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PAUL ANKA SAYS MIJAC RIPPED OFF HIS SONG: Singer says 'This is It' copies his 1983 joint 'I Never Heard.'
*It's already starting. Within hours of its 12 a.m. Monday premiere on the Internet, there is already an accusation of plagiarism surrounding Michael Jackson's new single "This Is It."
Singer-songwriter Paul Anka believes the King of Pop's tune rips off a 1983 song he co-wrote with Jackson called "I Never Heard." He tells TMZ that the song was even recorded in his studio in Carmel, Calif.
TMZ reported: Anka says he took the tape to a studio in Hollywood to put the finishing touches on it for Anka's duets album, "Walk a Fine Line."
Anka claims Jackson -- who was just blowing up at the time with "Thriller"
-- got a big head and "stole the tapes" from the studio.
Anka tells us he called the lawyers who repped both he and Jackson
-- ironically one of them was John Branca -- and threatened them with a lawsuit if he didn't get the tapes back. Anka got them back but insists Jackson made a copy of the tapes and used the track with his voice from "I Never Heard" -- and simply retitled it, "This is It."
Anka gave "I Never Heard" to another artist -- Safire -- who recorded it in 1990. Anka tells us he's talking with his lawyers about his legal options.
SHARPTON ASKS NFL TO BLOCK LIMBAUGH BID: Rev. writes commissioner requesting meeting to discuss radio host's bid to buy Rams.
*Rush Limbaugh's interest in buying the NFL's St. Louis Rams has riled both the NFL Players executive director and civil rights activist Rev.
Al Sharpton, both of whom want the league to think twice before accepting the conservative radio host's offer.
In a letter written to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Sharpton requests a meeting to urge the blocking of any potential bid by Limbaugh, stating it would be bad for the league.
In the letter, Rev. Sharpton also praises NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith for publicly asking that the league seek to unify, not divide, by rejecting any bid by Limbaugh.
In an e-mail to the union's executive committee on Saturday, Smith said specifically of Limbaugh's bid, "I've spoken to the Commissioner [Roger Goodell] and I understand that this ownership consideration is in the early stages. But sport in America is at its best when it unifies, gives all of us reason to cheer, and when it transcends. Our sport does exactly that when it overcomes division and rejects discrimination and hatred."
Limbaugh and St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts are among six potential ownership groups that have discussed buying the Rams. League sources tell ESPN.com the current sale price has ranged from $700-to-$750 million but that there did not appear to be an imminent transaction.
Meanwhile, at least seven NFL players have publicly opposed Limbaugh's interest in purchasing the Rams with Checketts. In Smith's communication Saturday with his executive committee, the union leader encouraged players to speak their mind on all matters, including Limbaugh's bid.
"I have asked our players to embrace their roles not only in the game of football but also as players and partners in the business of the NFL,"
said Smith in the e-mail. "They risk everything to play this game, they understand that risk and they live with that risk and its consequences for the rest of their life. We also know that there is an ugly part of history and we will not risk going backwards, giving up, giving in or lying down to it.
"Our men are strong and proud sons, fathers, spouses and I am proud when they stand up, understand this is their profession and speak with candor and blunt honesty about how they feel."
SHYNE DENIES RECENT CONVO WITH DIDDY: Freed rapper says mogul never spoke to him, as he stated last week on Hot 97.
*Newly-freed rapper Shyne says he never had a recent conversation with his former Bad Boy Records boss Sean "Diddy" Combs as the mogul had
stated in a recent radio interview.
Diddy, who was acquitted in a 1999 club shooting that landed Shyne a 10-year prison sentence, told Angie Martinez of New York's Hot 97 that he spoke with Shyne in prison and the rapper "sounded like he was in good spirits."
“I know he can’t wait to get home. I know he is definitely going to heat the whole scene up," Diddy told Martinez. "He was definitely one of the talented young artists that I had the pleasure to work with.”
But Shyne says that conversation never happened.
"I want it known that this supposed conversation is a figment of Sean Combs' imagination," Shyne said. "He never spoke with me, he never visited me nor would I ever accept a phone call or visit from him. The only way I would do either of those things would be if he stepped up and did the right thing for the victims of the incident."
