New doc explores the high school years of hoops star LeBron James

Between 1999 and 2003, the St. Vincent-St. Mary high school basketball team from Akron, Ohio was virtually unbeatable. It helped that the star player on the "Fighting Irish" was a kid named LeBron James, who now rules pro hoops as "King James" — an elite offensive force for the Cleveland Cavaliers and this year's NBA MVP.

'I wasn't supposed to come back but they never told me to leave and so I just kept showing up; that's pretty much how that whole season went.' —Kristopher Belman, on shooting More Than a Game

Director Kristopher Belman's new documentary More Than a Game is a fascinating look at LeBron James's almost premature rise to stardom and the thorny issues it presented for his high school teammates. It's easily the most comprehensive record we have of a star athlete's adolescence. James was no ordinary teenager: by his junior year he'd been profiled in a Sports Illustrated cover story, and St. Vincent-St. Mary games were being broadcast on ESPN.

Belman followed the team — dubbed the "Fab Five" — during their fourth and final year at high school, and used home videos, TV news reports and more recent interviews to assemble the rest of the story. Although the doc's substantial buzz is a direct result of the LeBron James connection, Belman's film is also a potent reminder that basketball is a team game: James isn't the only compelling character on the squad, nor is he the only one who struggles with being put through the media meat grinder.

CBC News spoke to Belman about how he gained access to the teenage phenomenon six years ago, and how his assignment for a college film class became a feature film.

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Rasheed Wallace a perfect fit with Celtics

The numbers told one story. Rasheed Wallace shot a career-low 41.9 percent from the floor last season, and his 12.0 ppg was his lowest average since his rookie year.

The eyes told another story. Wallace still had game. But heading into a 2009-10 season when he would be 35, the feeling around Detroit was that he simply couldn’t put said game on the floor for as long as he used to, that the intensity with which he played was draining him.

It also was rather clear that the Pistons’ fall from the top of the Eastern Conference and their mixed success in rebuilding on the fly were getting to everyone there.

So as much as the Celtics [team stats] needed Sheed, Sheed needed the Celtics.

“I think with a player like that, they need energy around them,” coach Doc Rivers said. “They need a reason to really play, and I think our group gives him that. “He picked the right place for him - and obviously for us. I do think it’s a terrific fit.”

Wallace concurs.

“At this point in my career, yeah,” he said. “I want to win, and this is a great place for that. We’ve got a lot of young, hungry guys and great veterans, and this group has already won a championship. They know what it takes, and they want to go back.”

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Your Black News: Iverson Can’t Get a Job?

Dr. Deborah Stroman, a leading scholar on Leadership and Sport, was asked why Allen Iverson can’t find a job.   Here is what she had to say.  Other notable athletes, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison and Derrick Brookes are also on the sidelines.

“Money is only one aspect of a good veteran not being picked up by a team. The other factor is leadership. If the organization is trying to develop new leaders, the coach and/or general manager will not gamble the new leader’s development and team chemistry with the introduction of a  veteran leader. And this veteran leadership may be displayed by performance or verbal acumen. For example, you may have a veteran wide receiver or running back who doesn’t talk much but has the potential to dominate on the field. A younger player may be drawn to that performer as a role model and not the new leader (often times the quarterback) who is trying to gain influence and control of “his” team. Or the veteran leader may be charismatic and draw attention to himself and away from the leaders that the organization is rightfully trying to impose on the other players. The organization feels that the signing of the veteran player is just not worth the risk.”

Dr Boyce on Sports: John Calipari and Kentucky

Dr Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

After reading about Kentucky Coach John Calipari being found guilty of cheating by the NCAA, I wasn't surprised in the least. Calipari has never been known for producing the most highly educated athletes in the world (his graduation rate among African American athletes is 44 percent), and he seems to want to win above anything else. The idea that my alma mater, The University of Kentucky, would immediately step in to pay tens of millions of dollars to a coach that has been proven to be a cheater makes a powerful statement about the ethical disposition of this university. Kentucky is like many NCAA institutions in their mass pillage of African American athletes for the sake of their multi-million dollar fortunes.

John Calipari and his old school, The University of Memphis, have been charged with having an SAT exam taken for a player on the basketball team (believed by many to be Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls). According to several published sources, the SAT exam was falsified during the 2007 - 2008 season. The team has been required to give back 38 wins from that season, costing the school millions in revenue. These kinds of abuses don't just occur at The University of Memphis. The University of Kentucky's basketball program has nearly received the death penalty for its long list of violations in the past, so it is only fitting that they hire yet another arguably unethical coach to continue their storied tradition. Here are some quick thoughts about John Calipari and The University of Kentucky:

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Carmello Anthony Sues His Former Manager

When athletes finally make it to the professional level, they're immediately surrounded by people they don't know but are forced to trust. And young athletes in their twenties who don't have any money-management skills whatsoever are ripe for being taken advantage of. That's what happened to Carmelo Anthony, but now he's fighting back.
Melo filed a $2 million lawsuit against his former business manager, Larry W. Harmon and his firm, Larry Harmon & Associates P.A. The suit alleges that Harmon breached their contract by transferring $1.75 million of Anthony's money without his knowledge or consent to a company formed by Harmon, most of it in 2008, according to the Associated Press. There was another $265,000 invested in companies that Melo had no knowledge of or given consent to.

