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Source: Transcendental Graphics / Getty / Negro Leagues
The MLB is finally doing right by the exceptional athletes who dominated the Negro Leagues by allowing them to have their well-deserved place in Baseball’s record books.
Spotted on ESPN, the MLB is finally correcting what it called a “longtime oversight” by incorporating the Negro Leagues’ records for more than 2,300 players into its record books.
MLB’s decision greatly benefits Homestead Gray’s legendary catcher, Josh Gibson.
With the move, Josh Gibson surpassed Ty Cobb, becoming Major League Baseball’s career leader with a .372 batting average, passing Cobb’s .367.
Gibson’s .466 average for the 1943 Homestead Grays is now the season standard. Charlie “Chino” Smith is right behind Gibson with his .451 for the 1929 New York Lincoln Giants, eclipsing Hugh Duffy, who batted .440 for the National League’s Boston team in 1894.
Another massive milestone for Gibson (.718) and OPS (1.177) puts him ahead of the great Babe Ruth (.690 and 1.164) in slugging percentage.
“It’s a show of respect for great players who performed in the Negro Leagues due to circumstances beyond their control and once those circumstances changed demonstrated that they were truly major leaguers,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday. “Maybe the single biggest factor was the success of players who played in the Negro Leagues and then came to the big leagues.”
MLB Players Positively React To The News
The news of the Negro Leagues stats finally being added to MLB’s record books is being positively received by players around the league.
“You get to learn about a lot of names and a lot of people that we may not have heard about,” Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen said per ESPN. “Now that Josh Gibson is at the top of OPS and batting average and a few other categories, it’s great news. But it’s more than just that and the numbers. It’s great that you now get to learn about the players in the Negro Leagues. … I’ll be able to do some more deep diving into some names that I may not have heard of.”
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene said the decision was “long overdue,” adding, “It is really exciting. I’m going to have to do a little bit more research and understand some of the history to kind of rewire my brain on some of the best players.”
Ty Cobb’s great-grandson, Tyrus Cobb, praised the decision.
“Baseball history is a part of U.S. history, and I think (the) major leagues acknowledging and incorporating the Negro Leagues is a huge step in kind of bringing all the parts of baseball history together,” Cobb said. “And I think it’s actually pretty exciting that there’s a new statistical batting average leader.”
Cobb, 32, who works in commercial real estate, also said he would “take a closer look” into Gibson’s career after passing Ty Cobb.
Social Media Reactions About The Negro Leagues Inclusion In MLB Records
While there is plenty of positive sentiment about the decision, we are not surprised there are people who are BIG MAD about the Negro Leagues’ fantastic players getting their just due.
“Babe Ruth rolling over in his grave,” a user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
Another user added, “Not a fan of this we understand they weren’t allowed to play and that sucks but they didn’t account these stats in the majors and it shouldn’t count towards MLB records.”
BIG MAD, indeed.
Welp, thankfully, their opinions do not matter.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
3. Exactly
4. Pretty much
5. Curtis Granderson is right
8. All in the comments BIG MAD
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Source: MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images / Getty / Bill Walton
The sports world lost a giant on Monday with the passing of Bill Walton, a two-time NBA Champion, Basketball Hall of Famer, and all-around exceptional human being.
Through commissioner Adam Silver, the NBA announced the passing of the Emmy-winning sports broadcaster and former UCLA player on Monday.
In a statement, Silver said, “Bill Walton was truly one of a kind. Bill then translated his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he delivered insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans.”
Silver continued, “What I will remember most about him was his zest for life. He was a regular presence at league events — always upbeat, smiling ear to ear, and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy, and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.
“As a cherished member of the NBA family for 50 years, Bill will be deeply missed by all those who came to know and love him.”
The 71-year-old former professional hooper died from cancer on Monday in the presence of his loved ones, his family said in the statement.
Bill Walton’s Long List of Accomplishments
Walton had an exceptional career, winning two national titles with the UCLA Bruins before winning two NBA championships.
His NBA career did not last long because of nagging foot injuries, playing 468 games with the Portland Trail Blazers, LA (and formerly San Diego) Clippers, and Boston Celtics, averaging a double-double, 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.
Walton was the NBA’s MVP during the 1977-78 season, earning a spot on the league’s 50th and 75th anniversary teams.
