Jerry Bembry
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Senior writer ESPN's @Andscape. Director (Eight on Eight // On & Coppin both streaming on ESPN+). Proud dad of an Oscar winning/Emmy nominated producer.
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Articles by Jerry Bembry
Washington RB, NFL draft prospect Jonah Coleman sees endurance in his father
It’s said a bullet doesn’t have a name. But as 6-year-old Jonah Coleman and his friends played outside a Stockton, Calif., apartment complex more than 15 years ago, the gunshots that halted their fun that day had an intended target: Coleman’s dad, Jamon Coleman. “You hear shots, and the instinct is to run — to protect yourself,” Jonah Coleman, now 22, recalls of that day. “Then I see my dad. He’s bleeding everywhere.
Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg puts health on the line for national championship
INDIANAPOLIS — As the song “One Shining Moment” began to fill Lucas Oil Stadium, Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg tried his best to maintain focus while answering the rapid-fire questions coming from the reporters surrounding him. But Lendeborg abruptly stopped speaking as the video reached its concluding sequence, which began with the NCAA tournament title game opening tip and ended with the Wolverines on the podium.
At Final Four, Michigan Fab Five celebrates ‘a great night,’ for the Wolverines, friendship
INDIANAPOLIS — As the celebration by Michigan players moved from the playing floor to the locker room following their dominating win over Arizona, a postgame gathering was picking up steam among the south baseline. Jalen Rose leaned over a railing to pose for selfies, Juwan Howard high-fived everyone who raised a hand, and Chris Webber obliged each handshake, photo op and autograph request.
Michigan guard Nimari Burnett is more than prepared for Final Four spotlight
INDIANAPOLIS — For Michigan senior guard Nimari Burnett, it was a moment inspired by “The Decision,” the 2010 announcement that LeBron James was joining the Miami Heat. Burnett sat at a table in front of a large group — family, friends, videographers and photographers — to announce where he would be attending school. “It’s been a long thought process,” Burnett said, grabbing the microphone in front of him.
For Jason Crowe Jr., it was always Inglewood
Jason Crowe Sr. really didn’t know what to expect when he noticed a gang member approaching him in South Los Angeles during the global pandemic. Crowe was on an outdoor court preparing his youth basketball team — including his 12-year-old son Jason Crowe Jr. — for practice. He’d seen the guy before, among the group of people that gathered — socially distanced, of course — each Tuesday to watch the Inglewood kids play. But the two had never spoken … until this moment.
UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. elevates his game en route to Final Four
WASHINGTON — As the UConn Huskies stepped onto the podium Sunday night to be honored as the NCAA East Regional champions, it was fitting that senior Tarris Reed Jr. was the first player to put hands on the trophy. Though the 6-foot-10 center wasn’t even on the floor when the game was won, he was the UConn player who had perhaps the greatest impact on the outcome.
Black coaches to watch in the 2026 NCAA men’s tournament
At the time Rod Strickland was hired as the head coach at Long Island University in 2022, the goal of the New York City basketball legend was to change the culture at a program that appeared to be in a struggle to stay relevant. “Raise the bar, change the environment and help the culture develop and grow,” said Strickland, who was entering his first head coaching experience. “I’m not in a rush. Our time is coming.
Viral Texas basketball state tournament game-winning shot changes Tyler Hastings’ life
On a routine day, North Crowley backup guard Tyler Hastings would park his car in the student lot at the Fort Worth, Texas, high school, enter the building and walk to class virtually unrecognized. But when a car rolled up beside him as he walked toward the school’s front entrance on Wednesday, the North Crowley senior discovered his day would be far from normal. “What’s up No. 15,” the guy in the car said, extending his arm for a fist bump.
Viral Texas basketball state tournament game-winning shot changes Tyler Hastings’ life
5 hours ago One good use of AI: helping people with permanent voice loss all over the world. At SXSW, the AI audio company ElevenLabs partnered with Rebecca Gayheart Dane, the wife of the late actor Eric Dane, to promote a new initiative that will provide free AI voice restoration to 1 million people with …
FAMU’s Kirk Dawkins is a viral track sensation and HBCU inspiration
As Florida A&M middle distance runner Kirk Dawkins walked into the school cafeteria recently, he was pulled aside by someone who thought he looked familiar. “Are you the guy from the video?” Dawkins recalled being asked. While later settling in at class, Dawkins was shocked when a professor referenced him going viral. “Had a whole conversation about it,” Dawkins said.
