theroot--2020-05-04--A Kobe Sighting, 'Republicans Buy Sneakers, Too,' and Other Takeaways From the 3rd Night of ESPN's T

A Kobe Sighting, 'Republicans Buy Sneakers, Too,' and Other Takeaways From the 3rd Night of ESPN's The Last Dance

If you aren ’ t watching ESPN ’ s docu-series The Last Dance you ’ re living life wrong .
But luckily for you , I am .
So here ’ s a recap of what the rest of us got to enjoy during Episodes 5 and 6 .
Why , yes .
Yes , it was .
Before common sense prevailed , there were plenty of players labeled “ the next Michael Jordan ” —Harold Miner , anyone ?
—but only one came close enough to arguably surpass him : Mr. Kobe Bean Bryant .
The two clashed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Game , with Kobe making his first All-Star Game appearance and Jordan presumably making his last , and Jordan felt some kind of way about the 19-year-old who would soon take the league by storm .
“ That little Laker boy ’ s gon na take everybody one-on-one , ” Jordan told his peers in the Eastern Conference locker room .
“ He don ’ t let the game come to him .
He just goes out there and takes it .
He just goes out there and takes it .
‘ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen .
I ’ m going to make this a one-on-one game.
’ ” Jordan added , “ If I was his teammate , I wouldn ’ t pass him the fucking ball .
You want this ball again , brother , you better rebound.
” The irony of this moment isn ’ t lost on anyone , and after telling his teammates he was going to put Kobe to work , Jordan proceeded to bust his ass and put up 23 points , eight dimes , and three steals .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s MVP , though Kobe put up 18 points of his own .
“ What you get from me is from him , ” Kobe said .
“ I don ’ t get five championships without him guiding me so much.
” As the Laker legend evolved into an all-time great , they would eventually develop a brotherly bond that would last until Kobe ’ s death earlier this year .
As Jordan ’ s career began to skyrocket , he locked up lucrative endorsement deals with companies like Wilson Sporting Goods and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his deal with Nike , who he initially had zero interest in whatsoever , that would make him one of the hottest commodities on the planet and revolutionize the entire sneaker industry .
“ My game was my biggest endorsement .
What I did on the basketball court , my dedication to the game , lead to all this other stuff , ” Jordan recalled , while doing the backstroke in billions of dollars .
“ My game did all the talking.
” Jordan has since become synonymous with Nike , but because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his mom who steered him away from blindly signing with Adidas despite Jordan ’ s affinity for the brand .
“ She made me get on that plane and listen , ” Jordan said .
“ Adidas was really dysfunctional by that time , ” David Faul , Jordan ’ s agent , said .
“ And they had just told me , ‘ Look , we ’ d love to have Jordan , we just can ’ t make a shoe work at this point in time.
’ I wanted Michael to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big upstart.
” After Faulk secured a $ 250,000 deal with the sneaker giant during Jordan ’ s rookie season , he set realistic expectations for his client : $ 3 million worth of sales by the fourth year of the deal .
Sneakerheads , however , had other plans , and Jordan ended up selling a mind-boggling $ 120 million worth of Air Jordans in the first year of his deal alone .
“ Before Michael Jordan , sneakers were just for playing basketball , ” journalist Roy S. Johnson said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ became fashion and culture.
” Jordan ’ s allegiance to the brand was unwavering too ; he refused to display the Reebok logo on his tracksuit—he covered it with the American flag—while accepting his 1992 Olympic gold medal as a member of the Dream Team .
Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause had a love affair with his 1990 second-round draft pick , Toni Kukoc , and would tell anyone who would listen that the Croatian basketball sensation was the future of the Bulls franchise .
Slight problem : the Bulls already had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so this infatuation with Kukoc only created friction between Krause and the proven championship team he already had .
“ Krause was willing to put someone over his actual kids who had given him everything we could give him , ” Jordan said .
So when it was time for the Dream Team to play Croatia , Jordan did was what Jordan does : he told the entire team that he and Pippen would defend Kukoc .
This , of course , led to the young Croatian playing like complete dog shit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mauled him on the defensive end .
Kukoc would finish with wounded pride and a measly 4 points in an ugly 33-point blowout .
To add insult to injury , Pippen even implied after the game that Kukoc didn ’ t belong in the NBA .
“ It wasn ’ t anything personal against Toni , but we were gon na do everything that we could do to make Jerry look bad , ” Jordan admitted .
Though try as they may to embarrass Krause , and by extension Kukoc , their future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gold medal game against the Dream Team , putting up 16 points and nine assists in another 30-plus point loss—earning Jordan ’ s respect in the process .
“ After the Olympics , Michael was the most recognizable , the most popular sports figure—but really cultural figure—in the world , ” former NBA Inside Stuff co-host Willow Boy said .
“ He was really a global superstar.
” By ‘ 92 , Jordan was worth an insane amount of money .
One of the biggest reasons he was such an invaluable asset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partners was because he averted anything that could potentially jeopardize his bag or tarnish his pristine reputation .
This decision , however , came at a steep cost , as his refusal to leverage his power and prestige into supporting noteworthy causes had black folks looking at him sideways .
One of the most notorious examples of this was when Jordan declined to publicly endorse Harvey Gantt , a black Democrat running for Senate in 1990 in his native North Carolina .
But it wasn ’ t just his refusal to publicly co-sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , it was the fact that Gantt was running against a notorious racist-ass-racist named Jesse Helms ( who ended up winning ) and a particular quote attributed to Jordan that confirmed where his own allegiances lay : “ Republicans buy sneakers , too.
” “ The statement that emerges , ‘ Republicans buy Nikes , too , ’ sounds as though Michael is saying , ‘ My personal wealth is more important than my politics as it pertains to the issue of race , ” noted author and educator Dr. Todd Boyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disposal , Jordan swears he said that in jest—feel free to roll your eyes , because I sure as hell did—and explains what makes him different from someone like Muhammad Ali , who stood strong no matter how badly White America tried to destroy him .
“ I do commend Muhammad Ali for standing up for what he believed in , but I never thought of myself as an activist , ” Jordan said .
“ I thought of myself as a basketball player.
” In this instance , the two are completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his mission in life to avoid addressing social issues .
But I guess when Republicans buy Nikes , you aren ’ t left with any other choice , huh ?
Unfortunately for Mike , the Harvey Gantt situation wasn ’ t the only thing chipping away at his mystique .
In January of 1992 , sports journalist Sam Smith dropped his best-selling book , The Jordan Rules , that included some unflattering anonymous quotes—allegedly from Bulls forward Horace Grant—that didn ’ t exactly paint Jordan in the greatest light .
His penchant for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dipped out to Atlantic City in the middle of the 1993 playoffs .
The media became infatuated with Jordan ’ s gambling and he grew from annoyed , to defiant , to eventually irate .
“ No , because I can stop gambling , ” Jordan told Connie Chung when asked if he had a gambling problem .
“ I have a competition problem .
A competitive problem.
” Things got infinitely worse when Jordan was forced to testify in court and explain a $ 57,000 check that he wrote out to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one of his golfing buddies , Richard Esquinas , also alleged that Jordan owed him over a million dollars for bets they made on the fairway .
Infuriated by his character being attacked , Jordan refused to talk to the media and instead took out his frustrations on the poor New York Knicks , leading the Bulls to an eventual three-peat after coming back from an 0-2 series deficit in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks .

If you aren’t watching ESPN’s docu-series The Last Dance you’re living life wrong. But luckily for you, I am. So here’s a recap of what the rest of us got to enjoy during Episodes 5 and 6.
You’re welcome in advance.
Is That a Kobe Sighting?
Why, yes. Yes, it was.
Before common sense prevailed, there were plenty of players labeled “the next Michael Jordan”—Harold Miner, anyone?—but only one came close enough to arguably surpass him: Mr. Kobe Bean Bryant.
Advertisement
The two clashed on the court during the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, with Kobe making his first All-Star Game appearance and Jordan presumably making his last, and Jordan felt some kind of way about the 19-year-old who would soon take the league by storm.
“That little Laker boy’s gonna take everybody one-on-one,” Jordan told his peers in the Eastern Conference locker room. “He don’t let the game come to him. He just goes out there and takes it. He just goes out there and takes it. ‘I’m gonna make this shit happen. I’m going to make this a one-on-one game.’”
Advertisement Advertisement
Jordan added, “If I was his teammate, I wouldn’t pass him the fucking ball. You want this ball again, brother, you better rebound.”
The irony of this moment isn’t lost on anyone, and after telling his teammates he was going to put Kobe to work, Jordan proceeded to bust his ass and put up 23 points, eight dimes, and three steals. He was also named the NBA All-Star Game’s MVP, though Kobe put up 18 points of his own.
Advertisement
“What you get from me is from him,” Kobe said. “I don’t get five championships without him guiding me so much.”
Advertisement
As the Laker legend evolved into an all-time great, they would eventually develop a brotherly bond that would last until Kobe’s death earlier this year.
The Nike Effect
As Jordan’s career began to skyrocket, he locked up lucrative endorsement deals with companies like Wilson Sporting Goods and McDonald’s. But it was his deal with Nike, who he initially had zero interest in whatsoever, that would make him one of the hottest commodities on the planet and revolutionize the entire sneaker industry.
Advertisement
“My game was my biggest endorsement. What I did on the basketball court, my dedication to the game, lead to all this other stuff,” Jordan recalled, while doing the backstroke in billions of dollars. “My game did all the talking.”
Jordan has since become synonymous with Nike, but because black mothers know all, it was his mom who steered him away from blindly signing with Adidas despite Jordan’s affinity for the brand.
Advertisement
“She made me get on that plane and listen,” Jordan said.
“Adidas was really dysfunctional by that time,” David Faul, Jordan’s agent, said. “And they had just told me, ‘Look, we’d love to have Jordan, we just can’t make a shoe work at this point in time.’ I wanted Michael to go with Nike because they were the big upstart.”
Advertisement
After Faulk secured a $250,000 deal with the sneaker giant during Jordan’s rookie season, he set realistic expectations for his client: $3 million worth of sales by the fourth year of the deal. Sneakerheads, however, had other plans, and Jordan ended up selling a mind-boggling $120 million worth of Air Jordans in the first year of his deal alone.
Advertisement
“Before Michael Jordan, sneakers were just for playing basketball,” journalist Roy S. Johnson said. “All of a sudden, sneakers became fashion and culture.”
Jordan’s allegiance to the brand was unwavering too; he refused to display the Reebok logo on his tracksuit—he covered it with the American flag—while accepting his 1992 Olympic gold medal as a member of the Dream Team.
Advertisement
Enter Toni Kukoc
Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause had a love affair with his 1990 second-round draft pick, Toni Kukoc, and would tell anyone who would listen that the Croatian basketball sensation was the future of the Bulls franchise. Slight problem: the Bulls already had superstars like Pippen and Jordan in tow, so this infatuation with Kukoc only created friction between Krause and the proven championship team he already had.
Advertisement
“Krause was willing to put someone over his actual kids who had given him everything we could give him,” Jordan said.
So when it was time for the Dream Team to play Croatia, Jordan did was what Jordan does: he told the entire team that he and Pippen would defend Kukoc. This, of course, led to the young Croatian playing like complete dog shit as two future NBA Hall of Famers mauled him on the defensive end. Kukoc would finish with wounded pride and a measly 4 points in an ugly 33-point blowout.
Advertisement
To add insult to injury, Pippen even implied after the game that Kukoc didn’t belong in the NBA.
“It wasn’t anything personal against Toni, but we were gonna do everything that we could do to make Jerry look bad,” Jordan admitted.
Advertisement
Though try as they may to embarrass Krause, and by extension Kukoc, their future Chicago Bulls teammate played much better in the gold medal game against the Dream Team, putting up 16 points and nine assists in another 30-plus point loss—earning Jordan’s respect in the process.
Advertisement
“After the Olympics, Michael was the most recognizable, the most popular sports figure—but really cultural figure—in the world,” former NBA Inside Stuff co-host Willow Boy said. “He was really a global superstar.”
All That Glitters Ain’t Gold
By ‘92, Jordan was worth an insane amount of money. One of the biggest reasons he was such an invaluable asset to both the league and his endorsement partners was because he averted anything that could potentially jeopardize his bag or tarnish his pristine reputation. This decision, however, came at a steep cost, as his refusal to leverage his power and prestige into supporting noteworthy causes had black folks looking at him sideways.
Advertisement
One of the most notorious examples of this was when Jordan declined to publicly endorse Harvey Gantt, a black Democrat running for Senate in 1990 in his native North Carolina. But it wasn’t just his refusal to publicly co-sign Gantt that rubbed black folks the wrong way, it was the fact that Gantt was running against a notorious racist-ass-racist named Jesse Helms (who ended up winning) and a particular quote attributed to Jordan that confirmed where his own allegiances lay: “Republicans buy sneakers, too.”
“The statement that emerges, ‘Republicans buy Nikes, too,’ sounds as though Michael is saying, ‘My personal wealth is more important than my politics as it pertains to the issue of race,” noted author and educator Dr. Todd Boyd said.
Advertisement
With hindsight now at his disposal, Jordan swears he said that in jest—feel free to roll your eyes, because I sure as hell did—and explains what makes him different from someone like Muhammad Ali, who stood strong no matter how badly White America tried to destroy him.
“I do commend Muhammad Ali for standing up for what he believed in, but I never thought of myself as an activist,” Jordan said. “I thought of myself as a basketball player.”
Advertisement
Or a coward.
In this instance, the two are completely interchangeable considering Jordan has seemingly made it his mission in life to avoid addressing social issues.
Advertisement
But I guess when Republicans buy Nikes, you aren’t left with any other choice, huh?
Advertisement
Unfortunately for Mike, the Harvey Gantt situation wasn’t the only thing chipping away at his mystique. In January of 1992, sports journalist Sam Smith dropped his best-selling book, The Jordan Rules, that included some unflattering anonymous quotes—allegedly from Bulls forward Horace Grant—that didn’t exactly paint Jordan in the greatest light. His penchant for gambling also became front-page news after he dipped out to Atlantic City in the middle of the 1993 playoffs. The media became infatuated with Jordan’s gambling and he grew from annoyed, to defiant, to eventually irate.
“No, because I can stop gambling,” Jordan told Connie Chung when asked if he had a gambling problem. “I have a competition problem. A competitive problem.”
Advertisement
Things got infinitely worse when Jordan was forced to testify in court and explain a $57,000 check that he wrote out to a seedy character named Slim Bouler. Additionally, one of his golfing buddies, Richard Esquinas, also alleged that Jordan owed him over a million dollars for bets they made on the fairway.
Advertisement
Infuriated by his character being attacked, Jordan refused to talk to the media and instead took out his frustrations on the poor New York Knicks, leading the Bulls to an eventual three-peat after coming back from an 0-2 series deficit in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks.


