Sports Archives - The Truth Seekers Journal

The Road to Los Angeles: How Soul Country Music Star Is Showcasing the Next Generation of Black Country Artists

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | July 26, 2026

The stage in Atlanta will introduce only one new regional champion, but the story of Soul Country Music Star stretches far beyond a single performance or a single city.

Across the country, artists are stepping onto stages with different voices, different life experiences, and different reasons for making music. Some are seasoned performers. Others are chasing opportunities they have spent years praying for. All share a belief that country music has room for stories that have too often gone unheard.

Three artists have already secured their places in the Soul Country Music Star Finals, scheduled for October 31 in Los Angeles. Brenda Guy earned her victory in the Fort Worth-Dallas Regional. Silas Reed captured the Memphis Regional title. Glenn Stanton advanced by winning the Los Angeles Regional. Their journeys through the competition are complete, at least for now, as they wait for the remaining regional champions to join them on the national stage.

The spotlight now turns to Atlanta.

On August 1, at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, five artists will compete for the chance to become the next regional champion and earn a coveted spot in the Los Angeles finals and Festival. The competition is part of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo’s Soul Country Rodeo Experience.

OG NARD, Angela Roundtree, Da’Rell Sims Jr., Reggie Stacy, and Jacqueline Merrill each bring distinct musical styles, backgrounds, and aspirations. Yet, after speaking with each of them, one thing became remarkably clear.

This competition is about far more than selecting the next winner.

It is about discovering artists who are redefining what Soul country music can be.

Some draw from gospel traditions that first shaped their voices in church pews. Others blend country with Southern soul, hip-hop, Americana, or contemporary storytelling. Some speak openly about grief, redemption, and perseverance. Others see music as a bridge connecting generations, cultures, and communities.

Together, they represent a movement that is steadily expanding both the sound and the story of country music.

As the road to Los Angeles continues, The Truth Seekers Journal spoke with three regional winners from Memphis, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Los Angeles who have already secured their places in the finals, as well as the five Atlanta regional contestants preparing for their opportunity. Their conversations reveal not only why they sing, but also what they hope their music will leave behind long after the final note fades.

More than a competition, Soul Country Music Star has become a window into the next generation of Black Soul Country artists, each carrying a unique story to the stage.

More Than a Singing Competition

For more than four decades, the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) has celebrated the often overlooked history and legacy of Black cowboys and cowgirls, preserving a chapter of the American West that many people never learned in school. Alongside the excitement of rodeo competition, the organization has steadily expanded its cultural programming to showcase the music, traditions, and creative voices that have long been part of that heritage.

One of its newest and fastest growing programs is Soul Country Music Star.

Far more than a traditional talent competition, Soul Country Music Star provides emerging performers with a national platform to showcase their artistry before live audiences while introducing new voices to one of America’s oldest musical traditions. Regional competitions are held across the country, with each winner advancing to the national finals and festival, where one artist will ultimately earn the title of Soul Country Music Star, a $10,000 cash prize and a chance to tour with the BPIR in 2027.

This year’s journey has already produced regional winners in Memphis, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Los Angeles. Atlanta will select its finalist on August 1, followed by the final regional competition on September 19 at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The four out of state regional winners will then travel to Los Angeles for the Soul Country Music Festival & National Finals, taking place October 31 and November 1 at the Autry Museum of the American West in Griffith Park.

The competition is also helping reshape public perceptions of country music.

For generations, Black artists have played a foundational role in the evolution of country music, from its earliest influences rooted in gospel, blues, and folk traditions to today’s expanding blend of Southern Soul, Americana, and contemporary country. Yet many of those contributions have remained underrecognized.

The artists participating in Soul Country Music Star are helping change that narrative.

Some arrive with decades of performing experience. Others are taking their first major step onto a national stage. Their musical styles differ widely, but each brings an authentic perspective shaped by family, faith, hardship, perseverance, and community.

After speaking individually with the three regional winners, and the five Atlanta Regional contestants, one theme surfaced again and again.

None of them spoke first about winning.

Instead, they spoke about purpose.

For some, music became a way to preserve family traditions. For others, it offered healing after personal loss, redemption after difficult seasons, or the freedom to express themselves without being confined by expectations. Nearly every conversation returned to faith, perseverance, and the belief that music could touch lives beyond the stage.

That may be the competition’s greatest achievement.

Before judges score a single performance, audiences are introduced to artists whose stories are every bit as compelling as the songs they perform.

The Road Already Traveled

Long before the Atlanta Regional contestants step onto the stage, three artists have already secured their places in the Soul Country Music Star Finals. Their victories came hundreds of miles apart, in different cities and before different audiences, yet their stories reveal that there is no single path to success.

Brenda Guy earned top honors in the Fort Worth-Dallas Regional by doing what she has always believed music should do: bring people together.

Her performances are rooted in connection. Whether singing before longtime country music fans or audiences experiencing Soul Country for the first time, Guy believes every performance should create a relationship between the artist and the listener. That ability to connect has become one of her greatest strengths and helped carry her to a regional championship.

In Memphis, Silas Reed took a different road.

A musician, educator, and student of Black musical history, Reed views every performance as an opportunity to preserve a legacy that stretches across generations. His appreciation for country music is grounded in research, faith, and a deep understanding of the Black artists whose influence helped shape the genre long before many of them received recognition. Rather than simply entertaining audiences, Reed hopes every performance encourages listeners to better understand the music’s history while inspiring the next generation of artists to carry that tradition forward.

Thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, Glenn Stanton emerged from a very talented pool of Soul Country artists at the California Regional with yet another perspective.

An actor, Americana artist, and storyteller, Stanton speaks openly about music as a source of healing. His songs often reflect life’s difficult seasons, reconciliation, and hope. Rather than separating country music from personal experience, Stanton embraces both, believing that authentic storytelling has the power to comfort people who may be carrying struggles of their own.

Although their musical styles differ, Guy, Reed, and Stanton share something larger than a regional title.

*“Promotional Artwork Courtesy of Soul Country Music Star”*

Each views music as a calling rather than simply a career.

Each spoke about faith, purpose, and service before discussing trophies or recognition.

And each now waits for October 31, when regional champions from across the country will gather in California to compete for the Soul Country Music Star national title.

Their journeys have reached the next chapter.

Atlanta’s is just beginning.

A New Stage. Five New Dreams.

When the Soul Country Music Star competition arrives in Atlanta on August 1, five artists will step onto the stage carrying very different stories, but sharing one common goal: to become the next regional champion and earn a place alongside Brenda Guy, Silas Reed, Glenn Stanton, and the other regional winners awaiting the national finals in California.

For some, the competition represents the culmination of decades spent performing before live audiences. For others, it is an opportunity to introduce audiences to a new sound or to share deeply personal stories through music. Together, they represent a cross-section of today’s Black country music landscape, where gospel harmonies, Southern Soul, Americana, traditional country, and contemporary influences exist side by side.

Their names are Bernard Stephens aka OG NARD, Angela Roundtree, Da’Rell Sims Jr., Reggie Stacy, and Jacqueline Merrill.

Over the course of several conversations with The Truth Seekers Journal, each answered the same basic questions about music, inspiration, and purpose.

None gave the same answers.

And that may be what makes this year’s Atlanta Regional one of the most compelling stops on the Road to Los Angeles.

Five Artists. Five Different Dreams.

By the time the Soul Country Music Star competition reaches Atlanta on August 1, the judges will already know what a regional champion looks like.

What they will not know is whose story will emerge next.

The five artists preparing to compete in Atlanta come from different backgrounds, different musical traditions, and different walks of life. Some have spent years performing before live audiences. Others have built loyal followings while waiting for an opportunity to introduce themselves to a larger stage.

What unites them is not a common sound.

It is a common belief that country music still has room for voices that reflect their own experiences.

OG Nard (Bernard Stephens): A Story of Redemption

For OG Nard (Bernard Stephens), music represents something larger than entertainment.

It represents another chance.

The Atlanta artist openly acknowledges that life has included difficult chapters, but he refuses to allow those experiences to define his future. Instead, they have become the foundation of his music and his desire to encourage others facing similar struggles.

OG describes his music as “Trapp Kountry,” a style that blends country storytelling with the sounds and experiences of contemporary urban life. Rather than trying to fit into someone else’s definition of country music, he has created a style that reflects where he comes from, what he has lived through, and people he hopes to reach.

His music carries a message of perseverance.

During our conversation, OG spoke repeatedly about giving back to young people, helping others avoid mistakes he has already made, and using music to demonstrate that redemption remains possible regardless of a person’s past.

For him, the Atlanta Regional is more than another performance.

It is another opportunity to prove that second chances can become new beginnings.

Angela Roundtree: Singing from the Heart

If OG’s music speaks through redemption, Angela Roundtree’s begins with authenticity.

Raised in a family where gospel music was part of everyday life, Roundtree says she has been singing for as long as she can remember. Yet despite her remarkable voice and growing audience, she remains remarkably humble, often describing herself as someone who simply wants listeners to feel what she feels.

Her songwriting rarely begins with commercial trends or radio formats.

Instead, it begins with life.

Sometimes the inspiration arrives while driving alone.

Sometimes it grows from personal experiences that eventually become songs capable of touching complete strangers.

Roundtree admits she has battled self-doubt and even describes herself as someone who occasionally gets in her own way. That honesty may be one of her greatest strengths. Rather than presenting herself as a polished celebrity, she allows audiences to see both her confidence and her vulnerability.

When she steps onto the stage in Atlanta, she is not trying to become someone else.

She is simply trying to be herself.

And for many artists, that may be the hardest performance of all.

Da’Rell Sims Jr.: Building an Atlanta Sound

While some artists spend years trying to fit comfortably inside an established genre, Da’Rell Sims Jr. is focused on creating space for something new.

He calls it Atlanta Country.

Growing up in Atlanta with family roots that stretch into rural Georgia, Sims believes country music should reflect the places and experiences that shaped him. Rather than choosing between country, hip-hop, Southern Soul, or gospel influences, he embraces all of them, creating a sound that reflects the city he calls home.

“I’m the bridge,” he said during our conversation, explaining that his music connects traditions that many people mistakenly view as separate.

For Sims, authenticity matters more than stereotypes.

He has little interest in performing a version of country music that doesn’t feel genuine. His songs are built on real experiences, real people, and real emotions. Whether writing about relationships, everyday life, or personal growth, he believes audiences recognize honesty long before they recognize polish.

That same philosophy extends beyond the stage.

An entrepreneur as well as a musician, Sims thinks about music as part of a larger vision that includes education, branding, film, television, and community impact. He has even developed music designed to help children learn reading, mathematics, history, and life skills, demonstrating that entertainment and education can exist together.

His long-term vision reaches well beyond recording songs.

He wants to build something lasting.

If Atlanta Country becomes part of the national conversation, Sims hopes it will not simply introduce audiences to another musical style. He hopes it will encourage listeners to recognize that country music continues to grow because artists are willing to bring their own communities, cultures, and experiences into the genre.

For Da’Rell Sims Jr., the Atlanta Regional represents more than a competition.

It is an opportunity to introduce audiences to a new way of thinking about country music.

