Houston’s Leading Black Information Source www.defendernetwork.com JULY 18, 2013 |FREE Volume 82 | Number 38 NATIONAL HOMICIDE RATE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 18-24 DECLINES IN U.S. P4 directs ‘Fruitvale Station’ RYAN COOGLER twitter.com/DefenderNetwork facebook.com/DefenderNetwork NEWSTALK P2 OPINION CHAG’S PLACE P11 QUANELL X concerned about fires ENTERTAINMENT P5 Ardie Segars and Algenita Davis at celebration in her honor defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 80 years H PAGE 2 H PAGE 8 Ben Hall sets record In his quest to become the next mayor of Houston, attorney Ben Hall has set a campaign record unmatched by any challenger facing an incumbent. Hear why he’s grateful to his donors and others supporters. See what he has to say about leadership and vision. Jason Castro plays well The Houston Astros moved to the American League this year, and catcher Jason Castro has already made team history in the AL. Learn why the move has been good for him. Discover why he’s having an All-Star season so far. Find out why Castro is experiencing a dream come true. Visit faces BEWARE Young Black men H PAGE 6
Transcript
Houston’s Leading Black Information Source
www.defendernetwork.com JULY 18, 2013 |FREE Volume 82 | Number 38
NATIONAL HOMICIDE RATE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 18-24 DECLINES IN U.S. P4
directs ‘Fruitvale Station’
RYAN COOGLER
twitter.com/DefenderNetwork
facebook.com/DefenderNetwork
NEWSTALK
P2
OPINIONCHAG’S PLACE
P11
QUANELL X concerned about fires
ENTERTAINMENT
P5
Ardie Segars and Algenita Davis at celebration in her honor
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 80 years
H PagE 2 H PagE 8
Ben Hallsets recordIn his quest to become the next mayor of Houston, attorney Ben Hall has set a campaign record unmatched by any challenger facing an incumbent. Hear why he’s grateful to his donors and others supporters. See what he has to say about leadership and vision.
Jason Castroplays wellThe Houston Astros moved to the American League this year, and catcher Jason Castro has already made team history in the AL. Learn why the move has been good for him. Discover why he’s having an All-Star season so far. Find out why Castro is experiencing a dream come true.
Visit faces
BEwaRE
Young Black men
H PagE 6
localbriefs
2 DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2013 defendernetwork.com
newstalk Hall raises record campaign funds
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 80 years
THE ABORTION LAW passed by the Texas Legislature is one of the strictest in the nation. Gov. Rick Perry denied that the law would shut down most of the state’s abortion clinics. The bill bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and imposes new requirements on abortion clinics and doctors who perform abortions……..TEXAS HEALTH CENTERS have been awarded $9.9 million in grant assistance by the U.S. Depart-ment of Health and Human Services to aid in health insurance enrollment as part of the Affordable Care Act. Awards were granted to 11 Houston-area centers: Harris County Hospital District, Houston Area Community Services, Houston Community
Health Centers, Asian American Health Coalition of the Greater Houston Area, El Centro Del Corazon, Fourth Ward Clinic, Health Care for the Home-less Houston, Legacy Community Health Services, Pasadena Health Center, South Central Houston Community Health Center, and Spring Branch Community Health Center……..THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY has been recognized as the nation’s best by the Railway Industrial Clear-ance Association. It is the second time in the last five years that the port has received the Outstand-ing Port Award for Customer Satisfaction, which is based on overall quality, quality of facilities, and customer service and satisfaction…….. ATTOR-
NEY GENERAL Greg Abbott is officially running for governor. The Republican candidate recently launched his campaign in San Antonio. Abbott, 55, describes himself as “one of the nation’s leading advocates for stopping the federal overreach of the Obama Administration, a defender of the Con-stitution and a conservative to the core.” He was partially paralyzed by a falling tree while jogging and uses a wheelchair…….A BUS DRIVER JOB FAIR will be held by Fort Bend ISD on Tuesday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at two locations: Lake Olympia Terminal, 3130 Lake Olympia Parkway (281-634-1613) and Hodges Bend Terminal, 16707 Bissonnet (281-634-1977).
