Author: tourist_yp6g7u

In “Breaking the Ice,” an eight-part docuseries that makes its debut tonight on WE TV, Washington, D.C.-based coach Rory Flack, a trailblazing skater in both the amateur and professional ranks, as she assembles, coaches, and introduces to the world a synchronized skating team composed totally of girls of color. The 10 middle and high school girls who comprise the team had some prior skating experience and were chosen after a tryout.

“One of the girls I had been teaching for about two years; another one I knew and one more was a beginner when I started teaching her,” said Flack. Her son, Remington Burghart, works with her on coaching Team DMV. “He helped me pick the skaters. He also works with me side-by-side. He’s able to spot the qualities that I’m looking for, so I have four eyes on the ice instead of just my two.”

Remington, a former pairs skater, also helps with lifts, music, and synchronicity. As Flack struggles with sarcoidosis that at times keeps her from being on the ice as much as she would like, he is able to be with the team.

Parental involvement has been growing as the series evolves. “We started with one practice a week because that’s all the parents were prepared to do,” said Flack. “As we got into it, they were wanting to do more and more and more, so we slowly picked up ice time in the competitive season.”

Having everything captured on film was a lot of fun, but it did get a little intense at times. “It’s really cool that I got to be me on camera, and for the kids and hopefully the audience to see the sparks in their eyes when they start to understand,” Flack said.

For the series, DMV has a double meaning. It obviously reflects the locale of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, but it also stands for Divine Motivational Visionaries, the force that drives the skaters and their coaches. 

Although on-ice filming for “Breaking the Ice” concluded in April, Flack hopes to continue working with the team.

“Their comfort in front of the camera came with their comfort on the ice,” she said. “I saw them progressing as their speed increased, as their skating improved, as they started to connect more on the ice…and bond as a team. I saw their confidence grow. I would like to develop this team for years to come.”

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* This article was originally published here

LeBron James is one of the most famous athletes in the world, so finding an actor to portray him as a teenager was a daunting task for Chris Robinson, director “Shooting Stars,” a film adaptation of James’s and Buzz Bissinger’s book. After a year of auditions and no actor as the right fit, Robinson and a friend drove up and down the East Coast attending basketball tournaments.

“My friend texted me a photograph of Mookie,” said Robinson, of casting Mookie Cook, who will play for the Oregon Ducks this coming college season. “Acting was not on his radar…but from the moment we saw him on Zoom, he just embodied LeBron.”

The film, which debuted on the streaming service Peacock last month, shows the tight bond between James and his teammates, which started when they were in elementary school and was etched in history as they garnered national attention during high school. “Shooting Stars” contains multiple basketball scenes, and production and actors wanted them to look as realistic as possible. There were choreographers who helped set things up and, said Robinson, “We utilized YouTube to the highest level.”

“I never really aspired to do a sports movie…but I read [the book] and what really touched me were the relationships,” said Robinson, who spent time in James’s hometown of Akron, Ohio. “So many films that deal with young Black men are filled with trauma and pain, and this movie was different. It was connected to brotherhood and loyalty. Absolutely, there was struggle and tough times in the movie, but they stuck together.”

Most of the actors portraying James and his teammates had little to no acting experience. Scoot Henderson, who portrayed Romeo, was recently the third pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The lone seasoned actor was Caleb McLaughlin (Lil Dru), whose extensive acting résumé includes the popular series “Stranger Things” and “Lion King” on Broadway. Robinson said the actors truly felt that deep and abiding connection that James had and still has with his high school teammates.

“We put the guys through a gauntlet of basketball because we really wanted that to be authentic,” said Robinson. “These guys who did not know each other came together as actors and athletes and poured into each other…They were embodying a group of guys who really did everything for each other. As actors, they started that same relationship. It was magical to watch.”

The post LeBron James’ high school days thoughtfully depicted in ‘Shooting Stars’ appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

This season thus far has been one of peaks and valleys for the Yankees, with more dips than consistent climbs as injuries, specifically outfielder Aaron Judge’s torn ligament in his right big toe, and the much-anticipated debut of prized free agent Carlos Rodon, who the Yankees signed to a six-year, $162 million deal in December. Judge has been out of the lineup since incurring the injury on June 3 and there is no definitive date for his return. He is hitting off a tee but is still unable to run.

“If I can run, then I can play. Me running at 10% ain’t going to help anybody out there,” said the reigning AL MVP on Tuesday.

Rodon, a lefty starter who spent his first seven seasons in the majors with the Chicago White Sox before going 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA for the San Francisco Giants last season, suffered a forearm strain in spring training, then had back issues that have kept him out up until now. The 30-year-old is scheduled to pitch his first regular season game for the team tomorrow versus the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium.

