exact-- USA Today reports that she already secured the all-around title at the U.S Gymnastics Championships.
There is very little doubt that she will be anything less than extraordinary.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Naomi Osaka And Destigmatizing Mental Health Among Athletes
Naomi Osaka’s decision to withdraw from the French Open and be transparent about her struggles, brings about a much needed conversation about the prioritization of mental health over work! We discuss it here!
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26, 2019: 2019 Australian Open Champion Naomi Osaka of Japan during press conference following her win in the final match at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park
Credit: Leonard Zhukovsky
By: Cory Utsey
Naomi Osaka became quite the household name after defeating former No. 1 women’s single tennis player Serena Williams in 2018. Since then, she has amassed much success as a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, and on Monday May 31, she announced that she would be withdrawing from the Roland Garros French Open.
Naomi Osaka withdraws from the French Open to focus on her mental health.
— 247 Live Culture (@247LC) May 31, 2021
Osaka was recently fined $15,000 for not speaking to the press.
“I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media.” pic.twitter.com/Jde8TwYjng
In a statement that was released on Twitter and Instagram, Osaka attributed her decision to withdraw to the prioritization of her mental health, as she has long dealt with periods of depression and anxiety.
The announcement of her withdrawal came days after a previous statement in which she announced that she would not be talking to any press during the French Open, citing the media’s general disregard for the mental health of athletes as her reasoning. She was fined $15,000 for her decision to do so.
Her decision has been praised by a number of people and companies, including Nike, Mastercard, Venus Williams and Serena Williams.
Osaka is no stranger to outspokenness or advocacy, as she often uses her platform to speak on police brutality and racial injustice. She has ultimately shown that athletes are still people whose mental health should be prioritized just as much, if not more than, their physical capabilities and contractual obligations.
This is extremely important in the fight to destigmatize mental health conditions among all people, and especially athletes.
The National Institute of Mental Health reports that approximately one in five adults living in the United States suffer from mental illness. Not only do these illnesses vary in severity, but they often have a direct impact on physical health, as they affect one’s ability and desire to engage in behaviors that are healthy.
Although various studies have shown that staying physically healthy and engaged can boost one’s mood and mental health, this does not make athletes exempt from dealing with mental health related issues.
Athletes For Health, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping athletes engaged with the community, states that 33 percent of college students, including student athletes, suffer from mental health related conditions. Of this group, 30 percent of college students seek help for their mental health, but among college athletes, the number of individuals who seek help only falls at 10 percent.
In regards to professional athletes, the number of people who deal with mental health crises such as burnout, anxiety or disordered eating falls at approximately 35 percent.
Professional athletes are susceptible to the everyday conditions that have the ability to adversely affect one’s mental health, along with the added pressure to perform well and maintain public image.
Osaka herself cites the stress and pressure of engaging with the media and saying the “right things” as one that takes a toll.
Her decision to be transparent about her struggles, along with the subsequent prioritization of mental health over work, is one that can certainly be considered admirable.
Mental health is something that all people must keep at the forefront of the decisions they make and the directions they go. Although many are sad to see Osaka’s brief hiatus from the court, her well-being is much more important than titles or accolades.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Athlete Spotlight: NFL Prospect Alim McNeill
Former North Carolina State defensive tackle, Alim McNeill, is one of the top rated lineman in this years upcoming NFL Draft. We spoke with this NFL hopeful in an exclusive interview, check it out here!
Athlete Spotlight: NFL Prospect Alim McNeill
By: Tialena Evans
This week’s athlete spotlight is NFL prospect, Alim McNeill! McNeill is one of top rated defensive tackles in this years upcoming NFL Draft and chose to forego his senior season to live out his dream of playing in the NFL. McNeill recently showed out at his NC State Pro Day, running a 4.94-second 40-yard dash, 30.5-inch vertical jump, nine-foot broad jump, and 27 bench press reps of 225 pounds. McNeill was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina which played a big role in him choosing to attend North Carolina State University. He wanted the opportunity to play in front of family friends in his city. McNeill was a 3 sport athlete growing up, playing basketball, baseball and football. He comes from a sports family with a younger brother who is committed to football at Oregon and an older sister who is a teacher now.
He is a big music fan, with music being one of his hobbies outside of sports. McNeill is still in college with a semester left and will be getting his degree in STS (Science, technology and society) and will be taking the technology route in which he wants to create his own music software. “It’s something I use as an escape to get things off my mind and I find it incredibly interesting. I spend most of my free time doing that” says McNeil.
“People should know and do know that I’m a loving and caring person, the nicest guy I can be to everyone each and every day. I am dedicated to my job of perfecting my craft and hard working. You will never see me not giving my all in anything that I do.”
We talked with Alim McNeill in an exclusive interview, check it out below!
How long have you been playing the game of football and how did you get started?
Alim McNeill: I’ve been playing since I was seven years old. My father introduced me to football. The first organization that I played for was the North Raleigh Bulldogs of Pop Warner.
Who has been your biggest influence in helping you along your football journey and who are some of the players or coaches you look up to that guided you along the way to where you are now as a player?
Alim McNeill: I would say my biggest influence is probably my dad just because he introduced me to the game. He played himself, and he taught me all of the things that I know now. As far as coaches, I’ve had a bunch of really good coaches throughout my life even when I first started playing ball; Coach Trevor was a good coach for me. I would probably say the most influential coach for me was Coach Gladden who is my coach in high school at Sanderson. He just kind of showed me the ropes of everything from playing next level football and just next level thinking on the field as far as football IQ. I still talk to him till this day for the most part. He’ll hit me up every now and then but he taught me everything pretty much that I use on the field today.
As far as players, there’s four guys that left before I got to NC State like Bradley Chubb, BJ, Jessie Jones, and Kentavius Street; I look up to those guys a lot just because of their pure mentality on and off the field. That’s what I want to emulate and which is why I committed to NC State for the most part. Also, guys like Fletcher Cox and Aaron Donald, so there’s a lot of different players I look up to that are influential to me. I try to take a piece of their game and add it to mine and emulate their mentality on and off the field.
What other college football offers did you have coming out of high school other than NC State University?
Alim McNeill: I had a lot, I think I finished out with 40, but my top three schools were Alabama, Clemson, and NC State. I also had schools like Penn State, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and all the ACC schools like Louisville, Syracuse, UNC, and others. But for me, I didn’t really want the glam in the glitz of certain programs really it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t really feel like I fit in at those types of programs.
What do you feel is your most proudest football career play or moment?
Alim McNeill: It was a playoff game during my junior year in highschool against Southview out of Fayetteville and we had scrimmaged them earlier in the year and they were doing a lot of trash talking. We ended up having a chance to play them in an actual game and they had brought out this big banner and I forgot what it said but it was something disrespectful and we just really didn’t like that. We ended up putting 40 points up on them and they only scored like one touchdown. That was probably one of my favorite games that we played in high school.
What motivates you and how do you define success?
Alim McNeill: I motivate myself because I know what I want to do and ultimately I’m the one who has to go put in the work. So every day when I get up my motivation is really just me and just working on myself, working on my craft every day and being the best person I can be every day. Every day that I’m going to work out I treat it like it’s work and I treat it like a business.
For me when I start to see the things that I work on start applying to the field and start working for me that’s what I deem successful for me. Whether it’s strength, the time in the weight room, time out on the field, my football IQ, watching film, taking notes, studying other players and stuff like that. I feel like that’s what success is to me, when you start applying things to the field that you’ve worked on for months during the off season.
How do you describe your style of play and what separates you from other players in your position?
Alim McNeill: My style of play I would say is aggressive but smart. I really take pride in learning the game and increasing my IQ of the game. There’s so many different ways to be able to play this game and that’s why I really like learning about all of the different ways and it just gives me advantage over my opponent. I would also say that I am passionate and give a lot of effort out on the field and I give my all to the game.
What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?
Alim McNeill: Being in a pandemic, you have to sacrifice the partying, and going out stuff like that. I really have to be smart about my choices because I don’t want to get sick and sit out for two weeks. If I can’t work out it’s not beneficial to me. I’ve also had to change who I hung out with because I know where I’m trying to get to and sometimes those people are beneficial to my success. Also, I sacrifice a lot of time, like not being able to go home for holidays and there’s no summers so there’s not much that you can do.
What aspect of the draft process excites you the most?
Alim McNeill: What excites me the most is just having the opportunity to be in that position. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to have a Pro Day and be a part of the draft. Last year when COVID-19 hit, those players didn’t get a Pro Day so a lot of guys didn’t get the opportunity to showcase themselves for scouts and GM’s.
