Kevin porter Jr, trade, domestic violence

by Sharelle Burt

September 15, 2023

Could The Houston Rockets Trade Kevin Porter Jr. After His Domestic Violence Arrest?

It’s not looking too good for Kevin Porter, Jr. After reports of the baller’s arrest on Sept.11, the Houston Rockets are looking to trade him.

According to Shams Charania at The Athletic, the Rockets have reached out to several organizations “offering draft compensation as an incentive to receive Porter.” The Rockets would use the salary of Porter—who is set to earn $15.9 million in the first year of a four-year, $82.5 million deal—on a player under contract who can play immediately.

An NBA source told Charania that the Rockets are “keeping all options open with the future of Porter.”

The shooting guard was taken into custody at the New York Police Department’s 17th precinct and charged with felony assault and strangulation against his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick. Gondrezick, who suffered a fractured neck vertebrae and a cut above her right eye, allegedly got upset after Porter returned to their hotel room late and locked the door.

Prosecutors claim the attack didn’t stop until Gondrezick left the Millennium Hilton Hotel room covered in blood. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called the allegations “horrific.”

“We have a domestic violence policy that was collectively bargained with the Players Association. They certainly feel as strongly as we do about the issue,” Silver told the media at a recent Board of Governors meeting in New York. “Every case though also depends on its unique facts.”

Porter has had a decent run as a member of the Rockets. According to CBS Sports, Porter had his best season last year, averaging career-highs in points and rebounds as the team’s starting point guard. However, his presence came with some drama. He was suspended once for leaving the arena during a game after an argument with teammate Christian Wood.

by Stacy Jackson

September 15, 2023

DeSantis Administration Challenges CDC On COVID-19 Booster Recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have updated its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is advising otherwise.

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, the CDC released a statement recommending “everyone 6 months and older … If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past 2 months, get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself this fall and winter.”

According to NBC News, in an online panel hosted by DeSantis, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the state surgeon general, made a statement that goes against the CDC recommendations.

“What I have directed our department to do is to provide guidance that really recommends and advises against the use of these mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for anyone under 65,” Ladapo said.

Reportedly, the advice is contrary to the CDC’s recommendation for people to receive the new booster that targets a subvariant of omicron called XBB.1.5, which now accounts for the majority of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. The new boosters are updated versions of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines.

“Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. Vaccination also reduces your chance of suffering the effects of long COVID,” the CDC stated.

NBC News reported that Ladapo said, “virtually every walking human being [has] some degree of immunity,” but he questioned the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines and added that “it’s not a good decision for young people and for people who are not at high risk at this point in the pandemic.”

In a statement released by the White House, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, responded to the DeSantis administration’s advice by calling it “dangerous.” Cohen assured the vaccines have been “…thoroughly and independently reviewed by the FDA and CDC.” He explained that the vaccines are responsible for having saved millions of lives and asserts the beliefs that undermine vaccination efforts are “unfounded and dangerous.”

Formerly, DeSantis supported the COVID vaccines. In July 2021 he said, “these vaccines are saving lives.” According to the outlet, DeSantis has used his disapproval of the COVID vaccines to help build his administration’s healthcare platform and to criticize former President Donald Trump, whose administration approved the use of the mRNA vaccines.

Some doctors, such as Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, have noted that “healthy, young people” have a “low risk, low reward” when receiving the booster.

“You can certainly be hospitalized at less than 65 years of age if you have comorbidities or you’re immune-compromised or you’re pregnant, so that doesn’t make any sense,” Offit said.

According to the CDC, there has been data which reveals some risks associated with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. There is an increased risk in adolescent and adult males for myocarditis, identified as inflammation in the heart. The CDC stated the benefits of receiving the vaccinations are greater than the risks even in this group of people.

The Florida Healthcare administration said there was no “meaningful booster-specific clinical trial data performed in humans” in regards to the approval of the new booster.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 15, 2023

Beyonce’s Dancers, Les Twins, Defend Her Against Unruly Fan

Beyoncé’s longtime dancers got into formation to defend the superstar at a recent show. After a concertgoer threw an item onstage, the French dancing brothers known as Les Twins came to the rescue.

Video footage detailed the incident at one of the Los Angeles shows during “The Renaissance World Tour.” Tiktoker @travis_in_cali’s video of the incident went viral.

@travis_in_cali Something gets thrown at Beyonce on stage and Les Twins are ready to fight. Drunk In Love #lestwins #beyonce #renaissanceworldtour #reniassance #sofistadium #losangeles ♬ original sound – Travis_in_cali

One of the twins immediately went to the area to snatch an object from a concertgoer’s hands to prevent another occurrence. His brother followed with backup. The twins also shared a few choice words at the disruptor for disrespecting Beyoncé. The singer was performing her smash hit, “Drunk in Love,” and seemed unaffected. The show continued without further issue.

