Deion Sanders, Professor, Coach Prime, Classroom, Players
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 9, 2024

Deion Sanders Chastises Team After Professor Complains That Players Disrespect Him In Classroom

"Students do not follow even minimally and it slows down my class so much. That makes it clear that they don't want to be here."

Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders chastised his football players after a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder said the student-athletes “make it clear that they don’t want to be here.”

Sanders was not at all happy with his players after a professor at the university wrote the coach a letter that his players did not pay much attention in class and that he has to repeat things because the players don’t want to be there.

In a video that has made the rounds on social media, Sanders reads the letter to the players and displays it on a screen for the players.

“This semester has been extremely challenging for me as a professor. I have never felt so disrespected in my 10 years of teaching. Students do not follow even minimally and it slows down my class so much. That makes it clear that they don’t want to be here, they have very little personal responsibility, making ME responsible for their grades. For the students that do want to learn, it has been a bad experience as well since they have to work on breakout rooms, and the distracted students do not bring anything to the table. I often have to repeat the same three to four times because student-athletes are present but not really in class. I do not think they have committed to my class of the online format. I recommend that they take in-person classes next time.”

Sanders then read critiques about certain players from the professor’s letter, telling the players his goal is to make them men since they choose not to be great football players.

He then filmed a segment speaking to his coaches about what just transpired.

“I’m a little frustrated, I’m a little angry right now. We in this new collective and NIL state of mind, we’ve got youngsters that are all in on one side of the game. Ninety or 95% of your roster ain’t going pro, so coaches, we’ve got to emphasize education. We’ve got to emphasize life, and we’ve got to emphasize the next step, the next elevation if it don’t work. So, today, was not wonderful, but I be dern if I allow these kids to get out of here without something.”

Mayor Eric Adams, Alex Spiro
by Stacy Jackson

April 9, 2024

NY City Hall Hires Celebrity Attorney To Represent Mayor Eric Adams

A city spokesperson clarified the attorney, who previously charged JP Morgan Chase $2,025 an hour will be paid significantly less.

New York City Hall has enlisted the services of celebrity attorney Alex Spiro to represent Mayor Eric Adams in a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault toward former city colleague Lorna Beach-Mathura in 1993.

The high-profile lawyer of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has been brought on as co-counsel, according to a court filing by the city law department on Monday. Politico reported that a 2023 profile stated Spiro, who has represented clients like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, entertainment mogul Jay-Z, and actor Alec Baldwin, is known for “protecting the rich and famous from the consequences of their poorest decisions.”

According to a City Hall spokesperson, the attorney who previously charged JPMorgan Chase $2,025 an hour on a fraud case will be paid $250 an hour for work by partners and $175 for work by associates, a significantly smaller amount than the one charged to the bank.

Adams will not pay out of his own pocket, as City Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix confirmed last month that he qualified for free legal representation from the city since he was a city employee with the Transit Police in 1993 when he was accused of sexually positioning and masturbating in front of his former colleague.

The mayor denied the claims and stated he doesn’t recall meeting Beach-Mathura. His legal team has further criticized the plaintiff’s track record, pointing to the plaintiff’s history of filing numerous lawsuits that have yielded little success. The present case against Adams was initiated under the Adult Survivors Act, a legislative measure that extended the statute of limitations for certain sexual offenses.

A spokesperson for the law department advised that the city anticipates the case to be a resource-intensive endeavor, stating, “In certain cases, the Law Department retains outside firms to provide assistance during litigation…We retained the firm of Quinn Emanuel to serve as co-counsel to assist us in representing the city and the mayor in this case to ensure the Law Department can maximize its existing resources on our numerous other matters.”

Legal expert Arthur Schwartz asserted that Spiro’s adeptness in navigating media scrutiny could have contributed to the recent hiring. “They’re going to have to deal with all of the publicity and people standing in the hallway taking photographs shouting out questions,” he said. He added that if the case goes to trial, Spiro is well-versed in managing high-profile, celebrity cases.

Brehanna Daniels, NASCAR, tire changer, pit, member, Naascar
by Stacy Jackson

April 9, 2024

First Black Woman In NASCAR’s Pit Praises Organization’s Diversity Efforts

Daniels says the diversity among the NASCAR pit members is clear and being the first Black woman was an opportunity much bigger than herself.