Defender News Services
Houston mayoral candidate Ben Hall said he has compiled the largest campaign war chest for a challenger to an incumbent mayor in the history of the city. Hall’s campaign had available more than $2.01 million for the period ending June 30.
The filing comes on the heels of recent endorsements by the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, the Communications Workers of America, AFSCME and the African American Police Officers League.
“I am so grateful to the hundreds of donors, the professional organizations and the scores of pastors, ministers and community activists who have rallied to our call for real leadership for Houston,” Hall said.
He added that, “I look forward to outlining my vision for the city during this next phase of the campaign. We have a fantastic grassroots foundation, an energized finance committee, and I am personally more motivated than ever to see this to a successful conclusion.”
Mayor Annise Parker has raised more than $2.2 million for her re-election campaign since February.
She has received the endorsement of more than 27 organizations, including
the Houston Police Officers Union and the Harris County Council of Organizations.
“I am inspired by the thousands of Houstonians who are coming together to keep Houston
the best place in America to live, work and raise a
family,” Parker said.
Residents troubled by fires
By CIERRA DUNCANDefender
Residents of South Park and Sunny-side are
on high alert due to a rash of fires plaguing their communities in recent months. Occu-pied businesses, homes and abandoned build-ings have all fallen victim to an arsonist.
Activist Quanell X and community leaders were joined by members of the Hous-ton Fire Department (HFD) at a recent town hall meet-ing to inform residents about the fires that have been deliberately set. They learned that multiple fires have occurred in the area dating back to December 2012.
A suspect, Dwight Herman Albert, was arrested earlier this month in connection with a fire in Sunny-side. HFD said Albert was not linked to other fires in the area, but the investigation continues.
Albert is a well-known member of both the Sunnyside and South Park communities and many residents are divided on if he is responsible for the fires.
“This man walks everywhere he goes,” said Pastor Byron Jones of Rock Christian Center. “Everyone knows him. If he had a gas can walking, everyone would have noticed that.”
Another area minister, Pastor K. Nickleberry Lilly of Charity
Missionary Baptist Church, lost a property that held resale merchandise. “I believe the inves-tigation is ongoing and we should let the fire department and arson investiga-tors do what they do,” he said.
“Many in the community don’t believe this man is setting the fires,” added Quanell X. “After they arrested him, there was another fire two days later. We
really don’t know what the truth is.”Area residents plan to rebuild the damaged
and destroyed properties and said it will be an ongoing process.
“We will come together as a community to assist and help with the individual needs of a person [affected by a fire],” Jones said.
“It destroyed two buildings and caused $100, 000 worth of damaged property,” Lilly said. “However, we will rebuild and take it one
day at a time. We will continue to reach out and help people.” Police and fire officials have advised those in the community
to ensure they have working fire alarms within their homes. They also promote obtaining home and fire insurance so properties will be covered in case of an unforeseen event.
Ben Hall
Fires have been deliberately set in South Park and Sunnyside. (Photo by Cierra Duncan)
Pastor K. Nickleberry Lilly
3defendernetwork.com JULY 18 | 2013 | DEFENDER
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4 DEFENDER | JULY 11 | 2013 defendernetwork.com
national
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Youth homicide rates decline
Immigration reform generates debateVOLUME 82 • NUMBER 38
JULY 18, 2013
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).
Print Editor Marilyn Marshall art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila People EditorYvette ChargoisSports EditorsMax EdisonDarrell K. ArdisonContributing writerAswad Walker
The homicide rate for youth aged 10 to 24 years in the United States reached a 30-year
low in 2010, according to data published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion (CDC).
The 30-year low in 2010 was seen across all age and racial groups.
CDC investigated homi-cide trends among U.S. youth by gender, age, race/ethnicity, and mechanism of injury from 1981 to 2010.
The findings show declines in youth homicide rates from 2000 to 2010 have been slower for groups at high risk for homicide, including males and non-Hispanic Black youth. Recent declines have also been slower for firearm homi-cides than for homicides by other means.
The findings indicate the need for increased use of youth violence prevention strategies, espe-cially approaches that engage high-risk youth.
