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PIERCE 'HAD NO IDEA PLAXICO HAD A WEAPON': Linebacker's attorney speaks out; says client will testify to grand jury if asked.
*Antonio Pierce's attorney Michael Bachner spoke to the Associated
Press Thursday, insisting his client did not know New York Giants teammate
Plaxico Burress was carrying a gun last weekend until it accidentally fired
into the receiver's thigh.
"He had no idea Plaxico had a weapon," Bachner said, adding that
Pierce would cooperate with authorities and testify before a Manhattan grand
jury about the incident if asked.
"Antonio has always taken a position that he will be cooperative in
the investigation with law enforcement and should Antonio be subpoenaed to
the grand jury, and we have no idea that is going to happen, but if he is he
is going to abide by his obligations as a citizen," Bachner said.
Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon acknowledged on Wednesday that Pierce
first called team trainer Ronnie Barnes after the shooting and that Barnes
told Pierce to take the injured player to New York-Presbyterian
Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Although Pierce did take Burress to New York Presbyterian as
instructed, he did not try to cover it up by registering Burress under a
false name, as reported in several media outlets, Bachner said.
"Other than bringing him to the hospital, he had no involvement in
the administration process," Bachner said.
Bachner said he could not comment on a New York Post report that
Pierce took Burress' gun to his home and later gave it back to Burress'
wife, Tiffany.
Pierce spoke with reporters after practice Thursday, but refused to
discuss the shooting and its aftermath. He did stress that he'll be focused
on the field during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles as the
Giants (11-1) try to clinch the NFC East.
"This Sunday is no different from last Sunday," said Pierce, who came
into the media room right after practice in a sweat-soaked gray pullover.
"It is no different from Week 1. It's no different from the Super Bowl game.
It's no different from the first game I ever played football."
"When I get on the football field my focus is winning the game, first
and foremost, doing my job and helping my team win," said Pierce, who
frequently clutched the podium he was standing behind with his gloved hands.
"That's what I plan on doing on Sunday."
BALFOUR'S CRIMINAL RECORD RUNS DEEP: Suspect in J-Hud family murders has multiple drug and theft offenses.
*In his 27 years, William Balfour has been arrested multiple times
for infractions ranging from drug possession, to criminal trespassing, to
his most recent arrest for the shooting deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother,
brother and nephew.
Prosecutors gave a brief rundown of Balfour's history at Wednesday's
hearing, where a judge denied bond and him held on three counts of
first-degree murder. But the Associated Press reveals more details about
his checkered past from court and arrest records and from people who know
him.
The AP reports: Raised by his mother and a godmother while his father
served a prison sentence for murder, Balfour's record shows juvenile arrests
dating to 1996 for marijuana possession and criminal trespass to a vehicle,
then probation violations for arrests on the same counts.
His arrests and detentions got in the way of school, and he dropped
out in the 10th grade. Placed in a group home in 1997, he stayed only a
couple of months before returning to Chicago. He worked at low-paying jobs,
one as a grill man in a Wendy's restaurant and another at a steakhouse salad
bar.
Balfour and his brother both found drugs, with his brother serving
time on a cocaine charge. In 1992, he joined the Gangster Disciples; his
nickname was "Flex."
His most serious brush with the law came in 1998, when Balfour
hopped in a Chevrolet Suburban and drove off. The owner, Charles Gardner,
jumped on the vehicle to stop him, but Balfour stepped on the gas.
Balfour drove off with Gardner "hanging on top of it at a high rate
of speed down an expressway, swerving and weaving in and out of traffic,"
according to records. He drove through red lights and intentionally hit a
light pole, a fence and an iron gate, records say.
That led to a conviction for attempted murder and vehicular
hijacking and landed Balfour in state prison for seven years. He walked out
of prison in May 2006 and was placed on parole until May of next year.
After Balfour got out, he started dating a young woman he'd known
from high school. Five days after Christmas 2006, the 25-year-old Balfour
married 29-year-old Julia Hudson, who already had a little boy. The same
month, her sister starred in the movie "Dreamgirls," a role that would earn
Jennifer Hudson an Academy Award for best supporting actress.
