CeeDee Lamb Becomes Highest-Paid Wide Receiver In Dallas Cowboys History With New Deal
The team gave Lamb a four-year deal worth $136 million.
The Dallas Cowboys have announced that they have agreed to a multiyear deal with their star wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb.
According to ESPN, the team came to terms with giving Lamb a four-year deal worth $136 million, effectively ending his holdout. This agreement keeps him with the Cowboys until the 2028 season. A $38 million signing bonus was also included, making it the largest one signed by a wide receiver. Along with the bonus, $100 million of the contract is guaranteed. This deal makes Lamb the highest-paid wide receiver in Cowboys history.
The Cowboys sent a message via its X account, signifying that the deal was in the books.
DallasCowboys.com reported that Lamb returned for his first practice for the upcoming season and said, “I can’t put it into words, but I’m grateful to be here.” Lamb said after his first practice back. “This whole process was very crazy for me, as we all know. It was very bittersweet. I had plenty of time to revamp myself physically and become more prepared for the season. Granted, I wished I would’ve had a camp, but it’s OK.
“It’ll work out in the back end. I’m very excited for the moment. I cherish every bit of it.”
The Cowboys drafted Lamb as the 17th overall pick after he played his collegiate career at Oklahoma in 2020. In his short, three-year professional career, he has amassed 3,396 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging 13.1 yards per catch. He has been to the NFL Pro Bowl twice and hit career highs in 2022 with 1,359 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
ESPN reported that Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy is anxious to get him back on the field.
“Not only with what he brings to the table — we’ve been talking about what he does with his production — but when that big smile he walks in the locker room, everybody’s going to be fired up because that’s the kind of juice. He brings that type of energy to our locker room,” McCarthy said.
First All-Black Sports Radio Station Ceases Operation Less Than 3 Months After Launching
'I’m proud of the product the staff delivered. But I’m devastated that I couldn’t deliver this for our culture,' says Sports Rap Radio owner, Rob Parker.
In June, veteran sports anchor Rob Parker launched Detroit’s first all-Black-led sports rap radio station. Barely three months later, he announced that Sports Rap Radio on AM 1270 had ceased operations.
According to Barret Media, Sports Rap Radio stopped broadcasting and went officially off the air at 5 p.m. ET on Aug. 27. The station was broadcasting from Detroit’s WXYT-AM. After Sports Rap Radio went off the air, the radio station switched back to BetQL Network programming, which occupied that space before Parker launched the station.
“Sadly, our second round of funding didn’t come through, making it difficult to continue,” Parker stated. “Sports Rap Radio, the idea and concept, is viable and serves the underrepresented Black community in sports-talk radio. I’m proud that we were able to launch the first all-Black sports talk station in this country. I’m proud of the product the staff delivered. But I’m devastated that I couldn’t deliver this for our culture. I failed my people.”
Parker was not alone in this endeavor; the other owners of Sports Rap Radio were his longtime friend Dave Kenney, former NBA player BJ Armstrong, and former Detroit Country Day football star and University of Michigan wide receiver Maurice “Moe” Ways. Detroit Metro Times reported that the station was initially supposed to launch on May 16 but didn’t reach the airwaves until June 4 through a two-year lease with Audacy, WXYT’s owner. Audacy’s syndicated BETQL Network previously held the slot before making room for Sports Rap Radio.
Parker had high hopes for the station before the launch.
“Just four years ago, there were no Black full-time sports hosts on the radio in Detroit,” Parker said. “In a city that’s nearly 80% Black, I looked at that as a problem.”
Parker assures that all station employees will be compensated for their services.
Ford Joins Other Major American Companies In Scaling Back DEI Efforts
Ford Motor Co. is the latest leading American company to end its efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Ford Motor Co. is the latest leading American company to end its efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The American car manufacturer emailed employees announcing the changes to company DEI initiatives, including ending its annual survey from an LGBTQ advocacy group and quotas for minority dealerships and suppliers. Robby Starbuck, a conservative who’s been pressuring corporate America to call off commitments to DEI, climate change, and issues affecting LGBTQ+ people, revealed the private company email to USA Today.