theroot--2020-05-04--Save 65% at Wayfair and Turn Your Backyard Into a Paradise With Their Outdoor Sale

Up to 65 % off Thousands of Outdoor Items | Wayfair Wayfair is known for its killer prices on anything and everything you could need .
They are currently running an incredible sale on all their outdoor items with up to 65 % in savings .
The best part , it runs for the entire month of May !
So e njoy deeply discounted outdoor items like furniture , decor , cookware , and whatever you need to make your backyard a perfect summer paradise .
Cool s ummer nights aren ’ t complete without a lounge around a firepit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Good comfy furniture to relax in can really make or break the dog days too .
So quality rattan and soft cushions are what you need .
How about catching some sun while reading your favorite books in Wayfair ’ s best-selling hammock ?
I ’ m telling you they ’ ve got you covered .
But it ’ s no all about where do lay , it ’ s about what you do out there too .
Cookout kings , we ’ ve got you covered with top-rated gas grills .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ retro cooler as the temperatures rise .
And don ’ t forget Fido , not all dogs can be left to their own devices .
S o put your mind at ease and grab them a pet pen no matter how big or small the pup .
Wayfair offers two-day free shipping on all orders over $ 35 .
There ’ s plenty of time to explore all the fine products in this sale but move fast if you see something you like .
It could be gone soon !

Sheilah Villari on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Up to 65% off Thousands of Outdoor Items | Wayfair
Wayfair is known for its killer prices on anything and everything you could need. They are currently running an incredible sale on all their outdoor items with up to 65% in savings. So enjoy deeply discounted backyard pieces like furniture, decor, cookware, and whatever you need to make your space a perfect summer paradise. There’s still time for sunny fun.
Cool summer nights aren’t complete without a lounge around a firepit, all snuggled up in a cozy blanket. Good comfy furniture to relax in can really make or break the dog days too. So quality rattan and soft cushions are what you need. How about catching some sun while reading your favorite books in Wayfair’s best-selling hammock? I’m telling you they’ve got you covered.
But it’s no all about where do lay; it’s about what you do out there too. Cookout kings, we’ve got you covered with top-rated gas grills. And keep your beverage chill in a retro cooler as the temperatures rise.
And don’t forget Fido, not all dogs can be left to their own devices. So put your mind at ease and grab them a pet pen no matter how big or small the pup.
Wayfair offers two-day free shipping on all orders over $35. There’s plenty of time to explore all the fine products in this sale but move fast if you see something you like. It could be gone soon!
PS. Remember to buy sunscreen.


theroot--2020-05-04--Michigan Governor Describes Stay-at-Home Protests as ‘Some of the Worst Racism’ She’s Seen

Last week , hundreds of disgruntled citizens gathered outside of Michigan ’ s state capitol building in defiance of the state ’ s stay-at-home orders meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
Many of the protesters were holding rifles and , according to Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , many of them were also holding bigotry and hate in their hearts as well .
On Sunday , Whitmer made an appearance on CNN ’ s State of the Union in which she said protesters demonstrated “ some of the worst racism and awful parts of our history in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nooses and Confederate flags and people with assault rifles , ” she said , adding that the group of protesters represented only a small part of the larger population , “ the vast majority of whom are doing the right thing.
” “ The behavior you ’ ve seen in all of the clips is not representative of who we are in Michigan , ” Whitmer said .
Whitmer wasn ’ t the only one who observed horrendous behavior by protesters .
Many Michigan residents and other witnesses took to social media with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of them pointed out that demonstrators—many of whom were armed—were demanding access to the House floor where they were not allowed .
Side note : Remember when Black Lives Matter was a whole terrorist organization because they defied law enforcement and occasionally blocked traffic ?
Now imagine them storming government buildings with guns .
Of course , President “ Very fine people on both sides ” Trump responded to the racist , volatile protesters and those who stood alongside them the way he always will : by referring to them as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Michigan should give a little , and put out the fire , ” Trump tweeted on Friday .
“ These are very good people , but they are angry .
They want their lives back again , safely !
See them , talk to them , make a deal.
” It ’ s unclear what kind of “ deal ” Trump would deem appropriate—since “ stay your asses at home until the health crisis passes and more people will live ” clearly ain ’ t it—but Whitmer ’ s response certainly is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter is we are in the global pandemic .
This is not something we negotiate ourselves out of and is a political matter .
This is a public health crisis that has taken the lives of almost 70,000 Americans , ” she told CNN .
According to The Hill , Michigan ’ s latest COVID-19 tally stands at 43,207 confirmed cases and 4,020 deaths as of Saturday .

