‘I’m Just Gonna Enjoy Life’ Doc Rivers Unsure If He’ll Return To Coaching for NBA
by Iman Milner

July 14, 2023

‘I’m Just Gonna Enjoy Life’ Doc Rivers Unsure If He’ll Return To Coaching for NBA

Former NBA coach Doc Rivers is uncertain about whether or not he’ll return to the league after being relieved of his duties with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Rivers has one of the most storied careers as a head coach, having racked up a few championships and highly successful seasons coaching some of the league’s biggest stars. However, his time with the 76ers left him open to criticism after the team failed to go as far as many thought their talent could take them. During the three seasons that the 61-year-old served as the leader of the team, their record was 154-82. With shakeups around the league and more former players joining the sidelines, it’s unclear where a veteran coaching presence like Rivers’ could be a fit.

For now, it seems he’s not worried much about it.

According to TMZ Sports, Rivers is embracing his impending free time. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do,” he said. “I’m just gonna enjoy life.” Trade deadlines and the summer league games have been a large focus for the NBA and its fans; however, major partners like ESPN have found themselves in need of broadcasting talent,t which Rivers may be a frontrunner. Though he has had a long career as a coach, Rivers found his latest role at the 76ers challenging, particularly managing one of his stars, James Harden. “I would have loved to have had him younger when that was easier for him because giving up the ball and getting back the ball is hard. It’s physical, and it’s exhausting,” Rivers said. “It would have been interesting if I would have had him younger,r and he could have done that more, coming off of dribble handoffs coming down the hill.”

The 76ers capped their season with a disappointing loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Sha’Carri Richardson, Sprite Commercial, Anthony Edwards, obey your thirst,
by Sharelle B. McNair

July 14, 2023

Sha’Carri Richardson Blasts ESPN For Failing to Invite Her To The ESPY’s

Track & field superstar Sha’Carri Richardson took to Twitter to talk about her disdain for not being invited to ESPN’s 2023 EPSY Awards on Jul. 12 in Los Angeles.

She claims she was invited years ago when things weren’t going well. “The ESPYS invited me when my life was in shambles as if I was a charity case,” Richardson wrote. “The disrespect that track & field receives in the USA alone is nasty. Half of the athletes there now could not do what we do on our WORST day.”

Fans jumped on her timeline to support her sentiments with comments such as, “For what it’s worth, I agree and respect and love your preservance [sic ]and talent.” Another fan egged her on, telling the athlete to “Talk yo TRUTH fam.”

Richardson shared more tweets showcasing how different her sport is compared to others. “The NBA, NFL have organizations to HELP their athletes, not exploit them,” Richardson wrote. “Y’all have no idea how many track athletes that don’t even have a base salary, there are some athletes that literally sign contracts for CLOTHES!”

The outburst comes shortly after Richardson, 23, comes down from winning her first national title on July 6 at the U.S. Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Earlier this year, the former Louisiana State University athlete ran a speed of 10.57 during the Miramar Invitational, which, at the time, was the fourth-fastest time in the history of the women’s 100-meter sprint. 

Richardson has been relatively quiet before this. In 2021, she made headlines after being suspended from competing at the Tokyo Olympic Games for positive marijuana tests, Vibe reports. The penalty drew criticism from cannabis supporters, including Sean “Diddy” Combs and other hip-hop heavyweights.

by Sharelle B. McNair

July 14, 2023

Sky’s The Limit: Dwyane Wade Joins WNBA’s Chicago Sky Ownership Group

Future NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade just added “owner” to his résumé.

Wade recently announced that he joined the ownership group of the WNBA team, the Chicago Sky, ESPN reports. Wade is added to the list of the latest high-profile figure to invest in the league in its 27-year history. The 13-time NBA All-Star says he wanted to show his support in the best way he knew other than just talking about it. “We all talk about support, and support looks different for everyone,” Wade said. “And so instead of tweeting out and saying ‘go support the W,’ instead of showing up at the game and supporting, I wanted to take it to that next level, and this was the next level for me.”

The father of four is the newest investor in the franchise. In June, the team sold close to a 10% stake of the team—an $85 million valuation—to a group that includes MLB’s Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts. This isn’t the first professional sports team investment for Wade. In 2021, he purchased a minority stake in the Utah Jazz, which grew the value of the team—going from $1.75 billion to $2.25 billion.

Wade said a partnership with the Sky just “made sense” to him as a native of the Windy City. Wade gives flowers to his mother, JoLinda, for introducing him to the brand. “She was a fan of the Chicago Sky before I became a fan of the Chicago Sky,” Wade said. He also has a close relationship with the team’s former head coach and general manager, James Wade.

