Cowboys “FAIL” to Defeat the 49ers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs

By Cedric Bailey / LaVida News / BGCSN / BGCSN2, Photo courtesy of A Vasquez of AP

Santa Clara CA: The Dallas Cowboys took San Francisco down to the wire, giving the favored 49ers all they could handle on their home turf. At the end, the Cowboys came up short, early mistakes, untimely penalties and key injuries leading to a 19-12 loss. This marked the ninth time, and second in as many years, that these past champions have met in the postseason

Last week the Cowboys' win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dak Prescott had his hands full in this one. Often under pressure, he completed 62.2 percent of his passes (23 of 37) for 206 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for a pedestrian quarterback rating of 63.6. Brock Purdy finished with an 87.4 rating after totaling 214 yards on 19 of 29 passing, the Cowboys keeping the rookie quarterback under pressure as well. And the Dallas defense largely held the 49ers' potent running attack in check, Christian McCaffrey gaining just 35 yards on 10 carries with the team as a whole totaling 113. If anyone proved to be the problem, it was San Francisco tight end George Kittle, who hauled in five catches for 95 yards to lead his side. Now for the Cowboys, CeeDee Lamb posted a game-high 10 receptions for 117 yards, but no other Dallas pass-catcher was even able to surpass 30 receiving yards, Noah Brown having only two receptions, T.Y. Hilton one and Michael Gallup zero. The Cowboys' rushing attack also suffered a severe setback with an injury to Tony Pollard, the team finishing the night with just 76 yards on the ground.

The Cowboys defense set an early tone, but found their backs against the wall with just over nine minutes taken off the clock. A Prescott pass intended for Gallup, who didn't give his quarterback much help, was instead picked off by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, giving the home team the ball at the Dallas 21-yard line. But the Cowboys kept San Francisco out of the end zone, the 49ers having to settle for a 26-yard field goal but taking an early 3-0 lead.

Prescott would answer, leading his troops on an extended 14-play, 74-yard drive that lasted 7:47, and saw Dallas convert two third downs and a fourth down as well. The quarterback completed all seven of his pass attempts for 41 yards while also running for 11 more. The last of those throws was a 4-yard toss to tight end Dalton Schultz for the score, but when kicker Brett Maher's struggles continued, his extra-point attempt blocked, the Cowboys were left with six only points. Which allowed the 49ers to then tie the game. Helped by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness call on cornerback DaRon Bland, San Francisco used 10 plays to reach the Dallas 29-yard line. There the Cowboys held the line, leaving it to Robbie Gould to kick the 47-yard equalizer. With 3:38 left in the quarter, the Cowboys had a chance to double-dip, getting the ball to start the second half after having deferred the coin toss. So much for that.

Dallas would respond, though, after Turpin nearly took one to the house on the ensuing kickoff, darting 44 yards before being taken down at the Cowboys' 43-yard line. They would cross into enemy territory before stalling at the 49ers' 25, but Maher was good this time from 43 yards, narrowing the deficit to four with just over 11 minutes remaining. With the Dallas defense starting to wear down, the 49ers really began to pound the ball on the ground. A 13-play drive saw San Francisco hand the ball off seven times for 43 yards with Purdy scrambling for six more. The Cowboys were able to prevent them from crossing the goal line, but the 49ers added another three points on Gould's 28-yard field goal.

Dallas was still within striking distance and down only seven with a tick under three minutes to play, but momentum was clearly with the home side. Taking possession at their own 18-yard line, the Cowboys went a quick three-and-out and desperately needed a defensive stop. And by forcing a punt, the Dallas defense at least gave the offense one last shot. But it was too much to ask. Taking over at their own 10-yard line with just 45 seconds left, they were unable to cross midfield before the clock, and their season, hit zeroes. The Cowboys' 2022 campaign comes to an end after having posted a 12-5 record with a victory over the Buccaneers in the wild-card round. The 49ers will now advance to the NFC Championship game vs the Philadelphia Eagles.

TCU Horned Frogs Advance to the College Football Playoff against the Michigan Wolverines

By Cedric Bailey / BGCSN / BGCSN2 / Lavida News

Fort Worth: Sometimes, it's better not to overthink things. The College Football Playoff Selection Committee got it right. No ifs, ands or but-we-would-have-been-favored-over-everybody’s about it.

Now, onto the actual deserving Football Four: This is the first College Football Playoff without either Alabama or Clemson. TCU went from unranked to unbelievable. Ohio State got a mulligan. The Big Ten got two teams in, and if you have a drop of adrenaline running through your veins, you're already looking ahead to a potential Michigan-Ohio State rematch. For better or worse, this is the first time two teams entered the playoff after losing their last games (TCU, Ohio State). For that matter, four of the top 10 in the final CFP Rankings are coming off losses. Get used to more of that in the 12-team playoff, by the way. As for CFP IX, the matchups and circumstances are delicious. No. 4 Ohio State sat on the couch and got in. No. 3 TCU had to sweat out its spot despite an undefeated regular season. Its quarterback, Max Duggan, might have won the Heisman Trophy while losing on the field. Meanwhile, K-State won its first outright Big 12 championship in 19 years.

No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Michigan are favored in the semis, as they should be. Maybe that's the championship game we should be rooting to see. They are mirror images of square-jawed coaches who use game-manager quarterbacks, stout defenses and special teams to gain their desired results. Michigan has the revenge factor. Georgia will be the better team no matter who it plays in the playoff. That's not to dismiss the underdogs. Duggan has proven to be indefatigable. Ohio State has a Heisman finalist at quarterback, too, in C.J. Stroud along with its best defense since 2019. That OSU team had the pieces to win it all; this one gets another glorious chance have to prove the pieces are still in place.

TCU became the first school from Texas to get into the CFP -- not Texas or Texas A&M, a private school with an undergraduate enrollment of 9,000. The Big 12 as a whole would appreciate a win. The conference is 0-4 in the CFP with Oklahoma being the lone representative to this point. The Pac-12 is the only other Power Five without a national championship in the CFP era; it missed the field again for the sixth straight season.

In closing the Horned Frogs. Picked seventh in the Big 12 preseason, they became the second team to go from unranked to the playoff. Despite Saturday's loss, TCU's Sonny Dykes remains a coach of the year candidate. Much like Lincoln Riley at USC, Dykes dipped into the portal to add 14 new players.

Texas Southern Tigers Shutout Southern University in the Arlington Showdown 24-0

By Cedric Bailey / Lavida News / BGCSN /BGCSN2, Photo by David Pearson

Arlington: There probably was no result more surprising Saturday on the Southwestern Athletic Conference scoreboard than Texas Southern taking Southern University to the woodshed by a 24-0 score in the Arlington Classic. Andrew Body threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half as Texas Southern cruised to a  victory over Southern on Saturday.

Body’s 9-yard touchdown pass to AJ Bennett capped a 10-play, 65-yard game-opening drive for Texas Southern (1-2, 1-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference). LaDarius Owens added a 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter, and Body threw a 53-yard score to Derek Morton just before halftime. Body completed 16 of 22 passes for 186 yards. Morton made four catches for 91 yards.

Besean McCray was 18-of-30 passing with three interceptions for Southern (1-2, 0-1). Cedrick Williams, Perry Wells and Charles George Jr. each made an interception. It was the second straight win for Texas Southern in the series, both at Choctaw Stadium after the Tigers ended a nine-game losing streak.

The Jaguars were the preseason pick to win the West Division title. Those prognostications often turn out to be little more than guesses, but this result could reshuffle the entire deck. Southern is viewed as an elite HBCU program. Texas Southern, which now has five wins in the last four-plus seasons under Clarence McKinney, is not. It may turn out that the Tigers (1-2, 1-1) are one of the conference’s biggest surprises. The same might be said of Southern (1-2, 0-1), but not in a good way.

The Jaguars defense got stung early but played better in the final three quarters. The offense never recovered. McCray did rally his team in the second half and the Jaguars moved into the red zone twice but could never punch it in. McCray was the leading rusher with 95 yards but had trouble finding open receivers early in the game while completing 18 of 30 throws.

Up next for Texas Southern will UTSA in San Antonio and Southern has a bye this week.

Cowboys “Fall Hard” in Season Opener to the Bucs 19-3

By Cedric Bailey / Lavida News / BGCSN / BGCSN2

Arlington: The 2022 NFL season is underway is underway and the Dallas Cowboys once again loss to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers 19-3 on Sunday Night Football. Their starter Dak Prescott injured his thumb in the 4^th quarter and will be out for 6-8 weeks. Now this team has to prepare for the Cincinnati Bengals on this Sunday afternoon. If the Dallas Cowboys call the San Francisco 49ers about a trade for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, they will listen. Cooper Rush is currently slated to start in place of Prescott and Dallas has limited options to improve at the position.

For months, Garoppolo has been the most prominent figure in trade rumors after the team decided former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance would be their starter going forward. Garoppolo was expected to part ways with the 49ers this offseason, either via trade or cut. However, the sides worked out a deal that restructured his $24.2 million base salary, which was non-guaranteed. Garoppolo stuck around in San Francisco to back up Lance for $7 million, but he could still be dealt for the right price.

Former 49ers cornerback turned media personality Richard Sherman is not so sure that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would be willing to pay the price for Garoppolo. He also mentioned that the veteran QB may not want to step into the situation in Dallas with a shaky offensive line in front of him. Garoppolo does have a no-trade clause, so he couldn’t be dealt somewhere without his approval.

Meanwhile, Rush has one start in Dallas under his belt, filling in for Prescott last season. He led the way to a 20-16 win over the Vikings, completing 24-40 passes for 325 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. If it comes down to Rush starting games, the Cowboys sound confident in what he brings to the table.

“I think the biggest thing is especially at the quarterback position because obviously the importance of it, is don’t overreact to it,” Cowboys head coach McCarthy said. “Because at the end of the day, we’ve got to make sure we’re giving the players the tools to win the game on Sunday. The nice thing about Cooper is Cooper’s been in our system, knows our system inside and out. We won’t be in that position of trying not to do too much or vice versa. Cooper gives us the ability to keep playing.” While there may be a quarterback move on the horizon, the Cowboys are preparing for the Bengals, with the hopes of putting a miserable Week 1 behind them.

Former TCU Player KaVontae Turpin Shines in the Dallas Cowboys' 32-18 Preseason Victory Against The Los Angeles Chargers.

By Cedric Bailey / BGCSN / BGCSN2 / Lavida News, Photo by Jon Machota

Los Angeles CA: The newly minted Cowboys receiver, who was crowned MVP of the USFL's inaugural season just six short weeks ago, popped off with a 98-yard kickoff return and an 86-yard punt return, both of which resulted in touchdowns for America's Team. Mike McCarthy later called the return specialist "very dynamic" when it comes to his role on special teams. "It's been a long time since the Cowboys have had a returner. … He might be the best return man since ‘Prime Time AKA Deion Sanders.

Sanders spent five seasons with the Cowboys from 1995-99. Now the head coach at Jackson State, Sanders is a two-time Super Bowl champion — one with the San Francisco and the other with Dallas — and an eight-time Pro Bowl selection.

While it can be dangerous to assume too much from a preseason showing — and even more dangerous to compare a young player to a legend of the game — it's likely safe to assume that Turpin will be a force to be reckoned with this season. Turpin finished his college career in 2017 as a first-team All-Big 12 kick and punt returner but went undrafted in 2019. He started his pro career in 2020, joining the Indoor Football League's Frisco Fighters. He went on to spend time with FCF Glacier Boyz (Fan Controlled Football), the TSL Sea Lions (The Spring League) and the Panthers Wrocław (European League of Football) in 2021 prior to his breakout season with the USFL's New Jersey Generals. While with the Generals, Turpin's 540 receiving yards across 10 games led the USFL, and his four receiving touchdowns topped the roster. It didn’t immediately open NFL doors, though, as his signing with the Cowboys came in the first week of training camp. He has made a “fast” impression since.

“He’s so dynamic,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said, you go back to his college days and clearly, in my opinion, he was the best player I saw in the USFL coming out. I’ve been so impressed with him since day one. He got here the first day, picked the offense up and jumped right in there. He’s very dynamic on special teams.” After five leagues in five years out of college, Turpin will make his NFL debut in three weeks. It was a long time coming. “I’m an exciting player, and every time I get the ball, there’s a big play waiting to happen,” Turpin said. “I’m happy to be here and take advantage of this opportunity.”

