Former NBA champion Robert Horry was filmed being ejected from his son’s high school basketball game last week after yelling at a referee from the bleachers.

TMZ posted a video of the moment the seven-time champion was tossed out of the gym by the referee. Horry, who has won more championships than Michael Jordan, was a spectator at St. Francis High School located in Flintridge, CA where his son, Christian Horry, was playing basketball for Harvard Westlake. Robert’s son plays the guard position and was called for his fourth foul of the game. After witnessing what he thought was a bad call, Horry started to yell at the ref, according to witnesses.

The video below shows Horry screaming in the bleachers at the referee, “You suck!” As he did so, the referee pointed to what appeared to be security. As they looked in his direction, Horry yelled out, “Hey ref, you talking about me? You suck! Oh, you’re mad at me because I said you suck?”

As Horry was being escorted from the gym, he stopped to speak to his son’s coach, they hugged, and he proceeded to vacate the premises.

Horry posted an acknowledgment of what transpired at the school on his Twitter account.

“The passion I have for basketball goes beyond words..words got me tossed out my son’s game. Emotions are a part of sports & always will be whether you play or a fan, I’ve been both. Respect the game & all those involved, yes. Basketball unifies in many ways.”

The passion I have for basketball goes beyond words..words got me tossed out my son’s game. Emotions are a part of sports & always will be whether you play or a fan, I’ve been both. Respect the game & all those involved, yes. Basketball unifies in many ways.

— Robert Horry (@RKHorry) January 28, 2023

Horry, who retired after the 2007-2008 season, played in the NBA for more than 15 years and won 7 titles with three different teams. His first two were with the Houston Rockets, then he won three with the Los Angeles Lakers, and won two more with the San Antonio Spurs.

Blaq Hair Luxury founder and CEO Cherice Williams has built a multi-million dollar company by providing hair products made from innovative formulas that help stimulate healthy growth and restoration from damage.

Williams was working as a housekeeper and a waitress when she moved to the United States from Jamaica in 2016. After being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormone disorder, and experiencing an adverse effect on the quality of her hair, she dove into research.  She observed her hair was dry, shedding, and brittle as a result of some of the products she had been using.

“I basically took matters into my own hands and became knowledgeable of the right products that I should be using, and ingredients. And that’s when I made my first organic hair serum in my kitchen,” Williams told BLACK ENTERPRISE, adding that the company has sold over 200,000 bottles of serum. “It’s a lightweight, non-greasy formula with essential oils formulated to invigorate and strengthen the hair follicles,” she said.

Blaq Hair Luxury Mission  

“As the founder and CEO we want to enrich the experience of the multicultural consumer base on their hair journey, and to provide premium quality and result-driven products substantiated by innovative formulas that truly enhance the quality and growth of their hair,” Williams said.

“We make it part of our mission to not only formulate products that are non-toxic and naturally based, but also produce high-performance results that our customers truly deserve,” she said.

Williams shared that the company’s products are never formulated with sulfates, parabens, or silicones. 

Blaq Hair Luxury allows customers to shop for products based on individual hair concerns, such as growth and strengthening, and dandruff control.

The company provides a collection of hair essentials, including hair oil, shampoo and conditioner, a hair masque, styling lotion, gel, edge glaze, and hair accessories.

 

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Blaq Hair Luxury Lands Its First Sale

“I was in a natural hair group on Facebook, where we shared tips and ideas on how to care for hair. And a lot of women in the group had the same issues and challenges that I was facing,” Williams said.

“Then, a few years ago, I reached out to a social media outlet, The Shaderoom, on Instagram. This was a few years back. They quoted me $2,500 for promo. So, I took the leap of faith and included my rent and reached out to them and they published my brand.”

Within 48 hours, Blaq Hair Luxury made more than the amount of money that was invested  “That’s what gave us the push and exposure that we needed.”

 

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Williams shared that she was surprised at how quickly her company took off.

“We actually started out on base before moving into our new 12,000-square-foot unit. Then, after a year, we leased our first 4,000 sq. ft. unit, and since then a lot of opportunities started presenting itself, and we knew that we were going to need a bigger space within a few months,” she said.

“So rather than waiting for the time to come, when we should be focusing on inventory and stuff – we felt the need to actually get our new 12,000 sq. ft. warehouse and have it designed and structured the way we wanted it to be in advance.” 

Expanding Blaq Hair Luxury to the Community

“We’re actually working on making our products more accessible to mass retailers and beauty supply stores,” she says. 

With the company always innovating, more products and collections are planned for different hair types and concerns. Blaq Luxury Hair will soon launch Nutra Grow Healthy Hair Adult Gummies with Biotin.  

