Sports
The NCAA let down the Utah women’s basketball team
The NCAA must have known higher.
On March 21, members of the University of Utah women’s basketball travel team – players, coaches, associate athletic director, cheerleaders and band members – arrived in Spokane, Washington for the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament after which achieved a rating of 33.5 – a mile trip to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where their hotel was situated.
A short while later, while walking to a restaurant, group members said a white pickup truck pulled up in front of them, the driver revved the engine, then shouted the N-word and drove away.
When they left the restaurant two hours later to return to the hotel, two trucks they were supposedly waitingagain revving the engines in a threatening manner and shouting epithets.
Utah worked with the NCAA and Gonzaga to maneuver the group to a hotel in Spokane for the remainder of their stay. The Utes won their first game against South Dakota State and lost in the second round to host Gonzaga.
Days later, Utah State officials and players are still processing racial trauma and pointing fingers at the NCAA.
On Tuesday, an announcement issued by the University of Utah and signed by athletic director Mark Harlan, associate athletic director Charmelle Green and coach Lynne Roberts read partially: “We proceed to supply support and resources to all those impacted by the situation. As we proceed to get better, we’re very disillusioned with the decision to allocate our team to hotels situated to date from the competition venue in one other state.
“We will work with NCAA leadership to clarify that this distance from the scene was unacceptable and was a contributing factor to the impact of this incident.”
I believe anyone reading this knows that anti-black sentiment is all over the place on this country. This is what it was built on.
However, the NCAA and Gonzaga failed these young women and their team’s support staff, in addition to UC Irvine and South Dakota State, the remaining teams that were forced to stay in Coeur d’Alene.
Myk Crawford/NCAA photos via Getty Images
If there’s one place on this country that could be called the home of hate, it’s northern Idaho. Lake Hayden, about six miles north of Coeur d’Alene, is where the neo-Nazi group Aryan Nations was founded in 1977 and held annual meetings until the late Nineties. According to state statistics20 of the 50 reported hate crimes in Idaho in 2022 were reported by Black people. Although the situation improved after the bankruptcy of the Aryan Nations and their eventual expulsion from the city, the Southern Poverty Law Center, who tracks hate groups, claims that the variety of white supremacist cells in Idaho has increased in recent times. And now a few of these groups apparently have the support of state and native politicians, with far-right Republicans gaining ground in the state GOP.
Just this week, Idaho Governor Brad Little signed a bill banning “diversity statements” and other activities related to diversity, equity and inclusion teaching and advocacy. shouts about it on Facebooktacitly condoning those that stoke racial animosity (while ignoring the indisputable fact that DEI initiatives also aim to assist women and folks with disabilities).
It must be emphasized that it was pure coincidence that Spokane hosted the first two rounds of the men’s and women’s tournaments, and since a big youth volleyball tournament was held on this relatively small city last weekend, accommodations were scarce. The men’s teams play all rounds at neutral sites, and Spokane has long been awarded first- and second-round games in the 2024 men’s tournament. On the women’s side, the top 4 seeds in each region will host the weekend’s opening matches. Since Gonzaga was the No. 4 seed in the Portland area, that meant much more athletes headed to Eastern Washington. Gonzaga asked and received permission from the NCAA to position teams in Coeur d’Alene since it is greater than half-hour away from the host stadium.
But given all the history, how could anyone involved on this case think it was a very good idea to place any teams in the city, let alone two that included several black players, coaches and support staff? The UC Irvine team includes one in every of the few women’s college basketball players who wears a hijab. Given the hatred that many white supremacist groups have towards Muslims, one shudders to think what might occur in the event that they saw the Anteaters guarding Diaby Konate.
A University of California, Irvine official said that after hearing what happened to the Utes, the group moved out of Coeur d’Alene.
Green, the Utes’ associate athletic director and a Black woman, told Utah online news site KSL.com that she was upset after the horrific events.
“We were all in shock and looked at each other like, did we just hear that? … Everyone was in shock – our cheerleaders and the students who were in the area who heard it clearly just froze,” Green said. “We kept walking, just shaking our heads like I couldn’t believe it.”
After the second hate incident, as the band was leaving the restaurant, ‘I became emotional and commenced crying’ – said Green. After ensuring the group returned safely to the hotel, “I got here back and just had a while to myself. I used to be just numb all night.
Couer d’Alene Mayor Jim Hammond condemned the abuse, apologizing and saying he would really like to talk to the staff and team. The police chief said investigators are on the lookout for video footage and witness reports The FBI is now involved.
