US Olympic Hero Michael Johnson Launches GRAND SLAM TRACK

US Olympic Hero Michael Johnson Launches GRAND SLAM TRACK™, a Revolutionary Track League to Elevate the Sport’s Global Footprint

Grand Slam Track will center around fan-focused storytelling and promotion of track’s biggest stars, with competition to begin in 2025

Los Angeles, CA - Four-time US Olympic Champion Michael Johnson officially launched Grand Slam Track™, the new global home of professional track competition. This new league will usher in a new era of professional track for the global fanbase of 2.5 billion people worldwide and provide undiscovered opportunities for fan engagement, sponsorship, and elite competition for racers.

The league will host four annual Slams during the spring and summer season in four global cities. The inaugural Slam will take place in April 2025, followed by three more Slams over the summer months. Los Angeles will serve as the global home for Grand Slam Track, and host one of the Slam events. There will be one further Slam that will take place in the United States, and two in international locations. The other host cities will be announced and celebrated in their respective local markets later this summer.

“I am delighted to finally unveil Grand Slam Track to the millions of track fans around the world,” said Michael Johnson, the league’s founder who will serve as Commissioner. “We are excited to launch this new platform for the planet’s greatest racers in this sport we all love. Our team has worked tirelessly to design and build a product that will be loved by fans and provide opportunities for our racers that they truly deserve. We’re revolutionizing the track landscape, allowing our sport to remain at the forefront of the sporting world year round, and pushing our superstar racers to break new ground in their personal storytelling, competitive success, and marketability. Grand Slam Track is going to take our sport to new heights, and we want you to come along for the ride.”

Each year, 48 athletes will be named to the league as GST Racers. These racers are selected by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee based on a combination of factors to include the fastest and best racers in each race group, with a focus on fierce rivalries and thrilling competitive racing. GST Racers commit to racing in all four Slams per year. They will receive an annual base compensation for racing in each Slam and are eligible for full prize money. These GST Racers will receive annual contracts, access to the GST content and data services team, inclusion in the league collective, group licensing and new revenue opportunities, plus access to world class athlete support services throughout the season. GST racers are compensated under contract to race and promote the league and receive additional marketing and branding support.

The remaining 48 racers will be known as GST Challengers and will be paid a set appearance fee to compete at individual Slams. GST Challengers are chosen by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee based on a combination of factors including recent performances, and the most intriguing athletes and matchups.

Racers and Challengers will be assigned to compete in one of the following categories, and will all race in two events during each Slam: short sprints (100m/200m), short hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), long sprints (200m/400m), long hurdles (400H/400m), short distance (800m/1500m), or long distance (3000m/5000m). All competitors’ final placement score will be determined by their combined finishing order between the two races. In the event of a tie across the two events, it will be the athlete who had the quickest combined time across the two races who will be deemed the winner. The winner of each Slam group will take home $100,000 in prize money, and the 8th place competitor will earn $10,000. Grand Slam Track will have a total of $12.6m of prize money that will be awarded across the slams each year in addition to the base compensation and appearance fees paid to racers.

The focus of Grand Slam Track is on head to head competition, not winning times. There will be no rabbits or pacing lights. Each Slam is equally as important as any other, will have its own prize purse, and will be independently scored, with points and previous finishes not carrying over to the following Slams. All racers will compete twice over the three-day event, and all Slam events will meet World Athletics regulations, with achieved marks being eligible for rankings and standards.

Racers will compete in their own sponsored kits, without traditional hip numbers or bibs. Racers and Challengers are encouraged to work with their sponsors to create customized kits, in their own desired style. Grand Slam Track has no affiliation or sponsorship agreement with any shoe company; all shoe companies are considered to be important stakeholders and partners in the promotion of our racers.

Grand Slam Track has secured more than $30 million in financial commitments from investors and strategic partners for the launch of the league. Winners Alliance, a global, athlete-centric commercial solution and Johnson’s operating partner, was the lead investor in the first fundraising close for the new venture. The investment in the league will aid in Johnson’s ultimate goal: to develop better engagement with fans by promoting track and field’s biggest stars and reaching new audiences with unique, innovative storytelling. Ticket sales information will be released in due course. For further information, please follow @GrandSlamTrack on all social media platforms, and visit grandslamtrack.com.

South Florida Head Men’s Basketball Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim Passes Away

University of South Florida head men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim   has passed away.
 
Abdur-Rahim, 43, was undergoing a medical procedure at a Tampa-area hospital when he passed away due to complications that arose during the procedure.
 
