BV on Sports

L.A. Angels Torii Hunter Says Afro-Latinos Aren't Black?

Quibian Salazar-Moreno — 2010-03-11T09:54:00+00:00

Filed under: Baseball

In a roundtable discussion on race in baseball with USA Today, the subject of the lack of American Black players in the league came up. More Black American athletes are choosing to play other sports, such as basketball and football, but there are plenty of Black Latino (or Afro-Latino) players. According to L.A. Angels center fielder Torii Hunter, however, Black Latinos don't count when it comes to the race disparity in baseball.

"People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African American," Hunter told USA Today. "They're not us. They're impostors. Even people I know come up and say, 'Hey, what color is [former teammate] Vladimir Guerrero? Is he a black player?' I say, Come on, he's Dominican. He's not black."

Apparently someone forgot to tell Hunter that race (Black) and nationality (Dominican) are two different things.

"As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an imitator and pass them off as us," Hunter continued. "It's like they had to get some kind of dark faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them cheaper. It's like, 'Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million, when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?' I'm telling you, it's sad."

For the most part, it seems, in Hunter's mind "black" only refers to African-Americans and not Afro-Latinos. Except for the fact that plenty of Afro-Latino players are holding 7-figure contracts (hardly a bag of chips), it looks like most Afro-Latinos agree with Hunter.

"I took no offense to it," Angels broadcaster Jose Mota, a Dominican, told USA Today, "and I guarantee you that no Latin player would be offended either. I've even been asked the same question, 'Are you black?' So call me an imposter."

"I think most Latin players want to be recognized from where they're really from," added Atlanta Braves catcher Orlando Mercado said. "That's their pride. I'm from (Mayaguez) Puerto Rico, so I want to be recognized as Puerto Rican."

Hunter stands firm in his comments but wanted to make clear that he wasn't disparaging Afro-Latinos but just trying to make the point that he wants more Black Americans on baseball fields. He went on his Angels-sponsored blog to reiterate his point and play down any ideas of racism toward Afro-Latinos.

"What troubles me most was the word impostors appearing in reference to Latin American players not being black players. It was the wrong word choice, and it definitely doesn't accurately reflect how I feel and who I am," Hunter said. "What I meant was they're not black players; they're Latin American players. There is a difference culturally. But on the field, we're all brothers, no matter where we come from, and that's something I've always taken pride in: treating everybody the same, whether he's a superstar or a young kid breaking in to the game. Where he was born and raised makes no difference."

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Marion Jones Keeps WNBA Promise: Signs with Tulsa Shock

Quibian Salazar-Moreno — 2010-03-10T23:42:00+00:00

Filed under: Basketball, Women's Sports

Back in December Marion Jones announced that since her track and field career was over, thanks in part to admitting to using steroids and serving time for lying about it, she would give basketball a shot. And she was serious. On Wednesday the WNBA's Tulsa Shock announced they signed Marion Jones to a one-year contract.

"The word redemption is not in my vocabulary," Jones said at a news conference, according to the Associated Press. "I'm a competitor, I want to play against the best in the world, and I know that I will be doing that."

For those questioning Jones' basketball skills, she was the starting point guard for North Carolina's 1994 national championship women's team, but maintains that she'll be able to keep up with the girls in the league today.

"I think when I even started to think about this 10 months ago, I know how much the game has grown from the time that I played," Jones said. "And that became even more of a challenge for me, because I know that although I know certain things and played a certain way, that it's 10 times faster, that the athletes are 10 times more skilled."

Terms of the one-year contract weren't disclosed but Shock coach Nolan Richardson believes that she will make a difference on the team, even after losing star players Deanna Nolan and Katie Smith after the move from Detroit to Tulsa.

"Watching her go through drills, I saw a player who's perfect for our system," Richardson told the Associated Press. "The one thing I do know is she can run, and any player on my team who wants to be successful needs be able to run."

The addition of Marion Jones to the WNBA should help the league get a few more eyes watching the games. After the novelty of Candace Parker wore off, the league is looking for all the help it can get.

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Jamie Jungers Wins Howard Stern's Tiger Woods Beauty Pageant

Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD — 2010-03-10T23:05:00+00:00

Filed under: Golf & Tennis

One of Tiger Woods' mistresses, Jamie Jungers, was the winner of a peculiar beauty contest the other day. Shock jock Howard Stern held an on-air pageant, featuring Jungers and other women who've allegedly slept with Tiger. The women were asked interesting questions, such as the size of Tiger's penis and what he likes to do to please them in the bedroom. Apparently, Jungers had the best answers, giving her the prize.

Jungers walked away with $75,000 dollars for her win, likely a nice concession for a woman seeking to gain all she can from her 15 minutes of fame. I am not sure what Tiger thinks about the contest, but he's probably used to this silly stuff by now.

Finally and fortunately, we are getting past the most volatile aspect of the Tiger Woods scandal. The stories of mainstream media no longer focus on which porn star or cocktail waitress spent the most time with Tiger - we now know he likes sex like the rest of us (maybe a little bit more, who knows?). Instead, the story is starting to direct itself toward things that actually matter, such as when Tiger is expected to come back to the golf course, and how he will likely torch the field when he returns.

