The Authority with Dr. Sanford Richmond

On this episode of The Authority due to popular demand on Twitter and social media…I welcome back Michael Jackson writer and historian Charles Thomson. We simply continue and extend our discussion from our previous interview in which we talk about the aftermath of HBO's explosive documentary Leaving Neverland in which two men, James Safechuck and Wade Robson accuse Michael Jackson of molesting them when they were children. In our first interview Thomson points out the many...many holes and contradictions of the documentary alongside attacking the credibility and integrity of Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed.

In this episode of The Authority our interview focuses more on the aftermath of Leaving Neverland and the repercussions it has caused to Jackson’s legacy. Thomson assesses whether the documentary caused as much damage to Jackson’s legacy as the participants of Leaving Neverland (Safechuck, Robson and Reed) and the global anti-Michael Jackson mass media operation had hoped. We also dig deeper into the sexual abuse allegations that appear to describe a pattern of behavior that Jackson allegedly carries out against his victims which leads many to say, “where there’s smoke there’s fire!” Thomson talks about this alleged pattern of behavior and provides his hilarious but honest take on the famous expression "where there’s smoke there’s fire!"

Thomson also talks about how his journalistic career has been affected by being a long-time writer and defender of Jackson. In addition, he discusses his thoughts and feelings about how the Jackson family has embraced and more importantly—trusted him in being an authority on Jackson’s life, reputation and legacy. Furthermore, being a multiple award-winning journalist, he talks about being nominated for another award in the UK and not knowing the results until the day after our interview. And because the award is rewarded by public vote, Thomson speaks about how Michael Jackson fans across the UK are creating massive campaigns for people to vote for him. And ultimately the massive campaigns by Jackson fans was successful, as Thomson won an award for his investigative journalism by IRONICALLY exposing a massive pedophile ring in the UK labeled the "Shoebury Sex Ring" http://www.yellowad.co.uk/article.cfm?id=142032

Enjoy the show!

On this episode of The Authority I discuss the new era of leadership in the NBA under commissioner Adam Silver. I compare Silver’s leadership with his predecessor David Stern and the contrast of how they treated their players in a league which comprised of a black male majority. Silver by many accounts appeared to treat NBA players like partners and Stern by the observation of many appeared to treat NBA players like subordinates…some would argue (like me) like slaves. Stern had a reputation of running the NBA with an iron fist in which he stifled freedom of speech and expression. Silver seems to be more egalitarian in his approach in how he treats the players of the NBA. Also, and more importantly, Silver appears to allow his black players to express themselves socially and politically unlike any era in NBA history, including and especially the era of David Stern.

NBA superstars Lebron James, Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant and coach Gregg Popovich alongside many other NBA figures seem to be on the frontline of the racial resistance in America regarding their social and political justice views alongside unapologetically attacking the repressive and oppressive policies and opinions of President Donald Trump. The question I ask on this episode is…would this freedom of expression and speech happen under Stern?

Would Stern allow this freedom of political expression and speech…or would he stifle it like he did in 1996 with Chris Jackson (now Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) in which Abdul-Rauf refused to come out of the locker room during the national anthem because he felt the song and the flag represented a “symbol of oppression?” Instead of allowing Abdul-Rauf to express himself Stern fined him nearly $32,000 and suspended him a game.

If Stern was still commissioner would he allow his players to express themselves freely in this era of hyper racial consciousness…or does he maintain his rules of restriction, censorship and punishment? I dive into this hypothetical with national scholar on race, sports and popular culture Dr. David Leonard. He is a leading authority on race and sports in America with most of his expertise focused on the issue of race and race relations in the NBA. Leonard also wrote a book some years back focused on Stern’s controversial leadership titled After Artest: The NBA and the Assault on Blackness. You’re going to want to hear what he has to say! Enjoy the show!!

