The Robstown Cotton Pickers A Real High School Sports Team in TX ... Reporter Apologizes for Outing Them in Tweet
The internet is abuzz at the fact that there's actually a high school team called the "Cotton Pickers" -- something a local reporter made public, and which he now regrets.
KIII 3 Sports' Chris Thomasson tweeted a video Friday of the Robstown High School football team taking the field for their season opener against the London High School Pirates near Corpus Christi, TX ... but he also dropped Robstown's team name, the Cotton Pickers.
The Robstown Cotton Pickers come out before their season opener against London tonight.@kiii3sports #3SportsBlitz #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/5iCJHd6Fny
— Chris Thomasson - KIII Sports (@ChrisThomasson7) September 5, 2020 @ChrisThomasson7
The guy's tweet got picked up and spread like wildfire, with many people aghast and outraged there could actually be a team with such racist connotations -- especially in Texas, no less. Their mascot isn't very subtle either -- it depicts a cotton plant, straight up. And yes, there are Black players on the football and other sports team ... so, what gives?
People are confused on twitter after finding out schools mascot in Corpus Christi is named the “Cotton Pickers” pic.twitter.com/P1DslTU9Bp
— Saycheese TV 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) September 5, 2020 @SaycheeseDGTL
That same reporter followed up and said he didn't mean to stir the pot by dropping the full name -- he says he never says the full thing on air and usually just refers to the team as the "Pickers." He also provided context ... saying "Cotton Pickers" is something the school board there recently voted to stick to after consulting the community, which is apparently predominantly Latino. Many of those folks do, in fact, pick cotton and don't view it as a slur.
There are some local reports of residents there even being proud of the name -- as they view it as honest work steeped in local tradition and heritage ... from their POVs anyway.
So, context matters. I have thought the name should have been changed for years now.@RobstownISD’s board decided to keep the name a few years ago. It’s based in the Hispanic culture.
— Chris Thomasson - KIII Sports (@ChrisThomasson7) September 5, 2020 @ChrisThomasson7
But believe me, I get it. I said “probably” when I shouldn’t have. It’s 2020. Time to change. https://t.co/nGfUITMsLQ
That said, Thomasson acknowledges it's probably time to change the name, adding he's advocated for that for years. Fact is, the history of cotton picking in this country usually conjures up just one thing for most -- AKA, slavery -- and that alone should be reason enough to pivot.
Time for hard talks in 2020.
related articles
GWU Professor Jessica Krug Double Life as Fake Black Woman ... Comes as Shock to Family
A university professor who posed as a Black woman for years had her own family completely in the dark about her double life ... and now, they're utterly ashamed.
Jessica Krug -- who says she publicly identified as North African, African-American and of Caribbean descent through most of her adult life -- outed herself Thursday in a Medium post, saying she'd been living a lie ... since she isn't Black at all, just a white Jewish woman.
Krug apologized for what she described as being a "culture leech," saying she'd finally seen the error in her ways ... and that her appropriation was, in fact, anti-Black and colonial.
While it's somewhat commendable she didn't go the route of Rachel Dolezal -- who, more or less, stuck to her guns on identifying as Black -- the damage was already done. George Washington University, where she taught African and Latin American Studies, announced she won't be teaching this semester ... this after her own department tore her a new one.
Not only that, but Krug's own family came out this week and said they were utterly oblivious to the fact she'd been lying about her race. Granted, it sounds like she's estranged.
Her sister-in-law -- who spoke to CNN -- says her husband (Krug's blood brother) hadn't spoken to Jessica in 20 years ... but went on to confirm that she is certainly not Black, going on to call her "white as snow white" and establishing her Kansas City upbringing.
For what it's worth, Krug acknowledged the deceit and hurt she's inflicted on people, but also insists ... the life she's led is her only one, so apparently ... no switching back and forth.
related articles
Micky D's Dog Proves Fries Taste Way Better with Ketchup!!!
This pooch went from not lovin' it to REALLY lovin' it ... and all it took was a little Heinz-sight.
Let's face it ... McDonald's has some of the best french fries out there in fast food land, but plain 'ol fries aren't cutting it for this German Shepard mix. The K-9 turns its nose on the naked fry.
But then ... the owner ups the game with the condiment of choice -- ketchup. The dog attacks the partially red target ... gobbling it up with no reservations.
We got to wondering ... is this a good advertisement for Mickey D's? Humans dig fries even without ketchup, but we're guessing the majority of dog owners prefer their fries with the red stuff.
Either way ... this is one satisfied dog.
related articles
Dunkin' Donuts Customer Goes Off On Employee ... She Won't Glaze Over Disrespect
If you don't think people's nerves have been frayed during the pandemic, check out this scene from Dunkin' Donuts.
An enraged customer swung the front door open as she charged in the donut shop, demanding answers from an employee she claims threw a bag at her friend in the drive-thru.