Reggie Stacy: Prepared for the Moment

If Da’Rell Sims Jr. is introducing something new, Reggie Stacy is building upon a foundation that has taken decades to establish.

Long before arriving at the Soul Country Music Star competition, Stacy had already built a reputation as a polished performer. He has appeared in singing competitions across the country, performed the National Anthem at sporting events, entertained audiences in restaurants and live music venues, and earned recognition as both Country Vocalist of the Year and Country Entertainer of the Year at a major competition in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Yet despite those accomplishments, he speaks less about success than preparation.

Every performance begins with prayer.

Every rehearsal is approached with purpose.

Every appearance is treated as an opportunity to represent himself, his band, and his faith with professionalism.

“It’s not on my timing,” he explained while discussing his career. “It’s on God’s time.”

That quiet confidence runs throughout his story.

Rather than measuring progress by trophies alone, Star believes every performance is another step toward the larger stage he has envisioned since childhood. He speaks openly about trusting the process, remaining patient, and continuing to improve while waiting for the next opportunity.

His musical influences reflect that same respect for tradition.

Inspired by artists including Charlie Pride and Chris Stapleton, Stacy embraces the soulful storytelling that has long defined country music while adding his own warmth and vocal style. His original song, Livin Life, celebrates the balance between hard work and enjoying the moments that make life meaningful.

As he prepares for the Atlanta Regional, Stacy is not trying to reinvent country music.

He simply wants to honor it through excellence.

For him, the greatest performance is not measured by applause alone.

It is measured by leaving the stage knowing he gave audiences everything he had.

Jacqueline Merrill: Music Without Boundaries

If there is one artist in the Atlanta Regional who refuses to be confined by labels, it is Jacqueline Merrill.

Singer.

Songwriter.

Rapper.

Performer.

Those titles describe what she does.

They do not fully explain who she is.

Merrill describes herself as an artist who refuses to be placed in a box. During our conversation, she spoke passionately about studying vocal techniques, listening carefully to the phrasing and breathing of legendary performers, and challenging herself to master different musical styles. That curiosity has made her one of the competition’s most versatile performers, comfortable moving between gospel, soul, country, and contemporary music without losing her own identity.

Her introduction to music began in church.

At just five years old, she led her first song in the Church of God in Christ, discovering both her voice and her confidence before a congregation that recognized her gift almost immediately. That early foundation continues to shape every performance today.

Faith remains at the center of everything she does.

Throughout our conversation, Merrill repeatedly described moments in her life that she believes were guided by God, from opportunities that appeared unexpectedly to doors that opened at precisely the right time. She views the Soul Country Music Star competition not as coincidence, but as confirmation that she is walking the path prepared for her.

For Merrill, Soul Country represents freedom.

Freedom to sing.

Freedom to rap.

Freedom to tell stories.

Freedom to express herself without allowing traditional genre boundaries to define her artistry.

She believes audiences should leave every performance feeling something.

Sometimes that feeling is joy.

Sometimes it is laughter.

Sometimes it is reflection.

The emotion matters less than the connection.

“If I made you feel something,” she said, “then I’ve done my job.”

That perspective has been shaped by life’s deepest challenges.

Merrill spoke openly about personal loss, health struggles, and the responsibilities of motherhood. Rather than allowing those experiences to silence her, she has transformed them into purpose. Her children remain her greatest motivation, inspiring her to keep moving forward and demonstrating through her own life that perseverance can outlast disappointment.

As she prepares for the Atlanta Regional, Merrill carries more than songs to the stage.

She carries a testimony.

One built on faith, resilience, and the belief that music has the power to change lives.

More Than Eight Voices

After conversations with three regional winners and five Atlanta Regional contestants, one conclusion became impossible to ignore.

No two artists described country music in exactly the same way.

Brenda Guy spoke about creating connections.

Silas Reed viewed every performance as an opportunity to preserve history.

Glenn Stanton found healing through storytelling.

OG embraced redemption through what he proudly calls Trapp Kountry.

Angela Roundtree sang with disarming honesty and vulnerability.

Da’Rell Sims Jr. envisioned a future shaped by Atlanta Country.

Reggie Stacy built his career on preparation, professionalism, and faith.

Jacqueline Merrill celebrated artistic freedom without boundaries.

Their musical styles differ.

Their life experiences differ.

Even their reasons for standing on stage differ.

Yet every conversation returned to the same foundation.

Family.

Faith.

Perseverance.

Purpose.

None of the artists spoke first about trophies, prize money, or recognition.

Instead, they spoke about making meaningful music, encouraging others, honoring those who came before them, and leaving audiences better than they found them.

Perhaps that is what makes Soul Country Music Star different.

The competition may crown one regional winner in Atlanta.

But before the judges make their decision, audiences will have the opportunity to hear five artists who represent five distinct visions of where Soul country music is headed.

And beyond Atlanta, three regional champions already await them in California, each carrying a different story but sharing the same dream of becoming the next Soul Country Music Star.

The Road Continues

When the lights come up in Atlanta on August 1, one performer will move one step closer to the national title.

But regardless of who advances, the competition is accomplishing something that reaches far beyond a single evening of music.

It is introducing audiences to artists whose stories challenge long-held assumptions about country music while celebrating the Black traditions that helped shape the genre from its earliest beginnings.

The Road to Los Angeles is about more than selecting a champion.

It is about discovering voices that deserve to be heard.

On October 31, another chapter in that journey will be written when regional winners from across the country gather in California for the Soul Country Music Star Finals.

By then, Atlanta will have added another name to that growing list.

Until then, the music continues.

The Road to Los Angeles

Regional Winners

Already qualified for the Soul Country Music Star Finals

Fort Worth-Dallas Regional
Brenda Guy

Memphis Regional
Silas Reed

Los Angeles
Glenn Stanton

Upcoming Regional Competitions

Atlanta, Georgia
August 1, 2026

Washington, DC/Maryland
September 19, 2026
The Show Place Arena
Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Soul Country Music Festival & National Finals

Saturday, October 31, 2026
Los Angeles, California

Sunday, November 1, 2026
12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Autry Museum of the American West
Griffith Park

National Finals & Soul Country Music Festival
October 31-Novemebr 1
California

Eight Conversations. One Discovery.

After speaking individually with each artist, one thing became increasingly clear. Although every conversation began with music, none remained there for long. Discussions quickly turned toward faith, family, perseverance, loss, healing, service, and purpose. The artists differed in style, personality, and performance, but they shared a common belief that music should leave people better than it found them.

That may ultimately become the lasting impression of this year’s Soul Country Music Star competition. While audiences will remember the performances, they may remember the stories behind those performances even more.

The Road to Los Angeles Continues

On August 1, one more artist will earn the right to continue the Road to Los Angeles. But regardless of who advances, every performer who steps onto the Atlanta stage will bring something that cannot be measured by judges’ scores alone: a story shaped by faith, family, perseverance, and a belief that music still has the power to connect people. In the end, that may be Soul Country Music Star’s greatest accomplishment.

Support open, independent journalism. Your contribution helps us tell the stories that matter most.

SHADOW BALL: Learning More About Negro League History

By Ted Knorr | Memphis, TN | July 21, 2026

Last week, I discussed the recent 25^th annual Jerry Malloy Negro League Research Conference that I attended last month. This week I want to introduce readers to the ten Negro League players/managers identified by conference attendees at the conference as the worthiest of induction in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. . It is my strongly held opinion that all ten and more need immediate induction in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown if that organization is to truly fulfill its mission as a 501 c 3 educational non-profit . Here are the top ten candidates according to attendees at this year’s Negro League Research Conference:

10^th Candy Jim Taylor, Manager … Connie Mack (each candidate will feature an existing Hall of Fame comparable): Taylor is number one in Negro League history with 27 years. 2169 games, and 1042 wins (the only Negro League manager with more than 1000 Major League victories); only Vic Harris & Rube Foster won more pennants, and no Negro League manager won more World Series. He also was an all-star caliber player: hitting .295 with 11 HRs and 14 SBs for every 162 games played while achieving batter than average fielding percentage and range as a third baseman. He is listed in the Courier poll as the 7^th best third baseman in Negro League history. “(each candidate will feature a quote from James A. Riley’s Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues) He was with sixteen different teams during a forty-five-year career as player and manager that spanned ~~virtually~~ the entire existence of the Negro Leagues as a Major League.”

8^th tie John Beckwith, 3B …Dick Allen … named to the 1952 Courier 2^nd team as a utility player who played all positions during his career – including catcher and shortstop, while being a top ten masher with the bat … no Negro Leaguer, batting as often as he did. achieved a higher batting average, slugging. OPS, or OPS+ … “The right-handed pull hitter was a powerful and consistent batter whose slugging prowess was extraordinary.” In my opinion, he is the most deserving Negro League player outside of Cooperstown’ plaque room.

8^th tie George Scales, 2B … Rogers Hornsby … Scales slashed .322/.427/.522 with a 149 OPS+ while exhibiting better than average metrics in both fielding percentage and range factor as a second baseman over a 20-year Major League career. “Scales was a versatile fielder who could play third base, first base, shortstop or the outfield, but was at his best at second base.”

7^th Grant Johnson, SS … Luke Appling … “(In 1894) he is credited with 60 home runs and earned his nickname of “Home Rin” at that time.” He was the best “Negro League” shortstop prior to John Henry Lloyd … Baseball historian Gary Ashwill argues, “(Grant Johnson) was the best everyday player in Black baseball from 1895 to 1909.” This opinion is backed up by Seamheads database which shows Johnson’s career WAR (Seamheads.com) at the time of his retirement was exceeded among Negro Leaguers only by Hall of Famer Pete Hill.

5^th tie John Donaldson, Pioneer/P … Rube Foster … (John Donaldson) won his greatest fame in the ‘10s as a star for J.L. Wilkinson’s multiracial All Nations ball club with whom he averaged almost 20 strikeouts per game.” Personally, I consider his overall career when I consider him as a Hall of Famer – entrepreneur, owner, manager, outfielder, pitcher, and Major League scout over a forty year plus career.

5^th tie Newt Allen, 2b … Nellie Fox … “Considered the best second baseman during the 1920s and early 1930s, the wide-ranging, slick-fielding middle infielder had quick hands and was superb on the pivot in turning a double play.” Currently, there is no second baseman from the Negro Leagues in the Hall of Fame … Newt Allen is one of the strongest candidates to represent that position. His playing in two Negro League World Series 18 years apart is one of his more remarkable feats. Although he hit .285 over his twenty-year big-league career, it is his glove that is most worthy of the Hall. Among second baseman only Bingo DeMoss saved more runs with his glove than Allen and no one – not even DeMoss – had better a better range factor than Allen among secondbaseman playing as many games as Allen did.

4^th Dick Lundy, ss … Arky Vaughan, Derek Jeter … “The best shortstop during the 1920s, Lundy bridged the time gap between John Henry Lloyd and Willie Wells.” Lundy’s WAR/162 of 5.85 is the highest among all Negro Leaguers yet to be inducted that played as many games as he did.

