October 26, 2023
By Tom Withers
Associated Press
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will not play again this week with a strained right shoulder, a nagging injury that has already cost him three games and lingered much longer than expected.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said P.J. Walker will start for Watson on Sunday, Oct. 29, when the Browns (4-2) visit the Seattle Seahawks (4-2). Stefanski made the announcement before Wednesday’s practice, and said Watson won’t practice this week to focus on his rehab.
Stefanski said Watson, who started last week at Indianapolis but left after just 12 plays, did not sustain any additional damage to his shoulder in the brief outing against the Colts. He initially hurt it on Sept. 27 against Tennessee.
Stefanski said Watson has “residual swelling” in his shoulder. There has been no consideration for surgery, the coach said.
Watson returned to practice last week for the first time since hurting it on a running play against the Titans. Although he was listed as questionable, he started Sunday’s game at Indianapolis, but left after taking a hit on his fifth pass attempt.
Watson underwent another MRI on Monday, and Stefanski said the results came back clean.
Stefanski kept Watson on the sideline, saying the decision to play Walker for the rest of Cleveland’s 39-38 win at Indianapolis was made to “protect our franchise quarterback.” But Watson didn’t look ready to play as his passes were underthrown and lacked velocity.
Watson said last week he has “microtears” in his rotator cuff, an injury that normally takes up to six weeks to heal.
The 28-year-old Watson didn’t play in an Oct. 1 loss to Baltimore, and then following Cleveland’s bye week, sat out a win over San Francisco when Walker started.
October 26, 2023
By Amanda Scurlock
Sports Editor
King/Drew senior quarterback Ty’Yanna Passmore has been playing flag football since she was in middle school. Her athleticism, experience and leadership have helped the Golden Eagles to a 14-4 overall record and a 10-1 Coliseum record.
Passmore also competed in King/Drew’s League of Champions team. An important lesson she learned was to have trust and patience when dealing with her teammates.
“I have also been having a lot of mistakes, ups and downs and I just feel like I have the ability to teach them and to also let them know that mistakes are okay,” Passmore said. “Just keep their heads up and let them know that they can be as big as they want to be.”
The Golden Eagles flaunt an effective passing game; the team has scored as many as 42 points in a single game. Trust is at the core when Passmore targets her teammates.
“Even though some throws might be tight, I still have to trust them,” she said. “I can’t just target certain people because that’s not fair, so having trust and just knowing that it’s still a whole game that we could play no matter what it happens.”
To kick off the season, King/Drew competed in an exhibition game against Crenshaw at SoFi Stadium during halftime of the Rams vs Raiders game in August. Passmore enjoyed the opportunity to compete.
“It was so cool, it was very fun,” she said. "A good first-time experience and I just hope we could do it again.”
Along with playing flag football, Passmore competes in shot put during track and field season. She notices how the event helps her with throwing skills in flag football.
“Because, since it’s like a heavy ball, if I know how to maintain the heavy ball then the football should be more direct and just help me with my aim,” Passmore said.
To Passmore, the foundation of being a good student athlete is being dedicated to academics and athletics.
“But I feel like it’s mostly school too because you can’t play the sport if you don’t have good grades,” she said.
Passmore is a senior ambassador at King/Drew, her favorite classes are English and Psychology. She aspires to get a career in the medical field and continue to excel in the sport of flag football.
“My future goal is to go further into flag football,” Passmore said. “Even help girls in flag football and help them get better and go however far in flag football they want to go.”
December 15, 2022
By Devyn Bakewell
Assistant Managing Editor
Designer and entrepreneur Zon D’Amour is the owner of the eponymous fashion brand, Designed by D’Amour. Taught under the tutelage of her grandmother, Lorraine, at the early age of three, she knew she always wanted to be a designer.
“My grandmother was a seamstress, so I learned how to sew at three years old,” D’Amour told the Los Angeles Sentinel in an interview. “So when most kids, over the Summer would play sports, I was in sewing camp.”