As she screams at the employee, he implores her to stop speaking to him like that. He gets emotional as he walks away, and then the customer sets her sights on another employee, demanding that the employee in question gets fired.
The woman claims when she and her friend went through the drive-thru, the employee got their order wrong, so they drove back to get it done right. The woman says the employee threw the bag at her friend's head.
The manager at DD asked the 2 women to return the next day. He told them the employee was having a bad day and, coincidentally, it was his last day on the job. The manager said the employee was not fired ... Friday was going to be his last day even before the incident.
Nerves are raw, for sure.
related articles
NYC Street Fight Rat vs. Pigeon DQ'd by Blindside Strike
A fight between 2 of New York's most notorious residents -- a pigeon and a rat -- looked like it was going to the death ... until a pipe-wielding referee broke up the action.
All this video is missing is a UFC Octagon, and it looks like the rat was about to make the pigeon tap out ... like, forever. The bird was flapping its wings, desperately trying to get out of the rat's death grip.
Things really weren't looking good for the "rat of the sky" when all of a sudden -- outta nowhere -- a man delivered a crushing blow to the ground rat. The rodent quickly scurried away, but looks like the poor pigeon took a few blows too ... adding insult to injury.
Miraculously, both the bird and the rat seemed to walk away from the melee alive. The pigeon even had some swagger in its step as it left. Then again they always look like they're strutting.
The rematch is gonna be awesome.
related articles
High-Flying Drone Drops Bags Of Weed Over Tel Aviv
It's cloudy with a chance of cannabis in Tel Aviv ... a drone dropped bags of weed over a city square, sending folks running into the streets for the gratis greens.
Dank started dropping from the skies over Rabin Square Thursday, a ganja gift from local activists seeking to legalize it.
הזייה בכיכר רבין: רחפן הטיל מהשמיים עשרות שקיות של מריחואנה. מי שעומד מאחורי המיזם זאת קבוצה שמכנה את עצמה "הרחפן הירוק". בגלל שלא חישבו נכון את הרוח, רוב החומר התפזר על הכביש באבן גבירול. עוברי אורח נהנו מהשלל@ynetalerts pic.twitter.com/xeziJsH950
— איתי בלומנטל Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) September 3, 2020 @ItayBlumental
As you can see in the video, the free baggies of bud started fluttering down from a high-flying drone, and people scrambled to scoop up the strains in the middle of traffic.
Pro-legalization group Green Drone hinted at the operation beforehand in a message on Telegram, saying ... "The time has come. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the Green Drone sending you free cannabis from the skies."
The fun police, AKA actual police, put a stop to it all, though -- cops say they arrested 2 men who allegedly operated the drone. Police claimed the bags were packed with "a dangerous drug." Hey, not everyone's come around on marijuana.
Medical cannabis is legal in Israel, while recreational use is illegal, but mostly decriminalized.
related articles
Snoop Dogg In His Element Helping Chem Professor ... Class Gets Words of Wisdom
A chemistry class expecting instructions from their professor instead got a very special message from his T.A. instead ... the one and only, Snoop Dogg.
Dr. Benny is the sharply-dressed teacher of Chem 60 at Los Angeles Pierce College, and on the first day of visual learning, he enlisted the rapper to send a very important message to his students ... read the syllabus!!
As for why, Snoop tells the class ... "The more you know, the further you go." Dr. Benny approves.
If first impressions are everything, you gotta think these college kids will be more inspired than ever to learn about elements and compounds.
After all, a Snoop Dogg Cameo doesn't come cheap at $750 a pop ... so Dr. Benny means business.
related articles
Wild Video Man Feeds Bear ... Out of His Own Mouth!!!
This guy is blowing off that ol' saying, "Don't feed the bears," in the worst way possible ... feeding one from his own mouth!!! Yeah, this is WILD.
The dude's name is Dakota Datz, but if he keeps this up ... call him Bear Bait. It's unclear where he did this, but he ran into a bear cub that loves cookies, so Dakota decided on a little mouth-to-mouth to feed his new furry friend.
Yeah, the bear looks cute and all ... but, obviously, this is NOT advisable. Dakota recorded vids, over several days, interacting with the cub during a camping trip. In one post he included the caption, "Baby girl came back this weekend."
Of course ... you're giving her cookies!!!
He might have gotten this idea from Jason Momoa ... who as ya might remember did the exact same thing last November. Difference is ... Aquaman did with a bear in captivity. Still not a good idea.
Then there's the family that fed a bear PB&J sandos?! Come to think of it ... none were braver than the woman who took a selfie with a wild black bear and lived to tell it.
One more time for the slow folks ... don't do this.
related articles
UFC's Dana White Hires Viral Best Buy Security Guard ... Who Punked Alleged Shoplifter
-
Breaking News
- 3.9K shares
When Dana White offered a job to a female Best Buy security guard who manhandled a male alleged shoplifter back in December ... HE WASN'T KIDDING!
