Did a Jar of Sand From the Beach Where Tom Brady Retired Sell for $100K?
There is proof that anything can be sold, even if it appears ridiculous. Case in point, a jar of sand, not from the promised land, and not from the motherland, was listed last week and may have sold for nearly $100,000. A jar of sand!
According to USA Today, over the weekend, someone put up for sale a jar of sand from the same beach where recent NFL retiree, Tom Brady, made the announcement that he would no longer be playing football. Not only was the jar of sand being auctioned off on eBay, but it actually had someone who placed a bid for $99,900.
Yes, you read that correctly, close to $100,000.
The Miami Herald reported that Brady, who some consider the best player to put on a uniform in the NFL, made the video announcing that this was his last season playing the sport in which he won seven Super Bowls. The video was recorded on a beach in Surfside, which is located in Miami Beach near the Indian Creek property that he and his former wife, Gisele Bündchen, bought back in 2020.
The video clip, which has been viewed almost 125 million times is shown below:
The eBay user, gadgetgs posted the jar for sale sometime last week. He posted a pic of The New York Times that shows the Feb. 1 date that the retired quarterback posted his retirement plans.
ESPN’s Sportscenter posted proof of the eBay listing.
A jar of sand from Tom Brady’s second NFL retirement is going on eBay for over $90,000 😅👀 pic.twitter.com/5doditG9td
The actual posting is no longer up, but it has not been confirmed that someone actually bought the item. If so, they would have had to pay, at minimum, $100,000, since the last reported listing price was $99,900.
USA Today stated that eBay user, gadgetgs had a 100% positive feedback rate with 489 reviews. The jar may have been sold, as gadgetgs now has 490 reviews.
There is also another listing for, possibly, another jar of sand that has 0 bids.
Mount Holyoke College Appoints Black Woman as 20th President, a First in School’s 186-year History
Danielle Ren Holley, a noted legal educator and social justice scholar, will become the 20th president of Mount Holyoke College on July 1, 2023. The Board unanimously elected Holley following a thorough and inclusive search process.
President-elect Holley is the first Black woman in the 186-year history of Mount Holyoke College to serve as permanent president, and the fourth Black woman in history to lead one of the original Seven Sisters Colleges.
Since 2014, President-elect Holley has served as dean and professor of law at the Howard University School of Law. She is widely viewed as having renewed Howard’s historically important law school and raising its stature and visibility as the leading educator of social and racial justice lawyers.
“In addition to her exceptional leadership and ability to cultivate shared purpose, President-elect Holley brings a strong vision for what Mount Holyoke is and, more importantly, what our College can become. She has a strong track record of strategic growth and innovation, which will serve us well,” said Board of Trustees Chair Karena V. Strella ’90.
“President-elect Holley is widely recognized for her broad intellectual interests and curiosity, as well as for her rigorous advancement of racial and social justice in the legal field and beyond. We look forward to welcoming her to the Mount Holyoke community, particularly as we continue our work together to create and maintain a culture of belonging and a society that advances the dignity of all.”
“It is an understatement to say I am excited to join the vibrant and dynamic Mount Holyoke community; in truth, I am ecstatic and exhilarated. My personal and professional endeavors reflect my commitment to create educational opportunities for talented and deserving students, including those who may encounter doors that are closed or unwelcome. Mount Holyoke shares this vision — here, I have found students who want to break down barriers and create lasting, equitable change for all, and faculty, staff and alums are dedicated to helping these students strive for a brighter and bolder tomorrow. My own liberal arts education helped me find my path forward, and what Mount Holyoke gives to its students will stay with them long after they graduate,” said President-elect Holley.
“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee for their time and commitment to providing a meaningful search process. To the Mount Holyoke community, I have a simple but heartfelt message: I am so happy and proud to be your president-elect, and I look forward to working alongside you to ensure that Mount Holyoke forever shall be.”
“I would like to extend to Dean Danielle Holley my sincerest congratulations on her appointment as the twentieth president of Mount Holyoke College. This is a full-circle moment for me because Dean Holley was my very first hire as the president of Howard University, joining our faculty as the dean of the School of Law and a professor of law in 2014,” said Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, president of Howard University.
