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Dwayne Wade supports his LGBTQ+ daughter Zaya

Dwayne Wade Supports Transgender Daughter

In a touching moment of living in their eternal truth, basketball star Dwayne Wade revealed that his daughter, formerly known as his son Zion, has come out to his family with the request to be referred to she/her and to call her Zion. In an appearance on “The Ellen Show”, he revealed to the host that one day Wade’s 12-year-old child came home and expressed that she would like to be referred to as she/her and to be called Zaya, rather than her birth name Zion.

Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union dub themselves LGBTQ+ allies

When speaking to Ellen Degeneres, Dwayne Wade explained, “First of all, me and my wife, Gabrielle Union, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community. And we’re proud of allies, as well. And we take our roles and responsibilities as parents very seriously.”

“Call me Zaya”, Wades 12-year old requested

Wade explained how vital it is for parents to listen to their children when they express that they have something important to share. Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union’s values as parents were no different when Zaya came home one day and revealed her personal truth. “That doesn’t change because sexuality is now involved in it,” he said. “And so, once Zaya, our 12-year old, came home, and said: ‘Hey, I want to talk to you guys. You know, I think going forward I’m ready to live my truth, and I want to be referenced as she and her. I would love for you guys to call me Zaya.’”

The familial support gives hope to other transgender children

Dwayne Wade’s unwavering support of his daughter is not only inspirational, but gives hope to other children in the LGBTQ+ community who may be too scared to come out and reveal to their parents exactly how they want to live and be represented in this world. In a video posted by Wade’s wife and actress Gabrielle Union, Zaya gave insight on her revelation with the self-awareness of someone three times her age. In the video Zaya’s father asks, “Even when people are being mean and even when people are getting hurt because they’re trying to be themselves? And even through that, you still want people to make sure they live their truth?” Zaya responds insightfully. “Yeah. I think, I know things can get tough. Definitely. But I think you push through and you be the best you.”

Brother Zaire relays sweet Instagram message to sister

In addition to parents Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade voicing their unfiltered support for their daughter, Zaya’s big brother Zaire also came out in support his brave sister. Captioned to a picture of the siblings as children, Zaire gushed, “Man I remember bugging my mom as a kid telling her I wanted a brother so bad. I was the only child looking for company and someone to look after and take care of,” Zaire explained. “I have been blessed to have my best friend Zaya with me for 12 years. We did everything together…we fought we played, we laughed, and we cried. But the one thing we never did was leave each other behind.”

He continued, “I’ve told you that I would lay my life down to make sure you are ten toes down and happy on this earth. I don’t care what they think Z, you are my best friend and I love you kid, and if it means anything, just know there’s no love lost on this side.”

Unwavering support for both Zaya and her family has come out of the entertainment industry in droves including support from transgender activist, author, and producer, Janet Mock.

The public support and bravery of Zaya is sure to save a lot of lives in the LGBTQ+ community.

Also Read: Lebron James in Limbo

The Redesigned LGBTQ Flag

anxiety

How To Cope With Coronavirus Anxiety

The new strain of Coronavirus, COVID-19, is in every headline at the moment, with many news outlets sharing frightening statistics and figures and causing widespread anxiety.

As with any outbreak, it is of course important to stay informed, however when we are obsessing over the headlines to the extent that it impacts our mental health, there are boundaries we need to put in place.

News-related anxiety is a very real issue in our society. Smartphones give us constant access to news bulletins, twitter and other social mediums that are full of people scaremongering and reminding us of reasons to be afraid.

However, living in fear is never the sensible strategy. While it can seem much easier said than done, we have put together some top tips on what you can do to cope with Coronavirus-related anxiety.

Manage your news consumption to deal with anxiety

While it’s tempting to constantly be checking for updates on the news, it doesn’t do your state of mind any good. It’s also important to remember that many media outlets rely on click bait for their views, meaning that headlines will often be dramatic and include triggering phrases such as ‘pandemic’.