Where do you see yourself and your football career in 10 years? What are some accomplishments and accolades do you hope to achieve
Alim McNeill: 10 years from now I see myself as a veteran player, a guy who’s one of the premier players of the league, who lets the league know what type of player he is and shown dominance on the field. I want to be no more than anything though as a guy who can be respected, trusted, reliable guy, nice guy and a real cool dude. As far as accolades, I’m not really big into the amount of sacks or the amount out of tackles or the awards. I just really want to win Super Bowls and ball games.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
March Madness: The NCAA is Under Fire Following Women’s Tournament Disparities
The NCAA is under fire for lack of financial support for Women's basketball during March Madness compared to their male counterparts. Women athletes deserve the same treatment as men. We discuss it here!
Jan. 16, 2020 The University of Oregon’s Kelly Graves, Minyon Moore, Ruthy Heard and Sedona Prince rejoice after a victory over Stanford University in Eugene, Oregon.
Andy Nelson/The Register-Guard/TNS
By: Tialena Evans
Every year basketball fans from all around the nation look forward to the madness that is the NCAA Tournament, but this time around March Madness made a name for itself…. literally.
Both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments are currently in progress, but in two separate parts of the country. The men’s tournament being held in Indianapolis, Indiana and the women’s in San Antonio, Texas.
But that isn’t the only disparity between the two. The NCAA is now under fire after a women’s basketball player, Sedona Prince for the Oregon Ducks shared a TikTok video on Twitter showcasing the vast differences between the men’s and women’s facilities.
The women’s teams were given a single rack of dumbbells as a part of their “weight room”, which was placed on the same court as their practice gym.
Meanwhile, the men’s weight room was shown to be an actual room on its own, equipped with ample space and equipment for players to train.
Let me put it on Twitter too cause this needs the attention pic.twitter.com/t0DWKL2YHR
— Sedona Prince (@sedonaprince_) March 19, 2021
“Let me put it on Twitter too cause this needs the attention,” she wrote — hoping the transparency between the two facilities would invoke a response from the public and action by the NCAA.
And if you think that was bad, it doesn’t stop there.
It was also shown that the gender disparities stretch from the foods that they eat to the quantity of gifted NCAA paraphernalia to even the quality of COVID-19 tests given to players.
It doesn’t stop at the weight room.....this is pathetic pic.twitter.com/U4VB3AcB3J
— 𝘽𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞 💛⁴¹ (@SerbianHooker) March 19, 2021
More disparities in the NCAA bubble: the women are getting less accurate COVID antigen tests while the men are getting PCR tests, known as the "gold standard."
— Molly Hensley-Clancy (@mollyhc) March 19, 2021
I've put out two requests for comment to the NCAA but haven't heard back. https://t.co/IASVSkKQoG
You don’t have to be a fan of college basketball or even basketball period to realize that something is wrong here.
Social media blew up over what they saw and even NBA players expressed their outrage and discontent with how the NCAA has handled how the women’s tournament is treated.
Pretty clear the NCAA never expected to be caught. This isn’t about money or revenue. They have more than enough to provide adequate equipment. They just didn’t feel that women athletes were worth the effort. https://t.co/Q50PRor743
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) March 19, 2021
Seeing more and more come out in the differences of men's tournament vs women's tournament is so so so infuriating. WHAT IS WRONG W YOU NCAA ADMIT FAULT (all of it) AND BE BETTER. Be much better.
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) March 19, 2021
Wtf is going on @NCAA!!!?! ridiculous!!!! These young women are making a equal sacrifice, working thisr ass off, to be treated like this is a disgrace. Get your shit together before the next round!! Treat our women RIGHT!!
— Baron Davis (@BaronDavis) March 20, 2021
South Carolina’s women’s basketball head decided to chime in on the issue.
The situation moved so many people that even big name brands have decided to step up and help out where they could.
Companies such as Tonal and Dick’s Sporting Goods reached out and donated fitness equipment for the women’s tournament teams within a day.
@NCAA Our teammates have worked quickly to get truckloads of fitness equipment ready to send to the women’s @ncaawbb @marchmadness bubble – we are standing by to deliver it and have your facility outfitted within hours! Let’s make this happen. pic.twitter.com/6QJJjrrDgx
— DICK'S Sporting Goods (@DICKS) March 19, 2021
. @sedonaprince_ This is ridiculous. Let’s one up them. We’re sending 10 Tonal Smart Gyms that will arrive in San Antonio tomorrow for all of the players. Please DM us for next steps.
— Tonal (@tonal) March 19, 2021
Good luck to all of the @marchmadness teams! https://t.co/3JqLO4SQ1t
So far the NCAA has put out a statement apologizing for the disparities between the men’s and women’s facilities and claims “ [they] have intentionally organized basketball under one umbrella [at the NCAA] to ensure consistency and collaboration.”
NCAA leaders address weight room, other amenities in San Antonio: https://t.co/XJrm0njBx4 pic.twitter.com/uvqcQdDALi
— NCAA (@NCAA) March 19, 2021
In response to the extensive negative outrage, the NCAA has also made upgrades to provide the women’s with an actual weight room facility with plentiful equipment to train.
Ready for workouts!@espn’s Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) walks through the on-going updates to the pre-practice strength area and new first/second round weight room at the @ncaawbb Tournament: pic.twitter.com/uOwztcsqVy
— NCAA (@NCAA) March 20, 2021
While the quick response of the NCAA is nice, it shouldn’t have ever had to get to this point. Sexism and gender equality is such a huge issue in the world and you would think the NCAA, being such a big platform that it is, would try harder to make sure that this wouldn’t be an issue to address.
Many people justify these disparities by pointing out that men’s basketball brings in more income than women’s, but if the NCAA is funding the tournament, then both parties should receive equal treatment.
The NCAA tournament is a package deal, men’s and women’s, regardless of who fans want to spend their day watching.
Hopefully this issue promotes a greater effort in the equal treatment of women’s sports, because they are just as hard working and deserving as their male counterparts.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
NBA Players and Fans React to 2021 All-Star Selection “Snubs”
With the NBA All-Star rosters formally announced, we discuss some of the biggest snubs for this year’s All-Star game!
Devin Booker - Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports
By: Tialena Evans
This year’s NBA season is nothing short of thrilling plays and down to the wire games. The way these stars have been putting on a show for fans at home just goes to show the true passion they have for the game.
In just the first half of the regular season, there have been 24 games pushed to overtime with an average team score of 112 points. This is the highest point average in the league since the 1970-71 regular season.
While fans can’t be heard from the arena stands, their voices are still being heard loud and clear. The 2021 NBA All-Star roster was announced earlier this week and fans from all over took to social media to express who they believe deserved a sport on the All-Star roster.
Devin Booker and Trae Young are undoubtedly the biggest All-Star snubs.
— Ryley (@PrimetimeRyley) February 24, 2021
Trae: 27 PPG | 4 RPG | 9.5 APG
D-Book: 25 PPG | 4 RPG | 4 APG
Straight up disrespectful. pic.twitter.com/AApAoWr5xw
Even coaches shared their views on the snubs of this year’s selection.
Pop on DeRozan's All-Star snub: "I was disappointed he didn’t make it. I feel badly for him. He deserved to be on the All-Star team, in my opinion. He’s helped us win, put us in good position, he’s scored, he’s distributed the basketball, his leadership has been amazing."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) February 24, 2021
Let’s face it. Snubs happen, every year in fact. While there are only 12 spots for each conference to showcase the league's best, there just so happens to be more than 24 game-impacting players.
But when you think about whether a player has been “snubbed” from selection, it’s only fair to ask, “who would this player replace in the roster?”. Once you think about it, it’s a lot harder to rearrange the selections.
All 24 All-Star selections are well deserving and you could even argue swapping a starter for a reserve. A possibility in my book would be moving up James Harden to steal Kyrie Irving’s starting position, or even switching out Luka Doncic’s start for Damian Lillard.
With all the different possibilities once could have for the selections roster, one of the biggest snubs that stuck out like a sore thumb was the absence of Devin Booker. Before it was announced that he would be replacing the Injured Anthony Davis in the reserves, Booker was originally left off the All-Star roster which had fans, and even players, questioning the decision.
JR is extremely upset at Devin Booker’s All Star snub. #Thisisshitassman pic.twitter.com/KjFB1R6lAr
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) February 24, 2021
Devin Booker is the most disrespected player in our league!!! Simple as that.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 24, 2021
Book not an all star? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 the foolery..... Stop it!!!!!!!!!!
