Latest news with #Worthy
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Decatur Youth Services hiring 14- and 15-year-olds
May 28—Decatur Youth Services is hiring 14- and 15-year-olds, giving them work experience and teaching them work-related skills in the 2025 Summer Youth Employment Program, said program coordinator Keara Worthy. DYS will offer the 14- and 15-year-olds employment from Monday to July 11 with the help of local businesses and nonprofits. The program includes a two-day training session. The teens will work 20 hours a week for a total of 120 hours by the end of the summer and will be paid minimum wage, said Decatur Youth Services' interim director, Bruce Jones. DYS chose this age range because it is typically harder for them to find jobs due to their age and maturity, Jones said. "Part of this program is to help you with your maturity, help you understand the importance of showing up on time, dressing appropriately, respecting your supervisors ... and at the end of the summer you can earn some money for you and your family," Jones said. Jones said many of the participants in the past were children from low-income families. The Summer Youth Employment program is an opportunity to help families, while providing youth with the skills necessary to obtain a job. Jones said that the Summer Youth Employment program has always been a great program. "It serves a lot of purposes. It serves keeping them busy, giving them something positive to do," Jones said. "We want to keep them busy, but we want to have them doing something productive." Worthy says the program seeks teens who want to learn. "We're looking for kids who are eager to learn how to get those skills to get the work experience," Worthy said. "I'm looking for the excitement. I'm looking for the willingness to go make their own money." Last year, the program served approximately 95 kids. Worthy said the goal is to have 100 participants this summer. Worthy encourages 14 — and 15-year-olds to apply. "Hey, it's just six weeks. I know you want to enjoy your summertime, but let's try to learn how to become that young adult that I know you guys are getting prepared to be," Worthy said. For more information, contact Worthy at 256-303-9494. — or 245-340-2438.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Jamaal Wilkes was still starting at small forward. They didn't need me" - James Worthy on why Jerry West trusted him to become a star for the Showtime Lakers
With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar protecting the paint and dominating the boards and Magic Johnson orchestrating the offense with pinpoint precision, the Los Angeles Lakers' "Showtime" era was one of the most feared transition attacks in NBA history. However, that piece would have been incomplete without the efforts of James Worthy. He was a vital piece of this dynasty despite the uncertainty about whether he would even enter the NBA at the time he did. Worthy's trade "Big Game James" was considered a top-tier prospect. At North Carolina, he had just led the Tar Heels to an NCAA championship, playing alongside a promising freshman named Michael Jordan. There was one team that complemented his profile and it was the Purple and Gold — spearheaded by general manager Jerry West. Advertisement "They needed somebody who would fit in," "Big Game James" said of the Lakers. "They were looking for a unique player… They had just won two championships: '80 and '82. Jamaal Wilkes was still starting at small forward. They didn't need me, so I think Jerry West was looking for the right attitude, a guy that understood his role and was patient. And, I was that guy." The Lakers' opportunity to draft James came from a 1979 deal that sent Don Ford to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for their 1982 first-round pick. The Cavs struggled, finishing with the NBA's worst record that season. That set up a coin toss between Cleveland and the then-San Diego Clippers for the No. 1 overall selection. The Lakers, despite being the reigning NBA champions, won the flip — a fortunate turn of events that gave them the top pick. With West leading the decision-making process, L.A. selected Worthy over other top prospects, securing the final piece of what would become a dynasty. Related: "I was probably emotional and upset and directed a lot of that anger toward the team" - Hill admits he regrets how his career in Detroit ended Showtime dominance While the Lakers didn't necessarily need the UNC product in 1982, his arrival propelled Showtime into an unstoppable force. Over the next decade, the franchise claimed three NBA championships (1985, 1987, 1988) with Worthy playing a key role. Advertisement He was an ideal matchup for any opponent — exactly the kind of player needed to build a dynasty and the Lakers did just that. "I was tough to handle with a power forward body and with small forward quickness," the Hall of Famer said. That blend of physical gifts and skill came into full display in the 1988 NBA Finals. With the Lakers facing the Pistons in a