Jackie Robinson: Last News

Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic African American boxing champ Muhammad Ali famously refused to fight for his country, justifying himself with the oft-quoted quip, “No Viet Cong ever called me n—–.” That’s one-half of American history, and an important one. “Devotion” tells the other, presenting the story of a Black pilot so determined to defend — and die for, if need be — the United States that he was willing to endure institutional bigotry to become the Jackie Robinson of the skies: Jesse Brown, the first aviator of color to complete the Navy’s basic training program. A square but satisfying social justice drama set against the backdrop of the Korean War, “Devotion” impressed on the biggest screen possible at the Toronto Film Festival two months before its Nov. 23 theatrical release. Featuring elements of both “Green Book” and “Red Tails,” the film is more than just a stirring case of Black exceptionalism; it also celebrates the one white officer who had Brown’s back, Tom Hudner, treating the bond these two men formed as something exceptional unto itself. Director JD Dillard dazzles with see-it-in-Imax airborne sequences, but the meat of the film focuses on the friendship between Brown (“Da 5 Bloods” star Jonathan Majors) and his white wingman, played by Glen Powell, the “Hidden Figures” actor who most recently appeared in “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Elections in Florida and Wisconsin today make shift the political landscape for Donald Trump and Democrats, but it is Cory Booker who has taken centerstage.

EXCLUSIVE: Propagate Content has promoted four across key divisions.

EXCLUSIVE: Keith David has signed with Verve for representation. 

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios has begun development on a Untitled Kenny Washington film about the triumphs and hardships of the first Black NFL player leading up to his professional debut with the Los Angeles Rams. La Monte Edwards is penning the script. Adam Scott Epstein  will produce through his Comet Company banner, Cottrell B. Guidry producing through his Stay Cool Productions Banner and Evan Silverberg, Darin Friedman and Guymon Casady producing through Entertainment 360. Ryan Rottman, Nate Raabe and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers exec producing through their Awkward Handshake production company.

Baseball history has now changed forever, as Major League Baseball has officially incorporated Negro Leagues statistics into its record book.

Roberto Clemente are now suing the baseball legend’s sons, alleging that the family twice sold the rights to Clemente’s life story. Producers Jonah Hirsch and Angel Munoz announced plans in March 2023 to adapt the family-written biography, “Clemente: The True Legacy of an Undying Hero,” into a feature film. But after the announcement, the pair discovered that Thomas Tull, the former CEO of Legendary Pictures, was developing his own Clemente feature.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially announced that Shohei Ohtani has been signed to a 10-year contract with the team.

In the 24th weekly installment of the Deadline Strike Talk Podcast, host Billy Ray doesn’t seem too shaken by the surprise breakoff of talks between the studios and SAG-AFTRA.

As the Hollywood strikes stretched to Week 23, optimism is high that a deal between signatories and SAG-AFTRA is close and the town can go back to work. That enthusiasm could be felt with all the deal stories that Deadline broke this week, a clear signal of hope.

Black American culture as one of the most influential businessmen in entertainment. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native became a pillar in entertainment after moving to Los Angeles in the late 1960s.

One of the greatest pitchers in Los Angeles Dodgers history was honored Friday night at Dodger Stadium before the game.

Michael Nordine author There’s no shortage of great movies about baseball, but there is a severe lack of films about the Negro leagues. The fifth inning of Ken Burns’ expansive “Baseball” covers them with admirable reverence, but feature-length projects — whether narrative or documentary — are vanishingly rare. “The League” is therefore something close to required viewing for devotees of our national pastime just by virtue of its existence, so it comes as a relief that Sam Pollard’s documentary (exec produced by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson) is also quite good on the merits. Given his résumé, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Pollard’s prior work as director includes “MLK/FBI” and “Citizen Ashe,” and he’s also edited several Spike Lee joints; in addition to a Peabody Award and career achievement prize from the International Documentary Association, he shared an Oscar nomination with Lee for 1997’s “4 Little Girls” about the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.