“Dean Holley has led the law school to unprecedented heights, including moving the Howard University Law School rankings into the top 100 in the U.S. News & World Report, establishing the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center and driving applications to all-time highs, to highlight just a few. Her presence and impact will be truly missed on our beloved campus.”
BLACK ENTERPRISE To Address Racial Health Disparities at ‘Health is Wealth’ Weekend
This month, BLACK ENTERPRISE, the No. 1 Black digital media brand with more than 6 million unique visitors per month, will host the first Health is Wealth Weekend, powered by Walmart.
Filled with insights from leading Black health and wellness experts and a featured conversation with NASCAR star Bubba Wallace, attendees will have the chance to not only discuss the racial disparities experienced in the Black community but also gather life-changing tips and strategies for leveraging improvements in physical, mental, and emotional health to boost their earning power and wealth-building potential.
Celebrities, influencers, and consumers will gather in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday, Feb. 10, for a two-day, fun, uplifting, and inspiring experience that will provide key takeaways on important health topics from managing stress and achieving a healthy body weight, to building and protecting mental health.
Sharing their professional and personal experiences, featured speakers include Zakia Blain, founder and CEO of FBF Body; Dr. Bernard Ashby, founder of Comprehensive Vascular Care; Germaine Bold-Leftridge, CEO & founder of GBL Sales; Jodi Brockington, founder & CEO of Niara Consulting; Gerrell Webb, Nashville-based celebrity fitness trainer; Dr. Kevin Billups, professor of Internal Medicine & Urology, Director of Men’s Health at Meharry Medical College; and a host of other health and wellness professionals.
“At BLACK ENTERPRISE, we strive to empower our audience to achieve equity and uncover opportunities for growth in all areas of their lives, but we can only achieve that when we also address the racial and societal challenges that occur,” said Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., CEO of BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“As an inaugural event, Health is Wealth is just the beginning of how we will drive the necessary conversations but also continue to support and impact the overall health of the Black community—from financial to physical and emotional—leading to a wealthier life for all.”
“Walmart is honored to be the presenting sponsor of BLACK ENTERPRISE’S inaugural Health is Wealth Weekend. Through this initiative, we continue to advance racial equity in the U.S., with a particular focus on health disparities affecting Black and African American people,” said Regine Moore, director of Constituent Relations.
“At Walmart, we encourage our customers and associates that being ‘healthy’ is a way of life that creates a chain reaction of good habits around emotional, physical, and financial well-being.”
The BLACK ENTERPRISE Health is Wealth Weekend will be held at The Westin Nashville and is free for all to enjoy and learn. Walmart is the Host sponsor, Gilead is the Presenting sponsor, Manulife/John Hancock is the Platinum sponsor. Attendees can learn more about the weekend, receive programming updates, and register for the event at www.blackenterprise.com/healthiswealth/.
About BLACK ENTERPRISE
Founded in 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE is a mission-centric publication focused on providing relevant information for success-minded people at every stage of their financial journey. Designed to highlight Black leadership and entrepreneurial journeys, BLACK ENTERPRISE reaches its audience through its events and linear and digital channels. BLACK ENTERPRISE aims to be a fountain of knowledge on how to achieve financial success. To learn more about the company, please visit blackenterprise.com and follow them on social media across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ is Most-Streamed Marvel Movie Debut on Disney+
The Black Panther sequel continues to amaze audiences while making history.
Disney announced that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has become the most-watched Marvel film premiere on Disney+, globally. The number is based on how many hours were streamed in its first five days on the platform.
The total amount of streams was not released.
According to Forbes, the sequel to Black Panther, which starred Chadwick Boseman (who passed away in 2020) in the lead role as King T’Challa also broke records when it came out last November. The movie smashed domestic box office records when it took in an astronomical $181 million during its opening weekend. The film shattered the previous record, held by The Hunger Games: Catching Fire almost 10 years ago, by $23 million.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has already made more than $800 million at box offices worldwide.
The Ryan Coogler-directed film has also been nominated for five Academy Awards. In addition to the blockbuster movie, Disney+ subscribers can also view behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews. Starting on Wednesday, Feb. 8, Disney+ subscribers will be able to stream, Assembled: The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
For those who don’t have access to Disney+ or want to see it in theaters (again, or for the first time), there’s a specially priced Black History Month offer taking place right now. AMC Theatres is showing several Black movies for only $5 per ticket through the end of February.
