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• Rachel Nichols Apologizes for "Diversity" Comments on Maria Taylor

  Jul 6, 2021 SportZ 0 Comments

  Source: ESPN's Rachel Nichols apologizes on 'The Jump' for comments about Maria Taylor (link)

   

  ESPN NBA sideline reporter and “The Jump” host Rachel Nichols issued a brief apology for comments she made about diversity and her colleague Maria Taylor to kick off “The Jump” on Monday afternoon.

  A bombshell report from The New York Times on Sunday detailed the alleged heavy internal strife at the network over comments Nichols made in 2020 while Nichols and Taylor were both being considered to host coverage for the NBA Finals.

  According to them, Nichols was told by ESPN that Taylor, who is Black, was going to host the network’s coverage of the NBA Finals instead of her. Nichols was speaking with a longtime adviser of LeBron James, Adam Mendelsohn, on a call that was accidentally recorded and then later leaked.

  During that call, Nichols can be heard saying that she thinks Taylor was only being promoted because of ESPN’s "bad record on diversity". As it turns out, that recording was accessible to numerous ESPN employees, one of whom eventually leaked it. That employee is the only one to have been disciplined over the incident so far, something that remains an “active source of pain” among other employees. The comments also upset plenty of her coworkers on “The Jump” and among those involved in NBA coverage, including Jalen Rose, Adrian Wojnarowski and Jay Williams.

  Amidst this brewing controversy, Nichols made the apology. "The first thing they teach you in journalism school is don’t be the story, and I don’t plan to break that rule today or distract from a fantastic Finals,” she said. “But I also don’t want to let this moment pass without saying how much I respect, how much I value our colleagues here at ESPN, how deeply, deeply sorry I am for disappointing those I hurt, particularly Maria Taylor, and how grateful I am to be part of this outstanding team.”

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• NCAA Allows Athletes Profit off of their Likeness

  Jul 5, 2021 Andrew Williams 0 Comments

   

   The NCAA an institution that has been built on the backs of amateur athletes and under the premise that these athletes participate in these lucrative events in exchange for free education has changed their whole point of view. The NCAA on Wednesday June 30th agreed to allow college athletes to make money of their Name, Image and Likeness as of July 1 2021. In layman’s terms these athletes are now able to ink endorsement deals, sell autographs and even profit off YouTube and other social media outlets. 

   

    Why the sudden change of heart, has the mighty NCAA and board of directors finally seen the error of their ways. Is this a moment of repentance or just way to stay ahead of the negative publicity that will loom within the legacy of the NCAA.  This decision was actually prompted by the not only pressure growing increasingly unbearable from political point of views but legal stand point was in question as well.  States from Alabama to Oregon were hours away from implementing laws that would challenge the NCAA’s old amateur rules when the board of directors rescinded the rule (even in states that were not in danger of these new laws).  To be clear the original rule stated players were not allowed “to advertise, recommend or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial property or service of any kind”.  Just the thought of rescinding the before mentioned rule should blow your mind when you calculate the possible millions that awaits these children.

   

    Though I am happy to see that these kids who have worked so hard are now have an opportunity to earn fraction of what the schools are earning off them. It would be quite an ignominious display to celebrate these steps forward without questioning how will NCAA rectify it’s past. Will Reggie Bush get his Heisman back? Will the Fab 5’s legacy be vindicated? Hell , will Myles Bridges get his $40 back? Only time will tell. Many people from the barber shops to the boardrooms differ on the opinion of what should happen but what’s not questionable is the immediate effect it will have on recruiting. 

   

   Now schools with very high powered Alumni will be feared due to possible added endorsements for the schools recruits pick. I wonder will this change how AAU will be viewed? Will top tier EYBL games be filled with more commercial entities than college coaches? Most importantly with the ongoing issue of wage disparities between male and female sports how will this translates to this new terrain of the NCAA  and possible endorsers? Like I said before I am happy for these kids and  excited they will be paid. It seems the rule change has led to more questions than answers . This rule change and how things are moving forward will be legacy over the NCAA. Those that sacrificed their college career to pursue the life their hard work has afforded them you are the martyrs. This is your win too, and the NCAA can never take that away,…..again.