Les Twins, whose real names are Laurent and Larry Nicolas Bourgeois, are long-standing performers of Beyoncé’s concert family, first appearing in her “Mrs. Carter World Tour “in 2013. They are now a consistent element of her show, with a set to demonstrate their innovative skills during the singer’s costume changes.

In addition to the tours, the brothers have prospered in a dancing for other artists such as Chris Brown and Missy Elliott in their shows or music videos

This is not the first time the men have had Beyonce’s back. They helped the megastar with a wardrobe malfunction at a June show in Germany. Referring to her longtime dancers lovingly as her “first twins,” it is evident that the love is real between Beyoncé and her concert crew.

by Derek Major

September 15, 2023

LeBron James, Other Veteran Stars Qualify For Exception To NBA’s New Resting Rules

The NBA is cracking down on star players taking games off for load management, passing a new rule limiting how often teams can hold their best players out of games.

Sports Illustrated reports the NBA will now fine teams starting at $100,000 for resting star players during nationally televised and in-season tournament games or for resting multiple star players during games. A star player is defined as anyone who has been named to an All-Star team or All-NBA team in the past three years.

However, some players who are considered star players under the rule, will be exempt from the resting rules. The NBA will pre-approve load management for players who are 35 and older on opening night. Who have played more than 34,000 career minutes in the NBA or have played a combined 1,000 career regular season and playoff games.

Only seven players fall under the criteria: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, Golden State Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden, Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley.

Teams will be able to seek pre-approval on a case-by-case basis to sit players with extensive injury histories.

Load management was largely promoted by San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich who would sit stars Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker during nationally televised Thursday night games, especially on the road.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kwahi Leonard also used load management to sit out games when he was with the Toronto Raptors.

Some players have fought back against sitting out games for rest. Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards called out players for load management last season.

“Just play, if you 80% you gotta play, I don’t like all the sitting, missing games,” Edwards said at last year’s All-Star Media Day.

“These people might have enough money to come to one game, you know what I’m saying and that might be the game they come to and you sitting out, so I take pride in trying to play every game.”

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle also expressed his feelings against load management last season.

“I understand the science and all that different stuff behind it,” Randle said following a Knicks win against the Celtics last season according to the New York Post.

“But I guess I have my own science. … I just put way too much into my body, for me personally to cheat myself out of being available for my team.”

National Business League ® (NBL), the National Black Supplier Development Program (NBSDP)

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 15, 2023

NBL National Black Supplier Development Program Participants Awarded $100M In Contracts

In a resounding success story for the National Business League (NBL), the National Black Supplier Development Program (NBSDP) proudly announced that over the past two years, its alumni have secured over one hundred million dollars in purchasing contracts, solidifying its position as one of the most impactful initiatives in the nation for Black-owned businesses.

“We have progressed far beyond the days of business card exchanges, chicken dinners, empty press conferences, and announcements, and we are now steadfastly dedicated to fostering commerce-driven initiatives and purposeful opportunities, going beyond mere words and charismatic speeches,” said Dr. Ken L. Harris, Ph.D., the 16th President/CEO of the National Business League.

On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, the NBL welcomed the latest cohort of exceptional Black-owned businesses into the NBSDP. This incoming group, referred to as the Collective, comprises a diverse range of businesses from across the country.

The Advantage Group, Louisville, KY
Mutombo Coffee, New Orleans, LA
Chatdesk Inc., New York, NY
Heritage Vision Plans, Detroit, MI
HESS Advanced Solutions, Dayton, OH
James Group International, Detroit, MI
LED Trail, Portland, OR
Pacific Medical Specialties, LLC, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Polar Group, LLC, Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Production Spring, LLC, Troy, MI
Tucker Technology, Inc., Oakland, CA
VMX International, LLC, Detroit, MI

Dr. Forrest Carter, Ph.D., NBSDP National Director, outlined his vision for the program’s impact on Black businesses, stating, “Our goal is to support the development of more than 3.2 million Black businesses nationwide, providing them with opportunities within the federal government, as well as the public and private sectors.”

The NBSDP, launched in 2021 with initial capital support from MPS Group and a significant three-year funding commitment from presenting partner, Stellantis, was conceived to address the economic challenges faced by Black-owned businesses during the pandemic. It also emerged as a response to the urgent call for racial equity and inclusion following the murder of George Floyd, igniting the global Black Lives Matter movement.