Until Feb. 9, you can go watch Till, which Chinonye Chukwu directed. From Feb. 10–Feb. 16, the featured movie will be Devotion starring Jonathan Majors. The Woman King featuring Viola Davis can be seen for a discounted price during the week of Feb. 17–Feb. 23.
Robert L. Johnson Created the Most Black Millionaires In US History After Selling BET
Black Entertainment Television (BET) founder and former Charlotte Bobcats owner Robert L. Johnson discussed the network’s creation and how its sale created numerous Black millionaires.
Johnson spoke with BLACK ENTERPRISE CEO and President Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. at the annual Black Men Xcel Summit.
The two discussed how Johnson got the idea for BET from EbonyfounderJohn Johnson (no relation) who, at the time, was making content about the rise of the Black middle class.
“The idea of BET was a spin-off of what John Johnson was doing,” Johnson, the founder and chairman of The RLJ Cos., told the audience.
“He had his stories in print, it was nationally distributed, but through a magazine, nobody was doing it in video and certainly no one was doing it on a national scale to aggregate as many Black households because the technology didn’t exist.”
According to Johnson, the revolution of satellite TV changed everything, giving channels the possibility of retaining a national audience. Johnson said he met a man who was working on creating a channel for the elderly. The two men were set to lobby the channel to the Senate Committee On Aging when Johnson took a look at the brochure his partner created.
“I looked at it and he had all of these things: the elderly buy a certain kind of product, the elderly have a certain kind of income, the elderly have a certain set of needs, and the elderly are not appropriately projected on television,” Johnson said.
“So I asked him for it and when I got it, I changed everything to Black. Black people buy a certain kind of product, Black people have a certain kind of need and Black people are ignored on television. So I took that and I said I gotta start this thing called BET.”
Johnson then had to find a small town with cable television to find out if Black people were interested in his idea. The BET founder chose Anniston, Alabama but he still had to find a place in the city to talk to Black men.
“So I looked in the Yellow Pages and there was a barber shop called Pink Junior’s barbershop, so I called and said I wanted to speak to the owner,” Johnson recalled. “I told him I’m Bob Johnson and I’m starting a new cable channel if people would be interested in a Black channel if we showed Black college football, so he asked the shop and they all said yes.”
From there, Johnson, along with partnerJohn Malone, started BET, the first television network designed for Black people, featuring sports, movies, sitcoms and original content. BET also was the first African American company publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Johnson, who had no previous experience in the cable and TV industry, asked Malone for advice in making sure the network worked.
“He said get your revenues up and keep your costs down,” Johnson said.
The channel did well in its first years but didn’t turn much revenue until a new and exciting form of entertainment came into the picture.
“Along the way came music videos and MTV started playing videos but they wouldn’t play Black music videos, so I said there’s a chance to play Black music videos and that’s where we started and the thing about it that made BET such a success was the videos were free,” Johnson said. “So imagine a business where the cable operators pay you to carry a program, the record companies give you the content for free and the advertisers pay to speak to your audience.”
In 2001, Johnson sold BET to Viacom and BET employees, and in doing so, created a large number of Black millionaires who Johnson gave equity in BET.
“That happened because we did something most Black companies didn’t do, we turned from a company that was closely held by basically me and John Malone and some other investors, but when we took it public we created stock capital, equity,” Johnson said.
“That allowed the people that worked with me to share in the ownership, so when the company went public they were given shares, and when the company was sold those shares turned into Viacom stock.
“To me, that’s what you do as a founder, you bring your people in and give them a significant piece of the commitment to opportunity so that they feel that you have a commitment to their success as much as you have to your own success.”
The National Black Cultural Information Trust Launches the Protect Black History Initiative
The National Black Cultural Information Trust, Inc. has launched the Protect Black History Initiative. This program, available at ProtectBlackHistory.org, will provide Black history resources and materials to local communities and organizations in need of support. Communities across the country are faced with hostility toward the teaching of Black history in school. While books are removed from school bookshelves, we’re distributing books and other resources in local communities.