Shyne's attorney Oscar Michelen said in a statement to Access
Hollywood: "I was very surprised to hear Mr. Combs' claims about talking with my client since I speak to Shyne all the time and he never mentioned anything about it. Knowing how he feels about Mr. Combs I know that it would have been very strange for Shyne to have spoken with him and not told anyone."
Shyne, released from jail last week, remains in custody at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility pending the possibility of deportation. A year after he was dropped from Bad Boy in 2003, the inmate put his former boss on blast in an interview with Vibe magazine. Shyne said Diddy convinced a friend to lie on the stand and say he pulled out his gun and opened fire in the Times Square club without provocation.
SHERRI SHEPHERD'S SITCOM SCORES: New Lifetime show nearly doubles previous four-week time period average.
*Sherri Shepherd's new Lifetime series "Sherri" was the most-watched original comedy premiere on the network in more than ten years, according to Nielsen.
Loosely based on her own story as a single mom who divorces after her husband cheats, the program nearly doubled its prior four-week time period average in all key demographics as well.
Five new episodes of the 'Sherri' show aired last week ahead of its regular time slot of Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST, beginning tonight.
The show also stars Malcolm Jamal Warner ('The Cosby Show'), Tammy Townsend ('Lincoln Heights'), Kali Rocha ('Grey's Anatomy'), Elizabeth Regen ('Whoopi'), James Avery ('Fresh Prince of Bel Air') and Broadway star Kate Reinders.
KEVIN JOHNSON ROBBED ON STREETS OF SAN FRAN: Garment bag jacked when he stopped to help someone into a cab.
*Sacramento mayor and former NBA All Star Kevin Johnson was robbed on the streets of San Francisco over the weekend while trying to be a Good Samaritan.
In a post on his blog, Johnson said he put down his garment bag near Union Square to help an elderly man get into a cab. When he went back to retrieve it less than 30 seconds later, it was gone.
Johnson – mayor since 2008 and the first African American to hold the position – said he lost a suit, a pair of shoes and some personal items.
"Not the end of the world, but frustrating," Johnson wrote. "The real crime was the vulnerability of it all, the idea that I could leave my bag on a crowded street, turn my back for 30 seconds and have my stuff stolen."
Johnson said he was in San Francisco to attend a conference with representatives of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
"Next time I see San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, I'll tell him the story and give him my word nothing like that will happen to him in Sacramento," Johnson added. "And I'll hope I can make good on the promise."
DR. DRE LAUNCHES HP COMPUTERS LINE: Producer and Interscope's Jimmy Iovine produce limited edition notebook PC.
*Legendary hip hop producer Dr. Dre and Interscope Geffen A&M chairman Jimmy Iovine are teaming with HP computers to introduce the HP ENVY
15 Beats limited edition notebook PC.
Due in stores Oct. 22, the newest addition to HP's flagship ENVY line was unveiled during a press conference Friday (Oct. 9) at Interscope's Thom Thom Club in Santa Monica, Calif, reports Billboard.
The HP ENVY 15 Beats comes from the Beats Electronics LLC, co-founded by Iovine and Dr. Dre in 2006. Featuring a piano black high-gloss finish and the Beats Audio design found in the "Beats by Dr. Dre" headphones line, the HP ENVY 15 Beats will also come bundled with the Dr. Dre headphones and state-of-the-art mixing software from Native Instruments' Traktor LE.
Retailing for $2,299, the product will be available at Best Buy, major retailers and through HP direct.
In addition to input from Dre, prominent producers will.i.am, Kanye West, Pharrell, Timbaland and Polow da Don also helped HP engineers fine-tune the project.
"We started this journey with the headphones to improve the transmission of sound between record makers and consumers," Iovine said during the press conference. "What's out there is not representative of what you hear in the recording studio. As we went on this journey, we found that computers were in the way. Artists and producers want their sound repaired in digital audio. Computer companies charge $1,000 for computers but only spend 50 cents for speakers. With HP, we found a partner willing to take the step to improve the overall sound in the PC. This is for anyone who plays music."