Last week, hundreds of disgruntled citizens gathered outside of Michigan’s state capitol building in defiance of the state’s stay-at-home orders meant to slow the spread of COVID-19. Many of the protesters were holding rifles and, according to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, many of them were also holding bigotry and hate in their hearts as well.
On Sunday, Whitmer made an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union in which she said protesters demonstrated “some of the worst racism and awful parts of our history in this country.”
Advertisement
“There were swastikas and nooses and Confederate flags and people with assault rifles,” she said, adding that the group of protesters represented only a small part of the larger population, “the vast majority of whom are doing the right thing.”
“The behavior you’ve seen in all of the clips is not representative of who we are in Michigan,” Whitmer said.
Advertisement Advertisement
Whitmer wasn’t the only one who observed horrendous behavior by protesters. Many Michigan residents and other witnesses took to social media with video footage of the unruly crowds. Some of them pointed out that demonstrators—many of whom were armed—were demanding access to the House floor where they were not allowed.
Advertisement
Side note: Remember when Black Lives Matter was a whole terrorist organization because they defied law enforcement and occasionally blocked traffic? Now imagine them storming government buildings with guns.
Advertisement
Of course, President “Very fine people on both sides” Trump responded to the racist, volatile protesters and those who stood alongside them the way he always will: by referring to them as “very good people.”
Advertisement
“The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire,” Trump tweeted on Friday. “These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal.”
Advertisement
It’s unclear what kind of “deal” Trump would deem appropriate—since “stay your asses at home until the health crisis passes and more people will live” clearly ain’t it—but Whitmer’s response certainly is clear.
“The fact of the matter is we are in the global pandemic. This is not something we negotiate ourselves out of and is a political matter. This is a public health crisis that has taken the lives of almost 70,000 Americans,” she told CNN.
Advertisement
According to The Hill, Michigan’s latest COVID-19 tally stands at 43,207 confirmed cases and 4,020 deaths as of Saturday.


theroot--2020-05-04--Replay, Revisit, Reject: For Last Week's New Music, R&B Prevails While Hip-Hop Features Fail

We get it : With everything going on in the world , it can be difficult to carve out time to discover new music .
Industry-pushed tunes that you may not even bang with like that could also get in the way of you finding something that tingles your consumer taste buds .
While new tunes are usually released throughout the working week , a majority of new material drops on Fridays .
As a music fiend , I ’ ll be here each Monday to help you dig through some crates , in order to make things easier on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guess I spoke too soon with last week ’ s heaping helping of new music praise , because whew chillayyy ... this was not the best weekend for my ears .
After sifting through some playlists and songs , I ’ ve compiled a shortlist of some of my favorites and some tracks and features I wish never saw the light of day .
Production that ’ s not too over-the-top coupled with sweet yet heartbreaking lyrics about grappling with long-distance relationships makes this a standout track this week .
The light trumpets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the song add for subtle and pleasant touches .
After some not-so-great run-ins with some of the other songs featured this week ( more on that later ) , this particular new track—which features a catchy , brass-heavy beat to accompany Tora ’ s melodic flow— is certainly a welcome change from the typical hip-hop flavored R & B music today .
Can I just take a moment to thank R & B singers for being so damn great ?
Whew .
I think there are so many singers in the genre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m glad they ’ re bringing something unique to the table , as well .
Don ’ t get me wrong , I ’ m a huge fan of the painfully talented H.E.R .
She ’ s truly only placed in the “ revisit ” section this week because I think this song is sitting in her pocket of comfort .
At first , “ Wrong Places ” ( which was written by Raquel Castro , a contestant on the show Songland ) sounds like an amped-up version of her song “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , H.E.R ’ s comfort zone is still a much better comfort zone to sit in compared to her contemporaries , as it encapsulates her ability to combine the soul and emotion of the genre ’ s past and present .
This Was a Bad Weekend for Rap Features , Namely Nicki Minaj and Tory Lanez I actually complained in my group chat about how my faith in hip-hop diminishes every single day .
Hot off of Beyonce ’ s stellar feature on Megan Thee Stallion ’ s “ Savage “ Remix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the list this week because duh , you ’ ve heard it , it ’ s a “ replay ” ) , Twitter caught wind of Nicki Minaj ’ s soon-to-be-released verse on the remix of Doja Cat ’ s disco-tinged “ Say So.
” However , it didn ’ t enhance the original song at all .
Not only was there a totally unnecessary beat change during the start of Nicki ’ s verse , but her lyrics leave a lot to be desired ( “ Tell Mike Jordan send me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now I ’ m just hetero… ” Sis , what ?
Considering the number of queer fans you have , was this the best you could come up with ? )
Then , as much as I was stoked to see some big names on JoJo ’ s latest album Good To Know , quarantine king Tory Lanez turned me all the way off to the rest of her song “ Comeback.
” I wouldn ’ t call myself prude , I just don ’ t want to hear anything about having the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white girl crazy.
” There are so many more clever ways to rap about sex in 2020 and that wasn ’ t it .
Also , when is that played out creaking bed production effect going to stop being used ?
Hip-hop ... let ’ s do better please .
I think that this song was supposed to be a joke from the start .
Because there ’ s no way someone would have greenlit this if it wasn ’ t supposed to be a “ comedic and uplifting quarantine survival anthem ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his label ) .
From the Borat-like vocals to the repetitive ... hook ( ? )
, this song is stupid as can be and is quite literally one of the worst songs I ’ ve heard this entire year .
It wasn ’ t funny either , just annoying .
Paging Kendrick and TDE , paging Pusha T : s omeone , anyone , please come and save hip-hop .
Maybe it ’ s the quarantine that ’ s making me lose my taste , but save for a few songs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not been hitting this year .