Local community groups, organizations, and religious institutions can enroll online to participate. NBCI Trust, Inc. is partnering with local Black-owned bookstores and other organizations to distribute materials. Current partners include DARE Books and Kizzy’s Books & More, two Florida-based Black-owned bookstores. The Protect Black History Initiative is a project of the National Black Cultural Information Trust, Inc. Our mission is to provide information, resources, and tools that uplift the collective freedom of Black communities while also correcting cultural misinformation. The Protect Black History Initiative will include free online Black history seminars, panel discussions, and children’s storytimes.
Through the Protect Black History Initiative, we strive to continue the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson and other great ancestors that came before us by working to make Black History resources and materials accessible in local communities across the country. Dr. Woodson once stated, “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” We are determined to protect Black history for future generations, so they can continue to be inspired by the achievements of their ancestors to reach new heights.
“We have to do more than lament. We have to organize. Pushing back on the dangerous anti-Black erasure of our history is imperative. We hope that through the Protect Black History Initiative, we help fill the gaps where needed,” said Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor, founder of the National Black Cultural Information Trust, Inc.
NBCI Trust encourages other organizations, businesses, and individuals to partner or donate to expand the program’s reach. For more information on how to become involved, email outreach@nbcit.org. To enroll or contribute to the Protect Black History Initiative, visit ProtectBlackHistory.org.
The National Black Cultural Information Trust is a Pan-African initiative that shares cultural information, stories, and resources that uplift the collective freedom of Black communities while correcting cultural misinformation.
Former Newcastle Winger Soccer Player Christian Atsu Missing After Turkey Earthquake
Ghana international winger Christian Atsu is among those missing after the collapse of an apartment building in Hatay, Turkey, following Monday’s huge earthquake.
He scored a 97th- minute winner for Turkish top-flight side Hatayspor on Sunday night as they beat Kasımpasa 1-0, but just hours later was reported missing following the 7.8 magnitude quake that brought down whole apartment blocks in several Turkish and Syrian cities.
Hatayspor vice president Mustafa Ozat told Turkish TV station Play Spor: “Christian Atsu and (club sporting director) Taner Savut are still under the rubble.”
He told BeIN Sports several players and officials had been rescued and the club was working to help others.
Atsu, 31, played in the Premier League for Newcastle United and Everton, on loan from Chelsea, but joined Hatayspor in September.
Newcastle, who Atsu helped to promotion from the Championship in 2016/17, tweeted they were “praying for some positive news”. Chelsea also tweeted their prayers.
“We pray for Ghana International Christian Atsu and victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria,” the Ghana Football Association tweeted. “We remain hopeful for positive news.”
Atsu was last selected to play for Ghana in 2019, but has not officially retired from international football.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the survivors, and we pray that our fellow Ghanaian, Christian Atsu, is found safe and sound,” Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo tweeted.
U.S. VP Harris Highlights $4.2 Billion Private Sector Investment in Central America
Private companies have committed to invest $4.2 billion in northern Central America as part of an effort by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to reduce migration by targeting economic development, the White House said on Monday.
The latest figures, up from $3.2 billion announced in June 2022, stem from pledges by 47 companies and organizations, including the retailer Target (TGT.N) and the Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM.O).
Among the new announcements on Monday, Target committed to increase its spending in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras by $300 million this year while Columbia said it would purchase $200 million in products in the region, creating more than 6,900 jobs over five years.
U.S. President Joe Biden, who delivers the annual State of the Union address on Tuesday, named Harris in March 2021 to lead efforts to reduce migration at the U.S.-Mexico border as crossings began to spike at the beginning of his administration, eventually reaching record highs.
Harris has focused her efforts on addressing the factors that led migrants to leave the three countries, known as the Northern Triangle, including a lack of economic opportunity.
In her remarks on Monday, Harris said migrants come to the United States to flee harm or because they cannot meet basic economic needs.
“People generally do not want to leave home,” she said.
Before a meeting with U.S. officials and private sector representatives, Harris announced a new phase of the effort called Central America Forward, which will focus on broader economic development, corruption and labor rights.
Corruption and governance concerns in the three nations have limited the effectiveness of the Harris push, leading to the cancellation or suspension of projects likely worth millions of dollars.
