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The reaction to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s injury is a reminder of who made it possible for him – Andscape

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Deshaun Watson’s season is over, and possibly his entire NFL profession. The Cleveland Browns quarterback was having one of the worst statistical seasons in league history, and Browns fans booed him when he took the sphere on Sunday. Then suddenly, within the second quarter of their Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Watson dropped back to throw a pass after which fell to the bottom with a torn Achilles. Reactions to the injury were harsh. Cleveland fans have shown they’re fed up with Watson’s uselessness even greater than they’re fed up along with his off-field transgressions. Meanwhile, Watson’s peers and teammates defended him and lifted him up. Both types of responses are a reminder of an environment that has allowed a person accused of dozens of acts of sexual misconduct to proceed to be accepted and defended, although many others found these alleged acts abhorrent.

An unwritten rule in sports is that fans show respect to players once they are injured. Even should you support the opposing team, cheering when a player is injured is bad form. It’s especially bad to have a good time when a player from the team you support gets injured. The Cleveland crowd ignored this unwritten rule as fans loudly celebrated on the sight of Watson falling to the bottom with a devastating injury. In a vacuum, Watson’s raucous joy at misfortune would have been universally dismissed, but Watson’s unique circumstances complicated the whole lot.

The Cleveland Browns contract gave Watson a record-setting salary $230 million over five yearstied the team to the quarterback for almost all the duration of the contract. They cannot sell Watson and even fire him without serious financial consequences. The contract was already unpopular since the offer for Watson got here when he was in front of him over 20 charges about sexual misconduct. As part of the contract, Watson also received enough money to allow him to settle any allegations out of court, making it virtually unimaginable for him to face any legal consequences for any wrongdoing. In short, it was a morally invalid decision for the Browns.

But that wasn’t Watson’s biggest sin within the eyes of many fans, who continued to go to games, root for the team, buy T-shirts and support a franchise that went out of its way to make the accused sexual assault man the face of its franchise. For these fans, Watson’s best sin was that he was bad at football – he would end the season as… worst quarterback within the league. He led the worst offense the Browns have seen this century. And combined with a coach who refused to let him sit on the bench, Watson’s stick with the Browns was a nightmare. Therefore, as soon as Watson entered the sphere, he was whistled. Yes, of course there was a large group of fans who were against him and expressed their opinions about it. However, there have been still enough people willing to fill stadiums every week, hoping that Watson could deliver a Super Bowl victory. Enough people whose boos filled the world on Sunday in a way they hadn’t within the weeks and months leading up to Watson’s on-field defeat. The deafening booing on Sunday was like a booing that hadn’t been there before. If fans were this anti-Watson, the taunts would have reverberated from the moment he stepped onto the sphere in a Browns uniform and would never have stopped.

And this is not about singling out Cleveland fans. I live in Atlanta, near the Falcons, who were also willing to step up to the plate for Watson. I actually have little question that the stadium here can be just as packed for Watson to play. I actually have been given no reason to imagine that society as a whole is willing to put the well-being of women above our own selfish desires, even when those desires are as shallow as wanting the team we love to win a championship.

But on Sunday, fans in Cleveland booed. And they cheered loudly once they realized the franchise can be without Watson for all the season. The cheers drew the ire of Watson’s peers, namely Browns quarterback Jameis Winston and linebacker Myles Garrett, who expressed how upset they were with fans rooting for Watson’s injury.

Winston passionate requests included comments equivalent to “I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve Deshaun.”

“I’m very upset about the reaction to a man who has had the world against him for the last four years,” Winston said. “And every day he put his body and his life on the line for this city.”

Garrett suggested it: “Man does almost the whole lot well. A model citizen in college in addition to professionals. He’s playing as hard as anyone I’ve ever seen… We have to be there for him as a team and as a corporation. We cannot have a look at a guy for mistakes on the pitch or anything off the pitch. We haven’t any moral basis to look down on this guy.

The comments were disappointing at best, but more specifically, offensive to anyone who has experienced or survived sexual assault of any kind, especially from Watson himself. Watson had “the world against him,” as Winston said, largely because of his righteous anger on the person accused of doing what he accuses Watson of doing. And someone with “the world against him” doesn’t have a guaranteed $230 million to rest on. Garrett calling Winston a model citizen is a slap within the face. I actually have asked previously why Watson’s teammates so quietly refused to share a locker room with someone accused of sexual harassment. In a league that excommunicates players it doesn’t like on a regular basis (ask Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, for example), why hasn’t this happened in Cleveland yet? Unfortunately, Winston and Garrett gave us a glimpse into a locker room that simply didn’t consider Watson’s alleged crimes egregious enough to speak out against him. Players like Winston and Garrett might argue that playing against their very own quarterback can be unpopular, but defending someone with Watson’s history should not be that unpopular.

