SCOOP USA SPORTS

    The Los Angeles Lakers’ story as a franchise just keeps getting better. As of Sunday night, the Lakers have tied the Boston Celtics for having the most championships in NBA history. The buildup to this championship was truly like no other.

    It all started in October 2019. The Lakers had just acquired Anthony Davis after shipping away most of their young core. Acquiring Anthony Davis was a move that was praised by league officials and fans because Lakers superstar LeBron James finally got an All-NBA teammate by his side, something he didn’t have since Kyrie Irving. In the preseason, James and Davis were destroying teams like they were supposed to. Surprisingly, there were still NBA fans that didn’t think they were good enough to beat their crosstown rival: the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers got better over the 2019 offseason just like the Lakers did. The Clippers were able to acquire both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Two of the league’s most elite two-way players (on offense and defense) were predicted to bring the Clippers’ their first championship.

 To read more visit SCOOPUSA Media - October 16, 2020 - page 18

Remember the 2017 Eagles? When Carson Wentz looked completely unstoppable once he took a step onto the green turf? A MVP frontrunner that should’ve gotten that award over Tom Brady? It’s hard to forget about him, as a football fanatic. Unfortunately to Wentz, the only thing that DID stop him was a season ending ACL-tear. This ACL tear kept Wentz out while backup QB Nick Foles took the Eagles all the way to Super Bowl LII. During the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Wentz still looked capable of being a truly elite quarterback. Injuries continued to get in the way though. Some may say that Wentz is an injury prone player, others say that the injuries that he faces are freak injuries that just happen to affect a player every once in a blue moon. 

To read more visit SCOOPUSA Media - September 25, 2020 - page 17

    The word is out. If DeSean Jackson doesn't get his act together, if he doesn't have an MVP season or show flashes of the player who once put the NFL on fire, then the 33year-old wide receiver could be packing his bag for the second time in six years as a former member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

    That's what DeSean Jackson is facing right now. It doesn't matter that Jackson has produced 6,597 in receiving yards with the Philadelphia Eagles. It doesn't matter that he has caught 34 touchdowns in the air and has scored another four touchdowns on punt returns for the Eagles. It doesn't matter that he has electrified Philadelphia Eagles fans with a bunch of exciting moments. Nothing else matters. DeSean Jackson has to produce this season or else he can start looking for another NFL team that would need his services. There's no better way to explain. DeSean's future is in jeopardy.

    Everything boils down to what DeSean Jackson does on the football field. Despite the country recovering from the Coronavirus epidemic, the NFL season is still expected to start on time. The NFL season will officially kick off on September 10. Meanwhile, the Eagles will kick off their regular season on Sunday, September 13 against theWashington Redskins.

 To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, May 22, 2020, page 20   

     It could be described as a deep love affair, but if you ask my Godmother, it was more like a spiritual affection that she still has today for a great human being. Muhammad Ali was a Muslim man who left a great legacy in the boxing world. Ali won the heavyweight title three different times and defended his championship belt a total of nine times. After he beat Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship on February 25, 1964, he changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali. He changed his name after he joined the Nation of Islam.

    During that time, my Godmother had some deep feelings for Muhammad Ali. When she was living in New York, she wanted to meet the heavyweight world champion. One day, she heard the news that Muhammad Ali was going to make an appearance at a grocery store in Bronx, New York. He was scheduled to be at the store to help do some promotion for his wife. My Godmother didn't hesitate. She quickly got up and rushed to that grocery store.

    'When I got to the store, there was a big crowd trying to get inside,' said my Godmother, Sister Sarah Abdur Rahman. 'There was so much commotion going on inside. Everybody was pushing and screaming. It didn't matter to me. I was trying to squeeze my way through them, anyway.'

 To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, May 15, 2020, page 20  

    Today, George Foreman urges Mike Tyson to call off his comeback. However, despite Foreman's plead to the former heavyweight champion, Tyson still thinks he has enough firepower to knock out opponents inside the ring. And judging by the hours he has spent inside the gym nobody can tell 53-year-old Mike Tyson that he's about to make a horrible mistake.