Walton was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993,
He seamlessly transitioned into the broadcast booth, where the 6’11 giant became one of the most recognizable voices in sports thanks to his famous catchphrase, “Throw it down, big man.”
The American Sportscasters Association named him among the top 50 sports broadcasters in 2009.
The NBA Honors Walton on Social Media
Following the sad news, former players and friends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, and Julius “Dr.J” Erving paid tribute to Waltton on X, formerly Twitter.
“I am sad today hearing that my comrade & one of the sports worlds most beloved champions & characters has passed. Bill Walton enjoyed life in every way. To compete against him & to work with him was a blessing in my life. Sorry for your loss Walton family. We’ll miss him too,” Erving wrote on X.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote on X, “Today I had to say goodbye to a great friend that I will always miss.”
Walton is survived by his wife Lori and sons Adam, Chris, Nate, and Luke, who played ten seasons in the NBA before becoming a coach in the league.
You can see more reactions to his passing in the gallery below.
1. He will be missed
2. A legend
3. The Portland Trail Blazers say goodbye to an icon
4. So long to a So-Cal hooping legend
6. Former President Barack Obama remembers Bill Walton
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Source: Andrea Renault/Star Max / Getty
Former President Donald Trump was joined onstage at his rally in the Bronx by Sheff G, who has been indicted on charges of alleged murder.
On Thursday night (May 23), Crotona Park in the South Bronx was the scene for a campaign rally for presumptive Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump, whose speech contained commentary about the crime and “decline” of New York City. This made it all the more surprising when he was joined on stage by two drill rappers indicted on multiple charges including murder and attempted murder in Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow. Sheff G is out on bail after posting a $1.5 million bond. Trump briefly passed the microphone over to them so they could address the crowd.
“One thing I want to say, they’re always going to whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures. Trump’s gonna shout the wins for all of us,” Sheff G said to those gathered. Sleepy Hallow yelled out Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again!” as both rappers left the stage. “I like those teeth,” Trump remarked as they walked away. “I gotta get my teeth like that.” Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow appeared a little over a year to the day that both were arrested in a sweeping raid by the New York Police Department as part of a 32-person, 140-count indictment. Both rappers were identified as part of the 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways gangs, with Sheff G aka Michael Williams being explicitly named as one who ordered a hit resulting in one dead and five injured. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez also said at the time that Sheff G used some of the proceeds from his music to “help facilitate further gang activity,” but stated that his lyrics were not a major factor in the charges.
Trump’s rally in the solidly Democratic neighborhood of the Bronx was regarded by observers as a play to siphon off Black and Latino voters who dominate the area. It comes as Trump – who currently has almost 90 indictments against him – is on trial in New York City for alleged criminal behavior involving “hush money” paid to adult star Stormy Daniels. A representative for the Trump campaign claimed that the rally drew 25,000, which has not been verified. That assessment comes in contrast to local reporting done by ABC 7 Eyewitness News, whose team got an overhead shot showing the sparseness of the crowd.
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Source: Arturo Holmes / Getty / Elliott Wilson
No one man should have all that power. UPROXX’s new Editorial Director and legendary Hip-Hop scribe Elliott Wilson is no longer welcome in Toronto, and it allegedly has to do with Drake being salty.
Wilson spoke on The Bigger Picture podcast about the fallout after he decided that Kendrick Lamar came out on top in the highly entertaining back-and-forth with Drake.
Wilson revealed that Drake was in his feelings after his co-host DJ Hed pointed out that Wilson was no longer wearing OVO gear and asked him how he felt about Drake unfollowing him.
The Petty 6 God
“It’s funny because Drake is the kind of dude that, even if he doesn’t f**k with you, he still follows you. So, he’s not an unfollow kind of dude. [But] I saw somebody in my comments say, ‘How do you feel about Drake unfollowing you?’ I got my emotions about it… but look, it’s hard… that’s my guy, I respect him,” Wilson said.
Continuing the conversation, Wilson revealed that he got “calls” from people telling him she should not set foot in Toronto right now.