3^rd Vic Harris, mgr … Joe McCarthy, Miller Huggins, John McGraw … quite simply there is no Major League manager, appearing in more than 500 games, with a higher winning percentage than 7-time pennant winner Vic Harris.

2^nd Rap Dixon, rf … Roberto Clemente … both Dixon & Clemente wore “21” and had the best arms in their respective era … “A five-point ballplayer who did everything with style, the power-hitting outfielder was one of the better hitters during the 1920s and 1930s.” Dixon cracked 14 consecutive hits in July 1929, stroke four triple in one game in August 1930 – the only Major Leaguer to do so in the 20^th century.

1^st Dick Redding, p … Smokey Joe Williams … Dick Redding is in the top 5 amongst all Negro League pitchers in games, innings (#1), wins, complete games (#2 behind Joe Williams), shutouts, strikeouts, and years pitched. “One of the great pitchers of Black baseball, Dick Redding’s overpowering speed earned the big, tall right hander the nickname “Cannonball Dick …Redding was credited with 30 no-hitters against all levels of opposition.”

One note regarding John Donaldson (tied for 5^th) and the top two finishers – Donaldson & Redding as pitchers and Dixon as an outfielder are the only players named to the Negro League Centennial team at the Negro League Baseball Museum in December 2018 that are not inducted in Cooperstown.

Last Week’s Shadow Ball Significa Question of the Week

When was the last year that any Negro League players were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame? Please identify at least one player inducted that year. No one submitted the correct answer which follows: In 2006, 17 Negro League personages were inducted … of them 12 were players, including Frank Grant who currently is listed by the Hall as an executive. Other players inducted that year were Ray Brown, Willard Brown, Andy Cooper, Pete Hill, Biz Mackey, Jose Mendez, Louis Santop, Mule Suttles, Ben Taylor Cristobal Torriente, and Jud Wison.

This Week’s Shadow Ball Significa Question of the Week

Which former Memphis Red Sox player worked in various roles at the Peabody Hotel after his baseball career ended.?

Send your answer, along with your comments about the Negro Leagues, to shadowball@truthseekersjournal.com or mail them to:

Shadow Ball
3904 N. Druid Hills Road, Suite 179
Decatur, GA 30033

About the Author

Ted Knorr is a respected Negro League baseball historian, a longtime member of SABR’s Negro Leagues Committee, and the founder of the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference. He has also organized numerous Negro League Commemorative Nights throughout central Pennsylvania.

Beyond his research and organizational work, Ted is a sought-after speaker at sporting events, community programs, family gatherings, and educational forums, where he brings Negro League history to life. His deep knowledge of the players, teams, and the cultural significance of Black baseball has made him a trusted voice for audiences seeking to better understand the enduring legacy of the Negro Leagues.

WNBA Makes History as First Professional Sports League to Host Events at Obama Presidential Center

The WNBA will become the first professional sports league to host events at the Obama Presidential Center during 2026 All-Star Weekend, highlighting youth leadership, civic engagement, and community impact.

By Milton Kirby | Chicago, IL | July 9, 2026

The Women’s National Basketball Association will make history later this month as the first professional sports league to host official events at the newly opened Obama Presidential Center, bringing one of basketball’s biggest weekends to one of America’s newest civic institutions.

The announcement, made jointly by the WNBA and The Obama Foundation, places several marquee events from AT&T WNBA All-Star 2026 at the Center’s Home Court athletic facility on Chicago’s South Side. Beyond basketball, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to leadership, education, and community engagement.

For the Obama Presidential Center, it marks another milestone less than a month after opening its doors to the public. For the WNBA, it reinforces a growing emphasis on using the league’s national platform to inspire young people and strengthen communities beyond the game.

A Historic Partnership

“Hosting AT&T WNBA All-Star events at the Obama Presidential Center is a true honor and reflects our commitment to creating connection through basketball and engaging communities in meaningful ways,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.

“We’re excited to bring together the WNBA family and the greater Chicago community to create memorable experiences at this historic new venue.”

Valerie Jarrett, Chief Executive Officer of The Obama Foundation, said the partnership reflects the mission behind the Center.

“We are thrilled to welcome the WNBA as our first professional sports league hosted at the Obama Presidential Center,” Jarrett said. “At the Center, we believe sports have the power to bring people together and create meaningful opportunities to build the next generation of leaders.”

Their comments underscore a common goal shared by both organizations: using sports as a catalyst for leadership, learning, and civic participation.

More Than a Presidential Library

Located on 19.3 acres in historic Jackson Park, the Obama Presidential Center was envisioned by former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as more than a place to preserve history.

Instead of functioning solely as a traditional presidential library, the campus was designed as a living institution where visitors are encouraged to explore public service, civic engagement, leadership, and community action.

Since opening earlier this summer, the Center has hosted educational programs, cultural events, and community gatherings that encourage people of all ages to become active participants in improving their neighborhoods and communities.

The arrival of the WNBA continues that vision by demonstrating how athletics can serve as another pathway to leadership, teamwork, and civic responsibility.

Home Court Becomes Center Stage

Most of the July 24 activities will take place inside Home Court, the Center’s 60,000-square-foot athletic facility.

Designed as a year-round community resource, Home Court includes a WNBA-regulation basketball court along with flexible spaces dedicated to youth programming, wellness initiatives, leadership development, and neighborhood events.

Its design makes it an ideal setting for the league’s expanding focus on community impact beyond competition.

A Full Day of All-Star Activities

The Obama Presidential Center will host several signature events on Friday, July 24.

The day begins with AT&T WNBA All-Star Media Day and Practice, marking the first time an official WNBA All-Star practice will be held at a venue dedicated to civic engagement and youth leadership.

The Center will also host the third annual WNBA Changemaker Day, bringing together the league’s Changemaker partners, including Ally, AT&T, AWS, CarMax, Deloitte, Google, and Nike. The initiative will be presented in collaboration with the Chicago Sky, Chicago Public Schools, and the Girls Opportunity Alliance, an initiative of The Obama Foundation.

Young athletes will also participate in Jr. WNBA Day, a full day of basketball instruction, leadership workshops, STEM activities, vision board creation, and other programming designed to inspire girls through sports, education, and personal development.

Additional details regarding Changemaker Day and other community activations are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Chicago Takes Center Stage

The Obama Presidential Center represents one stop during a weekend that will place Chicago at the center of the basketball world.

The State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest and Kia WNBA Shooting Stars competition will be held Friday evening at Wintrust Arena, home of the Chicago Sky.

The 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game follows on Saturday, July 25, at the United Center.

Together, the events will showcase several of Chicago’s most recognizable venues while bringing thousands of visitors to neighborhoods throughout the city.

Continuing the Obamas’ Vision

The announcement builds upon the Obama Presidential Center’s mission of becoming an active gathering place rather than simply a destination for historical exhibits.

Throughout planning and construction, Barack and Michelle Obama emphasized that the Center would be a place where ordinary people could find inspiration to lead, organize, and strengthen their communities. That philosophy remains evident in the Center’s educational programming, public events, and partnerships.

Welcoming the WNBA as the first professional sports league to host official events on the campus represents another step toward fulfilling that vision.

For the league, the partnership reflects its continued commitment to expanding opportunities for young women while using basketball as a vehicle for education, leadership, and social impact.

For the Obama Presidential Center, it signals that the campus is already emerging as a national destination where sports, culture, education, and civic engagement intersect.

As thousands of fans gather in Chicago for All-Star Weekend, the Center’s first major partnership with a professional sports league may ultimately be remembered not only for the basketball played there, but for the next generation of leaders it seeks to inspire.

Truth Seekers Journal thrives because of readers like you. Join us in sustaining independent voices.

SHADOW BALL: Learning More About Negro League History

By Ted Knorr | Memphis, TN | July 8, 2026

This week’s Shadow Ball focuses on my June 18-20 trip to Memphis for the 26th Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference. Since its founding in 1998, this conference has remained the highlight of my baseball year. This year was no exception. In fact, it was one of the very best.

My Memphis experience began moments after stepping off the Amtrak train on June 18. I chose to walk the mile and a quarter to the conference hotel rather than call a cab or Uber. As anyone who has traveled to Memphis by train knows, one of the first historic landmarks encountered is the National Civil Rights Museum, housed at the former Lorraine Motel, where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.

Lorraine Motel Room 306 Where Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated – Photo by Milton Kirby

Dr. King had traveled to Memphis to support 1,300 Black sanitation workers who were striking after years of dangerous working conditions, poverty-level wages, and the city’s refusal to recognize their union. It was for such a noble cause that he met his death on April 4, 1968, while standing on the Lorraine Motel balcony.

As the familiar façade emerged through the Memphis morning mist, I stopped my walk and sat quietly in prayer for several minutes, reflecting on the events of that tragic day. It was a powerful reminder that history often feels much closer when standing where it happened.

By the time I arrived at the hotel, the conference’s opening session was already underway. The Educational Forum traditionally begins each Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference by bringing together visiting researchers and local educators to discuss ways of integrating the study of the Negro Leagues into K-12 and higher education history curricula. Anyone who teaches or lectures on Negro League history, regardless of the audience, can always find valuable ideas and techniques during these sessions.

After lunch, attendees boarded an inspiring bus tour of several civil rights and baseball sites that echoed the emotions of my morning walk through downtown Memphis. Stops included the Lorraine Motel, Mason Temple, where Dr. King delivered his final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” Martin Stadium, business locations associated with Memphis baseball entrepreneurs, and finally Clayborn Temple, headquarters of the 1968 sanitation workers’ strike and the birthplace of the “I AM A MAN” movement.

The greatest surprise came at Clayborn Temple, where attendees learned that the church’s damaged condition was not simply the result of age. Much of the destruction was caused by a devastating arson fire in March 2025. It served as a sobering reminder that preserving history remains an ongoing responsibility. As Robert Frost wrote, “Miles to go before we sleep.”

Later that afternoon, we watched the outstanding 1996 documentary Black Diamonds Blues City, which beautifully captured the intersection of community, race relations, politics, music, and Negro League baseball in Memphis. Following dinner, conference attendees gathered for a meet-and-greet at the Ernest Withers Photography Museum in the heart of Beale Street. My morning walk, the documentary, and the evening stroll through Beale Street together created a fitting foundation for the next two days of the conference.

Friday featured the centerpiece of every Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference. Nine Negro League researchers presented their latest work during a series of thirty-minute presentations covering subjects that ranged from player biographies and race relations to home run research, ballpark histories, and even poetry.

One of the highlights was a moving panel discussion featuring family members of Negro League greats Frank Duncan Jr., Frank Duncan III, Johnny Wright, and Larry Brown. Their personal stories reminded us that Negro League history is more than statistics and championships. It is also about families preserving the memories of remarkable men whose contributions deserve continued recognition.

After a full day of intellectual stimulation, attendees enjoyed an evening picnic before heading to AutoZone Park to watch the Memphis Redbirds, providing the perfect close to another memorable conference day.

My own contribution this year was a presentation examining Rap Dixon’s season in Japan, along with announcing the results of our annual attendee poll identifying the next ten Negro League players, managers, and pioneers who deserve induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The top ten vote-getters, all of whom have deserved induction for many years, were Cannonball Dick Redding, Rap Dixon, Vic Harris, Dick Lundy, Newt Allen, John Donaldson, Grant Johnson, George Scales, John Beckwith, and Candy Jim Taylor. An additional 36 candidates also received votes.