You can also manage your news consumption by deleting news apps off your phone or disabling push notification.

Distract yourself

It might seem like Coronavirus is all everyone is talking about at the moment, so it’s important to make sure not the whole of your time is spent thinking about it. Go out with friends, have a good time and just unwind.

Global outbreaks such as the Coronavirus can be a lot for us all to deal with, especially if you re already prone to anxiety. Make sure to practice some self care and look after yourself, even if that means taking a break from work or studying.

Put it into perspective

Remember that every development with Coronavirus will be reported by every news outlet. This can make it seem like these headlines are happening every five seconds. Instead of looking at it on a global scale, try to focus on your local situation alone, rather than looking at the whole picture. Ask yourself, what is the current situation in your state? What is the local advice?

The statistics on the number of people that have been infected and killed are scary, however the rapid spread of the virus has not been an unexpected occurrence to government officials.

Based on the data of 17,000 patients with the coronavirus, the World Health Organization says that 3 percent of those with the virus become critically ill. At present, 82 percent of people who are infected develop only mild symptoms.

The coronavirus has been tricky to keep from spreading due to the fact that these 82 percent only experience mild symptoms, believing themselves to be fit to get out and about, thus spreading the virus to other people. With other outbreaks of Coronavirus such as SARS, it did not spread on the same scale as COVID-19 due to patients becoming very ill very quickly.

Know where the worry comes from

News-related anxiety is common, but it can usually be managed by simple steps such as managing your media consumption. However, if you are experiencing serious symptoms of anxiety, it may be due to a larger mental health issue. Anxiety relating to the Coronavirus is normal, however if the worry you feel is effecting your every day life and ability to complete tasks, it is worth seeing a counsellor or doctor to talk about it in more depth.

See also: Coronavirus Spreads to California with 28 Cases
COVID-19: Everything We Know About Coronavirus Right Now
Dwayne Wade Supports Transgender Daughter

 

Lebron James

LeBron James in Limbo

Can the Cleveland Cavaliers’ deadline day trades save another NBA finals defeat for LeBron James?

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been particularly hard to watch this year. LeBron James is having one of his best years statistically and he seemingly can’t find any teammates to lessen the burden on his shoulders. Since Kyrie Irving demanded to be traded, they’ve looked one-dimensional and pedestrian, the only threat coming from Lebron driving to the paint. The reasons for this could be that head coach Ty Lue or Dan Gilbert made the trade swapping Irving for Isaiah Thomas, then scrapping that trade by February—even though Thomas had a 10-month hiatus as a result to a labral tear to his hip, so he needed more time to get used to basketball again. However, without knowing the atmosphere in the Cavalier’s dressing room before Thomas was shipped off to the Lakers, it’s very hard to pinpoint the cause of their decline: We question if the new look Cavaliers could still win it all this year.

Firstly, the new look Cavs have gone four and four, leaving most fans confused as to what the ownership saw in these players, which is completely unfair. There isn’t a team in the league that could introduce four players who are given significant minutes and win consistently, they’ve only been with the team a month as well as having the all-star break in between this.

One thing to be concerned about is that the Cavaliers have the busiest end of year schedule in the NBA, so getting the team training together is going to be challenge.

Cleveland acquired George Hill, a 6”3’-point guard from Sacramento. He’s an efficient player averaging 10 points per game and an impressive 45 percent from the three-point line. They brought in another good three-point shooter in Rodney Hood, a 6”8’ shooting guard from the Utah Jazz, averaging 15 points a game. They’re both athletic defenders that are very capable perimeter shooters, who LeBron James loves to play with. LeBron James uses these players whilst he drives to the paint causing the defenders to sink closer to the basket to try and protect the rim, making the perimeter shooters available for the pass.

The Cavaliers also traded for Larry Nance Jr, he stands at 6”9’, plays as a power forward and will primarily be used as a center by Lue. Nance is a good rim protector and can also spread out the floor because of the threat of an alley-oop pass to him. He can be a spark plug for the team, he’s a vicious dunker that has Kevin Durant amongst his posterized victims. Nance never had a true role in LA, so he will benefit from having a more defined role.

