SHAKA SMART NAMED MARQUETTE MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH

Shaka Smart has been named the 18th head coach of the Marquette University men's basketball program, Vice President & Director of Athletics Bill Scholl announced on Friday.

The university will hold a press conference on Monday, March 29 (time TBA) at the Al McGuire Center, 770 N. 12th St., to formally introduce Smart to the Marquette community. In accordance with the university's COVID-19 protocols, there will be limited attendance and socially distanced seating will be utilized. The press conference will also be streamed live on GoMarquette.com.

In 12 seasons as a head coach at Virginia Commonwealth (2009-15) and Texas (2015-21), Smart guided the two programs to a total of eight NCAA Tournament appearances. Those trips were highlighted by a run from the First Four to the Final Four by VCU in 2011.

"I can't tell you how thrilled I am to welcome Shaka, his wife Maya, and their daughter Zora to the Marquette and Milwaukee communities," Scholl said. "We undertook an exhaustive national search, during which we discussed our opening with a significant number of highly-qualified coaches. The interest in our position was tremendous and the market certainly understands what a wonderful place Marquette is to coach college basketball."

"Throughout the search, one individual continued to rise to the top and that was Shaka," Scholl added. "I am beyond excited for our current and future student-athletes who will have the great fortune of being mentored by Shaka. He is a great teacher of the game, while also being a great molder of young men. And I am proud to say, he is now a Marquette Golden Eagle!"

The 43-year-old Smart owns an overall record of 272-142 (.657) and seven of his first 10 teams played in the NCAA tournament. He posted a record of 163-56 (.744) at VCU and five trips to the NCAA. While at Texas, the Longhorns were 109-86 (.559) and made NCAA appearances in 2016, 2018 and 2021. Texas claimed the National Invitation Tournament title in 2019.

"I am so excited for Shaka to lead our celebrated men's basketball program, and I look forward to supporting him for many successful seasons as a Golden Eagle," said Marquette University President Michael R. Lovell. "Shaka will be the first person of color to lead our program, and is a true role model for our student-athletes. I've had several conversations with Shaka in the past few days and I know he will be a results-focused coach and recruiter, and also a strong advocate for our Catholic, Jesuit mission. What has impressed me most is that he is interested in being a leader beyond basketball. Shaka is a Wisconsin native and both he and his wife Maya want to make a positive impact on our Marquette and Milwaukee communities."

In 2020-21, Texas finished with an overall record of 19-8, including an 11-6 mark in the Big 12 Conference. The Longhorns were ranked as high as fourth in the country and claimed the Big 12 Championship with a win over Oklahoma State. The team claimed the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with the victory and was seeded third in the East Region.

"Maya, Zora and I are absolutely thrilled to join the Marquette family," Smart said. "I'm grateful to President Lovell and Bill Scholl for entrusting me with the growth and development of this storied basketball program and the student-athletes who make it so special. I am extremely excited to get to Milwaukee to begin building relationships and getting to work on the court!"

Mike Woodson hired as the Indiana University Basketball Coach

Indiana has hired legendary former Hoosier and current New York Knicks assistant Mike Woodson as its next coach, the program announced on Sunday. Woodson will replace Archie Miller, who was fired this month after failing to reach the NCAA Tournament in four seasons on the job.

Woodson, 63, is an Indiana native who scored more than 2,000 points in his college career while playing for legendary coach Bob Knight. He then played for over a decade in the NBA and has spent the last 25 years as an NBA coach.

Woodson averaged 19.8 points per game during his four-year Indiana career even though there was no 3-point line. He was selected 12th overall in the 1980 NBA Draft.

Woodson will became just the latest storied former college player to accept the head coaching job at his alma mater despite lacking collegiate head coaching experience.

Michigan is thriving under second-year Juwan Howard, Georgetown just reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time under fourth-year coach Patrick Ewing and Memphis just won the NIT under third-year coach Penny Hardaway.

[SOURCE: CBS SPORTS]

NJ State Senators Offer Plan to Promote Amistad Curriculum by Honoring Top Educators

New Jersey would create an Amistad Award Program for teachers who perform exemplary service by providing instruction on slavery and African-American history, under terms of legislation introduced by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Ronald Rice.

The Senate President and Senator Rice (pictured above), who chairs the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, worked with the New Jersey Education Association on the initiative.

The bill would establish the “Amistad Curriculum Award Program” to identify outstanding educators who have shown a commitment to furthering student knowledge on the African slave trade, slavery in America, the vestiges of slavery in this country, and the contributions of African-Americans to society. The curriculum is a well-established and highly regarded educational program.

“The Amistad curriculum is a highly regarded educational program that chronicles the history of African-Americans, the hardships they have overcome and the important contributions they have made to society,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “By honoring educators who have used this curriculum effectively we are supporting an honest accounting of the shameful legacy of slavery, the rich history of African-American accomplishments and the many reasons for cultural pride.”

