France’s Vincent Poirier tries to block a shot by United States’ Jrue Holiday (12) during a men’s basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics on July 25 in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) By Demetrius Dillard Special to the AFRO For the first time in 17 years, the United States Olympic men’s basketball […]
Category: National Sports
Posted in!Front Page
‘This can be me’: Black participation rising in gymnastics
In this Aug. 9, 2016, file photo, U.S. gymnasts and gold medallists, Simone Biles, left and Gabrielle Douglas celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the artistic gymnastics women’s team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The success of Olympic gymnastics champions Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles has created […]
Posted in!Front Page
Sarah Thomas, first female NFL official
Sarah Thomas made history after being hired by Austin by becoming the first female to officiate a college football game, as part of the Memphis/Jacksonville game crew. This was the first of several firsts to come as a female official including capping her sixth NFL season by becoming the first female to officiate the Super […]
Posted in!Front Page
Olympics & the NFL: Games turn from contests to justice conversations
Above: Extending gloved hands skyward in racial protest, U.S. athletes Tommie Smith, center, and John Carlos stare downward during the playing of the national anthem after Smith received the gold and Carlos the bronze for the 200 meter run at the Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City on. Australian silver medalist Peter Norman is at […]
Posted in!Front Page
Venus Williams fought for equal pay for women in tennis
Venus Williams of the US arrives on court for the women’s singles second round match against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur on day three of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday June 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) By Micha Green D.C. and Digital Editor mgreen@afro.com While African-American women nationwide are said to make 63 cents for […]
Posted in!Front Page
Simone Biles is ‘killing it,’ making history every day
It is no coincidence that Simone Biles, the Texas native and “4-foot-8 giant,” has become one of the most dominatingathletes in the world of sports. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) By Demetrius Dillard Special to the AFRO A number of athletes are the subject of considerable publicity at the moment, but none have garnered as much global […]
Posted in!Front Page
‘Grant us a franchise’ says Globetrotters in open letter to the NBA
Announcement for a Harlem Globetrotter’s Exhibition from the AFRO Archives. By Demetrius Dillard Special to the AFRO Around this time every year, the sports world is tuned into a series of games that culminates the basketball season known as the NBA Finals. The NBA, widely considered the most prominent and competitive professional basketball league in […]
Posted in!Front Page
Larger-than-life icon stages the greatest comeback in and out of the ring
1974: World Heavyweight champion George Foreman knocks down Ken Norton in the second round of their world title bout in the Poliedro Arena in Caracas, Venezuela. The fight lasted less than two rounds with Foreman scoring his third consecutive knockout victory to retain his heavyweight title. (AP Photo, File) By Demetrius Dillard Special to the […]
Posted in!Front Page
‘J’s on our feet:’ How Michael Jordan made millions from Air Jordans
Everybody wanted to be like Mike, and that was not lost on Nike. The Jordan brand eventually secured a monopoly on shoes for the NBA, and now players like the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and the Pelicans’ Zion Williamson rep the sneakers on the court. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File) By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer Report […]
Posted in!Front Page
NBA All Stars turned business moguls: Shaq and Magic
Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal followed a critical piece of money advice from Magic Johnson early on. Johnson explained that while being famous was great, O’Neal would need to start owning things to remain successful. Thanks to this guidance, O’Neal is one of the richest former NBA players of all time alongside Johnson with net worth of […]
Posted in!Front Page
Black owners and general managers change the game behind the scenes
Frank Robinson was a baseball Hall of Famer who played for the Baltimore Orioles before returning to manage the team and was honored with the American League Manager of the Year award in 1989. (Courtesy photo) By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com When you turn on the TV to […]
Posted in!Front Page
The game is not over until the playing field is level
Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher The game is not over until the playing field is level Kudos to Managing Editor Dorothy Boulware and her dedicated hard-working team of writers and editors for another outstanding “We’re Still Here” edition – this time focusing on Black athletes and how they’re changing the game: from […]