Lastly, Jordan Clarkson was brought in alongside Nance from the LA Lakers. Clarkson’s a 6”5’ point guard, averaging 15 points per game, can score from anywhere and doesn’t need other players to create for him. This is as opposed to Hill and Hood who can’t create off the dribble. The Cavs will look to use him as a player who can create for himself giving LeBron James a rest from ball handling duties.

In conclusion, the Cleveland Cavaliers added reliable role players to back up LeBron James and Kevin Love. Before the trade, Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade and Isaiah Thomas just weren’t willing to be used as mostly off-the-ball players later in their careers, leading them to be disillusioned and not fight as hard as they once would have. The new additions will be sponges to the Cavaliers system and are young and fresh enough to run up and down court for the whole game. However, they will be relying on LeBron James and Love to get 60 points per game for them, then relying on the supporting cast to get around 10 points each.

All the focus is on the Golden State Warriors, who are still the heavy favorites to win the Championship since they have four perennial All-stars to the Cavaliers’ two. However, winning back to back Championships is difficult because mentally it’s so tough to keep the performance levels the same after achieving the ultimate goal the year before. My expectation is that they are good enough to win through to the finals, but may ultimately lose to the Warriors. These players are a good improvement, but the lack of consistent high volume shooters on the Cavs will be their downfall.

Further reading: NBA Star Derrick Rose to Sign With Timberwolves

NBA All-Stars released: Who made the cut and who got the Snub

NBA All-Star weekend 2016 is approaching

Since the NBA All Stars got released, let’s figure out who made the cut and who got the snub. The mid way point of the NBA season is approaching quickly and the coveted NBA All-Star weekend is all everyone can talk about. The NBA recently released the reserves for the Western and Eastern conference and some familiar names were left off. I don’t know if it is a nod to the incredible depth of talent that the league holds or their need to build brands for the future. I understand it is hard to decide on the crème of the crop in the confines of a twelve-man roster. I wanted to take the time to name a few honorable mentions that you won’t have the opportunity of seeing at this year’s NBA All-Star Game.

You should also read: NBA All-Star Weekend preview

 

Who made the Cut?

One thing I did notice was the fans vote no longer has an emphasis on position and having the traditional starting 5 during NBA All-Star weekend 2016. Both teams starting lineups are littered with guards that excite the crowd, although most of the starters deserve their position from what they have been able to do on the court this season. Besides Kobe (I thought I’d never say that) everyone has had great seasons and deserve to be out there. Kobe deserves to be there too because if it is his last go at it why not take on the league’s best to usher in this new generation. That’s another story line in itself.

It is good to see players like Isaiah Thomas, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green be rewarded for their outstanding play. These players have been significant reasons for the success of their organizations and should be rewarded with their first NBA All-Star appearances. It has to be difficult choosing 24 of the best players in the league when you have a league full of amazing talent. Here are your lineups.

Western Conference Starters

Kobe Bryant

Steph Curry

Kevin Durant

Russell Westbrook

Kawhi Leonard

Reserves*

LaMarcus Aldridge, James Harden, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green (led in votes), Demarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis and Chris Paul.

Eastern Conference Starters

Paul George

LeBron James

Kyle Lowry

Dwayne Wade

Carmelo Anthony

Reserves*

Andre Drummond (led in votes), Isiah Thomas, Chris Bosh, Jimmy Butler, John Wall, Demar Derozen and Paul Milsap.

They may have gotten snubbed but they still get the job done

Don’t get me wrong all of the players selected are great in their own right but there are some noticeable names missing from the lineups. The snubs this season could be related to the generational shift or just lack of production from familiar faces but some deserve some notoriety for their seasons so far. The most noticeable missing face is Blake Griffin, who despite injury (caused by lack of judgement) would otherwise be a lock on the Western conference team. So if he didn’t suffer his injury who on the list would he replace? That is another conversation.

