NEWSTALK
FORMER TSU OFFICIAL SPEAKS OUT ABOUT LAWSUIT P2
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Volume 86 | Number 18
MARCH 9, 2017 |FREE
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NEWSTALK GARNET COLEMAN files Sandra Bland Act
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NATIONAL JOHN WILSON JR.
unhappy with Trump HBCU meeting
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10 tips to MAKE OVER YOUR HOME H PAGE 6
H.S. ZONE GARY NICHOLS coaches Ft. Bend Marshall
P11 TOP EVENTS
Ice Cube in ‘Fist Fight’
Rick Smith manages Texans
As an actor, writer, producer, director, rapper and philanthropist, Ice Cube is one of Hollywood’s busiest men. Read about his latest role as a high school teacher with a score to settle in “Fist Fight.”
Houston Texans General Manager Rick Smith is taking advantage of the offseason to prepare for the coming NFL season. Find out about his priorities for the team and discover the players to watch.
Charnele Brown, Randy Fuller and Joyce Aquil at Celebration of Blacks in Media, Music & Sports
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DEFENDER | MARCH 9 | 2017
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Former TSU official responds to lawsuit Defender News Services
Former Texas Southern University Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President Gloria Walker is speaking out – after she was mentioned in a lawsuit against TSU Board of Regents Chair, Derrick Mitchel Mitchell was hit with a lawsuit by developer Baljit Gambhir, who alleged that Mitchell sold him The Palm Apartment complex near TSU, which included state-owned furniture as part of the purchase and provided an agreement that the university would guarantee student tenants. Gambhir claims Mitchell conspired with Walker to implement an agreement Mitchell knew was in jeopardy of being terminated by TSU because it had not been properly vetted. It’s a claim, Walker vehemently denies. “My relationship with Derrick Mitchell was not a personal relationship agreement, but rather a legal agreement between TSU and 5020 Paige Properties, LLC. (Mitchell’s company) in which both parties were authorized to sign,” said Walker, who is not part of the lawsuit despite being mentioned. “Any
actions on my part to secure supplemental housing venues were authorized by directive, policy, administrative position and employment of the University by the President with Board of Regents’ approval.” Also in the lawsuit, is a dispute over furniture. Gambhir claims Mitchell and Walker put university furniture in the apartments and are now demanding it back. ”I was not involved in the decision on use of surplus furniture. I did not move or direct staff to move furniture. It was the University’s practice to place furniture in supplemental housing venues,” Walker said. Walker says though she has moved on, the entire lawsuit is disheartening. “It is so sad that a university that should be the pride of the city continues to fight within itself,” Walker added. “I came to TSU as the COO and Executive VP at the bequest of members of the legislature. We built a great Residential Life and Housing Program that the board and legislature insisted needed to happen. That is what I did, and once that was accomplished I decided to leave and pursue my doctorate degree. So, I have not looked back at TSU since I left.”
TSU Board Update Some members of the TSU Board of Regents were calling for the ouster of board chairman, Derrick Mitchell, after a lawsuit revealed that Mitchell was being sued by a developer for collusion and fraud in a real estate deal. In what was supposed to be a special Call meeting on March 8th, members had hoped to get Mitchell to step down. But Mitchell, who oversees the agenda, used the time to conduct a regular board meeting and removed the replacement request from the agenda. Mitchell asserted that the lawsuit brought by Baljit Gambhir had actually been dropped. The Defender was unable to independently confirm that claim.
