FSU coach Willie Taggart buys lunch for local football campers, wins the day
The Seminoles coach filled stomachs, and filled hearts even more
4:28 PMWillie Taggart is a “see something, say something” kind of guy, and his good deed for 200 football campers this week is a testament to that.
The Florida State University head coach, who was hired last December, happened to come upon Florida State’s Junior Noles football camp that was held Monday to Wednesday of this week. The camp for students entering first through eighth grade cost $230 and included an FSU football camp T-shirt, but it didn’t include lunch, according to the Miami Herald.
Taggart, a Palmetto, Florida, native who himself played at Manatee High in Bradenton, wasn’t having that. According to a tweet from Palm Beach Nole, Taggart approached a man running the camp, which ran from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and inquired about lunch for the kids. When told that lunch was not included, Taggart jumped into coach mode, telling the man: “That’s not happening. Get on the phone and order some food for these kids.”
Pizza arrived soon afterward, the tweet says, and on Tuesday Jimmy John’s and ice cream were on the menu — all courtesy of Taggart.
“I believe Willie himself paid for lunch for three days for over 200 kids out of his own pocket,” Palm Beach Nole’s tweet said. “Real talk. He didn’t have to do it, no parents expected it, but this is the way he is, just a genuine, really good human. I couldn’t be more proud that he represents FSU.”
Taggart, the 11th overall and first African-American head coach in the program’s history, takes the reins previously held for eight seasons by Jimbo Fisher, now the head coach at Texas A&M. Since being hired, Taggart, 41, has made an immediate impact. His program has one of the youngest coaching staffs in Division I football; eight of Taggart’s coaches have an average age of 44.4, signaling a new era. Also noteworthy: Seven of the eight assistants are African-American, creating a pipeline for minority head-coaching candidates down the road.
His move was noticed, and applauded, by the Fritz Pollard Alliance, an affinity group dedicated to creating opportunities for minority candidates, scouts and front-office personnel.
“You have to be committed. That’s why Willie Taggart is a very, very admirable person,” said John Wooten, chairman of the FPA, which was formed in 2003 and named after Pollard, the first African-American coach in NFL history. “The minorities that get the opportunities as head coaches or athletic directors have to take it upon themselves and have to be committed to going out and finding the young minorities who are in various positions around the country in order to build those kinds of pipelines.”
With his good deed, Taggart, widely known as an ace recruiter, not only filled bellies but also may have solidified the program’s recruiting class for the next decade or longer. Palm Beach Nole (tweeting from @Jroc1738) is sold: “Wow!! That’s my coach!! @CoachTaggart you did a wonderful thing! #DidSomething”
Hollywood
Sam Jackson and friends wow at ‘Incredibles 2’ premiere
Judging by the response of an early audience, sequel is worth the super long wait
7:52 AMLOS ANGELES — The Incredibles 2 premiere was a magical place. In addition to guests Wiz Khalifa, Jason George and black-ish star Marcus Scribner, stars of the film — which features Samuel L. Jackson, Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter — were positioned in the carnival-like atmosphere, where they posed with fans who’ve been waiting a decade and a half for a sequel.
In keeping with the spirit of the much-anticipated animated sequel, the party happened before the world premiere of the film, in a tented area near Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre where jugglers juggled, acrobats balanced larger-than-life balls and performers on stilts entertained guests. All this as revelers feasted on deviled eggs, macaroni and cheese, chicken corn dogs, chocolate-dipped Rice Krispies treats, candied apples, flavored snow cones and the requisite open bar.
And a few hours later, as the crowd leapt to its feet at the conclusion of the premiere, the wait felt more than worth it. Unlike other recent premieres (perhaps because this is an animated film?) there wasn’t the usual pomp and circumstance. No director opened with a speech, and no cast members were called onstage to be introduced to the audience. The studio let the film speak for itself, and judging by the rousing round of applause (and early responses), it was the exact right move. The film is in theaters June 15.