   

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• BallCourt - Is Devin Booker The New Kobe?

  Jul 1, 2021 CWN Publisher 0 Comments

  Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker has made it no secret that he considers the late Kobe Bryant to be one of his biggest idols. Many believe that Booker’s game has been patterned after the Los Angeles Lakers legend. And it has truly been on full display this season as Booker has helped lead the Suns to a stellar campaign. But their style of play isn’t the only thing Kobe and D-Book have in common. As a matter of fact, we were able to dig up six interesting facts that eerily connect the careers and lives of the two shooting guards.

  This week on Ballcourt - The World of Basketball - Coach Drew looks at the NBA Championship games and the surprises and heartbreaks and discusses the similarities between Devin Booker and Kobe Bryant.

  Topics include:
      ◦   Is Devin Booker the New Kobe
      ◦   Suns vs Clippers Nail bitter
      ◦   Trea Jones sending chills through the East
      ◦    Alex Caruso caught flying high

      ◦    Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks finished dead last in their divisions in 2018.

      ◦    Former WNBA all star snubbed by Olympic  committee.
  
    A Coaches Look
      ◦    Can Philly fans trust Ben Simmons and the process any longer
  76ers fans may never forget Ben Simmons’ epic fail, says Reggie Miller
  
      ◦    Shaq out here living several Goat lives
  
   Word from our Coach  - Work on your Craft:

  
  Stay active,  Stay Healthy , Stay Safe

   

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• Carmelo Anthony Wins First Social Justice Champion Award

  Jun 30, 2021 SportZ 0 Comments

  Source: Carmelo Anthony of Portland Trail Blazers wins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award (link)

   

  Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony is the inaugural winner of the NBA's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award. It was announced Tuesday.

  The NBA said Anthony, a 10-time NBA All-Star, an entrepreneur and a philanthropist, was selected "for his dedication over the past year to pursuing social justice and advancing Abdul-Jabbar's life mission to engage, empower and drive equality for individuals and groups who have been historically marginalized or systemically disadvantaged."

  The four other finalists for the award were Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes, Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris, Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday and Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson.

  The NBA announced the creation of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award on May 13. The annual honor was created to recognize a player for "pursuing social justice and upholding the league's decades-long values of equality, respect and inclusion."

  Abdul-Jabbar, formerly Lew Alcindor, is a six-time NBA champion, the league's all-time leading scorer and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The former Los Angeles Lakers and Bucks star is also known for pushing for societal change and inspiring reflection on injustice throughout his career.

  As the winner, Carmelo Anthony was able to select an organization -- Portland Art Museum's Black Arts and Experiences Initiative -- to receive a $100,000 contribution on his behalf. Barnes, Harris, Holiday and Toscano-Anderson will also receive $25,000 to give to a charity of their choice.

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• 17yo Erriyon Knighton Makes 200m Olympic Team

  Jun 28, 2021 SportZ 0 Comments

  Source: Meet Erriyon Knighton, the 17-year-old who broke Usain Bolt's record and is now an Olympian (link)

   

  Erriyon Knighton, 17-year-old Florida native, announced himself as one of the rising stars in U.S. track and field Sunday, finishing third in the men's 200-meter final at the Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

  A would-be rising senior in high school, Knighton figures to be one of the youngest athletes on Team USA this summer, where he will not only compete but also have a legitimate shot at winning a medal. He is believed to be the youngest American man to make the Olympic track and field team since Jim Ryun in 1964.

  Not only that, but in the process, he ran a 19.84 in the finals, setting the U20 world record which was previously held by none other than Usain Bolt (he also ran a 19.88 in the semi-finals, which was also a record). That time also beat Knighton's own U18 record as well.

  It's safe to say that right now, Erriyon Knighton definitely has the makings of the next track star, and will certainly run even better times. And who knows -- he's still a teenager, but he may even have a legitimate shot at some of Bolt's records. Did I mention it's only his third season running track?

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