Center fielder Harrison Bader’s three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning on Monday in the Bronx broke a 3-3 tie and gave the Yankees a 6-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles to take the first of a four-game series. The Yankees and rising young Orioles are battling in the tough American League East, with the Yankees beginning Tuesday’s Fourth of July matchup at 47-38. They were in third place and three games behind the second-place Orioles (49-34). The Tampa Bay Rays lead the division and were 57-30 when they began a three-games series on Tuesday at home against the Philadelphia Phillies.

On June 28, Domingo German added his name to the franchise’s long history of great pitching performances when he became the fourth Yankee ever to pitch a perfect game, shutting down the As in Oakland and carrying the team to an 11-0 victory. German struck out nine to join Don Larson (1956), David Wells (1998), and David Cone (1999) as the other Yankees who didn’t walk a batter or give up a hit in going the distance. It was MLB’s first perfect game since Seattle Mariners starter Felix Hernandez’s in 2012, a season that saw three perfect games.  

The Yankees are still seeking their first World Series title since 2009. They have one of the top three payrolls in the league—a little over $284 million, according to Spotrac.com—and have been at or near the top over the past several decades, but the money spent has not produced desired results. The Yankees haven’t won the AL pennant since making their last World Series appearance in 2009, when they captured the franchise’s 27th MLB championship.

They have been ultra-competitive, winning more than 100 games the past six seasons with the exception of 2020’s shortened COVID year, in which there was only a 60-game regular season. In a recent interview on ESPN Radio, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner questioned why the team’s fans are already frustrated despite the Yankees being solidly in playoff contention. The main reason is because of the high expectations relative to the high payroll and long World Series drought. Fans are particularly upset about the Yankees’ inability to get past the Houston Astros, last year’s World Series winners, who eliminated the Yankees from the postseason in three of the past six seasons.   

Clearly, there are valid arguments from both Steinbrenner’s and fans’ points of view. 

The Yankees will end their series against the Baltimore Orioles tonight before taking on the Chicago Cubs at home for a three-game series this weekend before the All-Star break.

The post Imperfect Yankees throw MLBs 24th perfect game appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Damian Lillard stands among the greatest point guards who have ever played. He has spent his entire 11-year NBA career with the Portland Trailblazers. But he won’t make it 12 after requesting a trade last weekend. The Brooklyn Nets are on the short list of teams for which the 32-year-old, six-time All-NBA superstar would like to continue his career and quest for his first league championship. 

According to multiple reports, the Miami Heat is his top choice. For now, while discussions take place among all pertinent parties, weighing various trade options and scenarios, the Nets are preparing for the start of the 2023 NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas, which starts tomorrow (July 7) and runs  through Monday, July 17. Nets assistant coach Trevor Hendry will serve as the summer league head coach under the watchful eyes of Jacque Vaughn, Brooklyn’s primary head coach. 

The Nets’ three top picks from last month’s draft will headline their summer league team when they open against the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. on NBA TV.
Noah Clowney, a 6-10 center from the University of Alabama was taken by the Nets at No. 21. The 18-year-old averaged 9.8 points and 7.9 rebounds, and shot 48.6% from the field during his freshman campaign at Alabama before entering the draft.
Dariq Whitehead, who is also 18 and a local product from Newark, New Jersey, was selected by Brooklyn one pick after Clowney at No. 22. He is recovering from knee surgery and will sit out summer league play after a freshman season at Duke where he was projected as a top-five pick entering college before being hampered by injuries. 

The sleeper of the group might be Jalen Wilson, who despite not being a first-rounder could emerge as a valuable rotation player sometime during next season. Drafted by the Nets at No. 51 in the second round, the 22-year-old Wilson brings maturity and an impressive resume into the pros. The 6-8 forward averaged 20.1 points and 8.3 rebounds in his senior season for the Kansas Jayhawks, earning consensus First Team All-America honors and the Big 12 Player of the Year award. He also has a winning pedigree, helping Kansas win the 2022 NCAA title.
David Duke Jr., who has played 45 games for the Nets the past two seasons, adds experience to the roster. Expect the 6-4 guard to see a lot of action with the incoming rookies.

Brooklyn plays the Knicks on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. on NBA TV and the Milwaukee Bucks next Tuesday at 6 p.m. on ESPNU. Their fourth game will be against the Toronto Raptors next Thursday at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.

The post Amid Damian Lillard talk, the Nets finalize summer league roster appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

New Jersey groups fighting to prevent overdose deaths among people of color recently received grant funding from the global public health organization Vital Strategies to further their work. Through its “Health Equity Harm Reduction Grant,” Vital Strategies awarded nearly $470,000 in grants to five community-based organizations and partnerships led by Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) groups and groups serving these communities.