America has learned that Tiger is not perfect, which is surely a relief for the man who was probably tired of living a lie. He will still be one of the most highly paid athletes in the world (maybe the highest), and his life will go on. At the same time, Tiger learned a valuable lesson in the midst of all of this controversy: A person with everything to lose has no business making himself vulnerable to those who have nothing to lose. The long list of women who were very quick to sprint in to the public eye after hearing about his affair is indicative of the fact that Tiger was willing to lose all he has worked for in order to cater to his personal lust. These choices are in stark contrast to the discipline and focus Tiger used to become the man that he is today.

The 2010 PGA Tour will likely be the most interesting in quite a while. While Tiger's enemies stand to the side in a jealous rage, we will see golf become one of the great spectacles of modern sport. Tiger is coming back for the Masters, and he is probably going to win. That will be the final line of this scandal.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

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Lamar Odom Speaks on his Marriage to Khloe Kardashian

Quibian Salazar-Moreno — 2010-03-10T10:13:00+00:00

Filed under: Gossip, Basketball

It's been about six months since L.A. Laker Lamar Odom married reality television star Khloe Kardashian. After meeting for the first time just a couple of months prior, the couple tied the knot back in September for all eyes to see on E! Entertainment Television. The couple still hasn't been able to take a honeymoon thanks to an 82-game NBA season, but Lamar is enjoying every moment he gets with Khloe. In an interview on his own website, Odom said he can't get enough of her:

"Married life is beautiful," Odom said. "I can't complain at all. There aren't too many times in life where one feels like he finds his soul mate, finds someone who understands you. We fit like hand and glove. We don't spend too much time apart, only for work. As a matter of fact, I can't wait to get on the phone, get home and see my wife."

Khloe is busy filming reality television in Miami and has been firing back at tabloids, saying that she and her sisters are getting played by their men. She wrote on her blog that everything is fine and that she has a tough time being away from Lamar.

"So my sisters and I had a great laugh this morning. Star and InTouch Magazines decided to attack our relationships. Apparently I'm heading for divorce, Kim was dumped and Kourt was duped. Duped?!?" Khloe wrote. "What do they even mean by that?? LOL. Wow, sad week for us Kardashian sisters, and how coincidental that this all happened at the same time! That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I mean, Lamar and I are obsessed and can barely be away from each other (he's actually flying to Miami tonight -- we've spent a day apart and that's already too long haha)."

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Michael Vick Accepts Award Despite Protesters

Quibian Salazar-Moreno — 2010-03-10T10:09:00+00:00

Filed under: Football

Despite PETA and other animal rights organizations protesting outside of the 32nd Annual Ed Block Courage Awards banquet, Michael Vick accepted his Ed Block award proudly. According to the Associated Press, protesters were outside of a Baltimore banquet hall holding signs that said, "No Award for Dog Killers," while Vick was inside giving his acceptance speech. Vick's teammates voted for Vick to receive the award, which is given to players who make comebacks from injuries or other situations to make a significant contribution to the team.

"I'm very humbled to be here," Vick told the Associated Press before the award ceremony. "I'm blessed to be voted by my peers, to be here, and this is an opportunity that I will take advantage of and cherish forever. It shows I'm making strides. I'm trying to do the right thing. I think I do exemplify what this award stands for. I think everybody has the right to their own opinion. But I feel like I've done everything that I said I would do, coming out and moving forward. My peers felt like I was doing the right thing, and that I display courage and sportsmanship and leadership. I value their opinion."

Other players who were given the award, included the Patriots' Tom Brady, Chargers' Shawne Merriman and Ravens' Dawan Landry. Vick has been working with the Humane Society of the United States and supports Vick in his endeavors on and off the field.

"The Humane Society of the United States was the toughest critic of Michael Vick when these allegations first came to light," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president and CEO of the Humane Society. "But we want to find creative solutions to try to reach kids, particularly young men, who get pit bulls for the wrong reason. They are really moved after they hear Michael Vick's story, and it turns them away from dog fighting."

Still, there are some folks who don't want Vick playing football or getting any awards. Apparently serving two years in jail isn't enough.

Erin Marcus of Open the Cages Alliance, told the Associated Press, "I don't think there has been enough time for him to show the proper remorse for what he's done to animals."

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Allen Iverson's Life is Reportedly Falling Apart

Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD — 2010-03-09T12:57:00+00:00

Filed under: Basketball

Several sources in the NBA are stating that basketball star Allen Iverson is having serious problems with alcohol and gambling. The issues are significant and are threatening his career. Iverson has only played in 25 games this season for his current team, the Philadelphia 76ers, and his points per game average has dropped to less than half of what it was just three years ago. Iverson recently announced that he was leaving the team to deal with his daughter's illness, but there are concerns that he "will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away."

Iverson's gambling issues are well-known. He has been banned from casinos in Detroit and Atlantic City, N.J., according to Stephen A. Smith, who recently wrote an article about Iverson's situation.