“I got the calls from OGs — I’m not really welcomed in Toronto right now. I grew up in NYC and you know not to go into other people’s projects. You might visit shorty but you ain’t got no business being over to those projects looking for no problems,” Wilson said. “So, I would not go to TO if me and Drake weren’t good. I just think it’s a tough time to manage these relationships with artists… You develop these connections with them, and then you have to manage these relationships and its ups and downs with that.”
All of this is because Wilson agreed with everyone else that Kendrick Lamar won.
Drake is a very petty individual.
Speaking of Drake, he just hopped on a new Sexy Redd song that features the BBL Drizzy beat.
You can watch the latest episode of The Bigger Picture below.
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Source: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty
It seems like Sean Kingston has once again found himself in trouble with the law and for someone who isn’t a gangsta rapper or even an R&B thug, it’s pretty remarkable that the Jamaican singer has seen central bookings more times than your favorite hardcore artist.
According to the Huffpost, the “Beautiful Girls” singer was arrested in California this past Thursday (May 23) on fraud charges after a SWAT team raided his Florida home and made off with a van filled with all kinds of items. To make matters even worse, Kingston’s 61-year-old mother, Janice Turner who actually did a prison bid for bank fraud after pleading guilty to stealing over $160,000 back in 2006.
How she may have been involved in this latest scheme is anyone’s guess, but their attorney, Robert Rosenblatt is confident the two will be exonerated once all the facts come to light saying “We look forward to addressing these in court and are confident of a successful resolution for Shawn and his mother.”
Still, it seems like Sean may have once again skipped out on another bill and is now paying the price for his transgression.
The Huffpost reports:
An attorney who witnessed his mother’s arrest said the detentions are partly related to a lawsuit he filed against Kingston in February accusing him of defrauding a Florida company that installed in his home a 232-inch (5.8 meter) television — or approximately 17 feet by 9.5 feet (5 meters by 3 meters).
“It is amazing what you can get away with if you are a celebrity,” attorney Dennis Card told The Associated Press. “He creates this larger than life, ‘I am rich’ persona. His mother is a necessary component in this. He presents himself as a family-oriented guy, ‘I’m taking care of my mom,’ but she knows full well what is going on.”
In the lawsuit, Ver Ver Entertainment says Kingston contacted the company in September about purchasing the television, sold under the brand name Colossal TV, and having it installed. The system costs $150,000.
In November, Kingston paid the company $30,000 and the TV was installed, the lawsuit says. No commercials or further payments were ever made despite numerous promises, it contends.
Man, just get yourself a big screen TV at BJ’s or Costco for under $1,000 and live your life as a free man. SMH.
Kingston has commented. “People love negative energy! I am good and so is my mother!.. my lawyers are handling everything as we speak,” he wrote on Instagram.
What do y’all think of Sean Kingston’s latest legal situation? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: JACQUELYN MARTIN / Getty
A second home belonging to Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was found flying a flag supporting the January 6th rioters.
According to reports, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was flying another flag that was carried by rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, at a vacation home that he owned in New Jersey. The flag, captured in photographs, was an “Appeal To Heaven” flag which is also known as the Pine Tree flag. It was on view as late as last year, when the Supreme Court weighed a decision on when to prosecute January 6 rioters, according to neighbors in the area on Long Beach Island where the home is located.
The “Appeal To Heaven” flag, which was first flown in the Revolutionary War by the forces of General George Washington, shows a green pine tree on a white background with the phrase “An Appeal To Heaven” inspired by British philosopher John Locke’s “right to revolution” – which encourages violence as a means – doctrine on it. It had fallen out of usage for many years until the last decade when it had become a symbol primarily for “a theological vision of what the United States should be and how it should be governed,” according to Institute of Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies scholar Matthew Taylor. The flag has recently been seen in the office of House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson and has been promoted by Dutch Sheets, a man who was prominent in helping to further former President Donald Trump’s false claims of the 2020 presidential election being stolen.
The news comes days after Alito’s denial that he was responsible for flying the U.S. flag in reverse at his home in Virginia after the January 6 insurrection, which was reported by the New York Times. The conservative Supreme Court Justice has been under fire for leaking the decision that would overturn Roe V. Wade, as well as selling Bud Light stock as the company dealt with right-wing backlash over working with a trans influencer. There have been calls from Democrats in Congress for Alito to be censured for his actions, and for him to recuse himself from any January 6-related cases including the question of immunity for Donald Trump concerning his involvement in the events of January 6.
