On Monday night in front of a national audience watching on Monday Night Football, the Green Bay Packers improved their record to 3-2-1 by defeating the San Francisco 49ers 33-30 at legendary Lambeau Field. After a bad game against the Detroit Lions last week, Packers Placekicker Mason Crosby redeemed himself big-time by kicking the game winning field goal after Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers marched the team downfield with brilliant passes to his receivers with no time-outs and only 67 seconds left on the clock to set up the winning kick. The Packers have a bye next Sunday, giving Packers players–especially Rodgers and star wide receiver Randall Cobb–time to heal.”
Sports
Michael Jordan Donates $2 Million to Hurricane Florence Relief and Recovery
Charlotte, NC — As part of the Charlotte Hornets’ continued effort to assist residents of the Carolinas who have suffered due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Florence, Hornets Chairman Michael Jordan is donating $2 million to organizations aiding in the relief and recovery efforts.
Jordan is contributing $1 million each to the American Red Cross and the Foundation For The Carolinas’ Hurricane Florence Response Fund. The American Red Cross is providing food and shelter to thousands of people who have been displaced by the hurricane, while the Foundation For The Carolinas’ Hurricane Florence Response Fund directs funds to nonprofits in North and South Carolina providing relief to victims of the storm.
On Friday, Sept. 21, in partnership with Food Lion, more than 100 members of the Hornets organization, including both business and basketball staff, will help pack disaster food boxes at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. The disaster food boxes, which provide individual meals, will be shipped to Wilmington, N.C., Fayetteville, N.C., and Myrtle Beach, S.C., and distributed to those who have been directly impacted by the hurricane. The organization’s goal is to pack 5,000 boxes. The Charlotte Hornets Foundation will also be making a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Food Lion, the team’s Official Hunger Relief Partner, will be donating the food that will be packed for the boxes.
Additionally, Hornets and NBA merchandising partner Fanatics has designed a special T-shirt featuring the Hornets logo in the middle of the states of North and South Carolina surrounded by the words “Carolina Strong.” The NBA, the Hornets and Fanatics will donate 100% of the net proceeds of the “Carolina Strong” T-shirt to the Foundation For The Carolinas’ Hurricane Florence Response Fund. The T-shirts are now available online at NBAstore.com, Fanatics.com and HornetsFanShop.com for $24.99.
Last week in an effort to encourage donations, the Hornets and the NBA launched a platform with verified local organizations focusing on immediate relief and support of those affected by Hurricane Florence. Fans are encouraged to visit hornets.com or the following microsite to make a donation: http://cares.nba.com/charlotte-hurricane-relief-efforts/. The organizations identified on the microsite include: American Red Cross, Direct Relief, Foundation For The Carolinas, Second Harvest Food Bank and the United Way of Central Carolinas.
Black NBA Assistant Coach of 20 Years Passes Away
Celebrating the Life of Donald “Duck” David Newman, Who Was an NBA Assistant Coach For More Than 20 Years
By Michelle Rousseau Newman
Nationwide (BlackNews.com) — On Tuesday, September 11, 2018, back home in his beloved New Orleans, Donald David Newman (DOB: 11-22-57) expired at 9:40 p.m.With his beautiful wife, Michelle Rousseau Newman, daughters Chandi Lynn Newman and Devan Dawn Newman, and family near, Donald moved on peacefully. He was the proudest father, devoted husband, and loving of family. “Duck” was the truest fighting buddy and the fiercest competitor/athlete. Coach Newman was a “player’s” coach and to many a life mentor.
Donald David Newman was a most trusted confidante. Known well and to most as Coach New(man) or in his intimate circles as “Duck,” Donald David Newman loved life, family, and “the game.”
Many people had the pleasure of meeting New during his two decades as an assistant coach in the NBA. From 1999 to 2016 he served as an assistant in Milwaukee, New Jersey, San Antonio and Washington. Prior to making the jump to the NBA, Don spent 10 years coaching in the college ranks. In addition, he was an assistant for USA Basketball during the 2002 World Championships.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to the Donald “Duck” Newman Foundation, in care of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Checks can be made out to The Greater New Orleans Foundation, with Donald “Duck” Newman Foundation in the memo line. They can be mailed to: 919 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130.