“We are encouraged to see a decline in the homicide rate among our youth but unfortunate-ly, homicide continues to rank in the top three leading causes of death for our young people,” said Linda C. Degutis, director of CDC’s Nation-al Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
“Our youth represent our future and one homicide is one too many. Comprehensive ap-proaches that include evidence-based prevention strategies are essential to eliminate homicide as a leading cause of death of young people.”
Key findings in this report include:• In 2010, 4,828 homicides occurred among youth ages 10 to 24 years in the U.S.• In 2010, youth homicide resulted in an esti-mated $9 billion in lost productivity and medical costs.• From 1985 to 1993, the overall youth homicide rate rose 83 percent (from 8.7 per 100,000 in 1985 to 15.9 in 1993).
• From 1994 to 1999, the overall youth homicide rate declined 41 percent (from 15.2 per 100,000 in 1994 to 8.9 in 1999). • From 2000 to 2010, the overall youth homicide rate declined on average by about 1 percent per year.• In 2010, the youth ho-micide rate was 12.7 per 100,000 for males, 13.2 for youth ages 20 to 24 years, and 28.8 for non-Hispanic black youth.• The annual rate of firearm homicide among youth ages 10 to 24 years was 3.7 times the annual rate of non-fire-arm homicides during the examined 30-year period.As noted in the report, public health can support communi-ty-wide and sustained reduc-
tions in youth violence. Strategies that have been evaluated and are
successful include school-based programs that build students’ communications skills to solve problems in non-violent ways.
Family approaches that help parents and caregivers set age-appropriate rules and effec-tively monitor activities and relationships are also effective.
In addition, economic, policy, environmental, and other community approaches can enhance safety and increase opportunities for positive social interaction.
NNPA News Service
As the Republican dominated U.S. House of Representa-tives begins consideration of the Senate-passed comprehen-sive immigration reform measure, there’s a key question on the table for lawmakers in Washington.
Would the U.S. be better off in the long run by provid-ing the 11 million-plus undocumented immigrants now in the country with a pathway to American citizenship?
It’s a question to which such House members as Hakeem Jeffries, Yvette Clarke and Gregory Meeks, all Democrats from New York, routinely answer with an emphatic “yes.”
The question triggers a decidedly negative response from many Republicans whose districts are in Arizona, Mississippi,
Alabama, Texas, Georgia and Kansas.But when three economic experts – Julian de Giovanini,
Andrew Levchenko and Francesco Ortega – examined the economic impact of migration on the world’s industrialized countries, and looked at the effects of immigrant source states, the conclusion was clear – migration appears to benefit practi-cally all origin and destination countries.
Without immigration, the economists argue, rich countries, including the U.S. would see a decline in their populations and in the size of their markets and welfare.
“A smaller workforce reduces firms’ profitability, and, as a result, fewer firms choose to pay the first-stage exploration costs,” they insisted. “This reduces the domestically produced varieties, increasing firms’ costs and reducing consumer choice.”
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entertainment 5defendernetwork.com JULY 18 | 2013 | DEFENDER
Ryan Coogler writes, directs ‘Fruitvale Station’
LIL WAYNE publicly apologized to the family of murder victim Emmett Till at a concert in Nashville. Wayne came under fire after rapping that he was going to “beat” a female’s genitals like Till in a remix of the song “Karate Chop.” Till was 14 when he was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955 for allegedly whistling at a white woman ……..“Grown Ups 2” debuted at No. 2 at the box office its first weekend in the-aters, earning $42.5 million. The movie’s all-star cast includes CHRIS ROCK, TIM MEADOWS, MAYA RUDOLPH and SHAQUILLE O’NEAL. “Pacific Rim,” the new film about monsters vs. robots, came in third with $38.3. It stars IDRIS ELBA as the commanding officer of an operation that constructs and trains robots……..CHRIS BROWN could face jail time after a judge revoked his probation in connection with his conviction in the beating of ex-girlfriend Rihanna
in 2009. The probation revocation was triggered by his al-leged failure to hand over his driver’s license and insurance information to another driver after a minor traffic accident in May. He will remain free until a trial is held…….After vowing that she would never marry again, HALLE BERRY wed her fiancé OLIVIER MARTINEZ in a ceremony in France. Berry, the mother of a 5-year-old daughter, is expecting her first child with Martinez. She was previously married to former baseball star DAVID JUSTICE and singer-songwriter ERIC BENÉT…….. The recent series premiere of “R&B Divas LA,” the newest addition to TV One’s reality series franchise, was the network’s most watched primetime telecast this year among its core audience. The show airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. and follows the lives of performers KELLY PRICE,
CHANTE MOORE, LIL MO, CLAUDETTE ORTIZ, MICHEL’LE and DAWN ROBINSON……..TV One has also announced the creation of “News One Now,” a live one-hour, weekday morning news program hosted by native Houstonian ROLAND S. MARTIN. It is scheduled to premiere in September and will feature a broad spectrum of experts, newsmakers and celebrities who will share their insights on current affairs…….. BILL COSBY will star in his first TV concert special in 30 years. “Far From Finished” will air on Comedy Central in November, and is directed by ROBERT TOWNSEND. The show is compiled from material that Cosby performed earlier this summer in Cerritos, Calif. Cosby made entertainment his-tory in 1965 when he became the first African-American to costar on a weekly TV series, “I Spy.”