Perhaps probably the most disappointing reaction of the night got here from Ohio State’s LeBron James. He he tweeted his disappointment on fans booing Watson: “Cleveland fans! You all know how much we have been through over the years, both good, bad and indifferent. With that in mind, booing anyone who is injured, let alone your own player, is LAME AF,” he wrote.

James is not latest to his support of Watson. He sent out a celebratory tweet when Watson joined Browns in 2022. It’s a sad irony after we visit James’ timeline on X, formerly generally known as Twitter, and see that his last two tweets are in regards to the WNBA Finals, followed by a tweet expressing support for a man accused of molesting women.

James’ tweet. Support from Watson’s teammates. The boos that grew louder for Watson after his poor play allowed people like Watson to flourish within the face of terrible accusations. Every celebration, lost ticket and jersey purchased while Watson was a Brown was confirmation that even what he was accused of wasn’t enough to demand the team play higher. Each of these ways of supporting the team is not less than passive support for a terrible decision. And that does not even count the fans who fully supported Watson despite – or because of – what he was accused of.

Watson’s profession might be over. All that is still is the necessity for many individuals to look in lots of mirrors and wonder how we ever allowed his profession to get this far.

DavidDennis Jr. is a senior author at Andscape and the creator of the award-winning book “The Movement Made Us: A Father, a Son, and the Legacy of a Freedom Ride.” David is a graduate of Davidson College.


This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Kendrick Lamar Releases Surprise Album ‘GNX’; group chats are going crazy

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Kendrick Lamar, Kendrick Lamar GNX, GNX, GNX album, K-Dot, K-Dot GNX, theGrio.com

There are few things more exciting than receiving an infinite barrage of text messages at the very same time in numerous group chats. This normally implies that something vital has happened in popular culture. Well, the exact same thing happened about noon on November 22, within the yr of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four. Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, higher often called Kendrick Lamar, released the album “GNX”, nod towards Buick Grand National Regal GNXa rare muscle automobile released in 1987 – which also happens to be the yr Kendrick was born.

“GNX” is coming to the tip of what has been a banner yr for Kendrick Lamar. From epic diss records geared toward Drake, to creating the largest song of his profession (and a Drake diss track) on “Not Like Us”, to the “Pop Out” concert streaming live to tell the tale Amazon Prime, Kendrick won this yr. He even received seven Grammy nominations, mostly for “Not Like Us.” And this victory will proceed in the brand new yr. In September, it was announced that Kendrick would stay Super Bowl 2025 headliner will happen in New Orleans. This announcement sparked some controversy and comments from several New Orleans legends similar to Juvenile and most notably Lil Wayne, who felt disrespected; Kendrick immediately refers to this topic within the opening song of the album (all stylized in lower case), “wacced out murals”.

The thing is, Kendrick didn’t sleep for many of 2024. And then, while the remaining of us were minding our own business, listening to other albums that had just dropped, like Ice Cube’s “Man Down,” I began receiving text after text… and I knew that would only mean that something vital happened.

At this point in my life (and possibly even yours), Kendrick Lamar releases are a drop-everything-and-listen event. I immediately went to the streaming service, launched “GNX” and pressed “Play”.

I need to admit that the primary time I heard the album I used to be a bit confused. Kendrick has probably never been more popular or famous; if there was ever a time to drag a Kanye West and release his own version of “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” – an album largely produced as Kanye’s best and most representative of Kanye’s greatness – now could be the time. “GNX” has a far more modern West Coast vibe and is certainly more for his die-hard fans than anyone who just began gaining attention due to his beef with Drake. Maybe that was the purpose; possibly not.

Kendrick Lamar, Kendrick Lamar GNX, GNX, GNX album, K-Dot, K-Dot GNX, theGrio.com
Photo: Dave Free

Either way, I can imagine that folks whose favorite lines are “OV-Ho” won’t be immediately thrilled. I wasn’t immediately blown away (though very amused by how sensitive Kendrick is to what people say about him on social media, well, everyone), but as is all the time the case with Kendrick albums, repeated listens are likely to correct any immediate monotony that I even have about his projects. For example, now that I’ve listened to it just a few times, I can not wait to listen to black college bands playing “tv off” style, which seems like a cousin of “Not Like Us.” The Shoot, Bayou Classic, which also takes place yearly in New Orleans on Thanksgiving Day, stands out as the first time we hear a band playing “TV off.”

