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There are reasons to love the Boston Celtics, but not enough to quell our hatred

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Before Boston’s decisive loss in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, my friend Touré said it was time to show the “Blackified Celtics” some love.

That’s lots to ask of this native New Yorker.

For us, the hatred for Boston starts at an early age. Rites of passage include a lesson on the topic flea market of racism to our north. A terrifying image of a black man almost impaled during the 1976 bus protest, it looked too very similar to the South our elders had fled to. A thick Bostonian accent could create the same sense of unease that a rustic accent did. It doesn’t help that the rattling Celtics now have 18 NBA titles while our beloved Knicks only have two (none since 1973).

However, I’m able to give credit where credit is due. My long-standing philosophy towards suspected or certified racists is obvious: I’m not concerned about their feelings towards Black people, so long as we proceed to secure loans, jobs, homes, services, etc. that we could obtain with white skin. Hate us all you wish, but don’t trouble us.

I even have to admit that the Celtics are acting in a way that’s counterintuitive to Boston’s popularity.

Yes, the franchise goes overboard when in search of white players to appease the fans, whether or not it’s stars like Larry Bird or players like Brian Scalabrine. When Boston won the title in 1986, white NBA players were an endangered species, but the Celtics had eight of them! This composition structure does not occur by accident.

However, despite its fame as a logo of whiteness, the team was quick to recognize and reward Black excellence. Not that it makes us hate the Celtics any less, but…

Boston was the first NBA team to achieve this pick a black player (Chuck Cooper in 1950) and the first to be used all black starting lineup (1964). The Celtics were the first team to hire head coach of the Blacks (Bill Russell in 1966) and were instrumental in hiring the league’s first player Black full-time judge (Ken Hudson in 1969).

Any other franchise with these real players could be Team Black America. We’d love to root for the current lineup, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Two Jays are an incredible story, examples of talent, patience and perseverance that contributed to the championship. They spent seven seasons together, giving the Celtics a homey atmosphere that did not exist when Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen arrived in 2007-08 and immediately won a title with Paul Pierce.

Much to my disappointment, my daughters loved the Celtics (especially Rajon Rondo) and rooted for Boston against Dallas. Wearing different jerseys, it could be easy to root for Brown and Tatum. “We’ve been through a lot,” Brown said Monday after winning the Finals MVP award. “Losses, expectations, media. People say we can’t play together, we can’t win. We just blacked it out. He trusted me and I trusted him. And we did it together.”

I actually would not mind pulling them under different circumstances. I gave up two years ago because I fell in love with Nia Long, but now she’s fed up with Boston too, after former coach Ime Udoka scheming. Whatever we are saying about the franchise, it has nothing against putting a Black man at the helm of the team. Of the seven Black coaches who’ve won an NBA title, 4 of them coached the Celtics. Three of Boston’s last 4 coaches were black, including 35-year-old Joe Mazzulla.

Touré and other black native Bostonians are understandably frustrated and wonder why our fervor for the Celtics stays so keen. “The Celtics current core group is very black,” he wrote. “Why not give some love to today’s Blackified Celtics?”

I’m sorry, but that is not what we do. This is a curse for self-respecting black sports fans who were not born on this region. Black residents constitute 21% the city’s population, and I imagine it’s crazy for us to vilify Boston for the racism that’s rampant across the country. But all of us have burdens to carry.

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“Boston’s defense is a real sport” – Black-owned Bos. founder Jae’da Turner he said Boston Globe. “As a Northeastern student and folks coming from New York, California and throughout the country, I feel they truthfully love to hate Boston. It’s like somewhat club. It’s not fair in the event you say you are from Boston.

People don’t select where they arrive from, they select who they support. Listening to fans’ vulgar verbal abuse towards Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving – during games in Boston and later – that was the only reason to hope the Celtics would lose.

As I explained to my daughters, I even have nothing against players.

I just never wanted to see pleased fans.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Jessica Simpson’s ‘creepy’ new look outraged fans as Eric Johnson divorce rumors intensify

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Singer Jessica Simpson has a new look and outlook on life that has fans calling her unrecognizable. The 2000s pop star and her husband of 10 years, Eric Johnson, are reportedly going through a marital crisis that has sparked rumors of an impending divorce.

Simpson and the retired NFL player have been married since 2014 three children: daughters Maxwell, 12, and Birdie, 5, and son Ace, 11.

Mr. and Mrs. spent a decade together experiencing the best of highs and the bottom of lows, which included the “I Wanna Love You Forever” artist’s battle with alcohol addiction and a dramatic 100-pound weight reduction.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 29: Jessica Simpson attends the 2023 Footwear Achievement Awards at Cipriani South Street on November 29, 2023 in New York City. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Footwear News via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 29: Jessica Simpson attends the 2023 Footwear Achievement Awards at Cipriani South Street on November 29, 2023 in New York City. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Footwear News via Getty Images)

This is her second marriage after her divorce from 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey.

