Throughout the day Wednesday there were several stories that had significance including:
Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese had their statues vandalized in Brooklyn. Surveillance cameras are getting used in hopes to identify those who were responsible. The vandalism covered up this inscription “this monument honors Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese: teammates, friends, and men of courage and conviction. Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, Reese supported him, and together they made history. In May 1947, on Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, Robinson endured racist taunts, jeers, and death threats that would have broken the spirit of a lesser man. Reese, captain of the Brooklyn Dodgers, walked over to his teammate Robinson and stood by his side, silencing the taunts of the crowd. This simple gesture challenged prejudice and created a powerful and enduring friendship.”
The Portland Trail Blazers will likely add point guard Mo Wiliams by agreeing to a 2-year deal worth $5.6 million. Last season in 42 games with the Utah Jazz he averaged 12.9 points, 6.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds on 43 percent shooting, 38.3 percent from beyond the arc and 88.2 percent from the free throw line.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Shabazz Muhammad the 14th overall pick in the 2013 draft got kicked out of the NBA Rookie Transition Program after he violated a rule by bringing a woman up to his hotel room.
One of the 19 fire fighters who perished in the Yarnell, Arizona fire denied benefits to his widow. The rationale for the decision he didn’t meet the criteria of being a full-time employee. City officials defended their action by claiming that there was “perhaps there was a communication issue in your marriage.” 13 others have already been denied benefits as well, though none worked a 40-hour week.
In an odd move a church in North Carolina fired a pastor for attending a rap concert. Their belief is that the music artist is “tearing down the kingdom of God.” It wasn’t the first time that the 26-year old pastor got into trouble with the church, prior to that he attended a Lil” Wayne concert.