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Why Emmitt Smith’s voice is so powerful after the DEI ban

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7 months ago

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One moment, football legend Emmitt Smith is there drinking beer with fellow Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. The next moment he is an advocate for diversity, equality and inclusion.

When University of Florida closed down its DEI officelargely as a consequence of A a bill signed into law in 2023 by Governor Ron DeSantis that prohibits state universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion programsSmith responded with harsh criticism.

“I am completely disgusted by UF’s decision and the precedent it sets,” Smith wrote Sunday afternoon in a press release on X, formerly often called Twitter. “We cannot proceed to imagine and trust that a leadership team of the same ethnicity will make the right decision in terms of equality and variety. History has already shown that this is not the case.”

One might have a look at Smith’s Hall of Fame football profession and his penchant for being a pitcher and think he would don’t have anything to say about pressing civil rights issues. This narrative couldn’t be farther from the truth. Facing the stark challenges facing DEI programs at his alma mater, and with a deep sense of stability from history, Smith made a persuasive rebuke of policies inspired by politicians like DeSantis.

Smith’s position could appear unfathomable at the present time when athletes, current and former, care so much about public opinion and marketing dollars. But such comments should not just words from a bygone era, with baseball pioneers Jackie Robinson and Curt Flood, whose lawsuit against the MLB led to free agency. Similar statements were common just over three years ago when The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police galvanized a generation’s demands for civil rights.

But why Smith? Why is he the NFL’s all-time leading rusher? Smith’s reasons are baked into his being.

Smith was born in 1969 in Pensacola, Florida – the same 12 months that city’s all-white Escambia High School was desegregated on federal orders. Escambia High School had a Confederate soldier as its mascot, flew the Rebel flag and the school song was “Dixie.” Protests by black students at football games and anxious residents led to a federal ruling in 1973 that banned the use of Confederate symbols and altered the mascot to the Raiders. The school board appealed the ruling in 1974, and in 1975 a federal appeals court overturned the order and remitted the case to the school board.

After students voted to maintain the mascot name Raiders, on February 5, 1976, a violent riot broke out at the school, resulting in described in March 1976:

“Years of racial hostility on this Florida city have erupted into violence in recent weeks over whether the local highschool sports teams can be called the Rebels or Raiders. Controversy over the name, which has been ongoing out and in of court for several years, sparked a riot at Escambia County High School on February 5. This afternoon, 120 Ku Klux Klan members in full regalia, but with their faces legally uncovered, paraded through the facility through the streets of Milton, a small town about 20 miles east of here. They arrived on the town in an 80-person caravan from outside Pensacola and called the march an “organizational effort.” Three Klan leaders from Alabama, Georgia and Florida attended the rally, which drew 450 people. “Four students were hit by gunfire during the school riot, 26 others were injured and $5,000 in damage was caused to the school during four hours of fighting, rock throwing and smashing of windows, trophy cases and other school property.”

Smith graduated from Escambia just over a decade later, in 1987.

Birmingham, Alabama Mayor Randall Woodfin (left) speaks with Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl (right) before the game between Auburn and Saint Louis at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, December 14, 2019.

Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

American history, regardless of how joyful or wretched, is never too removed from the present. That’s why Smith’s criticism of his alma mater, the University of Florida, carries so much weight. It also helps, after all, that he’s the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.

“Rather than demonstrating courage and leadership, we continue to fail due to systemic issues, and with this decision, UF has adapted to contemporary political pressures,” Smith noted in his statement.

Birmingham, Alabama Mayor Randall Woodfin recalled the University of Alabama’s sordid history of segregation in his criticism of the state’s proposed anti-DEI law. He further said that if such laws is passed, he would encourage Black athletes and oldsters “attend other out-of-state institutions that prioritize diversity and inclusion“

“While I am Bama’s biggest fan, I have no problem with organizing activities for Black parents and athletes at other out-of-state institutions that prioritize diversity and inclusion,” Woodfin posted last month in X. “If supporting inclusion becomes a it’s an illegal state on this country, rattling it, you would possibly as well stand at the school door like Governor Wallace. Mannnn is Black History Month. You could have not less than waited until March 1st.

Let some say it, the most significant goalie in Alabama history was then-Gov. George Wallace’s segregationist stance at the school door, where he symbolically stood to dam two black students. And yet, like most of Wallace’s profession, it was a political stance and the students got here through.

