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Miami Herald
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Deeper than football': Northwestern rallies behind suspended coach, Teddy Bridgewater
The scene outside of Miami Northwestern Senior High School on Thursday evening resembled a high school reunion — alumni dating back to the Class of 1970 donned blue and yellow t-shirts, passing out water bottles to one another to cool down from the heat. But instead of reminiscing about prom king and queen, these alumni were protesting, demanding that the school reinstate their football coach. And Miami Northwestern Senior High School has no ordinary football coach. 'Teddy [Bridgewater] means so much to this community, and it's deeper than football,' one of the protest organizers, Northwestern alum Nay Akins told the Miami Herald. 'It's about our future and our kids, everyone loves and appreciates [Teddy]. He brings hope and inspiration.' After retiring from the NFL in 2023, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater returned to his alma mater as head coach and transformed the program, helping bring the team the 2024 state championship. But in July 2025, the school suspended him for providing what the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) deemed 'impermissible benefits' to players. According to Bridgewater's own social media posts, he spent well over $100,000 during the 2024 season on Uber rides, pregame meals, and athletic recovery services, in addition to covering training camp costs and other essentials. Those benefits were not routed through the school's established programs, per FHSAA rules. Bridgewater self-reported his expenditures. According to the alumni, even after Bridgewater rejoined the NFL, coming out of retirement to sign with the Detroit Lions in December 2024, he also made sure to prioritize his hometown community. 'He's one of us,' Derrick Madry, a 1984 Northwestern alum. 'He could've gone anywhere in the world, but he chose to come back here,' Miami Northwestern Class of 1990 alum Felicia Pickard said. Pickard has three children, one of whom went to Miami Northwestern and graduated in 2021. 'The kids love him— they did phenomenal [when Teddy returned.]' The outpouring of love from the Miami Northwestern alumni was palpable on 71st Street in Liberty City, Miami. Many donned 'Coach Teddy, We Ready' t-shirts in the school's colors, drivers passing by rolled down their windows, honking and blaring music. Towards the end of the demonstration, a mobile billboard truck flashing 'Bring Teddy Back' and 'Reinstate Bridgewater' rolled by. But, according to Akins, Teddy's legacy at the school goes beyond football. Once he returned, more students worked towards college scholarships, the attendance rate for classes went up, and Miami Northwestern's graduation rate skyrocketed. He organized back-to-school and Christmas giveaways for students in need. 'A lot of people say [Teddy] left and came back, but truth be told, he never left,' Akins said. 'His heart and soul is here in the inner city.' In the early 2000s, Miami Northwestern was defined a 'dropout factory' from John Hopkins University in a study on student retention from freshman to senior year. From 2004-2006, the study found that only 41% of the entering freshman class graduated from Miami Northwestern. Now, that number is over 90 percent, according to US News and World Report. 'We need more male figures like him,' Akins said. 'If Teddy continued to be with these kids, we'd have 100 more Teddy's. After that, generations of Teddy's. It would bring this community to where it needs to be.'
Chicago Tribune
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Bears rookie outlook: Where does Luther Burden III's electric playmaking best fit in with WR corps?
Four wide receivers were selected in the first round of the NFL draft in April. Luther Burden III was not among them. In the second round, when the 39th pick came around and Burden was still available, coach Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears were happy to swoop in. The move came as somewhat of a surprise, given that the Bears already had DJ Moore and Rome Odunze on the roster. Johnson saw a chance to add a playmaker. Here's what Bears fans need to know about Burden before rookies report to training camp July 19. Burden expected to hear his name during the first round. That has provided motivation for the 21-year-old receiver. After not becoming one of the 32 first-round picks, Burden posted to social media a picture from his workout at the Missouri football facility after midnight on draft night. On Day 2, the Bears tried to trade up one spot with the New England Patriots when Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson was still available, as documented in the Patriots' in-house video production. The Patriots declined and selected Henderson 38th. The Bears pivoted and selected Burden. 'It was clear he was the most talented player on the board,' general manager Ryan Poles said shortly after drafting Burden. 'We think he's an electric player, playmaker, highly competitive, and the run after the catch is special, probably best in this class. When you add that to the group that we have, things get pretty exciting.' Burden grew up in St. Louis. His grandfather Luther 'Ticky' Burden played for the New York Knicks in the 1970s, and his father, Luther Burden II, played basketball at Saint Louis University. Burden III played basketball and football in high school. He originally went to Cardinal Ritter College Prep in St. Louis before transferring across the Mississippi River to East St. Louis and instantly becoming the top recruit in Illinois in the Class of 2022. Burden received more than three dozen scholarship offers and at one point committed to play for Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma. That could've paired him with Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who was a freshman for the Sooners in 2021. But in August 2021, Burden decommitted from Oklahoma and flipped to Missouri a few months later. With the Tigers, Burden had a huge breakout season as a sophomore in 2023 with 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. He helped the Tigers to an 11-2 record that season. His production wasn't quite the same last season (61 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns) for an offense that struggled in the passing game. In Johnson's eyes, an offense never can have too many weapons. Burden was a playmaker at Missouri, even if his statistical production took a dip in 2024. He's a weapon with the football in his hands. The question becomes how Burden mixes in with returning receivers Moore and Odunze. With Keenan Allen out of the picture, the Bears lost their primary slot receiver from 2024. Burden saw significant action in the slot at