News

*With the new NBA season set to begin on October 16th, it’s just about the right time to hand out some pre-season awards. Yes, we know that awards generally happen at the end of a season, but these are not very serious awards, mind you.

We already know that the Golden State Warriors are going to win the championship and that LeBron James joining the Lakers will be the most-talked-about thing ever in the history of sports (probably), so that’s why we’re going a bit off-the-wall for these pre-season awards. Let’s get things started!

Most Cartoonish Player – Giannis Antetokounmpo: Incredible name aside, Giannis will be the player most likely to make some sort of NBA Jam dunk (like jumping 15ft. in the air while doing a somersault), as we’ve already seen him perform freakishly athletic slams from all around the court. There was even one where his arm seemed to extend just like Michael Jordan at the end of Space Jam.

Best Hair – Jimmy Butler has had a pretty fly afro for quite a while now, but Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Collin Sexton has taken that ‘fro and elevated it to the next level.

Worst Hair – For a long time, this award would have gone to Suns’ guard Elfrid Payton for his ridiculous hair which actually got into his eyes once and messed up his shot. However, since he has cut his hair, we’re giving the award to Briante Weber from the Miami Heat because of this awful ponytail-dreadlock-pineapple thing going on.

Best Facial Hair – For perhaps the 4th year running, James Harden simply has to take this award. When your nickname is literally “The Beard,” then you’re facing little competition. He might be the current owner of the real MVP (Most Valuable Player) award, but we think this one means so much more.

Worst Facial Hair – Milos Teodosic from the L.A. Clippers has an odd beard that looks like it’s been stuck on with glue. Shave that off before the season starts, bud.

Most Fashionable Player – This is almost definitely something that many players would actually care more about than NBA championships. Dwyane Wade, Nick Young, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony are all superbly dressed dudes, but we’re giving this one to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. This guy takes chances and nothing is ever off-limits. Suit jackets with no shirt underneath, bright red double denim, a photographer’s vest… the guy just seems to never wear the same thing twice. Glasses without prescription lenses are one of Russ’ favorites, and we’re 99% sure he’s worn every single one of these at some point.

Player Always Mistaken For Someone Else – Markieff Morris: This is to be expected considering that Markieff is the twin brother of Marcus Morris on the hugely successful Boston Celtics. But you’ve got to feel bad for Markieff being on the lowly Washington Wizards and probably being called “Marcus” by passers-by all the time.

Coolest Name – This award is really tough, as there are some fantastic names in the NBA at the moment. The Brooklyn Nets have three guys with awesome names, including Spencer Dinwiddie, Rodions Kurucs, and Shabazz Napier. Other runner-ups include Shake Milton on the Philadelphia 76ers and Jaron Blossomgame on the San Antonio Spurs, but the award simply has to go to Sindarius Thornwell on the L.A. Clippers for sounding like someone from Game of Thrones or The Lord of The Rings.

Most Normal Sounding Name – He’s no Sindarius, but Bruce Brown on the Detroit Pistons has a name you can set your watch to.

Will Appear in a Movie – Definitely Lebron James, as he’s already announced to be starring in an upcoming Space Jam sequel. Filling the sneakers of Michael Jordan will be no easy task, but if anyone can, it’s The King. Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck haven’t been in much for some time, so they’ll be happy for the work.

Will Get in a Fight – Milwaukee Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova from Australia doesn’t mind a fight from time to time (which is surprising because he wasn’t involved in the epic Australia vs. Philippines fight), but for sure it will be Draymond Green from the Warriors. He just can’t keep his mouth shut.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/handing-out-some-nba-pre-season-awards/

*LeBron James, who, according to usatoday.com, fancies himself a wine connoisseur, has revealed that his 11-year-old and 14-year-old sons also drink wine —  but don’t blame his wife, Savannah, this was all dad’s decision.

The NBA star said his children drink “whatever dad’s and mom’s having. Put it on me, though. Don’t put it on mom. Put it on dad, put it on dad.”

Savannah and LeBron James have three children: 14-year-old, LeBron James Jr., aka “Bronny;” 11-year-old, Bryce and 3-year-old Zhuri.

“Yeah, that’s how mature they are,” he explained Tuesday after the Lakers’ practice at the team’s training facility. “They’ll be driving next week, too,” James added with a chuckle.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Taylor Swift and ALL the Winners of the Tracee Ellis Ross Hosted 2018 AMAs – WATCH!

Meanwhile, King James says he “Can’t wait for y’all to see Episode 2,” of his series “The Shop” featuring Drakebecause “It’s beyond what you can imagine,” he wrote on Twitter.

In a preview of the episode, the singer visited the baller at the barbershop for a candid conversation about knowing when it’s the right time to bow out gracefully.

“I think maybe one of my biggest concerns in my career is just to figure out how to exit gracefully,” says Drake. “I’ve watched people overstay their welcome, and I just don’t ever want to be that guy that’s addicted to the feeling of victory, addicted to the emotion of people digesting something that they love, and get to a point where I’m feeding them something and they’re just like, ‘Yeah…’”

According to LeBron, you have to surround yourself with the right people. “You can’t have motherf*ckers around you that don’t keep it honest with you and keep it real with you,” he explains. “You gotta have someone to tell you like, ‘Yo, either accept the lesser role, or you gotta tank.’”

Watch the preview below.

The full episode of “The Shop” airs Friday, Oct. 12, at 9:30 p.m. ET on HBO.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/lebron-james-says-his-14-and-11-year-old-sons-drink-wine-talks-retirement-w-drake/

*Another entertainment coupling a/k/a marriage is headed for the scrap heap. Former NBA star and current NBA broadcaster, Kenny “The Jet” Smith and his future ex-wife are splitting.

Gwendolyn Osborne, a former model on “The Price is Right” filed for divorce on Tuesday in Los Angeles, reports The Blast. In court documents, Osborne cites and blames irreconcilable differences for the split.

Osborne is seeking primary legal and physical custody of the couple’s two children: 10-year-old Malloy and 6-year-old London. She is also seeking spousal support.

Smith and Osborne have been married for 12 years. They met at a charity event in 2004. The former Houston Rockets star also has two children with his first wife, Dawn Reavis, and Gwendolyn has a child from a previous relationship.

Smith, a 2x NBA champion, is currently a basketball analyst on “Inside the NBA” on TNT.

RELATED NEWS: GWENDOLYN OSBORNE-SMITH BIDS FAREWELL AS LONGEST RUNNING MODEL OF COLOR ON ‘THE PRICE IS RIGHT’ (EXCLUSIVE)

OK, while one door is closing on a relationship/marriage, another might be creaking open again on a former relationship that was beyond toxic. Yes, Blac Chyna says that she is down for a possible reconciliation with ex Rob Kardashian (we can only wonder what he has to say).

In an interview with DailyMailTV on Tuesday, Blac Chyna opened up about her on-again off-again relationship with Rob and being a single mother to their daughter Dream, 22 months, and King Cairo, 5, whom she shares with her and Kylie Jenner’s ex, Tyga.