Sky Co-Owner and Operating Chairman Nadia Rawlinson said Wade received major points for his interaction with the team during a visit to the team’s practice facility and praised him for wanting to be a part of the team’s history. “He has made an impact now in business and philanthropy in really significant ways that are abiding and authentic and true, and that is who we are at the Chicago Sky,” Rawlinson said. “And so the fact that now he can help us be part of his story with that is extraordinary.”

According to Sportico, the team hasn’t announced how much Wade invested or what his ownership stake will be as the sale still needs formal approval by the league’s Board of Governors.

Sheila E.
by Iman Milner

July 14, 2023

It’s About Time! Sheila E. Becomes First Female Solo Percussionist To Have A Star On The Walk Of Fame

Legendary drummer Sheila E. was honored on Wednesday, July 12, with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, making her the first female solo percussionist to accomplish the feat.

According to VIBE, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and R&B singer H.E.R were on hand as speakers at the ceremony, which producer Jimmy Jam also attended. Considered by many to be the “Queen of Percussion,” the 65-year-old drummer rose to fame through her affiliation with the late musical icon, Prince. However, before she met the purple one, Sheila E spent her early days touring with Marvin Gaye and Lionel Richie. “I forget about a lot of the things that I’ve done until someone brings it up,” she said. “I wish I could remember everything when there’s so much that I’ve done! I look back and reflect a little bit, but I’m always in the moment and I feel that there’s so much more for me to do.”

H.E.R. serenaded Sheila E. with a song and reflected on what it meant to see a woman percussionist when she was growing up. “And that was the moment that changed my life forever, because in that moment, I knew, like, I could do it,” she said. “I’m looking at this amazing woman, musician, multi-instrumentalist on stage with another musician that I love, and I was so inspired.” For Sheila E., having a star on Hollywood Blvd. barely seemed possible. “It’s something that never even crossed my mind,” she said of the honor. “Well, it probably did when I was younger, because growing up in the Bay Area, we would drive to Los Angeles and go, ‘Wow, look, this is Hollywood!’ So it’s very humbling.”

by Stacy Jackson

July 14, 2023

Dr. John D. Marshall Building Used In 1970s To Provide Healthcare For Blacks Accepted Into National Register

The former Dr. John D. Marshall Building, a historic establishment in Portland, Oregon, was accepted into the National Register of Historic Places, the official catalog of landmark places that include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that represent a significant part of American history. 

According to KATU News, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer and other local leaders gathered together on July 11, 2023, to celebrate the induction of the North Portland building into the National Register. “We mark a historic legacy that is just not overlooked but systematically forgotten, and with your help, we’re taking a step to remedy that,” Blumenauer said. “And I could not be more pleased to be here today to celebrate this moment.”

KGW reported that the building, which was transformed into a funeral home, was nominated by the city of Portland and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. The building’s owners, Bernie and Bobbie Foster, accepted a plaque during the ceremony that recognized the building named after Marshall, who practiced medicine and was known as one of the few Black doctors in the area during the 1950s. 

The location, off of North Williams Avenue and Northeast Sacramento Street, provided Black doctors and professionals a facility to extend healthcare services to the Black community. Dentist Dr. Samuel J. Brown, pharmacist Dr. Richard Neal, and lawyer Aaron Brown all leased small offices in the building. Dr. Marshall provided health services from the building’s main suite. 

“I am very thankful,” said John Marshall, the eldest son of Dr. Marshall. “I think it shows that the community has a lot of resilience. More recognition is needed to give examples for others to continue that in the future.”
The facility served as Portland’s Black Panther Party’s way to provide medical and dental services to Black Portlanders throughout the 1970s.

RELATED CONTENT: Two Dozen Black People Sue Portland, Oregon, Claiming Forced Displacement

Nathalie Nicole, depression
by Stacy Jackson

July 14, 2023

Serial Entrepreneur Nathalie Nicole Smith Offers 4 Key Tips For Stress-Free Entrepreneurship

The grass is not always greener where the money is. 

NN Body CEO Nathalie Nicole Smith, a multi-millionaire author and serial entrepreneur, once quoted rapper Biggie Smalls’ “more money, more problems” when asked about mental health and her status as a high-earning woman entrepreneur. A common misconception people have is linking happiness to the size of their bank accounts. After Smith’s quick rise to the top, she was faced with traumatic experiences that resulted in her experiencing PTSD and a battle with depression. However, Smith was determined to combat her depression. She focused on using her experiences with mental health to help others make financial gains while maintaining and enhancing their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Now, Smith is sharing her key tips that every entrepreneur should know, so as not to be traumatized by their success.

Keep God First. 

“When you keep God first, you’re able to stay grounded. You’re also able to hear strategy so you can move in the right direction confidently,” Smith shared.

Hire Help. 