“We are mindful that our employees and customers hold a wide range of beliefs,” Ford CEO Jim Farley wrote in the email. “The external and legal environment related to political and social issues continues to evolve.”
Following the announcement, Ford joins a growing list of large American companies scaling back DEI efforts, including Lowes, Tractor Supply, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, and Jack Daniel’s whiskey maker Brown-Forman. Other changes Ford made to its DEI programs include opening its employee resource groups to all workers, not just select minority groups.
While Starbuck calls the announcement a “great start,” Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said the organization “could not be more disappointed to see Ford Motor Co. shirking its responsibility to its employees, consumers, and shareholders.”
“By failing to support women leaders, employees of color, and LGBTQ+ employees, Ford Motor Co. is abandoning its financial duty to recruit and keep top talent from across the full talent pool,” Robinson said in a statement. “In making their purchasing decisions, consumers should take note that Ford Motor Company has abandoned its commitment to our communities.”
Companies have been scaling back DEI efforts in response to conservative activists attacking the private sector following a 2023 Supreme Court decision that banned affirmative action at the college level.
“We’re now forcing multibillion-dollar organizations to change their policies without even posting just from fear they have of being the next company that we expose,” Starbuck wrote on X.
Big news: We were in the middle of investigating woke policies @Ford but this morning Ford confirmed to me that they’re making changes.
Here are the changes:
• Ending participation in the @HRC’s woke Corporate Equality Index social credit system.
The push to reverse DEI comes despite a recent study by the Global Black Economic Forum and the Korn Ferry Institute that found that fostering diverse teams and creating inclusive workplaces enhances innovation and supports other business objectives.
“Opponents of DEI seek to dismantle initiatives because they work,” Andrea Abrams, executive director of Defending American Values Coalition said in a statement.
“Rather than bowing to the pressures of anti-DEI activists, companies should speak up about the economic successes of DEI and stand firm in their support for programs that increase the talent pool and expand the bottom line.”
Russell Wilson Named Pittsburgh Steelers’ Starting Quarterback
Wilson emerged victorious against Justin Fields, the former Chicago Bears starter.
The battle to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers at quarterback has been decided: Russell Wilson will take the reigns.
According to NFL.com, Wilson, who signed with the team after playing the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos, emerged victorious against the competition, former Chicago Bears starter Justin Fields. Head coach Mike Tomlin said he spoke to both players and informed them of the “difficult decision”
Tomlin previously said Wilson had the advantage going into the preseason but a calf injury to Wilson allowed Fields to make a case for starting.
The Steelers officially start their season in Atlanta against the Falcons on September 8.
When Tomlin made the announcement after the team practiced at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, he acknowledged the professionalism both players displayed when telling them.
“Russ’ resume is a unique one in terms of length and success,” Tomlin told reporters. “That tends to play a factor in the decision-making, but not from a decision-making perspective. It’s just the fruits of his labor. He’s seen and done a lot, and I think that was displayed in the way he played and conducted himself.”
“I’m super excited to be here, obviously,” Wilson said. “I came here to help us win. That’s the focus. And I think the best part is how hard we’ve all worked every day from all the way from OTAs to Latrobe. And obviously, we’ve got a great season ahead of us, and we’re excited about it.”
This is Wilson’s third team after being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2012. He was with the team for 10 seasons and helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl in 2014. The Seahawks traded him to the Denver Broncos in September 2022. The team inked him to a five-year, $245 million contract and will be paying Wilson $85 million over the next two seasons.
Wilson had an 11-19 record in 30 starts for the Broncos, completing 63.3% of his throws for 6,594 yards and had 42 touchdowns with 19 interceptions. He is the only player in NFL history with at least 40,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards. Wilson has thrown for 43,653 yards and 334 touchdowns with 106 interceptions in his 12-year career.
Car Salesman Accused Of Doing ‘Dirty’ Business After First-Time Buyer Receives 14% Interest Rate
A car salesman is under fire on TikTok after revealing the 14% interest rate one of his buyers drove away with.