Brehanna Daniels, NASCAR’s first Black woman pit crew member, is brimming with pride over the organization’s efforts to foster greater diversity.

Although Daniels acknowledges that NASCAR is comprised of predominantly white men, she is impressed with the progress the sport has made in terms of gender and racial inclusion. “I love to see the growth, and I’m really super, super proud of NASCAR,” the 30-year-old told People. “They’ve definitely come a long way. Still coming a long way from when I first joined.”

According to the NASCAR hire, there’s an obvious shift in diversity within the pit crew.

Daniels’ journey with NASCAR commenced in 2016 when the organization’s Drive for Diversity program recruited at her alma mater, Norfolk University. BLACK ENTERPRISE covered her historic accomplishment when she became the first Black woman over-the-wall tire changer in NASCAR’s annals in 2017 and achieved another milestone by the end of that year, becoming part of the inaugural female duo in a NASCAR pit crew.

Reflecting on her initial lack of NASCAR knowledge with People, the former basketball point guard shared, “I did not even watch it. It was so bad that I didn’t even know a pit crew existed.” Daniels admitted her concern. “Before I got into the sport, I was a little nervous because, obviously, anybody that hears NASCAR or heard NASCAR back then, all you think of is Caucasian males…Then I was thinking, why would I want to join a sport where there’s nobody out there that looks like me?”

However, her skepticism to join an organization she knew nothing about eased after learning she would be making history in the role. “Once I found out that I was going to be the first Black woman, I’m like, wait. At this point, it’s much bigger than me,” she said.

Daniels was driven by a desire to “be that example” for little Black girls and other women who aspire to join the professional world of car racing. She released her e-book, How to Become a NASCAR Pit Crew Member, as part of her efforts to boost representation and encourage others to pursue the sport.

Washington University, Protest
by Daniel Johnson

April 9, 2024

Black Students Protest After Racist Incident At Washington University

The association has also been calling for the organizations the students represented, Alpha Phi and Kappa Sigma to be barred from the university and the students who participated in the incident to be expelled.

Following an incident in March involving a group of students allegedly throwing eggs, standing on tables, and using racial slurs in the presence of a group of Black cafeteria workers, Washington University’s Association of Black Students led a sit-in at the dining hall on April 5. 

As the Associated Press reports, the students met in the university cafeteria to express solidarity with the cafeteria workers who were not present the night of the alleged incident and to write them thank-you notes. 

The group posted a statement to Instagram decrying a culture of racism it says pervades not only the St. Louis private university but other elite universities around the country. 

“It shows how racism is still a part of the culture and has been fostered at Washington University, elite institutions, and historically white organizations for far too long.”

David Cook, the president of a food workers union in St. Louis, told the St. Louis Dispatch that although the eggs and racial epithets were not aimed at the dining room workers, they still felt uncomfortable. 

The President of the Association of Black Students, Taylor Robinson, an anthropology major, told the outlet the students were in disbelief about the incident.

“Myself and other students, we talked to the dining workers,” Robinson said. “They serve us food, they ask us how we are, and we care about what happened to them. We could not believe that it was true.”

The association has also called for the organizations the students represented, Alpha Phi and Kappa Sigma, to be barred from the university and for the students who participated in the incident to be expelled. 

Student Life, the independent student newspaper at Washington University, reported that the two organizations have temporarily been suspended due to their connection to the incident. 

According to a worker who remained anonymous due to fear of retaliation, the incident may have been connected to frat week or rush week based on what they heard others say. 

The Dean of Students, Rob Wild, told the paper that the university has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of its employees and that the Office of Student Affairs has been in contact with Dining Services about the incident. 

“The new member process is very traditional for sororities and fraternities,” Wild explained. “Sometimes things happen that are not on the list that’s submitted to us, and if those are violations, we’ll address them with the groups.” 

Robinson said that the university needs to take decisive action, telling the Dispatch, “The university needs to take action when things like this occur on campus. If they could do it to dining workers, who says they wouldn’t do it to a Black student?”

Beyoncé, Billboard Country Albums Chart, Cowboy Carter
by Stacy Jackson

April 9, 2024

Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Makes Historic No. 1 Appearance On Billboard Country Albums Charts

The "Cowboy Carter" album has also topped the Billboard 200, Americana/Folk Albums, and Top Album Sales charts.

