Bellemare’s easy to find in Stanley Cup playoffs
In viewing the ongoing Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s hard not to notice Pierre-Edouard Bellemare because he is the only Black player on either team.
Baltimore to host more CIAA championship games, events
CIAA basketball fans will become more acquainted with downtown Baltimore and its Inner Harbor.
Nadine Domond brings her coaching skills to VSU
For the first time in a long time, Virginia State University will have a new head women’s basketball coach on the sidelines.
The boys are back in town
The Richmond Flying Squirrels are in the midst of a six-game Eastern League series at The Diamond. They are taking on the Erie Seawolves, the Class AA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.
Trojans’ first home game to cover new turf
Virginia State University will have a new football coach and a new football field to start the 2022 season.
Lakers’ new head coach once made headlines for his moves in Richmond
Richmonders may recall Darvin Ham. As a member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in March, 1996, Ham demonstrated the most emphatic slam dunk in the annals of the Richmond Coliseum.
VSU baseball players to join Tri-City squad
Virginia State University will be well represented in this sum- mer’s Tri-City Chili Peppers, a collegiate squad that competes in the Coastal Plain League.
Twinning
VCU’s French tennis players named ITA All-Americans
The Bertimon twins prove you don’t have to be born in America to become All-Americans.
Benedictine’s Starlings heads to Chapel Hill
Joel Starlings is taking his football talents — as well as his 6-foot-5, 310-pound frame — to Chapel Hill, N.C.
Petersburg’s legendary basketball coach Carl Edward Peal dies
Moses Malone was among the players he helped shine Benedictine’s Starlings heads to Chapel Hill
Carl Edward Peal, perhaps known best as being Moses Malone’s basketball coach at Petersburg High School, died Thursday, May 16, 2022. He was 94 and living in Richmond.
Will Kendrick Lamar’s new release net win for Warriors?
If Steph Curry is the Golden State Warriors’ good luck charm on the floor, then Kendrick Lamar may be the team’s four-leaf clover off it.
John Marshall’s players reveal college courts
Three John Marshall High basketball athletes are taking their jump shots to the next level.
Welcome Home
Following a 12-game road trip, the Squirrels returned to the Diamond this week for a six-game series against the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies affiliate). Remaining games: Thursday, May 26 - 6:35 p.m. Friday, May 27 - 6:35 p.m. Saturday, May 28 - 6:05 p.m. (Fireworks) Sunday, May 29 - 1:35 p.m. (Bucket Hat Giveaway) --- Armani Smith enjoys playing in Richmond, but the outfielder left his heart in San Francisco. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander grew up in Walnut Creek, Calif., just a long fly ball from the San Francisco Giants’ Oracle Park. Smith was a passionate Giants fan as a youngster, with Barry Bonds being his favorite player.
Former VSU, Hermitage High athlete heads to Commanders
Will Adams has his cleated foot in the NFL door.
VSU wins inaugural baseball tournament
Virginia State University followed a rocky flight of a baseball season with a smooth landing.
A salute to Richmond’s notable basketball stars
Robert L. “Bobby” Dandridge, aka “Greyhound,” “Bismarck,” and “Pick,” was born in Richmond on Nov. 15, 1947. He became a headliner at Maggie L. Walker High (Stretch Gardner) and Norfolk State (Ernie Fears), and was drafted in the fourth round by Milwaukee in 1969.
Virginia State University’s new football coach sports impressive record
Well-traveled Henry Frazier III has been given the head coaching whistle at Virginia State University.
VCU Reaches Scholarship Allowance
After much traffic coming and going, there is finally a “no vacancy” sign on the VCU basketball roster.
St. Christopher’s Pulley is unguarded about choosing R-MC
Keishawn Pulley Jr. watched from afar last season as Randolph-Macon College raced to the NCAA Division III basketball championship. This coming season, he aims to be part of the show in Ashland.
Richmond’s striking past with Black baseball pitchers includes Satchel Paige, others
Since integrated professional baseball arrived in Richmond, there has been a relative shortage of Black men on the pitching mound for the home team.