In the west, there are a few other names I would consider snubs even if their teams were not as good as some of the players who made the list. Damien Lilliard (who was also left out last year), the point guard and leader for the Portland Trailblazers is averaging 24 points and 7 assist while shooting 42% from the field is the biggest name to not make the cut. Lilliards production has increased with the loss of Wesley Matthews, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum who all have moved on to new organizations. Although, the Trailblazers are struggling to get wins he has been one of the more solid players all season and deserves to be on the court with the best. Others honorable mentions for NBA All-Stars would be Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan and Rajon Rondo who is leading the league in assist once again. I wish the two veterans could go out like Kobe but Duncan has the team around him that may push for another NBA title this season and Kobe has the Lakers.

Eastern Conference snubs that deserve a mention

Over in the east, were a few guys who did not make the cut who are having strong seasons as well. Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat leads the league in Blocks with 3.9 per game, he is 2nd in Field Goal percentage and 5th in Rebounds. His overall production has been a big reason the Miami Heat have been able to stay competitive in the tough eastern conference this year. Pau Gasol is another familiar face that did not make the cut this season. Averaging his typical double double in a conference that lacks production with players of size he got the snub leading the 2nd best team in the Eastern Conference. A few other snubs would be Nicolas Batum, Al Horford and Kemba Walker who are all having tremendous seasons themselves.

The biggest names not mentioned in the East are two of the three-headed monster from the defending Eastern conference champions the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. Irving who missed the bulk of the early part of the season with an injury to his kneecap he suffered in the NBA Finals last year is an understandable snub but Love may have an argument to make. Love may be having a down year to his standards, but his 16 points and 10 rebounds have put the Cleveland Cavaliers in the driver seat once again to challenge the Golden State Warriors for league supremacy. I think wins are important aspect in All-Star voting unless it is a clear-cut player who has dominated but team has underperformed. In those cases, the best players should play in the game.

An NBA All-Star snub doesn’t make or break your career but it does make you think what all goes on in to deciding the best of the best. Some of these names deserve to be there and some have good numbers but in the end star status plays a role who people want to see on NBA All-Star 2016 Sunday. I look forward to seeing this year’s game and cheering on Andre Drummond of my Detroit Pistons. What do you think about the NBA All-Star line up, do you think any of the snubs deserve to take a place on the official NBA All-Star 2016 roster? Leave a comment and let me know. 

You will also like: LeBron James and Kevin Durant go from rivals to teammates in days

LeBron James' marries high school sweetheart Savannah Brinson

LeBron James married his long time girlfriend, Savannah Brinson this weekend with a 3-day celebration

Basketball all-star, LeBron James has married his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson, this weekend at an ultra-private ceremony at the Grand Del Mar Resort in San Diego, CA. James has accomplished a feat that many cannot, marry their long time high school girlfriend. Almost out of a teen novel, Brinson has remained through James’ Entire career thus far, following his success in the NBA including massive attention for his MVP status and NBA Championship rings. James’, 28, proposed to Brinson, 27, on January 1, 2012 and have kept most plans private from the media fodder. This weekend they celebrated with 3-day wedding festivities, all which were kept under wraps including the guest list.

The super exclusive wedding plans have been noted as super secretive, informing guests of rules surrounding the wedding ceremony. Unlike many celebrity weddings that have flooded media outlets, it has been reported that the couple requested no cell phone use, equipped with heavy security on the grounds. Guests were even escorted to the resort with an umbrella to prevent looming helicopters from exposing guests. Sources have also reported approximately 200 in attendance, which included Beyonce, Jay-Z, Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union, and singer Ne-Yo.

Little has been said about the wedding, citing James’ as only being “excited and nervous” about the upcoming celebration. He had also revealed briefly that he wanted to give Savannah the dream wedding she always wanted.

