NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to address graduating seniors at Harvard on Wednesday
Past Class Day speakers include former vice president Al Gore, a Harvard graduate, and comedian Amy Poehler, a Burlington native.
Abdul-Jabbar spent 20 seasons in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers, earning the league's Most Valuable Player honors a record six times. He is also an award-winning author and a former Time magazine columnist, writing on various topics including sports, race, religion, and Black history.
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He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former president Barack Obama in 2016 for his work promoting social justice.
Abdul-Jabbar, whose trademark skyhook helped him become the NBA's all-time leading scorer in 1984 until LeBron James surpassed him in 2023, also founded
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USA Today
15 minutes ago
- USA Today
17-year-old golfer to compete against pros at a course her grandpa wasn't allowed to play
17-year-old golfer to compete against pros at a course her grandpa wasn't allowed to play BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Sixty years ago, Barney Gibson was a caddy at the Battle Creek Country Club. Being Black, he wasn't allowed to play. This weekend, his granddaughter will be on the first tee, competing in a professional golf tournament on that same course. Battle Creek's Amiyah Gibson was given a sponsor exemption and will be part of the field for the 12th annual FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship, with the three-day event starting Friday, June 6, at the Battle Creek Country Club. "It's a full-circle moment for us. Really special. My dad was a caddie 60-some years ago, so for my daughter to be playing and me getting to caddie for her, it's really special," said Aaron Gibson, father of Amiyah. "For her to be able to participate in this tournament is just amazing." Gibson talked about her connection to her grandfather in her application letter to play in the event. "Although my grandpa was extremely good at golf, while he was growing up, he was not allowed to play on the golf courses based on the color of his skin. This was so powerful that it motivated me to learn the skill of golf so that I could show others who look like me that they can play golf, too, regardless of skin color," Gibson said. The 17-year-old Gibson graduated last week from Lakeview High School, where she was a standout varsity golfer for four years and an All-City Tournament champ in the fall. She will go from playing against high school players a few months ago to competing against some of the best women golfers in the world. The FireKeepers event is part of the Epson Tour, the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour. "This is really exciting. It was always my dream to play professional golf," Amiyah Gibson said. "This will be a great experience, to see these professional golfers play. And, to get to play with and against them." Gibson qualified for the MHSAA state finals all four years while at Lakeview, and will be playing at Wayne State University next year. She will open play in the first round on Friday with the hope of holding her own against a talented field. As she was getting ready for a practice round on Tuesday, she talked about the upcoming weekend. "I think I'll be a little nervous at the start. That first tee shot will be tough. But after that, it's just golf," Gibson said. "Just really want to go out and have fun, soak in every last experience I can have out there. And, maybe put up a couple numbers, that would be kinda cool also." The 2025 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship will have a 144-player field competing for a $225,000 purse. Included in the field will be Michigan State golfers Valery Plata and Yurika Tanida as well as Michigan golfer Hailey Borja and former Michigan golfer Monet Chun. The 2023 winner of the FireKeepers event will be back in Siyun Liu. Overall, six different countries will be represented at the tournament. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted, with all net proceeds from the event benefiting The Haven locally. "We always enjoy bringing this tournament to Battle Creek. Always brings a lot of international talent to the area and some great golfers," said FireKeepers Casino Hotel CEO Frank Tecumseh. "It's a family-fun event. Getting to see some great athletes play the sport like it's supposed to be played." Just like all the Epson players who are looking to eventually play in the LPGA, Gibson is hoping this weekend can lead to bigger things. "If you would have told me 10 years ago, when I first started playing, that 10 years later I would be playing in a professional tournament, I would say you were crazy. Shows how far I've come," Gibson said. "I'm always looking to further my career in golf. I want to become a professional golfer. So events like this, and playing in college next year, will help make that happen."