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Source: Paramount+ / Paramount+
A new documentary on the unknown story behind the rise of digital piracy produced by Eminem & LeBron James debuts in June.
Source: Paramount+ / Paramount+
One of the more obscured stories behind the rise of digital piracy and how it transformed the music industry into what it is today, is on display in a new documentary series, entitled How Music Got Free. The two-episode series is based on the best-selling 2016 book by Stephen Witt. Eminem and LeBron James are executive producers along with Maverick Carter, Paul Rosenberg, and Steve Stoute. The series is directed by Alexandria Stapleton, a veteran who recently was at the helm of the Amazon Prime documentary Reggie, about New York Yankees Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson.
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How Music Got Free focuses in part on the life of Dell Glover. Glover, a man from Shelby, North Carolina, worked at the Universal Music compact disc pressing plant and used his access and ingenuity to leak music as part of the disruption that upended the music industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The series shows how his efforts and others led to the rise of Napster and other downloading sites. As Stapleton expresses in the press release, “The real visionaries, rebels, and anti-heroes of the era were a ragtag group of young people hidden behind online aliases. They leveraged tech and proved to the world how fans really wanted to consume music in the 1990s, 2000s, and beyond. The music industry was too busy raking in profits from CDs to see the digital tsunami that was about to swamp them. When the flood came, the industry didn’t build better boats, they blamed the pirates riding the wave and tried to put them in federal prison.”
How Music Got Free is narrated by Method Man, and features interviews with Eminem, 50 Cent, Steve Stoute, Timbaland, Jimmy Iovine, Rocsi Diaz, Rhymefest, and more. Also involved in the series’ production is Warner Bros. Unscripted Television/Telepictures, in association with SpringHill, Interscope Films, and Shady Films. How Music Got Free will make its premiere on Paramount Plus on June 11.
Source: Paramount+ / Paramount+
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Source: Derek White / Getty / 50 Cent
Diddy, aka The Diddler’s long-time nemesis, 50 Cent, continues to keep his foot on the neck of the Bad Boy CEO and is showing no signs of letting up.
The man who coined the phrase “can’t stop, won’t stop” definitely wished that 50 Cent would do the exact opposite.
Fresh off the disgusting video footage of Diddy physically assaulting his then ex-girlfriend Cassie, ultimately leading to a half-ass apology from the music mogul.
Now, TMZ Hip Hop is exclusively reporting the G-Unit general’s trolling will also be profitable for him after selling his Diddy documentary to Netflix following a “bidding war.”
Per TMZ Hip Hop:
Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … Fifty’s multi-part documentary about the sexual assault allegations against Diddy was purchased by Netflix.
We’re told there was a massive bidding war over the doc, which was produced through 50’s G-Unit Film and Television Studios, with multiple networks and all of the streaming platforms attempting to land the series.Ultimately, the big red N emerged the victor … with sources telling TMZ the new Diddy docuseries will hit the streamer sooner than later.
Bruh, at this point, 50 Cent needs a lifetime achievement award for his commitment in trolling this man. The two have been at odds for nearly two decades, and Curtis Jackson is showing no signs of letting up on Mr. Combs.
In More Diddy News
Speaking of not letting up, Diddy is facing another lawsuit from a model who claims she was sexually assaulted after the rapper drugged her.
If that isn’t enough salt in the wound, NYC Mayor Mixxy—oops, we mean Eric Adams— may take back the key to the city Diddy got following the release of his latest album.
Social media has also been enjoying 50 Cent’s longstanding commitment to being a pain in Diddy’s a**.
You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
1. Yup he sure does
2. Will be seated for it
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Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty / Tom Hanks / Chet Hanks
Professional Jamaican cosplayer Chet Hanks was the perfect person to help break down the Drake/Kendrick Lamar beef with his dad and beloved actor Tom Hanks.
Tom Hanks is one of the few caucasians whose Black card has not been revoked, but he isn’t afraid to admit that he needs to be brought up to speed on Black business.
Case in point: The Toy Story star was deeply curious about the now-ended beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, which led to the Compton MC forcing the Canadian superstar to seemingly wave the white flag and ask his favorite Jafaican son, Chet Hanks, to break it all down for him.