Sandra Bland Act would change processes
“It led to a death that didn’t have to occur,” said Coleman, who State Rep. Garnet Coleman, Dchairs the House County Houston, officially filed House Bill Affairs Committee. 2702, dubbed the Sandra Bland The Sandra Bland Act. Act would make several The exhaustive piece of legischanges to how Texas lation would expand what qualifies law enforcement offias racial and ethnic profiling; mancials and jailers interact date people experiencing a mental with those they stop health crisis and substance abuse or detain. Some of the be diverted to treatment over highlights include: jail; and create more training and Diversion and reporting requirements for county treatment jails and law enforcement. Police officers The legislation is named in would be required to honor of Sandra Bland, a Black, make a “good-faith ef28-year-old Illinois woman who Sandra Bland’s death in the Waller County Jail was ruled a suicide. fort” to divert people to was found dead in an apparent treatment — instead of suicide in the Waller County Jail arresting them — if they arrested her on a charge of assaulting a public in 2015. are experiencing a mental crisis or substance servant. She was found dead in her cell three Bland was pulled over in Prairie View on abuse. days later. July 10, 2015, by then-Texas Department of County jails would be required to ensure Bland shouldn’t have been arrested, ColePublic Safety trooper Brian Encinia after she inmates continue to receive medication they man said during a news conference to anfailed to signal a lane change. When Bland’s would be taking if they weren’t in jail. nounce the bill’s filing. conversation with Encinia became heated, he The Texas Tribune
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national
U.S.briefs THE WHITE HOUSE IS DEMANDING that Congress, which is already investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, also examine whether former President Barack Obama abused his executive powers in connection with that campaign. The request followed President Donald Trump’s tweets claiming that his predecessor tapped the telephones at Trump Tower. Trump offered no supporting evidence. A spokesman for Obama said the claim is “simply false” and lawmakers in both parties asked for proof. James Clapper, director of national intelligence under Obama, said that no such wiretap activity was carried out against Trump as a candidate or against his campaign. Trump said the wiretapping occurred last October at the New York skyscraper where he ran his campaign…….. ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSIS by the Anti-Defamation League, groups that the organization identifies as white supremacist are pushing their agendas on college campuses, aiming to recruit students at the institutions and plaster their messages across campus grounds. The Anti-Defamation League calls it “an unprecedented outreach effort to attract and recruit students on American college campuses.”The group, which fights anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry, has tracked some 104 incidents since the beginning of the school year last September, with an apparent surge in 2017, with more than half of the reported incidents occurring since January……..BEN CARSON IS UNDER FIRE for a comment he made about the virtues of the “can-do” American society. Carson said this value system was best exemplified by slaves, whom he characterized as immigrants who came to the United States with very little and worked very hard. “There were other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships, worked even longer, even harder for less,” Carson said. Naturally, social media erupted in disgust.
VOLUME 86 • NUMBER 18 MARCH 9, 2017 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Digital Editor LaGloria Wheatfall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Proofer Maia Shelby
Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Jasemine Knowles Amber Vernon Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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President Trump met with Black college leaders at the White House.
Some HBCU leaders displeased with meeting Defender News Services
Some Black college leaders are upset after a recent White House meeting on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Sixty-four presidents and chancellors of HBCUs attended the White House Domestic Policy Council listening session in Washington, DC. “The gathering – dubbed the “HBCU Fly-in” – was held amid reports of an executive order to move the initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities out of the Department of Education and into the White House. Texas Southern University President Dr. Austin Lane, who expressed concern about the move in an earlier interview, said that “with a new leader in the White House comes a new agenda. “If the agenda is about uplifting HBCUs and funding, then there has to be significant dedication and attention placed on these institutions within the Department of Education,” Lane said. “If it is through the HBCU White House Initiative, I’m all for it staying there, but it has to be effective.” But the meeting left some – like Morehouse President John Wilson, Jr. – feeling like it was nothing more than a fruitless photo opp. Wilson said he initially had “high hopes,” mainly regarding funding, about meeting with the White House, especially since Trump vowed to do more for HBCUs than previous presidents. While the executive order moved the HBCU initiative to the White House, which HBCUs have advocated for in expectation of having a more direct line to the president, it did not ensure the funding that many HBCUs desperately need. Several of them are in danger of closing. Wilson, who says he was expecting at least $500
million to be allocated to the schools, said it’s impossible to know if and when the order will have an impact. (Former President Barack Obama provided more than $4 billion for Black schools during his time in office.) Wilson also noted his disappointment with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos calling HBCUs an example of “school choice.” “HBCUs were not created because the 4 million newly freed Blacks were unhappy with the choices they had,” Wilson said. “They were created because they had no choices at all.” “[If] one does not understand the crippling and extended horrors of slavery, then how can one really understand the subsequent history and struggle of African-Americans, or the current necessities and imperatives that grow out of that history and struggle?” Wilson said despite DeVos’ comments, he believes she does want to help Black colleges. But overall, Wilson said his two days of meetings at the White House weren’t promising. “In general, the meetings were a troubling beginning to what must be a productive relationship,” he said. “Trust that the HBCU community will continue to press for the kind of funding that educational excellence and national competitiveness require!” Wilson’s sentiments echo those of Dillard University President, Walter M. Kimbrough, who said that many of the college presidents went unheard after the group made an impromptu visit to meet Trump in the Oval Office. “But needless to say that threw the day off and there was very little listening to HBCU presidents… we were only given about two minutes each, and that was cut to one minute, so only about seven of maybe 15 or so speakers were given an opportunity today,” Kimbrough said.
