Sean “Diddy” Combs’ son, Christian “King” Combs, has teamed up with Kanye West to release a new EP titled “Never Stop,” which includes a track called “Diddy Free.”
The project dropped on streaming platforms at midnight on Friday and features seven songs.
One standout track, “Diddy Free,” includes the chorus: “N–as ain’t goin’ to sleep ‘till we see Diddy free.” Other lyrics include: “They be takin’ shots, they can’t trigger me, nah (Shit don’t trigger me) / F..k the world, critics and the witness / Face clean, they tryna dirt the image (F..k) / Sittin’ n–as down that stood on business (You can’t stop us though),” per Genius.
West served as executive producer on “Never Stop,” which also features his and Kim Kardashian’s daughter, North West, on the song “Lonely Roads.”
The release of “Never Stop” comes amid closing arguments in Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in New York City. On Friday morning, the defense presented its summation to the jury, claiming Combs is facing a “false trial.”
They argued that he is not guilty of sex trafficking, but rather a participant in the “swingers lifestyle,” which included consensual “threesomes” with his ex-girlfriends and male entertainers.
Combs has been on trial since May, and his children — including Christian — have continued to voice their support of him. Earlier this month, West made a brief courtroom appearance, telling a reporter he was there to support Combs.
Combs is pleading not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
With the press of a button, some patients can now virtually meet with a specialist at the main Huntsville Hospital location.
Two hospitals in the HH Health facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art cameras to assist patients who require psychiatric or neurological care.
The HH Health System’s Telemedicine Program Manager, Sara Werner, said these specialties have the greatest need for connecting with specialists.
According to the HH Health System website, thousands of North Alabamians struggle with depression, alcoholism, and other behavioral health issues. There are only a few state-licensed psychiatrists in the area. They report fewer than 75 practices in North Alabama, and the majority of them are in Madison County.
This program is already active at Madison Hospital and will help people at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield later this year.
“When they’re traveling, it’s a strain because of the patients in, let’s say, Huntsville Hospital and their family lives in Florence, that that can be a big burden to be so far away from their family,” Werner said. “The expense of the family having to drive back and forth and just the stress of not being in your own community.”
Telehealth neurological services are already available at Helen Keller Hospital. That means the on-call neurologist at Huntsville Hospital can help consult with patients from 75 miles away. Telehealth specialists can review medical histories, prescribe medication and help develop a treatment plan.
These two hospitals were chosen, in part, because they can support the telemedicine carts needed for these visits. They have reliable Wi-Fi connections and strong connectivity bandwidth to provide service, according to Werner.
There are “telehealth carts” with state-of-the-art cameras to help connect patients and Huntsville Hospital specialists.
“Our carts have a 20x zoom for stroke care, especially,” Werner said. “The physicians are going to need to zoom in and see the pupils. That’s really important to be able to have the tools so that the physician assessment can be just the same quality as it would be for a patient in person.”
Werener said that they eventually want to grow, both to expand to more hospitals and specialties, like pulmonology and cardiology.
“We look to eventually expand to all of our system hospitals that have a need,” Werner said. “As you know, this program is new, and we’re really focused on that long-term growth, but we want it to be sustainable, and so we’re expanding gradually. Telemedicine is new for us. We want to be able to learn from each launch and really adapt as we grow.”
On Friday at 12:05 p.m. an updated severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until 12:45 p.m. for Colbert, Lauderdale and Lawrence counties.
The storms are packing penny-sized hail (0.75 inches) and wind gusts of up to 60 mph.
“At 12:05 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located near Rogersville, or 14 miles east of Muscle Shoals, moving northeast at 5 mph,” says the weather service. “Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.”
Locations impacted by the warning include Rogersville, Lexington, Courtland, Anderson, Center Star, Kingtown, Oliver, Whitehead, Red Bank and Elgin.
The weather service states, “For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.”
Shielding yourself from approaching lightning: Expert safety guidelines
Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.
To protect yourself during a thunderstorm, take these recommendations into consideration:
Lightning safety plan:
When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.
Indoors safety measures:
Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.
Wait for the all-clear:
After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
It’s important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution.
When indoor shelter isn’t available:
If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:
Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.
Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.
In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.
Rainy roadways ahead: Essential safety tips for heavy rain
When heavy rain strikes, safety is paramount. Equip yourself with these guidelines from the weather service to navigate wet roads and avoid hazards:
Beware of swollen waterways:
During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.
