In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Cecilia Moran, the owner of Hardcore Fitness said, “It’s a piece of art that is honoring an iconic person. That mural also benefits advertising and has a lot of meaning to the city and to Kobe fans. So I said I don’t agree. I don’t want to make the fans mad, and I don’t want to be disrespectful, and I don’t think that mural should be removed.”
Moran’s landlord indicated that he would have the mural removed and would send her the bill for the removal if she did not comply with his wishes.
The mural, which was painted for the gym by Louie Palsino three years ago, depicts Bryant and his daughter Gianna both adorned with angel wings and looking at each other lovingly. The two died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, in Calabasas, California.
“Even if the landlord wants to make money, that’s a landmark people come from all around the world to visit, so it’s good for him, his property, every party in this,” Palsino told the Times, adding that it didn’t make “much sense in taking it down for advertisement.”
Moran says she got her landlord’s permission before letting Palsino create the mural, and the landlord was aware of its creation and did not object to it. Palsino had asked Moran for permission to create the mural shortly after the deaths of Kobe and Gianna, and Moran put up $2,500 of her own money toward supplies and equipment.
Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, shared a link to the petition using Instagram Stories, which is likely the reason for the massive increase in signatures. Moran’s landlord, however, has yet to respond publicly to the request from Bryant or to Moran’s public statements.
Detroit Lions Unveil Bronze Statue Honoring NFL Legend Barry Sanders
Ahead of their home opener against the Seattle Seahawks, the Detroit Lions honored former NFL legend Barry Sanders with an 8-foot bronze statue outside of Ford Field.
Sanders, widely regarded as one of the best running backs ever, was known for his elusive running style, details of which were captured in the statue’s pose.
“Little things like the cut-off gloves that I wore and obviously the very alert eyes,” Sanders told ESPN. “I haven’t had a chance to really soak it in, but those were some of the things I noticed, and obviously sort of the pose is like I’m in action.”
Sanders’ statue was created by Illinois-based Fine Arts Studio Rotblatt Amrany, which made Michael Jordan’s statue outside Chicago’s United Center and Magic Johnson‘s statue outside the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
During the ceremony, a tribute video featuring highlights from Sanders’ playing days as well as tributes from fellow NFL luminaries Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, and Peyton Manning, played. The ceremony was not open to the public, but some current Lions attended.
It’s official! Here’s your first look at the 8-foot bronze statue of #Lions great Barry Sanders — one of the greatest players in NFL history. He is the 1st Lions player to receive a statue. pic.twitter.com/utDAksffbk
“That’s amazing for anybody to get a statue,” Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs said. “It shows that he had a big impact on Detroit, and it shows how thankful the city is for him. I’m happy. Hopefully, I can get one of them one day.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown, another one of Detroit’s young playmakers, told ESPN that his memories of Sanders are tied to his father.
“I played running back my whole life, until I got to high school, and my dad would always show me highlights of Barry. That was the guy. He said he was the ‘coldest dude out.’ So, when I was a kid, I was Barry all the way. Barry and Reggie Bush. Those were my guys, and just watching his highlights, I would be like, ‘This dude is crazy.’ Just being here now, with him getting a statue as one of the best to ever do it, in the entire NFL history, is cool,” St.Brown said.
Sanders’ decision to retire prematurely following the Lions 1998 season has long been one of football’s biggest “what-ifs” as he was within reach of Walter Payton’s then-record 16,726 rushing yards. Sanders revealed during the ceremony that he will release a documentary in November 2023 detailing what led him to retire.
He is first and only Detroit Lions player to receive a statue.
“You heard the saying that you give a person their flowers while they’re around,” Sanders said. “I don’t plan on going anywhere any time soon, I’m just saying that saying … but if this statue could be used with that analogy, then I would have to say this is one heck of a bouquet for me, so thanks a lot. I appreciate it.”
Irish Grinstead Of ’90s R&B Girl Group 702 Dies At 43
Irish Grinstead, a founding member of ’90s girl group 702, has died, according to an Instagram post from her sister and fellow bandmate LeMisha Grinstead on Sept. 16.
