by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 16, 2025

NBA Legend David Robinson Sues Business Partner For $34 Million

The San Antonio Spurs Hall of Famer filed a lawsuit against his business partner, Daniel Bassichis, alleging misappropriation of funds

NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson recently filed a lawsuit against his business partner, Daniel Bassichis, alleging misappropriation of funds and seeking $34 million in damages.

According to the San Antonio Express-News, the paperwork was filed Dec. 12 in Texas Business Court by Robinson, the Admiral Capital Group, and two of the group’s subsidiaries against Bassichis and his companies, Vero Capital GP, LLC, and Us Living Structured Fund LP.

San Antonio Spurs legend David Robinson alleges his longtime business partner in private-equity firm Admiral Capital Group LLC has misappropriated millions of dollars. https://t.co/KIAFmX26dU pic.twitter.com/nr3xb2Qyt0
— San Antonio Express-News (@ExpressNews) December 15, 2025

Robinson claims that Bassichis diverted tens of millions of dollars to finance a new business venture without informing him. The former basketball player is accusing Bassichis of misappropriating $18 million from one of the Admiral Capital Group’s LLCs to Bassichis’ real estate venture without getting approval from him.

The lawsuit alleged that Robinson’s business partner breached fiduciary duty, committed fraud, committed conversion, committed tortious interference, engaged in civil conspiracy, committed accounting fraud, and breached good faith and fair dealing.

Robinson co-founded Admiral Capital with Bassichis, a former Goldman Sachs banker, in 2008; Robinson owns 51% of the company.

Bassichis did respond to Robinson’s lawsuit in an email to the media outlet.

“David and I have known each other for twenty-three years and have shared a long and successful business relationship. In 2022, David stepped down from the business, and I continued as managing partner, overseeing the existing assets and working to grow the business in the best interests of our investors. We are proud of our track record and accomplishments. My team remains extraordinarily dedicated to doing what is best for our investors.

“While disputes between partners unfortunately arise, this matter is an isolated business disagreement regarding the wind-down of several assets and related issues, and I am confident it will be resolved quickly,” Bassichis wrote.

Robinson is a two-time NBA champion (1999 and 2003) who played his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs from 1989 to 2003. With numerous accolades throughout his career, he was named Most Valuable Player in 1995 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

by Ida Harris

December 16, 2025

The Transformational Advantage Of Smart CEOs In Uncertain Times

Leading Through the Unknown

Written By Kyra Rènel Hardwick

When the ground shifts beneath us, most leaders seek stability. Smart CEOs create it. In an era marked by disruption, economic volatility, rapid technological changes, and shifting workforce values, businesses need more than steady hands. They need visionary minds capable of transformation. Transformational leadership isn’t just a management style; it’s a philosophy that drives SMART CEOs to move beyond control and focus on connection. Entrepreneurs, business owners, and leadership shift from managing results to multiplying potential. In times of uncertainty, a leader’s ability to pivot and foster change determines who survives and thrives.

What It Truly Means to Lead and Transform
At its core, transformational leadership operates on one powerful principle: growth is contagious. When leaders evolve, their organizations follow. This approach taps into the full potential of individuals, focusing on purpose, engagement, and innovation, rather than rigid hierarchy and compliance.

It’s a leadership model built on four key pillars that, when aligned, turn instability into momentum:

Vision and Purpose: Make the “why” behind every action clear. People can navigate ambiguity when they take the time to establish its meaning.
Inspiration and Engagement: Shift from directive leadership to a collaborative dialogue. Shared belief drives sustained performance.
Intellectual Stimulation: Foster curiosity by asking more “what if” questions than “why not” objections.
Individualized Consideration: Invest in people as thinkers and innovators, not just executors.

These principles don’t just react to challenges; they regenerate organizations, enabling them to adapt faster and more cohesively when the external environment can’t be controlled.