Drugs remained a part of Balfour's life after prison. He was
arrested in June with crack cocaine in his car, parole records show. A judge
dismissed the charge for lack of probable cause.
Bennett, the neighbor, said people were stunned when Julia Hudson
married Balfour, whom he described as someone he did his best to avoid. It
isn't clear when their marriage began to unravel, but Bennett said it was
well-known that Julia Hudson wanted out.
"Julia didn't want to deal with him because she started to see what
kind of person he was," said Bennett. "Julia was already leaving him, and he
got mad about that."
IT'S OFFICIAL - OPRAH TO GO LIVE FROM KENNEDY CENTER: Talk show to air from D.C. on inauguration eve.
*Prominent Barack Obama supporter Oprah Winfrey will broadcast a
live episode of her talk show from the Kennedy Center Opera House on Monday,
Jan. 19, one day before the President-elect is sworn in to office.
A Harpo spokesman says another show will be taped from the venue on
Wednesday, Jan. 21.
All ticket information regarding the Kennedy Center shows will be
available next week on her Web site, Oprah.com.
Winfrey, meanwhile, has shot down rumors that she is planning a
"Candlelight Ball" in D.C. for 1,000 guests on inauguration night.
Chicago magazine's Marcia Froelke claims the talk-show host has been
entertaining bids from Washington-based caterers for a January 20th party at
a venue yet to be determined. However, a spokeswoman for Winfrey said, "We
have nothing to confirm at this point."
Additionally, Oprah told Access Hollywood Wednesday night: "I'm
trying to figure out who else is giving [a party] so I can go to theirs."
NENE FIRES BACK AGAINST EVICTION REPORTS: 'Atlanta Housewives' star says she and hubby moved out of house 'on our own free will.'
*One day after the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that NeNe
Leakes and her husband of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" were
evicted from their home, the reality show star claims the news has been
greatly exaggerated.
"I am truly blessed to enjoy a wonderful life and lifestyle," NeNe
said in a statement released Wednesday. "We have indeed moved to another
home, but we did so on our own free will. We live in an absolutely beautiful
home and we are fortunate to be able to live in the place of our choice."
AJC reported that NeNe and her husband, real estate investor Gregory
Leakes, left the property in Duluth, GA in November -- a month after an
eviction notice was filed by Winwood Properties. Gregory was said to have
been behind $6,240 in rent.
"Without wasting time on the details, the only thing I will say is
that we were NOT evicted," NeNe said in her statement. "Everybody knows that
I like to be honest, real and upfront. If something was wrong, I would tell
you!"
DON CORNELIUS PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO BATTERY: Soul Train founder accused of assaulting his wife.
*"Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius pleaded not guilty to five
misdemeanor counts of spousal battery on Thursday, reports the Associated
Press.
Court records show the former host of the "hippest trip in America"
was not in present court, but entered the plea through his attorney.
The 72-year-old producer was arrested in October after police
responded to a domestic dispute call at his Hollywood Hills home. He was
charged last month with spousal battery, assault with a deadly weapon and
dissuading a witness from making a police report.
Cornelius was ordered to appear for a January pretrial hearing.
WE REMEMBER 'MR. BENTLEY': Actor Paul Benedict of "The Jeffersons" found
dead on Martha's Vineyard.
*Paul Benedict, best known for his role as English neighbor Harry
Bentley on the sitcom "The Jeffersons," was found dead Monday on Martha's
Vineyard. He was 70.
At press time, authorities were still investigating the cause of
death, according to his brother, Charles.
Benedict began his acting career in the 1960s in the Theatre Company
of Boston, alongside such future stars as Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and
Al Pacino. He eventually starred in a number of movies, including a role as
the oddball director in "The Goodbye Girl" with Richard Dreyfuss.
