Basketball

May 25 2011

NBA franchise confirms

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown will likely be the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA franchise confirmed today.

"In response to rampant speculation and reports about our head coaching position and Mike Brown, we've met with Mike and are very impressed with him,'' according to a statement issued by the Lakers. "In addition, we have an outline for an agreement in place and hope to sign a contract within the next few days.''

May 25 2011

Poor academic performance

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—The Cal State Northridge men's basketball team was banned for postseason play for the 2011-2012 season by the NCAA today because of poor academic performance over several years.

The team had a multi-year Academic Progress Rate of 871 for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Teams with a rate under 925 are subject to immediate penalties while those under 900 are subject to historical penalties.

This was the third time in four years the team has received historical penalties.

Anthony Asadullah Samad, Ph.D.  |   OW Contributing Columnist
May 12 2011

Between the Lines

I try to be objective in my commentary. OK, I’m lying. I’m very subjective in my commentary.

That’s what editorialists do, they editorialize. There’s only one way to see it—their way.

May 9 2011

Blown out of the Western Conference semifinals

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—In a game decried by TV commentators as an embarrassment to NBA basketball, to the Los Angeles Lakers and to coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers were blown out of the Western Conference semifinals by the Dallas Mavericks, 122-86.

Lakers center Andrew Bynum and forward Lamar Odom were ejected for deliberate fouls in the fourth quarter of the game at Dallas' American Airlines Center. Bynum bludgeoned Mavericks guard J.J. Barea with his elbow, then quickly stripped off his jersey at midcourt as he headed to the locker room.

May 2 2011

Out of respect to fans

ANAHEIM, Calif.—The Sacramento Kings have dropped plans to ask the NBA for permission to move the team to Anaheim because of opposition from the league, the team announced today.

Officials from Anaheim Arena Management, which since September had been in negotiations with the Maloof family that owns the team, were told of the decision early today.

Today was the deadline for the Kings to request permission to move.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”