After nearly ten years, it is clear they are a strong couple unscathed by the pressures of LeBron’s career. The couple also have two sons together, LeBron Jr., 8, and Bryce, 5.  Brinson became pregnant her senior year of high school as LeBron began his astounding career. Cue the “Aww.”

As of late, the only photos posted have been of guest’s dawning their beautiful wedding outfits such as Gabrielle Union’s red sleek form fitting dress with black leather platform heels posted on her Instagram account.  New details are still being released as we await the official wedding pictures of the long awaited, James/Brinson wedding. 

Miami Heat's historic win streak snapped by Bulls

Bulls prevail without Noah, Hamilton, Belinelli, Rose

When the Miami Heat came into Chicago on Wednesday night, they were just six games away from tying the record for most consecutive wins in the history of the major North American sports leagues.

When they left Chicago, though, they were back to square one.

The Miami Heat’s 27-game winning streak was halted by the Chicago Bulls Wednesday night, as the home team outlasted a third quarter comeback to prevail by a score of 101-97.

The Miami Heat hadn’t lost since Feb.1, the weekend of Super Bowl Sunday. But the Bulls were able to beat the hottest team in the league by exploiting their biggest weakness: lack of size.

The Bulls manhandled the Heat inside, as the team grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and out-rebounded the Heat by a margin of 43-31.

Carlos Boozer led the way for the Bulls with 21 points and 17 rebounds while Luol Deng scored 28 and second-year wingman Jimmy Butler chipped in 17.

For the Heat struggled as a whole offensively but the Big Three played well; Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade scored 32, 21 and 18 points respectively.

Both teams were active defensively and very physical; the game saw 15 blocks and 20 steals combined, as well as a half-dozen hard fouls that left players grimacing on the ground.

The Bulls’ transition defense thrived as several Heat fastbreaks were stopped in their tracks by blocks or hard fouls. Strangely, the Bulls scored more transition points than the Heat by a margin of 15-11.

The Bulls got off to an early lead and held on to that lead for the entire first half. The Bulls started the second half up 55-46, but the Heat’s stifling defense made scoring miserable for the Bulls, and the closing minutes of the third quarter saw the Heat take a one-point lead on a three-pointer from Shane Battier.

But the Bulls found their offense in the fourth quarter, led by a smattering of three’s from Luol Deng. And in the end, they held on to win the game and stop the Heat’s historic streak.

After the loss, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned the streak to the team for the first time. The team took a minute to reflect on the accomplishment, and then shifted focus to the next game. But finally, the team had a moment to appreciate what they had just accomplished.

“We haven’t had a chance to really have a moment to know what we just did,” James said. “We had a moment, just very fortunate, very humbling and blessed to be part of this team and be part of a streak like that.”

Game 4 of NBA 2012 Finals' highlights

The Heat beats OKC putting them in a 3-1 advantage

Game 4 of the NBA Finals finished off with Heat holding off OKC 104-98. The Heat lead with a 3-1 advantage over OKC.

Within the last few minutes of the fourth quarter Lebron James was taken off the court due to leg cramping. James was sitting uneasily as he watched the Heat tough it out in a tight fourth quarter only to be put back in. James dropped a three leading the Heat in a victory over OKC.

James was seen grimacing on the sidelines while his leg was being worked on. According to teammate Dwayne Wade, “He was hurting…But that’s what it’s about this time of the year. It would hurt more if we lose the ballgame, so it feels a little better if you can win it.”

Though James made it clear that he will not be sitting out for Game 5, “Of course it’s there to thing about…I’ll be ready for Game 5.”

James ended Game 4 with 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.

Russell Westbrook, OKC point guard, was one of the main assists to OKC. The Heat had trouble holding off Westbrook. Westbrook was doing really well in the game until within the last minute of the fourth quarter when he, unnecessarily, fouled Mario Chalmers putting the Heat in a further lead.