Boston, Black men in basketball go hand in hand
If anyone can do the impossible — make the Boston Celtics fans forget about the likes of legends such as Larry Bird — Jayson Tatum might be the guy, at least among younger rooters.
Samantha Cunningham of VSU earns All-CIAA honors
Virginia State University softball slug- ger Samantha Cunningham went out with a bang, or rather a sharp ping from her metal alloy bat. In her final season wearing the Trojans’ orange and blue, the senior third base player from Waukegan, Ill., earned All-CIAA hon- ors while leading the conference in hitting at .467. Cunningham finished with 13 doubles, three home runs, 29 runs batted in and struck Delaware State president, athletes decry search of team bus by Georgia deputies Associated Press SAVANNAH, Ga. The president of Delaware State University, a historically Black college, accused sheriff’s deputies in Georgia of intimidating and humiliating the university’s women’s lacrosse team when deputies pulled over the athletes’ bus and searched it for drugs. Delaware State University President Tony Allen said he’s “incensed” by the April 20 traffic stop along Interstate 95 south of Savannah as the team returned from a game in Florida. In a letter to students and faculty, Dr. Allen said nothing illegal was found and campus officials were “exploring options for recourse — legal and otherwise.” “We do not intend to let this or any other incident like it pass idly by,” Dr. Allen said in the letter posted Monday on the university’s social media pages. Liberty County, Ga., Sheriff William Bowman, who is Black, said Tuesday his office is conducting a formal review of the traffic stop. He said deputies had stopped other commercial vehicles the same morning along I-95 and found drugs on a different bus. The team’s chartered bus was stopped because it was traveling in the left lane, which is a violation of Georgia law, he said. The sheriff said deputies decided to search the team’s bus when a drug-sniffing dog “alerted” alongside it. “I do not exercise racial profiling, allow racial profiling or encourage racial profiling,” Sheriff Bowman told reporters. The sheriff added that based on what he already knows, “I believe the stop was legal.” No one was arrested or charged. The sheriff said the bus driver was given a warning. Video posted online by one of the Delaware State lacrosse players shows two white deputies on the bus. One of them tells the bus passengers that possessing marijuana remains illegal in Georgia. “If there is anything in y’all’s luggage, we’re probably going to find it, OK,” the deputy says. “I’m not looking for a little bit of marijuana, but I’m pretty sure you guys’ chaperones are probably going to be disappointed in you if we find any.” The deputy continues : “You guys are on a lacrosse team, correct? If there is something in there that is questionable, please tell me now. Because if we find it, guess what? We’re not going to be able to help you.” Sydney Anderson, the student who posted the video, wrote in the campus publication The Hornet Newspaper that team members felt there was “underlying racism” behind the search. “The team members were in shock, as they witnessed the of- ficers rambling through their bags,” Ms. Anderson wrote. “They brought the K-9 dog out to sniff their luggage. The cops began tossing underwear and other feminine products, in an attempt to locate narcotics.” Georgia courts have held that the odor of marijuana is enough to give police probable cause to search vehicles without a warrant. The sheriff said he welcomes feedback from the lacrosse team. “We realize that in this current environment, even a traffic stop can be alarming to citizens, especially African-Americans,” Sheriff Bowman said. out only four times in more than 100 plate appearances. Earning second team honors for the Trojans were designated player Macy Beville from nearby Dinwiddie and pitcher Alaijah Pratt from Lusby, Md. Also, Pratt and Desmyn Owens of Lawrenceville made the All-Freshman team. Under first-year Coach Jameshia Smith, VSU finished 20-13 overall and 13-4 in the CIAA. The Trojans’ season ended with a 6-4 loss to Bowie State University on May 7 in the loser’s bracket final of the CIAA Tournament in Glen Allen.
VUU Panthers to kick off 2022-23 football season on a Thursday night
Virginia Union University is doing something a little unusual for the upcoming football season.
Washington Commanders hope to score big this season with new draftees
The NFL team in Washington has been spinning its wheels for years. The club now called the Commanders has gone 31-50 since its last winning season in 2016 (8-7-1).