Credit card donations can be made online at the following link: www.gnof.org/give-now/, and Donald “Duck” Newman Foundation should be entered in to the specify the fund field.
Nike’s Kaepernick Campaign Signals Change in Shoe Politics
Article by JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press, via theskanner.com (Portland Skanner, an NNPA newspaper)
Published September 8, 2018
A pair of shoes are set aflame with a cigarette lighter, captured on video and shared widely online to protest a political statement made by the manufacturer.
The New Balance shoes were burned by their owners two years ago after a spokeswoman indicated the company’s support for President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
Nike now finds itself in a similar position on the other side of the political spectrum as some customers cut up its products or burn them because of the company’s decision to make Colin Kaepernick the face of its “Just Do It” 30th anniversary campaign.
With the Kaepernick campaign , Nike is embracing activism and racial justice at a time when shoe companies can no longer avoid the nation’s political division.
After years of building billion-dollar brands around sports celebrities, shoe and apparel makers now find themselves flashpoints in the political, racial and cultural clashes surrounding the Trump administration.
Nike took this route as its biggest representatives — most notably LeBron James and Serena Williams — have spoken out about police shootings of African-American men and problems facing the black community.
Those same athletes are increasingly using their shoes as a form of expression. James’ “Equality” Nike signature shoe was unveiled earlier this year, with the word emblazoned across the back of the shoes. Steph Curry has worn a Barack Obama-themed shoe.
NBA players in recent years have worn shoes with messages of “R.I.P. Trayvon Martin” and “Sideline Racism” and images of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached.
Such statements could become more common in the next season after the NBA relaxed the rules over the types of shoes players can wear.
“I stand with Nike, every day, all day,” James said Tuesday at a Nike fashion show and awards ceremony in New York.
Trump has blasted the NFL for allowing players to follow Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem to protest police shootings of African-Americans.
Now the president has turned against Nike, which is making the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback one of its main spokesmen.
“Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts,” Trump tweeted Wednesday .
Athletic apparel companies have straddled the entertainment and cultural worlds for years partly with their emulation of black culture — think Run-DMC’s Adidas shoe deal in the wake of the group’s rap hit “My Adidas” and Nike’s “Air Jordan” campaigns featuring Michael Jordan and Spike Lee.
This has created a billion-dollar industry and the cultural challenge of how to appeal to minority and youth communities as well as to the country’s white, sometimes conservative, majority.
But the companies and major sports leagues have been careful not to stray into real politics, famously symbolized by Jordan, who reportedly said Republicans buy shoes, too.
While Jordan and others in his era were thrilled to have lucrative shoe deals, the current generation is going farther by using their sneaker deals as a platform to promote social justice.
And with that shift, Nike is taking the side of its superstar athletes — even if it means alienating Trump supporters and intertwining shoes and politics.
Many companies “feel the need to align with players, because players help them move the product,” said Michael Lewis, director of the Marketing Analytics Center at Emory University in Atlanta.
Clothing and shoe makers have always had a back-and-forth relationship with minority communities.
Business boomed as black athletes became spokesmen and spokeswomen, but questions arose over how much the companies invested financially in black communities, compared with how much they made by exploiting African-American trends.
The relationship began in the 1980s, when Nike, Adidas, Reebok and Converse became staples of black fashion, and African-American youth sought to emulate the stars of the day, like Jordan, Run-DMC and other figures associated with the burgeoning hip-hop culture.
Footwear came to symbolize status and street style. Sneakerheads lined up outside stores to get the newest shoes.
Companies “have made millions off of following trends from the black community, and so they have to be cognizant of the feelings of that community,” said Antonio S. Williams, who teaches sports marketing at Indiana University.
“It only takes one or two incidents for shoes to be pushed aside and declared uncool and left behind, so they are very aware of the cultural exchanges and trends going on in their base communities.”
New Balance tried to steer clear of politics in 2016 after coming out in support of Trump’s desire to remove the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
A company official said “things are going to move in the right direction” under a Trump presidency. Protesters took that as support for Trump and began burning New Balance shoes and posting videos.