Inspired by everything we experienced in Memphis, SABR’s Negro League Committee should continue advocating for justice in Cooperstown. Why not begin by inducting these ten deserving players, managers, and pioneers when Negro League candidates become eligible again in December 2027?

The conference concluded Saturday with nine additional research presentations, the always-entertaining baseball Significa contest, and the annual awards banquet.

As I reflect on this year’s conference, I keep returning to the lessons Memphis teaches.

From slavery to the Civil Rights Movement, America’s racial history is on full display throughout the city. Yet Memphis also reminds visitors that the work of preserving history is never complete.

The same can be said of Cooperstown.

Throughout the National Baseball Hall of Fame, visitors find Negro League history woven into exhibits on nearly every floor, in countless displays, and throughout the museum. Yet the Hall of Fame plaque gallery tells a different story. There, 137 players whose Major League careers began during baseball’s segregation era have plaques, while only 28 Negro League players and executives have been inducted over the past two decades.

Just as there remains important work to be done in our society, there is also important work to be done in Cooperstown.

The Hall of Fame has an opportunity to continue correcting baseball’s historical record. It should begin by seriously considering the recommendation that emerged from this year’s conference and electing Redding, Dixon, Harris, Lundy, Allen, Donaldson, Johnson, Scales, Beckwith, and Taylor when Negro League candidates are next considered in December 2027.

Last Week’s Shadow Ball Significa Question of the Week

What Negro League pennant-winning team played its home games at Dick Kent’s Ballyard?

The answer is the St. Louis Stars, who won the Negro National League pennants in 1928, 1930, and 1931 while playing their home games at Stars Park, also known as Dick Kent’s Ballyard.

No one submitted the correct answer.

This Week’s Shadow Ball Significa Question of the Week

When was the last year that any Negro League players were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame? Please identify at least one player inducted that year.

Send your answer, along with your comments about the Negro Leagues, to shadowball@truthseekersjournal.com or mail them to:

Shadow Ball
3904 N. Druid Hills Road, Suite 179
Decatur, GA 30033

About the Author

Please consider supporting open, independent journalism, no contribution is too small!

Dream Fall to Valkyries Despite Strong Individual Performances

Allisha Gray scored 22 points and Angel Reese posted her 14th double-double, but the Atlanta Dream fell 88-83 to the Golden State Valkyries on July 4.

Gray Scores 22, Reese Records 14th Double-Double as Atlanta Drops Season Series

By Milton Kirby | College Park, GA | July 4, 2026

The Atlanta Dream battled until the final buzzer Saturday afternoon but came up just short, falling 88-83 to the Golden State Valkyries at Gateway Center Arena @ College Park.

The loss completed a season sweep for the expansion Valkyries, who improved to 4-2 all-time against Atlanta. The Dream dropped to 2-4 in the series despite another strong afternoon from Allisha Gray, Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard.

Atlanta also unveiled a new starting lineup featuring Jordin Canada, Gray, Howard, Isobel Borlase and Reese. The game marked the first WNBA career start for Borlase as Head Coach Karl Smesko continued evaluating new lineup combinations entering the second half of the season.

Turning Point

The Dream stayed within striking distance throughout much of the afternoon, but Golden State delivered the game’s biggest plays in the closing minutes. Every time Atlanta threatened to erase the deficit, the Valkyries answered with timely baskets and defensive stops to preserve the victory.

Gray Continues Her All-Star Campaign

Gray once again led Atlanta offensively, scoring a game-high 22 points while adding four rebounds, three assists and a steal. The performance marked her eighth game this season with at least 20 points, continuing one of the most consistent scoring seasons in the WNBA.

Howard provided another steady performance with 19 points, five rebounds and three assists, giving the Dream a reliable scoring option throughout the contest.

Rhyne Howard 10 drives against Kaila Charles 6 – Courtesy photo

Reese Keeps Making History

Angel Reese continued her remarkable sophomore season by recording her 14th double-double of the year with 17 points and 13 rebounds. She also contributed three assists and two steals while controlling the glass and creating second-chance opportunities for Atlanta.

Reese’s relentless rebounding and defensive energy kept the Dream within reach throughout the afternoon, even as Golden State maintained its lead late in the game.

Okot Provides the Spark

Center Madina Okot delivered one of Atlanta’s most efficient performances of the season.

Okot scored 11 points while shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line, providing an important offensive lift off the bench.

Canada continued directing Atlanta’s offense with poise, finishing with seven points, four rebounds, eight assists and two steals. The performance marked her 18th game this season with at least five assists.

A New Lineup Takes Shape

Saturday’s game offered Atlanta its first extended look at a new starting five.

Although the lineup fell to 0-1 together, Borlase’s first career start and the continued production from Gray, Howard, Reese and Canada provided encouraging signs as the Dream continue searching for the right combinations heading into the second half of the season.

What It Means

While the loss was disappointing, Atlanta’s core continues to produce at a high level. Gray remains one of the league’s most dependable scorers, Reese continues to pile up double-doubles, Howard delivers consistent two-way production, and Canada remains the catalyst for the Dream offense.

If the new starting lineup develops chemistry over the coming weeks, Saturday’s performance could prove to be an important step in Atlanta’s evolution.

Looking Ahead

The Dream will look to regroup and return to the win column as they continue their push through the second half of the WNBA season.

Support open, independent journalism, your contribution helps us tell the stories that matter most.

Dream Rally Falls Short as Valkyries End Atlanta’s Four-Game Winning Streak

The Atlanta Dream erased a 26-point deficit before falling to the Golden State Valkyries. Madina Okot and Angel Reese led Atlanta’s determined fourth-quarter comeback.

By Milton Kirby | San Francisco, CA. | June 25, 2026

The Atlanta Dream nearly turned one of their toughest nights of the season into one of their most memorable comebacks.

After trailing by as many as 26 points, Atlanta mounted a determined fourth-quarter rally before falling 77-66 to the Golden State Valkyries Wednesday night at Chase Center. The loss snapped the Dream’s four-game winning streak and evened the season series between the teams at 2-2.

For much of the night, the Dream struggled to find their offensive rhythm. But a spirited comeback led by Atlanta’s bench nearly erased what once looked like an insurmountable deficit.

“We brought in players off the bench, and that gave us a lot of energy,” Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko said. “We made a run that got us back in the game and gave us a chance to try to pull something off. Give the Valkyries credit. They hit a couple of 3-pointers to close it out.”

Slow Start Creates a Steep Climb

Atlanta Dream Reese helps Canada to her feet -Courtesy photo

Atlanta’s starting lineup of Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Angel Reese entered the game with an impressive 12-4 record together. Early on, however, the offense never found its usual rhythm.

The Dream scored on their first three possessions before cooling off dramatically. Atlanta finished the first half with just 27 points while shooting 30.3 percent from the field and making only one of its first 10 attempts from three-point range.

Golden State took advantage, connecting on 55.2 percent of its shots and 53.3 percent from beyond the arc to build a lead that eventually reached 26 points.

Atlanta’s challenge became even greater in the third quarter when Allisha Gray left the game with an upper-body injury after scoring eight points. The team did not immediately provide an update on her condition.

“We got the shots we wanted,” Angel Reese said. “We just didn’t hit them tonight.”

Bench Provides the Spark

Just when the game appeared out of reach, Atlanta’s reserves breathed life back into the contest.

Opening the fourth quarter with fresh energy, the Dream held Golden State scoreless for more than five minutes while putting together a 21-6 run that trimmed the deficit to 10 points. Atlanta shot an efficient 10-for-15 during the quarter while scoring 26 points, its highest output of the night.

The bench contributed 22 points and supplied the defensive intensity that fueled the comeback. Indya Nivar and Sika Kone each finished with a team-best plus-14 rating, the only positive plus-minus performances for Atlanta.

Although the comeback ultimately fell short, it showcased the resilience that has become a trademark of this Dream team.

Okot Continues to Grow

Center Madina Okot continued her impressive stretch of play, leading Atlanta with 16 points while adding five rebounds and one assist. It marked her second consecutive double-digit scoring performance.

“It’s just staying ready and being ready whenever my team needs me,” Okot said. “Bringing whatever I have to help my team win.”

Her play helped Atlanta dominate several key statistical categories despite the loss.

The Dream outscored Golden State 42-22 in the paint, won the rebounding battle 34-32, and held an 18-2 advantage in fast-break points. Those efforts were not enough to overcome the Dream’s cold shooting and the Valkyries’ hot hand from long distance.

Reese Extends Double-Double Streak

Atlanta Dream Jordin Canada defended by Golden State Valkyries Gabby Willians – Courtesy photo

Angel Reese continued another remarkable chapter in her rookie season by recording her 11th double-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and one steal.

Rhyne Howard added 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block while playing a team-high 31 minutes.

Canada finished with eight points, four rebounds, and two assists before the final horn.

The loss leaves Atlanta 2-2 all-time against Golden State, including a 1-1 record on the road.

Quick Opportunity to Respond

The Dream will not have to wait long for another opportunity.

Atlanta returns to Chase Center on Friday night for an immediate rematch with the Valkyries, giving the Dream a chance to split the two-game road series and regain the momentum that fueled its recent four-game winning streak.

Truth Seekers Journal thrives because of readers like you. Join us in sustaining independent voices.

Dream Shatter Franchise Scoring Record, Reese Makes History in 113–96 Win Over Fever

Atlanta set a franchise scoring record with a 113-96 win over Indiana as Angel Reese became the fastest player in WNBA history to 1,000 rebounds.

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | June 21, 2026

The Atlanta Dream didn’t just win Saturday afternoon; they rewrote their own record book, tightened their grip on the Eastern Conference race, and watched Angel Reese make WNBA history in front of a roaring, sold‑out State Farm Arena.

Behind a blistering offensive performance and a dominant second half, the Dream (11–4) overpowered the Indiana Fever 113–96, breaking the franchise record for most points scored in a single game and posting their third straight 100‑point victory. The win also nudged Atlanta ahead in its all‑time series with Indiana, now 36–34 overall and 21–12 at home.

“We have really good offensive players, that combined with playing with a lot more pace, it’s starting to catch on,” Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko said.

Reese Reaches 1,000 Rebounds Faster Than Anyone in League History

Angel Reese, already the league’s most punishing rebounder this season, added another milestone to her meteoric rise. With her sixth rebound of the night — and a put‑back layup moments later — the two‑time All‑Star became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career rebounds, doing so in just 79 games. She shattered the record held by Tina Charles by 10 games.

Reese finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and a growing case for postseason hardware.

“Just being able to come out and do what I do every single night shows my consistency,” Reese said. “Sometimes I’m really hard on myself, but I’m learning to appreciate the great things I’ve done and still want more.”

Starting Five Makes Franchise History, Again

For the second straight game, all five Dream starters scored in double figures – the first time in franchise history the feat has happened in back‑to‑back contests. The lineup of Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Reese improved to 11–3 when starting together.

