reporter Valerie Wardlaw

USC Fires Head Coach Steve Sarkisian

Dr. Valerie Wardlaw, Contributing WriterOctober 12, 2015

USC announced on Monday, October 12, that it has fired head coach Steve Sarkisian. This move comes one day after athletic director Pat Haden placed Sarkisian on an indefinite leave of absence. The sports outlet SB Nation is reporting that a source close to Sarkisian says he has checked himself into a residential treatment facility. USC announced the firing of Sarkisian on its athletic website under the heading “Sarkisian Terminated As USC Football Coach.” “After careful consideration of what is in the best interest of the university and our student-athletes, I have made the decision to terminate Steve Sarkisian, effective

Football News (Sports)Sports Uncategorized

USC Head Coach Steve Sarkisian Will Take Indefinite Leave of Absence

Dr. Valerie Wardlaw, Contributing WriterOctober 11, 2015

USC Athletic Director Pat Haden announced today that head coach Steve Sarkisian will take an indefinite leave of absence after failing to show up for practice today. According to Haden, when he became aware that Sarkisian had not shown up for practice, he called the coach. “It was very clear to me that he is not healthy. I asked him to take an indefinite leave of absence,” Haden said. ESPN is reporting that a player told one of its reporters that “Sarkisian showed up lit to meetings again today.” Offensive coordinator Clay Helton will take over as interim coach. Haden

Entertainment Exclusive Music

The Spiritual and Lyrical Instrument that is Rachelle Ferrell

Dr. Valerie Wardlaw, Contributing WriterSeptember 30, 2015

If you ever have the opportunity to experience the live artistry of Rachelle Ferrell, run towards the light and goodness that is hallmark of a Ferrell performance. Making her first appearance at the Hyatt Regency Summer Concert series in Newport Beach (a fact which boggles the mind), Ferrell dazzled the crowd with her extraordinary vocal abilities and musicianship. But it was her soulful, self-penned, and eloquent lyrics that took center stage.

Football News (Sports)Sports

USC Receivers Coach Tee Martin Is A Player’s Coach

Dr. Valerie Wardlaw, Contributing WriterSeptember 26, 2015

Ask any college football fan about USC wide receivers coach Tamaurice Martin, better known as “Tee” Martin and they will tell you – he was the quarterback who led the Tennessee Volunteers in 1998 to its first college football national championship in 47 years. After Tennessee, the Pittsburg Steelers selected Martin in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Martin would go on to play for NFL Europe, the Oakland Raiders, and in the Canadian Football League. Prior to joining USC as the receivers coach and pass game coordinator, Martin coached at Morehouse College, the University of New

Basketball News (Sports)Sports Uncategorized

Los Angeles Clippers Host Media Day 2015

Dr. Valerie Wardlaw, Contributing WriterSeptember 26, 2015

Soon and very soon, DeAndre Jordan will hoop it up for the Los Angeles Clippers, a sight that almost wasn’t. But on Friday, September 25 at the Los Angeles Clippers Playa Vista training facility, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan were poised and posed for the 2015-16 season. In case you didn’t know, the LA Clippers are deep, very deep. With the signing of newcomers Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith, Wesley Johnson, Pablo Prigioni, and Cole Aldrich, coupled with sixth man of the year, Jamal Crawford, and Austin Rivers, you have what Smith calls, the “bench mob.” The

Entertainment TV

Iyanla Vanzant Returns for New Season of “Iyanla: Fix My Life”

Dr. Valerie Wardlaw, Contributing WriterSeptember 16, 2015

Iyanla Vanzant is back! The award-winning self-help series, Iyanla: Fix My Life returns to the OWN network on Saturday, September 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. In the three-part season premiere, Vanzant travels to Louisville, Kentucky to help two African American pastors, whose lives have been based on lies and deception, face their true identities and come out to their families and congregations. With her help, both Pastors take bold steps towards confessing their truth, after years of keeping their sexuality a secret from those they love.

Opinion

ESPN’S Stuart Scott: A Dad For the Ages

By: Dr. Valerie Wardlaw Contributing WriterJanuary 9, 2015

Stuart Scott felt like family. For years, I have watched him on SportsCenter delivering the sporting news as only he could. His trademark expressions elevated the SportsCenter broadcast in ways that made us watch and listen with anticipation for one of his funky catchphrases. Of course we hoped that when we repeated the phrase the next day, we too, would deliver it like “straight butta”. Who else could say “swoopes there it is” and we knew exactly what he meant. As his colleagues, the athletes that he covered, friends and sports fans pay homage to his incredible broadcast skills;

Opinion

A Call to Rescue My Sisters: The Case Against the Show “Sorority Sisters”

By: Dr. Valerie Wardlaw Freelance WriterDecember 19, 2014

This opinion piece is not written against any individual sorority member featured on the reality show “Sorority Sisters.” It is important that I say this upfront. This piece is a call to action: to rescue my sisters from reality land who seemingly will say anything about our organizations in pursuit of fame and fortune. Fame and money are not in-and-of itself bad. I respect your hustle and your desire to make your way in the world but not at the expense of sisterhoods that you profess to love. I encourage all sisters to be bold and fearless