In recent years there has been this never-ending debate on who’s the greatest basketball player of all time. On social media, sports talk shows, barbershops, sports websites and blogs there is this one burning question that sports fans in America and around the world are asking themselves: who is the greatest, Lebron James or Michael Jordan? Well in this episode of The Authority, I join this never-ending debate of who is the greatest basketball player of all-time. I try to provide stats and data versus wins and losses to make my point of who I believe is the greatest basketball player of all-time. I discuss this endless (but fun) public debate with my guest Dr. David Leonard, national scholar on race, popular culture and sports.

This episode of The Authority is about NBA superstar Lebron James and his social activism in recent years. I discuss where he started from regarding his early years as an NBA player who was reluctant to speak out on social issues…to where he is now in which he is an unapologetic, conscientious speaker of political and racial justice. The evolution of Lebron James as a speaker of racial and political truth is more fascinating as his fame has only progressed throughout the years in which now there is a majority consensus that places him as the face of the NBA and the face of sports in America. I will discuss the social activism of Lebron James with my guest Dr. David Leonard who is a national scholar on race, popular culture and sports.

In this episode of The Authority I tackle the issue of cheating in sports. And the featured topic is the documented serial cheating of the NFL team The New England Patriots. For almost 2 decades now they have been accused and ultimately have been found to be serial cheaters. Although it has been proven that they are serial cheaters of massive proportions... http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/13533995/split-nfl-new-england-patriots-apart ... they have practically received little to no accountability or punishment for their multiple offences.

And in the meantime, while receiving no punishment they have become the most successful franchise in modern football history winning 5 super bowls along with multiple super bowl appearances since 2002. One must question with all this winning, why no punishment for their numerous cheating offences? Is it race? Protecting the legacy of the white quarterback Tom Brady, the white coach Bill Belichick and the white owner Robert Kraft.

Contrast this reality with the black high profile sports figures in recent years having their careers and even lives ruined because of alleged cheating: Barry Bonds and the steroid scandal, former NFL running back Reggie Bush having his Heisman Trophy confiscated when he was at USC and the Jackie Robinson West little league baseball team who got their 2014 national title revoked. Why do they and the many other high-profile sports figures (mostly black) receive harsh, unapologetic punishment for cheating and the New England Patriots don’t? Again, is it race? I discuss this topic with David Leonard, national scholar of race, popular culture and sports.

In this episode of The Authority, I discuss the pairing of Nike and exiled NFL star and activist Colin Kaepernick. Since Kaepernick has paired with Nike, according to ESPN, Nike’s stock has risen 6.25 percent, adding 6.38 billion to Nike’s value... http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24796806/nike-colin-kaepernick-ad-results-record-engagement-says-ceo-mark-parker

Ever since Kaepernick took his public stance against racial injustice and police brutality, taking a knee on NFL sidelines on gameday Sundays, a legion of sports pundits, reporters, and figures alike have argued that Kaepernick would be bad for the NFL regarding popularity and TV ratings if he were to ever enter back into the league. But what does the historic rise in Nike’s stock and value due to Kaepernick presence say about that theory?

I also focus on Nike’s history of pairing with high profile black celebrities with uncompromising racial politics. From Spike Lee to Lebron James and Serena Williams to now Colin Kaepernick…should Nike get credit for historically accepting and marketing high profile black figures with radical racial politics?

Years…even decades from now will Nike be on the right side of history because of their acceptance of such racially and socially outspoken black stars? Or will Nike’s sullied history of exploitative labor and business practices around the world outweigh their public acceptance of such stars? I discuss this topic with Dr. David Leonard, national scholar on race, sports and popular culture.

In this episode of The Authority I discuss the aftermath of the 2018 midterm elections. I discuss whether the 2018 midterm elections was a big success for the Democrats or a big disappointment. The historical fashion in which Democrats seized victory across the country would say the former. Democrats won in record fashion with regard to house seats, legislative seats and governorships. This was considered by many political critics and pundits a blue wave https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/11/12/the-blue-wave-was-big-and-significant-in-state-legislatures/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8f0426869292

But was this blue wave enough for Democrats to enact change in congress? And can this so-called blue wave maintain momentum in the 2020 elections when Donald Trump runs as the incumbent president? I discuss these burning questions about the outcome of the election with educator, psychologist, and national DJ, Rome Devase.