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) February 24, 2021
Don’t get mad Devin Booker, get EVEN!! Make a hit list, put all the West Coaches and their teams on it! And if I’m @CP3, take on the role of Drew “Bundini” Brown, be in his ear before every game saying “I bet he didn’t vote for you either”. Fireworks are coming, I’m popcorn ready
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) February 24, 2021
How the Hell is @DevinBook not an ALL STAR?!!!!
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) February 24, 2021
Come on bruh!!!!! Stop with the politics!!! We all see it!!!!
Devin Booker should have been an NBA All-Star pic.twitter.com/sRut9kL1FG
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) February 23, 2021
Devin Booker should not need an injury replacement to get in as a reserve. For 3-4 years he heard "the Suns don't win enough." They're winning now. He's still producing like an All-Star. Stop moving the finish line.
— Matt Petersen (@TheMattPetersen) February 19, 2021
Devin Booker isn’t just an NBA All-Star, he’s one of the best players on the planet.
— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) February 23, 2021
Supremely skilled, takes games over and gets better every year. Snubs happen, especially in todays talented league, but he shouldn’t be a snub. He’s the upper echelon of talent.
📸 @YazooMotif pic.twitter.com/2Iv1pFiUsB
Coincidentally, Booker has received both of his All-Star selections as an injury replacement—pretty demoralizing. He's averaging 25 points, 4.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and shooting a career-high 50.3% from the field.
Alongside his fellow All-Star teammate Chris Paul, they have led the Phoenix Suns to a 20-10 record, which is the fourth best in the NBA. Booker is averaging almost 10 more points per game, yet Paul was able to steal the Phoenix reserve spot.
Very interesting.
Other notable player snubs include Trae Young, Domantas Sabonis, Mike Conley Jr., Brandon Ingram, and the list goes on. Trae Young would be among the top snubs, averaging 27.2 points, eighth in the league, and almost 10 assists per game, third overall in the NBA.
The 2021 NBA All-Star game will be held on Sunday, March 7th at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. On-court action will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
It'll be exciting to watch replacement Devin Booker prove to voters, once again, what the All-Star in himself is capable of. Maybe next year he’ll find himself a part of the original roster for once.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Young Athlete at Cam Newton’s Football Camp Learns a Lesson in Deference
Cam Newton, an NFL Quarterback, 3x Pro Bowler, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, former MVP, went tit for tat with a young athlete who attended his camp this past weekend. A lesson in deference and respect.
Cam Newton During a Game with the New England Patriots
By: Baigen Seawell
Cam Newton, an NFL Quarterback, 3x Pro Bowler, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, former MVP, went tit for tat with a young athlete who attended his camp this past weekend.
The young high schooler who was eventually identified as Jseth Owens from Perkiomen High School in Pennsylvania, hurled a slew of insults at the seasoned vet, again at his camp.
Kid was really saying this at CAM NEWTON’S own camp 😳 (h/t thesportsuniverse/TikTok) pic.twitter.com/YjQjc53tNZ
— Overtime (@overtime) February 21, 2021
“You about to be a free agent,” says Owens in one part of the clip.
“I’m Rich.” Responds Newton.
“You About to be poor,” says Owens.
While it’s cringeworthy to say the least with this exchange of words between the two, the young athlete got what he wanted: attention. It was picked up by almost every media outlet before the sun set on Sunday.
The conversation was exaggerated by said outlets, calling it a “Heated exchange,” or an “argument,” which it could barely be that due to Cam looking to actually talk to the kid’s father (someone who’s actually in his age range) over the kid himself.
Any young athlete watching this video please don’t be this kid, Don’t miss your chance to learn something from someone who has been their at the highest level in this sport.... STAY HUMBLE https://t.co/BCmGPK8w1W
— 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) February 21, 2021
You disrespected Cam Newton at his camp... the kid closed alot of doors and he don't even know it.
— Cameron Rolle (@CRolleLB52) February 21, 2021
What is Deference:
def·er·ence
/ˈdef(ə)rəns/
noun
noun: deference
1. humble submission and respect.
This kid had none of that. Trolling or not.
Newton holds a 7v7 camp and sponsors numerous high school teams around the country to improve their talents throughout the offseason. This is an opportunity for many kids to get better, network and get to meet a successful pro athlete in real time while doing it.
The submission should stem from the fact that one is in the position and presence to get to a place where they are seeking to get to: in this case it’s professional football, maybe even going D1.
There are over 100 D1 programs in the United States, and each have a limited number of scholarships to give. There are over one and a half million high school athletes in the country… if you were to do some quick math, less than 1% make it to this point.
A fraction of the 1% of those who become D1 athletes make it to the pros.
Where the respect comes in is from the fact that you are again in the presence of someone who made it to that point. Newton did not have it easy, as he jumped from D1 to Junior College and back to D1, had a few scandals on the way… and still made it.
But nonetheless, poor Jseth decided deference, respect, whatever you want to call it, was not necessary, despite the position he was placed in. Jseth issued out an apology via social media.
@CameronNewton @barstoolsports @overtime @espn pic.twitter.com/eBTg1tnnzI
— jseth owens (@jsethowens_5) February 22, 2021
But luckily, this closed out with a (kind of) happy ending between the two. Newton pulls Owens aside to discuss Owens’ play, his season and record, along with his stats. Owens was radio silent, but here’s to hoping that his outlook changes sooner than later.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Naomi Osaka Is The Star Of The Future After Defeating Legendary Serena Williams Back To Back
There’s nothing better than a blockbuster matchup between two well renowned athletes. Naomi Osaka’s dominant performance over the legend, that is Serena Williams, proves she is ready to carry the torch as the next Tennis great.
Naomi Osaka defeats Serena Williams in the Australian Open Semifinals
By: Tialena Evans
There’s nothing better than a blockbuster matchup between two well renowned athletes. The legend, that is Serena Williams, faced off against another well respected powerhouse, Naomi Osaka, in Wednesday’s Australian Open Semifinals. While this was a highly anticipated match and thought to be a tight three-set battle till the very end, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. Osaka dominated with an overpowering 6-3, 6-4 victory over Williams, thus propelling her to the final.
Serena Williams is undoubtedly one of the greatest, if not the greatest, female athletes to ever grace this earth. She’s even in the conversation of being the greatest athlete that ever was, regarding her 23 Grand Slam Titles and her dominance on the court since a young age.
Although fans would love to watch her play forever, it’s notable to mention that her age has definitely shown in her play lately and new talent like Osaka just has the youth and growing hunger to become the next great.
The two stars first met at the 2018 US Open, their only other Grand Slam matchup, which Osaka also won in straight sets in an upset over Williams. With back to back losses to Osaka, it’s evident that Williams' pedestal is slowly being overtaken.
Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams to make the Australian Open final © William West, AFP
It must be a weird feeling for Williams to battle the manifestation of her influence. Osaka has shared that she grew up watching the Williams sisters and looked up to Serena’s dominance and work ethic.
“Just to be on the court playing against her, for me, is a dream,” Osaka said.
She doesn’t even want to think about the end of Williams’s career.
“It’s kind of sad when you say it like that because, for me, I want her to play forever,” she told reporters. “That’s a little kid and me.
After Wednesday’s loss, Williams showed her appreciation to the small crowd, twirling around to acknowledge everyone in the stands, holding her hand to her heart, taking in every feeling at once.
During a news conference, when asked if the gestures were in reference to a goodbye, she didn’t quite know what to say. “ I don’t know— if I ever say farewell, I wouldn’t tell anyone, so …” She later becomes too choked up to continue the conference, wiping tears from her face, and exiting the podium.
While Osaka has only won three grand slam titles and has a ways to go in catching William’s legacy, she has an abundance of years ahead of her at only 23 years old. Osaka is undoubtedly cut from the same regal cloth as Williams, and it will be amazing to see what the future holds for her career.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
High School Elite: 5 Must Know Basketball Prospects from the 2023 Rising Junior Class
The high school basketball class of 2023 is arguably one of the most exciting recruiting classes of this era! We take a look at 5 prospects you need to know!
Bronny James at Sierra Canyon High School
By: Baigen Seawell
As basketball season comes to a close for high school, it’s fitting to revisit the scouting report as it applies to arguably one of the most exciting recruiting classes of this era: The Class of 2023.
This class features the likes of Bronny James, Mikey Williams and more. The level of skill and talent seen in this particular prospect group makes me excited for the future of basketball at the collegiate level. And while it may be too early to predict where some of these prospects may land, it’s never too early to review their style of play and existing offers to see how they fare for the future.
1. Mikey Williams (Lake Norman Christian, San Diego CA)
Williams is one of the most well known and highly publicized athletes in the class of 2023. A 6’2” combo guard who hails from San Diego, Williams landed in North Carolina where he’s flourishing with Lake Norman Christian. Williams is quick, agile and is known to get above the rim and put on a show with his dunks and crafty layups.
