Houston Defender: June 25, 2015

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Volume 84 | Number 30 JUNE 25, 2015 |FREE

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NEWSTALK

CHARLESTON CHURCH MURDERS

RACISM RUNS DEEP

D.Z. COFIELD committed to academy students

P2 FEATURE ZINETTA BURNEY hall of fame inductee

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NATIONAL STEPHANIE RAWLINGSBLAKE leads nation’s mayors

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Darryl Hamilton remembered Major League Baseball and the rest of the sports world are mourning the loss of Darryl Hamilton, the MLB Network analyst and former player who died tragically in Pearland. Read why those who knew him say he will be missed.

Find out about his baseball career.

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Brian C. Wilson starts campaign Houston gospel artist Brian Courtney Wilson has launched a multimedia initiative designed to make a difference. Find out how others can get involved. Read about his newest album on the Motown Gospel label and why it’s special in more ways than one.

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Dr. John Rudley and Dameion Crook at 100 Black Men Block Party

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DEFENDER | JUNE 25 | 2015

newstalk

Hamilton mourned The sports world is mourning the loss of Darryl Hamilton, a former Major League Baseball player who was found dead in a Pearland home on June 21. Authorities said Monica Jordan shot Hamilton several times and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Their 14-month-old child was found unharmed at the home and turned over to Child Protective Services. The couple recently came to an agreement on custody of the child.

MLB Commissioner Ron Manfred said the league was “shocked and saddened” by the tragedy. “[Darryl] was a talented and personable individual, and we were proud to call him a member of the baseball family,” Manfred said. “On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest sympathies to Darryl’s family and his many friends throughout our game.”

Hamilton, 50, was a standout center fielder and member of the New York Mets team that reached

Darryl Hamilton was killed in a murder-suicide.

He played with the Mets from 1999-2001.

the 2000 World Series. He also played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1988 and 1990-95), Texas Rangers (1996), San Francisco Giants (1997-98) and Colorado Rockies (1998-99). He joined the MLB Network as an analyst in 2013.

Hamilton was a native of Baton Rouge and attended Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., where he still holds the record for 140 stolen bases. He was divorced twice and his ex-wife Shaun Robinson is a co-host of “Access Hollywood.” He has two older sons.

“I’m deeply saddened for the Hamilton family and of course his children who we’ve gotten to know well,” said Nicholls baseball coach Seth Thibodeaux.

“My prayers go out to them. It’s an awful situation that happened to a great person.”

Jordan, 44, was a lawyer. She reportedly pleaded guilty in 2008 to burning down the Pearland house she occupied with her ex-husband. She accused him of cheating and tried to douse him with gasoline.

Hope Academy contract terminated

Cofield committed to education

the educational philosophy that we have developed and we are excited to be able to offer them that opportunity,” Cofield said.

Dr. D.Z. Cofield, the CEO of Hope HISD recommended termination of the Academy charter school, said he will continue contract after a review revealed irregularities to provide educational opportunities for at-risk in student records that could not be supported students despite the HISD board’s decision to by documentation. terminate its contract with the school.

Of the 68 student records reviewed, 35 The academy, operated by Good Hope were found to have a total of 51 irregularities, Missionary Baptist Church in Third Ward, was including credit restorations, grade changes, launched in 2009 to serve youth in grades 9-12. Dr. D.Z. Cofield course deletions and course additions.

Cofield, the pastor of Good Hope, said Hope Academy Administrators determined that of the 21 seniors students will have the option of transferring to their open expected to graduate, only two were eligible as of May enrollment state charter school, GLV Charter High School.

29. The district said it was “contacting all families “Our students will have a choice to continue in directly to explain the situation and develop individual

By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

plans to ensure each student’s academic needs are being addressed.”

Cofield acknowledged that a “mishandling of school records” occurred, but said the issue was unrelated to grades or transcripts. He also said he fired his superintendent, principal and attendance clerk.

He said he was disappointed by HISD’s decision but is not bitter.

“We thank the HISD School Board and the superintendent for the opportunity to partner with them in the educating of highly at-risk students since 2009,” Cofield said. “This experience has reaffirmed our belief in the power of a meaningful partnership between communities and schools. Our commitment to educating students and empowering families is unwavering…”

localbriefs HISD’S APPROVED BUDGET for 2015-2016 includes salary increases. Teachers will get a minimum salary increase of 2 percent, with beginning teacher salaries jumping to $51,500. Certified bilingual teachers would earn an additional $4,000 annual stipend. At the middle school level, salaries for principals of specialty and K-8 schools will increase to $95,000, while salaries for principals of comprehensive schools will rise to $105,000 plus a $10,000 signing and retention bonus. At the high school level, principals of specialty schools will be brought up to $115,000, principals of comprehensive schools will be brought up to $130,000, and

principals of comprehensive high schools that have been deemed hard-to-fill will be brought up to $130,000 plus a $20,000 signing and retention bonus.

