NBA honors Kobe Bryant by renaming All-Star MVP trophy after him

The NBA will hold its 69th All-Star Game Sunday in Chicago and for the first time, its Most Valuable Player Trophy will carry the name of Kobe Bryant who tragically died three weeks ago.

The winner of the award in Sunday’s game will receive the Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP Trophy, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced Saturday.

“We are renaming our All-Star MVP trophy the Kobe Bryant MVP award.”

Adam Silver announces the NBA’s decision to rename the All-Star Game MVP award to honor Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/HuJgjopFbw

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) February 16, 2020

READ MORE: Vanessa Bryant changes name of Kobe’s foundation to honor her late daughter Gianna

“To all of us, it seemed like the appropriate way to bring honor to him,” Silver said, according to ESPN, at the annual state-of-the-league press conference the night before the game at Chicago’s United Center. It was fitting, he added because Bryant holds the record for consecutive All-Star appearances at 18 and is tied for the most MVP awards with four. In his first All-Star appearance in 1998, he was the youngest-ever player in the midseason showcase.

Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people were killed in a helicopter crash on January 26.

The naming of the MVP award in his honor is only one of several ways the NBA honored Bryant at its All-Star Weekend festivities. On Friday, he was one of eight nominees selected as finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame, with the final vote coming in April. Bryant was a sure thing to be inducted in his first year of eligibility. Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett were also named finalists in their first year eligible.

READ MORE: Charles Barkley says Kobe Bryant’s NBA career and rape case are both part of legacy

Said Jerry Colangelo, chairman of the Hall of Fame, according to NBA.com: “Because of the enormity, even before Kobe’s death, we think Kobe and Duncan and Garnett bring to (this) … we’ve never had a class that strong at the top. And then with Kobe’s death, it added more focus.”

Also, in honor of both of Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, the league changed the All-Star jerseys this year so that Team LeBron is wearing No. 24 in honor of Bryant and Team Giannis is wearing No. 2 to honor Gianna.

And in Saturday night’s dunk contest, Dwight Howard — once a teammate of Bryant with the Lakers, once a competitor in the 2009 NBA Finals, and now a Lakers player — wore a Superman cape reminiscent of his previous dunk contest victory. The one difference was that his outfit had Bryant’s uniform number 24 on the front where the “S” would be.

 

 

The post NBA honors Kobe Bryant by renaming All-Star MVP trophy after him appeared first on TheGrio.

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England in South Africa: Eoin Morgan leads side to victory in stunning chase of 223

England pull off a stunning chase of 223 to beat South Africa in the third Twenty20 in Centurion and take a pulsating series 2-1.

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Congressman John Lewis to Receive NAACP Chairman’s Award at the 51st NAACP Image Awards

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has announced that U.S. Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis (D-GA), is going to receive the prestigious NAACP Chairman’s Award at this year’s 51st NAACP Image Awards.

Past honorees of the Chairman’s Award have included Tyler Perry, Senator Barack Obama, Former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, Ruby Dee, The Neville Brothers, Bono, Danny Glover, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters. The Chairman’s Award is given to individuals who demonstrate exemplary public service and use their distinct platforms to create agents of change.

“Congressman John Lewis is a modern hero in American history, and we’re proud to give him this award,” said Chairman Leon Russell in a press release. “In an age where our voting rights are under attack like never before, we’re honored to elevate a civil rights hero who has dedicated his life to protecting our constitutional rights, fighting injustice and speaking truth to power.”

 

Congressman John Lewis is receiving the honor based on his lifelong dedication to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls “The Beloved Community” in America.

The show and honor will air live on BET on Saturday, February 22, 2020, from Pasadena, California. NAACP Five-Time Image Award recipient Anthony Anderson of ABC’s Black-ish is returning as host of the 51st NAACP Image Awards. This upcoming special will be Anderson‘s 7th consecutive year in the role. Anderson is an Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor and is currently the star and Executive Producer of ABC’s five-time NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Comedy Series, Black-ish.