How to Implement It When the Future Feels Foggy
Transformational leadership begins with a shift in posture, not a change in policy. The first step is to become a translator of uncertainty, reframing disruption as a field for discovery. Here are four practical ways to implement transformational leadership in turbulent times:

Reimagine meetings as meaning sessions. Use time together to refocus and realign, rather than just exchanging updates.
Co-create the path forward. Empower teams to shape strategy and share accountability for outcomes.
Practice radical transparency. When leaders share context, trust and ingenuity flourish.
Reward learning velocity. In times of instability, progress should be measured by adaptability, not just output.

A powerful tool to guide this shift is the Plan-Do-Check-Adjust cycle, a flexible, iterative rhythm that encourages continuous reflection and adaptation. When organizations think in cycles instead of linear plans, they gain the ability to adjust in real time while maintaining alignment.

The Benefits of Transforming Under Pressure
When leadership shifts to a transformational model, the impact ripples throughout the entire organization. Over time, the results are visible at every level:

Cultural Resilience: People no longer fear change; they anticipate it.
Operational Agility: Teams pivot faster, and decision-making becomes quicker
because authority is decentralized and trusted.
Sustained Innovation: Curiosity becomes a permanent part of the organizational DNA, not just a temporary campaign.
Strategic Endurance: Leaders think beyond immediate goals, aligning people, processes, and profit for long-term success.

Transformational leadership builds the ability to evolve faster than external challenges deteriorate, making it a superpower in uncertain times.

The Long-Term Payoff: A Culture That Leads Itself
Transformation is not an event. It’s a leadership lifestyle. Early outcomes may show up as sharper communication, stronger morale, and more initiative. Long-term impact looks like this: an organization that can lead itself.

The ultimate test of leadership isn’t how well a company performs when things go right, but how effectively it recalibrates when they don’t. Leaders who embrace transformation create environments where people don’t wait for direction; they generate it.

The Takeaway
Every era of uncertainty produces two kinds of organizations: those that cling to what was, and those who transform into what’s next. Transformational leadership ensures you belong to the latter. It transforms chaos into clarity, followers into collaborators, and short-term survival into sustainable significance.

Because when the world feels unpredictable, the most strategic thing a leader can do is not tighten control but expand capacity.

by Mary Spiller

December 16, 2025

Civil Rights Groups Clash Over Knoxville Microloan Program For Black-Owned Businesses

A lawsuit challenging a privately funded lending initiative has drawn national attention — and heavyweight legal backing on both sides.

A legal battle unfolding in federal court is placing a Knoxville-based microloans program for Black-owned businesses under national scrutiny, pitting conservative legal advocates against prominent civil rights organizations, according to Knox News.

The dispute centers on a small-business lending initiative run by The Women of Knoxville and its affiliated nonprofit, The Women Foundation. The program offers low-interest microloans and mentorship to entrepreneurs in East Knoxville, with eligibility requiring businesses to be at least 51% Black-owned.

The American Alliance for Equal Rights, a group founded by affirmative action opponent Edward Blum, filed a lawsuit arguing the program unlawfully discriminates based on race. The case was brought by an unnamed white business owner affiliated with the organization, who claims the race-specific criteria violate federal civil rights laws. The funds in question are privately raised and do not involve taxpayer dollars.

The Women of Knoxville was established in 2019 by a group of local business leaders and activists — Deidra Harper, Tanika Harper, Dasha Lundy, and Kanika White — after discussions about the economic barriers facing Black residents in the city. The group says the program was designed to address persistent gaps in access to capital rooted in Knoxville’s history.

Civil rights groups have stepped in to defend the initiative. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Global Black Economic Forum filed legal briefs in support of the Knoxville organizations. SPLC deputy legal director Scott McCoy criticized the lawsuit, saying it “perverts the federal civil rights laws in a way never intended.”

The Alliance has successfully challenged race-conscious grant programs in the past, including the more recent microloan program, and has prevailed in a recent Texas ruling involving business funding. Blum also founded Students for Fair Admissions, the organization behind the Supreme Court case that effectively ended race-based college admissions.