By KAM WILLIAMSSpecial to the Defender
Born in Oakland in 1986, Ryan Coogler attended college on a football scholarship before earning his MFA in film and TV production at the University of Southern California in 2011.
He worked as a security guard and counselor at a juvenile prison in San Francisco before getting his big break with the help of Forest Whitaker.
The Oscar-winning actor agreed to produce Coogler’s first feature film, “Fruitvale Station,” a bitter-sweet biopic chronicling the last day in the life of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old Black man shot in the back by a cop on a train platform in Oakland in 2009.
The case gained wide attention because the killing was caught on camera by numerous passengers.
Here, Coogler talks about his critically-acclaimed writing and directorial debut, which won awards at the Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals.
KW: Your picture’s star, Michael B. Jordan, told me “Fruitvale” received a long standing ovation at Cannes. What did that feel like?
RC: Just playing at Cannes was overwhelming. It was one of those moments I never imagined happening. I think a lot of the response was due to the audience’s connecting to the cast. The performances were incred-ible. I really felt happy for my actors, especially Michael, Melonie Diaz and Octavia Spencer.
None of them had ever been to Cannes before. They were really moved to have their work embraced like that. And it was very moving to me how this story that I
wanted to relate about a real event that had happened in my hometown managed to touched people thousands of miles away.
KW: What interested you in making the movie? RC: The incident itself and what happened imme-
diately afterward in the Bay area, which is where I was born and raised. I heard about it almost immediately after it happened, because I was home on Christmas break from film school. Then it was on the news, and I still remember the first time I saw the footage on the Internet. I was very emotionally affected by it. Everybody in the Bay was.
There were protests and rallies and riots. I saw my-self in Oscar. We were the same age, he looked like me, and we wore the same type of clothes. Seeing someone getting shot like that, and not getting a chance to say goodbye to your loved ones, I couldn’t imagine myself in that situation. So, I wondered whether there was a way I could do something, my being a filmmaker.
Then, I saw how the incident got politicized, and Oscar became a symbol, this icon, a martyr who had never done anything wrong in his life to some, and was de-monized by others as a criminal and a thug who got what he deserved.
In truth, he was neither one of those things. He was just a normal person who had both flaws and good quali-ties. So, I wanted to tell his story from the perspective of the people he meant the most to and who knew him the best.
Ryan Coogler is winning acclaim for his film “Fruitvale Station.”
6 DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2013 defendernetwork.com
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1 million sign NAACP petition
Community rallies for justice
By CIERRA DUNCANDefender
Hundreds of Houstonians gathered at Byrd Funeral Home in Third Ward recently to protest the George Zimmerman verdict.
They came from different sectors of the community but all echoed the same sentiment – the need for justice and unity. Activ-ist Quanell X organized the local rally, which was one of many held across the country.
“When the verdict was read they did the African-American race a great injustice,” said protester Jared Harris. “That decision affected every single one of us.”
Rodney Byrd, director of Byrd Funeral Home, said young Black men must be protected from the George Zimmermans of the world and each other.
