Skip Bayless Charles Barkley
by Sharelle B. McNair

July 7, 2023

Skip Bayless Says Charles Barkley Is His ‘Dream Host’ Replacement For ‘Undisputed’

Sports commentator Skip Bayless thinks he’s found a new debate partner for Undisputed: former NBA player and NBA on TNT co-host, Charles Barkley, the New York Post reports.

The seasoned host is eager to get Barkley in the hot seat, so much that he is willing to pay Barkley’s salary personally.

“Charles Barkley would be my dream debate partner on ‘Undisputed,’” Bayless said on a episode of his podcast, The Skip Bayless Show. “I would dive out of bed every morning out here in Los Angeles at two o’clock in the morning to get to work with Charles.”

The idea came to mind after Barkley called the podcast host a “damn idiot.”

Bayless, tongue firmly in cheek, feels Barkley would be the perfect replacement to set him up for retirement, comparing him to former co-host, Shannon Sharpe, who left the Fox Sports 1 show in June, and his former ESPN parnter, Stephen A. Smith.

“I could semi-retire….I could, dare I say, actually have a life and forget about prepping so furiously…hard night after night after night for every day’s Undisputed,” he said. “You’d be a solo Shaqtin’ a Fool on a daily basis. You’d be the equivalent of an Adam Morrison, an all-time NBA draft bust…This damn idiot would cherish working with you.”

Reportedly Bayless and the network are struggling to find a replacement for Sharpe. According to Front Office Sports, Bayless is taking a two-month break, returning on Aug. 28. Since ESPN made some blockbuster layoffs recently, other names have come up as replacement ideas including former NFL stars Keyshawn Johnson and LeSean McCoy.

Fellow FS1 analysts and hosts Emmanuel Acho and Joy Taylor have also had their names thrown in the ring.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 7, 2023

WNBA Players To Launch A New League For Women’s Basketball Players During The Offseason

Two current WNBA players are starting a basketball league for other women players to participate in when the season is over.

According to ESPN, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart have exclusively told the media outlet about their plans for a new basketball league. The league will allow players to stay in the United States instead of going overseas to make money during the offseason.

The women’s basketball league will be called Unrivaled and will be played from January through March. The plans are to feature 30 of the top professional women’s players on six different teams playing 3-on-3 basketball and one-on-one at a Miami venue.

“It’s the ability for players to stay home, to be in a market like Miami where we can just be the buzz and create that with the best WNBA players,” Stewart told ESPN. “We can’t keep fighting [the WNBA’s prioritization rule]. It is a rule that takes away our choices, which should never be a thing, especially as women, but it is still a rule.”

The WNBA has a new league rule stipulating that players must return to the States from overseas by the start of WNBA training camps. Unrivaled intends to provide the women (during the offseason) with money through private funding and sponsorships to provide similar pay to what players earn overseas.

The women’s basketball leagues overseas are typically still playing games through mid-May. But that overlaps with the start of the WNBA season.

Stewart started talking to Collier and her husband, Alex Bazzell, about starting a women’s league in the United States during the WNBA offseason.

“We went to dinner in New York, and [Bazzell] was explaining the idea of being a part of this league where it’s like you’re on an all-digital basketball court, you’re playing 3-on-3, one-on-one, queen-of-the-court type thing where you hold bragging rights, but also make a salary that’s kind of set in stone but also can always grow bigger,” Stewart said.

“We’ve all been talking and realizing that we’re missing a moment, having a lot of our players be overseas or not playing basketball [during the offseason]. … I think top players, they want to be playing, right? They want to be home, they want to be playing, but it has to make sense. It has to be right, and the money has to be right. And I think that’s what Unrivaled is trying to do.”

Stewart and Collier have stated that they’ve assembled a team of business and sports industry leaders from various companies such as Twitter, DAZN, the WTA, and WWE to help launch the league in January 2024. 

The Verdict Is In: Michigan Court Rules State Prisons Must Recognize White Supremacist
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 7, 2023

The Verdict Is In: Michigan Court Rules State Prisons Must Recognize White Supremacist

Due to a court decision, Michigan must recognize Christian Identity as a religious group, although the ideology surrounding it is inherently racist.

According to The Associated Press, in a 3-0 decision in June 2023, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of two white inmates who sued the Corrections Department. They were looking for their views on Christian Identity to be recognized with the ability to hold services in a Michigan prison.

The practice of Christian Identity believes that white people are God’s chosen people. It is steeped in white supremacy and racism, and the Corrections Department feels that recognizing the group would be risky. Prison officials claim that allowing this could pose a security threat within the prison.