"The laptop is the new stereo and that's why we're putting out this computer with incredible sound," Dr. Dre added.
WHITNEY HOUSTON ANNOUNCES UK TOUR DATES: Singer to begin promoting new set in April.
*Whitney Houston is set to tour the UK and Europe for the first time in over a decade with five arena dates across England and Scotland beginning in April.
“This is my first full tour since the ‘My Love Is Your Love’ tour in
1999 and I am so excited to be performing for my fans around the world after all this time," Houston said in a statement. "I am putting together a great show and cannot wait to perform the songs from my new album ‘I Look to You’
along with some of your favorites."
The UK jaunt will start in Manchester on April 8 at the Manchester Evening News Arena, then, move to Glasgow at the S.E.C.C. April 11; Birmingham at the LG Arena April 13; Newcastle upon Tyne at the Metro Radio Arena April 22 and London’s O2 Arena April 25.
A May 13th date is set in Leipzig, Germany at the Leipzig Arena.
Other stops include Hannover at the TUI Arena May 16; Hamburg at the Color Line Arena May 17; Munich at Olympiahalle May 21; Stuttgart at Hanns Martin Schleyer Halle May 22; Oberhausen at Konig-Pilsener Arena May 26 and Mannheim at the SAP Arena May 29.
The 46-year-old star will also make a TV appearance on talent show "The X Factor" this Sunday - her first UK TV appearance in 12 years.
OPRAH FILMS EPISODE AT TEXAS STATE FAIR: Trip included chomping down on venue's famous deep fried butter.
*Sporting a cowboy hat, Oprah Winfrey and cameras from her talk show made their way through the State Fair of Texas in Dallas on Sunday for a special episode set to air later this fall.
With best friend Gayle King by her side, the TV host put aside her diet and feasted on a corn dog smothered in mustard and the fair's famous deep fried butter, calling the latter "the best treat of the fair."
Oprah's State Fair of Texas episode will include a performance by country star Martina McBride from the Chevrolet Main Stage.
SOLANGE SAYS CO-PARENTING HAS 'CHALLENGES': Plus, singer Twitters about stolen bike and purse.
*In the November issue of Honey magazine, R&B singer Solange comes clean about the challenges of being a mom to her 5-year-old son Daniel Julez with ex-husband Daniel Smith.
“A lot of people feel like their life has to stop because of the child and they have to let go of their interests. You definitely have to compromise some of them, but I’ve been really blessed,” she says.
Solange affirms that motherhood is the most important aspect of her life – ahead of any honors or tributes that come with being an entertainer.
“I have to say no to a lot of things because at the end of the day I know that no matter how many awards or accolades or praise or money I get, the one thing that really is a judgment of me is what kind of mother I am,”
she said.
Fortunately, Solange and her ex-husband Daniel Smith are determined to co-parent their son, sharing equal custody and coordinating their schedules accordingly. “I try not to ever be away from him unless he’s with his dad,” she explains.
In other Solange news, someone has taken off with her bicycle and purse, according to her Twitter post sent on Sunday.
She wrote, "Thank you whoever stole my bag and my fave yellow bye-sick-cool (bicycle). I hope you ride it really fast then trip on a stick and fall.
"Ok. I don't want them to really hurt anything when they fall. Just a scratch or two," she added.
Knowles said the bike was a present from her good friends: "That bike was a gift from two of my besties... & I've had it for some good years.
I'll never be able to replace the memorys (sic)."
"Thank God they didn't steal me. There's always a bright side," she tweeted.
CONNICK CANCELS APPEARANCE AFTER 'BLACKFACE' BACKLASH: Camp concerned for his safety in Australia after singer branded talent show routine racist.
*Singer Harry Connick Jr. decided to forgo a scheduled appearance in Sydney Australia Friday due to concerns for his safety in the wake of his stance against a blackface skit during a recent television special.
According to reports, the crooner was due to appear at shopping mall Castle Towers in Castle Hill, but his management cancelled the outing after hearing about abusive comments posted online targeting his opposition to performers on "Hey Hey It's Saturday," where he served as a celebrity guest judge.