The entrepreneur spent many holidays and summers at sewing camp with the goal to always be a fashion designer. As time went on, and life got in the way, D’Amour worked on other things—like going to Howard University at 16, starting her own magazine at 18, and then moving to Los Angeles and becoming a journalist for the Los Angeles Sentinel at 22. She kept her passion for fashion and design close by.
“Working in marketing became the catalyst for me to really start getting into sewing again. I was going into the office, and needed pants and office clothes and bags for me to carry my laptop and stuff.”
She continued, “So, I just started making them on my own, and posting it on social media. I had two friends who asked me to make them bags, and then one day I remember getting ready for work, and in two sales that was equivalent to what I would make in eight hours.
In that moment I was like yeah, I can’t do this anymore.”
This revelation is what led Zon D’Amour to start her own business and fashion brand, Designed by D’Amour, in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed the designer to hone in on her work, making her “hero product”, which are her vegan leather duffle bags. Since then she’s extended her collection offering women’s resort wear, toiletry bags, tote bags, and more.
D’Amour shared that the fashion industry is a hard place for Black women to make their mark, right now. Especially with the rise of fast fashion.
“Despite the fact that people know there are certain brands that are harming the ecosystem and affecting global warming, [fast fashion] is still convenient. A lot of content creators are loyal to certain companies and brands and can get their clothes quickly. So, I think it’s harder to establish a newer business right now.”
A brand for all people, Designed by D’Amour does uniquely cater women with larger busts.
“What was really the inspiration behind my brand was that, since the age of thirteen, I’ve had larger busts And I’ve never felt like a lot of swimwear or even clothes accommodated petite women with large busts.”
While a lot of brands have become more inclusive, D’Amour shared that petite frames with larger busts is still a body not catered to in this industry. That is why Designed by D’Amour works to cater to all women, so they feel confident and good in their clothes.
When designing product, Zon D’Amour still uses remnants from her grandmother’s sewing kit to this day. Originally from New Orleans, she recovered the kit after Hurricane Katrina.
She reminisced, “The first floor [her grandmother, Lorraine] was underwater, but in the second floor she had a sewing room where I used to spend a lot of time. So in the sewing room, there were so many boxes with like patterns and scissors and zippers and threat. So, I was literally able to recover all of that.”
Some of the belongings in her grandmother’s sewing kit is over fifty years old.
“It’s very cool and historic.” Zon smiled when telling the story, “Katrina took a lot from my family, and there’s a lot that I don’t have that I wish I did, but I am so grateful I have these things from her.”
As D’Amour continues to flourish her business, she shared that the greatest reward in doing what she does is “seeing a vinyl of fabric, and turning nothing into something.” She also loves seeing people with her products.
“I’m excited to make products that are flattering for women, that make women feel beautiful, that empower women, and it makes me happy to know that my brand is on the top of someone’s mind when they’re looking to travel or exercise. They know it’s going to fit them because I’m making it custom, so I can customize, I can change the straps and colors. The entire process just brings me joy.”
The fashion designer also shared that a big reward in this process is also giving back to her community. She’s hired many people from HBCUs to model for her, and even established an HBC fund, where she gives a proceed of her sales to go toward a scholarship at an HBCU.
More recently, D’Amour conducted a photoshoot for a “Melanin In Paradise” lookbook, where people from the HBCUs and Divine 9 community modeled her bags and clothing.
Designed by D’Amour currently has a variety of resort and swimwear, however, is working to get into athleisurewear in the new year. Zon D’Amour also shared that she will start doing in-person events in 2023!
She hopes to do a variety of events from pop-up shops to panels, and maybe even a fashion show.
To keep up with Zon D’Amour, and all her success, you can check out her Instagram (@zondamour). For more information on her products, community events, and HBCU scholarship, visit her website https://zondamour.com
The Taste of Soul Family Festival attracted the biggest crowd ever during the daylong event on Saturday, Oct. 21.
According to city officials, nearly 500,000 people attended “biggest and baddest block party in all of Los Angeles,” which is how Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., TOS creator/founder, describes the iconic event.