But he was mainly known as George and Weezy's noble neighbor Bentley
in "The Jeffersons," which ran on CBS from 1975 to '85.
PAULA ABDUL SELLING LOS ANGELES HOME: Us Weekly says recent publicity surrounding fan's suicide was too much to handle.
*Paula Abdul has reportedly put her Los Angeles home on the market,
a move that comes less than a month after one of her fans committed suicide
outside her front gates.
According to Us Weekly, the "American Idol" judge has confirmed she
is selling the house and intends to move to a new, more secure home in the
city.
"Paula simply feels she has outgrown her house, and given the recent
public disclosure of her address, it seemed time that she move into a gated
community," a rep for the celeb told Us Weekly.
Paula Goodspeed, 30, took a suspected drug overdose in her car
outside of Abdul's Sherman Oaks home on Nov. 11.
Abdul has denied reports that she was too afraid to return to the
house.
TYLER PERRY TESTIFIES IN COPYRIGHT TRIAL: Mogul insists 'Mad Black Woman' screenplay was his original idea.
*Tyler Perry took the stand Wednesday in a copyright infringement
lawsuit brought by a woman claiming he lifted material from her play for his
2005 film "Diary of a Mad Black Woman."
Donna West's federal lawsuit argues that Perry stole concepts from a
script she wrote titled "Fantasy of a Black Woman," which was based
primarily on her own experiences.
Jurors on Tuesday watched Perry's film and listened to a reading of
West's play, which was performed in 1991 at the Junior Black Academy of Arts
and Letters at the Dallas Convention Center.
West wants a jury to award her family all the profits made from
Perry's movie, which earned some $50 million at the box office.
According to the Marshall News Messenger, Perry insisted that his
screenplay is an original work, but under cross examination by West's
attorney, said he did not know whether anyone actually saw him write the
script.
Perry's attorney said his client no longer has the original copy of
"Diary" because he sends all his work to the Library of Congress for a
copyright.
West's attorney, Aubrey "Nick" Pittman, suggested that Perry copied
ideas from other movies and incorporated them into "Diary." He asked Perry
whether he had taken concepts from "Mrs. Doubtfire," "The Color Purple," "An
Officer and a Gentleman" and Martin Lawrence's role in "Big Momma's House."
"I never stole anything from anybody - never," Perry said, locking
his eyes with the jury.
L.D. Dabney, an associate of West and a theater arts enthusiast of
the Dallas area, testified earlier Wednesday that when he first saw Perry's
film in July 2006, he figured it was based on West's play because he knew
what was going to happen from one scene to the next.
MAYA RUDOLPH, RASHIDA JONES IN PROP 8 VIDEO: All-star cast comes together for musical about Cali's end to gay marriage.
*Maya Rudolph, last seen playing Michelle Obama in a return to
"Saturday Night Live," joins Rashida Jones and others in a new Internet
video protesting the passage of California's Proposition 8 banning gay
marriage.
Posted Wednesday on FunnyOrDie.com, "Prop 8: The Musical" was
conceived and written by Marc Shaiman, the Tony Award-winning composer of
"Hairspray" and "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut." He wrote the piece in
a day, recorded it the next and shot it in a single day last week, reports
the Associated Press.
The piece also stars Jenifer Lewis, Craig Robinson, Jack Black (who
plays Jesus), Neil Patrick Harris, John C. Reilly, Andy Richter, Margaret
Cho, Alison Janney and others in a song-and-dance pitting the religious
right contingent of Prop 8 supporters against those who voted against it.
Though Jesus doesn't bring the two sides together, Harris has better
luck. He argues gay marriage could save the economy, singing: "Every time a
gay or lesbian finds love at the parade, there's money to be made."
Click here to watch Prop 8: The Musical:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff8/prop-8-the-musical-starring-jack
-black-john-c-reilly-and-many-more-from-fod-team-jack-black-craig-robinson-j
ohn-c-reilly-and-rashida-jones
SING WITH ARETHA, DINE WITH BELAFONTE: Rare experiences up for bid to
benefit Kennedy Center for Human Rights.