At least one white supremacist declared that New Balances were the shoes of “The Trump Revolution.”
New Balance quickly released a statement saying the official’s remark was taken out of context. The company insisted that it “does not tolerate bigotry or hate in any form” and “believes in humanity, integrity, community and mutual respect for people around the world.”
Unlike New Balance, Nike doesn’t seem to be backing down.
Its two-minute commercial, highlighting Kaepernick, James, Serena Williams and others, aired Thursday during halftime of the NFL’s season opener.
Nike has likely figured out that its core consumers — the people who regularly buy its sneakers and clothes — are probably the millennials and minority youth who already support Kaepernick or at least don’t mind the stance he is taking, Antonio Williams said.
“Nike wants to be on the right side of history and the right side of its core consumers,” he said.
Jesse J. Holland covers race and ethnicity for The Associated Press.
Black Police Officers’ Association Supports Kaepernick Despite Union Disapproval
Black finally trumps blue.
Keka Araujo, courtesy of diversityinc.com
The National Black Police Association (NBPA) has openly criticized police condemnation of Colin Kaepernick and voiced its support of the former star quarterback.
It appears Black police officers are taking a stand alongside Kaepernick to show their support to end police brutality and violence. On Wednesday, NBPA, lead by Sonia Y.W. Pruitt, issued a letter of support and stated that both Nike and Kaepernick are simply upholding their constitutional rights.
The letter states:
“Your inclusion of Mr. Kaepernick in your ads seems appropriate to us. We live in a country where the 1st Amendment is a right of the people. Mr. Kaepernick chose to exercise his right where his passion was—on the football field.
“The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) believes that Mr. Kaepernick’s choice to openly protest issues surrounding police brutality, racism and social injustice in this country makes him anti-police.
“On the contrary, the NBPA believes that Mr. Kaepernick’s stance is in direct alignment with what law enforcement stands for — the protection of a people, their human rights, their dignity, their safety, and their rights as American citizens.”
Prior to this overt show support for Kaepernick, Black officers were often a messy part of the “blue wall of silence.” This code makes up the very fabric of our nation’s police forces. Black officers are often chided to maintain silence for their fraternal brothers even to the detriment of the people with whom they share a race.
This marks the first public and direct challenge of that code and hopefully this will spark a change in all of those who choose to “serve and protect.”
Meanwhile, the NAPO continues its disapproval of Kaepernick’s silent protest against police brutality and murder of this country’s Black citizens. The organization wrote a seething letter showing it’s disgust for what many would call a cry for justice and fairness.
Negro League Baseball Seeks Sponsors to Honor the History of Past African American Players
Nationwide (BlackNews.com) — The Urban Baseball Association Inc. launched a new professional baseball league on May 25, 2018 in Laurel, Mississippi at Wooten Legion Field. The league in its initial conception consisted of four teams with plans for future expansion. The creation of this professional league is designed to provide family entertainment, promote diversity in the game of baseball and to honor the history and memories of past African American baseball players (the same as the Negro League Museum in Kansas City, MO and the Negro Southern League Museum in Birmingham, AL).
The names of the teams in this league reflect that of past Negro League players i.e. Rube Foster All-Stars, Satchel Paige All-Stars, and Josh Gibson All-Stars etc.
This league is dedicated to the generations of baseball players who were denied the opportunity to play baseball because of factors other than their ability to play the game of baseball. They have begun planning for the 2019 season, and are reaching out to business, corporate and community leaders (both national and international) to support this cause by becoming an underwriter, sponsor, booster and/or donor.
“As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, we are in the midst of a 30-day fundraising drive to raise $300,000 by October 10, 2018. We are appealing to the business, community leaders and well wishers for their support. We believe this could be a win-win opportunity for all parties. We are appealing to all that can and will help support this cause by making a donation. All donations small or large from $5 to $1,000,000 would be welcomed and greatly appreciated,” said Mike Mayden, Director of baseball operations.
Those interested in making a donation to help support this league should visit the official web site at www.nupbl.com or call 773-741-3530.