    A couple of months ago, Tyson made the decision to start training again. He has been working hard to get himself into better shape. He does cardio workouts on an exercise bike. And he does a little more on a treadmill. He pushes his body for almost three hours a day. He combines that with 300 repetitions that he does with light weights. He follows the workout with a series of boxing exercises. He does those exercises for almost a full hour. He pushes his body to the limit. He does all of these workouts before he starts his three-hour-long sparring sessions.

To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, May 8, 2020, page 20   

    Eagles coach Doug Pederson is the creative mastermind behind the Philadelphia Eagles offense. Coach Pederson proved that two years ago when he pulled off a couple of trick plays against the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl LII, 41-33. Now two years later, the Eagles' mastermind has done it again.

    During last Friday's 2020 NFL Draft, in a surprise move, the Philadelphia Eagles head coach forced Eagles general manager Howie Roseman to pull the trigger. In this year's NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles snatched up former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback Jalen Hurts in Round 2 with the 53rd overall pick. After the Eagles grabbed the current Heisman Trophy runner-up, Coach Pederson wasted no time telling reporters that Hurts is a good quarterback, however, the Philadelphia Eagles see this kid doing bigger things in the Eagles' offense.

    'Yes, Jalen is a quarterback first, but we see him doing other things to help our offense,' said Pederson. 'It's something that we are going to explore. First and foremost, Jalen is a good quarterback. He was drafted as a quarterback. He's a quarterback first. But he has a unique skill that's already set. He's a great runner.'

 To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, May 1, 2020, page 21  

     With the 28th overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, the Indiana Fever selected South Philadelphia native and senior guard Kamiah Smalls of James Madison University. Yes, folks, last Friday night (April 17, 2020) marked a great moment for James Madison guard Kamiah Smalls who was in the middle of celebrating her 22nd birthday. The former Neumann Goretti female basketball star was at home with her family when she received the great news on ESPN that the Indiana Fever selected her in the third round with the 28th overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft. Smalls, who once played basketball at Neumann Goretti High, was excited about being picked in the WNBA draft.

    No doubt, this was the greatest birthday gift that Kamiah Smalls ever received in her life. On the Twitter page of the James Madison women basketball team, there’s a video clip that shows Kamiah Smalls watching the WNBA Draft on ESPN. When her name is called, the 5-10 guard jumps off the floor. She runs around the room. She falls back on the floor. She screams at the top of her lungs. Kamiah allowed her emotions get the best of her. She cried on the floor and thanked God for everything. Her dream of playing in the WNBA has come true. This is what she has been dreaming about her whole life. She was really glad her hard work has finally paid off. She was really excited to be drafted into the WNBA.

    The James Madison senior guard was drafted by the Indiana Fever along with Kathleen Doyle of Iowa University.

   To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, April 24, 2020, page 22 

    Timmy Brown was a player who earned a spot on the 1960 Philadelphia Eagles' championship team. Brown started as a kickoff returner for the Philadelphia Eagles, and soon became one of the most exciting offensive players in the NFL. Timmy Brown led the NFL in all-purpose yards in 1962 and 1963. Brown had 2,425 all-purpose yards in 1963 and he did it in a 14-game schedule with a terrible 2-10-2 Philadelphia Eagles football team. That's how good Timmy Brown was once he left the Green Bay Packers. 

    Brown was cut by Green Bay coach Vince Lombardi in 1959 after Brown played one game for the team. Lombardi released Brown who was claimed by the Eagles. Brown made the Eagles' active roster in the 1960 season. He helped the Eagles win the 1960 NFL Championship game with a 17-13 victory over Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers. 

    On Saturday, April 4, Timmy Brown passed away from complications with Dementia. He was 82 years old. Brown became the third Philadelphia Eagles star to die within a week. Former kicker Tom Dempsey also died on April 4. He died of complications of the coronavirus. Meantime, tight end Eagles legend Pete Retzlaff died on April 10. Retzlaff played for the Eagles from 1956 to 1966. 

