LONDON - As Serena Williams stood atop the medal podium, her career Golden Slam complete thanks to an Olympic rout, the gusty wind on Centre Court blew the U.S. flag off its pole midway through the national anthem.

Old Glory came to rest in front of the Royal Box.

"It was probably flying to come hug me because the flag was so happy," Williams said.

Williams wore a smile herself after she became only the second woman to achieve a Golden Slam, winning the most lopsided women's final in Olympic history Saturday by beating Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1.

The victory completed a remarkable run of domination by the No. 4-seeded Williams, who lost only 17 games in six matches en route to her first singles gold medal. She went 13-0 this summer at the All England Club, where she won her fifth Wimbledon title a month ago.

It took the No. 3-seeded Sharapova 45 minutes to win a game, and by then she trailed 6-0, 3-0. Williams dominated with her serve and repeatedly blasted winners from the baseline, taking a big swing with almost every stroke despite the windy conditions on Centre Court.

Williams said the tournament was the best she has played from start to finish.

"I was so focused here," she said. "I remember I was serving and I was thinking: 'Serena, this is your best chance to win a gold medal. You're at Wimbledon, you're on grass, you play great on grass, pull it together, just win this.' And that's what I thought about."

TV One, the cable channel, is to be commended and loudly applauded for “Unsung,” the series of hour-long documentaries that focus on Black recording artists who have had a lot of success, yet are deserving of more recognition.

The shows are informative, well-researched, and feature the artists themselves revealing their truths and sharing their opinions regarding their careers. We also hear from others associated with them. Plus, programs are just fun. And get this, if you, like me, do not have cable, you can watch the “Unsung” shows online (visit the TV One website or watch them on YouTube).

Most recently I enjoyed the editions on Millie Jackson, Mary Wells and the O’Jays. Among the other artists who have been profiled are Ray Parker Jr., the Sylvers, Tyrone Davis, Phyllis Hyman, Heatwave, Sheila E., DeBarge, Klymaxx, Freddie Jackson, Vesta Williams, Miki Howard, Whodini, Angela Winbush, David Ruffin, Stacy Lattisaw, Bobby Womack, Tammi Terrell, Donny Hathaway, Klymaxx and Billy Preston. Oh yeah, and Teena Marie, but most people considered her Black anyway!

THE JACKSON FAMILY has every reason to be ashamed of themselves for their shockingly deplorable behavior in recent weeks. The accusing, the counter-accusing, the slapping, the name calling, the media baiting, the lying and, of course, the getting on what are probably the last nerves of 82-year-old Katherine Jackson.

So much for peace in her golden years. I feel sorry for her. No wonder she had to get away from it all by temporarily relocating from the Los Angeles area to Arizona!

We all know how tainted megastar Michael Jackson was, and his family “imploding” right before our eyes fits right in. And it still seems strange that super rich Michael would leave everything to his three kids and his mother and absolutely nothing to his brothers, sisters, father or any other relative or friend.

And if I were a big gambling man, I would bet that those millions have something (maybe a lot) to do with this disgusting madness. Talk about a dysfunctional family!

WE HEAR that contrary to certain rumors, Black radio superstar Donnie Simpson, like the Electrifyin’ Mojo, has no desire to return to radio, or in Simpson’s case, television either.

The very personable Simpson started out in the 1970s as a Soul Teen Reporter on WJLB, representing Denby High School, and soon became a full-time radio personality, known as “the Luv Bug.” His show would start with the Supremes’ hit “Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart,” featuring the opening line, “The love bug done bit me!”

After that he spent 15 years at WRC-FM (which later became WKYS) in Washington, DC, and 17 years at WPGC-FM in the same city. That’s in addition to hosting BET’s popular “Video Soul” show from 1983 to 1997.

But it was time to move on. Donnie told me that it had gotten to the point where some artists from the hip-hop world would approach him in public places, reminding him that they had been on “Video Soul” — and he would have no recollection.

It must be nice to retire wealthy. By the way, the very first article on Donnie Simpson was done in the Michigan Chronicle, in this column. He once said on “Video Soul” that “Steve is a good guy.” Thanks, Donnie! Backatcha!

THERE IS an old song titled “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” Well, as you know, Mariah Carey will be coming aboard “American Idol” as a judge next season. She will be paid a whopping $18 million, making her the highest paid judge in the history of competition music TV shows.

