News

*We previously reported that the Super Bowl was having trouble finding acts who will play with its feature attraction, Maroon 5, for the halftime show.

According to numerous reports, artists are reluctant to take part in the 13-minute production because of the controversy concerning blacklisted former footballer Colin Kaepernick and the NFL’s stance on a player’s right to protest.

But TMZ confirmed yesterday that Travis Scott has been added to the small lineup of stars who will perform during the Super Bowl LIII halftime show at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Feb. 3. There are rumors that Cardi B and Big Boi have agreed to perform as well.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Steve Harvey Has No Interest in Hosting the Oscars: ‘I Don’t Want Them Digging Up My Past’

Meanwhile, Jermaine Dupri is hosting a concert series at Centennial Olympic Park on Super Bowl weekend. The music icon, along with Maroon 5, and Travis Scott are receiving heavy backlash on social media from fans who say they are sellouts for performing at sport’s biggest event of the year. 

When rapper Meek Mill read about Scott’s decision on Complex.com, he tweeted: “For what????” in response (see image above).

“He don’t need that he on fire already! Stay strong in this sh*t!” Meek added on Twitter.

And Variety reports that JAY-Z is “attempting to talk Scott out of performing.”

Meanwhile, Dupri defended his decision to head the committee that oversees the music events leading up to the Super Bowl. He also said artists should “use their platform” to do “more than boycotts.”

“But it seems really interesting that [in the music industry] so many people will boycott something one year and then the next year they’re buddy-buddy with the thing that they boycotted,” he said.

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/12/jay-z-is-attempting-to-talk-travis-scott-out-of-performing-at-super-bowl-halftime-show/

Talk about some absolute BS!

Put yourself in Andrew Johnson‘s place. He’s black and a high school wrestler. He’s getting ready to do his thing, but before he can, out of nowhere the referee (who just happens to be white) tells him that if he doesn’t have his dreads snipped, he won’t be allowed to wrestle in the important match.

Oh yeah, the whole thing was caught on video!

The incident went down at Buena Regional High School in New Jersey. Johnson, wearing a cover  dreadlocks, was about to compete when referee Alan Maloney stepped in and shut him down, so to speak.

Maloney told Johnson his hair cover was not good enough and gave him 2 choices — ditch the locks or forfeit the match.

So, if you was Andrew Johnson, WHAT would you do?

Well, a pissed Johnson chose the scissors — and from the video (below), there’s no doubt he was not a happy camper.

The bottom line is that Johnson went on to completely crush his opponent — but he’s clearly still upset about the hair cut … even when the ref raises his hand in victory.

LITTLE GIRL FASCINATED WITH MICHELLE OBAMA’S PORTRAIT IS WRITING HER OWN BOOK

OK, you probably won’t be surprised to learn there’s a lot more to the referee’s story. You see, he has a history of racist behavior. He used a racial slur toward a black man during a social gathering in 2016 and ended up getting a thorough ass whipping in the process.

Here’s more from TMZ:

The offended party (an African American man) was so pissed, he slammed Maloney to the ground following the slur.

Maloney later apologized for the incident and the body that oversees high school wrestling in New Jersey ordered him to complete a sensitivity training class.

We’ve reached out to officials at the NJSIAA — which oversees high school athletics in Jersey — so far, no word back.

Meanwhile, another racist act was uncovered about Maloney by an Internet sleuth, such as the time he called a fellow ref the N-word.

“This is the same ref that used racial slurs two years ago at an event. His name is Alan Maloney. He has been a problem for years,” tweeted Patrick Duff.

Many Twitter users are calling for Maloney to be fired as a ref.

“Call 973-214-9566 and ask Mark Sherman that Alan Maloney be fired as a NJ Ref. The treatment of this young man along with the racial slur he made 2 years ago makes him unfit. Shameful. Parents tell me he’s been awful for generations,” tweeted activist and journalist Shaun King on Friday.

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/12/black-wrestler-forced-by-white-ref-to-cut-off-dreads-or-forfeit-match-video/

*If you ask UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley about the incident that happened to black high school wrestler, Andrew Johnson, he’ll let you know quickly that he beyond pissed about what happened.

Earlier we reported that a white wrestling referee (Alan Maloney) made Johnson cut his dreadlocks before he would be allowed to wrestle just moments before his match was to begin (you can see it via the Twitter video below).

As far as Woodley is concerned, what the ref did is grounds for his ass to be fired. Period. End of story.

By the way. Before becoming the UFC force that he currently is, Woodley was an All-American wrestler at the Univ. of Missouri. Prior to that, he was a FORCE in the high school wrestling community.