"All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim," said Vice President for Athletics, Michael Kelly. "He was authentic, driven, and his infectious personality captivated all of Bulls Nation. Coach Abdur-Rahim leaves a lasting impact on our student-athletes, the University, and the community. We are supporting those closest to him, including his family, team, and athletics staff, to ensure they have the resources they need to deal with this tremendous loss."
 
"In a very short time, Coach Abdur-Rahim made an indelible impact on the University of South Florida. In his first season as our head coach, he brought an unmatched enthusiasm, achieved unprecedented success and helped generate unforgettable memories for Bulls Nation," said USF President, Rhea Law. "Throughout my time working with Coach Abdur-Rahim, I was continually inspired by his leadership, and truly admired his sincere approach to connecting with our entire student body. His influence on our student-athletes, coaching staff and the university community will live on forever."
 
Abdur-Rahim was the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year this past season. Following a 25-8 record, he led the Bulls to their first regular-season conference championship and to their first-ever top 25 ranking during the regular season, reaching as high as no. 24 in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Poll.
 
We offer our deepest condolences to the family of Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim. He is survived by his wife, Arianne, and three children.
 

LAS VEGAS ACES’ A’JA WILSON UNANIMOUSLY WINS 2024 KIA WNBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD

Las Vegas Aces center-forward A’ja Wilson has been named the 2024 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player, the WNBA announced today.

This marks the record-tying third Kia WNBA MVP Award for Wilson, who also earned the honor in 2020 and 2022. She is the fourth player in WNBA history to win three MVPs, joining Sheryl Swoopes (2000, 2002 and 2005), Lisa Leslie (2001, 2004 and 2006) and Lauren Jackson (2003, 2007 and 2010).

Wilson received all 67 first-place votes (670 points) from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, making her the first unanimous Kia WNBA MVP since the Houston Comets’ Cynthia Cooper in the league’s inaugural season of 1997.

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (467 points) finished in second place, followed by New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (295 points) in third place, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (130 points) in fourth place and Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (83 points) in fifth place. Players were awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, seven points for a second-place vote, five points for a third-place vote, three points for a fourth-place vote and one point for a fifth-place vote.

In her seventh WNBA season, Wilson averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.58 blocked shots and 1.79 steals in 34.4 minutes in 38 games. She ranked first in the WNBA in both points and blocks, second in rebounds, fifth in steals and fourth in minutes, setting career highs in all five per-game categories. Wilson also finished seventh in the league in field goal percentage (51.8) and 17th in free throw percentage (84.4).

The 6-4 Wilson broke the WNBA single-season record for scoring average, which had been set by Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi in 2006 (25.3 ppg). Wilson also set single-season records with 1,021 total points and 451 total rebounds. She is the first player to lead the WNBA in total points, rebounds and blocks (98) in a season.

Behind Wilson, the two-time defending WNBA champion Aces (27-13) earned the fourth seed in the 2024 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google. Las Vegas will host the Seattle Storm in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series tonight at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.

In the 2024 regular season, Wilson was named the Kia WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month four times (May, June, July and September) and the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week six times (Weeks 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12). A six-time WNBA All-Star, Wilson played for the USA Women’s National Team in the 2024 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game before leading the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, where she was honored as the MVP of the tournament.

Additional highlights of Wilson’s 2024 season include:

*Recorded the two highest-scoring games of the WNBA season, with 42 points against the Dallas Wings on Aug. 27 and 41 points against the Mercury on Sept. 1.

*Scored at least 20 points in 89.5% of her games (34 of 38), a WNBA single-season record.

*Grabbed 9.8 defensive rebounds per game, the highest single-season average in WNBA history.

*Posted the third-highest rebounding average in a WNBA season (11.87), behind No. 1 Angel Reese (13.1 rpg with the Chicago Sky in 2024) and No. 2 Sylvia Fowles (11.88 with the Minnesota Lynx in 2018).

*Finished with 24 points and a career-high 20 rebounds against the Storm on July 10 for the first 20-20 game of her career.

*Became the second player in WNBA history to have at least 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and five blocks in a game (vs. the Atlanta Dream on Aug. 30), joining Candace Parker (2008).

*Set WNBA single-season records for consecutive games with 20 or more points (15) and consecutive games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds (eight).

*Became the Aces’ franchise leader in both total points and total rebounds.

*Led the WNBA in steals-per-turnover ratio (1.42 to 1) and had a career-low 1.3 turnovers per game.

