Paris, 2024, sport, breaking, breakdancing, Olympics, Jeffrey Louis, U.S.A., U.S., competition

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 14, 2024

Was Breakdancing At The Olympics A One-Trick Pony?

The hip-hop artform competition will not take place at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Breakdancing debuted at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and although there was a mixed reaction from fans and non-fans of the dance form, which originated in hip-hop, the competition will not take place in the 2028 Summer Olympics.

That’s not the only change we will witness in four years.

According to NBC News, there will be some changes with the next set of games pitting athletes from around the globe coming back to the United States. The Los Angeles Olympics marks the the first time the games have been on domestic soil since Atlanta hosted the 1996 Olympics. It feels like breakdancing would be a natural fit there given its hip-hop (and distinctively American) roots.

As for why it’s not on the schedule, according to the World DanceSport Federation, the LA28 organizing committee made that decision. Starting with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the hosting country determines which new sports will be included in that country’s year of having the games. That rule was put in place by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the game’s governing body. While Paris placed breakdancing in the schedule, Los Angeles opted for baseball-softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash for 2028.

“It’s up to each local organizing committee to determine which [additional] sports to put forward that fit with their vision of the Games,” said IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell. “Obviously, breaking fits very clearly with Paris’ vision of a very youth-focused urban engagement.”

There is still hope that breakdancing returns to the Olympics when it is held in Brisbane, Australia, in 2032. Maybe adding the various new entries in Los Angeles will allow the absence of the hip-hop art form to be brought back in time for the Olympics in eight years.

Another sport that may not be part of the Summer Olympics in 2028 is boxing. Its return seems unlikely, NBC News noted, because ” a new world governing body will have to coalesce in coming months to make sure the sweet science will be practiced in Los Angeles.”

Male Wellness Agency, Black Men's Wellness

by Daniel Johnson

August 13, 2024

5th Annual Black Men’s Wellness Day Seeks To Save Black Men’s Health

Kenny R. Hampton, the president of the African American Male Wellness Agency, said in the press release that he hopes to spur a movement that creates health equity and empowerment for Black men.

The African American Male Wellness Agency published a press release on Aug. 1 announcing that it will hold its 5th Annual Black Men’s Wellness Day on Sept. 14, 2024, on the campus of Morehouse College.

According to The Atlanta Voice, the free event is aimed at getting Black men to participate in onsite health screenings that measure various vital signs such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, HIV/STD/STI status, prostate cancer, and more.

Keith Dobbins, the Atlanta coordinator for the African American Male Wellness Agency, told the outlet that the event is about saving Black men’s lives.

(Photo: Courtesy of African American Male Wellness Agency)

“We do this every year to save the lives of Black men,” Dobbins said. “If you save a Black man’s life, you save his family. When you save the family, you save the community. And that’s what we’re all about, affecting massive change through the health of Black men.”

According to the press release, Greg Clay, the City of Atlanta’s executive director with the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services, will serve as the Honorary Chair at the event. Clay indicated his excitement, saying, “I am extremely excited to lead this annual effort here in Atlanta, as we work to impact health disparities, along with other issues, in my role with the city on a daily basis,” Clay said. “This proactive movement is a true depiction of Atlanta’s Group Project, working together to fight our community’s biggest challenges facing Black men.”

Kenny R. Hampton, the president of the African American Male Wellness Agency, said in the press release that he hopes to spur a movement that creates health equity and empowerment for Black men.

“Black Men’s Wellness Day in Atlanta is more than just an event–it’s a movement toward health equity and empowerment for African American men,” Hampton said. “By addressing the health disparities that disproportionately affect our community, we are not only improving individual lives but also strengthening families and communities. Our mission is to provide the tools and resources necessary for Black men to lead healthier, longer lives, and this event is crucial to making that vision a reality.”

The event’s sponsors include Johnson & Johnson, CareSource, Genentech, Kaiser Permanente, Kroger Delivery, Care Access, and Inside Edge Consulting.

