• Olympic Bound: Simone Biles
  • Super Bowl Prediction: Yes We Cam!

WIVES and GIRLFRIENDS: Russell Wilson caught cheating on Ciara

Super star quarterback Russell Wilson was busted cheating on Ciara recently. Well, sorta. He was caught cheating on his love note to his sweetheart after the poems he found on an Internet search was spotted by eagle eyed fans. Here's what he posted to Instagram: "I kissed her & she had honey sweet lips that were lilac soft," Wilson wrote. "Not to mention her loving & affectionate personality..."
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MOVING ON: Cari Champion goes on her own


It's lonely at the top, but now Black women in sports are getting a little help. With Cari Champion's decision to leave Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith and ESPN behind, Black Press Sports will be following her new moves.

But some in the industry feel that Champion can't decide if she wants to be a sports reporter or video vixen.

"She dresses like she doesn't have confidence in her sports ability so she has to distract with ultra tight clothing. There's just no need for it. We can clearly see she's a girl, but taking it so far devalues other women in the sports industry," said a source close to the situation.
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EXCLUSIVE: Porzingis "Z-Diddy" speaks with Black Press Sports

When Kristaps Porzingis was chosen in the NBA Draft, Knick fans were not happy. And that's an understatement.But, as the 20-year-old rookie settles into the league, he's proving any haters wrong. Black Press Sports' DC Livers caught up with Z-Diddy in the locker room at Madison Square Garden.


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KNICKS sign the "Greek Freak" Thanasis Antetokounmpo

With the signing of Thanasis Antetokounmpo who we're nicknaming TK2, although others call him "Greek Freak." Black Press Sports is on deck ready to keep fans up to date with everything TK2 is up to in The Big Apple. Stay tuned!
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HEARTLESS: Before the Knicks can be good, they need to be bad

A fan-based argument on why it’s time for a new coach


Something is missing Madison Square Garden. Reporter DC Livers breaks down what it is.

By DC Livers (special to Black Press Radio)

NEW YORK, NY – Watching the 2015-2016 Knicks squad play is bittersweet. Sure, being a part of anyone’s rookie season is a lot of fun. I enjoyed watching players like Chris Copeland, Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis play their first games at Madison Square Garden so of course I’m enjoying watching Kristaps Porzingis try to get down in the boogie down.
Still, something is missing.

There is NO HEART. The team hasn’t completely “gelled” and it’s at times awkward to witness the disjointed efforts of the franchise. It’s not just the team. It’s the entire franchise from the top to the bottom. But mostly, it’s the coach.

I’m sure that Derek Fisher is a fine person and has plans to be a very good coach. He’s certainly got potential to be a force to be dealt with but he’s not ready to coach America’s team. The Knicks are too much team for him. I’m not talking about the players. I’m not talking about Madison Square Garden or the Big Apple. I’m talking about ALL of it.

If you’ll indulge me a little Kanye-like rant, you’ll likely see I’m right.
Porzingis: How long can his people allow him to be mediocre?
Phil Jackson’s “ZENfulness” may be the wrong vibe for The Garden
Bill Laimbeer is the right coach for the Knicks.

Aside from Phil Jackson’s squad, the best teams that Knicks have had in recent memory involved a group of bad boys.

History doesn’t lie.

From Latrell “Choke-a-Coach” Spreewell to J.R. Smith, the Knicks teams that had a few “bad eggs” did the best on the court, took the team the farthest and most importantly, made the crowd happy.

With two fifths of the Detroit Bad Boys - including Bill Laimbeer who now coaches the New York Liberty and Isaiah Thomas, who is the Liberty’s president - currently under contract with the Madison Square Garden franchise, it’s hard to imagine why the management would waste an opportunity to take advantage. Awkward contradictions aside, the Knicks need those bad boys to help restore the heart and soul of the team.

 This summer, I covered the WNBA Playoffs and was credentialed for the WNBA Finals. In the Playoffs between the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever, Coach Laimbeer stole the show. His excitement, strategy and commitment to his team was overpowering the game. With nearly every play, journalists, fans and the players found ourselves looking to Laimbeer to get his reaction. He didn’t disappoint. At one play, he kicked the air. He had Bobby Knight reactions and got technical fouls.

Unlike Derek Fisher, the Knicks’ current coach, there was rarely any time for hands in the pockets. Fisher straddles the sideline like his waiting for a cake to bake. He’s patient and understanding and exhibits little heart or commitment. Sure, his style displays extreme professionalism, epic emotional control and deep strategy, but we’re talking about Madison Square Garden. Fans and players are not looking for a spiritual mentor. They are looking for a coach with heart.

Think Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy who barely stands 6 foot but has the heart of a giant. When his 1998-1999 Knicks got into an on court brawl, he didn’t put his hands in his pockets and take a fatherly approach of “talking it out.” Van Gundy leapt to the floor, wrapped his arms around opponent player Alonzo Mourning’s legs and was drug across the floor in a gut-wrenching but street cred building manner. It was one of the greatest moments in coaching history because it showed his players that he was literally DOWN FOR WHATEVER. He proved he was one of them and would have their backs no matter what, especially against their heated rival Miami Heat. He did it for the team but some could argue that he did it for the fans, too. Knick fans were a huge “sixth man” for the team as they headed to the NBA Finals! It is easily one of the best years that the Knicks have ever had, especially from a fan perspective

Think Knicks coach Pat Riley. When his Knicks were having playoff heartburn, Coach Riley took Patrick Ewing and others to see Bruce Willis’ movie, “Die Hard.”  He gave a slow clap worthy speech about never giving up that was prolific.