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entertainment
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Ice Cube feuds in ‘Fist Fight’ concept, but that’s what made it funny to me. It’s unusual to have two teachers going at it, instead of orn O’Shea two students. Jackson in KW: How did you and CharCompton, Calif., lie Day go about generating the Ice Cube is an bully-nerd anti-chemistry that the actor, writer, story called for? producer, director, rapper, IC: It’s a dance. We had a muphilanthropist and father. tual respect for each other’s skills. N.W.A., the rap group he And when you have that mutual co-founded with Dr. Dre, respect, you’re more giving acEazy-E, MC Ren and DJ tors. You’ll make sure he shines Yella, was inducted into the where he’s supposed to shine, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame vice versa. The key is to not get in in 2016. the way of the character, and to be Cube made his feature honest and true with it. Still, real film debut in 1991 in “Boyz personalities creep in every now and ‘n the Hood,” and proceedthen. It’s all about knowing the script, ed to parlay his criticallyand understanding its ebbs and flows. acclaimed performance into Ice Cube and Charlie Day are high school teachers in “Fist Fight.” So, we worked well together. I think an enviable career. He has we’re going to end up doing a few become one of the most bankmore movies together. able names in Hollywood. teacher like your character, Mr. Strickland? KW: You guys had a terrific supHis production company, Cube Vision, And were you either bullied or a bully when porting cast: Dennis Haysbert, Dean Norris, has been making memorable films for over you were a kid? Christina Hendricks, Kym Whitley, Jillian Bell two decades. His movies have cumulatively IC: In my neighborhood, you were either and Tracy Morgan. Was this Tracy’s first film grossed over a billion dollars at the box ofone or the other. Going back to my memory since the accident? fice. Here, he talks about his latest outing in bank, there were teachers who were no-nonIC: Yeah, this was his first movie back. It “Fist Fight,” a comedy co-starring Charlie sense and intimidating. Most of them were was great to have him. I’d worked with him Day. coaches or gym teachers. But a few were before in a movie called “First Sunday.” It was Kam Williams: What interested you in classroom teachers who just didn’t take no cool to see him again, to be able to hang, and to “Fist Fight?” mess. I just went over the top with it, bejust have him here. That accident he was in was Ice Cube: I thought it was a great concause we were having fun with the comedy. horrible. cept based on a funny premise. And when KW: Who came up with the idea of flipKW: What message do you think people they started filling in the pieces with Charlie ping the script by having the after-school will take away from “Fist Fight?” Day and Tracy Morgan, I just knew we were fight between two teachers instead of two IC: I think it’s really talking about the going to have a great time and hopefully students? school system, and the underlying problems that shoot a funny movie. IC: The script was brought to us by society’s facing when it comes to educating kids. KW: In this film you play a teacher who [director] Rich Keen and New Line Cinema. Do we just coddle them or do we really try to is sort of like a bully. Did you ever have a I don’t know exactly who came up with the hold them accountable for what they learn? By KAM WILLIAMS Contributing Writer
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what’sup Recent Oscar-winner VIOLA DAVIS took home another award. The Harvard Foundation at Harvard University named her 2017 Artist of the Year. Davis accepted the award during a ceremony at the university’s Cultural Rhythms Festival. She talked about the nature of acting and called the stage and screen a “sacred place.” Previous winners of the Harvard award include QUINCY JONES, ANDY GARCIA, MATT DAMON and SALMA HAYEK…….. TIONNE “T-BOZ” WATKINS and ROZONDA “CHILLI” THOMAS, the two remaining members of TLC, are coming out with a new album. Two years after excited fans flocked to donate via Kickstarter, the duo
announced that the album is tentatively scheduled to be released at the end of June……..The Washington Press Club Foundation and the “PBS NewsHour” are creating the Gwen Ifill/PBS NewsHour Journalism Fellowship, a 10-week program named in honor of the late award-winning journalist, GWEN IFILL. The scholarship will be open to undergraduate and graduate journalism students in financial need…….. USA Network has found its Tupac and Biggie for the upcoming pilot “Unsolved,” a true crime series that will chronicle the two major police investigations into the murders of rappers TUPAC and NOTORIUS B.I.G. MARCC ROSE will play Tupac and newcomer
WAVVY JONEZ will play Biggie. Rose also played ‘Pac in the film “Straight Outta Compton,” his only acting credit to date. For Jonez, “Unsolved” marks the acting debut for the rapper who was discovered during a nationwide casting call for the part……..PRINCE JACKSON, now 20 years old, spoke candidly about his late father, MICHAEL JACKSON, during a recent visit to “Good Morning America.” Prince, who was 12 when his father died of cardiac arrest and drug intoxication, is a film major at Loyola Marymount University in L.A. Through his company, King’s Son Productions, Prince hopes to work behind the camera on music videos and films.