Hanks shared a delightful text conversation between himself, aka “Big Main,” and his very famous dad, whom he affectionately labeled “Pops.”
Here is a breakdown of the conversation per BuzzFeed:
Tom: Big Main, can you explain the Drake/Kendrick Lamar feud to me?
Chet: Yeah, so Drake and this other dude J Cole been saying they along with Kendrick are the “Big 3” in Rap. Then Kendrick put out a song saying, “Fuck the Big 3, it’s just big ME” initiating the beef. Then Drake was like, “you got small feet cuz you’re like 5 foot 5 or whatever.” And then Kendrick was like, you’re a dead beat dad and made fun of his Canadian accent.
So Drake came back and was like, “oh yeah! Well I heard you beat your wife” but literally like 30 seconds later Kendrick put out a diss overshadowing Drakes diss where he pretty much methodically dismantled Drakes entire psyche and called him a pedophile for flirting with young girls and revealing Drake had another kid that he was hiding from the world, which turned out to be false, and Drake came back and was like, “hahaha I gotcho ass I had people give you false info to make you look stupid” but it didn’t even matter cuz then Kendrick just dropped another West Coast banger where he really went in on labeling Drake a pedophile that was pretty much the sonic equivalent of when you took me to your high school in Oakland and we walked in on the basketball game and everybody started going nuts.
Like if you heard it you would just automatically know how to Crip walk with a stank face while clutching an Oscar in each hand with Marshawn Lynch, then dap him up and tell him “Town Bidness” which solidified the win not only for Kendrick but the entire West Coast.
Tom: Holy cow! These are fighting words. People taking sides?? Who’s winning??
Chet: Did you not just read what I said (crying laughing emojis)
Social Media Loved Seeing Tom Hanks So Interested In The Beef
Now, we are not going to gloss over Chet Hanks, who was also accused of domestic violence by his ex, Kiana Parker.
Still, we loved seeing Tom Hanks being so curious about the drama between K. Dot and Drizzy.
X, formerly Twitter, was also here for the voice of our favorite toy cowboy, Woody, asking his son to explain why King Kendrick was dissing Drake.
One person on Elon Musk’s social media platform wrote, “petition to have tom hanks and chet hanks start a podcast called big main where chet explains extremely online things to his dad and it helps out other olds not necessarily like me but almost exactly like me.”
Another user added, “Tom Hanks calling Chet Big Main tells me that Tom loves and accepts his ridiculous son for who he is.”
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Yes, with a lot of Tom Hanks, not his son. Just saying.
2. We agree
3. Signs of a great father.
4. He definitely did.
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Source: Mike Coppola / Getty
Famed artist Kehinde Wiley has been accused of sexual assault by another artist, with Wiley denying the incidents.
According to reports, the award-winning painter Kehinde Wiley has been accused of sexual assault. The claims come from Joseph Awuah-Darko, a British-born Ghanaian artist and the founder of the Noldor Artist Residency in Ghana. Awuah-Darko made the claims in a post on Instagram that he made on Sunday (May 19). “I hope my words and openness about my painful experience empower others to come forward,” Awuah-Darko wrote in the caption. “I hope all that unravels creates a path towards not only accountability, but recompense and collective healing for other victims.”
Awuah-Darko said that Wiley sexually assaulted him twice while the two were at a dinner held by the Ghana Creative Arts Council at the Noldor Artists Residency in 2021. “The act was categorically unwelcome and unprovoked,” he wrote, stating that the first incident occurred within two hours of them being at the dinner. “The second [italics by the artist) assault was much more severe and violent.” Awuah-Darko didn’t describe the second assault, but went on to say that it took him time to “confront the reality of my abuse as such.” He also stated that he would be seeking legal action against Wiley, but acknowledged in an email to the New York Times that given the passage of a new law imposing jail on LGBTQ individuals in Ghana, it may not be received well.
Wiley has firmly denied the accusations from Awuah-Darko. “Someone I had a brief, consensual relationship with is now making false, disturbing, and defamatory accusations about our time together,” he wrote in part in his own Instagram post. “I kindly ask for privacy as I work to clear my name.” The 48-year-old artist forwarded a copy of a cease and desist letter he sent to Awuah-Darko to the Times in addition to an email where he said that Awuah-Darko had “been trying to be part of my life ever since we met.”