Bill Russell was the NBA’s King of Championships

and Far More Important Matters

By Cedric Bailey / BGCSN / BGCSN2 / Lavida News, Photo by Elise Amendola

The basketball legend, who died Sunday aged 88, was doggedly committed to using his platform to amplify his political actions, setting a template for today’s athlete activists.The late NBA legend Bill Russell was a truly great person.

In the time since Russell’s death was announced by his family on Sunday, tributes have poured in from around the world. Among them was an eloquent eulogy from former US president Barack Obama in which he writes, “As tall as Bill Russell stood, his legacy rises far higher –both as a player and as a person.” Obama would know: he presented Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. And yet, despite the outpouring of kind words in his memory, Russell may still be the most underappreciated icon in NBA history. Russell is the winningest player in NBA history and it’s not even really close. During his 13 seasons in the league, he led the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA championships, including eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966. No other team has ever won more than three consecutively.

Russell also had a knack for playing at his best when it mattered most. During his first championship run in 1957, Russell blocked Jack Coleman in the final minute of regulation in the deciding Game 7 to keep the Celtics in the game and allow them to eventually win the title. In another Game 7 that also went to overtime, in 1962, Russell scored 30 points and grabbed 40 rebounds, leading his team in both categories. In fact, Russell seemed to keep a secret gear just for Game 7s: his teams were 10-0 in such games throughout his career, an NBA record. Russell never won an NBA finals MVP (the award was only introduced in his final season), but the fact that the NBA eventually named that trophy after him demonstrates how inextricably linked Russell’s play was with championship excellence.

However, while the on-court accolades establish Russell has one of the greatest players to ever touch hardwood, it was his activism off the court that made him a legend. Russell was the NBA’s first Black superstar at a time when legalized racial segregation still existed in much of the country. The Civil Rights Act wouldn’t be passed until Russell’s eighth year in the NBA.

Russell’s celebrity didn’t insulate him from the issues facing the rest of the country. He was subjected to racism throughout his career, even in Boston, the city he represented for 13 years: vandals once broke into his Massachusetts home and covered the walls with racist graffiti. Such bigotry and intimidation tactics, however, never prevented Russell from taking a stand against the injustices around him. In 1961, he boycotted a game in Kentucky after a white waitress refused to serve two of his Black teammates at a coffee shop. In 1967, Russell appeared alongside boxer Muhammad Ali to express his support for Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War. Russell’s record of civil rights advocacy is substantial.

And so, despite his countless athletic achievements, that is probably Russell’s most significant legacy: his commitment to using his platform as basketball star to amplify his political actions. The NBA outperforms other sports leagues when it comes to addressing social issues in a head-on way, and that is a consequence of Russell’s early example. Every time LeBron James combats election misinformation or Steve Kerr advocates for gun control, they’re following a trail blazed by Russell. Russell’s on-court accomplishments may never be touched, but his off-court legacy is in good hands.

Dallas Mavericks 2022 Playoff Run

By Cedric Bailey/ Lavida News / BGCSN / BGCSN2, Photo by David Pearson

The Dallas Mavericks closed out the season with a trip to the Western Conference finals. They didn’t win the Southwest Division (Memphis Grizzlies) won it. The Mavs knocked off the #1 seed Phoenix Suns on the road. However in the absence of Luka Doncic, they found a way to beat the Utah Jazz thanks to Jalen Brunson. It was the leadership of Coach Jason Kidd and the entire team that found a way to get the job done. Now the question is what’s next for the Mavs.

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic accepted responsibility for the team's Game 5 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, which marked the end of the Mavs' playoff run. Doncic tallied 28 points, nine rebounds and six assists, but he made just 10 of his 28 shots from the field, posted a game-high four turnovers and struggled defensively. It was a successful year for the Mavericks, who reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2011. They made the postseason six times over the past 10 years but were eliminated in the opening round each time.

That said, there's always frustration when a team gets that close to playing for a championship only to fall short. For Doncic, his offseason focus will be the defensive end. I think defense has got to be way better for me," he said. "Honestly, I think I made a huge step this year defensively, but there's so much room for improvement. I've got to be way better there. I think that's one spot that can take us to the next level."

There's room for improvement, especially after he often became the main target when opponents attacked the Dallas defense in the playoffs. Doncic still put together a terrific campaign that saw him finish fifth in NBA MVP voting while leading the Mavericks to a 52-30 record. "If we talk about our season, I'm really proud of this team—everybody, every player, every staff member," he said. "Nobody had us here. But I promise we fought until the end. Congratulations to Warriors. They were obviously the better team. But I'm really proud of this team."

Dallas is set to return most of the key contributors from this season. Trying to re-sign Jalen Brunson, who averaged 21.6 points in the playoffs, will be the top internal task on the to-do list. Getting Tim Hardaway Jr. back from injury will also help. Beyond that, the Mavs front office will likely spend most of the summer trying to land another star, either via free agency or a blockbuster trade, to help take some pressure off Doncic at both ends of the floor during next season's championship pursuit.

NBA All-Star Weekend from Cleveland Ohio Team LeBron wins over Team Durant

By Cedric Bailey / LaVida News / BGCSN / BGCSN2, Photo by John Kuntz

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It took a while for the cheers to come for Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry on Sunday night in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. Even when they did come from the Cleveland crowd, Curry joked he didn’t really hear them, as the Cavs fans in attendance had plenty of boos early in the night for their former Finals nemesis.

“I didn’t hear the cheers,” Curry said with a laugh. “No, obviously, I have a lot of history in this building, won a lot of games, lost a lot of games, everywhere in between. It, obviously, means there’s history here, and the fans I think appreciate it, but it comes out in the form of boos, and I enjoy it because it’s not the first time, not the last time. And it takes some energy to boo, so you got to care a lot to do that.”

From the 2015-18 seasons, the LeBron James-led Cavs and Golden State faced off in the Finals every year. The Warriors won three out of those four series, the lone exception being in 2016 when James and the Cavs had to overcome a 3-1 series deficit to break Cleveland’s 52-year title drought. While the rest of the basketball world marveled at Curry’s shooting range during those matchups, he was a perpetual thorn in the side of Cleveland fans. Adding to the narrative over the years was the fact that Curry was born in the same Akron hospital as James.

Curry teamed up with James on Team LeBron, defeating Team Durant, 163-160. The Warriors guard finished with 50 points, just two shy of the All-Star Game record set by Anthony Davis in 2017. He shot 17-of-30 from the field and 16-of-27 from beyond the arc, obliterating the old All-Star Game record of nine made 3s in a single game. He set the All-Star Game record for points in a quarter with 21 in the third. His performance won him the Kobe Bryant MVP Award, and even had James marveling in real time.

At halftime, as the NBA honored the 75th Anniversary Team by introducing the league’s greats one-by-one, Curry even got a smattering of boos then. But the third quarter was when the tide started to change. Curry nailed seven of his 10 3-point attempts during those 12 minutes. One of those came from the logo at halfcourt, with Curry turning around and running to the defensive end of the floor before the ball was even through the net. On the next possession, he nailed a dagger off of one leg despite being triple-teamed.

While Curry went on to win MVP, it was the other kid from Akron who made the game-winning shot. James hit a 17-foot fadeaway jumper -- an homage to Michael Jordan -- to get his squad to the 163 target score after they started the untimed fourth quarter trailing, 139-138. Curry and James may be old Finals foes, but the admiration last night when they teamed up was mutual. Even Curry agreed there was no better possible ending as Cleveland played All-Star host.

L.A. Rams Win Super Bowl LVI 23-20 over the Cincinnati Bengals

By Cedric Bailey / Lavida News / BGCSN / BGCSN2, Photo by Kevin C. Cox

Los Angeles: Entering the Rams’ final, game-winning drive Sunday, receiver Cooper Kupp had as many incompletions in the second half as catches. One apiece. But then, with Super Bowl LVI just asking to be won, the record-setting wideout emerged in an instant to lead his team to a 23-20 victory over Cincinnati at SoFi Stadium. “So proud of Cooper, all the hard work,” teammate Robert Woods said. “Being able to dominate in the biggest game in the world is only right. That’s why he’s the MVP of our team.”

On that last drive, Kupp caught four passes for 39 yards and the deciding touchdown and converted a fourth and one with a sweep as the Rams scored their only touchdown of the second half when it mattered most. He starred in the absences of Woods, who missed the game because of a season-ending knee injury suffered in November, and Odell Beckham Jr., who went down in the second quarter because of a knee injury. “He won this thing,” Woods said. “He’s the most deserving player, not just for this year, but for all the years he has put in for us.”

Before their game-clinching series, the Rams had seen their offense mostly disappear. In the second half, they had produced only 58 total yards — just three on the ground — and three first downs. Their attempts to ignite some sort of attack included a third-quarter trick play that ended with Kupp throwing too high for quarterback Matthew Stafford, who had leaked out of the backfield on a pass pattern. That’s how much momentum Stafford and his group lacked as they trotted out with 6:13 remaining and the ball at the Rams’ 21-yard line.

After three plays, it was fourth and one. Coach Sean McVay opted to go for it knowing that failing to gain at least a yard would give the Bengals the ball already in field-goal position. “Sometimes, you just go based on a gut feel,” he said. “I felt like, based on the way they had played some of those short-yardage situations, that Kupp would have a chance to circle the defense.”

Lined up to the left, Kupp went in motion and took the handoff from Stafford. He was fast enough to elude Cincinnati safety Vonn Bell as tight end Brycen Hopkins cleared a path. Before that run, the Rams had not picked up a first down on the ground all day, their rushing attack largely nonexistent. As the drive continued, the Rams went up-tempo, putting pressure on the defense and limiting Cincinnati’s between-play adjustments. Stafford hit Hopkins on third and two for a six-yard gain as the Rams crossed midfield and the clock went under four minutes.

Then came the longest play for the series, Stafford connecting with Kupp over the middle for a 22-yard gain to the Bengals’ 24. Stafford and Kupp hooked up for an eight-yard gain, followed by an eight-yard run by Cam Akers as the Rams moved inside the 10-yard line and the two-minute warning arrived. After two incompletions, Stafford threw a third, which would have made it fourth and goal at the eight-yard line. But Cincinnati linebacker Logan Wilson was called for holding.

On the next play, Stafford hit Kupp for an apparent touchdown near the back of the end zone, Kupp absorbing a violent shot from Bell.  After he ran a sneak for no gain, Stafford fired a one-yard scoring pass to Kupp, who beat Apple just enough with an inside move before catching a ball thrown to his outside shoulder. In total, the drive covered 79 yards in 15 plays, the Rams taking their three-point lead with 1:25 to go. From there, the defense closed it out, punctuating the offense’s final statement.

Georgia Bulldogs are the 2022

College Football National Champions

By Cedric Bailey / Lavida News / BGCSN /BGCSN2

INDIANAPOLIS — What a game. Let the record show for the history books that Georgia’s 41-year wait between national championships officially ended on Monday night. The 2021 Bulldog football team sent a ravished fan base that had seen five different other SEC programs have their victory celebrations during that drought out of Lucas Oil Stadium into the frigid Midwest air to revel and raise a glass for finally finishing the season No. 1.

Coach Kirby Smart in his sixth season at long last knocked off mentor Nick Saban and his Alabama juggernaut 33-18 to win the program's first national title since 1980. Georgia pulled away from the Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter to snap a seven-game losing streak to them and denied Alabama a second straight national title. The coach of that team, Vince Dooley, was among those on the field for the postgame celebration, sharing a hug with Smart who said both were in tears.

Let talk about the keys of the game that that gave Georgia a 14-1 final record. Alabama had its 2nd-and-26 to win the national title in 2017. Georgia four years later scored on a 2nd-and-18 to change the complexion of the game after Alabama just went ahead. The play came not in overtime but with 8:09 to go. Stetson Bennett threw a 40-yard touchdown to Adonai “A.D. Mitchell” on the right side of the end zone. The freshman receiver won a physical battle for the ball with Kyree Jackson. It gave Georgia the 19-18 lead that stood after James Cook’s two-point conversion run was stopped on outside. The Bulldogs added two more touchdowns in the final 3:33 to blow the game open.