As previously announced, global music superstar and fashion icon, business entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Rihanna, will receive the prestigious President’s Award at the ceremony.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas at naacp.org.

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Morehouse College Becomes First HBCU To Have A Polo Team

The Morehouse College Polo Club has been officially declared a member of the United States Polo Association, an esteemed honor that makes the school the first historically black college and university (HBCU) to embrace a polo team.

The Morehouse club was co-founded in 2019 by Miguel Wilson, founder of Ride to the Olympics Foundation, with Morehouse students Rian Toussaint, Justin Wynn, and Caleb Cherry as its first members according to The Washington Informer. “We would like to officially welcome Morehouse College to the family! Morehouse will be playing out of the Atlanta Regional Polo Center with Jolie Liston and Frankie Questel,” Amy Fraser, director of Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo, said in a letter addressed to Morehouse.

The idea originated from Cherry’s polo coach, who suggested that he start a team at Morehouse. Cherry competed in dressage for 10 years before and started playing polo five years ago. He is the only player on the team with prior experience with horses, according to Atlanta Daily World.

Through Ride to the Olympics, the students received scholarships that support their membership of the Morehouse Polo Club, giving them access to horses, riding lessons, and appropriate gear and allowing them to compete against other polo teams, both domestic and international.

Established in 2017, Ride to the Olympics’ primary mission is to empower youth who aren’t exactly born with great means with the opportunity to learn the art of equestrian sports, fashion, and leadership development. The program is also committed to increasing awareness and exposure to horse-related sports such as polo, showjumping, and dressage throughout the country.

Last September, Wilson’s foundation raised additional funds for the team through its annual Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic event, where high-profile Atlantans and celebrities attended to support the Morehouse Polo Club.

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Tiger Woods Considering Joining New Premier Golf League

There is a new, proposed golf league being formed and after being approached by them, Tiger Woods is thinking about playing in it, according to ESPN.

The Premier Golf League is proposing an 18-event tour from January to September. Each event would be 54 holes and have no cuts. The weekly $10 million in prize money would appeal to a 48-player field before a season-ending championship. The total prize fund for the tournament will be $240 million. The tour would probably have an impact on the PGA Tour and European Tour if it the league materializes.

“My team’s been aware of it and we’ve delved into the details of it and are trying to figure it out just like everyone else,” Woods said Tuesday at Riviera Country Club, where he is hosting a tournament. “We’ve been down this road before with World Golf Championships and other events being started. There’s a lot of information that we’re still looking at and whether it’s reality or not, but just like everybody else, we’re looking into it.”

As expected, there is a slight pushback from the PGA Tour organizers. In late January, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan warned players that competing in the Premier Golf League could lead to disciplinary measures and loss of eligibility with the Tour. “If the Team Golf Concept or another iteration of this structure becomes a reality in 2022 or at any time before or after,” Monahan said in an email, “our members will have to decide whether they want to continue to be a member of the PGA Tour or play on a new series.”

Woods also added, “I think that just like all events, you’re trying to get the top players to play more collectively. It’s one of the reasons why we instituted the World Golf Championships, because we were only getting together five times a year, the four majors and The Players, and we wanted to showcase the top players on more than just those occasions. We came up with the World Golf Championships and we’re meeting more often.

“So this is a natural evolution, whether or not things like this are going to happen, but ideas like this are going to happen going forward, whether it’s now or any other time in the future.’’

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South Sudan peace talks: Machar and Kiir in deadlock over states

Riek Machar is not satisfied by President Salva Kiir's offer to reduce the number of states.

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Over 500 Chrome Extensions Secretly Uploaded Private Data

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Airbnb Has Devoured London. Here’s the Data to Prove It

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Augmented Reality From the Driver's Seat, and More Car News This Week

Plus: Retailers aim to improve delivery performance, and Airbus displays a model of a new blended-wing plane.

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Shakeups at the Justice Department Top This Week's Internet News Roundup

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Coway Bidetmega 400 Review: A Glorious Way to Clean Your Derrière

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Medicare Age And Eligibility Requirements

When Are You Eligible For Medicare?