Based on testimony from the prisoners, the judges believe the group will not pose a problem for prison officials and will prevent others from doing so.

“Each (prisoner) testified that he was nonviolent and would prevent others from acting aggressively at group services,” the court stated.

“The department offered silence in response—it did not, for example, present any evidence that plaintiffs or any other inmates who follow Christian Identity are violent,” Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Richard Griffin wrote in his decision.

One of the prisoners, Scott Perreault, is serving a life sentence for murder. He informed the court that nonwhites would not be barred from the services, but they would be informed that the theme is “Caucasian history and heritage, Christian heritage.”

“It’s not about anybody being a supremacist. It is truly about being separatist,” Perreault said.

According to Fox 17, Perreault and another inmate, James Fox, initially filed the lawsuit in 2013.

Although the judges ruled in their favor, prison officials would not recognize Christian Identity officially. The prisoners who practice this ideology will not be entitled to group worship or special dietary options afforded other religions.

Michelle Obama
by Iman Milner

July 7, 2023

Michelle Obama Shares ‘One Of The Worst Feelings As A Parent’ In An Essay On Children’s Heath

Former first lady Michelle Obama has advocated for healthier foods since her time in the White House. From working to perfect the garden at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave to creating her Let’s Move campaign and the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, Obama has led the charge in fighting childhood obesity.

Though her commitment to America’s children had the platform of her former title, Obama’s dedication to educating parents about the dangers of processed foods was born from her own experience. According to Insider, her journey started due to a busy schedule and a need for quick food options, ultimately leading to unhealthy choices. “Grabbing prepared foods becomes simpler than cutting up carrots. Ordering delivery is sometimes all you have energy for,” she said. “I still remember taking one of my girls for a well-child visit and having the doctor tell me that all those simple choices I was making were negatively impacting her health. It was one of the worst feelings I’ve had as a parent — and one of the biggest wake-up calls of my life. I was a little scared, and also a little exasperated.”

Now, as co-founder of PLEZi Nutrition, a food and beverage company that offers healthy drinks and snacks for kids, Obama said she can truly see the problem and solutions from an insider perspective. “There’s no perfect solution that will work for every single kid, let alone millions of them,” she said. “But my time as first lady taught me that the food industry plays an outsize role in the fate of children’s health.”

PLEZi has expanded to Target, Walmart, and Sprouts and gets real about the impact of sugar and other additives on its labels. The signature drinks boast 75% less sugar than the average children’s drink with zero added sugars, making it a great choice for health-conscious parents.

publishing, Wiz Khalifa
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 7, 2023

Wiz Khalifa Embarks On A New Partnership, Sells Select Music To Private Equity Firm

HarbourView Equity Partners has been making waves lately by acquiring music catalogs.

After it was announced that St. Louis recording artist Nelly sold half of his catalog to HarbourView, the asset management company has agreed to buy select music and publishing assets from Pittsburgh native Wiz Khalifa.

The multi-platinum-selling, Grammy, and Golden Globe-nominated Khalifa said in a written statement, “Sherrese and HarbourView truly understand the value of music and artistry. We are excited to partner with them as they continue to build a dynamic media company that is in line with the values and goals we all have here at Taylor Gang.”

The financial terms of the agreement were not revealed.

The included assets for the deal include recorded hits that we have come to love, like “Black & Yellow,” “See You Again,” and “The Thrill.” Also included are songs featured on various albums, mixtapes, and projects that have graced hip-hop lovers’ ears.

 “Wiz Khalifa has already made a profound impact on culture as a musician, executive, media visionary, and creative force,” said Sherrese Clarke Soares, founder, and CEO of HarbourView. “We celebrate his talent and creativity and are thrilled to welcome him and Taylor Gang to the HarbourView family today.”

HarbourView Equity Partners is a multi-strategy, global investment firm focused on investment opportunities in the entertainment and media space. The company was launched in 2021 and has been obtaining works from a diverse pool of artists and currently possesses more than 20,000 songs.

Khalifa has been building his business portfolio, including his own independent label, management company, and lifestyle brand, under the umbrella of Taylor Gang.

Insider recently reported that the “Black & Yellow” artist suffered a “small rip in the cartilage” of his pelvis. Khalifa regularly posts workout videos of himself in the gym for his social media followers, but it’s unclear if the injury was related to his training. 

Kenny Burns, The Business Mogul Behind Celebrity Brands
by Nickie E. Robinson

July 7, 2023

Kenny Burns, The Business Mogul Behind Celebrity Brands

“Who is Kenny Burns, and what does he do?” is a question often asked and the answer is, “What does Kenny Burns not do.”