All hourly employees will earn a minimum of $10 per hour. Other district employees will receive a 2 percent salary increase……..A BILL STRENGTHENING NURSING HOME regulations in Texas was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. It requires the Department of Aging and Disability Services to revoke the operating license of nursing homes cited for the most severe violations three times within 24 months. AARP Texas Director Bob Jackson said the law is an important step toward providing much-

needed improvements in the way the state oversees nursing homes. “All Texans can be very pleased that Senate Bill 304 is in place to limit the harm caused by bad actors in the nursing home business,” Jackson said……..METRO will begin a 90-day pilot program extending hours for HOV/HOT Lanes on Wednesday, July 1. The lanes are along five corridors: IH-45 South, US-59 Southwest, US-290 Northwest, IH-45 North and US-59 North. During the pilot program, weeknight operation of the lanes will expand from 8 to 11 p.m. outbound. All lanes will be open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the inbound direction.

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JUNE 25 | 2015 | DEFENDER

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Black lawyers will honor three Houstonians The National Bar Association will induct three Houstonians into its 2015 Hall of Fame.

Zinetta Burney, Algenita Scott Davis and A. Martin Wickliff Jr. will be among the honorees during the NBA’s Fred David Gray Hall of Fame Luncheon on July 20.

The luncheon will be held at the NBA’s national Zinetta Burney convention July 19-23 in Los Angeles.

Burney became the presiding judge of Harris County Justice of the Peace Court (Precinct 7, Place 2) in 2005. Prior to assuming the bench, she was in the private practice for approximately 30 years.

Burney, a native Houstonian, attended Texas Southern University and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at TSU. She has served on numerous boards, including the University of Houston System Board of Regents and the Housing Authority of the City of Houston. She presently serves as chair of the OST/Almeda Corridors Redevelopment Council.

She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Lawyers Association, the Greater

the Houston Lawyers Association. She is currently a visiting professor at the TSU Jesse H. Jones School of Business.

Wickliff is a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Labor & Employment Department in Houston, and joined the firm in 2011.

He is a veteran Algenita Scott Davis Martin Wickliff litigator and trial Southeast Management District and the Houston lawyer, and 100 percent Bar Association. of his time is devoted to the representation Davis, who grew up in Fifth Ward, earned of management in all phases of labor and her undergraduate degree in accounting from employment law, including advice and counsel, Howard University and a J.D. degree from trials, appeals and administrative proceedings Howard’s Law School. She was a tax attorney involving all types of discrimination matters. with Shell Oil Co. and general counsel for the Wickliff is active in several bar and Port of Houston Authority and Port Development community associations. He has served on the Corp. board of directors of the State Bar of Texas She also served as senior vice president and (1986-1990), and on the board of trustees of the community affairs officer of Texas Commerce State Bar of Texas Insurance Trust. He served as Bank. She is a founding director of the William president of the Houston Lawyers Association.

A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity and The NBA is the nation’s oldest and largest founding president of the Houston Downtown national association of predominantly AfricanManagement District.

American lawyers, judges, educators and law Davis is past president of the NBA and students.

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DEFENDER | JUNE 25 | 2015

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national

U.S.briefs

Rawlings-Blake leads mayors’ organization

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altimore Mayor Stephanie RawlingsBlake recently became the first African-American woman to lead the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

She was handed the gavel by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, the outgoing president, during the conference’s annual meeting in San Francisco. Five other women have led the organization, including Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is the new president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. former Houston Mayor Kathy Whitmire.

“It’s an issue of opportunity as much as it is an As conference president, Rawlings-Blake will set issue of policing. It’s as much an issue of jobs as the organization’s agenda, appoint committee and task it is policing. It’s as much an issue of community force chairs and serve as the national spokesperson for development as it is policing. It is as much an issue of the 2015- 2016 term. education as it is community policing. And we don’t Rawlings-Blake gained national exposure during lose sight of that.” the unrest that occurred in Baltimore following the Rawlings-Blake underscored the strength of cities death of Freddie Gray. In her inaugural remarks, and said she would ensure urban issues are infused into she spoke about community policing and urban the 2016 political discussion. neighborhoods.