Woodley straight up tells TMZ Sports … the ref, Maloney, should have been fired years ago when he reportedly made a racist comment to an African-American man back in 2016.

STARS WALK AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA AS PLATFORM TURNS TOXIC

The bottom line for Woodley regarding what happened to Andrew Johnson is that Woodley is just plain tired racists … or folks with racist behavior being allowed to have positions of authority. And, yes, that includes police officers. Woodley also thinks the way the high school wrestling community handles hair maintenance … specifically with black athletes … is ridiculous. He also giving big ups to young Johnson for for blocking out the B.S. and winning his match.

In other Tyron Woodley news. As far as his next match, it appears his next title defense remains in limbo as folks await an announcement for the UFC 235 main event, which is Woodley’s targeted return date.

MMA News reports:

It would seem that the most likely option is Kamaru Usman, what with Usman already having signing a bout agreement for the fight and all. However, it is hard for many people to let go of the hope of seeing Tyron Woodley and Colby Covington settle their grudge first. Tyron Woodley and Colby Covington are among those who carry this hope, and Covington believes that this is the only thing he and Woodley agree on:

“We agree on one thing and one thing only…and that’s that we want to fight each other next,’ Covington said recently on “Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.”

You can get the rest of the article at MMA News.

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/12/tyron-woodley-ufc-champ-goes-in-on-racist-hs-wrestling-referee/

*If you’re still in your feelings (as you should be) regarding how the high school wrestler was made to cut off his locks by a white referee, well then we’ve got some good news for you.

The referee, Alan Maloney, who ordered Andrew Johnson, a black high school wrestler to either cut his hair or forfeit the match, is now being investigated by NJ state athletic officials, reports TMZ Sports.

And, while the investigation is active, sources tell us the referee will NOT be working any matches.

As we reported earlier, Johnson – a Buena Regional High School athlete – was seen on video getting his dreadlocks snipped before a match this week.

The footage, shows a distraught Johnson and folks are not happy with what happened to him, claiming it was a racist move by Maloney, who by the way, was previously disciplined for making a racist comment in 2016.

TYRON WOODLEY: UFC CHAMP GOES IN ON RACIST HS WRESTLING REFEREE

Here’s more from TMZ Sports:

The way it’s being explained to us … Maloney has not been formally suspended or disciplined for the Johnson incident, but officials feel it’s best to keep him off the mat while they gather information.

A source connected to Maloney tells us his position is that he was merely enforcing a rule about hair maintenance — and insists race was not a factor.

Meanwhile, we spoke with a rep for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association — which oversees high school sports in NJ — a who gave us the following statement.

“The NJSIAA has been in direct contact with school officials and is now awaiting official incident reports. A report also has been requested from the referee involved. In addition – and as per its formal sportsmanship policy – the NJSIAA has provided initial information to the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights and will continue to send updates as they become available.”

“At this point, the NJSIAA is working to determine the exact nature of the incident and whether an infraction occurred.”

“As a precautionary measure, given the degree of attention being focused on this matter, the NJSIAA will recommend to chapter officials that the referee in question not be assigned to any event until this matter has been reviewed more thoroughly in order to avoid potential distractions for the competing wrestlers.”

The bottom line is that multiple attempts to reach both Alan Maloney and Andrew Johnson for comments hjave been unsuccessful thus far.

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/12/wrestling-ref-alan-maloney-being-investigated-over-forced-hair-cutting-incident/

*LeBron James is speaking out again and this time King James is putting the NFL and its owners on blast by comparing it to the NBA.

The way James sees it, the big difference between the two leagues – who are both dominated by black players, by the way – is the level of respect shown to the players.

The LA Lakes star made his views known via his HBO show “The Shop.” James, who has been extremely vocal about race relations recently, had this to say about the NFL’s owners:

“In the NFL they got a bunch of old white men owning teams and they got that slave mentality,” James said. “And it’s like, ‘This is my team. You do what the f— I tell y’all to do or we get rid of y’all.”

While speaking on the issue, James had an audience that included LA Rams/NFL star running back Todd Gurley, actor/rapper/businessman/activist Ice Cube and his friend business partner, Maverick Carter. James then made it clear that he’s grateful that the NBA is the league that accords players the level of freedom NBA players are allowed to express themselves and voice their concerns.

“I’m so appreciative in our league for our commissioner,” LeBron went on. “He doesn’t mind us having…a real feeling and to be able to express it. It doesn’t even matter if Adam agrees with what we are saying, he at least wants to hear us out. As long as we are doing it in a very educational, non-violent way, then he’s absolutely Ok with it.”