Good for her, but is she really worth that much? Just asking! Simon Cowell, the often acerbic but popular former “American Idol” judge, said there might be a problem with Carey being tough when she needs to be because she is “nice.”

In 2003 Black rock star Lenny Kravitz opened an interior design company, based in New York City. Now he wants to go global with Kravitz Design, including clothes, bedding and furniture. Considering his track record, success seems likely.

Readers have provided some interesting information regarding recent concerts. One reader said Cherrelle was not at her best at Chene Park recently. Apparently there were even boos and the songstress seemed to “influenced.”

Another reader, A.B. Braggs, said Pattti LaBelle’s performance at the DTE Energy Theater was, surprisingly, “lackluster at best.” He said, “Her voice was weak and she showed no energy at all.”

Let’s hope these were one-time-only occasions.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW...that Diana Ross used to work in the basement cafeteria at Hudson’s department store. Her job was to clean off tables.

MEMORIES: “Keep On Truckin’” (Eddie Kendricks), “If I Were Your Woman” (Gladys Knight & the Pips), “The Great Pretender” (the Platters), “Something About You” (the Four Tops),” “One Nation Under a Groove” (Funkadelic), “Trapped By a Thing Called Love” (Denise LaSalle), “It’s You That I Need” (Enchantment). “Young Hearts Run Free” (Candi Staton).

BLESSINGS to Walter Hall, Jill Day-Foley, L.J. Reynolds, Marcus Patton, Brenda Perryman, Keith Alan Owens, Alexis Williams, Terry Cabell, Stephen Singleton and Gwen West.

WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Alan Cohen: “Thank God for what you have and you will always have what you need.”

Let the music play!

(Steve Holsey can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.)

The Wayne State University College of Nursing has received a grant of nearly $3.4 million dollars from the 21st Century Community Learning Center, funded by the Michigan Department of Education. The grant funds an after-school and summer enrichment program to prepare 1,250 high school students for admission to college and careers in health care. During each year of the five-year grant, the C2 (College and Career-Ready) pipeline project will offer 50 students at each of five public high schools a 38-week program to improve academic achievement, enhance preparation for college and encourage interest in health careers.

The five high schools are Ecorse, Oak Park, Detroit Northwestern, Detroit Cody and East Detroit.

“We sought this grant to help alleviate the uneven distribution of health care professionals in Michigan,” said Barbara K. Redman, dean of the College of Nursing. “The goal is to encourage students from medically underserved areas to choose health careers and gain the academic skills necessary for college so they can eventually work as health professionals in the communities where they live. C2 Pipeline reflects Wayne State University’s commitment to the urban communities it serves, and the College of Nursing’s focus on preparing a highly trained health workforce for the future.”

C2 Pipeline will provide 10 hours of after-school activities weekly and a six-week summer program that will include field trips and college tours for students in grades nine through 12. In addition to the academic and health career focus, the program will provide a supportive environment for students. A meal will be provided and transportation will be available if needed, although the program will be held primarily at the host schools.

Tutors and enrichment instructors will be experienced and meet all state licensing guidelines. Creative lesson plans will complement the school district’s core curriculum and school improvement plan. The program will be based on the 21st Century Learning Center, a successful state program for youth in urban settings.

Program results will be evaluated based on increased attendance, improved grades, student retention and graduation rates, as well as the number of students who enroll in a community college or university compared to a control group. A Stakeholders Advisory Committee including parents, program partners, community stakeholders and representatives of the Area Wide Parents Advisory Councils will review C2 Pipeline’s progress; a comprehensive evaluation of the program also will be conducted.

The C2 Pipeline project is sponsored by Wayne State University (College of Nursing, School of Medicine, School of Social Work and the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences), the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and the Michigan Area Health Education Center.

The program will begin during the fall semester of 2012, when information sessions will be held at each school and student applications will be available. Additional information is available from Don Neal, Wayne State University College of Nursing, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