Next is was, Bennett who completed 17 of 26 passes for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns—both in the fourth quarter--with no interceptions. The second came on a short pass to the left side for a 15-yard touchdown to Brock Bowers. Bennett, the former walk-on who returned on scholarship from junior college and fell to third string on the depth chart this offseason, completed an improbable journey.

In closing the Bulldogs struggled for much of the game in pass protection. Bennett was sacked five times and the offensive line was shuffled when starting guard Warren Ericson left in the first half injured. Bennett, who grew up a Georgia fan since he was a kid in South Georgia, was shown in tears on the sideline after the Ringo touchdown knowing the game was sealed. "I hadn't cried in, I don't know, years, but that just came over me," he said. "That's what – when you put as much time as we do into this thing, blood, sweat, tears, it means something."

Fort Worth’s Taelour Pruitt Returns to the Lone Star State

Story by Cedric Bailey /Lavida News /BGCSN / BGCSN2, Photo courtesy of UT Athletics

AUSTIN, Texas –Taelour Pruitt is truly living out her mission as a NCAA Women’s basketball player. She is now in her 4^th year at Southeast Missouri State. Last week the Redhawks dropped an 88-47 decision to #12 Texas on last Wednesday afternoon at the Frank C. Erwin, Jr., Special Events Center to close the Redhawks trip to the Lone Star State.

The team were led by freshman Jaliyah Green paced SEMO with 12 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes of action. Taelour Pruitt, a senior from Crowley, Texas, chipped in 10 points to conclude her return to her home state. Roshala Scott added nine points and four boards. Kennedi Watkins had six points with three rebounds. Texas opened the game with a 3-0 lead before a jumper by Pruitt. Green then hit a basket at 8:13 to tie the contest early in the first quarter at 4-4. The Longhorns went on a 14-0 run to pull ahead 18-4 with 3:36 remaining in the opening period. Green then knocked down a pair of 3-ptrs before a bucket by Scott to cut the deficit to 18-12. SEMO shot a game-high 45 percent in the opening frame. Texas then outscored the Redhawks, 23-6, in the second quarter to head to the break leading 42-18.

Scott added a trey at 7:29 to cut the edge to 50-21. The Longhorns grew their advantage to 65-29 after a 3-ptr by Ashley Chevalier in the waning seconds of the third quarter. SEMO continued to fight and had its best quarter of the day in the fourth. The Redhawks posted 18 points compared to 23 for Texas. Pruitt posted eight points in the final period, shooting 3-for-5 from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. She hit consecutive triples down the stretch to cut the Texas margin to 88-47. The Longhorns took their biggest lead of the day, 86-37, with 2:51 remaining in regulation on a jumper by Deyona Gaston. SEMO shot 34 percent from the field while the Longhorns converted at a 50 percent clip including 71 percent in the fourth. The Redhawks were a perfect 6-for-6 at the charity stripe. Green was 2-for-2 and Watkins finished 4-for-4.

Meanwhile on Monday the SFA Ladyjacks downed Southeast Missouri State 83-59 inside William R. Johnson Coliseum. It was a quick 8-0 run in the first quarter led by Stephanie Visscher saw the Ladyjacks take an early 12-5 lead and didn't look back. The 'Jacks held SEMO to just 9 points in the second quarter to take a 41-25 lead into the break. They then exploded for 28 in the 3rd to put the game out of reach.

In closing for Taelour the trip was truly a blessing for the family. It was an opportunity for the family to cheer and spend some quality time together. The Longhorn Network showcase the family during the second half of the game. It was truly a great homecoming for the Pruitt family. 

Dallas &    Dak

4 Years, $160 million deal

By Cedric Bailey / Lavida News / BGCsports Network, Photo Courtesy of Insidethestar.com

Dakota “Dak” Prescott had said he wanted to be a Cowboy for life. The Cowboys had insisted there was no moving forward without Prescott. And yet, negotiations lasted more than two years. Until Monday. Prescott and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year deal worth $160 million with $126 million guaranteed.  Prescott could earn up to $164 million in four years, and the deal includes no-trade and no-tag clause. Thus Prescott could return to the negotiating table as soon as three years from now. At that point, he'll be just 30 years old.

With an NFL-record $66 million signing bonus, Prescott is set to earn $75 million in 2021 – one year after he played out a $31.4 million franchise tag. Over his first three years, he'll earn an average of $42 million per year, the people said. Technically, the deal that voids to four years will span six to give the team accounting flexibility logging Prescott's hefty signing bonus.

Only Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who signed a 10-year extension worth $450 million last July, will play on a contract with a higher annual salary or guarantee than Prescott. Prescott's deal is set to expire seven years before Mahomes'. The Cowboys announced generally Monday evening that the deal had been reached, with a more detailed press announcement scheduled for Wednesday. Prescott is expected to address reporters then.

The Cowboys drafted Prescott 135th overall in 2016. He rose from fourth-string quarterback to immediate starter in a matter of months, supplanting Tony Romo as the Cowboys' face of the franchise. Prescott started 72 straight games, including three playoff games, from 2016 through the fifth of week of the 2020 season. He compiled a 42-27 regular-season record, throwing for 17,634 yards and 106 touchdowns to 40 interceptions. He racked up another 24 rushing touchdowns as well as his receiving touchdown one quarter before his 2020 season ended abruptly.

Prescott was off to his best statistical season in 2020, averaging 371.2 passing yards per game, when a designed run went awry and he suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his ankle. He was carted off the field of AT&T Stadium in tears, an ambulance waiting to transport him to a local hospital for immediate surgery that night to clean the wound and repair the fracture. Prescott hasn't played since, though he is again walking. "I’m a Cowboy and couldn’t be happier, "I look forward to working along Coach McCarthy, the staff, and my teammates to be the best team we can be in pursuit to our goal of a Super Bowl.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers “Rout” the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV 31-9

By Cedric Bailey / Lavida News / BGCsports Network

Tampa Bay FL: The Kansas City Chiefs’ dream to run it back woke up to a harsh reality in Super Bowl LV. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady dissected the Chiefs’ defense with three touchdown passes en route to a convincing 31-9 win Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Chiefs were down 21-6 at halftime and then tried to play catch-up the rest of the way. Tampa Bay’s defense quieted the Chiefs’ offense, which finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the league at 415.8 yards per game. The Chiefs amassed 350 yards Sunday but couldn’t connect down the field as the Bucs played their safeties deep. The Chiefs’ offense found no semblance of rhythm. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was flushed out of the pocket numerous times behind a shuffled offensive line.

“It was a bad day to have a bad day,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “I’m not going to lay it on the offensive line. When we lose, we all lose together on this.” The Chiefs converted a paltry three of 13 third-down attempts (23%). Mahomes was sacked three times, hit eight times and picked off twice. Add it up and the result was a one-sided Chiefs loss in the biggest game in football.

“They played better than we did, and that’s my responsibility,” Reid said. “I take full responsibility for it. You can’t do the things we did and beat a good football team like that, particularly at this level.” While the Chiefs were let down on numerous fronts, nothing stood out more than the yellow flags littering the ground. Penalties became the theme for the Chiefs in the first half: eight for 98 yards, the most in Super Bowl history. The Chiefs, however, hurt themselves repeatedly in the first half, especially on Tampa Bay’s fifth possession.

Brady’s interception was wiped out by a defensive holding call on KC cornerback Charvarius Ward. The Chiefs’ defense held to force a 40-yard field goal attempt, which kicker Ryan Succop, the former Chiefs kicker, nailed. A neutral-zone penalty on wide receiver Mecole Hardman gave the Buccaneers a first down instead. Brady made the Chiefs pay with a bullet to streaking tight end Rob Gronkowski, who raced down the right sideline for a 17-yard touchdown. Gronkowski finished with six catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns. The Chiefs’ undisciplined play was highly uncharacteristic and greatly contributed to their downfall. They finished the game with 11 penalties for 120 yards.

Sunday presented the first Super Bowl matchup between QBs who’d won each of the two most recent Super Bowls. Mahomes won Super Bowl LIV, Brady Super Bowl LIII with the New England Patriots. Mahomes made some typically miraculous throws only to be let down on the receiving end. In the first half, his off-balance pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill would have been a touchdown, but the ball bounced off Hill’s facemask. Mahomes also threw a pass in the third quarter on a fourth-and-9 play when he was parallel to the ground. The pass was intended for running back Darrel Williams near the end zone it caromed off Williams’ facemask.

Forced to scramble a lot, Mahomes ran for 33 yards on five carries. The Bucs seemed well prepared for Hill, who torched them with 13 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns in Week 12. Sunday night, Hill had seven catches for 73 yards. Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce had 10 catches for 133 yards on 15 targets. “(Buccaneers defensive coordinator) Todd (Bowles) had a good plan,” Reid said. “But like I said, I could’ve done a whole lot better of putting these guys in a better position to make plays.”

Hammerin' Hank Aaron Has Gone Home

by Willie Epting Jr. / Clesportstalk.com / BGCsports Network / The Not Cleveland Sports Beat, Photo courtesy of MLB.com

There are times in life when you feel as though you know people without ever having met them. Stuart Scott, Kobe Bryant, Chadwick Boseman and others are some to name a few. The individuals listed were larger than life figures in each of their respective fields. The same is said about Henry Louis Aaron, Sr. Aaron passed the morning of January 22nd at 86 years young.

The baseball prowess, home run hitting records and his fielding exploits are numerous and the stories are endless. But Hank, the man, came from humble beginnings from the deep south in the City of Mobile, AL. Growing up in a day and age when racism, social injustice and inequality were at a fever-pitched, Aaron remained undeterred in the pursuit of his dreams to make it to the highest level of baseball.

Hammerin’ Hank’s on the field accomplishments will forever remain some of the greatest in the history of not just baseball, but in all of sports. The unbreakable record of 714 career home runs, he crushed. Amid death threats for him and his family, Aaron stared directly in the face of these inequities and did what he did best…bash baseballs. And who can forget that iconic day in history in Atlanta, of all places, when the record-breaking home run sailed over the left-center field fence. There he was rounding the bases with two white guys flanking him on either side while congratulating him on the feat. It is one of the most celebrated celebratory moments in history.

Aaron’s impact has been felt far more off the baseball diamond. As an advocate for equality, Hank displayed humility and self-discipline help to create initiatives for a fairer and more equal America. Upon retiring from the Majors in 1976, his footprints and fingerprints remained on the game he loved so very much. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982 after receiving 97% of the vote. (Side note: Who does not vote 100% for the All-Time HR King?). He received what is arguably the most prestigious award of his life when former President George W. Bush awarded Aaron the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. This award encompassed who Aaron was a man, a baseball player and someone who just wanted to make the world a better place. In the midst of the pandemic and growing mistrust of African Americans of the Covid-19 vaccine, there Hank was, out front getting the shot to soothe the fears of the skeptics.

“I’m hoping someday that some kid, black or white, will hit more home runs than myself. Whoever it is, I’d be pulling for him.” Hank Aaron

Get your rest, Hammer. You were truly one of the greats.

Southeast Missouri State Redhawks "Punches Ticket" to the NCAA Tournament

By Cedric Bailey, Photo  by MaCabe Brown

EVANSVILLE — There is a reason that basketball fans call the month “March Madness”. It’s all about the seeding’s in their conference. In this case it has been 12 years since Southeast Missouri State women’s basketball finished with a winning record. The Redhawks hadn’t advanced past the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament since 2008.

This year the No. 3-seeded SEMO punched its ticket to the NCAA tournament Saturday afternoon inside Ford Center with a 67-47 win over top-seeded Tennessee-Martin before 494 fans. It clinched the OVC title in the rubber match after each team won at home in the regular season.

SEMO (25-7) beat both of the OVC’s co-champions this week, and that was after needing a buzzer-beater to win Thursday against Tennessee Tech. The Redhawks was picked sixth in the preseason poll before going 14-4 in OVC play, so the fifth-year coach. Rekha Patterson received OVC Coach of the Year honors last week. A native of Red Springs, North Carolina, Patterson was a four-year letter winner and two-time captain in women’s basketball at North Carolina A&T, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations in 2001. She received a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in sport management from Baylor in 2004.   She has lead the Redhawks with following positions of fifth, sixth, sixth and eighth in her first four seasons.