An act billed as The Jackson Jive donned blackface to portray the Jackson brothers while the lead singer put on white makeup to imitate Michael Jackson. Connick's disgust at the skit made headlines around the world - many approving of his outrage. But some local television fans were irritated by his reaction.
'They just decided because of the controversy and the hoo-ha, it probably wasn't a wise thing to do,' said a source close to Connick about his cancelled appearance. 'From a management point of view, what they were reading online, they were getting quite worried about it.'
KATHERINE JACKSON'S ESTATE PORTION DETAILED: Her 40 percent goes directly to Michael's three kids upon her death.
*TMZ.com is reporting that Michael Jackson intended to provide for his mother during her lifetime, but once she dies her share of the estate will go directly to his three children.
It was first thought that under the trust, 40% of Michael's estate goes to Katherine. The kids get 40% and the remaining 20% goes to charity.
But according to TMZ, Katherine Jackson will not get 40% outright.
Estate trustees John Branca and John McClain will ultimately decide what money should go to the beneficiaries, the Web site reported. In other words, Katherine has no say in what happens to her share of the money upon her death. Whatever remains in Katherine's trust when she dies goes directly to the children.
"Bottom line, Katherine will get a healthy stipend for the rest of her life," TMZ stated. "Now she's getting a hefty allowance and when the trust kicks in she'll probably get more. But she will not inherit 40% of her son's estate."
MICHELLE OBAMA ACTION FIGURE ON SALE: Fashionista First Lady comes with toned arms and three sleeveless dresses.
*The First Lady is now available as an action figure.
From Jailbreak Toys comes the Michelle Obama action figure, complete with toned arms and three different sleeveless dresses to show them off, reports the New York Daily News.
"Batman has nothing on Michelle Obama," Manhattan mom Eileen Ramos told the paper. "I bought the Barack figure last year but I think Michelle is the one with the real superpowers in the family."
The figurines retail for $12.99 apiece and are due to hit stores on Nov. 20.
WYCLEF, SIMMONS JOIN 'LOVE 'N HAITI' EFFORT: Country in a global competition hosted by BBC World News and Newsweek.
*Wyclef Jean, Russell Simmons and actress Garcelle Beauvais Nilon are among a number of celebs trying to help Haiti win a global competition hosted by BBC World News and Newsweek.
The trio signed on as ambassadors for LOVE ‘N HAITI, an initiative that pushes recycling efforts that aid in decreasing deforestation, creating jobs and reducing the incidence of floods. As one of 12 finalists in the competition, Haiti stands to win a grant to further the recycling project.
“I’m proud to be a part of this campaign, not only because it’s for my people, but because I care about our environment,” says Wyclef. “All it takes is one vote to make a difference. We need everyone to support LOVE N’
HAITI!”
Also on board are Free (Power 105 FM), Sha Money, Tony Yayo, DJ Whoo Kid, Mona Scott-Young (Monami Entertainment), actor Jamie Hector and singer Black Dada.
To log your vote for LOVE ‘N Haiti, visit http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/index.php. Voting ends Nov. 13.
JUDGE TO CONSIDER INJUNCTION BLOCKING "GOOD HAIR": Woman accusing Chris Rock of copyright infringement headed to court.
*The woman accusing Chris Rock of stealing her idea for his documentary "Good Hair" will get a chance to plead her case for a preliminary injunction that would halt the film's release.
While reports surfaced Friday that Regina Kimbel’s $5 million copyright infringement lawsuit was tossed, a rep for the filmmaker said Monday that a judge has ordered an Oct. 19 hearing to decide whether defendants should be blocked from releasing the HBO film nationwide on Oct. 23.
Kimbell, producer of the film "My Nappy Roots,” alleges that Rock did not tell her he had a deal with HBO to produce a film about black hair when he asked to see her movie, according to a press release from her camp. Kimbell says she further states in court papers that her claim is supported by her co-producer, who was present at the screening where Rock has admitted he saw her film.
"In court documents submitted under oath last week, Rock claimed that he could not recall whether he told Kimbell before or after the screening about his deal with HBO," the release stated. "However, in an interview with www.ifc.com on Friday, he changed his tune and now claims that he told Kimbell of his HBO deal before the screening."