WRESTLING REF (ALAN MALONEY) BEING INVESTIGATED OVER FORCED HAIR CUTTING INCIDENT

You don’t have to strain your brain to find examples of what James is referring to when it comes to the NBA letting players express themselves. Remember when LeBron and his then Miami Heat teammates wore hoodies to honor Trayvon Martin. They also showcased ‘I Can’t Breathe’ warm-up shirts in honor of Eric Garner. Then there was James, along with Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade … speaking out against police brutality at the ESPYS.

One more thing. There’s also a certain reality that James touched on. It’s a subject that the NBA has seemingly realized while the NFL fights to keep it from becoming a reality:

“Players are who make the ship go,” James said. “Without Todd Gurley, without Odell Beckham Jr…there is no football. And it’s the same in the NBA.”

Bottom line: LeBron realizes the power and platform that he and other players have, and, as you can see, he’s using it, mightily.

They don’t call him King James for nothing’

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/12/lebron-james-goes-in-on-nfl-owners-they-display-slave-mentality-toward-players/

*Shaquille O’Neal has shared a health update on son Shareef following his heart surgery on Dec. 13.

During a summer practice, the 18-year-old UCLA freshman said he “felt funny,” after which doctors discovered an irregularity with his heart. O’Neal underwent a procedure to fix the condition and the surgery reportedly corrected an electrical issue with his heart. He will reportedly miss the entire 2018-19 season with a medical redshirt and plans to return to basketball next year.

When TMZ caught up with Shaq at the Magic Wheels Toy Giveaway in L.A., he revealed that Shareef is continuing to focus on his recovery and hopes to be back on the floor as early as April.

*Superstar b-baller LeBron James just found out that even though he’s famous and rich, he’s still gotta be careful about the words coming out of mouth. Or as far as this story is concerned, the the words he typed into his Instagram account.

You see, Bron finds himself “out there” all because of a comment he made about “getting that Jewish money”

Here’s the deal … via TMZ:

Long story short, LeBron says he thought it was a “compliment” to Jews.

James was actually quoting a lyric from the 21 Savage rap song “ASMR” — but there was a backlash online from people who felt someone as famous and powerful as LeBron shouldn’t be pushing old Anti-Semitic stereotypes.

“Apologies, for sure, if I offended anyone,” James told ESPN … “That’s not why I chose to share that lyric. I always [post lyrics]. That’s what I do. I ride in my car, I listen to great music, and that was the byproduct of it.”

“So, I actually thought it was a compliment, and obviously it wasn’t through the lens of a lot of people. My apologies. It definitely was not the intent, obviously, to hurt anybody.”

MICHAEL B JORDAN PISSED AT TRAVIS SCOTT / AL SHARPTON CALLS RAPPER A ‘HYPOCRITE!’ – WATCH

Despite LeBron’s intent, there have been hundreds of books and articles written over the years about why the “Jews and Money” stereotype is a dangerous one.

Quite simply, it’s been used a rallying cry to fuel anti-Semitism for hundreds of years.

As far as the NBA is involved, ESPN reports he will not be fined for the posting the lyrics.

It’s 2018 — LeBron should’ve known that probably wasn’t a good idea.

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/12/lebron-james-scorched-for-his-jewish-money-ig-post-video/

*Cardi B was allegedly in talks with the NFL to join Maroon 5 during their Super Bowl halftime show performance in February, as she features on the band’s recent No. 1 hit “Girls Like You”.

But according to multiple reports, the “Bodak Yellow” rapper “is holding out.”

“She doesn’t want to do it unless they roll out the red carpet for her,” a source close to the negotiations said. Cardi reportedly demanded a fee of up to $1 million, plus a solo spot in the halftime show.

*The parents of the 16-year-old biracial varsity wrestler who was forced to cut his dreads before a match have spoken out for the first time since the incident.

The attorney for Charles and Rosa Johnson, Dominic A. Speziali, said in a statement that the conduct of the referee who forced their son, Andrew, to cut his hair “appears more egregious as additional information comes to light,” kdvr.com reports.

They allege the referee told Andrew his hair and headgear were not in compliance with league regulations, Speziali said in the statement.

When Andrew suggested he could push his hair back, Speziali said the referee refused because the teen’s hair “wasn’t in its natural state.”

So the high schooler was given an ultimatum: Cut the locks or forfeit the match. He chose to have his hair cut.

*We don’t know what young and upcoming University of Miami quarterback N’Kosi Perry was thinking when he made a super stupid move that showed his immaturity.

Yep, he may be ready on the field, but it’s what he did off the field that has come back to haunt him and cost him his starting position on the team.

