theroot--2020-04-27--Former WNBA Player Tamara Moore Becomes First Black Woman to Coach Men's College Basketball

Recently , we ’ ve started to see more women fill coaching roles in the NBA .
Last year , a record 11 women held assistant coaching positions in the league .
Unfortunately , college sports have not seen that same level of growth .
A former WNBA star is hoping to change that .
NBC News reports that Tamara Moore has been named head coach of the men ’ s basketball team at Mesabi Range College in Virginia , Min n. This move makes her the only woman to currently be head coach of a men ’ s collegiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first black woman to ever be named head coach of a men ’ s college basketball team .
“ Now , it ’ s time for me to show you guys and show people that women are just as knowledgeable as men to coach the game , ” Moore told ESPN .
In addition to being head coach of the men ’ s basketball team , Moore will also coach the school ’ s softball team .
Moore played in the WNBA from 2002-2007 .
She was a guard for such teams as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sparks before playing overseas .
She was the coach for the girls basketball team at Edison High School in Minneapolis before assuming her new role at Mesabi Ranch .
While women have slowly started to fill coaching positions across the NBA , a woman has still not held the role of head coach for neither an NBA nor Division I basketball team .
College sports in particular have come under scrutiny over the lack of women in coaching roles .
In 2019 , Edneisha Curry was the only woman to hold a coaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I progr am .
Moore hopes that her hiring will be the first step towards change .
“ I ’ ve never been doubted about my coaching ability .
I just think it ’ s all about opportunity .
The message , with my hiring , is that the ceiling is now broken , and let ’ s just take it even further.
” Moore told ESPN .

Recently, we’ve started to see more women fill coaching roles in the NBA. Last year, a record 11 women held assistant coaching positions in the league. Unfortunately, college sports have not seen that same level of growth. A former WNBA star is hoping to change that.
NBC News reports that Tamara Moore has been named head coach of the men’s basketball team at Mesabi Range College in Virginia, Min n. This move makes her the only woman to currently be head coach of a men’s collegiate team. Additionally, she is the first black woman to ever be named head coach of a men’s college basketball team. “Now, it’s time for me to show you guys and show people that women are just as knowledgeable as men to coach the game,” Moore told ESPN. In addition to being head coach of the men’s basketball team, Moore will also coach the school’s softball team.
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Moore played in the WNBA from 2002-2007. She was a guard for such teams as the Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks before playing overseas. She was the coach for the girls basketball team at Edison High School in Minneapolis before assuming her new role at Mesabi Ranch.
While women have slowly started to fill coaching positions across the NBA, a woman has still not held the role of head coach for neither an NBA nor Division I basketball team. College sports in particular have come under scrutiny over the lack of women in coaching roles. In 2019, Edneisha Curry was the only woman to hold a coaching position in the men’s division I progr am .
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Moore hopes that her hiring will be the first step towards change. “I’ve never been doubted about my coaching ability. I just think it’s all about opportunity. The message, with my hiring, is that the ceiling is now broken, and let’s just take it even further.” Moore told ESPN.


theroot--2020-04-27--Racists Invite Themselves to the Cookout

Aside from a lack of barbecue-based plate-fixing protocol , a group of anti-seasoning activists infiltrated a college ’ s virtual event by showing up in blackface , bearing a Nazi flag and—worst of all—not even bringing a roll of aluminum foil to a cookout hosted by South Carolina students .
This is why we kneel .
( Not in protest .
We just pray to fish fry Jesus that we don ’ t run across one of these racists in person . )
On Friday , the University of South Carolina ’ s African American Association of Students attempted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing directive by taking their annual cookout to the internet .
The organization posted the invitation and the meeting code online , hoping to inform students who might miss the yearly event .
Of course , the racists showed up .
“ In the midst of a pandemic , @ AAAS_1968 attempted to host it ’ s annual end of the year Cookout via Zoom , ” wrote Mike Parker on Twitter .
“ During the celebration , students were interrupted by a group of white students who were dressed sin black face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ derogatory backgrounds.
” Around 6:50 p.m. , a few unseasoned entered the Zoom chat and bombarded the students with insults , images of a Nazi flag and blackface selfies .
Although The Root could not confirm that the sinister cowards had mistaken the Zoom room for a University of Virginia yearbook photo session , tweets of the session indicate that AAAS students were appalled at the interruptors , who obviously belong to the Association with Saltine Supremacy ( ASS ) .
While the cookout colonizers have not been identified , administrators and student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racists .
AAAS ’ s official Twitter said they were “ completely disgusted by what appeared to be a final exam for a White History majors .
Meanwhile , University of South Carolina President Bob Caslen said the school was “ investigating ” the incident .
I ’ m glad there is an investigation going on .
How dare anyone just show up uninvited without even a 12-pack of Faygo sodas or even a sleeve of Solo cups ?
Did they even bring ice ?
I bet these bastards even put their hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more than their allotted share of deviled eggs !
Oh yeah , the racism thing was kinda bad , too .
But , to be fair , as a South Carolina native who lived in Columbia and lectured at this institution , I can ’ t say I was surprised .
The Root recently reported on someone posting signs outside the school ’ s African American Studies office with the uplifting MLK Day message : “ YOU STUPID MONKEYS handed Trump the White House the minute you handed Hillary the nomination.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ niggers ” for slowing the campus internet speed .
Although I have been routinely cited for starting and perpetuating the “ invited to the cookout ” narrative that excludes well-meaning Caucasians , the Black Legislative American Cookout Council ( BLACC ) joined with the Partnership for Eating at Outside Parties and Lawn Events ( PEOPLE ) in a joint statement that read :

Aside from a lack of barbecue-based plate-fixing protocol, a group of anti-seasoning activists infiltrated a college’s virtual event by showing up in blackface, bearing a Nazi flag and—worst of all—not even bringing a roll of aluminum foil to a cookout hosted by South Carolina students.
This is why we kneel. (Not in protest. We just pray to fish fry Jesus that we don’t run across one of these racists in person.)
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On Friday, the University of South Carolina’s African American Association of Students attempted to adhere to the school’s social distancing directive by taking their annual cookout to the internet. The organization posted the invitation and the meeting code online, hoping to inform students who might miss the yearly event.
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Of course, the racists showed up.
“In the midst of a pandemic, @AAAS_1968 attempted to host it’s annual end of the year Cookout via Zoom,” wrote Mike Parker on Twitter. “During the celebration, students were interrupted by a group of white students who were dressed sin black face, yelled racist remarks, and posted derogatory backgrounds.”
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Around 6:50 p.m., a few unseasoned entered the Zoom chat and bombarded the students with insults, images of a Nazi flag and blackface selfies. Although The Root could not confirm that the sinister cowards had mistaken the Zoom room for a University of Virginia yearbook photo session, tweets of the session indicate that AAAS students were appalled at the interruptors, who obviously belong to the Association with Saltine Supremacy (ASS).
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While the cookout colonizers have not been identified, administrators and student organizers have expressed their disgust at the racists. AAAS’s official Twitter said they were “completely disgusted by what appeared to be a final exam for a White History majors. Meanwhile, University of South Carolina President Bob Caslen said the school was “investigating” the incident.
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I’m glad there is an investigation going on. How dare anyone just show up uninvited without even a 12-pack of Faygo sodas or even a sleeve of Solo cups? Did they even bring ice? I bet these bastards even put their hands in the ice and fixed a plate with more than their allotted share of deviled eggs!
Oh yeah, the racism thing was kinda bad, too.
But, to be fair, as a South Carolina native who lived in Columbia and lectured at this institution, I can’t say I was surprised. The Root recently reported on someone posting signs outside the school’s African American Studies office with the uplifting MLK Day message: “YOU STUPID MONKEYS handed Trump the White House the minute you handed Hillary the nomination.” Then there was the student who blamed “niggers” for slowing the campus internet speed.
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Also, it’s South Carolina.
Although I have been routinely cited for starting and perpetuating the “invited to the cookout” narrative that excludes well-meaning Caucasians, the Black Legislative American Cookout Council (BLACC) joined with the Partnership for Eating at Outside Parties and Lawn Events (PEOPLE) in a joint statement that read:
“Told y’all.”


theroot--2020-04-27--Black Agents Make NFL History by Representing the Majority of First Round Draft Picks

It ’ s wild to think that in 2020 there are still so many industry milestones that black people have yet to cross .
For this reason , it ’ s always encouraging to see racial barriers being broken .
So black sports fans should be elated to learn that for the first time in NFL history , more than half of the first-round picks in this year ’ s draft are represented by black sports agents .
According to the Washington Post , 17 out of this year ’ s 32 first-round draft picks have black agents representing them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these agents , and they all had the same thing to say : It ’ s hard out here for black professionals looking to be taken seriously .
“ I don ’ t think families entertained having an African American agent for a long time , ” David Mulugheta , who represents four of the 17 first-round picks , said .
“ People look at a young black kid and think , ‘ What can he really do for me ?
’ I still get that to this day , to be honest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been in the business for a while .
I think you have a lot of players now who feel they don ’ t have to go with the status quo.
” When Nicole Lynn represented Quinnen Williams in the 2019 NFL draft , she became the first black woman to represent a top-five draft pick .
She told the Post that being a black woman in this field can be rough because no one thinks you look the part .
“ There ’ s always a struggle getting people comfortable with you doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And understanding that just because you don ’ t look like Jerry Maguire doesn ’ t mean you can ’ t do that job.
” Lynn and Mulugheta both said that while they have been greeted with skepticism by athletes and families of all colors , it is white athletes that have proven nearly impossible for them to sign .
“ From my research , out of all the top black agents — David [ Mulugheta ] , Tory [ Dandy ] , myself , Chafie [ Fields ] , [ Damarius @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a single white player , ” Lynn said .
“ I ’ m not talking about having a few white players .
I ’ m saying not one .
And between all of us , we ’ re talking about more than 150 players .
“ And it ’ s not for lack of effort .
I can ’ t get a white player , and I ’ ve tried .
Literally my goal this year is to sign a white player .
I want them to be able to believe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change the way athletes view sports , we have to make everyone comfortable with us , not just people that look like us .
The real test is to have people that don ’ t look like you buy in.
” Mulugheta echoed Lynn ’ s sentiments saying , “ Name the last time a first- , second- or third-round white player was represented by a black agent .
You can ’ t .
I think the last time you had a white , first-round quarterback repped by a black agent was 2003 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parker.
” Agent Damarius Bilbo , who represents three of the first-round picks , said that , ultimately , he wants to be judged based on his abilities as an agent rather than by the color of his skin .
“ Being able to go in a household of a white quarterback or offensive lineman and have them look at us for our abilities is the goal , ” Bilbo said .
“ That would be a great day and an opportunity to break the mold , but I don ’ t look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing .
We look at it as : ‘ Can we do the work ?
Can we perform ?
’ I know we can.
” Unfortunately , it certainly is a “ black or white thing.
” Hopefully the results of the 2020 NFL draft will prove to be part of a turning point for black professionals in and outside of the world of sports .