"The biggest thing over these three games is we win together," Shephard said. "To do what we did, it takes everybody. You can focus on her and someone else steps up. The SEMO way wins games, it wins championships." It’s been some time since SEMO women’s basketball was strong. The program faced sanctions in 2008 that called for the forfeiture of 44 victories and placed them on probation for two years. It was found to have provided impermissible transportation, housing and meals for prospective student-athletes.

They hadn’t finished with a winning record since then. But for the first time in five years, the OVC will have a new representative in the NCAA tournament. The Redhawks rose from the ashes this season with the league’s best offense before getting red-hot in Evansville this week to upset the favorites.

In closing we are very proud of former Crowley Eagles guard Taelour Pruitt. The Redhawks were down two points with nine seconds remaining in overtime against Tennessee Tech, Pruitt drains a 25-foot 3-pointer to win the game and advance in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The play was ESPN’s top play of the evening highlight. Up next the Redhawks basketball team will prepare for the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Selection Show on Monday, Mar. 16 at Dogwood Social House on campus in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Kansas City Chiefs Rally to win Super Bowl LIV over the

San Francisco 49ers 30- 21

By Cedric Bailey

Miami: To win a Super Bowl it takes a lot of hard work plus knowing everything about your opponent. Coach Andy Reid has been there before during his coaching days in Philadelphia with the Eagles. Now he serves as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and starts the day in the mornings and late into the nights. It’s a requirement of a coach’s job.The game started with the 49ers that took Dustin Colquitt’s punt deep in their own territory but were methodical in the drive that followed, including a 32-yard run to the right by Deebo Samuel that required a touchdown-saving tackle by Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu. The Chiefs limited the Niners to a 38-yard field goal by Robbie Gould, and trailed 3-0 — perhaps not so worrisome considering they’d found themselves down by 24 points against the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round game and by 10 to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game.

Then the Chiefs went to work. They went 62 yards in 10 plays, a drive that consumed 5 minutes, 58 seconds and ended with Mahomes’ 1-yard run for a touchdown. The eventual Super Bowl MVP became the first QB to score a rushing TD in a Super Bowl since Colin Kaepernick in Super Bowl XLVII. That’s where the first quarter ended, the Chiefs ahead 7-3 after Harrison Butker’s extra point. For the Chiefs, it was a clear improvement over the scores after one quarter in their first two playoff games of this postseason, when they trailed the Texans 21-0 and Titans 10-7.

The Niners started the second quarter with the ball, but Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland picked off Jimmy Garoppolo on second down, and KC was in business again. The Chiefs followed with a nine-play, 43-yard drive capped by a 38-yard field goal by Butker that made it 10-3 Kansas City. But Garoppolo was better on the 49ers’ next drive, and so was the vaunted San Francisco rushing attack. The Niners had the Chiefs on their heels during a methodical 80-yard march capped by Garoppolo’s TD pass to Kyle Juszczyk.

At the two-minute warning, the Chiefs faced second-and-8 at San Francisco’s 46. Their drive ended in a Colquitt punt that Byron Pringle almost downed near the goal line. Instead, it was a touchback and the 49ers took over at their own 20 with 59 seconds remaining until intermission with a 10-10 score.

If Garoppolo started the game cold, he sure heated up after halftime. By the time the third quarter came to a close, he was 17 of 20 for 183 yards. And he didn’t need to get the Niners into the end zone because his teammates stepped up, too. While San Francisco’s defensive front (especially defensive end Nick Bosa) harassed Mahomes nonstop, Gould punctuated a nine-play, 60-yard drive with a 42-yard field goal. Bosa sacked Mahomes and forced a fumble that the Chiefs were fortunate to recover, and on the next play KC’s star quarterback threw an interception right into the chest of Niners linebacker Fred Warner. Garoppolo stepped into a nice pass for a long gain in the flat to wide receiver Kendrick Burne, converting a third-and-8 from the Chiefs’ 37. Another completion to Juszczyk brought the 49ers to the Chiefs’ 1, and Raheem Mostert plunged in for the short touchdown on the next play. San Francisco led 20-10.

Suddenly the Chiefs were clawing for anything they could get. And things were about to get worse. Mahomes’ second career postseason pick came early in the fourth quarter of his first Super Bowl. He’d entered this game with 11 playoff touchdowns and zero interceptions in the postseason. He had a career-low passer rating of 49.78 in Sunday’s game as the Chiefs dug in for their second drive of the final period of their first Super Bowl in five decades. But they still had confidence that Sunday’s misfires were an aberration — it was the first time in 440 days Mahomes had thrown more than one pick in a game.

Starting at their own 17, the Chiefs put together a nice drive highlighted by a 44-yard completion from Mahomes to Tyreek Hill on third and long. San Francisco’s Tarvarius Moore was flagged for pass interference in the end zone on a throw intended for Kelce, setting up the Chiefs at the Niners’ 1, and Mahomes found Kelce on the next play for a touchdown. The crowd was awake again, the Chiefs down just three after their 10-play, 83-yard drive in a mere 2:43. With 6:13 remaining in the game, it was time for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s guys to show what they were made of. They did, stopping the Niners and forcing a punt. Mahomes then hit Sammy Watkins and Hill for long passes that put the latter over 100 yards receiving on eight catches. Watkins, who caught a perfect spiral in stride down the right sideline for a 38-yard gain, was now at 98 yards receiving on five catches ... and the Chiefs fans in attendance were back on their feet.

On third-and-goal from the 5, Mahomes put the Chiefs ahead 24-20 with less than 3 minutes left on a TD toss to Damien Williams that was upheld on review. The Chiefs came up with yet another defensive stop, and Williams put the icing on the cake with a touchdown run down the left sideline. Ballgame. The Chiefs had overcome double-digit deficits in all three of their postseason games en route to their first world championship in half a century.

LSU Tigers Win the National Championship over Clemson 42-25

By Cedric Bailey, Photo by Sue Ogro

New Orleans: The LSU's Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow finished off the Tigers' first national championship since 2007 with a performance that saw him take down a pair of vaunted FBS records. Burrow's five passing touchdowns in LSU's 42-25 win over Clemson brought him to an even 60 on the season, breaking the FBS record held at 58 by former Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan since 2006. He added a rushing touchdown to bring his total touchdowns responsible for to 65 on the season, toppling that FBS record -- also Brennan's -- that had stood at 63. "This was a long time coming," Burrow said after the win, smiling. "I'm kind of speechless right now. This was fun." Burrow took down both marks on a single pass to Thaddeus Moss in the third quarter. That 4-yard touchdown that marked Burrow's 59th of the season came midway through the third quarter and extended LSU's lead to 10. Clemson wouldn't get any closer on what coach Ed Orgeron called a "magical" night in the Superdome for his players, especially those with New Orleans ties.

One of those players was Ja'Marr Chase, who caught the first two of Burrow's touchdown passes just two years removed from starring at Archbishop Rummel in Metairie. Chase's 52-yard score in the first quarter broke a three-way tie with teammate Justin Jefferson and former Florida receiver Anthony Reidel to set a new SEC single-season record for receiving touchdowns at 19, and his 14-yarder in the second quarter extended that record to an even 20. But the night at the Dome belonged Burrow in the end. He logged his fifth rushing touchdown in the season from 3 yards out in the second quarter, then hit a 6-yard touchdown to a wide open Moss with 10 seconds until halftime. That score tied both of Brennan's marks and also sent LSU into the locker room up 28-17 and with 21 consecutive points after they'd gone down 17-7 earlier in the quarter. Burrow's fifth and final touchdown pass came on a 24-yard heave to Terrace Marshall in the fourth quarter.

And after Burrow finished off a season that will go down in the history books, Orgeron likened his quarterback to the Saints' signal-caller who became the NFL's career leader in touchdown passes on the same field just a few weeks earlier. "[Brees] and Joe are a lot alike in a lot of ways," Orgeron said, "as far as their work ethic, as far as their leadership on the football team." Brennan does have one caveat to claim over Burrow in the record books, though, having compiled his total in 14 games. Burrow, by virtue of playing in the College Football Playoff Championship game, accrued his total in 15 games.

The 2018-19 Clemson team was the first team in history to go 15-0. LSU becomes the second to reach that mark and will be ranked among famous teams like the 1995 Nebraska team and the 2001 Miami team, among many others.

Luka Doncic Wins the NBA Rookie of the Year Award

By Cedric Bailey

Santa Monica CA: To no one's surprise, but to the joy of the Mavericks and their fans nonetheless, Luka Doncic on Monday night received the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy as the NBA Rookie of the Year. Doncic, 20, received the trophy, named after the former Philadelphia Warriors' head coach, during Monday night's NBA Awards show at the Barker Hangar. Doncic joins Jason Kidd as the only Mavericks to win Rookie of the Year. Kidd shared the honor with Detroit's Grant Hill for the 1994-95 season.

Monday night's Rookie of the Year result, determined by media voters around the NBA, was widely expected despite a late-season surge by Atlanta point guard Trae Young, the player for whom Doncic was traded on draft night last June. Doncic averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists last season for the 33-49 Mavericks, compared to Young's averages of 19.1 points, 8.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds for the 29-53 Hawks.

Slovenia native Doncic joins Spain's Pau Gasol (2002) as the only Rookie of the Year winners who didn't play high school or college basketball in the United States. Rookie of the Year winners Patrick Ewing (Jamaica), Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons (Australia) and Andrew Wiggins (Canada) also were born outside the U.S., but played high school and/or college basketball here.

Last season, the 6-foot-7 Doncic has now joined 1961 Rookie of the Year winner Oscar Robertson as the only rookies in NBA history to average at least 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game. Luka has posted eight triple-doubles, the third-most by a rookie behind Robertson's 26 and Ben Simmons' 12. Doncic also broke Magic Johnson's record for the most triple-doubles (seven) by a player before his 21st birthday. Doncic becomes the first Mavericks winner of a major NBA award since Dirk Nowitzki was named NBA finals MVP in 2011.

Next Stop…….Basketball Immortality!

The Hall of Fame

By Dave Michaels (NTSN), Photo Courtesy of LA Times.com

Number 41 in your programs, number 1 in your hearts, the best of the best—the 14 Time All Star, the League MVP, and a World Champion! The ONE the ONLY, Dirk Nowitzki! Twenty one years in one uniform, 21 years playing for the same team, and 21 years of bringing a brand of basketball to a league, to a city that everyone can appreciate, and not once could you say anything wrong about his ability!

Yes, the sun rose on a Thursday morning in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas and for the first time in 21 years, there will no more Dirk Nowitzki hitting a fade away jumper from 15 feet out of the rim and letting fall between the twine of the net of the basket. It is not the first time in the history of Dallas/Ft. Worth sports, that a “hero” had to step down from his playing days, and call it a career. Though rare that it is that you get to have that one player in your city for his entire career, and for that matter 21 years, give or take a few years.

Lets look at the others that have graced the front page of the Sports sections in this sports town. Troy Aikman—10 years with the Dallas Cowboys, played his entire career in the same uniform, and retired with THREE Super Bowl Rings, Hall of Fame induction, Cowboy Ring of Honor, and countless Cowboys records. Michael Irvin, 11 years as a Cowboy receiver. THREE Super Bowl Rings, Hall of Fame induction, Cowboy Ring of Honor and COUNTLESS records in the Cowboys record books. Emmitt Smith—oops didn’t finish his career in a Cowboy uniform, nope he was released then went to Arizona to play one year for the Cardinals. But not before setting a NEW NFL Rushing Record, leap frogging over Walter Payton, and—YES, THREE SUPER BOWL RINGS—Hall of Fame induction, Cowboys Ring of Honor, and oh yeah that little thing known as a records.

Those are just a handful of the Cowboy greats, throw in  Roger Staubach, and his TWO Super Bowl Rings and Hall of Fame Induction and Cowboys Ring of Honor and we can just stay on this subject for the rest of article. What about Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, he played the majority of his career for the Texas Rangers, but won a World Series ring with the Florida Marlins, and then bounced around to other teams, there is a patter that is about to follow, that not everyone one gets to start and finish with the same team- for a career. Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars, started in Minnesota with the North Stars then the team moved to Dallas and became the Dallas Stars, and he played until they released him and one last season with the Detroit Red Wings and then retirement. The Stars did indeed retire his #9 sweater—and he does have a Stanley Cup Championship and numerous All Star appearance and Olympics as well! Just to continue with this theme, prior to free agency, players were the property of the teams and their owners, they would start and end their playing careers with the same team unless they were traded to another team.