In contrast, the 2015-2016 Knicks haven’t given the fans much appreciation. On Opening Night, fans were treated to blue and orange t-shirts on their chairs that made The Garden feel electric, but since then fans haven’t gotten hats, towels are much love from the team. It’s disappointing and disrespectful in many ways. It reminded me of watching the movie, “The Walk,” in which a tight rope artist walked from one World Trade Center building to the other – eight times back and forth in total. He would say in the movie, “You have to respect the audience. They are part of the act. If you don’t respect them, nothing matters.” The Knicks aren’t doing a good job of respecting their audience.

Consider how Dean McDowell of the Indiana Fever and Pacers treats his fans and you’ll see that the Knicks have some work to do. McDowell’s WNBA games are electric, the stadium is on fire with excitement. The fans have jerseys and the Banker’s Life Fieldhouse is transformed into a fan frenzy. There fans can walk the circle of the arena and take photos at exhibits that will put their photo on the “cover” of the Indianapolis Star. There’s an exhibit that allows fans to put a wreath around their necks, hold a bottle of milk amid the Indianapolis 500 backdrop and feel like a winner with a photograph to prove it. In fact, there are so many fan-based exhibits that it’s hard not to get into the game.

And the players know it.

Take Game 1 of the Fever vs. Liberty playoffs. There is no conceivable way that the Fever were able to win that game, especially considering that star player Tamika Catchings went into the fourth quarter with just two points. With the crowd’s help, Catchings went on a Jordan-like scoring frenzy and finished with 21 points lifting her team over the stunned Liberty. Watching Laimbeer’s reaction was almost as dizzying as watching Catchings abuse the boards.

On top of it, the event staff has balloon drops during each game that has to be an advertiser’s dream as each balloon is attached to a promotional item. Sometimes it’s a gift card for a free carwash or $5 at McDonald’s. McDowell ties the promotions into the season’s sponsors in a way that makes you want to thank the companies for the experience.

When you come to The Garden, there should be an electric vibe around the arena that feels like a heartbeat. There should be promotions with sponsors the next day for free pizza or prizes. Passersby should feel the excitement and want to be a part of it. New York is home to dee jays, dancers and the like so it’s almost unforgivable that there isn’t more hype around each game.  A year or two ago, the Knicks had a placed a great deal of effort on fan experience going from bar-to-bar and getting fans involved in the game. It was truly awesome to watch and desperately needed this season especially since the Knicks have a great player in Porzingis and a really impressive squad.

The Knicks should throw the kitchen sink to get Patrick Ewing to work with Porzingis. No one but Ewing can do the job. He understands the demands of the town, the requirements of being worthy of being a Knick. He knows how to survive unbearable heartbreak in The Garden. He’s been there. He’s done it. He can help Porzingis do it. If Ewing isn’t brought to help, Porzingis will likely walk before his contract requires. Today’s league is not about contracts. For the right price, anyone can be available or sent packing. If the Knicks hope to keep Porzingis around, they had better be willing to put aside some hurt feelings and get Ewing in the building, stat.
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WNBA FINALS: Tamika Catchings, Maya Moore have the country tuned in

 

(www.BlackPressRadio) - The WNBA Finals is catching a lot of unsuspecting people by surprise. Many who hadn't watched or supported the league are finding themselves tuned in as stars Maya Moore (Lynx) and Tamika Catchings (Fever) have turned up the dial on the game of basketball.
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REHAB FOR SABATHIA: Yankee shocks league with addiction admission


(www.BlackPressRadio) - CC Sabathia, a longtime supporter of BlackPressRadio - announced he is leaving his team immediately to check himself into rehab for alcohol addiction. "Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation center to receive the professional care and assistance needed to treat my disease," Sabathia said in a statement. "I love baseball and I love my teammates like brothers, and I am also fully aware that I am leaving at a time when we should all be coming together for one last push toward the World Series. "It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right. I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player."
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MEDIA DAY: Knicks talk about their expectations for 2015-2016 seaons

(www.BlackPressRadio) - Carmelo Anthony on Monday expressed frustration about reports that he was unhappy with the drafting of Kristaps Porzingis or that he would consider waiving the no-trade clause in his contract. Anthony said he's on board with team president Phil Jackson's plan and answered with an emphatic "hell no" when he was asked if he will look to be moved if the Knicks struggle again this season.

Latest Knicks stories Porzingis' versatility draws raves from Rambis Calderon feeling better in second camp with Knicks Porzingis enjoys battling for starting job Willis Reed encouraged by Knicks' camp Knicks playing it safe with Porzingis' knee "For me to get to that point and decide this is not what it's going to be -- I already came this far," Anthony said after Monday's practice.

"That doesn't even come across my mind at this point." The Knicks took Porzingis, a 7-3 project from Latvia, with the No. 4 pick. Anthony said he had to YouTube highlights of Porzingis to see who he was and how he played. But Anthony's reported displeasure with the pick -- among other things that were linked to him and never explicitly said by him -- bothered him.
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