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South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso is the center of attention for the title-hunting Gamecocks

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When Cardoso is unstoppable, America’s best team cannot be stopped

CLEVELAND (AP) – Kamilla Cardoso, her frizzy hair dyed a burgundy color closely matching South Carolina’s navy blue, couldn’t be missed as she stood near half court at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Friday night.

At 6 feet 7 inches tall, she doesn’t appear like she blends in.

Spotlight. In some circles, a mean girl.

South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso gestures to fans during practice before the NCAA Final Four women’s basketball championship game on Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Minutes before the biggest game of the season, Cardoso showed no nerves on the Final Four stage. She achieved this by dancing, showing off her soccer dribbling skills developed in her native Brazil, after which repeatedly attempting to shoot the ball off an enormous scoreboard hanging 30 meters above her head.

Cardoso is Cardoso.

“She’s just stupid,” said teammate Ashlyn Watkins, “and she always does crazy stuff like that for no reason.”

Perhaps misunderstood by opponents and outsiders alike, Cardoso, who left her family in 2016 at the age of just 15 to pursue her dream of playing basketball at a high level in the U.S., is a serious reason why the undefeated Gamecocks (37- 0) are favored to win their second national title in three years on Sunday once they face Iowa and superstar Caitlin Clark.

The Hawkeyes (34-4) haven’t got anyone who can physically match Cardoso.

Nobody does this.

In Friday’s first semifinal, Cardoso almost single-handedly took down North Carolina State, scoring 22 points in 23 minutes and shaking off a right leg injury, as the Gamecocks advanced with a 78-59 victory and arrange a rematch with Iowa.

She scored South Carolina’s first 12 points in the second quarter and had six more in the third quarter as the Gamecocks went on a 29-6 run.

It was the kind of performance the Gamecocks have at all times wanted and have not at all times gotten from Cardoso, who is coming off her senior yr of college with the WNBA.

When Cardoso is unstoppable, America’s best team cannot be stopped.

“It makes us a much better team,” Gamecocks defenseman Raven Johnson said. “When we can play through her, the guards get better. Just look at her, she’s 6-7 years old. There really is no one like her. She is truly key to this team and when she brings her A game every day, I don’t see anyone being able to stop her.

Cardoso was not available for interviews on Saturday. A team spokesman said she was receiving medical attention during press sessions.

But Cardoso, who had 14 points and 14 rebounds in last year’s Final Four loss to Iowa, didn’t seem concerned about her leg during an open practice that drew thousands of fans. She moved freely and usually with a smile as the Gamecocks went through drills.

Cardoso has had ups and downs throughout the season.

With the Gamecocks in danger of losing to Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, she made the first 3-pointer of her career – her second attempt after missing a game against Syracuse in 2020 – to defeat the Lady Vols.

The next day, Cardoso gained attention for all the wrong reasons.

Tensions simmered during a heated matchup with LSU, and Tigers star Angel Reese was caught on TV pulling Cardoso’s hair, leading to laughter from the stars. Moments later, LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson shoved Watkins and Cardoso flew to her teammate’s side, pushing Johnson to the floor.

Both benches emptied, women’s basketball deteriorated and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley apologized. Cardoso did the same, but was suspended for her first-round NCAA tournament game against Presbyterian.

The incident did not help Cardoso’s image, which her teammates say is unfair.

“She’s just something different,” guard Bree Hall said. “I think it’s unfortunate that the media labeled her as a vile person. Is not. She is a beautiful Brazilian fighter. She is so sweet, always smiling, always happy for all of us.

“She’s a very funny, just happy and cheerful person.”

It took a while for Cardoso to fit in with the Gamecocks.

South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso laughs during practice before the NCAA Final Four women’s basketball championship game on Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

When she left Brazil eight years ago, she only knew three words in English – “hello”, “yes” and “bye”. Although she later became more comfortable when she arrived on campus in 2021, there were awkward moments as she tried to learn more about her teammates and vice versa.

“I remember she didn’t know any English,” Johnson said. “She looked at us like we were weird. I thought to myself, “Why is she looking at us like that?” Over the years, she started learning English and her progress kept getting better and better.”

Once the language gap was bridged, Cardoso’s personality modified from gruff to sweet.

“She was so mean when she came here,” Johnson said. “She was so mean to us. It developed over time.”

Just like her game. Cardoso hasn’t at all times embraced the idea of ​​being the Gamecocks’ leading lady, although she leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Her tournament scoring average is 17.0 points per game, which is higher than her season average of 14.3

“Her presence inside did so much for us,” said guard Te-Hina Paopao. “It was a lot of fun watching her develop throughout the season. It was great fun watching her and experiencing her. As summer came, she didn’t want to be as dominant as she was now.

“It’s a wonderful sight. I’m very excited about her journey. We have one more. I know she will dominate (Sunday).”

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TikTok mom posts ‘wicked’ warning to parents after claiming ‘witchcraft’ in video caused her 12-year-old to try to fly off the roof on a broomstick

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A mother on TikTok controversially warned other parents that “Wicked” just isn’t a family film like its closely related and popular predecessor “The Wizard of Oz.”

