Sports
LOC: Nigerian government yet to release funds for 20th National Sports Festival
The Federal Government is yet to release the funds it promised Edo for the hosting of the 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF) with less than a week to its commencement. Musa Ebomhiana, a Project Manager in the Media and Communications Sub-Committee of the festival’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), disclosed this on Sunday in Benin. He told newsmen however that, while the Edo State Government still remained hopeful the fund would be released, an early release would be better. “This will ensure smooth planning for the nation’s number one sports fiesta,” he said. Ebomhiana pointed out that the need to have a smooth planning was the reason the state’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, had last week appealed for the funds’ early release. “We are taking seriously the promise by the Minister of Y...
US state bans transgender athletes from women’s sports
Mississippi became the first US state on Thursday to ban transgender athletes from competing on girls or women’s sports teams, a move denounced as discriminatory by LGBTQ groups and likely to face legal challenges. Governor Tate Reeves said the “Mississippi Fairness Act” would “ensure young girls are not forced to compete against biological males.” The bill requires public schools in the conservative southern state to designate sports teams based on biological sex as for “Males,” “Females” or “Coed.” “Athletic teams or sports designated for ‘females,’ ‘women,’ or ‘girls,’ shall not be open to students of the male sex,” it states. Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a group which defends LGBTQ rights, described the bill as “discriminatory anti-transgender legislation” and said it would be challeng...
He Said What He Said: Kyrie Irving Stands Firm On Push For Kobe Bryant To Become NBA Logo
Source: Harry How / Getty It’s been a year since the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other passengers in a helicopter crash, and the world is still memorializing Bryant in many ways. Kyrie Irving is pushing for one fitting tribute that will last forever if it happens and is proud to lead the charge. The Brooklyn Nets All-Star point guard has had NBA fans talking since sharing on his Instagram account that he feels that his idol and good friend, Kobe Bryant, should replace Jerry West as the NBA logo. In the post, he defiantly wrote, “Gotta Happen, idc what anyone says. BLACK KINGS BUILT THE LEAGUE.” Thursday night (Feb.25), following the Nets 129-92 victory over the Orlando Magic, securing their 8th win in a row, Irving double-downed on his stance and proudly to...
LeBron James & Kevin Durant Named NBA All-Star Game Captains, Damian Lillard & Donovan Mitchell Snubbed As Starters
Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty The 2021 NBA-All-Star Game starters have been announced, LeBron James and Kevin Durant will be the captains. Thursday night (Feb.18), the NBA revealed which superstars will start next month’s All-Star Game going down in Atlanta. Kicking things off, Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant, who led in fan votes in their respective conferences, will have the job of choosing their team from the other remaining stars as captains. LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the 2021 #NBAAllStar Game captains 🙌@KingJames 🤝 @KDTrey5 pic.twitter.com/0Vs0YCa3P1 — ESPN (@espn) February 19, 2021 Joining Bron from the Western Conference in the frontcourt are Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard, Dallas Mavericks...
Naomi Osaka Throws Cold Water On Serena Williams’ Quest For Grand Slam Title No. 24
Source: DAVID GRAY / Getty Without a doubt, Serena Williams is the GOAT, but Naomi Osaka’s legendary status is quickly rising. Serena Williams was in rare form during her run through the 2021 Australian Open after knocking off former world No. 1 Simona Halep, 6-3, 6-3 to set up Thursdays (Feb.18) semifinal matchup with Noami Osaka. The showdown between the professional tennis titans would be Williams’ 40th Grand Slam semifinal. Osaka extinguished Williams’ fire defeating her in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. The tennis phenom efficiently took down Williams with 20 winners compared to Serena’s 12. Williams looked good on the court but couldn’t keep pace with Osaka, who was clearly on her game during the matchup. Following the match, Osaka praised Williams during her post-game interview stating, “J...
Naomi Osaka Throws Cold Water On Serena Williams’ Quest For Grand Slam Title No. 24
Source: DAVID GRAY / Getty Without a doubt, Serena Williams is the GOAT, but Naomi Osaka’s legendary status is quickly rising. Serena Williams was in rare form during her run through the 2021 Australian Open after knocking off former world No. 1 Simona Halep, 6-3, 6-3 to set up Thursdays (Feb.18) semifinal matchup with Noami Osaka. The showdown between the professional tennis titans would be Williams’ 40th Grand Slam semifinal. Osaka extinguished Williams’ fire defeating her in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. The tennis phenom efficiently took down Williams with 20 winners compared to Serena’s 12. Williams looked good on the court but couldn’t keep pace with Osaka, who was clearly on her game during the matchup. Following the match, Osaka praised Williams during her post-game interview stating, “J...