Iverson recently posted four messages on his Twitter account, stating that he is going through "some very tough times." He also had this to say:

"To my fans: You all know that my life isn't perfect. I am going through some very tough times right now, like I am sure that we all do from time to time. However, I will stand tall like always with 'rhino' thick skin."

Iverson's wife, Tawanna, recently filed for divorce on March 4. That was the same day Iverson announced that he would not return for the rest of the season. His wife is seeking custody of the couple's five children in addition to child support and alimony, further adding to Iverson's financial concerns.

Iverson stated on his Twitter account that he grows tired of hearing things that aren't true.

"Even though I have become used to hearing people say things about me that aren't true, it still hurts," Iverson wrote. "I encourage you to continue your ongoing support and I want you to trust that this is another obstacle in my life that, with God's help, I will overcome."

I have always loved Allen Iverson both as an athlete and a person. I never judged him negatively, when he was a young man getting in to trouble in Virginia. I always respected his toughness on the court and the football field and saw him as a champ among champs.

At the same time, I've always been concerned about how the sense of immortality thrust upon athletes can lead them to feel that their lives can never be ruined. When a man's ego is filled with easy access to wealth, women and power, he can find himself in some of the deepest, darkest and most regrettable holes that the human mind can imagine.

Gambling addiction is an incredibly serious problem and an easy path to financial ruin. When gambling addiction is mixed with drugs or alcohol, the trouble grows five fold. As a family man, Iverson has put himself in to a position where everything he's worked for and all that he loves is now in jeopardy. His steep and steady decline in basketball productivity over the past four years only serves to worsen the impact that his personal vices have had on other facets of his life.

Here is my recommendation to Allen Iverson:

1) Get help: Enroll in a program for alcohol and/or gambling addiction immediately. You've made a ton of money in your career, and you don't want to lose whatever you have left.

2) Get back on the basketball court and start working out again: Find a way to recapture what you've lost over the past four years. You're still young enough to have a few very productive seasons and perhaps a good life in the NBA after basketball. Allen Iverson without basketball is not Allen Iverson at all. When you started losing your mojo on the court, you give up your greatest source of power. Let's be real: Similar to Bobby Knight, people only put up with your antics off the court, because they couldn't replace you on the court. Now, you've made yourself replaceable, and like Bobby Knight, all of your enemies and "haterologists" are going to line up to boot you out of the league.

3) Rebalance your family situation: If you need to get a divorce, then do it. If you want to reconcile, then see a counselor. Either way, your volatile home life can undermine your ability to get your professional life back in order. You've got to address that and fix it immediately.

4) Prepare for the future: Allen Iverson has always lived and worked as if his life were expected to be short. He is a fearless beast on the court and an iron man in everything he does. Perhaps now it's time for the iron man to prepare to become an old man. It happens to everyone, and Iverson needs to wonder what he might do in the event that he ends up living another 40 or 50 years. The Allen Iverson story has quite a few chapters remaining, so Allen had better think carefully about his financial and personal moves as he steps in to the future.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

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Tiger Woods Reportedly Preparing for a Comeback

Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD — 2010-03-08T12:25:00+00:00

Filed under: Golf & Tennis

It looks like Tiger Woods may be back on the golf course sooner than most of his critics expect. British website "News of the World" has obtained photos that reportedly show Tiger on the golf course preparing for a comeback. Some believe that the comeback will occur at the Tavistock Cup in about two weeks.

In the pictures, Woods is said to be at his home in Isleworth, where he lives. The golf outing lasted nine hours, implying that Woods was doing some serious preparation.

During the scandal, where Tiger was accused of cheating on his wife, Elin, Woods said that he was taking an indefinite break from golf. In his televised apology in February, Woods stated, "I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don't know when that day will be. I don't rule out that it will be this year."

This is right on schedule. As I mentioned in one of my prior pieces about Tiger Woods, he is not going to miss this season for the world. Tiger has too much to gain by coming back and too much to lose by not returning immediately. He won't wait until the end of the season to make his heroic return. He will return in time for the Masters and position himself to absolutely torch the field.

Golf in America does not exist without the presence of Tiger Woods. Even Accenture, the first sponsor who dropped Woods, was incredibly polite in their reaction to Woods' televised press conference, which completely undermined their signature event. The reason they were so polite was likely driven by the fact that they realize that maintaining a good relationship with the greatest golfer in the history of all mankind might be a good corporate strategy. While Accenture may never re-sign Tiger as their spokesperson, they know that Tiger has the ability to turn the lights off or on during their tournament by choosing to appear or stay home. Everyone must be nice to Tiger, even if they think he's a sex addict (which I don't believe he is).

The Tiger Woods' life story just got interesting. There is quite a bit more to come.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

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Ron Artest's Hair: Dyed Purple and Gold for Game

Ericka Blount Danois — 2010-03-08T10:08:00+00:00

Filed under: Gossip, Basketball

Besides defensive skills, Ron Artest doesn't have much in common with attention whore Dennis Rodman-wedding dresses, platinum hair and pierced body parts aren't his thing. That is until now.
Ron Ron recently had the word defense shaved in to his newly platinum/gold dyed hair (the letters are dyed purple for team spirit).

