Kobe Bryant

Anthony Asadullah Samad, Ph.D.  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Dec 15 2011

Between the Lines

The NBA lockout was finally resolved two weeks ago, ending our “basketball jones” depression.

Even though college basketball has been “poppin’,” we still need our daily dose of funks, dunks, shakes and bakes that comes with professional basketball. So now the NBA is back and commissioner David Stern hasn’t cut us any slack, as the talent of the league has sought to test their value in the market before the 66-game season starts.

Jun 22 2011

Bill Macdonald, John Ireland

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—Bill Macdonald was named today as the Los Angeles Lakers television play-by-play announcer and John Ireland as their radio play-by-play announcer.

Macdonald replaces Joel Meyers, who had been with the Lakers for eight seasons, including the past six as the television play-by-play announcer.

Ireland replaces Spero Dedes, the Lakers radio play-by-play announcer for the past six seasons.

Jun 8 2011

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—Los Angeles Lakers all-star guard Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa today announced the formation of the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youths and families in need.

The foundation will initially focus on youth homeless in Los Angeles, the Bryants said at a news conference at My Friend’s Place, a drop-in center for homeless youth in Hollywood.

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.

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.”