In court filings, supporters of the Knoxville program point to decades of redlining and urban renewal policies that disproportionately harmed Black neighborhoods. Organizations, including the Highlander Research and Education Center and the Knoxville Area Urban League, submitted filings detailing how federal and local actions stripped Black residents of wealth and opportunity.

“These programs exist because the disparities still exist,” the Knoxville organizations argued, calling the initiative “a targeted, lawful effort to address a real-world problem, not ‘rank discrimination.’”

They also contend the lawsuit lacks standing, noting the unnamed plaintiff never applied for funding and has not been denied assistance. Claims of “irreparable harm,” they argue, are unfounded, given that the grants are modest and the business remains solvent.

The nonprofits further argue that private charitable programs should not be subjected to the same scrutiny as government-funded initiatives — a distinction they say the Alliance ignores.

by Jeffrey McKinney

December 16, 2025

Academy Helping Low-Income Black Students Earn College Degrees Early To Open 4 Cleveland Schools

The academy offers free education for students in K-12 and no-cost college classes for its high schoolers.

Faced with systemic barriers like financial obstacles and discrimination, it is uncommon for low-income students to obtain college degrees ahead of high school graduation. Yet that rare feat has been achieved by Black students—two each from Indiana University and Purdue University—who earned bachelor’s degrees while attending the 21st Century Charter School in Gary, Indiana. 21st Century Charter School is the flagship institution of GEO Academies, the operator of non-traditional public charter schools. It provides free education for students in K-12 and no-cost college classes for high schoolers enrolled in the academy.

“The only four in the country to do this,” Kevin Teasley, president and founder of GEO Academies and its foundation owner, says of the students. BLACK ENTERPRISE was told that GEO is a nonprofit offering a college-emergent program that no other public high school nationally provides. Some 99% of GEO students are Black from low-income homes. The concept is helping create a pipeline from poverty.

GEO currently has eight schools with 4,500 students in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as well as Gary and Indianapolis, both in Indiana. Students attend colleges and universities in person while enrolled in high school. They, too, can get free books, transportation, meals, and tutoring if needed. Incidentally, GEO stands for Greater Education Opportunities.

Now, Teasley is expanding into Cleveland, aiming to open four schools in Ohio’s largest city.

GEO recently won an $8.2M grant to do that. The first academy is expected to open in August 2027, initially as a K-5 school before evolving into a K-8 school. The second school will open in 2029, following a similar pattern to the first school. A high school is scheduled to open in 2031. The fourth school, a K-8 academy, is set to open in 2033.

“We will be speaking to community organizations, leaders from civic organizations, neighborhood leaders, and other leaders in education and philanthropy, to build awareness of our schools and find the most ideal locations.”

Using partnerships with accredited universities, Teasley says GEO students earn college credits. “The universities have already invested in buildings, teachers, and labs. I don’t have to buy all that, allowing me to put more money toward students learning what they want.”

Like public schools, GEO gets funding from the state and federal government. Yet it operates differently than conventional schools by providing Black students free secondary and higher education by investing its dollars into each student instead of schools.

To boot, Teasley says GEO offers trade school classes in welding, electrical, and other skills, assuring students are prepared for college and the workforce. He says over 100 students have earned associate’s degrees at their high school graduation.

Career-wise, Teasley says the model has helped many Black students gain enduring success since GEO started in 1998.

Take Jeremiah Tate, a 2012 graduate from the Indianapolis GEO school. His path included working for Intel. Today, he is a senior design engineer at Microsoft. “He helped develop Copilot,” Teasley says. “He’s also on my board now.”

Another is Jamal Abdulrasheed, another 2012 graduate, who obtained a law degree and is now director of legal affairs at GEO, Teasley says.

Yet there are challenges. Teasley says, including securing start-up capital to open more schools and convincing parents that their children can achieve more than what tradition expects.