Outside of his vertical, he’s not afraid to shoot around the field. As a combo guard, he’s been seen to take the opportunity in the field when the opportunity presents itself. He has received offers from numerous HBCUs such as Hampton, Howard, and Alabama State, along with offers from Arizona, UCLA and more.
2. DJ Wagner (Camden HS, Camden NJ)
Wagner is one of the unanimous prospects amongst recruiting sites with a number one ranking. A 5-star athlete, the 6’3” recruit, Wagner gave up football to pursue basketball in high school. The point guard is a righty, but is seen to handle the ball comfortably with his left. Wagner is also a quick release shooter around the field.
To add, this is a family affair as DJ’s father is Dajuan Wagner, who was a first round pick for the Cavs in 2002. His grandfather is Milt Wagner, who played for Louisville and at the professional level as well. They all attended Camden, where DJ is currently playing for, and he looks to keep the legacy going. He has eyes on him from Kentucky and Penn State.
3. Bronny James (Sierra Canyon HS, Cleveland OH)
Another NBA legacy, Bronny James is no surprise for anyone when you bring up the Class of 2023. James sits at 6’2” playing at the combo guard position, where his style of play is reminiscent of his father. Despite all of the love everywhere else, he hasn’t been generating a lot of love on the recruiting sites.
As of 2/15, James sits at 25 on the ESPN Top 25 and 19 on 247Sports. This doesn’t deter the attention he’s been receiving from schools like UNC, Duke, UCLA and a slew of other powerhouse programs. He still has a few more years to make a dent in the high school realm, and his signing will arguably be one of the most highly regarded, regardless of the school he chooses.
4. Baye Fall (Lutheran HS, Denver CO)
Fall is one to watch for, as he comes into the recruiting class as a 6’11” center. Fall traveled from Senegal to pursue basketball and has quickly moved up the ranks residing in the number 6 spot (ESPN). He’s been compared to Marcus Camby, but scouts don’t want to pin his style to a player so early in his career.
Fall is not as refined in skill as other prospects on his list, but he’s in good standing for the long run. His size will be a great asset for any team, and he’ll bulk up as he progresses through his basketball career. He’s received offers from Georgia, Georgetown, Minnesota and Kansas and has eyes from plenty of programs across the country.
5. Isaiah Collier (Wheeler HS, Marietta GA)
Collier is a hidden gem in the Class of ‘23. He quietly sits at 15 on the ESPN Top 25 and 15 on 247Sports. He’s a true point guard who’s able to scan the floor and play unselfishly when handling the ball. He shows great chemistry with his teammates as he comes off of a 2020 State Championship his freshman year with Wheeler.
Wheeler is also no stranger to creating NBA prospects, their most recent being Jaylen Brown of the Celtics. While Collier has a few years left to make a decision, he’s racked up offers from Florida, Ole Miss and Texas Tech. As he progresses, I trust that his price will go up and his demand will be highly regarded amongst D1 institutions.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
No Spring Football: North Carolina A&T Leaves the MEAC on a Disappointing Note
North Carolina A&T athletics left the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2020 to join the Big South after 3 consecutive conference titles. Unfortunately, the MEAC has canceled spring football, destroying NC A&T’s final chance to go for a 4 peat. We discuss it here!
NC A&T defensive end Darryl Johnson (left) celebrates with a teammate after winning the 2018 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
By: Tialena Evans
Exactly a year ago it was announced that North Carolina A&T would be ditching the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and heading over to the Big South, officially becoming a member July 1st of this year. The 2020-21 season would be the last year the Aggies would make a run for fourth consecutive conference title and a fifth consecutive consecutive appearance at the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl, trying for a four-peat championship.
The Aggies had the stage set to cap off their MEAC journey on a historic note, but in 2020 fashion that did not go as planned— go figure.
The news of the conference switch broke in early February 2020 before the COVID-19 virus made it to the states. With the progression of positive cases and the cancellation of college and professional sports nationwide, there was uncertainty how that would affect fall sports, such as football. Many sports fans hoped that the virus would be contained by the end of the year, but as the year progressed and cases continued to rise, that made the decision much more difficult for programs to decide on whether or not there would be a 2020-21 season.
When the NFL announced that there would be a football season, that gave hope to many college football fans that NCAA programs would follow in their steps. While this was the case for most FBS and some FCS conferences, there were still quite a few that opted to play in the Spring due to COVID-19 concerns— the MEAC was among that group.
Downhill From Here
For many reasons, the MEAC’s decision to forgo a Fall season definitely put a stinger in the Aggies’ football season. Opting to play in the Spring meant there would be no chance of battling one last time in the Air Force Reserve Celebration bowl. The chances of there even being a Celebration Bowl were slim to none, but the schedule change dropped those chances to a hard zero.
The bad news doesn’t stop there. The conference announced that six out of their nine schools opted out of the season, which was scheduled to start on Feb. 20. That only left N.C. A&T, Delaware State, Howard and South Carolina State, who all expressed intent to have a season that would align with CDC guidelines.
Although these schools were willing to take the necessary measures to give the fans and the players a chance to have a 2020-21 season, it just wasn’t enough to move forward.
“While it is tremendously disappointing to suspend the spring 2021 football season, it is the right decision with regard to the health and well-being of our student athletes, coaches, staff and fans“ said the MEAC Commissioner, Dennis E. Thomas. “ As I have stated since the beginning of the pandemic, health and safety will continue to be at the forefront of every decision. We support those institutions who continue to play.“
The MEAC’s decision to cancel the Spring season was the straw that broke the camel's back. N.C. A&T was shell shocked at the disappointing news.
Athletic Director Earl Hilton and head Coach Sam Washington spoke with WXII 12 News.
"We pictured this year going very differently as you can imagine," said Earl Hilton. "We hoped to travel to all of our sister schools, be on their campuses, participate across a wide range of sports, celebrate, commiserate, say goodbye, win a few championships...yeah we saw this going differently."
Head Coach Sam Washington added, "For us not to have the opportunity to finish what we started, it hurts."
Where the Aggies Go From Here
Although a disappointing end to the season that never was, the Aggies continue to push forward and gear up for their first season as a Big South competitor. Head coach Sam Washington discussed with WXII 12 News their next move as a team:
“Get back into the weight room, get bigger, stronger, faster—we have a new strength and conditioning coach, I think this also will allow us the time to get to know him on a personal level.”
Both the athletic director and head coach say they are staying positive about playing in the Big South Conference this upcoming fall, even after this heartbreaking setback.
"We've turned the corner," Hilton said. "I can see some daylight. It's gonna be wonderful."
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
That One Time: Lisa Leslie Scored 101 Points in a High School Game
Lisa Leslie once scored 101 points in 16 minutes in a high school game! We discuss the impact of the game and why she fell just short of Cheryl Miller’s 105 point record!
Lisa Leslie at Morningside High School
By: Baigen Seawell
Everyone remembers the 100-point game that the late great Wilt Chamberlain had. To this day, there’s a few people who believe that this may or may not be true, just because stat keeping wasn’t as thorough as they are in the present day.
For the majority of us though, we agree that this happened and it nearly happened again with Kobe’s 81-point game in 2006. It definitely can happen with the nature of basketball ever changing and evolving into a perimeter style game. Within the past 20 years, we’ve seen shots begin to move outwards, and Steph Curry can arguably be the catalyst for this.
Needless to say, we’ve become enamored with how the game has morphed in regards to scoring.
But let’s talk about this stat-line for a second.
31 years ago (Feb 7, 1990), Lisa Leslie scored 101 points in 16 minutes.
101 points.
In 16 minutes.
The Morningside High School center took on South Torrance, where in 16 minutes, she tallied up 101 points. She shot 37 of 56 from the floor and 27 of 35 from the line. South Torrance held on throughout the half, but not for long as Leslie would score 49 points in the first quarter.
Lisa Leslie at Morningside High School
That’s around six points a minute, and I’m doubtful that transition plays were the result of this since South Torrance had every girl on Leslie to prevent her from scoring. This didn’t do much to faze her since she scored another 52 points in the second quarter.
As if the first near 50 points wasn’t enough to call it quits!
What makes this story even more outrageous is the fact that this was not the highest scoring record at that time. That feat actually belonged to Cheryl Miller, who scored 105 points in 1982. Though it seemed as if Leslie was well on her way to break the record, this feat would not become attainable for her. Entering the second half, South Torrance decided to pack it up and leave.