It’s wild to think that in 2020 there are still so many industry milestones that black people have yet to cross. For this reason, it’s always encouraging to see racial barriers being broken. So black sports fans should be elated to learn that for the first time in NFL history, more than half of the first-round picks in this year’s draft are represented by black sports agents.
According to the Washington Post, 17 out of this year’s 32 first-round draft picks have black agents representing them. The Post spoke with some of these agents, and they all had the same thing to say: It’s hard out here for black professionals looking to be taken seriously.
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“I don’t think families entertained having an African American agent for a long time,” David Mulugheta, who represents four of the 17 first-round picks, said. “People look at a young black kid and think, ‘What can he really do for me?’ I still get that to this day, to be honest with you, and I’ve been in the business for a while. I think you have a lot of players now who feel they don’t have to go with the status quo.”
When Nicole Lynn represented Quinnen Williams in the 2019 NFL draft, she became the first black woman to represent a top-five draft pick. She told the Post that being a black woman in this field can be rough because no one thinks you look the part.
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“There’s always a struggle getting people comfortable with you doing the job,” she said. “And understanding that just because you don’t look like Jerry Maguire doesn’t mean you can’t do that job.”
Lynn and Mulugheta both said that while they have been greeted with skepticism by athletes and families of all colors, it is white athletes that have proven nearly impossible for them to sign.
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“From my research, out of all the top black agents — David [Mulugheta], Tory [Dandy], myself, Chafie [Fields], [Damarius] Bilbo — not any of us have a single white player,” Lynn said. “I’m not talking about having a few white players. I’m saying not one. And between all of us, we’re talking about more than 150 players.
“And it’s not for lack of effort. I can’t get a white player, and I’ve tried. Literally my goal this year is to sign a white player. I want them to be able to believe in me because if we really want to change the way athletes view sports, we have to make everyone comfortable with us, not just people that look like us. The real test is to have people that don’t look like you buy in.”
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Mulugheta echoed Lynn’s sentiments saying, “Name the last time a first-, second- or third-round white player was represented by a black agent. You can’t. I think the last time you had a white, first-round quarterback repped by a black agent was 2003: Rex Grossman, who had Eugene Parker.”
Agent Damarius Bilbo, who represents three of the first-round picks, said that, ultimately, he wants to be judged based on his abilities as an agent rather than by the color of his skin.
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“Being able to go in a household of a white quarterback or offensive lineman and have them look at us for our abilities is the goal,” Bilbo said. “That would be a great day and an opportunity to break the mold, but I don’t look at it as a black or white thing. We look at it as: ‘Can we do the work? Can we perform?’ I know we can.”
Unfortunately, it certainly is a “black or white thing.” Hopefully the results of the 2020 NFL draft will prove to be part of a turning point for black professionals in and outside of the world of sports.


theroot--2020-04-27--You and Bae Can Reach Your Peak With a $49 Ella Paradis Vibrator Bundle Deal

Boring , long nights these days are the name of the game , so why not add excitement , especially @ @ @ @ @ up with a partner ?
Ella Paradis is offering a totally pleasurable deal where you @ @ @ @ @ bath bombs , and lace cuffs for you and bae to have the orgasms of @ @ @ @ @ apart ) for only $ 49 !
Yup .
Usually , both these vibes and @ @ @ @ @ about $ 146 , but you ’ re basically getting more than half off !
@ @ @ @ @ me—grab this deal before it ’ s gone !
This story was originally published by @ @ @ @ @ updated by Gabe Carey with new information on 4/27/2020 .

Ignacia and Gabe Carey on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Better Love Weekend at Ella’s Bundle | $49 | Ella Paradis
Boring, long nights these days are the name of the game, so why not add excitement, especially if you’re bunkered up with a partner? Ella Paradis is offering a totally pleasurable deal where you get two amazing vibrators, bath bombs, and lace cuffs for you and bae to have the orgasms of your life (together or apart) for only $49! Yup. Usually, both these vibes and their accessories would cost you about $146 , but you’re basically getting more than half off! Sure does sound satisfying to me—grab this deal before it’s gone!
This story was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher on 4/24/2020 and updated by Gabe Carey with new information on 4/27/2020.


theroot--2020-04-27--Looks Like Hope Hicks Has Replaced Ivanka as the Trump Whisperer

A 31-year-old white woman with no credentials other than being a 31-year-old white woman—which is the equivalent of being a 24-year-old black woman with a Ph.D. who discovered real-life vibranium—is now the person who Trump ’ s turning to during the coronavirus to help with his rebrand because nothing says “ I ’ m fucking this up ” like a rebrand during a global pandemic .
So far , for those that aren ’ t keeping score , Trump ’ s current time in office includes a remake of Contagion in real-time , the stock market doing its impression of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being led by a president who is more concerned with keeping his job while unemployment numbers continue to rise .
And , somehow , during all of this , Hope Hicks is the person the president is reportedly leaning on to help him get through this .
According to Politico , Hicks or “ Hopey ” as the president calls her , is one of the “ few aides Trump implicitly trusts.
” If you remember the name , it ’ s because she used to be White House communications director then she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or some shit .
Oh , and it turns out that these disastrous presidential press briefings that always ended up being rallies for the president ’ s reelection campaign were totally Hopey ’ s idea .
Hicks reportedly “ urged the president to act as a frontman for the coronavirus crisis — a leader who could offer calming messages , critical health information and important updates on the progress of the White House ’ s response efforts , instead of delegating those responsibilities to health officials or the vice president.
” It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s briefings were remote ; instead , the press conferences have turned into a fucking trashy hot mess .
In fact , who knows if the president is going to have another one considering he didn ’ t host any over the weekend and on Friday , a day after he suggested that everyone mix disinfectants in their Capri-Suns , he held a briefing but didn ’ t take any reporters ’ questions .
So now Hopey is in charge of being the presidential whisperer , a role once held by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
Ivanka was , at one point , the moral compass for Trump , but she ’ s married and has a family of her own so she ’ s been unable to baby the big ass baby in the White House .
“ The daily briefings are no longer seen inside the White House as the most effective format for Trump , so she and others must develop other venues and weigh when he can again start to travel to events that so energize him .
Internally , aides believe his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of news — even if the briefings do not end up being his preferred medium in the coming weeks , ” Politico reports .
“ Look , the briefings were clearly created and designed to try to fix the president ’ s political health and had very little to do with public health , ” Robert Gibbs , the White House press secretary under President Barack Obama who now serves as senior counsel for Bully Pulpit Interactive Media , told Politico .
“ Even before Thursday ’ s disinfectant fiasco , the level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment when the country needs clarity has been jarring and dangerous.
” And what ’ s the White House press shop doing ?
Trying to spin this into a “ He didn ’ t have to do shit for y ’ all ” moment .
The “ president felt it was important in these challenging , difficult times to be honest and speak directly to the American people about the challenges we face , ” said Hogan Gidley , the White House principal deputy press secretary .
“ A lot of other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is a testament to his leadership that he was the one who wanted to deliver that news , so he could be honest with the American people but also offer a message of hope.
” Ummm , the president doesn ’ t get a pat on the back for addressing the nation during the worst possible time in recent history ; it ’ s his fucking job !
I wish these White House aides would stop acting like doing something remotely presidential is a blessing for all of us .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hosted some press briefings ... And ?
He .
Couldn ’ t .
Even .
Do .
That .
Right .
If the only hope we have left is Hopey , then well , I hate to say it , but we might all be fucked .