*An auction scheduled for later this month to benefit the Robert F.
Kennedy Center for Human Rights offers folks a number of once-in-a-lifetime
opportunities, including a chance to sing with Aretha Franklin, or to get
some musical advice from mogul Clive Davis.
Also up for bid: a dinner with James Earl Jones, Ruby Dee and Harry
Belafonte; a signed guitar from Carlos Santana; and an ostrich egg signed by
South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The minimum bid for that item is
$650.
The Web-based company organizing the auction, Charitybuzz.com, is not
charging any premiums on the auction prices. The auction runs until January,
with individual lots closing at different dates in December.
Proceeds will fund the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights'
efforts both domestically and globally.
Some of the other lots include a chance to meet The Who's Pete
Townshend and Roger Daltrey (and take away a signed guitar), private pottery
lessons from actress Marcia Gay Harding, a nonspeaking part in an upcoming
Farrelly brothers movie, seeing Andrea Bocelli perform in Tuscany, and a
personal tour of a floor of the NBC network at Rockefeller Plaza, led by
Luke Russert, son of the late "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert.
SUNDANCE TO DO CHRIS ROCK'S 'HAIR': Comic's documentary about black
hairstyles to compete in annual film festival.
*The documentary "Good Hair," directed by Jeff Stilson and featuring
comedian Chris Rock, was among the 64 films announced Wednesday in
competition for top honors at January's Sundance Film Festival.
The film has Rock traveling far and wide to examine the complexities
of African American hairstyles - from everyday maintenance to the origins of
hair weaves.
"It's really deep and funny... I did a Michael Moore expose on hair,"
he tells WENN. "(It's about) the business of black hair - weaves and
relaxers and all this stuff. I even went to India, where they get all the
weaves."
Rock and Stilson, (a producer and writer on "The Chris Rock Show")
also traveled to Birmingham, Memphis, and Dallas, to interview and tape some
hairdressers as they prepped for the annual Bonner Brothers Hair Show in
Atlanta.
'Contestants come from all over the world to compete,' Rock tells
E! Online. 'It's like a black Comic-Con."
I'm not making this up,' he adds. 'Someone's doing hair
underwater.'
The Sundance festival that showcases independent film runs Jan. 15-25
in Park City, Utah. Other films among the 16 in the U.S. drama category
include the romance "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men," the
writing-directing debut of "The Office" co-star John Krasinski. He also
appears in the film along with Timothy Hutton, Julianne Nicholson and
girlfriend Rashida Jones.
The documentary categories also include "When You're Strange," a
chronicle of Jim Morrison and the Doors; "Thriller in Manila," examining the
final boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier; and "William
Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe," a portrait of the civil-rights lawyer
directed by his daughters, Sarah and Emily Kunstler.
MISSY, ESTELLE, DMC IN ADIDAS AD CAMPAIGN: But none of their music will be used in the TV spots.
*Adidas has launched a new global ad campaign for its Adidas
Originals line of footwear and apparel that features 11 recording stars,
including Daryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, Estelle and Missy Elliott.
However, none of the TV ads use any of the featured artists' music.
Instead, the spots are accompanied by Pilooski's remix of Frankie Valli &
the 4 Seasons' "Beggin'."
Licensing songs from the artists featured in the ad campaign would
have been pricey, but Adidas spokesman Jeff Weinstein says that financial
considerations weren't a factor in the company's decision not to use the
artists' songs.
"We didn't want to single out one musician," Weinstein tells
Billboard. "We wanted to keep it neutral and focus on celebrating the
musicians' style and originality ... It was purely a creative decision."
The campaign, created by the agency Sid Lee in Montreal, depicts the
music acts dancing and laughing at a house party in Adidas gear. Besides
starring in the TV spots, the artists will appear online and in print ads.
For the last three years, Missy Elliott has had her own line of
Adidas shoes, as well as an Adidas apparel line called Respect M.E.