Here the deal. Perry, the U-M starting quarterback, posted a video to his Snapchat account in mid-September that showed two unidentified individuals engaging in sexual intercourse.  Somehow – and it’s not too hard to figure out – the x-rated vid  resurfaced among the Miami student body late last month.  Oops! That’s obviously not a good look for the team and the school. Something had to give. In a statement late last week, the football program said it was aware of the video and “the posting has been addressed with the student-athlete.”

‘HALLWAY HARRY’ DEMANDS BLACK MAN PROVE HE’S A RESIDENT OF EXPENSIVE NYC COMPLEX

Well, the “posting has been addressed with the student-athlete” statement kinda, sorta tells you what up, it doesn’t come right out say what will be N’Kosi Perry’s fate as far as who will start under center for today’s game. Now we know. Head coach Mark Richt confirmed on Wednesday that Malik Rosier (pictured immediately above), not Perry, will get the start at quarterback for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl game against Wisconsin.

Richt, who reprimanded Perry earlier this season for acting juvenile by flashing money in an Instagram video, said Wednesday that Perry has not exactly been suspended for the bowl game [5:15pm Eastern, ESPN/ESPN App].

“He’s not suspended,” Richt told reporters, according to the Miami Herald. “He is available to play as of right now, but we feel like Malik was the guy that’s going to give us the best shot.”

Like the redshirt freshman Perry, Rosier, a fifth-year senior, has started six games this season.  Perry had started the last three contests of the regular season after wresting the job away from Rosier.

If you’re not familiar, this season, Rosier has completed 53.5 percent of his 144 passes for 1,007 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.  He’s also rushed for another 210 yards and six more touchdowns.

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/12/miami-qb-nkosi-perry-sacked-by-team-wont-play-because-of-porn-posted-to-snapchat/

*Deion Sanders was at the prime of his life in the mid-late 90’s. He had won two Super Bowls and appeared in a World Series. He was rich, had become a father and even released an album.

But as reported by The Undefeated in 1997, he drove his car off a cliff in an suicide attempt.

“I was going through the trials and tribulations of life. I was pretty much running on fumes,” he said. “I was empty, no peace, no joy. Losing hope with the progression of everything.”

Sanders recounted the suicide attempt in his autobiography “Power, Money & Sex: How Success Almost Ruined My Life.” He survived a 30- to 40-foot drop without any serious injuries. He then decided his life was worth living.

“I finally just got on my knees and gave it all to the Lord,” he said.

“Slowly, but surely, I had to deal with my faith, deal with my strength,” Sanders said. “I had to get a lot of Word in so that I could fight off the enemy. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my faith. People argue about what faith is, and who Jesus is, but it works for me. I’m not going to sit here and argue about who is what, and what is what, I’m just going to say it works for me.”

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Country Singer Kane Brown on Discovering He’s Biracial and Being Called the ‘N-word’

He began reading the Bible and seeking guidance from mentors such as Bishop T.D. Jakes.

“No one had told me that life would be tough going from one team to another one,” Sanders said. “Going from the enemy’s team, being one of his soldiers, to God’s team. That’s a tremendous turnaround.”

Sanders said he became committed to living a faith-first lifestyle.

“I don’t believe you can be at your optimum without your faith,” Sanders said. “Sports is sports, it’s a game. My faith is everything. It’s the gas that propels the courage, the truth, keeps me going. It’s the wind, it’s the wings, it’s the air that pumps into my lungs, that provokes me to live. Faith is everything.”

The former NFLer says he’s a member of Vision Regeneration Church in Dallas, led by Bishop Omar Jahwar.

“Finding someone that’s like-minded at this age and stage of my life is a delight to me,” Sanders said of Stand Together. “They give with no expectation, give from the heart. The want to fight domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, disenfranchised families. There’s so many things that they’re up against.”

The father of five children also works as a commentator with the NFL Network and he ministers to others.

“What people call ‘in the ministry,’ I call it ‘in my will.’ I’m in God’s will,” he said. “I don’t really get down with a lot of titles, this and that. I believe I’m just in God’s will. If he called me to minister to a group, or setting, or whatever, that’s what it is. That’s what I’m gonna do. I don’t really desire a title to go and do what I’ve been called to do. I think it’s only right to go.”

A new ESPN 30 For 30 documentary about Sanders’ suicide attempt will air January 31. The trouble began during his separation from first wife Carolyn Chambers, the mother of his two children Deion Jr and Deiondra. The end of his marriage propelled him into spiral downward with wanting to take his own life

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/12/deion-sanders-recalls-suicide-attempt-that-led-him-to-the-lord/

*Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson gave his mom a new home for Christmas and he shared his gift giving spitit in an emotional post on Instagram.