“Maybe with Rob,” Chyna said in response to being asked about the possibility of reuniting with her ex. “Maybe, but we’ll see.”

“I wouldn’t change nothing with ‘Rob & Chyna’ at all ’cause that was our reality,” she continued. “The good, the bad and whatever else. I feel like a lot of people misconstrue the whole situation. There’s no way I could have a beautiful baby girl as super-smart as Dream. You can look into her face and just tell she was made with love. She’s, like, perfect.”

READ THIS: BILL COSBY DEMANDS PRISON FACE-OFF AFTER ‘WICKED’ WENDY WILLIAMS TELLS HIS WIFE TO TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN!

Chyna added that she’s in a good place while co-parenting with Rob, whom she dated sporadically throughout 2016. The former stripper explained how Dream is currently obsessed with the color blue — “blue cups, blue plates, shoes and hair bows” — and realized it was because she was copying Kardashian.

All we can say is DON’T DO IT!

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/kenny-the-jet-smith-inside-the-nba-set-for-divorce-blac-chyna-rob-k-re-uniting-video/

*Football legend Herschel Walker is calling for CNN to fire Don Lemon after the host laughed hysterically when rapper Kanye West was referred to as “the token negro of the Trump administration” during a segment that aired Tuesday night.

Lemon kicked off his panel discussion by asking if Donald Trump is simply “using Kanye as a prop to win over black voters before the midterms.”

CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers responded by pointing out Ye’s intellect… or lack thereof.

“Anti-intellectualism simply isn’t cool,” Sellers said. “Kanye West is what happens when Negros don’t read.”

In case you missed it, watch the segment via the clip above.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Tina Lawson: Beyonce’s Mother Shades Husband Richard in ‘Black Love’ Viral Video [WATCH]

Sellers’ remark prompted laughter from Lemon, and fellow panelist Tara Setmayer followed up by saying West is “the token negro of the Trump administration.”

Many on the right have slammed the segment – as “racist” — and Herschel, who has openly supported Trump, was quite offended that Kanye’s mental issues were also mocked.

“Went to bed appalled over Don Lemon’s despicable behavior laughing at Tara Setmayer and Bakari Sellers’ awful remarks about Kanye West’s visit with [Trump]! Woke up wondering why CNN doesn’t take all three off the air?” Walker tweeted, adding the hashtag “#Shameful.”

Setmayer fired back at Walker: “Bless your heart… You want to silence me because I expressed a different opinion than yours? Because I called out Kanye for what he is? Uninformed! I’m an actual conservative, who’s worked on policy advancing those principles for 20-plus years. I’ll never be a shill for Trump.”

And then Walker replied…

“No…Tara Setmayer, anyone that is African American with an opinion different than yours, you want to call them out by using the N-word and Don Lemon is laughing? To me that’s bullying and shameful,” he tweeted.

To which she replied…

“Wait…wait..wait…you think what we did was bullying & shameful??! (Which it was not) Yet you support Trump???? Who literally bullies & insults people as POTUS. You must be kidding me. How intellectually dishonest can you be?”

Walker was not the only person who took offense to the CNN segment.

“These reprehensible, racist comments on CNN are typical of the Trump-hating left,” Fox News contributor Deroy Murdock said.

“Black Americans who think for ourselves are mocked and degraded with words we last saw under Jim Crow. If President Trump had no black supporters, they would call his circle ‘lily white,’” he added. “Now, one of America’s most prominent black entertainers praises and visits the president, and he is trivialized as a ‘token’ who ‘doesn’t read.’”

Even Don Jr. slammed CNN for the segment, calling West a “wildly successful businessman,” then he asked, “Why is free thought and expression so dangerous and scary to liberals?”

Turning Point USA’s Candace Owens told Fox News the segment was “not only racist, it was absolutely despicable.”

“I cannot believe it would be allowed on any network, least of all having a host that’s laughing as if it’s funny,” she said.

 Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/herschel-walker-to-cnn-fire-don-lemon-for-racist-kanye-criticism/

*Football legend Herschel Walker is calling for CNN to fire Don Lemon after the host laughed hysterically when rapper Kanye West was referred to as “the token negro of the Trump administration” during a segment that aired Tuesday night.

Lemon kicked off his panel discussion by asking if Donald Trump is simply “using Kanye as a prop to win over black voters before the midterms.”

CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers responded by pointing out Ye’s intellect… or lack thereof.

“Anti-intellectualism simply isn’t cool,” Sellers said. “Kanye West is what happens when Negros don’t read.”

In case you missed it, watch the segment via the clip above.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Tina Lawson: Beyonce’s Mother Shades Husband Richard in ‘Black Love’ Viral Video [WATCH]

Sellers’ remark prompted laughter from Lemon, and fellow panelist Tara Setmayer followed up by saying West is “the token negro of the Trump administration.”

Many on the right have slammed the segment – as “racist” — and Herschel, who has openly supported Trump, was quite offended that Kanye’s mental issues were also mocked.

“Went to bed appalled over Don Lemon’s despicable behavior laughing at Tara Setmayer and Bakari Sellers’ awful remarks about Kanye West’s visit with [Trump]! Woke up wondering why CNN doesn’t take all three off the air?” Walker tweeted, adding the hashtag “#Shameful.”

Setmayer fired back at Walker: “Bless your heart… You want to silence me because I expressed a different opinion than yours? Because I called out Kanye for what he is? Uninformed! I’m an actual conservative, who’s worked on policy advancing those principles for 20-plus years. I’ll never be a shill for Trump.”

And then Walker replied…

“No…Tara Setmayer, anyone that is African American with an opinion different than yours, you want to call them out by using the N-word and Don Lemon is laughing? To me that’s bullying and shameful,” he tweeted.

To which she replied…

“Wait…wait..wait…you think what we did was bullying & shameful??! (Which it was not) Yet you support Trump???? Who literally bullies & insults people as POTUS. You must be kidding me. How intellectually dishonest can you be?”

Walker was not the only person who took offense to the CNN segment.

“These reprehensible, racist comments on CNN are typical of the Trump-hating left,” Fox News contributor Deroy Murdock said.

“Black Americans who think for ourselves are mocked and degraded with words we last saw under Jim Crow. If President Trump had no black supporters, they would call his circle ‘lily white,’” he added. “Now, one of America’s most prominent black entertainers praises and visits the president, and he is trivialized as a ‘token’ who ‘doesn’t read.’”

Even Don Jr. slammed CNN for the segment, calling West a “wildly successful businessman,” then he asked, “Why is free thought and expression so dangerous and scary to liberals?”

Turning Point USA’s Candace Owens told Fox News the segment was “not only racist, it was absolutely despicable.”

“I cannot believe it would be allowed on any network, least of all having a host that’s laughing as if it’s funny,” she said.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/herschel-walker-to-cnn-fire-don-lemon-for-racist-kanye-criticism/

*We caught up with “Black Love” creators Codie and Tommy Oliver to dish about the all-new resonating episode featuring couples who have persevered through some life-threatening challenges, proving that love has the power to conquer the most insurmountable odds.