A 31-year-old white woman with no credentials other than being a 31-year-old white woman—which is the equivalent of being a 24-year-old black woman with a Ph.D. who discovered real-life vibranium—is now the person who Trump’s turning to during the coronavirus to help with his rebrand because nothing says “I’m fucking this up” like a rebrand during a global pandemic.
So far, for those that aren’t keeping score, Trump’s current time in office includes a remake of Contagion in real-time , the stock market doing its impression of a submarine bomber, and the country being led by a president who is more concerned with keeping his job while unemployment numbers continue to rise.
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And, somehow, during all of this, Hope Hicks is the person the president is reportedly leaning on to help him get America through this. According to Politico, Hicks or “Hopey” as the president calls her, is one of the “few aides Trump implicitly trusts.”
If you remember the name, it’s because she used to be White House communications director then she left and came back as an adviser or some shit. Oh, and it turns out that these disastrous presidential press briefings that always ended up being rallies for the president’s reelection campaign were totally Hopey’s idea.
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Hicks reportedly “urged the president to act as a frontman for the coronavirus crisis — a leader who could offer calming messages, critical health information and important updates on the progress of the White House’s response efforts, instead of delegating those responsibilities to health officials or the vice president.”
It would have been a great idea if the president’s briefings were remote; instead, the press conferences have turned into a fucking trashy hot mess. In fact, who knows if the president is going to have another one considering he didn’t host any over the weekend and on Friday, a day after he suggested that everyone mix disinfectants in their Capri-Suns, he held a briefing but didn’t take any reporters’ questions.
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So now Hopey is in charge of being the presidential whisperer, a role once held by daughter and maker of cruisewear, Ivanka Trump. Ivanka was, at one point, the moral compass for Trump, but she’s married and has a family of her own so she’s been unable to baby the big ass baby in the White House.
“The daily briefings are no longer seen inside the White House as the most effective format for Trump, so she and others must develop other venues and weigh when he can again start to travel to events that so energize him. Internally, aides believe his outsize platform can break through the clutter of news — even if the briefings do not end up being his preferred medium in the coming weeks,” Politico reports.
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“Look, the briefings were clearly created and designed to try to fix the president’s political health and had very little to do with public health,” Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary under President Barack Obama who now serves as senior counsel for Bully Pulpit Interactive Media, told Politico. “Even before Thursday’s disinfectant fiasco, the level of misinformation and contradictory messaging at a moment when the country needs clarity has been jarring and dangerous.”
And what’s the White House press shop doing? Trying to spin this into a “He didn’t have to do shit for y’all” moment.
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The “president felt it was important in these challenging, difficult times to be honest and speak directly to the American people about the challenges we face,” said Hogan Gidley, the White House principal deputy press secretary.
“A lot of other people would not have done that, but it is a testament to his leadership that he was the one who wanted to deliver that news, so he could be honest with the American people but also offer a message of hope.”
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Ummm, the president doesn’t get a pat on the back for addressing the nation during the worst possible time in recent history; it’s his fucking job! I wish these White House aides would stop acting like doing something remotely presidential is a blessing for all of us. We are facing a global crisis and the president hosted some press briefings...And? He. Couldn’t. Even. Do. That. Right.
If the only hope we have left is Hopey, then well, I hate to say it, but we might all be fucked.


theroot--2020-04-27--Narcissist-In-Chief Canceled the Coronavirus Press Briefing. Then Remembered There Were Cameras, So

Narcissist-In-Chief Canceled the Coronavirus Press Briefing. Then Remembered There Were Cameras, So It’s Back On

Trump hates the media , unless they love him , and then he loves them back .
So on Monday , with disinfectant-gate still a thing and the collective mouth full of four usable teeth that is Trump voters realizing that even they can ’ t get behind his idiotic suggestion that shooting up Lysol would help kill the coronavirus , Trump went ballistic on these tweet streets .
“ There has never been , in the history of our Country , a more vicious or hostile Lamestream Media than there is right now , even in the midst of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” Trump tweeted Monday morning , the Hill reports .
And if you ’ ve not been keeping up , basically Trump is Kim Kardashian and the media is Kourtney ; watch below : Somewhere in their scuffle is the president ’ s push for bringing light inside the body and mainlining disinfectant , and because the president is petty and was thoroughly ridiculed over the weekend for his nonsensical comments during Thursday coronavirus briefing , Trump canceled a briefing that was scheduled for Monday and replaced it with a “ news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is expected to deliver an update on testing guidance , ” the Hill reports .
I ’ m assuming it went something like this : Trump : I ’ m not going out there !
Trump Adviser Hope Hicks : What if I can get the kitchen to make you your favorite drink ?
!
Trump : But we don ’ t have any more pig marrow ?
Hicks : *reaches into her purse and pulls out a bloody trash bag* We do now !
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s administration , is apparently going to do something—wait , nope , she ’ s still not doing anything but she did note that the president will have some “ announcements about safely opening up America again ” and this was done via Twitter , which has become this administration ’ s preferred method of communication .
So she tweeted .
There is that .
I ’ ve added the tweet for all you doubters that say that McEnany doesn ’ t do anything .
McEnany ’ s tweet came just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that you guys are going to say that an appearance on Fox News means she did two things today but she didn ’ t .
Fox News is literally inside the White House basement and you don ’ t get any points for walking into the basement and talking into your toilet—in which she noted that the press conference was off .
Look I can ’ t go through all of this , even for you guys , because it ’ s making my head hurt .
Here is the story , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t stand being off-camera and he held out long enough for his personal adviser to bring in fresh pig marrow , crushed Oreo and zoo dirt smoothie .
The news conference is set to begin at 5 p.m .
ET .

Trump hates the media, unless they love him, and then he loves them back.
So on Monday, with disinfectant-gate still a thing and the collective mouth full of four usable teeth that is Trump voters realizing that even they can’t get behind his idiotic suggestion that shooting up Lysol would help kill the coronavirus, Trump went ballistic on these tweet streets.
“There has never been, in the history of our Country, a more vicious or hostile Lamestream Media than there is right now, even in the midst of a National Emergency, the Invisible Enemy!” Trump tweeted Monday morning, the Hill reports.
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And if you’ve not been keeping up, basically Trump is Kim Kardashian and the media is Kourtney; watch below:
Somewhere in their scuffle is the president’s push for bringing light inside the body and mainlining disinfectant, and because the president is petty and was thoroughly ridiculed over the weekend for his nonsensical comments during Thursday coronavirus briefing, Trump canceled a briefing that was scheduled for Monday and replaced it with a “news conference in the Rose Garden during which Trump is expected to deliver an update on testing guidance,” the Hill reports.
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I’m assuming it went something like this:
Trump: I’m not going out there!
Trump Adviser Hope Hicks: What if I can get the kitchen to make you your favorite drink?!
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Trump: But we don’t have any more pig marrow?
Hicks: *reaches into her purse and pulls out a bloody trash bag* We do now!
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who has done nothing since taking a role in Trump’s administration, is apparently going to do something—wait, nope, she’s still not doing anything but she did note that the president will have some “announcements about safely opening up America again” and this was done via Twitter , which has become this administration’s preferred method of communication. So she tweeted. There is that. I’ve added the tweet for all you doubters that say that McEnany doesn’t do anything.
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McEnany’s tweet came just hours after an appearance on Fox News—I know that you guys are going to say that an appearance on Fox News means she did two things today but she didn’t. Fox News is literally inside the White House basement and you don’t get any points for walking into the basement and talking into your toilet—in which she noted that the press conference was off.
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Look I can’t go through all of this, even for you guys, because it’s making my head hurt. Here is the story, the president is a narcissist who couldn’t stand being off-camera and he held out long enough for his personal adviser to bring in fresh pig marrow, crushed Oreo and zoo dirt smoothie.
The news conference is set to begin at 5 p.m. ET.


theroot--2020-04-27--Why Insecure Is the Best Show on TV Right Now

I feel alien sometimes when considering the demand for representation that many of us make when assessing and critiquing television shows .
Mainly because I just don ’ t give a damn if I ’ m reflected .
I ’ m speaking strictly as a consumer , though .
T he value of us existing in every aspect of the production ecosystem is unquestionable .
I just don ’ t require it on screen with what I choose to watch ; all I ask is that shows do what they intend to do .
If , for instance , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realism—the sort of show that hemorrhages a self-conscious desire to be considered The Most Authentic Thing Ever—your shit better be tight .
Since Insecure ’ s premiere four years ago , no other show has been as connected to and obsessed with these politics of representation .
As entertaining as the characters and the pitch-perfect fusions of cinematography , set design , and landscaping soundtrack were , it felt , at times , stuck in a zeitgeist-chasing loop ; which made some of the plot points simultaneously on the nose and anachronistic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter .
I realize this criticism is somewhat unfair .
A show depicting the lives of millennial black people can ’ t help but mirror the conversations actual millennial blacks have and the situations they find themselves in , and Insecure was merely giving us what we claim to desire .
You want representation ?
Well , here ’ s a representation turducken .
Eat up , motherfuckers .
But this is a fundamentally insecure way of creating ... anything , really .
Consumer taste is aggressively fickle , and even less reliable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we really want .
It ’ s the difference between crafting a thing around a nebulous need and just building the thing ( and creating the need ) .
Insecure is far from the only show that operated from this pellucid sense of self-consciousness .
Most do .
( The entire final season of Game of Thrones , for instance , was a ham-fisted cinematic distillation of Reddit fanfic . )
The best shows either hide their tracks completely or create a meta examination of them , and Insecure didn ’ t really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to still be so compelling was the sheer talent of those involved in it .
The line-writing and line-reading have always been among the best on TV , as are both the cast and the casting .
And while Issa Rae ’ s robust comedic sensibilities had already been established , Insecure has proven her to be a deeply talented physical performer , too .
She ’ s one of the few actors who ’ d be equally effective in a silent film .
But this season it seems to have put some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrap itself around its best , truest , most interesting , and most devastating creative fulcrum—Issa and Molly ’ s love story instead of their respective love stories .
The slow burn of the disintegration of a friendship is brutal to experience and this experience can only be accurately depicted if the audience has a tangible investment that relationship , which the previous seasons of Insecure established .
The men existing within this universe matter , of course ; Lawrence , particularly .
But while the previous seasons gave him his own episodes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he exists solely to contextualize and inject disruption into the main story .
His relationship with Condola only matters because of the friction it provides Issa and Molly .
Although Lawrence was important enough to have an ( increasingly embarrassing ) “ hive , ” he ’ s now a Jaq-pushing McGuffin .
( To his credit , Jay Ellis really sells that unfortunate space far too many of us find ourselves in , where the journey of self-discovery and self-actualization leaves casualties , as you become a “ better ” man at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you . )
Other themes have emerged as the romantic trials and tribulations have been mostly tabled .
How economic insecurity impacts , well , everything has been a continual subplot since season one .
Both Lawrence ’ s and Issa ’ s decision-making then was largely a result of the metaphysical import we place on money ; its connection to adulthood and masculinity , and how the lack of it is numbing and shackling .
And now we ’ re able to see how Issa ’ s recent adulting glow up has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Molly .
All relationships have latent power dynamics infused in them , and navigating a shift requires a level of delicateness that ’ s only possible when communicating on the same page , which Issa and Molly are not .
It ’ s here that Yvonne Orji has truly been able to shine .
Molly is trying so very hard ( so , so hard ) to not be who she ’ s been—as a romantic partner , as a colleague and as a friend—and it ’ s painful for her ( and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unacknowledged by her best friend .
Tripping down a coronatine-induced internet rabbithole last week led to me re-reading Roger Ebert ’ s four-star review of The American President .
In his laud , he starts “ It is hard to make a good love story , harder to make a good comedy and harder still to make an intelligent film about politics.
” Insecure is ( obviously ) not about a widowed president with a new girlfriend , but the same sort of crafting—the building of a culturally relevant love story that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realistic and plot-driven funny is hard , and perhaps the best thing about Insecure is that it makes it seem easy .
Insecure isn ’ t a perfect show .
But it doesn ’ t need to be to be great .