He’s seen among the likes of Drake, or in conversation with former NFL quarterback Cam Newton and intersecting with other notable names, but you may have to do some digging on the internet to understand his influence outside of the memorialization of his many accomplishments on which tells a deep success story.

From his inspirational posts on Instagram to his weekly podcast, “The Kenny Burns Show,” where he has coined the phrase, “The Dream is Real,” Burns is an influential business mogul.

After working with many musical greats, Burns went on to collaborate with Sean’ P. Diddy’ Combs to launch REVOLT TV, Apple Cîroc and DeLeón Tequila.

Burns decided to take the leap into the spirits world and invest in brands as an investor and advisor for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the fastest-growing American Whiskey in US history. After testing the water, he moved on to invest in LS Cream Liqueur and Spearhead Group, the first African-made spirits company comprised of Vusa Vodka and Bayab Gin. And this is truly the beginning.

His consistency is a constant thread in his work ethic, choice of words, friendships and marriage.

“Respect relationships, that’s the only thing you have in this business, money is whole another opportunity, but respect and relationships are the foundation in your personal life, in business, and we got to get back to that,” expressed Burns during his recent Funky Friday Podcast interview with Cam Newton.

 

“I’m not here to wake up and find the sh*t to talk about; I tell the truth, I tell my story, and people respect that.”

From mainstream consumer brands such as Grey Goose Vodka, Heineken, Puma, Hennessy and entertainment brands like Amazon, executives of various industries trust Burn’s vision and his work ethic

The dream is real because Burns strategically worked for it, keeping his integrity intact.

RELATED CONTENT: Kenny Burns and BLACK ENTERPRISE Celebrate The Good Life

by Sharelle B. McNair

July 7, 2023

Should Leniency Be Granted To Man Charged For Michael K. Williams’ Death? ‘The Wire’ Creator Thinks So

David Simon, creator of HBO’s legendary show, The Wire, recently asked a judge to go easy on the man charged in the 2021 death of the show’s star, Michael K. Williams, Rolling Stone reports.

One of the four men being charged is Carlos Macci, 71, who has pleaded guilty. Macci’s sentencing hearing will be held toward the end of July, with a recommendation of serving 10 years. Simon, in a three-page letter addressed to Manhattan judge Ronnie Abrams, asked for a much shorter sentence.

“No possible good can come from incarcerating a 71-year-old soul, largely illiterate, who has himself struggled with a lifetime of addiction,” Simon wrote. “But I know that Michael would look upon the undone and desolate life of Mr. Macci and know two things with certainty: First, that it was Michael who bears the fuller responsibility for what happened.”

The letter was written at the request of Macci’s lawyer, Benjamin Zeman, who described Simon as “a thoughtful and eloquent voice about the failure of the war on drugs.”

Simon addressed a time when Williams discussed his struggles with addiction on the set of the show’s third season. He remembered Williams saying his time on the show was a “stabilizing influence in his life” and spoke of Williams’ attachment to a certain crew member “whose job was to assure some distance between Mike and temptation.”

Simon feels Macci isn’t to blame for Williams’ death and recalled how he always admired Williams’ sense of accountability. “I never failed to see him take responsibility for himself and his decisions,” Simon said, according to IndieWire.

Williams, a five-time Emmy nominee, was found dead inside his Brooklyn home in Sept. 2021. The death was confirmed to be caused by cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin found in his system. Williams was known for his work on The Wire and numerous other HBO original content including Boardwalk Empire and Lovecraft County.

Richardson
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 7, 2023

Sha’Carri Richardson Is Still ‘That Girl,’ Sets New World Record For 100-Meter Dash

In her recent match, future Olympic star Sha’Carri Richardson clocked the fastest time in the world this year.

According to Sports Illustrated, the 23-year-old runner ran her fastest race ever when she competed at the U.S. Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on July 6, 2023. She clocked in at 10.71 seconds in the 100-meter dash.

In the spring of 2023, the former Louisiana State University athlete won a race at the Miramar Invitational, clocking in a speed of 10.57, logged as a wind-aided 10.77-second sprint on April 8, 2023. At the time, it was the fourth-fastest time in the history of the women’s 100-meter sprint.

Richardson took to her Instagram account to announce that there would be an athletes-only meeting. She is trying to start a union for athletes to strengthen their voices. She posted a video acknowledging that those who signed up for it will receive an email shortly about what’s next.