J'na Jefferson on The Grapevine, shared by J'na Jefferson to The Root

We get it: With everything going on in the world, it can be difficult to carve out time to discover new music. Industry-pushed tunes that you may not even bang with like that could also get in the way of you finding something that tingles your consumer taste buds.
While new tunes are usually released throughout the working week, a majority of new material drops on Fridays. As a music fiend, I’ll be here each Monday to help you dig through some crates, in order to make things easier on your energy and your ears.
Advertisement
I guess I spoke too soon with last week’s heaping helping of new music praise, because whew chillayyy...this was not the best weekend for my ears. After sifting through some playlists and songs, I’ve compiled a shortlist of some of my favorites and some tracks and features I wish never saw the light of day.
REPLAY
“BRB” by Mahalia
Production that’s not too over-the-top coupled with sweet yet heartbreaking lyrics about grappling with long-distance relationships makes this a standout track this week. The light trumpets and tinkling piano keys near the end of the song add for subtle and pleasant touches.
Advertisement Advertisement
“Call Your Name” by Tora
After some not-so-great run-ins with some of the other songs featured this week (more on that later), this particular new track—which features a catchy, brass-heavy beat to accompany Tora’s melodic flow— is certainly a welcome change from the typical hip-hop flavored R&B music today.
Advertisement
Can I just take a moment to thank R&B singers for being so damn great? Whew. I think there are so many singers in the genre just waiting to be discovered and I’m glad they’re bringing something unique to the table, as well.
REVISIT
“Wrong Places” by H.E.R.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of the painfully talented H.E.R. She’s truly only placed in the “revisit” section this week because I think this song is sitting in her pocket of comfort. At first, “Wrong Places” (which was written by Raquel Castro, a contestant on the show Songland) sounds like an amped-up version of her song “Focus” from a production standpoint. However, H.E.R’s comfort zone is still a much better comfort zone to sit in compared to her contemporaries, as it encapsulates her ability to combine the soul and emotion of the genre’s past and present.
Advertisement
REJECT
This Was a Bad Weekend for Rap Features, Namely Nicki Minaj and Tory Lanez
I actually complained in my group chat about how my faith in hip-hop diminishes every single day. Hot off of Beyonce’s stellar feature on Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage “Remix” last week (which is not on the list this week because duh, you’ve heard it, it’s a “replay”), Twitter caught wind of Nicki Minaj’s soon-to-be-released verse on the remix of Doja Cat’s disco-tinged “Say So.” However, it didn’t enhance the original song at all. Not only was there a totally unnecessary beat change during the start of Nicki’s verse, but her lyrics leave a lot to be desired (“Tell Mike Jordan send me my Retros, used to be bi now I’m just hetero…” Sis, what? Considering the number of queer fans you have, was this the best you could come up with?)
Advertisement
Then, as much as I was stoked to see some big names on JoJo’s latest album Good To Know, quarantine king Tory Lanez turned me all the way off to the rest of her song “Comeback.” I wouldn’t call myself prude, I just don’t want to hear anything about having the “type of dick that make a white girl crazy.” There are so many more clever ways to rap about sex in 2020 and that wasn’t it. Also, when is that played out creaking bed production effect going to stop being used?
Hip-hop...let’s do better please.
“I Look Good” by O.T. Genasis
I think that this song was supposed to be a joke from the start. Because there’s no way someone would have greenlit this if it wasn’t supposed to be a “comedic and uplifting quarantine survival anthem” (per a press release I received from his label). From the Borat-like vocals to the repetitive...hook (?), this song is stupid as can be and is quite literally one of the worst songs I’ve heard this entire year. It wasn’t funny either, just annoying.
Advertisement
Paging Kendrick and TDE, paging Pusha T: s omeone, anyone, please come and save hip-hop. Maybe it’s the quarantine that’s making me lose my taste, but save for a few songs, albums and artists, the genre has not been hitting this year.


theroot--2020-05-06--Democrats File Lawsuit to Make Absentee Mail-In Voting Accessible to Everyone During Pandemic

One issue that comes up repeatedly as the coronavirus pandemic interferes with the 2020 election season is how to ensure that people can vote safely .
While Republicans seem hellbent on forcing voters to choose between risking their health to vote in person or staying home and not voting at all , Democrats have filed a lawsuit aimed at ending what they feel are unconstitutional restrictions prohibiting voters—particularly young and African-American voters—from casting absentee ballots .
According to WCSC 5 , the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , Democratic National Committee , and South Carolina Democratic Party filed the “ Four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court in Columbia , S.C. on Saturday .
The suit alleges that stipulations around mail-in voting—which generally say that the only people who qualify are people 65 and older ; people with disabilities or underlying health issues ; and people in the military serving overseas—unfairly require voters to risk exposure to a deadly virus in order to vote in South Carolina ’ s primary on June 9 and in the general election in November .
“ We won ’ t allow this pandemic to be used as an excuse to undermine our democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement , according to The State .
“ It ’ s the job of our leaders to defend our right to vote , not to create unnecessary , unconstitutional burdens.
” The suit also alleges that , because black people are being killed by COVID-19 infection at higher rates , black voters are disproportionately affected by absentee-ballot restrictions and are being forced to choose between staying home on Election Day or “ avoiding needless and serious risk to their health , the health of their friends and family and the broader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American Civil Liberties Union , ACLU of South Carolina and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a similar lawsuit to that of the DNC groups against members of the S.C. Election Commission and Gov .
Henry McMaster .
This suit was also filed in a federal court over officials ’ failure to ensure that all voters can vote by mail during the pandemic .
Susan Dunn , the legal director of ACLU S.C. , said the lawsuit was filed against the commission and the governor because “ they ’ re in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but are failing to do so .
“ The Election Commission feels that they need the guidance of the governor or the legislators in order to make the changes that are needed , ” Dunn said .
“ And our position is , well , if you can ’ t get it from the governor , you can ’ t get it from the legislature , we ’ ll go and ask for it from a court .
If people are discouraged from voting or have to make choices about choosing between voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that ’ s not a good plan for democracy .
”