You remember Summer Tapasa -- the woman who was FIRED from her Best Buy gig when surveillance video of the December incident went viral ... showing her beating up a suspected shoplifter to keep him from leaving the store.
Dana was so impressed at the time, he flew her out to UFC 246 in January to watch the Conor McGregor vs. Cowboy Cerrone fight as his VIP guest.
Now, Dana has announced he's brought Summer on board as a full-time UFC staffer!
"I brought her out to Vegas. I offered her a job here. She went back to Hawaii, she weighed all her options and she decided to work for UFC. She is now a UFC employee, so for all of you thinking about f**king around here at UFC, you will get your ass whooped by Summer,” White said.
Summer also shot a video -- saying, “My name is Summer Tapasa and I am a UFC corporate security officer."
"I have been working with UFC for eight days and I am looking forward to expanding my career and hopefully moving on up."
Congrats to Summer -- and our condolences to anyone who ever tries to steal anything out of UFC headquarters in Vegas.
related articles
Crazy Video Holy S***, This Owl Pooped On My Head!!!
As Dr. Seuss might say ... this owl made him howl, and it's all because of the owl's bowels.
This dude probably thought he had one cool video to post on Instagram after someone with a pet owl popped into the restaurant where he was eating. The owl somehow ends up on his head, which amuses him to no end. And, speaking of ends, he didn't know what was coming.
The vid was shot last year but lots of stuff is circulating during quarantine, and we thought it was pretty funny ... and appropriate. After all, 2020 has been an undeniably crappy year.
related articles
Taco Bell Wi-Fi Users GoFundMe Cash for Little Girls ... To Be Used for Long Haul
-
Exclusive
- 3.2K shares
The little girls who had to use a Taco Bell's Wi-Fi for school have been blessed with thousands of dollars in donations -- money that'll be put to good use ... TMZ has learned.
Jackie Lopez, the woman running the GoFundMe page soliciting funds for the family in the viral photo, raised $142k-plus thus far ... and a good chunk of that will go toward the children's education.
Two students sit outside a Taco Bell to use Wi-Fi so they can 'go to school' online.
— Kevin de Leόn (@kdeleon) August 28, 2020 @kdeleon
This is California, home to Silicon Valley...but where the digital divide is as deep as ever.
Where 40% of all Latinos don't have internet access. This generation deserves better. pic.twitter.com/iJPXvcxsLQ
Lopez says the girls' mom, Juana, plans on starting a college fund for her three kids -- two of whom were seen sitting outside of a Taco Bell with their laptops and notepads. The third child is only a year old, but Juana's focusing on the long play.
Juana also wants to use some of the money for therapy for her kids. She says the family's been in and out homelessness and it's likely had an effect on the kids, so she wants her daughters to talk to a professional.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Juana's now looking to buy a mobile home in Salinas. On top of that, Lopez says Juana will upgrade the ice cream cart she uses for work ... one of many things she does to earn a living.
You'll recall ... the photo of Juana's two girls caused quite a stir. Elected officials said it was emblematic of the digital divide in minority communities, and clearly folks were concerned.
Now, people know their contributions will go toward a life-changing cause.
related articles
MLB's Jake Marisnick Violent Collision With Outfield Wall ... Badly Bruises Face
-
Breaking News
- 301 shares
OUUUUUUUCHHHHH!!!!
New York Mets outfielder Jake Marisnick violently crashed into a wall in an attempt to make a catch Wednesday ... and sacrificed his FACE in the process.
Check out footage of the center fielder trying to snag a fly ball in the 2nd inning of the Mets-Orioles game ... but instead, ending up with a face full of Camden Yards' wall.
Jake Marisnick crashed into the wall, and it looked bad. He's staying in, though.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) September 2, 2020 @JustinCToscano
That's one tough dude. pic.twitter.com/xBIUtZGL98
The play was crazy ... Baltimore catcher Pedro Severino roped a ball into deep center -- and not noticing the wall approaching, Marisnick slammed right into it at full speed trying to make the grab.
To his credit, Marisnick still got up and attempted to make the play ... but afterward, he had to be checked out by trainers.
Jake Marisnick is banged up after crashing into the wall pic.twitter.com/VN9chyfkLY
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 2, 2020 @SNYtv
And, when cameras zoomed on the 29-year-old's face -- you can see the dude had some serious bruising around his nose and eyes from his sunglasses.
But, Jake stayed in the game ... and actually BALLED OUT -- going 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.