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Black News: Is this Athlete a Man or a Woman?

No 1: Caster Semenya celebrates as she wins gold in Berlin Photo: AP

Semenya crowned a spectacular season by triumphing in 1min 55.45sec while Britain's Jenny Meadows produced a lifetime best of 1min 57.93sec to take the bronze - Britain's third medal of the championship. Fellow Briton Marilyn Okoro was eighth.

But instead of being able to celebrate her victory, Semenya found herself facing uncomfortable questions about whether she should really have been lining up in today's first-round heats of the men's 800m.

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News: calipari Found Cheating – Kentucky Coach Must Give Back 38 wins

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—Memphis will be forced to vacate the record 38 victories from its Final Four season of 2007-08 under former coach John Calipari because of NCAA violations, The Commercial Appeal reported.

The newspaper, citing an unidentified source close to the situation, said on its Web site Wednesday night the NCAA will release findings of its investigation Thursday. The Commercial Appeal said it was unaware of any penalties beyond this season.

The NCAA investigated whether someone took the SAT exam for a player on that Final Four team. Memphis was notified of potential violations in January and met with the governing body in June.

The NCAA has said an unknown person took the college entrance exam for a player—with his knowledge—and that the player used it to get admitted. The governing body says the athlete played for the Tigers only in the 2007-08 season and the 2008 NCAA tournament. Just one person fits that description: Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls’ No. 1 overall draft pick in 2008 and its rookie of the year.

 

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Williams Sisters Considering Buying a Share of Miami Dolphins

Serena Williams and her sister Venus are in preliminary talks to become part-owners of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, the 11-time grand slam winner confirmed on Wednesday.

"There have been preliminary talks and hopefully it will work out," Serena Williams told reporters after her second round win over Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova at the Toronto Cup. "That would be a great opportunity for both of us.

"We'll see what happens, you never know."

If they did acquire a stake in the Dolphins, the Williams sisters would join musicians Jimmy Buffet and Gloria and Emilio Estefan, who became minority partners in the team earlier this year.

Buffett, owner of Margaritaville Enterprises, signed a deal in May, which includes the team's stadium being renamed after his LandShark Lager beer for the 2009 season.

The Williams, who live in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, are not described as big NFL fans but view the Dolphins as a vehicle to promote themselves.

"Venus and I are always trying to expand our brand," said Williams. "If the opportunity presents itself we would love to see where it can take us.

"Hopefully we'll be able to expand our brand."

Source

Dr Boyce Watkins: Michael Vick’s Return is Good for All of Us

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

He's back. After a 2 year saga that kept my head spinning, the young man who made a terrible mistake is finally being allowed to make a living. I have supported Michael Vick all along, but not because I felt that he was innocent. I've supported him because I do not believe that dog fighting is the kind of crime that deserves a lifetime punishment. So, to the extremists at PETA who want to see Michael Vick burn in the hell of unemployment and incarceration for the rest of his life, I only have one thing to say: grow up.

Michael Vick's reinstatement to the NFL and recent signing by the Philadelphia Eagles unleashed a plethora of thoughts within me. On some level, his return is a bit of an "Athletic Juneteenth" for those who tire of seeing our country make African American athletes into public enemy number one whenever they screw up. To this day, we act as if Marion Jones is the devil, Barry Bonds is a monster, and Terrell Owens is some kind of criminal. This treatment is nothing new, as black athletes have been getting villified for decades, and their molehills are consistently turned into mountains, ripe for high-tech lynchings. This is the tradition of America.

It only seems appropriate that Michael Vick sign his contract in a city like Philadelphia, the place that I love and fear at the same time. I love the city because they've supported me in my work with the great Wendy Williams, Dom Giordano andCharlamagne Tha God. But there is a dark side of "Killadelphia" that shows itself in the way they support their sports teams. They are the fans that cheered when it appeared that Michael Irvin may have broken his neck, so they sure as heck aren't going to pay much attention to animal rights protestors blocking their path to a Super Bowl. In a city like Philly, the slogan is simple: "If you win, we forgive all sin." Vick will be right at home.

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Your Breaking News: Michael Vick Gets a Job

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

Enlarge photo

Courtesy of CBSMichael Vick discusses his situation with James Brown.

Related Falcons stories »

• Report: Vick to be an Eagle
• Bulldog QBs to take centerstage in Falcons' opener
• Vick regrets dogfighting, accepts full responsibility
• Schedule and results
• TV Listings

Vick will return to the NFL after two seasons away, including 23 months in federal prison, and a league suspension that will end after Week 6 this year.