Since the album didn’t come out long enough to be reviewed, group chats and social media were abuzz with immediate reactions. This is the a part of music releases I really like, where everyone seems to be listening to the identical thing, offering premature takes that will not even delay the following day. I’m not different; I’m sure I’ll say something about this album that can sound silly by Monday. Shoot, I can have already done it. But that is what happens when great artists release music. We spend time with others after which we refer to them, analyze them, criticize them, praise them, destroy them and let all our prejudices fly free. Love it.

It’s value noting that certainly one of Drake’s diss tracks that did not appear during last summer’s fracas was titled “The Heart Part 6,” and was an apparent try to usurp Kendrick’s pre-album practice of removing a non-album song titled “The Heart.” Well, Kendrick has a song on his recent album called, you guessed it, “The Heart, Pt. 6,” which I feel will probably be released soon Drake. Good job, Kenny.

Argue.


Panama Jackson theGrio.com

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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New music this week: Tyla, Lola Brooke, Coco Jones and more – Essence

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Happy Friday, people! Whether you are drinking a warm beverage or preparing for a fun-filled weekend, this week’s latest music releases set the tone. From sensual R&B melodies to powerful hip-hop anthems, these songs have something for everybody.

Coco Jones leads the pack along with her seasonal album, and Tyla offers a heartfelt change of tone with “Tears.” Miguel’s smooth “Always Time” and Jorja Smith’s tender “Stay Another Day” showcase R&B at its finest, while Lola Brooke and Killer Mike turn up the warmth on “Go To Yo Head” and “Warryn’s Groove,” respectively. Today’s list also includes music from Eric Bellinger, Coi Leray, Blxst and more.

Below you possibly can read our list of latest products.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Serena Williams is cutting short divorce talks for a second time after the couple reunited and put months of rumors to rest

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Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian are still doing well despite months of unconfirmed divorce rumors.

On November 17, Williams and the Reddit co-founder took a walk down memory lane and tested one another by asking questions on themselves and their family in a recent promotional ad. The couple ate a few of their favorite meals and meanwhile checked their glucose levels using Hello Lingo, a glucose monitoring device.

Nearly five minutes into the recording, Williams tested her husband’s memory by asking, “Who said I love you first?”

Ohanian, who shares two daughters, Olimpia and Adira, with the tennis legend, responds quickly by saying, “Mmm,” before writing his answer on the board.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian recall who said “I love you” first amid divorce rumors. (Photo: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)

“It’s like ‘The Newlywed Game,'” Williams said, writing down her answer, referring to the mid-Nineteen Sixties show “The Newlywed Game,” which tested couples who had been married for lower than two years to see if how much they learn about their relationship. amplifier.

Both Williams and Ohanian turn the board over to reveal their answers and, quite shockingly, they received two different answers. Ohanian wrote that Williams said it first, but Williams claims it was Ohanian.

“Come now. Are you going to lie about this? he declared to Williams, who responded with a laugh: “I said I would be honest.”

“That’s not an honest answer,” Ohanian continued. “I still keep in mind that phone call. Oh, you realize I felt the same, but you certainly said it first.

Williams joked: “My glucose levels were high. I ate some ice cream, my glucose level was too high. Then I tell this guy and I feel like saying things I would not normally say. The moment ended with Williams replaying how she told Ohanian those three special words.

Of course, there was no shortage of reactions from fans who showed their love for the couple and how well they interact of their normal element.

One YouTube commenter he wrote“It’s great to see Serena and Alexis in this normal environment, they are so lovely and have great charisma. I love them even more now and I feel great chemistry between them.”

Someone else said: “I liked this part. They seem to really like each other.”

However, as rumors swirled about problems of their marriage, one fan was confused by the video shared on Instagram.

“I thought I read that they got divorced?” he wrote one person in Williams’ comment section.

Someone else also addressed the rumors, writing: “Where are the haters who said divorce was imminent? Sometimes people will be crazy. Seriously, how are you going to even start assuming things like that about people you have never met?

This summer, fans began speculating that Williams and her seven-year marriage to Ohanian were in trouble after they noticed she hadn’t posted from him on her social media pages in some time.

Moreover, Ohanian was noticeably absent from the June premiere of the documentary “In the Arena: Serena Williams” and was also absent from her side at the Met Gala in May.

But they got back together this summer after they attended the Paris Olympics with their daughter Olympia in July.

Among the many viral moments spent with the Ohanian family, she organizes: umbrella for his wife and the European commentator – who didn’t realize he was her husband – and called Ohanian Serena’s “umbrella holder”.

The tech guru reacted to the moment hilariously by snapping a photo of himself holding an umbrella over himself and his daughter.

Ohanian joked, “I am also a personal Olympia umbrella owner. Sidebar: You all set the bar too low for me and celebrity daddies only get flowers for *admitting* they have kids.”

The proud dad is probably also Adira’s personal umbrella holder.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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