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Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"'F—k the education! Go get your f—ng money'" - Vernon Maxwell claims he was one of the first to advise Kobe Bryant to skip college
"'F—k the education! Go get your f—ng money'" - Vernon Maxwell claims he was one of the first to advise Kobe Bryant to skip college originally appeared on Basketball Network. No matter how brash or rough around the edges he may seem, former NBA champion Vernon Maxwell has always been praised for his authenticity and unfiltered honesty. From his six standout years with the Houston Rockets, where he secured a championship, to his current role as a media personality, Mad Max has always been unafraid to speak his mind and tell it like it is. Advertisement It was this type of unfiltered honesty that led Maxwell to offer some advice to a young Kobe Bryant back when they played against one another in pick-up games organized by Philadelphia 76ers head coach John Lucas II. According to the former NBA veteran, his message to the hoop prodigy was straightforward: don't waste time going to college; head straight to the NBA. High school sensation Maxwell played the 1995-96 season for Lucas and the Sixers. At that time, Bryant was also tearing up the high school basketball scene, starring for Lower Merion High School. In fact, Lucas got so impressed with the young man's play that he began inviting him over to Sixers' practices, where he even tested the mettle of draft prospects, which included Jerry Stackhouse. It was during these practices that Maxwell got to meet and experience what it was like to play Bryant. Advertisement "I was in Philly with John Lucas. John Lucas used to let him come over and practice with us. I seen him in high school," Vernon shared on Byron Scott's podcast. After witnessing what Bryant could do at his age, Maxwell approached him and provided some unsolicited advice: jump straight to the NBA. "S—t, I was one of the ones that told him, 'Man, hey, I don't know. You need to bring your a—s on to the NBA. Don't go to college, motherfuc—r,'" he recalled. Related: Allen Iverson admits iconic crossover on Michael Jordan has become overrated: "I think that one was legendary just because it was him" Kobe was that good Upon hearing Maxwell's advice, Scott burst into laughter and exclaimed, "Hey Max, you supposed to be leading the kid to get a higher education!" Advertisement However, Maxwell was adamant that Bryant already had the skills necessary to become an impact player in the NBA. "I was like, 'F—k the education,'" he said. "You motherfuc—r, go get your f—ng money. Come get your money, son, the way you did me in that f—ng gym.' And I was really trying to check this motherfuc—r, I was like, 'Good god, this motherfuc—r, he got it all." Maxwell, who stood 6'4" and had a rock-solid physique that he routinely used to annoy and deter some of the NBA's best players, was a tough challenge for Bryant to overcome. However, the latter proved to be up for the task, using his speed and agility to get past Maxwell's physicality. As the exchange unfolded, Mad Max watched in awe, struck by how much Kobe's moves and intensity reminded him of the legendary Michael Jordan. Advertisement "The motherfuc—r had a little Jordan in his a—s. I was like, 'Good God, this motherfuc—r do got a little Jordan in him.' But I was one of the ones who told him, man," Maxwell continued. "Was a special player, man. Great father. Just a great man, man. Great human being." Vernon eventually got to play Kobe in the NBA. And even though the wingman was still coming off the bench for a talented Los Angeles Lakers squad, he knew it was only a matter of time before Bryant would make his mark on the league. Related: Vernon Maxwell passionately explained why his Rockets would've beat the Bulls in 1994, even if MJ didn't retire: "When he took off 45 and put back on 23, Shaq went and beat him" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Wales Online
03-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Five historic Welsh buildings added to 'most at risk' register that need to be saved
Five historic Welsh buildings added to 'most at risk' register that need to be saved The annual announcement from conservation charities includes a mansion, a farmhouse, a cottage, a factory and a much-loved tourist attraction Five Welsh buildings now registered 'at risk' (Image: SAVE Britain's Heritage / John Lucas Wikimedia Commons ) The annual update to the list of Britain's most endangered buildings - those most at risk of total dereliction or demolition and being lost forever - has been announced by conservation charity, SAVE Britain's Heritage, and includes five Welsh properties. The register is now in its 36th year, and every 12 months the charity adds very special buildings that are desperate to find a heritage hero to secure their future to the UK's most 'at risk list'. Over the decades the list has grown to over 1,500 potential wrecks and historic buildings on their last legs, and now includes five new Welsh properties. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here. READ MORE: Inside Martin Roberts' huge Welsh pub renovation project as he addresses lap dancing club rumours YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Landmark former hotel 'most at risk' building in Wales The charity is celebrating its fiftieth year of campaigning to save some of the UK's most iconic and landmark buildings at risk of being demolished or developed - from cottages to cinemas, railway stations to stately homes. Article continues below Current campaigns, in conjunction with the Victorian Society, include the high-profile development plans for Liverpool Street Station, London and Orchard House, the distinctive 1930s Marks & Spencer Oxford Street store that the company wants to demolish. The five Welsh buildings added to the 2025 UK list are a mansion, a farmhouse, a cottage, a much-loved tourist attraction, and a slice of south Wales industrial past. Bontddu Hall, Dolgellau, Gwynedd This impressive building photographed in 2007 (Image: SAVE Britain's Heritage / Alan Fryer/Wikimedia Commons ) Following a serious fire in 2020, there are now plans to demolish this grand former hotel building. The building was constructed in 1873 as a country house under the name Bryn Tirion, and since its conversion to a hotel hosted Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain. After the devastating fire the house is in ruins (Image: SAVE Britain's Heritage / John Lucas Wikimedia Commons ) The fire at the property was catastrophic. It happened in 2020 after the building was reconverted into a private home in 2001. The building is now derelict, with entire rooms left as burnt-out shells. However, much survives – elaborate columns, window frames, and tiling is still intact. Urgent action is needed to save this building from demolition and to use its bones to bring the site back to life. British Nylon Spinners, Mamhilad, Pontypool This factory was constructed in 1947 for British Nylon Spinners. The brick and concrete building is distinctive for its steel, glass, and brick 'spinning tower'. At its peak, the factory employed 8,000 people, but in 2003, DuPont, which had run the factory for eleven years, moved production to Turkey. British Nylon Spinners, Mamhilad, Pontypool (Image: Google maps ) While plans for 900 homes and a primary school on the site were approved in 2023, the approval was quashed after a Judicial Review in July, 2024. These proposals sought to demolish 40% of the grade-II* listed modernist factory building, which is currently in use as office space. Space at the site is marketed for commercial and office space. However, it is not clear whether proposals for redevelopment will return. In 2016 there were exciting and ambitious proposals to redevelop part of the site as an arts base for South East Wales with both exhibits and studio spaces put together by the ex-Eden Project team. Llancaiach Fawr, Nelson, Treharris Llancaiach Fawr manor house, Nelson, Treharris, Wales (Image: Jo Ridout, Media Wales ) Most people who have visited this once ground-breaking living history museum will be very sad and also shocked to see this gem of Caerphilly County Borough's tourist attractions now added onto SAVE's 'at risk' register. One of Wales' most important and notable Tudor houses, the building has been mothballed and is now available to let. Caerphilly Council made the decision to mothball the Grade I listed building in September, 2024, as part of a broader programme of cuts. The leasehold has been marketed since February, 2025, with interest from those keen to re-open the house to the public. Find out more about the site being closed down here. The house dates to the mid-sixteenth century, with evidence of agriculture on the land dating back to 1494 BCE. The house was built for the Prichard family. Walls four feet thick and steep intra-mural stairs reveal that the house was built with defence in mind. LLancaiach Fawr when it was open and had costume stewards to show visitors around the house (Image: Mirrorpix ) The whole house could be split into two parts, with the East wing to be occupied in the event of an attack. Charles I visited the house in 1645 during his tour of South Wales to win support during the Civil War, but the Prichard family changed sides shortly afterwards, instead supporting the Parliamentarians. Find out why Llancaiach Fawr is so special here. In the mid-nineteenth century the house was being used as a farmhouse, and following its purchase in 1979 by the local council, it was restored and opened to the public in 1990. SAVE says it would be wonderful to see this house back open to be enjoyed by the public again. Groeswen, west of Gwenddwr, Powys Classic Welsh farmhouse called Groeswen (Image: Google maps ) The rear wall of this farmhouse near the Powys village of Gwenddwr collapsed in 2000, and its condition has continued to deteriorate. Built in the early nineteenth century, this farmhouse sits above the Beili Heulog Congregational Chapel, which was built around 1740. (Image: Google maps ) The farm appears to be in use, but the building itself is derelict. Groeswen ('white cross') farmhouse is of white rubble stone, with three distinctive nine-pane windows on its western façade. The property was listed by Cadw in 2001 for being 'a substantial traditional farmhouse of the late Georgian type', SAVE states that this Grade II listed building needs action soon if it is to be saved. For more property stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here Pantau, Powys Frozen in time cottage in Powys (Image: SAVE Britain's Heritage / Jeremy Bolwell via Geograph CC-BY-SA 2.0 ) Described as 'Withnailian' by holiday let website Stay in Wales, this early nineteenth-century farmhouse has stood derelict for years. The house remains rather frozen in time, left abandoned with hob, TV, radio, and old jackets are still hanging up, visible through a back window. According to SAVE, this Grade II listed farmstead includes a 'gorgeous whitewashed house with stone stacks and a lean-to bakehouse'. The property was Grade II listed by Cadw in 2004 (Image: SAVE Britain's Heritage / Jeremy Bolwell via Geograph CC-BY-SA 2.0 ) The property was listed by Cadw in 2004 with the comment, 'notwithstanding some loss of fabric to the rear, for its special architectural interest as an early C19 farmstead retaining original detail and its overall C19 character'. Article continues below Find your own property to renovate here:
