At the Core of King James Shooting Stars movie plants foundation of basketball great

By Eva D. Coleman Lifestyle & Culture Editor

Shooting Stars is a traditional tale of youth basketball players who form the nucleus of the man who becomes king, LeBron James.

Four friends, LeBron (Marquis “Mookie” Cook), Willie McGee (Avery S. Wills, Jr.), Sian Cotton (Khalil Everage) and Lil Dru (Caleb McLaughlin), find themselves shouldering a community with their playing skills which they’ve cultivated since playing with each other as preteens. While they each have their unique talents, they are formidable together.

The strength of their force is tested when it’s time for high school level play, with team placements that would definitively break their stride.

The film hints at other breakdowns as well, including the father/son relationship. Coach Dru Joyce (Wood Harris), Lil Dru’s father who brought them together early on and quickly recognized their potential, is a source of contention as he makes decisions that undercuts his son’s desires and dotes on LeBron.

Lil Dru, the odd man out, becomes the odd man “in” as he comes up with a plan to keep The Fab Four together; enrollment at a Catholic school and playing for a new coach ((Dermot Mulroney) whose loyalty lies in returning to coach at the college level. Although Lil Dru is the smallest of the friends, his heart and leadership are enor- mous assets to their unit.

Romeo Travis (Sterling “Scoot” Henderson) joins the squad and they play to win, well… most of the time.

As James' star rises, jealousy does rear its ugly head, however the friends find a way to tame it and celebrate each other's success.

The scenes that detail how James met his wife, Savanna (Katlyn Nichol), and their courtship afterwards are sweet and typical teenage love…boy messes up, boy gets girl.

A variety of family dynamics make up each of the boys’ being. The common thread is the desire for successful outcomes.

Shooting Stars is a classic coming-of-age film. The soundtrack will have you singing along to 90s hip-hop tunes reminiscent of the time period. Based on the book by LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger, and the recurring mantra of “It’s not how you start the game. It’s how you finish,” you’ll want to watch this one until the end. It includes details of where each of them land in their professional careers, and a loving photo capturing their existing friendship.

Shooting Stars is now streaming on Peacock.

It's Not About What You Have But How You Use Your Voice

Big Mama Said

By Terry Allen

Today, I am certain that Lucille “Big Mama” Allen’s playbook would place her in the White House as a domestic policy specialist in the United States G.A.D. (Grand Angel Division). When I pull any Lucille “Big Mama” Allen rules from her God-driven and God-inspired vocal ledger, I am guaranteed to influence someone else and definitely pass on wisdom from Big Mama that came to me on the back porch at a time when I had no clue how wise the statement was at the time! She had skin in the game.

“Big Mama just spoke her truth as a Black woman in the voice that would begin with love and leave with a lesson for life. Her lessons became part of our lifetime legacies.

She taught me how to find knowledge, recognize the good and celebrate life. Her most important request from her came as a Lucille “Big Mama” Allen’s grace and mercy statement. She said, “God gives us all a pulpit, mine is just the front porch.” She had a mighty pulpit for sure!

I am reminded of when I worked on the Essence on Tour junket. I managed multiple sites for the vulnerable communications brand and I had the God blessed pleasure of working with Essence Editor-in-Chief, Susan Taylor, who I got to know because of my relationship with the Dallas' beloved Emma Rodgers of Black Images Bookstore and Sharon Wynne, National Events Manager at Black Enterprise but then Essence Tour manager.

I remember Susan telling every- one, “You (us/consumers) have to change and redirect companies to the AD pages in the magazine.” She stood in a Los Angeles bookstore during our tour and said, “Think about it. We all use Maybelline but are they advertising in our people forward.”

Big Mama, I get it.

Big Mama was telling me the same thing! Oh My! What is my pulpit? City Men Cook is my voice!

City Men Cook is entering its 23rd year of transforming the

All Those Black Men Cooks are Your God-Given Pulpit our publications and supporting our stores?”

Susan told the audiences “Just as our churches have pulpits so do all of us, Essence readers have given me a powerful pulpit. I'm a doer, a worker. What's important to me is my integrity, contributing to the larger good and my family and to moving celebration of Father’s Day into a meaningful movement of the way the world views men in relationship to their families and community. High profile DFW leadership, business owners, celebrities, fathers, mentors, and families donate their name and time to the event. Mentors, fathers, leaders and all men in the community cook their favorite dishes and all proceeds go to local charities in Dallas. The event has youth activities, entertainment. Black and Brown men have participated in City Men cook since its inception, please check the video https:// youtu.be/4_yAG31goCY and join us for the largest Sunday Dinner in North Texas.

Celebrate this newspaper! It has a pulpit and you are the congregation. Advertise, read and share. Join me on the Red Carpet at City Men Cook, June 18, 2023

YES, we all must speak out! Will you let me know you got the message at Terryallenpr@gmail.com

Terry Allen is an NABJ awardwinning Journalist, DEI expert, PR professional and founder of the charity – Vice President at FocusPR, Founder of City Men Cook and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org