The model has been well-received by Black parents. Most GEO students are from homes void of college degrees and even high school diplomas. “They can’t afford college, and we remove that barrier,” Teasley says. “Parents are enrolling their children in our schools because they know about our college promise.”

A white administrator, Teasley, has a team of diverse educators on staff. “I intentionally seek Black educators and leaders,” he says. “Our students need to see themselves in our leadership and classroom settings.”

Check out more details and enrollment information here.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 16, 2025

Nike Air Force 1 ‘ATLiens’ Tribute Sneakers Planned For 2026

This would be in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the release of OutKast's "ATLiens

This year, Atlanta recording artists OutKast were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and to celebrate the duo’s 25th anniversary of the “Stankonia” album, a commemorative football shirt was released. To continue recognizing the popular group, Nike will debut a special-edition Air Force 1 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the release of their second album, “ATLiens.”

According to Sneaker Files, the shoe release, aptly named The Nike Air Force 1 ATLiens, will be released in Fall 2026. “ATLiens” was released Aug. 27, 1996. The two-times platinum album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart while scoring No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in 1996.

No details on the colorway, although Sneaker Market Romania drew up “a detailed speculative mock-up” of the upcoming sneakers.

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A post shared by Sneaker Market Romania (@sneakermarketro)

Sneaker Files reported that the sneaker will have a black, vivid purple, deep night white, barely volt, and desert bronze color scheme. The colors on the ATLiens album cover would inspire this. The media outlet noted that it’s not an “official collaboration” with Big Boi and André 3000, but insists it’s a tribute release.

When the group partnered with MUNDIAL magazine to announce the football jersey in October, it said it was named after their album “Stankonia” (Stankonia FC). The group’s name is centered on the shirt, featuring one of their most famous lines, “Forever Eva (from their hit single, ‘Ms. Jackson’), in a scripted font, directly below the duo’s name. It was in recognition of the “Stankonia” album cover art, which featured a black-and-white United States flag with Big Boi and André 3000 posing in front of it.

On the back of the shirt, No. 25 is the uniform number, the album title is the featured name, and the stars are arranged vertically. There’s also a hoodie (featuring “so fresh” on one sleeve and “so clean” on the other), a long-sleeve shirt, and a short-sleeve T-shirt available for sale.

Phi Beta sigma, hazing, fraternity, Caleb Wilson, Dr, Duronne. Walker, Southern University

by Mitti Hicks

December 16, 2025

3 West African Countries Join Forces To Launch $895M Investment Bank

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger created the bank to finance infrastructure, energy, and agricultural projects.

Three West African countries have joined forces to launch a regional investment bank with capital of 500 billion CFA francs, which is about $895 million. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger created the bank to finance infrastructure, energy, and agricultural projects. It’s one of the most significant financial collaborations among Sahel nations in recent years.

According to Business Insider Africa, the military-led governments will pool resources from their three mineral-rich countries to finance the bank. Mali and Burkina Faso are among Africa’s leading gold producers. Niger has significant uranium reserves.

“Creating a development bank is a matter of financial stability, economic development, and financing strategic projects,” Burkina Faso’s Finance Minister Aboubakar Nacanabo said during a signing ceremony in Bamako, Mali’s capital.

It’s a move by the three countries to reduce their dependency on foreign donors while supporting their own agendas.

Launching West African Investment Bank Amid Political Isolation

As the Voice of Africa points out, the three countries banding together to launch the banks come at a time when all three nations face political isolation, climate concerns, and even ongoing security challenges. In 2024, all three countries withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over frustrations that the bloc failed to support their fight against insurgencies.

Burkina Faso has faced scrutiny from international leaders due to a combination of political instability brought on by multiple military coups, an escalating jihadist insurgency, and a deepening humanitarian crisis that involves mass killings of civilians. Mali and Niger have also faced international criticism for the same reasons.