Howard led the Dream with 24 points, continuing her MVP‑level campaign. Gray added 22 points, five rebounds, one assist and three steals. Hillmon delivered her best outing of the season with 19 points and six rebounds, including a career‑high 13‑point first quarter. Canada orchestrated the offense with a masterful 12‑point, 12‑assist, zero‑turnover performance.

A Shootout Early, a Shutdown Late

The first half was a track meet. Indiana shot the lights out, scoring 37 points in the opening quarter; the most Atlanta has allowed in any period this season. Hillmon matched Caitlin Clark shot‑for‑shot with 13 first‑quarter points, keeping Atlanta within striking distance.

Indiana carried a 59–56 lead into halftime, the most points the Dream have surrendered in a half this year.

Atlanta shot 50 percent from the field and scored 54 points in the paint. The Dream also forced 19 Indiana turnovers that led to 18 points.

But the third quarter belonged entirely to Atlanta.

With Indiana’s Aliyah Boston and Monique Billings saddled with foul trouble, the Dream attacked relentlessly. A Reese layup gave Atlanta a 66–65 lead with 6:08 left in the quarter, and the Dream never trailed again. Howard’s three capped a 13–0 run, and Atlanta outscored Indiana 28–15 in the period.

The defensive clamps tightened, too. Kelsey Mitchell was held scoreless in the third. Clark scored eight, but no other Fever player managed more than three.

“We took our matchups personally,” Reese said. “We fixed the mistakes from the first half and locked in.”

Offense at Full Throttle

Atlanta’s offensive numbers were staggering:

50% shooting from the field
113 points — new franchise record
54 points in the paint
19 forced turnovers leading to 18 points
Five starters in double figures for the second straight game

Head coach Karl Smesko credited the team’s pace and poise.

“We have really good offensive players, and we’re playing faster,” Smesko said. “At halftime, we regrouped, made adjustments, and you could see the difference. That’s maturity.”

STAT LEADERS — ATLANTA DREAM

Rhyne Howard: 24 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast
Allisha Gray: 22 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl
Naz Hillmon: 19 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast
Angel Reese: 18 pts, 8 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl
Jordin Canada: 12 pts, 7 reb, 12 ast, 3 stl, 0 TO

A Statement Weekend

Saturday’s win completed a two‑game sweep of the Fever, following Thursday’s 108–101 victory in Indianapolis. Atlanta outscored Indiana 113–96 and 108–101 in the span of 48 hours, a combined 221 points that underscore the Dream’s offensive evolution. With momentum building, records falling, and their stars ascending, the Dream are no longer just one of the East’s best teams. They’re becoming one of the league’s most dangerous

Truth Seekers Journal thrives because of readers like you. Join us in sustaining independent voices.

Reese Records 10th Double-Double as Dream Win in Indiana

Angel Reese recorded a double-double and all five Atlanta starters scored at least 15 points as the Dream defeated Indiana 108-101 in Indianapolis.

By Milton Kirby | Indianapolis, IN | June 19, 2026

The Atlanta Dream delivered one of their most complete offensive performances of the season Thursday night, defeating the Indiana Fever 108-101 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and avenging a frustrating loss earlier this month.

Just two weeks after being held to a season-low 71 points by Indiana on June 4, Atlanta responded with its second-highest scoring output of the season and showed why it remains one of the WNBA’s top contenders.

The victory improved Atlanta’s record against Indiana to 36-34 all-time and set the stage for an anticipated rematch on Saturday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

“I thought it was a high-level basketball game,” Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko said. “Both teams played and executed, especially offensively, at a super-high level.”

Atlanta’s balanced attack was led by Angel Reese, who recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds despite battling foul trouble throughout the game. The performance marked the 59th double-double of Reese’s WNBA career.

“It was a collective win,” Reese said. “Everyone came in and did their jobs.”

Rhyne Howard shoots over Lexie Hull – Photo by Sarah Sachs/Atlanta Dream

The Dream received major contributions throughout the lineup. Jordin Canada scored 18 points while adding five assists and four steals. Naz Hillmon delivered a season-high 17 points and knocked down a team-leading three three-pointers. Allisha Gray also scored 17 points, while Rhyne Howard added 16 points, five rebounds and six assists.

For only the fourth time in franchise history, all five Atlanta starters scored at least 15 points.

The Dream’s starting lineup of Canada, Gray, Howard, Hillmon, and Reese improved to 10-3 when they played together.

Atlanta’s offense looked dramatically different from the unit that struggled against Indiana earlier this month. After scoring only 29 first-half points in the June 4 loss, the Dream exploded for 58 first-half points Thursday, shooting 23-for-38 from the field.

The Dream also controlled the paint, scoring 60 points inside while forcing 17 turnovers that led to 20 points. Atlanta’s bench added 19 points and eight rebounds, helping maintain pressure throughout the contest.

Smesko said the team focused on playing faster and more aggressively after reviewing the previous matchup.

“The things that we emphasized that we said we really wanted to do, I think the team took it to heart,” he said.

Indiana kept the game close behind standout performances from Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, who each scored 26 points. Aliyah Boston added 23 points as the Fever shot 56.3 percent from the field and connected on 60 percent of their three-point attempts.

Despite Indiana’s efficient shooting, Atlanta carried a 58-49 lead into halftime.

Allisha Gray drives to basket – Photo by Sarah Sachs/Atlanta Dream

One of Atlanta’s biggest concerns came when Reese picked up her fourth foul with 5:45 remaining in the second quarter. Rather than changing her approach, Smesko encouraged his star forward to remain composed.

He later said he trusted Reese to play smart basketball despite the foul trouble, and she rewarded that confidence by staying aggressive while avoiding a fifth foul until late in the game.

The teams matched each other point-for-point during the third quarter, each scoring 29 points. Clark scored nine points in the period for Indiana, while Hillmon answered with a strong offensive quarter for Atlanta.

The Fever made their move midway through the fourth quarter, using a 13-3 run to erase Atlanta’s lead and tie the game at 93 with just over five minutes remaining.

Smesko’s message during the tense stretch was simple.

“We played so hard and played so well for the first 35 minutes, let’s just win the last five,” he said. “We win the last five, and all of it was worth it.”

Atlanta responded immediately.

Reese used a spinning move in the post to regain the lead at 95-93. After Mitchell tied the game again, the Dream took control for good.

Gray converted two free throws and a layup to put Atlanta ahead by four. Howard followed with consecutive baskets that stretched the lead to 103-97 with 48 seconds remaining.

Reese completed a three-point play in the closing moments, and Atlanta converted enough free throws down the stretch to secure the seven-point victory.

The Dream finished the game with 17 fast-break points and scored 34 points in the second quarter for the second consecutive game, matching a season high.

Smesko believes games like Thursday’s can help prepare Atlanta for the intensity of the postseason.

“The more you play in playoff intensity-like games that have this type of edge to it, and when both teams are playing at that level, I think the more you can be in that environment and be in those situations, the more comfortable you’ll be,” he said.

With the season series now tied and another matchup looming Saturday in Atlanta, the growing rivalry between the Dream and Fever appears far from settled.

Please consider supporting open, independent journalism – no contribution is too small!

Liberty Pull Away from Dream, 104-90, in Key Commissioner’s Cup Match

By Milton Kirby | College Park, GA| June 12, 2026

The Atlanta Dream saw Angel Reese post a season-high scoring performance and Rhyne Howard continue her climb through the franchise record book, but it was not enough to overcome the defending WNBA champions Thursday night.

The New York Liberty used a dominant shooting display and a commanding advantage on the boards to defeat the Dream 104-90 at Gateway Center Arena, dealing Atlanta a significant blow in its quest to reach the 2026 Commissioner’s Cup championship game.

The loss dropped Atlanta to 3-2 in Commissioner’s Cup play and likely ended its hopes of advancing to the June 30 final. New York improved to 4-0 in tournament competition and remains in control of its path to the championship game.

“We’re still a really good team,” Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko said. “New York’s a really good team, too.”

Rhyne Howard dribbles past Pauline Astier

Atlanta entered the game needing a victory to keep pressure on the unbeaten Liberty, but New York’s offense proved difficult to contain throughout the night.

The Liberty shot 54 percent from the field and connected on 16 of 31 three-point attempts, including several deep shots that shifted momentum at critical moments. New York also dominated the glass, outrebounding Atlanta 40-24.

“They hit every shot,” Reese said. “When you hit 50 percent from three and 50 percent from the field it makes it tougher to win.”

Despite the defeat, the night featured several milestones for Howard and a breakout scoring effort from Reese.

Howard became the youngest player in WNBA history to make 400 career three-pointers when she connected from beyond the arc in the opening quarter. The 26-year-old reached the milestone in just 146 career games, the fastest pace in league history.

Later in the game, Howard scored her 20th point of the evening to move into fourth place on the Dream’s all-time scoring list with 2,528 career points, passing franchise great Erika de Souza.

Howard finished with 24 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals while making five three-pointers.

Reese delivered one of the strongest offensive performances of her young career, scoring a season-high 25 points while adding nine rebounds and three assists. The total marked the second-highest scoring game of her WNBA career.

Still, the standout rookie focused on the result rather than the statistics.

“I really wanted this one bad for the Commissioner’s Cup,” Reese said. “Career highs don’t matter when you lose.”

Allisha Gray added 18 points for Atlanta, while Jordin Canada contributed seven assists and two steals.

The Dream opened the second quarter with a 10-2 run and briefly took a 29-23 lead. Atlanta managed to stay within striking distance despite being heavily outrebounded in the first half.

The momentum shifted just before halftime when New York’s Marine Johannes drilled a deep three-pointer and teammate Pauline Astier followed with a remarkable 53-foot shot at the buzzer, helping the Liberty take a seven-point advantage into the locker room.

“We’d make a run, and they’re making a couple tough, tough threes, and these things start to add up,” Smesko said. “You have to try and overcome them, but at some point it becomes too much.”

Atlanta’s all-time record against New York fell to 25-43 overall and 13-22 at home.
The Dream remains 3-2 in Commissioner’s Cup play, with $11,000 raised for The King Center through the tournament.
Howard became the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 400 career three-pointers.
Reese’s 25 points established a season high and marked the second-highest scoring game of her career.
Howard’s 2,528 career points moved her into fourth place on the Dream’s all-time scoring list.

The Liberty effectively decided the game in the third quarter.

New York connected on six of its first eight three-point attempts in the period and used a 16-3 run to build an 80-62 lead. Satou Sabally knocked down consecutive three-pointers during the surge as Atlanta struggled to match New York’s shooting touch.

The Dream attempted one final push early in the fourth quarter.

Gray scored four quick points and a Canada steal led to what appeared to be a momentum-building three-point play opportunity for Reese. However, after a review, officials ruled Reese had committed a foul and assessed her a technical foul following the play. The basket was removed and New York’s Breanna Stewart converted a free throw to extend the Liberty’s lead.

“I felt like we were onto something,” Smesko said. “That was definitely a setback. You’ve just got to try to make another run, and we never really got to make another serious push at it.”

Breanna Stewart and Sabally led the Liberty with 19 points each. Stewart also dominated the boards with 19 rebounds.