A challenge to Michigan’s emergency- manager law, which allows the state to take over the finances of fiscally-troubled cities, must appear on the Nov. 6 ballot, the state’s supreme court ruled.
The Michigan Supreme Court today ordered the state’s board of canvassers to put the repeal of the rule before state voters. The board earlier rejected petitions for a vote because papers filed by the law’s opponents didn’t use the right size type.
“A majority of this court holds that plaintiff is entitled to a new writ of mandamus requiring the Board of State Canvassers to certify its petition as sufficient,” Justice Mary Beth Kelly wrote.
The Michigan law, signed by Governor Rick Snyder last year, gives emergency managers the right to terminate employee contracts and suspend collective bargaining. Opponents contend the law is anti-democratic and lets unelected officials rule over local governments.
The 2011 law will be suspended after the state board certifies the election petitions. The effect of this suspension is in dispute and will probably trigger additional court battles, according to lawyers on both sides.
Detroit’s Agreement
Opponents of the law have said the suspension should cover Detroit’s agreement with the state over city finances even though it was reached before an emergency manager was appointed.
“Because the consent agreement was pushed down the throats of the city of Detroit, the agreement should be invalidated,” said Julie Hurwitz, attorney for Stand Up for Democracy, which opposes the law. “The state’s going to resist that. This will go to the courts,” she said.
The ruling will block further actions by already-appointed emergency managers over cities or school boards, said William Goodman, another attorney for Stand up for Democracy.
“Any action taken will be extralegal,” he said in an interview.
A prior law allowing emergency managers should cover those appointed to oversee cities including Benton Harbor and Pontiac, said John Pirich, attorney for Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility, which supports the 2011 measure.
“The 1990 act would be reinstated,” Pirich said. “It’s not the same act, but we’ve had emergency managers since 1990.”
Interim Effect
The 1990 law will “govern in the interim” between the suspension and the election, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said in a statement before the Supreme Court ruled. The 2011 law remains in effect until state election officials certify the petitions from opponents, Schuette said.
The ballot initiative was rejected by Michigan’s board of state canvassers because the signature forms didn’t comply with a legal requirement that petition headings had to be in 14-point type.
Stand Up for Democracy appealed the decision, contending the variance was minor, that the petition was in “substantial compliance” and its rejection would thwart the will of Michigan citizens. The Michigan Court of Appeals ordered the board to place the measure on the ballot, finding that the petitions complied substantially with the heading type-size requirement.
The 2011 law gave the state “considerably more power” to take over the financial affairs of a city or other municipality or school board, said Hurwitz.
“The emergency manager becomes essentially a dictator, with unilateral power to invalidate contracts, to sell property, to literally run the government,” she said.
The case is Stand Up for Democracy v. Board of State Canvassers, 145387, Michigan Supreme Court (Lansing).

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-03/michigan-emergency-manager-law-goes-on-ballot-court-says.html

DETROIT (WWJ) As gas prices spike in metro Detroit, vRIDE, the nation’s largest corporate vanpooling service, is encouraging the millions of drivers who commute to work daily to kick the habit.

The goal: Get people to hop in a van and cruise to work with friends instead. Tap away on your Blackberry, read work papers, do whatever you have to do while a driver whisks you to work.

“According to the Wall Street Journal, a commuter wastes two weeks or about 80 hours sitting in traffic per year,” said Ann Fandozzi, CEO of vRIDE. “That’s the reality we’re facing. All of these cars are single commuters — they’re burning fuel and they’re causing stress.”

On average, Fandozzi said, about 20 million commuters across the country drive 45 minutes or more one way to get to work daily, and a majority of them take the trip alone.

The Detroit-based company is taking a stand against single occupant vehicles with its new “Don’t Be An S.O.V.” campaign. The program aims to save drivers more than $5,000 in gas and hundreds of hours wasted in traffic per year through “vanpooling,” or carpooling in vans with routes set throughout Michigan.

“We have three things that we try to do — save commuters money, save them time, and save gas,” Fandozzi said.
vRIDE’s goal is to get 1 million cars off the road per day by the end of 2013, and they’ve rallied with transportation companies like MichiVan to make it happen.

An average vRIDE van seats 10 people, Fandozzi said, taking nine cars off the road with every drive. The service costs each occupant about $1,200 per year, slicing the cost of gas, vehicle repairs and insurance from the household bills.

Judy Levy, an assistant attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, said she has used a vanpool to get to work for the past eight years.

“I am very interested in protecting the environment,” Levy said. “I’m interested in saving money in highway safety and my own safety on the road, and I’m interested in the best and highest use of my own time. I’ve found being in a carpool could meet all those interests at the same time.”

vRIDE currently offers transportation to about 6,000 commuters in Michigan. For more information on routes and pick-ups, visit www.vride.com.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/08/03/gas-prices-too-high-consider-vride/

Speaking at the Young America's Foundation's National Conservative Student Conference on Friday morning, Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) said military experience is the most important trait that presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's running mate must have.

