{blackbabes} ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Adds Garcelle Beauvais & Tiffany Espensen; Q’orianka Kilcher Joins ‘Hostiles’

 

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With the main players in place, Spider-Man: Homecoming continues to beef up its cast and has added actresses Tiffany Espensen and Garcelle Beauvais in as-yet unspecified roles. The Marvel Studios and Columbia Pictures coproduction stars Tom Holland as the Wallcrawler following his debut in the role earlier this year in Captain America: Civil War, along with Michael Keaton, Marissa Tomei, Zendaya and Robert Downey Jr. Amy Pascal and Kevin Feige are executive producing. Jon Watts is directing.

Beauvais is best known for roles in The Jamie Foxx Show and NYPD Blue and she currently serves as a co-host on syndicated entertainment show Hollywood Today Live. Her additional TV credits include Franklin & Bash, Grimm, The Mentalist, and Eyes. Her film roles include Wild Wild West, White House Down, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, and Bad Company. She's repped by Gilbertson Entertainment and Stone Manners Salners Agency. Espensen currently stars on Disney XD's Kirby Buckets and in addition to several TV guest starring roles she starred as "Piper" in Nickelodeon's Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures. Other credits include 2015's Monsterville: The Cabinet of Souls. She's repped by Paradigm, Randy James Management and Lev Ginsburg.

Q'orianka Kilcher has joined the cast of the Scott Cooper-directed western drama Hostiles, starring Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike. Set at the end of the Western frontier period, the film follows a decorated Army captain coerced into returning a dying Cheyenne war chief and his family on horseback back to their tribal lands in New Mexico. Kilcher has been cast as "Moon Deer," described as a soulful young Native American who reached out to create unity with the Army.

Kilcher is best known for portraying Pocohontas in Terence Malik's 2005 The New World, which also starred Bale, along with Colin Farrell and Christopher Plummer. Other roles include the films Princess Kaiulani, Sky opposite Diane Krueger and Norman Reedus, and Firelight, opposite Cuba Gooding, Jr., and roles on Sons of Anarchy, The Killing, and Longmire. She'll be seen in the upcoming Te Ata, which tells the true story of the first Native American woman to perform on Broadway, TE ATA about the first Native American woman ever to perform on Broadway. She's repped by Kelly Tiffan Management and Sean Marks of Marks Law Group.

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{blackbabes} Olympics: Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys Make Voice Debut After Closing Ceremony

 

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The athletes won't be the only ones competing amidst NBC's coverage of the Rio Olympics.

NBC will air a special half-hour episode of The Voice on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 10:30/9:30c, following the closing ceremony. The episode, which will consist entirely of blind auditions, will also mark the debut of new coaches Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys.

As we previously reported, NBC will also air a new, Olympics-themed episode of Superstore on Friday, Aug. 19 at 10:30 pm.

"The Olympics give us a unique chance to expose some of our strongest shows to millions of viewers who might not otherwise see them," said NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt in a statement. "So we wanted to showcase our great new comedy hit Superstore with a special Olympics-related storyline, as well as blow the doors open on this fall's blind auditions of The Voice featuring Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus – our two new coaches – alongside Blake and Adam. Much appreciation to Mark Lazarus and our sports division who bring us the gift of the Olympics every two years."

Will you tune in to the Olympics? Superstore? The Voice?

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{blackbabes} Venus calls for court equality at Wimbledon

 

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London (AFP) - Venus Williams called on Wimbledon schedule makers to treat female stars with the same respect as male champions after she was shunted out to unglamourous Court 18 on Thursday.

Williams, a five-time Wimbledon champion, was a surprise choice to play on one of the All England Club's smaller outside courts for her 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 over Greek qualifier Maria Sakkari.

Former Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova tweeted "it stinks" when she learnt of the scheduling move.

Venus, 36, was followed on to the court by Australian Open champion and fourth seed Angelique Kerber, while on Centre Court, Japan's Kei Nishikori faced France's Julien Benneteau in a match between two players without a major title.

On Court One, Wimbledon's second largest arena, Grigor Dimitrov and Gilles Simon clashed, while Dominic Thiem and Jiri Vesely also played -- with none of them having won a Grand Slam.

In contrast, Venus has seven major titles to her credit and, while she said she had no qualms about playing on any court, she made it clear she felt the Wimbledon chiefs, who were the last of the four Grand Slams to agree to equal prize money, were prioritising men over women.

"It's not the ideal schedule for the women. We'd like to see equal amount of matches. We don't want more, just the same amount, that's all," she said.