Gonzaga officials quickly issued an announcement expressing remorse. But as of this writing, the NCAA, the same organization that gave Gonzaga the green light to position these teams in a spot famous for being a haven for extremists, has remained silent.
Myk Crawford/NCAA photos via Getty Images
Given the way the NCAA has treated women’s teams over the years – remember the low standard “weighing room” were delivered during the 2021 tournament? – the organization does not benefit from the doubt that it simply did not know the history of Coeur d’Alene, not this writer. Not when she tried to explain the clear evidence of poor facilities and treatment of female athletes an external investigation conducted almost three years ago found that the NCAA intentionally undervalued the Division I women’s basketball tournament “in a way that creates, normalizes and perpetuates gender inequality.”
A second investigation into sports beyond basketball revealed more gender inequality, which “while disappointing, is not surprising,” the report said.
What must have been a joyous time for the Utes, a likelihood to point out off a rapidly growing program and rejoice seniors, will as an alternative be remembered for the worst of reasons.
They deserved more.
Sports
SWAC overcomes a lawsuit worth USD 150 million with Urban Edge Network for media rights to HBCU Athletic Games
Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) has recently received an exemption in court regarding a lawsuit worth $ 150 million regarding media rights for conference sports games. According to Raleigh News & ObserverUrban Edge Network claimed that that they had the precise to broadcast SWAC sports competitions on streaming platforms. The claim was released in April, because “Uen has no contractual relationships from SWAC and as such, he has no right to sell, sell or promote advertisements, transmission or similar rights to Swac games or the events of his member institutions”, in accordance with Statement issued by SWAC. Claims distant by the claim include unfair business practices and interference within the contract, among the many litany of others.
SWAC is a conference consisting of several historically black college and universities (HBCU), comparable to Jackson State University, Alabama A & m University, Grambling State University and Southern University.
In the statement, SWAC continued: “Urban Edge and its founders” and its founders Hardy Pelt and Todd Brown “from further false attempts to sell advertising and media for third parties, otherwise use the media to swack or call for violation of their contracts from Swac.”
The dismissal is critical, especially since HBCU games have change into far more popular on streaming platforms comparable to HBCugo (property of the Allen Media Group), and are even broadcast more recurrently in primary stores comparable to ESPN. Each thanksgiving, ESPN broadcasts Bayou Classic, an annual football competition between the outstanding HBCUS in Louisiana, each members of SWAC-exposing the State University and the South University.
Jackson State University is one other university whose national profile has increased over the past few years, which allows you to broadcast these lucrative games. Deion Sanders was the primary coach of the college football team and brought each his son Shedeur Sanders and a 5-star recruit of Travis Hunter to Jackson. Both of them finally followed the Boulder Deion in Colorado when he took over the football program on the University of Colorado. Both players were recently elected in 2025 NFL Draft.
SWAC has other claims against Urban Edge Network that can go to the trial.
(Tagstotranslate) HBCU SPORTS (T) hbcugo.television
EastSide Golf is even.
Earl Cooper and Olajuwon Ajanaku founded a black brand of golf clothing, which goals to make golf more integrative. They have recently announced two fundamental movements to support this mission: they launched last month EASTIDE GOLF FOUNDATIONAnd today the brand has announced the signing of its first skilled Golfer under a contract of support: a member of PGA Tour Joseph Bramph.
Braglett said that in 2020 he was fascinated by joining Golf EastSide.
“Since then, I watched the brand growing,” he said. “They sent me a few shirts and other things, and I had many friends wore EastSide Golf (clothing). I watched their mission, what they were, the height they had, and I was very excited about the possibility of finally becoming part of it and push the brand forward.”
During all skilled competitions, a member of PGA Tour will wear brand clothing with a characteristic logo on the left breast, a black golfanist rocking golf club with a golden chain on the neck. Normal Fashion Elections Bramletta lie in a stereotypical sports outfit, nevertheless it is happy that it may possibly break out of this manner with EastSide turtleneck.
EastSide Golf
“They just bring different energy,” he said. “You see Jordan’s cooperation and growing up, I played golf from an early age, but basketball has always been my second sport. I am a big fan of Michael Jordan.” He called the Link with Golf EastSide “a very good fit”.
Bramp’s father initiated his love for this sport. His father, who, said, was “addicted to Golf, before I was born”, often exchange a golf club in the lounge. Braglett simply copied his actions.
“Every time his turn came to take care of me, he practiced (his) a short game and let me crawl on the grass,” he said. “I read the game very early and I don’t know exactly what it was, but it captivated me from the very beginning.”
