DSU Roy Bright workout for Philadelphia 76ers

Depending on which NBA mock draft you check, the 76ers could be deciding on any number of prospects to be selected at No. 16. They are, in fact, scheduled to check out four more today at Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. But today's session appears to be more about being nice to the local basketball community. To that end, the Sixers' group includes Roy Bright (Delaware State), Charron Fisher (Niagara), John Griffin (Bucknell) and Gary Ervin (Arkansas).

The two-round draft will be held Thursday. The Sixers do not have a second-round pick. The 6-6 Bright averaged 19.1 points and 5.3 rebounds as a senior, spending two seasons at Delaware State after transferring from Garden City Community College and Cincinnati; he withdrew from last year's draft after applying for early eligibility.

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Alabama State Hornets profit with new schedule

The Gulf Coast Classic just got a shot of life. On Tuesday, officials at Alabama State and Southern University signed an agreement guaranteeing the two schools will meet each season in Mobile's Ladd-Peebles Stadium through the year 2011.

The deal gives the game the two things its critics have demanded: A big-time, consistent opponent and a nice payday. Southern boasts one of the largest, most devoted fan bases in the conference and its continued involvement in the game puts an end to ASU's often-criticized practice of rotating opponents each season. In addition, the Gulf Coast Scholar and Sports Foundation, a non-profit organization in Mobile that's serving as host for the game, has promised a $900,000 payout to ASU over the next four years.

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New Era for Monte Coleman, UAPB Golden Lions

A new era has begun at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Former Washington Redskins, National Football League veteran linebacker Monte Coleman will begin his tenure as head football coach of the Golden Lions. Coleman is no stranger to Pine Bluff, having lived there in his youth and assisted former Golden Lions coaches after his retirement. Coleman won three Super Bowl rings with the Redskins in 16 seasons and upon his retirement entered the ministry.

Holding a Bible in one hand and a whistle in the other, figuratively speaking, Coleman plans to create strong Christian young men who win with heart and determination.

“My first hope is for winning football games — I’m not used to losing,” Coleman said. “I especially want to win when I’m on the football field, but it takes players being disciplined. As a football team, if we put discipline in everything we do, we can have some major accomplishments.”

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Ex-Granby star Chris Bell seeks fresh start at Norfolk State

Chris Bell has found a new home at his old home. The former Granby High School All-American is attending summer school at Norfolk State and says he plans to be on the football roster this fall. "Every step I take, I'm making sure is a positive step," Bell said Thursday evening after he cruised through conditioning drills at Dick Price Stadium. "I'm more mature now. I'm just trying to do the right thing."



For Bell, 21, the right thing would include putting a past behind him that includes legal and academic problems from the nearly two years he played at Penn State. In April, Bell was dismissed from the football team after police said he threatened a teammate with a knife in a campus dining hall. He was released from the university.

Bell said he was encouraged by several Penn State assistant coaches to transfer to Hampton University. "They thought that was a good program. I didn't feel they were interested in me," he said of Hampton. "I didn't want to put myself in a program I wasn't satisfied with. I had already done that once."

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If you have not noticed, the MEAC is in a Renaissance of sort with a few players at the FBS transferring down to the FCS HBCU programs or being signed outright. In addition to Chris Bell from Penn State, Justin Payne (Elon) signed with South Carolina State (5-7/170, 4.39/40; Sophomore DT (6-2/286) Shane Moore transferred from Marshall University to Norfolk State; RS Freshman OG Sergio Glenn (6-6/330) transferred from Marshall University to North Carolina A&T in the past several weeks. We will provide you with a comprehensive update on the FBC transfers to MEAC programs in a few days.

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FAMU recruit Bent set to play at high level

Young Cecil Bent would run around the basketball court while his mother coached her middle school girls' team — until it was time to do the blindfold dribbling drill. That's when he joined in. Penny Tapley didn't mind. She was big on teaching fundamentals, and she thought that if her son matured into a basketball player he'd find the workout useful. She was right.

"It helped because when I was young, I would always look down and I couldn't see the whole floor," Bent said. "Now when I dribble, I can see the whole floor. It was very helpful."

Now 6-foot-9 and 290 pounds, Bent credits his mother for showing him how to get a full range of the floor by dribbling blindfolded. He regularly gets rave reviews for how he can find an open guard to dish the ball to for a basket when he played at Swainsboro (Ga.) High School.

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Arkansas Record Breaking Receiver coming to UAPB Golden Lions

Gionni Harris was a key component in helping Fayetteville unlock the door to the school's first-ever state football title in 2007. Now Harris will represent the Purple Dogs in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Football contest at Reynolds Razorback Stadium Friday at 7 p.m.

Harris is also an incoming freshman to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions football program. The 5-8/160 WR/KR has lightning quickness running a 4.4/40.

Gionni Harris 2007 Offensive Highlights (RB/WR/KR)


Harris finished the season in 2007 with a school-record 1,218 receiving yards and also broke the school record for single-season receptions in the state title game. He snared 5 catches for 89 yards in the title tilt. He hauled in 64 receptions on the season, breaking the mark of 59 that stood for nine years. Harris' 14 receiving touchdowns this year set the new mark for single-season TD catches.

Harris leaves Fayetteville as the all-time leader in receptions(164), career receiving yards(2,839), career receiving touchdowns(29) and career special teams touchdowns(6).

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That's keeping 'em home, baby!

Lawsuit doesn't spur North Carolina A&T students to rethink racing

Photo: Mauricia Grant, a former NASCAR official, filed a $225 million discrimination lawsuit against NASCAR last week alleging racial and sexual discrimination and wrongful termination (USPresswire, Mike Basso).

BROOKLYN, MI - Joshua Lewis still aspires to obtain a job in NASCAR. Yes, the 20-year-old in North Carolina A&T 's motorsports program has heard about this week's lawsuit that alleges racist and sexist allegations against NASCAR. No, he won't abandon his goal. Instead the lawsuit motivates him to help change the stock-car racing series. "I want to be one to bring about more diversity," he said.

Other classmates echoed his comments. Even Mauricia Grant, the woman who cites racial, sexual and gender discrimination in her suit against NASCAR, says she would recommend that minorities be a part of the sport. "We have to work together to change the racist culture and, anyone who has an interest in motorsports, they should be allowed to work in that environment without having to deal with racism or sexism or racially ignorant people," Grant said this week.

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VIEW ENTIRE MAURICIA GRANT DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT

In Grant's lawsuit, the 32 year old former NASCAR Official cites 23 specific incidents of sexual discrimination and 34 specific incidents of racial or gender discrimination. NASCAR officials Tim Knox and Bud Moore were placed on indefinite administrative leave Friday and are accused of exposing their genitals to Mauricia Grant.

She also is suing for wrongful termination after being fired from her job as a technical inspector responsible for certifying cars in the Nationwide Series. She was employed from January 2006 to October 2007, when NASCAR fired her citing poor work performance. Grant suit claims the termination was done in retaliation for filing complaints for workplace discrimination and sexual harassment.

NASCAR doesn't stand a chance to win this suit with 57 possible breaches of federal law and a well established culture of discrimination that is of no secret to the world. Look for Ms. Grant to prevail in this forthcoming battle that won't make it to the Court.

Grant's Bio

• Hired by NASCAR in January 2005, becoming NASCAR's first African-American female official.


• Successfully graduated from the Los Angeles Urban League Automotive Training Center (ATC) in 2004 with honors.


• Graduated from Stony Brook University.


• Born in The Bronx, New York in Eastchester Projects; raised by a single parent mother of four.