Damon Young on Very Smart Brothas, shared by Damon Young to The Root

I feel alien sometimes when considering the demand for representation that many of us make when assessing and critiquing television shows. Mainly because I just don’t give a damn if I’m reflected. I’m speaking strictly as a consumer, though. T he value of us existing in every aspect of the production ecosystem is unquestionable. I just don’t require it on screen with what I choose to watch; all I ask is that shows do what they intend to do. If, for instance, it marinates itself in a veneer of performative realism—the sort of show that hemorrhages a self-conscious desire to be considered The Most Authentic Thing Ever—your shit better be tight.
Since Insecure’s premiere four years ago, no other show has been as connected to and obsessed with these politics of representation. As entertaining as the characters and the pitch-perfect fusions of cinematography, set design, and landscaping soundtrack were, it felt, at times, stuck in a zeitgeist-chasing loop; which made some of the plot points simultaneously on the nose and anachronistic, like it was co-executive produced by black Twitter.
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I realize this criticism is somewhat unfair. A show depicting the lives of millennial black people can’t help but mirror the conversations actual millennial blacks have and the situations they find themselves in, and Insecure was merely giving us what we claim to desire. You want representation? Well, here’s a representation turducken. Eat up, motherfuckers. But this is a fundamentally insecure way of creating...anything, really. Consumer taste is aggressively fickle, and even less reliable is our ability to articulate exactly what we really want. It’s the difference between crafting a thing around a nebulous need and just building the thing (and creating the need).
Insecure is far from the only show that operated from this pellucid sense of self-consciousness. Most do. (The entire final season of Game of Thrones, for instance, was a ham-fisted cinematic distillation of Reddit fanfic.) The best shows either hide their tracks completely or create a meta examination of them, and Insecure didn’t really do either. But what enabled it to still be so compelling was the sheer talent of those involved in it. The line-writing and line-reading have always been among the best on TV, as are both the cast and the casting. And while Issa Rae’s robust comedic sensibilities had already been established, Insecure has proven her to be a deeply talented physical performer, too. She’s one of the few actors who’d be equally effective in a silent film.
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But this season it seems to have put some noise-canceling earplugs in; allowing it to wrap itself around its best, truest, most interesting, and most devastating creative fulcrum—Issa and Molly’s love story instead of their respective love stories. The slow burn of the disintegration of a friendship is brutal to experience and this experience can only be accurately depicted if the audience has a tangible investment that relationship, which the previous seasons of Insecure established.
The men existing within this universe matter, of course; Lawrence, particularly. But while the previous seasons gave him his own episodes and easily trend-able character arcs, now he exists solely to contextualize and inject disruption into the main story. His relationship with Condola only matters because of the friction it provides Issa and Molly. Although Lawrence was important enough to have an (increasingly embarrassing) “hive,” he’s now a Jaq-pushing McGuffin.
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(To his credit, Jay Ellis really sells that unfortunate space far too many of us find ourselves in, where the journey of self-discovery and self-actualization leaves casualties, as you become a “better” man at the expense of the women who loved you.)
Other themes have emerged as the romantic trials and tribulations have been mostly tabled. How economic insecurity impacts, well, everything has been a continual subplot since season one. Both Lawrence’s and Issa’s decision-making then was largely a result of the metaphysical import we place on money; its connection to adulthood and masculinity, and how the lack of it is numbing and shackling. And now we’re able to see how Issa’s recent adulting glow up has changed the tenor of her friendship with Molly. All relationships have latent power dynamics infused in them, and navigating a shift requires a level of delicateness that’s only possible when communicating on the same page, which Issa and Molly are not. It’s here that Yvonne Orji has truly been able to shine. Molly is trying so very hard (so, so hard) to not be who she’s been—as a romantic partner, as a colleague and as a friend—and it’s painful for her (and us) to see that sincere evolution unacknowledged by her best friend.
Tripping down a coronatine-induced internet rabbithole last week led to me re-reading Roger Ebert’s four-star review of The American President. In his laud, he starts “It is hard to make a good love story, harder to make a good comedy and harder still to make an intelligent film about politics.” Insecure is (obviously) not about a widowed president with a new girlfriend, but the same sort of crafting—the building of a culturally relevant love story that is also funny—is present here. Effective, realistic and plot-driven funny is hard, and perhaps the best thing about Insecure is that it makes it seem easy.
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Insecure isn’t a perfect show. But it doesn’t need to be to be great.


theroot--2020-04-27--The Last Dance: Isaiah Thomas Is Not Isiah Thomas’ Tether; They Are Two Different People

The Last Dance may have been the final rodeo for Michael Jordan ’ s Chicago Bulls reign , but it is not the last of the passionate convos that have arisen from it .
Namely , Episode 3 of the docuseries , which chronicled the long-time beef between the Detroit Pistons and the Bulls , particularly the vicious way in which the Pistons defense would play against Jordan as a winning tactic .
Once the aptly-named Air Jordan leaped into the air , there was no stopping him .
He was basically the Aquaman of air .
As CBS Sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as The Jordan Rules : In Episode 3 of The Last Dance , the 10-part ESPN/Netflix documentary , then-Pistons assistant coach Brendan Malone explains the Jordan rules succinctly : “ On the wings , we ’ re going to push him to the elbow and we ’ re not going to let him drive to the baseline .
No .
2 , when he ’ s on top , we ’ re going to influence him to his left .
When he got the ball in the low post , we were going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Bad Boys were so salty about the fact they not only failed their “ sweep the leg ” mission but got swept , the losing team ’ s point guard Isiah Thomas infamously walked off the court without engaging in the good sportsmanship tradition of shaking the winning team ’ s hands .
This was a real thing that happened despite Jordan shaking their hands after getting their asses kicked by the same team for years .
Jordan reminisced about this moment in The Last Dance , maintaining that Isiah was an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adding some context to that though , Yahoo Sports writer Vincent Goodwill recalled the full story which was glossed over by a documentary in which Jordan is the protagonist : Jordan and the Bulls appear like the more mature bunch in the way it was framed , but the Jordan-sanctioned documentary misses a very important point that led to the walk-off .
“ The Pistons are undeserving champions , ” Jordan said on the day between Games 3 and 4 in Detroit in 1991 .
“ The Bad Boys are bad for basketball.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t feel like shaking their hand because he was in his feelings about losing , he shook their hand .
Happens all the time .
It has been nearly 3 decades since that occurred , but in the spirit of bringing up old shit for the sake of a documentary meant to revisit historic events , there were no efforts to “ let it go.
” That ’ s right , Jordan has rebuked the hero song of Frozen and has decided to not let it go , decades later .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifelong Bulls fan ( stay tuned for my words on what The Last Dance meant to me ) , so the pettiness will simmer like a good pot of rice .
Stay mad .
Pistons mad .
Jordan m ad .
The respective fans are mad .
Everybody mad ( firrrrrrst ) .
Anyway .
The funniest thing about this involves 31-year-old Isaiah Thomas , who was definitely named after the 58-year-old Detroit Pistons alum ( after his father lost a bet when the Lakers lost to the team in 1989 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , but this fact also makes him an entirely different person .
Still , Isaiah , who most recently played for the Washington Wizards before becoming a free agent , received some of that Bulls fan ire on Sunday evening .
“ Y ’ all be tweeting me mad at me like I was tryna hurt Jordan lol , ” Isaiah tweeted .
Shit , I always get the spellings of their names mixed up despite knowing they ’ re two different people .
Hell , it took several pages of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover pic for Isiah Thomas despite the different spelling because Isaiah Thomas is the current sports figure .
But I am here to officially confirm that Isaiah is not the tether of Isiah ; he just so happens to be a professional basketball player named after a former professional basketball player .
There may be years-long arguments on whether Isiah deserves the rage of the Bulls , but Isaiah certainly doesn ’ t .
The Last Dance airs on Sundays in two-episode increments at 7 p.m .
ET on ESPN through May 17 @