“As you grow as an entrepreneur, you will learn you cannot do it all by yourself. Hiring the right team that believes in you and your mission helps guide you, and it makes executing your plans a lot smoother.” 

Never Stop Learning. 

“As you grow and evolve, you need to expand your mindset. Things are forever changing, and you want to make sure that you’re living life on the offense.”

Keep Working On Yourself. 

“Create a routine that you can stick to. Make sure the routine is feeding your mind, your body, and your spirit.”

The NN Body CEO reflected on the importance of raising awareness about battling depression and mental health while maintaining a flourishing business. She described mental health as a significant factor in ensuring financial success as an entrepreneur. Smith emphasized the importance of educating people on mental health to “ensure that more are given a fighting chance to not only break generational curses but sustain generational wealth.” When faced with her battle with mental health concerns, she “had no idea how to deal with it, cope with it, or overcome it.” As she hopes to educate others on mental health, she believes this will prepare entrepreneurs to face any obstacles sent their way and equip people to make the best decisions. 

After experiencing PTSD, Smith has moved forward on a journey of positivity and healing as she embraces her new vision of being a woman boss. She has used her battle with mental health to help her learn and move forward on a successful journey. Smith said she has “learned to trust God and what he has in store.” She attributed much of her success to receiving spiritual guidance and how this has led to her being excited about her future plans and the endless possibilities life has in store for her. 

Smith offered her advice for small business owners striving to reach multi-million dollar success. She highlighted the importance of sticking to a goal and learning to trust the process. Although plans may change, “when you learn to channel all of your energy into your passion, you will no longer doubt the process.” Smith believes success is more than how much wealth someone can accrue. “Success is deeper than money. You can be broken and rich,” Smith shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Your mental health, your spiritual health is what will keep you successful.” 

Smith shared her future goals and plans as she expands her “Women Who Boss” movement. She aims to impact the world and help women grow spiritually, physically, and financially. She is striving towards “creat[ing] a safe place for evolving women to believe big, brand big, and build bigger.”

Smith provides master classes and a membership community on the Women Who Boss website. The mission of this site is to create healthy environments online that provide positive experiences for women bosses.

by Iman Milner

July 14, 2023

Rihanna Stays ‘Winning!’ Scores Five Emmy Nominations For Super Bowl Halftime Show

That Rihanna reign just won’t let up. The bad gyal just scored five Emmy nominations for her historic Super Bowl performance, which is now the most-watched halftime show ever.

According to VIBE, the 14-minute performance is nominated for Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special, Outstanding Music Direction, Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special, Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork For A Special, and Outstanding Variety Special (Live). The latter Rihanna shares with Roc Nation head honcho, Jay-Z.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri)

The soon-to-be mother of two shared some behind-the-scenes photos to Instagram of the big night with the caption, “Pull up breed up 2 d bashment…5 EMMY NOMZ is craaaaazzzyyy!!! Im so grateful for every single person involved in creating these memories!” The performance was a long-awaited comeback for Rihanna, whose fans have waited impatiently for new music or any sign that she may return to the studio. Her supporters got more than they bargained for when the 35-year-old megastar debuted her pregnant belly instead of a new single for over 121 million viewers—more than the six million that reportedly watched the game itself, according to VIBE.

Fenty’s big boss sat down with Apple Music ahead of the performance and attributed her willingness to say yes to the NFL’s invitation—which Rihanna previously turned down out of solidarity with Colin Kaepernick—to having become a mom. “When you become a mom, there’s something that just happens where you feel you can take on the world. You can do anything… So, as scary as that was ’cause I haven’t been on the stage in seven years, there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all and it’s important for me to do this this year. It’s important for representation and it’s important for my son to see that,” she said.

gabby, gymnastics, Gabby Douglas
by Stacy Jackson

July 14, 2023

Gabby Douglas Announces Return to Gymnastics Following Time Away to Focus on Her Mental Health

Olympic champion Gabby Douglas has greeted her Instagram fans with long-awaited news following her hiatus away from the platform.

The 27-year-old gymnast is returning to the mat and preparing for her appearance in the 2024 Paris Olympics. “As you all know, I stepped back from the socials, and in that time, I did a lot of journaling, reflecting, soul searching and found myself back where it all began,” Douglas captioned a set of photos leaping through the air. “It’s so easy to suppress and run away from facing darkness and fears.”

“For many years, I’ve had an ache in my heart, but I didn’t want to keep carrying anger, pain, sadness, or regret, and through my tears and hurt, I’ve found peace,” she continued and ed her goal to reclaim her joy for gymnastics, a sport she said she loves doing. She concluded her caption with “#2024,” hinting that she will be making her grand return. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Gabby Douglas (@gabbycvdouglas)

The Olympic gold medalist followed her announcement with a video of her practicing on the bars. She captioned the video with one word, “loading.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Gabby Douglas (@gabbycvdouglas)

In 2022, Douglas announced to her followers that she would be stepping away from social media to focus on her mental health. “My life has never been smooth or easy. I have carried a heavy weight on my back for quite some time and it has weighed me down physically, mentally, and emotionally. So many things and people have tried to crush and break me,” Douglas wrote at the time.