One issue that comes up repeatedly as the coronavirus pandemic interferes with the 2020 election season is how to ensure that people can vote safely. While Republicans seem hellbent on forcing voters to choose between risking their health to vote in person or staying home and not voting at all, Democrats have filed a lawsuit aimed at ending what they feel are unconstitutional restrictions prohibiting voters—particularly young and African-American voters—from casting absentee ballots.
According to WCSC 5, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, and South Carolina Democratic Party filed the “Four Pillars” lawsuit in a U.S. Federal Court in Columbia, S.C. on Saturday. The suit alleges that stipulations around mail-in voting—which generally say that the only people who qualify are people 65 and older; people with disabilities or underlying health issues; and people in the military serving overseas—unfairly require voters to risk exposure to a deadly virus in order to vote in South Carolina’s primary on June 9 and in the general election in November.
Advertisement
“We won’t allow this pandemic to be used as an excuse to undermine our democracy,” DNC chairman Tom Perez said in a statement, according to The State. “It’s the job of our leaders to defend our right to vote, not to create unnecessary, unconstitutional burdens.”
The suit also alleges that, because black people are being killed by COVID-19 infection at higher rates, black voters are disproportionately affected by absentee-ballot restrictions and are being forced to choose between staying home on Election Day or “avoiding needless and serious risk to their health, the health of their friends and family and the broader community.”
Advertisement Advertisement
According to WRDW 12, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of South Carolina and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a similar lawsuit to that of the DNC groups against members of the S.C. Election Commission and Gov. Henry McMaster. This suit was also filed in a federal court over officials’ failure to ensure that all voters can vote by mail during the pandemic.
Susan Dunn, the legal director of ACLU S.C., said the lawsuit was filed against the commission and the governor because “they’re in the position to fix these things” but are failing to do so.
Advertisement
“The Election Commission feels that they need the guidance of the governor or the legislators in order to make the changes that are needed,” Dunn said. “And our position is, well, if you can’t get it from the governor, you can’t get it from the legislature, we’ll go and ask for it from a court. If people are discouraged from voting or have to make choices about choosing between voting and being able to protect their health, that’s not a good plan for democracy.”


theroot--2020-05-05--Got a Small Kitchen? Get a Small Dish Rack!

Tiny kitchen people unite and let us sing to one another of the clever ways we ’ ve maximized space in our impossibly minuscule kitchens !
I ’ ll start , but it will be more of a spoken word performance because my singing voice isn ’ t what it used to be : An eagle-eyed Twitter follower spotted my very tiny dish rack in a photo I shared ( it was full of just-washed vibrators , you see ) and asked where I got it .
Unfortunately , it was given to me years ago by a friend and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of where it came from before it got to him .
But !
I have rounded up five other small dish racks for all your small kitchen needs .
This steel-frame and wood-handled model is an attractive alternative to most dish racks .
It has slots for drying plates upright , and an open section for mugs , glasses , and bowls .
The utensil cup can be removed for easy washing , and the drying rack set comes with a resin tray to catch excess water .
This dish rack can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Better Chef drying rack is available in two styles , R-shaped or S-shaped , and both come in 16 '' and 22 '' sizes .
The racks can hold up to 18 plates or bowls , and has a utensil cup for holding cutlery , as well as a side rack that can hold six mugs and glasses .
The rack also comes with a plastic drying mat .
This rectangular chrome dish rack is about as no-frills as you ’ ll find : It has 12 slots for holding plates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a removable cutlery cup for drying of silverware and utensils .
The dish rack is 12.5 '' x 5.5 '' x 4 '' , making it small enough to be used as a countertop drying rack or as an in-sink unit .
This two-piece plastic dish rack comes apart for easy cleaning , which is a nice feature especially for plastic drying racks that tend to develop spots of mold or mildew after prolonged use .
It has a built-in utensil holder , and an angled drainboard that allows water to drain off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drying racks are a bit of a newcomer , and people SWEAR by them .
This model has stainless steel struts fitted with silicone grips on both ends to hold it in place over your sink .
The rack can be used to hold plates , bowls , glasses , and mugs , as well as heavier items like pots and pans .
It can also double as a colander to wash and drain fruits and vegetables .

Jolie Kerr on The Inventory, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Tiny kitchen people unite and let us sing to one another of the clever ways we’ve maximized space in our impossibly minuscule kitchens!
I’ll start, but it will be more of a spoken word performance because my singing voice isn’t what it used to be: An eagle-eyed Twitter follower spotted my very tiny dish rack in a photo I shared (it was full of just-washed vibrators, you see) and asked where I got it. Unfortunately, it was given to me years ago by a friend and I haven’t the foggiest notion of where it came from before it got to him. But! I have rounded up five other small dish racks for all your small kitchen needs.
A Minimalist Look
Advertisement
This steel-frame and wood-handled model is an attractive alternative to most dish racks. It has slots for drying plates upright, and an open section for mugs, glasses, and bowls. The utensil cup can be removed for easy washing, and the drying rack set comes with a resin tray to catch excess water. This dish rack can be wall-mounted or used on a countertop.
An R- or S-Shaped Chrome Rack
Advertisement Advertisement
The Better Chef drying rack is available in two styles, R-shaped or S-shaped, and both come in 16" and 22" sizes. The racks can hold up to 18 plates or bowls, and has a utensil cup for holding cutlery, as well as a side rack that can hold six mugs and glasses. The rack also comes with a plastic drying mat.
A Super Basic Metal Dish Drainer
Advertisement
This rectangular chrome dish rack is about as no-frills as you’ll find: It has 12 slots for holding plates, bowls, mugs or glasses, and a removable cutlery cup for drying of silverware and utensils. The dish rack is 12.5" x 5.5" x 4", making it small enough to be used as a countertop drying rack or as an in-sink unit.
A No-Frills Plastic Dish Rack
Advertisement
This two-piece plastic dish rack comes apart for easy cleaning, which is a nice feature especially for plastic drying racks that tend to develop spots of mold or mildew after prolonged use. It has a built-in utensil holder, and an angled drainboard that allows water to drain off directly into the sink.
An Over-the-Sink Roll-Up Drying Rack
Advertisement
Roll-up dish drying racks are a bit of a newcomer, and people SWEAR by them. This model has stainless steel struts fitted with silicone grips on both ends to hold it in place over your sink. The rack can be used to hold plates, bowls, glasses, and mugs, as well as heavier items like pots and pans. It can also double as a colander to wash and drain fruits and vegetables.


theroot--2020-05-05--French Montana Concedes Drake Could 'Probably' Beat Him in Head-to-Head Hits Battle; Water Declares

French Montana Concedes Drake Could 'Probably' Beat Him in Head-to-Head Hits Battle; Water Declares It Is 'Likely' Wet