“That girl was as bright as the stars!” LeMisha Grinstead wrote in an Instagram post. “She was not only beautiful on the outside, but also within. Sharing the stage with her was a joy I will cherish for the rest of my life! We, the family ask for prayers and respect for our privacy as we grieve an outstanding loss to our family.”
702 is a nod to Las Vegas hometown of the Grinstead sisters and bandmate Kameelah Williams.
The group is best known for their 1996 album No Doubt, which featured its biggest commercial hit, “Steelo,” featuring Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott. “Steelo” was used for the theme song of the popular Nickelodeon television show Cousin Skeeter.
In 1999, the group followed No Doubt up with a self-titled album that contained the hit “Where My Girls At.” In 2006, the group went on an 11-year hiatus, returning in 2021 in the reality show BET Presents: The Encore, which followed them as they attempted to create a supergroup and record an album in 30 days.
Irish May your beautiful soul Rest Peacefully in the arms of the Lord🕊️ A Multitude of prayers for the entire Grinstead family🙏🏾🕊️💔#702 pic.twitter.com/Vfqbwfzxqj
Missy Elliott, who produced four tracks including “Steelo” on the group’s 1996 album, shared her condolences both in the comments on LeMisha’s Instagram post and in her own personal Twitter/X post, writing, “Irish May your beautiful soul Rest Peacefully in the arms of the Lord🕊️ A Multitude of prayers for the entire Grinstead family🙏🏾🕊️💔#702.”
Music critic Craig Seymour also posted his condolences: “💔💔💔 Grateful for what Irish Grinstead brought to R&B. 702 was one of my fave groups! 😢”
💔💔💔
Grateful for what Irish Grinstead brought to R&B. 702 was one of my fave groups! 😢
Halle Berry Disappointed That Drake Used Her ‘Slime’ Photo Without Permission
Halle Berry is not holding back on how she feels about being the cover art for Drake‘s latest single, a collaboration with SZA called “Slime You Out.”
The photo is of the actress covered in green slime at the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, in which celebrities are often “slimed.” The Oscar winner expressed her apparent dismay at Drake’s using the pic in a not-so-subtle post to Instagram.
She included the phrase, “Sometimes you have to be the bigger guy…even if you’re a woman.”
Berry completed the post with the middle finger emoji.
Her followers immediately connected the dots, linking the post to the Drake situation. Berry confirmed her fans’ suspicions in the comments, as one directly asked the star of her thoughts on him using the picture for his song’s release.
Drake’s latest single was released on Sept. 15 alongside the cover art for his upcoming project, For All the Dogs. The artist may have taken Berry’s words to heart: He removed her image from the single. But the initial post is still on his Instagram account for his more than 140 million followers to see.
SZA, who is featured on the song, has yet to publicly express her opinion on the matter. It’s unclear if she had any input on the photo to be used for her highly anticipated Drake collab.
Boyfriend Arrested In Dismemberment Murder Of California Law Student
The dismembered body found in a bag that washed up on the California shoreline in July 2023 has been identified and has led to the arrest of the slain woman’s boyfriend.
DNA testing identified the body as Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner, 27, who was in law school at Golden Gate University. Authorities say she was murdered by her fiancé, dismembered, and her body dumped along the shore in Alameda, according to KRON4.
Her hands, feet, and head were detached from her body.
Buckner, who had a young daughter, was an “infectious spirit” who shed a “radiant light” to all who knew her, her mother wrote on the GoFundMe page created to cover the cost of funeral arrangements.
Forty-two-year-old Joseph Roberts is accused of killing the Howard University graduate and is currently detained at Santa Rita Jail. The Alameda Sun reports that Roberts was charged with first-degree murder, which is punishable by 25 years to life in prison if he is convicted.
During his arrest, he claimed that he was Buckner’s fiancé.
The couple lived in Pleasanton, California, but parts of Buckner’s body were seen on the shore by a person walking along the coast of Bay Farm Island on July 20. According to the Alameda Sun, it was not know how long the remains had been in the water.
Roberts’ arrest provided a “brutal” conclusion to the two-month long, said Alameda Police Sergeant Spencer Mountain.