A car salesman is under fire on TikTok after revealing the 14% interest rate one of his buyers drove away with.
A Hyundai car salesman, who goes by @jrodsellscars on TikTok, shared a video testimonial about the used Toyota he sold an allegedly happy buyer. While JRod claims it was the “perfect” sale, many who viewed the video accuse him of doing the first-time buyer “dirty.”
“I just sold a car to the most perfect first-time buyer,” the TikToker claimed before sharing details about the car the buyer purchased. “This gentleman came in. He saw a car that we had online. It was a 2019 Toyota Camry, priced like $2,000 below the market.”
The car salesman then shared how he handed over the keys to the car to the buyer and gave him ample time to take his time reviewing the car.
“At first, he just wanted to look at the car. Open the door. Make sure everything looked good,” he said. “He connected his phone. I threw him the keys I told him, ‘Listen take your time make sure you like the car. If you need any help, I’m inside.’”
JRod claimed the buyer returned and told him that the used Toyota was “the one,” which led the salesman to proceed with the sale.
“So, ended up doing a credit app,” he says while describing the buyer’s financial status. “He’s a 650 score. Makes a little bit over $3,000 a month from Amazon, so full-time work at Amazon.”
“Came with six g’s down baby,” he adds before revealing the 14% interest rate the buyer was given, “which isn’t bad for a first-time buyer,” JRod claims. He also cited Santander, the lender the buyer had to work with.
However, TikTok had different views from many who felt like JRod let the first-time buyer leave with a bad deal.
“Sir, you must have sold him to the highest bidder because there is no way you would allow him to finance with Santander,” one TikTok user wrote. “They are the devil. Speaking from personal experience, you did him dirty.”
“Got me at Santander. You did him dirty,” added someone else.
While some might be skeptical about the 14% interest rate, Bankrate cites the average rate for first-time buyers with credit scores ranging between 601 and 660 to be around 13.72% on a used car loan. Interest rates for newer vehicles start at 9.62%, and rates vary by state.
Australian Employees Granted ‘Right To Disconnect’ After Work Hours And Ignore Their Bosses
The Australian workforce can ignore their boss after business hours thanks to the new 'right to disconnect' rule.
The Australian workforce is receiving some relief thanks to the new “right to disconnect” rule that went into effect on Aug. 26.
The new law allows employees to completely “disconnect” after working hours and ignore emails and calls from their boss or superiors without fear of being punished, BBC reports. The law, which passed in February, is a response to a 2023 survey that estimated that Australians worked on average 281 hours of unpaid overtime annually.
While the law does not ban employers from contacting their staff after normal business hours, it does give the staffer the right not to reply unless their refusal is deemed unreasonable. The new rule encourages workers and managers to work out disputes among themselves before contacting Australia’s Fair Work Commission (FWC) to step in.
If the FWC intervenes, it can call for the employer to stop contacting its employee after working hours. If an employee’s refusal to respond is found to be unreasonable, the FWC can order them to reply. Non-compliance with FWC orders can lead to fines of up to A$19,000 ($12,897 or £9,762) for an employee, and up to A$94,000 for a company.
“It’s really about trying to bring back some work-life balance and make sure that people aren’t racking up hours of unpaid overtime for checking emails and responding to things at a time when they’re not being paid,” Sen. Murray Watt, Australia’s minister for employment and workplace relations, said.
However, there are some opposed to the law like Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton, who signed a pledge to repeal the “right to disconnect” if his coalition wins the next federal election in 2025. Dutton slammed the new rule as damaging to relations between employers and employees and deemed it a threat to productivity.
The Business Council of Australia agreed with Dutton and labeled the new law as a “risk holding Australia’s historically low productivity back even further at a time when the economy is already stalling.”
“These laws put Australia’s competitiveness at risk by adding more cost and complexity to the challenge of doing business, and that means less investment and fewer job opportunities,” Bran Black, the Business Council’s chief executive said.
With the new “right to disconnect” law in effect, Australia joins more than 20 countries, primarily in Europe and Latin America, with similar rules. The law won’t apply to small businesses of fewer than 15 people until August 2025.