Tonja Renée Stidhum on The Grapevine, shared by Tonja Renée Stidhum to The Root

The Last Dance may have been the final rodeo for Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls reign, but it is not the last of the passionate convos that have arisen from it.
Namely, Episode 3 of the docuseries, which chronicled the long-time beef between the Detroit Pistons and the Bulls, particularly the vicious way in which the Pistons defense would play against Jordan as a winning tactic. Once the aptly-named Air Jordan leaped into the air, there was no stopping him. He was basically the Aquaman of air. As CBS Sports reported, the Jordan-attack tactics were known as The Jordan Rules:
In Episode 3 of The Last Dance, the 10-part ESPN/Netflix documentary, then-Pistons assistant coach Brendan Malone explains the Jordan rules succinctly: “On the wings, we’re going to push him to the elbow and we’re not going to let him drive to the baseline. No. 2, when he’s on top, we’re going to influence him to his left. When he got the ball in the low post, we were going to trap him from the top.”
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The Bad Boys were so salty about the fact they not only failed their “sweep the leg” mission but got swept, the losing team’s point guard Isiah Thomas infamously walked off the court without engaging in the good sportsmanship tradition of shaking the winning team’s hands. This was a real thing that happened despite Jordan shaking their hands after getting their asses kicked by the same team for years. Jordan reminisced about this moment in The Last Dance, maintaining that Isiah was an “asshole” for that move.
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Adding some context to that though, Yahoo Sports writer Vincent Goodwill recalled the full story which was glossed over by a documentary in which Jordan is the protagonist:
Jordan and the Bulls appear like the more mature bunch in the way it was framed, but the Jordan-sanctioned documentary misses a very important point that led to the walk-off. “The Pistons are undeserving champions,” Jordan said on the day between Games 3 and 4 in Detroit in 1991. “The Bad Boys are bad for basketball.”
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Yep, even though Jordan didn’t feel like shaking their hand because he was in his feelings about losing, he shook their hand. Happens all the time. It has been nearly 3 decades since that occurred, but in the spirit of bringing up old shit for the sake of a documentary meant to revisit historic events, there were no efforts to “let it go.” That’s right, Jordan has rebuked the hero song of Frozen and has decided to not let it go, decades later. A petty GOAT.
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I’m a lifelong Bulls fan (stay tuned for my words on what The Last Dance meant to me), so the pettiness will simmer like a good pot of rice. Stay mad. Pistons mad. Jordan m ad. The respective fans are mad. Everybody mad (firrrrrrst).
Anyway. The funniest thing about this involves 31-year-old Isaiah Thomas, who was definitely named after the 58-year-old Detroit Pistons alum (after his father lost a bet when the Lakers lost to the team in 1989, and his mother compromised by changing the spelling), but this fact also makes him an entirely different person.
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Still, Isaiah, who most recently played for the Washington Wizards before becoming a free agent, received some of that Bulls fan ire on Sunday evening.
“Y’all be tweeting me mad at me like I was tryna hurt Jordan lol,” Isaiah tweeted.
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Shit, I always get the spellings of their names mixed up despite knowing they’re two different people. Hell, it took several pages of a Getty Image search to find the above cover pic for Isiah Thomas despite the different spelling because Isaiah Thomas is the current sports figure.
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But I am here to officially confirm that Isaiah is not the tether of Isiah; he just so happens to be a professional basketball player named after a former professional basketball player. There may be years-long arguments on whether Isiah deserves the rage of the Bulls, but Isaiah certainly doesn’t.
The Last Dance airs on Sundays in two-episode increments at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN through May 17.


theroot--2020-04-27--Stop Tearing Up Your Hands When Lifting With Some $10 Padded Workout Gloves

Before ... well , everything happened , I really enjoyed my weightlifting routine at the gym .
However , I was also kind of an idiot , and I did said weightlifting with bare hands .
Turns out , that shreds your hands up and leaves a bunch of calluses !
Not the best .
Instead , you want to grab some workout gloves to protect your precious palms from the ravages of the barbell .
Trideer has some workout gloves on sale , so you can be ready to go back to the gym once they reopen .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them really good for weightlifting and bodybuilding , but maybe not as great for something like yoga ( I ’ m no expert though , so you be the judge ) .
Additionally , these gloves also perform the very important role of supporting your wrists , which is essential to avoiding injury with higher weights .
The best part ?
After using the code 4057SY1Q at checkout , these gloves are only $ 10 .
It ’ s a steal , so grab them now and be ready when you can get @ @ @ @ @

Elizabeth Henges on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Trideer Padded Weight Lifting Gloves | $10 | Amazon | Use code 4057SY1Q
Before... well, everything happened, I really enjoyed my weightlifting routine at the gym. However, I was also kind of an idiot, and I did said weightlifting with bare hands. Turns out, that shreds your hands up and leaves a bunch of calluses! Not the best. Instead, you want to grab some workout gloves to protect your precious palms from the ravages of the barbell. Trideer has some workout gloves on sale, so you can be ready to go back to the gym once they reopen.
These workout gloves are padded, which makes them really good for weightlifting and bodybuilding, but maybe not as great for something like yoga (I’m no expert though, so you be the judge). Additionally, these gloves also perform the very important role of supporting your wrists, which is essential to avoiding injury with higher weights.
The best part? After using the code 4057SY1Q at checkout, these gloves are only $10. It’s a steal, so grab them now and be ready when you can get back to your routine.


theroot--2020-04-27--Excerpt: George M. Johnson's All Boys Aren't Blue Is a Black, Queer, Coming-of-Age 'Memoir-Manifesto

Excerpt: George M. Johnson's All Boys Aren't Blue Is a Black, Queer, Coming-of-Age 'Memoir-Manifesto' for Us All

Writer George M. Johnson has yet to see himself represented accurately in media .
Growing up black and questioning in Plainfield , N.J. , he was simply aware that he was “ different.
” Feeling neither entirely boy nor girl and devoid of the language to express his evolving identity , the only thing he knew for sure at a very early age was that “ safety trumped satisfaction.
” Now in his 30s , Johnson is revisiting his journey into adulthood and queerness in All Boys Aren ’ t Blue , a “ memoir-manifesto ” published by Farrar Straus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that was written in hopes of making the journey easier—and hopefully , safer—for a new generation .
While perhaps not the expected fare of the young adult category , Johnson tells The Root that the genre provided an unexpected opportunity .
“ Nothing like this existed for young adults , and at first I was hesitant because I wasn ’ t sure I would be able to tell the total truth and I knew there were some stories that were going to go there , ” he explained .
“ So for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my whole activism is set up around , which is really helping and changing the narrative of black children , specifically black queer children .
I knew I wanted to create something that would stand the test of time and be here as a guide for so many who have come and who have gone whose stories have just never been seen in the world.
” But there ’ s plenty for fully-grown adults to glean from Johnson ’ s story , as well ; especially for those seeking to create a safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their care .
While All Boys Aren ’ t Blue cover topics like gender identity , sexual awakening and sexual abuse , they are seamlessly interwoven with discussions of family , unconditional love , how black history is taught in schools and the unexpected acceptance Johnson ultimately found within a black fraternity .
“ My blackness is everything because I believe that blackness is inherently queer , ” he says .
“ For me , I knew I had a duty : if I ’ m going to talk about this , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how I got here.
” “ The whole reasoning of the book was to allow parents to understand your child has a whole world going on outside of you , and it will behoove you to invest in that world with your child , ” Johnson late r adds .
“ You can ’ t see the thoughts that your child is processing , and I wanted parents , and guardians , and teachers , and whoever read this book to understand this is just not about some salacious tale about my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sexual assault ; these are real-life things that are going to happen to our children because they are happening every day to our children .
To deny them the opportunity to read about it is just a disservice to them because then they don ’ t know how to navigate it when it occurs to them.
” Most of all , Johnson wants black children like the one he once was to have the space to safely be “ black , queer , and here , ” as he titles the introduction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The first thing I want them to know is other people like them exist .
A lot of times , it ’ s hard to even know how many of you are out there .
I struggled with that growing up , not seeing myself—I still struggle with it now , ” he admits .
“ The second thing would be to understand why I wrote the book with so much empathy for others—even in their wronging of me—because we have to look at our parents , our guardians , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who have faults , too…I hope another thing is that they realize you can create family outside your family as I did…We exist in all spaces ; we ’ re here , we exist and we have community in a lot of places.
” The following is an excerpt from All Boys Aren ’ t Blue : A Memoir Manifesto , published by Farrar Straus Giroux and condensed for length .
I was five years old when my teeth got kicked out .
It was my first trauma .
By that age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even though I didn ’ t have the language to explain it or maturity to understand fully what “ different ” meant .
I wasn ’ t gravitating toward typical boy things , like sports , trucks , and so on .
I liked baby dolls and doing hair .
I could sense that the feelings I had inside of me weren ’ t “ right ” by society ’ s standards either .
I remember that on Valentine ’ s Day , the boys were supposed to give their “ crush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give mine to a boy , I gave it to a girl who was clearly a tomboy even at that age .
I was always attracted to the company of boys .
I used to daydream a lot as a little boy .
But in my daydreams , I was always a girl .
I would daydream about having long hair and wearing dresses .
And looking back , it wasn ’ t because I thought I was in the wrong body , but because of how I acted more girly .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I could be .
I struggled with being unable to express myself in my fullest identity .
One that would encompass all the things that I liked while still existing in the body of a boy .
However , I was old enough to know that I would find safety only in the arms of suppression—hiding my true self—because let ’ s face it , kids can be cruel .
I integrated well , though , or so I believed at the time .
I became a world-class actor by the age of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the boys and girls without a person ever questioning my effeminate nature .
Then again , we were so little—maybe all the children were just as naïve as I was about the kids who surrounded them .
I was five years old when my teeth were kicked out .
It was my introduction to trauma , and now , I ’ m ready to start there .
At that age , I wasn ’ t allowed to walk home from school by myself .
So , I walked home with my older cousins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that time , my cousins lived with our grandmother , who also happened to be our primary caregiver—since our parents worked long hours .
Walking to Nanny ’ s house after school was our routine .
I usually walked holding hands with Little Rall while Rasul went ahead .
We would take the back way every day , which meant walking behind the school , through the football and baseball fields , to the street one block over from Nanny ’ s house .
On a normal day , that walk took less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the school , I ’ m sure Nanny never imagined that within those ten minutes , her grandchild ’ s life would be forever scarred .
The memory is vivid .
I can still smell the air from that day , sunny and mild springlike weather .
That walk to my grandmother ’ s started just like any other , with me holding hands with Rall , while Rasul sped ahead of us .
We were at the corner of Lansdowne and Marshall on the lawn of the corner house when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the neighborhood that I didn ’ t recognize .
They had to be about my cousins ’ ages—around nine or ten years old .
The main kid was white .
To this day when we talk about it , we use his full name , but I won ’ t say it here .
The other kids were Black and white if memory serves me correctly .
My cousins knew who they were , I guessed , because they immediately began arguing .
When I sit with this memory , there is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see it .
When I write about it now , my body can feel it .
But as I close my eyes to think about it , the situation was instant chaos .
I got extremely nervous .
I just held on to Rall ’ s hand even tighter .
There were three of us and six of them , which was really two on six because what did a five-year-old know about fighting ?
The arguing kept getting more intense with my fear growing as the boys got closer , in each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s strange how near to home and safety one can be when some of the most traumatic things in life occur .
I used to wonder what would ’ ve happened if we had walked a different route that day , or left the school five minutes earlier ?
Would my life have turned out any different ?
Before I knew it , the argument broke into a fight , and I , the invisible boy , somehow became the biggest target .
As my cousins squared up with three of the boys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms and held me on the ground .
I screamed for help , as it was all I could do .
The third kid swung his leg and kicked me in the face .
Then he pulled his leg back again and kicked even harder .
My teeth shattered like glass hitting the concrete .
In that moment , I felt nothing .
It was as if it were all a dream .
Then I felt the pain .
I also felt an emotion I had never experienced before : rage .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time—had not yet had the pleasure of introducing myself to it .
The tears that streamed down my face were no longer about pain .
I was now crying tears of anger .
Tears of rage .
That rage was enough to stop the boy from ever bringing a third kick to my mouth .
I somehow broke free , lunged forward , and bit his leg with the teeth I had remaining .
He screamed so loud as I bit through his jeans .
By this time , my cousins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw what had happened to me .
They ran toward us together , which made all my assaulters retreat .
They grabbed my book bag , and said , “ Run to the house , Matt.
” So , I did .
Ironically , this moment marked the beginning of my track career , which I would pursue from elementary to high school .
Sound is now back on in the memory at this point .
I can hear my crying as I ran home .
I got to my grandmother ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mouth , busted lip , and baby teeth knocked out .
“ We got jumped , ” my cousins explained .
Nanny went and got ice and wrapped it in a paper towel , and she told me to hold it to my face .
It all gets a little hazy after that , as I remember bits and pieces of what occurred .
My mother left work immediately to get to Nanny ’ s .
She sent an officer ahead to meet us at the house to take down the report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ came and checked on me immediately .
She sat in one of the dining room chairs and had me sit in her lap with her arms around me .
I finally calmed down once my mother held me .
At some point , my uncles showed up and were sitting with us all .
My cousins were still visibly upset .
I sat there in silence , feeling the rise and fall of my mother ’ s chest with each breath she took .
The officer began asking my cousins what happened , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer asked me to open my mouth so he could note the damage in his report .
I recall not speaking for hours after this happened .
When I close my eyes now , I see it all happening as if it were some out-of-body experience .
I think back on that day a lot .
I wish I knew what motivated the attack .
Could it have been because I was effeminate ?
Could it have been a race thing , since the main assaulter was a white boy from a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have simply been the toxic behaviors we teach boys about fighting and earning manhood ?
I know that impact and intent always play a role , so even if their intent wasn ’ t those things , the impact would forever change me anyway .
There were no counselors or therapy sessions to help me work through what had happened .
Therapy is still very much a taboo subject in the Black community .
Those who are seen as having issues with their mental health face a lot of stigma and discrimination because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness .
So rather than having their child labeled as something hurtful , my parents did the best they could with what they knew .
We did what we always did as a family—we loved on each other even harder .
In that moment , my mother just held me , and we sat there together for a long while .
Eventually , she took me home .
But the next day became just that .
The next day .
What happened the day before was to be forgotten , or better yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I forgot was how to smile .
I immediately became self-conscious about smiling .
It ’ s something I ’ ve struggled to remedy even as an adult .
Because my baby teeth had been kicked out , my adult teeth—almost “ buck teeth ” —grew in extremely early .
Adult-size teeth on a seven-year-old are very odd- looking , and it brought me a whole new type of attention I wasn ’ t looking for .
My lips became protection for the smile that was stolen .
Picture after picture after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are photos of me at seven , nine , thirteen , twenty-two , and twenty-nine years old where I refuse to smile .
Every now and again , my mom will find a picture of me with my teeth showing .
There aren ’ t many of them , though .
And when I look at them , sometimes I cringe .
Other times , I ’ ve actually teared up , wondering if I was truly happy in that picture or if I simply felt the need to smile because someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I obliged .
The fact that I don ’ t feel happy when I look at those images lets me know there wasn ’ t any happiness when I took them .
What did I look like to others—a child who rarely smiled ?
Did they ever take it as a sign that I was actually dealing with a trauma I couldn ’ t get past ?
Or did they pass it off as a “ boys will be boys ” thing that I would eventually grow out of ?
To go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being questioned why , leaves me to wonder how many signs of trauma we miss or ignore in Black children .
I used to think that I had gotten over it if I took a good picture where I was smiling .
But it only required one bad smiling pic to remind me of how trauma has a funny way of showing up in our lives during the moments when we least expect it .
It can be an action that we write off as something else , when really it is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deal with .
A trauma that no one helped us fully process or that they didn ’ t have the skills to even know we needed help for .
Boys aren ’ t supposed to cry , so hold that shit in .
Sometimes to the grave .
All Boys Aren ’ t Blue : A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson will be published on Tuesday , April 28 and is available for pre-order now .