In its second year, the program gained further momentum with the support of partners like Comerica Bank, Cummins, DTE Energy, Ford, GM, Lear, Magna, and Toyota. Remarkably, a waiting list of Fortune 500 companies is eager to join this successful and impactful program in 2024.

by Derek Major

September 14, 2023

Rapper Designer Ordered To Register As Sex Offender Following Sentencing For Plane Incident

Brooklyn-born rapper Desiigner has been ordered to register as a sex offender as part of his sentencing for exposing himself to flight attendants while on a flight back to the U.S. from Japan.

TMZ reported Desiigner was sentenced to two years probation and as part of his sentencing he must participate in a psychiatric evaluation, drug testing, and perform 120 hours of community service. The Panda rapper is also barred from owning or possessing firearms.

Desiigner was charged with indecent exposure in April after being accused of exposing himself in the presence of flight attendants. According to the initial charging documents, Desiigner told federal agents that he didn’t get much “cootie” while overseas and was “brick hard” when he got on the plane.

The documents added that the flight attendant aroused him and “kind of showed her, showed her, un, ‘the magic stick.’ … thinking it would give her “encouragement.”

The rapper claimed he wasn’t under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident and didn’t appear to be impaired when talking to the FBI.

Following the incident, Desiigner put out a statement saying he’d been struggling with his health and was ashamed of his actions.

“For the past few months, I have not been ok, and I have been struggling to come to terms with what is going on,” Desiigner wrote in an Instagram post according to Complex.

“While overseas for a concert I performed at, I had to be admitted to a hospital, I was not thinking clearly. They gave me meds and I had to hop on a plane home. I am ashamed of my actions that happened on that plane. I landed back to the States and am admitting myself in a facility to help me.”

The 2016 XXL Freshman Class member broke out with his smash hits Panda and Timmy Turner but struggled to repeat the success of those records. Desiigner announced he quit rap for good last November following Takeoff’s death.

by Stacy Jackson

September 14, 2023

Fisk University Appoints Nashville Leader, Agenia Walker Clark As Next President

After a yearlong search, Fisk University has announced its next president.

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, the university’s board of trustees declared Agenia Walker Clark the HBCU’s 18th president. According to The Tennessean, the appointment makes Clark the third female to lead the university as she replaces interim president and board member Frank Sims, starting on Nov. 6.

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“To serve a new generation of brilliant, socially minded students—not unlike their counterparts of decades past, like W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, John Lewis, and Dr. Diane Nash—is surely the honor of my lifetime,” Clark said in a news release from the board. “No institution of higher-ed has a richer legacy— or a richer promise for the future—than Fisk.”

The longtime Nashville leader has held roles as a member of the International Women’s Forum; a board member for FirstBank Financial Corp., Belmont University, and Simmons University; vice president of human resources for the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation; senior director of human resources at Vanderbilt University. She is also an inductee in the Academy for Women of Achievement.

“Dr. Clark’s lifelong dedication to improving the lives of young people, along with her unique combination of fundraising and brand-building skills, are exactly what Fisk needs today,” Fisk Board of Trustees Chair Juliette Pryor said in the release. “I know that Dr. Clark’s bold ideas will positively impact our campus community today while assuring a fast-growing trajectory for the future.”

Clark garnered recognition as CEO of the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, a role she held for nearly 19 years. In a news release from the local Girl Scout Council, Clark credited the organization for a “joyous journey” servicing young girls in the community.

“The local Girl Scout Council offered me the opportunity to work with some of the best leaders in this community who have served on its board,” Clark said in a news release from the local council. “Without the board and the strength of the team who makes a difference every day, it would not be possible to serve more than 12,500 girls and 5,000 volunteers.”

The Girl Scouts of Tennessee’s Chief Operating Officer Pam Self will serve as interim CEO as the organization searches for a new leader to replace Clark.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 14, 2023

Diddy Has A Dream Of Teaming Up With Tyler Perry And Byron Allen To Form The Ultimate Media Conglomerate

Sean “Diddy” Combs was on a quest to place Black Entertainment Television back in the hands of Black ownership. When it was announced that Paramount was ready to sell a majority stake in BET, Diddy, Byron Allen, and Tyler Perry, along with other esteemed businessmen, stepped up to the plate. But, after weeks of negotiations and speculation, the company decided to hold on to the brand a little longer.

In an exclusive interview with Billboard, Diddy tells the magazine that he’d like to collaborate with the people he was competing against to obtain BET. He said he really wants Black ownership to have more meaning, and with the power of himself, Perry, and Allen working together, it may set a great example.

