By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Numerous top women broadcasters paid homage to Barbara Walters last week, who passed at 93. But none of them gave Walters more credit for their careers than Oprah Winfrey. She paid perhaps the ultimate tribute to Walters, who among many other things was the first woman to be a host on “The Today Show,” and also the first to co-anchor a nightly news broadcast. “Without Barbara Walters there wouldn’t have been me — nor any other woman you see on evening, morning, and daily news,” Winfrey began in a lengthy statement carried by many…
Author: Ron Wynn
One of the greatest teams in modern sports history was the Pittsburg Steelers of the ‘70s and early 80s, a team the earned the nickname “The Steel Curtain”. That name was the tag for the amazing defensive line anchored by “Mean” Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood and middle linebackerJack Lambert, as well as defensive back standout Mel Blount. That team won four Super Bowls in six years But while the defense was stellar, their offense was equally potent. With Hall of Famers QB Terry Bradshaw, wide receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, plus dynamic running backs Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier,…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — There were many challenges for the filmmakers while creating the new Whitney Houston biopic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,”. But none were as formidable as recreating her amazing performance of the Star Spangled Banner in Tampa Stadium for Super Bowl XXV in 1991. Even folks who usually cringe or avoid even listening to the anthem were spellbound by Houston’s extraordinary performance, one so magical it was even later issued as a separate single. That is one of many magical moments in her career recreated in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” which debuted last week. …
Last week one of the most turbulent, yet also successful eras in Jackson State and HBCU football took a different turn. With the tenure of NFL Hall of Famer and former Head Coach Deion Sanders over, Jackson State named a new head coach. JSU Athletic Director Ashley Robinson named current wide receivers position coach T.C. Taylor as the school’s new head coach. This ended a period of turbulence for JSU that began Dec. 3, when Sanders announced he was leaving to become head football coach at the University of Colorado. Reaction to the move was largely negative inside the HBCU…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Singer, songwriter, producer and business owner Derrick “D.Y.” McDaniel, a Brooklyn resident and Boston University graduate, has done many great things in his career, among them becoming a successful attorney and owning an eldercare training and services company in addition to his musical exploits. But his latest project, which was released December 1, has a fresh and profound importance in his life. He’s released a stirring, heartfelt tune “Choose Liife,” a vocal admonition to everyone who hears it to take on the challenges in their life rather than commit suicide. The song already had…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The next edition of the “Spider-Man Across the Spider Verse” framchise will have some new stars. The trailer for ‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’ features new cast additions Issa Rae And Daniel Kaluuya. Miles Morales is back in another multidimensional adventure in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse?” The new trailer gives a glimpse of the new Spiders Miles (Shameik Moore) will be partnering with, as well as old faves Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) and Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson). An official description describes the content in this manner: “Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Earlier last week Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel said that the team was at a crossroads. After Sunday’s dismal home blowout los to the Jacksonville Jaguars the more accurate word is crisis. They Titans have lost three in a row, dropped to 7-6 overall, and now also no longer are unbeaten in the AFC South. There was talk that the Jaguars QBTrevor Lawrence. might not be available. The Titans mo doubt would have preferred that he hadn’t as Lawrence had his finest day as a professional in orchestrating the 46-22 rout. Lawrence had…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Vanderbilt Commodores continue trying to establish consistency on both ends of the basketball court in the early part of the season. Their record of 6-4 was at least a winning one. But they remain unsatisfied with their overall play, and were especially unhappy after a Friday night 64-62 home loss to Grambling State. t First, they have to reduce the turnovers. Friday, the Commodores had 19. They went the final nearly three minutes without a field goal. Meanwhile their opponents had only 10, and made the key plays late to pull off the…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Keyboardist Joseph Wooten has achieved distinction in two different settings for several years. He’s probably best kown as a member of the Wooten Brothers, one of Middle Tennessee’s finest bands and a group that performs with equal ferocity and brilliance funkm, rock, soul and blues numbers, both originals and classics. But Joseph Wooten is also well known and highly respected among rock fans for being a principal member and keyboard contributor to the Steve Miller Band. Next year will mark the start of his third decade in that role, plus he’s also an arranger…
Eddie Robinson Jr. “Big” John Merritt. Jake “The Snake” Gaither. “John McClendon. Clarence “Big House” Gaines All these men became legends at HBCU institutions and are beloved figures to t his day. For a short while there were some who thought that Deion “Prime Time” Sanders might join this robust group, though anyone really familiar with the Sanders track record knew he was never destined to remain at an HBCU permanently. or even long-term. Sanders did what many white coaches do at smaller mainstream schools. They use their first jobs as stepping stones for eventually bigger positions. But Sanders didn’t…