Maintain safe driving distances:
The two-second rule for following distance is your ally in heavy rain. Extend it to four seconds to ensure safe spacing in adverse conditions.
Reduce speed and drive cautiously:
On wet roads, reducing your speed is crucial. Ease off the gas pedal gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.
Choose your lane wisely:
Stick to the middle lanes on multi-lane roads to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, as water tends to accumulate in outer lanes.
Visibility matters:
Turn on your headlights and be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.
Watch out for slippery roads:
Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.
Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:
Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.
Mind your windshield wipers:
Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or sheltered spots.
If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.
In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
If Jackson senior Landon Duckworth wasn’t well known outside of the Southeast before last week, he is now.
The uncommitted, dual-threat quarterback was consistently among the top performers in the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback competition.
“People are like, ‘Yeah, he’s a good Alabama quarterback.’ But then he goes out to the Elite 11 with the top quarterbacks in the country, and he is right there at the top, step for step with everyone else,” Aggies coach Cody Flournoy said. “He still has a lot of room to improve. He has incredible upside. He is really good right now, and he’s going to keep getting better.”
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Duckworth was named Class 4A Back of the Year in January after leading his team to the state title. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 3,439 yards and 39 touchdowns and also rushed for 648 yards and 12 TDs. He also was MVP of the state championship game against Cherokee County.
Duckworth said he hopes to make a college decision in July but doesn’t have an exact date yet. Last week, he was named AL.com’s Coastal Male Athlete of the Year. He followed his team’s football run by helping the Aggies repeat as 4A basketball champs and taking part in Jackson’s winning 4X100 relay team.
The On3 Industry rankings for Alabama senior recruits currently have Duckworth as the No. 4 prospect in the state, one spot below Crowell.
In other recruiting news:
COMMITMENTS
Jackson 4-star Jamarrion Gordon committed to North Carolina this week.
The 5-11, 185-pound senior DB also had offers from most SEC schools and had previously committed to Alabama and UCF. Other offers include Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee along with Oregon, Penn State, Michigan, Miami and more.
“If you are a defensive back, who doesn’t want to play for Bill Belichick?” Jackson coach Cody Flournoy asked. “Everyone is interested to see what will happen with UNC, but they have a great coaching staff and, of course, great facilities. It’s an easy, good decision for ‘Juicy.’”
Gordon told AL.com on Thursday night that his mind was made up after attending the UNC-Duke basketball game earlier this year.
“I knew I was going there right then,” he said. “I’m locked in, 100 percent.”
Gordon described longtime NFL coach Belichick as “a cool guy, very exciting to be around.”
James Madison got a commitment from Huntsville 6-5, 290-pound 3-star OL Michael Price, who also had offers Air Force, Colorado State, North Alabama and others.
Daphne 3-star OL Jai’Vale Fredericks committed to Louisiana over offers from Florida State, South Alabama, Troy, UAB, Tulane and more for the 6-6, 290-pound senior.
Williamson’s Jermaine McCree committed to Appalachian State.
The 5-11, 160-pound 3-star DB chose also had offers from Arkansas, Texas A&M, Florida State, UAB and more.
Blount 6-1, 180-pound senior DB Christopher Leatherwood committed to North Alabama.
Gadsden City senior DB Tylan Sims recently committed to Mercer.
LeFlore OL/DL Amauri Reed committed to North Alabama.
OFFERS
Lanett 6-3, 230-pound senior DL Jeremiah McGillberry earned his first D1 offer from Alabama A&M.
Woodlawn 6-1, 165-pound senior DB/WR Cornealius Hudson picked up an offer from Samford.
Ohio State is the latest to offer Hoover junior RB CJ Cowley, who played at Spain Park last season.
The 5-10, 180-pound 3-star recruit also has SEC offers from Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt along with Miami, Penn State, Troy, UAB and more.
Williamson DB Captain Munnerlyn Jr. received an offer from North Alabama.
Sports writer Dennis Victory contributed to this report
A Chilton County man with a lengthy criminal record has been convicted in the rape and beating of a woman.
A jury this week convicted 41-year-old Corey Oliver of first-degree rape, 19th Judicial Circuit District Attorney CJ Robinson announced Friday.
Oliver is still facing unrelated rape and incest charges set for trial later this year.
Robinson said the crime happened in 2018 but was disclosed to district attorney investigators in 2024, at which time he was indicted.
Oliver had been in a dating relationship with the victim when he strangled, beat and raped her at knifepoint.