HBCU Education
Southern University is first HBCU to get into medical marijuana
It’s agricultural research center gets $7 million in grants
9:43 AMSomebody had to be first.
Southern University and A&M College owns the distinction as the first historically black college or university (HBCU) to launch a medical marijuana program.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based HBCU, known for its nationally acclaimed Fabulous Dancing Dolls, launched the program after a contract with Advanced Biomedics, a Louisiana-based company specializing in pharmaceutical-grade marijuana products, was approved on May 25, Baton Rouge news source WAFB reported.
What does this mean, you ask? Depends on whom you ask.
“This is a momentous event,” said Bobby R. Phills, chancellor of the Southern University Ag Center and dean of the College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences. “We are extremely excited to be able to provide quality medicine for the citizens of Louisiana. This groundbreaking research opportunity will also provide revenue for the University and economic development in North Baton Rouge.”
The Southern University Agricultural Center is currently awaiting the completion of background checks from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry as part of the completion process, and the university plans to construct a facility on a 176-acre plot of land in Baker, Louisiana.
Southern University now joins Louisiana State University in the cannabis ranks, with both public schools set to cultivate and research marijuana in campus facilities in the state, which legalized the substance in 2016 but prohibited recreational use.
The school, which focuses on livestock, farming research and community education, will oversee the program, according to the report provided. The contract with Advanced Biomedics is set to automatically renew its agreement with the school for two consecutive five-year periods, leading to the assumption that this is a long-term partnership.
Southern University’s product will be ready for distribution at Louisiana dispensaries in early 2019, and the university is set to make a healthy amount from the marijuana facilities.
The Agricultural Research Center will receive $6 million, and Southern will get a $1 million signing bonus with each contract renewal.
Clearly it pays to be first.
2018 NBA Playoffs
The Audemars Piguet watch LeBron James wore for Game 1 worth at least $40,000, expert says
According to the luxury brand’s website, only 1,500 of the model were made
2:27 PMOAKLAND, California — Remember when LeBron James broke out a short suit outfit, valued $46,964.95, for Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals? Well, the ensemble is actually worth much more. Just take a look at the Cleveland Cavaliers star’s wrist.
According to watch connoisseur FakeWatchBusta, a social media sensation known for exposing celebrities for wearing inauthentic timepieces, James donned a super-rare Audemars Piguet, called the Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Chronograph during pregame and postgame of the Cavs’ 124-114 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The watch’s features include:
- Self-winding chronograph with date display and small seconds at 12 o’clock
- Ceramic case, bezel and crown.
- 18-carat pink gold pushpieces
- Titanium caseback with medallion.
- Black ceramic case, black dial, anthracite strap.
According to the Swiss luxury brand’s website, only 1,500 were made, and the watch is currently “not for sale.”
“It retailed in shops for right over $40,000,” FakeWatchBusta told The Undefeated via email. The watch can be found on websites, such as swissluxury.com, for a resale value of as much as $46,495. But there’s certainly a chance James’ version of the Royal Oak Offshore Schwarzenegger could be worth more.
“Since he is endorsed by Audemars Piguet,” FakeWatchBusta wrote, “it could also be something special made, of course.”
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Chronograph, worn by LeBron James pregame and postgame of Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals.
James has a longstanding partnership with Audemars Piguet that led to the limited release of his own signature watch, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore LeBron James, in 2013. At a retail price of $51,500, only 600 pieces dropped worldwide. And in early 2018, the watchmaker tapped James for an ad campaign directed by fashion photographer Rankin in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the iconic Royal Oak Offshore.
Come Game 1 of his eighth-straight Finals appearance, James’ choice of watch was surely a no-brainer. The Royal Oak is fit for a king and apparently worth every penny. The accessory brings the minimum total of this Game 1 outfit to nearly $87,000 — not even including his custom jewelry. Guess that’s just the luxury of getting paid more than $33 million a year to play in the NBA.