“Black history is American history. However, for so long, teaching this history and the history of slavery in this country was either rushed through or completely glossed over; this is why the Amistad Commission was created,” said Senator Rice (D-Essex). “The Amistad curriculum will teach young folks about some of the darkest periods in our country’s history, and yet, also impart to them the historical, cultural and social influences and advancements Black Americans have had on the United States. By rewarding and recognizing the efforts of some teachers who effectively educate this part of our history, we are incentivizing all educators to do the same.”

“We are proud to support the Amistad Curriculum Award Program,” said NJEA President Marie Blistan. “By identifying and honoring educators who do an exceptional job of integrating that critical content into their instruction, we will provide models that all educators can emulate. By learning from those innovators, we can achieve our goals of ensuring that every student better understands this troubling but important part of our history.”

Under the bill, school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools would nominate teachers who excelled in furthering student knowledge on African-American history. Two award recipients would be named annually, one teacher from a kindergarten-eighth grade school and one from a high school. The award winners would receive $2,500 each.

They would be selected by the Amistad Curriculum Award Committee, consisting of one member appointed by the Governor, one member of the Senate named by the President of the Senate, one member of the General Assembly selected by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and one member appointed by the New Jersey Education Association.

Maj. Gen. William J. Walker named House sergeant-at-arms, first Black man in post

Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday named Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, commander of the D.C. National Guard, as the 38th House sergeant-at-arms, marking the first time a Black person has served as the House's top law enforcement officer.

Walker has earned bipartisan praise.

“Throughout his long, dedicated career in public service, General William Walker has proven to be a leader of great integrity and experience who will bring his steady and patriotic leadership to this vital role,” Pelosi said in a statement. “His historic appointment as the first Black American to serve as Sergeant-at-Arms is an important step forward for this institution and our nation."

Walker has 39 years of military experience, most recently as commanding general of the D.C. National Guard. Additionally, he has worked as a special agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The House must vote to elect Walker to the position. The announcement was met with support from California's Kevin McCarthy, the top House Republican.

“Every member, staffer, employee, and visitor to the Capitol should feel safe with Maj. Gen. Walker at the helm of Sergeant at Arms operations,” McCarthy said in a statement. “We are thankful for his continued service to our country, and I look forward to working with him as he transitions to this new role.”

Walker takes over the role from acting House Sergeant-at-Arms Timothy Blodgett, a temporary replacement for Paul D. Irving, who resigned after the attack along with Michael Stenger, the former Senate sergeant-at-arms, and Steven Sund, the former Capitol Police chief.

[SOURCE: ROLL CALL]

Boycott Coca Cola until they come out against Georgia's new Jim Crow voting law

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

I'm boycotting all Coca Cola products, and I hope that you join me.

Why?

The state of Georgia has passed a restrictive voting law that brings back the era of Jim Crow laws.

The new law includes language that adds a new ID requirement that will overwhemingly effect minority voters, allows voting precints to close at 5PM when many are just getting off work, makes it a crime to give water or food to those standing in line to vote, removes the secretary of state as chair of the State Election Board, allowing the SEB and lawmakers a process to temporarily take over elections offices and limiting the number, location and access to secure absentee drop boxes.

This new era of Jim Crow must be stopped now and it takes just not action from President Biden and Congress, but from us and big business. We may can have more of an immediate effect than our nation's lawmakers if we demand that businesses in Georgia come out against the new voting law. Let's be real here, money talks. If we withhold our dollars that sends a message that everyone, even racist Georgia lawmakers understand.

Coca Cola has it's corporate headquarters in Atlanta and is one of the biggest employers in the region. Not only that but they donate to Georgia politicians on a regular basis. That means they have a lot of pull in Georgia and can apply pressure to help to change this horrible voting law.

But they are not going to do this out of the kindess of their hearts. It is going to take a litle pressure from us to get the ball moving. So I and many others are boycotting Coca Cola products until the company comes out against this new Jim Crow legislation.

That means just not buying Coke, Diet Coke, Powerade, Vitaminwater, or Sprite it means not buying several of their brands. Here is a list of the many brands in their portfolio:

Coca Cola

Diet Coke

AdeS soy-based beverages

Aquarius

Ayataka green tea

Barqs

Chivita

Ciel water

Costa Coffee

Dasani waters

Del Valle juices and nectars

Fairlife

Fanta

Fresca

Fuze Tea

Georgia coffee

Gold Peak teas and coffees

Honest Tea

ILOHAS

innocent smoothies and juices

Minute Maid juices

Powerade sports drinks

Simply juices

Schweppes

smartwater

Sprite

Topo Chico

vitaminwater

Let's send a message that will not tolerate this voter suppression law by boycotting Coca Cola. It will send a message to not just them but to big business throughout the United States.

We can make a difference.