“ATHLETES ONLY Meeting!! If you signed up, you will receive an email for the meeting!! Can’t wait to see & connect to better the future of track & field!!”

Although very competitive and destined for greatness, Richardson has been mired in controversy. As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, fans of Richardson were outraged when news broke that the then-21-year-old track star was facing a 30-day Olympic team suspension after testing positive for marijuana. The U.S Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) formally announced that Richardson accepted a one-month suspension that started on June 28, 2021. She missed the Tokyo Olympics when she was left off the team following her suspension for marijuana use.

In 2022, the ultra-competitive Richardson did not qualify for the finals of the 100 meters and 200 meters at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Because of those outcomes, she was eliminated from competing at the World Athletics Championships.

Atlanta Couple Evicted After Signing Rent-To-Own Home Agreement
by Stacy Jackson

July 7, 2023

Atlanta Couple Evicted After Signing Rent-To-Own Home Agreement

A family thought their dreams of owning a home had come true—until they were evicted.

An Atlanta couple thought they were on the path to homeownership when they signed a lease-purchase (or rent-to-own) agreement. Instead, Insider reported that the newly married couple was forced to uproot their family after receiving an eviction notice following two late payments.

Erica Hines-Denson told Insider that Home Partners of America would not let her access her payment portal because she missed one payment. Her second missed payment resulted in an eviction notice. The dream of homeownership through the lease-purchase agreement had faded. Hines-Denson and her husband, Elquinton Denson, moved their family out of the home. Insider also noted the company refused to return the couple’s security deposit.

The outlet reported that the company is one of many promising alternatives to a traditional mortgage. Some aspiring homeowners have lost more than they have gained. According to Insider, Home Partners of America has more eviction filings than the total of all properties sold.

The lease-purchase agreement was introduced to Hines-Denson when lenders rejected her for a mortgage. Hines-Denson said, “This was our way to own a home finally,” Insider reported. “It was like we found a loophole.”

Home Partners of America bought the home for the couple. According to Insider, the couple agreed to rent the house from the company. Hines-Denson and her husband were told they could buy the home from the company after five years.

A spokesperson for the company said to Insider, “Home Partners has created a path to homeownership for tens of thousands of people who may not otherwise have had one.”

Discerning how to avoid pitfalls on the path to homeownership can be challenging. In June 2023, Black Enterprise offered useful tips to make homeownership and investing in real estate attainable. New Orleans realtor Wendy Wiltz told BE speaking to someone with experience in the field is a good bet. Wiltz encouraged talking to a realtor, “The earlier this is done, the sooner you’ll become familiar with the process and can get answers to your questions.” “Don’t assume what you don’t know. Get the facts. Most Realtors offer buyer and seller consultations completely free and can help guide you in the right direction.” 

Reach out and seek resources. Your dream of owning a home can be achieved—even after a few bumps.

RZA ‘Honored’ That Rihanna And A$AP Rocky Named Their Baby Boy After Him
by Iman Milner

July 7, 2023

RZA ‘Honored’ That Rihanna And A$AP Rocky Named Their Baby Boy After Him

Wu-Tang is for the “da kids.” For Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, specifically, the group’s founding member RZA was the inspiration behind the name of their first-born son. And the 54-year-old rap legend is here for it.

In a recent sit-down with CNN, RZA expressed gratitude to the superstar couple for considering him worthy of being their child’s namesake.

“It’s a great honor to know that there’s another generation that’s not even of my own household that feels the strength and the inspiration of that name,” he said. “RZA is only a name, it’s a title. So it’s an honor and I salute her and A$AP and their family. All the blessings in the world from me.”

After being mum about the name of their son, Rihanna and A$AP made the big reveal in posts celebrating his first birthday. The tradition of naming a child after a rap icon was passed down to baby RZA as his “fashion killa” father shares a name with hip-hop pioneer Rakim.

This isn’t the first time a celebrity has been inspired by the Wu-Tang God MC. Singer SZA was inspired by RZA for her stage name and rapper Smoke DZA credits him as the inspiration behind his moniker also. When asked about his relationship with the R&B singer, RZA replied, “She’s a beautiful young lady. I had a chance to meet early in her career. And I did some music with her.”

Wu-Tang continues to be one of the pioneering rap groups that has a dedicated fanbase that transcends generations. The group’s symbol can be seen splashed across apparel in some of the world’s largest retailers and its Hulu original series was one of the streamer’s most popular offerings in recent years.

No word on what Rihanna and A$AP will name their second child but we’re sure it’ll be something that lives up to the cool factor of their sibling’s.

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