*In August, Wilson won the 2024 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award for her dedication and positive impact on the community. Dawn Staley was the head coach for all four of Wilson’s seasons at the University of South Carolina, where the two won a national championship together in the 2016-17 season and Wilson was a four-time All-America Team selection.

Wilson was selected by the Aces with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. She led the franchise to its first two WNBA championships, in 2022 and 2023, earning the WNBA Finals MVP Award last season. Among her accolades, Wilson has been the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year, the Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year twice and an All-WNBA Team selection four times.

In honor of being named the 2024 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player, Wilson will receive $15,450 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany & Co.

ALLEN MEDIA GROUP’S ‘HBCU GO’ PARTNERS WITH PROCTER & GAMBLE FOR THE 2024 FOOTBALL SEASON

Allen Media Group’s (AMG) HBCU GO – AMG’s free-streaming digital platform and the leading media provider for the nation’s 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) – proudly announces an exciting new partnership with Procter & Gamble (P&G) for the 2024 football season. P&G is the presenting sponsor of exciting new programming and activations airing this season including:

• 2024 HBCU GO SPORTS KICK OFF SHOW (aired Saturday, August 24)

• HBCU GO’s first-ever live, on campus “2024 HBCU GO SPORTS PRE-GAME LIVE KICK-OFF SHOW” leading into the biggest games of the season including the Southern Heritage Classic, three Homecoming games, plus the rival match-up between Mississippi Valley vs. Jackson State.

• Brand-led commercial campaign entitled “THIS IS HOW WE HBCYOU” will run during the football season.

The P&G #HowWeHBCYOU brand commercial campaign, which AMG produced, recognizes the importance of supporting HBCU schools and students to foster their success and continued growth. 

“P&G truly understands the valuable, untapped audience that HBCU GO can deliver,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “This new super-charged partnership with HBCU GO highlights P&G’s continued efforts to reach audiences through Black-owned media partners in authentic ways, such as HBCU Education and Culture.”

Eric Austin, Vice President, Global Marketing & Media Innovation at Procter & Gamble said “we strive to meet the unique needs of all consumers. Together with Allen Media Group’s HBCU GO we are able to authentically connect and support Black consumers —in everyday life, with superior brand innovation at relevant cultural moments.”

Hosted by Jasmine McKoy, former Carolina Panthers Safety Tre Boston and HBCU Gameday’s Tolly Carr, the “2024 HBCU GO SPORTS PRE-GAME LIVE KICK-OFF SHOW” will give fans of the four major HBCU Football conferences LIVE access to all the interviews, predictions, and game strategy as well as a taste of HBCU culture. Presented across five episodes that kicked off August 24, the live show will visit classics and homecomings throughout the season, bringing in great crowds and fanbases of these exciting matchups. The schedule includes September 14 - Southern Heritage Classic: Tennessee State vs Arkansas Pine Bluff; October 12 - Bethune Cookman vs Alabama A&M - Homecoming; October 19 - Arkansas Pine Bluff vs Grambling State - Homecoming; October 26 - Jackson State vs Bethune Cookman - Homecoming; November 9 - Mississippi Valley vs. Jackson State.

The “HBCUYOU” campaign will run on HBCU GO throughout the season and consist of one “hero” commercial spot and 14 individual brand spots. The campaign focuses on supporting students through their everyday needs and personal care, following the major life moments of an HBCU student. Allen Media Group tapped theGrio Executive Producers to lead the production, leaning on a deep understanding of the Black audience and HBCU culture to drive relevancy throughout the creative storylines.

AMG’s FREE-streaming digital platform HBCU GO brings together major HBCU NCAA conferences, with major market carriage across broadcast television, cable, satellite, and digital platforms. HBCU GO recently announced 95% nationwide clearance for their 2024 football season. In addition to the previously announced carriage deal with CBS owned-and-operated (O&O) duopoly stations, HBCU GO has secured new distribution with FOX O&O stations including Los Angeles (KCOP-TV) and Chicago (WPWR-TV), as well as distribution on the Armed Forces Network; plus 15 new local markets.

HBCU GO kicked off its 2024 football season schedule on Saturday, August 31. This HBCU GO third season kickoff features a total of 26 football matchups featuring teams representing the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) -- including the Southern Heritage Classic, homecoming games, and the CIAA Football Championship.

For more information about HBCU GO, visit HBCUGO.tv or follow the streaming network on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Find out where to watch and download the FREE app at HBCUGO.tv/how to watch.

McKenzie Long qualifies for the U.S. Olympic team

McKenzie Long qualified for the U.S. Olympic team on Saturday.