Grant and Tamia Hill, and two-time Olympians Jamie Nieto and Shevon Stoddart open up about how learning to live with unexpected led to a more balanced life.

“You say your vows and you don’t always know what’s to come, you just say it,” Codie tells EUR/Electronic Urban Report. “And as Grant (Hill) said, ‘Our vows were tested.’ I think the takeaway that I’ve learned is that anything can happen and you really want to live your life and love your marriage as best you possibly can. Hopefully, some of these stories actually are preparing you for the reality of, it can be okay.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Beyonce Pens Sweet Instagram Post to ‘My Clyde, My Best Friend’ Jay-Z

The filmmakers and real-life couple tell us that while they have not had “an explicit conversation about what we would do” when their own vows are tested by a potentially fatal or chronic illness,” Codie noted: “I think for us, and hopefully for the audience, what has been the most prevailing feeling is the sense of we now have examples of having talked to all of these people as to like, how to get through, and that we can. We have that confidence that we can. I think you pull from the strengths of the people who have been through it and say we can do this.”

Tommy shared that “the closest we’ve come to having this conversation was several years ago,” and he recalls a conversation he had with a man several years ago that reminded him to always stay true to the ‘ in sickness and in health” part of his marital vows.

“We did an interview that has not aired, and we were in Las Vegas and there was a guy whose wife was dealing with cancer… and actually this has come up a couple of times where we’ve heard of guys leaving their wives and we talked about it in the context of, that’s not something that I would ever do,” he explained.

“We are committed to each other through thick and thin. Like (Sterling K. Brown) said (in the finale episode, airing next week), you don’t really expect things to get that bad, but sometimes they do. Sometimes there are some things that you have absolutely no control over. And for me, no matter what it is, I will be there for my wife. I will do whatever I can to make sure I’m supporting her through any and everything.”

Has exploring black love through the couples featured on the series been transformative for Codie and Tommy?

Mrs. Oliver admits “there’s no way to go through this and do these interviews — we’ve done like, a hundred now — and to come through the ones that end up on air that we end up watching 20-times over, and not learn something. And Tony has made the point that just because we get all these amazing experiences and advice doesn’t mean that they are suddenly committed to muscle memory and now we’re the best spouses ever. Definitely does not mean that. But, we can’t go through it without hearing something, and oftentimes something different and it’s sitting with us for a while. ‘Should I change how I’m operating?  Should I communicate with him differently?’

Continuing, she added: “Actually, one of the things that stands out to me is when Shevon, the former Olympian, who’s married to Jamie Nieto, who became paralyzed after an accident, they’re talking about how she pivoted her life and career to be local and available to be with him and take care of him and go through this with him. She could’ve continued to be an Olympian and she pivoted and has become a singer. She said some people are scared and say ‘I can’t do that. I can’t change my life ‘cause this thing happened to us or to you.’ And that can put a strain on things. But when you’re committed, you have to do that,” she explained.

“That is a lesson that has stood out to me ever since she said it because it applies so much more to just health issues. The last thing we want is to have to change your whole life because your spouse is sick or hurt. But there’s so much we go through on a day-to-day basis where if we realize ‘I can change what I’m doing to strengthen our relationship and whatever the issue is this is going on.’ So I would say that’s the current thing that’s been sitting with me for a while. We certainly can’t go through a hundred interviews and not learn something.”

“In Sickness and In Health” airs Saturday, October 13 at 10pm ET/PT on OWN and check back soon for PART ll of our conversation with Tommy & Cody.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/black-love-creators-codie-and-tommy-oliver-on-being-committed-to-each-other-in-sickness-and-in-health-eur-exclusive/

*Even though he committed suicide in his prison cell, former New England Patriots tight end and convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez is still making news. The latest is that he was “sexually molested as a young boy,” according to an investigative report from The Boston Globe revealed, via their Gladiator podcast.

The Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team — which conducted interviews with family, friends, former teammates and obtained recordings of nearly 300 phone calls Hernandez made from prison — released the first part of its six-part series on Hernandez on Saturday.

The story covers a lot of ground, including Hernandez’s childhood and home life, drug use and his sexuality.

Check out part one of the podcast above and the background story below

What: Gladiator podcast by Wondery Launches

Who: Wondery Media and the Boston Globe

When: Monday, October 15, 2018

READ THIS/DENNIS EDWARDS: SINGER’S WIDOW DENIES ABUSE ALLEGATIONS, SAYS STATE FAILED HER HUSBAND

Gladiator, a new podcast produced by tastemakers Wondery and the highly acclaimed Boston Globe Spotlight Team, launches today. The investigative six-part series will chronicle the saga of Aaron Hernandez, the former New England Patriots player convicted of murder, who later committed suicide in his prison cell. The podcast is currently ranked number one on Apple.

The Globe’s celebrated Spotlight Team—including longtime investigative sports reporter Robert Hohler (Chief Narrator), Beth Healy, Andrew Ryan, Sacha Pfeiffer and Patricia Wen—will each lead at least one episode. The Spotlight Team will present Hernandez’s story to listeners in a broader context, including the factors that led a man to throw away a $40 million contract by committing murder.

The Spotlight team examines the incidents that turned Hernandez’s life into a cautionary tale:

• The bombshell in Episode 2 about Hernandez’s secret sexual relationship with his high school teammate
• The effects of the constant abuse and upheaval in the Hernandez house on Hernandez’s behavior?
• How a brain badly damaged by football could have contributed to Hernandez’s violent behavior?
• The lack of action by coaches and team personnel that contributed to Hernandez’s spiral

To coincide with the launch of the podcast, the Spotlight Team is publishing a six-part investigative series both digitally and in print. The podcast is currently ranked number one on Apple.

If you’re wondering about Wondery, it is the network of hit podcasts such as Dirty John, Business Wars, American History Tellers and Dr. Death.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/aaron-hernandez-was-sexually-molested-as-a-child-reveals-new-podcast-listen/

*The interim CEO and president of USA Gymnastics has resigned four days into her job after she was slammed by Olympic champion Simone Biles for an anti-Colin Kaepernick/Nike post.

Mary Bono, a former GOP congresswoman from California, was criticized by Biles after she tweeted, and then deleted, a photo of herself drawing over a Nike logo on her golf shoes. She didn’t name Kaepernick but petty White folks have been posting such actions on social media in protest against the new Nike ad campaign featuring the former NFL quarterback.

The move represents yet more embarrassing headlines for the organization, which is still dealing with the aftermath of the Larry Nassar abuse scandal. Bono was also criticized by Olympic champion Aly Raisman for her connections to a law firm that she said helped “cover up” Nassar’s abuse.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: 

Geoffrey Owens Shares ‘Surprising’ Supportive Message He Received from Son After Being Job-Shamed [WATCHBiles, who is sponsored by Nike, responded Saturday to Bono via Twitter: “*mouth drop* don’t worry, it’s not like we needed a smarter usa gymnastics president or any sponsors or anything.”

Bono apologized but soon after she announced her resignation.