All this uncertainty and anxiety doesn’t make life easier for school athletes, who find themselves at the center of a rapidly changing landscape as a consequence of the NCAA and name, image and likeness. On the one hand, it is interesting that after this era, NIL is on the verge of rapid development the order effectively limited the NCAA’s authority to punish athletes (and universities). At the same time, it is troubling to think that athletes are depending on institutions that don’t prioritize DEI.

It’s also price mentioning that we needs to be clear about terms like DEI and NIL, especially since people want them cut and dried. People hear “NIL” and think all college athletes earn cash. If this were the case, student-athletes wouldn’t compete the first $600 that comes their way. Thank you, EA Sports. People hear “DEI” and dismiss the intentions of diversity and equity initiatives, even when there is evidence to support it DEI is not so pro-black as you would possibly think.

Dartmouth players and coaches talk on the bench during a game against Columbia on Feb. 16 in New York. On March 5, the men’s basketball team voted to hitch the university’s Community Service Employees Union.

Adam Gray/Getty Images

The solution for school athletes could also be much like GameStop’s motto – “power to gamers.” Just this week, March 5, Dartmouth basketball players voted to hitch the local unionwhich meant that athletes took public motion for the first time as employees.

We should work to support college athletes on all fronts, whether financially or socially. It is clear that they’re often pawns at the expense of billions of dollars in campus interests, whether on or off the field. We mustn’t only unlock their profession potential, but in addition their understanding of history and its connection to the present.

Or, as Smith put it at the end of his fascinating commentary: “And for those who think it’s not your problem and stand by and say nothing, you are complicit in supporting systemic problems.”

Ken J. Makin is a contract author and host of the Makin’ A Difference podcast. Before and after commenting, he thinks about his wife and sons.


This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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‘Mike Doesn’t Look His Healthiest’: Fans Spot Disturbing Changes in Michael Jordan’s Appearance That Raise Serious Health Concerns

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2 hours ago

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September 21, 2024

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Many sports enthusiasts consider Michael Jordan to be the best skilled basketball player of all time. However, fans of the NBA legend are actually concerned about his well-being.

Jordan traveled to Monaco together with his wife, Yvette Prieto, for the UEFA Champions League match between Monaco and Barcelona on September 19, which Monaco won 2-1.

Michael Jordan Donates $10 Million to Medical Clinics in His North Carolina Hometown: 'Everyone Should Have Access to Quality Healthcare'
PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 24: Michael Jordan attends a press conference before the NBA Paris Game between the Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks on January 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

Photos of the American billionaire in the European country sparked concern from social media users after Bleacher Report shared photos of Jordan on Instagram. Fans who zoomed in on the photo immediately noticed that his sclera (the white of his eyes) appeared discolored.

“What’s up with his eyes, man?” one person wrote in the comments section. Another asked, “Does he have jaundice??? His eyes are way too yellow.”

A 3rd fan wrote: “Mike doesn’t look the healthiest. Maybe he’ll have to give up the cigars and cognac.”

Jaundice is a disease that causes the skin, sclera, and mucous membranes to show yellow. According to Cleveland Clinicthe disease could also be brought on by liver dysfunction.

“His liver is begging for help,” one Instagram user wrote of Michael Jordan. Another account exclaimed, “Check out the GOAT’s liver!”

People on the web also offered advice to the six-time NBA champion. For example, one suggested, “MJ, drink some water, man, for fuck’s sake.”

There was also speculation that His Airness can have been smoking marijuana, with an Instagram user wondering: “Is this guy high or did he have a shot to the liver?”

Jordan was often known as a celebration animal in the ’90s. According to his former teammates and players, he had a habit of drinking beer while playing golf all day, then heading to the basketball court for a game. Today, he can often be found partying on yachts with friends, smoking a cigar.

Magic Johnson told an identical story about how Jordan, whom he described as “the strongest, non-basketball player… athlete I’d ever seen,” once wanted him to come back home after hours.

“I told Mike I can’t stay up until 4 a.m., have a drink, get up, play 18 rounds of golf, sleep for an hour and then come in and score 30 (points) by halftime,” Johnson told Shannon Sharpe on “Club Shay Shay.” “I know who I am.”

This isn’t the primary time Jordan’s eye color has been rumored. After the 10-part Netflix docuseries The Last Dance premiered in 2020, viewers theorized a few possible MJ condition.

“Yellow eyes should not be ignored because they are a sign of something more. There is literally more than meets the eye,” said ophthalmologist Dr. Val Phua VICE in 2020 in response to Jordan’s appearance in the film “The Last Dance.”