The Falcons host the Eagles in a Sunday game on Dec. 6, at the end of the regular season.

The controversial signal caller has gone through a whirlwind of highs and lows since the Atlanta Falcons drafted as the No. 1 pick in 2001.

He inked a $62 million deal that included a $15 million signing bonus. After a year waiting in the wings, took over the starting position in the 2002 season, and led the team to its first playoff berth since the 1998 NFC Championship season.

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News: Kentucky Coach Rick Pitino Cheated on his Wife

University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino told police that he had consensual sex with Karen Cunagin Sypher at a Louisville restaurant where he'd been drinking on Aug. 1, 2003.

He also told police that he later gave Sypher $3,000 to have an abortion, according to Louisville Metro Police reports The Courier-Journal obtained under the Kentucky Open Records Act.

But Pitino denied Sypher's allegations that he raped her at Porcini, after the restaurant closed, and again a few weeks later at a different location, police records show. And prosecutors who have reviewed Sypher's claims say Pitino won't be charged.

Sypher has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to extort money from Pitino in exchange for her silence about the alleged crimes, and with lying to the FBI. She has pleaded not guilty.

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Tiger Gets Fined

Tiger Woods will be fined by the PGA Tour for his public criticism of a rules official after winning the Bridgestone Invitational, a tour official said Monday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the tour does not publicize fines.

Woods was bothered after his four-shot victory Sunday because he and Padraig Harrington were put on the clock at the par-5 16th. He said that caused Harrington to rush three difficult shots, leading to triple bogey.

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Stop Praising Michael Vick and Let Him Play

By Glenn Minnis

Like most fair-minded and even moderately temperate souls, I am of the unwavering belief that Mike Vick has now paid his debt to society, served his time, and should again be free to live his life in the most upwardly mobile fashion he's blessed enough to navigate.

Being convicted of a crime, in and of itself, should in no way result in an automatic death sentence. Some of those who've sought to bury Vick by mercilessly stripping him of his already earned riches and NFL livelihood struck me as hypocrites of the highest degree in their straying beyond the law by insisting that Vick's transgressions not only be punished by the legal system but that his world forever be left in ruins.

That doesn't strike me as justice, but rather overkill. And yet, I couldn't help but feel as if the Vick Express on the road to redemption veered recklessly off course this week when he was to be honored in his Virginia hometown as something just short of a demigod.

'Celebration for Mike Vick' event organizer and Southern Christian Leadership Conference chapter president Andrew Shannon intimated that hundreds of youths were expected to be on hand to cheer Vick on and hear him speak before an unforeseen scheduling snafu caused the entire event to be scraped.

I'll call it divine intervention.

Admit it, in a world where black and minority men make up far to high of a percentage of those incarcerated, the image and implications born of Vick being paraded as some sort of cause célèbre of indisputable virtuosity before so many impressionable minds could be more than just a bit dysfunctional for its audience. Idolatry, you see, can be a form of imprisonment of its own.

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News: Lebron Has a whole Bunch of Options

LeBron James is going to make the Cleveland Cavaliers wait — and sweat.

James indicated Friday that he is unlikely to accept a contract extension from the Cavs until after the 2009-10 season and presumably will become a free agent.

At an event in his hometown to unveil Nike Air Max LeBron VII, the latest sneaker in his signature line, James made his strongest comments yet about his future. The NBA's reigning MVP said he signed a three-year contract in 2006 to give him more options once it expires.

"I signed a contract in 2006 with an option, and it would make no sense for me to sign that contract if I didn't keep my options open," he said. "I'll let you fill in the blanks."

The Cavaliers offered James a contract extension on July 18, the three-year anniversary of the signing of his current contract. The team could offer the extension — at the highest salary allowed — of up to three years. James can sign the extension offer anytime before June 30, 2010.

James, who will make $15.7 million next season, also has an option in his current contract that can extend his deal through the 2010-11 season.

However, it appears for now that James does not intend to sign the extension or pick up his one-year option for $17.1 million anytime soon.

 

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Your Black News: Another Day, Another Liar?

NEW YORK (AP) — David Ortiz (FSY) thinks legal supplements and vitamins likely caused him to land on a list of alleged drug users seized by the federal government, and Major League Baseball and the players' association said some of the names on the list never tested positive for steroids.

MLB said in a statement Saturday that at most 96 urine samples tested positive in the 2003 survey — and the players' association said 13 of those were in dispute.

The government seized the samples and records the following year from baseball's drug-testing companies as part of the BALCO investigation. The list of 104 players alleged to have tested positive has been the subject of a five-year legal fight with the union trying to force the government to return what federal agents took during raids.

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Suspected Killer of Vernon Forrest Appears in Court

By theGrio

As his grandmother sat nearby weeping, a 20-year-old man charged with killing ex-boxing champion Vernon Forrest had his first appearance in court Wednesday morning.