According to the release, since 2004, the group Hampton presides over has produced or held a 5K walk and run in more than 15 cities, which it uses as an awareness campaign to illuminate the health disparities Black men specifically face. It has been the work of the organization over the last 20 years to help save the lives of Black men, close the health disparity gap, and help Black men survive preventable diseases.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 13, 2024

Angel Reese Wants Spotlight Back On Current Team USA As Media Eyes 2028 Squad

Despite her own Olympic dreams, Angel Reese wants the focus to stay on the current Team USA.

Angel Reese slammed the media for focusing on the next Olympic squad right after the U.S. Women’s Basketball team won gold in Paris.

The critique came after the WNBA rookie spotted an ESPN article on prospects for Los Angeles’ 2028 summer games. Considering the piece dropped the same day as Team USA’s historic win, Reese quickly shut down any conversation on X.

Let’s just congratulate these women & let them enjoy this moment! Leave me out of this until my time comes! 😇 https://t.co/tMK1jr9tdZ
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) August 11, 2024

“Let’s just congratulate these women & let them enjoy this moment,” expressed the Chicago Sky star. “Leave me out of this until my time comes!”

Though Reese would rather her name be kept out of the media’s mouth until she’s on the international court, she does want to earn her own Olympic gold medal one day. She recently shared her ambitions in a pre-game chat with reporters.

“I want to be an Olympian by 2028,” revealed Reese in July, as reported by Sports Illustrated. “I think I have time to just be able to continue to grow.”

She added, “I take pride in everything—being able to be from the United States and being able to wear those three letters across your chest. So that’s something that I do have as one of my goals, to be an Olympian and being able to play with a special class and great players like the women that are playing right now.”

Reese’s dream could definitely come to fruition, given her already impressive WNBA rookie season. In her first year alone, she earned a spot on the league’s All-Star roster. She helped secure a win for Team WNBA against USA Basketball during the All-Star weekend in July.

by Daniel Johnson

August 13, 2024

Terminated Southwest Airlines Supervisor Sues Airline For Harassment, Racial Discrimination

Joseph Pitts, a former Southwest Airlines supervisor, filed a lawsuit against his former employer on July 29 in San Mateo County Superior Courts.

Joseph Pitts, a former Southwest Airlines supervisor, filed a lawsuit against his former employer on July 29 in San Mateo County Superior Courts, alleging that the airline engaged in racial discrimination, harassment, wrongful firing, and retaliation.

“It makes me have this anxiety, it makes me feel, ‘Was it the right thing that I did?’ Because you’re jobless, you don’t have any income,” Pitts, 53, told The Mercury News.

Pitts said he was referred by other employees, including Black employees, as the n-word. He said he did not want to be addressed in that manner, but the behavior continued. “I didn’t want to come to work and hear that, ” he explained. “I knew it was going to stir up a pot, but these working conditions are not right. For a Fortune 500 company, I wouldn’t think they would have this going on.”

As a result of his repeated complaints to his supervisors, Pitts was informed that a ramp agent had allegedly threatened to lodge grievances against him in an attempt to get him fired.

According to the lawsuit, in October 2023, Pitts asked a Southwest Airlines administrator if he had heard about the frequent use of the n-word at the Southwest facility. After the administrator responded affirmatively, Pitts told him about three employees he alleged were targeting him.

Pitts also received threats from a manager to fire him over his attendance and threatened to fire or demote him, his lawsuit claims. In November, Pitts and another supervisor were talking in a supervisor’s office, next to the employee break room, and a ramp agent walked into the break room, where they allegedly loudly complained that workers were not allowed to “say the b-word and the n-word anymore,” then used profanity before saying the n-word.

According to the lawsuit, shortly after, when Pitts walked into the break room, he was glared at menacingly.

In December, Pitts was informed by a manager that he was fired after it had been determined that he failed to assist in the investigation. As a result, Pitts had to go into his retirement funds and has yet to find a job. His sick wife has puts off necessary medical expenses.

“Why would you do this to somebody who was trying to make changes, who was trying to tell you that these people are violating company policy?” Pitts told The Mercury News. “Why would you do this to me?”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 13, 2024

After Recent $2M Investment, Dallas Wings Becomes Most Valuable WNBA Team

The Wings currently having a valuation of $208 million, topping the Las Vegas Aces $140 million.

Having the worst record in the league has not stopped the Dallas Wings from becoming the most valuable team in the WNBA.