Kimbell's attorney Reginald K. Brown stated: "This just doesn't make sense. Why would Mrs. Kimbell knowingly screen her unreleased film for another filmmaker with distribution for a similar film?"
EUR DVD REVIEW: Drag Me to Hell
Best Horror Flick of 2009 So Far Arriving DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Everything has been coming up roses for Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) lately. Career-wise, the ambitious banker is close to landing a plum promotion to assistant manager.
Meanwhile, her love life is equally promising, as her boyfriend (Justin Long) is secretly planning to pop the question soon.
However, this state of bliss starts to dissolve into a neverending nightmare the day a ghastly-looking senior citizen on a fixed income enters the branch office to ask for another extension on her overdue mortgage payment.
Mrs. Ganush's (Lorna Raver) gross behavior makes it easier for Christine to foreclose on the house, especially since she's trying to impress her eavesdropping boss (David Paymer).
Out of desperation, the old lady swallows her pride and gets down on her knees to beg. But this overture is only met with a call to security to carry the disruptive customer out of the building bodily.
Instead of driving away in her dilapidated jalopy, the humiliated customer hides in the bank's parking lot for Christine to level a chilling threat:
"Soon, it will be you who comes begging to me!" Truer words were never spoken onscreen. I'm not sure when a horror flick has ever had a more timely theme, given the record number of sub-prime mortgages in default.
Regardless of whether the premise was by coincidence or design, Drag Me to Hell is the best horror flick of 2009 thus far, hands down. Credit director/co-writer Sam Raimi for crafting a spine-tingling adventure guaranteed to elicit blood-curdling screams and to make you jump out of your seat when you least expect it.
Taking a page out of Hitchcock, he accomplishes this feat without resorting to the gratuitous gore we see splattered across the screen in most of the scary genre's recent offerings. But don't be deceived by Drag Me to Hell's deceptively-benign PG-13 rating. For this relentless shockfest is still not for the feint of heart, and is likely to leave youngsters as afraid of evicted, vindictive old ladies as they are of the dark.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 99 minutes
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment DVD Extras: Production video diaries.
To order a copy of Drag Me to Hell, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JT69IW?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002JT69IW
To see a trailer for Drag Me to Hell, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRi1A7-4--M
EUR DVD REVIEW: American Violet
DVD Drama Revisits Malicious Prosecution of Blacks in Texas
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*On November 2, 2000, drug enforcement agents executed a sweep of the black community in the tiny town of Hearne, Texas, arresting 27 African-American residents, including a grieving father who was taken into custody during the funeral of his young daughter.
The bench warrants had been issued on the word of an ex-con who claimed to have purchased crack from each of the accused, despite the fact that this sole eyewitness had a history of mental illness and was also facing criminal charges at the time.
Nonetheless, The District Attorney aggressively pursued convictions in all of the cases, generally succeeding since most of the defendants couldn't even afford to make bail, let alone hire a lawyer.
What generally transpired was that after languishing in jail for several months while awaiting trial, many succumbed to the pressure to plead guilty to a lesser charge rather than face the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence.
In actuality, all of these unfortunate folks from the projects were victims of a state-sanctioned scheme to incarcerate innocent African-Americans.
Ultimately, the ACLU would clear their names with the help of one of the defendants, an intrepid woman willing to risk incurring the wrath of the authorities by testifying against them in a lawsuit alleging malicious prosecution.
The intimate details of her ordeal is the subject of American Violet, a gripping dramatization of the events surrounding a sad tragedy which ruined many a life in Hearne. The film stars newcomer Nicole Beharie as Dee Roberts, a 24 year-old single-mother with four daughters whose life comes apart at the seams when she finds herself suddenly ensnared in a dragnet designed to rid the town of black people entirely.
In matter-of-fact fashion, this brilliant bio-pic effectively illustrates the likely fallout visited upon a law-abiding but unsophisticated person like Dee up against an impersonal legal justice system unconcerned with the truth. A movie which earns high marks simply for being the first feature film with the guts to take the subject of racial profiling dead seriously.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for profanity, ethnic slurs, violence, drug references and mature themes.