Beyoncé continues to make history with her new Cowboy Carter album as the trailblazing artist became the inaugural Black woman to reign supreme atop Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart.

The multitalented visionary’s eighth solo studio offering, unveiled on March 29, not only conquered the Country Albums arena but also secured the coveted number one positions on the Billboard 200, Americana/Folk Albums, and Top Album Sales charts. Thanks to the album’s success, the Grammy-winning artist was also recognized for surpassing 100 Career Hot 100 Hits, increasing her career total from 85 entries to 106.

Lending her voice in support of Beyoncé’s ventures into the country music realm, Carlene Carter, daughter of the legendary country artist June Carter Cash, issued a poignant statement, according to Entertainment Weekly. “I’ve caught wind of some negativity over the release of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, her new country album,” she said, compelled to question “why anyone would treat a Carter this way?” Carlene added, “She is an incredibly talented and creative woman who obviously wanted to do this because she likes country music; in my book, she’s one of us Carter women, and we have always pushed the boundaries by trying whatever music we felt in our hearts and taking spirit-driven risks.”

“Texas Hold ‘Em,” held its own as the album’s lead single, which etched another pioneering accomplishment, becoming the first offering from a Black woman to secure the coveted number-one spot on Billboard‘s Country Songs chart.

Bey’s entrance into the country genre hasn’t been a smooth ride. BLACK ENTERPRISE recently mentioned that representatives from New York City’s esteemed Guggenheim Museum denied giving Beyoncé permission to project a promotional visual for Cowboy Carter onto the museum’s exterior, which contradicted the expectations of eager fans who anticipated witnessing such a spectacle.

In an Instagram post, Beyoncé shed light on the album’s genesis, revealing that it stemmed from a past encounter where she “did not feel welcomed.” Her explanation to fans stated, “Because of that experience, I delved deeply into the annals of Country music, meticulously studying our rich musical heritage.”

The multi-talented artist enlisted the talents of revered collaborators whom she profoundly respects, including the iconic country singer Dolly Parton.

Charlotte Hornets, Lindsey Harding, Head Coach
by Stacy Jackson

April 9, 2024

Charlotte Hornets Cleared To Interview Lindsey Harding For Head Coach Position

The former WNBA st aris vying for a historic position as the team's head coach, following her recognition as NBA G League Coach of the Year.

The Charlotte Hornets have obtained clearance to conduct an interview with former WNBA star Lindsey Harding for their vacant head coaching position.

Should Harding secure this coveted role, she would etch her name in basketball history as the first woman to assume the mantle of head coach for an NBA franchise, The Athletic reported.

The former Duke standout, who coached the Stockton Kings to success in the NBA G League, etched a remarkable achievement last week by becoming the inaugural woman to be bestowed with the NBA G League Coach of the Year accolade, a testament to her adept guidance of the Stockton Kings to an impressive 24-10 regular-season record.

As the current season draws to a close, Steve Clifford is poised to relinquish his duties as the Charlotte Hornets’ head coach, with the expectation of transitioning into a front-office role within the organization, according to ESPN. Jeff Peterson, the newly appointed executive vice president of basketball operations for the Hornets, underscored the team’s commitment to conducting an extensive search process, stating, “We will look to hire someone that shares our values and vision in developing our young core and creating a culture and identity based on teamwork, accountability, and competitiveness.”

In a 2022 NCAA podcast interview with Bonnie Bernstein, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the need for greater female representation in professional basketball. “In jobs that aren’t about how high you can jump, or how strong you are, or how tall you are, things should be completely equal,” Silver said. “I think you’re going to see that over time in the coaching ranks.” While Silver commended the increasing presence of female officials in NBA games, he conceded that coaching staffs had lagged behind, attributing it to “a bias in the system” and the ongoing development of a new pool of candidates. “I would be hugely disappointed, if certainly, in five years, we haven’t seen our first female head coach in the NBA.”

The Athletic noted that Becky Hammon made history in December 2020 when when she became the pioneering woman to assume the role of head coach in an NBA game after Gregg Popovich’s ejection from the San Antonio Spurs’ face-off against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Joel Embiid, sketchers
by Rafael Pena

April 9, 2024

NBA Superstar Joel Embiid Partners With Skechers

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, has set the basketball world abuzz once again – in a surprising move, donning his new pair of Skechers.