“Trayvon Martin is one of many Black boys killed every day,” Byrd said. “Every day in this country there are 125 African-American males who fall prey at the hands of another African- American male. We have to stop filling our Black funeral homes with our Black children. We cannot mandate justice and respect until we first start respecting ourselves.”
Minister Robert Muhammad agreed.
“We want to condemn this power system that has destroyed us, enslaved us, and continues to oppress us,” Muhammad said. “But at the same time we must address our own behavior.”
Muhammad called for African-Americans to become leaders in their communities and to not become complacent toward the prejudices against them.
“We can no longer allow other people to write our history,” Muhammad said.
“The value of a Black male life needs to amount to more than what it does now,” added attorney Robert Jones. “It is the cost of a
nickel bullet. People think they can kill us and nothing happens. That is not the truth.”
The rally culminated with a march through the community beginning on Wheeler Street and ending on Texas State Highway 288.
Participants continued to chant “no justice, no peace” as they walked behind a hearse and empty cas-ket that symbolized the bodies of Trayvon and count-less other Black males who lost their lives to violence.
“Our kids are dying,” said one march participant. “We have to stand up.”
Leaders tell what must be donePresident Barack Obama
– “I now ask every American to respect the call for calm reflec-tion from two parents who lost their young son. And as we do, we should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to widen the circle of compassion and under-standing in our own communi-ties. We should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis. We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this.”
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee – “I expect to join with others in discussions with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the killing of Trayvon Martin…I am also calling for the Congress to hold oversight hearings regarding the treatment of the kill-ing of a juvenile in the circumstances that occurred in Sanford, Florida as well as the manner in which the criminal justice system treats victims of gun violence,
especially young Black male vic-tims like Trayvon Martin.”
State Rep. Garnet Cole-man – “Unfortunately, as of 2007, Texas is also a Stand Your Ground state…I am fighting to change the law back to the more reasonable standard we had prior to 2007. My bill filed this past session, House Bill 3773, would reinstate the “duty to retreat” in most situa-tions while preserving the right to defend oneself and one’s family. There would be no requirement to retreat if an individual is in his or her own home or if the deadly force were used to stop the
commission of a serious crime. The 2007 law just went too far. My bill would balance the right to self-defense with public safety.”
NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jeal-ous – “We will pursue civil rights charges with the Department of Justice, we will continue to fight for the removal of stand your ground laws in every state, and we will not rest until racial profiling in all its forms is outlawed.”
Pres. Barack Obama Sheila Jackson Lee
Garnet Coleman Benjamin Todd Jealous
Demonstrators use an empty casket to symbolize the deaths of young Black men. (Photo by Cierra Duncan)
BEwaRE
Young Black men
Visit defendernetwork.com for more info on staying safe
despite stereotypes.
DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2013 defendernetwork.com 7
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defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 80 years
Staying safe despite stereotypes
By ASWAD WALKERDefender
The acquittal of George Zimmerman for the second-degree murder of Trayvon Martin has sent a clear message – young Black men beware.
A jury of six women found Zimmer-man not guilty on July 13 in Sanford, Fla. Trayvon, an unarmed 17-year-old high school student, was fatally shot by Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman, on Feb. 26, 2012. The verdict has prompted nationwide protests and renewed calls for justice.
Like so many others across the country, Dr. Tamara L. Brown has paid close attention to the case. Brown is the dean of Prairie View A&M University’s Col-lege of Juvenile Justice and Psychology and a licensed clinical psychologist.
The Defender spoke with Brown to gauge her reaction to the not-guilty verdict and her thoughts on
Defender: In the trial, Trayvon was portrayed as the aggressor. What does say about the plight and stereotypes of young Black men?
Brown: It’s unfortunate that the issue centered on Trayvon as the aggressor or not. For me the central issue was Zimmerman ignoring the directives of the police. By not doing that he created a situation that escalated in a tragic way. If he followed what police
1 million sign NAACP petition
The NAACP’s petition to the Department of Justice asking for federal charges, including civil rights charges, to be filed against George Zimmerman has reached 1 million signatures.
This major milestone was reached in just two and a half days. The petition was set up shortly after the verdict finding Zimmerman not guilty in the murder of Trayvon Martin was read.
Interested parties can still sign the petition, which will remain active and open until the DOJ completes its case.