grueling seven-game battle, Worthy delivered when it mattered most. In Game 7, he recorded 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists — the first triple-double of his career, leading L.A. to a 108-105 victory and clinching their third championship of the decade. He took home the Finals MVP honors that year. Worthy's ability to thrive in transition, finish with both power and finesse and step up in crucial moments made him an indispensable part of one of the greatest teams in basketball history. West's belief in "Big Game James" had paid off, proving that sometimes the missing piece to a dynasty is the right mentality and fit. Related: "Are you even qualified to talk basketball to me?' - Dominique Wilkins on why he cringes when people say 3-pointers are better than 2-pointers
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dennis Rodman once talked trash about James Worthy — and it backfired
Dennis Rodman once talked trash about James Worthy — and it backfired In the 1988 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers went up against a new opponent in the Detroit Pistons. The Lakers were the defending world champions, and head coach Pat Riley boldly guaranteed after they had won the 1987 title that they would repeat as champions, which put added pressure on them. They were going after their fifth title of the Showtime era and the right to call themselves the "Team of the 1980s." The Pistons, meanwhile, had just emerged as title contenders with their rough-and-tumble style of play. They were nicknamed the "Bad Boys" because of their dirty and brutal style of play, which involved consistently walking the ball upcourt and committing excessively hard fouls on a regular basis. Throughout the 1980s, the Lakers were accused by the national media of being "soft." They lost Game 1 by 12 points, which only heightened those accusations, but they responded with a gutsy Game 2 win. Magic Johnson, despite playing with flu-like symptoms, scored 23 points and added 11 assists and seven rebounds, while James Worthy chipped in 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. One of the advantages Detroit had was forward Dennis Rodman, who was in his second season. Back then, he was relatively low-key and still had boring black hair, but he had already established himself as an excellent rebounder and defender. He would take turns guarding both Johnson and Worthy. Early in the series, he offered what seemed like a bit of trash talk regarding his ability to check Worthy. Via Chicago Tribune: "It's not difficult," Rodman said about defending Worthy. "I'm strong enough and quick enough to stay with him. I can body him and if you can beat him with your quickness, he kind of loses track of things." Over the last few years, Worthy, the No. 1 pick in the 1982 draft out of the University of North Carolina, had become a three-time All-Star and even had a few big performances in some of L.A.'s most crucial playoff games. But some still wondered if he was merely a one-dimensional player who would fold under extreme pressure, especially if his opponents hit him hard when he headed to the basket. After Rodman commented on him, he raised his game. He scored 24 points and had nine rebounds in Game 3, which the Lakers won. After they lost the next two, they trailed the series 3-2, and even though they headed home, there were doubts about whether they could make good on Riley's guarantee. Worthy would do his best to ensure a happy ending. He shot 12-of-22 from the field and had 28 points, plus another nine rebounds, as the Lakers survived a 43-point outburst by a hobbled Isiah Thomas to earn a 103-102 win. Then came Game 7. With the Pistons looking like they were going to spoil the party at The Forum, Worthy kept Los Angeles in it with 20 first-half points. L.A. then outscored its opponent 36-21 in the third quarter and held on for a 108-105 triumph, giving them back-to-back NBA championships. Worthy ended up with a triple-double of 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. It was the greatest performance of his career, and it came in the biggest game of his career. As a result, he was named the MVP of the championship series. Perhaps Rodman learned his lesson — never poke the bear, as you may end up inside the bear.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Centennial Yards reaches milestone in $5 billion Gulch redevelopment