Otago Daily Times
02-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Legal review delaying Lake2Lake
It may be some time before any work is done on the extension to the Lake2Lake trail in Southland. The Fiordland Trail Trust said last month it had opted to pause the construction work from Patience Bay to Sinclair Rd as it was waiting for a decision from the Department of Conservation about an amendment for which it applied in December. The trust worked with a specialist herpetologist in October and, during this time, part of the vegetation was also cleared. After finding no evidence of the Southland green skink, which triggered the need for a plan, the trust sought an amendment with Doc to allow construction to the originally consented 3m trail formation, Mr Boniface said last month. "We proceeded to construct from Patience Bay up to Sinclair Rd within the conditions that the wildlife permit set for us and we have got to a point where we have applied for an amendment to those conditions to enable us to build a safe two-way trail," he said. "We have not had that approval. There are some complications around the Wildlife Act being challenged ... and I think our application for the amendment has been caught up in all of that." Department of Conversation Te Anau operations manager John Lucas confirmed the application had been assessed. But a court decision had thrown a spanner in the works. "There is likely to be a delay due to the recent High Court decision requiring a review of Wildlife Act legislation. The Fiordland Trail Trust application to construct a 3m trail on Public Conservation Land requires permission issued under the Wildlife Act for the disturbance/killing of wildlife." The decision referred to a case over Mt Messenger in the North Island. The High Court ruled the Doc permit for the Mt Messenger bypass project, which allowed the killing of protected wildlife, was unlawful. Doc said in a recent statement the decision had implications for other projects that involve potentially incidental killing of wildlife. While the ruling does not require immediate cessation of activities for existing Wildlife Act authorisations, operators must now take all reasonable steps to avoid harming wildlife.— APL
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UW-Madison under second investigation by Trump administration amid federal DEI crackdown
For the second time in a week, the federal education department placed the University of Wisconsin-Madison on a warning list. The department said Friday it had opened an investigation into UW-Madison and 44 other universities nationwide over alleged racial discrimination. The notifications came exactly a month after the department issued sweeping guidance threatening to pull funding from colleges that do not eliminate all considerations of race from policies and programs. The investigation focuses on universities' partnerships with the PhD Project, a nonprofit promoting diversity in the workforce by helping underrepresented students earn doctoral degrees in business. The department said the program limits eligibility based on race, and colleges partnering with the organization are engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs. 'Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin,' Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. 'We will not yield on this commitment." UW-Madison had not yet been formally notified of any complaint related to the PhD Project, university spokesperson John Lucas said Friday shortly before noon. If a complaint is received, the university will cooperate with any investigation. The PhD Project did not immediately return a request for comment. The department warned UW-Madison and dozens of other institutions on Monday about potential enforcement action it may take if they fail to protect Jewish students. UW-Madison was put on the list because of an investigation opened in early 2024 after a conservative news outlet filed a complaint. Both warnings are part of the Trump administration's broader crackdown on higher education. Columbia University has become the poster child, seeing $400 million in grants and contracts canceled. The administration has also attempted to deport Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil. He is a legal permanent resident who took a leadership role in the pro-Palestinian protests at the university last year. The education department slashed half of its staff earlier this week. That included at least 243 employees in the Office of Civil Rights, which enforces the antidiscrimination laws at the heart of the UW-Madison investigations. Gov. Tony Evers joined other states Thursday in suing over the department cuts. They argue the gutting of the department effectively prevents it from carrying out responsibilities it is charged to do by Congress. (This story was updated to add new information.) Kelly Meyerhofer covers higher education in Wisconsin. Contact her at kmeyerhofer@ or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: University of Wisconsin-Madison under federal investigation over DEI
