Author Archives: Tyriq McCord

Hall of Famer struggles early

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By TYRIQ MCCORD

As we all know, Lebron James is arguably the best basketball player in the NBA right now in his 16th season. It is already hard enough to be a 33-year-old man in the NBA with the average age being 25. But to be top 2 best in the game today is remarkable. But some of the 30 year olds from his class cannot say the same.

Dwayne Wade, who was drafted the same year as James, has already expressed that this season is his last season. Not a top player any longer, he is still a force in the game today. But there is one person part of that “Banana Boat Crew” that is not in the right place in his career.

Carmelo Anthony has just been released from the Houston Rockets after only just 10 games into the season. Rockets were held to a high scale after the success from last season in which they lost in the Western Conference Finals in Game 7 before the Finals. Melo was supposed to be the missing piece in the Rockets offense that they needed, but after a 4-6 start to the season it was determined Carmelo was not what they were looking for.

Melo, 34, is still highly motivated to win a championship and to be effective on someone’s team. Sources connected to him says he is not planning on retirement anytime soon at the moment. 

The Heat, Lakers, TrailBlazers, and Pelicans are the top teams that have shown interest in the 10-time all star. But can he help a team win a championship?

Greatest college basketball team ever?

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By TYRIQ MCCORD

College basketball has just started after a long off-season of excitement. Back about 15 years ago, if you were good enough, kids were able to go straight from high school to the NBA. But the NCAA established a rule where student athletes have to do at least one year of college or overseas ball to pursue their dreams.

With that being said, this is our first time ever seeing the highest recruit players all play for the same college team! And some people are saying after one game against the respectable Kentucky Wildcats, that this is the best college basketball team to grace a court.

The Duke Blue Devils played the Wildcats on Tuesday and completely dominated from start to finish with a 118-84 final score.

RJ Barrett, who was the No. 1 basketball recruit in 2018, finished with 33 points, 6 assists, and 4 boards.

Cam Reddish, who was the No. 2 basketball recruit, finished with 22 points.

Zion Williamson, who was the No. 5 basketball recruit in 2018, finished with 28 points and seven rebounds. Zion is already being compared to by a player we all are very familiar with.

“I saw some kid on Duke last night who is pretty impressive my goodness … probably can’t say anything more, or mention his name, but  the one who’s 285 pounds,” Steve Kerr for the Golden State Warriors explained. “I thought LeBron, I thought that was a one-shot deal, but apparently the next guy that’s coming,” Kerr continued. “And before I get fined, I’m going to change the subject.”

Zion stands at 6-foot-7, weighing at 285 pounds and is a freak-of-nature with his physical ability. Probably the most exciting player on Duke’s basketball team, yet he is, respectfully, not their best player. 

Duke is currently ranked No. 4 but will most likely jump to No. 1 after routing the No. 2 team on Tuesday. Could this team possibly be better than the legendary Fab 5 from Michigan? Or maybe even the 1981 North Carolina team? How about Rick Pitino’s 1995 Kentucky team? We just have to wait and witness this year.

Blackface costs woman her job

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By TYRIQ MCCORD

Halloween is that one time of year where you can dress up as almost anything you want, Key word being almost. You have people impersonating police officers, dressing up as policemen/women, and even Jesus Christ himself. But when is it that people can say “you have taken it too far”?

For about a week, many stories have gone out about men and women using “blackface” as part of their costume.

In Missouri, Shelbi Heenan, a Caucasian-American, was terminated from her job, St. Luke’s Hospital, where she was a registered nurse. Her post went viral on Facebook where she and another man dressed as the power couple Jay Z and Beyoncé. Her clothing was fine, but both her and the male companion colored their faces and hands for a black pigmentation.

Sharon Solomon, a friend of Shelbi, tweeted Tuesday “You know what’s REALLY insulting!? That one day out of the entire F-N year people can’t  stop trying to tag another as racist! IT’S A COSTUME! She is intentionally trying to look like Beyonce! Beyonce is black…. so to get the entire look, dark makeup!”

But she was not the only one to face consequences.

Philadelphia Police are currently investigating a employee who is currently on “desk duty” for the use of blackface. Officer Hung Nguyen also posted his costume on his Facebook account where his face was colored black with a white t-shirt and a Afro wig. Philadelphia Police Capt. Sekou Kinebrew thinks there is a nexus in the photo; it could have been a computer graphic instead of Officer Hung physically painting his face black. The case is still currently under investigation.