Visit naacp.org/The-DOJ-Petition or text “JUSTICE” to 62227.
said, we’d have a kid alive.And, yes, stereotypes played a role in how those
events unfolded. How could they not? We’re all familiar with the stereotypes of Black people and Black men in particular. They’re more violent, aggressive. Even when passive, we’re still perceived as aggressive or violent.
They said, “A Black kid walking through the neigh-borhood has to be up to no good,” but a white kid – not. Stereotypes got activated in this case.
Defender: What should a young Black man do if he finds himself in a position like Trayvon – in an encounter with a civilian neighborhood watchperson?
Brown: One of the pieces of advice that many Black men receive about handling these situations is to recog-
nize you’re going to be perceived as violent and ag-gressive no matter what you do, so act accordingly.
A friend told me when stopped by the police, he
tries to be as non-threatening as possible –differential body posture, hands in view, speaking clearly and deliber-ately – to make it clear to the officer that he’s cooperating.
Because if I’m being followed at night by some stranger, I’m thinking I’m in harm’s way. So I get a phone line open, yell at the person, and if they’re still coming, then I’m afraid for my life. And if so, then I’m looking for a way to defend myself.
Defender: What advice should parents of Black male children give them about coping with an unfair justice system?
Brown: Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s it was “Driving while Black,” what can you do to protect yourself against that? There isn’t any one thing you can do to solve it, because this is still a racist society. What we can do is make sure racial socialization messages are being given, teaching kids what those race dynamics mean and how to cope and respond. As a community we need broader responses as well to help people connect the dots and have the awareness that we have not yet arrived. A lot of people want to believe that Oprah is Black and a billion-aire, and the President is Black, that we’ve made it. But issues like Trayvon show that we haven’t.
BEwaRE
Houstonians march in support of justice, equality and unity. The rally culminated with a march beginning on Wheeler Street and ending on 288. (Photo by Cierra Duncan)
8 DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2013 defendernetwork.com
sports
Astros Castro shows why he’s an all-Star
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 80 years
By MAX EDISONDefender
We all knew it was coming; it was just a matter of time. The resume was strong, the ability
was unquestioned, the intangibles intact.
Now the Astros investment in catcher Jason Castro is finally be-ginning to pay off. Castro has been named to the American League All-Star roster, the first ever by an Astro in the new league.
Castor was added to the roster as a reserve for the AL squad. He is the team’s first All-Star catcher since Craig Biggio accomplished the feat in 1989 and 1991. Last year second baseman Jose Altuve was the repre-sentative for the team in their final NL season.
To refresh your memory, Castro was the Astros first-round selection in 2008 (10th overall). An All-American from a revered baseball university, Stanford, Castro was predicted to be a cornerstone of the new generation of Astros talent.
It has been a slow process for Castro. Right when he was expected to ascend in 2011, he suf-fered an ACL injury in spring training that cost him the entire season. Through it all Castro has stayed the course and is coming into his own this season.
This year Castro, now 26, has settled into the type of player Astros management expected. At the All-Star break he is hitting .269, with 12 hom-ers and 31 RBI. He was named AL Player of the Week for May 20-26. For that week, Castro hit .579 (11x19) with three home runs and five RBI.
“It’s a huge honor,” Castro said. “It’s a dream come true for me. I grew up watching All-Star Games every year. Growing up playing baseball, the ultimate goal besides winning a World Series is making an All-Star Game and being able to compete
at that level. It’s still kind of sur-real. I don’t know if it’ll sink in until I get to New York, but it’s an honor and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Astros first-year manager Bo Porter believes Castro has put together all of the components necessary to be successful.
“Jason has definitely found his groove,” Porter said. “He understands ex-actly what it is he’s doing. He’s healthy, his legs are underneath him and it’s allowing him to put together an all star season.”
Porter also believes the teams move to the AL has contributed to Castro’s All-Star year thus far.
“The move to the American
League has been absolutely wonderful for our ball club,” he said. “It allows Ja-son to DH on the days that he not catch-ing. It’s allowed us to keep him fresh from the standpoint of not overusing him behind the plate. I think it’s a great reason why he’s having the production he’s having.”
The American League All-Star skipper, Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland, explained why he selected Castro.