Tyler Perry Came Up With The ‘Whole Script’ For WWII Film After One Meeting With Kerry Washington
Perry came up with the entire script for 'The Six Triple Eight' after just one meeting with Washington.
Kerry Washington is bringing a piece of Black American history to the big screen as star and producer in Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight.
The new film sees Washington and Ebony Obsidian, among others, portray real-life members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only predominantly Black unit of the U.S. Women’s Army Corps deployed overseas during World War II. Perry wrote and directed the historical drama and said he came up with the film’s entire script after one lengthy meeting with Washington.
“After one few-hour session with her I had a whole script in my head,” he tells People.
Washington plays Major Charity Adams, the battalion’s commanding officer, while Obsidian plays Officer Lena King, who passed away earlier this year at age 99.
“She remembered everything,” Perry says of King, who recalled joining the 6888th battalion and delivering mail overseas alongside her fellow Black female officers. The battalion’s “No mail, low morale” motto reflected their WWII mission to bring “communications to exhausted soldiers of every race of our country who were fighting,” Perry shares.
“These women were incredibly important to the war efforts toward the winding down of the war,” he says of the film’s importance.
“It’s important that these types of stories have their voice and their place, because so many of us are trying to erase and write out the history of the contributions of certain people.”
“I think Tyler has done an extraordinary job taking this largely untold story and adapting it into a moving narrative work of art that allows you into the hearts and minds of these brave American heroes,” she explains.
The “Scandal” star believes the movie “resonates with audiences so strongly because although it is a historical drama, the themes in the film are still very relevant today.”
“So many of us know what it feels like to be marginalized, underestimated and tested,” says Washington. “This movie is about the magic of what’s possible when we join forces to meet life’s challenges head-on. And it’s about fighting for the American dream even when there are others who believe that the pursuit of that dream does not belong to you.”
King saw a rough cut of the film before she passed away and approved it. When she watched the film version of her battalion salute, she saluted with them.
“It was a beautiful moment,” Perry shared.
The Six Triple Eight premieres on Netflix on Dec. 20.
Jordan Brand Partners With StoryCorps To Launch Brightness In Black Initiative, Amplifying Diverse Black Stories
The multi-year initiative will celebrate its launch in Philadelphia, one of its anchor communities.
StoryCorps has partnered with Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand to launch the Brightness in Black initiative.
Since StoryCorps’ inception in 2003, the nonprofit has aimed to uplift humanity and encourage understanding through recorded interviews. Brightness in Black is multi-year endeavor will promote and collect these diverse stories.
Aligned with the Jordan Brand’s Black community commitment, these narratives will further shape the nuance, complexity, and beauty of Black life in America. The Library of Congress will also archive these pivotal stories.
In its inaugural year, Brightness in Black will focus on its two anchor cities of Philadelphia and Atlanta. Working alongside these local communities and media outlets, the initiative will document the lives of these vibrant hubs. While its other four anchors remain under wraps, StoryCorps will introduce a national distribution effort to connect Black experiences across the country.
StoryCorps CEO Sandra Clark spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE on this new endeavor’s mission and impact on the Black experience.
“Listening impacts so much of how we think about ourselves as Black people, how we think about each other, and how others think about us too,” Clark says. “So the opportunity for us to launch Brightness In Black and counter the pervasive narratives of black life in America, which too often are limited and framed in our deficit, as opposed to our assets, is an opportunity for all of us to reclaim the story.
“The real opportunity here is that the Jordan Brand has this incredible platform and a cross generational reach that will help expand [StoryCorps],” she adds. “These stories will be distributed in ways we have not done before, as we plan to work with black publishers across the country. Having a multi-platform distribution is important for the Black community to be able to experience, share and see these stories, but also for those outside the community to see these stories and understand a depth of experience that they perhaps may not understand.”
Moreover, the Brightness in Black HBCU Fellowship program has invited select students in these anchor communities to engage in personal and professional development. They will assist in archiving interviews while receiving guidance from the StoryCorps community team.
