After Ilie Nastase reportedly made a racist comment about her growing bundle of joy, Williams took to Twitter to quickly shut him down.
By Sharon Brown, Special to TSDMemphis.com
Ball is life for coaches of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team the Tri-State Athletic Group. But instilling the fundamentals of hard work and dedication off the court is golden. According to the team website: “The goal of the Tri-State Athletic Group is to lead, develop and support the youth of today, through athletics by promoting responsibility, hard work, sportsmanship, teamwork and fellowship within a safe and positive environment. The organization strives to develop boys into men through athletics; physically, mentally, and spiritually.” The team’s inaugural season began in 2015. It is classified as a 13U team — which means an athlete can be no older than 12 on August 31, 2017 under AAU guidelines. There has been some backlash from former NBA players regarding AAU programs. Kevin Garnett recently commented in an interview on NBATV with Kevin McHale, “Our league now is at a point where we have to teach more than anything. AAU has killed the league.” “We have integrity. We teach our kids truthfulness, integrity. We teach them that they have to earn everything that they do,” assistant coach Tobey Shaw said of The Tri-State Ballers, which operates under the Tri-State Athletic Group’s organization. Shaw wholeheartedly agrees with Garnett to a certain extent. He explained, “I’ve been actually saying that for years and I’ve always said that the AAU is actually a cesspool because of the unfairness at times. “I know for a fact that kids are held back one, two years, so they can shine,” he continued. “Often times a kid that’s 14 years old is playing with 12-year-olds. But with our team, our kids’ ages are our kids’ ages. Their skill level is their skill level. If we feel like they need to be playing up, we’ll tell the parent, ‘Hey, your child, your child needs to be playing up.’ “It’s not about winning with us, even though winning is important. We teach life lessons first and that’s where integrity comes in.” And players must earn their playing time — regardless of how talented they are or how vocal their parents are. “We have 17 kids this year and last year we had 12,” Shaw said. “Playing time was limited. So we told the kids, ‘Hey, if you want to get out there and you want to earn a spot, you go on out there and you show, you play hard during practice. You show us something in the game, and you earn a spot. We’re not going to give it to you because this is an AAU team and your parents pay fees for this team.’ “That’s how we motivate these kids. We reward them with playing time. They make the most of their playing time when they get it.” Head Coach Danny Trezvant knows the importance of giving back while doing it for his son and the community. “I played basketball basically, all my life since I was about six,” he said. Trezvant offered a slightly different perspective regarding Garnett’s AAU comments. “I wouldn’t say that AAU has ruined but I would say that there are some that have taken advantage and caused it to have a bad name,” said Trezvant. “I would say what makes us different is we are teaching the kids the fundamentals, how to do things right. There have been several AAU teams I have been involved with prior to starting our own team and some things that I saw that I didn’t like. Integrity is the utmost and highest with us and that is what we are trying to teach these kids too.” Trezvant has been coaching youth basketball for more than 20 years in the Mid-South. “Basketball is just an avenue to give back to teach kids teamwork, teach them responsibility and then in turn also teach them life lessons,” he added. The Ballers includes a diverse group of kids who spend time together beyond the basketball court. Vince and Sarah Mashburne’s son Eli is a member of the team. They love the family atmosphere. “That’s very important,” said Vince Mashburne. “It’s one of the things that builds a team, not only in sports, but also as you go forward in life, you have to be close to the people who you work with if you want to be successful.” Service . . . with a smile There’s a unique approach to fundraising that the Ballers have developed. You won’t see this team on the street corners asking for money or participating in car washes. Every month, the players work for tips at a McAlister’s Deli in Southaven, Miss. They work four hours in two shifts. For Trezvant, this is a meaningful way for his players to serve the community, to earn money and build a work ethic all at the same time. “We feel like this teaches them more responsibility and how to treat people when you’re working in a work environment,” said assistant coach Barry Jennings. “When you [are] just washing cars or something, you are just washing cars and you get money. Here, you come in, you get the chance to understand how corporate America really works. Hopefully, they’re paying attention and realize this: ‘I have to carry myself a certain way; I have to treat customers the right because they are paying their money and they demand to be treated the right way.” Jennings said they are establishing work