Leslie told the LA Times: “I was kind of heartbroken that I didn’t break the record,” Leslie said. “I asked the (South Torrance) coach before they left the court if they would let me score three more baskets, and then he asked his team, and they said ‘No.’ ”
Gil Ramirez, the South Torrance Coach, faced scrutiny for this gesture, even though their team was quite literally being embarrassed from the first tip. Some called it poor sportsmanship for Leslie’s high school coach to allow this to go on for so long, his response was he would let his players shine at least once a season, especially seniors.
Miller’s rebuttal explained it best though, and maybe it was a bit past its time when she said it:
“I know their (South Torrance) coach will holler about poor sportsmanship, but the game is to score points [...] It is a shame that she did not get a chance to break the record.”
Leslie was unable to break Miller’s record to her dismay. But it wouldn’t stand unbroken for long. 16 years later Epiphanny Prince from Manhattan, NY would envelope that record with 113 points.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Barstool, Jackson State to Launch “Coach Prime” Docuseries Covering Deion Sanders' Inaugural Season
Barstool Sports and the ever evolving Jackson State University Football Program have merged to launch a longform documentary series titled “Coach Prime”, covering Deion Sanders’ inaugural season as Head Coach.
Deion Sanders Accepts Head Coaching Position at Jackson State
By: Baigen Seawell
After talks of having a series geared towards HBCU Athletic Programs, it seems as if the Fairy Godmother of HBCU Athletics has answered our call. Barstool Sports and the ever evolving Jackson State University Football Program have merged to launch a longform documentary series titled “Coach Prime”.
The series will highlight the inaugural season of former NFL Star, Deion Sanders. This will be a family affair, with sons Shedeur and Shilo Sanders joining their father to make the Tigers a top football program in the NCAA, not just amongst the SWAC.
The series also looks to cover the overlooking of HBCU programs as it relates to athletics, something that has been seen with major moves such as Makur Maker committing to Howard last summer. For Jackson State, Shedeur Sanders’ signing to the Tigers was the highest rated school signee in JSU history. This shows that the attention is pointed to HBCU athletics on a scale that has been unseen in mainstream media.
Barstool CEO Erika Nardini, elaborates on this, mentioning that covering HBCU Athletics wasn’t one of the categories they thought they’d fill on their bingo board. “A year ago, if you said, ‘Would Barstool Sports be doing a long-form series on HBCU football?’ the answer would have been ‘Absolutely not’”.
Barstool Sports may have been one of the last companies on the collective lists of many (mine included) to cover a topic as it relates to HBCU athletics, but they’re looking to change for the better. A few months ago, Barstool Founder, Dave Potnoy was outed for using racial slurs as it relates to Colin Kaepernick.
This situation sent social media into a frenzy, condemning the commentary from the famed sports media empire. However, as stated earlier, this partnership with Jackson State looks to be (hopefully) a step in the right direction… and Potnoy doesn’t seem to have any parts of this project at face value. Despite all of this, Coach Sanders himself has his own connections with Barstool, at one point serving as an analyst with them.
“I am so unbelievably excited to share our journey as we aspire to level the playing field and raise awareness for Jackson State University and all HBCUs […] I am equally proud to have Barstool Sports join me as the distribution partner to help carry out this vision and dream of mine. I BELIEVE” said Sanders in an article with HBCU GameDay.
Barstool has launched one-and-done documentaries in the past, but this will be the first of its kind to be a multi-episode series launching this spring. If the reception is well received in the first six episodes during the spring, they look to drop another six episodes this fall. Additional talks of potential sponsorships and premieres on streaming services such as Apple TV have also been reported for the up and coming docuseries.
To add, the series is in partnership with SMAC entertainment, which is run by Constance Schwartz-Morini and Michael Strahan. SMAC has worked on projects with HBO, DirectTV, Showtime, NFL Network and a plethora of other high-profile broadcast networks. The director and showrunner, Mark W. Wright is an HBCU Graduate, hailing from Howard University and writing for outlets like The Undefeated.
So far, everything checks out for it to be an exhilarating and purposeful series that will shed a light on the grit and passion that is instilled in HBCU athletic programs.
The excitement for the release of the series is already generating buzz. With news dropping Feb 3 and SWAC athletics in full swing, what better time to see how Coach Prime’s first season pans out for all of us HBCU Advocates, and the fans that may come along the way.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Women’s Empowerment: An Overview of the Latest History-Makers in Sports Today
Now more than ever, women are emerging into leadership roles in professional sports and they mean business. We highlight some of the top women leading the way in professional sports!
By: Tialena Evans
Women in sports.
That’s it. That’s the tweet.
But no seriously, now more than ever, women are emerging into leadership roles in professional sports and they mean business.
In a predominantly male field, women are slowly but surely breaking the status quo and making history. Just over the past year, we have seen more women climb to new heights in professional leagues such as full-time coaches, analysts, owners, referees, general managers and even as players.
To showcase the great deal of history being made, here is a look into the latest woman pioneers in professional sports.
1. Doris Burke
David E. Klutho / Sports Illustrated / Getty
It is only right to start this list off with a sports media trailblazer, that is Doris Burke, also dubbed as “the Lebron James of sportscasters”. In September of last year, it was announced that she will serve as a game analyst for the NBA Finals on ESPN, becoming the first woman in history to do so for the finals on any platform.
Doris Burke will call the conference finals and NBA Finals for ESPN Radio. She'll be the first woman to serve as a game analyst on a radio or network TV broadcast that far into the playoffs.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 9, 2020
History for Doris 🙌 pic.twitter.com/BXFnPO3H7b
Firsts are nothing new to the pioneering sports reporter out of New Jersey, as she actually holds the title of many. Back in 2000, she became the first female commentator for a New York Knicks game on radio and on television, the first female commentator for The Big East men’s game, and the first woman to be the primary commentator on a men’s college basketball conference package.
Doris Burke has been honored for her pioneering work, as she was selected to enter the Basketball Hall of Fame as the 2018 Curt Gowdy Media Award winner.
2. Sarah Thomas
Earlier this month it was announced that Sarah Thomas will make NFL history as the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl on February 7th in Tampa, Florida. She will serve as the down judge.
Thomas is truly the epitome of women’s excellence, as this is not the first time she’s made a name for herself in the history books. She became the first permanent female NFL official in 2015 and the first female to officiate an NFL playoff game in 2019.
“Sarah Thomas has made history again as the first female Super Bowl official,” NFL executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent Sr said.
“Her elite performance and commitment to excellence has earned her the right to officiate the Super Bowl.
The #SBLV crew:
— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) January 19, 2021
• Carl Cheffers (R)
• Fred Bryan (U)
• Sarah Thomas (DJ)
• Rusty Baynes (LJ)
• James Coleman (FJ)
• Eugene Hall (SJ)
• Dino Paganelli (BJ)
• Mike Wimmer (RO)
Sarah makes history as the first woman to officiate in a Super Bowl. https://t.co/EVvz45QgFx pic.twitter.com/tDvWZPx9JG
Thomas has undoubtedly given women all around the world the confidence to pursue the same dreams and aspirations that she made possible.
3. Jeanie Buss
Now, this one is pretty interesting, but nonetheless marked into the history books.
The Lakers president made history in October as she became the first female controlling owner to win an NBA Championship.
#BossWoman Alert 🚨
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 12, 2020
Congratulations to Jeanie Buss for becoming the first female owner to win an @NBA Championship 🏆 pic.twitter.com/gHzwOjbIQo
Before you say anything, I know what you’re thinking— “She didn’t do anything” “Magic quit, the position fell into her lap!”
Although those statements may partially be true, that doesn’t denounce that facts are facts. And honestly, without her leadership skills that she’s gained along her career, the Lakers organization could’ve gone deep into the dumps.
4. Sarah Fuller
Sarah Fuller warms up before the game against Missouri at Faurot Field.
Hunter Dyke/Handout Photo/USA Today Sports
Who says women can’t play football?
Sarah Fuller made history in December as being the first woman to play and score in a Power 5 football game.
NEW at the TN Sports Hall of Fame: @SarahFuller_27's @VandyFootball jersey from the 2020 Season. Fuller is the first female to play and score in a Power 5 Football Game, and we're thrilled to have that achievement represented in the Hall.
— Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (@theTSHF) January 22, 2021
Free admission thanks to @CurbRecords pic.twitter.com/WH1Ju2FXDL
Fuller is goalkeeper for the Vanderbilt Commodores soccer team but those checkered balls aren’t the only thing she can boot.
She kicked off for the Commodores football team against Missouri on November 28 and two weeks later against Tennessee, she kicked an extra point.