She raved about it last yr People that “when I met Eric, I felt like it was more nurturing. Everything was more supported. Everything seemed so simple.” Now, new reports say that the couple has lost the spark they usually are at a crossroads regarding the longer term.

“Jessica’s goals are to stay married and repair a relationship that has gone stale,” the alleged source said Page six. An insider noted that “Eric was an amazing father. He was by her side on her sobriety journey and was able to handle all of her ups and downs. He was her rock.”

Despite the “difficult situation”, the couple is claimed to be on the identical page with regards to coping with their problems before the vacations. “He wants her kids to do well, and she still loves him and he loves her… They’re both aware that things have to change if they’re going to make this work.”

Jessica Simpson and her husband Eric Johnson spotted without their wedding rings as the singer faces scrutiny over her new look. Photo: Jesssicasimpson/Instagram.

However, conflicting reports from TMZ they maintain that the split prompted a friend and member of Simpson’s team to contact two different divorce lawyers. The claims come days after she and Johnson were spotted individually in Los Angeles, without their wedding rings and the artist, who shared a post signaling a new starting.

“Interviews in my music room in Nashville where I discovered my special magic. “This comeback is personal, it’s an apology to myself for enduring everything I didn’t deserve,” Simpson wrote in a Nov. 12 Instagram caption. post.

– Yes, I called it some time ago. We love you. Stay strong,” a fan commented. Another follower said: “I just hope she doesn’t have to pay child support, it’s killing me!!!!!!” Simpson is the founding father of an eponymous billion-dollar clothing and footwear brand that has helped her amass a $200 million fortune.

The same day, paparazzi caught Johnson walks around Los Angeles. However, the marriage ring on his finger was noticeably missing.

More than a couple of fans have expressed concern concerning the “scary” change in her appearance following the separation reports. “Jessica obviously had Botox, but she’s still beautiful! I bet he’ll get a divorce!” read one such comment.

Several he asked“What’s wrong with Jessica’s face?” “Jessica looks AMAZING. She should have let her natural beauty shine,” one person said. Some speculations about her facial changes include Botox, fillers, and Ozempic.

A viewer joked: “She doesn’t even look like her.” However, when fans zoomed in on a photograph of Simpson together with her sister, Ashlee Simpson Ross, they concluded that each women “have acquired completely new faces.”

Someone else speculated that her sobriety issues can also be an element. “Alcohol didn’t help her,” one person said. November 1 marked seven years of sobriety. Another user shared: “I noticed her mouth is so full she’s slurring her words a bit.”

On September 15, Johnson celebrated his forty fifth birthday – a day that his wife had publicly celebrated in previous years with a loving post. This yr, nevertheless, Simpson took the freedom of writing a sweet message. In fact, her husband was last praised on her Instagram page in a 2023 birthday tribute to him.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Chloe Bailey’s sultry dance music video faces criticism as fans call on her to ‘stop pushing’ a sexy image

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Things get interesting when Chöle Bailey puts on a leotard.

The singer’s latest song Instagram post on Friday, November 15, featured a sexy dance video dedicated to her latest single, “Nice Girls Finish Last.”

In the clip, Bailey dons a tight black leotard, sheer tights and high heels while dancing alone to her single in a dimly lit studio. Her caption, “It feels good to move again,” didn’t exactly prepare fans for the seductive moves they were about to see.

Chloe Bailey attends the 2024 BET Awards at the Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Chloe Bailey attends the 2024 BET Awards on the Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Throughout the video, Bailey flawlessly spins on the ground and demonstrates the moves related to the song’s exciting lyrics:

“Nice Girls Finish Last” is the most recent single from Bailey’s second album, Trouble in Paradise, which was released in August this yr.

Shadow Room shared the singer’s video and most agreed; hearing Bailey sing the lyrics is at all times welcome, but seeing her undressed gets boring.

“I need a branding team because it’s not working,” one person said.

This fan recognized Bailey’s potential as a complete package. “She can sing, she can dance, and the body is shaping… there is still a disconnect and I don’t know why!”

One follower quoted, “The over-sexualization of her image since she went solo is just weird and unnecessary.” One person responded in agreement, “That’s pathetic.” Another went further, wishing the singer would “stop hypersexualizing everyone.”

This person’s opinion shared the opinion of others, questioning the singer’s “authenticity”. “I think it just never feels like the authentic her that she can be. I just always feel like she’s performing in a way that’s not “her own.” She is beautiful, sexy in shape and incredibly talented. But we can’t seem to connect with her authenticity.”

“I know it sounds crazy, but she gives me virgin energy 😂,” said one commenter from the far left. But one other offered a more reasonable perspective. “This is what happens when you protect your children in religion. They meet the real world and go crazy.”

Another follower said the “Boy Bye” singer should listen to her fans. “She still doesn’t see what her fans have been screaming about since day one of the Bus It Challenge.” You’re too talented to be so hypersexual. I’ve never seen such a large fanbase demanding restraint and more modesty from an artist, and he or she continues to push for it. There is a real disconnect. It was cute, but will he sell those records? I do not know, we’ll see.