Is there a way for people to dress up as someone of the opposite descent without coloring their skin?

From stardom, to prison, to freedom

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By TYRIQ MCCORD

Life can really hit you fast when you are hauling in touchdowns on Sunday afternoons one day and serving up to a 20 year prison sentence the next.

But former Carolina Panther Rae Carruth is now a free man after being behind bars for 19 years. Carruth hired a hitman back in November 1999 to murder his then 24-year-old girlfriend Cherica Adams. Adams was eight months pregnant at the time when Carruth conspired the plan.

Adams and Carruth went to see a movie and when the movie concluded both parties were leaving in separate vehicles. When Adams was trying to leave, Carruth pulled up blocking Adams car in so she could not move. The hitman made his move, firing four shots that all struck to Adams. She had enough strength to call the authorities as well as a hospital where they performed a C section and save her child. Unfortunately Adams did not survive, passing away four days later. Carruth was convicted in 2001 for conspiracy to commit murder.

The NFL has already banned Carruth jerseys that some people are trying create through custom jerseys on NFLShop.com. Attempts to enter the jersey as a custom order are now met with an immediate warning that reads “We are unable to customize this item with the text you have entered. Please try a different entry.” It’s the same safeguard the site has put in place to block Aaron Hernandez and O.J. Simpson jerseys as well as those created with swear words, or hate terms.

Carruth is now currently in Pennsylvania under Pennsylvania Parole Board supervision, adjusting to life as a free man.

West visits Trump in Oval Office

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By TYRIQ MCCORD

Arguably our most controversial president, Donald Trump has brought many mixed emotions to many people from lower class to middle class. But this weekend he has reunited with an entertainer who some people are calling “his best bud.”

Yesterday Kanye West, rapper and music producer, met with the president for what was supposed to be a luncheon. Many reporters were there snapping always with pictures and recording their meeting together, where the conversation grew deep.

“I love this guy,” said the multiple Grammy award winner as he walked up to hug the president. “It was from the soul, I just channeled it in.”

West goes on to talk about how he is motivated by the president and the great feeling he gets when he puts on that red MAGA hat.

“I love Hillary. I love everyone, but the campaign ‘I’m with her’ just didn’t make me feel … as a guy … it was something about this hat that made me feel like Superman,” he explained.

With all the love and attention Trump is receiving from the self proclaimed Ye, West, on the other hand, has received a lot of backlash from many celebrities that used to be good friends with The talented musician.

Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, as well as Clifford “T.I.” Harris, made it known via social media that they are not supportive of West’s meeting. “Not Black Excellence” was hashtagged in a tweet by P. Diddy while T.I. went on a huge rant on Instagram explaining that he has given up on his friendship with Kanye.

Does Superman risk his image and friendship with others with something or someone he supports?

Recovery from Florence continues

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By TYRIQ MCCORD

It’s been nearly a month since the hit from Hurricane Florence on the Carolinas and other regions along the East Coast and we are still healing from it.

The hit on Sept. 9 of this year still has some of North Carolina flooded. Vox reported that the climate change caused the storm to be more damaging than expected.

The temperature increased prior to the storms hit on the the east coast region causing the storms rainfall and sea level to rise. Floods are as high as 35 inches and approximately 10 trillion gallons between North, South Carolina, and Virgina.

A dog has recently been rescued after spending nearly a week floating on a couch. Owners left behind the dog while fleeing to another state. They called a local humane society but rescuers were not able to locate the house because of the high floods, but were lucky enough to find the dog on the third go ‘round.

It has also been reported that nearly 50 people have lost thier lives due to Florence. There are also about $22 billion worth of damage that needs to be repaired as well. Donations can be made at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-435-7669.

New football league names teams

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By TYRIQ MCCORD

Remember the times when, after the NFL Super Bowl, we were forced to wait nearly six months to watch the pigskin get thrown in the air? Well the wait is finally over with the new Alliance of American Football league,better known as the AAF.

The AAF starts its season the week right after Super Bowl weekend. They have eight official cities that are hosting teams; Orlando, Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, San Antonio, Salt Lake, San Diego and Arizona.

The eastern teams already announced logos and team name. Orlando will be named the Apollos, named after a Greek mythology god of music, light and truth.