Andscape reports that following his triumphant return to the court, Joel Embiid, the towering force behind the Philadelphia 76ers, has set the basketball world abuzz once again. In a surprising move, Embiid stepped onto the court on April 2, donning the Skechers SKX Float, signaling a potential shake-up in basketball sneakers.

Embiid showcased his prowess on the court, tallying 24 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Amid the spotlight of his stellar play, the reigning NBA MVP seized the moment to unveil his latest endeavor with Skechers, according to Sports Illustrated. The towering 7-footer donned his new Skechers in a striking “white/black/orange” colorway, marking a significant shift in his footwear choices. These hoop shoes are available for $140 in adult sizes on the Skechers website and represent a new chapter in Embiid’s athletic journey.

Moreover, Skechers’ burgeoning presence underscores a paradigm shift in athlete endorsement deals. Gone are the days when athletes exclusively vied for contracts with industry behemoths like Nike and Adidas. With Skechers’ meteoric rise in sales, surpassing $8 billion in 2023, and its recent collaborations with luminaries like Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, the brand emerges as a formidable contender in the competitive footwear landscape.

The reported partnership between Embiid and Skechers underscores a broader trend in the endorsement market, where athletes increasingly prioritize factors beyond traditional shoe deals. From part ownership to long-term brand-building opportunities, players seek partnerships that align with their values and aspirations for sustained success.

Last year, Embiid announced a partnership in movie production with LeBron James’s Springhill Company. Embiid’s production studio is called Miniature Géant; among its initial endeavors, the company is embarking on a documentary project tracing Embiid’s remarkable journey from the streets of Yaoundé, Cameroon, to his current stature as a six-time NBA All-Star crowned most valuable player of the league in recent times.

Drones, Insurance, Homes, aerial, graphics, insurance companies, claims, denied
by Daniel Johnson

April 9, 2024

Insurance Companies Reportedly Using Drones To Deny Insurance Claims

Insurance companies are increasingly pulling images from a network of drones, planes, and high-altitude balloons which cover a majority of the United States in order to review and deny homeowners coverage for policyholders.

A new report from The Wall Street Journal revealed that some insurance companies have been using footage captured by drones to deny homeowners insurance coverage. Some homeowners say that the images used to justify the cancellation of their coverage are inaccurate. 

Cindy Pecos, a California resident, told Business Insider that although she conducted an independent investigation that refuted the company’s cancellation, her insurer still dropped her based on the images they had on file. 

Despite the inaccuracy of the images captured by the drones, including outdated images, insurance companies are increasingly pulling from a network of drones, planes, and high-altitude balloons that cover a majority of the United States. The companies then use the images captured from these sources to review and deny homeowners coverage for policyholders. 

In 2023, CJ Sveen told ABC 7 that his insurance company informed him that he had lost his insurance based on aerial photos that depicted hazards in his yard. Similar to Pecos, he was denied access to photos of his property. After receiving a letter informing him that his insurer was canceling his policy because there was “debris, hazardous conditions, tires or a dilapidated car” on his property, he gave them a call because no one had come to his home to physically inspect it.

“And they said, ‘Oh, we sent over a drone.’” Sven recalled. “And, like, they have a drone that they sent over my property. Just flew into my yard. So, very shocked, yeah. I guess the old-school way would be to knock on your door; I guess they don’t do that anymore, they send a drone.”

California State Automobile Association (CSAA) Insurance Group told ABC 7 that they don’t have a drone, but they rely on “proprietary aerial imagery” and said those images may be captured by “fixed-wing airplane or satellite.”

They also informed the outlet that people can use services like Google Earth 3D if they want to get an idea of what insurance companies are looking at in order to make their decisions on homeowner policies. 

According to an investigation by WHEC, Rhett VanScoter, an insurance agent who runs VanScoter Insurance Agency, said that insurance companies are using the images to avoid any risk of having to pay out claims. As a result, they are purchasing the aerial images captured by third parties.

VanScoter also informed the outlet that he believes the insurance companies who use the images are justified, even though homeowners are not notified of any review of their policies until they receive a letter of denial from an insurer. 

“I think it is (justified). The insurance companies, unfortunately, they have lost money on homeowner’s insurance for five of the past six years. So they have to do whatever they can to get back to profitability.”