Donations may also be sent to:
Urban Baseball
P.O. Box 288696
Chicago, IL 60628
Attn: Support
ACLU Statement on Start of NFL Regular Season
NEW YORK — The NFL season begins tonight with no clarity on the policy surrounding player protests against racial injustice during the national anthem. Jeff Robinson, ACLU deputy legal director, issued the following statement:
“As NFL players prepare to take the field for the regular season, we’re reminded of the power of sports to reach the country. People from all different colors, creeds, religions, and backgrounds come together around the game, in pursuit of a common goal.
“It’s said that people follow football as an escape, a way to avoid the chaos and hardships of the real world. There is some truth there. The real world can be ugly, and some of the ugliest parts are systemic racism and inequity. Some Americans have to live with that before, during and after football games. Players are well within their rights to make this known.
“There are intense disagreements surrounding the protests against racial injustice, which is part of the beauty of America – that you’re entitled to speak out. Protest isn’t supposed to make anyone comfortable.
“Every player should have the right to stand, hand over heart, or kneel in reverence, pleading for America to live up to its ideals. The national anthem rightfully means different things for different people.
“We hope that the NFL and NFLPA find a resolution in support of the players who peacefully bring attention to racial injustice. And to the players kneeling this season, we kneel with you.”
This statement is online here: https://www.aclu.org/news/aclu
Colin Kaepernick’s collusion case against NFL heading to trial
Article courtesy of cbsnews.com
Last Updated Aug 30, 2018 10:20 PM EDT
PHILADELPHIA — An arbitrator is sending Colin Kaepernick’s grievance with the NFL to trial, denying the league’s request to throw out the quarterback’s claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests of social injustice. Kaepernick’s lawyer Mark Geragos tweeted a picture of the ruling by arbitrator Stephen B. Burbank.
The former 49ers quarterback argues that owners have colluded to keep him off any NFL roster since he hit free agency in 2017.
Kaepernick began a wave of protests by NFL players two seasons ago by kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. The protests have grown into an extremely polarizing issue with President Trump loudly urging the league to suspend or fire players who demonstrate during the anthem.
Kaepernick contends the owners violated their collective bargaining agreement with players by conspiring to keep him off of teams. The case hinges on whether owners worked together rather than decided individually to not sign Kaepernick.
Burbank writes in the ruling: “Colin Kaepernick’s complaint alleging that his inability to secure a player contract since becoming a free agent in March 2017 has been due to an agreement among team owners and the NFL that violates Article 17, Section 1 of the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA (union).”
A source close to the Kaepernick case tells CBS News there is no trial date at this time; however, it is believed the case will conclude by the end of the year.
A similar grievance is still pending by unsigned safety Eric Reid, who played with Kaepernick in San Francisco and joined in the protests.
Meanwhile, the league and players union still haven’t resolved whether players will be punished this season if they choose to kneel or demonstrate during the national anthem.
Owners approved a policy requiring players to stand if they are on the sideline during the national anthem, allowing them to stay off the field if they wish. But the league and union put that on hold after the Miami Dolphins faced backlash for classifying the protests as conduct potentially detrimental to the team — putting players at risk of fines or suspensions.
The National Football League Players Association issued a statement at the time when Kaepernick’s grievance was filed in October 2017, which said it “has a duty to assist Mr. Kaepernick as we do all players and we will support him.”
“Colin Kaepernick’s goal has always been, and remains, to simply be treated fairly by the league he performed at the highest level for and to return to the football playing field,” Geragos said at the time.
Reaction to Kaepernick’s protest didn’t sit well with Seattle defensive back Richard Sherman, who said the league’s message is: “Boy, stay in your place.” The Eagles’ Malcolm Jenkins called the teams “cowards.”
Dr. Harry Edwards, a Kaepernick adviser, agrees.
“You have people who came back after being associated with drugs, rape charges and so forth … but a man who violated no league rules, who committed no crime, who has statistics that Colin Kaepernick has cannot play in the league … that is not Kaepernick’s problem,” Edwards said. “That is the league’s problem.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has previously denied Kaepernick was being blackballed.
“Those are football decisions that each team has to make and what they think are the right ways to make their football teams better,” Goodell said.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has said Kaepernick deserves a spot on an NFL roster.