Demario Ware, who turned himself in to authorities Tuesday night, is charged with murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

He appeared at a jailhouse hearing in front of Fulton County Magistrate Sylvia McCoy, who read him the charges. Wearing a navy blue jail jumpsuit and handcuffs, Ware said nothing other than "yes, ma'am" and kept his eyes on the floor. He is being held without bond.

Ware's grandmother, Rose Thomas, sat in the courtroom crying.

"He wasn't raised up to do the thing he done," she said after the hearing. "I'm sorry to the gentleman that got killed and his family. I know if I'm hurting like I am, then I know they're hurting."

Police say Forrest, 38, was shot to death July 25 after he chased a man who robbed him of his championship ring and Rolex watch. No other arrests have been made in the case, but police do not believe Ware is the person who shot Forrest.

The investigation continues into the shooting.

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News: NBA Baller Accused of Gang bangin on Twitter

Hours after The Denver Post raised questions about whether his tweets were written in a way commonly associated with street gangs, Nuggets guard J.R. Smith pulled the plug on his Twitter page on Tuesday. He presumably didn't think it was worth all the bad publicity.

His last message to fans before it was closed late Tuesday afternoon: "ok people i love all of my fans im sorry but this will be my last tweet you know why but it is what it is love all an tke Care"

Smith's tweets raised print eyebrows after someone noticed he was occasionally replacing words that would have a "C" in them with a "K," giving some the impression of an association with the Bloods street gang. (Kudos for the capital "C" jab above, kid.) Smith tried to correct the issue in a tweet late Monday night, but ultimately decided to close the account, according to The Denver Post.

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Former Super Bowl Star Burress Indicted On Weapons Charges

 

 

Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on weapons charges stemming from an incident last November in which Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh at a New York nightclub, prosecutors announced Monday.

Burress, 31, was indicted on two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment, according to the announcement by the Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau.

New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, Burress' former teammate who was with him at the club and drove him to the hospital, was not indicted for his role in the incident, according to the prosecutor's announcement.

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College Athletes Should Be Paid

 

 

The NCAA, which is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 'educational' organization, has come under fire recently for capitalizing on the commercialization of college sports. Many athletes have accused the organization of unfairly using them for financial gain.

Since 1995, the NCAA has spent more than $84 million on legal fees, including some settlements. Former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon filed a lawsuit on July 21 against the NCAA and its member schools, accusing them of illegally profiting from using the likeness of former players for commercial pursuits like video games, DVDs, and jersey sales.

Dr. Boyce Watkins, a finance professor at Syracuse University, has become a vocal critic of the NCAA, for what he calls its exploitation of the black community.

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Ortiz and Ramirez Listed Of Positive Test

 

In a statement he released Thursday afternoon, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz acknowledged that a New York Times report that said he was one of the players to have tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003 was accurate.

"I have already contacted the Players Association to confirm if this report is true. I have just been told that the report is true," Ortiz's statement read in part. "Based on the way I have lived my life, I am surprised to learn I tested positive."

Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers star who has already served a 50-game suspension for a failed test earlier this season, was also named in the Times report. According to The Associated Press, he had no comment other than to direct reporters to call the players' union.

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Newport News Plans To Celebrate Michael Vick

 

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — Community organizers in Michael Vick's (FSY) Virginia hometown are preparing a "celebration" for the former NFL quarterback.

Andrew Shannon, who is president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference chapter in Vick's hometown of Newport News, says the event is scheduled for Aug. 8.

 

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Does Anyone Want Mike Vick?

If any NFL teams are interested in Michael Vick(notes), they’re not saying.

A day after the quarterback was conditionally reinstated to the league, only the Baltimore Ravens would directly acknowledge evaluating him.

“We’ve had long discussions about Michael Vick and we have a feeling about how he would impact our team and not impact our team,” coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday.

General manager Ozzie Newsome declined comment. Previously, he has said the Ravens have enough quarterbacks.

Other teams either refused comment or insisted they wouldn’t pick up the former Atlanta Falcons star, who served 18 months in federal prison for running a dogfighting ring and was released from home confinement on July 20.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that Vick can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games—if he can find a team.

Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19) at the latest.

Two clubs that might have seemed like a logical destination—the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals—said they wouldn’t pursue Vick.

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Michael Vick is Reinstated in the NFL

 

Michael Vick is back in the NFL. Now all he needs is a team to play for. Vick, free after serving 18 months in prison for running a dog fighting ring, was reinstated with conditions by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday. He could participate in regular-season games as early as October.

Vick can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games -- if he can find a team that will sign him. A number of teams have already said they would not.

Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19) at the latest.

Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely in August 2007 after the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback admitted bankrolling a dog fighting operation on his property in Virginia. At the time, Goodell said Vick must show remorse before he would consider reinstating him.