 

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• Black Lives Matter

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 30, 2023

Tyre Nichols’ GoFundMe Page Reaches $1 Million Days After Graphic Video Footage Release

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The healing process for Tyre Nichols’ family is going to be a long journey, but donations from strangers who care is a good way to start.

A GoFundMe account set up to assist Nichols’ parents has surpassed $1 million after being active a little over 48 hours.

The page was created shortly after the Memphis Police Department released the graphic video footage of five police officers brutally beating Nichols. The fundraising goal is set for $1.2 million.

RowVaughn Wells, Nichols’ mother, used the page to describe what happened to her son on the night of Jan. 7, saying the 29-year-old was just “trying to get to my house for safety” and lived only a few blocks away from where the incident happened. The grieving mother is showing the world that her son wasn’t a danger and said he was someone “you know when he comes through the door he wants to give you a hug.”

The GoFundMe gives supporters a little more insight on Tyre’s story. Originally from the Bay Area in California, Nichols’ relocated to Memphis in order to be closer to his parents. Wells says Nichols had never been in trouble with the law, “not even a parking ticket.”

Reports claimed Nichols was pulled over for reckless driving, however, Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis said that an investigation and review of available camera footage could not “substantiate the reckless driving” claim.

There’s sad news in the comedy and radio world as Rickey Smiley has told the world that his son has passed away.

The morning radio host took to social media to give the word that he has lost his son, Brandon is was also a comedian. The 32-year-old died over the weekend and Smiley didn’t mention the cause of death in the video he posted on Sunday.

“I just had bad news this morning. I’m on the way to the airport to get to Birmingham. I just want everybody to pray for me, pray for our family,” Rickey said in a video on Instagram.

“My son, Brandon Smiley, has passed away this morning.” The radio host states that he was on his way to Birmingham and asks his followers to say a prayer for him and his family.

“Now I see… why he felt the way he felt,” Rickey says referring to how his grandfather felt when he lost his son (Rickey’s father). “My granddaddy went through this s**t with my dad and somehow, here I am going through the same thing my grandparents went through. So just pray for our family.”

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 30, 2023

Eric Garner’s Daughter Blasts the Release of Tyre Nichols’ Video as a ‘Public Lynching’

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Last Friday, the nation watched the release of several videos that showed five Black Memphis police officers beating 29-year-old Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop on January 7.

Nichols died after succumbing to injuries from the beating.

Emerald Snipes-Garner, who is the daughter of police brutality victim, Eric Garner, called the viewing of the Nichols video a “public lynching.” Nichols stated that it was treated like “a premiere of a movie that needed to be watched by the world.”

According to The Hill, Snipes-Garner appeared on the news show, News Nation, with former CNN personality, Chris Cuomo, to discuss the recent activities related to Nichols.

After officials in Memphis released footage from the incident,  Snipes-Garner stated she had an issue with the way the media and authorities handled the pending release of the video.

“The fact that we waited for this video to be released like it was an exclusive movie that needed to be premiered on a certain day, it really boils my blood. It’s just heart-wrenching,” she told Cuomo on the program.

She stated that it was a replay of what took place with her father almost nine years ago.

In 2014, Eric Garner was killed in Staten Island, NY after police officer Daniel Pantaleo placed him in an illegal chokehold. As he shouted, “I can’t breathe,” the police officers ignored his pleas and Garner died.

Snipes-Garner stated that the video of Nichols’ beating did not need to be handled in the way that it was.

“Tonight was a direct show of just how they do things. You held the video. Why? Why couldn’t the family get their closure at the moment that they needed it? It had to be controlled by this system. Like, we’re just gonna hold it and then we’re gonna bring it out with the charges. No, you held it like it was a premiere of a movie that needed to be watched by the world. A public lynching.”

This year will mark nine years since the death of Eric Garner. His daughter, Emerald Snipes-Garner, is all too familiar with cases of police-involved violence and joins @ChrisCuomo to speak on the death of Tyre Nichols.

Watch #CUOMO: https://t.co/s8z9kEhjMw pic.twitter.com/ap8gwhOk4U

— NewsNation (@NewsNation) January 28, 2023

• News

by Kia Morgan Smith

January 30, 2023

Memphis Disbands Police Unit After Fatal Beating as Protesters Take to Streets

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By Maria Cardona and Diane Bartz

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Reuters) -The specialized police unit that included the five Memphis officers charged with the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols was disbanded on Saturday as more protests took place in U.S. cities a day after a harrowing video of the attack was released.

The police department said in a statement it was permanently deactivating the SCORPION unit after the police chief spoke with members of Nichols’ family, community leaders, and other officers. A police spokesperson confirmed all five officers were members of the unit.