In an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning” last September, Brady said he admired Kaepernick for protesting during the national anthem.
“I’ve always watched him and admired him, the way that he’s played he was a great young quarterback,” Brady told CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell. “He came to our stadium and beat us and took his team to the Super Bowl. He accomplished a lot in the pros as a player. And he’s certainly qualified and I hope he gets a shot.”
Wisconsin Herd Announces 2018-19 Season Schedule
The Wisconsin Herd, the NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, will tip-off the 2018-19 season with five of its first six games at Menominee Nation Arena in Oshkosh. The complete 2018-19 regular season schedule was announced by the G League today.
Opening night for the Herd, which is presented by BMO Harris Bank, will take place on Friday, Nov. 2 against the Greensboro Swarm. The Herd continues its home slate on Saturday, Nov. 3 with a matchup against the Canton Charge, marking the first of eight back-to-back sets for the team in 2018-19. The first two games of the season are two of 15 home games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The 50-game schedule for the Herd includes 24 home games in Oshkosh, 24 road contests and two games as part of the G League Showcase, which will be announced at a later date. All home games for the Herd will tip-off from Menominee Nation Arena at 7 p.m., except for two Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. (Feb. 10 vs. Canton, Feb. 24vs. Greensboro) and the Herd’s School Days Matinee presented by BMO Harris Bank on Jan. 16 vs. Erie at 11:30 a.m. The complete 2018-19 schedule for the Herd is attached.
2018-19 season tickets for the Herd are available now, beginning at $8 per game. To purchase season tickets, or for more information on the Herd, visit www.wisconsinherd.com or call a Herd sales representative at (920) 223-HERD. Single game tickets for the 2018-19 season will go on sale in October.
SCHEDULING NOTES: The Herd has eight back-to-back sets (six home/home, two home/road) … SCHEDULE BY MONTH (HOME/ROAD): November (5/5), December (4/4), January (4/6), February (5/5), March (6/4) … SCHEDULE BY DAY OF THE WEEK (HOME/ROAD): Sunday (2/2), Monday (2/0), Tuesday (0/3), Wednesday (7/5), Thursday (0/0), Friday (8/6), Saturday (5/8).
BOXTOROW Preseason Coaches Poll
North Carolina A&T, the premier program in HBCU football in the
Celebration Bowl era, begins the 2018 season in a familiar position, atop
the BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches poll.
It’s where the Aggies ended the 2017 season after going undefeated and
winning their second Celebration Bowl and HBCU national championship in
three seasons. Twenty of 21 coaches voted the Aggies No. 1.
N.C. A&T has a new coach this year as Sam Washington takes over the
program following Rod Broadway’s retirement in January. Washington has
been an assistant under Broadway the last 11 years.
Other familiar names are expected to challenge the Aggies for supremacy in
2018. Grambling, who fell to A&T in last year’s Celebration Bowl but won
the title and HBCU national championship in 2016, opens at No. 2.
Alcorn State has won the last four SWAC Eastern Division titles and starts
the year off at No. 3.
The remaining top five teams had solid 2017 seasons. Howard, which opened
2017 with a 43-40 victory over FBS opponent UNLV and finished the season
with a 7-4 record which tied for second place in the MEAC, opens at No. 4.
No. 5 Bethune-Cookman also finished 2017 tied for second in the MEAC.
The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS Coaches Poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX
TO PRESS ROW and is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision
coaches.
2018 BOXTOROW FCS HBCU Preseason Football Coaches Poll
No. Team W-L Pts.
2017 Final Poll Rank
1. North Carolina A&T (20) 12-0 208 1
2. Grambling (1) 11-2 175 2
3. Alcorn State 7-5 130 3
4. Howard 7-4 128 6
5. Bethune-Cookman 7-4 119 4
6. Southern 7-4 106 5
7. North Carolina Central 7-4 89 7
8. Tennessee State 6-5 79 10
9. Prairie View A&M 6-5 65 9
10. Hampton 6-5 16 8
Others receiving votes: Alabama State (5-6) 13, Norfolk State (4-7) 8,
Florida A&M (3-8) 7, Alabama A&M (4-7) 4.
(1st place votes in parentheses)