FAMU’s Kirk Dawkins is a viral track sensation and HBCU inspiration
7 hours ago When I was laid off in July 2025, I was let go in the worst job market since the Great Recession. I applied for jobs I wanted and jobs I didn’t. I remixed and rewrote my résumé and cover letter almost weekly. I was immensely grateful that I have no dependents and no debt. The more time that passes …
Martin Luther King Jr., Arthur Ashe partners in spirit via community service collaboration
Arthur Ashe’s voice as an activist wasn’t initially trumpeted as loudly as the likes of Jim Brown, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Muhammad Ali. But Ashe’s work was seen and acknowledged in a letter sent to the tennis star by the biggest voice in the movement. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “I would like to express my personal appreciation for your expression of support and solidarity in the fight for justice, freedom and dignity for all people in this country,” Dr. King wrote.
Fred Perpall's historic USGA presidency coming to a close
For Fred Perpall, it’s fitting that his last championship as president of the United States Golf Association (USGA) would have him greeting the winner of last month’s Latin America Amateur Championship in Peru. As the first Black man to hold one of the most important leadership positions in golf, seeing Perpall at the Lima Golf Club acknowledging the winner, Mateo Pulcini, represented much of what the outgoing USGA president stood for: increasing diversity.
Vanderbilt MLK Civil Rights Tour an important tradition for student-athletes, administrators
Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Lee vividly recalls the day predecessor David Williams returning to his office flustered after meeting with a student-athlete. The cause of his frustration: the student-athlete wondering why a day honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a big deal. “I don’t think the student was being disrespectful,” Lee recalls Williams telling her. “But David was frustrated.
USA Hockey pioneer Laila Edwards reveals her top 5 Olympic athletes
It’s been a dream for Laila Edwards since she was 6 years old, watching women’s hockey in the Winter Olympics and dreaming she could one day wear the Team USA jersey. “You dream it, you work towards it,” said Edwards, who will turn 22 this month. “But as you dream it, you’re not exactly sure that day will come.” That day came for Edwards on Jan. 1, when the University of Wisconsin senior made history as the first Black woman to be named to Team USA’s Olympic hockey team.
Virginia Union RB Curtis Allen a worthy candidate as Division II's top player
As the head coach of the leading rusher in NCAA Division II football, Virginia Union’s Alvin Parker admits to his bias leading up to Friday’s announcement of the Harlon Hill Award. But Parker’s partisanship aside, when he looks at what the trophy stands for there’s no doubt his guy — Curtis Allen — should be named the winner. “It’s for the best player in Division II football,” Parker said this week. “The numbers he delivered on a weekly basis this season, he made the case.
Pro basketball player Jarred Shaw sentenced in Indonesia
Seven months after his arrest for possession of THC-infused gummies in Indonesia, longtime international basketball player Jarred Shaw was sentenced Tuesday to 26 months in prison for drug possession. Shaw, 35, an Indonesia Basketball League (IBL) All-Star the season before his arrest, must serve the remainder of his sentence in a country known for prisons plagued by corruption and overcrowding.
Pro basketball player Jarred Shaw sentenced in Indonesia
7 hours ago By day, Harold Wayne Nichols appeared to be a loving husband who was adored by his wife. By night, he was a serial predator who attacked women at their most vulnerable and raped them. Tennessee is set to execute a serial rapist, dubbed the "red-headed stranger," for the brutal murder of one of his …
Virginia Union's Curtis Allen is college football’s top rusher. Can that translate to playing on Sundays?
While playing a supporting role for three seasons to the greatest running back in Virginia Union football history, Curtis Allen felt it best to stay in his lane. This season, he finally stepped into the lead role for the Panthers. In a game on Nov. 1 against Bluefield State (W.Va.), Allen’s team was ahead by 41 points, and he was just 16 yards shy of 300 for the game when he was told he was being pulled at the start of the fourth quarter.
