Charles Hallman

Minneapolis

Staff Writer at Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

I am staff writer at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder in Minneapolis. I am a longtime Black journalist who works hard at what I do. 2022 USBWA HOF inductee

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Articles

Cindy Brunson Paves the Way for Black Women in Sports

6 days ago | spokesman-recorder.com | Charles Hallman

Black females historically have been underrepresented in sports broadcasting. But Cindy Brunson as a youngster found a Black woman who would serve as an inspiration for her to eventually go into broadcasting herself. “The first person I saw that looked like me on TV talking about sports was Jayne Kennedy,” recalled Brunson of Kennedy (now Overton), the first Black woman to host a national sports broadcast, CBS NFL Today in 1975. “I just thought she was stunning.
Sky Fans Weigh In on All-Black Coaching Staff

6 days ago | spokesman-recorder.com | Charles Hallman

CHICAGO, ILL. — It’s not often that when I am in a city covering a separate event I also take in a WNBA game, but this longtime reporter did just this last Thursday. Instead of my media row seat provided by the home team, I had a much better seat — third row up, center court at the Chicago Sky’s 2025 home opener against the visiting New York Liberty.
Transfer Portal, NIL Increase Pressure on Black Coaches

1 week ago | spokesman-recorder.com | Charles Hallman

The double-edged new normal in college athletics today is the transfer portal and NIL (name, image and likeness). Since it was introduced in 2019, the number of men’s and women’s basketball players in the portal has increased each year from hundreds in 2019 to thousands in 2025. College football transfers also are up.
Chicago Sky Makes History With First All-Black Coaching Staff in WNBA

1 week ago | spokesman-recorder.com | Charles Hallman

The Minnesota Lynx and Napheesa Collier are oft-mentioned throughout the annual WNBA general manager survey. The 13 team general managers, including expansion Golden State, responded to 40 different questions on such topics as best teams, players, coaches, and offseason moves.
Byron Buxton Leads Twins by Example On and Off the Field

1 week ago | spokesman-recorder.com | Charles Hallman

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton is the second fastest player on the basepaths in Major League Baseball. According to Statcast, Buxton is averaging 30.2 feet per second, his highest speed since 2019. MLB Network before the season listed Buxton as the third-best center fielder in the majors.
Burnsville’s Paul Jones II Shines in Maryland Baseball Homecoming

2 weeks ago | spokesman-recorder.com | Charles Hallman

Freshman infielder Paul Jones II is the only Minnesotan on the University of Maryland baseball team. The Burnsville native and Cretin-Durham Hall graduate’s recent homecoming was a big hit, as Jones played a big role in his team’s three-game sweep over the host University of Minnesota Golden Gophers May 9-11 at Siebert Field. “This was my first time coming home, first time playing here in college,” the six-foot Jones told the MSR after the Terps’ 8-5 victory May 10.
Cindy Brunson Reflects on Unexpected Exit from Mercury Broadcast Team

2 weeks ago | spokesman-recorder.com | Charles Hallman

Veteran broadcaster Cindy Brunson is taking her first summer off from calling WNBA games since 2022, but it was not in her original plans. The Phoenix Mercury, after interviewing her several weeks ago, decided not to hire her for their regular broadcast team. Almost immediately after the team announcement, Brunson wanted to head off any rumors that too often spread whenever changes in broadcasting are made.
Losing coach hopes for better days

2 weeks ago | spokesman-recorder.com | Charles Hallman

This occasional series will highlight Black coaches at all levels of sport. This week: WBB head coaches Delaware State’s Jazmone Turner and Maryland Eastern Shore’s Malikah Willis. Jazmone Turner’s first season as Delaware State WBB Coach was not without its ups and downs. It also can make a coach, even one as experienced as Turner, self-question what they are doing. “I’ll be honest with you,” she told the MSR. “It’s not easy.
Malikah Willis Finds Hope in UMES First Season

3 weeks ago | spokesman-recorder.com | Charles Hallman

This occasional series will highlight Black coaches at all levels of sport. This week: WBB head coaches Delaware State’s Jazmone Turner and Maryland Eastern Shore’s Malikah Willis. Malikah Willis came to Maryland Eastern Shore last April with over 23 years of collegiate coaching experience. She has various roles, including lead recruiter at most of the 12 schools Willis has served as an assistant coach.
Shimmy Gray-Miller Breaks Down 2025 WNBA Season Outlook

3 weeks ago | spokesman-recorder.com | Charles Hallman

Opening day for the 2025 WNBA season is Friday, May 16. “This year the talent has never been greater,” stressed Shimmy Miller on America’s longest running women’s pro basketball league and perhaps the hardest in pro sports for players to make a team roster.