Floyd Mayweather wasn’t the only one raking in the dough Saturday night. The Mayweather-Canelo boxing match, broadcast on Showtime Pay-Per-View, snagged nearly $150 million, making it the highest-grossing pay-per-view of all time. The fight’s PPV gross topped 2007′s Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather bout, which drew $136 million. Preliminary reports show the Mayweather-Canelo fight — titled “The One” — at roughly 2.2 million PPV buys. The existing records for PPV buys is 2.48 million for the De La Hoya-Mayweather match, though Showtime notes that Saturday night’s fight may break that record, as well.“The One,” held at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena, sold out within 24 hours of going on sale and broke a live gate revenue with $20 million. Mayweather Promotions and Goldenboy Promotions promoted the boxing event. Related Posts:
This week, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) made a announcement that it has reached an agreement with the state of Alabama that will aid all students, particularly African-American ones, in accessing advanced placement classes. The Lee County School District entered in to the historic first-time agreement, which aims to bolster higher-level learning and increase college opportunities for students. The plan has a few key points that Lee District intends to roll out immediately, including addressing the dearth of Black students in advanced or AP classes and higher-level courses, finding out why Black students are faced with barriers, introducing dual-enrollment courses with the local community college at the predominantly Black high school, and offering transportation between buildings. Lastly, material will be produced to encourage students of all levels and backgrounds to embrace AP courses, pursue higher-level courses, and consider going to college. The OCR will be deeply involved in helping Lee County get the program rolling. From the OCR’s assistant secretary Catherine E. Lhamon:
We look forward to working with the Lee County School District administrators to ensure that all students have equal access to a quality education and are pleased that the district has taken positive steps to increase college-ready access through raising the enrollment of Black students in AP and other higher level courses. The Lee County School District has been a partner throughout this process and I applaud the steps the District is taking to help ensure their compliance with our civil rights laws to serve all students.
To learn more about the Lee County School District plans, click here. article by D. L. Chandler via newsone.com
Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton speaks during a rally honoring Trayvon Martin organized by the National Action Network outside One Police Plaza in Manhattan on July 20, 2013 in New York City. Demonstrators have gathered in various cities across the country to protest the acquittal of neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman and press for his federal prosecution in the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – On Tuesday, the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis will testify on Capitol Hill. The topic: “Stand Your Ground” laws. Sybrina Fulton and Lucia McBath will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. The hearing, according to a notice on the Senate Judiciary Committee website is entitled “‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws: Civil Rights and Public Safety Implications of the Expanded Use of Deadly Force.” Tallahassee, Florida-based state attorney William Meggs, and Harvard Law School professor and director of the Criminal Justice Institute Ronald S. Sullivan, Jr. are also expected to testify, along with a senior fellow from the Libertarian Cato Institute and John R. Lott, Jr., Ph.D., President of the Crime Prevention Research Center in Swarthmore, PA. Fulton is the mother of Trayvon Martin, whose shooting death and the acquittal of his killer, George Zimmerman, on second degree murder and manslaughter charges touched off more than a year of controversy regarding Florida’s “stand your ground” laws and similar laws across the country. (Zimmerman didn’t use “Stand Your Ground” as his defense, but it was referenced by one of the jurors in the case in interviews after the verdict, and it altered Florida’s jury instructions in cases like Zimmerman’s.) A foundation founded by Fulton and Trayvon Martin’s father, Tracy Martin, is working to amend “Stand Your Ground” laws in Florida and in the more than 20 other states with similar laws. George Zimmerman said he shot Martin in self-defense. McBath’s son, Jordan Davis, was shot to death on November 23, 2012 at a Jacksonville gas station as he sat in a car with three friends. Michael Dunn is expected to use the “Stand Your Ground” self defense law in his upcoming trial for Davis’ killing. Dunn is expected to go to trial in January.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. celebrates his majority decision victory against Canelo Alvarez in their WBC/WBA 154-pound title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 14, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Canelo Alvarez proved nothing more than easy money for Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. Mayweather turned one of the richest fights ever into just another $41.5 million payday Saturday night, dominating Alvarez from the opening bell and winning a majority decision in a masterful performance that left no doubt who the best fighter of his era is.
Fighting off his shortest layoff in years, Mayweather was sharp, efficient and sometimes brutal in dismantling an unbeaten fighter who was bigger and was supposed to punch harder. He frustrated Alvarez early, pounded him with big right hands in the middle rounds, and made him look just like he said he would — like any other opponent. Mayweather was favored 117-111 and 116-112 on two ringside scorecards while a third inexplicably had the fight 114-114. The Associated Press scored it 119-109 for Mayweather. “I just listened to my corner, listened to my dad,” Mayweather said. “My dad had a brilliant game plan, and I went out there and got the job done.”
