Black Immigrant Daily News

By NAN Sports Editor

News Americas, LONDON, England, Mon. Mar. 20, 20243: Jamaican UFC fighter, Leon Edwards, retained his welterweight title Saturday night in London, defeating Nigerian Kamaru Usman48-46, 48-46 and 47-47.

Edwards, who was born in Kingston, offered up an offense filled with powerful leg kicks and scored the majority decision victory over Usman to successfully defend the UFC welterweight title at UFC 286.

Edwards, backed by the support of a hometown crowd, picked apart the former champion throughout, landing clear strikes and avoiding much of Usman’s signature offense.

It is Usman’s second loss to Edwards.

“London, you got yourself a hell of a guy, and a great champion,” Usman said after the fight  at The O2 Arena on March 18, 2023.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Feb. 23, 2023: The Caribbean has seen some of the world’s greatest athletes come from its many small countries. Legends like Usain Bolt and Tim Duncan have hailed from this stunningly beautiful region, but it isn’t just retired athletes that are from Caribbean nations. Many current athletes in a range of sports are from these coastal nations or have direct family that was born in the Caribbean.

This is certainly true in the National Basketball Association, where recent years have led to a massive surge in the presence of athletes with Caribbean heritage. This has led to a huge increase in the popularity of basketball across the region. While proud Caribbean residents don’t have one specific Caribbean team to wager on, they can bet on Caribbean NBA athletes on all sports betting apps. If you love the NBA or the Caribbean, let’s look at the top current NBA players with Caribbean heritage.

Al Horford

Al Horford #42, of the NBA, was born in the Caribbean. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Al Horford is one of the most successful Caribbean players of all time, and he is still going on. Born in Puerto Plata, in the Dominican Republic, Al Horford has risen to become a five-time NBA all-star and a well-rounded center that is still contributing for the Celtics, who have a very good chance at an NBA championship. Horford is the highest-paid Latin American basketball player ever and a legendary figure across the Dominican Republic. 

Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings was born in the Caribbean. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Buddy Hield is part of the new generation of Caribbean players that have made a massive impact on the league. Hield is a Bahamian born in Freeport and is now a serious impact NBA player as part of the Sacramento Kings r. After becoming one of the best college basketball players of all time, Buddy Hield was drafted sixth overall and has since established himself as one of the league’s best marksmen. He is a three-point sniper and has represented Bahama in international contests.

Deandre Ayton

Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns was also born in the Caribbean. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Another Bahamian star, Deandre Ayton is a young, rising talent that the Phoenix Suns selected with the first overall pick in 2018. Ayton was born in Nassau and quickly established himself thanks to his unmatched physical gifts and athleticism. Ayton has been a key part of the Suns establishing themselves as NBA Finals contenders and was instrumental to their playoff success. Now that Kevin Durant has joined his team, he has an even better chance to elevate his squad.

Andre Drummond

Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons is a Jamaican American. (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Andre Drummond might not have been born in the Caribbean, but it is a big part of his identity. Drummond was born in New York, the son of two Jamaican immigrant parents, and he has gone on to carve out quite the NBA career for himself. He is a two-time All-Star who has led the league in rebounding four times. He is considered one of the greatest rebounders ever and is currently playing for the Chicago Bulls. His Jamaican heritage was a big part of his childhood.

Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors has Barbadian roots. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Andrew Wiggins is another player that wasn’t born in the Caribbean but has direct family connections to the region. Wiggins was born in Toronto, Canada, but his mother originally hails from Barbados. Wiggins has become an All-Star after falling short of expectations early in his career. Wiggins was picked first overall in the 2014 NBA Draft to massive hype, which he has started to reach. He is now an NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors and a key part of that stacked roster.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

By NAN Sports Editor

News Americas, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, Sat. Feb. 4, 2023: Two Caribbean roots players will likely play in Super Bowl LVII, set for Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona as the Kansas Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles. Both players are part of the Eagles team. They are:

1: Linval Joseph

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Linval Joseph (72) looks on during the Championship game between the San Fransisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles on January 29, 2023. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, Linval Clement Joseph, was born in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He played college football at East Carolina after attending attended Santa Fe High School in Alachua, Florida. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round, 46th overall of the 2010 NFL Draft. Joseph, 34, has also played for the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Chargers.

On March 30, 2020, Joseph signed a two-year, $17 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. But on November 16, 2022, Joseph agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.  During the first quarter of the 2022 season NFC Championship Game, Joseph recovered a key fumble forced by linebacker Haason Reddick, a play which led to significant injury of the arm of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.

2: Robert Quinn

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Robert Quinn (98) exits the field after the National Football League game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on November 27, 2022 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Robert Quinn, 32, a defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League, has roots in Puerto Rico. Quinn’s mother is from Puerto Rico and his sister is Olympic gold medalist and Puerto Rican hurdler Jasmine Camacho-Quinn.

Quinn, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fourth round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft on October 26, 2022, was only activated on January 7, 2023. He is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team.

WHERE TO VIEW SUPER BOWL LVII: TV: Fox or Stream: fuboTV

KICKOFF TIME: 6:30 p.m. ET.

HALFTIME SHOW: Caribbean born star Rihanna will be performing this year’s halftime show while Caribbean roots Emmy-winning star Sheryl Lee Ralph, whose mother was born in Jamaica, will be singing the Black national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” ahead of kickoff.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News Americas, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, Fri. Jan 20, 2023: A Caribbean roots soccer star with the Charlotte FC has died at the young age of 25 from injuries he sustained in a boat crash off the coast of Miami, Florida.

Anton Walkes, who is of Jamaican roots but was born in London, was in Miami, where Charlotte FC was holding a twelve-day training camp.

At around 3 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesday, he was injured in a two-boat collision near Miami Marine Stadium. He was taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Walkes was operating one of the boats that crashed, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement.

Walkes was a member of the MLS club Charlotte FC. He started his career at Tottenham.Charlotte FC owner David Tepper said all at the club were “devastated by the tragic passing of Anton Walkes.”

“He was a tremendous son, father, partner and teammate whose joyous approach to life touched everyone he met,” Tepper said in a club statement.

Walkes joined Charlotte for the club’s debut MLS season in 2022. He played in 23 matches with 21 starts and had five shots on goal this past season.

Walkes turned pro in 2016 after developing in Tottenham Hotspur’s academy and went on to play with English Premier League club. He also played for Portsmouth before signing with Atlanta United in MLS, spending three seasons (2017, 2020-21) at Atlanta United. Charlotte selected Walkes in the 2021 MLS Expansion Draft, incorporating the center back into their debut campaign.

The MLS released a statement saying “there are no words to describe the sorrow of everyone in Major League Soccer today.”

“There are no words to describe the sorrow of everyone in Major League Soccer today after learning of the tragic passing of Anton Walkes of Charlotte FC. Anton was a talented and dedicated player who was loved by his teammates and fans. We extend our deepest condolences to his partner, family, friends and the entire Charlotte FC family. MLS is coordinating with Charlotte FC to provide players and family members with the resources and support they may need during this tragic time,” the statement added.

Tottenham Hotspur also tweeted: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former player, Anton Walkes. The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with his family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”

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