"I accept that you are sincere when you say that you want to, and will, turn your life around, and that you intend to be a positive role model for others," Goodell said in his letter to Vick. "I am prepared to offer you that opportunity. Whether you succeed is entirely in your hands."

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Why is Stephon Marbury Crying???

Over the weekend NBA baller Stephon Marbury hosted a 24 hour live broadcast on Ustream and let the viewers see his soft side.  Click the image below to watch the video.

Vernon Forrest had Intuition about His Death

Former Boxing Champ Vernon Forrest who was killed Saturday in Atlanta when he was robbed at gun point Tweeted a week before his death about a dream he had that was similar to the way he was killed.

Man I had a nightmare last nite I dreamt I come home and found 4 guys were breaking into my house. I pull my heater and it was empty they chased me and was about to shoot me then I woke up. The first thing I did was get my heater and made sure it was loaded. That dream will not come true.

Man that’s is some scary ISH.  I think I will start taking my dreams a little more serious.

Source

Dr Boyce Watkins: Players Sue the NCAA Over Illegal Use of Images

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

Syracuse University

I've written extensively about the NCAA and what I perceive to be their consistent efforts to exploit the black community. They spend millions on public service announcements to protect their deception, but eventually the athletes and the public are going to wise up to what they are doing. The truth is that college athletes should be paid for the same reasons that any actor in a Hollywood blockbuster film would expect to receive compensation. The problem is that the families of athletes don't quite know how to organize and fight for their power. So, when I read about the recentlawsuit against the NCAA for allegedly misusing the images of athletes for videogames, I was a very happy man.

Let me break it down for you:

Based on my 16-years of experience as a college professor (I currently teach atSyracuse University, a school that earns millions off black families every year), collegiate athletics is not, in my opinion, about amateurism and it's not about education. It's about making money. Period. Many athletes are admitted to college every year and they would not be granted admission were it not for their ability to play sports and make money for the campus. Making money is not a problem, but the problem comes with the fact that universities do not share this revenue with the families of the players.

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Antoine Walker Appears in Court

Former NBA all-star Antoine Walker appeared briefly in a Las Vegas court to face criminal charges in a case involving an $822,500 casino gambling debt.

The 6-foot-9 Walker said nothing inside or outside the courtroom as he appeared Monday with his lawyer, Jonathan Powell, on three felony counts of writing bad checks. Powell also declined comment.

Each charge carries a possible one- to four-year prison term.

Walker remains free on $135,000 cash bail posted Thursday following his arrest at a Lake Tahoe hotel. Walker was in northern Nevada to play in a weekend celebrity golf tournament.

Walker wasn't asked to enter a plea before a Las Vegas justice of the peace set a Sept. 16 date for an evidentiary hearing.

Source: thegrio.com

Myron Rolle: The Kind of Athlete You should Know About

Florida State safety Myron Rolle will study at Oxford instead of entering this year's NFL draft.

Rolle won a Rhodes scholarship in November and plans to seek a one-year master's degree in medical anthropology, the New York Times reported Monday in an entry on its college football blog.

"I'm very excited to go," Rolle wrote in a text message to the newspaper.

Rolle, projected to be an early round pick, said he plans to enter the 2010 NFL draft.

Rolle, from Galloway, N.J., got his undergraduate degree in pre-med after 2½ years, and has been taking graduate courses at Florida State this year.

 

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News: McNair Gun Salesman Arrested

The Tennessee man accused of selling the gun used to kill former NFL quarterback Steve McNair is in custody facing a federal charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, authorities said Friday.

Police say Adrian Gilliam admitted he sold Sahel Kazemi the gun she used to kill NFL quarterback Steve McNair.

"This is another example of what can happen with a gun when a felon is selling it on the street with little to no interest other than just selling it for 100 bucks," said Nashville, Tennessee, Police Chief Ronal Serpas.

Authorities said federal agents traced the gun used in the Fourth of July murder-suicide to Household Pawn in Nashville, which sold it in January 2002.

"Further investigation revealed the 9 mm pistol was later sold for approximately $100 to Adrian Gilliam approximately one to one and a half years ago," Nashville police said in a news release.

Gilliam, 33, of LaVergne, Tennessee, told detectives that on July 2 he sold the gun for about the same price to Sahel Kazemi outside a shopping mall.

Police said Kazemi, McNair's 20-year-old girlfriend, used the gun two days later to fatally shoot McNair -- a former Tennessee Titans quarterback and married father of four -- and herself in McNair's condominium in downtown Nashville.

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Suspect Arrested in McNair Murder Case

Adrian J. Gilliam Jr was arrested Friday by ATF agents in Nashville, Tennessee.  Gilliam is supposedly the man who sold McNair’s mistress Sahel Kazemi the gun that she used to kill herself and McNair.  Gilliam has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm and will probably be serving time considering this is not his first time being in trouble with the law, he was convicted of murder and attempted armed robbery in 1993.  I will keep you updated on this case as more details unravel.