McDaniels, as part of his rap group Run D.M.C., famously recorded the tune
"My Adidas" in the mid-eighties.
KANYE'S 'HEARTBREAK' DEBUTS ON TOP: Beyonce's 'Sasha' drops to No. 4, but 'Single Ladies' puts a ring on No. 1.
*Kanye West scored his third straight No. 1 album on The Billboard
200 as "808s & Heartbreak" debuts in the top slot above contenders "Chinese
Democracy," the long-awaited return of Guns N' Roses, and a surge from
Taylor Swift's "Fearless."
West's Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam set moved 450,000 copies in the U.S.,
according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's the artist's lowest debut sales frame
since his first album, "The College Dropout," bowed with 441,000 in 2004.
His last release, "Graduation," began with 957,000 at No. 1 last
year, while sophomore set "Late Registration" checked in with 860,000 at No.
1 in 2005.
Swift's "Fearless" and GNR's "Chinese Democracy" are No. 2 and 3
respectively, followed by Beyonce's "I Am ... Sasha Fierce" (Music
World/Columbia), which drops 1-4 in its second week with 257,000.
Ludacris debuts at No. 5 with "Theater of the Mind" (DTP/Def Jam) at
213,000. It's the first time one of the rapper's albums debuted anywhere but
No. 1 since 2001's "Word of Mouf" bowed and peaked at No. 3.
Meanwhile, Beyonce's track "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" has
become the singer's fifth solo No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 singles
chart - one more than she scored as a member of Destiny's Child.
The single climbs one notch to the top, swapping places with T.I.'s
"Live Your Life." Another Beyonce song, "If I Were a Boy," held at No. 3,
and another former T.I. chart-topper, "Whatever You Like," held at No. 4.
Newcomer Lady GaGa's "Just Dance" featuring Colby O'Donis rose two places to
No. 5.
Top debut honors went to Kanye West's "See You in My Nightmares"
featuring Lil Wayne, which started at No. 21.
WILL SMITH MOVES BUSINESS INTO MIDDLE EAST: Actor launches company to distribute films through region.
*Will Smith and his Overbrook Entertainment partners James Lassiter
and Ken Stovitz have teamed with Diana Jenkins of D Media to launch Red
Pearl Pictures, which will distribute Western films throughout the Middle
East.
The new company will have offices in both Los Angeles and the Middle
East, and is currently looking for a chief executive, reports Variety. CAA
is advising the startup.
The goal of the venture is to tap into the growing demand for
entertainment in such Middle Eastern markets as Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai,
Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Overbrook has already shown global entrepreneurial ambitions, as the
company made a deal with Ronnie Screwvala, chief of India's UTV, and Sony to
produce films meant to play in the Indian marketplace.
Red Pearl Pictures joins a number of key Mideastern distributors that
have existing deals with the U.S. studios and independent companies.
While the Arab world boasts a population of some 300 million -- more
than two-thirds of whom are under the age of 30 and eager for commercial
entertainment -- censorship, piracy and underdeveloped infrastructure have
so far hampered efforts by distributors and exhibitors to maximize the
region's true box office potential, Variety notes.
Smith's "Hancock," for example, grossed approximately $3 million in
the Arab world, a good-sized draw, but small compared to other offshore
territories.
TRAILER RELEASED FOR FISHBURNE'S 'CSI' DEBUT: A new chapter begins for the Las Vegas Crime Lab next week.
*CBS has released a trailer promoting next week's debut of Laurence
Fishburne on TV's highest-rated series, "CSI." [Scroll down to watch.]
As previously reported, Fishburne is replacing the exiting William
Peterson, who plays Las Vegas Crime Lab supervisor Gil Grissom. Fishburne's
character, Dr. Raymond Langston, is a former pathologist who left his
profession to write books and lecture.
Although Fishburne will be filling Petersen's high-profile spot,
Langston will not be the CSI team's leader. He starts as a consultant to
Grissom in a serial-killer investigation before becoming an entry-level
criminalist.