“It is with profound regret, coupled with a deep love for the sport of gymnastics and respect for those who aspire to be great gymnasts, that I today tendered my resignation as the Interim CEO of USA Gymnastics,” said Bono in a statement. “My withdrawal comes in the wake of personal attacks that, left undefended, would have made my leading USAG a liability for the organization.”

In her resignation statement, Bono said she reacted strongly to Nike’s “sacrificing everything” slogan, as it reminded her of her late brother, a member of the military.

“It was an emotional reaction to the sponsor’s use of that phrase that caused me to tweet, and I regret that at the time I did not better clarify things,” she wrote, adding that Kaepernick “exercised his First Amendment right to kneel, I exercised mine.”

USA Gymnastics’ former team doctor Larry Nassar is serving up to 175 years in prison for multiple sex crimes against athletes, including Biles and Raisman.

 Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/new-usa-gymnastics-president-quits-four-days-into-job-after-simone-biles-criticism/

*This should be pretty interesting. We’re talking about a duel of between two extremely opinonated journalists and talk show hosts. So, be sure to tune in as Roland S. Martin hosts ‘The Great Debate‘ VS. sports journalist and host of “Speak For Yourself” on Fox Sports FS1, Jason Whitlock. The two top journalists will debate topics such as Colin Kaepernick, Lebron James, Black Lives Matter, and more on #RolandMartinUnfiltered LIVE from Los Angeles today, Thursday, October 18 at 3:00PM PST/6:00PM EST.

#RolandMartinUnfiltered garnered an impressive 8.2 Million organic views in it’s first month of streaming. The fully independent news source addresses many of the top stories today that are largely ignored by mainstream media. The show, which airs live daily at 6:00 pm EST, covers a wide range of topics that are important to people of color including voter suppression, HBCUs, the increasing wealth gap in America, and it will continue to do so in an unapologetic and unfiltered way.

Martin expressed his dedication to the new venture by sharing, “I am more than excited about the launch of #RolandMartinUnfiltered and what we’ve been able to do in our first month. For a show that has no major media backing, that has grown organically and is all powered by the people, this proves our audience is craving for news and issues that speaks to their concerns. The marketplace is seriously devoid of the type of show we are producing on a daily basis, and we are committed to building this to an even bigger presence.”

#RolandMartinUnfiltered is a fully digital experience that streams live daily on Facebook, YouTube, Periscope and Instagram TV, and is available on-demand on a multitude of digital platforms, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Firestick, Google Chromecast and more. The daily digital show is “powered by the people” and incorporates real-time interactions and commentary from viewers.

The digital show format features in-depth discussions and one-on-one interviews with authors, artists, athletes, entertainment personalities, and other top names in education, public policy, and academia. In addition, #RolandMartinUnfiltered hits the road and streams live events across the country, such as speeches, summits, conferences, town halls, and staple entertainment events.

Martin, who has nearly 2 million social media followers, has always been a pioneer in the digital space. The founding editor of Tom Joyner’s BlackAmericaWeb.com, he launched the first Black news source audio podcast in 2005 and the first Black news video podcast in 2006. He has also launched and written for a variety of other Black and mainstream media websites in his career.

Known for being a ‘tenacious truth seeker’ and ‘relentless journalist,’ Martin hosted TV One Cable Network’s NewsOneNow for four years, where he made history for the first daily morning show to focus on news, politics and current events explicitly from an African American perspective. From 2009 to 2013, he hosted the award-winning TV One Sunday morning news show, Washington Watch. Many of his devoted fans have expressed the importance of having Martin’s candid commentary and representation of people of color back on the air.

For more information, please visit RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. And stay connected with Martin via social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Periscope (@rolandsmartin).

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/roland-s-martins-great-debate-vs-jason-whitlock-today-thursday-october-18/

*Former LA Lakers/NBA superstar player Kobe Bryant just got a taste of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements when on Wednesday, he was booted from being a judge at the “Animation Is Film Festival.”

The action to remove Bryant came because of an online petition that demanded that he be removed due to a 2003 rape allegation.

The Change.org petition posted last week urged festival officials to remove Bryant from the jury, according to Variety, a festival sponsor. The petition claimed that keeping him on would set a “precedent” of leniency for sexual criminals and “undermine the visibility and respect” that victims deserve.

Dang, that’s pretty rough language when you consider he was never convicted. In any event, according to Eric Beckman, the CEO of GKIDS, the company that organized the “Animation Is Film Festival,” Bryant would be removed from the jury after discussions were held with festival stakeholders.

“We are a young organization and it is important to keep our collective energies focused on the films, the participating filmmakers, and our festival attendees,” Beckman said in a statement.

Bryant, 40, was charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman in Colorado in 2003. A year after the accusation, prosecutors dropped the charges because the woman did not want to go ahead with a trial. Bryant said the sex was consensual.

It was just earlier this year in March that Bryant won an Academy Award in for his part in making the animated short, “Dear Basketball,” and faced similar scrutiny during the night’s ceremony, which centered on a “Time’s Up” anti-harassment theme.

“This decision further motivates me and my commitment to building a studio that focuses on diversity and inclusion in storytelling for the animation industry.”

The former basketballer and founder of animation company Granity Studios, released a statement saying he was honored to be invited and remains “focused on changing the world in positive ways.”

“I was honored to have been originally invited by Animation is Film to serve on the 2018 Jury, and am disappointed to no longer serve in that capacity,” Bryant’s statement said. “This decision further motivates me and my commitment to building a studio that focuses on diversity and inclusion in storytelling for the animation industry.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/kobe-bryant-2003-rape-allegation-leads-film-festival-to-drop-him-as-judge/

*“Warriors of Liberty City” is an eye-opening 6-part documentary that explores Liberty City, a crime-ridden neighborhood in Miami, Florida that is arguably the NFL’s most successful football factory.

Produced by LeBron James, the STARZ series follows a season with the Liberty City Warriors, a youth football program founded by an unlikely mentor: Luther Campbell (2 Live Crew), better known as “Uncle Luke.”

Now in its 29th year, the Liberty City Warriors Optimist Club is a youth organization that sponsors sports teams, dance, cheerleading, tutoring and academic support.

“What we do in our program, we take football and use it as a tool to lure the kids into the program but it’s really more about education,” Campbell tells EUR/Electronic Urban Report. “Because the first thing we do is tell the mom to come in and fill out an application for your kid to play. Two things in that application are very important: Do you have a voter’s registration card? If you check “No” we’re going to give you an application so you can go vote. And the next thing is, we need your kid’s last report card. We take his last report card and break the numbers down. After we break the numbers down, if he’s not over a 2.0 GPA, he automatically gets thrown into tutoring. We don’t turn them away.”

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Wendy Williams Believes Kanye Made ‘Agreement’ with Trump to Help ‘Clean’ Kim Kardashian’s Image

Continuing, he added: “Now this kid is in tutoring. He’s getting educated because he wants to be there and able to play. Nine times out of ten, he’ll get the academic requirements and then he’ll get hooked on the academic part of it because he knows it coincides together. Our program goes year-round. I started it because I was a kid playing organized football on Miami Beach but the bad thing about it was that was the only place we could play organized sports. We had to be off Miami Beach at 6:00pm because, at the time, if you were black on Miami Beach after 6:00 you go to jail. This is what I’m experiencing as a kid. So that’s what made me start the program.”