Look at Babe Ruth, started out with the Boston Red Sox, until the owner needed capitol to get a play on Broadway that, pretty much, FLOPPED. But none the less the New York Yankees paid to bring the Bambino to the Bronx and that is where he led them to championship after championship. Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, all wore the pinstripes throughout their careers, but other guys like Billy Martin who, after a few altercations, was placed on the trading block and sent to Kansas City, (the Team owns you to do as they please, not getting the best offer from a team when your contract is up). The few players that were able to start and end their careers with the same team, during the age of free agency, Cal Ripken Jr. comes to mind, who played his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles, and broke the Iron Man’s record for consecutive games played. Twenty years with the same team and played in 2632 games. Now that is a record that I doubt anyone will ever break, but then again, we said the same thing about home runs, and track records, that have fallen, all because, as the adage goes, “Records are made to be broken”.

Dirk Nowitzki, will be forever entrenched in the lore of the Dallas Mavericks, there were others that came into the Maverick fold, Brad Davis, Rolondo Blackman, Steve Nash, Jet Terry, and a host of others. But NO ONE will ever wear the number 41 ever again, and no one will touch what he has done for this team, for this city, or this community, and for his fans!

When the NBA season starts for 2019-20, it will be without Dirk as well as another star Dwayne Wade, who also retried this season, and the landscape will be in the hands of the other youngsters that will make their mark in the NBA.

Luka Doncic, has started his legend this year, as the rookie phenom, and the Wunderkind, to take the place of the Big German, as Nowitzki has come to be known over the years. There will be others, you can rest assure of that.

Come the dawn of a new season in six months or so, it will be a new roster and a new caliber of player to wear the uniform of the Mavericks and with that, hope will once again be on the side of the fans and maybe there will be a shimmering of hope that another NBA Title looms on the horizon. Though when you think about it, it has been a lot of retirements happening since last summer, with the Rangers announcing the retirement of Adrian Beltre, and soon his number will be retired at the Ball Park, and to think they won’t even wait for several years to pass before they do that. Makes you wonder, how soon will Mark Cuban do that for Dirk, and retire 41 before he goes into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Thanks for all that you have done Dirk, for the Mavericks, the City of Dallas, and for the Community you have adopted as your home after coming over from Germany! Danke Shoen! Mein Herr! Just a thought! 

NBA All-Star Weekend from Charlotte North Carolina

By Cedric Bailey, Photo by Chuck Burton

Charlotte: LeBron James and Kyrie Irving back together for a night, after both left Cleveland, worked out just fine in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte. Irving drove the lane in transition, and hit James with a no-look pass for an uncontested dunk and a late 10-point lead. That completed a Team LeBron comeback from as much as 20 points down for a 178-164 victory over Team Giannis at Spectrum Center.

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant won Most Valuable Player with a 31-point, seven-rebound performance for Team LeBron. Los Angeles Laker James, top vote-getter from Western Conference, finished with 19 points and eight rebounds. Irving, who now plays for the Boston Celtics, added 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Meanwhile this weekend in Charlotte has been a continuation of the reception Nowitzki has received in arenas throughout the NBA, with fans understanding that they might be seeing him for the last time.

"I've enjoyed the last few weeks," he said. "Here and there it's been emotional, and it's kind of tough to perform when fans are yelling, 'We want Dirk!' and I'm coming in the second half ice cold and they want me to score right away. That's a little hard at times, but it's been super emotional and an emotional and a wonderful ride that I'll never forget." After Sunday night's third quarter, players from both teams gathered on the court to honor Nowitzki and fellow "special roster addition" Dwyane Wade of Miami, who were given framed commemorative All-Star jerseys.

Behind Nowitzki's 14 All-Star appearances, the Maverick with the next-most is Rolando Blackman, with four, then Mark Aguirre with three. The only other Mavericks with multiple All-Star Game berths are Jason Kidd, Steve Nash and Michael Finley. "I didn't know what to expect when I got here when I was 19, 20 years old," he said. "My first year was super hard, trying to get adjusted to the speed of the game, the athleticism, trying to get through the first year.

When Kidd returned to the Mavericks in 2008 at age 34 and helped the Mavericks win the 2011 NBA title at age 38, Nowitzki was in his early 30s."He was late-30s getting massages pregame," Nowitzki said of Kidd, "and I was always rolling my eyes, like, 'Come on, old man, get going.' Now, however, the Mavericks have 25 games left - which might or might not be the last of Nowitzki's career. "We still want to make the push," he said. "We feel good about the young guys and the season. We want to finish strong and let's see if we can get hot here down the stretch."

Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray Enters the 2019 NFL Draft

By Cedric Bailey, Photo by LM Otero

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Now that Kyler Murray has decided to play in the NFL instead of reporting to spring training as a first-round draft pick by baseball's Oakland Athletics, the questions can shift to the Heisman Trophy winner's height. The former Oklahoma star says everyone will get their answer at the NFL combine next week. And that was after Murray listed himself at 5-foot-10 Monday before accepting the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top college quarterback.

"I've been a 5-10 projected in the first (round), I mean, that's crazy to me, the fact that I'm already projected that high," Murray said. "I'm not over 6-foot. I haven't seen that since I've been alive." The 21-year-old who won three state championships and didn't lose a game as a high school quarterback in the Dallas area said football became a factor in his decision simply because he finally had a chance to play again.

After signing a contract for a $4.66 million signing bonus as the ninth overall pick in June by Oakland, Murray led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff in his only season as the starter while posting the second-best passer efficiency rating in Bowl Subdivision history. Before throwing for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns and running for 1,001 yards and 12 scores, Murray's only extensive college experience was a rough freshman season at Texas A&M in 2015. After transferring to Oklahoma, he was the backup to 2017 Heisman winner Baker Mayfield, the top pick in last year's draft.

Murray said he hasn't decided the specifics of his participation in the NFL combine, but Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley believes his time in the 40-yard dash could be an eye-opener. Murray said it's been "two, three years" since ran a 40, at 4.3 seconds. Meanwhile the 2019 NFL Draft will be the 84th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players. The draft will be held on April 25–27 in Nashville, Tennessee. The first round will be held on April 25, followed by the second and third rounds on April 26, and will conclude with rounds 4–7 on April 27. A record-high 111 eligible applicants announced their intention to enter the 2019 NFL Draft as underclassmen, which primarily included juniors and redshirt sophomores who forewent future years of college eligibility. In order to be eligible to enter the draft, players must be at least three years removed from high school. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft was January 14, 2019.

The Class of 2018 Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame

Story by Dave Michaels, Photo courtesy of Cottonbowl.com

On Tuesday the 8^th of May, 2018, the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association inducted 6 new members into the Hall of Fame, that was held at AT&T Stadium, which is the site for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, and those six members included two legendary coaches, and four players.

John Robinson former Head Coach of the University of Southern California, Houston Nutt, former Head Coach of both the University of Arkansas and Ole Miss, along with players such as Wallace Triplett from Penn State, the 1948 Classic against SMU, Quentin Coryatt from Texas A&M who was in the 1992 Classic against Florida State, The Oklahoma Sooner Roy Williams who was in the 2002 Classic against Arkansas, and the Heisman Trophy winner, Ricky Williams out of the University of Texas.

Each one of the inductees have a story, each one has a memory or two that they shared, but the common thread among all of them, was that, the Cotton Bowl Committee that welcomes the teams, treat them better than most other Bowls, that would include the Granddaddy of them all the Rose Bowl.

Speaking with the former USC Coach John Robins, he said that “they had the best week that I could have ever imagined. The Rose Bowl, (now don’t quote me on this) they don’t treat you that good. “ Robins went on to say that the friendships that were made then are still there today, and even though they have been friends for all these many years, Robins says, that no one has gotten older.

Houston Nutt, brought two teams to the Cotton Bowl, the Razorbacks of Arkansas when they took on the Oklahoma Sooners, only to lose 10-3, then brought his next team to the Classic, the Ole Miss Rebels who closed out the Ol Dame of the Cotton Bowl Stadium against Texas Tech, then opened up AT&T Stadium against Oklahoma State, we spoke to Coach Nutt, and asked him about the distinction of closing the old one and then opening the new stadium, he said that every time he thought about it he “got chills”.  It brought back memories about the old stadium where he played and coached in games there, then to come to the new AT&T Stadium to bring in the new era of the Cotton Bowl Classic. Nutt goes on to say that the most important thing that he remembered doing for his team is that, he wanted to bring them into the building and let them practice, and in doing so, be in awe of that 60 yard Video Screen that sits above the field. For his players to get it out of their system that they are on the big screen and can see every pore of their face, just to get all of that out of their system before they had to take the field against the OSU Cowboys.

Former Penn State running back Wallace Triplett, from the 1948 Classic, where the Nittany Lions took on the SMU Mustangs, only to lose to the Mustangs on that January day. The House that Doak Built belonged to the defense, as both teams scored only 13 points each to end that classic in a tie. Triplett didn’t make the trip to Arlington, Texas for the induction ceremony, but his daughter and grand daughter represented him, and represent they did well. Both women spoke of Triplett’s humbleness, and that even though he was the first African- Americans ball players to be drafted by the NFL, he was still struck, how the prejudice played around him outside of the world of sports. Triplett’s family said that he barely spoke of his time playing football, both for Penn State as well as for Detroit Lions, where he was picked in the 19^th round of the 1949 Draft. Triplett has a room that is enshrined to him in a town just north of Detroit, that has his ol number 12, as well as his Army Uniform.  Artifacts of a man who loved the game of football, but also knew that after his playing days were over, he needed to be a father and a husband to a family.

The big Linebacker out of Texas A&M, Quentin Coryatt, a man, who after his playing days has a hard time with talking to large crowds of people. You notice this when he is standing in a room, and he starts to have anxiety, there is nothing wrong with this condition, another famous football player had the same symptoms, and he became a recluse to a point, and was able to overcome this, his name is Earl Campbell. Coryatt, made his way for the ceremony, but not during the little one on one sessions with the media. Seeing him though, reminds you of his days when he played for the Indianapolis Colts and the one year for the Dallas Cowboys, considering his accolades of being named All Southwest Conference in 1991 for the Aggies, and a College All American that same year, being named to the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame was just a natural for him.

The Oklahoma Sooner, former Dallas Cowboy, and Cincinnati Bengal, Roy Williams, as he was being asked questions, the one that came up was his fondness memory of his appearance in the Classic, when he went up against Arkansas in 2002. Williams’ response was a little surprising, but then again not really. He spoke of the visit to the Children’s Hospital, and to the Shriners Hospital, seeing the kids, and brightening up their days, but more so, how the kids encouraged him and the players from both sides of the ball. Williams went on to say that the hospitality of the Cotton Bowl staff was “over the top”. Williams remarked about the gifts that were given the players, and being that he was a poor kid growing up, here is all of these gifts, and for the most part, he says he still has them, and when he sees them, reminds him of his time in the New Years Day Classic.

The other Williams that was inducted into the Hall of Fame was the Heisman Trophy Winner for 1998, the running back that broke Tony Dorsett’s College Career Rushing Record, and also finding a way during the season to pay homage to the man that claimed to have built the mystique of the Cotton Bowl, Doak Walker the Heisman Trophy Winner from SMU. Ricky Williams was a one of a kind football player. Recruited out of San Diego by head coach Mac Brown, the running back was a showcase player for the University of Texas during his playing days. Coach Brown talked Ricky into returning to the 40 Acres in Austin for his Senior year, and in doing so, solidified his foundation in the hearts of Longhorn Fans, and in the writers who voted for him to win not just the Heisman, but also the Walter Camp Award, the Maxwell Award, the Doak Walker Award, just to throw out some hardware for his efforts. Williams says that his Cotton Bowl experience was capped off, when he ran for a touchdown against Southern Mississippi on that January 1^st 1999, cloudy, misty, cold day in Dallas. The touchdown, Ricky says, had to be something special, because he had planned to strike the “Heisman Pose” after he scored. It just so happened, that the run for that TD was a 37 yard scamper and as soon as he hit pay dirt, the pose was struck, the cameras all were there to catch it and make it a scene to remember. What made that run even more special, was the fact that it was 37 yards, and if you think about it, Thirty Seven yards. 37 is the number that Doak Walker wore in his football career at the Hill Top known as SMU. Williams’ jersey number 34 was retired by the University along with Earl Campbell’s number 20, the only two Heisman Trophy winners to represent the University of Texas.

