Rodman may become household name in soccer world, too
The name Rodman is very familiar to basketball fans. Now don’t be surprised if it becomes well known in the soccer world, too.
Harvin wins Ray Guy Award
Pressley Harvin III has become the first African-American to win the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation’s most outstanding college football punter.
VCU looking to Nah’Shon ‘Bones’ Hyland in challenge for A-10 title
Just one player (Eric Maynor in 2009) in the last three-plus decades of Virginia Commonwealth University basketball has averaged at least 20 points per game.
Alabama claims college football national crown
The University of Alabama ran the table and never broke stride in doing so.
Former ODU quarterback Taylor Heinicke finishes the season for Washington
The Washington Football Team opened this season with a first round draft choice at quarterback and finished with an undrafted free agent as quarterback.
After three other schools, J.J. Matthews Jr. picks NSU as his fourth – and hopefully final – stop
J.J. Matthews Jr. might be described as a basketball “globetrotter,” but minus any of the comical theater.
Washington Football Team headed to NFL playoffs
A record of seven wins and nine losses isn’t very good, but it’s good enough.
Derrick Henry rushes into NFL record books
Derrick Henry has joined one of the NFL’s most pres- tigious fraternities—the 2,000 yard club.
Bianca Smith is first Black female coach with MLB franchise
Bianca Smith is blazing a new trail in professional baseball.
Heisman winner DeVonta Smith has made his way into the history books
For many decades, it seemed wide receivers need not apply for the Heisman Trophy. Then along came DeVonta Smith to change attitudes.
Record-breaking weightlifter Baron Dixon defies stereotypes as a vegan
Baron Dixon fits the image of a weight-lifting champion with arms like tree trunks, legs thick as courthouse pillars and boulder shoulders.
K.C. Jones, who won Olympic, NCAA and NBA championships, dies at 88
K.C. Jones and the word “winner” were always synonymous.
Deion Sanders now to have 2 sons at Jackson State
Jackson State University football Coach Deion Sanders will now have two sons playing for him next season.
Punter Pressley Harvin III named first team All-American
It is common nowadays to see Black athletes excel at every position on the football field—every position, that is, except kicker.
Jerry Rice’s son running in his dad’s footsteps
Here’s great news for University of Colorado football fans: Brenden Rice is starting to look a lot like his famous dad.
Chesterfield’s Megan Walker has WNBA, international playing career
The offseason for women’s elite basketball talent isn’t much different than the regular season. In the NBA, the average salary is $7.7 million. By sharp contrast, the average WNBA salary is about $101,000. That’s ample reason why many WNBA athletes — like local star Megan Walker — supplement their paychecks with far-away gigs across oceans, mountains and multiple time zones.
He breaks stereotypes at Arizona State
Jackson He is big, fast and strong, about what you’d expect of a football player at Arizona State University. But what makes him really special is his nationality. He is Chinese.
Tiger Woods and son don’t quite break from the pack
Team Woods attracted most of the cameras but fell short of winning the title at the PNC Championships in Orlando.
College football losing Black coaches
The ranks of Black coaches in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision continue to shrink.
Integration of Negro Leagues’ stats into MLB called ‘marketing genius’ by former player
Don’t be surprised if there’s a spike in sales of old Negro League baseball gear— and just in time for the holidays.
West End crew take Seattle Seahawks to victory over Washington
The Seattle Seahawks are a West Coast team with a strong West End of Richmond influence.
Negro League players may alter MLB record books
Slugging catcher Josh Gibson always had the talent to be a Major League Baseball player. That was never in question. But it wasn’t until last week that the man known as the “Black Babe Ruth” officially became a major leaguer.
VCU has history of capitalizing on 3-pointers
Players, even coaches, come and go. But one thing seems constant regarding Virginia Commonwealth University hoops— the 3-pointer is a Rams center-ring attraction.
VCU Rams rout N.C. A&T 95-59 in latest matchup with HBCU
The latest chapter in Virginia Commonwealth University’s long history of playing historically Black colleges and universities didn’t go well for the visitors from Greensboro, N.C.