The Thorsby man has more than 10 prior felony convictions, he said, and about 40 arrests that began with drugs and property crimes and escalated to sexual crimes of violence.
“For my entire career, nearly 20 years, I have seen his name over and over and over on dockets,” Robinson said. “Corey Oliver was a direct beneficiary of the hug-a-thug policies of prison reform that plagued Alabama citizens for nearly 10 years.”
“In his previous cases, the prosecutors, the judges, the probation officers, everyone did their job according to the law and the end result was an evil person, who should have been in prison, was free to keep committing crimes and victimizing women and children,” he said.
Robinson said Oliver “slithered” his way out of several previous charges where authorities suspected he intimidated victims as they routinely refused to follow through with charges or changed their statements during legal proceedings.
In this case, he said, investigators discovered the victim while working a separate investigation of sexual assault on a different victim.
District attorney investigators and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office connected her with resources.
“Our Victim Service Officer and our Assistant DAs did an amazing job fighting to ensure Corey Oliver’s path of destruction is finally over,” Robinson said.
Oliver is set to be sentenced on Aug. 6. His other trial is set for October.
Donald Trump’s hints at running for a third term despite the Constitution clearly forbidding it has not stopped an off-shore gambling website from increasing its odds that the president wins another White House bid.
Trump’s odds to win the presidency in 2028 have shot up from 10-to-1 to 6-to-1 at BetOnline, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Paul Krishnamurty, who sets the odds on politics market for BetOnline, told the outlet that other means besides the Constitution explain why the website increased its odds on a Trump third term.
“A potential world war, highly likely ongoing global instability, mass protests and division across the USA … make it likelier that a state of emergency could be called, or that Trump could use the unique circumstances to consolidate power,” he told the Review-Journal.
While the Constitution forbids presidents from seeking a third term, Krishnamurty pointed to other possibilities for Trump.
“Many of his opponents believe he wants to be dictator for life, that his agenda, e.g. Project 2025, is a power grab, that he wants to emulate [other dictators] whom he frequently praises,” the oddsmaker said.
“And on his own side, Steve Bannon says he can and will run again. Lindsay Graham implied the same.”
“Therefore, it would, in my view, be wrong to exclude the possibility, ” he said. “Others believe those arguments are nonsense, that the status quo will prevail, and we are offering a ‘No’ option in these markets.”
BetOnline also lists odds on whether Trump will appear on the 2028 presidential election ballot.
“No” is the favorite at 6-to-1, while “yes” is listed as a 3.5-to-1 underdog.
By Yesica Balderrama | Edited by Patricia Guadalupe
A rainbow flag is perched high above the entrance of the club 3 Dollar Bill in Brooklyn, N.Y. Two doors across the bar lead into a larger room, where a stage is located at the back and center. The sound of people talking is barely audible over the DJ’s remixes of Bad Bunny and Karol G.
Petite drag performer Freeda Kulo jumps onto the stage in a form-fitting black sequinned and chiffon bedlah, a matching bra and belt used in belly dancing. The show in March was a tribute to Shakira, and the crowd joined in to sing the lyrics. It was a joyous night for the Latinx queer community.
The origin of Latinx in drag in NYC traces back to La Escuelita, a 1970s queer nightclub in Manhattan, and House of Xtravaganza, a 1980s primarily Latinx ballroom where artists of color gathered to share their work. The sounds of merengue, salsa, and hip-hop could be heard inside. Today’s new generation of creatives is contributing to the ever-evolving history of the art form.
Freeda, Catrina Lovelace, Pixie Aventura, and Eric Dorsa are performers of first- and second-generation immigrant backgrounds. They were raised in Spanish-speaking households with the values and traditions of their home countries. Drag helped them bridge the gaps between their Latin American immigrant and queer roots. They incorporate their life experiences into their work and carry that onto the stage to share with audiences everywhere.
Eric Dorsa prepares backstage before performing on “Reinas” night.Photo by Danny Aros for palabra
At the same time, a total of 588 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, 914 anti-trans bills, and 17 drag ban bills have been proposed so far this year. Proposed legislation could classify drag shows as adult content, prohibit shows from being held in public spaces, criminalize drag performances, and prevent minors from watching the art form live. A self-defense handbook for drag artists by Qommittee is available online. It explains First Amendment protections, lists mental health resources, and provides other practical advice for online and offline safety. The Trump administration’s restrictions on immigration are threatening the well-being and safety of communities. This is a tough time for people who are at the intersection of underrepresented identities.