"It's going to be fun, because Langston does have a natural
authority" thanks to his previous career, Fishburne tells USA Today. "But he
won't have that position or rank. So that's going to create space for there
to be some politics with everybody on the team."
In Langston's study of criminal and violent behavior, he sees
possible connections to his own tendencies. Producers say he doesn't have
the DNA of a serial killer, as rumored.
In Thursday's ninth episode (and in the clip below), Grissom attends
an out of the ordinary college seminar in which Professor Langston has a
two-way video feed conference with the infamous "Dick & Jane" serial killer.
There, a classroom packed with students is allowed to ask the murderer
questions directly.
Fishburne and Peterson also appear together in next week's episode
before Grissom makes his final appearance in January.
Trailer for Lawrence Fishburne's Dec. 11 Debut on 'CSI.':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9wViuaywTE&eurl=http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/
12/new-lost-previe.html&feature=player_embedded
UK RADIO JOCK SUSPENDED OVER BUSTA SONG: Station owners issue apology over rapper's hit 'Arab Money.'
*A popular UK radio DJ and his producer were suspended last month
for playing Busta Rhymes' latest single "Arab Money," a track that received
a number of complaints from listeners.
The song, which Steve "Smooth" Sutherland's played at 9:58 p.m. on
Nov. 29, has Busta boasting about being "oil well rich" and using various
Arab references to describe his wealth.
After listeners complained that the lyrics were racist, Sutherland
was removed by Global Radio, the owners of Galaxy Radio, which beams his
show into Manchester, Yorkshire, Birmingham, York Shire, the South Coast,
the North East and Scotland, reports UK Web site Radio Today.
"Galaxy would like to apologize to all our listeners for the airing
of this song. It was never Galaxy's intent to offend its listeners and never
will be," the company said in a statement. "A full internal investigation
has now commenced. Galaxy would like to apologize for any offense however
unintentionally caused."
A Muslim reader of Allhiphopcom, Khalid, took offense to one of the
song's remixes. He wrote: "In 'Arab Money Remix Part 1,' in the chorus you
used ('Bismillah Ulrahman Ulrahim Alhamdullillah rab Ulalamen) which is a
Quranic verse from the first Surah (chapter) in the Holy Quran." [Scroll
down to listen to song.]
"As an Arab and a Muslim it's prohibited to sing or cite a Quranic
verse in combination with music and most Muslims will find this
disrespectful," Khalid explained. "I'm afraid this misunderstanding will be
interpreted as an offensive and disrespectful way by some people and I trust
that you wouldn't upset and disrespect your Muslim and Arab fans."
Busta Rhymes has gone on several blog sites to defend the track, as
well as it's title, insisting that it actually champions Arab culture.
"Sometimes, people like to twist things," he said, according to WENN.
"We ain't mockin' the culture. We ain't tryin' to be disrespectful. Ain't no
racism going on right here.
"If you listen to the song, you see that we are actually
acknowledging the fact that the Arabian culture, a Middle East culture, is
one of the few cultures that values passing down hard work riches that's
been built amongst the family. It would be nice if a lot of other cultures
did the same thing.
"I would like for it to be like that in my culture where we could
build things to the point where we got so much that we don't need to rely on
other cultures to contribute majorly in a financial way, or in whatever
other way, to societies, communities or whatever governments we might live
in.
"So, we are actually biggin' up the culture. At the end of the day, I
want to be like that. I think a lot of us want to be like that."
Sutherland has twice been named Best DJ at the Music of Black Origina
(MOBO) Awards. He's also a world famous club DJ and has put his name to 11
urban music compilation albums, attaining platinum and gold status, reports
Radio Today.
MORGAN FREEMAN DIVORCE COULD GET PRICEY: New York Post claims wife could get more than $100 million in a settlement.
*The New York Post is reporting that Morgan Freeman's divorce from
wife Myrna Colley-Lee "will be both nasty and expensive for the Oscar
winner."