Asked if she could imagine a male five-time champion being scheduled on a small court, Venus smiled and said: "I haven't seen that in the scheduling yet.

"I'm not so much into disrespect. I think if all players have to play outside, all players should have to play outside. There shouldn't be exceptions or any inequality to it for men and women.

"I played many times on outside courts. It didn't matter how many titles I had won or what my ranking was at that time. It didn't make a difference whether I played on an outside court or a centre court.

"Like I said, I don't mind where I play. It's just as long as everyone plays on the outside courts, you know."

Venus hadn't lost to a player outside the top 100 at a Grand Slam since a 1999 defeat against Barbara Schwartz at the US Open.

But the 36-year-old, the oldest woman in this year's main draw, was teetering on the brink of an embarrassing second round exit when world number 115 Sakkari levelled at one-set all.

Williams held her nerve to subdue Sakkari in two hours and 24 minutes and will play Russian 29th seed Darya Kasatkina for a place in the last 16.

Venus is firmly in the twilight of her career, having last won one of the four majors at Wimbledon in 2008, but she remains one of the most successful women in the tournament's history, with eight singles final appearances.

She now has 78 Wimbledon match victories, second among active players behind her sister Serena Williams' tally of 80.

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{blackbabes} Film academy invites 683 new members to join

 

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Six months after announcing intentions to double the number of female and minority members in its ranks by 2020, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 683 new members to join the organization.

The academy says its invitees are 46 percent female, 41 percent minority and represent 59 countries.

Idris Elba, Chadwick Boseman, Eva Mendes, America Ferrera and Anika Noni Rose are among the actors invited to membership. Other potential new members helping to increase the academy's diversity include Chinese cinematographer Zhao Fei, Japanese production designer Yohei Taneda, and directors Karyn Kusama and Patricia Riggen.

Should all the invitees accept, the academy says its new class would make the overall membership 27 percent female and 11 percent minority. Currently, the membership is 25 percent female and 8 percent minority.

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{blackbabes} Graf record no distraction, insists Serena

 

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Serena Williams insists the prospect of matching Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22 grand slam singles titles is not proving a hindrance as she seeks to earn a seventh Wimbledon crown.

Williams claimed her 21st slam victory 12 months ago at the All England Club, but has since given up her US, Australian and French Open trophies.

However, after beating Amra Sadikovic 6-2 6-4 on Tuesday to begin her Wimbledon defence, the top seed rejected the idea that her focus had changed.

"I think more or less about winning Australia, I think about winning the French Open. It didn't happen. I think about winning Wimbledon. I don't necessarily think about winning 22," said Williams.

While commentating on Williams' first-round match for the BBC, former world number one Lindsay Davenport suggested her fellow American had been unusually anxious against Sadikovic.

Yet the reigning champion said: "I felt I was where I needed to be. I needed to be pumped for the match. I needed to be intense. I needed to show a lot and feel a lot on the court.

"That's typically how I play. I needed to do that.

"I would be lying if I said I feel fresh, but I don't feel fatigue. I don't think I feel fresh, but I feel real hungry, super motivated, extremely ready to do the best [I can]."

Williams will face Christina McHale in round two.

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{blackbabes} ‘Star Trek Beyond’ Trailer: Rihanna Brings Her ‘Sledgehammer’ To The Soundtrack & Imax

 

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Video: https://youtu.be/3MBXBMkcUNo

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{blackbabes} Shhh: Serena Williams, coach don't discuss '22' at Wimbledon

 

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LONDON (AP) -- Leave all the chatter about Serena Williams' pursuit of her 22nd major singles trophy to others.

Williams and her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, do not discuss that number.

''We don't talk about it all. Zero,'' Mouratoglou said Tuesday at Wimbledon after watching Williams win her first-round match.

Why is that?

''Because there is nothing to talk about. We have a Grand Slam (title) to win, and that's what's most important. We don't talk about the reward,'' he said. ''We talk about the work we have to do.''

That is going to include some extra time spent fine-tuning the top-seeded Williams' serve after she delivered five double-faults, including three in one game, and faced five break points during an uneven 6-2, 6-4 victory over Amra Sadikovic, a Swiss qualifier ranked 148th and making her Grand Slam debut.

''It's very rare that everything works perfectly the first round. It's one of the things that were not good today, so we're going to work on it,'' Mouratoglou said. ''But it's not a big deal. I don't think it's a big deal.''

Didn't take long for the first rain of this year's tournament, which cut short action in the early evening and limited play to the main stadium, the only venue with a roof at the All England Club. In all, 14 matches were suspended in progress and 16 were postponed altogether.