“We will make sure that our priorities are part of “At a time when women and African-American the national debate and that commitments are made to women especially still face many challenges, the honor our cities and urban America,” she said. of being a female president of this organization and the “I want this year to be the year that we make our first African-American female president is not lost on voices heard and drive the agenda. Nearly 90 percent me,” she said. of the people and 90 percent of the jobs are in our “…As you all saw two months ago there are metro areas. And because of that, Washington needs to still very large segments of our cities that feel step up.” disenfranchised, disaffected and disgusted. They don’t Rawlings-Blake, a lawyer, has served as mayor see the growth and positivity that occurs in other parts since 2010. She is considered a rising star in the of town.

Democratic Party.

NAACP announces march from Selma to D.C. The NAACP, together with a broad coalition of partners, is planning an 860-mile march from Selma, Ala., to Washington, D.C. called America’s Journey for Justice. It begins on Aug. 1, and will include demonstrations and teach-ins.

Organizations involved in the march include the National Bar Association, Common Cause, Sierra Club, Communications Workers of America and Black Women’s Roundtable.

Cornell Williams Brooks, NAACP president and CEO, said the march will also travel through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. It will travel roughly 20 miles per day for 40 days and nights.

Brooks said the journey is needed.

“We find ourselves at a perilous point in history, what some call a third reconstruction,” he said. “We are facing opposition by adversaries of change, those determined to turn back the clock on progress and stop the momentum of a changing tide of American demographics, those who chose to stand in the way of achieving a fairer, more just America.”

He added that the NAACP is joining with other organizations to find solutions to “fundamental issues” such as threats to voting rights, criminal justice reform, unemployment, underemployment, and the school-toprison pipeline.

THE BALTIMORE police officers indicted in the death of Freddie Gray have pleaded not guilty to all charges against them, including illegal arrest, misconduct, assault and involuntary manslaughter. The six officers are Garrett Miller, Brian Rice, Edward Nero, Caesar Goodson Jr., Alicia White and William Porter. They include three African-Americans. Gray was arrested on a weapons charge on April 12. He suffered a severe spinal cord injury while in police custody and died seven days later. His death sparked protests and riots in Baltimore and heightened the focus on policing in Black communities.……..VIRGINIA GOV. Terry McAuliffe continued his push to restore voting rights for former felons.

He announced that the state will no longer require ex-felons to pay outstanding court fees before they can vote again. “We have forced these men and women to battle a complicated and bewildering tangle of red tape to reach the voting booth, and too often we still turn them away,” McAuliffe said.

“These men and women will still be required to pay their costs and fees, but their court debts will no longer serve as a financial barrier to voting, just as poll taxes did for so many years in Virginia.” McAuliffe said the state has already restored voting rights for more than 8,250 ex-felons in the 17 months he has been in office…….. FORMER CONGRESSMAN Jesse Jackson Jr. was released from a Baltimore halfway house, where he had been living since his release from an Alabama federal prison in March.

Jackson, a Chicago Democrat, received a two-and-a-half-year sentence for spending $750,000 in campaign money on personal items. He will spend the last three months of his sentence under house arrest. His wife, former Chicago Alderman Sandi Jackson, pleaded guilty to filing a false federal income tax return. She will begin serving a 12-month sentence in October.

VOLUME 84 • NUMBER 29 JUNE 25, 2015

Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Advertising/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Online Editor ReShonda Billingsley Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila

Print Editor Marilyn Marshall Multimedia Coordinator LaGloria Wheatfall Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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JUNE 25 | 2015 | DEFENDER

entertainment

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Brian Courtney Wilson

launches multi-media initiative

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Houston singer and songwriter Brian Courtney Wilson is determined to make a difference. He recently launched the multi-media initiative #WEAreWorthFightingFor, which encourages parents, community leaders and pastors to write letters and video messages to post on social media that will offer expressions of strength and unity.

The initiative kicked off on Father’s Day, and the goal is to create an “overwhelming show of messages of love and empowerment” at a time when negative images and stories seem to dominate the news.

He asks participants to write a letter to their child, another young person in their lives or to the community describing the value they have, affirming the talents and gifts God has bestowed upon them, and expressing the importance of Black lives.

Wilson wrote such a letter to his son, Joshua, and it said in part: “I am writing this letter because I love you dearly, and you are so valuable and special to me. There has been a lot of news lately about young Black males being gunned down or killed by people in authority or people who were afraid of them because of the color of their skin…Given this climate, I am writing to affirm your worth not only to me but to the entire world…”

Earlier this year, Wilson released the album “Worth Fighting For,” his first album on the Motown Gospel label. It’s also his first live album, and was recorded at St. John’s United Methodist Church.