According to Front Office Sports, the Wings, currently tied for last place in the WNBA standings with a 6-19 record, have emerged as the team with the highest valuation after recent moves. The Texas-based team is valued at $208 million after two investors (Jed Kaplan and Randy Eisenman) recently purchased a 1% stake at $2.08 million. Based on the numbers posted earlier this year, that figure places the Wings as the top-valued team.

Sportico posted estimates for each WNBA team in June. The media outlet estimated that the current WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, were on top with $140 million. The Seattle Storm was in second with an estimated worth of $135 million, and the New York Liberty was right behind them with $130 million.

The Sports Journal reported that recent moves by the Wings, listed as being worth $75 million in June, were able to surpass that total based on several factors. The team plans to move into a new arena after the city of Dallas provided it with a $19 million cash incentive. The city wants the Wings to be the primary tenant of a renovated Memorial Auditorium that will open in 2026. There is a proposed practice facility, gains in attendance and sponsorships this season, an expected new local television contract, and the WNBA’s proposed over $2.2 billion media rights deal.

“I would say the value of anything is what the market’s willing to pay,” said Bibb, the Wings’ president, CEO, and partner. “I can make a compelling case for why that $208 million number is justifiable.

“Certainly, we’re not talking about a business that’s stagnating … it’s quite the opposite. What we are doing today is going to be significantly outpaced by what we do tomorrow.”

CEOs, corporate America, Kamala Harrs, endorsement

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 13, 2024

It’s A Serious Matter! Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Forms PAC To Support Kamala Harris

The members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. are mobilizing their political power with the launch of AKA 1908 PAC.

Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign gained momentum this week as her sorority formed a political action committee.

On Monday, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority PAC, Inc., or AKA 1908 PAC, was announced in response to Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing Harris. Now, through the PAC, the historically Black sorority can accept donations of up to $5,000 from its members and their families to support federal campaigns and political parties, according to Politico reports.

Kiahna Davis, the regional director for the sorority’s central region, is listed as the PAC’s treasurer. The move makes the organization the first Black sorority to launch its own official PAC. It follows other Greek organizations with official federal fundraising operations, including fellow Divine Nine organization Phi Beta Sigma, which operates its own PAC and the Fraternity & Sorority Political Action Committee launched by fraternity and sorority leaders in 2005 to support candidates “who defend and enhance the fraternity and sorority experience.”

Harris is a proud Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. member who refers to sorority members as her “family.” She most recently attended a national gathering for another Divine Nine sorority, Zeta Phi Beta’s Grand Boulé, earlier this summer.

Since being named as the Democratic nominee following Biden’s exit, every Divine Nine president pledged in a statement to “meet this critical moment in history with an unprecedented voter registration, education, and mobilization coordinated campaign.”

Harris has never had an issue garnering support from her sorority. When she was announced as Biden’s running mate in 2020, their campaign received an onslaught of donations totaling $19.08, a nod to the year the sorority was founded at Howard University.

Following the official launch of her presidential campaign, Harris became the first to host an event at the White House for the leaders of the Divine Nine. With a network of over two million alums, the Divine Nine represents a significant political force both parties are eager to mobilize before the November election.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 13, 2024

Jordan Chiles’ Sister Weighs In On Olympic Medal Scandal: ‘Racism Is Real’

Chiles' sister proclaimed that "racism is real" amid the backlash the gymnast has faced in the medal controversy.

Jordan Chiles’ sister, Jazmin, who was ordered to return her Olympic bronze medal, claims racism is at play in the public backlash.

Chiles secured bronze during the gymnastics floor final after submitting an initially successful inquiry that boosted her score. The score increase led to Chiles beating Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu for the medal.

However, upon the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee requesting a review and potential appeal of the scoring, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reversed the decision. As it stands, CAS has asked Chiles to return her bronze medal.

Upon learning the heartbreaking news, Jazmin took to social media on Aug. 10 to defend her younger sibling from the racist backlash.

“Racism is real, it exists, it is alive and well,” she wrote in her Instagram stories, as restated by People. “They have officially, five days later, stripped her of one of her medals. Not because she didn’t win, not because she was drugged, not because she stepped out of bounds, not because she wasn’t good enough.”