“As far as our business strategy, we’re in acquisition mode to really build a Black-owned media conglomerate. That’s why we were looking at BET and at a couple of other businesses. BET is definitely the mecca, the originator of Black media, and still is…. We’re not going to be able to reach our highest level of success in the media world, like a Rupert Murdoch, if we don’t unify. Like me, Tyler Perry, and Byron Allen. We have a responsibility because it’s like 15 of us getting money, but 10 billion people in the world,” he stressed.

Diddy shares a gem that many people involved in the entertainment world have been saying for years: even Black-owned companies have to answer to a white man in some capacity. He also gives his view on diversity—or the lack of it.

“It’s all a bunch of bull**it,” he said. “Diversity isn’t about inclusion; diversity is about sharing power. And nothing has changed. It’s gotten worse. We have some representation … Shout out and all due respect to everybody that’s in power. But [for most people], there’s still somebody over them, a white man that they have to get permission from to do something. And it’s always been the same, no matter what the industry.”

Diddy has been on a good tear lately. Recently honored at the MTV Music Awards, he is gearing up for his Revolt World conference on Sept. 22–24 in Atlanta. He is also celebrating the 10th anniversary of his Revolt TV network, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of Bad Boy Entertainment.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, engagement, girlfriend

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 14, 2023

NBA Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Puts ‘A Ring On It,’ Gets Engaged To Longtime Girlfriend

The “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo, who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, has revealed that he and his girlfriend, Mariah Riddlesprigger, will get married. Later this year, they are expecting their third child.

According to People, the engagement announcement came during a press conference on Sept. 11 that the couple attended to promote their work with Milwaukee’s Diaper Mission. While speaking at the podium, the basketball player let the cat out of the bag–Antetokounmpo referred to Riddlesprigger as his fiancée.

“Soon [I’m going] to be married to this beautiful woman next to me,” the Greek-Nigerian NBA player said.

The couple, who already have two sons—Liam Charles, 3, and Maverick Shai, 2—also revealed that their next child will be a girl.

“I know my two boys are gonna be extremely excited to meet their little sister, and protect her and spend time with her and play with her, and you know, grow up with her,” he told the audience.

The news comes as Antetokounmpo said on a recent podcast, 48 Minutes, that he will be working out with NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.

NBA.com reported that he is excited to learn key moves from one of his childhood idols.

“This season for the training camp, I have a trip that I’m going to go down to Houston and try to work out with Hakeem Olajuwon,” Antetokounmpo said. “I love his game, and if I can kind of take a few things from his game or learn anything from the few days I’m going to spend with him, it’s going to be a blessing.”

The “Greek Freak” and Olajuwon, who is Nigerian American, share a distinction that only one other NBA player has done as well. They are two of only three players in NBA history to win the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award and Defensive Player of the Year award in the same season. The other legendary player to share that feat is Michael Jordan.

HBCU Week Kicks Off With Porter-Gaud’s Breakfast Program, Open To All Students

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 14, 2023

HBCU Week Kicks Off With Porter-Gaud’s Breakfast Program, Open To All Students

In honor of HBCU Week, the Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, SC, hosted its second annual breakfast program on Sept. 13.

According to Live 5 WCSC, the program was initiated by a group of students from the school’s Black Excellence Society. HBCU Week celebrates the rich history of HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities). It was introduced in the 1980s when then-President Jimmy Carter declared the week an official celebration.

According to the school’s website, the Office of Community Engagement and Belonging and the Office of College Counseling at Porter-Gaud School hosted the breakfast program from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Washington Hall on the school’s campus at 300 Albemarle Road.

The program has opened its doors to people of all races after only allowing Black students to participate last year.

“Something new we’re doing this year is last year our breakfast was only open to Black students, but this year we want to expand it,” one of the students, Kendall Givens, said.

“Regardless of if you are a Black, white, Asian, Hispanic, whatever, you can be a part of this group and just be an ally peer.” Tyla Johnson, another Porter-Gaud student, added.

The Director of Community Engagement and Belonging at Porter-Gaud, Dr. Yerko Sepúlveda, also expressed the importance of including everyone in this year’s event.

“They’re not only open to African American students, you know, they also want to bring in a little diversity,” Sepúlveda said. “So, what we’re trying to do is to highlight, you know, the existence of these colleges for kids who might be interested but also to allow other people to learn about the contribution of HBCUs throughout history.”

The program aims to explain the pivotal role HBCUs have played in the nation’s history and their contributions as higher education institutions.

“I think opening this up to all people allows Black kids to feel less isolated,” said student Amber Wilson-Debriano.

People who attended the breakfast heard from current and former students of Porter-Gaud tell them how their experience at an HBCU helped or is helping them. This week’s event was open to the community, including schools in the area.