Johnson, 46, posted about the surprise on Sunday, writing, “This one felt good. Surprise! Bought my mom a new home for Christmas. All our lives growing up we lived in little apartments all across the country. Lived like gypsies on the road from one state to another.”

He continued, revealing that “The first home my parents ever lived in was the one I bought for them in 1999. They divorced about 5yrs later and as with life, stuff happens and things got a little complicated. Since then I always made sure my mom and dad have everything they’ll ever need – houses, cars etc. But the house this time is a special one and the timing is very meaningful. I told her to treat this card like it’s “Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket” because she gets to choose any home she wants – anywhere she wants.”

Read his full post below.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Deion Sanders Recalls Suicide Attempt That Led Him to the Lord

Johnson also noted in the caption: “I always say, if you got a good mama, then you gotta [sic] pretty good shot at becoming a decent human being,” Johnson wrote. “And somehow, somewhere along the line I became one lucky SOB to be able to make stuff like this happen.”

In the clip above, you see his mother break down when she finds out the amazing news.

 Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/12/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-gifts-his-mother-with-new-home-for-christmas/

*Earlier we told you about Kanye West and Kim Kardashian announcing that they are expecting baby number 4 (scroll down for MORE info). Now, we can tell you about Kobe and Vanessa Bryant‘s plans for their #4, too.

It happened yesterday, New Year’s Day, that the couple announced they’re expecting.

“New Year, New Baby! Baby Mamba On The Way 2019,” Kobe posted on Instagram.

He followed up with:

“Vanessa and I are beyond excited to announce that we are expecting another #mambacita to go along with Natalia (15), Gianna (12) and Bianka (2).”

Kobe and Vanessa, 40 and 36 respectively, have been married since 2001.

Bryant retired from the NBA in 2016 after 20 years. Since hanging up his basketball jersey, Kobe has been involved in charity work and raising his family.

OVER? TONI BRAXTON & BIRDMAN SEND CRYPTIC MESSAGES SIGNALING A BREAKUP! – VIDEO

Up top, we mentioned that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are having ANOTHER baby! Yep, it true.  Kim Kardashian and Kanye are expecting their fourth child, a boy, via surrogate, multiple sources confirm in the new issue of Us Weekly.

In August, Us reported that the couple, who used a surrogate for their third child, 11-month-old Chicago, had one embryo left, a male. Now he’s due to arrive “in very early May,” says an insider.

In addition to baby Chicago, the couple are also parents to North, 5, and Saint, 3, and another source reveals that 38-year-old Kardashian “always wanted four kids.”

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2019/01/kobe-and-vanessa-bryant-are-expecting-their-fourth-child/

*A few weeks ago the NFL announcement plans to strengthen its commitment to consider minority candidates when hiring coaches and executives in their front offices.

“Our focus was simply: How do we make the Rooney Rule better?” Robert Gulliver, the league’s chief human resources officer, said, referring to the rule adopted in 2003 and named for Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers at the time who pushed for the regulations, reports the NY Times.

Now, the Rooney Rule will be put to the test.

There were seven Black coaches at the beginning of the 2018 season. On Monday, only two remain: Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh and Anthony Lynn with the LA Chargers. Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera, who is Latino, is the only other minority head coach.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Big Ass White Man Assaults Small Black Female McDonald’s Worker; Manager Just Watches – LOOK!

Four black coaches were fired this week, including the Jets’ Todd Bowles, Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos Coach Vance Joseph, and Cardinals’ coach Steve Wilks. Cleveland’s Hue Jackson had previously been canned back in October.

via the New York Times:

But the next several weeks will unquestionably heighten the scrutiny on the N.F.L.’s hiring practices and how reliably, or willingly, the Rooney Rule will be employed.

Under the new regulations enacted a few weeks ago, when teams are looking to fill positions, they must interview at least one minority candidate from a list kept by the league’s Career Development Advisory Panel, or a minority candidate not currently working with a team. Teams also must keep detailed records of who they interview, which is perhaps a response to criticism from minority candidates who say they are routinely called, but not formally interviewed, by teams trying to do the least possible to fulfill their obligations.

After it was first established, the Rooney Rule appeared to be having an impact. By 2011, eight N.F.L. teams had coaches of color, the most to that point, or since.

Yet, at the same time, hiring minority front office executives did not keep pace.

With this latest shake-up of Black coaches, and the N.F.L. under pressure to increase the presence of minority coaches and executives, many sports fans wonder if the Rooney Rule is even effective, and if so, why does the future for minority coaches still look so bleak?