Fuller may have just open the door to the possibility of more women slapping on helmets and running out of the tunnel on game days.
5. Bianca Smith
Black history is something that should not be celebrated lightly. Especially in a league that at one time didn’t allow an ounce of melanin on the rosters.
Now, they run the team.
Earlier this month the Red Sox hired Bianca Smith as a Minor League coach, making her the first black woman to serve as a coach in the history of professional baseball.
Bianca Smith joins the Boston Red Sox minor league organization, becoming the first Black woman to coach in professional baseball history 🙏 pic.twitter.com/g22EbRxvOu
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 5, 2021
"I don't want to limit myself and I want to go as I can," Smith said. "I want to continue to challenge myself and right now, that [goal] is MLB manager.
Smith has already broken barriers, and she has many more on her to do list.
6. Kim Ng
Kim Ng shows off the World Series ring she won with the Yankees in 1998. Today, Ng is baseball's highest ranking female executive. Bryce Duffy/Getty Images
To cap off this trailblazers list is Kim Ng. In November the Miami Marlins named her as their new general manager, making her the first woman and Asian American GM in Major League Baseball.
“Asian-Americans don’t get to be ‘from’ America.”
— Pablo S. Torre (@PabloTorre) November 16, 2020
To understand how @Marlins GM Kim Ng became the first female GM in major US sports history — and MLB’s first Asian-American GM — you should know about this one night. Exactly 17 years before.#ESPNDaily: https://t.co/TVYn0wx8Va pic.twitter.com/9mfLOxvMrC
Ng (pronounced Ang) is not a stranger to management roles in the MLB. She joined the Yankees in 1998 after working for the American League as director of waivers and records. Then at just 29, she became the youngest assistant GM in the majors at that time.
The Ridgewood native won her first World Series ring as the team’s assistant general manager with the NY Yankees back in ‘98.
She now looks forward to winning her first title as a GM in the future.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Deshaun Watson Wants Out Of Houston: The Series Of Events Leading To A Trade
A culmination of several years worth of frustration and front office let downs for Deshaun Watson has him demanding a trade. We discuss the series of events leading to an inevitable break-up in Houston.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 23: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans walks off the field after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Texans 32-30. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
By: Prince Hakeem
Throughout our lives from an early age, we’re socialized and encouraged to believe that those in positions of power always have our best interest at heart. Whether it’s parents, bosses, or even the police, there’s an expectation to operate in good faith within these social contracts. While we may not understand or even agree with some of the methods or decisions made, the general consensus is that everything is done for the greater good. This usually is true…until it isn’t.
When organizations and entities turn around and end up operating in bad faith or outright lying, it’s a big wake up call to reality. At that point, it’s time to take these organizations and institutions not at their word, but rather by their actions displayed and move accordingly. As the late great Maya Angelou once famously asserted, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
Unfortunately in the case of 25-year-old Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, he’s now having to learn this the hard. It’s taken a couple of instances for him to believe who the Texans are and now he’s involved in an on-going dispute with the team. Watson’s good faith in the organization has been ruined and is now trying to move in his best interest. Sadly the current story surrounding Deshaun now serves as a cautionary tale, particularly for those who operate at the intersections of being black within a high profile and professional position.
How It Happened.
These series of events didn’t just happen overnight. It’s been culmination of several years worth of frustration and let down for Watson. Most recently, it started in March when former Texans head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien traded Deshaun’s former Clemson teammate and best wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson and a couple of future draft picks. Watson, being the franchise quarterback, was made aware of the deal after it happened. While frustrated of course, Watson moved forward with leading the team. Months later, the frustration came back with more intensity when Texans management went back on a “good faith” promise made to Watson in November 2020.
Deshaun Watson signals for a first down against the Miami Dolphins
A month after Bill O’Brien was fired, Texans CEO Cal McNair had dinner with Watson to discuss the future of the team. McNair, the son of late Texans owner Bob McNair, expressed to ESPN that he wanted Watson’s input on the next head coach, general manager, as well as real action towards social justice initiatives. Watson and his agent David Mulugheta later spoke to McNair again over Zoom to discuss potential candidates.
In regards to the general manager job, the Texans paid search firm Korn Ferry hundreds of thousands of dollars to help in their search. They recommended Pittsburgh Steelers vice president of football and business administration Omar Khan or Monday Night Football analyst Louis Riddick — both minority candidates. Watson was strongly campaigning for Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, one of the few black candidates, to become the next head coach. In the end, none of those recommendations were taken seriously, as the Texans went on to hire former Patriots executive Nick Caserio. Deshaun was left very unhappy. He learned of the hire on social media like the rest of the world.
“Watson offered input on potential general manager candidates, but the Texans neither considered nor consulted with those endorsed by their franchise quarterback,” said ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
Watson was under the impression that his voice was going to be integral during the hiring process. Those “good faith” promises of him being involved were nothing more than just lip service it turned out, leaving him incensed.
What It All Means:
Let’s put thing into perspective. Watson just wrapped up his 4th year in the NFL. The former 12th overall pick from 2017 racked up 4,823 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, only 7 interceptions, and a completion percentage of 70%. Despite the personal success and numbers, his Texans team went 4-12 on the year. It was extremely disappointing to see given the commitment he gave, signing a 4-year extension worth $156 million. Both his teammates and the fan base know how valuable he is to the Houston Texans organization. Now Watson is leveraging that good faith and public capital. He wants out of Texas and is trying to force a trade.
It’s now all unraveling. When Watson found out on social media that Caserio was hired, that became the straw which broke the camel’s back. Caserio was brought in by Jack Easterby, who also spent time in New England. Watson said after the season that the organization needed “a whole culture shift.” However Easterby hiring Caserio in the same manner other Patriots alumni Bill O’Brien was hired has reportedly left Watson believing "some things never change …”.
Sources close to Deshaun stated that his anger level was "a 2. ... This time, it's a 10.” The franchise QB hasn't been returning any of Cal McNair’s phone calls as well. He’s dropping cryptic sub tweets, and there are reports that he plans on sitting out if he is not traded. Deshaun is finally believing who the Houston Texans are, and his actions prove he’s moving in HIS best interest. To see a black quarterback, in their prime, boldly stand on their convictions shows how much empowerment has shifted towards the athlete. The days of the black athlete being gaslit to just “shut-up and play” are long gone, and we’re better off for it.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Deconstructed: A Look Into Nia Dennis’ Black Excellence Floor Routine
Nia Dennis payed homage to Black Culture, Cali Culture, and Hip Hop with an amazing floor routine for UCLA gymnastics and became a viral sensation in the process. We break down her routine here!
UCLA gymnast Nia Dennis completes her floor routine Jan. 23, 2021.
By: Baigen Seawell
We can all agree that Black Women are literally a gem to the world.
We’ve been ruling athletics these past few weeks! From taking jobs in the MLB, NFL and more, Black Women have made a point in athletics from the higher ups. From the performance side, we are the blueprint.
Nia Dennis, a senior sociology major and gymnast at UCLA, hails from Columbus, OH. She performed a viral floor routine on Saturday that got rave reviews from the likes of Missy Elliott, and Janet Jackson on her skillset and incorporation of legendary choreography into her routine this year.
She did all of this while tallying up a near perfect score.
This is what #blackexcellence looks like. @DennisNia does it again! 🔥
— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) January 24, 2021
📹 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/2vxgyTvUCG
.@DennisNia I luv it 👸🏽 pic.twitter.com/X0Buu7uxcY
— Janet Jackson (@JanetJackson) January 25, 2021
I was mat talking you, while watching this @DennisNia!!!!! WOWOWOWOWOW! 🙌🏾👏🏾 https://t.co/9s1XgIfXn4
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) January 25, 2021
This isn’t the first time she’s gone viral though. Dennis actually scored a 9.975/10 last year with a Beyoncé inspired routine and even found herself on the Ellen Show, where she and the Bruins received rave reviews for their viral performances on the floor.
She’s no stranger to the attention. But with the state of our country, the push to appreciate Black Women and Women in Sports as a whole has hit so much harder. Hence why this routine meant so much to so many people.
The Bruins took on the Arizona State Sun Devils in this meet and it went down to the wire. While each event gathers a unique bit of attention, the floor routine is always a show stopper. In this routine, Dennis pays homage to Black Culture, Cali Culture, and everything that meshes in between.
Before I start, here’s some quick pointers about artistic gymnastics and floor routines. Athletes are given around 90 seconds, and this is the most that a gymnast is able to show their personality. They will go through a total of 3 tumbling passes with dashes of choreography and music that synchronize with said routine.
