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The only Black woman in the NAIA is committed to and leading the rebranding of the HBCU Athletic Conference

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The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) organizes 21 conferences. Only one is led by a black commissioner.

This league will probably be in force from July 1 latest name which encompasses its mission and membership: the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) with the motto “Where Winners Thrive.”

After three years of interim service, Kiki Baker Barnes was named everlasting commissioner of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) in June 2022. She said her leadership team worked with Black-owned marketing firm Ten35 for 2 years before selecting the latest name.

“We had been operating as an HBCU conference and collective since 2010, but we had no ownership,” Barnes told the Grio Journal. “We wanted to think of a name that would be more fitting. I’m very excited to leverage our identity and continue to grow the conference. We have a strategic plan to reach 16 members.”

A student walks on the campus of Fisk University in Nashville. The university is a member of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, which is rebranding and constructing on its HBCU identity. (Photo: George Walker IV/The Tennessean/USA Today Network)

GCAC was founded in 1981 with three HBCUs – Dillard, Tougaloo and Xavier-Louisiana – and 4 predominantly white institutions situated in three Gulf Coast states. Starting this summer, Conference will include 13 schools – all HBCUs – situated in eight states and one U.S. territory.

Barnes said too many individuals who couldn’t name a single GCAC member actually knew these schools quite well, including deep-rooted HBCUs like Fisk and Talladega. On the other hand, HBCUs in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) conferences were easy to discover.

“When you say ‘SWAC,’” Barnes said, referring to the Southwestern Athletic Conference, “Grambling, Southern and Alabama State are pulling out. She noted the same dynamic amongst members of the Mideastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

“But when you said, ‘Gulf Coast Athletic Conference,’ people went, ‘Hmm?’ Nobody knew who it was. But I would name the schools and people would know them. The only differentiator among us is that we are all HBCUs.”

In 2010, the conference was on the verge of collapse when six schools left, leaving 4 HBCUs as the only members. Barnes, who had spent nearly 16 years at Dillard as women’s basketball coach and athletic director, became president of the conference – “I took over a sinking ship” – and immediately helped recruit latest members resembling Philander Smith, Edward Waters and Voorhees.

She said that, as expected, the response to the rebranding was mixed. HBCUAC is the youngest HBCU conference. Some of the old guard are usually not thrilled with the latest name, perhaps considering it a bit conceited. But critics are removed from her mind and audience.

“I would say people who have money were very excited,” said Barnes, a fierce competitor who played basketball in New Orleans and holds the school record in the triple jump. “It makes me excited about the potential brand partnerships that may take place. I received good feedback from coaches and people who followed our conference and were familiar with what we were doing. They are very excited.”

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The rebranding will take effect on the same day that Stillman, Voorhees and Wilberforce develop into official members. As of 2022, five other schools have joined or rejoined, including the University of the Virgin Islands, which became first school from U.S. territory to join an NAIA or NCAA conference in the twenty first century.

Stillman athletic director Terrance White he said WBRC-TV that its athletes will enjoy enhanced cultural experiences in their latest league.

“Schools of similar size, with missions, visions and values ​​of similar size,” White said. “You know, similar sports programs, similar students come from similar backgrounds. All of this turns out to be something that cannot be measured in the long run.”

NAIA sports programming is much smaller than its top NCAA counterparts, which collectively generate billions in television revenue. But regardless of size, each school’s mission goes beyond athletics. Sports help fulfill this mission, even in conferences like the GCAC that don’t field football teams.

“We don’t expect to make millions like the big schools,” Wilberforce President Vann Newkirk said he said Gazeta Codzienna Xenia. However, we all know that at our level every penny counts, and running a sports program is a business. This move will energize our alumni base, which in turn will help us increase attendance and overall interest in the University.”

Sports can enhance a faculty’s profile and brand, creating more ways to share information and increase enrollment. Barnes said HBCUAC will do that and more for its member institutions.

“When we talk about ‘Where Winners Thrive,’ do you know what stories we can tell? There is a lot of history, not just athletics,” she said.

“It gives us a platform where we can really grow and tell the stories of our institutions so that they have the same brand recognition as Howard, Spelman, Morehouse, FAMU, Grambling, Tuskegee and all these schools that people know.”


Deron Snyder thegrio.com


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Hugh Jackman’s attempt to silence the doubters in the face of criticism over his scandalous affair with the Broadway actress during their 27-year marriage backfired

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Australian actor Hugh Jackman (56) is in the crosshairs of Internet users due to accusations that a member of the forged of “The Music Man” on Broadway cheated on his then-wife with her friend.

Jackman married Deborra-Lee Furness, 68, in April 1996, after meeting the Australian while filming the TV show “Correlli” in 1995.

Recent reports suggest that Jackman began dating “The Music Man” actress Sutton Foster, 49, while still married to Furness. At the same time, Foster was married to screenwriter Ted Griffin before the couple split in 2024.

“Deadpool and Wolverine” star Hugh Jackman was accused of cheating on his then-wife Deborra-Lee Furness (left) with his “The Music Man” co-star Sutton Foster (right). (Photos: thehughjackman/Instagram; musicmanbway/Instagram)

People flooded into Jackman Instagram page condemn the ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ star for alleged infidelity. Many critics are harshly criticizing him on his recent posts.

For example, an upset Instagram user commented: “I’m upset. I believed you were a very good guy. I used to be flawed.

In addition, someone wrote: “An affair with an actor is very unprofessional.” A 3rd person replied: “I know right! And he hid it for his image! I feel very sorry for his children and wife.”

On one other one Instagram post On Jackman’s behalf, a disgruntled fan declared, “A man who cheats on his wife doesn’t deserve my respect, much less my following.”