“Now more than ever it seems like there’s so much actively working against us as queer people, Latinos, and immigrants. We still have a right to take up space and to honor who we are and to celebrate our culture. That’s not something that they can take away from us,” Eric, a Chicana mental health activist and a queen from Texas, tells palabra.
Eric Dorsa gets ready backstage with fellow drag performers before taking the stage.Photo by Danny Aros for palabra
Eric Dorsa displays a tattoo of Mexican icon Frida Kahlo.Photo by Danny Aros for palabra
How drag artists incorporate their Latinx roots into their work
Freeda spent the majority of her childhood in Mexico and moved to California at 16. She explains the meaning of her stage name. “I’ve always been immensely inspired by Frida Kahlo, not just her artwork, but her story and the accounts behind some of the pieces.”
In 2019, Freeda was bedridden in a basement studio for three months to heal from a torn meniscus injury and was motivated by Kahlo’s story about painting in bed to recuperate from an accident. That made Freeda decide to work on her drag skills while recovering at home. “Rather than taking it as a hindrance, I found the silver lining,” she says. “I thought maybe this is a moment for me to slow down. I practiced makeup, styling, and how to make mixes. It was more of an incubator for me to foster my skills.”
One year later, with a back brace still on, Freeda went to a queer bar in Queens that hosts Latinx nights and asked the staff to give her a chance to perform live. For her first number, she lip-synced to Juan Gabriel in a mariachi-inspired outfit. The manager told her there was a line outside waiting to hear her perform, and Freeda was elated by the amount of tips she earned that night.
She says her background as an immigrant influences her art. Not quite feeling a sense of belonging to either country, she connects more with her Mexican upbringing. “Sometimes you’re not enough to be from there, and you’re not enough to be from here. Before, it was something no one wanted to talk about because there was shame,” she says. Being a first-generation Mexican American allows me to embrace that and to acknowledge that my latinidad is valid.”
Freeda Culo performs at a Shakira tribute event.Photo by Leyda Luz/courtesy of Freeda Culo
Catrina also blends her cultural roots into her stage persona. Her name references a traditional skeleton costume worn for Día de Muertos. She is Mexican American and was born and raised in NYC. She says that as a teen, she was reluctant to embrace her heritage outside of home and was worried that others would not understand or accept her.
Catrina says that just five years ago, she had an epiphany when she made a conscious decision to embrace the profound significance that latinidad plays in her life. “When I grew up and I got older, I was like, I definitely need to always have my Mexican culture in the forefront.”
Catrina was the winner of the 2023 Miss Big Adam’s Apple show. It is a contest in which drag queens compete to be the funniest, and then contestants can go on to perform at the annual National Comedy Queen Pageant. She played the character El Chapulín Colorado from Chespirito, which was a popular Mexican television comedy series that parodied superheroes. Catrina wore the Chapulín’s spandex suit with mustard yellow short shorts and pom pom antenna ears.
In the past, Catrina says she would have been overly concerned about whether the judges would understand the reference. This time, she showed them one of her favorite sitcoms with ease.
Catrina Lovelace wears a mariachi-inspired costume.Photo by Jax/courtesy of Catrina Lovelace
Queer representation in Latinx media is lacking
Pixie didn’t label herself as Latinx when she started performing because she didn’t want her drag character to be limited to a single identity. She is a Cuban-Nicaraguan queen from Florida. “I’m inspired by all types of material. Sometimes it goes with my Latinx roots, and sometimes it doesn’t even correlate. I’ve always wanted to have the openness of being creative and not being pigeonholed as the Latinx queen,” she shares. Her artistic influences include Bugs Bunny, Lucille Ball, Robin Williams, and Mariah Carey.
After Pixie moved to NYC, she became known as a Latinx queen in Lower Manhattan. It was not a role she expected to play but once she noticed she was positively contributing to queer visibility she embraced it. “Eventually I realized without even trying that I became the representation for queer people that I didn’t see growing up. Queerness is not really represented in Latinx media. You probably can name a handful. This is why I’ve kept doing drag.”
The telenovelas that Pixie and other LGBTQ+ millennials grew up watching included one minor side character that was subtly coded as queer. The sexuality of the character was implied and not directly addressed or revealed in the show. Pixie adds, “It was always looked down upon, right? In Latinx media, it needs to be more positively seen.”