In his quest to make sure his Jewish, Indian and Japanese fans understand the word, the word is written in Japanese, Hebrew and Hindi in three different places on his head. The word, however, is not written in English.

This poses a particular problem for his teammates coming off of a three-game losing streak. Will they be able to translate his head quick enough while they're on the court?

Even Ron Ron was a bit unsure of whether the translation was absolutely correct, but he made sure to spellcheck via the twitter universe, asking: "How do you write defense in Hebrew and India?"

Not sure why he chose these three languages for his next game-maybe these are his most supportive fans? Will he choose other languages for his subsequent games? Pig Latin? "Efenseday"! Ebonics? "Play some D Mother*&^%!" Valley Girl? "Like, Defense!"

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Pro Prospect Myron Rolle Told He's Too Smart to Play in the NFL

Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD — 2010-03-07T06:56:00+00:00

Filed under: Football

You would think that Myron Rolle, the NFL super-stud who also happens to be a Rhodes Scholar, would be the kind of man who makes us proud. You would expect that his status as being the man who represents the future of the black athlete in America would make the NFL happy to have him on the roster of one of their teams. Not only is Rolle brilliant, but he is also tough as nails and fast as lightning. The man has the whole package.

But at least according to some NFL coaches, Rolle may not be committed enough to be a part of their league.

"We'll have to find out how committed he is," an NFC assistant coach said, repeating the sentiment of five other NFL officials who said the same thing.

When I founded ALARM, the Athlete Liberation Academic Reform Movement, my goal was to create athletes just like Myron Rolle. I was growing tired of seeing black men display brilliance on the field, only to be convinced to become dummies in the classroom. In my own experience as a black athlete, I found that academic excellence could be achieved with the same skill set I picked up as a football and basketball player - the same discipline, consistency, courage, focus and determination that wins championships can also create outstanding scholarship and empowered black leadership. I also found that brothers can find easier paths to financial and professional success than sweating all day and breaking their bones on the football field. I earned far more as a Finance Professor and businessman than the average college athlete earns in his professional career, and to be honest, I hated school until I figured out what education could actually do for me. Playing sports is cool and fun, but going through life without education always makes you an easy target to be pimped, controlled and ultimately robbed by those who care nothing about you.

Trainer Tom Shaw, who worked with Rolle over the past year, finds the criticism to be almost silly. Shaw has trained guys like Peyton Mannin and Deion Sanders, along with 118 former first-round draft picks and NFL MVPs. He argues that the critique against Rolle shows ignorance.

"I hear all the negative things that he has too many things going on in his life," Shaw said. "But if [the NFL] is saying that Myron Rolle is a bad example, that's a joke. ... Myron is what you want all these kids to be. Every one of these kids should want to be Myron Rolle. "The reason I say he's going to be a 10-year veteran is he's a guy who is going to out-work everybody. He's not just going to rest on his athletic ability."

"When coaches ask you what's important in your life, usually you can get away with saying God, then family, then football. But a lot of coaches out there want to hear football, then God, then family."

Rolle has just returned from Oxford University in England, where he studied for a master's degree in Medical Anthropology. He's now studying while training for football and hopes to one day become a neurosurgeon.

"The impression I get from people around the NFL - not necessarily in it, but around it - is that the NFL wants players for whom football is their No. 1 priority, their No. 2 priority and their No. 3 priority," Rolle said. "For me, I've never been someone with a singular talent. I have other abilities and interests and I think I would be doing a disservice to me, my team, my family, everyone who has invested stock in me if I was just so isolated in one thing. ... The thing I always try to present to people in the NFL as far as my commitment is that my academics and my concerns at Oxford or as an outside philanthropist can help my football abilities. It can help me be someone more disciplined on the field, help me be someone more balanced and knowledgeable. It can help the other guys if they want to get involved in the foundation or the community rather than going out and partying or getting in trouble somehow."

During an interview with some NFL professionals, one of the coaches actually asked Rolle what it felt like to desert his team this year in order to pursue his Rhodes Scholarship.

"I hadn't heard that one before," said Rolle. "My initial reaction was a bit of confusion. It never was anger, but I was more bothered by the question because if anyone knew my involvement with my teammates, how much they care about me and how much I care about them."

Here's the deal on Myron Rolle:

I spoke this weekend at a symposium on Barack Obama and Democracy, hosted by Dr. Peniel Joseph at Tufts University. One of the issues that came up is the impact that President Obama has had on the intellectual pursuits of African American males. I would argue that the effects of Myron Rolle and Stephen Stafford (the 13-year old who is now a junior at Morehouse College), were they sufficiently well-publicized, could be just as dramatic as that of Obama. This shift in perspective is dramatic in light of the historical abuse taken by NFL athletes, many of whom are disabled when their playing careers are over. One prominent Historian at the conference, Dr. Mathew Whitaker from Arizona State University, described the significant physical and psychological toll that a professional sports career can cause, and how so many black males are lured into sacrificing everything for a dream that hardly ever comes true.

