Page 24 - Florida Sentinel 12-17-21

Sports
Former NFL Coach Hue Jackson
Chris Paul: 'I Had $151 In My Bank Account When I Declared For The NBA.'
Chris Paul has been an NBA star for quite some time now, and he has certainly amassed
generational
wealth
throughout his career. He has signed multiple lucrative con- tracts during his time in the NBA, with the most recent one being with Phoenix Suns.
However, before he was a multi-millionaire, Chris Paul was a prospect entering the league. At the time, Chris Paul had little wealth to his name, and he has recently stated that he entered the league with $151 in his bank ac- count.
Even though he wasn't ex- actly wealthy when entering the league, Paul has clearly made the most of the opportu- nity he was given.
Michael Strahan And
Reportedly Headed To Grambling
The Edge Of Space
Another coach with NFL pedigree is headed to run an HBCU football program— and a legendary program at that.
Hue Jackson, a former Cleveland Browns head coach who also had coordina- tor and assistant coaching stints with the NFL’s Cincin- nati, Atlanta, Baltimore, Oakland (now Las Vegas), and Washington franchises, is reportedly finalizing a deal to become the next head coach at Grambling State University. The deal was first reported by the website Foot- ballScoop, which follows col- lege and pro coaching news.
Jackson taking over the Tigers’ program will make him the latest in a line of coaches with either NFL ex- perience or a legendary col- lege coaching resume to lead at Grambling. It also contin- ues a trend of former NFL players or coaches joining HBCU programs, which be- fore recently had long lacked the resources to compete
CHRIS PAUL
You can now check “Michael Strahan flying to space” off your 2021 bingo cards.
The Good Morning Amer- ica host, seven-time Pro- Bowler, and Super Bowl champion touched down in space on Saturday via Jeff Bezos’ rocket company, Blue Origin, and its latest commer- cial flight. The achievement came as Strahan was joined by the daughter of astronaut Alan Shepard and four peo- ple who paid to take the flight, which took off at 9:01 am CT in Van Horn, Texas.
The flight ran for 10 min- utes, as passengers got as far
HUE JACKSON
with Power Five conference schools for talent.
Grambling’s most leg- endary coach was the late Eddie Robinson, who led the program for a total of 57 seasons. Robinson retired in 1997 as the winningest coach in college football his- tory and his 408 career wins still ranks third all-time. More than 200 of his players reached the NFL. Some, like James “Shack” Harris, the first Black quarterback to start a season in the NFL, contributed to breaking down racial barriers in the sport.
MICHAEL STRAHAN
as 60 miles above the earth’s surface in the rocket, before parachuting to a landing. “I wanna go back,” Strahan said, according to CNN. “The Gs...it’s not a face lift, it’s a face drop. I know what I’m going to look like at 85.”
Four Others Rocket To
Bill Russell Memorabilia Fetches $7.4M In Boston Auction
BILL RUSSELL
One of the most complete and valuable single-player col- lections of sports memorabilia scattered to new ownership on Friday night as Hunt Auctions wrapped up its sale of Bill Russell’s personal collection.
Over 400 items from the Hall of Famer’s career ham- mered to a close during a live finale at TD Garden in Boston, with over $7.4M in sales. On- line bidding began last month.
The auction led off with the last jersey he wore during his NBA career during Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals against the Lakers. Photomatched to two images during the game and to a photo of Russell and Red Auerbach sitting in front of lockers in the Celtics dress- ing room, the jersey sold for over $1.1M including the buyer’s premium.
Athlete Of The Year
Simone Biles Is
Your 2021 Time
One thing’s for sure: Time magazine always understands the assignment.
In a year in which both the coronavirus and mental health had a significant im- pact on the wonderful world of sports, the prestigious pub- lication has made the perfect choice for its 2021 Time Ath- lete of the Year—and that would be the greatest gymnast of all time, Simone Biles.
At a time when anxiety and depression rates are sky- rocketing—the CDC reports a 50% rise in suicide attempts by teenage girls during the pandemic—and many people are struggling with what they owe themselves vs. what oth- ers demand of them, Biles made clear the importance of prioritizing oneself and refus- ing to succumb to external ex- pectations. With the eyes of the world upon her, she took the extraordinary step of say- ing, That’s enough. I’m enough.
The seven-time Olympic medalist entered the Tokyo Olympics as the overwhelm- ing favorite in every event she was set to participate in. Sadly, she was forced to with- draw from nearly all of them
SIMONE BILES
due to a serious case of “the twisties” before she felt com- fortable enough to compete in the balance beam competition and earn the bronze medal.
As such, her inability to compete sparked much- needed discussions about the importance of self-preserva- tion and mental health in pro- fessional sports.
“Her remarkable position as the world’s greatest gym- nast ever to inspire a long- overdue global conversation on mental health,” NFL quar- terback turned activist Colin Kaepernick told Time.
“Her influence extends far beyond the realm of sports and shows us that another world—a better world—is pos- sible when we speak our truths with integrity and au- thenticity.”
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