"First time in 77 years there is a possibility that neither the sitting president and vice president, or the candidates for president and vice president have served in the military ... and when I look at the number one title for president of the United States of America is commander in chief, that's what concerns me," West said.

West based his comments on what he sees as Romney's need to fill the holes in his own resume with a running mate.

"I think that whoever Governor Romney is as a presidential candidate, he has to do his own self-assessment, self-analysis and understand 'where are my weaknesses,'" West said. "Therefore, the person that I have running with me as my 'fox-hole buddy,' if I want to put it in military terms, they have to be someone that shores up where I see my weakness are so we can be a really strong command team, leadership team."

West initially laughed when a student asked him to weigh in on a potential GOP vice presidential candidate.

"Oh man, there are cameras on here," West said. The congressman then went on to tamp down any speculation that he himself was ever a potential pick. "I was never being considered," he said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/03/allen-west-mitt-romney-vice-president_n_1737885.html

The parking meters in Detroit won't be accepting plastic for the next few weeks. That's because the city has temporarily taken the machines' credit card processing offline in order to look around for a new credit transaction vendor. The meters will still continue to accept coins.

In the past Detroit has used PayPal to handle these credit transactions. Municipal Parking Department Deputy Manager James Canty told The Huffington Post that meter companies sometimes have an exclusive agreement with a particular credit card company. After looking into the matter, his department verified that Paypal did not have this sort of arrangement with the city's meter vendor. For this reason, the city of Detroit is now shopping around for one vendor to handle all of these services.

"We suspended it so we can set up that vendor based on the correct city contracting procedures. There was a little ambiguity whether this was the sole source for [processing] credit cards with the meter company," he said. "We're looking at every area of our business to ensure we're getting the maximum service for the best price."

Canty estimates the meters' credit card service will be up and functioning again in no less than 45 days.

The temporary suspension of the credit card option for meters adds another layer of inconvenience for those trying to find parking downtown. Visitors and commuters must already deal with limited parking availability, fluctuating rates at private parking lots for special events such as sports games and erratic attendance at these lots during non-event days.

Canty said he understands the situation is frustrating for drivers and downtown business owners who depend on accessible parking for patronage at their establishments.

"We ask they be patient," he said. "We apologize for the inconvenience, but the meters do accept coins at any time."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/01/detroit-parking-meters-credit-card-cards_n_1728515.html?utm_hp_ref=detroit

The Jackson family feud is seemingly simmering down… Jermaine Jackson recently withdrew his name from a family letter that claimed Michael’s estate was causing their mother extreme stress and now, Katherine Jackson has been reinstated as guardian of Michael’s three children–Paris, Prince and Blanket.
She and nephew TJ Jackson will share responsibilities, reports TMZ.
Her guardianship was temporarily suspended after she was reported missing when actually she was taking a break from her family at an Arizona spa.
Katherine does a “terrific job as guardian and the children love her,” said a court appointed investigator.

http://theurbandaily.com/1932183/katherine-jackson-reinstated-as-guardian-of-michaels-children/

The greatest need in a time of crisis is leadership. And it is the most rare commodity in our community. The most amazing thing that we often celebrate in people is their leadership style, unafraid to rock the boat and are very clear about their positions. They do not waver, sit on the fence or wait on someone to take a position before they come out hiding behind that position.

In the last couple of weeks I’ve found myself speaking to very diverse audiences that form the essence of this region, from the American Jewish Committee (AJC) leadership awards dinner to the Historic Ebenezer Leadership Breakfast, among other groups.

All of these organizations with broad missions have one thing in common: they are concerned about the state of leadership in our community, especially those who say they have the God-given right to serve us at the highest levels of our political system. Or in simple terms, those who claim a birthright to political leadership without any requisite leadership skills, but will get in those positions anyway because of name recognition, not proven leadership.

And so it makes me wonder sometimes if we have lowered the standards so much that political office has only become a linchpin for the greater good of those who seek it, instead of the public good of the electorate.

Because often we have mistaken leadership for who is the most popular or who has the most connections. We have sometimes offered ourselves like a lambs for the slaughter on the alter of double-talking politicians and/or individuals who will say anything to get into office.

They will do that to get votes not because it is a conviction but because it is the age- old strategy of luring voters to their side by what they think they want to hear.