Running time: 103 minutes
Studio: Image Entertainment
DVD and Blu-ray Extras: Director's audio commentary, Telluride Film Festival interviews and a theatrical trailer.
To order a copy of American Violet on DVD, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FUIJ24?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002FUIJ24
To order a copy of American Violet on Blu-ray, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FUIJ38?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002FUIJ38
To see a trailer for American Violet, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78SyNyyH_Qc
STEVEN IVORY: The Intuitive Mr. Glory
*Mr. Glory is the kind of man premonition doesn't have to nudge twice. Both as a multimillionaire businessman and in personal life, he holds in high esteem the Qualified Hunch. And Mr. Glory had a hunch about Tassy.
They met in 1997 in her native Havana, at the bar of the Marianao Beach hotel she managed.
At 43, the Jamaican-born Mr. Glory was immediately taken by the 32 year-old's striking beauty, humor and business acumen, while Tassy was attracted to Glory's distinguished, funky style and maverick approach to life.
A year into a torrid long distance romance, Mr. Glory used his connections with the Cuban government to bring her to Los Angeles. They married at his Bel-Air villa.
Thus began an enchanting life that combined hard, ambitious work--Tassy became a valued v.p. at one of the Glory companies--with and wonderful, lavish travel to places like Positano, Geneva, Paris and Madrid.
Four years into marriage, however, Mr. Glory sensed trouble. A usually emotionally present and loving Tassy somehow seemed increasingly distracted.
Angrily and tearfully she refuted company employee whispers regarding she and Segovia, the handsome 40-something Portuguese seaman-turned-production manager for Glory's fabric subsidiary.
Mr. Glory listened to what Tassy said, and dried her eyes, but his hunch kept him awake at night. A week later, over breakfast, a friend who ran a private investigation firm introduced him to Tyson. If Tassy Glory was hiding something, said the friend, Tyson, a rugged, tenacious 37 year-old former Army reconnaissance officer from Detroit, would find it.
Tyson, himself a husband and father of two, attempted to console Mr. Glory with the maxim that things aren't always what they seem.
One month later in Mr. Glory's penthouse office, Tyson, armed with restaurant receipts, hotel bills and shaky, handheld video, presented the facts.
The morning Mr. Glory left Los Angeles for London, said Tyson, Tassy canceled her inspection of Glory realty holdings in Santa Barbara and flew to San Diego with Segovia. They spent the day aboard a beautiful yacht with a three man crew, cruising off the shore of tony La Jolla.
Mr. Glory showed no emotion as Tyson continued, telling him of Tassy's flight from L.A. to see relatives in Miami. Mr. Glory was aware of his wife's plans to visit family; what he didn't know was that Segovia accompanied her. They lunched while on yet another fabulous yacht in Biscayne Bay.
The rest of Tassy's month, Tyson decided, was uneventful. However, said the private eye, at the risk of being a spoil sport, he couldn't accept Mr. Glory's generous compensation in good conscience without revealing the heart of Tassy's secret.
Tassy, Tyson said, was not sleeping with Segovia--who, in fact, is gay--but consulting with the former seaman on the purchase of a yacht...as a birthday gift for Mr. Glory.
Mr. Glory, presented with the birthday and Segovia revelations, offered half a smile and uttered something in the way of my wife is something else. He stood, rather indifferently thanked Tyson and advised him not to feel guilty about revealing Tassy's birthday plot or about getting paid to do so. He walked Tyson to the office door, poured himself a libation at his bar and settled back behind his desk.
Mr. Glory then opened a desk drawer and revisited a Manila envelope of photos he'd received and examined days earlier from yet another investigator he'd hired. The images provided Tyson's report a perverted postscript: Tassy in L.A. exiting a noontime movie matinee; Tassy lingering over a romantic restaurant dinner; Tassy checking into the Las Vegas Four Seasons and strolling along a Malibu beach, all in the company--and the beefy, bronze arms--of Tyson.
