Nowhere was the difference between big time college football and basketball made clearer than this past Sunday afternoon. Following the selection show where all the teams and brackets were outlined, the CBS staff turned to interview the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball chairman. He is Charles McClelland, Commissioner of the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC). Put another way, the person in charge of one of the NCAA’s two biggest cash cows is not only a Black man, but one from an HBCU. By contrast, HBCUs aren’t even part of the equation when it comes to the college football playoffs. The huge…
Author: Ron Wynn
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — No fan base was less pleased by the results of last week’s SEC Tournament held in Nashville than Tennessee supporters. Coming off having won the regular season SEC title for the first time since 2008, they looked lifeless in losing the home and regular season finale to Kentucky. But that was shrugged off as a game with nothing to play for. Then came the SEC Tournament opener and they looked even worse against Mississippi State. They scored a season low 16 first half points on the way to another blowout loss. That defeat cost…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The life of Huey P. Newton, the charismatic and controversial leader of the Black Panther Party, is the subject of a forthcoming limited series on Apple TV+. The network has now released the first trailer for the series, which is titled “The Big Cigar,” and stars Andre Holland. The full series begins May 17, with two episodes. After that, new episodes will be released every Friday through June 14. In addition to being the series’ executive producer, actor Don Cheadle will direct the opening two episodes. The show is based on a powerful magazine…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — It was 20 years ago when ABC began airing “Grey’s Anatomy.” It became an immediate hit and helped jump start Shonda Rhimes’ career. Now ABC has begun airing new episodes each Thursday (locally WRKN-2). But the 20th season will be a special one in several ways. According to showrunner Meg Marinis, the 20th season will be of joy and exuberance. “I’m a huge fan of the show, as well as working on it — and I have been since it came on in the very beginning,” Marinis told Yahoo Entertainment. “No one gets 20…
It is the peak time for college basketball fans with March Madness about to explode the rest of the month. But there are other athletes who are looking beyond March to July. The biggest names among them are Noah Lyles and Sha’ Carri Richardson. They are the big stars on the United States Olympic track and field team. They have a shot at global fame if they can solidify their claims to supremacy as the world’s fastest men and women sprinters. Last weekend’s World Indoor Championships were mostly a triumph for the US. Team USA won 20 medals, six of…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Award-winning actor Denzel Washington will soon be returning to some familiar thematic territory. He’s appeared in acclaimed Broadway plays and he’s also done his fair share of Shakespearean works. Last week it was announced that Washington would be going back to Broadway, and his role this time would be Shakespeare’s tragic African general, Othello. He will co-star in a new production opposite Jake Gyllenhaal. Producer Brian Anthony Moreland announced that Washington and Gyllenhaal would star in the Kenny Leon-directed production of “Othello.” While Washington will play Othello, Gyllenhaal will star as Iago, the nemesis…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Poet, writer and activist Amanda Gorman and costume designer June Ambrose, a fashion industry pioneer, will each receive special NAACP honors this week as part of the 55th annual NAACP Image Awards. The organization also announced that actress/rapper Queen Latifah would return as host after emceeing the ceremony for the first time last year. Gorman is getting the prestigious Chairman’s Award, while Ambrose is this year’s Vanguard Award winner. “We are thrilled to collaborate with groundbreaking megastar Queen Latifah and are elated to welcome her again as this year’s host,” Connie Orlando, EVP Specials,…
Seldom will any sport have two all-time records set in the same weekend. But that is precisely what happened over the last couple of days as Caitlin Clark and LeBron James did the unthinkable in college and pro basketball respectively. For Clark, the consensus top woman player in college this season, smashed Pete Maravich’s all-time scoring record. Her 35 points in her final home game for Iowa gave Clark 3, 685 points in 130 games. James became the first NBA player to reach the 40, 000 point mark. He had 26 points in a loss to the Denver Nuggets. He…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Vocalist Alex Harris, one of Americana/Soul’s finest vocalists, is returning to Nashville. Harris, who previewed some songs off his latest release a few months ago during a promotional stop in town, will be performing March 13 at the WMOT American Roots Radio’s members events at Riverside Revival, 2600 Riverside Drive. He’ll be performing along with Katie Pruitt.Harris, an explosive, energetic and charismatic performer whose sound nicely blends the artistry and passion of gospel with the performance excitement of soul, is also one of Shanachie’s prime acts as they are continuing to expand their gospel…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Wendell Pierce has long been one of Hollywood’s busiest and most versatile character actors, equally able to excel in a leading or supportive role. But last week he landed a spot on one of the more eagerly awaited and anticipated properties coming soon, the latest version the iconic superhero Superman. It is directed by James Gunn, titled “Titled Superman: Legacy,” and production has already begun. The newest person in the title role is David Corenswet, who’s alongside Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as the infamous Lex Luthor. Pierce is assuming the…