took to Twitter to imagine a moment from the show where the host asked a contestant about a random piece of trivia and the player’s response. “Jeopardy be like: Host: The 2nd Earl of Winchester wrote this 1887 symphony about the tributary to the 42nd-largest river in Obscuristan,” tweeted the historian. “Contestant: What is ‘Aksjducpïsudintal in A Minor?’ I’ll take History for $100.”“Host: Name a Black person who did anything,” continued the tweet “Contestant: [silence]” Since being posted, the now-viral tweet has been viewed nearly 958,000 times.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film Critic “Sweetwater” is a biopic about Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the Black power forward who broke the color barrier of the NBA in 1950, three years after Jackie Robinson accomplished the same feat in baseball. It’s telling that Robinson remains one of the most celebrated heroes in sports history, while Clifton is still a somewhat obscure figure. (He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014, but still.) There’s a biting irony to that contrast. It relates to how the integration of basketball totally changed the game (the way it was played, the way the fans thought of it), even more than the integration of baseball changed baseball. “Sweetwater,” written and directed by Martin Guigui, is a straight-down-the-middle inspirational sports movie — and, one regrets to say, a kind of benign sketchbook version of the form. Yet it also tells the tale (or, at least, one slice of it) of the Harlem Globetrotters, the fabled team of barnstorming trickster prodigies who Clifton started off as a member of. There were several levels to the Globetrotters’ athletic magic, and the film captures how intricately tied it was to the way that Black players remade the game.

US Open-dominating Serena Williams to a baseball signed by not only Babe Ruth but Jackie Robinson, too, a jaw-dropping selection of sports equipment and apparel — each with an opening bid that makes season-ticket prices look like chump change — will hit the auction block at Sotheby’s starting Tuesday. The auction is Part II of Sotheby’s “Invictus” event, the first of which, running simultaneously, is dedicated solely to selling off Michael Jordan’s jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals — his last-ever season with the Chicago Bulls.

Vin Scully has sadly passed away at the age of 95.

Jon Weisman Vin Scully, the longtime Dodgers play-by-play announcer considered by many to be the king of his profession, died Tuesday. He was 94.The Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed Scully’s death through its official social media.“He was the voice of the Dodgers, and so much more,” the organization wrote.

Rap mogul Jay-Z reunited with comedian Kevin Hart for a meeting at his Roc Nation headquarters in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon.The 52-year-old Brooklyn billionaire clutched a green shoebox while sporting a brand new pair of white Puma sneakers.Jay-Z (born Shawn Carter) wore Army-green cargo pants and a white T-shirt emblazoned with whom appeared to be Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman Jackie Robinson. Businessmen: Rap mogul Jay-Z (L) reunited with comedian Kevin Hart (R) for a meeting at his Roc Nation headquarters in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood on Tuesday afternoonThe 24-time Grammy winner finished off his streetwear attire with a neon-green tie-dye bucket hat, black sunglasses, and an expensive-looking gold watch.Meanwhile, the 43-year-old Philly-born funnyman - who relies on stylist Ashley North - wore a long-sleeved white Gallery Dept.

Denzel Washington surprised baseball fans when he took to home plate at Dodgers Stadium to pay tribute to the iconic Jackie Robinson, 75 years after the trailblazing athlete broke baseball's color barrier.On Tuesday, the Academy Award winner donned Robinson's number 42 jersey to kick off the big game by honoring the baseball icon's legacy. «Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, 1947,» Washington began, noting when Robinson broke baseball's color barrier with the then-Brooklyn Dodgers. «When Jackie Robinson stepped onto a Major League Baseball field for the first time, armed with supreme talent and unshakable character and wearing a Dodgers uniform, he changed the game of baseball and so much more.»Washington praised Robinson's activities both on the field and off, saying that he «challenged us to become better versions of ourselves.»«Business leader, family man, activist, Hall of Famer,» thePresidential Medal of Honor recipient continued.

Denzel Washington honoured a sports hero.