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DEFENDER | MARCH 9 | 2017
10
Tips to Make Over Your Home
It doesn’t matter if you’ve bought a newly built home, settled into an older home, or looking to purchase a fixer-upper—owning your own place often eventually brings out the home improvement itch in us. Giving your home a makeover is all about being resourceful and strategic. Here are ten tips to help turn your dwelling place into a better home.
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Have a plan It might be tempting to do a project in phases if you want to save money or just take it slow. But if you haven’t planned the entire project ahead of time, you may do something that you’ll have to go back and change later, which will cost you more money in the long run. One of the worst things you can do when it comes to home improvements is to start a project without the major details—cost, time, materials, and design—as realistic as possible from the start. Nothing costs more than having to “change horses in midstream” (e.g., you want to move the fridge somewhere else now or want to change your tile choice). Use design tools to conceptualize your project and add a healthy buffer (10-15% more) to your time and financial budget to account for the inevitable surprises.
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Work with what you have If your cabinets need an update, consider refacing or resurfacing them rather than replacing them. They’re probably good quality if you live in an older home, and getting brand-new cabinets of the same quality can be costly. Refurbish what’s already there, and you’ll get a whole new look while saving a bundle. You can also add a dash of color to your kitchen cabinets, drawers and doors by replacing plain old knobs and handles with fun, quirky ones in the shapes of animals, hearts and other fancy
By ASWA Def
By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
shapes. One of the most cost effective things you can do is replace existing hardware with new hardware. This is especially true in the kitchen, where fresh hardware can totally transform outdated cabinets. And the good news is that you can purchase hardware pretty cheaply, depending on where you look.
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Add wall art with plates, photos and mirrors Do you have a blank wall at home that could make a suitable background for an art piece? Make your own using plates, photos or your children’s artwork that you have lying around. Plates of different colors and sizes can be grouped together to make an interesting piece of wall art. Family photos, children’s artwork, inexpensive mirrors, magazine cutouts and even movie posters can be used in the same way to add an instant face-lift to any room. Just make sure you follow a theme, and don’t forget to arrange your selected pieces on the floor before you start swinging the hammer!
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Move existing stuff around Rearranging your belongings can give your place a whole new look. The long bench in your study can be added to the end of your bed for an interesting look. Group all the things on your coffee table onto a big wooden tray for a new look. Change the rugs in your rooms. Move the bedroom rug to the dining room and vice versa.
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Install new light fixtures While you may not spend a lot of time thinking about your home’s light fixtures, they actually have a profound impact on your overall design. Not only do they create high focal points, but the light they give off can create a unique ambiance. You should also consider installing a dimmer switch in bedrooms, bathrooms, and dining rooms – as they provide a unique mood. Light fixtures can be expensive, so be patient. Start by considering whether you want practical or decorative lighting and then narrow your options down based on style (recessed, pendant,
etc.). You’ll know when you’ve found the right one.
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Use leftover paint There is so much you can do with the leftover paint lying unwanted in yo garage! Paint your paper lampshade a new color and give ne life to old chairs and tables. If you good enough with a brush, you can try your hand at some creative wal painting. Even some simple horizo tal stripes on the wall can perk up room instantly. If you don’t want t take chances, you can also get hold of some wall art stencils to sketch some pretty murals on your dining room and nursery walls!
