WRECK-A-MIC's BLOG Twitter Facebook RSS Feed Email


Followers

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

White Hoops Star At HBCU

 

White Star, Black School: Landon Clement Is The Face Of Upstart North Carolina Central

Written by: Eric Adelson

Monday, February 13, 2012

Whitney Houston died from Rx Pills

 

Whitney Houston Family Told She Died from Rx NOT Drowning

  Whitney Houston did not die from drowning, but rather from what appears to be a combination of Xanax and other prescription drugs.
Whitney Houston's family was told by L.A. County Coroner officials ... the singer did not die from drowning, but rather from what appears to be a combination of Xanax and other prescription drugs mixed with alcohol ... this according to family sources.

We're told Coroner's officials informed the family there was not enough water in Whitney's lungs to lead to the conclusion that she drowned.

Our sources say the family was told Whitney may well have died before her head became submerged.

And family sources tell us ... it was actually Whitney's aunt, Mary Jones, who discovered Whitney's body in the bathtub. Mary had laid out Whitney's dress for the evening on the bed and then left for about a half hour. When Whitney didn't come out of the bathroom, Mary entered, pulled Whitney out of the tub and began administering CPR.

And we're told ... Whitney's mom has arranged to have the singer's body flown back to Atlanta, as early as tomorrow. The family was told the Coroner has no problem releasing the body because there is no evidence of foul play --  and unless cops put a hold on the body, it can be flown back East.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Black History: First Black Professional Baseball Player

 


While Jackie Robinson was not technically the first black player in the organization that became the Major Leagues, he broke the color barrier at a time of fierce racial discrimination in all areas of American life.

From Baseball Almanac:

"1878 - Bud Fowler is the first known professional black player on an integrated team when he plays in Lynn (IA) exhibition games."

"1884 - Moses Fleetwood Walker is the first black major league player and he goes 0-3 with Toledo of the American Association."

-------------------

Soon after these early successes discrimination began to solidify its presence in professional baseball, and a color line was drawn to exclude black players.

Jackie Robinson became the first black player to break the color barrier in the Major Leagues. Robinson first appeared in a Major League Baseball game in 1947. With Robinson's introduction and immediate success, black players began to find widespread acceptance in the American national pastime. Along with fellow pioneers, including greats Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella, Robinson led the Dodgers on one of the most successful runs in baseball history, winning 6 pennants in 10 years. The Dodgers' willingness to oppose social norms of segregation is often cited as one of the primary reasons for their success in the '40s and '50s.

Kenyon Martin Is Going To Lob City

 

Words by Adrian Wojnarowski - Yahoo Sports!


Free agent Kenyon Martin has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract to play with the Los Angeles Clippers, agent Andy Miller told Yahoo! Sports on Friday.

Martin joins a frontcourt rotation that includes All-Star forward Blake Griffin and promising young center DeAndre Jordan. Most NBA contenders had been in pursuit of the rugged forward.

Martin, 34, spent part of the season playing in China and could still have his Clippers debut delayed until the middle of this season as Chinese Basketball Association officials petition FIBA and the NBA to honor his signed agreement. FIBA gave Martin a clearance letter to play immediately in the NBA this week after China officials were slow to respond to a request made over the Chinese New Year.
The Los Angeles Times first reported Martin’s agreement with the Clippers.

The Chinese Basketball Association has forwarded an affidavit to FIBA and the NBA – signed by Martin upon his departure in late December – that stipulates he wouldn’t play in the NBA until his Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers’ season had ended. China is demanding the contract be honored and Martin have to wait until the Flying Tigers finish their season.

The Flying Tigers have six games left and need a winning streak to catapult them into the playoffs. Their final regular-season game is Feb. 16.

Chinese Basketball Association officials are insisting the clearance letter request was deliberately sent to their office over the New Year when they wouldn’t be available to respond. After seven days without a response, FIBA’s guidelines allow it to issue the letter of clearance that all international leagues – including the NBA – need to validate that a player has fulfilled contractual obligations elsewhere.

In truth, Martin is expected to work out for a week with the Clippers before becoming activated. So even if the NBA reverses its ruling, Martin could likely still be back on the floor in two weeks.

China carries significant importance for NBA commissioner David Stern, who has worked relentlessly to cultivate a business partnership with his league and the world’s largest country. What’s more, there’s been a strong belief within the global basketball community that the NBA discouraged China from signing its players under contract during the lockout. Several teams were close to negotiating deals with such stars as Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin and Tony Parker before the CBA declared its teams would only sign free agents.

Other American players in China and their agents are irate over Martin’s early clearance to return to the NBA. J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler were pleading cases on Thursday about getting themselves out of China and back to the NBA sooner than later.

Martin had visited with several NBA teams interested in signing him before deciding on the Clippers.
“The Clippers are probably the best place for [Martin] to showcase himself for his next deal,” one rival front-office executive said. “He’s clearly the third-best [big man] without competition from anyone on their roster.”

Martin reached an agreement with the Flying Tigers to part ways on Dec. 21 and returned to the United States shortly after. He didn’t play particularly well in China, averaging 14 points and seven rebounds in a league with few NBA-quality big men. He had signed a deal worth $2.6 million for the Chinese season but was paid only a prorated salary based on the 12 games he played.

For now, China’s letter-of-clearance rule still stands for Smith, Chandler and Aaron Brooks. Smith’s team has slumped and could miss the playoffs. If so, Smith could return to the NBA by the All-Star break in February. Chandler and Aaron Brooks are on teams that could make playoff runs well into March.

Smith is an unrestricted free agent, and Chandler and Brooks are restricted free agents, likely to re-sign with Denver and Phoenix, respectively. Smith has significant interest around the NBA, including the Lakers, Knicks, Spurs and several more potential contenders.