Video recordings from police body-worn cameras and a camera mounted on a utility pole showed Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, repeatedly screaming “Mom!” as officers kicked, punched and struck him with a baton in his mother’s neighborhood after a Jan. 7 traffic stop. He was hospitalized and died of his injuries three days later.

Five officers involved in the beating, all Black, were charged on Thursday with murder, assault, kidnapping and other charges. All have been dismissed from the department.

Nichols’ family and officials expressed outrage and sorrow but urged protesters to remain peaceful. That request was largely heeded on Friday when scattered protests broke out in Memphis – where marchers briefly blocked an interstate highway – and elsewhere.

Cities across the United States saw renewed nonviolent demonstrations on Saturday. In Memphis, protesters chanting, “Whose streets? Our streets!” angrily catcalled a police car that was monitoring the march, with several making obscene gestures. Some cheered loudly when they learned of the disbandment of SCORPION.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in New York’s Washington Square Park before marching through Manhattan, as columns of police officers walked alongside them.

Taken together, the four video clips released Friday showed police pummeling Nichols even though he appeared to pose no threat. The initial traffic stop was for reckless driving, though the police chief has said the cause for the stop has not been substantiated.

The SCORPION unit, short for the Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in our Neighborhoods, was formed in October 2021 to concentrate on crime hot spots. Critics say such specialized teams can be prone to abusive tactics.

Friends and family say Nichols was an affable, talented skateboarder who grew up in Sacramento, California, and moved to Memphis before the coronavirus pandemic. The father of a 4-year-old child, Nichols worked at FedEx and had recently enrolled in a photography class.

Nate Spates Jr., 42, was part of a circle of friends, including Nichols, who met up at a Starbucks in the area.

“He liked what he liked, and he marched to the beat of his own drum,” Spates said, remembering that Nichols would go to a park called Shelby Farms to watch the sunset when he wasn’t working a late shift.

Nichols’ death is the latest high-profile instance of police using excessive force against Black people and other minorities. The 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis officer knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes, galvanized worldwide protests over racial injustice.

(Reporting by Maria Cardona in Memphis, Tennessee, and Diane Bartz in Washington; Writing by Joseph Ax; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Robert Birsel)

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

January 30, 2023

This Lifetime License To Microsoft Office 2021 (Windows) Can Be Yours For Under $50

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Microsoft Office is one of the world’s most used software programs – and for a good reason. As of 2020, an estimated 1.2 billion people use the software suite. Microsoft isn’t in any jeopardy of losing its grip on the market.

Regardless of one’s level of computer proficiency, chances are they’ve used Microsoft Office in some capacity in their lifetime. Whether it was to craft a research paper for school or create a presentation for colleagues at work, Office, over the years, has earned its place as a productivity titan.

For a limited time, you can purchase a lifetime license for Microsoft Professional 2021 for Windows for $49.99.

This license unlocks full access to eight programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher and Access.

Each program comes will an array of new features to further boost productivity in every stage of development. In addition, tools in the suite have been redesigned, and a ribbon-based interface provides quick access to available features, tools and customizations.

Consider it Microsoft Office for the 21st Century.

More than 20 users have rated it 5 stars.

“I recently upgraded to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and I am absolutely loving it! Not only is the user interface more intuitive, but the lifetime license ensures that my documents stay up-to-date,” writes verified purchaser John Chandra.

No subscriptions are needed, and there aren’t any monthly/annual fees. Users can access the programs on desktop computers running Windows 10 or 11. One GB of RAM and 4GB of hard-disk formatting are also required. All languages are supported, and updates are routinely offered.

While Microsoft Office has been immensely popular for years, its steep price point has often been a barrier to potential buyers. This deal shatters those barriers. Take advantage of this low-price offering today and equip your computer with this powerhouse productivity suite.

Prices subject to change.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 30, 2023

University of Georgia Says Vehicle Involved In Devin Willock Crash Was ‘Unauthorized’ for Personal Use

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If exact rules were followed, University of Georgia football player, Devin Willock might still be alive today.

According to CNN, the Ford Expedition that was being driven by Chandler LeCroy on January 15, should not have been in use that fateful night.

A statement that was released by the University of Georgia Athletic Association reveals that the SUV should have never been used for personal use. It was only supposed to be driven for recruiting activities only.

Willock, who was an offensive lineman for the University of Georgia, and LeCroy, who was a member of the football staff, were killed in the Ford Expedition in a car accident several hours after the team celebrated winning the national championship. Two other people, offensive lineman Warren McClendon, and Georgia football staffer Victoria Bowles were injured in the accident.