The ceremony was hosted by the voice of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and the voice of the Dallas Cowboys, Brad Sham, His remarks about the class that was being inducted, of how remarkable each player and coach was to the Classic, and how each one of the inductees could have been a showcase all on their own, but in this particular class the six that went in, were a Class all of their Own.   

Former Dallas Mavs Derek Harper “Finally” Honored on Sunday Evening

By Cedric Bailey, Photo by David Pearson

Dallas: Derek Harper was the 11th overall pick of the 1983 NBA draft and spent 16 seasons as a point guard in the National Basketball Association with the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.

After graduating from Roosevelt Junior High School and then North Shore High School in West Palm Beach, Harper played three seasons for the Fighting Illini and coach Lou Henson having his best season in 1982–1983, when he led the Fighting Illini in scoring with 15.4 points per game. Harper was named First-Team All-Big Ten and Second-Team All-American in 1983, and was Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in both 1981 and 1982. Harper averaged 4.7 assists per game for his collegiate career, and led the Big Ten in assists in the 1981–1982 seasons. Harper was elected to the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team" in 2004.

Harper was the perfect fit for the Mavericks. From 1986-93 he averaged nearly 18 points, seven assists, and two steals per game, earning a reputation as one of the best two-way players in the game and setting several Mavericks records along the way, some of which still stand today. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in assists and steals, and ranks top-five in points, games played, and games started. His No. 12 jersey will forever hang in the rafters alongside Brad Davis’ No. 15 and Rolando Blackman’s No. 22.

On a night when the Mavericks looked back to honor one of the best point guards the franchise and this league has seen, celebrating his competitive spirit and the fact that he “left it all out on the floor,” as Harper said himself, there was a sense that Harper can give one more gift to this organization. He might not spend hours talking with Smith every day, but it’s clear the legend is there for the rookie.

You won’t see many players as universally respected as Harper is within this organization. J.J. Barea even took his son, Sebastian, to the floor during halftime to watch the former Mav’s speech. (Barea is Harper’s favorite player.) Shawn Marion and a host of other former Mavericks were at the game, too. It was a special night. There was an outpouring of love from guys who are 20 years old to guys who have been out of the league for more than 20 years, all of it deserved. And their admiration and respect appeared to mean more to Harper than we will ever know. “It’s great, well-deserved, and long overdue,” Dirk Nowitzki said.

Southeast Missouri Signs Crowley’s Taelour Pruitt

By Cedric Bailey

Crowley: Taelour Pruitt has leaded the Crowley Eagles basketball team to the playoff for the past three years. Last year’s team lost in the Area round to the state runner-up Mansfield Timberview. On last Wednesday Pruitt accept a scholarship to play her college basketball career for Southeast Missouri.

Last week Coach Rekha Patterson announced the signing of Crowley Eagles basketball player Taelour Pruitt for the Redhawks 2018-19 roster. Guard Taelour Pruitt joins the Redhawks from the lone star state of Texas where she has been a three-year letter winner and three-year starter for Crowley High School. In three years, she has posted averages of 17.0 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals. Pruitt was named District MVP, First Team All-District, All-Region, All-State and Second Team All-Area. She played summer ball with the Lady Jets. At Southeast, she intends to study Nursing.

Patterson on Pruitt: "Taelour is a point guard that understands the game and is able to play and make decisions at a high level." Taelour’s family was in attendance at the school gym along with her teammates and Coach Amy Gillum on last Wednesday.  The later open the 2017-2018 season on the road. The outcome was second place in the Lady Panther Tip Off Classic (Colleyville Heritage). The defeated Bishop Lynch, Colleyville Heritage and South Grand Prairie to get the championship game.  The outcome was a 5point loss against Plano West.

In closing we had the opportunity to speak with the Pruitt family about the accomplishments of Taelour basketball career at Crowley. "We are so very proud of Taelour, most don't know that she puts a great deal of work into her craft. We are so excited that she has reached another goal she had for herself. Congratulations Little TP, on with the next four years." The Pruitt Family.

Morning Star Prayer Center Provides Relief Assistance for Houston Community

By Cedric Bailey

Houston: Last weekend America had the opportunity to witness the impact of Southeast Texas from Hurricane Harvey. This storm caused major flooding thru out cites such as Houston, Beaumont, Port Arthur and surrounding communities. Americans responded such as various organizations provided services such as shelter, food and counseling to help the evacuees rebuild their families and start over.

The Morning Star Prayer Center under the leadership of Elder Helen Collins-Epps received a call for “Help” on Wednesday of last week.  Partners on the ground in Houston wanted to know could the Prayer Center help some families who had lost everything.  She and her team immediately responded and stepped out by faith.  The first objective was to secure a place for prayer.  After making a few calls Pastor Ross and Lady Dandy Cullins opened their doors without hesitation, knowing that all the items being delivered were going to another church.  They welcomed us with open arms and overwhelming kindness. 

The Prayer Center purchased as much as they could and then called for help from other partners.  World Vision, Bishop Kevin and Pastor Sonja Dickerson and the Day Springs church were the first respondents.  She called me and asked could I go as well as help her to get the message out that there was a need for help in Houston.  It was amazing to see what can happen in a few days when people join together in prayer and walk by faith. 

People begin to call and respond to the needs of the people.  A group of young people stepped in and volunteered their time all day Saturday, as well as others from different dominations.  Four vans were secured and filled to overflow capacity. She was asked to pray over drivers and volunteers that were also loading trucks to send to other areas.  So amazing to see how just a few days ago the country was in an uproar fighting over flags and statues, and now standing together and saying “how can we help”.  Tim and Christi Hutto (New York Life Ins. Co. Downtown Fort Worth) went shopping and filled the request Elder Epps had sent.  While Elder Epps and Leah was shopping there were Hispanic ladies in the dollar store who asked who are you buying for, and after hearing the story said we want to help.  We don’t have much but what we have we want to share with those in need. They brought a SUV full of all kinds of new items. 

The intercessors prepared to travel to Houston walking by faith.  At 5am Sunday morning the trip begin.  As we reached Fairfield, Texas we meet a group of Hispanic families who were from Wichita Falls.  Their trucks were loaded with water, food and etc. to bless the people.  It was interesting neither of us knew exactly what to expect we just each knew we were walking by faith to help those who needed our help.  As we stood together on the parking lot of the gas station we joined hands and prayed together.  We did not know each others names and or addresses we just knew we were on a MISSION.  As we were praying a white lady walked up and said here please let me help in this small way.  Maybe this can buy you gas on the trip.  On the other side trucks with furniture were also loaded heading to Houston as well.  Three white men were driving those trucks.  Here each of us were from different backgrounds not concerned about who was black, white or Hispanic we just knew there was a need and we wanted to help.

 This is what our country is about, people helping people.  The women of God said “We can create a storm in the midst of the storm”.  A prayer storm was created in Houston on Sunday night.  People were blessed by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Thank you Elder Epps for allowing me to go.  Praying for hours at the Solid Rock Baptist Church on last night I believe pulled down strongholds and blessed so many.  The Morning Star Prayer Center does not just pray but they are a force in action making a difference in the lives of people here and anywhere they can.  The Intercessors are an amazing group of people.  

Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor Dedication

Photo courtesy of Dallas Cowboys

Frisco: The Dallas Cowboys honored its former players on this past Monday with “The Ring of Honor Walk” at The Star in Frisco. It was a historic celebration that welcomed nearly all living members of the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor to the home of the Cowboys team and organization. There were a total of 21 former Dallas Cowboys in attendance.

Here are the names that were recognized Bob Lilly, Don Meredith**, Don Perkins, Chuck Howley , Mel Renfro, Roger Staubach, Lee Roy Jordan,  Tom Landry**, Tony Dorsett, Randy White, Bob Hayes**,Tex Schramm**, Cliff Harris, Rayfield Wright, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, Drew Pearson, Charles Haley, Larry Allen & Darren Woodson. **Member’s family unveiled monument in their honor. 

 The Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor is dedicated to former players and coaches who have made outstanding contributions throughout the team’s history. The Ring of Honor Walk presented by Dr Pepper is located along The Star Boulevard and Cowboys Way, leading up to Tostitos Championship Plaza and Ford Center. Along the Walk, each Cowboys legend is individually recognized with a list of their accomplishments and a monument established in their honor.

 “The Ring of Honor Walk is the ideal way to recognize both the Cowboys organization and its history,” said Jerry Jones Sr., Owner, President and General Manager of the Dallas Cowboys. “We hope that the Walk will help keep the relentless dedication, commitment and heart of our Ring of Honor member’s top of mind as the team heads into the new season.”

 “Our nearly 30-year partnership with the Dallas Cowboys has enabled us to excite and engage legions of fans who have overlapping passions for both America’s Team and Dr Pepper – two iconic Texas brands. The Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor Walk adds a wonderful new dimension to our longstanding sponsorship,” said Jim Trebilcock, Chief Commercial Officer for Dr Pepper. “We are thrilled that Dr Pepper will be a part of this experience, joining fans visiting The Star in celebration of the legends who shine the brightest in the history of this storied club.”  The Star in Frisco is now welcoming the public for viewing of the Ring of Honor Walk as well as the restaurant and retail spaces located within the grounds of The Star.

Meanwhile the Dallas Cowboys will play its next home Preseason match up against the Oakland Raiders from AT&T Stadium in Arlington. 

Jones and Tomlinson Leading the Way for North Texas at the NFL Hall Fame Weekend

By Cedric Bailey, Photo courtesy of Star Telegram

Canton: The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017 — Morten Andersen, Terrell Davis, Kenny Easley, Jerry Jones, Jason Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson and Kurt Warner — all had stories to share with a full house at Memorial Civic Center for Sunday’s Enshrinees’ Roundtable event. Guided and prodded by NFL Network emcee Steve Wyche, the disparate group of personalities dispensed 45 minutes of powerful and hilarious entertainment.

Danish kicker Morten Andersen was just a funny guy. Andersen gets up on stage and explains his nickname was ‘The Matador’ and, with a wave of his arm as an imaginary opposing player on a kickoff came at him, he sidestepped ‘him’ and said “Ole.” When asked about his toughest opponent, Andersen mentioned Gerald Riggs. Riggs missed that memo on kickoff return. “He was the scariest guy I encountered, I was a speed bump,” Andersen said of the former Atlanta and Washington running back.

“By the time Gerald caught it, I was down around the 20-yard line,” Andersen said. “He ran right up the middle and it was like the Red Sea parted. The sidelines were my friend; I could get them out of bounds. But he ran up the middle. I thought he was going to juke me; he ran over me.” Kickers want to be tough guys on the field too but know, “my situation was different,” Andersen said, “my uniform was very clean. In pregame I cut myself shaving one time and thought ‘I’ve got an opportunity here.’ “I started putting blood all over my pants. At the end of the game I put water on my head, like I was sweating. One of my teammates came over and said ’What happened to you?” Warner was both thoughtful and insightful in assessing the Class’s two running backs, Tomlinson and Davis.

“When you think of the Hall of Fame, there are so many ways to get here,” he said. “LT, drafted high, greatness from the time he stepped on the field. Then you have TD. I can associate with TD because a lot of people (didn’t think) he played long enough. Meanwhile it was Kurt Warner was both thoughtful and insightful in assessing the Class’s two running backs, Tomlinson and Davis.

“When you think of the Hall of Fame, there are so many ways to get here,” he said. “LT, drafted high, greatness from the time he stepped on the field. Then you have TD. I can associate with TD because a lot of people (didn’t think) he played long enough. “But what I appreciate was when he played, he was the best. Those two guys were the best of

their eras, and they did it in completely different ways. (The Hall of Fame) isn’t always about 14, 15-year careers ... it’s what you do in those moments that matter.”