Virginia Union’s Curtis Allen is college football’s top rusher. Can that translate to playing on Sundays?
James Franklin's new contract with Virginia Tech will net the former Penn State coach at least $41.75 million over the next five years, according to …
How a joke between a father and son led to them becoming college football teammates
While watching his Compton College defensive teammates experience difficulty holding the line in the third quarter of a home football game last month against LA Southwest College, wide receiver Lamar Willis approached the coaching staff and offered his services. “Yes, go in,” he recalled the coach telling him. “We need someone at defensive end.” With that blessing, Willis entered the fray, jogging alongside starting defensive back Josiah Willis.
Professional hooper Jarred Shaw made a mistake in Indonesia. He's paying with his freedom.
For Jarred Shaw, a longtime international basketball player, May 7 was turning out to be a day to remember. In his first season with the Tangerang Hawks, Shaw was facing his former team, Satria Muda, whichhe had led to the 2024 Indonesian Basketball League finals. Shaw’s play in that home victory was spectacular: 28 points (he made all 10 of his shots) and 12 rebounds.
Professional hooper Jarred Shaw made a mistake in Indonesia. He’s paying with his freedom.
“What’s the Age Limit Now? Is It 30?”: $13 Million Worth Tom Izzo Slams NCAA After Louisville’s Latest Signing Tom Izzo is one of the most respected figures in college basketball. In his 48-year career as a coach, Izzo has amassed an impressive record of …
Felix Auger-Aliassime gets ‘deserved’ return to US Open semifinals
NEW YORK — In advance of his wedding that’s scheduled in two weeks, Felix Auger-Aliassime scheduled his suit fitting for Monday — the day after the US Open men’s final. His possible appearance in Sunday’s final might mean a change in plans. “The fitting, we’ll see,” Auger-Aliassime said after Wednesday’s quarterfinal win over No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur. “I haven’t thought about it much yet, but obviously we’re probably going to have to postpone it.
Naomi Osaka is back to shining on the US Open stage
NEW YORK — There have been times recently in Naomi Osaka’s career where she appeared unhappy. But even in those moments — the fall in the rankings, the depression, the struggles in her return from having a baby — she never thought about walking away. “I’ve been playing this sport since I was three,” Osaka said Sunday. “I tell people it’s like breathing air to me.
For Taylor Townsend, this US Open feels ‘completely different’
NEW YORK — To understand just how recognizable Taylor Townsend has become while advancing to Week 2 of the US Open for just the second time in her career, you need to look no further than a post over the summer on her Instagram page. There’s Townsend on the clip walking the grounds of the All England Club, asking people: “Does anybody know who Taylor Townsend Is?” Many had no clue. “A little bit of an ego hit,” Townsend said at the end of the video.
How Frances Tiafoe is paying it forward, inspiring others
NEW YORK — As Frances Tiafoe settles in for his third-round match at the US Open on Friday, Russell Lokko will do all he can — school schedule permitting — to find a television on the campus of the University of Louisville to watch. “I always looked up to him growing up,” Lokko said of Tiafoe this week. “The connection I have to him is special.” Tiafoe has that way about him.
US Open ‘breathtaking’ for Florida A&M Marching 100, HBCU alums
NEW YORK — When Dr. Shelby Chipman received the call inviting the Florida A&M Marching 100 to perform at the US Open’s HBCU Live, his affirmative response was immediate. “We have a busy schedule, but coming here is amazing,” said Chipman, who has been the band director at his alma mater since 2016.
Taylor Townsend-Jelena Ostapenko US Open argument deeper than tennis’ unwritten rules
Listen to this story Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player… NEW YORK — It’s a post-match disagreement at the US Open that seems to have stemmed from the lack of an apology. That much appears clear. But the allegations from Taylor Townsend that, after her 7-5, 6-1 second-round win Wednesday, Jelena Ostapenko told her she had “no education, no class,” seems more like what Althea Gibson might have faced from an opponent when she broke the color barrier in major tennis in 1950.
At US Open, Naomi Osaka makes a statement on and off the court
NEW YORK — She’s the only women’s player to win multiple US Open titles over the past decade, yet that last title here in 2020 seems like a lifetime ago. It’s probably why the upper stands at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday were half empty for most of her opening-round match. For the fans, it’s all about “what have you done for me lately.” And Osaka made a statement with her fashion and her play in her opening US Open match with a straight-set win over Greet Minnen 6-3, 6-4.