“The grants are supporting projects focused on community training and education, community organizing and base-building, capacity building, direct services, outreach, and other strategies,” a statement said.

The groups awarded grant funds included: Mount Laurel’s Imperfect Village (https://imperfectvillage.org/) which offers resources, aid, and opportunities for people in need; Ruby’s Vision Inc. in Paterson which provides transitional housing for mothers and their children who are affected by homelessness; Elizabeth’s family and community support organization PROCEED, Inc. (https://proceedinc.com/); the Paterson-based addiction recovery centers Chosen Generation Community Corporation (https://chosencc.wixsite.com/chosengenerationcc?fbclid=IwAR33rmH-K0ON6pOEW6ntL8jzaPYXdHaNzkU1RDXEUde) and Rapha Healthcare Services LLC (https://rapha-healthcareservices.com/); and New Brunswick’s Supporting Homeless Innovatively Loving Others (SHILO-NJ; https://www.shilonj.org/shilo).

The post Combatting overdoses among Blacks and Latinx appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” These words are from the Declaration of Independence. Of course, this document is fundamental to our country’s way of life. Most would say our democracy is the gold standard.

The year it was written—1776—and today are centuries apart. As we move along this year, some are taking the Declaration of Independence and the Founding Fathers to task. This is my opinion.

Voting rights is implied in the “all men are created equal” part of this document. It also means that the act of voting should not be problematic in any way. This is my opinion.

Some parts of the country have been unfriendly when it comes to African Americans like me and voting. Because of legislation and new laws, it has gotten better.

Louisiana and Alabama may get a majority-Black voting district, according to recent rulings by the United States Supreme Court. Voting maps must be redrawn for this to happen. 

People of good will in both states saw the injustice and decided to do something about it. The late and beloved John Lewis said, “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.”

Ashley Shelton, head of the Louisiana-based Power Coalition for Equity and Justice—one of the groups challenging the maps, said, “What this does is it puts us back on track to realize a second majority-minority district.” Currently, Louisiana has only one majority-Black seat out of its six districts.

State Attorney General Jeff Landry led the effort in Louisiana to keep the status quo. His flawed leadership in the Bayou State is a big part of the problem. Words like diversity and equity don’t resonate with him. This is my opinion.

He is now campaigning to be governor of the state of Louisiana. In my eyes and the eyes of many, this will be a challenging election because our votes will be important votes.

If you aren’t a registered voter, please register and exercise your right to go to the polls and cast your ballot. Some might try to convince you that your vote doesn’t count. They are simply trying to hoodwink and bamboozle you. Don’t listen to them: Your vote does count.

African Americans in Alabama have also had problems in having their voting rights realized. Citizens there have been engaged in a lengthy battle to get an additional majority-Black voting district.

Perseverance and never giving up have always been our battle cry in gaining equal voting rights. In the Alabama case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state’s current Congressional maps violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Elected officials in Alabama and Louisiana wanted to marginalize the impact of the Black vote. The power and prowess of our vote cannot be overlooked. Now, the rest of America sees the shame that denying us voting rights can cause.

If you asked a member of any organization or elected official of the status quo about the influence race had, they would probably give you some nonsensical answer.

Our march to fairness is never-ending in our America. There are constant hurdles we move over and detours we move around as we steer the pendulum of justice in our favor. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Without persistent effort, time itself becomes an ally of the insurgent and primitive forces of irrational emotionalism and social destruction.”

Injustice is cloaked in ignorance and fairness is clothed in equal opportunity.

The post New voting district for African Americans in Louisiana and Alabama appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Low-income mothers and fathers can now present their EBT/ SNAP federal food stamps card and be granted free access into some of the finest cultural institutions in the world.

Parents are encouraged to take full advantage of the listings at www.museums4all.org, which allows them to take their children to arts institutions throughout the summer. Over 1,000 U.S. museums are directly linked to Museums4All for national access. In the NYC area, some of those museums include: The Noguchi Museum––Queens; The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum––Manhattan; MoCADA (Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts)––Brooklyn; MOMA (Museum of Modern Art)––Manhattan; The Jewish Museum––Manhattan; Brooklyn Children’s Museum––Brooklyn; Sugar Hill Children’s Museum––Manhattan; The Frick Museum––Manhattan; Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM)––Manhattan; Historic Richmond Houses –– Staten Island; Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum (Historic Home)––Bronx; and the new Bronx Children’s Museum––Bronx, as well as many more.

The post EBT/ SNAP access to museums! appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here