Missouri, and that could be a natural fit for him. The Tigers played him as a wideout during his freshman season, then transitioned him to the slot ahead of his breakout season in 2023. Missouri wide receivers coach Jacob Peeler felt the slot 'was probably more of his natural position.' During minicamp and organized team activities this spring, Johnson stressed that roles still were being formed. How Johnson divvies up the responsibilities for his top receivers will be one of the most intriguing things to watch during training camp. Burden likely will compete for the slot role with veteran Olamide Zaccheaus, whom the Bears signed to a one-year deal in free agency. Peeler took the receivers coach job at Missouri in January 2022 — the same month Burden arrived on campus. He coached Burden throughout his college career. Peeler attributed Burden's drop in production in 2024 to several things. Opponents made a concerted effort to stop him after his 1,200-yard season. Also, quarterback Brady Cook was dealing with a wrist injury that affected his throwing motion throughout the second half of the season. 'The one thing I was impressed with (Burden), he never let it get to him,' Peeler said. 'He never got frustrated to the point where it was ever a detriment. Most receivers either always want the ball or otherwise they're playing the wrong position. But he was a great teammate, never once got frustrated to the point that I even saw it.' Peeler believes Burden's familiarity with man coverage in the SEC will help him make a quick transition to the NFL. As the receivers coach at Mississippi from 2017-19, Peeler coached DK Metcalf and A.J. Brown, but he said Burden is the best he ever coached in terms of creating yards after the catch. 'He rarely allows the first defender to tackle him,' Peeler said. The man tasked with drawing the best out of Burden is new Bears wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El. The 45-year-old Randle El, who also serves as Johnson's assistant head coach, was himself was a second-round pick coming out of Indiana and went on to a nine-year NFL career. In Randle El, Burden sees a path he can follow. 'I feel like he is going to bring the best out of me,' Burden said. 'I've seen his past history. He's a guy who's been in my shoes, so he knows what to expect and different ways how to handle it.' Randle El, a Chicago-area native, will be instrumental in helping Johnson carve out those roles for his wide receivers. He spent the last four years as the Detroit Lions receivers coach, mentoring Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams among other. Like No. 10 pick Colston Loveland, Burden missed all of OTAs and mandatory minicamp because of an injury. He suffered what Johnson described as a soft-tissue injury during rookie minicamp and never saw the field again. So first and foremost, Burden must prove he's healthy. Time is of the essence, too, because Burden needs to develop chemistry with Williams on the field. They can talk things out in meeting rooms and role-play during walk-throughs, but it's not the same as building that chemistry at game speed. 'It's a shame that he got dinged up and missed all that time because, for a young player, it's really where you get the most reps, and you can get better in a hurry that way,' Johnson said. Burden will need to prove he can thrive in Johnson's offense and carve out a role beside Moore and Odunze. If he's destined for the slot, he'll have to beat out a seventh-year veteran in Zaccheaus. Beyond that, the Bears want to see more of Burden's trademark playmaking abilities.
The Age
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
12 times Anna Wintour created a cultural moment through the cover of Vogue
March 2009 The March 2009 issue starring Michelle Obama was only the second time a first lady had appeared on the cover of the magazine, after Hillary Clinton in 1998. Obama would go on to feature on the cover twice more. Here, she appears in a magenta Jason Wu dress, the same designer behind her inaugural ball gown. April 2014 Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's appearance on the April 2014 cover of Vogue, shot by Annie Leibovitz, was a watershed moment for the magazine. For years, the publication had sought to distance itself from the ostensibly low-brow world of reality television that had given birth to the Kardashian empire. Loading 'Kim and Kanye were a part of the conversation of the day. And for Vogue not to recognise that would have been a big misstep. You are leading, not following – and that's a very important lesson to always keep in your mind,' Wintour has since said. Published a month before the now-divorced couple's nuptials, Kardashian appears in a white Lanvin dress, her lavish engagement ring front and centre, with West's arms wrapped around her. March 2018 The March 2018 issue, starring actor Alicia Vikander, may seem fairly innocuous at first, but the cover was criticised for its use of Photoshop, with Vikander's arm appearing rather long. Throughout her tenure at Vogue, Wintour faced backlash for what were sometimes perceived to be overly airbrushed photo shoots, particularly of older figures like Hillary Clinton. Wintour has defended her use of Photoshop, stating it is only ever used to airbrush small 'imperfections' but not to make women appear thinner. September 2018 In September 2018, Beyoncé appeared on the cover of Vogue, shot by Tyler Mitchell, the first-ever African American photographer to produce a cover for the magazine. 'It's important to me that I help open doors for younger artists. There are so many cultural and societal barriers to entry that I like to do what I can to level the playing field, to present a different point of view for people who may feel like their voices don't matter,' said Beyoncé of her decision to work with the then 23-year-old Mitchell. December 2020 Gracing the December 2020 issue of Vogue in a black tuxedo jacket and Gucci lace dress, pop star Harry Style's appearance was notable for two reasons: he was the first man to grace the magazine's cover solo, and he was both criticised and lauded for his championing of gender-fluid fashion. Despite the controversy, the cover certainly cemented Styles as a fashion icon, who was voted GQ' s 'Most Stylish Man of the Year 2020' and included in The Business of Fashion 's 'Class of 2022″ index. His blue Gucci dress appeared in the Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear exhibition at London's Victoria & Albert Museum. October 2024 In October 2024, then vice president and democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris appeared on the cover of Vogue for the second time. Shot by Annie Lebovitz, Harris wore her own chocolate brown suit under the cover line 'the candidate for our times' – a clear political endorsement from the publication.