“I love how real this album sounds,” Wilson said.

“And that’s one of the things I pray for: to create a great catalog of music that people can lean on in good – and tough – times.”

Wilson, who released his first album six years ago,

“Instead, my gut reaction was it’s still worth fighting for and preserving. I didn’t know then it would be the theme of my album. But from there, God revealed the songs.”

Other songs include the energetic opening track “Stand My Ground,” the midtempo “It Will Be Alright,” and the anthem ballad “I’ll Just Say Yes.” The deluxe version includes the studio track “Greatest Love,” featuring Tina Campbell of Mary Mary fame.

About Br Courtney ian Wilson • Born ne ar C

enjoys spreading good news through his music. On his latest album, he expresses joy, love, self-doubt, grace, empowerment, victory and inspiration.

The album was produced by Aaron Lindsey, vice president of A&R at Motown Gospel.

The title track/lead single laid the foundation for Wilson’s Motown debut. Wilson said that during an early chat about the album’s direction, Lindsey asked him a pivotal question about the state of the church.

“In a world that’s become cynical about authority and organized religion, that’s an easy question to get negative about,” Wilson said.

hicago in • Sang in Bellwood his local c , Ill. hurch’s m • Gradua a le ted from choir the Unive • Relocate rsity of Il d to Hous linois ton and w Johnson orked for & Johnso n • S ang an d wrote s ongs for United M Windsor ethodist Village Church S • Signed u n day servic with Matt es hew Know Rising/M les’ label usic Worl S p d irit • Release d his first album in Love” 2009, “Ju st • Won Ste llar Award ; nominate Award an d for Dov d NAACP e Im age Award • His albu m “So Pro ud” debu Billboard ted at No ’s Top Go . 1 on spel Albu • Signed ms chart with Moto wn in 2014

what’sup LESTER HOLT made TV news history by becoming the first African-American solo anchor of a weekday network nightly newscast.

Holt, 56, was recently named permanent anchor of “NBC Nightly News.” He has been a broadcast journalist for 34 years. Holt joined NBC in 2000 and became the full-time anchor of “Weekend Nightly News” in 2007. He also anchors “Dateline” and co-anchors “Weekend Today.” BRIAN WILLIAMS, Holt’s predecessor, was suspended for exaggerating his role in a helicopter incident in Iraq, and has been reassigned to MSNBC as an anchor……..SEAN

“DIDDY” COMBS will have to appear in court on July 13 as a result of his recent arrest. He was arrested on UCLA’s campus for getting into a fight with a Bruins’ assistant football coach.

Comb’s son, JUSTIN COMBS, is a redshirt junior defensive back for the Bruins. According to TMZ, one of UCLA’s assistant coaches was “screaming at Justin on the field,” and Diddy later “confronted the coach and grabbed him.”

Combs was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of making terrorist threats and one count of battery. Bond was set at $160,000.……..TINA CAMPBELL of

the gospel duo MARY MARY released a new CD called “It’s Personal” and a new book titled “I Need A Day To Pray.” She said both were inspired by her troubled marriage. Tina’s husband, drummer and musical director TEDDY CAMPBELL, admitted on Mary Mary’s reality show that he cheated on her with multiple women.

“While I was trying to heal from the devastation of my marriage, this book and this music came out of it. So both of them were very personal.

The Bible says the Holy Spirit is your help, the Holy Spirit will comfort you and teach you all things,” she said.

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DEFENDER | JUNE 25 | 2015

CHARLESTON CHURCH MURDERS

RACISM RU Black leader

By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

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merica has been shocked and saddened by the June 18 racially-motivated murder of nine Black people attending Bible study at historic Emanuel African Methodist Church in Charleston, S.C. The white suspect in the case, 21-year-old Dylann Roof, was arrested by police the morning after the attack. Roof is a young white supremacist whose disdain of Blacks has forced America to revisit racism.

As the country searches for answers, significant occurrences have already taken place: • President Obama created a firestorm when he used the N-word while discussing racism in America.

• Southern states are being encouraged to remove Confederate flags from their state capitol grounds, and Walmart, Amazon, eBay and Sears all announced bans on the sale of Confederate flag merchandise.

• Elected officials including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said they will return campaign contributions from the head of a white supremacist group cited by Roof.

Here, the Defender looks at racism and the Charleston church murders.

“Racism. We are not cured of it. And it’s not just a matter of it not being polite to say ‘n----’ in public. That’s not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. It’s not just a matter of overt discrimination. Societies don’t overnight completely erase everything that happened 200-300 years prior.”