Long finished third in the 200-meter final on Saturday to earn a spot with Team USA, and this is just the latest headline she has made in the world of track. In the NCAA Outdoor Championships earlier this month, she captured the triple crown, winning the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4x100-meter relay in Eugene, Ore.

She is running in memory of her mother, Tara Jones, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack at just 45 right before the season started.

When she crossed the finish line Saturday she told reporters Friday after her first heat that she and her mom had dreamed together of attending the Olympics — with Long on the track, and Jones in the stands cheering her on.

McKenzie Long, inspired by her mom, earns a spot on the Olympic team in the 200m. #TrackFieldTrials24 pic.twitter.com/JstUJFw1qz

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 30, 2024

Tara Davis-Woodhall qualifies for Paris Olympics in long jump

Former Texas Longhorn track star Tara Davis-Woodhall won the long jump Saturday night to clinch a spot in next month’s Olympics in Paris.

Davis-Woodhall clinched her Olympics berth with a jump of seven meters.

Davis-Woodhall will be making her second appearance at the Olympics. She finished sixth at the Tokyo Olympics, which the Covid pandemic pushed back to 2021. Her best international finish was second at last year’s World Championship. She should be a medal favorite in Paris.

Jumping all the way to Paris!

Tara Davis-Woodhall has qualified for her second Olympic Games! #TrackFieldTrials24 pic.twitter.com/UtV1P9lV2z

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 30, 2024

HBCU Basketball Team Gets White House Visit Decades After Winning Championship

An HBCU basketball team finally got to visit the White House after winning the national championship over 60 years ago.

According to Vice President Kamala Harris, Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State University men's basketball made history in 1957 when they became the first HBCU team to win a national championship. The Tennessee A&I Tigers would go on to also become the first college team to win three back-to-back national titles, Harris said.

Surviving members of the team — Dick Barnett, George Finley, Ernest Jones, Henry Carlton, Robert Clark, and Ron Hamilton — were invited to the White House for the first time to commemorate their historic achievement. On Friday (April 5), Harris hosted a private ceremony for the Tigers in the Roosevelt Room where she paid homage to the team's victories. The Tigers also received a tour around the White House and gifted Harris a custom jersey following the ceremony.

Vice President Kamala Harris releasedthe following statement on Threads:

The Tennessee A&I Tigers men’s basketball team broke barriers on the court while fighting injustice off it. In 1957, they became the first HBCU to win a national championship before becoming the first team to win three in a row. It was my honor to welcome them to the White House for the first time.

[SOURCE: BINNEWS]

Cydney Gillon wins 7th consecutive Figure Olympia title at 2023 Olympia

Cydney Gillon won the Figure division at the 2023 Olympia. It is her seventh consecutive Figure Olympia title and she won $50,000 in prize money for her winning effort.

2022 Figure Olympia Top 5 Results

Winner — Cydney Gillon $50,000

Second Place — Jessica Reyes Padilla $20,000

Third Place — Lola Montez $12,000

Fourth Place — Cherish Richardson $7,000

Fifth Place — Natalia Soltero $6,000

Check out this interview with the champ!

New Museum Will Further Tell the Powerful Stories of the Negro Leagues Baseball Players

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) announced it has been awarded a $1 million grant from Bank of America in support of the museum’s $25 million capital campaign to build a new 30,000 square-foot facility. This funding will enable the NLBM to provide the latest state of the art technology that will be used to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity through the lens of America’s unsung baseball heroes who overcame tremendous social adversity to play baseball.  The announcement was made at the NLBM with bank and museum officials alongside Congressman Emanuel Cleaver; Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas; Frank White, Jr., Jackson County Executive; Kathy Nelson, President & CEO, Kansas City Sports Commission and John Sherman, Chairman & CEO Kansas City Royals.

To coincide with the bank’s commitment of the new museum, Major League Baseball alumni players David DeJesus, Rajai Davis, and Dexter Fowler will take part in a Bank of America “Play It Forward” baseball clinic on Saturday, May 6 for 50 area youth from the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. The Clinic coincides with the celebration of the winning spirit of the Kansas City Monarchs and is held on the anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s first game with the team.

The new state of the art facility will be built adjacent to the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center (BOERC) which will now be housed in the former Paseo YMCA. That historic building is where Andrew “Rube” Foster established the Negro Leagues in 1920. With help from the anchor grant, the new NLBM, in combination with the BOERC, will create a “Negro Leagues Campus” that will become the gateway into Kansas City’s famed Historic 18th & Vine District. This will be a catalyst for economic growth in a vastly underserved, predominantly African American community.

