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The Afro-American, January 19, 2013 - January 25, 2013
ARTS & CULTURE
Beyoncé to Perform at Obama Inauguration President Barack Obama can expect some sweet serenades at his inauguration ceremony, with hitmakers Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor on tap to perform some of the country’s most patriotic songs. From Hollywood to Music Row, celebrities have been a staple of Obama’s candidacy and presidency, so it was with little surprise that some of the biggest names in entertainment are helping him celebrate his Jan. 21 swearing-in Planners said Jan. 9 that Obama picked Beyoncé to sing the national anthem, Clarkson to perform “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and Taylor to sing “America the Beautiful.” Beyoncé and Taylor have been devoted Obama supporters. Beyoncé sang the Etta James classic “At Last” for the president and first lady’s dance at the inaugural balls four years ago and hosted a $4 million fundraiser for his re-election. Taylor sang at the White House in Obama’s first term and at the Democratic
National Convention last summer Clarkson, however, once said she was a fan of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul for the 2012 race, although she said she voted Obama in 2008. She said on Twitter Jan. Beyoncé 9 that she is “excited & honored” to be performing at the inaugural. Richard Blanco, the son of Cuban exiles, is the 2013 inaugural poet, joining a select group that includes Maya Angelou and the late Robert Frost. Blanco”s works explore his family’s exile from Cuba and “the intersection of his cultural identities as a Cuban-American gay man,” inauguration planners announced. They said Blanco, 44, will be the youngest-ever inaugural poet and the first Hispanic or gay to recite a poem at the ceremonial swearing-in.
AFRO Sports Desk Faceoff
“His contributions to the fields of poetry and the arts have already paved a path forward for future generations of writers,” Obama said in a statement. “Richard’s writing will be wonderfully fitting for an inaugural Courtesy Photo that will celebrate the strength of the American people and our nation’s great diversity.” Obama also gave a nod to the diversity of styles and backgrounds of the musical performers, saying that “their music is often at the heart of the American story and speaks to folks across the country.” Blanco said in the statement that he was “brimming over with excitement, awe, and gratitude” at being selected. “In many ways, this is the very ‘stuff’ of the American Dream,
which underlies so much of my work and my life’s story — America’s story, really,” he said. Paperbacks of Blanco’s books are out of stock on Amazon.com. They, along with virtually all works of poetry, are not available at e-books because publishers have not figured out how to format poetry properly for a digital device, so the only way to buy them is to find a used print copy. The announcements are part of the specifics beginning to emerge for the festivities planned over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 21, because inaugurations aren’t traditionally held on Sundays. The president will have a private swearing-in ceremony at the White House at noon on Jan. 20, the time the Constitution says his second term begins. The official celebration will include the swearing-in on the Capitol’s west front, followed by a luncheon inside the building’s
Statuary Hall for 200 including congressional leaders, Cabinet members and Supreme Court justices. Planners said the lunch menu will feature steamed lobster, New England chowder, hickory grilled bison with wild huckleberry reduction and red potato horseradish cake and a dessert of apple pie, ice cream, cheese and honey. Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, chairman of the congressional committee overseeing events at the Capitol, said wines will be served with each course from his home state. Planners say they are decorating the tables with orange flowers in silver cachepots, “a geometric patterned tablecloth that picks up the copper and bronze tones of Statuary Hall,” while the head table will be draped in blue velvet. Schumer’s committee plans to present Obama with a custom hand-cut crystal Lenox vase with an etching of the White House. Vice President Joe Biden will be given one etched with an image of the Capitol.
SPORTS
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The Associated Press
Should the Wizards Trade for Rudy Gay?
By Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley
Rumors have circled in recent days of a possible trade between the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies for small forward Rudy
Gay, with NBA analyst Ric Bucher reporting “The Wizards have made a ‘good’ offer for Gay.” Though John Wall has returned from a knee injury, the Wizards still lack explosive talent in
the front court with the oft-injured Nene, well, but often injured. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies owe Gay $18 million over the next few seasons and are looking to dump an overpriced salary. Though desperate for talent, should the Wizards make a play for the expensive Gay? Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley of the AFRO Sports Desk debate the question. Green: The Wizards are in the middle of a youth movement so adding the overpriced 26-year-old doesn’t really appease me. If Gay were the performer that he’s paid to be, it would be a little different, but the underachieving Gay has never lived up to expectations since being drafted. Washington has had its fair share of underperforming and overpaid players, and I really don’t want another one here in the District.
Riley: For a team short on talent it’s safe to say that beggars can’t be choosers. If Memphis is willing to unload that type of talent, then Washington should jump all over it. You never know what type of player Gay could become if he’s running the break with Wall and Beal. Washington would immediately change its colors with high-paced athletic trio. Add in the fact that the Wizards are likely to earn top-5 pick next year, and I’m in on a trade for Gay
Green: Acquiring Gay would likely mean trading away a slew of players, primarily Jordan Crawford, who I’m high on. I can’t see why Washington can’t add a similar talent in next year’s draft and still keep young prospects such as Crawford or Kevin Seraphin. Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor’s deals come off the books in another season, so the cap space would be cleared for Washington to get a big time talent in the free agent pool at that time. They don’t have to pay the bounty for a forward whose averaged just 20 points one
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Memphis Grizzlies’ Rudy Gay (22) drives the ball past Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green. time in his seven-year career.
Riley: You don’t have average 20 points to be an All-Star talent. Gay’s an athlete, a scorer and a capable defender, everything Washington needs as they slowly reassemble their team. A 6-foot, 8-inch wing player who can play close to three positions between shooting guard and power forward? Sign me up. Green: You’re also signing yourself up for a guy who has a history of not finishing seasons. He hasn’t played a full slate since the 2009-2010 season, when he played in 81 games. He’s played 153 games over the last three seasons, and considering that an NBA schedule is 82 games, that’s pretty weak. So not only is he overpaid, but he’s injury prone. Don’t let the bigger name fool you Riley, this would be another in a long line of Wizards mistakes if Washington goes after this deal
Riley: What do they have to lose? Gay only has two years left on his deal, so why not? If it doesn’t work out, then it doesn’t work out, but Wizards fans need to see the team at least trying to get better—and adding a talent like Gay shows just that. The team is 6-28, Green, they need to go all in on whatever deal they can.