– President Barack Obama

“If we do not do something as a people to directly address the divisions caused by this sickness [racism], we risk losing all of the ground we have made as a country over the past 50 years. And certainly the youth will take cues from their leaders. If we teach them it is OK to deny racism exists, even when it’s plainly staring them in the face, then we will perpetuate this sickness into the next generation and the next.”

– Presidential candidate Ben Carson

Nine lives lost

1. Cynthia Hurd, 54, was a branch manager at the Charleston County Public Library. The branch where Hurd worked will be renamed after her.

2. Susie Jackson, 87, was a longtime church member.

3. Ethel Lee Lance, 70, was a cousin of Susie Jackson’s and “the heart” of her family.

4. Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, 49, was an enrollment counselor at the Charleston campus of Southern Wesleyan University and the mother of four.

5. Rev. Clementa Pinckney, 41, was pastor of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and a Democratic member of the South Carolina

Senate. Pinckney was elected to the state House at age 23. He was married and the father of two.

6. Tywanza Sanders, 26, graduated from Allen University in Columbia, S.C. with a degree in business administration.

7. Rev. Daniel Simmons, 74, was a ministerial staff member. He was transported to a hospital after the shooting and later died.

8. Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45, was a minister at the church and a high school track coach.

9. Myra Thompson, 59, was the wife of the vicar of Holy Trinity Reformed Episcopal Church in Charleston.

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RUNS DEEP rs speak out

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Church shooter Dylann Roof was photographed waving a Confederate flag.

Dylann Roof: Mindset of a killer NNPA News Service

“I sympathize, empathize and pray for the strength and safety of the members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church and the families of the nine Godfearing individuals who were executed because America has refused to confront and eradicate the elephant sitting in her living room, racism.”

– National Bar Association President Pamela Meanes

“The shooting in Charleston is the result and the product of a protracted political genocide resulting from institutionalized racism, centuries of dehumanization and the current denial of economic and political equality of opportunity. Today everyone is outraged at the killings, but there is not the same outrage that African-Americans are number one in infant mortality, in life expectancy, in unemployment, in cheap wages…Racism deserves a remedy.”

– Rev. Jesse Jackson

Cynthia Hurd

Tywanza Sanders

Susie Jackson

Ethel Lee Lance

Rev. Daniel Simmons

he Houston area for over 80 years

“Many Americans, including myself, sat transfixed watching the bond hearing of Dylann Roof, the accused shooter of last week’s massacre at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. As family members of the victims stood up and said they forgave Roof, who appeared via video-conference from jail, they emphasized that hate would not win…

Yes, racism is real and vile, and many of us are castigated for reminding Americans of this reality, but to forgive proponents of racism while you fight their behavior is not only praiseworthy, it is necessary.”

– Rev. Al Sharpton

Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor

Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton

Rev. Clementa Pinckney

Myra Thompson

A racist manifesto linked to Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old white man who confessed to shooting nine Blacks attending Bible Study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., paints a portrait of a White supremacist who had a deep-seated hatred of African Americans.

“N-----s are stupid and violent,” he wrote in a document found on lastrhodesian.com, a site registered to Roof. The site also included a link to dozens of photographs of him, and his document included grammatical and typographical errors.

“At the same time they have the capacity to be very slick,” he wrote. “Black people view everything through a racial lense. Thats what racial awareness is, its viewing everything that happens through a racial lense.

They are always thinking about the fact that they are black. This is part of the reason they get offended so easily, and think that some thing are intended to be racist towards them, even when a White person wouldnt be thinking about race.”

Roof said that the shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager, by a white neighborhood watchman in Sanford, Fla., “awakened” him. The watchman, George Zimmerman, was acquitted of seconddegree murder charges in the case.

“It was obvious that Zimmerman was in the right. But more importantly this prompted me to type in the words ‘black on White crime’ into Google, and I have never been the same since that day,” Roof wrote. “The first website I came to was the Council of Conservative Citizens.”

Roof’s rambling, ungrammatical manifesto is approximately 2,000 words and targets Jews, Hispanics and

especially Blacks, “the group that is the biggest problem for Americans.”

Although “there are good Hispanics and bad hispanics,” according to Roof, “But they are still our enemies.”

Roof’s harshest words were reserved for Blacks.

He said, “Negroes have lower Iqs, lower impulse control, and higher testosterone levels in generals. These three things alone are a recipe for violent behavior. Anyone who thinks that White and black people look as different as we do on the outside, but are somehow magically the same on the inside, is delusional. How could our faces, skin, hair, and body structure all be different, but our brains be exactly the same? This is the nonsense we are led to believe.”