At US Open, Venus Williams gives no indication she’s ready to walk away
NEW YORK — In the moments after giving the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium quite the thrill, Venus Williams walked toward the tunnel to the roar of the crowd. For Williams, it was a slow stroll toward the exit, turning while waving her left hand toward a cheering crowd that desperately and unsuccessfully tried to will the 45-year-old to victory in a match where she briefly put a scare into one of the best players in the world, Karolina Muchova.
2025 US Open a celebration of Althea Gibson
On the day Althea Gibson made her U.S. National Championships debut in 1950 — breaking the color barrier in what’s now the US Open— she had Louise Brough, the world’s second-best player, on the ropes. But with Gibson leading in the final set (7-6), a thunderstorm, accompanied by a bolt of lightning that hit the top of the West Side Tennis Center in Forest Hills, postponed the match until the next day.
One stroke kept Tim O’Neal from PGA Tour. Decades later, HBCU grad finds home on pro tour for seniors
For good reason, PGA Tour Champions golfer Tim O’Neal would be remiss to admit he was “living in the moment” while hitting the biggest shot of his life in last year’s Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Richmond, Virginia. O’Neal admits he didn’t have a full grasp of “the moment” he was in. “I never looked at the leaderboard, and the leaders going into the [final] day were playing behind me,” O’Neal said.
Rucker Park becomes a stage in ‘Bounce: The Basketball Opera’
Jerry Coston will never forget the jitters and anxiety playing his first game at Holcombe Rucker Park — which in New York, and beyond, stands as the Mecca for outdoor basketball. “My first bucket was a corner 3 and the crowd went crazy,” Coston, who grew up in the Bronx, said of that game two years ago.
Coco Gauff inspired by rap song, serves up French Open victory
Addressing the Roland-Garros fans after her 2025 French Open win — the first American to win the tournament since Serena Williams did it in 2015 — Coco Gauff made a confession: “I didn’t think I would do it,” she said.
Malcolm Stewart documents ‘awesome journey’ in ‘Stewart 27’
As his older brother ascended to legendary status in motocross racing, Malcolm Stewart enjoyed his life as a normal kid and really didn’t see himself making a living racing motorcycles. Until he had a pivotal talk with his dad, James Stewart Sr., who bluntly laid out the direction for his son’s life. “My dad told me, ‘If you don’t get out your ass out there and race a motorcycle, you’re going to be working an eight to five,” Stewart said.
Florida guard Will Richard gets satisfying ending to collegiate career in title win
SAN ANTONIO — In the moment the Florida Gators stepped to the Alamadome podium for their coronation, it was Will Richard who held the national championship in his arms and rocked it like a baby. As members of the team filed into the media room for the postgame press conference, it was Richard who walked the hardware into the room and delicately centered it on the dais.
Houston is one step closer to shedding an unwanted label
SAN ANTONIO — In the aftermath of Houston’s improbable semifinal win over Duke on Saturday, something even more plausible occurred: Hakeem Olajuwon was prevented from joining the on-court postgame celebration. Was the security guard simply doing his job? Or did he fail to recognize basketball royalty, the greatest player in the history of Houston basketball?
For Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson, return to Final Four a reward for players, program
SAN ANTONIO — It’s not common to feel cheated taking a team to the Final Four, but that’s exactly how Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson felt in 2021 when the Cougars earned a trip to championship weekend in the midst of a global pandemic. “We had to stand in line to get tested before every time we went outside the building to come in,” Sampson said of the 2021 tournament, which had all 68 teams playing in Indiana.
Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford the ‘total package’ even as a freshman
SAN ANTONIO — When asked what it was like coaching against Auburn freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford in high school, Roselle Catholic (N.J.) head coach Todd Decker offers a quick heaping of praise: “His heart, quickness, and ability to shoot the ball — he’s the total package.” When asked if there was a game he saw all of those attributes on display, Decker — his mood changing — goes briefly silent. “I’d rather talk about anything else in my life,” said Decker, his voice on the phone growing softer.