Tough man!!!
related articles
Dijon Kizzee New Surveillance Vid ... Shooting by L.A. Sheriff's Deputies
-
Breaking News
- 3.5K shares
L.A. County Sheriff's deputies gunned down a Black man in South L.A. this week -- which can now be seen in full view through new surveillance video that was just released.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump posted footage obtained by a security camera at a nearby home, not far from where 29-year-old Dijon Kizzee was shot multiple times and killed on the spot Monday afternoon. His death has come under scrutiny and sparked protests.
LASD says officers were attempting to stop Kizzee after they found he was "in violation of vehicle codes" while riding his bike. They say they pursued him when he fled ... and things escalated into a physical confrontation between Kizzee and at least one deputy, which you can see here.
The Sheriff's Dept. goes on to say that during the struggle, some items Kizzee was carrying fell on the ground ... one of which they claim was a handgun. LASD claims at that point, Kizzee broke free and tried fleeing once again, but officers fired multiple rounds and took him down.
Crump and others contend that even if a gun was in Kizzee's possession during the altercation, he didn't point it at them and was not a threat by the time he ran a second time. They're demanding Sheriff Alex Villanueva release the names of the deputies who fired the shots ... while also asking for their arrest and eventual prosecution. The case is under investigation.
This is just the latest police-involved shooting that's come under the microscope -- of course, just 2 weeks ago, Jacob Blake was shot as he was walking away from police in Wisconsin.
related articles
Taryn Manning I'll Be Perfect Movie 'Karen' To Teach Real 'Karens' to Change
-
Exclusive
- 1.9K shares
Taryn Manning is so sick and tired of the Karens of the world ... she's ready to play one in an effort to bring their racist behavior to a screeching halt.
The "Orange Is the New Black" star hopped on "TMZ Live" Wednesday to discuss why she's embracing the villainous role in director Coke Daniels' new film aptly dubbed "Karen White" ... about a racist white woman who terrorizes her new Black neighbors. Yeah, sounds painfully familiar.
Taryn says she actually wants you to hate her in the film, not only because it means she did a great acting job -- but because she's hoping it shows how desperately society needs to change and embrace racial equality.
Coke says his script will dig deep ... in an effort to better understand the psychology behind people who act this way in real life. Don't get it twisted, he's not trying to justify the behavior -- he wants to illustrate how outrageous micro-aggressions can lead to racism and violence.
God knows they've got countless examples to get inspiration for the film, which they'll be shooting this fall. See Manhattan Beach Karen, Drive-Thru Karen, Radio Host Karen or Old Lady Karen. Plenty of research material out there, and Taryn told us she's watching it all, closely.
related articles
Nebraska Man Pitches City Council ... Lose 'Boneless Chicken Wings'
A Nebraska man had a helluva pitch for his local City Council leaders -- making no bones about the fact that so-called "boneless" chicken wings are the scourge of society.
This is a real thing that recently went down in Lincoln, NE -- where a well-to-do citizen, Ander Christensen, got up during the public comment section to air his grievances about this widespread problem that he felt was ruining a way of life for Americans.
At first, it sounds like he's talking about a major social issue -- like LGBT rights, racism or something -- but instead, he pivots to poultry ... as in chicken wings. Watch for yourself.
The man gave a passionate speech about how the phrase "boneless chicken wings" absolutely must be retired in Lincoln, across menus from all over the city's many restaurants. Why??? Because he says it's a bald-faced lie, straight up.
He makes some great points -- basically, boneless chicken wings are really just mini chicken tenders ... but restaurant-goers continue to live in a fantasy. He's got some alternative names in mind -- and they're not half bad. BTW, the dude is dead serious here ... or so it seems.
Laugh if you must, but don't clip this guy's wings just yet ... clipping the name will do just fine.
related articles
Boxer Ryan Garcia Gets Ass Kicked By TikTok Stars Dixie D'Amelio, Addison Rae
-
Breaking News
- 276 shares
Boxing superstar Ryan Garcia just caught the first L of his career ... and it wasn't at the hands of Tank Davis or Luke Campbell -- he got beat up by some TikTok stars!!!
Okay ... so, that's not true at all. BUT, the 22-year-old phenom *did* hit the gym with the uber-popular social media stars Dixie D'Amelio and Addison Rae on Wednesday ... and they all took part in the "Body Shot Challenge!!"
Of course, we've seen Garcia's viral trend in the past with guys like Logan and Jake Paul ... where they put on a body pad and take hits from the 20-0 fighter.
Only this time, Ryan put on the pads and let Dixie and Addison fire off some punches for a solid 6 seconds before begging for mercy!!
And, the Oscar goes to ...
Hey, we get it!! The video wouldn't be nearly as fun if Ryan didn't ham it up for the camera.
Fun fact: the trio has a combined 51.2 million followers on Instagram ... and 97.9 MILLION followers on TikTok.
Ya can't deny Dixie and Addison's skills, though -- both ladies can land a serious punch!!
Maybe they'll follow the Paul brothers' lead and be the next social media stars-turned-boxers??