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AD WALKER fender
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Design Digitally
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Put old household items to new uses Use old Mason jars to hold strands of batterypowered festive lights and brighten up your passageway or walkway. You can also fill such jars with brightly colored beads, buttons, pebbles or sand of different colors to make unique decorative pieces. Put pretty old baskets to use as magazine holders.
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Brighten your space Bring color into any room by collecting different objects from around the house. For instance, you can collect accessories, books and
other items of the same color from different rooms and arrange them on your dining room sideboard. If you normally use matching towels in your bathrooms, mix them up. Drape a bright, colorful quilt over your headboard to add a fresh look to your bedroom.
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Go green Adding energy efficient features to your home is a great investment, but don’t assume you have to make major upgrades to cut energy costs. New windows, for instance, can take up to 20 years to recoup the cost from energy savings, so it may be smarter to simply fill in air leaks
he Houston area for over 85 years
around your existing windows. Consider how long you’re going to live in the house to decide what will work best for you in the long run.
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When in doubt hire a pro Do it yourself projects are a great way to save money, but if you find yourself guessing your way through your renovation, stop and hire a pro to do it. You’ll save yourself the trouble and expense of having to hire someone to fix your mistakes in the long run. Vet your contractors carefully, though!
There are many different online home design software programs available. And most of them are free! These programs let you build rooms using 2D and 3D tools and then allow you to decorate these rooms with different furniture arrangements, floor materials, paint colors, architectural features, and other design elements. They are super intuitive and incredibly helpful – especially if you’re doing a major redesign. Whether you’re looking to do a remodeling project or want to build a prefabricated home, we’re sure you’ll find the perfect software option for you! w https://www.homestratosphere.com/interior-designsoftware/ w https://roomstyler. com/3dplanner w https://home.by.me/en/ w https://www.roomle.com w http://homehardware.en.2020. net/planner/UI/Pages/VPUI.htm
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DEFENDER | MARCH 9 | 2017
health
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MARCH 9 | 2017 | DEFENDER
A Defender and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Alliance A Defender and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Alliance
health
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In denial about high blood pressure? By DONYALE HARRIS, M.D.
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ore than 40 percent of African-Americans have high blood pressure, also called hypertension. That’s the highest of any group in the world. To make matters worse, hypertension strikes earlier and is more dangerous in Blacks. Dr. Donyale Harris What can you do to prevent being a statistic? And, if you have high blood pressure, what should you do about it? Healthy lifestyle habits and working closely with your primary care physician can make a big difference.
The danger is real
African-Americans with high blood pressure are at higher risk of developing serious complications, such as stroke, blindness, kidney disease and dementia. It’s not known exactly why this is true. Some studies have shown that a certain gene makes Blacks more sensitive to salt. Other theories say it’s because obesity and diabetes are more common in the
African-American community. Hypertension is sometimes called the “silent killer” because it can damage the heart and other organs before you’re even aware you have it. That’s why it’s so important to know your risks.
Be smart about hypertension Factors that make you more likely to develop high blood pressure include: • Being older • Being overweight • Having diabetes • Having family members with high blood pressure • Not getting enough exercise • Consuming too much salt and fat If you’re not sure if you have high blood pressure, the first step is to get tested. If you don’t have it, congratulations! But don’t let down your guard; you should be tested at least every two years or as recommended by your doctor. If you do have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about how you can stay as healthy as
possible. You may need to take medication.
You’re in charge
Whether or not you have high blood pressure, these tips can help: Eat right – and drink less. Stay away from fat, especially saturated fats like lard. Load up on fresh fruits and vegetables – without added salt or butter. Limit or avoid alcohol. Ask your doctor about talking to a dietitian. Just say no to salt. Since you may be more sensitive to salt, keep an eye on how much you eat. Don’t add extra salt to food. Get creative with spices. Read packages to find out how much salt prepared foods contain. Keep your weight down by eating smart and getting exercise. Stay away from tobacco. Living healthy and working closely with your doctor may help you beat the odds. Dr. Donyale Harris is a board-certified Family Medicine physician at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic’s Fort Bend Medical and Diagnostic Center. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Harris, call Kelsey-Seybold’s 24hour Contact Center at 713-442-0000.