The bank’s support will allow the NLBM to expand programming, create dynamic interactive displays, house a gallery to showcase new exhibitions, feature a larger gift shop, and include a more expansive archival and storage space.

“Thanks to the generosity and continued support of Bank of America, the future of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum begins today,” said Bob Kendrick, museum president. “Our growth from a one-room office to becoming America’s National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum has been an amazing journey. Now, we’re building an organization that will continue to preserve and celebrate the triumphant story of the Negro Leagues but also fortify our position as one of the nation’s most important civil rights and social justice institutions,” Kendrick said.

The grant is part of Bank of America’s overall commitment to strengthening the Kansas City community by addressing key issues fundamental to economic opportunity and social progress. It also builds on Bank of America’s efforts to advance racial equality and opportunity for communities of color. The new facility will integrate a blend of technology and nostalgia to create an immersive culturally enriched experience that enlightens students and adults about a precious piece of baseball and Americana that has been excluded from the pages of American history books.

“We share NLBM’s mission to preserve and celebrate the rich history of African American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America,” said Matt Linski, president, Bank of America Kansas City. “Our commitment recognizes the importance – culturally and economically – of the 18th & Vine District to Kansas City today and we hope it will be an example for other funders to follow. Additionally, this grant is paramount to ensuring greater understanding and better appreciation of the many contributions African Americans have made and continue to make, including Jackie Robinson breaking the Major League color barrier.”

This announcement is the latest in a series of investments that Bank of America has made in the Kansas City community. Bank of America has invested more than $13 million in grants and sponsorships since 2020 as well as capital investments to help small businesses, affordable housing, and other economic revitalization projects benefiting communities throughout Kansas City.

Bank of America’s relationship with the NLBM dates back to the 1980s with bank leaders having served on the original 18th & Vine Authority Board that established the district. Bank of America funded the exhibition Discovering Greatness that traveled to all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) campuses to reach young African Americans who might otherwise have been unaware of their Negro Leagues heritage. In 2008, the museum presented Bank of America the prestigious Buck O’Neil Legacy Award. In 2019, the museum was selected for Neighborhood Builders®, Bank of America’s signature philanthropic program and received $2000,000 grant for operational funding and leadership training.   President Bob Kendrick has provided thought leadership at numerous Bank of America events including Courageous Conversations over the past three years and at the recent opening of the Barrier Breakers exhibition at Dodger Stadium. The NLBM has been part of the bank’s Museums on Us® program for many years.

For more information, please visit: www.nlbm.com/pitchforthefuture

New LeBron James Biography: LeBron by Jeff Benedict

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Dynasty and Tiger Woods comes the definitive biography of basketball superstar LeBron James, based on three years of exhaustive research and more than 250 interviews.

LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of the twenty-first century, and he’s in the conversation with Michael Jordan as the greatest of all time. The reigning king of the game and the first active NBA player to become a billionaire, LeBron wears the crown like he was born with it. Yet his ascent has been anything but effortless and predetermined— the truth is vastly more interesting than that.

What makes LeBron’s story so compelling is how he won his destiny despite overwhelmingly long odds, in a drama worthy of a Dickens novel. As a child, he was a scared and lonely little boy living a nomadic existence in Akron, Ohio. His mother, who had LeBron when she was sixteen, would sometimes leave him on his own. Destitute and fatherless, he missed close to one hundred days of school in the fourth grade. Desperate, his mother placed him with a family that gave him stability and put a basketball in his hands.

LeBron tells the full, riveting saga of how a child adrift found the will to become a titan. Jeff Benedict, the most celebrated sports biographer of our time, paints a vivid picture of LeBron’s epic origin story, showing the gradual rise of a star who, surrounded by a tight-knit group of teenage friends and adult mentors, accelerated into a speeding comet during high school. Today LeBron produces Hollywood films and television shows, has a social media presence that includes more than one hundred million followers, engages in political activism, takes outspoken stances on racism and social injustice, and transforms lives through his visionary philanthropy. He went from a lost boy in Akron to a beloved hero who uses his fortune to educate underprivileged children and lift up needy families—and brought home Cleveland’s first NBA championship.

But LeBron is more than just the origin story of a GOAT or a recap of his multi-championship, multi-MVP, gold medal–decorated career on the court. Benedict delves into LeBron’s relationship with fame and power: how he has cultivated it, harnessed it, suffered from it, and leveraged it. In these pages, we go behind the scenes of LeBron’s grappling with his seismic celebrity, from appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a high school junior to The Decision, which briefly turned the nation against him. We also watch his evolution from a player who avoided politics and was widely criticized for not joining his teammates in protesting China’s role in the Darfur genocide to becoming an athlete who partnered with President Obama; campaigned for Hillary Clinton; became an advocate against gun violence, racism, and voter suppression; and openly clashed with President Trump, empowering other athletes to speak out against social injustice.