The days of 'The Gulch' seem to be numbered. For years, the 50-acre plot of land that sits between Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena was true to its name: a sunken space home to pavement and rail lines but little else. 'This is a big day for us, but a lot more to come,' Brian McGowan, president of the Centennial Yards company, said. Thursday, Centennial Yards held a 'steel rising' ceremony to celebrate the first steel going into the building of the Cosm. 'It's super exciting because it's our first big tenant,' McGowan said. The Cosm is a three-story, 70,000 square foot immersive entertainment center. The facility includes a massive dome that gives patrons a front row seat at the largest sporting events, with a screen that has similarities to Las Vegas's 'Sphere.' The Atlanta location will be the third ever Cosm behind Dallas and Los Angeles. TRENDING STORIES: DeKalb County pastor involved in $2.5 million legal battle over deal to sell church Looking to buy a new home? Not in this neighborhood. The new trend hitting metro Atlanta Missing kayaker disappears near Lake Lanier Jeb Terry said they picked Atlanta because of the location, and they hope to open up before the World Cup arrives in town next year. 'I'd argue there's not another site like this in the world with the proximity of buildings around here,' Terry said. 'At the end of the day, you look at this on a global scale, the world's attention is here. You got the World Cup coming, Super Bowls coming, college championships.' The Centennial Yards project calls for more than $5 billion to revitalize the 50-acre site. The end plan calls for a multi-use district, anchored by a 5,000+ seat entertainment facility. Earlier this week, the company behind the redevelopment announced that Live Nation would lease the facility. 'If you've been in Atlanta as long as I have, which is all my life, you know what the Gulch is. It's a big hole in the ground that, you know, is a series of parking lots, et cetera,' Andrea Worthy, Economic development director for the city of Smyrna, said. Worthy said projects like these can have a 'halo effect' for the regions surrounding the development. She said a similar benefit happened after the Braves built The Battery in Cobb County. However, these projects take a lot of work. 'There are many moving parts, many partners involved. You've got to get the city involved in those types of things. It's a really complicated process,' Worthy said. The hope for developers is that soon the Gulch will be transformed into an entertainment and economic hub for downtown. 'So when those planes are flying over for big global events, it's not gonna be a giant parking lot with cars in it. It's gonna be this vibrant, mixed-use retail district where people can come and experience Atlanta, who we are, and our culture,' McGowan said.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GWCC/CNN Center MARTA station is getting a new name before 2026 FIFA World Cup
The MARTA Board of Directors approved a resolution to change the name for one of its busiest stations. The GWCC/CNN Center station in downtown Atlanta will soon become the Sports Entertainment and Convention, or SEC, rail station. The signs and maps will be updated by Jan. 1, 2026, six months before Atlanta hosts games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 'I think that this station is vital for a a big event that sets the deadline at a specific time and that's why I thought it was important to move on this one immediately,' said Director W. Thomas Worthy, who introduced the resolution. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A MARTA spokesperson told Channel 2 Action News that it is still working on the project's budget and timeline for the work to begin since the board just passed the resolution on Thursday. While no budget has been released, Worthy said he thinks MARTA will be able to raise some private funds to help cover the costs. MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood added that the cost will differ from other projects because of the support already being established. 'This allows us to forgo a lot of the lengthy and expensive public engagement process. So we will come up with a with a a cost and we will share it with the board but it won't be indicative of the balance of the stations,' he said. Typically, the renaming process for a MARTA station requires input from the public. Worthy said the Atlanta Sports Council, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena all supported the name change. MARTA board chair Jennifer Ide added that the chamber worked with the businesses in the area to come up with a name that wasn't related to any company. TRENDING STORIES 'They got 3, 4, 5:' Neighbors say adding another gas station puts their safety at risk Community rallying to save tree from being cut down to build homes Marietta's Dansby Swanson, soccer star Mallory Swanson expecting their first child The board acknowledged that other stations will probably need to be renamed in the near future and the public sessions will be held for those changes. 'There is no doubt in my mind that there are multiple stations that need to be renamed that we need to go through a a a long and protracted community engagement process to rename those,' Worthy said. Atlanta will host eight games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium: five group stage matches, a Round of 32 game, Round of 16 game and one of the semifinals. The group stages will be on June 15, 18, 21, 24 and 27. The Round of 32 game will be July 1 followed by Round of 16 game on July 7. The semifinal will be held on July 15. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