Roof said, “Modern history classes instill a subconscious White superiority complex in Whites and an inferiority complex in blacks. This White superiority complex that comes from learning how we dominated other peoples is also part of the problem I have just mentioned. But of course I dont deny that we are in fact superior.”

Although the document does not give any clues to why the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church was targeted specifically, it’s clear that Roof saw his actions in the context of a larger racially-motivated war between Whites and Blacks.

“I have no choice. I am not in the position to, alone, go into the ghetto and fight. I chose Charleston because it is most historic city in my state, and at one time had the highest ratio of blacks to Whites in the country,” Roof wrote.

“We have no skinheads, no real KKK, no one doing anything but talking on the internet. Well someone has to have the bravery to take it to the real world, and I guess that has to be me.”

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DEFENDER | JUNE 25 | 2015

sports

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Bill O’Brien, shown at the Texans’ minicamp for veterans, looks forward to training camp.

Countdown to Texans’ training camp

BY MAX EDISON Defender

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ouston sports fans are counting down to the Texans’ training camp, which begins on Aug. 1.

OTAs and mini-camps have concluded. Players are soaking up the remaining bit of vacation time they have left with family and friends while maintaining some form of daily workout regimen.

The Rockets did their part, taking us to the Western Conference finals.

The Astros are doing a masterful job, occupying first place in the AL West with an exciting group of young talent, but at the end of the day, for many area sports fans these items are merely gap fillers until training camp begins.

How big is it? So big that Texan The quarterback training camp will be featured on the competition will be a highlight of 10th anniversary of HBO’s award training camp. winning “Hard Knocks.”

The No. 1 question heading into training camp will be the spirited quarterback competition between Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer. So far head coach Bill O’Brien likes what he sees in the competition.

“These two guys are competing really well,” O’Brien said. “They’re very bright guys. I think whichever guy ends up being starter is going to do a good job for our football team. And whoever is not the starter is going to do a good job for our football team too.

“That guy might be named next week, it might be after the Redskins’ three days of practice, it maybe after the San Francisco preseason game,” O’Brien continued. “I’m not ready yet to name that guy…these two quarterbacks are really doing a good job on the practice field and when

Running back Arian Foster is gearing up for another season.

the timing is right we will make a decision.”

Another thing we know going into training camp is that regardless who the quarterback is, the Texans offense will feature a healthy dose of running back Arian Foster.

“When [Foster] plays and he’s out there, he means a lot to our offense,” O’Brien said. “He’s one of the best backs in the league.

I believe what I’ve seen this spring out of him; he’s a very motivated individual.

He’s out there, he’s practicing hard, and he’s been here every day. We appreciate that as a coaching staff.

“He’s an important part of our offense and we need him out there,” O’Brien continued. “We’ve been able to do some decent things on offense this spring. A lot of it has to do with him being out there.”

The final thing we feel good about heading into training camp is barring injury, the Texan defense has a chance to be elite. In their second year under defensive coordinator Romeo Crennell, All-Pro J.J. Watt likes what he sees.

“Our defense is a lot of fun to play in,” Watt said. “You just look at every single level of the defense. Whether it’s up front with me and Vince Wilfork and Jared Crick, or it’s Whitney Mercilus, John Simon, Brian Cushing, Bull [Max Bullough] and Tarp [Jeff Tarpinian] and those guys back there.”

Watt also cited defensive teammates Rahim Moore, Kareem Jackson and Johnathan Joseph.

“I really enjoy going out there every single day and flying around,” Watt said. “We have intensity.

We have enthusiasm. We have excitement. We go wild and we have fun.”

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JUNE 25 | 2015 | DEFENDER

sportsbriefs Panthers’ owner donates to victims Major props go out to Carolina Panther owner Jerry Richardson who put his money where his heart was. Richardson wrote a check for $100,000 to victims of the recent Charleston tragedy. The donation amounts to $10,000 for each family and $10,000 given to Emanuel AME Church. The $100,000 donation was made in a letter sent recently to the Mother Emanuel Hope fund. Richardson said the money was to help “defray funeral costs and other financial needs of each.” Richardson attended college and was an All-American football star at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., where the Panthers hold their training camp. He built his financial empire in Spartanburg as well. He has always maintained that the Panthers represent North and South Carolina.