The latest film, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda (the good witch) and Elphaba (the evil witch), respectively, hit theaters on Friday, November 22.

However, according to content creator Sammyopamp, who claims to have attended the film’s premiere with her children, the literary work has enchanted the youth in the worst possible way.

“I feel very lied to and cheated into doing this. I believed that since my kids are huge fans of Ariana Grande and he or she wears pink in the movie, I believed it might be a cool princess movie. Instead, it was stuffed with witchcraft and dark magic. I felt this heavy presence and energy all the time,” he said.

A TikTok mom is fooling followers with satirical claims that dark magic in ‘Wicked’ caused her 12-year-old to fall off a roof while trying to fly on a broom. (Photos: Sammyopamp/TikTok; @arianagrande/Instagram)

The mother continued to explain the lasting impact the film had on her children, stating that “they came home and everyone was trying to cast spells” and that “now they imagine in magic. Now they imagine in the darkness of hell.”

Sammyopamp noted, “My 12-year-old fell off the roof trying to fly his broom.” To turn the tables, she shared her plan to rely on religion and her savior, “their father, baby daddy Jesus,” by taking a week off from school and receiving prayers from the “deliverance team” at their church.

Her parting advice to other mothers was to stay home and protect their kids from “Wicked” until January 5, when it would likely be safer to watch it.

@sammyopamp WICKED – wait a few weeks until it’s secure. #fypppppp #virus #mean #badmovie #universalstudios #facebookmomslike #satire #movie #disney #arianagrande #cynthiaerivo #SNL ♬ original sound – Sammyop

One person on Instagram commented“I tried casting spells after watching Harry Potter. It’s normal, like a girl would leave her children alone.”

But in Sammy’s TikTok comments videosome selected this satirical story. One follower asked: “Have you seen the art? Wicked is not a film for children,” apparently putting the burden on her. A 3rd person’s response was, “This must be a joke.” And so it was.

The “Wicked” comment was one in all several satirical posts Sammy shared with her over 21,000 followers. She addressed the outraged reactions to her disturbing warning in a separate article post.

She first revealed that she grew up in an clan of evangelical extremists and was not allowed to watch fantasy childhood movies that many love, including Disney movies.

@sammyopamp Wicked Mom’s Crazy Origin Story #break #mom got here out wicked @TwojeTango #church #cult #Protestant #deconstruction #sammyop #satire #virus #sketch #funnymovie #humor #fypppppp ♬ original sound – Sammyop

“Honestly, I have a lot of fun making sketches and satirical videos,” she said. “If that’s not your thing, there are plenty of other people on TikTok who might like it. … If you like harmless laughter, stay a while.”

Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the Broadway play “Wicked” grossed greater than $100 million on its opening weekend.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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‘Wicked’ may be set in Oz, but it feels very real in our current world – Andscape

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Twenty minutes into the long-awaited film adaptation that musical theater buffs had been waiting to see, a moviegoer sitting in front of me motioned for me to come back closer. She practically turned her whole body, clearly stunned by the performance of Cynthia Erivo, the Oscar-nominated influencer who brought abolitionist superhero Harriet Tubman to life in 2019 (whether most of you thought she must have done it or not) .

Her words were muffled behind her mask, so she needed to repeat herself twice. She checked out the screen over again, on the already clear masterpiece that sat on the 50-foot screen, taking in the pink and green charm the film had to supply, and this time she pointed at Erivo.

“Is that Jennifer Hudson?”

And so began a two-hour and 42-minute journey into an overtly political journey that we are able to all experience in the film more than likely to be awarded – heavily – this season.

So did it translate masterfully to the silver screen as many had hoped?

That’s true.

But it delivers far more than it guarantees, and what it guarantees is sort of an exorbitant order – the powerful vocals captivate with a twisted version of a time-honored story that leaves everyone who listens to it questioning who’s inherently good and who is definitely evil .

On Broadway when this play was created, it starred theater queens Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, a privileged witch, blonde, messy-haired, and seemingly blind to the world round her, and Idina Menzel as Elphaba, the raven-haired solid – minus the aspiring sorceress who was rejected by father, rejected (ultimately) by her sister and persecuted by the world round her due to color of her skin – she is green.

As Kermit said, it’s challenging being green.

But in this shot from director Jon M. Chu, we’re gifted with Erivo, and her micro braids and full lips give us a more determined take a look at an outcast who wants to alter the world for the higher. It’s hard to not know that underneath all that green is her black skin, and the pain of what that extra layer of otherness represents makes this version even higher than it must be.

In the film adaptation, which hit theaters on November 22, we see the uncomfortable dynamics of what happens when a jammer enters the chat room, and the way the world round her rejects her ideals – and what she looks like – in response. Especially when he doesn’t need to play the sport.

Especially when she’s mainly not ready for it – are you ready for it? – shut up and dribble.

Sound familiar?

The established order is unacceptable. The world will not be calm. Another community is kidnapped, locked in cages and deprived of their inalienable rights.

We’re still talking about it.