The Deconstruction:
1. “Humble” - Kendrick Lamar, Kneeling
Dennis starts with her hand on her heart before the guitar riff from Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble”
She goes from the typical pose seen prior to competition, with her hand on her heart, to a kneel. This can be homage to Colin Kaepernick, and the countless athletes and student-athletes standing for something, even if it meant losing everything.
2. “Pass the Dutch” - Missy Elliott, Stepping
Dennis proceeds with her first tumbling pass before the song transitions to an African dance beat with a nod to Bey referencing “Homecoming” before transitioning into “Pass the Dutch” by Missy Elliot. Dennis also has a quick sequence of stepping, an homage to her father, who is a member of Greek Life.
3. “Every Time tha Beat Drop” - Monica
Nia transitions into a new song (and one of my favorite parts of the routine), being “Every Time the Beat Drop” by Monica. The song just hit the airwaves again when the song prompted a new Tiktok dance that she incorporates into her routine. She also adds in “Move like a Snake'' for a little flare before going into her middle pass.
4. “Crank Dat” - Soulja Boy
After the middle pass (and her tumbles are on beat by the way, how many people can say they can do that while tumbling?), Dennis transitions to another old school dance with “Crank Dat”, where she even gets her coach to crank with her!
5. California Homage
Dennis closes out with the final seconds of her routine with “Boyz-N-Tha Hood” by Eazy-E and N.W.A. (While some people are saying it’s Meg’s “Girls in the Hood” due to the remaster of the song, I’m leaning towards the OG version due to the relation of the song in the routine).
She then transitions flawlessly into “California Love” by 2Pac, where she hits a good C-Walk before closing out with a final pass and closing her routine with a flawless finish of 9.95.
The Bruins downed the Sun Devils 196.150 to 195.950. Dennis not only tallied a near perfect score on the floor, but also got a 9.9 on the vault as well.
While she may not be a stranger to making gymnast enthusiasts watch and listen, in this routine she definitely made the world stop.
Carry on.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Sensationalism Sucks: Why Kyrie Irving is a Punching Bag for Mainstream Media
Kyrie Irving has been at the center of media sensationalism throughout his entire career, but mainstream media rarely covers his positive contributions to humanity, like most recently purchasing a home for George Floyd’s family. Why? We discuss it here!
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
By: Baigen Seawell
While one can say that some sports talk narratives are old, tired and ridiculous, it’s what gets clicks. We’ve seen it many a times in situations that just make you scratch your head. From Kaepernick to James Harden, once the most impressionable narrative hits mainstream waves, it’s hard to change it.
Kyrie Irving is, and has pretty much always been an agent of change. His most recent contribution brought to the forefront has been his buying of a home for the family of George Floyd. While this act was pretty much unheard of until Stephen Jackson brought this to the forefront, people still find reasons to hate Kyrie.
See here with Jackie McMullan calling him “property” of his owners due to them granting him the million dollar salary he generates:
Here’s the audio of Jackie MacMullan’s story about her telling Kyrie that he’s an NBA owner’s property because they pay him millions pic.twitter.com/p1U5Euiz1n https://t.co/2JRfzrKKAy
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) January 14, 2021
Or here where he was thought to be the reason for the Celtics demise.
It’s nothing new for Kyrie to be the scapegoat of everyone’s problems when he’s on your favorite team. Since his days in Cleveland, he’s been catching flack for his contributions (or lack thereof) to his team and the teammates around him.
“He’s not likable.”
“He’s not a team player.”
“He’s not a leader.” And those words are thought to come right out of his mouth according to some sources.
And while this could be arguably true… is it all on Kyrie? While in Boston, he can’t be the sole reason for the team falling apart. Former Celtic, Cedric Maxwell says that Irving wasn’t the sole reason for the Celtics falling apart. “This group was the most dysfunctional team I've seen since 1983, when we had four Hall of Famers on our roster and got swept by the Milwaukee Bucks. These guys never found a way to be on the same page.” He told ESPN.
In Cleveland, it was only inevitable that he would be traded. He called it himself.
But this go round. Boy, oh boy. This go round has been the biggest sensationalist dumpster fire of them all. While NBA media outlets are great for pushing a narrative that will gain traction for the most minuscule things, they have just been rolling with some of the most outrageous things to hit the airwaves.
Kyrie Irving is the most hated player in the NBA. I rest my case ... pic.twitter.com/4lkn2jevzg
— MJs GOAT (@MjsGoat) January 12, 2021
How the Dumpster Caught Fire
Sensationalism stems from the desire to gain as many clicks as possible with little to no research in the process of creating a narrative for those to follow. As the times change, more and more media outlets have gravitated to this mode of media because of the quick attention spans we have today.
Sports in particular are not interesting to everyone. The performance of an athlete after his or her game may not interest everyone. But throw something in like someone kneeling during the national anthem or losing 50 pounds in 48 hours after leaving a team they absolutely hate, and you’ve got impressions from sports fans and non sports fans of the like.
In the midst of social injustice and one of the most polarizing moments in United States history, Irving, one of few athletes, chose to sit out for the 2020 NBA Bubble Season. His reasoning was fair, being as though the country was in ruins. Irving, who sits on the NBAPA Executive Committee as the Vice President, has more than enough jurisdiction to start this dialogue. While he was the outlier, he did receive support, but not without scrutiny.
Sports fans would argue that once again, Kyrie is not thinking about the collective, only thinking about himself. But rather, he has shown time and time again that he is thinking about the collective. His M.O. was on the biggest picture there is while showing that athletes are indeed... more than athletes. This would not be the main mode of discussion by NBA enthusiasts and “casual fans” though, it would rather be again highlighting his selfishness.
Fast forward a few months, we begin the abbreviated NBA 2020-21 Season. Kyrie would choose to not only sit out in the beginning, but not discuss any matters with media outlets or points of contact. He would even choose to skip out on media day for the Nets. And for what it’s worth, he had every right to do this!
However he eventually came back and when playing against the Celtics, he was seen smudging. or burning sage during pregame warm-ups. No one cared to take five seconds to see that he has ties to the Standing Rock Sioux, they’d rather label it witchcraft instead.
Again the masses took it and ran with it, causing an uproar of additional commentary to the Nets Guard.
This goes on over and over like a constant cycle of commentary that seems to never end by anyone who feels compelled to pick it up. However, most people will find it easier to gravitate to the main outlets and outrageous stories because it seems more appealing to consume than say...
His contributions by paying for Lincoln University students tuition.
Or him donating to the WNBA players who opted out for the Bubble season...
Or maybe him helping provide free meals valued at around $250,000 for New York City Residents.
All the while he was burned at the stake for avoiding the yellow journalism and those who feed the narratives, helping them grow into the dumpster fires they are today.
One thing about narratives in sports and sports media is that athletes are able to easily create one... about as easy as mainstream outlets can formulate their own while letting consumers catalyze it for their own corporate gains.
Kyrie plays the game and plays it well. He creates his narrative and letting his actions speak for itself. While you can’t control the masses as to how they interpret his actions, he can control what and how he chooses to interact with it.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
MLK Day | Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Impact on the Sports World Today
Since 1986, the 3rd Monday of January is reserved to observe and pay tribute to the legacy, of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The sports world took to social media to pay tribute and homage to this iconic Civil Rights leader.
By: Tialena Evans
Every year, since 1986, the 3rd Monday of January is reserved to observe and pay tribute to the legacy, that is, of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Reflection on his impact within the civil rights movement undoubtedly pulls you to acknowledge his everlasting impact that has transcended into the sports world. Now more than ever, athletes across multiple major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, MLB and others, take Dr. King's mantra and apply it towards their efforts in making their voices heard every day.
The topic of social justice, systemic racism and just flat out basic human rights has never stopped being in the forefront of American society. The devastating case of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old boy who was not served justice for his wrongful death, became the reigniting flame that shed light on the corrupt social injustices African-American’s face in everyday life.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
Colin Kaepernick, who is currently an NFL free agent, has also made a name for himself as a civil rights activist over the years. His activism reign began back in 2016 during a pre-season game when he chose to sit down during the playing of the “Star-Spangled Banner”. During a post game interview, Kaepernick explained his position on why he chose to sit.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride and a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder“, Colin said referencing a series of African-American deaths caused by law-enforcement that led to the Black Lives Matter movement.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
This famous quote by Dr. King grasps the meaning of courage, bravery, and standing up to adversity even when no one else around you stands alongside you. Although Kaepernick lost his job and continues to be blackballed by the NFL, he still holds firm in his beliefs, efforts and activism to achieve social justice in a failed system from the beginning.