The Liberty City neighborhood of Miami is primarily African-American and largely lower-income and boasts a number of notable football players including Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Willis McGahee and Devonta Freeman.

“Everybody looks at the success stories of the players who came out of there, you know the guys who played in the Super Bowl like Chad Johnson. But my favorite success story is a little, undersized kid, smaller than everybody that didn’t grow too tall, single parent household — difficult situation,” said Luke. “He comes in and gets the tutoring. He then gets hooked on education. He then goes to college. He ends up in college not through football, on academics. Leaves college to come back home and becomes a lawyer and then from a lawyer he becomes a defense attorney, from a defense attorney, through the program, he gets elected to become a Commissioner and Chairman of the Board. And as Chairman of the Board, the first thing he does is build a $6.5 million facility with classrooms that the program never had. You can’t even write that up! That’s the beautiful part about it. Those are the stories we have from the program, other than just football.

*Following Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul’s intense knuckle drill Saturday night at the Staples Center late in the 4th quarter, the New York Post offers some insight into the duo’s history that may have led to the explosion.

“Lot of history between them,” a source told ESPN of Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul after the melee over the weekend.

Here’s how the NY Post breaks it down:

The feud goes as far back as the 2008 Olympics, when Paul, Jason Kidd and Deron Williams were the point guards chosen to lead the “Redeem Team,” and Rondo was left off the roster. That snubbing may have stuck with Rondo, who then played with Team USA in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics, only to leave the team after a DNP when it became clear he was not going to get a slot.

If Rondo had any Olympic jealousy of Paul, he tried to play up any jealousy Paul, regarded as the better pro and a future Hall of Famer, may have had of him. In a 2009 on-court skirmish that broke out after a game between Paul’s Hornets and Rondo’s Celtics, the Boston point guard tried to emphasize what he had, and what Paul lacked.

“I’ve got a ring, and you’re never gonna win one,” Rondo told Paul, according to Adrian Wojnarowski, then of Yahoo.

The two tried to fight repeatedly that November night, with Paul having to be held back from the Celtics locker room, where he wanted to confront Rondo.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Not Impressed: Pam Grier on Ray J and Kim K’s Sex Tape: ‘I Believe They Were Just Acting’ [WATCH]

Their long-simmering hostility came to a head Saturday.

As a result of the melee, CBS News reported that Ingram, Rondo and Paul were suspended without pay, with Paul taking the heaviest financial hit. Ingram was suspended four games, Rondo will sit out three games and Paul two games.

Meanwhile, the significant others of Chris and Rajon were also involved in a physical confrontation in the stands as their hubby’s feuded on the court.

via NY Post:

There was disagreement in the reports of how serious the fracas in the stands was. The Los Angeles Sentinel reported that Rondo’s girlfriend pushed Paul’s wife, Jada, who was sitting next to Savannah James, LeBron’s wife. The Athletic said that a member of Rondo’s family “confronted” Jada. The Houston Chronicle said someone made “inappropriate” comments to Jada.

Meanwhile, according to Complex:

NBA analyst Shams Charania reported that someone from Rondo’s family went after Chris Paul’s wife, Jada, in a confrontation. The family member said some inappropriate comments to her after the fight, which pissed off Paul even more. 

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/rajon-rondo-chris-pauls-history-of-beef-that-led-to-explosion/

*This is not the kind of story that will bring to mind that oldie but goodie by Shep and the Limelites called “Daddy’s Home.” Nope, we’re talking about the release former NFL player Rae Carruth, who was released from prison earlier today after serving 18 years for ordering the slaying of his pregnant girlfriend.

“I’m excited about just being out of here,” he told Charlotte’s WSOC-TV by phone a few days before his release from the Sampson Correctional Institution in North Carolina. “I’m nervous just about how I’ll be received by the public. I still have to work. I still have to live. I have to exist out there and it just seems like there is so much hate and negativity toward me.”

Carruth, a former first-round draft pick for the Carolina Panthers completed his sentence of 18 to 24 years, however he did not speak to reporters as he left the prison.

Carruth, now 44, was found guilty of orchestrating a plot to kill Cherica Adams to avoid paying child support. Adams was shot four times on Nov. 16, 1999 while driving her car in Charlotte, but managed to make a 911 call that pointed the finger at the NFL player.

Adams, eight months pregnant, died less than a month after the shooting. The child she was carrying was delivered (a boy who was named Chancellor), but suffers from permanent brain damage and cerebral palsy.

RELATED NEWS: RAE CARRUTH, FORMER NFL STAR TURNED KILLER, TELLS MOTHER OF WOMAN HE HAD KILLED, ‘SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR DAUGHTER’

Carruth has said he wants to have a relationship with Chancellor, who remains in the custody of his grandmother, Saundra Adams, had said she would be there when Carruth got out of prison, but she was not present on Monday.

Carruth, a wide-receiver, was drafted by the Panthers in 1997. Then Panthers center Frank Garcia said players were stunned when they heard the news of about his possible involvement in the murder.

“It would be like finding out the guy sitting in the cubicle next to you at work was arrested for murder,” Garcia said. “You just don’t always know people as well as you think you do.”

Some players testified at the trial, and others would spend time in the players’ lounge watching it on Court TV.

“That is one time where you were actually hiding from the cameras,” Garcia said. “You just wanted to stay low and not be involved. All along you’re asking yourself, ‘Did I miss any signs? How is somebody capable of this?’”

Carruth worked as a barber while behind bars, making about $1 per hour, according to North Carolina Department of Public Safety spokesman Jerry Higgins. He had signed a $3.7 million contract with the Panthers after being drafted.

Carruth also told WBTV (Charlotte, NC) in a recent interview he’s “excited” to get out of prison but nervous about how he’ll be received by the public, acknowledging there is “so much hate and negativity toward me.”

Hmmm, we wonder why. Maybe it’s the … cone head?

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/ex-nfler-rae-carruth-released-from-prison-18-years-after-ordering-hit-on-pregnant-girlfriend/

*On Friday, October 26, The Real celebrated Fri-Yay and finished up Atlanta Week by giving a local mother the means to reunite with her daughter.

The hosts discuss whether women need to be domestic in order to get that diamond, and should fathers-to-be abstain from drinking in solidarity with the soon-to-be mothers of their children?

Later, WWE Superstar Sasha Banks stops by to talk about WWE’s first all-women’s event, Evolution, and lets everyone know which superhero she dreams of fighting in the ring!

Does A Woman Need to Be Domestic To Get a Diamond?

The Real Gives an Atlanta Mother The Means To Reunite With Her Daughter

Which Superhero Does WWE’s Sasha Banks Want To Fight In The Ring?

Which Superhero Does WWE’s Sasha Banks Want To Fight In The Ring?