If there ’ s any self-care mantra I can offer to anyone right now , it ’ s to believe in yourself the way French Montana believes in himself .
The “ Unforgettable ” rapper , in an interview with DJ E Rock on 92.3 's The Bassment ( h/t Complex ) , maintained , once again , that his catalog could stand next to most of hip hop ’ s greats—with some possible exceptions .
“ I feel like I could go against anybody , ” French told E Rock .
“ I know Drake probably got me .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s whatever .
It ’ s open game.
” French acknowledged that Snoop Dogg could have a possible edge on him , “ when his thing bang.
” “ It ’ s like Dr. Dre and all that respect to him , ” French said .
In a time when it ’ s hard to physically come together , French has been a great unifier : legions of hip-hop heads rallied online to roast the 35-year-old Moroccan-American rapper after he said he could go for “ hit for hit ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same Kendrick who won thee Pulitzer Prize .
The all-caps aficionado was roundly rebutted by Twitter , to say the least , but French is nothing if not delusional unflappable .
Though , to be fair , he also hedged his initial proclamation a touch , telling Complex , “ You could put somebody like Kendrick Lamar next to me on the same stage at a festival , I might outshine him .
Not that I ’ m a better rapper , or whatever it is , it ’ s just that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trolling at this point ?
Probably , which in French Montana speak , means “ you bet your ass.
” But let ’ s be real , without concerts , award shows or red carpets , the quickest way for an entertainer to generate press during quarantine is to launch himself into hypothetical Verzuz battles .
I would never dream of knocking a not-so-young man ’ s hustle , and I will not begin today .
After all , as French himself told DJ E Rock , this isn ’ t really about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the fight .
“ You can put me against anybody .
If I take the L , I take the L , ” he said .
“ I ’ m not scared to lose .
This is about me believing in myself.
” French Montana , for your unshakeable confidence and stretching a quarter ’ s worth of hits into a dollar ’ s worth of press , I salute you .
But I probably still won ’ t bump your music like that .

Anne Branigin on The Grapevine, shared by Anne Branigin to The Root

If there’s any self-care mantra I can offer to anyone right now, it’s to believe in yourself the way French Montana believes in himself.
The “Unforgettable” rapper, in an interview with DJ E Rock on 92.3's The Bassment (h/t Complex), maintained, once again, that his catalog could stand next to most of hip hop’s greats—with some possible exceptions.
Advertisement
“I feel like I could go against anybody,” French told E Rock. “I know Drake probably got me. JAY-Z got me. But besides that, it’s whatever. It’s open game.”
French acknowledged that Snoop Dogg could have a possible edge on him, “when his thing bang.”
Advertisement Advertisement
“It’s like Dr. Dre and all that respect to him,” French said.
In a time when it’s hard to physically come together, French has been a great unifier: legions of hip-hop heads rallied online to roast the 35-year-old Moroccan-American rapper after he said he could go for “hit for hit” with Kendrick Lamar.
Advertisement
Yes, the same Kendrick who won thee Pulitzer Prize.
Advertisement
The all-caps aficionado was roundly rebutted by Twitter, to say the least, but French is nothing if not delusional unflappable. Though, to be fair, he also hedged his initial proclamation a touch, telling Complex, “You could put somebody like Kendrick Lamar next to me on the same stage at a festival, I might outshine him. Not that I’m a better rapper, or whatever it is, it’s just that I got more hits.”
(For what it’s worth, the “hits” claim is also easily refutable, as Root contributor J’na Jefferson recently investigated. And by investigated, we mean Googled.)
Advertisement
Is French Montana trolling at this point? Probably, which in French Montana speak, means “you bet your ass.” But let’s be real, without concerts, award shows or red carpets, the quickest way for an entertainer to generate press during quarantine is to launch himself into hypothetical Verzuz battles. I would never dream of knocking a not-so-young man’s hustle, and I will not begin today. After all, as French himself told DJ E Rock, this isn’t really about winning. It’s about getting in the fight.
Advertisement
“You can put me against anybody. If I take the L, I take the L,” he said. “I’m not scared to lose. This is about me believing in myself.”
French Montana, for your unshakeable confidence and stretching a quarter’s worth of hits into a dollar’s worth of press, I salute you. But I probably still won’t bump your music like that.


theroot--2020-05-05--Americans Overwhelmingly Oppose Reopening Most Non-Essential Businesses, According to Poll

President Trump and other conservatives certainly love pushing the narrative that reopening America is what the American people want , but a recent poll shows that narrative is far from truthful .
Instead , the poll shows that a strong majority of Americans oppose the reopening of non-essential businesses and would be uncomfortable patronizing those businesses regardless of their state ’ s current restrictions .
The Washington Post reports that the poll conducted by the University of Maryland shows that people largely oppose the reopening of businesses like restaurants , gyms and movie theaters .
Researchers for the Washington Post-University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ random national sample ” of 1,005 adults across party lines and asked them how they feel about the reopening of the following businesses : gun stores , dine-in restaurants , nail salons , barbershops and hair salons , retail stores , gyms , golf courses and movie theaters .
According to the survey ’ s findings , grocery stores are pretty much the only establishment most people feel comfortable patronizing—which is understandable considering peoples ’ need to eat home-cooked meals , bathe with soap and wipe themselves regularly .
Gyms , restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the businesses people most oppose reopening and feel the least comfortable patronizing during the pandemic .
The most significant opposition is to reopening movie theaters , with 82 percent of Americans saying they should not be allowed to open up in their state .
There is also broad opposition to reopening gyms ( 78 percent opposed ) , dine-in restaurants and nail salons ( both with 74 percent opposed ) .
Gun stores are next , with 70 percent saying they should not be reopened , followed by barbershops and hair salons ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as clothing stores ( 66 percent opposed ) and golf courses ( 59 percent opposed ) .
Aside from assessing people ’ s comfort level with these businesses reopening , the poll also asked citizens whether they are still worried about being infected by the coronavirus—to which 63 percent responded that they are—and what they thought about the jobs their elected officials and healthcare officials are doing in response to the pandemic .
Trump ’ s ratings are 44 percent positive and 56 percent negative , in line with where he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a week ago .
Governors earn positive marks from 75 percent of Americans , about the same as a week ago .
Partisan differences remain sizable , with nearly 8 in 10 Republicans but just about 2 in 10 Democrats rating Trump positively .
In contrast , governors earn big positive majorities across the parties .
Americans also overwhelmingly approve of the way federal public health scientists , including Anthony S. Fauci , have dealt with the challenges from the coronavirus .
Fauci ’ s positive rating stands at 74 percent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive marks from more than two-thirds of Republicans and independents , and nearly 9 in 10 Democrats .
Public health scientists in the federal government overall are rated 71 percent positive .
So , basically , the poll says Americans ain ’ t ready and its findings indicate that conservative groups and politicians need to stop pretending that their “ reopen America ” campaign unquestionably falls in line with the will of the people .
In the end , what the people want is to be in good health .