Writer George M. Johnson has yet to see themself represented accurately in media. Growing up black and questioning in Plainfield, N.J., they were simply aware that they were “different.” Feeling neither entirely boy nor girl and devoid of the language to express their evolving identity, the only thing they knew for sure at a very early age was that “safety trumped satisfaction.”
Now in their 30s, Johnson is revisiting their journey into adulthood and queerness in All Boys Aren’t Blue, a “memoir-manifesto” published by Farrar Straus Giroux debuting on Tuesday, April 28, that was written in hopes of making the journey easier—and hopefully, safer—for a new generation. While perhaps not the expected fare of the young adult category, Johnson tells The Root that the genre provided an unexpected opportunity.
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“Nothing like this existed for young adults, and at first I was hesitant because I wasn’t sure I would be able to tell the total truth and I knew there were some stories that were going to go there,” they explained. “So for me, it then became about what my whole activism is set up around, which is really helping and changing the narrative of black children, specifically black queer children. I knew I wanted to create something that would stand the test of time and be here as a guide for so many who have come and who have gone whose stories have just never been seen in the world.”
But there’s plenty for fully-grown adults to glean from Johnson’s story, as well; especially for those seeking to create a safe and open environment for the children in their care. While All Boys Aren’t Blue covers topics like gender identity, sexual awakening and sexual abuse, they are seamlessly interwoven with discussions of family, unconditional love, how black history is taught in schools, and the unexpected acceptance Johnson ultimately found within a black fraternity.
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“My blackness is everything because I believe that blackness is inherently queer,” they say. “For me, I knew I had a duty: if I’m going to talk about this, I want to talk about the whole picture of how I got here.”
“The whole reasoning of the book was to allow parents to understand your child has a whole world going on outside of you, and it will behoove you to invest in that world with your child,” Johnson later adds. “You can’t see the thoughts that your child is processing, and I wanted parents, and guardians, and teachers, and whoever read this book to understand this is just not about some salacious tale about my first time having sex, and molestation and sexual assault; these are real-life things that are going to happen to our children because they are happening every day to our children. To deny them the opportunity to read about it is just a disservice to them because then they don’t know how to navigate it when it occurs to them.”
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Most of all, Johnson wants black children like the one they once were to have space to safely be “black, queer, and here,” as they titled the introduction to All Boys Aren’t Blue.
“The first thing I want them to know is other people like them exist. A lot of times, it’s hard to even know how many of you are out there. I struggled with that growing up, not seeing myself—I still struggle with it now,” they admit. “The second thing would be to understand why I wrote the book with so much empathy for others—even in their wronging of me—because we have to look at our parents, our guardians, our friends as total people who make mistakes, who have faults, too…I hope another thing is that they realize you can create family outside your family as I did…We exist in all spaces; we’re here, we exist and we have community in a lot of places.”
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The following is an excerpt from All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir Manifesto, published by Farrar Straus Giroux and condensed for length.
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I was five years old when my teeth got kicked out. It was my first trauma.
By that age, I already knew I was different, even though I didn’t have the language to explain it or maturity to understand fully what “different” meant. I wasn’t gravitating toward typical boy things, like sports, trucks, and so on. I liked baby dolls and doing hair. I could sense that the feelings I had inside of me weren’t “right” by society’s standards either. I remember that on Valentine’s Day, the boys were supposed to give their “crush” a card. Not wanting to give mine to a boy, I gave it to a girl who was clearly a tomboy even at that age. I was always attracted to the company of boys.
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I used to daydream a lot as a little boy. But in my daydreams, I was always a girl. I would daydream about having long hair and wearing dresses. And looking back, it wasn’t because I thought I was in the wrong body, but because of how I acted more girly. I thought a girl was the only thing I could be.
I struggled with being unable to express myself in my fullest identity. One that would encompass all the things that I liked while still existing in the body of a boy. However, I was old enough to know that I would find safety only in the arms of suppression—hiding my true self—because let’s face it, kids can be cruel. I integrated well, though, or so I believed at the time. I became a world-class actor by the age of five, able to blend in with the boys and girls without a person ever questioning my effeminate nature. Then again, we were so little—maybe all the children were just as naïve as I was about the kids who surrounded them.
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I was five years old when my teeth were kicked out. It was my introduction to trauma, and now, I’m ready to start there.
At that age, I wasn’t allowed to walk home from school by myself. So, I walked home with my older cousins, Little Rall and Rasul. During that time, my cousins lived with our grandmother, who also happened to be our primary caregiver—since our parents worked long hours. Walking to Nanny’s house after school was our routine. I usually walked holding hands with Little Rall while Rasul went ahead. We would take the back way every day, which meant walking behind the school, through the football and baseball fields, to the street one block over from Nanny’s house. On a normal day, that walk took less than ten minutes. Living so close to the school, I’m sure Nanny never imagined that within those ten minutes, her grandchild’s life would be forever scarred.
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The memory is vivid. I can still smell the air from that day, sunny and mild springlike weather. That walk to my grandmother’s started just like any other, with me holding hands with Rall, while Rasul sped ahead of us. We were at the corner of Lansdowne and Marshall on the lawn of the corner house when we ran into a group of kids from the neighborhood that I didn’t recognize.
They had to be about my cousins’ ages—around nine or ten years old. The main kid was white. To this day when we talk about it, we use his full name, but I won’t say it here. The other kids were Black and white if memory serves me correctly. My cousins knew who they were, I guessed, because they immediately began arguing. When I sit with this memory, there is no sound in the moment. I can see it. When I write about it now, my body can feel it. But as I close my eyes to think about it, the situation was instant chaos. I got extremely nervous. I just held on to Rall’s hand even tighter.
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There were three of us and six of them, which was really two on six because what did a five-year-old know about fighting? The arguing kept getting more intense with my fear growing as the boys got closer, in each other’s faces. It’s strange how near to home and safety one can be when some of the most traumatic things in life occur. I used to wonder what would’ve happened if we had walked a different route that day, or left the school five minutes earlier? Would my life have turned out any different?
Before I knew it, the argument broke into a fight, and I, the invisible boy, somehow became the biggest target. As my cousins squared up with three of the boys, two others grabbed me by my arms and held me on the ground. I screamed for help, as it was all I could do. The third kid swung his leg and kicked me in the face. Then he pulled his leg back again and kicked even harder.
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My teeth shattered like glass hitting the concrete. In that moment, I felt nothing. It was as if it were all a dream. Then I felt the pain. I also felt an emotion I had never experienced before: rage. I didn’t fully understand the feeling at the time—had not yet had the pleasure of introducing myself to it. The tears that streamed down my face were no longer about pain. I was now crying tears of anger. Tears of rage.
That rage was enough to stop the boy from ever bringing a third kick to my mouth. I somehow broke free, lunged forward, and bit his leg with the teeth I had remaining. He screamed so loud as I bit through his jeans. By this time, my cousins had handled the other three boys and saw what had happened to me. They ran toward us together, which made all my assaulters retreat. They grabbed my book bag, and said, “Run to the house, Matt.”
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So, I did. Ironically, this moment marked the beginning of my track career, which I would pursue from elementary to high school. Sound is now back on in the memory at this point. I can hear my crying as I ran home. I got to my grandmother’s house, and I continued to cry—bloody mouth, busted lip, and baby teeth knocked out.
“What happened?” yelled Nanny.
“We got jumped,” my cousins explained. Nanny went and got ice and wrapped it in a paper towel, and she told me to hold it to my face.
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It all gets a little hazy after that, as I remember bits and pieces of what occurred. My mother left work immediately to get to Nanny’s. She sent an officer ahead to meet us at the house to take down the report. When my mother got there, she came and checked on me immediately. She sat in one of the dining room chairs and had me sit in her lap with her arms around me.
I finally calmed down once my mother held me. At some point, my uncles showed up and were sitting with us all. My cousins were still visibly upset. I sat there in silence, feeling the rise and fall of my mother’s chest with each breath she took. The officer began asking my cousins what happened, and they told their story. The officer asked me to open my mouth so he could note the damage in his report. I recall not speaking for hours after this happened.
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When I close my eyes now, I see it all happening as if it were some out-of-body experience. I think back on that day a lot. I wish I knew what motivated the attack. Could it have been because I was effeminate? Could it have been a race thing, since the main assaulter was a white boy from a different part of the neighborhood? Could it have simply been the toxic behaviors we teach boys about fighting and earning manhood? I know that impact and intent always play a role, so even if their intent wasn’t those things, the impact would forever change me anyway.
There were no counselors or therapy sessions to help me work through what had happened. Therapy is still very much a taboo subject in the Black community. Those who are seen as having issues with their mental health face a lot of stigma and discrimination because mental health is often conflated with mental illness. So rather than having their child labeled as something hurtful, my parents did the best they could with what they knew.
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We did what we always did as a family—we loved on each other even harder. In that moment, my mother just held me, and we sat there together for a long while. Eventually, she took me home. But the next day became just that. The next day. What happened the day before was to be forgotten, or better yet, buried.
Unfortunately, part of what I forgot was how to smile. I immediately became self-conscious about smiling. It’s something I’ve struggled to remedy even as an adult. Because my baby teeth had been kicked out, my adult teeth—almost “buck teeth”—grew in extremely early. Adult-size teeth on a seven-year-old are very odd- looking, and it brought me a whole new type of attention I wasn’t looking for. My lips became protection for the smile that was stolen. Picture after picture after picture, I refused to smile. There are photos of me at seven, nine, thirteen, twenty-two, and twenty-nine years old where I refuse to smile.
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Every now and again, my mom will find a picture of me with my teeth showing. There aren’t many of them, though. And when I look at them, sometimes I cringe. Other times, I’ve actually teared up, wondering if I was truly happy in that picture or if I simply felt the need to smile because someone said, “Smile, Matt” and I obliged. The fact that I don’t feel happy when I look at those images lets me know there wasn’t any happiness when I took them.
What did I look like to others—a child who rarely smiled? Did they ever take it as a sign that I was actually dealing with a trauma I couldn’t get past? Or did they pass it off as a “boys will be boys” thing that I would eventually grow out of? To go years without smiling in pictures, rarely being questioned why, leaves me to wonder how many signs of trauma we miss or ignore in Black children.
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I used to think that I had gotten over it if I took a good picture where I was smiling. But it only required one bad smiling pic to remind me of how trauma has a funny way of showing up in our lives during the moments when we least expect it. It can be an action that we write off as something else, when really it is the manifestation of a pain we had refused to deal with. A trauma that no one helped us fully process or that they didn’t have the skills to even know we needed help for. Boys aren’t supposed to cry, so hold that shit in. Sometimes to the grave.
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All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson will be published on Tuesday, April 28 and is available for pre-order now.
Updated: Thursday, 7/30/20 at 9:05 p.m., ET: An earlier version of this article incorrectly used “he/him” pronouns; Johnson has since clarified that “they/them” is their preference. The post has been updated to reflect this.
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(Updated 3/3/22 with new details)