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2019/01/nfl-fires-several-black-coaches-after-vow-to-strengthen-the-rooney-rule/

*Dwyane Wade’s baby mama, Aja Metoyer, decided to be messy on social media over the weekend by seemingly shading the NBA star’s wife, Gabrielle Union.

The former “Basketball Wives” star, who shares a son with Wade named Xavier Wade, posted a picture of her C-section scar along with a message praising mothers who experienced a Caesarean birth. She added “LOL” at the end of her note… and that’s when things went left.

Fans are now slamming Aja because many believe she was mocking Union, who recently welcomed a baby girl with Dwyane via surrogate after many miscarriages.

One person commented: “So why did she remove the “LOL” from the end? The “lol” is what made it shade. Why put it? That was the purpose? Shade! She was throwing shade at Gabby. It wasn’t innocent. You still big mad he didn’t choose you, sis. Let’s just be honest with ourselves,” Celebrity Insider reported.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: ‘Hallway Harry’ Demands Black Man Prove He’s a Resident of Expensive NYC Complex

Another follower noted that influencers such as Kim Kardashian and Nicole Kidman also had babies via surrogate.

“Umm… Interesting? So, please “Add” a Shout-out to mothers who did not physically birth their kids or just hit “Delete” be authentic! Being petty looks small on your part, whether it was intentional or not. The timing is absolutely questionable! I am just saying, “Beautiful Single Mother” level up! Whether a woman birth a child does not make her connected or disconnected. It is simply in the soul, spirit, and heart of the woman! Salute to all mothers! Surrogate, Adopted, etc. Why did she remove the original caption? If you’re gonna stand in your truth stand ALL the way in it. You didn’t think the blogs was watching your ass because this doesn’t even match the previous explanation she gave when someone asked her about the LoL.”

But one defender had this to say: “Intentional shade or not, it’s her page and her journey (the caesarian) so she can post what she wants. I stated this earlier. And remember, ppl are feeling sorry for a person who admitted that they were a mean girl, who wished bad and was gleeful when other women of color had hardships. So….I’m not sure how people got all the negative foolishness out your post. I saw the post & not one time did I think of the other young lady. People just being messy.”

Another user added: “I don’t agree with the womb post if!! It was sent out of Anger!!, but kiddos for not signing over full custody… Raise your child, but please heal.. yeah it’s hard, but many mothers experience different hurt, regroup and start fresh. Forgiveness is Priceless.”

Aja has responded to her critics, claiming she wasn’t being shady at all and she slammed folks for being so negative. Check out her response below (via The YBF):

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2019/01/aja-metoyer-responds-to-critics-who-slammed-her-for-shading-gabrielle-unions-surrogate-baby/

*21-year-old Lamar Jackson will make NFL history when he steps onto the field for the Ravens in a playoff game against the Chargers on Sunday.

As reported by The Baltimore Sun, Jackson will start at quarterback for the Ravens AFC wild-card-round game, making him the youngest-ever QB to start a playoff game.

“I’m trying to taste that victory for my birthday Monday,” Jackson said, per the team’s official website. “I can taste it!”

Per NFL.com:

“Coincidentally, Jackson is attempting to break the record of another scampering quarterback, Michael Vick, who was 22 years, 192 days old when he ran over the Green Bay Packers in 2003 at Lambeau Field, becoming the youngest signal-caller to win a playoff game. Vick was in his second season.”

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: 7 Unacceptable Cycles Black People Have to Change to Move Forward – VIDEO

“It really doesn’t [matter to me],” Jackson said of his age. “I’m here to play football. I was 21 all year, so this is another game for me.”

Jackson was 7 years old when Michael Vick sparked his curiosity about the possibilities of playing quarterback in the NFL.

“My first Madden game was 2003, but I played with Michael Vick in 2004, and he was out of control,” he told reporters last spring when the Baltimore Ravens drafted him in the first round, The Undefeated reports.

“Just watching him on a video game and watching him on TV and seeing what he did, what he brought to the table with his team, winning games for Atlanta, it was like, ‘Man, I want to do some of the things he did on the field.’ So I would go out there on a little league game on a Saturday and try to do the same things and emulate what he did. He has been a big influence on me.”

Vick was 22 when he led Atlanta to a playoff win over Green Bay in 2003. Jackson will celebrate his 22nd birthday on Jan. 7.

“Lamar’s maturity has impressed me greatly. He’s very mature,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I think you guys see it — you see it when you interview him, players see it when he walks around. Like I said before, he’s very comfortable with who he is. That’s a sign of maturity for sure.”

 Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2019/01/lamar-jackson-set-to-become-nfls-youngest-qb-to-start-playoff-game/

*Standing at an impressive 6-foot-9, weighing 220 pounds, the San Jose native Aaron Gordon is a force on the basketball court, now in his fifth season playing for the Orlando Magic.  He epitomizes values that are emulated by those who are successful like his outstanding work ethic, determination, and his devotion to performing at an optimal level in each of the games he plays.

Yet, Gordon’s gifts extend beyond the basketball court.  While he was given a chance growing up to develop his athleticism, education was heavily promoted and revered during his formative years by his mother and father.  The lessons that Gordon was taught by his family about developing and building a robust, healthy mind is the same insight he wants to pass along to the youth of Central Florida.

To achieve this goal, Gordon created CodeOrlando, a STEM education program that is in partnership with CodeFWD by Facebook, Sphero, and Orange County Public Schools’ (OCPS) Academic Center for Excellence (ACE).

Gordon kicked off his initiative in December and provided local Orlando students from disadvantaged communities the chance to learn computer science, robotics, and Artificial Intelligence through creative technology projects.  The program will provide a platform for students to participate in valuable speaking and teamwork skills, and give them the opportunity to hear from distinguished technologists along with visiting various businesses and colleges.

Through the Gordon Family Giving Fund, Gordon will financially support the coding program, which will officially kick off this year and ACE will teach and oversee the curriculum. On behalf of his charitable foundation, Gordon donated $6,000 to ACE  which will allow the school to provide the necessary instruction for the coding program during the school year, purchase the equipment that is needed to expand the classes, and conduct intensive summer courses that will include 30 students from the eighth grade to the 12th.   ACE students will learn to operate Sphero robotic balls through simple block-level commands by utilizing smartphones and tablet apps to create instructions that will cause the balls to perform in a particular manner, thereby, giving students a more in-depth understanding on how the process of programming works.

Gordon has a deep respect for technology and wants to impart to students how learning about this particular field can fun and rewarding.  The idea for his newly minted program CodeOrlando was cultivated from his youth where he was exposed to the benefits of the technological occupation based on his mother’s chosen career in Silicon Valley.

“Growing up this was something that was very much a part of our family with my mom working in the semiconductor industry,” said Gordon. “I understand the importance of all students being given the opportunity to learn and experience new things especially in the field of STEM.  I’m thrilled to be able to partner with giants like Facebook and Spheros on this labor of love and bring something to the underserved students in Central Florida.”

Gordon’s mother, Shelly Davis Gordon, had a career in high tech as a semiconductor for 35 years, working for such employers like Xilinx and Alera, a firm that was bought by the microchip giant Intel while she was still employed there.  She also worked on projects like Siemens’ first MRI machine and helmet cams developed for fighter pilots. Shelly Davis Gordon understood the importance of sharing her knowledge and started an after-school program that allowed local students to take old computers and dismantle them to know how they operated.

“We’d bring over 10 systems, and after three hours they would all be bits of dust,” she said. “That was their ‘aha moment,” states Shelly Davis Gordon. So it is only natural that her son would follow in her altruistic and educational footsteps by creating a STEM education program for the Central Florida community.

“I just want kids from a not-so-great upbringing who are underprivileged to have the same opportunity that everybody else has,” said Gordon, “I want them not to be cast aside because of the color of their skin or what they look like or if they don’t have both parents. I want everything to be equal and fair.” Which is one of the many reasons Gordon, along with the involvement of his family, is leading the charge to close the racial disparity in tech through his program. According to an article released by Pew Research Center in 2018, the editorial piece exemplified a dismal under-representation of black people in the technology workforce.  Blacks compose of 11% of the U.S. labor force but only represent 9% of STEM workers and adults with gainful employment that holds a bachelor’s degree or higher, blacks only represent 7% of the STEM workforce.  “It’s an opportunity for underprivileged kids to get a seat at the economic table,” he said. “It can give a chance on what could be a promising career. It’s not just about getting a job but creating jobs or creating a business for themselves.”

Facebook CodeFWD Program is a free online education program created in partnership with Sphero to increase the amount of underrepresented and female students interested in studying computer science.  For more information, please visit techprep.org/codefwd/

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2019/01/aaron-gordon-develops-stem-program-for-underserved-central-florida-youth/

*According to a poll conducted by The Athletic, 95 percent of NFL defensive players believe quarterback Colin Kaepernick should be on a team.

The former San Francisco 49er was the first player to kneel during the national anthem as a means of protesting police brutality and racial inequality. Kap has gone unsigned for the past two seasons. He last played in the NFL  in 2016 due to being blacklisted — as such, he filed a collusion grievance against NFL owners in Oct. 2017.