Of the matches that did conclude, zero seeded players lost.

Winners included No. 2 Andy Murray, the 2013 champion, in the first all-British men's match at Wimbledon since 2001; No. 4 Stan Wawrinka, who eliminated 18-year-old American Taylor Fritz and now faces 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, participating in his first Grand Slam tournament in 2 1/2 years after three operations on his left wrist; No. 7 Richard Gasquet, No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and No. 15 Nick Kyrgios.

Among the top women, No. 6 Roberta Vinci - who stunned Williams at the U.S. Open last year, ending the American's bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam - beat Alison Riske of the U.S. 6-2, 5-7, 6-3; No. 13 Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated unseeded Caroline Wozniacki, a former No. 1 who hasn't won a match at a major in 2016; and No. 27 CoCo Vandeweghe of the U.S. had little trouble getting past Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2, 7-6 (3) under the roof in the day's last match.

Since earning her sixth Wimbledon championship and 21st Grand Slam title a year ago, Williams has gone 18-3 at majors, with the losses coming in the U.S. Open semifinals, the Australian Open final and the French Open final.

That led some to surmise that Williams has been beset by nerves as she seeks No. 22, which would equal Steffi Graf's Open-era record (Margaret Court holds the all-time mark of 24).

Williams dismissed the notion of a mental stumbling block.

''I think more or less about winning Australia. I think about winning the French Open. Didn't happen. I think about winning Wimbledon,'' she said. ''I don't necessarily think about winning '22.'''

Then, in what sounded like a reference to various health issues that have put her in the hospital and kept her off the tour for months - blood clots on her lungs in 2010, for example - Williams continued: ''Mentally I've been further down than anyone can be. Well, maybe not anyone, but I've been pretty low. There's nothing ... mentally too hard for me.''

With her mother sitting in Centre Court's Royal Box, Williams trailed 15-40 in Tuesday's opening game, then won 13 consecutive points and grabbed a 3-0 lead. In the second set, Williams made four unforced errors in one game to get broken and fall behind 2-1. But she broke right back.

When the players met at the net after Williams' return winner ended the match, they embraced like old friends.

Turns out that was Sadikovic's idea. She was a bit awe-struck by the occasion - and rightly so.

Sadikovic quit playing tennis two years ago, because she wasn't enjoying life on tour and had financial problems. After more than a year off, giving tennis lessons, she returned. So while Sadikovic knew she'd have a better chance to win against pretty much any other opponent, she was thrilled to play Williams.

''I always looked up to Serena, because she's like a beast, but in a positive way,'' Sadikovic said. ''I always asked myself the question: How does it feel ... to play the best player in the world?''

Now she knows.

''I just wanted to hug her, to be honest,'' Sadikovic said. ''And I asked her. She was like, 'Yeah, sure!'''

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{blackbabes} Serena, Murray cruise at rain-lashed Wimbledon

 

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London (AFP) - Defending champion Serena Williams racked up her 80th Wimbledon victory Tuesday while Andy Murray also raced into the second round before torrential rain wiped out almost half the programme at the All England Club.

World number one and six-time champion Williams, bidding for a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title, battled to a 6-2, 6-4 win over Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic, ranked at 148 in the world.

She will face fellow American Christina McHale for a place in the last 32.

"I would be lying if I said I feel fresh, but I don't feel fatigue. I feel real hungry, super motivated, extremely ready to do the best," said the American star, whose mother Oracene Price was watching from the front row of the Centre Court Royal Box.

"I never underestimate any opponent. I always expect the best of myself," added Williams, who won 12 straight points at the start of the match to open a 3-0 lead.

However, not everyone gave her the royal seal of approval.

"It was one of the worst serving efforts I've seen from Serena. This is what is giving other players hope," said US legend John McEnroe, commentating for the BBC.

Top seed Williams won her 21st major at the All England Club 12 months ago by beating Garbine Muguruza.

But her hopes of going level with Steffi Graf's Open era record of 22 has stalled since that day.

She went down to a US Open semi-final loss to Italy's Roberta Vinci followed by defeat in the Australian Open final to Angelique Kerber and then to Muguruza in the French Open final.

- Tricky and breezy -

Murray, the 2013 champion, made a flying start to his bid for a second Wimbledon title as the world number two crushed compatriot Liam Broady 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

The 29-year-old brushed aside the world number 235 and will next play Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun.

"The first match is always tricky and it was pretty breezy out there at the beginning," said second seed Murray.

"We've practised together in the past. It's not easy playing someone you know, so I did ok."