I love the way the NFL coaches are dissing Rolle and I think there are a long list of lessons that can be learned by all athletes across America, especially black males. As a college professor who has watched this kind of thing happen for the past 20 years, I can tell you that this kind of behavior is also common at the college level, where millions of dollars are put in coaches' bank accounts in exchange for them getting players to put everything else to the side in order to win games. Academics is almost never a priority, and it is only allowed to become a priority after football issues are taken care of.

This leads to many black male athletes across America abandoning their interest in academic pursuits, all for the sake of their sports. Black men like Myron Rolle are not cheered for by coaches - they are typically despised. They are told that they are not committed enough, and by spending their time in a book rather than volunteering for the physical break down of college and professional sports, they are considered to be just as unruly and volatile as prison inmates. The truth is that by breaking out of the brain-washing process of their NFL and collegiate pimps, they have become something that society does not want them to be.

By becoming a neurosurgeon, Myron Rolle will make far more money than most of his NFL colleagues. Most NFL players have very short careers, and 10 years later, they've only got bad knees and aching bodies to show for their careers. What is most interesting is that it is actually easier to become a neurosurgeon than an NFL player. Those men who have gambled their entire future and livelihood on sports need to realize that there are easier and better ways to make a living.

Keep going Myrone Rolle - I am incredibly proud of you. You are everything the world needs you to be.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

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Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield III: Senior Citizen Fight of the Century?

Quibian Salazar-Moreno — 2010-03-05T15:36:00+00:00

Filed under: Gossip, Other Sports

There was a lot of controversy surrounding the last couple of times Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield stepped in the ring together. After a bunch of head butts and biting, fans and pundits alike felt like an era was over. But it looks like some people are trying to revive that era.

According to RingsideReport.com, Iron Mike Tyson, at the ripe old age of 43, is making a comeback. And his potential first opponent? That would be none other than Evander Holyfield. The website claims that a source close to the former champ has once again hooked with Don King to get him back in the ring in late 2010.

But apparently Tyson is leery about facing Holyfield yet again and other potential opponents include heavyweight Tony Grano (former cruiserweight champ) Jean Marc Mormeck, Vinny Maddalone and Derric Rossy.

Tyson's last fight was in 2005, when he lost to Kevin McBride and announced that he was retiring and his heart was no longer in the sport. Times have changed however. Tyson is coming off a successful year, where his autobiographical documentary received rave reviews, he was a part of the success of the film"The Hangover" and he made appearances on Oprah, Saturday Night Live and an Italian version of "Dancing With the Stars." He's been working out lately and seems to have conquered the addictions he battled and gained some of that lost confidence back.

Do you think Tyson should enter the ring again?

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Tawanna Iverson Files for Divorce

Paul Shepard — 2010-03-05T09:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Interviews, Gossip, Basketball

NBA star Allen Iverson has bounced from talented wild child to respected elder statesman during his 20 years on the public stage.

But with the announcement that his wife of eight years, Tawanna Iverson, is filing for divorce at the same time that his family is troubled by a mystery illness that has afflicted his daughter Messiah, the basketball star's personal and public lives seems to be careening out of control.

Iverson, 34, one of the most electrifying yet troubled NBA players of recent memory and a surefire Hall of Fame talent, announced recently that he would not be returning to the Philadelphia Sixers.

Iverson had taken a paid leave of absence from the tea after disclosing his daughter's illness.

At the same time, however, numerous reports of Iverson sightings in bars and casinos during his absence from the team drew criticism.

For years, Iverson has cited the presence of his wife as a stabilizing force in his life. If that's true, it's hard to imagine what trouble he would have found without her influence.

Unfortunately, he may get that opportunity sooner rather than later, since she filed for divorce in Georgia, saying their union was "irretrievably broken" and that she wants custody of their five children.

Iverson, who hails from Virginia, burst on the national sports scene as a high school star, winning adulation for his ball-handling and scoring skills, as well as scorn for finding off-court trouble. A fight with racial overtones at a bowling alley sent him to jail for four months in the early 1990s.

Iverson attended Georgetown University for two years and enjoyed a 14-year NBA career, underscored by soaring highs, such as four scoring titles, all-star appearances and millions in earnings. He also had dramatic lows, including numerous battles with coaches, a terrorist threat charge and other legal woes.

It might be time for friends or mentors (former Georgetown coach John Thompson comes to mind) to get in Iverson's ear and try to get him on the right path.

His basketball career might be over at the age of 34, but productive off-court years are before him if he can get straight.

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Dikembe Mutombo Partners with U.S. Census for Black Participation

Quibian Salazar-Moreno — 2010-03-04T08:35:00+00:00

Filed under: Basketball

Dikembe Mutombo is no longer playing NBA basketball, but that's not stopping him from trying to make a difference. The 7-footer partnered with the U.S. Census to encourage both African-Americans and Africans living in the United States to take part in the national count. Mutombo will also somehow "utilize the Census information for outreach projects to improve the quality of life for the people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," according to a press release. We're not sure how that will help the folks in Congo, but Mutombo sure is excited about the partnership:

"An accurate Census means that communities will have the necessary organizations to service its people," Mutombo said in a statement. "That's why it is important for everyone to be counted, even those of us who are from Africa and other countries. If we want to take advantage of what our community has to offer, we need to be counted as well."