  To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, April 17, 2020, page 22  

    Born with without fingers on his right hand and toes missing on a right foot, Tom Dempsey went on to become one of the greatest field goal kickers in the National Football League. His life was like a fairy tale story. 

    Dempsey started his high school football career as a defensive lineman. He played high school football at San Dieguito High School in California and threw shot put on the school's track team. He even became a star athlete on the school's wrestling team. He didn't become a field goal kicker until his high school football coach asked him to try out for the position. During that time, his team needed a field goal kicker. So, he gave it a try. Without a second thought,    Dempsey wrapped up his right foot with duct tape and kicked the football without wearing any shoes. Tom Dempsey discovered he could boom a football between the two goalposts. And just like that, his career was born.

    In a game, on November 8, 1970, Tom Dempsey set a new NFL record when he kicked a 63-yard field goal that lifted the New Orleans Saints to a 19-17 upset victory over the Detroit Lions. Dempsey's field goal allowed the team to beat the Lions at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. Dempsey kicked the field goal with two seconds left in the game. As time expired, the stadium went wild. Dempsey got mobbed in the middle of the field. During that time, Dempsey's field goal was the longest kick that the NFL ever has seen. There was no doubt, his field goal would become one of the classic moments in NFL History. 

  To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, April 10, 2020, page 18  

  Today, on her basketball jersey, 16-year-old junior guard Destiney McPhaul wears number 2. She has been wearing that number since her playing days at Discovery Charter Middle School. That’s the same number 13-year-old Gianna “GiGi” Bryant wore while she played basketball for the Mamba girls basketball team. 

   Three months ago, Destiney McPhaul had no idea “GiGi” Bryant would die in a helicopter crash. 13-year-old Gianna Bryant was one of nine people who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, January 27, at the hillside in Calabasas, California. Her father, Kobe Bryant, also died tragically in the fatal helicopter crash. On that early   Sunday morning, the helicopter was on its way to a basketball tournament where Gianna Bryant was supposed to be playing in a game. But unfortunately, the helicopter got lost in a thick white fog. The helicopter lost its location and hit the side of a mountain and burst into flames. McPhaul said she was upset about the death of GiGi and her father. She also said Kobe Bryant has always been her basketball idol. “It’s unbelievable he (Kobe Bryant)” died, said Destiney McPhaul. It was real sad. The sad part about it, was that Kobe Bryant wasn’t even old. That shows me you have to do everything you can while you are still here on earth. Like they say tomorrow is not promised to you.” 

    Maybe that explains why the First Team All-Catholic basketball star continues to do hard workouts in her tight basketball schedule. Kobe Bryant was known to be a hard worker during his days in the NBA. He would do his workouts non-stop. Destiney McPhaul said she used to do four workouts a day. But as she got older, McPhaul has decreased her workouts to just two times a day. “Yeah, that’s still a lot of workouts for me,” said McPhaul who averaged more than 27 points a game. “Now, I work out sometimes in the morning and then I will do a workout after school. Sometimes, I will do four workouts a day depends on how I feel. My workouts have gotten a lot harder. I know if I want to get better in basketball, this is what I have to do to get it done. In this world, nobody is going to hand you anything. You have to work hard for everything you want in this world.” 

 To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, April 3, 2020, page 18 

    It was just eight months ago when Denver Broncos safety Will Parks spoke out against gun violence at Temple University. He spoke at a press conference about his mission to join the fight against gun violence in the City of Philadelphia. Will Parks touched on the topic because the summer before, he lost his uncle to gun violence in the city’s Hunting Park neighborhood. His uncle Barry Parks was shot and killed while he waited at a SEPTA stop at 6th and Erie Avenue. He was waiting for a bus to take him to work when he was murdered in cold-blood. In dealing with his uncle’s death, Will Parks used the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” campaign to honor his uncle and launch his own campaign against gun violence in Philadelphia.