Minutes after Murray had completed victory, heavy rain brought a halt to action on all courts except Centre Court where the roof was closed. Play was eventually suspended for the day with only 37 of the scheduled 65 matches completed.

Swiss fourth seed Stan Wawrinka defeated American teenager Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-7 (2/7), 6-4 to set-up a second round blockbuster against Juan Martin del Potro.

Injury-plagued del Potro, a former US Open champion, is playing in his first Grand Slam since the 2014 Australian Open after undergoing three wrist surgeries.

Del Potro made the second round by beating France's Stephane Robert 6-1, 7-5, 6-0.

The Argentina star is ranked at 165 but made the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2013 where he lost a five-setter to Novak Djokovic. That was his last appearance at the tournament.

"He has always been a great champion, a great player to watch also," said two-time quarter-finalist Wawrinka of the towering del Potro.

"It's going to be a tough match. He's playing well. So it's going to be interesting to see what's going to happen."

Nick Kyrgios, the Australian 15th seed, beat Czech wildcard Radek Stepanek, at 37 the oldest man in the draw, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (9/11), 6-1.

He next faces German wildcard Dustin Brown who got past Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Both Kyrgios and Brown have been headline makers in the past at Wimbledon after beating Rafael Nadal in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Kyrgios had a mid-match fallout with chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani and even told his own entourage to get out of the court.

The match took place on the same Court Two where last year the 21-year-old was accused of 'tanking' against Richard Gasquet.

"The crowd likes the way I play here, I entertain. I'm comfortable here and they know the tennis I bring every day," said Kyrgios, who was warned for bad language by Lahyani.

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{blackbabes} Serena Williams labours to first-round Wimbledon win

 

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LONDON — This was not the Serena Williams the tennis world is used to seeing on Centre Court. It was still good enough for the defending Wimbledon champion to advance to the second round in straight sets.

Struggling on serve and failing to dominate against a 148th-ranked Swiss qualifier playing in her first Grand Slam tournament, Williams laboured to a 6-2, 6-4 victory Tuesday over Amra Sadikovic — the 80th match win of her Wimbledon career.

What looked on paper like a complete mismatch turned into a tighter contest than expected.

"I never underestimate anyone," said Williams, who had only four aces and served five double faults. "It was a really good match but I don't think it was tougher than I thought. It was definitely tough, but I always expect the best from everyone."

With her mother, Oracene Price, watching from the Royal Box, the six-time Wimbledon champion jumped out to a 3-0 lead, running off 13 points in a row at one stage, defying her reputation as a slow starter.

"I started fast, that's about it," Williams said when asked what positives she took from her performance.

The 27-year-old Sadikovic, who decided to retire in 2014 to work at a tennis club in Basel but eventually was talked into returning to the tour, made things tricky for Williams. She took a 2-1 lead in the second set and stayed even until the final game, when she was broken while serving at 4-5.

The match ended on a successful line challenge by Williams after she hit a backhand return that was called long. After the video replay showed the ball hit the back of the line, Williams grinned and threw up her arms in triumph.

Williams, who finished with 19 winners but also had 18 unforced errors, was animated throughout the match as she tried to lift her game.

"I'm always shouting at myself and pushing myself, so it's absolutely nothing different," she said.

Since winning last year's title, Williams has come up short in the majors, losing in the semifinals at the U.S. Open and finals of the Australian and French Opens. She needs one more Grand Slam championship to equal Steffi Graf's Open-era record of 22 titles.

Also reaching the second round with straight-set wins were seeded Frenchmen Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

No. 7 Gasquet swept past Britain's Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, while No. 12 Tsonga got past Spain's Inigo Cervantes 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Gasquet reached the Wimbledon semifinals last year, while Tsonga made it to the semis in 2011 and 2012.

No. 15 Nick Kyrgios kept his cool — and hit another between-the-legs winner — as he beat 37-year-old Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (9), 6-1.

The 21-year-old Australian was broken while serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set, and squandered two match points in the tiebreaker. He was also warned for an audible obscenity, but otherwise kept on his best behaviour and settled down to dominate the fourth set.

"A couple years ago, if I get broken there, I'm probably going to end up losing the match," Kyrgios said. "It's just maturity."

The highlight of the match came when Kyrgios hit a between-the-legs "tweener" from behind the baseline that sailed over Stepanek's head at the net and dropped in for a perfect lob winner in the opening game of the third set. It was reminiscent of the tweener he hit for a winning drop shot in his upset victory over Rafael Nadal two years ago.

Kyrgios set up an intriguing second-round match with Dustin Brown, another flashy shot-maker who beat Nadal here last year.