Auburn center Dylan Cardwell has patience rewarded with trip to Final Four
ATLANTA — As he began his climb up the ladder for his turn to cut the nets, Auburn center Dylan Cardwell came to a sudden stop.
Michigan State forward Coen Carr making ‘big-time plays’ in home state
ATLANTA — There was a stir in the crowd near the Michigan bench midway through the first half of Friday’s Sweet 16 game against Auburn, but the mild disturbance wasn’t game-related. The cause? Michigan State forward Coen Carr, still in full uniform, made a surprise entrance in the crowd an hour after his Spartans beat Ole Miss in his first career start.
Finding a broken team, Vanessa Blair-Lewis dared George Mason to dream big
FAIRFAX, Va. — It was a center court gathering during that practice in 2021 that was routine: a quick message from the coach before the George Mason women’s basketball team took the floor. What followed after the huddle broke was not customary. Vanessa Blair-Lewis, the new coach, led her players to the gym’s northeast corner and directed their attention to an item covered in black awning — just left of the men’s 2006 Final Four banner —that had mysteriously appeared days earlier.
Leonard Hamilton leaving Florida State, college basketball with sense of purpose
As Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton enters the final stretch of a coaching career that spans six decades, he recalls how that lengthy career almost never happened. Hamilton remembered the start of his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Austin Peay in 1971, quickly transitioning into an assistant coach’s spot in a matter of months.
Five things to know about Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini
Following a thrilling semifinal win that puts her into a second straight Grand Slam final, an exuberant Jasmine Paolini explained to the adoring crowd that filled the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club “this last month has been crazy for me.” Paolini, an Italian with Ghanaian roots, who will be playing in her second Grand Slam final on Saturday despite having never gotten past the second round of a major tournament before her surprising run to the final of the French Open in June.
Willie Mack’s U.S. Open debut the prize for a long pro golf career
Willie Mack III’s career journey to this week’s U.S. Open Championship, his first major since turning pro in 2011, at times had hotel pit stops in the small towns he played. Some of those small-town hotels might have been quite nice. But Mack never knew. That’s because instead of relaxing in hotel rooms, Mack was living in hotel parking lots, camping out in the tight back seat of his 2013 Ford Mustang. Tinted windows mostly kept others from discovering his predicament.
La inspiradora Lexie Brown: regresó a Sparks tras diagnóstico aterrador
Phoenix Mercury logra vencer 87-68 a Los Angeles Sparks con una gran noche de Diana Taurasi Diana Taurasi acertó 7 de 9 desde el rango de 3 puntos y terminó con 31 puntos, el máximo de la temporada, para ayudar a Phoenix a vencer a Los Angeles Sparks 87-68 y romper la racha de cuatro derrotas de las Mercury. Una enfermedad incurable tumbó a Lexie Brown, pero la veterana se puso de pie y ha regresado a las canchas de la WNBA.
Lexie Brown makes inspiring return to Los Angeles Sparks after Crohn’s disease diagnosis
In the midst of posting some of the best stats of her professional career this season, Los Angeles Sparks guard Lexie Brown can’t help but think back to one of her lowest moments that followed her injury-shortened 2023 season. “I was in the weight room and I could barely lift a 15-pound dumbbell to do a full split squat,” Brown recalled. “I had lost a lot of weight and when I looked at myself in the mirror I was kind of unrecognizable.
The new participants in youth sports: Adults gone wild
It’s a community park that Shaquille Latimore had long considered safe, but as the youth football coach navigates the patchy green grass separating the field and the parking lot, his body begins to shake. “Anxiety, man, it’s like going crazy,” Latimore said during that visit to Sherman Park in St. Louis in November 2023. “The last time I was here, I almost lost my life.” That last time, Oct.
UConn guard Stephon Castle’s humility leads to ‘perfect situation’
GLENDALE, Ariz. — As UConn guard Stephon Castle and his teammates stepped down from the podium where the team was presented its national championship trophy, they stepped through a passageway of players representing the school’s glorious past. As Castle neared the end of that group of assembled players — including Rudy Gay, Emeka Okafor and Ray Allen — he was embraced by Richard Hamilton, who was a member of the 1999 team that won the national title.
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