Your Black News: Tiger Struggling Unlike Never Before

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• 
• Woods shot a four-over-par 74 to drop to five strokes over par for the first two rounds. At the time he finished, the projected cut line was at four over. Woods was well off the pace of the inconceivable leader, the 29-year-old American Steve Marino.
  As Woods approached the tee on No. 11, the overwhelming tournament favorite had just endured a calamitous three-hole thud, going from even-par to 4-over-par after bogeying Nos. 8 and 9 and then, continuing a troubling knack for driving it waywardly right, causing a search party for his ball on No. 10.

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Your Black News: The Tangled Webs We Weave

Back in December, Antoine Walker was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies and wasn't picked up by another team. So what did he do with all that free time? It looks like he was gambling. According to the Associated Press, Walker is facing criminal charges over $822,500 in gambling debt to three Las Vegas casinos.
The Clark County District Attorney's office says that Walker is facing three felony counts of writing 10 bad checks totaling $1 million to Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and the Red Rock Resort. Apparently, Walked repaid $178,000 of that debt but is still on the hook for more than $800,000. He also owes the district attorney's office more than $82,000 in legal fees regarding the criminal charges. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

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Black Athletes: McNair’s Death Tells Us A lot

Danny Aller
Sports Editor, Albany Herald

Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair's tragic death eight days ago today is one that, looking back years from now, certainly will be - for me - one of those passings where I'll someday say, "I remember where I was when I heard the news."

For some who don't follow football, or even sports as a whole that closely, maybe that feeling is not shared.
But for this American sports journalist - and other writers around the country - I think the effect was slightly different. And I say that because of an experience once early in my career that opened my eyes to what I was in for when it came to one of the lows of the biz.
About five years ago when I worked as a sportswriter for a newspaper in Florida, I remember a night quite vividly that still sticks with me today.

 

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BBall News: MJ’s Son No Longer a Baller

Jeffrey Jordan is Michael Jordan's son. That little proposition, as it relates to basketball, can not be an easy one for any offspring to undertake.

It's not just that your dad was a great NBA basketball player. Your dad was the single greatest basketball player who ever lived. Your entire life, you're not just a classmate to your friends. You're the son of their hero. Imagine that! For all of the sundry benefits of being Jordan's son -- the money, the basketball shoes, the unimaginably awesome toys you'd get as a kid -- the specter of anticipation, of "hey, that's Michael Jordan's son out there" would haunt you for as long as you played basketball.

It appears those days are over for Jordan's eldest offspring. Jeffrey Jordan, a walk-on-turned-scholarship-athlete at Illinois, has apparently decided to hang up his balling kicks for good:

"I loved playing for the Fighting Illini and appreciate the support I was given by my teammates, coaches and the great fans here," Jordan said. "But I have come to the point where I'm ready to focus on life after basketball. I will concentrate on earning my degree from the University of Illinois and the opportunities that await upon graduating."

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www.yourblackworld.com

Black news: Lebron Visits Barack Obama

The White House. A movie premiere in Maryland. A store opening in Harlem.

LeBron James is making the rounds this summer.

Fully recovered after undergoing surgery two weeks ago to have a benign growth on his jaw removed, the NBA's MVP is keeping a busy schedule.

On Monday, Cleveland's All-Star forward and a group of close friends visited President Barack Obama and were given a tour of the West Wing before attending the U.S. premiere of "More Than A Game," a documentary about the basketball star and his friends' rise to national champions while playing at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio.

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www.yourblackgossip.blogspot.com

Your News: Ex NFL Star Michael Stahan to Marry Nicole Murphy

Looks like Michael Strahan's post-NFL keeps getting better. Awhile back we announced that Strahan just signed a deal with FOX to star in his own sitcom this fall and now he'll be marrying Eddie Murphy's ex-lady, Nicole Murphy. The two have been dating for some time now and according to People Magazine, Strahan popped the question on a beach in the Bahamas.
"I have a great relationship and she's a great girl," Strahan told People. "I don't like to talk much about my private life, but I'm really happy."

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Kobe Bryant’s Amazing Off Court Comeback

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

Syracuse University

Kobe Bryant started his career with the LA Lakers as a tremendous athlete with a valuable brand. His stock rose like an elevator, as Madison Avenue loved him as much as Laker fans. Then life took a strange twist. First, there was the nasty departure of Shaquille O'neal, which instantly reduced Kobe and the Lakers to "also-rans" in the NBA playoffs. A man who was used to winning championships was reduced to simply playing for pay.

Off the court, things got even worse. In 2003, Kobe was accused of a horrifically embarrassing sexual assault, a case that was later dropped. But even though the charges were dropped, the case still had a lasting impact on Bryant's reputation: Sponsors ran the other way and everyone wondered if Kobe might turn into another "coulda, woulda, shoulda" black athlete.