     Through Philadelphia Cease Fire, Parks helped launched an anti-violence youth basketball league to get young boys off the streets and away from the dangerous bullets. He helped run the basketball league at Lonnie Young Recreation Center in Germantown. And then last June, Parks launched his first annual football camp in East Mount Airy. He reached out to hundreds of kids.

To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, March 27, 2020, page 18

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    At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Florence Griffith Joyner ran the track like no other woman did before. In 1988, after she set a world record in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.49 at the U.S. Olympic Trials, she turned around and won three gold medals and one silver medal at the Seoul Games in Seoul, South Korea.    During the events, she set world records in the 100 meter dash (clocking at 10.49) and 200 meter dash(with a time of 21.34) and that both world records are still standing today.

    In 1988, she dominated the cover of Time Magazine after she received the Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete of the Year. In the same breath, she also took home the Associate Press’ “Female Athlete of the Year along with Track and Field Magazine’s “Athlete of the Year.” And just like that, Florence Griffith Joyner became America’s newest track superstar. Before then, this female track runner was a world class sprinter who was dominating the track for the previous seven years. 

To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, March 13, 2020, page 22

    Last Sunday afternoon, during a masterful perform- ance, the Philadelphia Flyers marched into Madison Square Garden and defeated the New York Rangers by a score, 5-3. In basketball terms, Flyers fans can call this “March Madness.” The

Philadelphia Flyers wrapped up a weekend sweep that completed a home-to-home series showdown against the New York Rangers.

    Flyers goalie Carter Hart controlled all areas of the net. The 21-year-old hockey star stopped 23 of 26 shots on goal. In the first period, he stopped two New York Rangers power play opportunities. In return, the Flyers were able to score two power play goals on their own, plus a short handed goal in the first period. The three early goals gave the Philadelphia Flyers a 3-0 lead in the opening period. It was a great start for Carter Hart who missed nearly a month of action due to an abdominal injury.

To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, March 6, 2020, page 22

    This coming March marks the 49th anniversary of the first fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. This bout was marked as “The Fight of the Century.” This fight took place, almost 49-years ago, on March 8, 1971 and marked the greatest fight in Joe Frazier’s pro boxing career.

Thanks to the City of Philadelphia and his daughter Weatta Frazier-Collins, boxing fans came out in big numbers to give honor to the legendary boxing champion when the City of Philadelphia held a big ceremony in Joe Frazier’s honor. It happened almost two years ago, on Wednesday, April 11, 2018. That day, city officials renamed a street after the people’s champion Smokin’ Joe Frazier.

    The event took place on the corner of Broad Street & Glenwood Avenue in North Philadelphia. That’s where Joe Frazier once ran his legendary boxing gym. On that day, Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke led the ceremony to have Broad and Glenwood Avenue changed to Smokin’ Joe Frazier Boulevard.

On hand at the ceremony, was Joe Frazier’s daughter, Weatta Frazier-Collins, who led a 12- month campaign to have the street renamed after her famous father. She gathered over 10,000 signatures to make it official.

To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, February 28, 2020, page 18

    It happened more than eight years ago. Philadelphia lost a tremendous and outstanding female basketball star. Her death was hard to believe.

Linda Page, a 5-foot-11 inch shooting guard, who once scored 100 points in a game to break Wilt Chamberlain’s single-game scoring record, was pronounced dead inside her suburban apartment in Yeadon, Delaware County. It was unclear when she actually died. Her death was ruled a heart attack by the medical examiner’s office. She died at the age of 48.

    In a game that happened back on February 13, 1981, Linda Page rewrote the history book and broke Wilt Chamberlain’s scoring record. She shot 41-for-58 from the field and 18-for-21 from the foul line. She scored 100 points that broke Chamberlain’s 26-year-old single- game record. She did it in a game against Jules Mastbaum. She scored 100 points to lead Dobbins Tech to a 131-38 victory. She had 53 points at halftime, but her coach convinced her to go for the record. After she broke the record, Linda Page rushed to the Spectrum where she met Dr. J at center court during a halftime ceremony. Dr. J introduced her to the crowd and Sixers fans gave Linda Page a standing ovation.