Mutombo will act as a spokesperson for the Census and will add information to his foundation's website, http://www.dmf.org. In the 2000 Census, there were 881,300 Africans living in the United States, which accounted for 3 percent of the foreign-born population. That number is expected to grow.

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Tiger Woods' Caddie Says He's Angry at Him

Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD — 2010-03-04T08:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Gossip, Golf & Tennis

Tiger Woods' caddie, Steve Williams, told '60 Minutes' that he knew nothing about Tiger's extramarital affairs and was angry with the golfer over the scandal. He also said that he was bitter about the reaction that the media had toward Tiger.

"It's been the most difficult time of my life, no two ways about it, because every single person believed that I should know or did know or had something to do with it," Williams said. "I knew nothing, that's my answer. I don't have to clarify or extend that answer. I knew nothing."

Williams, who is from New Zealand, has been Tiger's caddie for the past 11 years. He said that he would have said something to the public if he'd known about Tiger's behavior.

"If the shoe was on someone else, I would say the same thing. It would be very difficult as a caddie not to know, but I'm 100 percent telling you, I did not know, and that's that," he said. "I'm a straight-up sort of person. If I had known something was going on, the whistle would have been blown."

While Williams expressed his disappointment with Tiger, he said that he didn't feel that it was his job to berate him.

"When a guy's having a tough time, it's not up to me to beat him with a stick right now. He's getting enough grilling from everybody else," said Williams. "When you're a true friend of somebody, that's when somebody needs your support and needs you the most. That's when you don't walk away. Tiger's one of my closest friends, and he needs my support right now and I'd never think of walking away."

Okay. Do you want my interpretation of Williams' comments? Well, you know I'm going to give it to you anyway, so I might as well get started:

This is probably all part of the plan: You see, Steve Williams almost never talks to the media. That's mainly because Woods publicly beheads any person in his circle who speaks to the media without his permission. Just kidding -- he doesn't behead anyone, but he certainly puts them out of his circle. The fact that Williams is suddenly being so vocal about the scandal is because he has probably been told to speak out on Tiger's behalf. Woods can only talk so much, so it is important that surrogates reach out to the media to provide support for him as a person. Irene Folstrom, one of Tiger's ex-girlfriends, came out Wednesday to talk about what a great guy Tiger is. By saying that he was angry at Tiger for his affair (which I don't believe he truly was), Williams is pretending to be an objective evaluator of the situation.

Oh, another little tidbit: By mentioning casually that Tiger was on the driving range hitting practice balls, Williams is likely preparing the world for the inevitable announcement: Tiger Woods is returning to play in the Masters. Yes, you heard it here first. Tiger Woods, no matter how impacted by this scandal, is not going to (and should not) miss out on the chance to have one of the greatest seasons of his career. The only thing Tiger "The Conqueror" seems to enjoy more than you know what is winning major championships. The fact that three of the four majors are being played on courses favorable to Tiger's style means he has a chance to gain serious ground on his lifelong goal of breaking the record of 19 majors held by the great Jack Nicklaus.

The public is ready to see Tiger return as well. While a recent poll stated that only 39 percent of the public approve of Tiger as a person, 59 percent of the public thinks that he should return to golf this year. Both numbers are likely going to rise once he gets out there and scorches the field. For every day that Tiger Woods is off the golf course, over a million dollars is lost in revenue for the golfing industry. Tiger has a long list of supporters who want him out there making money.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here.

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Irene Folstrom, Tiger Woods' Ex-Girlfriend, Defends Him in Public

Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD — 2010-03-03T15:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Golf & Tennis

Irene Folstrom, a woman who probably knows Tiger Woods better than most, has come out to defend the golfer in the media. Folstrom was Woods' college girlfriend, dating him for a year and a half. She recently wrote an article for Golf.com, stating that Tiger was a "great boyfriend" during their relationship.

She also made reference to spending time with Tiger's mother, and claims that they had a relatively normal sexual relationship. She also wrote that she could say "with certainty that he was faithful during the time we dated."

Folstrom's article provides an important and intriguing counter to the mostly negative media coverage that Tiger Woods has received in mainstream America. For some reason, most of us forgot that a large percentage of celebrities have affairs, and that it can be incredibly uncomfortable to have your entire sex life thrown out in front of millions of people.

Although Tiger's behavior hasn't been much more deviant than many other celebrities or political figures, his transgressions led us down a path of conversation about sexual addiction and even comparisons to O.J. Simpson.

What's worse is that many across America have completely ignored the fact that some believe his wife may have been trying to assault him with a golf club on the night of his accident. Had Tiger been caught allegedly chasing his wife with a golf club, we would have had a hard time seeing him as the victim.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

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A-Rod to Be Questioned About Doctor Selling Unapproved Drugs

Quibian Salazar-Moreno — 2010-03-03T12:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Baseball

New York Yankee star Alex Rodriguez has been trying to keep his nose clean since admitting to using performance enhancing drugs last year, but it looks like he's being dragged into another illegal drug case. Federal investigators have contacted A-Rod regarding an investigation into Canadian doctor, Anthony Galea, for selling an unapproved drug. Rodriguez told the Associated Press that he was aware of the investigation but didn't elaborate.