But he persisted. The Lakers got a little bit better every year, with that improvement culminating in what some believe to be Kobe's first "real championship" this year; a title without the boost of a dominant big man. For the first time, the Lakers are champions under Kobe's watch. He has proven that he is more than a replica of Anfernee Hardaway.

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Falcons Release Michael Vick

The Falcons have officially slammed the door shut on the Michael Vick era.

He was released from the team Friday and is free to sign with any team in the National Football League.

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“It’s a situation that we have been thinking about for quite some time,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “We did our due diligence. We’ve been searching around the league and were looking for some interest as far as a trade.

“In the very end, we came to a conclusion that it was time. It was best for both us and Michael Vick to move on, to turn the chapter.”

The Falcons said several teams were interested in trading for Vick.

“But in the very end, without mentioning the teams, they just felt like it was not the right time to do it for them,” Dimitroff said. “We just decided to move forward.”

Dimitroff delivered the news to Vick with a personal phone call.

“He was accepting of it, as you could imagine,” Dimitroff said. “He was expecting it, I’m sure. He was upbeat.

“We respect him as an individual and as an athlete in this profession. It was the right thing to do. I’m happy that we had a conversation today.”

Vick remains suspended and would have to be reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

But his release allows him to negotiate with other teams. NFL franchises can sign suspended players, according to the league office.

Click to read.

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Donovan McNabb Signs for 24.5M guaranteed

PHILADELPHIA, June 12 (UPI) -- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has agreed to a restructured contract with $24.5 million guaranteed, his agent said.

The deal was announced Friday at a news conference attended by Coach Andy Reid.

Read more on Black Sports.

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Mike Tyson Marries Again

Most likely riding a wave of emotion after the death of his daughter, Exodus, Mike Tyson married his girlfriend, Lakiha Spicer. According to the Associated Press, Tyson and Spicer, who is not the mother of Exodus, married at the La Bella Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas' Hilton Hotel-Casino.

Chapel owner Shawn Absher told AP that the couple came straight from the Clark County marriage bureau and got married around 10 p.m. This is Tyson's third marriage. His first to Robin Givens in 1988 lasted less than a year, and his marriage to Monica Turner in 1997 lasted five years.

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Athlete Becomes Successful Businessman

Jason Robertson is a man of many gifts. As an young man, he was an All-American baseball player, drafted by the New York Yankees straight out of high school. He was also listed by Essence Magazine as one of the most eligible bachelors in America for his good looks and success. If that were not enough, Jason retired from baseball and re-invented himself as a leading, award-winning entrepeneur.

Besides being a model of success for his 3 sons and celebrating his engagement to fiance Marshawn Evans, Jason is on a mission to teach other young men how to make the transition from successful athlete to outstanding businessman. Black Voices got a chance to catch up with Jason.

1) What do you do for a living?

I own an industrial packaging company. We sell corrugated boxes, bags, films, pallets, and we also provide warehousing and storage.

Click to read.

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Baseball: Barry Bonds and His Wife Part Ways

Barry Bonds’ wife has filed for legal separation.

The former San Francisco Giants’ slugger and Liz Watson were married in 1998 and have a 10-year-old daughter, Aisha.

Click to read.

 

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Kobe Rips 40 and also Lebron’s Legacy

As the Lakers and Magic prepped for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, LeBron James was undergoing five hours of dental surgery to remove a benign growth from his right jaw. Which was less painful than the metaphorical dental surgery he had to endure later.

Yes, rarely has a man been so conspicuous by his absence as the King was before, during and after Game 1 at the Staples Center. In the days leading up to the championship series, James had been torched for walking off the court without shaking hands after his Cavs had been eliminated by the Magic in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, and compounding it by blowing off the mandatory media session.

Then, before Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday, commissioner David Stern announced that he had reversed his initial position and decided to fine James $25,000. Stern indicated that the walkoff and the media blowoff were both factors in the fine, but I don't buy that. James was fined for skipping the interview session, which is in keeping with precedent.

 

Click to read.

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Black News: Nike’s Worst Nightmare

 

Don't you just love those Nike commercials that feature puppet versions of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James? Those are hilarious.

How can you not laugh at the overload of chalk due to LeBron's excitement for the postseason?

Tell me you didn't laugh at Kobe getting on LeBron's case looking for his championship rings. I dare you.

Whichever commercials you enjoyed, you have to think about how much Nike has been freaking out about the fact that the Kobe vs. LeBron final that everybody and their momma wanted is not going to happen.

After winning a franchise record 66 games, it looked as if the Cleveland Cavaliers were on their way to a potential NBA championship. I repeat: potential—as in it may not happen.

When I first saw the Vitamin Water commercial in which people are debating over who is better between the two players, I knew something was going to go awry.

 

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Tennis Star Serena Williams Goes Off on Her Opponent

PARIS – Serena Williams was sure the ball went off her opponent's arm, a no-no in tennis. The opponent, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, insisted the ball went off her racket.