The profession of Stanford graduates includes winning the national championships in the first 12 months. His win secured the PGA Tour card immediately after studying in 2010. His other achievements include winning the Korn Ferry Tour in 2021 and the recent third place at Puerto Rico Open, where he scored 21 years.
EastSide Golf
Bramlett is one of two black golfers commonly competing on PGA Tour.
“I was a black golfer all my life, so from the first day it was just part of my experience in the game,” he said. “That’s what I’m proud of, I know that this is something that distinguishes me a bit (and) I think it is also something that gives me a great platform.”
Departing from Saratog in California, he signed a contract with EastSide Golf not only to the present, but additionally for the future. Bramlett has one other decade for top -level competition. Despite this, when he finished, he would love to present up a game that he gave a lot to people like him, Cooper and Anjanak, despite the history of Golf to be inaccessible to black people.
“All positive and inclusion that they pressed, social times, and the ways in which they bring people to the game, making them feel more welcome, pushing the game forward,” he said. “I want to be someone who is involved.”
EastSide Golf signed Bramletta shortly after the announcement of EastSide Golf Foundation. The foundation was created to extend influence in three key areas: access, education and perfection. The Foundation will ensure resources to make Golf more available, share knowledge about sport and financial support for social organizations, golf teams and individuals through high -quality programs that favor long -term success.
EastSide Golf
“I am a PGA professional and I think that as PGA professionals, we bear the duties to bring people to the game,” said Cooper. “There is a bigger mission and until everyone feels welcome and everyone feels comfortable in the golf course, we still have a job.”
Cooper said that having a foundation allows Golf EastSide to receive larger funds to increase their mission. One of the features of this mission, which can probably profit, is EastSide Golf Invitational, a charity event starting the third 12 months, and now the official event of the Foundation Funds.
Now, the official event of the foundation funds, Invitational has generated over 100,000 USD for Morehouse College over the past two years. Since 2019, EastSide Golf has brought almost USD 300,000 in the school golf program for the support of scholarships, team operations and others. In addition to financial support, EastSide Golf also provides uniforms, transport, contacts and other experiences, such as the team host in Masters.
Their financial contribution is in step with the meaning of the school, which connects Cooper and Anjanak. They met in College via the Golf team and won the twenty fourth minority Golf PGA championship in 2010.
Although Cooper didn’t create PGA Tour, he wants to go away the heritage of motivating the next generation. “Although I’m not on the route, I can still influence,” he said.
For Bragletta, he just wants children to know that they’ll achieve all the pieces they gave their minds to.
“I was lucky to grow up, I had Tiger Woods,” he said. “I hope that I can set such an example for future generations.”
Sports
Ryan Clark breaks down in an emotional interview with Greg Brooks Jr.: “This child did not deserve it”
Ryana Clark “The Pivot” podcast It boasts “key conversations”. However, the host of the podcast was not prepared for the emotional variety of his last interview with a former footballer of the State University in Louisiana Greg Brooks Jr. After almost an hour conversation with Greg Brooks and his father, Greg Brooks, Clark, Clark Put in tears a moment after Brooks was thrown out of the interview.
“Sometimes I miss it. I look at the screen and I think it should be me, but I’m just glad that I’m here.”
“You are amazing. You are an inspiration, I mean that you are a superhero and I expected that from a very young age, when I met you, to achieve great things,” said Clark Brooks Jr. “I never expected you to achieve what you have man. I love you.”
For Clark, Ałunu LSU and the super Bowl master, this conversation was particularly annoying because he was there to witness Brooks Jr.’s journey. from early days of recovery.
“It’s hard to see, old,” Clark continued. “My tears are like a part of pride, but also just anger, because you are right, this child does not … does not deserve this man, and to be honest, GB (Greg Brooks Sr.), the most difficult part is for me that he has no anger. He is so happy of everything he has, he is so happy because of how far is.”
While the previous LSU football captain is grateful for recovery, his father, Brooks Sr., explained that Brooks Jr. He still experiences the extent of pain.
“Don’t you think that this child suffered, old? Don’t you think that he had the successes of all his friends? Not hear from the trainer for over 17 months? Seventeen Fu ** months … it’s painful, old” – revealed Brooks Sr.
In a lawsuit against the University and Mother of God of the Lake Regional Medical Center at Baton Rouge, the Brooks family claims that LSU staff and medical staff performed neglect in the Brooks Jr. And that the varsity did not inform the athlete’s family about his injury.
“I just want young athletes in the identical place, if something hurts, tell them.
(Tagstranslate) LSU Football (T) Ryan Clark (T) Sport
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