We have seen the leadership examples of those already in office. We have seen how some have been afraid to make tough decisions when confronted with the most dire circumstances.

We have seen how some of our politicians act like Nicodimus in the middle of the night meeting to show their support for one cause and then deny the next day in a press conference that they were not behind that cause in the first place.

We have seen the leadership example of some who only seek to exploit the emotions of the economically oppressed just to get elected, but won’t do anything to help the 99 percent get out of the economic doldrums.

Leadership leads by example. For example, some of these politicians who talk so much and so loud of what should be done for our children do not offer one scholarship (that they pay for) in their name to help children of the underserved get an empowering education.

Yet, they tell us they are in office to secure the future for the children of this community. Beyond their designation of being public officials, what is their commitment? They are not working for free. They are bankrolled by taxpayers.

As a community we have to demand better of those who seek to negotiate on our behalf when public dollars are at stake.

We have to demand of those who are looking to be tagged “Detroit official” to understand what that means, and to exhibit attributes that fit the title.

In essence, we need a critical mass that would not be fooled by individuals who already understand the DNA of voters and know what can lure them to the polls. We need a critical mass that would require of elected officials something more than an ice cream social to get them to the polls.

We have to be better examples of the leadership that preceded our current elected officials.

The children in this community want a better future and to secure that future would mean those currently in office either must lead or get out of the way.

I had the pleasure this year to take part in the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront, a summer reading program for kids.

When it was my turn to read to the more than 60 kids (age three and older) who gathered on the Riverfront. I asked them to raise their hands and tell me what they want to be in the future.

Some wanted to be lawyers, doctors, firefighters, journalists, policemen and policewomen.

As I looked into their innocent, gentle and excited eyes when expressing their ambitions, it was clear to me that these children — our future — deserve better than the leadership currently being provided in our community. The future of these children who met on the Riverfront to read, coming from all parts of this city, and others like them should not be mortgaged by dubious self-serving leaders routinely sending mixed signals instead of being men and women of conviction.

Bankole Thompson is editor of the Michigan Chronicle and the author of a six-part book series on the Obama presidency. His book “Obama and Black Loyalty,” published in 2010, follows his recent book, “Obama and Christian Loyalty” with a foreward by Bob Weiner, former White House spokesman. His forthcoming books in 2012 are “Obama and Jewish Loyalty” and “Obama and Business Loyalty.” Thompson is a political news analyst at WDET-101.9FM (NPR affiliate) and a member of the weekly “Obama Watch” Sunday evening roundtable on WLIB-1190AM New York and simulcast in New Jersey and Connecticut.

Gabby Douglas Wins Gold In Women's Gymnastics Individual All-Around

Gabby Douglas now has an individual all-around gold medal to go with the team gold she won with her U.S. teammates. Dubbed the "Flying Squirrel" for her impressive array of aerial skills, Douglas edged Russian gymnast Victoria Komova, who took silver. Bronze went to Aliya Mustafina of Russia by way of a tiebreaker after American Aly Raisman finished with an identical score of 59.566.

The 16-year-old Douglas scored 62.232 while Komova scored 61.973. The Russian star took the last turn on the floor and couldn't reach the score needed to overtake Douglas. Beaming after finishing a sterling turn on the floor, Douglas could only wait and watch. Komova needed a score of 15.36 or higher to pass Douglas for gold but only earned a 15.100 for a solid routine.

Douglas opened with a 15.966 on the vault, despite coming perilously close to stepping off the track on her landing. In first place after the first rotation, Douglas scored 15.733 on the uneven bars, 15.500 on the beam and closed with a 15.033 on the floor.

Douglas' all-around gold medal marks the fourth time that an American woman has won the event, including the two previous golds won by Nastia Luikin (2008) and Carly Patterson (2004). Mary Lou Retton was the first American woman to win the all-around title in 1984.

Having performed in all rotations during the U.S. team's gold medal effort in the team competition and captured individual all-around gold, Douglas' triumph over teammate Jordyn Wieber at the U.S. Olympic Trials no longer seems like such an upset.

Entering the London Olympics, Douglas' teammate Jordyn Wieber was the favorite to win individual all-around gold. In a surprising turn of events, Wieber didn't even qualify for the individual final, finishing behind Doulgas and Aly Raisman during qualification and missing out due to the two-per country rule.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/02/gabby-douglas-gold-gymnastics-olympics_n_1733692.html