Cleveland Indians legend Larry Doby nominated for congressional medal

Today, U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and Jim Renacci (R-OH) honored Larry Doby’s many achievements and contributions to American major league athletics, civil rights, and the armed forces by cosponsoring the Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act to posthumously award him the Congressional Gold Medal.

"Like me, Larry Doby started out as a kid on the streets of Paterson, New Jersey, but he went on to blossom into a sports legend, a pioneer of American civil rights, and a man of great service to his country," Rep. Pascrell said. "Larry handled adversity with strength and served as an inspiration for minority kids and adults since his landmark introduction to the major league. Paterson couldn't be prouder to call him one of our own, and now we call on Congress to bestow this overdue honor to Larry's family. I appreciate my friend my Ohio, Rep. Renacci, for joining me in this bipartisan effort to recognize a great American."

In one of his first acts upon coming to Congress in 1997, Rep. Pascrell sponsored legislation in Congress (H.R. 2116) designating the post office at 194 Ward Street in Paterson as the Larry Doby Post Office, which was signed by President Bill Clinton and became Public Law 105-162. In 2012, the United States Postal Service released a commemorative postage stamp with Larry Doby’s likeness. Pascrell joined the USPS for a ceremony to unveil the stamp at the Larry Doby Post Office.

"Baseball before Larry Doby and Jackie Robinson was informally segregated. While Jackie Robinson was the first African American player in the National League, the Cleveland Indians made Larry Doby the first in the American League – forever changing the face of baseball," Rep. Renacci said. "Not only did Doby wear an Indians’ uniform proudly as the first black player to play in the World Series, but he wore our nation’s uniform while he served in the Navy during WWII. I am pleased to join my friend and colleague Rep. Pascrell in introducing this legislation to honor Larry Doby for the great strides he made for the game of baseball and the civil rights movement in the United States. Go Tribe!"

“The Cleveland Indians organization is very proud of Larry Doby’s legacy,” said Indians Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Bob DiBiasio. “Mr. Doby, a symbol of equality and freedom of opportunity, stood with grace, dignity and a competitive spirit that resonated throughout Ohio and across America.”

Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal is awarded by an act of Congress and requires two-thirds of the House of Representatives and the Senate to cosponsor before the legislation can be considered in Committee or by the full House. Congressional Gold Medals have a long history in the U.S. Congress with the first medal being awarded in 1776 to George Washington. Since then, Congress has authorized over 300 medals to be awarded. Jackie Robinson received his Congressional Gold Medal in 2003.

Biographical information

Lawrence Eugene “Larry” Doby was an extraordinary individual and a sports legend that broke through racial barriers by becoming the first African American to play professional baseball in the American League. Upon his honorable discharge from the United States Navy in 1946, Larry Doby played baseball in the Negro League for the Newark Eagles. In 1947, his contract was purchased by the Cleveland Indians where he began his illustrious 13 year career in the American League. After appearing in 1,533 games and batting .283, with 253 home runs and 969 runs batted in, and being voted to seven all-star teams, Larry Doby was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.

In addition to being the first African American to hit a home run in a World Series, Larry Doby was deeply committed to his community. In expression of this profound commitment, Larry served as the Director of Community Relations for the NBA’s New Jersey Nets. This position granted Larry the opportunity to leverage his character and stature to participate in and influence youth in many of New Jersey’s inner cities.

Shonda Rimes responds to petition to fire Jesse Williams from Grey's Anatomy

Jesse Williams' great speech at the BET Awards last week led to a Change.org petition asking for him to be fired from Grey's Anatomy. The petition, created on Friday, gained more than 5,000 signatures within four days.

Erin Smith, the creator of the petition writes:

Jesse Williams spewed a racist, hate speech against law enforcement and white people at the BET awards. If this was a white person making the same speech about an African American, they would have been fired and globally chastised, as they should be, but there has been no consequences to Williams' actions. There's been no companies making a stand against his racist remarks and no swift action condemning his negative attitude. Why was Burke's character fired from Grey's Anatomy after his inappropriate homophobic slur, but nothing for Jesse Williams? Why the one-way street? Why the support for a hater? Why the hypocrisy? #AllLivesMatter All humans bleed the same color. #EqualConsequences4RacistBehavior

Grey's Anatomy creator, Shonda Rimes Twitter response to the petition was short and sweet:

Um, people? Boo don't need a petition. #shondalandrules

— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) July 5, 2016

Kevin Durant statement on joining the Golden State Warriors

Here is Kevin Durant's statement from The Player's Tribune on his leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder and joining the Golden State Warriors

This has been by far the most challenging few weeks in my professional life. I understood cognitively that I was facing a crossroads in my evolution as a player and as a man, and that it came with exceptionally difficult choices. What I didn’t truly understand, however, was the range of emotions I would feel during this process.

The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player — as that has always steered me in the right direction. But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth. With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors.

I’m from Washington, D.C. originally, but Oklahoma City truly raised me. It taught me so much about family as well as what it means to be a man. There are no words to express what the organization and the community mean to me, and what they will represent in my life and in my heart forever. The memories and friendships are something that go far beyond the game. Those invaluable relationships are what made this deliberation so challenging.

It really pains me to know that I will disappoint so many people with this choice, but I believe I am doing what I feel is the right thing at this point in my life and my playing career.

I will miss Oklahoma City, and the role I have had in building this remarkable team. I will forever cherish the relationships within the organization — the friends and teammates that I went to war with on the court for nine years, and all the fans and people of the community. They have always had my back unconditionally, and I cannot be more grateful for what they have meant to my family and to me

KEVIN DURANT 

Sen. Booker declines to discuss being vetted for vice president

In an interview with CNN's Brianna Keiler, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker dodged questions about whether he is being vetted as a potential running mate for Hillary Clinton to her campaign.

“Mother of Hampton Lacrosse”

This is an older but very insipring story. College senior Michael Crawford loved the sports of lacrosse and wanted nothing more than to bring the sport to his school, Hampton University. Michael passed before his dream became reality but his mother Verina brought his dream to fruition. Watch their inspiring story below.