Fast forward to the year 2020, the most challenging year for many Americans. For African-Americans in particular, 2020 was a year of emotional restlessness. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, civil rights movements and Black Lives Matter protests swarmed the nation in response to the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, who both wrongfully died at the hands of law enforcement.
Throughout the entire year, athletes across the nation took a stance with Black Lives Matter by holding unprecedented game strikes, marching in the streets with civilians and sharing their own personal messages on the social issues in society.
NFL players come together to share a heartfelt message addressing social justice.
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) June 5, 2020
"Being a celebrity, being an NBA player don't exclude me from no conversation at all."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 31, 2020
Jaylen Brown drove 15 hours from Boston to Atlanta to join the protests.
(via @FCHWPO) pic.twitter.com/eZR1fxvCdd
.@MiamiHEAT forward Udonis Haslem spoke at a protest in his hometown of Miami on Sunday.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 31, 2020
(via @WPLGLocal10) pic.twitter.com/ehxhjCSLzR
I really don’t know how to put into words exactly how I feel, but one thing I know for sure is that enough is enough! It’s time for change! #GeorgeFloyd #AhmaudArbery
— Giannis Ugo Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) May 31, 2020
✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 pic.twitter.com/cJAjiv4B1z
— Tobias Harris (@tobias31) May 31, 2020
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that; and hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that.”
Today, after an extremely tribal year, the sports world pays tribute and homage to an absolute civil rights legend.
TNT, which is based in Atlanta, posted a video explaining the various ways the Atlanta Hawks chose to honor Dr. King.
Players, executives and designers share what the @ATLHawks MLK city edition uniforms mean to Atlanta as they honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 18, 2021
The Arena begins at 4pm ET on TNT. pic.twitter.com/PlPMJ15pBn
Our league, the values and teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr, are inextricably linked. Today we will pay respect to the life and legacy of MLK through stories of unity, togetherness and equality. #MLKDay
— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2021
Former and current athletes expressed their appreciation for the avenues that King opened for them.
In these times, Dr. King's words ring true as he called for us to "create a beloved community". We celebrate his legacy today, looking to make his dream a reality for both now and the future. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/pHe1y7aQVL
— Emmitt Smith (@EmmittSmith22) January 18, 2021
NFL players around the league celebrate the life and lasting impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/gTyaK2W9px
— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2021
Still chasing that dream!! Thank you for paving the way. #MLKDay https://t.co/kDHjL0Ac45
— Jarred Vanderbilt (@JVando) January 18, 2021
Today is MLK Day and the anniversary of Willie O’Ree breaking the color barrier in the NHL. Both these heroes have inspired my activism and dedication to make hockey more inclusive for everyone. We all have a responsibility to make sure the things we love are accessible. pic.twitter.com/XHWgPErPLV
— JT Brown (@JTBrown23) January 18, 2021
Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/vQ5UT0Nqyv
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 18, 2021
Today, athletes make it known everyday that Dr. King‘s ingrained message and efforts towards a progressive and just society gives them the strength to continue to accomplish his dream; that one day we will be able to live in a world that is just for all no matter what you look like and where you come from.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
A Family Affair: Deion Sanders And Two Sons Begin New Chapter At Jackson State
Deion Sanders looks to build a dynasty at Jackson State University with a stacked recruiting class headlined by his two sons.
By: Tialena Evans
Jackson State University’s football team recently gained a family trio with a familiar name. Retired NFL Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders, officially became the head coach of his two sons after his eldest, Shilo, announced his transfer from the University of South Carolina to JSU in December. Sanders’ youngest son, Shedeur, announced his commitment to the HBCU in November.
Sanders took to Instagram to express his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to coach his two sons this upcoming spring season.
“Lord I thank u! I couldn’t have never imagined this but you’re able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we may ask or think,” Deion wrote. “Having my sons @shilosanders & @shedeursanders on our team helping me level this playing field in pursuit of equality @gojsutigersfb is a Fathers dream. I get to develop, coach, love, motivate, challenge & watch my sons grow & go become PROFESSIONALS. WOW ! Ain’t NOBODY can tell me NOTHING that GOD CANT DO! I got father of the year locked down again now let hit my dance with a smile.”
Sanders accepted the head-coaching position in September, but due to COVID-19 concerns, JSU’s football season was moved to the Spring. They are set to kickoff their first game on February, 21.
Other than notably being a highly skilled 14-season NFL veteran, Sanders brings zero college coaching experience to Jackson State. He’s mostly dedicated his post-career days coaching at the high school level and taking part in the media industry as an analyst for NFL Network and CBS Sports.
Although JSU’s acting president, Thomas Hudson, acknowledges the hire was partially made for media exposure, he says the attention it received exceeded even his highest expectations. “I had no idea it would be as big as it is”, he says.
It’s no secret that Sanders came to Jackson state for the reason of reviving not only the university’s football team, but HBCU football as a whole.
“With what we’re doing in the country—social injustices, so many things about trying to reach and strive for equality—this is the best possible scenario and situation I could ever find myself in,” Sanders tells Sports Illustrated. “It’s a task to me—level the playing field.”
With this unprecedented hire in college football history, hopefully Mr. Prime Time can achieve his goals with his two boys by his side.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Celebrating 108 Years Of Delta Sigma Theta: 5 Influential Deltas in Sports
Here are 5 influential members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority who made headlines in the sports world!
By: Baigen Seawell
I have to be biased at least once this year.
January is known for great feats when it comes to the cultural area that is Greek Life. Five organizations alone are housed in the month of January, some of these are some of the oldest organizations in the National Pan Hellenic Council (NPHC) or “Divine Nine”.
And me being a member of D9, I know how influential we have been in sport. From A’ja Wilson (AKA) to Maritza McClendon (SGRho), to Colin Kaepernick, Bill Russell AND Wilt Chamberlain (Kappa)... Sports and Greek Life have a special relationship.
As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta and former athlete, I gravitate greatly to those who share the same letters as my own, who also committed their time to competition at any level.
For our Founders Day, I decided to compile a list of some of these influential members as we celebrate our 108th year of creation!
1. Wilma Rudolph: Track and Field
Wilma Rudolph Winning One Of Her Olympic Gold Medals
The Black Gazelle, The Tornado, The Flash. Soror Rudolph ran track & field throughout the 1950s and 60s, where she would be the first to win 3 gold medals in a single Olympic Game. She became a household name because of her speed, but also the athletes she was around. Cassius Clay and Oscar Robertson made great company in the 1956 Olympic Team, and they kept in contact after the fact. Rudolph was a part of the famed Tigerbelles of Tennessee State University. While there, she was initiated through Alpha Chi Chapter.
2. Olympia Scott: Basketball
One of the most fashion savvy players of her era, I knew her for her finger waves and overall performance while at Stanford. Soror Scott was a high school All-American before going on to attend Stanford University, where she averaged 12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds. While there, she was initiated through the Omicron Chi Chapter, where Soror Candice Wiggins would attend later on. After Stanford, Scott played around the budding WNBA, where she would be the first to win two different championships with two different teams.
3. Francena McCory: Track and Field
Back to the track, Soror McCory was influential to the modern era of track and field, running in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, winning gold in both appearances. Instead of attending the numerous schools she was offered at the grander scale for her college career, McCory attended Hampton University. She honed in on and continued her success, breaking her own personal record with 50.49sec in the 400M dash. She’d then go on to run in the 2011 USATF Outdoor Championships, which thrusted her to the Olympic level the following year where she contributed to the 2012 and 2016 4x400M teams respectively.
4. Candice Storey Lee: Athletic Director
While we’ve seen many who have contributed to sport through the act of playing. Soror Lee was very influential at Vanderbilt where she played all four years at the university. While at Vandy, she joined the Mu Rho Chapter, before going on to receive her Master’s and Doctoral Degree. She stuck it out at Vanderbilt, serving as Deputy Athletic Director. But in 2020, she was named as Vanderbilt’s first Black Female AD at Vandy and the first Black Female AD in the SEC Conference.
5. Nia Sapp: Basketball, Sports Media
A personal favorite and an inspiration to me when it comes to sports media and analytics! Soror Sapp has served in numerous roles, but she got her start in Georgia, hailing from Arabia Mountain HS. She would go on to play for UAPB, Miami Dade and finally Alabama State University, where she was initiated through Beta Eta Chapter. Her contributions to the game have been extensive as she wears many hats, from producer to freelance work. You name it, she’s done it.
As there are countless women serving as coaches, playing overseas, making the stories and telling them... there are many great women of Delta who contribute in their communities, line of work and otherwise.
I say all of this to say: HAPPY FOUNDERS DAY to the Devastating Divas of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated!