Brian Flores Opens up About 'Sham' NFL Interview

Courtesy Photo

Black History Month started out with a bang for sports fans Tuesday when former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores sued the NFL, the New York Giants, the Dolphins and Denver Broncos for racial discrimination.

Now he is opening up about his dispute with the league and some of the incendiary charges leveled in his bombshell lawsuit.

Asked how it made him feel knowing that he was walking into an interview where a decision might have already been made during an appearance on “CBS Mornings” Wednesday, Flores said, “It was a range of emotions. Humiliation. Disbelief. Anger. I worked so hard to get where I am in football to become a head coach. To go in on what was a sham interview, I was hurt.”

Former #Dolphins HC Brian Flores on @CBSMornings describing his interactions and feelings before his interview with the #Giants for the head coach job. pic.twitter.com/1RnVxn0VUK

— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 2, 2022

Flores walked into the interview with an idea that it was just a cursory attempt to respect the NFL's Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior operation positions, thanks to a damning text exchange with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick that was the catalyst for the lawsuit that states that the league "remains rife with racism" and that "in certain critical ways, the NFL is racially segregated and is managed much like a plantation."

Belichick accidentally texted him to congratulate him on the NY Giants job thinking he was Brian Daboll. The lawsuit presents text messages of Belichick sending congratulations to Flores for landing the Giants job on Jan. 24. That text was sent two days prior to Flores interviewing for the job.

After Flores initially appeared confused by the text message, he asked Belichick, “Coach, are you talking to Brian Flores or Brian Daboll. Just making sure.”

Belichick replied: “Sorry – I f—ed this up. I double checked & I misread the text. I think they are naming Daboll. I’m sorry about that. BB”

According to the lawsuit, Flores was then "forced to sit through a dinner with Joe Schoen, the Giant’s [sic] new General Manager, knowing that the Giants had already selected Mr. Daboll. Much worse, on Thursday, January 27, 2022, Mr. Flores had to give an extensive interview for a job that he already knew he would not get — an interview that was held for no reason other than for the Giants to demonstrate falsely to the League Commissioner Roger Goodell and the public at large that it was in compliance with the Rooney Rule.”

Daboll was hired as the Giants head coach on Jan. 28.

The Giants responded on Tuesday after being named in the lawsuit.

“We are pleased and confident with the process that resulted in the hiring of Brian Daboll,” the team said in a statement. “We interviewed an impressive and diverse group of candidates. The fact of the matter is, Brain Flores was in the conversation to be our head coach until the eleventh hour. Ultimately, we hired the individual we felt was most qualified to be our next head coach."

Read the entire lawsuit here.

Watch: Hip-Hop Legends Come Together in Epic Super Bowl Halftime Trailer

Last year we reported that Dr. Dre had assembled some of hip-hop's greatest talents to headline the 2022 Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Today, with the game closer on the horizon, the rapper and producer dropped a hype video for the event that has expectations soaring for the halftime experience at the first Super Bowl in Los Angeles since 1993.

In the nearly four-minute clip directed by F. Gary Gray, who had the same role on "Straight Outta Compton," the biographical movie about Dre's former group N.W.A. released in 2015, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar answer "The Call" from Dre and unite to head to the stadium together in their own unique ways.

Eminem opens the video battle-rapping his alter ego Slim Shady before getting the nod and jumping on his private plane. Snoop Dogg cruises the California streets to his frequent partner in rhyme in his custom lowrider. Blige announces she's back in a high-fashion photoshoot before jumping in her own slick ride, and Lamar wrestles with his own verses and smoking pen in an empty room before jumping on his custom bike to heed the call.

The soundtrack, scored by Adam Blackstone, transitions into Tupac Shakur's 1999 hit "California Love" as they come together and approach the stadium. It is in an homage to the deceased star who was a pivotal part of Death Row along with Dre and Snoop and the city in which the game will be played.

"The opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime show, and to do it in my own backyard, will be one of the biggest thrills of my career," Dr. Dre said in a statement when the lineup was originally announced.

"It will be an "unforgettable cultural moment," he added.

Whether or not that is true remains to be seen but the hype video has certainly made some fans believers. Watch the entire clip below:

If Covid Cancels Super Bowl Halftime Show Dr. Dre Could Lose Millions

Dr. Dre could lose millions of dollars on the Super Bowl, by betting on himself.

In December we reported the NFL, Pepsi and Roc Nation announced five hip-hop icons will unite to headline the 2022 Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show on Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar are slated to take to the stage to perform together for the first time in their careers at the show, and Dr. Dre has sunk millions of his own dollars into the production.

Now TMZ is reporting, that thanks to a clause in Dre’s insurance for the event, that if the show is canceled the legendary rapper and producer will be out of luck regarding recovering his funds.

The Communicable Disease Exemption, dating to the SARS outbreaks in the early 2000s, exempts insurance from paying out in the event of a cancelation resulting from a similar outbreak of a virus or bacteria.

It has been a provision in many insurance packages since those outbreaks and ensures Dre’s insurance will not cover a coronavirus-related cancelation, and with cases surging around the nation as the pandemic rages on — it seems likely that would be the cause of any cancellation.

"We're gonna give you the greatest performance you've ever seen in hip-hop history."@SnoopDogg previews the upcoming #SBLVI #PepsiHalftime Show. pic.twitter.com/Pt2hrGucWd

— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2022

Luckily enough for Dre, there are currently no indications that the Super Bowl nor its halftime show will be canceled now. The NFL has been looking at replacement venues for the game, but an NFL spokesperson told NBC Los Angeles recently that the game will take place as scheduled.

Lee Elder, who broke the race barrier at the Masters, dies at 87

Photo Courtesy Lee Elder Foundation — November 2020: Lee Elder being honored at the 2020 Masters Tournament

Lee Elder, the first Black golfer to play in the Masters, is dead at the age of 87.

The PGA Tour announced his passing on its official Twitter Monday, noting that this past April he was honored for his accomplishments at Augusta National, and his legacy will surely live on.

No official cause of death was listed, but Elder had been reportedly in poor health in recent years. During his appearance at the Masters in April he wore a visible oxygen tube. The Tour said he died early Sunday in Escondido, California.

Lee Elder has passed away at the age of 87.

In 1975, he made history as the first African American to compete in the Masters Tournament.

Lee was honored this past April at Augusta National and his legacy will surely live on. pic.twitter.com/1o05rephKt

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 29, 2021

His contemporary, and one of the greatest golfers to ever walk the greens, Jack Nicklaus responded to the death on Twitter writing, "Lee was a good player, but most important, a good man who was very well respected by countless people. The game of golf lost a hero in Lee Elder.''

Lee was a good player, but most important, a good man who was very well respected by countless people. The game of golf lost a hero in Lee Elder. Barbara and I send our heartfelt condolences to Lee’s wife Sharon and their entire family.

— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) November 29, 2021

A native Texan, Elder did not play a full round of 18 holes until he was 16 and learned the game while caddying when most courses were segregated. Following his history-making turn at the formerly all-white Masters, which he qualified for by winning the Monsanto Open, he notched three more career PGA wins. In 1979 he became the first African American to qualify for play in the Ryder Cup.

Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden Resigns After Racist, Misogynistic and Homophobic Emails Exposed

Photo Credit @NFL Twitter

Just hours after The New York Times released a scathing report Monday night highlighting a history of racist, homophobic and misogynistic emails sent by Las Vegas Raiders head coach, Jon Gruden, to NFL officials over a seven-year period prior to his hire, ESPN is reporting that the once highly sought coach is out of a job.

Shortly after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that he was told by sources that” Raiders owner Mark Davis arrived at the team's facility earlier Monday evening and went to find Gruden.”

"Earlier this evening, The New York Times uncovered a trail of emails dating back seven years, in which Jon Gruden had a clean sweep of offending NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, women, gays, minorities, all sorts of people."

Jon Gruden’s emails are further & final proof for the necessity of minority voices in positions of power.

In 2011, Gruden was a homophobic racially insensitive pervert. He was also the face of #MNF on ESPN, speaking to an audience of 13.3 million people weekly. pic.twitter.com/9rpZTVBPBj

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 12, 2021

Gruden followed up shortly with a statement of his own saying, “I have resigned as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”

— @AdamSchefter with an update on Jon Gruden pic.twitter.com/qqsvptqBCE

— ESPN (@espn) October 12, 2021

Davis himself confirmed both the meeting and the reported conclusion by Schefter, releasing the following statement:

"I have accepted Jon Gruden's resignation as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders."

pic.twitter.com/pxurcxX67v

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 12, 2021 

It was the final stop on a rollercoaster of a week for the 58-year-old, who was in his second stint with the Raiders as head coach.

Friday after reporting by the Wall Street Journal revealed Gruden had used a racial stereotype to refer to NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith in 2011 in an email to then Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen, he quickly apologized.

Gruden, who said, “Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of michellin [sic] tires,” in the email, told the WSJ he was “really sorry" and that he refers to liars as "rubber lips." 

I don’t think he’s dumb,” Gruden told the Journal. “I don’t think he’s a liar. I don’t have a racial bone in my body, and I’ve proven that for 58 years.

It seemed the controversy might die out with the Raiders staying mum on the subject and Gruden and others trying to play off the incident as a one-time mistake years before he was head coach, but Monday’s report spurred immediate action from the team which publicly prides itself on a commitment to diversity and anti-racist principles.

Gruden, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl win in 2003 before eventually moving on to ESPN where he worked as a color analyst during the period when he composed most of the offensive emails before being hired to coach the Raiders in 2018, finishes his tenure with a 22-31 record.

Rich Bisaccia will serve as the interim head coach of the team, effective immediately

Ex-NBA Players Arrested in $4 Million Scheme to Defraud League's Healthcare Plan

Eighteen former NBA players, along with one of their spouses, were charged Thursday with defrauding the league's health and welfare benefit plan with a scheme that resulted in around $2 million in losses for the league on $4 million worth of fraudulent claims.

According to federal prosecutors, Terrence Williams, who was drafted No. 11 by the then-New Jersey Nets in 2009 and played for the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics, in a journeyman career orchestrated the scheme.

He recruited other plan participants to defraud it by offering to provide them with false invoices to support their fraudulent claims, which those defendants then submitted for reimbursement. In return for his services, many of the defendants are alleged to have paid William's kickbacks totaling approximately $230,000.

Along with Williams; Alan Anderson, Anthony Allen, Shannon Brown, William Bynum, Ronald Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Christopher Douglas-Roberts, Melvin Ely, Jamario Moon, Darius Miles, Milton Palacio, Ruben Patterson, Eddie Robinson, Gregory Smith, Sebastian Telfair, Charles Watson Jr., Antoine Wright, and Anthony Wroten and Allen's wife, Desiree Allen, were indicted.

"The defendants' playbook involved fraud and deception," U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss told a news conference after FBI agents across the country arrested 16 of the defendants. 

All of the defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Williams is also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison. 

Read the entire indictment here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Terrence Williams (@iamtwill55)

Bubba Wallace Becomes Second Black Driver to Win NASCAR Cup Series

Photo Courtesy of 23xiracing.com

Over a year after a noose found in his garage at the same track prompted a hate-crime investigation by the FBI, Bubba Wallace made history Monday by winning a rain-shortened race at Alabama's Talladega Superspeedway to become just the second black driver to win in NASCAR’s top series.

“This is for all the kids out there that want to have an opportunity and whatever they want to achieve, and be the best at what they want to do,”  an emotional Wallace said following the win. “You’re going to go through a lot of (BS). But you always got to stick true to your path and not let the nonsense get to you. Stay strong. Stay humble. Stay hungry. Been plenty of times when I wanted to give up."

'@BubbaWallace is the second Black driver to win in the @NASCAR Cup Series, and the first to do so since 1963 with Wendell Scott.

Hear from the @23XIRacing driver after the historic win. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/fKTvclLeGh

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 4, 2021

The 27-year-old Alabama native, driving the 23XI Racing team's No. 23 Toyota — a car number picked for him as its first driver by majority owner Michael Jordan — led for the last five laps of the race after driving through a wreck to take the lead before the race was officially called with dusk approaching and 104 of 188 laps complete.

It was the first victory by a black driver 1963 at NASCAR's elite Cup level since 1963 when Wendell Scott — whose life served as inspiration for comedian Richard Pryor's "Greased Lightning" racing epic —accomplished the feat only to have NASCAR deny him the official victory for months. His family was just recently presented with his trophy from that race. 

"I'm so happy for Bubba and our entire 23XI Racing team. This is a huge milestone and a historic win for us," Jordan, who started 23XI Racing alongside NASCAR legend Denny Hamlin in 2020 said in a statement posted to the team's Twitter account. "From the day we signed him, I knew Bubba had the talent to win and Denny and I could not be more proud of him. Let's go!"

Five Hip-Hop Icons to Unite for Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show

Courtesy Roc Nation 

It’s still way too early in the NFL season to predict whether the game will be worth watching, but for the first time in a long time it looks like the Super Bowl’s halftime show will be must-see television for hip-hop fans no-matter what teams are facing off in the main event. 

Thursday the NFL, Pepsi and Roc Nation announced five hip-hop icons will unite to headline the 2022 Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. 

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar will take to the stage to perform together for the first time in their careers. Jay Z whose firm Roc Nation has helped produce the last two halftime shows and will guide this one as well said in a statement that the show was “history in the making.”

"Dr. Dre, a musical visionary from Compton, Snoop Dogg, an icon from Long Beach and Kendrick Lamar, a young musical pioneer in his own right, also from Compton, will take center field for a performance of a lifetime,” said Jay Z, hyping the lineup. "They will be joined by the lyrical genius, Eminem and the timeless Queen, Mary J. Blige.”

Dr. Dre thanked Jay Z, Roc Nation, the NFL and Pepsi for the opportunity to participate in what he called, “an unforgettable cultural moment.”

"The opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime show, and to do it in my own backyard, will be one of the biggest thrills of my career," Dr. Dre. said.

Jordan Brand Pledges $1 Million Dollars to UNC's Ida B. Wells Society to Support Diversity in Newsrooms

Michael Jordan Photo Courtesy Nike

NBA legend Michael Jordan may have a degree in geography, but in the wake of George Floyd's 2020 murder by Minneapolis Police and the ensuing chaos and societal strife generated by it the basketball player turned billionaire businessman believes that it is organizations dedicated to ensuring racial equality, social justice and greater access to education that will determine the direction of the future.

So, instead of increasing its map budget or funding a professorship, the University of North Carolina alumnus, who returned to get his degree following his hall-of-fame career, announced that he and his eponymous Jordan Brand will donate $1 million to UNC's Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting to help diversify newsrooms. 

The Society and the Commitment: Partnering for change. Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand pledge $1 million to support the @IBWellsSociety, housed at #UNCHussman, in its efforts to increase diversity in the field of investigative journalism. Details ➡️ https://t.co/Kb8o3esrvC pic.twitter.com/f1p5ZJM75n

— UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media (@UNCHussman) September 9, 2021

In a press release shared by the school this past Thursday, it says the grant originally announced in May, will boost the program's efforts to increase diversity in the field of investigative journalism with outreach efforts aimed at aspiring young journalists of color: 

With the help of the Black Community Commitment grant, the Society intends to expand its existing internship program for college students and recent college graduates, partnering budding talent with major news organizations like The New York Times, the Miami Herald, ProPublica, the Associated Press and the USA Today Network around the United States.

The Society also plans to launch an All-Star Investigative Summer J-Camp, starting in July of 2022, that will bring students from majority-Black and Latino and historically disadvantaged schools together for an immersive, multidisciplinary training program in partnership with an historically Black college. 

Diversifying Investigative Reporting - Ida B. Wells Society + Jordan Brand from Here At UNC on Vimeo.

The school is just the latest recipient of a windfall from Jordan Brand, since the star who famously avoided controversy throughout his career made a pledge to make a commitment to the black community part of his company's DNA.

Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand are committing $100 million over the next 10 years to protecting and improving the lives of Black people through actions dedicated towards racial equality, social justice and education. #JUMPMANhttps://t.co/CZDt1UdPwF

— Jordan (@Jumpman23) June 5, 2020

It was an action taken in direct reflection on the George Floyd case as well as the Black Lives Matter movement. 

I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry,” said an unusually outspoken Jordan in a statement following Floyd's death. “I see and feel everyone’s pain, outrage and frustration. I stand with those who are calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of color in our country. We have had enough.

“I don’t have the answers, but our collective voices show strength and the inability to be divided by others. We must listen to each other, show compassion and empathy and never turn our backs on senseless brutality. We need to continue peaceful expressions against injustice and demand accountability. Our unified voice needs to put pressure on our leaders to change our laws, or else we need to use our vote to create systemic change. Every one of us needs to be a part of the solution, and we must work together to ensure justice for all.

“My heart goes out to the family of George Floyd and to the countless others whose lives have been brutally and senselessly taken through acts of racism and injustice.

ESPN Duped by Fake Football Team

Did the self-described “worldwide leader in sports” get duped into airing a football game between one of
the top high school football squads in the nation and an online academy with a dubious pedigree, a head coach with an active warrant and several players that may not have been eligible to play in the game?

Bishop Sycamore head coach Roy Johnson was fired Tuesday. 

Well, there’s no disputing the fact that defending high school national champion IMG Academy — a perennial gridiron powerhouse from Florida — faced off with Ohio-based school Bishop Sycamore Sunday in the Geico High School Football Kickoff on ESPN, beating the cleats off the Centurions, 58-0. 

The game, which was supposed to put two of the nation’s best teams on national display, was such a mismatch that the network’s own announcers began to question the legitimacy of Bishop Sycamore during the broadcast.

ESPN’s commendations WENT IN on Bishop Sycamore 💀 pic.twitter.com/RCJv46gOA3

— BuckeyeScoop.com (@kirk_barton) August 29, 2021

Shortly following the game other details began to emerge that put the whole affair in question. It was discovered that the contest was the team’s second in three days, putting player safety into question. Then it was reported that the school was 0-6 last year and didn’t seem to exist prior to last season.

By Tuesday things had really gone off the rails. Bishop Sycamore head coach Roy Johnson was fired for “a lot of things,” school director Andre Peterson told Chris Bumbaca of USA Today. One of which was the fact that he has an active bench warrant for failure to appear in a domestic violence case, which was eventually dropped to a criminal mischief charge, issued July 2 by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. He is also facing a pending fraud charge for defaulting on a $100,000 loan issued in April 2018 that was never repaid to First Merchants Bank, and a 2019 civil lawsuit filed by ARN Hospitality, says Johnson owes a balance of $110,685 to the group which owns a hotel he is alleged to have housed players at for a night in 2018. 

Add to that the fact that several players, parents and other associates of the team brought some pretty damming stories to light in the aftermath of the contest, it sure seems like ESPN should have been wary of ever approving the squad to be spotlighted on the national stage.

I talked to Aaron Boyd, a former Bishop Sycamore player and he exposed all their dark secrets.

It’s scary what they’re doing over there.

Article: https://t.co/xEIP9pOoWo pic.twitter.com/QEEC1pAiwL

— Zion 🇳🇬 (@ZionOlojede) August 31, 2021

For its part, the network tried to take the focus for the black off itself, issuing a statement Monday that threw Paragon Marketing Group — responsible for arranging the schedule for the Geico event — under the bus:

 We regret that this happened and have discussed it with Paragon, which secured the matchup and handles the majority of our high school event scheduling. They have ensured us that they will take steps to prevent this kind of situation from happening moving forward.

Whether or not that was enough to convince the world, that a network that prides itself on getting the facts and getting them first and employs hundreds of reporters across various mediums couldn’t figure out something it took less than a half for its own announcers to see remains to be seen. 

Former Football Star Herschel Walker to Campaign for Georgia Senate Seat

Herschel Walker 

One of the greatest running backs in college football history has decided to tote the ball for the Republican Party in an effort to lead it to victory in one of its most important contests in recent history.

Herschel Walker, the 59-year-old who won the Heisman and was a three-time All-American while playing at the University of Georgia in the early 80s, filed paperwork Tuesday to enter U.S. Senate race in Georgia, in a bid to defeat and unseat Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in 2022.

The move ends month of speculation whether-or-not the longtime Republican, former NFL star, Olympian (Walker competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, as a member of the United States' bobsleigh team), mixed martial artist and chicken tycoon —would enter the race against Warnock, the pastor of Georgia’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, whose slim victory over Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a closely watched runoff election, helped give control of the Senate to Democrats in January.

Walker, a longtime Texas resident who registered to vote in Georgia Aug. 17 using an Atlanta residence owned by his wife Julie Blanchard prior to filing Federal Election Commission papers declaring his candidacy, kept mum following the move which seems to have been motivated by former President Donald Trump.

The two are longtime allies. Walker, who played for a team owned by Trump early in his career and appeared on the real estate mogul’s Celebrity Apprentice reality show was a fixture at MAGA rallies and came to the defense of his good friend against claims of racism following the racial unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd, a black man, by Minneapolis police in 2020.

“People who think that don’t know what they’re talking about,” Walker said. “Growing up in the Deep South I've seen racism up close. I know what it is, and it isn’t Donald Trump.”

Herschel Walker: "It hurts my soul to hear the terrible names that people call Donald. The worst one is 'racist.' I take it as a personal insult that people would think I would have a 37-year friendship with a racist." #RNC2020 #RepublicanConvention pic.twitter.com/igTALvteaL

— The Hill (@thehill) August 25, 2020

In March Trump issued a statement urging Walker to run. 

“Wouldn’t it be fantastic if the legendary Herschel Walker ran for the United States Senate in Georgia?” Trump said. “He would be unstoppable, just like he was when he played for the Georgia Bulldogs, and in the NFL. He is also a GREAT person. Run Herschel, run!” 

In June the ex-president doubled down, telling The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, replacements for the recently deceased Rush Limbaugh, that Walker told him he would run when the two dined together and added, “He’s a great guy. He’s a patriot. He’s a very loyal person. They love him in Georgia, I’ll tell you.”

The name recognition Walker brings to the race is immense. Republicans would love to have a prominent black candidate to face off with the pioneering preacher, but Walker has some baggage that might impede his efforts beyond his last-minute return to the state of his birth just to run for office. 

The Associated Press reported “that a review of public records uncovered detailed accusations that Walker repeatedly threatened the life of his ex-wife, Cindy Grossman, by telling her relatives he would kill Grossman and her new boyfriend. Walker denied the accusations, but a judge granted a protective order in 2005 and for a time barred Walker from owning guns.”

In 2008, the AP added, Walker wrote a book that detailed his struggles with mental illness. He wrote that he'd been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, once known as multiple personality disorder. He said he constructed alternate personalities as a defense against bullying he suffered as a stuttering, overweight child. 

Houston Track Star Cameron Burrell Death Ruled Suicide

Cameron Burrell was one of the fastest men in the world, but he couldn’t outrace his personal demons.

Friday the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science confirmed in its report that the former University of Houston sprinter’s death at the age of 26 has been ruled a suicide. It was a sad final chapter to an extraordinary life that was filled with promise, potential and prestige from beginning to end.

Photo Courtesy University of Houston 

“On Monday evening, our family’s hearts were broken with the passing of our son, Cameron, who took his own life,” said Cameron’s father Leroy Burrell in a statement following the revelation. “While much of the world knows Cameron from his accomplishments in competition, he was so much more as a son, a father, a brother and as a man. We love him, and we will miss him forever.”

Cameron followed his father, a gold medalist in the Barcelona Olympics in the 4x100 along with his wife Michelle who was part of the winning women’s 4x100 team, to the University of Houston where the elder Burrell had run in college and has coached for 23 years. 

Under his guidance and that of his godfather, nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, Cameron broke his dad’s school record, set five years before his birth, in the 100 meters by .01 seconds with a time of 9.93 in 2017. He was a three-time All-American at 60 and 100 meters and was twice named All-American as a member of the 4x100 relay team. 

Burrell was also a member of the United States 4x100-meter relay team, helping it earn gold at the World Junior Championships in 2012 and capture silver at the 2019 World Relays. At the 2018 Athletics World Cup he anchored the U.S. relay team to gold. With such a prestigious resume it was hard for his family, friends and supporters to come to terms with his cause of death.

“We may never know why Cameron made such a decision,” Leroy continued, urging people who may be struggling in their lives to reach out for help. “You are not alone, and you are surrounded by more people who love and care for you than you may think in a dark moment.”

Cameron’s aunt Dawn Burrell, who represented the United States in the long jump at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, seconded the emotion adding a passionate plea on Instagram calling in part for people to, “Please check on your strong family members that you view as kings. They might be struggling internally more than you realize.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dawn Burrell (@chefdawnburrell)

In addition to his parents, Burrell is survived by his brothers, Joshua and Jaden Burrell. For those having struggles with their mental health, The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24 hours at 1-800-273-8255 or you can online chat through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The American Suicide Prevention Hotline is also available at 888-333-2377.

  

Biles Earns Bronze to Boost GOAT Case

The Olympics may have started out in tragedy for Simone Biles, but they ended in a historic triumph for the greatest of all time. 

A week after an emotional Biles withdrew from the team gymnastics final for her mental health, the 24-year-old returned to action on the balance beam Tuesday in Tokyo. Performing a simplified version of the routine she had unveiled during the qualifying round, Biles earned a 14.000,  good enough for a third-place finish behind China's Chenchen Guan (14.633) and Xijing Tang (14.233).

The bronze medal, her second of these Olympics along with the team silver, tied Biles with Shannon Miller at seven earned making them the most decorated gymnasts to ever compete for Team USA. The former's four golds (compared to just two for Miller), five all-around, five floor exercise, and seven US national all-around championships leave little doubt that she has lived up to her legacy as her sports greatest.

Following the feat the superstar told ESPN that it wasn't easy pulling out of all those competitions.

"People just thought it was easy, but I physically and mentally was not in the right head space and I didn't want to jeopardize my health and my safety because, at the end of the day, it's not worth it. My mental and physical health is above all medals that I could ever win," Biles said. "To do beam, which I didn't think I was going to be, just meant the world to be back out there. And I wasn't expecting to walk away with the medal. I was just going out there doing this for me."

Mental Health Issues Sideline Biles, Team USA Responds with Silver Medal

 

Instagram 

Simone Biles, the best gymnast to ever strap on a leotard for the United States and widely considered to be the sport’s Greatest of All Time, was feeling immense pressure to perform going into this year’s Olympic Games.

In an Instagram post following Monday’s preliminary rounds, the 24-year-old wrote of her mindset going into the team finals, "it wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it. I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but damn sometimes it’s hard hahaha! The olympics is no joke!"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles)

Unfortunately for Team USA, for the first time in her lauded career, Biles buckled a bit under the gravity of the extraordinary expectations her unique talent has set for her and pulled out of the team finals Tuesday night.

USA Gymnastics released a statement Tuesday morning citing medical reasons for her decision. “Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue,” it read. “She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.”

Biles, who left the floor initially with a trainer following a vault attempt that saw her returned with her leg wrap after treatment, said her ailment was not a physical one and later explained in a tearful press conference that she pulled out because of her mental health.

One of the most remarkable mixed zone press conferences I’ve known. In which Simone Biles described pulling out of tonight’s team event because she had to put her mental health first. Says she was inspired by Naomi Osaka among others #Olympics #ArtisticGymnastics pic.twitter.com/p3Rli5S7J0

— Ian Herbert (@ianherbs) July 27, 2021

“I just don’t trust myself as much as I used to,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s age, but I'm a little bit more nervous when I do gymnastics. I feel like I'm also not having as much fun, and I know that”—she began to cry—"this Olympic Games I wanted to do it for myself, and I was still doing it for other people, so that just hurts my heart badly, that doing what I love has been taken away.”

According to Biles her decision was met with support from coaches and teammates, and while it was not able to capture its third-straight gold medal, Team USA, cheered on by its sidelined star would not be denied the podium. The remaining athletes earned silver and sincere praise from Biles, who went to social media to celebrate the victory

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles)

“I’m SO proud of these girls right here. You girls are incredibly brave & talented!,” she wrote on Instagram.  “I’ll forever be inspired by your determination to not give up and to fight through adversity! They stepped up when I couldn’t. thanks for being there for me and having my back! forever love y’all.”

The star will take a mental health day Wednesday, and it is unknown if she will return to compete in the five remaining events she is qualified for: she still has a shot at gold in balance beam, floor exercise, uneven bars, vault, as well as an opportunity to reclaim the medal for all-around champion. In addition to being named best all-around gymnast at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janerio, Biles is the defending champion in vault and floor exercise and won bronze on the balance beam.

Hip-Hop Side Hustle Added to NBA2K22

 

Courtesy 2K Games

NBA fans will soon have a chance to try and pull off something some of their favorite ballers have had
trouble doing over the years — have a successful hip-hop career. 

Yes, that’s right. In the Year of our Lord 2021, NBA 2K22 is scheduled to release September 10 with a mechanism in place designed to let players pursue a side hustle in the music game — along with other options like a fashion designer.

In a recent release the studio behind the game, 2K Games, said the new feature will be exclusive to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions.

“NBA 2K22, dreams and ambitions in MyCAREER stretch beyond the hardwood floors; players can now pursue side ventures to build a profile in lucrative and trendy spaces. Brush up against the fashion world, where the art of promotion will drive your success as a mogul. Or get involved in the hip-hop business, where your music talent opens up an intriguing lane in the industry,” the statement read.

It’s unknown if famous artists will be added to the game for the players to emulate or interact with at this time. Those of you who have satisfied your need to ball like Kobe in previous games, but have always wondered if you could have done the legend one better on the mic — this joint is for you!

Official #NBA2K22 Trailer pic.twitter.com/7fvqT4V8mF

— NBA 2K22 Leaks & Intel (@2KIntel) July 14, 2021

LeBron James Joins Three Comma Club

LeBron James has definitely proven he is the NBA GOAT, when it comes to earnings while active as a player.

The superstar just became the first player to earn billionaire status while still chasing championships. 

Per Sportico reporter Kurt Badenhausen, James's $330 million earned in player salary since 2003 and $700 million dollars in endorsements — including high-dollar deals with AT&T, Nike, Beats, Blaze Pizza, GMC, PepsiCo, Rimowa and Walmart — put him firmly in the Three Comma Club.

It's a clear win for James against league icon Michael Jordan, with whom he is often compared to and debated about by fans for his actions on and off the court. 

It took Jordan, even with perhaps the most lucrative shoe deal in history, years after his playing career to amass his billion-dollar fortune.