To capture LeBron’s extraordinary life, Benedict conducted hundreds of interviews with the people who were involved with LeBron at different stages of his life. He also obtained thousands of pages of primary source documents and mined hundreds of hours of video footage. Destined to be the authoritative account of LeBron’s life, LeBron is a gripping, inspiring, and unprecedented portrait of one of the world’s most captivating figures.

CHECK OUT LEBRON ON AMAZON

Two Black QBs are starting in the Super Bowl. Why it matters

Sunday’s Super Bowl will mark the first time in NFL history that both teams’ starting quarterbacks are Black — Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles. Former NFL star Doug Williams, who was the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl 35 years ago, joins John Yang to discuss the significance of this historic moment.

Memphis Grizzlies release statement on the death of Tyre Nichols

The NBA's Memphis Grizzlies released the following statement on the death of Tyre Nichols after the release of the video footage showing the brutal beating he endured at the hands of Memphis Police officers:

#JusticeForTyre pic.twitter.com/gYY8AgCVbd

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 27, 2023

NBA's MVP trophy now named after Michael Jordan

The NBA MVP will now be awarded with The Michael Jordan Trophy, bearing the name of the NBA legend widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. During his illustrious career, Jordan was named MVP five times. The Hall of Famer also earned six NBA championships, six NBA Finals MVP Awards, 11 All-NBA Team selections, 14 NBA All-Star selections, three NBA All-Star Game MVP Awards, 10 scoring titles, an NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, an NBA Rookie of the Year Award and selections to the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.

Mark Smith, retired VP of Innovation Special Projects at Nike, Inc., and Jordan Brand designer, worked in creative partnership with Jordan to design the new trophy, which symbolizes an NBA player’s journey to winning an MVP. Smith has collaborated with Jordan on countless projects over the past two decades. Artist Victor Solomon will manufacture the trophy on a yearly basis.

The bronze trophy features a player breaking out of a rock to reach for the ultimate rock — a crystal basketball. From the bottom to its top, the patina of the trophy grows more burnished — “raw to refined” — signifying the MVP’s hard work and progression from entering the league to achieving the NBA’s greatest individual honor. The trophy’s reach symbolizes an MVP’s endless chase for greatness.

Additionally included throughout are subtle nods that pay tribute to the trophy’s namesake:

• The trophy stands 23.6 inches tall and weighs 23.6 pounds, representing Jordan’s jersey number (23) and number of NBA championships (6).

• Its five-sided base is a nod to Jordan’s five league MVPs.

• The namesake badge is six-sided, a nod to Jordan’s six NBA championships.

• The 15-degree angle of the base is a nod to Jordan’s 15-season career.

• The crystal basketball consists of 23 points, a nod to Jordan’s jersey number.

• The crystal basketball measures 1.23 inches in diameter, in reference to the singularity of the MVP and Jordan’s standout career.

“I’m incredibly honored to have created the NBA’s MVP trophy in partnership with Michael Jordan,” said Smith. “Sculpting Michael’s vision of his own pursuit of athletic achievement into this award has been the opportunity and challenge of a lifetime. As we worked together on this project, it was very important to Michael that the figure not be a likeness of him, but instead that the recipient should be able to see himself in the award. For Michael, naming the award in his honor was recognition enough.”

Rutgers names basketball court after Coach Vivian Stringer

Rutgers dedicated its court to former coach C. Vivian Stringer on Sunday before the team's game against No. 4 Ohio State.

The 74-year-old Stringer won 1,055 games in her 50-year Hall of Fame career before retiring after last season. She was at Rutgers from 1995 to 2022 after stints at Cheyney State and Iowa.

"I was stunned when I saw that. I still can't believe that," an emotional Stringer said of seeing her name on the court.

Only a handful of schools have named their courts after women's basketball coaches, including Tennessee for Pat Summitt, NC State for Kay Yow, Arkansas-Little Rock for Joe Foley and DePaul for Doug Bruno.

Stringer was fourth all time among Division I women's basketball coaches in wins behind Tara VanDerveer, Geno Auriemma and Summitt.

She made four Final Four appearances and reached the NCAA tournament 28 times. She was the first coach in men's or women's basketball to take three different teams to the national semifinals.