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DEFENDER | MARCH 9 | 2017 defendernetwork.com
sports
Rick Smith, Texans’ general manager, discusses the future at the NFL Combine.
Rick Smith
Texans’ GM prepared to improve in offseason
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By MAX EDISON Defender
he Texans advanced to the second round of the NFL playoffs last season and captured their second consecutive AFC South title, but for most hardcore fans it was little consolation. With Houston fielding the NFL’s top defense, coupled with the league’s quarterback play, the Texans faithful demand more. As we swing into the most crucial period of the offseason, the man tasked to make the necessary personnel decisions is GM Rick Smith. As the NFL Scouting Combine concludes and the free agency signing period begins, Smith is charged with making decisions that will affect the Texans’ short-term as well as their long-term future. At a comparable time last year Smith swung for the fences. At the outset of the free agent signing period he appeared to hit a grand slam, signing quarterback Brock Osweiler, running back Lamar Miller and offensive linemen Jeff Allen and Tony Bergstrom. Osweiler, the gem of the group, turned out to be more cubic zirconia than diamond. Allen and Bergstrom’s contribution proved to be negligible. Only Miller lived up to expectations with 1,073 rushing yards on 268 attempts. What appeared to be a homer was simply a long single. As the 2017 free agency period approaches, Smith gave a glimpse into the team’s personnel strategy. He said there are “a couple of different ways” to acquire talent in the NFL. “You have the draft process and then the free agency process,” Smith said. “The free agency part involves trades and that kind of thing. From my perspective, we try to exhaust ourselves in the effort to improve our football team at every position. “There are different types of evaluations and different risks that you have to manage in terms of how you acquire players. But that’s just a part of player acquisition and a part of roster building.” For better or worse the Texans are stuck with Osweiler for one season at a reported $17 million. Smith assessed what Osweiler must do in the offseason. “He’s got to go back and look at what he can
do better,” he said. “We’ve got to look at that as a group. We’ve got to improve as a whole, our entire football team.” In addition to acquiring new players either through free agency or the draft, Smith must re-sign existing players that have shown their value to the team. Number one on that list is receiver DeAndre Hopkins. “Our goal is to keep all of our good, young players and DeAndre is a good, young player,” he said. “We are absolutely intent on resigning him. When that happens is up for debate, but he’s definitely in our plans. He’s an excellent young football player and I think he’s one of those guys who is an arrow-up player. We certainly want to continue to build around him.” No player will create more of a buzz in free agency than Texan cornerback A.J. Bouye, a former undrafted free agent. Bouye has been one of Smith’s signature talent discoveries, but it will be difficult to keep his prized pupil. “I certainly couldn’t be any more proud of any of our players than I am of A.J. with the way he improved his play and his confidence,” Smith said. “I think he had an outstanding year. I think he’s a fine young man. He fits our profile and we certainly would like to have him back and we’re going to do everything we can to get that done.” With some $24 million in salary cap space, Smith and the Texans have the flexibility to be active in the offseason sweepstakes. “What we try to do from a salary cap management perspective is write contracts that are good deals for both sides, and that allow the team to maintain our flexibility to continue to improve because we’re constantly trying to improve our football team and A.J. Bouye, a highly regarded that’s the bottom line.” cornerback, leads the NFL free agent class.
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DeAndre Hopkins, the Texans’ top receiver, has shown his value to the team.
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h.s.zone
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Playmakers include (l. to r.) Tajzmel Sherman, Jabari Rice and John Walker III.
Fort Bend Marshall High boys won the Region III-5A tournament.