If you’re looking to sign up for Medicare in the near future, knowing when you’re eligible for enrollment is an essential part of the process. You qualify for full Medicare benefits beginning at age 65 if:

• You are a citizen of the United States or permanent legal resident who has lived in the U.S. for at least five years; and
• You’ve worked for 10 years and paid Social Security during that time; or
• Your spouse worked for 10 years and paid Social Security during that time; or
• You are divorced but were married for at least 10 years and would have qualified through your ex-spouse.

You may also qualify for Medicare before the age of 65 if:

• You have received Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months.
• You have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and have been on dialysis for three months or have had a kidney transplant.
• You have been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).

Applying For Medicare When You Turn 65

If you are planning to apply for Medicare when you age into eligibility at 65, here’s what you need to know:

• You can apply for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday, the month you turn 65, and three months after your 65th birthday.
  • If your birthday is in May, for example, you may enroll in the months of February, March, April, May, June, July, and August.
  • This time period is known as your Initial Enrollment Period. During this period, you can sign up for Part A, B, C, and D.
• Part A is mandatory and covers costs associated with hospital visits.
• Part B is optional but highly recommended and coverage costs associated with doctor visits.
• Part C (Medicare Advantage) is optional and is a cost-saving option if you want Part A, B, and D combined with other benefits such as vision and dental.
• Part D is optional but highly recommended and covers costs associated with prescription drug coverage.

You must sign up for Medicare Part A during this period even if you’re not going to quit working. You do not have to apply for Part B until you start receiving retirement benefits (see the below section on special enrollment), but you do need to apply for Part A. 

If you are applying for Medicare in full and you are not working, you must sign up for all Medicare programs you want to join. This means if you want Part B and D, you need to sign up for both when you sign up for Part A. If you’re going to sign up for Medicare Advantage, you also need to do so during your enrollment window.

If you apply for Part A on time but you wait to sign up for Part B, there will be a 10% increase on your premium for each year you delay enrolling. For example, if you sign up for Part A during your Initial Enrollment Period in 2020 but put off signing up for Part B until 2025, your premium fee increase will look like this: 

	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Late Fee	0%	10%	+ 10%	+ 10%	+ 10%	+ 10%
Part B Premium	$100	$110	$120	$130	$140	$150

What if you miss this period? There are two other time slots for enrollment: your Special Enrollment Period and open enrollment.

Special Enrollment Period

If you plan to work and receive health insurance through your employer, you can delay applying for Medicare Part B until you begin receiving Social Security or railroad retirement benefits. Once your employment ends and you start collecting retirement, you will be automatically enrolled in Part B as long as you signed up when applying for retirement benefits. If you did not sign up for Part B when applying for retirement benefits, or if you want to sign up for Part C or D, you may do so during this period.

From the time your job ends, you have eight months to enroll in Part B. If your employment ends in April, you will have May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December to apply for Part B. This is known as your Special Enrollment Period. Special enrollment only applies to those who are still working and who will continue receiving healthcare through an employer.

Open Enrollment Period

Open enrollment applies to anyone who missed their initial or special enrollment periods or an enrolled person who desires to switch plans. If you missed your initial or special enrollment periods, you may apply during the Open Enrollment Period, but there will be a penalty.

The period for open enrollment occurs yearly from October 15 through December 7.

Ready To Apply For Medicare?

If you are ready to enroll in Medicare or want to better understand your eligibility and options, requesting a free, personalized quote online is a great first step. Doing so will only take a few minutes of your time and will connect you with an expert who can explain your coverage and benefits, along with your estimated monthly premium. 

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Psychedelic Fiber Offers a New Twist on the Science of Knots

A stretchy plastic that changes colors as it deforms lets mathematicians and physicists model the stress points of knots, and test which is the strongest. 

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Polaroid Lab Review: Turn Your Smartphone Snaps Into Polaroid Prints

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Joshua Cheptegei smashes 5km road world record in Monaco

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Uganda's Queen of Katwe star Nikita Pearl Waligwa dies aged 15

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