ECOWAS imposed significant sanctions on the three countries after their military coups, including border closures, asset freezes, and no-fly zones that were especially geared toward Niger. However, ECOWAS’s actions heightened tensions and led to the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Eventually, three countries withdrew from ECOWAS altogether in 2024, as the BBC reports.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 15, 2025

Stephen Curry Passes Michael Jordan With Latest Scoring Record

Curry, 37, is still putting up impressive numbers.

NBA champion and future Hall of Famer Stephen Curry has added another accolade to his long career yesterday, surpassing Michael Jordan for the most 40-plus-point games after age 30.

According to NBA.com, the prolific sharpshooter scored 48 points against the Portland Trailblazers. It wasn’t enough the Golden State Warriors, to the Blazers, 136-131.

It was the 45th time Curry has reached that level, according to Sports Illustrated. And it was the 75th time that the “Baby-Faced Assassin” has done that in his career, which is ninth all-time. The leader: Wilt Chamberlain who did that a whopping 271 times.

Steph passes Michael Jordan for the most 40-plus point performances by a player age 30 or older 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZtY2TeJhyS
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 15, 2025

Curry hit a season-high 12 3-pointers in the game, coming close to tying his league record of 14.

Draymond Green contributed to the historic night by adding his name to the Warriors’ record books. When he made a steal in the third quarter, he became the franchise’s third player to have 1,200 steals. He is behind Hall of Famer Chris Mullin’s 1,360 steals and substantially behind the team leader, Curry, who has registered 1,574 steals in his illustrious career.

In the Warriors’ previous game on Dec. 12, Curry took over Jordan’s record for the most 35-point games after turning 30 years old, but it was not enough to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, who won 127-120. Curry scored 39 points and six 3-pointers during the game.

Although Curry, 37, has missed nine games this season, he still leads the team in scoring by averaging 29.6 points a game and has made 48.4% of his shots and connecting on 41.2% of his 3-point shots. He has 3.9 assists per game, while getting 1.9 steals and 3.7 rebounds per game.

The Warriors next face the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 18 in Phoenix, before hosting them in San Francisco on Dec. 20. The Warriors are currently 13-14.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 15, 2025

Trouble Trey: Trey Songz Faces New Legal Trouble Over Alleged NYC Nightclub Assault

The newest incident adds to the list of the singer's legal problems.

Trey Songz may have another legal battle on his hands.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Dec. 14 at the Dramma nightclub in New York City, when, according to Hot 97, the 41-year-old R&B singer, allegedly hit an employee.

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A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

According to reports, Trey Songz, whose real name is Tremaine Neverson, became “needlessly irate” after a Mira employee told him the club was closing around 4 a.m. The exchange prompted Songz to allegedly punch the worker.

Police promptly arrested Songz on an assault charge, with a separate second-degree mischief charge from another unrelated incident. Earlier that evening, Songz reportedly damaged property totaling roughly $1,500 during an incident at Mira, leading to his second charge.

After appearing in Manhattan Criminal Court later that morning, the judge allowed Songz’s release on court-ordered conditions.

“The incident overnight Saturday into Sunday began when Neverson (Trey Songz) was confronted by individuals who instigated a confrontation and attempted to surround him,” wrote Songz’s attorney, Mitchell Schuster. “His security intervened to protect him and contain the situation, and an altercation occurred in the ensuing confusion. Despite being the target of the initial provocation, Trey was arrested. Public figures are often treated as targets for instigation in pursuit of headlines or financial gain. Trey is cooperating fully in both matters, and we are confident the full context and facts will come to light.”

The news adds to the list of Songz’s controversies, including a July incident where he allegedly punched a cameraman at a Long Island nightclub. In September, Songz settled a $25 million sexual assault lawsuit.

The nightclub worker was granted an order of protection as the court determines future proceedings.

Old Lady Gang, Kandi Burruss, Atlanta, Keith Lee

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 15, 2025

Kandi Burruss Raves About Broadway Return In ‘& Juliet’ Amid Divorce Proceedings

"The show is so much fun that no matter what's happening, it just takes you out of that space."

Kandi Burruss has returned to Broadway in the hit musical & Juliet, using the stage as a welcome escape during her recently announced divorce from Todd Tucker.