Eighty-five defensive players anonymously participated in the survey and only two reportedly said Colin should not be on an NFL roster, and two had “No comment.”

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: D.L. Hughley Says Listening to R. Kelly’s Music is Now a ‘Tough Call’ [VIDEO]

Players were also asked to name an NFL quarterback that Kaepernick should replace. Jacksonville Jaguars’ Blake Bortles was the top choice followed by former Buffalo Bills quarterback Nathan Peterman. The quarterbacks who received at least one vote included Eli Manning of the New York Giants and Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

One player said he would replace “25 percent of the league” with Kaepernick.

Another player believes Kaepernick should be part of an NFL roster regardless of his role: “S–t, any team that carries three quarterbacks for sure, the third guy on that roster. And a majority of the teams with two quarterbacks, he should be the backup. And some places he should be the starter.” 

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2019/01/new-poll-reveals-majority-of-players-believe-colin-kaepernick-deserves-nfl-roster-spot/

*Jermaine Dupri  is a Grammy-winning producer, member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and star of the hit Lifetime show, “The Rap Game.”

As a super producer, Dupri gave the Hip-Hop world acts like Kriss-Kross and Bow Wow. Now he is creating a new crop of young stars. Season 5 of “The Rap Game” promises to be the most intense ever. The stakes are high for the young rappers – this season features a battle every episode – to try to stay on the HIT list and in the house.

Yours truly, EURweb correspondent Jill Munroe, sat down with Jermaine to discuss season 5 – including current and former contestants – the controversy behind his curated concert series for the NFL’s Super Bowl LIII and R. Kelly.

Dupri was selected by the Atlanta Super Bowl Host committee to produce a series of free concerts during the week leading up to the big game.

BLACK NEWS ANCHOR DETAILS HOW SHE WAS FIRED FOR HAVING ‘UNPROFESSIONAL’ NATURAL HAIR

There were some who felt Dupri should boycott the event because of the league’s treatment of former NFL star, Colin Kaepernick. JD had this to say on the topic:

“I’m from Atlanta and have been speaking on before people even wanted to come to Atlanta. It was a thing people weren’t even paying attention to it… As ATLiens, we have that midset that we have to do what we have to do to make our city rise and be the place we want it to be. And to turn my head or boycott during a time when the most people will be in Atlanta, and coming with the mind of where’s Jermaine Dupri or that person, it’s a hard thing to ignore. Without thinking of anything else, that’s my reason. It’s not about football…”

What can you expect? Old school acts like Goodie Mob and a Saturday night event that will take you back to the 90’s, as JD turns Centennial Olympic Park into a Freaknik experience complete with Mr. College Park himself, DJ Smurf spinning.

Be sure to check out “The Rap Game” Thursday nights at 9:00 PM on Lifetime.

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2019/01/jermaine-dupri-defends-super-bowl-appearance-speaks-on-the-rap-game-r-kelly/

*Serena Williams took to Instagram over the weekend to share an adorable photo of her 8-week-old daughter Alexis Olympia, documenting her baby’s most recent bath on Instagram.

In the picture, Williams’ husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is seen holding their child — who appears to be wrapped up in a green frog towel.

“We love bath time,” Williams captioned the photo. 

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Blac Chyna Contributes NSFW Hook to New Mally Mall-Produced Track (Listen)

By the way, back in October, Williams and Ohanian dressed up their newborn as Batman to celebrate her first Halloween, sharing a photo of the precious moment on the baby’s Instagram page “When you realize you’re the hero Gotham needs,” the proud parents captioned the snap. See pic below.

As noted by E! News, Williams described finding out that she was expecting her first child during a home pregnancy test, telling Vanity Fair, “[I thought] I’ll take it just because (a) to prove you wrong and (b) because it’s fun, whatever. It’s like a joke, why not? An hour and a half later, I went back to the bathroom and I totally forgot about it because it was impossible for me…So I went back to get dressed and I went back in the bathroom and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that test.'”

She explained her initial reaction upon seeing the test results by revealing “My heart dropped. Like it literally dropped.”

Last summer, Ohanian opened up about how he knew motherhood would come easily to Serena.

“She’s very good at a lot of things and well on her way to being an awesome mom too,” he told CNBC’s Squawk Box before noting that he will be going on paternity leave from the company.

“I’ll be taking off for six weeks myself and trying to do the best job possible as a new dad, a first-time dad.”

Source Link: https://www.eurweb.com/2019/01/serena-williams-loves-bath-time-with-daughter-alexis-olympia/