Cleveland, OH

5 Things You Didn't Know About Dawn Staley

Published

12 months ago

April 9, 2024

5 Things You Didn't Know About Dawn Staley

The University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team is celebrating its third NCAA Championship after defeating Iowa 87-75 in the title game. The win is a perfect end to an undefeated season under the leadership of head coach Dawn Staley, who coached an entirely new starting five to a perfect season.

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Staley’s win made her the fifth coach to win at least three national championships – part of an elite group that includes UConn’s Geno Auriemma, Tennessee’s Pat Summitt, LSU’s Kim Mulkey and Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer. But Staley isn’t just a great coach. She also had an impressive career as a player, with three Final Fours and one national title game appearance as a player for Virginia, five WNBA All-Star honors with the Charlotte Sting and three Olympic gold medals playing with Team USA.

While we’re still floating on the high of South Carolina’s storybook season, here are five things to know about the team’s incredible coach.

She’s a Philly Girl

Dawn Staley has been a coach at the University of South Carolina since 2008. But the Philly native, who grew up in the Raymond Rosen Projects, represents her city every chance she gets rooting for the local sports teams. You can spot her on the sidelines rocking Eagles gear.

Or hanging out at the Phillies game with Travis and Jason Kelce.

She Loves Her Sneakers

A quick scan of her Instagram account and you’ll see that Coach Staley has a thing for shoes. From Jordans in her team’s colors to colorful Air Force 1s, her sneaker game is tight, and she loves to show them off.

She is Strong in Her Faith

While most people attribute South Carolina’s success to the team’s hard work and strong leadership, Coach Staley makes sure to give most of the credit to a higher power.

After South Carolina’s exciting championship win, Staley took time to thank God for the success her team has had this season.

“We serve an unbelievable God,” she said in a tearful postgame interview.

Staley also uses faith to inspire her players. She has a meal with her team before each game where she shares a “Gameday Devotional” which includes a a team picture and a Bible verse.

She’s Outspoken on Civil Rights Issues

Besides being a champion for her players on the court, Staley has also been consistently outspoken on issues of civil rights. In 2020, she joined other University of South Carolina players and coaches in a campaign to remove the late South Carolina Senator Strom Thurman’s name from the school’s fitness center, arguing that his stance on segregation and his opposition of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 shouldn’t be honored. And when a Black volleyball player from Duke was targeted with racial slurs from fans at Brigham Young University during a game in 2022, she canceled a two-game series against the school.

“As a head coach, my job is to do what’s best for my players and staff,” she said in a statement at the time. “The incident at BYU has led me to reevaluate our home-and-home, and I don’t feel that this is the right time for us to engage in this series.”

Her Players Love Her

Coach Staley doesn’t just make her team run laps and review highlight footage. She’s also incredibly nurturing to the members of her team, who consider her a mother figure when they’re away from home, showing up at graduations and other important events.

“It means a lot just to play – just to learn from her,” said guard Raven Johnson. “I go to her about everything. I could joke around with her. I could do anything, just anything. She’s like a mom, like a home away from home. It’s a home-away-from-home feeling.

“I wish you guys could experience that and just how much she’s helped me as a player and as a woman. And she’s just amazing, man. It’s a blessing. Just playing for her is so much fun. People just love playing for her. People would run through brick walls for her,” said guard Te-Hina Paopao.

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Cleveland, OH

Maxwell Cleveland tickets: Cheapest seats for ‘The Serenade Tour 2025’

Published

9 hours ago

March 28, 2025

Press Room

Maxwell Cleveland tickets: Cheapest seats for ‘The Serenade Tour 2025’

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Neo-soul pioneer Maxwell’s “The Serenade Tour 2025“ will stop in Cleveland with tickets now available on major third-party ticket websites like SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, StubHub, Viagogo, and TicketCity.

Get “The Serenade Tour 2025” Tickets

The tour’s Cleveland Rocket Arena stop will be on Saturday, Aug. 16. Lucky Daye will be featured as a special guest.

“The Serenade Tour 2025” is expected to feature classic releases from Maxwell’s 30-year career as well as his “Simply Beautiful” tribute to Al Green in 2024, according to Musze.com.

I found the cheapest tickets available for the August 16 concert as of March 28:

SeatGeek: $75
Vivid Seats: $68
StubHub: $64
Viagogo: $62
TicketCity: $76

Below are tour dates in other cities and how to get tickets:

May 2: Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL
June 13: Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, CA
June 14: Yaamava’ Theater, Highland, CA
June 21: Choctaw Grand Theater, Durant, OK
July 31: Miller High Life Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
Aug 2: Hard Rock Live Rockford, Rockford, IL
Aug 8: Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Aug 9: Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Aug 15: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH
Aug 16: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Aug 22: Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Detroit, MI
Oct 3: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Oct 4: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
Oct 5: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC

Known for his humility and dedication to the music, Maxwell has received numerous accolades over the years. According to enyclopedia.com, Maxwell’s achievements include:

Three Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album for “BLACKsummers’night” and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Pretty Wings”
Six Soul Train Music Awards for his contributions to R&B and soul music.
BET Awards nominations and wins for Best Male R&B Artist.
Two NAACP Image Awards for his outstanding cultural contributions.
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in 2019 for his immense contributions to the music industry.

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Cleveland, OH

Betty G. Murray Obituary March 23, 2025 – Slone and Co. Funeral Directors

Published

21 hours ago

March 28, 2025

Press Room

Betty G. Murray Obituary March 23, 2025 – Slone and Co. Funeral Directors

Betty G. Murray, age 58, passed away on March 23, 2025. She was born on February 10, 1967, in Cleveland, Ohio, to her loving parents, the late John J. and Zelma Ratcliff. Betty was the beloved wife of Earl P. Murray and the devoted mother of Marcia N. Murray and the late Rachel A. Murray.

A cherished sister, she is survived by Thelma D. Ratcliff, Juanita I. Ratcliff, Deborah L. Ratcliff, and Angela Brello-Ratcliff. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Roger D. Ratcliff and John W. Ratcliff. Betty was a treasured aunt to many nieces and nephews and a friend to all who knew her.

Betty had a love for adventure and simple joys. She enjoyed road trips, always ready to explore new places with excitement. She found relaxation in crossword puzzles and comfort in the melodies of country and Christian music. A true car enthusiast, she took great pride in her Jeep and Ford. Her love for animals, especially dolphins and horses, reflected her kind and gentle spirit. She also enjoyed watching her favorite TV shows, working on computers, and spending time with her beloved dogs, who brought her so much joy.

Betty was a hardworking and dedicated employee, spending 12 years as a custom specialist at UPS. She was a loyal sister, a caring friend, and a kindhearted person who always made time for others. A strong and determined woman, she faced life’s challenges with resilience and grace. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Family and friends are welcome on Friday, April 4, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Slone & Co. Funeral Directors 13115 Lorain Ave. Cleveland, OH 44111. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 10 a.m., at Faith Freewill Baptist Church 3560 Independence Rd, Cleveland, OH 44105. Interment West Park Cemetery.

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