Stringer led the Scarlet Knights to two Final Fours and three Big East regular-season titles. She was on leave last year because of COVID-19 concerns.

She was in attendance Sunday, and at halftime, her family and many former players gathered on the court to celebrate its dedication.

Rutgers gave Stringer a piece of the floor that her teams played on as a gift.

"I think my team always know that when I'm overwhelmed I just cry," she said to an adoring crowd at halftime. "I love you all."

Stringer won 20 or more games 37 times in her career, finishing with a 1,055-426 record (.712 winning percentage). She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. Stringer also served as an assistant coach on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team that won a gold medal.

[SOURCE: ESPN]

THE HBCU BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES

THE HBCU BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

The HBCU Basketball Association; is a United States based, for profit LLC Professional Basketball League that affords professional players, coaches, and executives’ opportunities not often available at the professional level for players that attend HBCU's. The HBCUBA will launch it's inaugural season in 2023 with six teams in six states. The original six franchises will be located in Atlanta, Georgia, Birmingham, Alabama, Daytona Beach, Florida, Houston, Texas, Jackson, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana. 

The 2023 season will begin February 25th, 2023- June 4th, 2023. Each team is allowed to have 12 players maximum per team, with 10 being on the active roster. 

The HBCUBA prepares players for the NBA and NBA G league by playing NBA Rules.

Qualified Members of the HBCUBA Must Have: Attended a HBCU for at least one year or is currently enrolled at an HBCU. Must be 18 years or older.

Benefits of playing in the HBCUBA.

1. Opportunity to play in the first professional basketball league featuring all HBCU players.

2. Full stats of all games played

3. Live stream of all games.

4. Fully paid professional league. All players are compensated.

5. Housing for out of state players covered by team.

6. Insurance provided for all players.

7. International tours 

8. Opportunity to compete at a high level.

9. Individual player profile, uniform package, highlight video included.

10. Eurobasket certified league. 

Allyson Felix statement to fans after her final race

After Allyson Felix ended her track and field career at the 2022 World Athletics Championships by earning the bronze medal with her Team USA teammates in the mixed 4 x 400-meter relay, she shared a short but thoughtful message with her fans on Instagram.

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Colin Kaepernick to receive honorary degree from Morgan State University

Morgan State University President David K. Wilson today announced that three exemplary vanguards of social justice and the African-American experience will be awarded honorary degrees during the 145th Spring Commencement ceremony taking place at Hughes Memorial Stadium on Saturday, May 21. At the ceremony.

Among those to receive honorary degrees will be Super Bowl quarterback and champion for social justice, Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree capping the trio of honorary degrees awarded at Morgan’s 145th Spring Commencement Exercises. The holder of the all-time National Football League (NFL) record for most rushing yards in a game by a quarterback, Kaepernick famously took a knee during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 2016 to bring attention to systemic oppression — specifically police violence — of Black and Brown people. For his stance, he has been denied the opportunity to regain his employment within the NFL to this day.

Since 2016, he has founded and helped to fund three organizations — Know Your Rights Camp, Ra Vision Media, and Kaepernick Publishing — that together advance the liberation of Black and Brown people through storytelling, systems change and political education.

Kaepernick sits on Medium’s board of directors and is the winner of numerous prestigious honors, including Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope honor, GQ magazine’s “Citizen of the Year,” the NFL’s Len Eshmont Award, the Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, the ACLU’s Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award and the Puffin/Nation Institute’s Prize for Creative Citizenship. In 2019, Kaepernick helped Nike win an Emmy for its “Dream Crazy” commercial. In 2021, he released Colin in Black & White, a six-episode limited series on Netflix exploring his high school years. The show won two NAACP Image Awards. In 2022, he became a New York Times bestselling author for his acclaimed children’s picture book, “I Color Myself Different.”

Others receiving honoraary degress are Morgan alumnus and filmmaker David E. Talbert and Morgan alumnus David Burton, the chief proponent in the landmark Coalition for Excellence and Equity in Maryland Higher Education (HBCUs) vs. the State of Maryland lawsuit.

“Leadership, Integrity, Innovation, Diversity, Excellence and Respect are more than just words that appear on the flags that adorn our campus, or words that we utter casually when reciting our core values, they represent the embodiment of who we are and what a Morgan graduate stands for,” said President Wilson. “With this notion in mind, we intentionally sought a collection of individuals who truly embody these principles, and thankfully we have assembled a trio of diverse voices who have bravely stood—and kneeled—for the betterment and advancement of the voiceless, the marginalized and the disenfranchised.”