Westbrook scored 43 points but wasted a 17-point lead. Kevin Durant put OKC back on the map scoring 28 points; unfortunately both Dwayne Wade and Chalmers had 25 points apiece, offsetting Durant.

“Shots were falling,” said Westbrook, who was 20 of 32. “It really doesn’t mean nothing. We didn’t come out with the win.”

It’s hard to believe towards the end of the second half that the Heat was trailing behind 17 points in the first quarter. The last quarter, exciting towards the last few minutes, mainly consisted of turn-overs and struggles on both teams—until James re-entered the game, which was followed by a roar of applause by Heat fans—to take the lead.  

Game 5 will be on Thursday, a chance for the Heat to close it out in Miami.

NBA Finals schedule promises excitement and plenty of it

Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

 

The NBA Finals schedule begins today, Tuesday, and promises to be a competitive and exciting series. The Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat will face off against the Western Conference Champion Oklahoma City Thunder at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

The NBA Finals schedule will follow the 2-3-2 pattern with Games 1 and 2, and 6 and 7 if necessary, hosted by the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena and Games 3, 4 and 5 hosted by the Miami Heat at the AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Miami Heat will look to avenge last season’s loss in the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks behind superstars Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. The Thunder will look to bring an NBA championship to Oklahoma City for the first time in history behind young stars Kevin Durant (23), Russel Westbrook (23), James Harden (22) and Serge Ibaka (22).

LeBron James, who was awarded the MVP title this season, will make his third appearance in the NBA Finals. James is still searching for his first championship ring. Will this be the year he wins it all?

The NBA Finals schedule is as follows, according to NBA.com. All games can be seen on ABC. All times are Eastern. * indicates that games will be played only if necessary.

Game 1 – Tuesday, June 12: Miami at Oklahoma City, 9: 00 p.m.

Game 2 – Thursday, June 14: Miami at Oklahoma City, 9:00 p.m.

Game 3 – Sunday, June 17: Oklahoma City at Miami, 8:00 p.m.

Game 4 – Tuesday, June 19: Oklahoma City at Miami, 9:00 p.m.

Game 5* – Thursday, June 21: Oklahoma City at Miami, 9:00 p.m.

Game 6* – Sunday, June 24: Miami at Oklahoma City, 8:00 p.m.

Game 7* – Tuesday, June 26: Miami at Oklahoma City, 9:00 p.m.

Udonis Haslem will miss game six because of hard foul

The physical Eastern Conference semifinal series now complete with suspensions

Udonis Haslem will be suspended for game six of the series between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers after delivering a retaliatory blow to Pacers power forward, Tyler Hansborough, in game five of the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Udonis Haslem was suspended for one game, following his shot to Hansborough’s head in the Pacers 115-83 loss to the Miami Heat, in which the Pacers lost starting forwards Danny Granger and David West to injuries.

The foul that resulted in the suspension occurred in the first half when Hansborough struck Heat superstar Dwayne Wade in the head, opening a cut above his eye. A few moments later, Udonis Haslem committed a retaliatory foul to the head of Hansborough, which was called a flagrant foul by the officials. Tuesday’s game witnessed three flagrant fouls; the series has seen nine technical and flagrant fouls total.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has accused the Pacers of intentionally striking Heat players in the face with hits “of the tomahawk variety.”

Indiana head coach Frank Vogel responded, “In no way, shape or form have I ever suggested that we hit anyone in the head, ever.”

Vogel added, “Hard fouls are part of the playoffs. Fouls to the head have no place in this game, not by us, not by Miami, not by any other team in any other series. With all the concussion research that’s been going on over the last few years it’s a very serious matter and it just doesn’t have any place in the game.”

Miami forward Shane Battier reacted to the Udonis Haslem suspension in stride, “We can’t control it. We know the NBA’s going to do what they feel they need to do and we need to live with the consequences. So it’s really out of our hands, not worth getting riled up.”

The Indiana Pacers will see their playoff stint end tonight if they cannot pull of a win against the Heat.