Andy Murray, the 2013 Wimbledon champion, was up on Centre Court against Liam Broady, a British wild-card entry ranked No. 235. It's the first all-British men's meeting at Wimbledon since 2001 and first at a Grand Slam since 2006.

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{blackbabes} How Gymnast Simone Biles Overcame Being Given up by Her Mother to Become an Olympic Gold Hopeful

 

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Three-time U.S. all-around gymnastics champion Simone Biles easily took her fourth national title on Sunday – and for gymnastics fans, her sweeping victory came as no surprise.

Biles, 19, is the clear frontrunner to win gold at the Rio Games this summer and if she does, it will be even more momentous considering the teenager's journey to the top.

The bubbly 4-foot-8 Olympic hopeful with twinkling eyes and an infectious giggle was born to a mother addicted to drugs and alcohol. As a young child she was placed in foster care before she could be adopted by her maternal grandfather, Ron, and his wife, Nellie.

Biles, who considers Ron and Nellie her parents, says she wouldn't be where she is today – the greatest in her sport – without them.

"[They] support me in any way possible," Biles told PEOPLE at the 2016 Team USA Los Angeles Media Summit in March. "My parents make sure we have everything we need so that we compete to the best of our abilities."

 

Nellie and Ron officially adopted Biles and her sister Adria in 2003, and raised the girls together in Texas.

At the age of six, the loving parents enrolled Biles in a gymnastics class in Houston, Texas. Her incredible athleticism and zest for the sport was undeniable from the start.

Nellie says it "was history from there."

"She never missed a practice," Nellie tells PEOPLE. "Even if she was sick, I would tell her she should stay home and she would say 'No, I have to go to practice!' "

Biles says her adoptive parents have been beside her every step of the way since – guiding her and supporting her on her quest for Olympic gold.

The athletic dynamo, who has garnered the nickname "the Michael Jordan of gymnastics," has dominated the sport ever since she began competing at the senior level in 2013. Biles has since won 11 national titles in total.

At the U.S. championships on Sunday, she became the first woman in 40 years to win four U.S. all-around titles in a row.

With a score of 125, Biles' landslide 3.9 point-win ahead of runner-up Aly Raisman, was no surprise to former gymnast and friend Shawn Johnson East, who describes Biles as "the greatest gymnast" she's ever seen.

"She is paving a whole new way for gymnastics," Johnson East tells PEOPLE of Biles, who gave her former gymnast pal a wink in the middle of her flawless floor routine over the weekend.

"The skills she throws are some of the hardest ones we've ever seen in women's gymnastics," adds Johnson East. "A lot [of her skills] you've never seen done before."

Johnson East says Biles, barring injury, is a shoo-in to to make the women's gymnastics team heading to Rio – and the top contender for gold at the Games.

"She's the greatest of all time," she says. "It's ridiculous."

Biles trains for 32 hours a week to prep for Rio. She works out once a day on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and twice a day on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

But Sunday, her single day off, is devoted almost entirely to her family.

"We go to church on Sunday and then have family dinner," she says. "My mom usually cooks and most of the time it's protein and something else. She will ask us kids what we want!"

Although Biles is a firm lock to make the Olympic team – her stunning floor exercise routine and incredibly difficult Amanar vault left judges and fellow competitors in awe – she says the July trials are still daunting.

"Right now when I think about the Olympics, it's not too much," she explains. "I think of trials more than the actual Olympics, because that's one of the hardest steps until you're named to the team."

To learn more about all Olympic hopefuls, visit teamusa.org. The Rio Olympics begin August 5.

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{blackbabes} Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas Feeling 'Confident' Despite Fourth Place Finish at U.S. Gymnastics Championships

 

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Reigning Olympic individual all-around champion Gabby Douglas' placed fourth at the U.S. championships this weekend – but that isn't deterring her from chasing a history-making attempt to win gold again at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"Obviously I didn't do my best, but I think finishing fourth is definitely going to motivate me," a disappointed-looking Douglas told reporters after her Sunday finish.

The 20-year-old elite athlete finished behind three-time world champion Simone Biles, Olympic veteran Aly Raisman and first-year senior Laurie Hernandez, at the two-day competition.

Martha Karolyi, national team coordinator for the women's gymnastics team, says she is unfazed by Douglas' less than ideal performance.

"Gaby, she has place for improvement, but I think she knows. I think it was good for her to see that we need to up it a tiny bit. She is the gymnast how in a fairly short time can gain much better consistency, so I trust that she will be in a better place in the trials," Karolyi told USA Today Sports.