Police were able to link Roberts to Buckner’s demise through DNA evidence. However, authorities have yet to uncover Roberts’ motive.
The GoFundMe account for Buckner continues to raise funds, some of which will be used for her daughter’s wellbeing and support. With a $100,000 goal before her funeral services on November 4, the family is more than halfway to its goal.
Anyone with additional information on this investigation is asked to contact the Alameda Police Department at 510-337-8402.
Slutty Vegan’s Pinky Cole Cries Over Making ‘Time100 Next’
Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole got emotional after Time magazine announced her inclusion in its annual “TIME100 Next,” a list of up-and-coming power players.
The vegan food entrepreneur took to Instagram to share her feelings.
“I ain’t never knew nobody on the TIME list, and now I’m on that B—-,” expressed Cole through tears of joy in the video post.
In her caption, Cole shouted out the cities that helped her initiative as well as aspiring business owners trying to achieve their goals.
“I’m crying ugly tears all week,” shared the founder of the popular vegan burger chain. “This is a win for ATLANTA, BMORE, and every entrepreneur in America who wakes up everyday to realize their wildest dreams!”
Cole is being featured in the “Phenoms” category, which is for those who have exemplary talent in their field. She was introduced by fellow restaurateur Danny Meyer, who called Cole “irrepressible.”
“Nothing will stop her from showing the world that vegan food can be fun,” wrote Meyer. “Pinky is leading a movement and feeding a yearning desire to belong to a tribe that insists that virtue—and good, naughty fun—make very good bedfellows.”
Cole is joined in this year’s roundup with rapper Ice Spice, NFL quarterback Jalen Hurts, and Afrobeats songstress Tems.
TIME100 Next spotlights those who are rising in their careers. As Cole is still expanding her growing food empire, the ceiling has yet to be reached, and she continues to evolve as a prominent voice in the vegan movement.
Through her monumental success in the restaurant industry, her dedication to making plant-based food appealing to the Black community—in addition to her constant philanthropy—her inclusion in this list is well-deserved.
Rolling Stone Founder Faces Backlash For Bigoted Remarks, Ousted From Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
In an interview with The New York Times, Jann Wenner, Rolling Stone founder and co-founder of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, tried to justify why his new memoir, The Masters, a collection of interviews he’s conducted over the years, only featured white men.
“It’s not that they’re inarticulate, although, go have a deep conversation with Grace Slick or Janis Joplin. Please, be my guest. You know, [Joni Mitchell] was not a philosopher of rock ’n’ roll. She didn’t, in my mind, meet that test,” he told The Times.
The list of artists he’s interviewed include Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Pete Townshend, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, and Jerry Garcia — all white men.
“Of Black artists — you know, Stevie Wonder, genius, right? I suppose when you use a word as broad as ‘masters,’ the fault is using that word. Maybe Marvin Gaye or Curtis Mayfield? I mean, they just didn’t articulate at that level,” Wenner said. “I mean, look at what Pete Townshend was writing about, or Jagger, or any of them, they were deep things about a particular generation, a particular spirit and a particular attitude about rock ’n’ roll. Not that the others weren’t, but these were the ones that could really articulate it.”
This caused significant backlash, and Wenner issued an apology on Sept. 17 through his publisher, Little, Brown and Company, Variety reported.
“In my interview with TheNew York Times I made comments that diminished the contributions, genius and impact of Black and women artists and I apologize wholeheartedly for those remarks,” Wenner said. “‘The Masters’ is a collection of interviews I’ve done over the years that seemed to me to best represent an idea of rock ’n’ roll’s impact on my world; they were not meant to represent the whole of music and its diverse and important originators but to reflect the high points of my career and interviews I felt illustrated the breadth and experience in that career.”
Still and all, Wenner was voted out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The organizationhad already voted to have him removed from its board of directors by the time Wenner’s apology went public.
According to TMZ, music critic Jon Landeau was the only person who voted in favor of keeping Wenner on the board despite his ill-informed comments.