Pixie Aventura performing at celebrities Frankie James Grande and Hale Grande’s wedding reception.Photo courtesy of Pixie Aventura
LGBTQ+ prejudice in Latin America prevails
Pixie, Freeda, Eric, and Catrina may have been raised and live in the United States, but drag performers still have to deal with prejudice and biases in Latinx communities that stem from the cultural values of their home countries.
According to a 2024 report by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, about 33 million Latinx identify as LGBTQ+. Despite the significant progress made in passing legislation for the rights and protections of queer people in Latin America, there is still much discrimination. In 2023 in Latin America overall there was a 5.5% rise in the murders of queer people compared to the previous year according to areport by Red SinViolencia.
“In Latinx culture, drag artists are still met with a lot of stigma in real life outside of the artistic realms in which we operate,” says Eric.
These drag artists have roots in Mexico, Cuba, and Nicaragua. In the first twocountries, gay marriage and civil unions are legal, while in the third, it is banned; Nicaragua ranks low in the equality index for Latin American countries. Last year, the number of hate crimes in Mexico peaked at 148 known incidents. The majority of the victims were women and trans people – the number may be inaccurate as many cases go unreported in the media.
Eric Dorsa, left, performs with fellow drag artists Pietra Parker, center, and DD Fuego during “Reinas” night at Hush in Manhattan.Photo by Danny Aros for palabra
Eric Dorsa performing during “Reinas” night.Photo by Danny Aros for palabra
Gender inclusivity
Popular television shows portray drag as an art form exclusively done by cis gay men. Etta Puss thinks that it does not accurately reflect the rich variety of gender in real-life shows, but it’s getting better and moving in that direction as mainstream media sees how audiences respond to the content. More trans people have been featured lately. Puss is an afab (assigned female at birth), and a femme-presenting drag creator who has felt accepted in all public spaces.
“When people think of a drag queen, they think of a cis gay man, but that’s not the reality when you’re actually out at drag shows. Most performers I know are trans or at least nonbinary. Then there are plenty of cisgender women like myself,” says Puss.
Etta Puss, a femme-presenting drag performer.Photo by Ryan Kell/courtesy of Etta Puss
Drag gives artists from all backgrounds and sexualities the space to define their individualized gender. Performers can play with it by experimenting with various identities and poke fun at traditional gender roles.
Eric has been doing drag for over 12 years. When they started they saw trans women and gay men perform as drag queens and queer women perform as drag kings. Now, people of any gender play characters of any other gender. “There was not this understanding of gender that we have today of gender fluidity or nonbinary people,” they say.
Performers in NYC share that they have not been treated differently due to their preferred gender identity, presentation, or pronouns. The scene provides creators who have not been traditionally represented in mainstream media with safe and supportive environments where they can find community and flourish as artists.
Eric Dorsa backstage at Hush, a gay bar in Manhattan.Photo by Danny Aros for palabra
How a show promoter helps support POC and immigrant artists
The annual Miss Big Adam’s Apple comedy competition is a show that focuses on including artists from marginalized backgrounds, such as drag kings, afab creators, and immigrants. The winner receives a $500 cash prize and a chance to participate in the national event.
“The best way to support drag queens of color is to make sure they feel that the competition welcomes their perspective. It’s important to be aware of potential biases and to actively work to challenge them, especially when in a position of power,” says Kari Kerring, 2023 Comedy Queen Performer of the Year. “I want to make sure, as a promoter, I am doing that.” She and her co-promoters are constantly working towards reaching that goal by seeking out a wide range of possible contestants.
Drag performer Lori Lu receives her Miss Big Adam’s Apple comedy competition award on stage.Photo by Leyda Luz/courtesy of Lori Lu
What’s next for Latinx drag performers
When Pixie started performing in 2010, she was one of just a handful of Latinx drag artists in Manhattan. The visibility of the community in live shows and in drag media has grown alongside Latinx presence in American popular culture. She, Catrina, Eric, and Freeda agree that there can be even more representation on stage. They suggest that show producers and organizers should take a chance on new artists to increase the representation of Latinx and people of color in their shows.
She says, “Anyone can perform Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, but people want to see themselves. I want to see people perform Gloria Trevi, Paquita, and Los Bukis. I feel like people are hungry for it, too. The beauty of being Latinx is that there’s so much diversity. People need to understand that they can’t generalize Latinx people.”
Eric Dorsa, left, performs with a fellow drag artist during “Reinas” night at the bar Hush in Manhattan.Photo by Danny Aros for palabra
“SEC Storied: Wishbone” will debut on the SEC Network at 7 p.m. July 17, it was announced Friday.