The Dream’s starting lineup of Canada, Gray, Howard, Naz Hillmon and Reese entered the game with an 8-3 record when starting together and again showed flashes of its potential. However, Atlanta’s struggles from the free-throw line, where it converted just 15 of 27 attempts, and New York’s hot shooting proved too much to overcome.

The loss also snapped Reese’s streak of five consecutive games with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Atlanta now turns its attention to Sunday’s road game against the Toronto Tempo, the final Commissioner’s Cup contest on its schedule. The Dream enters the matchup with an 8-4 overall record and still among the top teams in the WNBA despite Thursday’s setback.

Atlanta’s all-time record against New York fell to 25-43 overall and 13-22 at home.
The Dream remains 3-2 in Commissioner’s Cup play, with $11,000 raised for The King Center through the tournament.
Howard became the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 400 career three-pointers.
Reese’s 25 points established a season high and marked the second-highest scoring game of her career.
Howard’s 2,528 career points moved her into fourth place on the Dream’s all-time scoring list.

MARTA Partners With Big Boi to Launch “Let MARTA Drive” Campaign Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

MARTA and Atlanta music legend Big Boi launch the “Let MARTA Drive” campaign ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 matches beginning June 15.

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | June 11, 2026

As Atlanta prepares to welcome soccer fans from around the world for FIFA World Cup 2026™, MARTA has partnered with Atlanta music icon Big Boi to encourage residents and visitors to use public transit during the global event.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority announced Wednesday the launch of its “Let MARTA Drive” campaign, featuring the Grammy Award-winning artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

MARTA officials say the campaign is designed to encourage riders to use the transit system to attend World Cup matches, fan festivals, concerts, and other events throughout downtown Atlanta while promoting the agency’s Ride with Respect initiative.

As one-half of the legendary hip-hop duo OutKast, Big Boi has helped shape Atlanta’s cultural identity and international reputation. MARTA leaders say his deep roots in the city make him a natural choice to help welcome visitors arriving from across the globe.

“Big Boi’s music is deeply embedded in the culture of Atlanta, making him the perfect person to help us welcome soccer fans from around the globe,” said MARTA Interim General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt. “We look forward to bringing his unmistakable voice directly to our riders through exclusive station announcements and digital content. This partnership is an exciting way to showcase our world-class transit network while reminding everyone to ride safely and with respect.”

Through the campaign, Big Boi will encourage riders to take MARTA to major events across downtown Atlanta, helping reduce traffic congestion and parking challenges while creating a more convenient travel experience.

“Atlanta has always been a city that moves people and sets trends,” Big Boi said. “When the world comes here, I want everyone to feel that energy without the stress. MARTA makes it easy to get downtown, to the events, and everywhere in between. I’m proud to be part of what keeps Atlanta moving and shows the world how we do it.”

Atlanta is scheduled to host multiple FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and related events beginning June 15. Officials anticipate increased demand on transportation systems as fans travel between matches, fan festivals, concerts, hotels, restaurants, and attractions throughout the city.

The campaign also highlights MARTA’s Ride with Respect initiative, which encourages passengers to treat fellow riders, MARTA employees, and public spaces with courtesy and consideration.

For longtime Atlantans, the partnership brings together two institutions closely associated with the city. MARTA has served as the region’s transit backbone for decades, while Big Boi and OutKast helped elevate Atlanta’s influence on music and popular culture around the world.

MARTA is also encouraging riders to take advantage of its Rider Tools platform, which provides trip planning assistance, real-time train and bus tracking, service alerts, route information, and accessibility resources.

With the world’s largest sporting event set to arrive in Atlanta next week, MARTA leaders hope visitors and residents alike will choose transit as they travel throughout the city.

For more information about MARTA services and rider resources, visit MARTA’s website.

MARTA Launches “Better Breeze” Fare System, Begins Five-Week Transition Period

New Year, New MARTA: 2026 Upgrades Aim to Boost Safety, Reliability, and the Rider Experience

MARTA rolls out Big Changes with New Fare System Upgrades

MARTA Unwraps the Holidays with Free Rides, Festive Buses, and Gifts for Riders

From Tokens to Tap-to-Pay: MARTA Unveils Better Breeze

World-Class Transit for World-Class Soccer: MARTA Steps Up

MARTA rolls out Big Changes with New Fare System Upgrades

MARTA Unwraps the Holidays with Free Rides, Festive Buses, and Gifts for Riders

MARTA Rolls Out an Outkast Tribute Across Atlanta

MARTA Completes Garnett Station Platform Renovation

From Tokens to Tap-to-Pay: MARTA Unveils Better Breeze

MARTA to Close Five Points Peachtree Entrance as Next Phase of Transformation Begins

Truth Seekers Journal thrives because of readers like you. Join us in sustaining independent voices.

Atlanta Dream Grind Out 82–75 Road Win Behind Historic Night From Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese

Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard scored 17 points apiece as the Atlanta Dream defeated the Chicago Sky 82-75, improving to 3-1 in Commissioner’s Cup play.

By Milton Kirby | Chicago, IL | June 10, 2026

The Atlanta Dream leaned on their most reliable lineup and a dominant rebounding performance from Angel Reese to secure an 82–75 win over the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena on Monday night. The victory moves Atlanta to 8–2 when starting the combination of Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Angel Reese, a unit that continues to define the Dream’s identity on both ends of the floor.

The win also pushes Atlanta to 31–37 all‑time against Chicago and 15–18 on the road in the series. More importantly, it lifts the Dream to 3–1 in Commissioner’s Cup play, bringing their total to $10,000 raised for The King Center, the team’s designated charity.

Rhyne Howard brings the ball down court – Courtesy photo

Howard Makes History — Again

Rhyne Howard added another milestone to her rapidly growing résumé. With her 17‑point performance, she became the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 2,500 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, 200 steals, and 100 blocks. Only Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore sit anywhere near that company — and Howard reached it earlier than both.

Howard’s all‑around impact showed again Monday:
17 points, 5 assists, 3 steals, and steady leadership in the fourth quarter when Atlanta needed composure.

Reese Rewrites the Record Book

Angel Reese continues to make the extraordinary look routine. She tied her season high with 17 rebounds, becoming the first player in Dream history to record back‑to‑back 17‑rebound games.

Her stat line — 17 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals — marked her eighth double‑double of the season and the 57th of her career, the most double‑doubles ever recorded through a player’s first 75 WNBA games.

Reese’s presence on the glass changed the game’s tempo, especially in the fourth quarter when Atlanta outscored Chicago 25–17 to close it out.

Hillmon’s Breakout and Balanced Scoring

Naz Hillmon delivered her best offensive outing of the season, scoring 16 points on 50% shooting, including three drilled shots from 3-point range, a wrinkle that stretched Chicago’s defense and opened driving lanes for Canada and Gray.

All five Atlanta starters finished in double figures:

Angel Reese: 17 pts, 17 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl
Rhyne Howard: 17 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl
Naz Hillmon: 16 pts, 6 reb
Allisha Gray: 14 pts, 4 reb, 3 stl
Jordin Canada: 14 pts, 6 ast

The Dream also shot a blistering 93.8% from the free‑throw line (15–16), a key separator in a game that stayed tight through three quarters.

How the Game Unfolded

Atlanta opened with an 18–17 edge after the first quarter, but Chicago responded with a strong second frame to take a 42–39 halftime lead. The Dream tightened their defense in the third, holding the Sky to just 16 points, and then closed the game with their most efficient offensive quarter of the night.

Chicago’s Kahleah Copper‑replacement, Natasha Cloud, led the Sky with 18 points, while Kamilla Cardoso added 5 assists and Azurá Stevens pulled down 7 rebounds.

But Chicago couldn’t match Atlanta’s balance, physicality, or late‑game execution.

Starting Lineups

Atlanta Dream:
Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, Angel Reese

Chicago Sky:
Skylar Diggins, Jacy Sheldon, Gabriela Jaquez, Azurá Stevens, Kamilla Cardoso

Atlanta played without Brionna Jones (right knee) and Amy Okonkwo (coach’s decision). Chicago was without DiJonai Carrington, Rickea Jackson, and Courtney Vandersloot.

Final Score Atlanta 82, Chicago 75 (18–17 | 21–25 | 18–16 | 25–17)

Support open, independent journalism—your contribution helps us tell the stories that matter most.

SHADOW BALL: Learning More About Negro League History

June 9, 2026

This column exists for only one purpose: that is to answer your questions on Negro League baseball history. To that end, we need your help … if you are reading this column, enjoy it, want it to continue, and do not already know everything about Negro League history … then please submit a question on any aspect of Negro League history. Your questions are the lifeblood of Shadow Ball—they shape where we go next … players, teams, events, and more – and, in so doing, you will direct where this column goes moving forward. Your participation is important and appreciated. The very existence of this column depends on you. Submit your questions to shadowball@truthseekersjournal.com.

Curious George Atkins, Aurora, IL, posed the following question to Shadow Ball: “Why is the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City?”

It’s a deceptively simple question. Negro League history sprawls across dozens of cities, each with legitimate claims to significance. So why Kansas City? To answer that, we must first consider the alternatives — and then the extraordinary convergence of people, place, and timing that made Kansas City the only choice:

Chicago had the strongest historical case, as it was the home of Rube Foster, the chief organizer of the Negro National League, its first league President, and the face of Negro League baseball as a player, manager, administrator, and entrepreneur for the preceding two decades in Black baseball. Chicago also had two teams in that first season, and, with the 4th-largest urban Black population in the country in 1920, was a major destination in the early stages of the Great (African American) Migration, which brought millions of Black families from the South to eastern, Midwestern, and far-western urban centers. Lastly, the Chicago American Giants won the initial pennant in that first season.

Other cities with teams in that first season of Negro National League baseball included Saint Louis, Detroit, and Indianapolis,, all of whom, like Chicago, had strong Black baseball histories prior to the formation of the league. Indianapolis had another historical point – the first game in Negro National League history took place there on May 2nd, 1920.

Another possible site could have been Ashland, KY, where several Negro League reunions took place in the decade prior to the opening of the Negro League Baseball Museum. In addition to the reunions, a substantial number of artifacts were collected and ended up in Cooperstown. But Ashland was a sentimental center, not a historical or demographic one.

My preference for my birthplace, Pittsburgh, is shaped by the presence of two of the greatest franchises in Negro League history and by the fact that more Negro League baseball games were played in Pennsylvania than in any other state in the union. Two other eastern megalopolises – New York and Philadelphia (which, along with Chicago, represented the three largest Black populations in the country) – had solid pedigrees in the history of the Negro Leagues and can be seen to have defensible cases, but …

In the end, the correct decision was made to place the NLBM in Kansas City due to a confluence of inarguable facts, talent, and civic leadership:

• The Negro National League was founded on February 13, 1920, in the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City

• A fortuitous gathering of local leadership came together, including Buck O’Neil, Alfred Surratt, Larry Lester, Phil Dixon, and Horace Peterson, all of whom lived and worked in Kansas City

• The 18th & Vine redevelopment project, which included the Paseo YMCA, provided a ready civic partner, with several prominent KC mayors seeing value.