    “I went to Heaven that night,” said Linda Page. “When I met Dr. J., my heart went to the bottom of my sneakers. I felt overwhelmed. Just to be right next to him in front of all those people. It was something I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.”

To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, February 14, 2020, page 21

    On a night that I will always remember,  I never imagined I would meet a pro wrestler that I used to watch on television. Even today, I sit back and ask myself why did it happen to me ? Today, I still can’t explain it.

It was one night. One in a million shot. It’s been over three decades and I still can’t believe it. Yes, it happened 32 years ago, on a cold December night. The year was 1987. I stopped by my Godsister’s house to see how she was doing. My Godsister, Barbara Moore, lived in the Paschall Projects at 2077 West Cobbs Creek Parkway. That night, I was glad to see my Godsister. I went to her place to see how she was doing. 

We sat down and talked for hours. Time was jumping. We realized it was getting late. Without giving a second thought, my Godsister invited me to stay at her place and spend the night. She went upstairs to grab me a few pillows and a warm blanket. I was going to watch TV down stairs. I sat on the couch and waited for my her to come back downstairs. I waited a while, I almost drifted off to sleep.

     Then the doorbell rang. I jumped up from the couch and hollered up upstairs. I told my Godsister that someone was at the front door.  She never heard me. That’s when I went to answer the door. When I unlocked the door and pulled the door open, I got the biggest surprise of my life. A BIG stocky man was standing at the front door wearing a beautiful brown fur coat and looking at me in my face.

    “ ‘Excuse me, sir....I’m sorry to bother you, but can you please help me because I’m out here lost, said the man wearing the beautiful brown fur coat. ‘My cab is parked right here on the curb and I’m trying to find a place where there’s a party and some beautiful women. Do you know a place where I can go and have some fun ?’ ”

To read more Napoleon Kingcade visit SCOOP USA Media, Friday, February 7, 2020, page 21

   The Camden High boys basketball team, under first year head coach Rick Brunson, are poised to  begin the NJSIAA 2020 basketball tournament as a favorite to not only win the overall state Group 2 title, but also to make a deep run in the Tournament of Champions among all the states’ top group winners.  

   Camden is led by 6’9” senior big man Lance Ware, a University of  Kentucky signee, who has played with vigor his entire career as a Panther.  Ware has yet to taste victory in an overall group title, so he and his teammates will look to defeat opponents, especially the vaunted Haddonfield Bulldawgs,who have prevented the Panthers from  making it out of South Jersey Group 2 the last two years.  

   This year’s Camden team has an added weapon in the  fashion of 6’2” freshman guard Dajuan “DJ” Wagner, son and grandson of Camden legends Dajuan Wagner and Milt Wagner.  DJ is a silky-smooth, lightning quick backcourt player who  will provide the Panthers with punch during the playoff run. 

Several other local teams, with Camden coaching roots, could also make a big impact on the boys basketball tournament.  

See more Kirk Jones, ScoopUSA Media, February 21, 2020, page 21

Both Camden and Woodrow Wilson high schools in Camden, New Jersey opened the 2019 football season with impressive victories and score high in the SCOOP South Jersey High School Power Poll.  Camden won its first game of the season September 6, 2019 against Winslow Township by a score of 22 – 0.  The Camden Panthers then followed with a razor thin victory over a pesky Cedar Creek team by a score of 42 – 41 on September 14, 2019.  The Panthers led the game most of the way before Cedar Creek scored 27 points in the 4th quarter to give the team from Camden a scare.  Panther receiver Alijah Clark caught 3 touchdown passes to give ‘The High’ a big boost.

See more Kirk Jones, ScoopUSA Media, September 20, 2019, page 17