“Policies and expectations that were well understood by athletics staff dictated that such rental vehicles were to be turned in at the immediate conclusion of recruiting duties. The continued use of the leased car by our staff members after their recruiting duties ended earlier that evening was unauthorized.”

The statement also said that the school is still cooperating with the investigation.

“We are continuing to cooperate fully with investigators. Above all, our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and friends of those we lost and those who were injured in this tragic accident.

According to CBS News, the accident took place in Athens, GA where the 20-year-old Willock was pronounced dead at the scene. LeCroy, who was the driver of the Ford Expedition, died later after being taken to the hospital. She was a football recruiting analyst for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Red and Black reported that a police report released by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department stated that the vehicle driven by LeCroy “failed to negotiate a left curve”, hit a curb, and left Barnett Shoals Road. The Ford Expedition hit two poles, two trees, and another vehicle before stopping against an apartment building. It also stated that excessive speed was a contributing factor in the crash.

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

January 30, 2023

The Chopra Foundation and Philanthropist Robert F. Smith Launch The Soul of Leadership Initiative

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The Chopra Foundation today announced The Soul of Leadership, an initiative focusing on mental well-being and leadership development within the Black community.

In partnership with Robert F. Smith and in collaboration with the NeverAlone movement, this initiative will focus on providing mental health services, leadership development courses targeted towards Black youth, and content to support Black entrepreneurs.

Adapted from Dr. Deepak Chopra’s book and curriculum for industry-leading CEOs and executives, The Soul of Leadership and NeverAlone initiatives will offer free programming for Black youth, developing them into future leaders and equipping them with the resiliency and skillset to unlock their fullest potential and thrive in the face of uncertainty.

“I am privileged to work with Robert Smith on this much-needed initiative for the empowerment of our future leaders, particularly from the Black American community,” said Dr. Deepak Chopra, founder of The Chopra Foundation. “As our nation focuses greater attention on the current mental health epidemic, we must deploy our resources in an equitable manner to ensure that everyone is able to receive the help they need.”

“In order to build the leaders of tomorrow, first we must set a solid foundation where young people can fully thrive,” added Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners.

“Addressing mental health is a critical component of this leadership development. By arming Black youth with tools to understand their mental and emotional needs, we are setting them on the path to success and creating empathetic leaders of the future that have a greater capacity for understanding and navigating the world around them.”

Starting in early 2023, The Soul of Leadership’s online portal will offer a free virtual catalog of leadership development courses. This initiative will also provide free mental health resources to address the stigma surrounding and disparities in mental health treatment in the Black community, where it is estimated that only about 1 in 3 Black Americans who need mental health services receive them.

About NeverAlone

The NeverAlone initiative is a movement to serve the global community, delivering secure access to scientific research, the work of mental health and wellness experts, and pragmatic tools and practices that can be used by anyone, anywhere, every day. The campaign brings much needed awareness to mental health and suicide prevention. On average, one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds (World Health Organization) somewhere in the world, and it is the 2^nd leading cause of death for teens and our youth.

Dr. Deepak Chopra intends to reach more than 1 billion people all around the world and spread a pandemic of joy by creating a more peaceful, just, sustainable, and healthy world.

By Jarrett Renshaw and Jeff Mason

(Reuters) -U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan is considering stepping down, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

Regan has been thinking seriously about departing and has been exploring options outside the Biden administration but has not made any decisions, one source said.

“No plans imminently, but I do know it’s been on the radar screen for the past few weeks,” the source said.

The EPA said Regan had no plans to depart.

“The administrator doesn’t have any plans to step down. He’s committed to continuing to advance President Biden’s historic climate and environmental agenda,” said Maria Michalos, an EPA spokesperson and one of Regan’s top aides.

The EPA is the main agency responsible for environmental regulation, and Regan has been leading it at a crucial time in President Joe Biden’s agenda to curb climate change.

The agency is expected to roll out complex regulations on power plant emissions of greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants in March. The agency must race to finish them in about 18 months, before the next general election.

The EPA, which has about 17,500 employees, is still suffering from the exit of many scientists and policy workers during the administration of Donald Trump.

Billions of dollars are flowing to the agency after last year’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, for programs including the $27 billion green bank, which will offer grants to disadvantaged communities to deploy solar and other programs to cut emissions and provide jobs.

Regan, the first Black man to run EPA began designing the green bank in October.

The White House has been preparing for departures of senior staff, including at the cabinet level. White House chief of staff Ron Klain is expected to leave after Biden’s State of the Union address in February, to be replaced by Jeff Zients, Biden’s former COVID-19 response coordinator.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Jeff Mason; additional reporting by Timothy Gardner, Editing by Gerry Doyle)