This is just the latest win for James, who led the Los Angeles Lakers back to the championships in 2020 after a long drought and most recently his update of Jordan's seminal acting turn, "Space Jam: A New Legacy," taking first place this past weekend at the box office with $32 million in ticket sales.

Twitter Honors American Gymnast Simone Biles With Own Icon

  Simone Biles is the Twitter-certified “Greatest Of All Time”! 

The gymnast was honored by the social media company with her own GOAT icon Thursday, making the

24-year-old the first female athlete and first Olympian to be honored as such. The icon, featuring a gray goat in an orange leotard, doing the splits while wearing a gold medal, will crop up whenever someone uses the hashtags #SimoneBiles or #Simone through the end of the Tokyo Olympics on Aug. 8.

Witness greatness
Tweet with greatness#SimoneBiles#Simone pic.twitter.com/M6RKzP3KB6

— Twitter Sports (@TwitterSports) July 21, 2021

The same day In Tokyo Biles demonstrated why she deserved the honor. On the training platform she nailed a Yurchenko double pike, a move so advanced and dangerous it has never been attempted by another woman at the Olympics before, in a superb illustration of why she has dominated the sport for at least half a decade if not longer, racking up 30 Olympic and World Championship medals along the way.

👀 @Simone_Biles just casually bringing her Yurchenko double pike vault to podium training! 🐐#TokyoOlympics #SimoneBiles pic.twitter.com/V6veMIHUzW

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 22, 2021

Deion Sanders Tells Reporters to Keep His First Name Out of Their Mouths

 

Deion Sanders at SWAC Media Days.

The artist formerly known as “Prime Time” has made it clear that the only name he responds to now, at least when it comes to reporters, is “Coach.”

Deion Sanders, who went the aforementioned nickname — as well as the more colorful moniker “Neon Deion” — during his time as an All-Pro football player in the NFL and better-than-average MLB part-timer,  reportedly stormed out of a Southwestern Athletic Conference media day event Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.

Sanders, now in his second year as head coach of Jackson State, apparently took offense to a reporter calling him by his first name.

"You don't call Nick Saban, 'Nick.' Don't call me Deion," Sanders told Nick Suss from the Clarion Ledger. 

"If you call Nick (Saban), Nick, you'll get cussed out on the spot, so don't do that to me," Sanders later added. "Treat me like Nick." 

This is how all of this started, I really Pray for all of us because this was something so minimal that was hilarious to me that you allowed a FOOLISH media outlet and person to play on your Preconceived notions. I’m all about Peace,Love,Work,Commitment,Sacrifice & Forgiveness. pic.twitter.com/ZjZPMVJVfj

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) July 21, 2021

The event transpired after the on-camera portion of the event was done. Suss, the reporter who called Sanders by his first name, made it clear that it is his policy to do so for all coaches, players and personnel when conducting interviews. “When I interview people, I call them by their first name. Whether it's someone I've been working with for years or someone I'm talking to for the first time,” he told the Clarion Ledger. “This is true of the coaches and players on the Ole Miss beat, the coaches and players at Mississippi State and Southern Miss when I help out covering their teams and, as recently as January, even Sanders, too."

It was reported that Suss, has called other coaches on his beat, including Saban, by their first names as well. Sanders, however, wasn’t hearing it and addressed the issue with a Tweet later in the day.

Never walked out of media day. I prolonged my time to answer another question & the person thought it was cute to address me the way he did so I dropped the call & went to the next outlet. Please don’t allow a fool to fool u because then nobody would truly know who the fool is. https://t.co/csbTRNgJvd

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) July 20, 2021

Coach Prime went 4-3 in his first season with the Tigers, a season marred by scheduling and safety nightmares perpetrated upon the season by the coronavirus pandemic. Jackson State opens this season on Sept. 5 against Florida A&M.

NFL plans to inspire change this season with "Left Every Voice and Sing" and More

 

The Black national anthem, "Left Every Voice and Sing," will play before every game this season, according to the NFL.  The anthem previously played before week 1 games in 2020.  

This will be a continuation of last years social justice messages with on field-signage and decals on players helmets. 

The NBA had a attempted to show solidarity with many of its' players by showing social justice messages during the 2020 season but after experiencing plummeting ratings, the showing was quickly sidelined. 

This reinforces the NFL's 10-year, $250 million commitment to fighting systemic racism in America.  Music mogul and rapper, Jay-Z and his Roc Nation Company have been advising the league on its "Inspire Change" initiative since last year.