Sports

DEI supporters should also defend the health of female athletes

Published

8 months ago

March 22, 2024

IAM

After the University of Florida closed its diversity, equity and inclusion department on March 4, eliminating 13 administrative positions and appointments, Hall of Fame director Emmitt Smith, one of the Gators’ most distinguished track and field alumni, took to social media to sentence the school’s decision.

Saying he was “totally disgusted” by the move, Smith called on Black athletes in attendance to “be aware and speak out about this decision by a university that is now closing its doors to other minorities without any oversight.”

Smith’s words got here days after a press release from Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin.

“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 where diversity and inclusion are a priority,” Woodfin wrote.

Smith and Woodfin’s words are mandatory. Hiding behind the false belief that DEI concepts are “divisive,” many states have implemented or proposed ending them in publicly funded institutions, including colleges and universities. The best way for minority athletes to indicate their disgust is to not give their talents to the public schools in these states, schools that happily cheer them on on the courts, tracks and fields and cash in on their success.

But who advocates for the athletes? Currently, 16 states have either banned abortion altogether or banned it after six weeks, which has the effect of being a complete ban, given that almost all women don’t even know they’re pregnant until then.

However, few outstanding voices, especially men, have spoken as much as encourage young women to avoid schools in these states.

South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins (right) and guard Te-Hina Paopao (left) have a good time against LSU in the fourth quarter during the SEC Tournament championship game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 10 in Greenville, South Carolina.

Eakin Howard/Getty Images

There is a risk of this being seen as an Oppression Olympics, but not having the bodily autonomy to make the best decision for you is more impactful – and potentially dangerous – than not having a DEI office in your school.

Take the SEC for instance. Of the 14 schools in the conference, 13 are in states with total bans. Only those competing for alligators are in a state with barely more women-friendly laws: Florida prohibits abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. But when Oklahoma and the University of Texas join the SEC next yr, 14 of 15 will develop into 15 of 16.

The women at these schools aren’t the only ones following these terrible rules: of the 69 schools in a single of the Power 5 conferences, 26 are in states with total or near-total bans, and 10 of Southwestern Athletic’s 12 conference schools are conference schools too. And these are only chosen first league schools. Does not include colleges in other divisions, NAIA, or junior colleges.

The NCAA has already stepped up motion after passing state laws that violate human rights. In 2015, she not only condemned an anti-LGBT law in Indiana, where the NCAA is headquartered, but encouraged the state to offer protections for these residents. In 2016, it withdrew the championship from North Carolina after the passage of a “bathroom bill” that banned transgender people from using restrooms and locker rooms corresponding to their gender identity in most public places. But since then, the NCAA has been largely silent on the topic — even before that Supreme Court Dobbs ruling that the Constitution doesn’t grant a right to abortion and restoring abortion regulation to states in 2022..

In 2021, Texas passed a heinous law that bans the procedure and allows private residents to sue doctors who perform abortions. Not only has the perennially inept NCAA done nothing, but it surely continues to award major championships to cities in states where women are deprived of the ability to make their very own health care decisions. The 2023 Women’s Basketball Final Four and Track and Field Championships were held in Texas, the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma, and the 2024 Women’s Volleyball Championships in Louisville, Kentucky.

Perhaps this is not surprising given the NCAA’s historical approach to female athletes. A 2021 external review found myriad systemic problems with the way the governing body of college athletics has undervalued and in some ways undermined women’s sports and female athletes.

It is disappointing, nonetheless, that NCAA President Charlie Baker, who has been in office since March 1, 2023, has not yet spoken publicly or acknowledged his influence. As governor of Massachusetts, Baker, considered pro-choice, signed an executive order protecting abortion in the state moments after the Dobbs decision in 2022.

From left to right: LSU guard Mikaylah Williams, forward Angel Reese, guard Aneesah Morrow, guard Hailey Van Lith and guard Flau’jae Johnson look on in the SEC Tournament championship game against South Carolina on March 10 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina .

John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Given the number of countries which have severely restricted this procedure, it’s currently estimated that 1 in 3 women of reproductive age in the country don’t have access to abortion. According to latest statistics According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 35.7% of pregnancies are unintended, and in the event that they occur during college, they often result in women dropping out of school.

Whether an athlete is destined for professionalism or Olympic glory, higher education is crucial for ladies and long-term financial security for themselves and their potential families. Although men still outperform women at every level of education, data shows that the average earnings of women over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree are $25,000 higher than those of women over the age of 25 with a highschool diploma.

And since Black women have more college debt than another demographic group, a black athlete receiving a scholarship gets to maintain significantly more of those earnings, paving the way for home ownership, investment, or travel. Abortion bans are an attack on all people of reproductive age. Forcing a lady to stay pregnant has lifelong consequences, disrupting education, profession aspirations and earning potential, amongst other things.

Female athletes should avoid states where the government denies them the ability to make deeply personal decisions. They need men who will also get up and support them.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com

Sports

In 2025, the Basketball Africa League play-offs will move to South Africa

Published

4 hours ago

November 22, 2024

IAM

The 2025 Basketball Africa League season will feature a brand new venue for the finals and playoffs and will also start at a brand new location.

The BAL 2025 Playoffs and Finals, scheduled for June 14, 2025, will happen at the recent home in Pretoria, South Africa. This will be the first time the BAL playoffs and finals haven’t been held in Kigali, Rwanda. The BAL 2025 season will also debut in a brand new location in Rabat, Morocco on April 5, 2025. During the BAL 2025 season, 12 of the best club teams from 12 African countries will play 48 matches in Rabat, Kigali and Dakar, Senegal, before traveling to Pretoria for play- offs.

“Over the first four seasons of BAL, we have seen tremendous growth in on-court competition, attendance and engagement from fans and partners in Africa and around the world,” BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall said in a press release. “Our groundbreaking fifth season will build on this momentum and continue to showcase the level of talent and passion for basketball in Africa, including through the first BAL games in Morocco and the first BAL Finals in South Africa.”

The 12 teams will be divided again into three conferences of 4 teams each. The group stage of the Kalahari Conference will happen from April 5 to 13, 2025 in Rabat. The group stage of the Sahara Conference will be held in Dakar from April 26 to May 4, 2025. The group stage of the Nile Conference will be held in Kigali from May 17 to 25, 2025. Eight teams from the three conferences will qualify for the play-offs in Pretoria, which will start on June 6 and end with the BAL 2025 finals.

“The Kalahari conference marks another expansion of BAL into a new country on our continent and we are more than satisfied,” FIBA Africa president Anibal Manave said in a press release. “The competition continues to grow each year, providing greater exposure for our sport and helping to raise the level of basketball in Africa, making the league increasingly competitive.”

National champions from Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia routinely qualify for the BAL. The remaining five teams are from FIBA Africa’s Road to the BAL qualifying tournaments.

In the 2024 BAL season, Petro de Luanda of Angola became the first team from Sub-Saharan Africa to win the championship. According to BAL, the 2024 BAL season reached fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages, set an attendance record of greater than 120,000 fans in the 4 host countries and generated greater than 1.2 billion views across the NBA and BAL social media channels.

Marc J. Spears is Andscape’s senior NBA author. He used to have the option to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been able to do it for years and his knees still hurt.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com

Sports

NFL star Terrell Owens signs a contract with Michael Strahan’s talent agency

Published

17 hours ago

November 21, 2024

IAM

NFL Hall of Fame receiver and podcast host Terrell Owens has signed with a talent agency to further strengthen his claims within the entertainment game.

According to , Owens was signed by SMAC Entertainment, headed by host and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and his business partner Constance Schwartz-Morini.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz has also joined SMAC Entertainment.

“We are excited to add TO and Jordan to the SMAC family. They are both at the top of their game and set the standard in their industry,” Schwartz-Morini said in a written statement. “TO and Jordan have already brought an infectious energy to our team, and we are excited to help them realize their vision for careers in media, business and branding.”

A five-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, Owens played for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. In 2018, he was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A member of the 2000 NFL All-Decade Team, Owens finished his profession with 1,078 catches for 15,934 yards, 14.8 yards per catch and 153 touchdowns, rating third all-time in receiving yards and touchdowns.

Since retiring from skilled soccer in 2012, Owens has already made several moves. He has appeared in several movies and tv shows, including “,” and in addition had his own reality show, “, on VH1.

He currently co-hosts the podcast with former NFL player and sports analyst Shannon Sharpe.

SMAC Entertainment is home to stars similar to rapper and actor Common, Wiz Khalifa, Strahan, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and current NFL players similar to Stefon Diggs and DK Metcalf.