Jeannie Mai: So if you were to fight someone who isn’t a professional wrestler, who would it be?

Sasha Banks: Ooh, I would have to choose Mark Ruffalo.

Jeannie: Oooooh.

Sasha: Only because I have a big crush on him…

Loni Love: He plays The Hulk!

Sasha: I think he’s so cute! Yeah!

Adrienne Houghton: You have a crush on him, you want to beat him up?

Tamera Mowry-Housley: Yeah, you want to fight him?

Sasha: Yeah! (laughs)

[The Real Audience laughs]

Jeannie: See, that’s hot. Wait, that makes me picture things – does that mean you take some of your moves into the bedroom sometimes?

Sasha: Ahhh, I mean you’d have to ask my husband that, maybe. I don’t know.

Adrienne: Ok!

Tamera: Ok!

Jeannie: He’s your hall pass; I got it, we’ll remember that!

Website: thereal.com

Twitter: @TheRealDaytime

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealdaytime

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/therealdaytime

Instagram: http://instagram.com/therealdaytime

Photo credit: Robert Voets/Warner Bros. Television

About The Real

Led by bold, diverse and outspoken Emmy Award-winning hosts, Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley all frankly say what women are actually thinking. THE REAL is a live daily, one-hour NAACP Image Award-winning and Emmy-nominated talk show on Fox Television Stations and in national syndication (check local listings), with a rebroadcast on cable network Bounce. The hosts’ unique perspectives are brought to life through candid conversations about their personal lives, current events, beauty, fashion and relationships (nothing is off limits). Unlike other talk shows, THE REAL hosts are admittedly a “work in progress,” and fearlessly invite viewers to reflect on their own lives and opinions. Fresh points of view, youthful energy and passion have made THE REAL a platform for multicultural women. Produced by Telepictures Productions and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, The Real is led by Executive Producer, Rachel Miskowiec (Good Morning America, Katie, The Tyra Banks Show, Judge Hatchett, The Ricki Lake Show) and shot in Los Angeles, California.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/the-real-welcomes-wwe-superstar-sasha-banks-and-celebrates-fri-yay-watch/

*Those Golden State Warriors are not only hellacious on the court, but can bring the funny in the locker room, too. That was the case Friday night after their win against the Knicks. On top of that, they ended up getting the last laugh after posting a video of the team dancing to a remix of Fergie disasterous singing of the national anthem from the NBA All-Star Game (watch it above).

If you missed it, earlier this week, Josh Duhamel, slammed Warriors player Draymond Green for having the nerve to giggle and smirk at his ex-wife, Fergie’s now infamous “Star Spangled Banner” performance.

Duhamel was not happy with Green’s reaction and told FS1’s Kristine Leahy that he believed the basketball star owed Fergie an apology.

“I was pissed off at Draymond Green, first of all. I think he owed her an apology. I thought he was kind of a prick. Just because he knew the camera was on him, and he snickered about. I just thought that, if he would have been a real man, he would have at least called her and said, ‘Listen, I’m sorry that I caused all this.’ … That’s what a real man would have done, in my opinion.”

TRENDING: ‘BASKETBALL WIVES‘ STAR CECE GUTIERREZ AND BYRON SCOTT ANNOUNCE ENGAGEMENT

Actor and die-hard Vikings fan, @joshduhamel joins @KristineLeahy to talk about his career as a college QB, how far his Vikings fandom goes, as well as his reaction to when a certain NBA player snickered during the National Anthem…

FAIR GAME, today at 5:30pm ET on FS1 pic.twitter.com/HQ3LKoFxRf

— Fair Game (@FairGameonFS1) October 25, 2018

Following their win on Friday night, the Golden State Warriors introduced the #FergieRemixChallenge. The team’s reserve forward Alfonzo McKinnie posted a video of teammates Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and others dancing to a remix of Fergie’s national anthem rendition, ESPN reported.

Full video of the Golden State Warriors dancing to a remix of Fergie’s National Anthem.

Josh Duhamel’s response: “Note to self: Think twice before you call out the champs. Well played warriors. #NBATwitterisnojoke #sorryferg” pic.twitter.com/SRmgo0jEL8

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) October 27, 2018

Duhamel tweeted on Friday night calling the challenge “well played.”

Interesting, after the video of the Warriors getting’ they groove on to the Fergie re-mix, Duhamel seems to have had a change of heart and the whole spat literally ended with laughter. “Note to self: Think twice before you call out the champs. Well played @warriors,” Duhamel wrote.

Green responded, “Hahaha it was never any disrespect to her …. But the challenge about to be lit G!”

Hahaha it was never any disrespect to her… But the challenge about to be lit G!

— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) October 27, 2018

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/gs-warriors-spat-with-josh-duhamel-over-fergies-natl-anthem-ends-in-laughter-watch/

*Matt Barnes was in court Monday to testify against his ex Gloria Govan in hopes of finalizing their custody drama.

As we previously reported, Barnes wants to take custody away from “The Basketball Wives” star, claiming she’s a danger to their children after her arrest last month for felony child endangerment.

Govan recently scored a legal victory in the negotiations after a judge shot down Barnes’ request, and now the L.A. County D.A. has rejected criminal charges against her and she will not be prosecuted.

As reported by The Blast, Gloria was arrested the Friday before Labor Day after Barnes claimed she put the lives of their twin boys at risk by allegedly blocking him and the kids from driving away from their school. Govan reportedly became erratic and was arrested for child endangerment after getting in a fight with her ex-hubby over custody.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Matt Barnes Expecting Baby with Beverly Johnson’s Daughter, Anansa Sims

According to TMZ, Matt was set to pick up their 9-year-old twins from school, per their custody agreement. However, when Govan arrived early and put the kids in her car, all hell broke loose.

She was arrested for child endangerment and violating a court order and later released on $100,000 bail.

via TMZ:

Sources connected with Gloria called BS on Matt’s claim he had custody of the kids that weekend. Gloria says she even asked her lawyer well in advance to notify Matt’s attorney Labor Day weekend was hers.

On the day in question … her rep told the D.A. Gloria went to the school to pick up the boys, but Matt was already there. She says the kids were in her car when Matt ordered the boys to get in his car … she believed in violation of the custody order. Gloria says she blocked his car, called 911 and “calmly” waited for cops.

Gloria denied she drove crazy to get at Matt’s car and ultimately the D.A. said there was insufficient evidence to move forward.

Matt subsequently got a restraining order, and Govan must stay 100 yards away from the kids. She’s only allowed to see her boys once a week with a monitor present.

Gloria and Matt were back in court Monday … a judge will determine whether to make the restraining order permanent or end it, The Blast report states.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/10/gloria-govan-d-a-rejects-felony-child-endangerment-case/

*LOS ANGELES — Today, Muhammad Ali Enterprises announced that the world’s all-time greatest heavyweight boxer, timeless cultural icon and international legend will take up residence in Los Angeles starting Nov. 2 with an official, limited engagement exhibition titled, Muhammad Ali: The Greatest of All Time. The exhibit will open its doors at the newly renovated Beverly Center, running from Nov. 2, 2018 to Jan. 20, 2019. Tickets are limited and on sale now.