ethic for the children. “It’s teaching them that no one owes you anything, especially the older you get. If you want something out there, if you’re not intending to take it, you have to go out there and work for it.” Thirteen-year-old Elyas Peterson loves working for tips at the deli because it helps the team to earn money for out of town trips. “It’s fun going out of town with the team.” Peterson said. He reiterated that working gives him experience for the future. “If I wanted to work at McDonalds or something, when I am older, I will already know how to do it,” Peterson added. Damien Jordan, a 7th grader who attends DeSoto Central Middle School, talked about what he has learned while being on the team, “The team helps us prepare better for life as we get older. It also prepares us for our later jobs in life and how we can grow up as young men.” This team has a distinctive motto which says: Academics First, Athletics Second. Coaches and parents are on the same page, which stresses education as an integral part of success. Parent Kim Terry wholeheartedly agrees with that sentiment. “The team motto really emphasizes what I live by in my household,” she said. “I have certain expectations for my child because I know what he can do academically. “I’m the athletic director at home, because if those grades aren’t right, I’m gonna bench him and everything,” she said. “And so, it is vital for us that the coaches have the attitude you can’t play if you don’t have the grades in school.” Shaw is not only a coach, he is also a 12 year veteran of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. With his experiences as law enforcement, he teaches his players how to interact with the police. Last year, with a stream of officer-involved shootings and hostile encounters, Shaw’s players had questions and concerns about the police. Shaw brought in some of his co-workers to talk to the kids and performed scenarios exercises. After the session, “We changed their attitude as far as how they would act towards the police,” Shaw said. Many of the players have hoops dreams and NBA aspirations. Coach Shaw ended with, “A lot of these kids have basketball, NBA dreams. The harsh reality of it is, none of them will probably ever make it to the NBA, but you teach them life skills and they can take that through their entire lives and for them to live productive lives.” Coach Trevant concluded, “We want to have a positive impact on their lives and that is why we do what we do.” Through sports, the coaches of the Tri-State Ballers aim is to have a lasting impression on the lives of their players on and off the court.
Ball is life for coaches of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team the Tri-State Athletic Group. But instilling the fundamentals of hard work and dedication off the court is golden. According to the team website: “The goal of the Tri-State Athletic Group is to lead, develop and support the youth of today, through athletics by promoting responsibility, hard work, sportsmanship, teamwork and fellowship within a safe and positive environment. The organization strives to develop boys into men through athletics; physically, mentally, and spiritually.” The team’s inaugural season began in 2015. It is classified as a 13U team — which means an athlete can be no older than 12 on August 31, 2017 under AAU guidelines. There has been some backlash from former NBA players regarding AAU programs. Kevin Garnett recently commented in an interview on NBATV with Kevin McHale, “Our league now is at a point where we have to teach more than anything. AAU has killed the league.” “We have integrity. We teach our kids truthfulness, integrity. We teach them that they have to earn everything that they do,” assistant coach Tobey Shaw said of The Tri-State Ballers, which operates under the Tri-State Athletic Group’s organization. Shaw wholeheartedly agrees with Garnett to a certain extent. He explained, “I’ve been actually saying that for years and I’ve always said that the AAU is actually a cesspool because of the unfairness at times. “I know for a fact that kids are held back one, two years, so they can shine,” he continued. “Often times a kid that’s 14 years old is playing with 12-year-olds. But with our team, our kids’ ages are our kids’ ages. Their skill level is their skill level. If we feel like they need to be playing up, we’ll tell the parent, ‘Hey, your child, your child needs to be playing up.’ “It’s not about winning with us, even though winning is important. We teach life lessons first and that’s where integrity comes in.” And players must earn their playing time — regardless of how talented they are or how vocal their parents are. “We have 17 kids this year and last year we had 12,” Shaw said. “Playing time was limited. So we told the kids, ‘Hey, if you want to get out there and you want to earn a spot, you go on out there and you show, you play hard during practice. You show us something in the game, and you earn a spot. We’re not going to give it to you because this is an AAU team and your parents pay fees for this team.’ “That’s how we motivate these kids. We reward them with playing time. They make the most of their playing time when they get it.” Head Coach Danny Trezvant knows the importance of giving back while doing it for his son and the community. “I played basketball basically, all my life since I was about six,” he said. Trezvant offered a slightly different perspective regarding Garnett’s AAU comments. “I wouldn’t say that AAU has ruined but I would say that there are some that have taken advantage and caused it to have a bad name,” said Trezvant. “I would say what makes us different is we are teaching the kids the fundamentals, how to do things right. There have been several AAU teams I have been involved with prior to starting our own team and some things that I saw that I didn’t like. Integrity is the utmost and highest with us and that is what we are trying to teach these kids too.” Trezvant has been coaching youth basketball for more than 20 years in the Mid-South. “Basketball is just an avenue to give back to teach kids teamwork, teach them responsibility and then in turn also teach them life lessons,” he added. The Ballers includes a diverse group of kids who spend time together beyond the basketball court. Vince and Sarah Mashburne’s son Eli is a member of the team. They love the family atmosphere. “That’s very important,” said Vince Mashburne. “It’s one of the things that builds a team, not only in sports, but also as you go forward in life, you have to be close to the people who you work with if you want to be successful.” Service . . . with a smile There’s a unique approach to fundraising that the Ballers have developed. You won’t see this team on the street corners asking for money or participating in car washes. Every month, the players work for tips at a McAlister’s Deli in Southaven, Miss. They work four hours in two shifts. For Trezvant, this is a meaningful way for his players to serve the community, to earn money and build a work ethic all at the same time. “We feel like this teaches them more responsibility and how to treat people when you’re working in a work environment,” said assistant coach Barry Jennings. “When you [are] just washing cars or something, you are just washing cars and you get money. Here, you come in, you get the chance to understand how corporate America really works. Hopefully, they’re paying attention and realize this: ‘I have to carry myself a certain way; I have to treat customers the right because they are paying their money and they demand to be treated the right way.” Jennings said they are establishing work ethic for the children. “It’s teaching them that no one owes you anything, especially the older you get. If you want something out there, if you’re not intending to take it, you have to go out there and work for it.” Thirteen-year-old Elyas Peterson loves working for tips at the deli because it helps the team to earn money for out of town trips. “It’s fun going out of town with the team.” Peterson said. He reiterated that working gives him experience for the future. “If I wanted to work at McDonalds or something, when I am older, I will already know how to do it,” Peterson added. Damien Jordan, a 7th grader who attends DeSoto Central Middle School, talked about what he has learned while being on the team, “The team helps us prepare better for life as we get older. It also prepares us for our later jobs in life and how we can grow up as young men.” This team has a distinctive motto which says: Academics First, Athletics Second. Coaches and parents are on the same page, which stresses education as an integral part of success. Parent Kim Terry wholeheartedly agrees with that sentiment. “The team motto really emphasizes what I live by in my household,” she said. “I have certain expectations for my child because I know what he can do academically. “I’m the athletic director at home, because if those grades aren’t right, I’m gonna bench him and everything,” she said. “And so, it is vital for us that the coaches have the attitude you can’t play if you don’t have the grades in school.” Shaw is not only a coach, he is also a 12 year veteran of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. With his experiences as law enforcement, he teaches his players how to interact with the police. Last year, with a stream of officer-involved shootings and hostile encounters, Shaw’s players had questions and concerns about the police. Shaw brought in some of his co-workers to talk to the kids and performed scenarios exercises. After the session, “We changed their attitude as far as how they would act towards the police,” Shaw said. Many of the players have hoops dreams and NBA aspirations. Coach Shaw ended with, “A lot of these kids have basketball, NBA dreams. The harsh reality of it is, none of them will probably ever make it to the NBA, but you teach them life skills and they can take that through their entire lives and for them to live productive lives.” Coach Trevant concluded, “We want to have a positive impact on their lives and that is why we do what we do.” Through sports, the coaches of the Tri-State Ballers aim is to have a lasting impression on the lives of their players on and off the court.
On Saturday, Isaiah Thomas lost his sister, Chyna Thomas, in a fatal car crash. On Sunday, he went to the Celtics' first 2017 NBA playoffs game.