President Trump and other conservatives certainly love pushing the narrative that reopening America is what the American people want, but a recent poll shows that narrative is far from truthful. Instead, the poll shows that a strong majority of Americans oppose the reopening of non-essential businesses and would be uncomfortable patronizing those businesses regardless of their state’s current restrictions.
The Washington Post reports that the poll conducted by the University of Maryland shows that people largely oppose the reopening of businesses like restaurants, gyms and movie theaters. Researchers for the Washington Post-University of Maryland poll reached out to a “random national sample” of 1,005 adults across party lines and asked them how they feel about the reopening of the following businesses: gun stores, dine-in restaurants, nail salons, barbershops and hair salons, retail stores, gyms, golf courses and movie theaters. According to the survey’s findings, grocery stores are pretty much the only establishment most people feel comfortable patronizing—which is understandable considering peoples’ need to eat home-cooked meals, bathe with soap and wipe themselves regularly.
Advertisement
Gyms, restaurants, salons and movie theaters are among the businesses people most oppose reopening and feel the least comfortable patronizing during the pandemic.
From the Post:
The most significant opposition is to reopening movie theaters, with 82 percent of Americans saying they should not be allowed to open up in their state. There is also broad opposition to reopening gyms (78 percent opposed), dine-in restaurants and nail salons (both with 74 percent opposed). Gun stores are next, with 70 percent saying they should not be reopened, followed by barbershops and hair salons (69 percent opposed) and retail shops such as clothing stores (66 percent opposed) and golf courses (59 percent opposed).
Advertisement Advertisement
Aside from assessing people’s comfort level with these businesses reopening, the poll also asked citizens whether they are still worried about being infected by the coronavirus—to which 63 percent responded that they are—and what they thought about the jobs their elected officials and healthcare officials are doing in response to the pandemic.
Trump’s ratings are 44 percent positive and 56 percent negative, in line with where he was two weeks ago and only slightly worse than a week ago. Governors earn positive marks from 75 percent of Americans, about the same as a week ago. Partisan differences remain sizable, with nearly 8 in 10 Republicans but just about 2 in 10 Democrats rating Trump positively. In contrast, governors earn big positive majorities across the parties. Americans also overwhelmingly approve of the way federal public health scientists, including Anthony S. Fauci, have dealt with the challenges from the coronavirus. Fauci’s positive rating stands at 74 percent. He maintains wide bipartisan appeal, winning positive marks from more than two-thirds of Republicans and independents, and nearly 9 in 10 Democrats. Public health scientists in the federal government overall are rated 71 percent positive.
Advertisement
So, basically, the poll says Americans ain’t ready and its findings indicate that conservative groups and politicians need to stop pretending that their “reopen America” campaign unquestionably falls in line with the will of the people. In the end, what the people want is to be in good health.


theroot--2020-05-05--Beast Mode Back? Marshawn Lynch In Talks to Return to the Seattle Seahawks

While elite talents like Jadeveon Clowney and Cam Newton spend their quarantine wondering if they ’ ll be on an NFL roster come training camp , Super Bowl champion Marshawn Lynch apparently has other plans .
ESPN reports that the 34-year-old running back is in talks to return to the Seattle Seahawks for their upcoming season—presumably , so he won ’ t get fined .
“ Well , it ’ s almost on that ‘ expect the unexpected , ’ ” Lynch told ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt on Sportscenter .
“ But just as far as right now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep it solid .
My agent [ Doug Hendrickson ] has been in talks with Seattle , so like I said , we ’ ll see what happens .
If it works out and I get back up there , it is what it is .
And if not , shit , I ’ m lookin ’ good .
So I ain ’ t really trippin ’ too much.
” With their backfield depleted by injuries , the Seahawks talked Lynch out of retirement last season prior to their final regular-season game against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two more games in the playoffs and contribute a total of 30 carries , 67 yards and four touchdowns after his extended 14-month layoff .
While he can no longer be trusted to handle a substantial workload , he ’ s still a threat in the end zone who remains entirely capable of embarrassing defensive linemen .
With starter Chris Carson and former first-round pick Rashaad Penny coming off of season-ending injuries , the Seahawks are expected to scoop up another running back after just snatching up DeeJay Dallas in the draft and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Jones and Patrick Carr .
Should Beast Mode make his return , he ’ ll be collecting a base salary of at least $ 1.05 million in what most likely will be his final season in the league .

While elite talents like Jadeveon Clowney and Cam Newton spend their quarantine wondering if they’ll be on an NFL roster come training camp, Super Bowl champion Marshawn Lynch apparently has other plans.
ESPN reports that the 34-year-old running back is in talks to return to the Seattle Seahawks for their upcoming season—presumably, so he won’t get fined.
Advertisement
“Well, it’s almost on that ‘expect the unexpected,’” Lynch told ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt on Sportscenter. “But just as far as right now, what I do know is, Imma keep it solid. My agent [Doug Hendrickson] has been in talks with Seattle, so like I said, we’ll see what happens. If it works out and I get back up there, it is what it is. And if not, shit, I’m lookin’ good. So I ain’t really trippin’ too much.”
With their backfield depleted by injuries, the Seahawks talked Lynch out of retirement last season prior to their final regular-season game against the 49ers. He would then play two more games in the playoffs and contribute a total of 30 carries, 67 yards and four touchdowns after his extended 14-month layoff. While he can no longer be trusted to handle a substantial workload, he’s still a threat in the end zone who remains entirely capable of embarrassing defensive linemen.
Advertisement Advertisement
With starter Chris Carson and former first-round pick Rashaad Penny coming off of season-ending injuries, the Seahawks are expected to scoop up another running back after just snatching up DeeJay Dallas in the draft and signing a pair of undrafted rookies: Anthony Jones and Patrick Carr.
Should Beast Mode make his return, he’ll be collecting a base salary of at least $1.05 million in what most likely will be his final season in the league.