Directed by Chip Rives and executive produced by Alabama native Keith Dunnavant, the documentary will tell the story of how dynamic wishbone triple-option offense helped salvage struggling programs at Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama in the late 1960s and early 70s. Texas offensive coordinator Emory Bellard invented the offense in 1968, and Longhorns head coach Darrell Royal later shared it with the coaches at Oklahoma (his alma mater) and Alabama.
“When we first started the journey of Wishbone, I thought I knew it all, well most of it at least,” said Rives, a longtime documentarian who directed the ESPN 30 for 30s “Brian and Boz” and “Phi Slama Jama” among other projects.
“I grew up in Texas, have lived in Oklahoma and through sports osmosis, knew a great deal about Bear Bryant and Alabama. Turns out I knew very little about the Wishbone!”
“SEC Storied: Wishbone” also includes interviews with former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer and Super Bowl-winning coach (and former Alabama and Mississippi State assistant) Bruce Arians, plus Wishbone-era players Ted Koy (Texas), Spencer Tillman (Oklahoma) and Major Ogilvie (Alabama).
It’s the latest SEC football project for Dunnavant, who was heavily involved in ESPN’s 2019 documentary series “Saturdays in the South” on the history of SEC football and also produced and directed 2013’s “Three Days at Foster,” the story of the integration of Alabama athletics. He has also written several books, including The Missing Ring (about Alabama’s “uncrowned” 1966 championship team), Coach (a biography of Bryant) and America’s Quarterback (about Bart Starr).
“The Wishbone was a strategy of last resort for three of the greatest programs in college football history,” Dunnavant said. “So, in that sense, you can feel the desperation pulsating through our story. It’s interesting to wonder what might have happened at Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama without Emory Bellard’s history-bending invention.”
Independence Day is just around the corner, but many are planning to spend this weekend playing at their favorite online sweepstakes casino. On this page, I highlight some of the top sweepstakes casino bonuses available to claim heading into the 4th of July.
Each of these offers is provided by what many consider to be among the best sweepstakes casinos operating today.
Learn exactly what these bonuses provide to players below:
The best sweepstakes casino bonuses ahead of the 4th of July
The US is home to many passionate casino fans. Surprisingly, only seven states have taken the steps to legalize online real money casinos. This lack of legal online casinos has led to the rise of sweepstakes casinos.
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Learn about five of the best sweepstakes casino bonuses available to claim:
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It’s a record that’s stood for almost a century in Alabama high school football history and it may stand for another hundred years after that.
AL.com released its picks of some of the most unbreakable high school football records, with readers selecting their choice for which mark will be the toughest to beat.
Thirty-two percent of readers voted that Florala High School’s record of most consecutive shutout victories is least likely to be broken.
The record of 17 straight games goes back to the 1927-1929 seasons for the Wildcats.
A record by former Straughn star Russell Gunter for most rushing attempts in a game (72 vs. Coffee Springs, 1986) garnered 25% of the vote and Clay County’s record for most shutouts in a season (11 in 1996) totaled 22%.
According to information gathered by the Alabama High School Football Historical Society, the streak of shutouts started for Florala with an 18-0 shutout of Geneva on Oct. 7, 1927.
The 1927 season saw Florala go 6-0-2 with a pair of ties against T.R. Miller (Week 1, 6-6) and Enterprise (Week 3, 0-0). It was also the first undefeated season for Florala.
In 1928, the Wildcats went 9-0, shutting out every opponent they played and outscoring opponents 203-0. Florala opened the season with a 56-0 shutout of Rawls under third-year coach James Jenkins.
After a 46-0 shutout of Rawls again to open the ensuing year, the streak was snapped the following week of the 1929 season as the Wildcats beat T.R. Miller 44-7.
During the 17-game stretch for Florala, the program outscored opponents 402-0 and held a scoring average of 23.6 points per game.
Florala’s mark is one of three programs with double-digit shutouts in a row, along with Hamilton (1928-1930) and Sidney Lanier (1920-1921) which both had 14 straight.
The only team among the top nine from the 2000s is Donoho in Anniston, which recorded eight straight shutouts in 2006 under former head coach Shannon Felder.
The Falcons allowed just nine points during a 10-0 regular season, with a 32-6 win over Lyman Ward to start the year and a 52-3 victory over Pleasant Valley to close the regular season. Donoho would fall to Cedar Bluff in the third round of the Class 1A playoffs.