Burruss said the nightly show comes at the perfect time.

“There’s obviously a lot going on right now in my life offstage, but it feels good to have this to focus on,” Burruss told People. “The show is so much fun that no matter what’s happening, it just takes you out of that space.”

While Burruss has worked behind the scenes producing revivals like The Wiz, The Piano Lesson, and Othello, with Thoughts of a Colored Man, and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone set for 2026, & Juliet marks her return to the Broadway stage in nearly decade.

“At first, I was a little nervous, I’m not going to lie,” Burruss said. “I have not performed on Broadway in eight years, since Chicago. That’s a long time! And yeah, I toured with Xscape, and have done acting roles, but of course, I want to be on point, I want to be right! But I feel strong about it. I feel good. I feel ready to go.”

To promote the Broadway show, Burruss and co-star Gianna Harris, who plays Juliet, performed a live rendition of the musical’s reimagined version of Pink’s 2010 hit “F**kin’ Perfect” on the Dec. 11 episode of The View. With lyrics like “Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood/Miss ‘Knowing it’s all good’—it didn’t slow me down,” Burruss says the song resonates deeply with her amid her divorce.

“This morning I said, ‘I need to be singing these lyrics to myself,’ ” Burruss said of the song. “I’m always in my head, doubting myself—even though I guess it may look to other people like I never have doubts. But people just see the shiny part of the coin, right? You don’t see the other side, where it’s kind of dull. It’s kind of like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t know if this is what I’m supposed to be doing?’ So I’m really hearing those words now.”

Her performance even caught the attention of Tucker, who reposted a clip on Instagram with the message, “Great job! Keep inspiring and doing your thing!!!”

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A post shared by Todd Tucker (@todd167)

Burruss says starring on Broadway pushes her to show up as her best self each night.

“I’m doing good. Honestly, this show is really helping me,” Burruss shared. “It’s making me refocus on me, you know what I mean? It’s making me get back into working out, doing my vocal training, and it’s giving me something to do, more importantly. I put myself in a headspace where I have to show up and be my best self. I have my moments, just like everybody else, where I get emotional, but then you snap out of it.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 15, 2025

Angel Reese Starts Team USA Practice With New Patriotic Sneakers From Reebok Collab

Sneaker enthusiasts are already checking out the unreleased sneaker.

Angel Reese started her practices on USA’s Women’s World Cup team at Duke University with a patriotic shoe to match.

The 23-year-old WNBA All-Star has already made a name for herself in the women’s basketball sneakerverse with Reebok’s Angel Reese 1. While the popular shoe has already sold out notable collections, Reese debuted another sneaker at the team’s practice a few days ago.

Sports journalist Kareem Copeland shared a pic of the exclusive kicks on X.

Angel Reese rocking a new colorway she called the AR-1 USA. Not for sale, just for her. pic.twitter.com/uMqfGK6iq1
— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) December 12, 2025

“Angel Reese rocking a new colorway she called the AR-1 USA,” explained Copeland. ” Not for sale, just for her.”

According to Kicks by Sports Illustrated, the solo shoe features a red, blue, and silver colorway with a hint of gold, possibly referencing what they hold to achieve during the September competition. In true patriotic fashion, the AR-1 USA has speckled laces with star lacelocks, exclusive to the collectible. Reese’s symbol sits at the top of the shoe’s tongues, also emboldened with gold coloring.

While not available for the public, the shoe is another achievement for Reese and Reebok. She signed with the sneaker company in October 2023, while an enormously popular and successful student-athlete at Louisiana State University.

As the face of Reebok basketball, Reese has helped transform its portfolio with her highly lauded sneaker. First released this fall, the original sneakers feature several solid color ways, from pink to white, black, and cream. However, most sizes remain sold out as fans await restocks.

In the meantime, Reese and Reebok have also taken their partnership to philanthropic efforts, teaming up to style several school basketball squads with gear and more.