• Kansas City’s Black civic and business community backed the project early.

• There is no evidence that Chicago, Pittsburgh, or any other historically significant Negro League city ever submitted a proposal or was approached.

• Eventually, such serendipity in the Paseo neighborhood continued when, almost four years after the Negro Baseball League Museum had opened its doors in one room in the neighborhood, Ken Burns’ nine-part documentary – Baseball – debuted on PBS. It made Buck O’Neil a star and opened interest and access to capital. Burns’ documentary did for the Negro League Baseball Museum what Eyes on the Prize did for civil rights memory — it created a national audience hungry for the stories the museum was uniquely positioned to tell.

• The NLBM is currently poised for another expansion project. While still in fundraising for the $30 million project that includes tripling exhibition space in a newly rehabilitated Paseo YMCA Building; creating the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center; building a new majority Black-owned hotel and new residential construction. According to the February 16, 2026, press release, the project could be completed by late 2028.

Last week’s Shadowball Significa Question of the Week: What Negro League pitcher, who participated in the Negro National League playoff in 1935, had a son who won two World Series games several decades later? Name this father/son pair. With no correct answer submitted, I am going to provide this answer and move on. Luis Tiant Sr, was a participant in the 1935 Negro League playoff, and his son starred in the 1967 World Series.

The Shadowball Significa Question of the Week: What Negro League pennant-winning team played their home games at Dick Kent’s Ballyard? Send your answer and any comments on the Negro Leagues to shadowball@truthseekersjournal.com or Shadow Ball, 3904 N Druid Hills Rd, Ste 179, Decatur, GA 30033

Ted Knorr

Ted Knorr is a respected Negro League baseball historian, a longtime member of the Society for American Baseball Research’s Negro League Committee, and the founder of the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference as well as several Negro League Commemorative Nights in central Pennsylvania.

Beyond his research and organizing work, Ted is frequently invited to speak at sporting events, community programs, family gatherings, and educational forums, where he brings Negro League history to life. His deep knowledge of the players, teams, and the cultural impact of Black baseball has made him a trusted voice for audiences seeking to understand the legacy and significance of the Negro Leagues.

Please consider supporting open, independent journalism – no contribution is too small!

Global Grub Alley to Turn Walton Street Into a World Cup Food Haven

Atlanta’s Global Grub Alley turns Walton Street into a vibrant food truck corridor for FIFA World Cup 2026™, spotlighting local flavors and small business culture.

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | May 31, 2026

When the FIFA World Cup 2026™ arrives in Atlanta, the city’s streets will serve up more than soccer fever. They’ll serve food — and plenty of it.

Showcase Atlanta and the Food Truck Association of Georgia (FTAG) have announced Global Grub Alley, a pedestrian‑only food truck corridor that will transform Walton Street into a culinary destination for every match day and the day before each game. The activation will feature 20 to 30 Atlanta‑area food trucks operating daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., stretching a quarter‑mile between Centennial Olympic Park Drive and Broad Street.

The corridor, just steps from the official FIFA Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park, will be free and open to the public — no ticket required. Fans walking between the park and Mercedes‑Benz Stadium will pass directly through the food truck zone, creating a seamless connection between the city’s global celebration and its local flavor.

“Atlanta food trucks have been asking for this kind of moment for years,” said Kelsey Maynor, Director of Small Business Engagement for Showcase Atlanta. “Global Grub Alley puts our small business owners and our food culture on the street, next to the biggest stage in the world. You will not need a ticket to be a part of it. You will just need to be hungry.”

Atlanta will host eight World Cup matches, meaning sixteen days of Global Grub Alley activity spread across the tournament. The initiative is part of Showcase Atlanta’s broader strategy to ensure that major global events — including the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Super Bowl — leave lasting opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

FTAG will manage vendor selection and compliance through Street Food Finder, the industry‑standard scheduling platform.

“Our members are some of the most resilient small business owners in this state,” said Montrella Rhodes, FTAG Administrator. “A truck on Walton Street in front of a global audience is a truck whose phone keeps ringing in 2027 and 2028.”

Among the early participants is Wing Kingh Food Truck, whose owner Sherman Gartrell sees the event as more than a business opportunity.

“For us, this is about bringing people together through great flavors, culture, and hospitality,” Gartrell said. “Global Grub Alley helps food truck businesses gain valuable exposure and build lasting relationships.”

Vendor applications are now open, with priority given to FTAG members. Trucks must meet Georgia permitting and compliance requirements. A full lineup will be released closer to match dates at streetfoodfinder.com/global-grub-alley.

If You Go

Location: Walton Street between Centennial Olympic Park Drive and Broad Street
Hours: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., all match days and the day before each match
Cost: Free entry; pay per item at each truck
Accessibility: Street‑level access, portable restrooms on site
Transit: MARTA’s GWCC/CNN Center and Five Points stations within walking distance

Global Grub Alley promises to be more than a food event — it’s a statement of Atlanta’s identity: a city where global celebration meets local flavor, and where small businesses stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the world’s biggest stage.

Truth Seekers Journal thrives because of readers like you. Join us in sustaining independent voices.

SHADOW BALL: Learning More About Negro League History

May 26, 2026

This column exists for only one purpose; that is to answer your questions on Negro League baseball history. To that end, I need your help … if you are reading this column and enjoy it and want it to continue and you do not already know everything about Negro League history … then please submit a question on any aspect of Negro League history. Your questions are the lifeblood of Shadow Ball—they shape where we go next … players, teams, events, and more – and, in so doing, you will direct where this column goes moving forward. Your participation is important and appreciated. The very existence of this column depends on you. Submit your questions to shadowball@truthseekersjournal.com.

Last week’s Shadow ball Significa Question of the Week: What Negro League pitcher, who participated in the Negro National League playoff in 1935, had a son who won two World Series games several decades later. Name this father/son pair. With no correct answer submitted; I am going to let this question ride for another week. Who is this father/son duo? Send your answer and any comments on the Negro Leagues to shadowball@truthseekersjournal.com or Shadow Ball, 3904 N Druid Hills Rd, Ste 179, Decatur, GA 30033

Beyond his research and organizing work, Ted is frequently invited to speak at sporting events, community programs, family gatherings, and educational forums, where he brings Negro League history to life. His deep knowledge of the players, teams, and cultural impact of Black baseball has made him a trusted voice for audiences who want to understand the legacy and significance of the Negro Leagues.

Support open, independent journalism. Your contribution helps us tell the stories that matter most.

Inside the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo — Part 7

Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in Memphis showcases Black cowboy culture, Soul Country music, youth programs, and community legacy in a powerful, immersive weekend experience.

More Than a Rodeo: Inside the Enduring Legacy of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | May 18, 2026

There are stories we tell, and then there are stories we inherit. The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) is both. It is an enduring institution, a cultural archive, a family reunion, and a proving ground stitched together by memory, muscle, and music. Over the course of this series, I have walked the dirt, listened to the voices, watched the riders, and felt the pulse of a tradition that refuses to fade. What began as an attempt to document a rodeo became something far deeper, a journey into a tradition that continues to evolve.

The BPIR is not simply an event. It is a record of who we are, who we’ve been, and who we’re becoming. And as this chapter closes, another one opens, a road that leads from Memphis to Los Angeles, where the Soul Country Music Star National Champion will be crowned at the Soul Country Music Festival. But before we get there, we must return to the ground beneath our boots, because that is where it all begins.

I. The Rodeo That Became a Record of Us

Every rodeo has its own rhythm, but the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo has a heartbeat. It beats in the laughter of children seeing a horse for the first time. It beats in the confidence of champion riders who carry decades of history in their posture. It beats in the music, the dust, the hoofbeats, and the voices that echo across the arena.

When I arrived in Memphis, I expected a show. What I found was a community, a village built on heritage, discipline, and joy. As I wrote in my field notes, “A great rodeo doesn’t just happen. It’s built piece by piece, decision by decision, tradition by tradition.”

“It begins with the land beneath your boots and ends with the people who carry the tradition forward.”

Memphis, with its perfect dirt and perfect energy, became the lens through which the entire BPIR experience came into focus.

II. Bill Pickett’s Enduring Shadow

To understand the significance of the BPIR, you first have to understand the man whose name stands above the arena gates. Bill Pickett was more than a cowboy. He was an innovator, a showman, and a cultural force. His technique, bulldogging known now as Steer Wrestling, changed rodeo forever. His daring athleticism eventually earned him national recognition and a place among the legends of the Wild West.

His presence changed the way America saw Black cowboys, even when America tried not to see them at all.

But what struck me most over the course of this series is not how often Pickett’s name is spoken. It is how deeply his spirit is lived. The BPIR does not treat him as a relic. It treats him as a foundation.

His influence is not a statue or a plaque. It is the confidence of a Pee Wee rider gripping the reins. It is the precision of a champion entering the chute. It is the courage of a bullfighter stepping between danger and safety. It is the music of Soul Country Music Star artists reclaiming a sound that has always been theirs.

Bill Pickett is not remembered at the BPIR.

He is embodied.

III. The Stewardship of Valeria Howard Cunningham

Valeria Howard Cunningham – Photo by Milton Kirby

Founded in 1984 by the late Lu Vason, the rodeo was created not only to showcase Black rodeo talent, but to reclaim historical visibility for Black Western culture itself.

“At the time, Black cowboys remained largely invisible in mainstream rodeo, even though historians estimate they made up nearly one in four working cowboys in the late 19th century.”

Vason saw both the absence and the opportunity. What he built became far more than a single event.

Every enduring tradition needs a steward, someone who understands the weight of history and the necessity of evolution. For the BPIR, that steward is Valeria Howard Cunningham, Producer and CEO.

For more than four decades, the BPIR has grown into the nation’s longest running Black owned touring rodeo association, introducing generations of children to rodeo culture while creating a national gathering place rooted in heritage, competition, education, and celebration.

Valeria’s gift is balance. She protects the heritage while opening the door to the future.

Under her guidance, the BPIR has remained rooted in tradition while embracing new cultural expressions. She has preserved the Lu Vason vision without freezing it in time. She has expanded the rodeo’s reach, deepened its cultural footprint, and ensured that every stop, from Memphis to Los Angeles, carries the same intentionality, extending the BPIR’s presence into community spaces through education, outreach, and engagement.

Valeria understands something essential:

A tradition that refuses to evolve becomes a museum.

A tradition that evolves with integrity becomes a force.

The BPIR has become something larger than sport.

IV. More Than Competition

Spend enough time around the BPIR, whether in Memphis, Atlanta, or Upper Marlboro, and you begin to realize that the rodeo itself is only part of the experience. Yes, there are champions. There are bronc riders, steer wrestlers, barrel racers, bull riders, team ropers and Pee Wee competitors stepping nervously into the arena dirt for the first time.

But surrounding the competition is something larger: a traveling city of culture and community that recreates itself at every stop on the tour.

In Memphis, that ecosystem unfolded across the Agricenter grounds just as vividly as it had in Atlanta and Upper Marlboro. Food vendors sent familiar aromas drifting through the air. Families browsed apparel booths and handcrafted merchandise. Music floated between events. Children wove through crowds dressed in boots, fringe, denim, and cowboy hats, the same joyful choreography I’ve seen repeat itself city after city.