A former high school basketball star is now facing a 25-year sentence after having shot down a former basketball opponent in cold blood.
In January of 2015, Dexter Hopkins came home from college and ran into a former basketball rival, …
Former Pro Bowl defensive end Leonard Marshall has won two Super Bowls and spent 11 years in the NFL before coaching high school football. To this day, he needs to take medication for the ravages to his body. Now he …
By Michael Arceneaux, The Root
When I got a press email announcing a new season of Basketball Wives LA, I was legitimately surprised. I’d assumed VH1 decided to take this show out back, shoot it and put it out of its misery to make room for new blood on its programming slate. You know, the humane thing to do. The original franchise, based in Miami and launched in 2010, went on to glory in 2013 after five seasons—two of which were too many. Given its Los Angeles spinoff’s befuddling last season, I thought it was clear to all that it’s time to be like En Vogue and give it up, turn it loose on this show. Who was going to make up the cast? Certainly not any actual wives of professional basketball players at this point, but maybe a woman who got at least three DMs from a ball player on Instagram? What else could these women possibly have to argue about? Yet, after recalling my days in catechism and recently listening to Mary Mary songs chopped and screwed, I decided to give this show another chance and find the answers to these questions. Moreover, I wanted to ponder whether or not this show still has any purpose. So, who is on the show? Malaysia Pargo, Brandi Maxiell, Jackie Christie plus the imports from the now-deceased Miami version, Shaunie O’Neal and Tami Roman all return. Draya Michele gave up on the show midway during its last run, so best of luck to her, the swimsuits and trying to land that Evelyn Lozada-like spinoff. Mehgan James of Bad Girls Club fame is gone, though she promises she’ll return to TV soon. James was probably too much of an insurance risk even by this show’s standard. There are two new cast members: D.J. Duffey, who dates a basketball agent, which I guess technically fits the bill, and Angel Love, a registered nurse who has three degrees and a baby with a Washington Wizards player. Duffey is a Dallas native and play-sister to Brandi, only she doesn’t get along well with Brandi’s BFF, Malaysia Pargo. Judging by the season preview, she will punch you in the face if you force her to. I wonder if she’s from Oak Cliff? As for Angel Love, she is on a “break” from her boyfriend and said that if her man is cheating, she doesn’t want to know about it. She’s basically a very pretty girl with the same lil sad tale we’ve heard so many times on this show. I wish her well in her future endeavors, but Toni Braxton didn’t release “Love Shoulda Brought You Home” for nothing. Learn, girl. What do these women bicker about? The same damn things from the previous season. Listen, it’s cute that we all pretend Shaunie O’Neal can fire her co-workers because she has an executive-producer credit, but that’s not exactly true or all that interesting. Like Royce Reed on the original Basketball Wives, Brandi was not fired for daring to talk slick to Shaunie, so spare us this storyline. Producers could’ve gone on a scavenger hunt in the Shade Room for better material. Malaysia is still gorgeous, though she seems unnecessarily catty. Was this filmed before she received her divorce settlement? You know what? Never mind. I like Malaysia, and she will show up at your event in sweats ready to square up. I’m going to spread positivity with her. Oh, Jackie Christie is still Jackie Christie. We learned that when checking her man for infidelity, she inspects his testicles. Listen, if you have to do a scratch and sniff or grab a measurement cup, you don’t have enough trust in your relationship. Yeah, I’m single, but I’m also not Inspector Gadget with a mate’s junk. Jackie later noted that her first husband was white and she enjoyed the smell of his white hair. To that end, if you wonder whether or not this show still has any purpose, I’m fairly certain I’ve answered. However, I’d like to offer more examples. Judging from the preview of future episodes, 45-year-old Tami Roman is still fighting. If I could play prophet for a second, I predict Tami will one day be on a reality show set at a luxury retirement villa where she’ll be filmed trying to stab a fellow cast member with a butter knife over Jell-O and not putting enough “respeck” on her name. Frankly, Kim Kardashian’s exposing Taylor Swift as Joanne Prada’s rich white cousin on Snapchat was more entertaining than the season premiere of Basketball Wives LA. Like any sitcom, this show has simply outlived its usefulness. Perhaps it’s something to be watched when in need of escapism or stuck in the house during a monstrous thunderstorm, but other than that, I don’t know, beloveds. For me, the thrill is gone.
