The Ebony-American Sports Digest THE BEST & MOST VARIETY IN BLACK-AMERICAN SPORTS NEWS VOLUME V, NO. 12 FOR THE WEEK ENDING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2020 THIS WEEK’S SPORTS SHORTS The Native News Narrative:

FOR THE RECORD HBCU NEWS QUITE FRANKLY, IN MEMORIAM Mocs Softball Names Eight Signees As Part Of Its 2020 Recruiting Class

NBA: Tue., Jan. 28, in helping the CFB: After NBA Hall of Famer and NBA/PGA: Tiger Woods, who has eight By Oscar C. Woodall, Jr. – HayWood Media Pelicans top the Cavaliers 125-111, at Leeds, AL native Charles Barkley do- wins at San Diego, CA’s Torrey Pines [email protected] the Rocket Mortgage Field House in nated $1 million to Miles College ear- Golf Course, the most wins at a single UTC Mocs softball head coach great job in answering a lot of ques- Cleveland, OH, PF/SF Zion William- lier this month, Buccaneers QB and venue in PGA TOUR history, finished Frank Reed has finalized his 2020 re- tions for us. We have a couple corner son (Pelicans photo) made 7-of-13 FGs Hueytown, AL native Jameis Winston tied for ninth with five others at -9 (six cruiting class, following November’s players, some up the middle, a couple gave the school’s Interim President Bob- strokes behind the winner Marc Leish- National Signing Day period. of pitchers. We feel like that rounds us bie Knight and Athletics Director Re- man) in the 68th Annual Framers Insur- The class consists of eight student- out in filling the large graduation class ginald Ruffin a $50,000 check, which ance Open, held Sun., Jan. 26 at the athletes from five different states in- we have this year in 2019.” will be used for upgrades within the course. Thereafter, Woods, who was seek- cluding Alabama, Florida, Georgia, The UTC Mocs’ 2020 softball re- school’s football program. Barkley, who ing his 83rd PGA TOUR win, was asked Tennessee and Texas. cruiting class includes, 3B/UTL Court- in recent yrs. pledged $1 million each to for his thoughts about the passing of his And, in addition to the variety of ney Ball, RHP/3B Kylie Coffin, 3B/C three other HBCUs, said he hopes his hometowns, the group covers every Kendall Forsythe, 1B Carlee Graham, donation to Miles goes to academic schol- position on the playing field. INF Rayanna Janke, LHP Reagan arships, but the pledge is unrestricted. “We’re really excited about the 2020 Lowrie, C/3B Liz Rodebaugh and LAW & ORDER class,” said Reed. “I think we did a INF/UTL Kailey Snell. NFL: Donovin Darius was arrested and Oscar’s Observation: charged with DUI, Sun., Jan. 26, after Jacksonville, FL police and rescue units NBA All-Star Weekend Should Offer More Than The Usual Fanfare to finish with 14 points, making him the responded to a crash in which they found Oscar C. Woodall, Jr. – HayWood Media the Jaguars’ former SS disoriented with [email protected] first first-round pick in NBA history to have at least 10 points and shoot better two pill bottles in his car. Thereafter, The 69th edition of the NBA All- But, it would be great if NBA All- than 50 percent in his first four career according to a law enforcement source, friend Kobe Bean Bryant (Lakers photo). Star game, held at 8:00 PM ET Sun- Star Weekend also had an Old Timers NBA games. … At the Target Center in Darius was taken to a local hospital for “Life is very fragile as we all know,” day, February 16, at the United Center Game and/or a Co-ed All-Star Game. Minneapolis, MN, SG Buddy Hield a mental health evaluation after telling said Woods, a father of two who travels in Chicago, IL, is likely to be one Each co-ed team should be comprised scored 42 points in helping the Kings rescue workers he had ingested 20 to 30 all over the world on private jets with his worth remembering. of six former NBA Western Conference pills and that he was suicidal. family. “You can be gone at any given The game will, as usual, display players and six former WNBA Western overcome a 17 point deficit with 2:49 MEDICAL ALERT time and we have to appreciate the some of the best players in the NBA, Conference players playing versus a left in the fourth quarter, as they de- feated the Timberwolves 133-129 in BXG: Due to concerns over the spread moments that we have.’’ At age 41, including LeBron James, who is slated team of six former NBA Eastern Con- OT, Mon., Jan 27. Since 1996-97, the of coronavirus, the unified junior wel- Bryant lost his life, along with eight to play in his record-breaking 16th ference players and six former WNBA first year of play-by-play data, NBA terweight bout between champion Jose others, due to a helicopter crash in Cal- consecutive NBA All-Star Game. Eastern Conference players, with each teams had entered the day 0-8,378 when Ramirez and Viktor Postol will not abasas, CA. A cause for the crash is cur- NBA All-Star Weekend will also, as team having at least two former WNBA down by 17 or more points in the final take place Sat., Feb. 1, at Mission Hills rently being sought by the NTSB and usual, showcase a 3-point contest, a players on the court at all times. three minutes of the fourth quarter or Haikou in Haikou, CN. Tue., Jan. 21, FAA. After playing high school basket- slam dunk contest and a Rookies ver- Such a game is likely to be worth re- overtime. … SG Eric Gordon scored Chinese authorities issued a global alert ball in Philadelphia, PA, Bryant, a first sus Sophomores Game. membering as well.

