Cari Champion exits ESPN after 7 years: “It’s time to leave”

ESPN host Cari Champion has announced her decision to leave ESPN after seven years with the network. The host will remain on-air through the end of January.

The UCLA alum joined ESPN in 2012 after a three-year stint at The Tennis Channel. During her time at ESPN, she worked as a host and moderator on First Take, and was a SportsCenter anchor before securing her post as host of Sports Nation and SportsCenter Coast to Coast.

The talented journalist shared news of her departure on social media.

“After consulting with mentors, family and friends, I have come to the decision that it’s time to leave ESPN,” she posted on Twitter. “Over the past 7 years, I’ve grown from hosting First Take to having my own show on SportsCenter, and experiencing so much more in between.”

ESPN cuts to commercial after Stephen A. Smith starts political rant

Cari Champion didn’t share too many details on her reasons for leaving the network.

“ESPN will always be apart of my legacy and I am proud to have been a part of theirs,” she added. “I’m excited about the next chapter and will share soon!”

 

The post Cari Champion exits ESPN after 7 years: “It’s time to leave” appeared first on TheGrio.

from TheGrio https://ift.tt/35S8FdP

Wisconsin Judge Orders 209,000 Voter Names to be Purged

The only thing more American than democracy is some good old-fashioned, court ordered voter suppression.

Read more...

from The Root https://ift.tt/2Nq11Ro

AOC Creates New PAC to Fight Against Democratic 'Blacklisting'

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has had a long held policy of “blacklisting” any vendors or firms that helps candidates who mount primary challenges against Democratic incumbents. As someone who successfully mounted a challenge against a Democratic incumbent, it’s safe to say Alexandria…

Read more...

from The Root https://ift.tt/2RriKJJ

These Are the Last Pair of Leggings You'll Ever Need

I bet you already have a dozen leggings crammed in your closet, but trust: you need one more. You need the Ridge Merino Crowley Tights. Do not pass go, do not collect $100; instead just find yourself some internet and order up a pair faster than you can say, “Thank me later.”

Read more...

from The Root https://ift.tt/2NmBE30

Black Twitter rejoices over Oscar nom for Mathew A. Cherry’s “Hair Love”

This week Black Twitter found itself giving the Academy the side-eye as the nominations for the 92nd annual Academy Awards were announced and it quickly became clear that barely anybody Black had made the cut. But in that sea of alabaster there appeared one beautifully melanated spark of hope thanks to Matthew A. Cherry.

We all collectively rejoiced when Hair Love, the popular – and incredibly touching – children’s book turned animated short by the former NFL player, was nominated for a well deserved Oscar.

READ MORE: Unpacking the brilliance of ‘Watchmen’ … the most important show of the year

But what many may not know is that the former wide receiver turned filmmaker took the scenic route to this monumental achievement, opting to to launch a Kickstarter campaign that raised nearly $300,000, which was a whopping four times his original goal of $75,000. The outpouring of love his idea received was just further proof that there was a market hungry for his content.

“Media is impressionable and when little kids see shows, movies and magazines and don’t see people who look like them in a heroic place or complex place or don’t see themselves at all it makes them seem abnormal or an exception to the rule,” he told Because Of Them We Can back in 2017. “And we’re trying to make them feel normal and have a little Black girl with maybe kinky hair feel like she’s represented.”

READ MORE: Issa Rae threw shade with a curve during Black-snubbing Oscar nominations announcement

Wow! And to have @IssaRae announce it! It feels like a dream. Huge thanks to our great team @BruceAlmighteee @Mr_Scribbles @KDRupe @Monica_aYoung @DanielDCrawford @LionForgeDave @CarlForge @lionforge our kickstarter backers & @SonyAnimation for believing in us. @TheAcademy pic.twitter.com/2sVn7LqWk9

— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) January 13, 2020

Making the moment feel even more serendipitous is the fact that Issa Rae, who lent her voice to the project, ended up being a host during Monday’s broadcast, and got to announce the nomination to the world.

“WOW! And to have @IssaRae announce it! It feels like a dream,” Cherry tweeted. “Huge thanks to our great team … our kickstarter backers & @SonyAnimation for believing in us.”

The 92nd Annual Academy Awards will air February 9th on ABC. And if you haven’t already, please do yourself a favor and check out the short below.

READ MORE: Martin Lawrence says Tisha Campbell’s sexual harassment lawsuit: ‘It Was Bullsh*t’

#HairLove is live! It’s an animated short film about an African American father learning how to do his daughters hair for the first time. Written & Directed by me, co-directed by @BruceAlmighteee @Mr_Scribbles & stars @IssaRae. @SonyAnimation #HairLove pic.twitter.com/RRlh2Ncol1

— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) December 5, 2019

The post Black Twitter rejoices over Oscar nom for Mathew A. Cherry’s “Hair Love” appeared first on TheGrio.

from TheGrio https://ift.tt/2Re8QLd