And Douglas couldn't agree more.

"I gave a lot away, and I had a few mistakes," the athlete said. "Overall, I'm just going to move forward heading into Olympic trials and really focus on being consistent and strong, and really work hard in the gym."

Douglas totaled 117.800 points at the national championships, which was 2.7 points behind Hernandez. While a mistake on the uneven bars (generally her best event) dampened her spirits, a beautiful 15.050 beam routine was a competition highlight.

"In my bar routine, I ended up really crooked and then I fell over the other way," she explains. "I was like, 'Oh! I never really do that. Snap!' But it's fine. It's good."

Douglas says her performance is reminiscent of the 2012 U.S. championships when she fell off the beam – but made a comeback and excelled in other events. She would go on to dominate the 2012 Olympic trials and, at the London Games, win the individual all-around gold-medal.

"It was kind of like déjà vu," she said.

As she steps up her training in preparation for next week's trials, Douglas says she is "feeling pretty confident."

She adds, "I need to relax, stay calm and take deep breaths."

To learn more about all Olympic hopefuls, visit teamusa.org. The Rio Olympics begin August 5.

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{blackbabes} Serena starts bid for 22nd Slam

 

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London (AFP) - Serena Williams begins her bid for a seventh Wimbledon title and record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam crown on Tuesday against a player who was once so disillusioned by tennis that she quit.

World number one and top seed Williams won her 21st major at the All England Club 12 months ago by beating Garbine Muguruza.

But the 34-year-old's hopes of going level with Steffi Graf's Open era record of 22 has stalled since that day.

She went down to a US Open semi-final loss to Italy's Roberta Vinci followed by defeat in the Australian Open final to Angelique Kerber and then to Muguruza in the French Open final earlier this month.

"It was a great accomplishment to win four Grand Slams in a row twice in my career. It's pretty cool," said Williams.

"This year I don't feel as much tension as I usually do."

Her opponent on Tuesday is Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic, a Macedonian-born world number 148 who quit tennis in 2014 to work as a coach.

Persuaded to return to the game, she has now qualified for a major for the first time.

"I worked with kids, adults, good juniors at a club in Basel. It was so much fun. It's something that I really want to do later on again," she said.

"But after a while I started missing competition. When you turn on the TV and you see the players playing the Grand Slams and you've beaten them, that hurts."

Second up on Centre Court is Andy Murray, the world number two and 2013 champion who tackles compatriot Liam Broady.

Murray has lost the Australian and French Open finals to Novak Djokovic this year and has since rehired Ivan Lendl as coach.

The two worked together when the British world number two won Wimbledon in 2013 and the US Open the year before.

They celebrated their renewed partnership with Murray claiming a record fifth Queen's Club title on the eve of Wimbledon.

"The last weeks have gone extremely well," Murray said.

"I don't feel any added pressure working with him again.

"It actually give a bit of extra confidence because I know last time we worked together, it was very successful. I trust in what he says.

Broady, 22, is ranked 234 in the world. He has won just one match on the main tour in his career and that was at last year's Wimbledon.

Also in first round action Tuesday are fourth seed Stan Wawrinka, who has hired 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek to work with him.

Wawrinka faces American 18-year-old Taylor Fritz, the youngest player in the men's draw.

Two-time champion Petra Kvitova, the 10th seeded Czech, faces injury-plagued Sorana Cirstea of Romania.

Combustible Australian duo Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic are in action on Court Two.

Kyrgios, the 15th seed and regarded as a dark horse for the title, faces 37-year-old Radek Stepanek, the oldest man in the draw.

Tomic, seeded 19, plays experienced Fernando Verdasco of Spain.

Former runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, the third seed, faces Ukraine's Kateryna Kozlova.

Juan Martin Del Potro, the former US Open champion meets France's Stephane Robert.

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{blackbabes} Jill Scott secretly ties the knot in stunning wedding

 

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Surprise — Jill Scott is married.

The soul singer walked down the aisle Saturday in a top-secret wedding to longtime boyfriend Mike Dobson.

Scott, 44, opted for a low-cut white gown with lace sleeves. She wore her hair in a bun and accentuated her look with a pair of teardrop pearls. Her groom wore a simple black tuxedo.

The newlyweds looked happy and in love as they cut their three-tiered wedding cake. While some grooms shove cake in their bride's face, Dobson tenderly fed his wife while the crowd shared a collective "Awww."

