Author: chicagoinquirer

by Howard Fendrich NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams can call it “evolving” or “retiring” or whatever she wants. And she can be coy about whether or not this U.S. Open will actually mark the end of her playing days. Those 23 Grand Slam titles earned that right. If she keeps playing like this, who knows how long this farewell will last? No matter what happens once her trip to Flushing Meadows is over, here is what is important to know after Wednesday night: The 40-year-old Williams is still around, she’s still capable of terrific tennis, she’s still winning — and, like the adoring spectators whose…

CHICAGO (AP) — Candace Parker can appreciate that the Chicago Sky seem to dial up their best basketball whenever their backs are against the wall. That certainly was the case as Parker scored 22 points and the Sky evened the semifinal series with an 85-77 win over the Connecticut Sun in Game 2 of the WNBA playoffs on Wednesday night. But what the two-time WNBA champion really wants to see the Sky is begin to play better when coming off wins instead of defeats. “I think after a win is when we need to be even more focused,” Parker said.…

By Emeka Obasi Winning global 100 metres Hurdles gold puts Tobi Amusan high up before Glory Alozie who must be waving at the Ijebu girl for wiping her tears, from Sevilla in 1999 to Sydney 2000. Tobi became the first Nigerian world Athletics champion when she cruised to glory at the IAAF Championships which ended in Eugene, Oregon last month. She also set a world record in the process. And that was the very first time the University of Texas El Paso ( UTEP) student would win a world medal. Her best before the feat in the United States was…

The Church of Nigeria is an Evangelical Church. It upholds the authority of scripture and is unreservedly committed to mission and evangelism that results in conversion of people to the Lord, church planting and the caring ministry. In this Church, we teach about the total depravity of man and his absolute need for salvation through faith in Jesus the Christ. For us, therefore, adherence to scripture is not only paramount, it is also non-negotiable. In matters of faith and practice, scripture provides sufficient warrant for what is considered right and what is judged to be wrong. In recent times,…

The Trinity United Church, known for donning Africa attires and fabrics, is setting up computer centers and visiting orphanage homes in Africa in a renewed efforts to reconnect with the Black continent where their forefathers were forcefully evicted during the slave trade. A state of the earth computer center was built in Accra, Ghana and an orphanage home is being supported financially in Durban, South Africa to cater for children whose parents succumbed to the dreaded HIV/AIDS disease ravaging the country. “We are supporting causes and issues that are consistent with our theology Africa where our ancestors relocated here.…

It was a time of New Beginnings in 2003 and Behold His Holiness this year as Jesus House Chicago, (JHC) a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), prepares to host the second annual Preparing A People conference at 4332 North Kedzie, Chicago between November 7-21. In an interview with The Chicago Inquirer staff writer, Tyler Ayodeji, Pastor Bayo Adewole shares the vision behind the annual conference and why the community needs it. Excerpts: Inquirer: What is PAP and why is it needed at this point in time? Pastor Adewole: PAP is a wake-up call to the church.…

Abuja: There is no small election in Nigeria. That is the gospel truth. Every election is taken as very big and everything is put into ensuring that all is a victory no matter what it will cost. In the process, death lurks around and life means nothing to the contestants as long as they are victorious at the end of the day. No scruples and nobody cares whose life is lost as long as it is not from the victor side; even with that, it is taken as part of the game. The question that has remained unanswered is…

Abuja: Nigeria sometimes amuses right-thinking individuals. What many sane minds will think can never happen usually finds itself reoccurring like a decimal in today’s Nigeria. Surprisingly, people are getting so used to the absurd that it has become the norm.  One thing you cannot take away from Nigeria is that every week there must be something that will engage discussion in the polity. If it were positive nobody would have minded, but not so, one negative action or occurrence will spring up from the blues and everyone will shrug it off as the normal thing after all there is nothing…

The questions were many but the answers were few: Can another newspaper succeed in an already saturated community? What do you plan to bring to the table? Have you thought about venturing into other areas of communication? When I met with community leaders, pastors, entrepreneurs, friends and critics about the vision of yet another newspaper, they asked those instructive and incisive questions. My reply was simple and direct. The newspaper business is one of the few things I know how to do. It is a calling. Yes, the field does appear to be saturated and challenging, but our strategy is…

Moments after Senator Barack Obama was elected in November 2004, he met with officials of the Chicago-based United African Organization (UAO) to thank them for their overwhelming support at the polls. He also shared his vision in the Senate and how he wanted to collaborate with them to move the African community forward. “Let me know the issues Africans face specifically in this country,” he told UAO officials and charged them to relay concerns that are unique to the African community instead of reiterating general trepidations like health insurance reform, low paying jobs, quality of education and employment. It was…