Finally let talk about the Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones who squeezed in about as many names humanly possible in a shade less than 37 minutes, mentioning from Jimmy Johnson all the way to his faithful, longtime administrative assistant Marylyn Love. Once again showed no hard feelings exist between himself and Jimmy, his two-time Super Bowl-winning coach who was instrumental in putting the Cowboys back on the map, an accomplishment warranting Hall induction next year.

Here is a list of the former Cowboys coaches actually saw either at Jerry’s induction or Friday night party: Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Dave Wannstedt, Norv Turner, Hudson Houck, Tony Wise, Les Miles, Jim Bates and Mike Pope. As for the former players, other than Cowboys Hall of Famers Roger Staubach, Mel Renfro, Bob Lilly, Rayfield Wright, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith and Charles Haley, there were Tony Romo, Nate Newton, Daryl Johnson, Bill Bates, Darren Woodson, Greg Ellis, Flozell Adams, Babe Laufenberg and Billy Davis.

Ivan Rodriquez Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2017

By Cedric Bailey

Cooperstown- The Texas Rangers had moment to remember during the final weekend in July. On Sunday afternoon it was their former catcher known by many as “Pudge” Let’s just say that his speech mirrored his career: spectacular, emotional and passionate, bringing out his intense love for teammates, fans, family and the game of baseball. There were times when Ivan Rodriguez had to stop and gather his emotions, especially when talking about his parents, Jose and Eva, his children and his Puerto Rican heritage. But Rodriguez knocked it out of the park and touched all the bases in his speech as he was officially inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday afternoon.

Rodriguez said after it was over. "I am an emotional person. At the beginning, I was nervous, but after that everything came out OK. It was great, it was emotional, but it was a dream to be a part of this select group."

It was also a big day for the island of Puerto Rico. The field behind the Clark Sports Center was filled with hundreds of fans waving the Puerto Rico flag and cheering Rodriguez, the fourth player from the island to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Fellow  Puerto Rican inductees Roberto Alomar and Orlando Cepeda were present on Sunday, with the fourth being the late Roberto Clemente.

Rodriguez's speech ended just eight minutes before Adrian Beltre hit a double in Arlington for the 3,000th hit of his career. It was an extraordinary day in the history of the Rangers. He is the sixth former Rangers player to be elected to the Hall of Fame and the first position player. The others are Nolan Ryan, Ferguson Jenkins, Rich Gossage, Gaylord Perry and Bert Blyleven. Rodriguez, who spent the first 13 of his 21 seasons in Texas, and Ryan are the only ones wearing Rangers caps on their plaques. He paid tribute to boyhood hero Johnny Bench, told stories about Nolan Ryan and Ken Griffey Jr. and saluted other catchers from Puerto Rico: the Molina brothers, Benito Santiago, Javier Lopez, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Jorge Posada. He talked about his childhood dreams.

He saved the last for the Rangers, mentioning former teammates, including Juan Gonzalez, former managers Bobby Valentine and Johnny Oates, hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, executives Tom Grieve, Tom Schieffer, John Blake and Taunee Taylor, former owners George W. Bush, Rusty Rose and Tom Hicks, and current owners Bob Simpson, Ray Davis and Neil Leibman. “Their wonderful scouts, Sandy Johnson, Manny Batista, Luis Rosa and Omar Minaya, discovered me at the age of 16, and I spent 15 years of my professional life with them," Rodriguez said. "I grew up there and am proud to wear their cap forever in the Baseball Hall of Fame."

Adrian Beltre’s Historic Run for 3000 Hits

By Cedric Bailey

Arlington: Texas Rangers fans had the opportunity to watch Adrian Beltre make history at Globe Life Park. However it was his fourth try, that Beltre connected. After striking out in his first at-bat against Baltimore starter Wade Miley, Beltre ripped a double down the third-base line on a 3-0 count in the fourth inning to ensure his place in baseball lore. He became the 31st player in Major League history to reach the milestone and the first Dominican-born player to do so.

"Today, when I got my second at-bat, I thought, 'This has to be it. I don't want to have the fans waiting, my family is waiting for it. I don't want to drag it one more day,'" Beltre said. "When I got the 3-0, I was doubting myself. 'Should I swing, or should I just take?' The way Miley was pitching, I thought, 'This is going to be the best pitch he will throw me.' And I decided, if it's going to be on the plate, I'm going to swing. And I did."

He strode into second, paused, collected himself, and then the celebration began. The Orioles near him offered their congratulations, and a steady stream of Beltre's teammates emerged from the dugout as fireworks boomed over the Arlington sky. Beltre turned, saw his children running toward him and prepared for a hug, except they sprinted right by him and into the outfield.

They reached a covered portion of the right-center-field wall and unveiled a facade dedicated to Beltre's achievement. Only then did they sprint back to the infield dirt and into their father's arms.

"What happened today after the hit has been the best moment in my life. I didn't know how to feel, because I had no idea what was going on," Beltre said. "I feel proud of them. I saw the joy in their faces, and a lot of things you do in your career you do for your kids and your family. My kids and my wife have been so supportive over the years, that this moment was for them. When I saw that, I felt like I was on a cloud, because I really saw the joy in their faces. It was a nice moment to enjoy with them -- my family, my wife." He tipped his cap, turned and faced the delirious Rangers faithful at Globe Life Park, and accepted his place in history.

Meanwhile on Monday MLB announced Adrian Beltre and Seattle Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton have been named the American League Co-Players of the Week for the period ending July 30th Beltre is the second Ranger to win A.L. Player of the Week honors in 2017 with Nomar Mazara being selected for the week of April 2-9.

The 38-year-old slugger joined Hall of Famers George Brett and Wade Boggs as the only 3,000-hit club members to accomplish the feat while playing a majority of their games at the third base position.

Homes for Hope Mission Trip to Mexico

By Cedric Bailey

San Diego CA:  YWAM/SDB (Youth with a Mission) is located in San Diego, California and was started in October 1991 by Sean and Janet Lambert. Their vision in the beginning was to mobilize groups that wanted to come to Mexico and beyond to serve the needs of the poor, both practically and spiritually. This past Memorial Day weekend I had the opportunity to attend a mission trip at the San Antonio Del Mar campus is our flagship property. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean in Baja California, Mexico. This campus is located 20 minutes south of the U.S. border, and is in between Tijuana and Rosario.

Turner 12, under the leadership of Founder and Executive Director Coach John Carter, and Arlington’s First Rate Investment, under the leadership of founder and CEO David Stone, answered the call of the Lopez family. Here is the letter that was submitted to Homes of Hope on last year. The father Carlos shares the following story, “it’s been a struggle paying rent with the income I have, and we've had to move several times. My pay is only $80 per week and things have been very tough for our family. Our church helped us when we were finally able to buy a piece of land and now we look forward to having a house that doesn't leak; where we have a bit more space. Thank you from Carlos, Ana along with our 3 children Hirving Hazael, Yulliona Sarai, Jenifer Estela.

Well on last Friday, I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Jud I. Stone and the members of First Rate to build a three room house for this family. There were at least 10 other homes that were built in Mexico for several other families. The Lopez’s   worked with students from Turner 12 and another group from Phoenix Arizona. We later traveled to Wal-Mart and purchased food and clothing for the family. Gifts were presented and a plaque to celebrate the dedication of the new home. Everyone had the opportunity to give thanks to God for answering those prayers! Today the Rosario’s have a new place to lay there head thanks to efforts of Turner 12, First Rate and the Stone family.

You can learn more about The Turner 12 by visiting their website at www.turner12.org. For those interested becoming a mentor, donor or volunteer, you can contact Coach Carter at (214)384-7912 or you may email him at turnertwelve@aol.com.

And the Beat Goes ON! Or is that… and the BEAT DOWN Goes On?

By Dave Michaels

Here we are once again, the American League Division Series. The Texas Rangers vs the Toronto Blue Jays! Weren’t we just here a year ago? Why YES we WERE! Let’s recap quickly!

The Texas Rangers go up two games to none in the best of five series last year, winning two in Toronto, then they come back to Arlington, Texas, needing ONE win to advance to the American League Championship Series! ONE WIN! That’s all! JUST ONE! What happens next, the Blue Jays go on and win THREE in a row, but the dramatic fifth and deciding game! Well let’s see!

The Rangers actually have a lead going into the 7^th inning of that game, and not one, not two, but THREE ERRORS in four at bats, and the Rangers have given the Blue Jays LIFE! Then its Jose Bautista at the plate, and with two on, hits a mammoth, majestic, rainbow of a home run to left field to give the Jays the lead going into the final two innings of the game. Oh and if that’s not enough, insult to injury, when Jose “BATS” hits that colossal  shot to the cheap seats, he takes his bat and flips it and stands at home plate!

Basically showing up the Rangers, and letting the HOME TOWN fans revel in its splendor! The rest they say is history! NOT SO FAST my young friends!

Come to the regular season, 8 months later, the Blue Jays and the Rangers are playing a regular season game, and Jose Bautista is at the plate in Arlington, Texas, and he gets plunked by a pitch, no big deal, he stares down the pitcher, and maybe an exchange of pleasantries go back and forth, but then all of a sudden and hit up the middle, and a double play ball.. tailored made, in the hands of Rougned Odor, however, Bautista take a hard slide into second base and gets a bit of Odor for good measure. Once again, words are exchanged and a push comes out of it, and the next thing you see is Bautista doubling up his fist, but before he gets a swing in, Odor just knocks the taste out of Bautista’s mouth, with helmet going one direction and sun glasses going in another, and then both benches clear, and coaches are involved and fingers are pointed, and names are being called—and it looks like something out an after school free for all!

Well these two teams will once again meet up in a Division Series best of five starting this week in Arlington, and if anything, we should all be aware that THIS is bigger than the game- “THIS” being the back ground story between Odor and Bautista!

Something we are certain that Major League Baseball would much rather have down played, and not being shown on every sports broadcast on ESPN, Fox Sports 1, CNN Sports, and every local TV station in both DFW and Toronto!

The Game is supposed to be bigger than the story, the GAME is what people come to watch and be a part of, and cheer for their teams to advance to the next series! In Toronto, the fans there are a bit, hmmm how shall we say…. Brutal! They throw bottles of beer and little children as they did last year during the Division Series and again this year during the ONE GAME PLAYOFF with the Orioles, a fan in left field threw a full bottle of beer in the path of the Orioles left fielder Kim, and not that it distracted him from the catch, but just plain stupidity!

So what can the Rangers expect when they go up to Toronto on Sunday to take on the blue birds of happiness? Security will be tighter and the fans will be kept a close eye on that is for sure. As for the fans in Texas, well that’s another story! The stadium, Globe Life Park, holds 49,000 plus for full seated capacity, a bit more if you wish to stand or get obstructed views, but none the less, since both games on Thursday and Friday will be played at 3:08 and 12:08, respectively, one can only imagine that there will be less than full for both days!

Thank you Major League Baseball for giving the Team that is the number one seed, with the best record in the American League, the worse possible start times in their region, and day games in Texas, lets face it, yes its October, but that just means we are in the upper 80’s instead of 105. Oh and with that last statement, let’s not EVEN get into the fact that the Rangers and the City of Arlington wish to build a new DOMED stadium for this baseball club. That’s another story for another time!

For now, it’s the Blue Jays and the Rangers part II! My money is on Jeff Banister and the Texas Rangers, they have a bit of a bad taste in their mouths from last season, and even though their battle cry is NEVER EVER QUIT, I think for now its UNFINISHED BUSINESS! Just a thought.

McKinney, TX - (August 1, 2016) –  Morgan Melloh went the distance tossing a complete game shutout.  She scattered seven hits.  The defense came up big, specifically Kylee Lahners at second base, to do their part to secure the win.  The Charge won 1-0, taking two of three from the Racers.  It was Dallas’ fifth series win and first over the Racers in 2016.

The Charge managed just four hits, two from Lauren Haeger.  Her first inning single scored rookie Taylor Gadbois.  Melloh and the Charge defense would make that run enough to get the win.

Melloh struck out seven and walked five.  She worked out of a jams in the fourth, sixth and seventh inning stranding 11 Racers in all.  The veteran left hander left the bases load in each of the last two frames.