Here’s what’s sensible about this movie: nothing about this approach is recent. This is similar record-breaking production that has captivated Broadway and traveled across the country since 2003, this is similar story of the stage musical that surpassed the $1 billion mark in total Broadway revenues in 2016, putting it in unique long-time Broadway company staple and the just one to point out it. And today? It is the second highest-grossing musical of all time, after Disney.

But Elphaba Erivo might be a sharper representation of otherness – it’s inconceivable not to note it.

And he wants to make use of his emerging power for good. The problem is that the world she lives in – this excellent musical world filled with hopes, manifestations and dreams – only wants her to either be hidden away or – as we learn from the villains – use her powers to oppress others who’re also . other.

In the wake of the 2024 election – which tens of millions thought would result in the coronation of the primary woman president and the primary Black and Asian president – ​​lots of us needed a moment to breathe.

Still yes. This is raw. And it’s early. And the consequences of the national elections are still there and can be there for a while. The headlines are harsh and terrifying. Neo-Nazis openly march in the streets of the Midwest. Anti-Semitic demonstrations before the performance. And unfortunately, there’s quite a lot of anti-black rhetoric.

This is when great art is created and enhanced.

This is when the world we live in is interpreted and transformed for creative consumption.

When art is finished well, when it is really at its best, it is a mirrored image of the times. It’s something that helps mark the story – even when it’s told from a fictional fantasy land that, in a way, is recycled, drawing inspiration from our very real experiences.


is loosely based on the 1995 book, inspired by L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, which is in fact a movie adaptation of Baum’s book right into a 1939 film that a young Judy Garland helped make.

When Baum’s novel was first published, it was a story a few fantasy world that the creator initially created for youngsters – and later adults – a world that is essentially tortured by a tyrannical witch from whom everyone wants freedom. The story was a hit and was eventually named “America’s greatest and best-loved native fairy tale” by the Library of Congress.

By the time 1939 rolled around, the world had passed three years since athlete Jesse Owens became the primary American to win 4 gold medals in a single Olympic Games. His sporting victory was a direct rejection of Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler’s belief in Aryan supremacy. Not that they were stopping the inevitable. After Owens’ victory lap, Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, starting World War II.

On American soil, 1939 also saw the discharge of a novel adapted from a Civil War novel that in some ways glorifies slavery.


There is not any Elphaba – there isn’t a anti-hero to root for and who’s willing to risk all the things to uproot the prevailing system. But to the world beyond this film is Hattie McDaniel, who became the primary black person to win an Oscar, and ultimately this film became a significant turning point in the way in which Black Americans were portrayed in cinema.

In , we’re in a position to see a well-known story – one which we all know in and out, one which is so rooted in our human experience that we’re like a family.

We know well. We know the wicked.

And since the world has modified a lot, we have now seen the opposite side of a improbable story that’s rooted in lots of the experiences all of us have.

Because stories with universal truths clearly connect with tens of millions of individuals. As they need to.

Kelley L. Carter is a senior entertainment reporter and host of Another Act on Andscape. She can act out every episode of the American version of The Office, she will be able to and can sing a Michigan State University fight song on demand, and he or she is very proof against the Hollywood corset.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Destiny’s Child reunites to celebrate Michelle Williams’ debut “Death Becomes Her.”

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Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland, Beyonce, Michelle Williams Kelly Rowland Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, Death Becomes Her, Death Becomes Her Broadway, Death Becomes Her musical, Michelle Williams Death Becomes Her, Michelle Williams Broadway, theGrio.com

It’s been just over 20 years since Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams announced that their destiny had been fulfilled with the discharge of their final studio album Destiny’s Child, however the trio still strongly support one another’s fates.

On Thursday, November 21, it was Michelle Williams’ turn as her former bandmates showed up at New York’s Lunt-Fontanne Theater for the premiere of her latest Broadway show, “Death Becomes Her,” alongside Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles. To celebrate Destiny’s Child’s impromptu return, Beyoncé shared photos from the Broadway show on Saturday, showing the trio hugging backstage. Instagram. The montage featured her duet “Cowboy Carter” with Miley Cyrus, “II Most Wanted” which notably includes the lyric “I’ll be your shotgun rider until the day I die.”

Williams responded to the post, commenting, “I try not to cry too early in the day, BUT…. My sisters forever!”

Beyoncé added on Sunday one other tribute to her longtime friend, a portrait of Williams posing in the home of an empty theater with the caption “My Beauty.”

As reported People MagazineRowland also marked the special day by posting a close-up of her hand holding a “Death Becomes Her” sign to Instagram Stories. “Oh my God!!” – she signed the post.

Williams stars as Viola Van Horn in the brand new musical adaptation of the 1992 hit film starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard bring back the roles of Streep and Hawn – Madeline Ashton and Helen Sharp, respectively. Williams plays the temptress who leads the rival duo to extreme youth and sweetness efforts, with disastrous results. But as she noticed in your individual post honoring her enduring bond with Beyoncé and Kelly, their dynamic stays free from competition.

“They help me shine!!!” – she wrote next to a photograph of the three on the premiere, probably referring to the lyrics and theme of Robert Glasper’s single Experiment “Shine” “This song has been my theme lately, but it also reflects the love in my life!” – she continued. “It’s a blessing!!”


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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