The doctor from the Eagle Eye Centre in Singapore also said that “leaving eye diseases untreated leads to vision deterioration and even blindness.”

While questions on his health proceed to arise, Jordan has expressed interest in helping others receive treatment. The North Carolina-raised athlete has teamed up with Novant Health to open three clinics in his home state.

Two Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics have opened in Charlotte. The Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in Wilmington will open in May 2024.

“Everyone deserves access to high-quality health care, no matter where they live or whether they have insurance,” Jordan said in press release earlier this yr.

He added, “I am truly inspired by the many moving stories of people who are now experiencing success thanks to the support of our medical clinics in Charlotte.”

Jordan was previously married to Juanita Vanoy in September 1989. She was reportedly awarded a $168 million settlement after filing for divorce for a second time in 2006. They had three children: Jeffrey, 35, Marcus, 33, and Jasmine, 31, who’s involved in her father’s athletic shoe line.

The NBA Hall of Famer married Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto in April 2013. The couple, who met in 2008 and got engaged in 2011, share 10-year-old twin daughters named Victoria and Ysabel.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels steps into action

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15 hours ago

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September 20, 2024

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Star black quarterbacks aren’t any longer the exception, they’re the rule. Throughout the football season, this series will explore the importance and influence of black quarterbacks from the grassroots level to the NFL.

ASHBURN, Va. – The Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback Jayden Daniels is off to a solid start, which comes as no surprise to the previous Commanders quarterback.

Jason Campbell, a former first-round pick of the Washington Redskins and a four-year starter for the franchise, became a fan of Daniels after watching him play in college at LSU. Daniels’ success as a running back has benefited the Commanders during their 1-1 start, Campbell said, and can help Daniels change into more comfortable within the team’s passing game. Campbell is optimistic about Daniels’ future, provided the Washington coaching staff properly handles the young player’s development.

Campbell said Daniels continues to make the precise decisions because the team prepares on the practice facility for a Week 3 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“One of the things he does really well is protecting the ball. He hasn’t thrown an interception yet, and for a rookie quarterback through his first two games, that’s really good,” Campbell told Andscape on Tuesday. “Even when that (fumble) happens, and it’ll occur, you’ll be able to see he understands he has to make good decisions with the ball. I do know they’re attempting to protect him from running an excessive amount of. I understand it’s a giant deal (a couple of potential injury). There was quite a lot of discuss him rushing 16 times in Week 1.

“But it’s not like they designed 16 runs for him. If they did, yes, that would be a problem. But most of those runs were rushes. Those runs are going to open up explosive plays in the passing game because of the pressure they put on the defense when a quarterback can run like he can. There’s just not a lot of guys who can do that. The difference in Washington from LSU is that in addition to the running, he had so many explosive passing plays at LSU. Once he starts building that chemistry with his receivers, combined with the running, those plays are going to happen.”

Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels steps out from outside the penalty area at Northwest Stadium on September 15 in Landover, Maryland.

Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire

Selected second overall within the 2024 draft, the 23-year-old Daniels is amongst six quarterbacks chosen in the primary round, tying a record set in 1983. Through two games, the Washington rookie has been the perfect of the bunch.

Daniels accomplished 75.5 percent of his passes for 410 yards. While he didn’t have any touchdown passes, Daniels, crucially, didn’t have any interceptions either. Daniels has 132 rushing yards (and a formidable 5.1 yards per rush average) with two rushing touchdowns. He fumbled the ball twice, however the Commanders recovered it each times.

For comparison, the opposite two rookies playing at point guard, the No. 1 pick Caleb Williams Chicago Bears and the twelfth pick Because Nixa The Denver Broncos struggled. Both seemed overwhelmed by the speed of the sport.

After the visiting Commanders lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Daniels’ profession debut, he showed poise of their home opener, confidently leading the game-winning drive that capped a 21-18 victory over the New York Giants. With the Commanders trailing 18-15 late within the fourth quarter, Daniels led the team in back-to-back field goals, including a 30-yarder as time expired. On those drives, he accomplished 7 of 9 passes for 91 yards. Daniels ran twice for 15 yards.

After watching Daniels at LSU, Campbell thought the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner’s game would translate well to the NFL because “it’s all about the RPO (run and pass option) in the league these days,” Campbell said. “NFL coaches want guys who can make plays with their legs now. And from the first time you watch him, you can see he really does that.”