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

Sports

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker brings an NBA championship desire with his Olympic experience

Published

1 day ago

November 21, 2024

IAM

The gold medal went to the USA Basketball team. Mission completed on the 2024 Paris Games. U.S. men’s basketball coach Steve Kerr just answered his final query during his final news conference on Aug. 10 after his team defeated France within the gold medal game.

However, before leaving the stage of the press conference in Paris, Kerr stopped to deliver an unsolicited message to media around the globe.

“Devin Booker is an amazing basketball player. Nobody asked about him. He was our unsung MVP. I just desired to say that,” Kerr said.

The “underrated MVP” compliment meant so much to the Phoenix Suns guard.

“It meant everything. No one really asked him,” Booker recently told Andscape. “That was probably something that was weighing on his mind throughout the entire process. A 12 months ago I said what I desired to do for this team and what we desired to do for the country.

“It was a lot larger than all of us. Survival was something we’d discuss for the remainder of our lives.

The USA Basketball team was centered around NBA star icons LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. There has also been some discussion amongst media and fans in regards to the lack of playing time for Jayson Tatum and, to a lesser extent, Tyrese Haliburton. Lost within the shuffle was the all-around, unselfish play of sharpshooter Booker wearing the armband.

Guard Devin Booker throughout the final men’s basketball game between France and the United States on the Olympic Games on Aug. 10 at Bercy Arena in Paris.

Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images

Booker was fourth in scoring for the U.S., averaging 11.7 points, 3.3 assists and a couple of.2 three-pointers made early in all six Olympics, and likewise had the perfect plus/minus (plus-130) for an American. Kerr was impressed with Booker’s deal with a difficult defense, regardless that he is thought for his offense, ball movement and the way he has adjusted to not being one in every of the highest options on offense.

“I just understood what was at stake,” Booker said. “I’m proud to be from this country. I’m happy with playing basketball. Even though it wasn’t invented in America, we dominated for a very long time. Obviously the world is incredibly talented and the sport is growing, however it was just one other message to allow them to know who we’re.

Booker said he also learned in regards to the preparations from his all-star team, watching the preparations on and off the court. The 28-year-old added that he gained lifelong friendships.

“It’s cool to see that everyone has their own issues,” Booker said. “In my 10 years in the NBA, I’ve learned that you have to choose what you can use for yourself. But the level of detail, the attention to detail, the intensity – it’s all consistent across the board.”

As for Durant, Booker said the bond between the 2 Sun stars “is close and grows stronger every day.” They live about five minutes from one another within the Phoenix area and commonly spend time at home and on the road. Most recently, Booker had to steer the Suns without Durant, who was sidelined with an injury.

The amazing Durant averaged 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and three.4 assists, which were tops for the Suns. However, the 14-time NBA All-Star has been sidelined since November 8 with a left calf strain. Suns players Bradley Beal (calf) and Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) were also sidelined. The Suns are 1-5 without Durant, which incorporates 4 straight losses.

Booker and Suns sans Durant’s next rivals shall be the New York Knicks on Wednesday evening (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET). Over the last six games, Booker is averaging 24.1 points, shooting 43.2% from the sphere and making 16 of 43 three-pointers. Suns guard Tyus Jones said there was numerous pressure on Booker offensively due to the injury.

“We’re asking a lot of Book,” Jones said after Monday’s 109-99 loss to the visiting Orlando Magic. “It’s numerous pressure for him. We are very focused on it. They are physical with him, holding him and grabbing him, throwing two or three bodies at him all night long. So he’s got so much on his plate and we just need to proceed to seek out ways to get him open within the moments we will and proceed to assist him when other players are taking shots and making plays.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (left) with Suns forward Kevin Durant (right) during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 31 on the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Booker currently has two Olympic gold medals, 4 NBA All-Star appearances and one NBA Finals appearance. The only thing missing from the Suns’ second-leading all-time scorer is an NBA championship. Since the Suns joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1968, they’ve yet to win a title.

After experiencing the joys of winning a gold medal, Booker as an NBA champion wants the gold Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy much more.

“Most of the guys that were there did it,” Booker said of his Olympic teammates who were NBA champions. “They were champions. This is standard for them. Anything lower than that, they need nothing to do with it. It’s contagious…

“That’s all I want. That’s all I want.”

Marc J. Spears is Andscape’s senior NBA author. He used to have the ability to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been capable of do it for years and his knees still hurt.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com