StoryCorps will start Brightness in Black will a celebratory event in Philadelphia on Sept. 14. The free and family-friendly event will feature live performances, panel discussions, and activations, with the additional opportunities for Black families to begin sharing their stories.
Brightness in Black will also have a mobile tour for families nationwide to participate in the groundbreaking initiative. Those interested may learn more of future stops through its website.
Indianapolis Man Convicted Of Killing 3 Black Men After He Lured Them To Vacant Lot To Rob Them
Caden Smith was convicted after fatally shooting 18-year-old Joseph Thomas, 22-year-old Micheal James, and 17-year-old Abdulla Mubarak.
A jury in Indianapolis has found 19-year-old Caden Smith guilty of killing three Black men in October 2021, FOX 59 reports.
A Marion County jury convicted Smith of fatally shooting 18-year-old Joseph Thomas, 22-year-old Micheal James, and 17-year-old Abdulla Mubarak.
The jury also found Smith guilty of two counts of felony murder, two counts of robbery resulting in a serious bodily injury, one count of dangerous possession of a machine gun, one misdemeanor count of dangerous possession of a firearm, one count of possession of methamphetamine, one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana and one misdemeanor count of resisting law enforcement.
Smith was 16 years old at the time of the killings.
“It was a long and challenging road for these families, but thanks to the steadfast commitment of the investigators, deputy prosecutors, and the multitude of agencies, justice has been secured for Abdullah, Joseph, Michael, and their families,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a written statement. “Abdullah’s, Joseph’s, and Michael’s families will never be able to see them grow up and live their lives. This verdict solidifies that Smith will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for the crimes he committed.”
Investigators determined that Smith lured Mubarak, Thomas, and James to a vacant lot to show them he had a gun that was modified to fire like a machine gun. Police officers stated that the weapon that was used in the murders was found in the house where Smith was living.
Law & Crime reported that police officers discovered text messages that Smith got the men to go to the lot over two nights to show them how a Glock switch works. The switch alters the weapon from a semiautomatic into a machine gun. Smith killed the three men so he could rob them, authorities said.
United Airlines Flight Attendants Vote 99.9% In Favor Of Strike Ahead Of Labor Day Travel
United Airline flight attendants want better pay, job security, and schedule flexibility.
Flight attendants at United Airlines have voted nearly 100% in favor of a strike if the company’s management refuses to acknowledge their demands for a “significant improvement” in their work to keep travelers happy.
According to an official press release, the flight attendants, whom the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA represents, voted 99.9% in authorizing a strike if their requests for pay increases, schedule flexibility, and job security, among other labor concerns, are not met.
This is the first time United flight attendants have voted to strike since the 2005 bankruptcy negotiations.
“The United management team gives themselves massive compensation increases while Flight Attendants struggle to pay basic bills,” said the president of the union’s United Chapter, Ken Diaz. “The 99.99% yes vote is a clear reminder that we are unified in the fight against corporate greed and ready to fight for our fair share of the profits we create.”
United is the latest in a raft of airline companies that have been met with strike votes, including Alaska, American, and Southwest.
“We deserve an industry-leading contract. Our strike vote shows we’re ready to do whatever it takes to reach the contract we deserve,” Diaz added. “We are the face of United Airlines and planes don’t take off without us. As Labor Day travel begins, United management is reminded of what’s at stake if we don’t get this done.”
Results from the strike decision were officially announced at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Wednesday, Aug. 28. According to the report, United flight attendants have been working under an amendable contract for roughly three years and filed the motion for a federal mediation more than eight months ago.
In a statement released by the airline, United maintains that it’s working “toward an industry-leading agreement” for its flight attendants, which includes “negotiations this week and every month through November.”
Additionally, United responded to FOX 8’s request for a comment confirming that there is “no work stoppage or labor distribution.”
“Instead, off-duty flight attendants are exercising their right to conduct an informational picket,” continued the statement. “Federal law bars a strike until after a lengthy process that includes a release from mediation, which can only be granted by the National Mediation Board.”
With the strike officially having been authorized, it is now possible for the union to request a release from the National Mediation Board, which could ultimately lead to a “30-day cooling off period and strike deadline.”