“I want to be the best representation for all of you and be the best version of myself,” she added. Douglas explained to her fans that fighting and healing was her way to overcome the heavy pressure she was feeling.

Douglas’ return means she will join 2016 Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles at the 2024 competition, who also announced her return to the mat this year after stepping away to focus on her mental and physical health.

BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that Douglas supported Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka, who withdrew from the French Open in 2021 to focus on her mental health. “If you need to step back, that’s what you need to do,” Douglas said in support of Osaka’s decision.

Eli Crane
by Iman Milner

July 14, 2023

Republican Rep. Uses The Term ‘Colored People’ On The House Floor And Triggers Rep. Joyce Beatty

Republican Congressman Eli Crane is in the hot seat after referring to Black Americans as “colored people” during a debate on the floor of the House over amendments to a defense policy bill.

“My amendment has nothing to do with whether or not colored people or Black people or anybody can serve,” said Crane. “It has nothing to do with any of that stuff.” His goal is to amend the bill so that diversity is not part of recruiting considerations for our country’s military. Crane, a combat veteran, believes focusing on inclusion results in a weakened defense strategy. “The military was never intended to be, you know, inclusive. Its strength is not its diversity. Its strength is its standards,” he said. “I’m going to tell you guys this right now you can: You can keep playing around these games with diversity, equity, and inclusion. But there are some real threats out there. And if we keep messing around and we keep lowering our standards, it’s not going to be good.”

According to NBC News, Crane’s choice of words drew a rebuke from Rep. Joyce Beatty, who was once the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, who asked that the derogatory remark be stricken from the record. “I find it offensive and very inappropriate,” said Beatty. “I am asking for unanimous consent to take down the words referring to me or any of my colleagues as colored people.” Following Beatty’s remarks, Crane asked to have his comments remain on the record but to change his words to “people of color” instead; his request was denied. The 43-year-old said that his remarks were simply the result of an impassioned speech and that he had misspoken.

The House voted in favor of Crane’s amendment to the bill 214-210.

 

Related: NAACP 113TH NATIONAL CONVENTION FOCUSES ON BUILDING BLACK POWER

Andre Drummond, NBA
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 14, 2023

Andre Drummond Shares Important Life Lessons With Young Athletes In Pursuit Of League Dreams, ‘Basketball Is More Than Just A Game’

Former Detroit Piston Andre Drummond has a powerful message for those who wish to follow in his footsteps and play in the NBA.

In a recent Instagram post, he gave some sound advice based on his own experience that might help them navigate the waters better than he did. The two-time All-Star is playing on his sixth NBA team after coming into the league with the Pistons over 10 years ago in 2012.

On July 10, he posted a video to his more than 1.3 million followers, alluding to learning lessons through whatever it is you’re involved in. For him, that was basketball.

“Basketball is more than just a game. It teaches you the most important life lessons. Being a great teammate is one of them. #ADDiaries“

In the short video, he speaks to a group of young players and expresses that he understands where they are, as he has been there before.

“I want to tell you guys a story. I understand where you guys are and what’s going on. I know a lot of this s**t is new. Some of you guys are coming from respected teams, where you’re the man, you’re that guy on your team, and, you know, you’ve played 100 minutes, and you’ve scored 1,000 points, X, Y, and Z. This is not what this is, fellas. And the sooner you guys realize this s**t, the better.”

He then drills in factual statements that shaped his career trajectory based on how he handled things. Some of it didn’t benefit him, and it humbled him when real-life issues affected the bottom line.

“But to be pouting on the bench, making faces, not cheering your f**king teammates when we’re down eight the entire game, come back and go up by three, and you’re not celebrating that? I’ma tell you something: Fellas, I was that guy. I was a $100 million guy. I was pouting. I was upset when I wasn’t playing. And I had a bad attitude. I went from $100 million to a f**king league minimum.”

He then pinpoints what will make them successful teammates and win in the league on a competitive level.

“This is a personal story I’m sharing with you guys right now. They don’t care how many rebounds you get, how many threes you make. They care about you being as a person, are you a good teammate, are you a good locker room guy? Are you someone they can count on each and every single night? I talk about consistency. You play 100% every single time you step on that f**king floor. Consistency fellas, consistency.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Andre Drummond (@drummond)

Drummond plays for the Chicago Bulls after stints with the Pistons, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Brooklyn Nets.

×