• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 22, 2024

Clark Atlanta University Reveals Newly Redesigned Red Turf Football Field

A $1.8M donation by the Arthur Blank Family Foundation made this possible

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Clark Atlanta University Athletics announced that construction for a newly redesigned field turf was completed on August 16 and was made possible by a donation by the Arthur Blank Family Foundation.

The new turf was constructed at the school’s Panther Stadium. It was started earlier this summer on June 1, and will be ready just in time for the upcoming academic season for the Clark Atlanta Football team. Arthur Blank, the co-founder of The Home Depot, also owns two professional sports teams in Atlanta: the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’ Atlanta United FC.

“As Athletic Director, I am profoundly grateful to the Arthur Blank Family Foundation for their tremendous gift of $1.8 million, which has made our vision for the new red football field a reality. Writing the grant for this project was a labor of love, driven by my commitment to providing our student-athletes, alumni, and the entire CAU community with something truly special,” said Dr. Jerel Drew in a written statement.

The Clark Atlanta Panthers football team will start the new season on their new home turf on September 7, at 2 p.m. when they play against Allen University.

Clark Atlanta University isn’t the only HBCU to benefit from the gracious donation of the Arthur Blank Family Foundation. Three other schools took advantage of the $6.5 million that the foundation has given out to refurbish the colleges’ football fields.

Three other schools were given grants for their new football fields.

• Albany State University in Albany, Georgia, had its grass football and soccer field converted to artificial turf.
• Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama, changed from natural grass to turf at its practice facility.
• Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, replaced the turf at the current football and soccer field at Ted Wright Stadium.

“The positive impact of athletics is a driving force throughout our portfolio of businesses,” said AMB Sports and Entertainment CEO Rich McKay. “Arthur Blank and his Family Foundation recognize and prioritize community impact through sport, and supporting these historical institutions is a natural extension of our values. We are honored to partner with LISC, the NFL Foundation, and these universities to enhance the playing surfaces, with the shared goal of creating more opportunities for the students and surrounding communities alike.”

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by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 22, 2024

Juvenile Blasts American Airlines For Trying To Move Him From First Class To Coach

Juvenile has taken issue with American Airlines after he was forced to exit a flight that tried to move him from first class to coach.

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Juvenile is taking to social media to put American Airlines on blast after he was allegedly forced to exit a flight that tried to move him from his first- class seat to coach.

The “Back That Azz Up” hitmaker went live on Instagram on August 21, while locked in a heated conversation with two American Airlines staffers who were trying to force him to leave his seat to move to the back of the plane. A video captured by Hip Hop DX shows Juvenile opting out of the flight rather than staying on and flying in coach.

“They trying to kick me off the plane, y’all,” Juvenile tells his followers while panning his phone to show the two airline employees who were trying to get him to move.

“They trying to take me out of first class,” he says.

A woman he was sitting with asked the staffers where they were trying to get Juvenile to move to, at which a white male looked at her and said, “We’re going to put him in coach.”

“Oh no!” the woman exclaims.

Juvenile went on to refuse the coach seats and let the airline staff know this situation “ain’t never happened to me in my life.”

“I’m a celebrity. I’m telling y’all it’s gonna be repercussions to this,” he warned the staffers who likely had no idea of his status as a platinum-selling rap artist. The woman he was with could be heard telling the airline employees that they were sitting in their rightful seats, 1A and 1C.

However, rather than ride in coach, Juvenile saw the option as disrespectful and exited the flight entirely.

“I’m a get off the plane. I’m not going to let y’all disrespect me like that,” Juvenile says. “I’m not going to let y’all choose me out of all the people on the plane and disrespect me.”

He went on to grab his bags and leave the flight. In a second video, Juvenile scrolls through his phone to show how many first-class flights he booked, including those booked with American Airlines.

“I think I know a thing or two about first class,” he says to the camera. “F*** American Airlines, all the money I done spent with you b*****s.”

Juvenile went on to say he has never had to fly coach and said he feels “played” by the airline after doing so much business with them. Fans who watched the encounter called out American Airlines and demanded to know why Juvenile was seemingly singled out.

“Terrible. I wonder what the reason was. Hmmmmm,” one fan wrote.

“Justice for Juvie,” added another.

One viewer believed the airline was treating the rapper poorly and likened the exchange to “Rosa Parks days.” No word from American Airlines on how they’re addressing the incident.

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