RELATED CONTENT: Police: Atlanta HOA Didn’t Pay Insurance Money to 18 Families Displaced by Fire

FINANCE, GOALS, WANTS IT ALL, TIPS, WORK LIFE , financial literacy, camp, kids, millionaire, webinar, BALANCE, FINANCIAL, job, day job, career
by Kandiss Edwards

April 9, 2024

Use Financial Literacy Month To Get Those Finances In Order

April 1 marked the first day of Financial Literacy Month. During this month, we'll be sharing tips on how to improve your financial literacy and how to pass along your knowledge to others.

Originally Published Apr. 2, 2014.

April 1 marked the first day of Financial Literacy Month. During this month, we’ll be sharing tips on how to improve your financial literacy and how to pass along your knowledge to others.

Here are a few things you can do in honor of this month:

Enroll in a webinar

There are plenty of free financial literacy tools you can take advantage of. For example, Money Management International has a web series on personal financial management. Topics include goal setting, credit reporting, managing credit, debt repayment, and budgeting.

Sign up for a money camp

If you have children or know children who could benefit from a financial literacy course, look into enrolling them in a money camp. One such camp is Camp Millionaire, which has money camps both nationally (such as Atlanta, California, and Virginia) and internationally (such as Australia, Brazil, and Canada). For more information on money camps, read Take Your Kids to Money School!

Pick up a book

There are many personal finance books that will assist you with building your financial literacy. For a beginner’s guide to money, try checking out Personal Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson (Wiley Publishing Inc.; $21.99) and The Random Walk Guide to Investing: Ten Rules for Financial Success by Burton G. Malkiel (W. W. Norton & Co. Inc.; $15.95).

RELATED CONTENT: How To Manage Finances For Senior Family Members

Elderly, tax breaks, parents, children, elderly, deduction, file, taxes, sandwich generation, sandwich
by John Simons

April 9, 2024

If You’re Caring For An Elder You Qualify For These Tax Benefits

Uncle Sam has a few tax breaks this season to ease pressure on the so-called Sandwich Generation.

Originally Published Apr. 6, 2011.

Uncle Sam has a few tax breaks this season to ease pressure on the so-called Sandwich Generation.

Demographic trends and the sour economy are forcing families to come together to provide for older relatives. The number of young adults “sandwiched” between raising young children and aiding elderly parents is 23%, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. Another 7 to 10 million adults are caring for aging parents long-distance. Caregivers are spending thousands yearly to care for elderly family members. The same survey found that more than a third of caregivers were forced to quit jobs, take early retirement, reduce hours, or take a leave-of-absence to provide elder care themselves.

Unfortunately, many taxpayers remain unaware that tax laws allow them to write off some of the expense of elder care. “Whether you’re providing that care yourself, or you’ve hired a caregiver, you should take advantage of the tax breaks that are a true gift in these troubled economic times,” says Peter Ross, CEO of Senior Helpers, a leading provider of in-home senior care.

If you’re caring for elderly parents, here are two things you can do this season to reduce your tax burden, according to Perspective Accounting Services, a Raleigh, North Carolina tax preparation consultancy:

Claim your parent as a dependent

Your parent’s income, excluding Social Security, must be less than the amount of the personal exemption. For 2023, the personal exemption was $4,700. For 2024 tax year, it’s $5,050. In addition, you must provide more than 50% of a parent’s financial support to claim them as a dependent. You can claim more than one parent as a dependent if both meet the income and support guidelines. If a parent lives with you, you can include a percentage of your mortgage and utilities.

Deduct your parent’s medical expenses

If you contribute to a parent’s health care expenses and pay the health care provider yourself (versus giving your parent the money to pay), you may qualify to deduct costs – even if you can’t claim the parent as a dependent. To claim this deduction, you must provide at least 50% of your parent’s financial support. You don’t have to meet the income threshold. This deduction is limited to medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Nursing home costs, in-home health care, dental care, and prescription drugs are some of the expenses that qualify. Also, you can include your own unreimbursed medical expenses when calculating these total costs.

Before making any deductions on your taxes, be sure to consult a trained tax consultant.

RELATED CONTENT: Two-Thirds Of Americans Believe They Pay Too Much In Taxes

×