Jazmin continued, “But because the judges failed to give her difficulty and forced an inquiry to be made. Her bronze was stripped over 4 seconds of time that would have never needed to happen if the judges did their job.”

Jazmin clarified that the racism she was denouncing stemmed from public comments, not the Olympic committee itself. However, she still noted that Chiles was being subjected to the usual treatment by the committee.

She added, “…In the HISTORY of the Olympics, NO ONE has ever been stripped of their medal for this. Also, there are only TWO ways you can be stripped of a medal. Cheating or Doping. She did neither…Just give the other girls a bronze and leave it at that! Period.”

Chiles, who still won gold in the all-around Gymnastics finals, has remained off social media to protect her mental health amid the controversy. While she has stayed offline, the Olympic & Paralympic Committee has continued its fight on her behalf. However, CAS rejected their appeal of the new ruling.

As we continue to celebrate the successes of Team USA Gymnasts on social media, know that we are still working full-time to pursue justice for Jordan.
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 13, 2024

Despite the outcome, USA Gymnastics declared their ongoing commitment to pursuing justice for Chiles and maintaining her medal.

Study: Black People Have Lower Survival Chances After Bystander CPR Is Performed

by Mitti Hicks

August 13, 2024

Study: Black People Have Lower Survival Chances After Bystander CPR Is Performed

Researchers found white people are three times more likely to survive when bystander CPR is administered after a cardiac arrest event.

A new NIH-funded study reveals race and gender matter when it comes to survival rates when bystander CPR is performed. The research, first published in the American Heart Association Journal Circulation, found that Black people and women are less likely to survive when bystander CPR is performed, compared to white people.

Researchers analyzed data from what they call a “large U.S. registry.” They identified more than 623,300 nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrests from 2013 to 2022 for the cohort study to determine if there is a differential association between bystander CPR and survival outcomes by patients’ sex, race, and ethnicity overall and by neighborhood strata.

What they found is white people are three times more likely to survive when CPR is administered after the person went into cardiac arrest. The study also found men of any background are twice as likely to survive as women. It’s important to note that in all cases studied, CPR was administered by someone other than a first responder.

“CPR saves lives — that, we know,” said Paula Einhorn, M.D., a program officer at NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). “Yet the disparities revealed in this research show we need to do more to understand how to ensure equitable outcomes for all patients needing CPR. We’re hoping new insights will lead to better survival for these patient groups.”

According to the NIH, about 40% of adults who experienced cardiac arrest received CPR from a bystander who was not part of the emergency response team. This can include a family member, friend, or member of the public. Distressed patients who received bystander CPR had a 28% greater chance of surviving compared to people who did not receive bystander CPR. They were also more likely to survive without having serious brain injuries.

“It’s not just about whether bystander CPR was done, but was it done well for everyone so that, irrespective of race, ethnicity, or sex, everyone can derive the same level of benefit from someone starting CPR?” asked Dr. Paul Chan, M.D., the first study author asked about this topic. Dr. Chan is also a cardiologist at Saint Luke’s Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri.

He adds, “These findings suggest we need to have a more complex understanding of improving survival and whether CPR delivered by bystanders provides similar survival benefits to all patients.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 13, 2024

Basketball Star Sues WNBA And Las Vegas Aces For Alleged Pregnancy Discrimination

A WNBA star is taking a bold step to protect the rights of pregnant players.

A WNBA player is taking a bold step to protect the rights of pregnant players by filing a lawsuit against the league she’s currently playing for.

On Monday, Aug. 12, Los Angeles Sparks star Dearica Hamby filed a lawsuit against the Women’s National Basketball Association and the Las Vegas Aces, accusing them of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Yahoo Sports reports. According to Hamby, she experienced discrimination and retaliation over her pregnancy, which was revealed shortly after signing a two-year contract in June 2022.

The contract included “an agreement by the Las Vegas Aces to cover private tuition costs” for Hamby’s daughter, Amaya. It offered team-provided housing, which Hamby used for her family to assist with childcare duties while she was away traveling for games. However, weeks after signing the contract, Hamby learned she was pregnant with her second child.