Russell Wilson finalist for NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year
Former Richmonder Russell Wilson is one of 32 finalists for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
The NBA’s official season opens Dec. 22
Ready or not, here comes the NBA, just in time for the holidays.
Hoop-less
CIAA pulls plug on basketball because of pandemic
There will be no CIAA men’s or women’s basketball this winter. Nor will there be any women’s volleyball. The CIAA Board of Directors has voted to cancel the seasons because of fears related to COVID-19.
Baseball slugger Richard ‘Dick’ Allen dies at 78
Richard Anthony Allen, among baseball’s most powerful sluggers of his generation, died Monday, Dec. 7, 2020.
Few Black head coaches leading top NCAA football programs
Black players are common on the college gridiron. But the same isn’t true for coaches wearing the headphones on the sidelines.
Washington Wizards shake things up, snag Russell Westbrook in trade
There’s an adage that if you keep doing the same ol’ things, you’ll keep getting the same ol’ results. The Washington Wizards, stuck in mediocrity for years, took this to heart and decided to shake up things in the nation’s capital.
Shaka Smart sports new look
Some of Coach Shaka Smart’s former Virginia Commonwealth University fans might not recognize the former Rams coach nowadays in a crowd.
Mayweather to fight again
As long as there is money to be made, Floyd Mayweather isn’t hanging up his boxing gloves.
Olympic champion and American hero Rafer Johnson dies
Rafer Johnson, widely regarded as among the greatest athletes of all time and the man who helped subdue Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin in 1968, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Sherman Oaks, Calif. He was 86.
Chris Shelton of Louisa steps up this season for HU Pirates
Hampton University’s Chris Shelton wears the same jersey number — 12 — as he wore last year.
USA Track and Field Hall of Famer Arnie Robinson Jr. dies
Arnie Paul Robinson Jr., the 1976 Olympic long- jump champion, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers make league history with 3 Black coaching coordinators
If there was an NFL award for coaching diversity, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be a leading contender.
Tyson and Jones give fight winnings to pandemic victims
For old time’s sake, and for the good of charity, Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. put on quite a show Nov. 28 in Los Angeles.
NSU basketball opens on a roll
If Norfolk State University can play as well at home as it has away, the Spartans are looking at a banner season.
Jaret Patterson rushes into the record books
Jaret Patterson has raced straight into the college football record books and smack dab into the NCAA spotlight.
All-Black officiating crew takes over Monday Night Football games
When fans think of “firsts” in terms of Black involvement in sports, they generally think of players and coaches.
Tiger Woods and son to play in tournament
When Tiger Woods tees off for the PNC Cham- pionships next month, he will have an interesting playing partner — his 11-year-old son, Charlie.
’One and done’ players large part of NBA draft
Don’t blink. If you’re not watching closely, a basketball fan is apt to miss seeing the very best players competing for their schools.
Howard snags another top high school player
Howard University has struck gold again on the basketball recruiting front.
VCU basketball opens Nov. 26 with non-conference games in Knoxville
Virginia Commonwealth University’s non-conference basketball schedule will start and end with trips to Southeastern Conference schools.
Top-ranked high school basketball player in nation signs with UConn
The rich get richer in women’s college basketball. In this case, much richer.
Lady Panthers’ new 6-foot-5 recruit, Ceanna ‘Cece’ Kinney, has VUU roots
The Virginia Union University Lady Panthers have signed 6-foot-5 Ceanna “Cece” Kinney, who is tied for the tallest female player in VUU history.
Coach Willard Bailey reaches mountaintop – Black College Football Hall of Fame
An old sports writer phoned Coach Willard Bailey last week to interview the winningest football coach in the CIAA about being selected for the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
NSU Spartans to hit the boards with local talent
Norfolk State University’s basketball Spartans will have a strong Richmond area influence during the upcoming season.
Conference-only games for VUU men’s basketball
Because of the pandemic, Virginia Union University will be playing a conference-only men’s basketball schedule this season.