NBA unveils new trophies for division winners named after African American legends

The NBA unveiled six new trophies for the league’s division winners, each named after an NBA legend and African-American pioneer. The trophies, which will now be awarded to the division winners at the end of every season, celebrate the teams’ season success and honor the pioneers who helped pave the way for the NBA players that have followed.

The trophies are named after African-American pioneers Nat Clifton, Wayne Embry, Earl Lloyd, Willis Reed, Sam Jones and Chuck Cooper.

The trophies, designed by Victor Solomon, each suspend at its center a 200mm crystal ball, comprised of six segments representing each of the NBA’s divisions. One unique segment in each trophy is rendered in gold, representing its respective NBA division. The design of the trophy base is inspired by the division’s conference championship trophy. Each trophy is inscribed with its namesake, along with the name of the team recipient; the division standings are inscribed on the back of the trophy.

Dawn Staley named Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year

South Carolina’s Dawn Staley has been named the Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year.

“Dawn’s remarkable leadership is evident in how South Carolina has performed throughout the season culminating with a conference championship, top-tier national ranking and a chance to win the national championship still ahead,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “Truly a remarkable season for both and wonderful representatives of the Naismith Awards.”

Staley is now a two-time recipient of the coaching award, earning the honor in 2020 when she became the first-ever head coach in either men’s or women’s college basketball to win the Naismith Coach of the Year award after previously winning the Naismith Player of the Year (Virginia, 1991, 1992). She edged out Wes Moore (NC State), Kim Mulkey (LSU) and Tara VanDerveer (Stanford). Named SEC Coach of the Year for the fifth time in her career, Staley led South Carolina to an undefeated 12-0 record versus AP-ranked opponents, an SEC regular-season title and a Final Four appearance for the fourth time in the last seven NCAA Tournaments. For the first time in program history, the Gamecocks were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the entire season.

“Werner is proud of its association with the Atlanta Tipoff Club and honoring the most outstanding coaches in college basketball, and we salute all the women’s finalists for leading their teams to exceptional seasons,” said Stacy Gardella, head of Global Marketing Technology & Operations at WernerCo. “It is an honor to recognize Dawn Staley, as her leadership and positive impact on the lives of the student-athletes she coaches make her incredibly deserving of this year’s Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year award.”

“Any time you win an award like this, it goes to one individual, but it really does take a village,” Staley said. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our coaches, staff, administrators and all our players. Their commitment allows us to be recognized this way. I think God gives us an opportunity to play this game we love and to represent it the way that we do. On behalf of our entire team, I want to thank the Naismith Awards and Werner Ladder for this honor.”

Minor League Baseball adds to inclusion efforts with 'The Nine'

Minor League Baseball has announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión -- the Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

The Nine will recognize and honor numerous Black pioneers and trailblazing civil rights leaders in all 120 MiLB communities, ensuring the heroes of the past and their contributions continue to be celebrated through ceremonies and events at MiLB ballparks and in the community. Recent tributes and celebrations have included Negro Leagues commemorative games honoring the Austin Black Senators in Round Rock (TX), the Bradenton (FL) Nine Devils, and Page Fence Giants near Lansing (MI). Additional tribute games are being planned for the 2022 season and beyond.

“The Nine will shine bright spotlights on these successful initiatives and transform them into national campaigns reaching more fans and communities, further showcasing our teams’ commitment to representing, honoring, and welcoming all fans to MiLB’s unique brand of fun,” said Kurt Hunzeker, MLB’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “The Nine is just the latest example of MiLB teams being true community champions.”

In addition to player- and team-related content, The Nine will focus heavily on creating new opportunities for youth participation among young Black boys and girls, particularly in communities where youth baseball and softball programming is either nonexistent or difficult to access.

Central to this youth-focused push is a planned expansion of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program throughout MiLB’s national footprint. New competitions in MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run and Junior Home Run Derby event series will also debut in MiLB markets beginning in 2022.

MiLB teams will continue to build relationships with local Black-owned and operated businesses, local artists and entertainers in an effort to embrace Black culture and make MiLB ballparks a hub for culturally relevant concerts, shows, and community events.

With several MiLB teams having a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in their community, opportunities will be provided for those schools to start internship and mentorship programs with their local team, creating opportunities for on-the-job experience for students prior to entering the job market. Additionally, MiLB recently partnered with TeamWork Online to create a more inclusive virtual job fair and ongoing talent pipeline that aims to recruit and position qualified and ready-for-hire candidates from across the country for potential management- and executive-level roles within MiLB team front offices.