When I got a press email announcing a new season of Basketball Wives LA, I was legitimately surprised. I’d assumed VH1 decided to take this show out back, shoot it and put it out of its misery to make room for new blood on its programming slate. You know, the humane thing to do. The original franchise, based in Miami and launched in 2010, went on to glory in 2013 after five seasons—two of which were too many. Given its Los Angeles spinoff’s befuddling last season, I thought it was clear to all that it’s time to be like En Vogue and give it up, turn it loose on this show. Who was going to make up the cast? Certainly not any actual wives of professional basketball players at this point, but maybe a woman who got at least three DMs from a ball player on Instagram? What else could these women possibly have to argue about? Yet, after recalling my days in catechism and recently listening to Mary Mary songs chopped and screwed, I decided to give this show another chance and find the answers to these questions. Moreover, I wanted to ponder whether or not this show still has any purpose. So, who is on the show? Malaysia Pargo, Brandi Maxiell, Jackie Christie plus the imports from the now-deceased Miami version, Shaunie O’Neal and Tami Roman all return. Draya Michele gave up on the show midway during its last run, so best of luck to her, the swimsuits and trying to land that Evelyn Lozada-like spinoff. Mehgan James of Bad Girls Club fame is gone, though she promises she’ll return to TV soon. James was probably too much of an insurance risk even by this show’s standard. There are two new cast members: D.J. Duffey, who dates a basketball agent, which I guess technically fits the bill, and Angel Love, a registered nurse who has three degrees and a baby with a Washington Wizards player. Duffey is a Dallas native and play-sister to Brandi, only she doesn’t get along well with Brandi’s BFF, Malaysia Pargo. Judging by the season preview, she will punch you in the face if you force her to. I wonder if she’s from Oak Cliff? As for Angel Love, she is on a “break” from her boyfriend and said that if her man is cheating, she doesn’t want to know about it. She’s basically a very pretty girl with the same lil sad tale we’ve heard so many times on this show. I wish her well in her future endeavors, but Toni Braxton didn’t release “Love Shoulda Brought You Home” for nothing. Learn, girl. What do these women bicker about? The same damn things from the previous season. Listen, it’s cute that we all pretend Shaunie O’Neal can fire her co-workers because she has an executive-producer credit, but that’s not exactly true or all that interesting. Like Royce Reed on the original Basketball Wives, Brandi was not fired for daring to talk slick to Shaunie, so spare us this storyline. Producers could’ve gone on a scavenger hunt in the Shade Room for better material. Malaysia is still gorgeous, though she seems unnecessarily catty. Was this filmed before she received her divorce settlement? You know what? Never mind. I like Malaysia, and she will show up at your event in sweats ready to square up. I’m going to spread positivity with her. Oh, Jackie Christie is still Jackie Christie. We learned that when checking her man for infidelity, she inspects his testicles. Listen, if you have to do a scratch and sniff or grab a measurement cup, you don’t have enough trust in your relationship. Yeah, I’m single, but I’m also not Inspector Gadget with a mate’s junk. Jackie later noted that her first husband was white and she enjoyed the smell of his white hair. To that end, if you wonder whether or not this show still has any purpose, I’m fairly certain I’ve answered. However, I’d like to offer more examples. Judging from the preview of future episodes, 45-year-old Tami Roman is still fighting. If I could play prophet for a second, I predict Tami will one day be on a reality show set at a luxury retirement villa where she’ll be filmed trying to stab a fellow cast member with a butter knife over Jell-O and not putting enough “respeck” on her name. Frankly, Kim Kardashian’s exposing Taylor Swift as Joanne Prada’s rich white cousin on Snapchat was more entertaining than the season premiere of Basketball Wives LA. Like any sitcom, this show has simply outlived its usefulness. Perhaps it’s something to be watched when in need of escapism or stuck in the house during a monstrous thunderstorm, but other than that, I don’t know, beloveds. For me, the thrill is gone.