theroot--2020-04-27--Patriots Draft Pick Has Right-Wing Paramilitary Gang Tattoo. But It's OK, He Didn't Know What It Mea

Patriots Draft Pick Has Right-Wing Paramilitary Gang Tattoo. But It's OK, He Didn't Know What It Meant

And with the 159th pick in the 2020 NFL draft ’ s fifth round , the New England Patriots select ... the right-wing , paramilitary-supporting kicker from Marshall .
On Saturday , the Tom Brady-less team from the same town that brought you Aaron Hernandez , the gang-affiliated double-murderer from Florida , drafted Justin Rohrwasser , a heralded kicker whose left arm just happens to display the insignia of the Three Percenters , one of the right-wing paramilitary groups that The Root has referred to as “ Y ’ all Queda.
” As soon as the Patriots ’ Trump-supporting coach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Resist Programming noticed that the draftee ’ s social media history seemed to show an affinity for far-right zealots like Jordan Peterson , an opponent of transgender pronouns and the feminization of men .
But it was the 23-year-old ’ s Three Percenter tattoo that raised the most eyebrows .
Although Rohrwasser claims he got the tattoo when he was a teenager , he didn ’ t have it in high school .
It also doesn ’ t appear in photos when he played at the University of Rhode Island in 2015 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ III percent is a gang .
Maxime Fiset , a former neo-Nazi who works with the Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence in Montreal , called Three Percenters “ the most dangerous group in Canada.
” They provided security for neo-Nazis at the “ Unite The Right ” rally in Charlottesville , Va .
In 2019 , a jury convicted Jeremy Drake Varnell of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction to blow up an Oklahoma City building after Varnell admitted that he subscribed to “ III % ideology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Founded by another “ patriot ” named Mike Vanderboegh , the Three Percent movement stems from its belief that the American Revolution was won by an army composed of 3 percent of the population , which , according to this liberal ideology called “ numbers , ” is pretty wrong .
( The number was closer to 15 percent , but perhaps they forgot to carry the 1 when they were doing the math .
Hey , it involves both algebra and fractions , so don ’ t laugh . )
Unlike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declare him- or herself a Three Percenter , although the group does have meetings on a local level , according to its website .
It was surprisingly also founded immediately after Obama was elected , in Alabama , of all places ( I actually heard your brain say , “ Seems about right ” ) .
Like the Oath Keepers who showed up in Ferguson , Three Percenters are famous for descending on the Bundy ranch in Nevada , but used money donated by supporters to bail out other Threepers to buy iTunes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are the same people who also occupied an Oregon wildlife refuge in 2016 , an occupation that ended after a shootout when the mighty Three Percenters umm ... well ... kinda just gave up because standoffs are kinda hard .
So what was Rohrwasser ’ s excuse ?
“ I got that tattoo when I was a teenager and I have a lot of family in the military , ” Rohrwasser told reporters during an introductory press conference .
“ I thought it stood for a military-support symbol at the time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ something that I do not want to represent .
When I look back on it , I should have done way more research before I put any mark or symbol like that on my body , and it ’ s not something I ever want to represent .
It will be covered.
” Of course , the NFL is known for highlighting the pasts of its darker-skinned draftees .
In 2016 , projected No .
1 overall pick Laremy Tunsil lost millions when a video of him smoking marijuana through a gas mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 13th pick .
Wide receiver Desean Jackson ’ s career has been plagued by rumors of gang affiliations .
Since he joined the NFL , he has been arrested for…Hold on , let me check his extensive rap sheet ... Jackson has been arrested a grand total of zero times .
And then there ’ s the revealing photo of how the NFL treated Rohrwasser ’ s fellow draft class members But Rohrwasser is different , see .
He didn ’ t know that he was gang-affiliated .