Williams accused Martinez Sanchez of "cheating." Martinez Sanchez thought that was a "stupid" thing for Williams to say.

Then consider that the point in question helped Martinez Sanchez win the first set of their French Open match Saturday. Oh, and that Williams had a coughing fit during a third-set changeover. All in all, what eventually became a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory for Williams stands as the latest example of the athlete/actress' penchant for theatrics.

"I'm, like, drama. And I don't want to be drama," a hoarse Williams said, straining to get the words out. "I'm like one of those girls on areality show that has all the drama, and everyone in the house hates them because no matter what they do, like, drama follows them. I don't want to be that girl."

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Lebron’s Got Crazy Numbers, but Cavs Still Not Winning

He is averaging an outrageous 42.3 points in the Eastern Conference finals while shooting 50.9 percent with 7.3 assists -- numbers that exceed his MVP season. So what more is LeBron James supposed to do?

"Just try to win ball games," he said less than two hours before he contributed 44 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to Cleveland's loss in Game 4 at Orlando, stranding the Cavaliers with a 3-1 deficit heading into Game 5 here Thursday night. "Just try to win ball games and put our team in a position to win every game. I've been able to do that."

But the Cavs have wasted those chances. Despite his gaudy numbers, James hasn't been blameless, as he acknowledged after committing an unusual seven turnovers in the final 12 minutes of regulation and overtime in Game 4. Those mistakes were forced by a Magic defensive strategy that is enabling LeBron to score while limiting opportunities for his teammates. The failure of those teammates is the story of Cleveland's series. Knowing that he can't outscore Orlando by himself, and wired as he is to make plays for others, James was forced to take risks in hopes of rallying his team.

 

Click to read.

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Lebron James One-Ups MJ

Michael Jordan no longer has the most famous buzzer-beater in Cleveland sports history.

The Shot has been topped.

LeBron James(notes) made one better.

James dropped a 3-pointer from the top of the key over Orlando’sHedo Turkoglu(notes) as the final horn sounded Friday night to give the Cavaliers, their season a heartbeat from major trouble, a 96-95 victory over the Magic that evened the Eastern Conference finals at one game apiece.

From 23 feet—matching his jersey number and Jordan’s—James hit a shot that will go down as one of the defining moments in a career that’s just hitting its stride.

“That guy is not in the league any more,” James said of Jordan. “The other 23 is on the good side now.”

 

Click to read.

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NFL May Reach Out for More Diversity

NFL teams looking to hire general managers may soon be required to interview at least one minority candidate.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday the league's owners discussed expanding the Rooney Rule -- which already applies to coaching openings -- during the final session of their two-day meetings in South Florida. No vote was taken, though Goodell indicated any changes could be made soon.

"It's a judgment I will make with the diversity committee," Goodell said.

The Rooney Rule is named for Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who was not at the meeting for a good reason: He's at what Goodell described as "ambassador school."

Rooney, a lifelong Republican, was picked by President Barack Obama earlier this year to be U.S. ambassador to Ireland.

 

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Black News: Tim Brown Attacks Al Davis

We'll go ahead and file that one under "headlines I didn't anticipate typing today."

It's a bizarre statement. It's a bizarre subset of people to hate, even if you insist on hating a group of people. And it's a bizarre thing to say to an African-American athlete from Notre Dame when meeting him for the first time.

But according to Tim Brown(notes), that's exactly what Al Davis did. Brown was interviewed on WCNN in Atlanta, and here's what he had to say about the first time he met Al. From SportsRadioInterviews.com (audio is available at the link):

“Meeting Al [Davis] was pretty unique. I found out five or ten minutes after my first practice there that he hated African-American athletes from Notre Dame. And they literally told me that. They literally told me that because we’re known for using our education more than our athletic ability that he thought that I would be one of these guys that would basically take the money and run. I don’t know if that was a ploy to get me amped up, but it certainly worked.”

 

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Jason Taylor returns to the Dolphins for chump change

Jason Taylor's newest step has him back where he started. The dancing linebacker signed a $1.5 million, one-year contract Wednesday with the Miami Dolphins.

Taylor played his first 11 seasons with Miami before being traded a year ago to the Washington Redskins -- a fallout from his stint on the TV show "Dancing With the Stars." He was released by Washington in March after one injury-plagued season.

The New England Patriots courted the 34-year-old Taylor in recent weeks, but he wanted to return to South Florida, where he still lives. He will make $1.1 million in base salary and $400,000 in easy to reach incentives.

"My heart has always been in Miami, and so I'm truly excited to call myself a Dolphin once again," Taylor said in a statement. "I was presented with a number of different opportunities, but in the end the combination of this being the best situation for my family, my love for this community and my tremendous loyalty to a great organization made this an easy decision."

Taylor made the Pro Bowl six times with Miami and was NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.

 

Click to read.

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