“I think Castro was a great repre-sentative from the Houston ballclub,” Leyland said. He’s got 10 or 11 home runs. He’s hitting .265 to .270. He’s
catching every day. I think he was a tremendous choice.”
Jason Castro
It has been an All-Star season so far for Castro.
Castro is the Astros first All-Star catcher sinceCraig Biggio.
High praise for the RocketsMajor props go out to Les Alexander, Daryl Morey and the entire Rocket brain trust on a first- class event put together to welcome free agent acquisition Dwight Howard to our fair city. With a crowd of local and national media inside Toyota Center and thousands outside enduring 100 degree temperatures, the Rockets put on a great show. The most significant component of the program, aside from Howard and his family being introduced, was the Rockets bringing back their legendary collection of big men. They included Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes, who came with the franchise when it relocated from San Diego; Ralph Sampson, Hall of Famer; two-time world champion Hakeem Olajuwon, and Yao Ming. The only big man missing was Hall of Famer Moses Malone. In addition to the parade of big men there were other old-school legends. Hall of Famers Calvin Murphy and Clyde Drexler, as well as former No. 1 overall NBA selection John Lucas, were also in attendance. As the franchise prepares to move forward it was refreshing to see them acknowledge the success of their past. Way to go Rockets.
Texans announce open practice dates Houston Texans Training Camp presented by Xfinity recently announced their training camp dates that will be open to the public. Seven practice sessions will be open to the public at the Methodist Training Center: Tuesday, July 30 through Friday, Aug. 2, and Monday, Aug. 5 through Wednesday, Aug. 7. All of the open practices will begin at 8 a.m. CDT and gates will open to fans at 7 a.m. Free tickets can be printed from the Texans official website, houstontexans.com, beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 17, with a limit of four per person, per practice while supplies last. Tickets for Youth Day on Aug. 5 will be available exclusively at Houston-area Academy Sports + Outdoors locations while supplies last as well. Bleacher seating at each practice session is general admission.
SWAC unveils preseason honorsIt’s that time again, almost. The college football season is right around the corner with many local teams beginning workouts in two weeks. The SWAC recently unveiled their preseason All-Conference teams and locally, both Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern University were represented. Coming off a disappointing 3-8, 2012 season, the Panthers feature three first team standouts. The Panthers boast a pair of offensive linemen in red shirt junior Tre Glover and red shirt sophomore Dillon Bonnet, and junior linebacker Jerome Howard. In addition, they place four players on the second unit. Junior tight end Olatunde’ Idowu, red shirt junior kicker Chris Barrick, junior punter Travis Jatzlau and return specialist sophomore Johnta’ Hebert round out the PV preseason honorees. Preseason camp begins on Sunday, Aug. 4 with the first practice scheduled for Monday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. Com-ing off a 2-9 campaign in 2012, the Tigers have only one preseason selection. Red shirt junior defensive back Le’Tevin Wilcox was selected on the second team. The TSU Tigers report to camp on Aug. 4.
#1Sports editor team in the Black Press
Rocket legends include (l. to r) Calvin Murphy, Elvin Hayes, Ralph Sampson, Yao Ming, Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon. (Photo by BE Studios)
DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2013 defendernetwork.com10
SCHOOLSCHOOLIMMUNIZATIONSIMMUNIZATIONS
*Due to state and federal laws, points cannot be earned or redeemed on some items, and points will not be earned in a transaction where Redemption Dollars are used. For terms and conditions, visit Walgreens.com/Balance. †Vaccine subject to availability. State, age, and health-related restrictions may apply. Not all required forms can be completed by a pharmacist in select states. See pharmacy for details.
Available daily and most insurance accepted. No appointment needed.†
Walgreens is now offering fertility edu-cation services as its pharmacy location at Memorial Hermann Tower, 929 Gessner. It is one of a select group of Walgreens pharma-cies throughout the country with pharma-cists specially trained in the fertility therapy process.
The location offers fertility education, confidential, in-person consultations and sup-port from specially trained pharmacists.