Clowney on schedule with knee rehab With OTAs (organized team activities) and mini-camp over and training camp a month away, one of the burning questions on Texans’ fans mind is what’s going on with Jadeveon Clowney’s rehab? The former No. 1 overall draft pick missed the majority of his rookie season because of knee issues that ultimately resulted in season-ending micro-fracture surgery last December. Clowney’s rehab road has been grueling and exhaustive, but head coach Bill O’Brien is pleased with what he has seen. “I’ve been impressed with the way J.D. has been working,” O’Brien said. “He’s been out there. He’s in early. He’s rehabbing. He’s not able to do all of the things that we do on the field just yet, because of his rehab. But he’s on the right track.” The next month of rehab prior to the beginning of training camp will be critical, but so far so good for the talented linebacker’s return for the season opener against Kansas City.

Champion promoted to ‘SportsCenter’ Cari Champion, who co-hosts ESPN’s popular “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless, has garnered a promotion. Reports indicate that Champion has been elevated to an anchor position on the station’s flagship “SportsCenter” show. Champion enjoyed a two-and-a-half year stint as host of “First Take.”

She is expected to work on morning segments of “SportsCenter” beginning in mid-July. In addition, Champion is expected to be a contributor on “ABC’s Good Morning America,” broadcasting sports and entertainment segments. “I grew up watching ‘SportsCenter.’ It is the flagship show so I am living the dream,” Champion said.

Kalu sponsors July football camp Former Rice University and NFL standout turned real estate mogul and talk show host N.D. Kalu is sponsoring his 4th annual football camp for youth from 1st grade to 8th grade at Houston Baptist University from July 10-11. The fee for the camp is $35. Kalu and former Philadelphia Eagle teammate Bobby Taylor will facilitate the camp. Participants will receive actual instruction from a number of former NFL players who will teach kids the proper fundamentals of the game. “This is not a money grab where we entice you with big names who either don’t show up or don’t really interface with the kids,” Kalu said. “Our players do actively interact with our campers. As a matter of fact we’re exhausted like the kids at the end of a session. For more information visit www.ndkalu.com or call 713-240-6921.

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Ends Friday, July 10th LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

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go to defendernetwork.com Cari Champion will become the newest anchor on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”

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DEFENDER | JUNE 25 | 2015

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Defender wins four NNPA Merit Awards The Defender, Houston’s Leading Black Information Source, won four Merit Awards for journalistic excellence during the recent National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) convention in Detroit.

The convention marked the 75th anniversary of NNPA, which works to perpetuate the voice of the African-American community through the Black Press. The Merit Awards recognize the work of the organization’s 200 publications.

The Defender won first place for Best Feature for the 2014 centerfold titled “Robbie Tolan: Quest for Justice.” The Defender also won second place, Best Tabloid Layout & Design; third place, Digital Excellence; and third place, Best Houston Style Publisher Francis Page Jr. was elected NNPA second vice chair, and Houston Forward Times Aspiring Journalist (intern Jasemine Publisher Karen Carter Richards was elected first vice chair. (Photo by David Watkins, Oxygen Photography) Knowles).

Sonny Messiah-Jiles, Defender second-generation publisher, following in the footsteps of her president and CEO, was on hand to accept the awards. late father, Dr. Calvin W. Rolark.

“The Defender has a longstanding tradition of winning “I am honored and proud to represent the NNPA as NNPA Merit Awards,” Messiah-Jiles said. “We are pleased to chairman of this historic and impactful organization,” Rolark be recognized for our hard work and commitment to our print Barnes said. “Since 1827, the Black Press has listened to and and online readers.” spoken for the African-American community.

During the convention, Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher “The future looks bright for the team of publishers elected of the Washington Informer, was elected chair of NNPA. during our 75th anniversary convention in Detroit, Michigan; Rolark Barnes succeeds Cloves C. Campbell Jr., publisher three of the new officers happen to be second-generation of the Arizona Informant, who served for four years. She is a

Jack & Jill hosts children’s gala The North Houston Suburban Chapter of Jack & Jill of America will host the2015 Champions for Children Gala on Saturday, July 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Minute Maid Park in the Union Station Lobby.

The black-tie event will include dinner, entertainment and a live auction.

This year’s gala honorees include Emmy-nominated actress Victoria Rowell, who was raised in foster care; Astros Foundation Executive Director Victoria Rowell Twila Carter, and Houston State Rep. Sylvester Turner. All have a strong record of advocacy on behalf of the needs of children.

“The best way to teach our children about service to the community is by modeling that service in our lives,” said chapter president Carmen Wright.

Acclaimed concert pianist Jade Simmons will perform at this year’s event. KHOU-Channel 11 news anchors Ron Trevino and Sherry Williams will serve as masters of ceremony.

For more information visit www. championsforchildrengala.com/ about/.

newspaper publishers.