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Michael Jordan Watches A Street Performer In Portugal But Refuses To Take A Picture Because Of The Adidas Shirt
Michael Jordan Watches A Street Performer In Portugal But Refuses To Take A Picture Because Of The Adidas Shirt originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Michael Jordan is a global icon, a six-time NBA champion, and the face of one of the most successful sports branding empires in history. But in Portugal this week, His Airness once again reminded the world just how seriously he takes that legacy not just on the court, but off it, down to the logos in his presence. While vacationing in Portugal with his wife, Yvette Prieto, Jordan was seen enjoying a street performance by local musician Lucas Pina. The moment, captured on video and posted to social media, shows Jordan vibing to Pina's soulful guitar and vocals while dining outdoors in Lisbon. MJ appeared relaxed, cigar in hand, smiling, nodding, and fully immersed in the music. For Pina, it was the performance of a lifetime: serenading the greatest basketball player ever. And then came the twist. A fan cheekily commented under the video: 'You're wearing Adidas, Jordan wouldn't f**k with you.' To everyone's surprise, Pina replied, 'Yes, that's why he couldn't take a picture with me that day.' While brief, that one-liner sparked a storm of online commentary. Was he joking, or did Michael Jordan really snub a photo-op because of a rival brand? Given Jordan's brand loyalty history, it wouldn't be shocking. As the cornerstone of Nike's $6 billion Jordan Brand, Michael has spent decades curating his image. Being photographed next to a street artist in Adidas, no matter how talented, could dilute that image or, worse, invite speculation about his own allegiance. In the world of branding and optics, even innocent photos can snowball into misinterpretations. And Jordan, a master of legacy control, has always been cautious about association. This incident in Portugal isn't an isolated moment. Jordan is known for being meticulous about how and where he is photographed, especially when it involves rival apparel. He's even gone so far as to cover other brands' logos with tape during public appearances. It's not personal, it's professional. And it's deeply tied to a billion-dollar empire. What makes the Adidas irony richer is that Jordan didn't even want to sign with Nike initially. He even begged Adidas to match Nike's offer in 1984, which they declined. The rest, of course, is sneaker history. Europe, meanwhile, continues to be a favorite destination for MJ. He's spent summers across the continent, dancing in Capri with his wife Yvette, partying in Milan, and even being spotted dining with Magic Johnson during one of his luxury getaways. Jordan has a deep affection for Italy in particular. In a now-viral story from 2022, a Milan cigar shop manager described being stunned when the basketball legend casually strolled in and asked for recommendations. Jordan was in town looking for the finest cigars to enjoy during his stay, adding another iconic stop to his long list of European adventures. He was also seen on a boat ride in Lake Como with George Clooney that same summer and cruised along the Croatian coast in 2021 aboard a $1.2 million-per-week yacht. But His Airness isn't staying retired from the game entirely. For the upcoming 2025–26 NBA season, Jordan is set to return in an official capacity as the league's special contributor. The role, created as part of the NBA's new media expansion, will see MJ help promote the global growth of basketball and connect newer generations to the game's history. Sources say he'll feature in broadcast specials, international tours, and legacy campaigns that highlight today's stars, players like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, whom Jordan himself believes deserve more respect from older fans. While he may not be donning a jersey again, MJ's return signifies a powerful union between past greatness and the league's future. Still, the moment with Lucas Pina wasn't entirely lost. Jordan may not have posed for a photo, but he did what mattered more in the moment: he listened, appreciated, and vibed to an artist pouring his heart out through music. And that, in itself, is its own kind of endorsement, just not one with three stripes in the story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
22 minutes ago
- Newsweek
NBA Star Chris Paul Offers Major Update on Playing Future
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The NBA offseason is just a few weeks away from starting, and there are expected to be a lot of moves taking place around the league. There are some notable free agents heading onto the market, and plenty of teams are expected to be very active. One of the bigger names on the market is veteran point guard Chris Paul. Paul is coming off a very successful season with the San Antonio Spurs that saw him suit up for all 82 games. Despite being 40 years old, Paul seems to be leaning toward returning to the NBA next season. But where he plays remains very much up in the air. While appearing on "The Pat McAfee Show", Paul discussed his upcoming free agency. The veteran guard hinted that he wanted to continue playing in the NBA and that his family would be helping in his decision on where to play. "I still love to play basketball and I'm in the gym every decision is about my family more than anything "I talked to my family about it. My son is 16. My daughter is 12. The past six seasons I have lived without them. I've been away from them the last six years. That's the conversation.", Paul said. "I still love to play basketball and I'm in the gym every day.. My decision is about my family more than anything"@CP3 #PMSLive — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 5, 2025 This article will be updated...
