Hall of Fame voting is a very secretive, selective process. There are no clear cut rules or stipulations, because what to one person constitutes excellence to another might just be the reflection of durability. There are always folks who downplay individual achievement in a team sport, and others who insist that changes in rules and improvements in technology, nutrition and medicine also should be factored in the equation when evaluating career performance. But one thing that should always, but sometimes doesn’t, count for a lot concerns individuals who achieve goals and marks that set records or put them ahead of…
Author: Ron Wynn
By Ron Wynn The Williams sisters first faced each other in a Grand Slam event back in 1998, and it was at the Australian Open. So it was only fitting that Saturday that would be the place where Serena Williams won her record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title, and against her sister. Venus Williams had been the surprise story of the open until that match, making her way through the draw and reaching her first final in nearly nine years. But Saturday, while she gave her sister Serena a very competitive match, in the end it was Serena winning 6-4, 6-4.…
When President Trump signed an executive order Friday that temporarily bans refugees of several nations from entering the United States, as well as his overall immigration policies, it’s doubtful he even considered the impact that this ruling might have on the sports world. But now the NBA, which has players from numerous nations including several on the list, have asked for clarification from the President. Over the weekend they directly appealed to the State Department to get more understanding regarding the suspension of immigration and visas for citizens from designated countries and how it may affect travel for some NBA…
In most families anyone who has already won seven major titles would be the most famous member. When you add being a pioneer for both Black tennis players and women seeking pay equity in sports, it would seem impossible that anyone with those credentials could ever be eclipsed or overlooked. But even when Venus Williams was beginning her career, her proud father Richard was telling the tennis world he had another daughter he considered an even better prospect for stardom. The rest became history, as Serena Williams has emerged as arguably the greatest woman player (some would argue best period)…
For most people who reached the finals in three of Four Grand Slam events, and the semifinals in the other, 2016 would be viewed as a great year. But for Serena Williams, whose standards are far higher, that wasn’t the case, even though she did win her 22nd major title at Wimbledon and tied Steffie Graf for second place among women on the all time title list and only two away from Margaret Court’s total record. “For me, it wasn’t a great season,” Williams told USA Today last week. “I think for other people it would have been wonderful. It…
With the end of the college football season in sight, the annual guessing game begins regarding which coaches will be moving on, others that will be canned, and what the staffs of those who move to other jobs might look like. Given the still thin ranks of Black coaches, especially on the college level, it’s always worth following to see which ones get opportunities, where those are, and whether they get the prestige gigs at Power five schools. A prime example is at Texas A&M, where Kevin Sumlin is facing arguably his most critical off-season. You would think that an…
If the Tennessee Titans had acquired Andre Johnson four or five years ago rather than last Saturday, there’s little doubt everyone around the NFL would have been impressed. Johnson has been a major thorn in their side for much of his career, and has amassed stats that are surefire Hall of Fame credentials upon his retirement. But Johnson is now on his third AFC South team in three years, and last sea- son with the Indianapolis Colts was among the worse he’s endured. Johnson had only 41 catches for 503 yards and four touchdowns while starting 14 of 16 games.…
The Nashville Sounds continued their march toward the Pacific Coast League playoffs Sunday with a 6-2 road victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs. It improved their record to 61-48 and gave them a nine game cushion in their division with little more than a month of the regular season remaining. In fact playoff tickets go on sale August 15. At times offense has been one of their few problems this year, but that certainly wasn’t the case Sunday. They had 11 hits for the game, and jumped ahead quickly with a three-run third inning. Colin Walsh’s leadoff home run, his…
The biggest free agent question of the NBA season was answered Monday as All-Pro Forward Kevin Durant announced he would be joining Western Conference champions Golden State this coming season. Teams cannot formally sign players until Friday. But it is widely expected that Durant on that day will sign a two-year deal for $54 million with a player option on the second year. The NBA salary cap is expected to surge again in the 2017-18 season to over $100 million dollars. Durant played his previous nine seasons for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 27 points, seven rebounds and seven…
There are a handful of people in any profession whose importance far surpasses their job title, and legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt, who died this week at 64, is certainly one of those people. The case can be made that when it comes to women’s basketball, NO one, be- fore or after, has been as influential. That impact extends far beyond her amazing statistics of eight national championships, 1,098 career victories, seven NCAA coach of the year awards, and no losing records in 38 years as a head coach. There’s also a playing career that includes a 1976 silver medal…