50 points in helping the Rockets top the of “human-to-human transmission” of round pick (13th overall) by the Hornets 2020 NBA ALL-STAR GAME STARTERS Jazz 126-117, Mon., Jan. 27, at Vivint the deadly virus which was first de- in 1996’s NBA Draft, spent his entire EASTERN CONFERENCE TEAM WESTERN CONFERENCE TEAM Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, tected in Wuhan, China last month. At NBA career (1996-16) as a Lakers SG. POS. PLAYER NBA TEAM POS. PLAYER NBA TEAM PF G. Antetokounmpo Bucks SF L. James Lakers UT. It had been 11 yrs. since Gordon press time, the BBC reported that as of Bryant was also a member of Team PF P. Siakam Raptors SF K. Leonard Clippers scored at least 40 points in a game, mak- last month, at least 106 people have died USA Basketball, earning a 2007 FIBA C J. Embiid 76ers C A. Davis Lakers ing it the longest span between 40-point from the virus and over 4,500 others Americas Championship gold medal PG K. Walker Celtics SG L. Doncic Mavs PG T. Young Hawks SG J. Harden Rockets games in NBA history. have been affected and hospitalized. and a 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medal. SPORTOON TV Pics For The Weekend, Friday, January 31 Thru Monday, February 3 (Unless Noted Otherwise, All Times Eastern, PM) PHOTO OF THE WEEK By Mark Lynch Courtesy WTA/Australian Open ©Mark Lynch cartoons-a-plenty.com SPORT W. CURLING M. BASKETBALL BASKETBALL W. GYMNASTICS FOOTBALL M. BASKETBALL

DATE FRIDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY MONDAY JANUARY 31 FEBRUARY 1 FEBRUARY 1 FEBRUARY 2 FEBRUARY 2 FEBRUARY 3 TIME 11:00 1:00 8:30 4:00 6:30 7:00 NETWORK NBCSN CBS ABC ESPN FOX ESPNU

CONGRATS, CONSOLE - After los- ing, 6-3, 6-4, to Cori “Coco” Gauff (at USA UCONN 76ERS AUBURN CHIEFS NORFOLK ST. right) in round three of the women’s sin- OPPONENTS vs. @ @ @ vs. @ gles matches at the 2020 Australian Open, in Melbourne, AU, Friday, January 24, 22-year-old defending champion Naomi Osaka (at left) congratulated the consoling 15-year-old tennis phenom, who lost to ITALY MEMPHIS CELTICS GEORGIA 49ERS N.C. CENTRAL Sofia Kenin, 7-6, 6-3, 6-0, in round four.