“The addition of expanded pharmacy education services for the fertility therapy process offers patients a high-touch, person-alized and specialized service from a pharma-cist who can also be an integral part of their care team,” said Tia Vinet, Walgreens health
systems pharmacy manager. “The patient-pharmacist relationship can
be very instrumental in helping to improve medication adherence by helping patients manage their treatment, and feel comfortable working with their pharmacist for informa-tion, advice and support.”
For more information call 713-468-4040 or visit fertility.walgreens.com.
MD Andersontop hospitalfor cancer care
Defender News Services
U.S. News & World Re-port’s annual “Best Hospitals” survey has named the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center the nation’s top hospital for cancer care, a ranking it has held for seven straight years.
In the last 12 years, the insti-tution has ranked No. 1 in cancer care 10 times. Since 1990, when the survey began, it has been listed as one of the top two can-cer hospitals in the nation.
“MD Anderson is honored and humbled to be named the top hospital for cancer care in the nation by [the] survey,” said Ronald A. DePinho, M.D., presi-dent of the institution.
“This is a recognition that MD Anderson will never take for granted. We will earn – and represent – this honor every day through our extraordinary care, compassion, innovation and ser-vice and most of all, by putting patients first.”
MD Anderson is one of the largest cancer centers in the world, and last year served more than 115,000 people, nearly one-third of them new patients.
Many come to the institu-tion seeking the latest therapies, diagnostics, surgical techniques and prevention strategies. About 8,500 patients were registered on clinical trials exploring new treatments last year, making it home to the largest clinical trials program for cancer in the nation.
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Yemi Epebinu, Lola Olagunju and Bunmi Joseph Dr. Elizabeth Olufuwa and Matthins Olufuwa Afua Awuah-Okyere and Dr. Mo Enigbohan
Cathy Torregano and Kathy Payton Betty Smith and joyce Bethany Dr. Peggy Ingram and Sandra Bell
Ardie Segars and Algenita Scott Davis Cora and Judson Robinson III and Sheila Fry Esther Fasanmi and Samuel Ubanyionwu
ACCOMPLISHMENTS CELEBRATED…..Algenita Scott Davis has left the non-profit arena of Houston Habitat for Humanity; however, she leaves a list of accomplishments. She joined the organization during an influx of applications and funding issues following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Her exper-tise in non-profit operations, affordable housing programs and construction requirements, along with her commitment of providing decent housing for all area residents regardless of income was a perfect fit. During her seven years of service to Houston Habitat, the organization built 350 new, affordable homes available to qualifying, low-income families; she presided over the development and construc-tion of Houston Habitat subdivisions Umland Park, Milby Park, and Harrell Park; led the organization to purchase a 117-acre tract of land in northeast
Houston that will eventually serve 350 families, and positioned the organization to participate in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Neighborhood Stabilization Program and
so much more. A celebration was held at the Texas De Brazil Res-taurant and attended by Algenita’s husband Ardie Segars, Bill Wong, Martin Kaplan, Willie Miles, Bronwyn Walker, Trish Sanders, Michael Halpin and Akua Fayette, to name a few. Continued suc-cess!.....AFRICAN STUDENTS
CELEBRATE…..The African Pharmacy Students Association (APSA), an organization of pharmacy students at Texas Southern University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, hosted their an-nual awards gala recently. This event helps raise money which is used to provide financial assistance to qualifying professional pharmacy students of Continental African origin through academic, need-
based and discretionary scholarships. It is also an evening to relax and enjoy the different parts of the African culture, ranging from dance to music, food and fashion. Bendrix Tubu served as master of ceremonies for the program, which consisted of a video presentation of the student activities and the playing of the national anthems from several Afri-can countries. Those receiving awards for excellent exhibition of leadership skills in the advancement of the organization included Samuel Ubanyionwu, Esther Fasanmi, Emmanuel Amedzovi, Ahouti Avi and Abiola Albi. Award-winners for exhibit-ing outstanding service to the organization included Osita Okafo, Emmanuel Odinigwe, Erika Taboh, Vincent Aziza, Pamela Chukwuleta, Krystal Akor and Christiane Koffi, to name a few. We salute the organization’s president Afua Awuah-Okyere, TSU faculty advisor Dr. Mo Enigbohan and gala committee chair Oluwaseyi Fasiku. Con-gratulation! From Chag’s Place to your place, have a blessed week!