Arrivals from northern Central America have steadily declined following a sharp rise in 2021 after Biden took office.
During that time, hundreds of thousands of migrants from the region have been expelled back to Mexico without the chance to seek U.S. asylum under a COVID-19-related order known as Title 42.
Racists Arrested on Federal Charges After Allegedly Plotting to Destroy Baltimore Power Grid
This racist duo wanted to wipe out the whole city.
Two suspects have been arrested after allegedly plotting to sabotage multiple energy substations in an attempt destroy Baltimore.
According to ABC News, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday that Brandon Russell of Orlando and Sarah Clendaniel of Catonsville, MD are facing federal charges after they allegedly “conspired to inflict maximum harm,” a plot fueled by racist extremism.
Baltimore, U.S. Attorney Erek Barron and a top FBI official revealed the duo aimed to target the power grid and completely destroy the Baltimore area.
Court documents showed Russell’s point of view that attacking power transformers was “the greatest thing somebody can do,” while Clendaniel told an FBI confidential source she was determined to carry out the attacks in an effort to “lay this city to waste.”
Russell is being accused of providing instructions and location information for the targeted substations.
“Their actions threatened the electricity and heat of our homes, hospitals and businesses,” said Thomas Sobocinski, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Baltimore field office. “The FBI believes this was a real threat.”
Sobocinski said the suspects’ attacks were an attempt to bring light to their “extremist” views.
According to an affidavit in the case, both suspects were out on probation following previous incarcerations.
Russell, who was the founder of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen, allegedly began his communications in June 2022 with an FBI confidential informant. Russell was accused of encouraging the informant to carry out the attacks against critical infrastructure “when there is greatest strain on the grid” and “when everyone is using electricity to either heat or cool their homes.”
Russell offered to connect the informant with Clendaniel in December communications.
A recorded conversation with the informant on Jan. 29, exposed Clendaniel’s plan to target five substations in the Baltimore area within the same day, including ones in Norrisville, Reisterstown and Perry Hall.
“[Clendaniel] described how there was a ‘ring’ around Baltimore and if they hit a number of them all in the same day, they ‘would completely destroy this whole city,'” the affidavit alleged.
Russell and Clendaniel are scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday, Feb. 6, Clendaniel in Baltimore and Russell in Orlando.
Black Joy Collection Celebrates Black History Month with Plus-sized Body Candles
It’s time to burn the negative stereotypes connected to the Black community.
Jodyann Morgan, founder of Black, queer-owned candle company CTOAN in Milwaukee, launched her newest candle collection, Black Joy, in celebration of Black History Month.
According to Los Angeles Blade, the gender-free body sculpture candles are a salute to the survival of the Black community, celebrating its creativity, expression, excellence, and euphoria.
The plus-sized candles came to the market in early 2021, before Morgan officially launched her business that year on Nov. 13 with a website, business name, and loads of candle supplies. Morgan grew the support of many prominent plus-size, Black, and LGBTQ influencers who flaunted her diverse body candles on their social media channels, making her an internet sensation.
The CTOAN founder’s mission behind crafting her hand-poured, trans inclusive, gender-free candles was to construct art that allowed people to see themselves and the true bodies of people they love.
Before making the complete shift into becoming a business owner in March 2022, Morgan worked in sport and entertainment security.
The Black Joy collection will offer two colorways. The first pays homage to Morgan’s Jamaican roots. The layered candle will sport the colors of the Pan-African flag: green, yellow, and red. The second colorway is a hand-painted floral print designed with the colors pink, teal, and yellow. The leopard pattern celebrates maximalism, exalting Black trans women, cis women, and femmes.
Customers who want to join in on the celebration can choose from three different candle scents; Figs and Molasses, Floral Euphoria, and Cocoa Butter Cashmere.
CTOAN also offers other products, such as occasional tea lights, mini fat body wax melts, and luxurious jarred candles.
Through the profits from her business, Morgan donated over $4,100 to mutual aid funds and non profits serving her communities. Donating $2 from each candle purchase to Roots & River Productions, allows Morgan to continue her contributions to her Black queer and trans communities.
Her candles have been featured by big name celebrities like Gabrielle Union and Tess Holliday.