No mission impossible for Marshall basketball By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
No task is too daunting for the Thurgood Marshall High School boys’ varsity basketball team: Not facing the No. 1 ranked Class 5A team in Texas (Waco University) in the regional semifinal. Not facing a district rival (Manvel) that had beaten them once in two earlier meetings in the regional final. How about making the school’s first appearance in the boys’ state basketball tournament? Having survived those first two potential season-ending obstacles, Fort Bend Marshall proceeds to San Antonio for March 9-11 state basketball tournament with the biggest hurdle yet (state championship) awaiting them. “We don’t worry about rankings because at one point we were ranked No. 1 and somebody knocked us off,” said Marshall leading scorer Jabari Rice. “We just want to go into each matchup and play our game.” In the Region III-5A tournament held at the brand new Delmar Fieldhouse, Marshall parlayed big third-quarter explosions in both games to win going away. Rice led the charge with plenty of help from John Walker III, Tajzmel Sherman, Daquazeman Wyche, Dakota Thompson, Ja’Markez Christy and a
talented bench. Behind a strong start from Walker (eight first-quarter points) Marshall led top-ranked University 24-21 after the opening stanza and stretched that to 52-39 at intermission. “Coming into the game I anticipated having to go hard at their big man and fortunately I had a good game,” said Walker, who registered a game-high 32 points in 26 minutes. Then the Buffalos kicked it into high gear with four consecutive 3-pointers (three by Rice and one by Sherman) midway through the third quarter that opened the floodgates (69-51). “Conditioning was a factor and we consider ourselves one of the best conditioned teams around,” said Marshall head coach Gary W. Nichols. “I thought that was a key in this game. “We were still fresh and running while our opponents were bent over with hands on their knees,” Nichols said. “When our guys see that we know it’s time to take it up a notch.” Rice finished with 22 points (four 3-pointers) and Sherman had 17 (two treys). Christy chipped in with 11 points. “We’re both good shooters and we like to compete,” said Sherman, about teammate Rice. “We push each other in practice all the time. When he got on a roll, I knew I had to make mine or we
weren’t going to hear the end of it.” Marshall defeated University 10284. Manvel led Marshall 26-25 at halftime of the regional championship game. Yet Marshall outscored Manvel 23-12 in the third quarter on the strength of four 3-pointers by Rice and another by Walker. Jalen Preston (23 points, six rebounds) tried to keep the Mavericks afloat, but the Mavericks were unable to harness the Marshall stampede (82-57). Rice had a game-high 25 points (four 3-pointers) for Marshall and Walker contributed 19 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. Wyche scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. “We’ve been waiting all season for this,” Rice said. “People have doubted us and now they have nothing to say.” Nichols, who guided Willowridge to a state title in 1994, is happy to be returning to the big dance. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been there,” he said. “I’m excited and proud for my players because they get a chance to experience something that they’ll never forget in their lifetimes.” Marshall (31-7) faces Justin Northwest (32-5) in a Class 5A state semifinal. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial draws Mansfield Timberview in the other 5A semifinal.
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Centerplate, a leading hospitality firm serving convention and performing arts centers throughout North America, will soon bid on the food service management contract at the George R. Brown Convention Center and Performing and Special Event Venues in Houston. The company invites interest from actively certified minority businesses (M/WBE/HUB and Veteran Owned) subcontractors and/or suppliers within the Greater Houston Metropolitan area to supply goods and services in fulfillment of our bid. Centerplate seeks purveyors of various goods and services including but not limited to food and beverages: chicken, beef, ham, seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, cheese, ice cream and other dairy products, breads, rolls, desserts and specialty bakeries inclusive of gluten-free, spices, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, linen rental, laundry and dry cleaning services, kitchen equipment services, smallwares, office supplies, paper goods and printing services, kitchen maintenance services, pest control services, temporary labor and staffing services, waste management. If interested, please respond to the contact below no later than March 17, 2017. Please email and/or call: kay.towner@centerplate.com | 856.979.1795
The HARRIS CENTER for Mental Health and IDD (formerly known as MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY) will be accepting Request for Qualification for the following:
ARCHITECTURAL/PLANNING SERVICES Specifications may be secured from The HARRIS CENTER, Purchasing Department located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7116 and/or via The HARRIS CENTER website www.mhmraharris.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/, beginning Tuesday, March 14, 2017. A Non-Mandatory Conference is scheduled for, Monday, March 20, 2017 @ 10:30 a.m., 9401 Southwest Freeway. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFQ is Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Qualification documents must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 11, 2017 in a sealed envelope marked "RFQ FOR ARCHITECTURAL/ PLANNING SERVICES -DO NOT OPEN UNTIL - TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017 AT 10:00 AM”. Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to James Blunt, Buyer II via fax at (713) 970-7682 or E-mail questions to james.blunt@mhmraharris.org cc: sharon.brauner@mhmraharris.org. The HARRIS CENTER reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests, and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.
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DEFENDER | MARCH 9 | 2017
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