Page 8 ~ THE VILLAGER/March 16, 2018 THE DISPATCH www.theaustinvillager.com Rapper Dies Is the NBA Copying by: The Associated Press LaVar Ball? by: Perry Green | AFRO Sports Editor

Former Bad Boy Entertainment Rapper Crack Mack, best known for his 1994 platinum hit, “”, died Monday night. (Courtesy Photo) WALTERBORO, S.C. Mack died of natural Down” went gold. (AP) — Former rapper causes. After Mack left Diddy, The NBA is embracing LaVar Ball’s idea of starting a league for players Craig Mack, best known The Long Island, New he released a second al- who don’t want to go to college. (AP Photo/John Locher) for the platinum 1994 hit York, native at one time bum, “Operation: Get AFRO SPORTS - Re- young players play at an competing leagues, such “Flava in Ya Ear” has died was part of Diddy’s Bad Down” in 1997 but left the member when LaVar Ball elite level before they as the Australian National in South Carolina. Boy Entertainment, which music industry and de- came up with that crazy come into the NBA. On the League, which Colleton County Cor- released his first album, voted his life to religion. idea of starting a Big Baller other hand, I think the reportedly announced its ner Richard Harvey says “Project: Funk da World,” DJ Scratch said on Brand Junior Basketball question for the league is, plans to start a “Next the 46-year-old Mack died anchored by “Flava in Ya Instagram that Mack for- Association to rival the in terms of their ultimate Stars” program that will at his home in Walterboro Ear,” which was nomi- merly handled his turn- NCAA? Ball told everyone success, are we better off pay American players around 9 p.m. Monday. nated for a Grammy. His table setups and break- back in December that he intersecting with them a nearly $80,000 in salary to Harvey said it appeared follow-up single, “Get downs. was going to build a league little bit younger?” skip the one year at col- for ballers fresh out of high According to lege and start their pro school who don’t want to Windhorst, Silver has al- basketball careers in Aus- go to college, but can’t go ready met with the NBA tralia instead. straight to the pros be- Players Association to put But even the Austra- cause of the NBA’s 19-or- together a plan where the lian National Basketball older age restriction. NBA will essentially offer League sounds like it took Well, it looks like the an alternate route for play- LaVar Ball’s idea and ran NBA may beat LaVar to it ers who want to go to pro with it. Ball said months as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst at 18 instead of going to ago his Junior Basketball recently reported that college – the plan will al- Association would pay its NBA commissioner Adam low the super elite pros- players upwards of Silver is not only consider- pects (like LeBron James, $10,000 a month per sea- ing eliminating the “one- who was drafted straight son. An NBA season—in- Vintage photo of Hip-Hop artist for the of “Flava In Ya Ear” (l-to-r) and-done” rule, but also out of high school) to cluding training camp, pre- , The B.I.G., Craig Mack, , and L. L. Cool J wants the league to start come straight to the NBA, season and the playoffs, developing relations with while lesser-ready pros- can last anywhere from 8- premiere players while pects would play in an im- 10 months. If a JBA sched- they’re still in high school. proved and expanded ver- ule mirrored a typical NBA “We’ve talked a lot sion of the NBA’s G- schedule, a JBA player about youth development League, where they’ll get could’ve potentially made in terms of whether we paid to play, bringing life to $80-100k for one season. should be getting involved Ball’s JBA idea. Now, it looks those in some of these young The G-League already same high school players players even earlier than allows 18-year-olds to will be wearing NBA jer- when they come into col- play, but according to re- seys, instead of Big Baller lege,” Silver told ESPN. ports, its players only Brand, which is what they “And from a league stand- make a maximum of ultimately wanted all point, on one hand, we $26,000 per season. along. Just don’t forget to think we have a better Windhorst reported that thank LaVar for being bold draft when we’ve had an the NBA may end up enough to set the blue- opportunity to see these boosting salaries to match print. Beyonce and Jay-Z Announce On the Run II Stadium Tour by: Micha Green The AFRO Washington, On the morning of Monday, March 12, the D.C. editor Internet began buzzing with “Beys”, as music’s royal couple, Jay-Z and Beyonce announced dates for their “On the Run II” stadium tour, via social media. The international tour will begin June 6, in Cardiff, and stop in 15 cities, before kicking off the 21-date North American shows in Cleveland on July 25. Fans of the Carters have a week to get their funds ready for the concert as tickets will officially go on sale to the general public at LiveNation.com and all usual outlets on Monday, March 19. Super fans, such as official members of the “Beyhive” and Tidal subscribers, can sign up for pre-sale tickets, which will become available on March 14, at 9 a.m. in North America and 10 a.m. in the UK.