The suit alleges that Hamby “experienced notable changes in the way she was treated by Las Vegas Aces staff” after she made her pregnancy public by informing Aces coach Becky Hammon and General Manager Natalie Williams. The change in treatment included withholding the promised tuition relief for her daughter’s school and her alleged forced removal from the team-provided housing.

Hammon is also accused of questioning “Hamby’s dedication and commitment to the team” during a January 2023 phone call, the same month Hamby was traded to the L.A. Sparks. The suit alleges Hammon “did not deny the accusation that Hamby was being traded because she was pregnant.”

After being traded, Hamby requested an investigation into the Aces in January 2023 through the WNBA Player’s Association. The league opened an investigation the following month and completed it in May. Following the inquiry, the WNBA found that the Aces violated league rules for impermissible player benefits, docked the team its 2025 first-round draft pick selection, and suspended Hammon two games without pay for “violating league and team Respect in the Workplace policies.”

“The WNBA is, at its core, a workplace, and federal laws have long shielded pregnant women from discrimination on the job,” Hamby’s legal team said in a statement.

“The world champion Aces exiled Dearica Hamby for becoming pregnant, and the WNBA responded with a light tap on the wrist. Every potential mother in the league is now on notice that childbirth could change their career prospects overnight. That can’t be right in one of the most prosperous and dynamic women’s professional sports leagues in America.”

Hamby filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, claiming to have suffered “a loss of reputational prestige and brand value” and “loss of marketing and/or endorsement opportunities” after her removal from the Aces. She is seeking damages through a jury trial.

Hamby continues to shine as a star player on the L.A. Sparks, averaging career-highs in points (19.2), rebounds (10), and assists per game (3.5) and winning the bronze medal as part of Team USA’s 3×3 women’s basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Black Entrepreneur Invests $75K To Launch Online Stretching Portal For Diverse Audience

by Jeffrey McKinney

August 13, 2024

Black Entrepreneur Invests $75K To Launch Online Stretching Portal For Diverse Audience

New online portal provides multiple all-body stretch and curated exercises among its offerings

The stretching business has been growing like mushrooms in the last decade.

Now, an Afro-Caribbean entrepreneur is launching an online portal on physical exercise, which he proclaims differs from others. Named Stretchergy.com, owner Ramon Felix says his enterprise provides multiple all-body stretch exercises and a user-friendly platform catering to a diverse audience.

Further, he stressed that the “revolutionary” platform is affordable for subscribers at $15 monthly. Felix declares the cost is much lower than traditional stretching locations because they typically have to cover operating expenses, including providing trainers and staff.

“No other platform offers curated exercises that consumers—young and old, fit or frail—can use anytime, anywhere and also perform with personalized playlists,” Felix stated via email.

Equipped with 25 years of experience in the wellness industry, Felix says he invested $75,000 from personal savings and investment from his wife to start up early this summer.

But he is facing a highly competitive landscape. Other businesses, including StretchLab and Stretch Zone, have each opened over 300 franchise locations, according to this report. Also, gym and fitness outlets like Gym Guys, Life Time, and Planet Fitness reportedly supply assisted stretching among their offerings.

Felix says his business sets itself apart from brick-and-mortar competitors by providing online solutions that enhance flexibility and wellness.

Further, he hopes to prosper from a growing number of people who have jumped on the self-care and wellness bandwagon, supposedly fueled partly by the COVID-19 pandemic and greater interest in weightlifting. The global fitness app market was worth $9.25 billion in 2023 and is estimated to have an annual compounded growth rate of around 14% from 2024 to 2030.

Felix pointed out that many people turned online during the pandemic for their fitness needs and saw a void in the marketplace. A certified personal trainer, Felix says he noticed people in the gym not focused on stretching/flexibility, creating the need for him to make it available to the masses.

Another challenge Felix might have to overcome is proving critics wrong who question the advantages of stretching. Some doctors have publicly stated that exercise is not a cure-all for stopping injuries and enhancing a person’s health entirely. They contend that physical activity like walking, strengthening, and cardio exercise can bring more benefits than just stretching.

Felix responded, “Stretching should not be done in isolation but integrated into your overall fitness regimen.”