Power to the People: Amanda Gorman Honored Pandemic Heroes During Super Bowl LIV
Source: Rob Carr / Getty Super Bowl LIV‘s performers are being championed for “setting the tone” of the highly anticipated showdown and among those who graced the stage, was 22-year old Amanda Gorman. On Sunday (Feb 7), the world watched the battle of the titans go down as the Tampa Bay Buccanneers faced off against the seemingly unstoppable Kansas City Cheifs but it was the artistry of the performers that stole the show, including Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, who once again made history as the first person to ever perform an original poem during the game, chose to share her spotlight with the hard workers on the frontline of the pandemic. “Poetry at the Super Bowl is a feat for art and our country because it means we’re thinking imaginatively about human connection even when we feel silo...
China joins calls for IWF to publish list of election candidates
Nations from around the world have written to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to express their dismay at the governing body’s failure to publish the list of candidates for forthcoming elections. There have been complaints of poor governance, a lack of transparency, and giving an unfair advantage to certain candidates on the current IWF Executive Board who have the information that is denied to others. For the last elections in 2017 the list was published five days after the nominations deadline. This year, eight days have passed already and there is no sign of the IWF naming the candidates for President, first vice-president, vice-president, and a place on the Executive Board. The IWF is entitled, under current regulations, to wait until 30 days before the elections – Febr...
Amanda Gorman, Biden’s Inaugural Poet, To Perform Ahead Of Super Bowl
Amanda Gorman captured the hearts of people throughout the United States with her passionate performance at President Joe Biden’s inauguration last week. Now, the rising star is taking that explosive success all the way to the Super Bowl. The NFL announced on Wednesday (January 27) that Gorman is scheduled to recite an original poem ahead of Super Bowl LV during the pregame ceremony. Her piece will recognize three honorary game captains who were each selected by the League for their commitment to supporting their communities throughout the coronavirus pandemic. They include the Los Angeles educator Trimaine Davis, Tampa nurse Suzie Dorner, and Marine veteran James Martin. At 22, Gorman is the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. Her Inauguration Day r...
Dr Dre back to work after suffering brain aneurysm
American music mogul Dr Dre looks back in good health as he returns to the music studio, just a day after leaving the hospital following a brain aneurysm. The 55-year-old music producer and rapper can be seen looking healthy and confident in a photo taken by his colleague, music producer Focus which he shared on his Instagram page on Saturday, dailymail .com reports. Dre kept his look casual as he returned to making music with a simple black hoodie and matching black jeans. The Chronic hitmaker, who normally sports a clean-cut look, showed off a close-cropped salt-and-pepper beard as he sat at the mixing console. He was surrounded by producers and rappers celebrating his return to good health. ‘My Big Bro is Super Good!!!’ Focus gushed in his caption. ‘We Working’ he added, before clarifyi...
Jemele Hill In Talks With “Politically Progressive” Company Formed By Past ESPN Colleagues
Source: Derrick Salters/WENN.com / WENN There might be a new player on the block in the competitive sports journalism and commentary space, this time from past ESPN employees. A “politically progressive” company formed by former ESPN president John Skipper and former network host Dan Le Batard have been in early talks with Jemele Hill to join the new startup. As reported by Front Office Sports, the unnamed venture from Skipper and Le Batard is framed as the polar opposite to Outkick, a right-leaning sports outlet that has featured the writings Jason Whitlock, who has since moved on as a partner and contributor. Front Office Sports reached out to Hill, who offered in a statement that the discussions are still ongoing but that she looks forward to a potential partnership “We’re trying to fig...
Ogun government creates trust fund for sports development
Ogun State will soon set up a Sports Trust Fund that would help in creating an enabling environment to tap from the multiplier effects of Sporting activities. The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, stated this when officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), led by the President, Mr. Amaju Pinnik, paid him a courtesy call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, saying that sports, over time has moved from an entertainment past time to a Money spinning venture. “We are putting in place, a Sports Trust Fund to create enabling environment to engage and enjoy the multiplier effects of Sporting activities. We are going to launch that very soon, so that our sports have enough funding”, he noted. The governor, who described Sports as a means of youth employment, opined that when youths a...