As the first of its kind in Los Angeles, the in-depth and illuminating exhibition will feature a wide array of rare Ali-owned and themed memorabilia. Expertly curated, the exhibition delves into Muhammad Ali‘s evolution from hometown hero, The Louisville Lip, to becoming one of the most recognizable people in the world. Rare photos, footage, artifacts and information will spotlight Muhammad Ali’s life both inside and outside the ring from his early years, the Olympics, to his dedication to the civil rights movement, his brave health battles and everything in between.

The collection will include championship belts, event-worn robes, shorts and boxing gloves, Olympic medals and torches, and original posters, magazines, ticket stubs and programs, from as early as the 1960s. The exhibit provides a vivid snapshot of the Muhammad Ali Center, which was founded by Ali and his family in Louisville, Kentucky.

“Ali was such a remarkable athlete, who was widely admired not just for his accomplishments in the ring, but his outgoing spirit and philanthropy,” said exhibit curator, Angie Marchese. “To honor his legacy, we dedicated ourselves to making the exhibit educational and inspiring. There are so many opportunities to get fans up-close-and-personal with Ali. It’s a unique, interactive experience that we are beyond thrilled to share – there truly is nothing else like it.”

In addition to the viewing the artifacts, visitors can experience and share Ali’s unique story as they navigate memorable, immersive photo stations and multimedia displays. Muhammad Ali: The Greatest of All Time chronicles Ali’s persona outside of the sport, highlighting his goodwill missions across the globe, run-ins with other celebrities, and of course, his clever and often colorful prose and pre-fight theatrics.

Muhammad Ali: The Greatest of All Time is scheduled to open doors on Friday, Nov. 2 at 10:00 a.m. The space will be open Mondays through Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Tickets are limited and on sale now for $12 per person. To purchase tickets or learn more about the exhibition, fans may visit Ali.CircleExhibits.com.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/muhammad-ali-the-peoples-champ-featured-in-limited-engagement-exhibition-in-los-angeles-this-fall/

*Baseball legend Willie McCovey died Wednesday after battling ongoing health issues. The Hall of Fame first baseman spent most of his career with the San Francisco Giants, and is considered one of the franchise’s most beloved players.

“As a person, he was a true gentleman,” said former Giants first baseman Will Clark. “There have been people who describe him as a gentle giant, and that definitely fits.”

As noted by TMZ, Willie played for the Giants from 1959-73 and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986. His 521 home runs are still tied for 20th on MLB’s all-time list.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Will Smith Clears Up Rumors That He and Jada Are Scientologists and Swingers [WATCH]

“San Francisco and the entire baseball community lost a true gentleman and legend, and our collective hearts are broken,” Giants president and CEO Larry Baer said in a statement. “Willie was a beloved figure throughout his playing days and in retirement. He will be deeply missed by the many people he touched.

“For more than six decades, he gave his heart and soul to the Giants — as one of the greatest players of all time, as a quiet leader in the clubhouse, as a mentor to the Giants who followed in his footsteps, as an inspiration to our Junior Giants, and as a fan cheering on the team from his booth,” Baer added.

“Willie’s greatest passion was his family,” he continued. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his beloved wife, Estella, and his daughter, Allison, and her children Raven, Philip, and Marissa.”

Willie is also survived by his sister Frances and his brothers, Clauzell and Cleon, the Giants reported.

via TMZ:

McCovey retired in 1980 with the most home runs ever by a left-handed hitter in the National League, a mark that stood until 2001 when Barry Bonds broke it.

McCovey made his major league debut in 1959, going 4-for-4 in his first game. He hit .354, with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs in 52 games that season and was named Rookie of the Year.

One of McCovey’s best seasons came in 1969, when he won MVP honors. That year, he led the league in home runs (45), RBIs (126) and on-base percentage (.453).

Willie was a 6-time All-Star and the 1969 National League MVP. His 18 career grand slams are the most in NL history.

“He was a Hall of Fame human being,” said Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow.

“I’m thinking about him now, and I’m thinking maybe he can finally get off that wheelchair and walk, or run if he feels like it,” said Pat Gallagher, the former Giants marketing chief who created the Willie Mac Award, given annually to the most inspirational Giant.

“He was in so much pain and was so stoic about it. I’m sad I won’t see him again, but I’m just happy he won’t be in pain.”

Willie was 80. RIP.

The Giants retired his No. 44 and McCovey has a statue outside the club’s ballpark.

Source:https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/sf-giants-legend-willie-mccovey-dead-at-80/

*When vacationing at Walt Disney World, you are instantly immersed in an atmosphere of wonder, imagination, and the fulfillment of dreams.  Visit any of Disney’s theme parks and you may run into Mickey and Minnie Mouse or have your picture taken with Disney Princess Tiana, you can shop, eat, and enjoy your favorite libation at any of the numerous restaurants featured at Disney Springs.

Once you have indulged in all the gourmet delights that Disney has to offer and your hearts and eyes are full with all theme park’s dazzling entertainment, there is no better way to fast-track your fitness than by participating in runDisney’s racing series.  Yes, not only does the happiest place on earth seek to be your ultimate vacation destination but also your “runcation” where your health and wellness take center stage.

This past weekend more than 34,700 runners were registered for the ninth annual Disney’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon, presented by Misfit, held on November 1-4, 2018 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.  As one of the largest and most popular race organizers in the United States,  runDisney events attract more than 168,000 runners from across the country and the around the world who participate in themed weekend races.

To kick off the Wine and Dine Marathon event, runners were welcomed at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the runDisney Health and Fitness Expo where they could purchase merchandise to wear in the races like sunglasses, footwear, tech gadgets, healthy products, and festive Disney themed fitness apparel.  In addition, participants had the opportunity to win prizes, receive massages, chomp on specially prepared food and beverage offerings, and engage in pre-race preparation by joining in complimentary yoga sessions in the interactive zone.

Taking in all the hustle and bustle of the expo ignited my anticipation for the event which I initially intended to be a spectator of the races.  However, runDisney presented me with the opportunity to fully experience the race series by allowing me to choose to run or walk one of the three courses, the Disney Fall Feast 5K, Disney Wine and Dine 10K, or Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon.  Considering I am a work in progress when it comes to the improvement of my physical fitness, wisely I opted for the Disney Fall Feast 5K which equates to 3.1 miles. On Friday morning around 4:30 a.m., still rubbing away the sleepiness from my eyes, I was in the Animal Kingdom parking lot alongside other runners and ended up waiting in line for a quick pick me up from Joffrey’s a Coffee and Tea Company food truck. Whatever tiredness I was fighting against quickly dissipated as my attention was immediately focused on the other runners flooding the parking lot who were wearing the most elaborate costumes like colorful tutus with lights, two friends were dressed like Chef Tony, which went along with the theme honoring the big-hearted cook from Disney’s Lady and the Tramp. Another group represented the Seven Dwarfs from Snow White and it was at that moment I could not help but smile when I saw the enthusiasm and cheerful nature of the participants, I learned not only is maintaining my health my wealth but it can also be fun.