DJ Mars, who posted photos and video of the ceremony, then deleted them, said he knew about the wedding last year but wasn't told whom Dobson was marrying. "So my man called me a year ago and said, 'Mars I need you to DJ my wedding… don't get booked on June 25, 2016!'" Mars captioned a wedding video. "He came to my house and gave me the deposit early but didn't say he was marrying Jill Scott!!!!! Dam homie!!!!"

The reception was a full-on party as guests wore white and danced the night away. Big Daddy Kane was the surprise performer of the evening and his appearance shocked Scott. "Dude walks in and they didn't even recognize him until he starts rapping," DJ Mars captioned a video. "Her face is sooooo priceless."

According to E! News, this was Scott's second trip down the aisle. She was previously married to Lyzel Williams until 2007. She was also engaged to drummer Lil' John Roberts, with whom she shares 7-year-old son Jett Hamilton Roberts. They ended their relationship in 2009.

A request for comment from Scott's rep wasn't immediately returned.

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{blackbabes} Serena feeling serene ahead of Wimbledon

 

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Serena Williams insists she is not feeling under pressure as she heads into Wimbledon on the back of two major disappointments this year. 

The world number one reached the final at both the Australian and French Opens, only to lose to Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza respectively.

Those results led some to suggest there could be a changing of the guard on the WTA Tour but Williams is not having any doubts as she prepares to defend the only major crown left in her possession.

"It was a great accomplishment to win four Grand Slams in a row twice in my career. It's pretty cool," she said.

"This year I don't feel as much tension as I usually do. I'm feeling pretty good. Honestly, I don't feel any pressure or stress. I feel good and confident.

"It's important to learn from every loss. I think I usually do that. Throughout my whole career I have been able to learn a lot and come back a much better player."

Last year, Williams saw off Muguruza 6-4 6-4 for her sixth Wimbledon title and the American spoke of her fondness for the All England Club.

"I enjoy it just being on grass. It's usually the only tournament I play on grass," she said.

"It's a unique experience. It's just that one time a year you just get to get on this amazing, beautiful surface. It feels really good.

"When I'm walking down those corridors or hallways, you think of different moments that you've had, different moments that you've won, or didn't win.

"I try not to focus on those moments because I try to create a new moment every time I walk out there."

Williams' 2016 campaign gets under way against qualifier Amra Sadikovic on Tuesday.

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{blackbabes} Venus vaults Vekic at Wimbledon

 

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LONDON (Reuters) - As she has done for most of the past 18 summers, Venus Williams on Monday took a large, languid stride into the second round of Wimbledon.

The oldest woman in the main singles draw, five-times champion Williams was at times sublime as she beat Croatian Donna Vekic 7-6(3) 6-4 on a sunny Court One.

While the full Williams armory had been on display, it was her mental strength which stood out -- perhaps no surprise given she is playing her 71st grand slam singles tournament, a record among current female players.

Vekic produced startling groundstrokes at times, but eighth seed Williams maintained her composure, increasing the pressure when things got tight as her opponent wilted in the spotlight.

There cannot be too many grand slam years left for Williams, who celebrated her 36th birthday this month, but she showed more than enough on Day One to suggest she could again go deep in her favorite major.

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{blackbabes} Surprise! Beyoncé Opens Up the 2016 BET Awards With a Special Performance Featuring Kendrick Lamar

 

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Now this is how you start an awards show!

Never one to shy away from a good surprise, Beyoncé pleasantly shocked us all by opening up the 2016 BET Awards.

While standing in a pool full of water, the genius mind behind Lemonade performed "Freedom" before Kendrick Lamar stepped on stage to join in on the show-stopping performance. As you likely could have guessed, everyone in the audience gave a standing ovation after the moment.

A source later told E! News that BET had been planning the surprise for a bit but kept it secret from the network until this weekend.

The evening comes after the singer celebrated her sister Solange Knowles' birthday in New Mexico on Saturday.

As seen on Snapchat and Instagram, the birthday girl documented a celebratory lunch that ultimately became a family affair.

"Dreams made true," the singer wrote on Instagram while wearing a bright orange dress. "I'm never coming home if you keep making honey peach and hibiscus lime popsicles."

Sunday night's performance also comes right in the middle of Beyoncé's tour. On Tuesday, the "Halo" singer is back on stage near the United Kingdom.

Until then, we're just going to savor this special surprise. Keep doing you, Bey!