In response to this backlash, Jackson attempted to silence the noise and naysayers by limiting comments on his posts.

However, a supporter of the Tony Award winner responded: “So many persons are concerned about his personal life. Worry about your individual people, rattling it.

Foster also faced backlash over her cheating scandal Instagram page.

“Stealing someone else’s man is crazy,” one person said. Another faultfinder commented: “I just came upon that you just and Hugh are literally destroying the house. “Wow.”

The foster family defender asked: “Why is this person’s private life our business? Why is it that when they hear something that is essentially a “gossip,” complete strangers feel entitled to KNOW what’s true, after which feel entitled to judge and condemn?”

Despite negative reactions on the Internet, “Nas” weekly. reported that its alleged source said Jackman and Foster are having fun with a “great next chapter” as romantic partners.

“They are happier than ever,” the source said. Apparently their romance began while they were starring in “The Music Man” on Broadway.

Additionally, an individual reportedly close to Foster claimed that her relationship with Jackman led to his divorce from Furness. The case allegedly overlapped with Foster and Jackman’s separate marriages.

“Our journey is now changing and we have decided to separate to continue our individual growth,” Jackman and Furness said in a press release. People following their separation in September 2023.

Their statement added: “We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this change in each of our lives.”

Furness sparked speculation about her views on her ex-husband’s recent girlfriend by liking a post on the gossip blogger’s Instagram in which she claimed Jackman “blindsided” her by “eloping with his lover.”

However, Daily Mail. reports that her alleged insiders say Furness won’t go further than clicking a heart on Tasha Lustig’s Instagram post.

But Furness was apparently aware that Jackman and Foster had began dating before she split from the father of her two adopted children, Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19.

“Deborra-Lee had her suspicions when Hugh started working with Sutton,” an anonymous source said, according to the Daily Mail. “Their relationship is no secret to her.”

While his personal life has turn into gossip fodder this 12 months, Jackman also enjoyed box office success with the superhero film “Deadpool and Wolverine.”

The thirty fourth Marvel Cinematic Universe film grossed $637 million domestically and $1.3 billion worldwide. “Deadpool and Wolverine” is currently one of the most watched movies on the Disney+ streaming platform.

Jackman reprized his role as Wolverine from the “X-Men” film series in the film directed by Shawn Levy. Ryan Reynolds returned as Deadpool in the third installment of the Deadpool trilogy.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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LaMelo Ball Charlotte turns heads as she arrives at the game in Scooby-Doo’s “The Mystery Machine.”

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LaMelo Ball, LaMelo Ball Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball Mystery Machine, Scooby Doo Mystery Machine, Scooby Doo, theGrio.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Say what you’ll about Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, but there isn’t any denying the 2022 NBA All-Star has a mode all his own.

The Hornets point guard turned heads on Thursday night when he I drove as much as the Spectrum Center for the team’s game against the Detroit Pistons in a colourful Hummer a reproduction of Scooby-Doo’s “Mystery Machine” – only rather more expensive than the one Shaggy and Velma rode in the kid’s cartoon.

Ball, a lover of enormous dogs, promoted the release of his Scooby-Doo x Puma MB.04, which might be released on November 27.

Ball wore vivid, multi-colored Puma shoes during warm-ups after which become vivid orange shoes for the match.

After the Hornets won 123-121 in extra time, Ball said he liked how his rental equipment was dressed up.

Ball, nonetheless, stopped in need of saying he might try to purchase one, joking, “I already have a Hummer, so I wouldn’t even bother.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Angelina Jolie’s disturbing performance in new interview sparks criticism Years after health problems caused her face to sag

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Angelina Jolie promotes her next film, “Maria”, in which she plays the role of the famous opera singer Maria Callas.

However, for some fans, the press was more about Jolie’s health and appearance than her work in film.

On November 21, Jolie sat down with Michael Strahan for an interview on “Good Morning America” ​​to discuss her fear of using her real voice to sing opera for the role and the enjoyment of motherhood. However, in the course of the chat, some fans claimed they noticed Jolie’s face looked different than usual.

In the newest interview, Angelina Jolie expresses concerns about her health. (Photo: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

One person was cited by Express US for this story he said“It looks rough.”

Another commentator on Page Six he wrote“Ok, I just read that her face looks different because she stated that she developed hypertension and Bell’s palsy, a condition that she said caused her face to droop to one side. I assumed she looked like she had a stroke, in order that explains it.

Debates about Jolie’s sickly appearance erupted when fans noticed visibly large veins on her arms during separate red carpet appearances. Even those that knew her health were still shocked and anxious by her photos.

Jolie first revealed that she had the disease in 2017. In an interview with Vanity Fair she said he said she discovered she had hypertension and Bell’s palsy in 2016, the identical yr she filed for divorce from Brad Pitt.

So when she was diagnosed with the disease, she said she wasn’t sure what could have caused it. “I can’t tell if it’s menopause or if it’s just the year,” said Jolie, then 42. “Sometimes women in families put themselves last until it manifests itself in their own health.”

However, she also said that she is trying to pay more attention to her health. “I actually feel more like a woman because I make wise choices, I put my family first and I am responsible for my life and health. I think that’s what makes a woman complete.”

Last yr, the “Maleficent” star opened up again about her condition, revealing that it was caused by the stress of ending her relationship with Pitt.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, she said he said“My body reacts very strongly to stress. My blood sugar levels go up and down. Six months before the divorce, I suddenly developed Bell’s palsy.

According to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke“Bell’s palsy is a neurological disorder that causes paralysis or weakness on one side of the face. It occurs when one in every of the nerves that control the facial muscles becomes damaged or stops working properly, which may cause the facial muscles to droop or sag.

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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