Since her solo appearance, Bailey has been criticized for her seductive appearance. She’s been raising the difficulty for the reason that debut of the risqué visual for her single “Have Mercy,” which caused a stir. Especially for fans who felt her image was too different from that of her Disney princess sister.

As the world reveled in the fantastic thing about her curves in 2021, Bailey sat down with “The Real” co-hosts Adrienne Bailon and Loni Love and talked to them about her journey into her sexuality and individuality.

“It’s constantly on my mind, and while I may seem confident most of the time, on the inside I don’t feel that way,” she said.

She explained further. “I have to remind myself that as long as I’m authentic and myself, you know that’s all that matters. People say I do too much, and maybe I do, but I don’t do it on purpose, it’s just the way I am. You can’t please everyone. Some people will like me and some won’t. It’s okay. I love everyone, I send love to both of them, they talk, so that’s good!”


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union ignore their baby’s birthday after throwing an extravagant party for daughter Kaavia

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Gabrielle Union fans defend her against critics accusing her of not including Dwyane Wade

Fans can not seem to miss the void in Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s picture-perfect family photos, in addition to the absence of the previous NBA star’s youngest son, Xavier.

On November 7, the Wade family’s baby girl, Kaavia James, celebrated her sixth birthday. Photos from her big Barbie-themed party within the backyard of their Los Angeles home were posted to Instagram 4 days later. There are loads of posts from this eventful day comments marveling at her parents’ obvious love for her.

“You should plan for another baby!!! I just love it,” wrote a fan. Another said: “From the photos and videos she posted, you can really feel how much she loves and adores her dad. It’s so sweet and whole.”

Gabrielle Union's fans are defending her against criticism accusing her of not inviting Dwyane Wade's son, Xavier, to their family gatherings. (Photos: @gabunion/Instagram; @aja_metoyer/Instagram)
Gabrielle Union’s fans are defending her against criticism accusing her of not inviting Dwyane Wade’s son, Xavier, to their family gatherings. (Photos: @gabunion/Instagram; @aja_metoyer/Instagram)

But for a 3rd person, this completely happy moment was a reminder that Xavier isn’t shown attending vacations or special events with the complete Wade family. An outraged person wrote: “It’s crazy that his other son was never shamed by YALLL!”

It has been well documented that the actress and the retired NBA star form a blended family unit, with Union serving as an additional mom to her husband’s children, Zaya and Zaire, and his adopted nephew, Dahveon.

Wade welcomed two older children together with his first wife, Siovaughn Funches. Funches and the Chicago native were married in 2002 but separated in 2007. Their divorce was finalized in 2010, and a 12 months later, in 2011, Wade gained sole custody of their children.

Xavier’s surprise addition took place on November 10, 2013. The news hit the press shortly thereafter. The former Miami Heat star and Union briefly split after three years of dating when Wade impregnated former “Basketball Wives” forged member Aja Metoyer. He alleged that unbeknownst to the general public, the 2 had been friends for a while.

Union and her longtime love reconnected shortly after checking out she was expecting their third child. The former Miami Heat star has since publicly revealed that telling Union about his “broken baby” was the toughest thing he’s ever done – “harder” than losing to the San Antonio Spurs within the 2014 NBA Finals.

“Yes,” Wade replied. “Man, listen, let me tell you, I wouldn’t have made it through this moment without her.” Wade proposed to Shannon Sharpe on “Club Shay Shay” in September 2023. “It’s been a tough time for me, bro.”

However, this didn’t prevent them from getting married in 2014. Due to the “Deliver Us from Eve” star’s struggles with infertility, they were unable to welcome their only biological child, Kaavia, together through a surrogate until 2018.

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union have received criticism for not publicly celebrating their baby’s birthday ahead of their daughter Kaavia’s birthday party. (Photos: @kaaviajames/Instagram, @aja_metoyer/Instagram)

However, as he celebrates his birthday and shares loving posts, there isn’t any public appreciation for Xavier on any of the A-lister’s social media. Metoyer rarely posts details about her son online and has chosen to not share footage she recorded of his birthday party.

Instead, on her Instagram Story, she shared a friend’s video of the 11-year-old blowing out the candles on his cake as family members gathered around him within the kitchen. The co-parents gathered earlier to have a good time Xavier’s 2020 birthday.

Wade and the “Perfect Find” star got here under fire in early November when their young son was apparently excluded from the revealing of a ballista statue outside the Kaseya Center. The couple never commented on these rumors.

At least one person he theorized“How do people not know if the child had other plans with the mother? This is a random question. Let these people live in the family the way they want!”

For a moment last 12 months, fans almost convinced themselves that Xavier can be shown more public recognition after he was spotted on the court during a Lakers game together with his dad. Around the identical time, rumors of a rift between Wade and Union intensified.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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