In his current role as a radio analyst for Auburn Sports Network, Campbell has often watched Daniels play within the SEC. Selected as an analyst for his alma mater in 2023, Campbell was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. That season, he led undefeated Auburn to an SEC championship and a Sugar Bowl victory.

Washington chosen Campbell in the primary round (twenty fifth overall) of the 2005 draft. He then had a 10-year NFL profession, also playing for the then-Oakland Raiders, Bears, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.

When Campbell first saw Daniels, who transferred to LSU after three seasons at Arizona State, play in person, one thought immediately got here to mind: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Although Daniels wasn’t as polished as Jackson, the two-time AP NFL MVP, “you could see some of the same things,” Campbell said. “Guys like Lamar, Jalen Hurts (of the Philadelphia Eagles), Justin Fields (of the Pittsburgh Steelers) … they make big plays with their legs.

“When I was playing, they (coaches) always wanted you to stay in the pocket. If you didn’t stay in the pocket, it was like, ‘Oh shit. I did something wrong.’ Now, if you can get out of the pocket and run like they do, coaches see that as an added threat. The whole coaching mindset has changed. It’s a big bonus now. The RPO game has really allowed guys to come in and start right away and learn on the field. A guy like Daniels can beat you with his legs and his arm.”

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels celebrates after a game against the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium on September 15 in Landover, Maryland.

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

As a member of the fraternity of black quarterbacks in Washington, Campbell is a giant fan of Daniels’ development.

Quarterback Doug Williams’ iconic, myth-busting Super Bowl performance got here when he led Washington to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII in 1988. Williams became the primary black quarterback to start out a Super Bowl game and won the sport’s MVP award.

Although Williams, who’s a senior adviser to the Washington general manager, was not drafted by the Commanders and commenced only 14 games for the franchise in 4 seasons, all the black quarterbacks who play for the team accomplish that in his shadow, Campbell said. The club also drafted Robert Griffin III (2012, No. 2 overall) and Dwayne Haskins (2019, No. 15 overall) in the primary round.

“You feel like there’s a little extra pressure to live up to that,” Campbell said. “Because he was the primary black quarterback to win a Super Bowl and he did it for Washington, that’s a giant deal.

“But the bottom line is, to get anywhere in this league as a quarterback, you have to be in the right place, in the right situation, and have the right pieces around you. For (Daniels), it’s going in a pretty good direction right now.”

Commanders fans, hungry for fulfillment, are hoping Daniels continues on his current profession path.

Jason Reid is a senior NFL author at Andscape. He enjoys watching sports, especially any games involving his son and daughter.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Memphis Head Coach Penny Hardaway Announces New Assistant Coaches

Published

1 day ago

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September 20, 2024

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Former NBA player and current college basketball coach Penny Hardaway just announced that he has hired two assistant coaches, including a former HBCU head coach, to affix his staff on the University of Memphis.

School announced that Nolan Smith and former Detroit Mercy basketball coach Mike Davis shall be assistant coaches for the 2024-25 season.

“I am excited to have Coach Davis as part of our program,” Hardaway said in a written statement. “He is a seasoned coach who brings a winning mentality to the team and has a powerful resume to back it up, each on and off the court.

“Mike has won at the highest level, has achieved great success and is a proven leader of young men. He will serve our program in the front office, on campus and in the community. We are excited to have Mike and his family in Memphis.”

Davis spent the past six seasons as head coach at Detroit Mercy (2018-24), as he brings greater than 35 years of coaching experience to the sidelines. He has been a head coach for twenty-four years and has led his teams to the postseason in 14 of those years. He has a winning record in 15 of those 24 seasons, recording a minimum of 20 wins nine times.

Smith, meanwhile, most recently served as an assistant coach at Louisville for the past two years (2022-24). Prior to his time at Louisville, he spent six seasons working under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke (2016-22).

“Nolan is a guy with grit and grit, one of the brightest young coaches in college basketball,” Hardaway said. “He works hard and has an unmatched passion for the sport.

“He brings a championship mentality to our team, not only having won a national championship as a competitor, but also having learned from one of the all-time greats in Mike Krzyzewski. Our fighters will love being in the gym with Nolan, and we are excited to have him and his family as part of Tiger Nation.”

The Tigers will play their first exhibition game on October 15 within the Hoops for St. Jude® Tip Off Classic, where they may face North Carolina on the FedEx Forum in Memphis.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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