The atmosphere is always the same blend: part sporting event, part family reunion, part cultural festival. People do not come only to watch. They come to reconnect. Again and again, conversations return to memory.

Parents talk about attending the rodeo as children themselves. Grandparents introduce grandchildren to traditions they hope will outlive them. Old friends reunite beside arena rails. Riders greet former competitors like extended family.

What stands out most, no matter the city, is how deeply the rodeo lives inside people’s personal histories. For many families, the BPIR is not an occasional attraction. It is an annual tradition woven into the rhythm of life itself.

BPIR brings sparkles to the eyes of kids in Memphis, TN – photo by Milton Kirby

V. “For Kidz Sake” and the Power of Representation

Perhaps nowhere is the BPIR’s cultural mission more visible than during the “For Kidz Sake” rodeo program.

On Friday morning in Memphis, more than 4,000 children filled the arena. Some had never attended a rodeo before. Some had never touched a horse. Many were encountering the history of Black cowboys for the first time. But inside the arena, history stopped feeling distant. It became visible.

Children watched riders who looked like them compete with confidence and skill. They learned about horsemanship, agriculture, discipline, and Western heritage. They laughed, pointed, cheered, danced and asked questions.

Most importantly, they saw themselves reflected in the tradition. Representation is often discussed in abstract political language. At the BPIR, it felt tangible.

A child watching a Black cowboy ride into the arena is not simply watching entertainment. They are witnessing possibility.

That may be one of the rodeo’s greatest forms of cultural preservation: not simply remembering the past, but making sure the next generation can imagine themselves inside the future.

VI. The Dirt Matters

One of the most unexpected lessons of the series came from something most spectators never think about: the dirt itself.

Champion rider Tim Walker explained it beside the Memphis arena rail with the seriousness of a craftsman discussing tools. Proper rodeo dirt matters.

“Too dry, and it becomes dangerous. Too slick, and horses or riders can lose footing. Proper moisture and texture help animals turn, stop, and run safely while giving competitors confidence beneath their boots.”

Until that moment, dirt had seemed incidental.

Instead, it revealed itself as foundational.

That realization became symbolic of the BPIR itself.

Much of what makes the rodeo work happens quietly beneath the surface.

The labor.

The planning.

The preparation.

The mentorship.

The institutional memory.

Like the arena dirt, those invisible layers support everything above them.

VII. The Guardians: Bullfighters and Barrelmen

That same principle applies to another group often overlooked by casual fans: the rodeo clowns, barrel men, and bullfighters.

Their role combines athleticism, timing, courage, and instinct.

Bullfighter’s protecting a dismounted rider – photo by Milton Kirby

“Their work is not just theatrical. It is tactical.”

Historically, rodeo clowns began primarily as entertainers. But as bull riding evolved into one of rodeo’s most dangerous events, their responsibilities transformed into something far more serious.

Today’s bullfighters routinely place themselves between riders and charging bulls, protecting competitors during the most dangerous seconds after a fall.

At the BPIR, their presence carries additional historical significance.

According to Valeria Howard Cunningham, BPIR became the first, and remains the only, traveling Black owned rodeo to feature professional arena entertainers.

Even within rodeo culture, representation matters.

The BPIR’s commitment to visibility extends beyond champions and headliners. It includes the workers, performers, and protectors whose contributions are often forgotten yet are essential to the show itself.

BPIR professional entertainer engages the audience – photo by Milton Kirby

Every role matters inside the arena. That truth mirrors the larger BPIR experience.

VIII. The Cultural Evolution: Soul Country Music Star

One of the most powerful evolutions under Valeria’s leadership is the integration of Soul Country Music Star, a showcase that blends Black country artistry with the rodeo’s vibrant atmosphere.

“It wasn’t an add on. It was a natural extension of the culture BPIR has always celebrated.”

Black country music is not new. It is foundational. It is lineage. It is the sound of migration, resilience, and rural memory. The Soul Country Music Star competition does not introduce something foreign to the rodeo; it reveals something that has always been there.

In Memphis, the artists brought grit, melody, and storytelling that echoed the same themes the rodeo embodies: resilience, heritage, and pride. Their performances were not intermissions. They were continuations, another expression of who we are.

The competition itself has also become a reflection of perseverance and artistic growth. Season One elevated Kirk Jay to the national spotlight, while Season Two crowned Nathaniel “Mr. Bow Leggs” Dansby, whose journey embodied the resilience celebrated throughout the BPIR itself.

Dansby did not win during the competition’s inaugural season. Instead, he returned. He refined his craft, sharpened his stage presence, and continued building his connection with audiences across the BPIR tour before emerging as the Season Two champion.

That reality speaks to the depth of talent within Soul Country Music Star. The difference between winning and not winning often has less to do with ability than timing, growth, and the simple fact that only one artist can ultimately claim the title each season.

Like the rodeo itself, the competition rewards endurance as much as talent.

IX. The Road to Los Angeles: Crowning the Soul Country Music Star National Champion

And now, the road leads west.

After traveling city to city alongside the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, the Soul Country Music Star competition will arrive in Los Angeles in October, where one artist will be crowned the National Champion at the Soul Country Music Finals and Festival.

But the journey to Los Angeles has never been only about winning.

Over the course of the season, these artists have performed in rodeo arenas, clubs, theaters, and community spaces filled with audiences who understand the culture they carry. They have traveled long hours between cities, performed night after night, and learned how to connect not only through talent, but through storytelling, authenticity, and resilience.

Like the riders inside the arena, they have had to earn every moment.

Some arrived with polished voices. Others grew stronger with every performance. Some learned how to command a crowd for the first time. Others discovered that the competition was pushing them beyond music into something more personal: confidence, identity, and purpose.

That evolution may be the real story of Soul Country Music Star.

Nathaniel “Bow Leggs” Dansby & Kirk Jay – Photo by Milton Kirby

The competition has become more than a showcase for emerging Black country artists. It has become a space where artists reconnect with a musical tradition that has always belonged to them, even when history and the industry often failed to acknowledge it.

When that journey reaches its final stage in Los Angeles, the crowning of the National Champion will celebrate more than a single performance. It will honor the artists, histories, and cultural influences that helped shape country music long before many of those contributions were fully recognized.

And while one artist will leave Los Angeles with the title, the larger story will continue long after the competition ends.

Because what Soul Country Music Star is building, much like the BPIR itself, is not simply entertainment.

It is visibility.
It is opportunity.
It is cultural continuity carried forward by a new generation.

Los Angeles is not the end of the road.

It is the beginning of the next chapter.

X. Closing: What the Dirt Remembers

When the last rider leaves the arena and the dust settles, the dirt tells the story.

“It holds the hoofprints of bulls and horses.

It holds the footprints of Pee Wee riders and champions.”

It holds the echoes of children cheering, families laughing, and communities gathering.

It holds the legacy of Bill Pickett and the vision of those who carry his name forward.

The greatest show on dirt is not just a rodeo.

It is a cultural inheritance.

A record carried across generations.

A celebration of who we are and who we’re becoming.

The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is not preserving a dead past. It is shaping the future in real time.

The road ahead will carry that legacy even further as the BPIR and SCMS seasons continue toward two major championship moments celebrating the future of Black rodeo and Soul Country music culture.

In September, the BPIR National Finals will bring top competitors from across the tour to Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where riders will compete for championship titles, prize money, trophy saddles, and honors recognizing excellence throughout the season.

Then, in October, in Los Angeles, regional competition winners from across the country will gather for the Soul Country Music Star National Finals and Music Festival, competing for the national title, $10,000 in cash and prizes, and the opportunity to tour with the BPIR during the 2027 season.

Together, these events represent more than championship weekends. They reflect a growing movement rooted in heritage, resilience, fellowship, visibility, and the next generation carrying these traditions forward.

And as I close this series, what has stood out most throughout this reporting process is how deeply the rodeo remains embedded in people’s memories, the way families organize reunions around it, the way generations return year after year, and the way even a single image, jacket, or song can reopen memories decades later.

That kind of cultural continuity is rare.

And it deserves to be documented with care.

When I began this series, I believed I was covering a rodeo.

What I found instead was an enduring institution built on resilience, creativity, family, and cultural inheritance.

More than anything else, I found evidence that this tradition continues to grow, not as a memory, but as a living force being carried into the future.

Milton Kirby
Truth Seekers Journal

Inside the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo — Part 6

Inside the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo — Part 5

Inside the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo — Part 4

Inside the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo — Part 3

Inside the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo — Part 2

Inside the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo — Part 1

Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Names 2025 Champions After a Year of Grow and New Partnerships and a Powerful Legacy

Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo National Finals Nominated for USA TODAY’s Best Rodeo Award

Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Celebrates 40 Years of Tradition and Excellence

Martin Luther King, Jr. African-American Rodeo of Champions Thrills Denver Audience

Truth Seekers Journal thrives because of readers like you. Join us in sustaining independent voices.

SHADOW BALL: Learning More About Negro League History

May 12, 2026

Maria Rayburn of Salisbury, NC, posed the following question for me this week: who were the best catchers of the Negro Leagues?

Well, Maria – three are in the Hall of Fame – Josh Gibson, inducted 1972; Biz Mackey, 2006 and Lou Santop, 2006. They are the three best in that order. Roy Campanella, himself with nine years in the Negro Leagues before beginning a Hall of Fame career in the National League also needs to be named as he is arguably the second-best Negro League catcher. The interesting aspect of this answer is the next group. For me (as found in the 42 for ’21 poll) I think Quincey Trouppe, Double Duty Radcliffe, Bruce Petway, Larry Brown and Frank Duncen, Jr., deserve further consideration from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. With Campanella already in for National League play I would like to see at least three of that quintet in and all five given strong consideration.

Last week’s Shadowball Significa Question of the Week: Seven players have appeared in both a Negro League East-West Classic and a National League/American League All Star game, six of them have been inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Name the 7th who is not inducted? … Kevin D. Johnson, of Broken Arrow, OK, was the first to correctly name Jim Gilliam, who appeared in the 1948 East-West Classic representing the Baltimore Elite Giants and the AL/NL All Star game in both 1956, as a Brooklyn Dodger, and 1959, as a Los Angeles Dodger. The other six appearing in both All-Star games include: Ernie Banks, Roy Campanella, Larry Doby, Minnie Minoso, Jackie Robinson, and Satchel Paige.

The Shadowball Significa Question of the Week: What Negro League pitcher, who participated in the Negro National League playoff in 1935, had a son who won two World Series games several decades later. Name this father/son pair. Send your answer and any comments on the Negro Leagues to shadowball@truthseekersjournal.com or Shadow Ball, 3904 N Druid Hills Rd, Ste 179, Decatur, GA 30033

Beyond his research and organizing work, Ted is frequently invited to speak at sporting events, community programs, family gatherings, and educational forums, where he brings Negro League history to life. His deep knowledge of the players, teams, and cultural impact of Black baseball has made him a trusted voice for audiences who want to understand the legacy and significance of the Negro Leagues.

Support open, independent journalism—your contribution helps us tell the stories that matter most.