Evelyn McDonnell, a Loyola Marymount journalism professor and expert on music, gender, and politics, criticized Wenner’s larger body of work, writing on Facebook, “This interview with Jann Wenner. This is why I wrote ‘The Feminine Critique’ in 1991. This is why Ann K. Powers and I edited ‘Rock She Wrote’ in 1995. This is why I started reporting on the Rock Hall’s gender inequity in 2011. This is why I edited ‘Women Who Rock’ in 2017. Thank you David Marchese for calling this unapologetic bro to task for his decades of sexism and racism that have resulted in so many false ‘master’ narratives about music history. Not to mention unethical journalism.”
United Auto Workers Union Launch Strike At Big Three Automakers, Demanding Higher Wages And Benefits
In a significant development, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union initiated a strike after negotiations with the Big Three automakers — General Motors, Ford Motors, and Stellantis — failed regarding improved wages and benefits, NBC News reports.
At midnight on Aug. 15, employees walked off the job at a General Motors site in Missouri, a Stellantis location in Ohio, and a Ford site in Michigan. The strike has been brewing for a while as poor labor conditions have been a point of contention between the Big Three automakers and union workers for years. With UAW employees on strike, the economy in the Midwest could be on the brink of collapse, say some experts.
The strike is expected to cause a vehicle shortage, compelling consumers to turn to nonunion businesses for car purchases, resulting in a notable price increase, according to NBC News.
This does not bode well for automaker companies, as a global computer chip shortage during the height of the pandemic already caused a major financial pitfall.
Meanwhile, Republican politicians are forced into a tight spot by this union move. While some Republican lawmakers express support for fairer wages, others suggest that the Biden administration intentionally allowed the strike to occur in largely Republican states in the Midwest as a political move.
Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio questioned the timing and location of the strikes, raising concerns about potential ulterior motives behind the involvement of the Biden administration.
“Now that negotiations have failed to conclude in time to avert a strike, your involvement deserves further scrutiny,” Vance wrote. “Perhaps these are mere coincidences, but your involvement supplies a different explanation and raises questions about the work President Biden enlisted you to do. It is unclear whether your purpose was to facilitate negotiations and avert a strike or to shield President Biden’s policies from scrutiny and protect his and Democrats’ political fortunes. If this is the case, I fear that you have exploited the UAW to protect your boss at the expense of American workers.”
During a rally in downtown Detroit on Aug. 16, union president Shawn Fain voiced his frustration, citing the automaker companies’ substantial profits while employee wages remained stagnant or declined. Fain highlighted the stark disparity between worker pay and the billions in profits garnered by the major automakers over recent years, emphasizing the need for equitable treatment and compensation for the workforce.
Fain created a spreadsheet highlighting showing that the major automakers have seen $20 billion in profit within a recent six-month span and a total of $250 billion over the past decade.
“Our workers have went backwards,” he said. “All three of the Big Three have price-gauged American consumers, they’ve ripped off the American taxpayer, and all three have nickel-and-dimed the American worker.”
‘Mother Of Environmental Justice’ Hazel Johnson Is The Subject Of A New Podcast
A brand-new audio docuseries is shining a light on the efforts of Chicago’s Hazel Johnson, who is considered by many to be the “mother of environmental justice.”
According to Capital B News, the podcast, called “Help This Garden Grow,” chronicles the work that was done by the People for Community Recovery (PCR), which Johnson founded in 1979. Johnson spearheaded the fight to prove that the Altgeld Gardens Public Housing project put its residents at a higher risk of cancer due to its air pollution, lead pipes, and asbestos. Johnson and the organization discovered a link between the living conditions and the deaths of children and adults, including her husband, who lived there.
Johnson’s findings resulted in new water and sewage lines in the community, plus the training of Altgeld Gardens residents to become environmental remediation workers.
“We hope to provide momentum toward building the physical legacy and lineage that Hazel wanted and deserves,” said Daniel Kisslinger, who co-hosts the podcast. “The lineage of her work will enable us to survive and thrive as a city and as a community as we fight for environmental justice.”
According to Capital B News, the PCR and Johnson successfully petitioned the federal government to enforce clean-up efforts on decommissioned projects by large companies.