And with the 159th pick in the 2020 NFL draft’s fifth round, the New England Patriots select...the right-wing, paramilitary-supporting kicker from Marshall.
On Saturday, the Tom Brady-less team from the same town that brought you Aaron Hernandez, the gang-affiliated double-murderer from Florida, drafted Justin Rohrwasser, a heralded kicker whose left arm just happens to display the insignia of the Three Percenters, one of the right-wing paramilitary groups that The Root has referred to as “Y’all Queda.”
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As soon as the Patriots’ Trump-supporting coach and owner gave Rohrwasser the nod, Resist Programming noticed that the draftee’s social media history seemed to show an affinity for far-right zealots like Jordan Peterson, an opponent of transgender pronouns and the feminization of men.
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But it was the 23-year-old’s Three Percenter tattoo that raised the most eyebrows. Although Rohrwasser claims he got the tattoo when he was a teenager, he didn’t have it in high school. It also doesn’t appear in photos when he played at the University of Rhode Island in 2015.
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Make no mistake about it, the III percent is a gang.
Maxime Fiset, a former neo-Nazi who works with the Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence in Montreal, called Three Percenters “the most dangerous group in Canada.” They provided security for neo-Nazis at the “Unite The Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va. In 2019, a jury convicted Jeremy Drake Varnell of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction to blow up an Oklahoma City building after Varnell admitted that he subscribed to “III% ideology,” according to the Associated Press.
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As we previously reported:
Founded by another “patriot” named Mike Vanderboegh, the Three Percent movement stems from its belief that the American Revolution was won by an army composed of 3 percent of the population, which, according to this liberal ideology called “numbers,” is pretty wrong. (The number was closer to 15 percent, but perhaps they forgot to carry the 1 when they were doing the math. Hey, it involves both algebra and fractions, so don’t laugh.) Unlike the Oath Keepers, anyone can simply declare him- or herself a Three Percenter, although the group does have meetings on a local level, according to its website. It was surprisingly also founded immediately after Obama was elected, in Alabama, of all places (I actually heard your brain say, “Seems about right”). Like the Oath Keepers who showed up in Ferguson, Three Percenters are famous for descending on the Bundy ranch in Nevada, but used money donated by supporters to bail out other Threepers to buy iTunes music, car washes and food. They are the same people who also occupied an Oregon wildlife refuge in 2016, an occupation that ended after a shootout when the mighty Three Percenters umm ... well ... kinda just gave up because standoffs are kinda hard.
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So what was Rohrwasser’s excuse?
“I got that tattoo when I was a teenager and I have a lot of family in the military,” Rohrwasser told reporters during an introductory press conference. “I thought it stood for a military-support symbol at the time. Obviously, it’s evolved into something that I do not want to represent. When I look back on it, I should have done way more research before I put any mark or symbol like that on my body, and it’s not something I ever want to represent. It will be covered.”
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Of course, the NFL is known for highlighting the pasts of its darker-skinned draftees. In 2016, projected No. 1 overall pick Laremy Tunsil lost millions when a video of him smoking marijuana through a gas mask caused his draft stock to tumble to the 13th pick. Wide receiver Desean Jackson’s career has been plagued by rumors of gang affiliations. Since he joined the NFL, he has been arrested for…Hold on, let me check his extensive rap sheet...Jackson has been arrested a grand total of zero times. And then there’s the revealing photo of how the NFL treated Rohrwasser’s fellow draft class members
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But Rohrwasser is different, see. He didn’t know that he was gang-affiliated.
And finally, he’s a real Patriot.


theroot--2020-04-27--Jordan’s The Last Dance Doc Prompts Conversation About Kobe Bryant’s Well-Documented Final Season Wi

Jordan’s The Last Dance Doc Prompts Conversation About Kobe Bryant’s Well-Documented Final Season With the Lakers

Everyone is talking about The Last Dance—a docuseries on NBA icon Michael Jordan and his final 1997-98 season with the Chicago Bulls .
As of Sunday , f our episodes of the 10-part miniseries have aired and have prompted a conversation about late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant ’ s final season with the Los Angeles Lakers and the unprecedented access camera crews had in recording every moment of that iconic time .
According to ESPN , several Lakers staff members who were around during Bryant ’ s 20th and final season say that in ways they had never seen before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rooms , team practices and even the team ’ s charter plane .
“ They had unprecedented and , by far , greater access than anyone else ever , ” Lakers ’ public relations vice president John Black said .
“ We certainly allowed them to do everything we could within what the league would allow , and sometimes , with a wink and look-the-other-way , allowed them even more.
” Former assistant trainer for the Lakers Marco Nunez said that he sees little difference between the access documentarians were given to chronicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Bryant ’ s camera crews .
“ Just watching them and being able to view what the cameras were doing to [ capture ] Jordan ’ s pregame routine , I mean , it ’ s the same thing , ” Nunez said .
“ Just flash forward ... take out No .
23 with the Bulls and insert No .
24 with the Lakers .
Yeah , I mean , it ’ s pretty much identical.
” It ’ s unclear what will happen to the footage of Bryant ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the wake of the five-time NBA champ ’ s death .
Sources close to the matter told ESPN that the footage had been in the editing stages for a potential documentary to be released years from now — though it is unclear when exactly that would be — and that Bryant had seen edited material and provided feedback in the months leading up to his death .
It is unlikely those plans have changed , the sources said .
The sources told ESPN that rather than have anyone else chronicle his season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starred in his 2015 documentary “ Muse , ” ultimately sought control over the footage , which is why he decided it was best to have his own camera crew take on such a project , especially as Bryant worked to build his own post-NBA media empire .
Some former Lakers team members and staffers say they weren ’ t too thrilled about all the cameras being around as it was not one of the Lakers ’ better seasons .
“ It was like , ‘ All right , we got to really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watch what we ’ re talking about , because you have no idea who ’ s watching or editing this , ’ ” Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. said .
“ That ’ s something we all kind of talked about as a team is like , ‘ Hey , you never know where this is going .
So let ’ s just keep it mellow around the cameras.
’ ” Nance began his rookie season with the Lakers that year and he said that , while a documentary on Bryant would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that particular season wasn ’ t the thing being covered .
“ It was really cool because , like , this is the Black Mamba .
But at the same time , like , this is also the worst season in Lakers history .
So while I ’ m really proud to be in the NBA playing with this absolute legend , [ that ] is not something that I ’ m really trying to relive , ” Nance said .
But some staffers and players agree that , while the footage isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it would be a good look for pro-basketball history to document the final season of one of the sport ’ s greatest players .
“ I do recall saying , ‘ This is in some ways annoying to have extra people around at these odd times that [ they ] aren ’ t normally allowed with a camera on , ’ ” former Lakers head strength and conditioning coach Tim DiFrancesco said .
“ But in that same conversation to myself , [ I was ] saying , ‘ But this will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however ] many years down the road.
’ ” Nance said he eventually came around on the issue as well .
“ Kobe would say something in the locker room and I would kind of think about it like , ‘ Oh , that ’ s gon na look pretty sick when they film it .
Or , you know , that 60-point game or [ him ] playing in Philadelphia that last time .
‘ This is pretty monumental .
I ’ m so glad somebody ’ s going to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Everyone is talking about The Last Dance—a docuseries on NBA icon Michael Jordan and his final 1997-98 season with the Chicago Bulls. As of Sunday, f our episodes of the 10-part miniseries have aired and have prompted a conversation about late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant’s final season with the Los Angeles Lakers and the unprecedented access camera crews had in recording every moment of that iconic time .
According to ESPN, several Lakers staff members who were around during Bryant’s 20th and final season say that in ways they had never seen before , camera crews were packed in locker rooms, team practices and even the team’s charter plane .
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“They had unprecedented and, by far, greater access than anyone else ever,” Lakers’ public relations vice president John Black said. “We certainly allowed them to do everything we could within what the league would allow, and sometimes, with a wink and look-the-other-way, allowed them even more.”
Former assistant trainer for the Lakers Marco Nunez said that he sees little difference between the access documentarians were given to chronicle Jordan’s last season and that of Bryant’s camera crews.
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“Just watching them and being able to view what the cameras were doing to [capture] Jordan’s pregame routine, I mean, it’s the same thing,” Nunez said. “Just flash forward ... take out No. 23 with the Bulls and insert No. 24 with the Lakers. Yeah, I mean, it’s pretty much identical.”
It’s unclear what will happen to the footage of Bryant’s 2015-16 season with the Lakers, especially in the wake of the five-time NBA champ’s death.
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From ESPN:
Sources close to the matter told ESPN that the footage had been in the editing stages for a potential documentary to be released years from now — though it is unclear when exactly that would be — and that Bryant had seen edited material and provided feedback in the months leading up to his death. It is unlikely those plans have changed, the sources said. The sources told ESPN that rather than have anyone else chronicle his season, Bryant, who had produced and starred in his 2015 documentary “Muse,” ultimately sought control over the footage, which is why he decided it was best to have his own camera crew take on such a project, especially as Bryant worked to build his own post-NBA media empire.
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Some former Lakers team members and staffers say they weren’t too thrilled about all the cameras being around as it was not one of the Lakers’ better seasons.
“It was like, ‘All right, we got to really watch what we’re saying, watch what we’re talking about, because you have no idea who’s watching or editing this,’” Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. said. “That’s something we all kind of talked about as a team is like, ‘Hey, you never know where this is going. So let’s just keep it mellow around the cameras.’”
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Nance began his rookie season with the Lakers that year and he said that, while a documentary on Bryant would be awesome, he really just wishes that particular season wasn’t the thing being covered.
“It was really cool because, like, this is the Black Mamba. But at the same time, like, this is also the worst season in Lakers history. So while I’m really proud to be in the NBA playing with this absolute legend, [that] is not something that I’m really trying to relive,” Nance said.
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But some staffers and players agree that, while the footage isn’t very flattering for the team, it would be a good look for pro-basketball history to document the final season of one of the sport’s greatest players.
“I do recall saying, ‘This is in some ways annoying to have extra people around at these odd times that [they] aren’t normally allowed with a camera on,’” former Lakers head strength and conditioning coach Tim DiFrancesco said. “But in that same conversation to myself, [I was] saying, ‘But this will be cool, you know, [however] many years down the road.’”
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Nance said he eventually came around on the issue as well.
“Kobe would say something in the locker room and I would kind of think about it like, ‘Oh, that’s gonna look pretty sick when they film it. Or, you know, that 60-point game or [him] playing in Philadelphia that last time.
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‘This is pretty monumental. I’m so glad somebody’s going to have a way to remember this.’”