Upon hearing the attendance record, Bakewell responded, “500,000 attendees! Wow!
That is a number I have a really hard time grasping, UNBELIEVABLE!
Words cannot express the appreciation that I have to all those who came out and supported Taste of Soul and the hundreds of businesses that participated in the event.”
The supporters included elected officials, community leaders, and business executives such as U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, L.A. Councilwoman Heather Hutt, and L.A. Councilmember Curren Price.
Other notable guests included Dr. Ben Chavis, president/CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association; Alberto Carvalho, LAUSD superintendent; and retired Congresswoman and Ambassador Diane Watson.
The huge free festival, which extended along Crenshaw from Obama Boulevard to Stocker Street, was a multigenerational affair with activities for the entire family. Highlighting the event were 300 vendors offering food, shopping, job information, health screenings, financial management guidance and more.
Young people enjoyed fun, games and learning opportunities at Children’s World sponsored by First 5, Lucas Museum and Santa Monica College. And adults packed out the She Ready Comedy Lounge and Beer Garden hosted by Mothers In Action and Tiffany Haddish, TOS Celebrity chair.
As usual, the entertainment at Taste of Soul “off the chain” with performances by an array of regional and national artists. Bakewell Media “Music for the Soul” Soundstage presented by Chevrolet featured The Whispers and The Delfonics Experience, Brenda Marsh-Mitchell Gospel Stage sponsored by City National Bank was headlined by Mali Music and Norman Hutchins, and the KJLH Music Stage presented by Delete the Divide starred Johnny Gill, October London, and KJLH owner Stevie Wonder.
“Taste of Soul is a huge undertaking. The fact that it is free for the community makes it that more challenging,” noted Bakewell, who also commended the community for maintaining the event’s reputation as a safe place to visit.
I would be remised if I didn’t acknowledge all of our corporate and government partners that have supported not only Taste of Soul, but our entire community in a very big way to ensure that Taste of Soul continues to be one of the driving economic engines for our people and the ABSOLUTE best party our community has,” added Bakewell.
The Taste of Soul partners are Bakewell Media, Los Angeles Sentinel, L.A. Watts Times, Mothers In Action, Brotherhood Crusade, 94.7 The Wave, County of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles, LAUSD, 102.3 Radio-Free KJLH, CBS/KCAL Los Angeles, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall and the Law Offices of Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell and Diggs.
Sponsors include Metro, Chevrolet, City National Bank, SoCalGas, Chase, Destination Crenshaw, HPP Cares, Waymo, AAA, Wells Fargo, McDonalds, Bank of America, SEIU 2015, Southern California Edison, UCLA Health, South Coast AQMD, Pasadena City College, DoorDash, MLK Community Healthcare, US Bank, California Black Power Network, California Teachers Association, California Black Media, Watts Health, Metropolitan Water District, Lucas Museum, Charles R. Drew University,
UTLA, AT&T, Anthem Blue Cross, Verizon, Californians for Energy Independence, Kroger, American Heart Association, Providence, LADWP, Self Help Federal Credit Union, Superior Grocers, Cal Fire, OneLegacy, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Blue Shield of California, St. John’s, Center for Healthcare Rights, Commerce Casino & Hotel, Kaiser Permanente,
Long Beach PD, Cedars-Sinai, Center Stage Group, Ozeran Law, NHS, Save Our Water, Lee Andrews Group, Airbnb, SEIU Local 721, Private School Village, Law office of Vincent Davis, USC, Comerica Bank, West Basin, LAWA, California Highway Patrol, ABC7, Black Girl Sunscreen, First 5, MRKT Co., and AltaMed.
To learn more, visit: https:// www.tasteofsoulla.com/, https:// www.facebook.com/tasteofsoulla, https://www.instagram.com/tos_streetfestla/.
Taste of Soul Photographers: Robert (CameraMan) Torrence, E. Mesiyah McGinnis, Renee Newman, Larry (Bull) Russell, Kirk McClain, Bre Vanderbilt, and Malik Perry.