The official time for the race to commence was 5:30 a.m. and I still had some time to wait so I made my way to the starting line where there was a colorful, well-lit staging area and three MCs entertained the crowd with pulsating pop music, witty and comedic zingers, and they also led the crowd in fun line dance routines.  Adjacent to the stage was a considerable line of runners eagerly waiting to take their pictures with Minnie and Mickey Mouse.  With all the activity that was happening in the parking lot, time magically flew by and we were instructed to go to our respective corrals.  Each group of runners was ushered to the starting line and then a burst of fireworks near the overhead banner set the races off.

The beginning of the course took us around the Animal Kingdom parking lot and as we were coming around a bend, there was a DJ on top of a monster truck playing high energy music and encouraging us along the way.   As we entered the Animal Kingdom, we were greeted by excited Disney cast members clapping and cheering words of affirmation as we ran by them, which was needed and much appreciated especially in the early morning.  After passing through the gates of the theme park, I was immediately stopped in my tracks when I stood at the base of the Tree of Life. Various scenes from the Disney movie classic Bambi were projected on the tree’s trunk, combined with the beautiful music emanating from the surroundings instantly brought me back to my childhood summer memories of eating breakfast at noon while watching various Disney movies like Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Cinderella.  After few moments reminiscing, I snapped back to the mission at hand and continued on my trek.  As I kept a brisk pace throughout the park, a runner outfitted in glowing tutu stopped in a line to capture the moment of completing the first mile and a few minutes later I noticed another line of runners waiting to take their pictures with Meeko from Pocahontas.  Throughout the course, various Disney characters popped up like Russell and his dog Dug from Pixar’s Up, Rafiki from the Lion King, and Pluto, to take a quick snapshot with the racers.

My competitive spirit, however, forced me to remain focused on completing the course in a reasonable amount of time which was not difficult to do since the 5K course is a perfect introduction into the Disney races. The Disney Fall Feast 5K accommodates various fitness levels and as I approached the finish line I became even more motivated to improve my physical endurance.  Making my way across the finish line, we were brought back to our original starting point and the MCs congratulated all the runners on our completion of the race as we were given finisher medals.

On Saturday at the crack of dawn, runners were up and ready to tackle the Wine and Dine 10K which started at Magic Kingdom parking lot and guided the runners on a 6.2-mile course through the Walt Disney World Resort, complete with entertainment and Disney characters throughout the racing route.  Later that morning, after the adults finished their event, the kiddies had the chance to flex their athletic abilities in two events; each race was themed in the honor of Chef Linguini from Disney-Pixar movie Ratatouille.  The first event was the runDisney Kids Dashes which took place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex that included Diaper Dash for 12 months and under babies, the 100-meter dash for one to four-year-olds, and the 200-meter dash for five to eight-year-olds.  The second event was the runDisney Kids One Mile Run for children between the ages of 4 to 13 years old; both races presented each child with their own finisher medallion.

To conclude the advantageous weekend, most serious runners signed up for the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon, a race that consists of a 13.1-mile run beginning in the Magic Kingdom parking lot and concluding at Epcot. The first male and female to cross the finish line were Tyler Wasieleski and Megan Curham.  Tyler’s background is full of life experiences and adventure; he grew up in Tampa, Florida and he interrupted his studies at Duke University, as well as, put aside his dream of becoming a lawyer to pursue a life of an esports gamer and as a result, he moved to Korea to join an esports team.  Presently, he lives in Union City, California where his wife is a pediatrician and he is a stay at home father.  They both recently changed their married last name Wasieleski to Watson this year so their infant son would have a surname that is easy to pronounce.  Tyler, 32, was not an avid runner since his college years, he began running again three years ago but did not take it seriously, yet he set a race record by finishing the race in 1:11:48 ahead of more than 14,000 runners, one second off the fastest time ever.  “I’ve run a few [races] before, I’ve never won one, this is the first time I’ve won.  I’m just happy that I didn’t mentally give up,” says Tyler.  He finished nearly a minute ahead of second-place finisher Samuel Fazioli of Salem, N.H., (1:12:34) and more than seven minutes in front of Roger Hildago of Auburndale, Fla., who was third (1:19:00).

Megan Curham, who grew up in New Jersey but now lives in Tampa, just graduated from Princeton and currently works for Johnson and Johnson in a human resources leadership program. She previously ran the 5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend this past January. She won the Wine and Dine 10K held on Saturday and was the first female to cross the finish line in Sunday’s race.  She crossed the finish line in 1:19:59 – almost 10 minutes faster than Amanda Beal of Ellicott City, Md., who was second (1:29:09) and Valery Perry of Oviedo, Fla., who was third (1:29:26). “I was actually running with a couple of the guys in the beginning so I wasn’t completely by myself and that helped a lot.  Once you get to mile eight and you are alone it is pretty tough but I had people around me so it was really nice this time.  I just really love running in general, I’m always running so it is nothing I training specifically for, I just like it and Disney is like my favorite place so there is no better place to go and run,” says Curham.

To commemorate all the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments the runners displayed during the weekend, Disney hosted a post-race party held after-hours at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival where the runners could indulge in cuisines and beverages from around the world, enjoy live entertainment, and have select access to Epcot attractions.

The Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend is the first of four runDisney race weekends at Walt Disney World Resort during the 2018-2019 race season.

Next up is the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna (Jan. 9-13, 2019)

Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend (February 21-24, 2019)

Star Wars Rival Run Weekend (April 4-7, 2019)

For more information and registration visit www.rundisney.com.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/rundisney-hosts-9th-annual-wine-and-dine-marathon/

Once upon a time, ESPN made history with Jemele Hill and Michael Smith as the first all-Black anchor team on “SportsCenter” in February 2017. However, after Hill called out Donald Trump as a white supremacist, ESPN has not been supporting the anchor. Her hosting duties at “SportsCenter” (Smith left in March) ended and she was writing for ESPN’s Undefeated website. Now, her time at ESPN is reportedly over.

According to SportingNews.com, “The former ‘SportsCenter’ anchor will accept a buyout of the remainder of her contract with the network, said sources. Hill’s deal with ESPN still has at least two years to run and she stands to walk away with millions of dollars from ESPN parent Disney while she pursues other career opportunities, sources said.”

Yep, millions of dollars, and she deserves every penny.

This is no shock considering Jimmy Pitaro, the new president of ESPN, said he didn’t want any of the commentators to have political opinions, implying he will be kowtowing to whatever the NFL wants. Pitaro told The Washington Post on August 17, “I’ve spent a lot of time with league executives. The relationship is incredibly important to us. That programming cuts across everything we’re doing on the studio side, on the original content side. And we’ve made that very clear to the NFL.”

He also said, “If you ask me is there a false narrative out there, I will tell you ESPN being a political organization is false. I will tell you I have been very, very clear with employees here that it is not our jobs to cover politics, purely.”

Either way, Jemele Hill is going to be great. We are sure she has big things in the future.

Source: https://newsone.com