In support of Melloh, the Dallas defense made some excellent plays to help keep Akron off the board.  In the top of the third Kylee Lahners grab a one out ground ball bound for centerfield with a dive.  From her belly she made a back-handed flip to Renada Davis to get the force a second.

In the final inning Lahners turned a no-out double play that certainly saved the game for the Charge.  After the play the Racers loaded the bases with two hits and a walk.  Melloh coaxed a week ground ball to first from McKinney native Ashley Thomas to end the game.

The Charge improved to 15-26 on the season.  The Racers fell just under .500 to 21-22.  The Charge go on their final road trip of the season to face the PA Rebellion for three games.

Muhammad Ali, “the Greatest” Boxer in Human History is Called Home to Glory

By Cedric Bailey / Lavida News / BGCsports Network

Muhammad Ali will truly be missed from the sports world. Ali was widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sporting figures of the 20th century. From early in his career, Ali was known as an inspiring, controversial and polarizing figure both inside and outside the ring. He was born as Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, and began training when he was 12 years old. At 22, he won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in an upset in 1964. Shortly after that, Clay converted to Islam, changed his "slave" name to Ali, and gave a message of racial pride for African Americans and resistance to white domination during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

In 1966, two years after winning the heavyweight title, Ali further antagonized the white establishment by refusing to be conscripted into the U.S. military, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War. He was eventually arrested, found guilty of draft evasion charges and stripped of his boxing titles. He successfully appealed in the U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction in 1971. By that time, he had not fought for nearly four years—losing a period of peak performance as an athlete. Ali's actions as a conscientious objector to the war made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation. Ali remains the only three-time lineal world heavyweight champion; he won the title in 1964, 1974, and 1978. Between February 25, 1964, and September 19, 1964, Ali reigned as the heavyweight boxing champion. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he was involved in several historic boxing matches.[16] Notable among these were the "Fight of the Century", "Super Fight II" and the "Thrilla in Manila" versus his rival Joe Frazier, the first Liston fight, and "The Rumble in the Jungle" versus George Foreman. Ali retired from boxing in 1981.

As of Monday we learned that services will be held on this friday. Ali’s home going celebration is expected to be watched globally, family officials announced that a total of 33,500 tickets would be available for a Friday memorial at the KFC Yum! Center and an Islamic prayer service Thursday at Freedom Hall.

In addition, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will join the speakers at the 2 p.m. memorial Friday, already set to include former President Bill Clinton, actor Billy Crystal and broadcaster Bryant Gumbel, wife Lonnie Ali and several others. Bob Gunnell, a spokesman for the Ali family, said the 30-minute Islamic funeral prayer will be held Thursday at Freedom Hall starting at noon (with doors opening at 9 a.m.) and should accommodate about 18,000 people.  The said the decision to have the Jenazah prayer service at Freedom Hall commemorates Ali's last fight in Louisville, in which he defeated Willi Besmanoff in 1961.

The Yum Center interfaith service Friday at 2 p.m. will include clerics from several religions, including The Rev. Kevin Cosby of Louisville, Rabbis Michael Lerner and Joe Rapport of Louisville, a representative of the Buddhist religion and U.S.Senator Orrin Hatch representing Mormons. There will be a poetry reading by Ambassador Attalah Shabazz, the eldest daughter of Malcolm X. For those unable to attend, it will be streamed live from www.alicenter.org. The event will be open to the public with limited seating. Information and details on tickets will be released as they become available. Afterward, a private reception will be held at the Ali Center for friends and guests. The family has asked that, instead of cards or flowers, donations be made to the Ali Center.

“Villanova Does It Again” with a Buzzer Beater over

the North Carolina Tar Heels

By Cedric Bailey, Photo by David J

HOUSTON - Villanova won the national championship with a miracle finish in 1985, and pulled off another miracle Monday night to win it all once again - 31 years later. In the final 4.7 seconds, Ryan Arcidiacono dribbled up the court and found Kris Jenkins with a perfect pass, enabling Jenkins to knock down the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer and giving the Wildcats their second national championship in school history with an incredible 77-74 victory over North Carolina at NRG Stadium.

The second-seeded Wildcats (35-5) finished a magical run through the NCAA tournament with another explosive offensive performance and good defense, but they needed every ounce of fortitude after the Tar Heels (33-7), a No. 1 seed, came all the way back from a 10-point deficit to tie the game, 74-74, on Marcus Paige's three-point basket with 4.7 seconds left. Villanova coach Jay Wright called timeout to draw up a play that he described as "an end-of-the-game situation where we put the ball in Arch's hands and let him make the decision." Arcidiacono went around a screen from Daniel Ochefu and then made the decision to pass to Jenkins. Jenkins released the ball with 0.5 seconds remaining and it swished through, touching off a wild celebration with players pouring off the bench and streamers and confetti being released from above in the cavernous football stadium. Shortly after the players' celebration began, Jenkins broke off and found his mother, Felicia. He stepped over a press table and got her in a long hug, tears flowing from both faces.

Arcidiacono was named most outstanding player of the Final Four, and was joined on the all-tournament team by Josh Hart and Phil Booth. Many of the Wildcats' players from the 1985 title team, plus head coach Rollie Massimino, were in the crowd of 74,340. That team shot 78.6 percent for the game and 90 percent in the second half in 'Nova's 66-64 upset of Georgetown for the 1985 national championship. Playing his 144th career game, a program record, Arcidiacono scored 16 points, hitting 6 of 9 shots from the field and 2 of 3 from three-point range. Jenkins added 14 despite playing just 21 minutes because of foul trouble.

But before Jenkins' shot, the offensive hero of the night for Villanova was sophomore guard Phil Booth, who had scored only 27 points in 'Nova's five previous tournament games but scored a career-high 20 on Monday night. Booth hit both of his three-point shots and sank 6 of 7 shots overall, mostly on drives to the hoop. Paige led the Tar Heels with 21 points and Joel Berry II added 20, but the Wildcats did a decent job holding Carolina's big men, Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks, in check. Johnson scored 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds but had just one offensive board. Meeks shot just 1 of 8 and scored four points with seven rebounds. The Tar Heels outrebounded Villanova, 36-23, but the Wildcats outscored the Tar Heels, 32-26, in the paint. This game will go down setting up one of the most memorable finishes in NCAA history.
 

Broncos Shutdown Cam and the Panthers to win Super Bowl 50 24 to 10

By Cedric Bailey / Lavida News / BGCsports Network, Photo by Patrick Smith 

Santa Clara CA: Super Bowl 50 is over and Former DeSoto Eagles and Texas A&M Aggie Von Miller and the Orange Rush attacked the Carolina Panthers with breathtaking ferocity, tired of hearing about their quarterback, Cam Newton, tired of seeing their dancing moves, exhausted by a perceived lack of respect. Let’s just say when Miller reached the corner, a call came out, "Von, turn the music on. It's time to celebrate!" That’s when thing really got going, as the Broncos crept closer and closer to an improbable 24-10 championship victory, the Denver defense ran everywhere. The Broncos defense led by MVP Miller, but with a cast from line to backfield filled with play-stoppers staked a claim as one of the best in NFL history. They grounded all-pro Carolina quarterback Cam Newton for a record-tying seven sacks.

Carolina lined up the NFL's highest-scoring offense. The Broncos countered with the No. 1 defense. The Broncos know defense wins — because they lost so badly. They were blown out of the Super Bowl two years ago, a 43-8 loss, despite a high-powered offense behind Manning. In playoff games against Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger, New England's Tom Brady and Newton, the Denver defense hit the quarterback 36 times with 14 sacks. They knocked down 25 passes. They allowed just one touchdown pass.

Newton's Panthers averaged 31.2 points this season. They scored as many as 44 in one game. They scored 80 points in two playoff games before the Super Bowl. The Denver defense wrecked their run. The Broncos allowed just a 1-yard touchdown run from Jonathan Stewart in the second quarter and a Graham Gano field goal in the fourth. That's it. This became the Broncos' script in their Orange Crush-ing season. Denver scored just 22.2 points per game. But they allowed just 18.5. The Broncos played in 14 games this season decided by a touchdown or less.

In the first quarter, after Miller sprinted around the right side of Carolina's line and punched the ball away from Newton, Malik Jackson recovered the ball for a touchdown. That was Denver's only touchdown for 57 minutes. No team has ever won the Super Bowl without an offensive touchdown. The Broncos nearly did. But Miller's sack of Newton late in the fourth quarter — after he muscled around the left side of Carolina's line — forced a fumble that T.J. Ward recovered. That led to a C.J. Anderson 2-yard TD run.

For all the importance of Peyton Manning's likely final game — he will take time to make up his mind Miller and the Orange Rush broke the Panthers' will and their hearts. "This is magical," Miller said. "It's something you dream about." Denver owns its third championship, and it's most unlikely since John Elway guided the Broncos to a 31-24 upset of Green Bay. That snapshot exists forever as owner Pat Bowlen stood on the podium and gave credit to Elway. Eighteen years later, Elway returned the favor.

Former Dunbar Wildcats Coach Robert Hughes Honored by the City of Fort Worth

By Cedric Bailey / Lavida News / BGCsports Network

Fort Worth City Council Woman Gyna Bivens attended an event honoring Robert Hughes in 2014. A resident in the community asked the question about honoring former I.M.Terrell/ Dunbar Wildcat Coach Robert Hughes with a street in his honor. Bivens remembered that another former Fort Worth had a street named in her honor and that she was retired and still living. So she went to work and was able to get the votes to get Cass Street changed to Robert Hughes Drive.
 

Many of Coach Hughes family members such as his children, brothers and sister witnessed this historic day on the past Saturday morning. On Saturday, October 17, the City of Fort Worth will recognize former Fort Worth ISD Coach Robert Hughes, Sr., with the naming of a street in his honor.

By city ordinance that portion of Cass Street, between Ramey and Fitzhugh, will now be known as Robert Hughes Street. This street is immediately adjacent to the eastern side of the Dunbar High School Campus. The Board of Education First Vice President Christene C. Moss, Councilwoman Bivens, along with Mr. Walter Dansby, Judge Lisa Woodard, Constable Michael Campbell, State Representive Nicole Collier and other dignitaries and guests, were on hand to personally congratulate Coach Hughes.

 From 1973 to 2005 Coach Hughes coached at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and prior to that he coached at I.M. Terrell High School. When Coach Hughes eventually retired he did so as the all-time winningest high school basketball coach with 1,333 wins. His son, Robert Hughes, Jr. is the current coach at Dunbar High School.

Samorah Whitten’s Dream Comes True

By Cedric Bailey / Lavida News / BGCsports Network, Photo by Darrell D Day / BGCsports Network

Fort Worth Texas, can you imagine at the age of 5 and getting ready to celebrate your 6^th birthday, and your parents ask you the question, “What do you want for your birthday”? And instead of a birthday party at Chucky Cheese you inform your parents that you want to help start a shoe drive for elementary students, who couldn’t afford new shoes. So, Samorah’s parents, Ashley and Courtney Whitten, planned a birthday party and asked everyone to bring a pair of shoes as a gift. The response was so wonderful, that at least 50 kids were blessed with a new pair of shoes. That was in 2014. Meanwhile in 2015, Samorah had another birthday celebration that included her family and church.  Once again she had another birthday party and the church participated and once again 50 more kids were blessed with a brand new pair of shoes.

This past weekend Ashley and Samorah took the shoe drive to the community by spending sometime at her grandparents family business, “Off the Bone BBQ” at 5144 Mansfield Hwy, in Forest Hill, TX. The store invited the Big Game Christian Sports Network, a.k.a. BGCsports to host a live radio broadcast & tailgate party for the college football fans and Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt and Fort Worth Dunbar Wildcats fans. Dunbar Coach Todd Lawson, joined BGCsports show host & sports analyst, Charles Boyd to talk sports and asked the customers for their support. This event was held from 11am to 1pm on the “Off The Bone” parking lot, and helped to raise $500 for Samorah’s 2016 shoe drive.

 On January 28, this year she will celebrate her 8^th birthday with the funds to assist another 50 kids in receiving new shoes. If you would like to support the next shoe drive, then contact the Whitten’s at (682) 559-5644 or stop by “Off the Bone BBQ” in Fort Worth.