“We are committed to fulfill the promises we made to our nearly 200 fellow publishers and we will work hard to propel the Black Press into dynamic 21st century media companies.”

Also elected were: • First vice chair: Karen Carter Richards, publisher, Houston Forward Times • Second vice chair: Francis Page Jr., publisher, Houston Style • Treasurer: Janis Ware, publisher, Atlanta Voice • Secretary: Shannon Williams, publisher, Indianapolis Recorder Elected as directors-at-large were Bernal Smith, publisher of the Tri-State Defender, and Larry Smith, publisher of The Community Times.

classified REQUEST FOR BIDS

HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT 2015 - 2016 Trash Collection & Disposal PROCUREMENT # 2015-828.253

The Houston Downtown Management District (the “Downtown District”) will receive sealed bids for trash collection & disposal performed in downtown Houston, Texas. Bids will be received until 10:00 AM, local time on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at the Downtown District, 2 Houston Center, 909 Fannin, Ste. 1650, Houston, Texas 77010. Bids received after this time will not be accepted. Bids will be opened and read at 10:05 AM on the same day in the Downtown District Board Room. There will be a mandatory pre-bid meeting at 10:00 AM on June 30, 2015 at the office of the Downtown District, 1119 Milam, Houston, Texas 77002.

Questions concerning bids must be submitted prior to 5:00 PM on Monday, July 6, 2015, by email to: scott@downtowndistrict.org or mailed to: HDMD, 1119 Milam, Houston, TX, 77002. Answers to questions will be sent to all contractors who picked up a bid package.

Bid packages can be picked up at 909 Fannin, Suite 1650 beginning on June 19, 2015.

JUNE 25 | 2015 DEFENDER

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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com

topevents

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100 BLACK MEN BLOCK PARTY……..The 100 Black Men 29th Annual individually help the organization identify solutions for today’s crisis of women Conference hosted a health, wealth and wisdom block party at the Shrine of the who have been incarcerated. Those in attendance included founder Michelle Black Madonna. The community empowerment project helped to uphold the Harden, T. Janelle Morehead, Marilyn Williams, Cory Kammerdiener, organization’s mission and vision to serve as a beacon of leadership and create Arquella Hargrove, Dr. Jacquie Hood Martin, host Andre’ S. Johnson, an environment where our children and communities are motivated to achieve Yamasheta Ray, Ramona Franklin and Velma Trayham. Special congrats and empower. Those in attendance included President Reco to the Defender’s CEO/Publisher Sonny Messiah-Jiles for Caston, Chairman Curley Dossman Jr., Vice Chairman her induction into the 2015-2016 FOAW Hall of Fame……..

Defender TOP EVENTS JSU HOUSTON ALUMNI GALA……..The Jackson State Marvin Dickerson, Texas Southern University President More photos on defendernetwork.com Dr. John Rudley, Brian Pauling, Caesar Grantham, University (JSU) Houston Area Alumni hosted their Blue and See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s ‘Crossroads’ Kenneth Robinson, Ollie Reed III, Wilson Dunn, White Gala, A Safari Affair, benefitting students in Houston with Melanie Lawson on Sunday Morning Michael Smith, John Gilmore III, John Preston, Albert attending JSU. Food, fund-raising, fellowship and a safariE. Dotson Jr., Louis Latimer and a host of community themed scavenger hunt took place as guests danced the night leaders and members……..FABRIC OF A WOMAN away. Those in attendance included event chair Linda Mark, JSU President Dr. Carolyn Meyers, JSU National Alumni Association President RECEPTION……..Kingdom View presented the Fabric of a Woman (FOAW) inductees hall of fame and live reception at the Hobby Centers Founders Club.

Yolanda Owens, JSU Houston Alumni President Larry Shaw, and Dennis Women from all walks of life who exhibit strength, courage and faith all while Bowman, Darryl Pilate, Mable Scott Austin, Leland F. Redmond, E. Loraine Green Lee and Dr. Rose Austin. Congrats! helping someone else were honored. The contributions these women make

Dr. John Rudley and Dameion Crook

Kenneth Robinson and Caesar Grantham

Andre’ S. Johnson and Yamasheta Ray

Rod Walker, Aileen Walker, Ramona Franklin, Jenno Johnson and Leslie Johnson

Jackie and Larry Shaw

Leland Redmond, Dr. Carolyn Myers and Mable Scott Austin

Reco Caston, Curley Dossman Jr. and Brian Pauling pose with mentee

T. Janelle Morehead and Michelle Harden

Moses Austin and Caleb Bonds

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DEFENDER | JUNE 25 | 2015

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