“Everyone now uses the language of environmental justice, but we thought it was important to acknowledge just how Black that history is,” said Damon Williams, who also co-hosts “Help This Garden Grow.”
The six-episode series includes commentary from Cheryl Johnson, who took over PCR following her mother’s death in 2011.
The fight continues in Chicago. In 2022, activists went on a hunger strike to protest a polluting scrapyard being moved from a wealthy, white Lincoln Park neighborhood to a Southeast Side community of mostly Black and Latino residents.
Interested listeners can learn more about the work of Johnson and the PCR by tuning into “Help This Garden Grow” on Spotify and Apple Music.
No Weapon Could Be Formed Against Black Female Athletes In 2023
This summer, Black female athletes have shown out in multiple sports, whether setting a new standard, bouncing back from obstacles, or continuing their dominance. This summer proved Black Girl Magic is a real thing in sports.
Sha’Carri Richardson
Sha’Carri Richardson had all eyes on her three years ago when she was a gold medal candidate in the 100m and 200m trials leading up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, things changed when she tested positive for cannabis and received a 30-day suspension by USADA, forcing her to miss the Olympics.
Three years later, Richardson isn’t just back but, as she put it, better than ever.
The LSU alum took home her first world title at the world championships in Budapest this summer.
Ten days later, she took home a win in the 100m at the Diamond League Championships in Zurich. After the victory in Budapest, Richardson told reporters that she is not worried about what others think about her anymore and is more focused on herself.
“The world — I’m not worried about the world anymore. I’ve seen the world be my friend. I’ve seen the world turn on me. But [at] the end of the day, I’ve always been with me. God has always been with me, so being on this scale now, it’s my time. It’s always been my time, but now it’s my time to actually do it for myself and the people that feel like me, the people that look like me, and the people that know the truth about themselves as well. I represent those people.”
A’ja Wilson
If you haven’t watched the WNBA this season, you’re missing out on Las Vegas Aces Forward A’ja Wilson’s magical season. The sixth-year player already has two MVP awards and a WNBA title in her trophy case and is working on a third, averaging a career-high 22.8 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Last month, Wilson also tied the WNBA single-game scoring record, lighting up the Atlanta Dream for 53 points. Wilson has led the reigning WNBA champions to the league’s best record (34-6) and the No. 1 seed in the WNBA playoffs.
Wilson and the Aces will begin their title defense Wednesday when they take on the Chicago Sky.
Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff was a favorite coming into this year’s US Open, after a hardcourt run that saw her take home the title at the Cincinnati Open last month, and she did not disappoint.
Gauff won seven matches in two weeks, including defeatingAryna Sabalenka in three sets Saturday to claim the title.
The win is the biggest of Gauff’s young career, and she became the fourth Black American to win the US Open since 2000, sharing the achievement with Venus and Serena Williams, and Sloane Stephens (Naomi Osaka won the US Open in 2018 and 2020 won as a representative of Japan).
Fans of the 19-year-old champion also got to dunk all over commentator and former player Pam Shriver, who congratulated Gauff after stating that Gauff “may not win a Grand Slam title ever.”
In the post-match press conference, Gauff said she’d seen all the comments and kept the receipts.
“I felt like people were like, ‘It was all hype.’ I see the comments. People think I don’t see, but I’m very aware of Tennis Twitter. I know y’all’s usernames. I know who’s talking trash. I can’t wait to look on Twitter right now.”
Simone Biles
Simone Biles is still the best gymnast on the planet and is past the mental health struggles that forced her to pull out of the Tokyo Olympics.
Late last month, the seven-time gold medalist won her eighth title at the U.S. Gymnastic Championships in San Jose. With the win, Biles broke the record for most U.S. all-around titles she previously shared with Alfred Jochim, who won his seventh and final title 90 years ago.
“It’s really amazing. Everybody in here believes in me, and my teammates believe in me, my coaches, my family, everyone,” Biles told NBC the win. “So, I just need to start believing in myself a little bit more. But it feels amazing. And I love the fans, I love the crowd. It’s really special.”
These four Black women have enjoyed a summer of success and serve as role models for the next generation of Black female athletes.