Orlando is full of players represented by schools all over the state of Florida. Standish Dobard, Paul Kelly, Tyriq McCord and Joe Yearby each went to the University of Miami and they were teammates in 2014.

“I feel like this is a second calling,” Standish explained. “Things did not go as planed with the NFL and I feel like this is God’s way of giving me a second chance especially playing with my former teammates.”

Florida, Florida State, UCF and USF each have players on the team that had stints with NFL teams.

The season will provide fans 10 games of football with two playoff games, including the championship game. The rules and regulations are the same as the NFL with only difference that there will be no kickoffs; instead teams will start offensive possession at the 25 yard line.

This will be the start of the new beginning for many players to get an opportunity to get back on the gridiron.

Old school, meet new school

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By TYRIQ MCCORD

In most of the 20th century, school was a lot different during those times compared to today. No WiFi, let alone computers were just being invented. There was a time where students passed notes across classrooms. Cell phones have made note passing extinct.

But a school in Hephzibah, Ga., is bringing a procedure back that may be a conflict in today’s society. The Georgia School of Innovation and the Classics is bringing back the “paddling procedure” as a form of punishment for students.

According to CBS News, the charter school sent out consent forms to parents explaining the new policy of using a wooden board to “spank” a child as punishment.

“A student will be taken into an office behind closed doors,” the form read. “The student will place their hands on their knees or piece of furniture and will be struck on the buttocks with a paddle,” Part of the form reads.

This new policy cause a big commotion in the community of this small town, but one-third of the parents at the school gave the school consent to used this 19th century procedure.

“In this school, we take discipline very seriously,” Superintendent Jody Boulineau said. “There was a time where corporal punishment was kind of the norm in school and you didn’t have the problems that you have.”

The form goes on to go into detail on the “corporal punishment”.  Students are given two chances to behave properly. After the third offense, the student is “eligible” for a beating. The paddle will be 24 inches long, 6 inches wide, and three-quarters of an inch thick. They will not be struck no more than three times.

When the student receives the paddle treatment, the parents will be notified. But the parents who were against the new policy must agree on a five-day suspension from school.

Since 2011, more than 30 states have banned corporal punishment, Florida and Georgia are not one of those states. This gives the charter school the green light to practice their new policy with the consent of the parent. Since the announcement, The Georgia School of Innovation and the Classics have received negative reports via Google Review, causing the rating of school to drop by two points.

Only time will tell to learn if this policy helps the school academically and/or behaviorally.

Steelers prefer Juice or hogs?

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By TYRIQ MCCORD

With the NFL season starting Thursday, teams are ready to lace up the cleats and win some games. Well at least majority of them.

Steelers’ running back Le’Veon Bell, the self-proclaimed Juice, has been holding out with the team organization all off season and the pre-season just to renew his contract to get what he believes he deserves. Bell, who ended top three in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in 2017, signed a $12.12 million one-year deal in 2017 and expects to be paid more. The Steelers put a $14.54 million franchise tag on Bell but has yet to agree to the deal and some teammates are getting bothered by it.

Offensive linemen Maurkice Pouncey and Ramon Foster were very out spoken about Bell’s situation and they were not happy.

“Honestly it’s a little selfish, I’m kinda pissed right now. It sucks that he’s not here. we’ll move on as a team. It doesn’t look like he’ll be in the game plan at this point,” Pouncey said through Tim Benz of the Tribune-Review.

“Nobody is taking this well at all,” Foster explained per Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. “That guy comes in half the season, and he still will make more than me so f–k it, right?”

Bleacher Report posted quotes from both of Le’Veon’s teammates on their Instagram page and Le’Veon left a simple comment under the picture saying “whoa.” The hogs, offensive linemen, are pretty upset simply because they feel “we’re the guys who do it for him,” Foster would say.

Second year running back, James Conner, played a limited role for the Pittsburgh last year as a back up to Le’Veon. He ended the season with only 144 rushing yards on 32 attempts with no touchdowns.

Conner looks great. We’ll worry about him [Le’Veon] in Week 2,” Pouncey said.

Steelers kickoff against a new and improved Cleveland Browns team at 1 p.m. this Sunday. Though they will be juiceless in their first game, the hogs are looking forward to leading Conner to a great game in his first-ever career start.