Los Angeles Lakers

May 2 2011

Fans urged to donate

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—The Los Angeles Lakers announced they will donate $25,000 plus proceeds of all auctions at Staples Center during the Western Conference semifinals to the American Red Cross fund to assist in the relief efforts for victims of the storms that struck the South this week.

Items to be auctioned include autographed Lakers memorabilia including one-of-a-kind game-worn memorabilia; framed pictures and basketballs from Laker championship teams; jerseys and basketballs.

Apr 21 2011

Are Blacks unwilling to condemn the NBA star?

I was thrilled to engage in a passionate discussion of sports politics and the Los Angeles Lakers at the barbershop last week.

The conversation focused primarily on the aftermath of Kobe Bryant’s verbal mishap with a referee whom he felt had made a bad call. We questioned whether or not it was necessary for him to be fined or have to apologize for using a gay slur on international television.

Apr 20 2011

Promoting acceptance

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—Kobe Bryant and four of his Los Angeles Laker teammates called for understanding, compassion and acceptance in a public service announcement released today.

The release of the public service announcement comes six days after Bryant was fined $100,000 by the NBA for using an obscene antigay slur aimed at a referee during a game last Tuesday.

The Lakers and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced on Friday they would work together to eliminate antigay slurs.

Apr 13 2011

Human Rights Campaign

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—Kobe Bryant said today what appeared to be a homophobic slur aimed at a referee during Tuesday night's game "should not be taken literally.''

"My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period,'' the Los Angeles Lakers all-star guard said. "The words expressed do not reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were not meant to offend anyone.''

Apr 5 2011

1965 UCLA Championship

WESTWOOD, Calif.—A funeral will be held Friday for Edgar Lacey, a starting forward on UCLA's 1965 NCAA championship team who quit the squad in 1968 after being benched during a landmark game against Houston.

Lacey died last week at the age of 66, said UCLA Sports Information Director Marc Dellins, who did not have further details.

The funeral will be held 10 a.m. Friday at Calvary Chapel in Downey, located at 12808 Woodruff Ave.

Across Black America

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

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.