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{blackbabes} BET Awards 2016 winners list

 

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Centric Award

 

ANDRA DAY - RISE UP
BEYONCÉ – FORMATION
K. MICHELLE – NOT A LITTLE BIT
RIHANNA - BBHMM
THE INTERNET - UNDER CONTROL

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

BRYSON TILLER
CHRIS BROWN
JEREMIH
THE WEEKND
TYRESE

Best Group

2 CHAINZ & LIL WAYNE
DRAKE & FUTURE
PUFF DADDY & THE FAMILY
RAE SREMMURD
THE INTERNET

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

DRAKE
FETTY WAP
FUTURE
J. COLE
KANYE WEST
KENDRICK LAMAR

Video of the Year

BEYONCÉ - FORMATION
BRYSON TILLER - DON'T
DRAKE - HOTLINE BLING
KENDRICK LAMAR - ALRIGHT
RIHANNA FT. DRAKE  - WORK

Best New Artist

ALESSIA CARA
ANDRA DAY
BRYSON TILLER
KEHLANI
TORY LANEZ

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY
ERICA CAMPBELL
KIRK FRANKLIN
LECRAE
TAMELA MANN
TASHA COBBS

Best Actress

GABRIELLE UNION
KERRY WASHINGTON
TARAJI P. HENSON
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS
VIOLA DAVIS

Best Actor

ANTHONY ANDERSON
COURTNEY B. VANCE
IDRIS ELBA
MICHAEL B. JORDAN
O'SHEA JACKSON JR.

Sportswoman of the Year

CHEYENNE WOODS
GABRIELLE DOUGLAS
SERENA WILLIAMS
SKYLAR DIGGINS
VENUS WILLIAMS

Sportsman of the Year

CAM NEWTON
KOBE BRYANT
LEBRON JAMES
ODELL BECKHAM JR.
STEPHEN CURRY

Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award

BEYONCÉ – FORMATION
BRYSON TILLER – DON'T
CHRIS BROWN – BACK TO SLEEP
DRAKE – HOTLINE BLING
FUTURE FT. DRAKE – WHERE YA AT
RIHANNA FT. DRAKE – WORK

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{blackbabes} Wimbledon 2016: Defending champions in contrasting positions

 

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Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams will begin Wimbledon, which gets under way on Monday, as favourites to retain their respective singles titles, yet much has changed for both players since their triumphs last year.

Djokovic arrived at SW19 12 months ago having suffered a third French Open final defeat in four years, his hopes of completing a career Grand Slam ended by an inspired Stan Wawrinka.

Remarkably, that loss remains the world number one's most recent grand-slam setback. Having finally tasted success at Roland Garros earlier this month, Djokovic holds all four major titles and is the first man to do so since the great Rod Laver in 1969.

Few would bet against another Serbian celebration when the men's singles final takes place at SW19 on July 10, but while Djokovic appears to be at the peak of his powers, Williams faces a challenge to re-assert her dominance in the women's game.

A second 'Serena Slam' was completed when Williams beat Garbine Muguruza at Wimbledon last year to secure possession of every slam crown.

However, shock reversals in New York, Melbourne and Paris - at the respective hands of Roberta Vinci, Angelique Kerber and Muguruza - have left Wimbledon as the only major honour in Williams' possession, the American still one short of Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22 slams.

Nevertheless, it would take a brave person to bet against Williams over the coming fortnight, as she seeks a seventh Wimbledon title and fifth in eight years.

The 34-year-old's powerful game is ideally suited to grass, while the pain of her defeats in finals to Kerber and Muguruza will surely provide plentiful motivation.

Friday's draw saw Kerber, Simona Halep and Venus Williams join Muguruza in the opposite half of the draw to Serena, who will start her campaign against a qualifier.

Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova and Agnieszka Radwanska - the beaten women's finalist four years ago - represent potential quarter-final and last-four opponents for the top seed, while Heather Watson could earn another shot at the champion in round three having come so close to causing an upset at the same stage in 2015.

Djokovic had to overcome world number two Andy Murray in the finals of the Australian Open and French Open, and it appears likely the two will meet again with a title on the line.

While Murray - now back with Ivan Lendl, the coach who guided him to Wimbledon glory in 2013 - has seen his last three slam finals end in agonising defeats to Djokovic, the Briton has arguably never enjoyed such superiority over the other players in the men's game.

With a 34-year-old Roger Federer having been hampered by injuries and Rafael Nadal absent due to a wrist problem, the big-serving Milos Raonic may fancy his chances of reaching the next level following his high-profile link-up with John McEnroe.

Raonic, a semi-finalist at SW19 in 2014, and Dominic Thiem, who beat Federer en route to a first grass-court title in Stuttgart earlier this month, will be many people's tips to disturb the established order in the men's singles.

Yet it is hard to look past another Djokovic-Murray final and it was the latter, of course, who prevailed the last time Centre Court played host to such a match.

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