Page Six estimates that Freeman's wife of 24 years could pocket more
than $100 million in a potential settlement.
Original estimates put the actor's net worth in the $75 million to $90
million range, but now it is being reported he may be worth as much as three
to four times that amount.
Among assets contributing to the actor's bounty are a very valuable
gold coin collection, a rare stamp collection, a $7 million home in the
Virgin Islands, real estate in Freeman's native Mississippi worth nearly $30
million (including a $5 million personal home), a $10 million New York
apartment and a $15 million Los Angeles estate.
Freeman's marital problems made headlines in August after the
71-year-old actor was in a rollover car crash while driving a car registered
to his passenger, Demaris Meyer, 48.
Only days later, Freeman confirmed rumors that he and his wife were
divorcing, and that he and Colley-Lee, a costume designer, had been
separated since December 2007.
Meyer has been employed as a Memphis-based executive assistant with
Federal Express and reportedly is a longtime friend of both Freemans.
OBAMA BITS: Ring rumor worries staffers; Warwick hosts Legends Ball; Chicago
A Capella choir honors president-elect.
*The fake report generated by a London jeweler that President-elect
Barack Obama was buying his wife, Michelle, a $40,000 ring -- as a thank-you
present for her efforts during the campaign -- is reportedly giving Obama
staffers a new worry. 'We now know we're going to have to be on guard
against phony stories ... floated by people inappropriately attempting to
use the president-elect's popularity to promote themselves or their
businesses,' a top Obama aide told Chicago Sun-Times columnist Bill
Zwecker.
*Zwecker is also reporting that tickets went on sale Thursday for a
star-studded Legends Ball in Washington on Obama's inauguration night hosted
by Dionne Warwick. Guests will include Rodney Atkins, George Clinton, Chaka
Khan, Marvin Sapp, the Temptations, Kirk Franklin and others. At the same
hotel, Ludacris will host the Urban Ball featuring Big Boi, T-Pain, David
Banner, Cedric the Entertainer, the Cheetah Girls, Fantasia, Li'l Jon and
Monica. For tickets, go to AmericanMusicInaugural Balls.com.
*The Chicago A Cappella choir has added a tune to its holiday
concerts this weekend in honor of the president-elect. The vocal ensemble
will perform a song from the Luo people of Kenya, the ancestral tribe of
Obama's father. The song, 'Nyathi Onyuol,' will be sung in the Luo
language -- based on the familiar Christian text 'Unto us a child is
born.' For times and locations of concerts through Sunday, go to
chicagoacap pella.org or call (773) 755-1628.
ITTY BITTY BITS: 'Hancock' No. 1; NFL blocks suspensions; Marbury's private
jet; Rowland leaving Mathew?; Viola Davis lauded.
*"Hancock" debuted at No. 1 on all three video charts during the
week ending Nov. 30: the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart, Home
Media Magazine's video rental chart and Nielsen's Blu-ray Disc chart,
according to the Hollywood Reporter. The Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
release, starring Will Smith as a reluctant superhero, grossed $228 million
in theaters domestically. The video release knocked the previous week's top
seller, "WALL-E," to No. 2.
*A Minnesota judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked the NFL's
suspension of Vikings players Kevin and Pat Williams for violating the
league's anti-doping policy, but the players' status for Sunday's game at
Detroit remained uncertain. Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson
issued the temporary restraining order at the players' request, saying he
wanted more time to hear arguments in the case. The Williamses were among
six players suspended for four games for testing positive for a diuretic
that can be used as a masking agent for steroids. They have argued that the
substance containing the diuretic didn't list all its ingredients, and that
league scientists and lawyers had information about the substance but
withheld it from players.
*The New York Post's Page Six is reporting that Stephon Marbury is
going ahead with plans to buy a $40 million private jet, even though his
position on the New York Knicks is in jeopardy. Although Marbury has yet to
play this season, and the Knicks brass can't find any other team willing to
take on his $21 million salary, the untradeable Coney Island native is
awaiting delivery of the aircraft, according to the buzz at SoHo's Salt
restaurant. "He already paid a large deposit in the multimillions and has no
plans to try to cancel the order," said one source.