Sydney Morning Herald
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
12 times Anna Wintour created a cultural moment through the cover of Vogue
March 2009 The March 2009 issue starring Michelle Obama was only the second time a first lady had appeared on the cover of the magazine, after Hillary Clinton in 1998. Obama would go on to feature on the cover twice more. Here, she appears in a magenta Jason Wu dress, the same designer behind her inaugural ball gown. April 2014 Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's appearance on the April 2014 cover of Vogue, shot by Annie Leibovitz, was a watershed moment for the magazine. For years, the publication had sought to distance itself from the ostensibly low-brow world of reality television that had given birth to the Kardashian empire. Loading 'Kim and Kanye were a part of the conversation of the day. And for Vogue not to recognise that would have been a big misstep. You are leading, not following – and that's a very important lesson to always keep in your mind,' Wintour has since said. Published a month before the now-divorced couple's nuptials, Kardashian appears in a white Lanvin dress, her lavish engagement ring front and centre, with West's arms wrapped around her. March 2018 The March 2018 issue, starring actor Alicia Vikander, may seem fairly innocuous at first, but the cover was criticised for its use of Photoshop, with Vikander's arm appearing rather long. Throughout her tenure at Vogue, Wintour faced backlash for what were sometimes perceived to be overly airbrushed photo shoots, particularly of older figures like Hillary Clinton. Wintour has defended her use of Photoshop, stating it is only ever used to airbrush small 'imperfections' but not to make women appear thinner. September 2018 In September 2018, Beyoncé appeared on the cover of Vogue, shot by Tyler Mitchell, the first-ever African American photographer to produce a cover for the magazine. 'It's important to me that I help open doors for younger artists. There are so many cultural and societal barriers to entry that I like to do what I can to level the playing field, to present a different point of view for people who may feel like their voices don't matter,' said Beyoncé of her decision to work with the then 23-year-old Mitchell. December 2020 Gracing the December 2020 issue of Vogue in a black tuxedo jacket and Gucci lace dress, pop star Harry Style's appearance was notable for two reasons: he was the first man to grace the magazine's cover solo, and he was both criticised and lauded for his championing of gender-fluid fashion. Despite the controversy, the cover certainly cemented Styles as a fashion icon, who was voted GQ' s 'Most Stylish Man of the Year 2020' and included in The Business of Fashion 's 'Class of 2022″ index. His blue Gucci dress appeared in the Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear exhibition at London's Victoria & Albert Museum. October 2024 In October 2024, then vice president and democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris appeared on the cover of Vogue for the second time. Shot by Annie Lebovitz, Harris wore her own chocolate brown suit under the cover line 'the candidate for our times' – a clear political endorsement from the publication.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Winnipeg's Jennifer Botterill Named to Hockey Hall of Fame
On Tuesday, the Hockey Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2025. Six hockey players and two 'builders' were selected to be enshrined with hockey's greatest honour, a place in the hall of fame. Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/USA Today Winnipeg's Jennifer Botterill and Winnipeg-born Duncan Keith were among those selected, with Alexander Mogilny, Joe Thornton and Zdeno Chara filling out the men's player category and Brianna Decker chosen as the other female player. Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau were chosen as the two builders. Advertisement Botterill, who spent her winters in Fort Gary, playing hockey with her brother, Jason - now GM of the Seattle Kraken - at the Wildwood Community Club, earned three Olympic gold medals, a silver medal and five gold medals a the Women's World Championship over her illustrious playing career. She suited up for Harvard University, where she set the modern day record for most points by a player over an NCAA career (319 points). She won two Patty Kazmaier Awards and later moved on served Canada on its National Women's Team from 1998 to 2011. Last year, Botterill was named to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. Following her retirement, the now 46-year-old Botterill transitioned to sports media, where she serves as a key panelist on Sportsnet, Canada's home for hockey. Her role has grown over the years, where she regularly contributes to daytime and evening broadcasts for Sportsnet, CBC and City TV across the country from the preseason through the Stanley Cup Final. Alongside her fellow inductees, Botterill will officially be presented with her place in the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 10.