President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Lawrence Pijeaux, front, lays on a table the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously awarded in honor of Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley, the four young black girls who lost their lives in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 15, 1963, presented by Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner, back center, during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013. Others are, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., from back left, Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., obscured, unidentified, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
WASHINGTON (AP) — House and Senate leaders on Tuesday awarded Congress’ highest civilian honor to four girls killed in the Alabama church bombing nearly 50 years ago that became a watershed moment in the civil rights movement. The Congressional Gold Medal went to Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, who were all 14, and Denise McNair, who was 11. The ceremony came five days before the 50th anniversary of their deaths inside the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. “Their names remain seared in our hearts,” said House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California. She was joined at the commemoration by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Republican House Speaker John Boehner and cmembers of Alabama’s congressional delegation. Along with the many lawmakers in the crowd paying tribute were director Spike Lee, and several relatives of the girls.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has marked the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with a moment of silence with First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and his wife Jill Biden today. Obama, along with Mrs. Obama, walked out of the White House at 1246 GMT, the moment the first hijacked plane hit the World Trade Center tower in New York City. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks that led to a long war in Afghanistan. The President went on to speak at a Sept. 11 ceremony at the Pentagon today (see video below).
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLjrMCSHzpo&w=420&h=315] article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson
First lady Michelle Obama visits with children at the USO Warrior and Family Center in Fort Belvoir, Va., Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, during a service project to commemorate the Sept. 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance at Food and Friends. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama drew a pair of construction paper hands for a project with military children during a 9/11 visit to a USO center at the Army’s Fort Belvoir. The first lady said she wanted to highlight the organization’s work on behalf of wounded service members and their families.
The USO Warrior and Family Center opened in February at the Army installation in Virginia, just south of Washington. The USO says it’s the largest ever to support wounded troops, their families and others by providing relaxation, home-cooked meals, kids’ playrooms and other support. Mrs. Obama helped children complete banners decorated with cutouts of handprints for a rock concert Wednesday night. She was joined by actor Gary Sinise, a USO supporter whose “Lt. Dan Band” was performing at the event. Sinise played the character “Lt. Dan” in the movie Forrest Gump. Mrs. Obama also brought along cookies shaped like the family’s new Portuguese water dog, Sunny. Afterward, she toured the Intrepid Spirit center, also at Fort Belvoir. The facility was dedicated Wednesday and provides outpatient care to service members and veterans with traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions. She met privately with wounded service members and their families and participated in a round-table discussion with caregivers. Mrs. Obama traveled to Fort Belvoir after observing a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, his wife, Jill, and White House staff members. Copyright 2013 The Associated Press via thegrio.com
NoViolet Bulawayo is a Zimbabwean author. She is currently a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University. (Smeeta Mahanti/Courtesy Reagan Arthur Books)
According to npr.com, the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize, Britain’s most prestigious literary award, was announced today. Among the short listers was We Need New Names author and Stanford University fellow NoViolet Bulawayo. Although the Booker Prize is limited to writers from the British Commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland, the list skews international, and includes novelists from Zimbabwe, New Zealand and Canada. The complete shortlist is:
Feminist and human rights activist Aminata Touré is making history in Senegal. According to reports, the 51-year-old former justice minister was named Prime Minister last Sunday, only the second woman in the country’s history. (Mame Madior Boye served between 2001 and 2002)
Known as Senegal’s Iron Lady, Touré named her cabinet, which includes four other women, just one day of the announcement.
Ms. Touré earned much respect in Senegal in her role as justice minister. It was during her tenure that the judicial process against former Chad dictator Hissène Habré saw great progress, leading up to his arrest in Senegal earlier this year. Also under her leadership, the fight against corruption and illegally-acquired wealth was intensified, seeing millions of francs held by corrupt officials in foreign banks repatriated.
As for her plans in office? Touré says she will “speed up the pace of our public development programs and reforms to enable every person in Senegal to feel the change in their daily livelihood.” The new Prime Minster holds a Masters in economics and a PhD in international financial management. article by Myeisha Essex via blackamericaweb.com
Superstar boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is breaking the record for being the highest-paid boxer for one fight. He will reportedly net more than $41 million for facing Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Mayweather’s Money Team signed a very lucrative contract with Showtime Networks earlier this year. The network will broadcast six of his fights over 30 months and they are set to pay him a whopping $200 million. Mayweather’s fight against Alvarez is the second fight of the agreement. Mayweather’s $41 million payday breaks the record he set when he fought Miguel Cotto and Robert Guerrero in May of 2012 and May of this year respectively. Each of those fights added $32 million to Mayweather’s bank accounts. While $41 million is a hefty sum of money, Floyd Mayweather could possibly earn more through pay-per-view. According to reports by ESPN.com, people do expect the Mayweather-Alvarez bout to match or surpass the record of 2.44 million purchases. 2.44 million people generated about $130 million for the 2007 match between Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya. It’s very likely This fight will be more successful than the bout between De La Hoya and Mayweather because Golden Boy boxing promoter Richard Schaefer says the fight has already broken the all-time record for ticket sales for an MGM Grand boxing match. The Mayweather-Alvarez fight will take place on September 14. article by Johnathan Hailey via theurbandaily.com