Players’ fortunes rise with the NFL draft; others seeking free agent contract
If Jahan Dotson does in the NFL what he did in college, the Washington Commanders’ first season could have fans dancing in the aisles at FedEx Field.
Ashton Pratt signs to join the VUU Panthers next season; JV basketball team also in the works
Virginia Union University has received a commitment from one of the best players from arguably the state’s best high school basketball team.
Chris Cheeks, former VCU standout and Boston College coach, dies at 54
Chris Cheeks, among the most prolific scorers in Virginia Commonwealth University basketball history, died Wednesday, April 20, 2022. He was 54 and living in the Boston area where he was an assistant basketball coach at Boston College.
Washington Nationals may be out front in diversity in MLB
The Washington Nationals may be last in the National League East standings, but they’re likely first in diversity.
Spartans snag George Beale, Region 4A Player of the Year
Norfolk State University will lose some key players from last season’s championship basketball team, but help is on the way.
VCU Rams to welcome Michigan transfer Brandon Johns Jr.
Virginia Commonwealth University basketball Coach Mike Rhoades needed another big man and found what he was looking for in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Scottie Barnes is NBA Rookie of the Year; ‘Bones’ Hyland ranks 8th among rookies in scoring
Scottie Barnes is the NBA Rookie of the Year, but don’t overlook former Virginia Commonwealth University star Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland on the top newcomers list.
Jordan Nesbitt transferring to Hampton to play basketball
Jordan Nesbitt’s basketball journey is taking him to Hampton University.
Top high school sophomore hoops player signs with pro league
The ever-changing sport of basketball has taken another turn.
Liberty’s Malik Willis and VSU’s Will Adams hoping to hear their names called in NFL draft
The much-anticipated NFL draft starts Thursday, April 28. Two state players to watch for are Malik Willis and Will Adams.
Richmond Flying Squirrels hails from a number of colleges
NFL and NBA players are closely identified with the colleges where they earned reputations before entering the professional ranks.
VSU freshman baseball player Tahraun Hammond logs impressive stats
As freshmen baseball players go, few have posted more impressive statistics than Virginia State University’s Tahraun Hammond.
Embiid, others earn spots in NBA’s season record book
Joel Embiid traveled a long way to earn his spot in the NBA record book.
Trinity Thomas wins NCAA All-Around title in gymnastics
Trinity Thomas is the new queen of college gymnastics.
Manchester sophomore Aiden Harris gives high sign to U.Va.
Aiden Harris is only a sophomore at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, but already he knows where he’ll play college baseball.
Richmond Flying Squirrels get high marks for attendance
On their first report card, give the Richmond Flying Squirrels an “A” — for attendance.
Remembering Jackie Robinson’s historic play breaking the color line 75 years ago
It has been 75 years since Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color line, and the cheers are only getting louder.
Tiger Woods comes back, but not enough to win
Tiger Woods showed stamina and power in his spirited golfing comeback, but his accuracy be- trayed him at the Masters Tourna- ment in Augusta, Ga.
Pittsburgh backup QB Dwayne Haskins hit, killed in Florida
Dwayne Haskins, who arrived in Washington three seasons ago as one of the NFL’s most promising newcomers, died Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Fort Lauderdale after being hit by a dump truck as he was attempting to cross Interstate 595 on foot.
Baseball’s Tommy Davis dies at 83
Tommy Davis, among the greatest hitters in Los Angeles Dodgers history, died Sunday, April 3, 2022. He was 83 and residing in Phoenix.
VCU Rams seeing players head out and come on board
No Virginia Commonwealth University basketball roster should be written with anything more permanent than a No. 2 pencil. And don’t press too hard on the lead.
NFL Hall of Famer Rayfield Wright succumbs at 76
Rayfield Wright, a mainstay on five Dallas Cowboys teams that reached the Super Bowl, died Thursday, April 7, 2022.
Trinity Episcopal alumni Armando Bacot, Henry Coleman III bring attention to school
During the college basketball playoffs, few high schools had more to whoop ‘n’ hollar about than Trinity Episcopal School on Richmond’s South Side.