"I can't really get into that," Rodriguez said. "I have to speak to those guys first. I've just got to wait for instructions."

Galea is facing charges in Canada for selling Actovegin, a drug that is extracted from a calf's blood and used for healing. Galea's assistant is also facing charges in the U.S. for having HGH and another drug while crossing the border, according to the Associated Press. Galea has treated athletes like Tiger Woods and Mets shortstop Jose Reyes but the Yankees said they never approved Galea to treat any of their players. When asked if Galea ever treated him Rodriguez refused to comment.

"I'm focused on baseball," Rodriguez said.

A-Rod isn't facing any types of charges in relation to this investigation.

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O.J. Simpson's Suit is Rejected by the Smithsonian

Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD — 2010-03-03T08:46:00+00:00

Filed under: Football

Remember the suit that O.J. Simpson wore when he was acquitted of murder in 1995? I'm sure you do. The images of O.J. breathing a sigh of relief after his acquittal were viewed all around the world. You probably remember exactly what you were doing at that precise moment. Well, the Smithsonian Institute has announced that they do not want O.J.'s suit, claiming that it is "inappropriate for their collection."

The announcement came after a 13-year legal fight over what to do with the suit. Since that time, it has been in the possession of Simpson's former sports agent, Mike Gilbert. Fred Goldman, father of the man Simpson was accused of killing, has been fighting for the suit since the 1990s. Simpson told authorities that the suit was stolen from him.

The suit was also part of the reason that Simpson is in prison right now. O.J. was arrested and convicted for robbing several men in Las Vegas in order to reclaim memorabilia that he believed to be stolen. He'd been told that the suit was among the list of things being offered for sale.

The Smithsonian used these words on its Web site:

"The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History will not be collecting O.J. Simpson's suit. The decision was made by the museum's curators together with the director."

Gilbert, the man in possession of the suit, was disappointed by the Smithsonian's decision.

"Whether we like it or not, it's part of American history," he said. "I'm disappointed that they didn't wait to hear from me and consider my vision of how it should be displayed."

Others weighed in on the decision, including Simpson's attorney:

"I'm saddened by the fact that the foremost museum in America has refused this very important item in the history of American jurisprudence," said Simpson's attorney, Ronald P. Slates. "Regardless of one's feelings about Mr. Simpson, his acquittal by a jury of his peers on Oct. 3, 1995, was of great significance and is widely talked about to this day."

In this case, the Smithsonian may be wrong. There's no denying that the Simpson case was arguably the most closely watched trial in American history. I can't think of another trial that received this much attention, at least during the age of television. One can't help but wonder if the Smithsonian is being unscholarly in its decision to pass up on the Simpson suit, since there is no denying Simpson's relevance to American social, legal and racial history. This move reminds me of Time magazine's decision not to name Osama Bin Laden it's Person of the Year, in spite of the fact that his attacks on the World Trade Center had such a dramatic impact on the global community. Instead, Time made the weak and easy choice of Rudolph Giuliani, shooting down its own journalistic integrity in the process.

The Simpson trial was yet another bellwether of American racial progress. The vast difference in perceptions between whites and blacks over this trial reminded us that we have a long way to go when it comes to achieving racial equity. What was most interesting about the trial was that even though Simpson was acquitted, America treated him like a guilty man. He was harassed everywhere he went, and people spoke about him as if he'd committed the crime. I would have sued the butts off of some of the major media outlets for their remarks.

Before the trial, Simpson was a regular in celebrity events and endorsements. Many felt that he'd abandoned the black community and most of us accepted that fact. But like Tiger Woods, America's perception of Simpson as the dirty, evil black man with the audacity to hurt a beautiful white woman led to his fall from grace. Had Nicole Brown Simpson been black, the trial would not have made the news more than three of four times.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

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Gilbert Arenas Speaks On His Future

Quibian Salazar-Moreno — 2010-03-03T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Basketball

Washington Wizards star guard Gilbert Arenas hasn't spoken to the media, except for an apology letter, since being suspended for the rest of the season by the NBA for having guns in the locker room. In a Washington D.C. courtroom, Arenas pleaded guilty to the gun possession charges in January and will be sentenced on March 26. But he told the Associated Press that he's not sure if he's worried about the outcome.

"If the judge goes off with the story the papers write, then, yeah," Arenas said. "But if he goes off the actual real story, then I have no problems with it."

Whatever happens, Arenas just wants to play basketball again. He's in the second season of a six-year $111 million contract with the Wizards, who basically removed his image, jerseys, and any scent of him from team's stores, locker room and arena. He'd still go back if they want him though.

"I have no problem," Arenas said. "Basketball is basketball. I don't think people realize that. No matter what city, overseas, D-league, park league -- I just want to play. But that's up to the city and the owners. It's out of my hands."

In the meantime, Arenas is trying to make valuable use of his time. In speaking with the Associated Press, Arenas was spending his time with the folks at PETA giving away fur coats to women in need.