*Chicago Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker is reporting that Kelly
Rowland is thinking about leaving the management of Beyonce's father, Mathew
Knowles. "Could Rowland be jumping to a management deal with 'American
Idol' honcho Simon Fuller?" Zwecker wrote in Thursday's column. "That's the
buzz. The savvy Brit also manages the careers of the Spice Girls (plus
Victoria Beckham, individually), Annie Lennox and Carrie Underwood."
*The National Board of Review, which is composed of film historians,
students and educators, has chosen Viola Davis for the year's best
breakthrough performance by an actress for her role in the forthcoming movie
"Doubt." Davis was also part of a best ensemble win along with cast members
Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The awards will be handed out Jan.
14 in a New York gala hosted by Whoopi Goldberg. Last year's pick for best
film, "No Country for Old Men," went on to win best picture at the Oscars.
WE REMEMBER JAMES PASCHAL: John Lewis remembers restaurateur central to civil rights movement.
*Restaurateur James Paschal, whose Paschal's Restaurant was an
unofficial headquarters for the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta, died last
Friday in Atlanta due to the complications of heart surgery. He was 88.
Paschal's hosted many of the meetings that birthed now historic civil
rights actions, such as the March on Washington and the Selma-to-Montgomery
March.
At a time when public accommodations were racially segregated by law
throughout the South, Paschal's was considered an oasis where civil rights
activists could congregate, relax, nourish themselves, and in the comfort of
that environment fuel their minds to plan major movement actions.
Rep. John Lewis, former chairman of the Student Non-Violent
Coordinating Committee (SNCC), made this comment about the passing of James
Paschal:
James Paschal was an extraordinary man. He was more than a business
leader, more than an involved citizen, he was a gifted American who gave so
much to Atlanta and the nation. People from around the world came to eat at
Paschal's because they understood the contribution James and his brother
made to the Civil Rights Movement.
The first meal I had in Atlanta, when I moved to the city in June of
1963, was at Paschal's Restaurant. Then it was located on old West Hunter
Street, now Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. At one time the headquarters of
SNCC was right across the street from Paschal's. We used to refer to the
restaurant as Paschal's Precinct. If you wanted to get a reading on what
was happening in the community, you had to check in at Paschal's to get the
pulse of Atlanta and a line on what was happening throughout the South.
During the Civil Rights Movement, everyone-Hosea Williams, Martin
Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, A. Phillip Randolph, and many of the
famous black entertainers-ate and visited at Paschal's. At one time you
could buy two pieces of chicken, potato salad, "early peas," as we called
them, two rolls and some peach cobbler for 99 cents plus tax at Paschal's.
The food, the comfortable surroundings, and the welcoming
environment helped to fortify us to go out and do battle. The last time I
saw Martin Luther King Jr. alive, I was in Paschal's Restaurant. He had
called a coalition of activists together to plan the Poor People's campaign,
and he held that meeting at Paschal's. The restaurant James and his brother
founded played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement.
James Paschal was a wonderful man, a very quiet man. He was very
business-like. He was always concerned that we were comfortable and checked
often to make sure the food and service were to our liking. He would ask,
"Is everything all right, sir? How are you doing, sir?" He was very polite
and spoke to us with dignity and respect. He was a true gentleman.
There was something so stable, so dependable, so real about James
Paschal. His very personality, his very being was as solid as a rock. He
was very supportive to the Movement in his own quiet, deliberate way.
Sometimes when we were having a major crisis, James Paschal might decide to
host the meeting-give us our meals on the house-to help facilitate our
planning and action. After Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral, many of us
went to eat at Paschal's. It was like a home away from home.
We were more than lucky, but very blessed that a man named James
Paschal came our way. He made a lasting contribution to the free exercise of
civil rights in America, not just for African Americans, but all Americans.
He will be deeply missed.
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