"You've got to remember: I've been hurt for two years before this, and so I did all my stir-crazy moments then," he said. "So now it's like 'I'm used to this, I'm used to this time off.' Just play with the kids, be a father."

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Former NBA All-Star Accused of Child Sexual Assault

Ruth Manuel-Logan — 2010-02-27T18:38:00+00:00

Filed under: Basketball

Hot shot ex-baller Alvin Robertson is facing charges of child sexual assault, trafficking of persons under 18 for prostitution and the forcing of a sexual performance by a child -- all felonies. The former San Antonio Spur was arrested in Arkansas and taken in to custody on Friday.

According to police files, Robertson was part of a ring, one of seven people, which also included an R&B performer, who allegedly kidnapped a 14-year-old teen girl and forced her in to prostitution and stripping. Robertson was the last ring member to be arrested.

The investigation of the perverse sexual ring began last April, when the young girl saw a police cruiser in Corpus Christi, Texas, and waved it down. The child told authorities she had been kidnapped from her city, San Antonio, forced to perform sexual favors with countless men, given a false ID and made to strip at various clubs. The girl's parents had actually reported her missing.

Lead Investigator Deputy Ino Badillo states that the girl managed to get away from one of her alleged kidnappers, Leslie Campbell, 49, who last month pled guilty to child sexual assault charges. Deputy Badillo also contended that Robertson is believed to have had sex with the girl but also described him as a "facilitator," which means he was involved in forcing the girl in to prostitution.

Police records further reveal that the teen victim was not only able to identify all of her abductors but could direct officers to all of the locations where she had been taken.

To make matters worse, Robertson's girlfriend was also hauled away Friday by police. Forty-one-year-old Raquel McIntosh was charged as well.

Robertson, who still holds the top career steals-per-game average in the NBA, is certainly no newbie to arrest. He seems to have been involved in a litany of crimes throughout the years ranging from domestic violence to burglary to rape accusation to criminal mischief. The list goes on.

The former NBA all star retired in 1996 after spending 10 seasons in the league.

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PETA, Nike Still Want Tiger

Quibian Salazar-Moreno — 2010-02-26T12:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Gossip, Golf & Tennis

With Proctor & Gamble still unsure about their future with Tiger Woods, the golfer still has support from EA Sports and a couple of other folks. Nike came out and announced their continued support for the beleaguered golfer saying they're looking forward to Tiger getting back on the course, after he deals with his personal problems.

"Under the circumstances, the more he deals with the issues and the better he deals with them, the better off he'll be when he does return," Nike brand president Charlie Denson told The Associated Press. "We've been supportive of Tiger since the story broke and we continue to be supportive. He's got issues he needs to deal with and he's dealing with them. We are looking forward to him getting back on the golf course. We've been in touch with his camp. We're very comfortable with where he's at, how he's dealing with it and we're looking forward to his return."

Even PETA is stepping up to show their support... kind of. The group created a billboard with an image of Tiger promoting the spaying and neutering of pets.

"Too much sex can be a bad thing... for little tigers too," the ads reads. "Help keep your cats (and dogs) out of trouble: Always spay and neuter."

PETA was looking for a billboard or an outlet for the ad but was having a difficult time finding one. It's probably because Tiger isn't associated with PETA and never approved the ad. Still, it's a message the organization wanted to spread by any means necessary.

"One unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce an estimated 420,000 cats in only seven years, and a female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in six years," PETA said about the inspiration of the ad in a blog post that has since been removed. Many of those animals end up unwanted and unloved, often dropped off at animal shelters that are already bursting at the seams.

Just as we all know and accept that the sky is blue, we know that every time a breeder or pet store sells an animal, an animal in an animal shelter loses his or her life."

But it looks like all that energy is all for naught. Tiger and his legal team reached out to PETA and told them to shut it down.

"In light of conversations we have had with Mr. Woods' attorneys, plans to run our billboard are on hold at this time," PETA told TMZ.

But with all the media coverage, it looks like their goal was achieved anyway. Check out the ad:

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NBA Tells Caron Butler to Stop Chewing Straws

Quibian Salazar-Moreno — 2010-02-26T10:44:00+00:00

Filed under: Basketball

A few years ago the Washington Post's Dan Steinberg did a piece on Washington Wizards guard Caron Butler and his habit of chewing on straws. According to the 2007 piece, Butler used to chew on toothpicks during games, but that was frowned upon, so he started chewing straws and has been doing that for more than a decade.

"I had a good performance and it was something that became a habit, and I started doing it all the time," Butler told Steinberg. "So before every game, I stop at the nearest Burger King or McDonald's, grab a handful of straws and come to the game and start chewing them....You know, I've got a handful on me right now."

The report said that Butler goes through about six straws, so about 12 a game, and spits them out when they get stringy.

But it looks like NBA commissioner David Stern has had enough. NBA Executive Vice President Stu Jackson apparently called up Butler, who is now a Dallas Maverick, this week and told him not to chew anymore straws during games. Mavs owner Mark Cuban confirmed the phone call.

"It's against the rules," Cuban told ESPN. We wonder if Butler's scoring average will start to go down now.

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