When he hired Tyson, Mr. Glory was confident the investigator could shed light on Tassy's activities. But as days went by, he had yet another feeling.
Few would have considered the twisted notion of Tyson starting out as Tassy's hunter, only to end up her hunky prey. But for some, self-fulfilling prophesy and premonition are often one and the same. And Mr. Glory is the kind of man premonition doesn't have to nudge twice.
Steven Ivory's book, FOOL IN LOVE (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster) is available at Amazon.com (www.Amazon.com). Respond to him via STEVRIVORY@AOL.COM
THE SOCIALIST’S JOURNAL: The Pursuit of Happiness
*The pursuit of happiness has always been code for acquiring stuff. For our Founding Fathers the stuff was horses, slaves, and perhaps a piano. For contemporary Americans the stuff might be a car, country club membership, and a flat screen television. But one common element of the stuff acquired two and a quarter centuries ago and the stuff acquired today does exist: home ownership. Only the recent economic downturn may have eliminated this last bit of common ground.
One of the primary causes of the recession we are currently recovering from was the ease with which credit was extended, to companies and to people. Once some of these same companies and people proved themselves to be poor risks, individual industries suffered in addition to the bankers who extended the credit. Naturally the banking industry reassessed its lending practices and came up with more stringent guidelines on loans. In making it more difficult to be approved for a mortgage and putting into question a critical step in the process, banks struck a blow to the ideal of homeownership.
Also in the past homeownership was something expected of the upper class, probable for the middle class, and to be striven for by the lower class. In today’s America homeownership is not valued as highly in part because of the difficulty in getting a mortgage. Those in the middle class are more prone to renting their place of residence; those in the lower class in many cases are simply ineligible for loans and therefore homeownership. In addition the slump in the housing market makes homeownership less appealing because of the scarcity of qualified buyers.
In the curious application of the mob mentality, the fact that many people do not want to own homes is further devaluing homeownership. It will probably be years before this trend changes and in the mean time the pursuit of happiness will be a bit different.
THE MO'KELLY REPORT: Limbaugh is Bad Business for NFL
*Nationally syndicated conservative talk show host and lightning rod Rush Limbaugh has made known his plans to purchase the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League.
Although NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has indicated that Limbaugh’s application for franchise ownership is in its primary phase of consideration and in conjunction with Dave Checketts (owner of NHL’s St. Louis Blues); the response around the league and in the media has been considerable.
Considerably negative that is…
The first shoe to drop came in the form of an email from NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith last Saturday:
“I’ve spoken to the Commissioner [Roger Goodell] and I understand that this ownership consideration is in the early stages, but sport in America is at its best when it unifies, gives all of us reason to cheer, and when it transcends. Our sport does exactly that when it overcomes division and rejects discrimination and hatred.”
Then, Rev. Al Sharpton on Monday entered the fray contacting Goodell, alleging that Limbaugh has been both divisive and “anti-NFL” over the years.
As you could imagine, any story with Limbaugh and Sharpton bookending it immediately moves the discussion towards race. One side predictably calls Limbaugh a racist…which he is. And the other side calls Sharpton a “race-baiter”…which he is.
But both sides are missing the point. This really shouldn’t be about Limbaugh or Sharpton when the NFL makes its decision.
Well, yes and no.
Race is part of the discussion but Mo’Kelly would submit it is not and should not be the focal point. The reasons why Rush Limbaugh has no business as an owner in the National Football league inevitably ties back to it being a bad business idea…with SOME of it tied to race.
There are two histories to consider here; Limbaugh’s and the NFL’s. Let’s first look at the NFL.
The National Football League is by far the most popular spectator sporting league in America, if not the world. The ratings for even NFL PRE-season games easily dwarf the ratings for the World Series and the NBA Finals.
Game 5 of the 2008 World Series garnered a 9.6 rating, the highest of the series.
Game 1 of the 2009 regular NFL season on Fox earned a 16.5
Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals, Lakers V. Orlando earned a 5.7
The NFL has no sports entertainment peer and much of it has to do with its marketing and stringent controls. From the fines levied at players for supposed excessive endzone celebrations or to not meeting the league’s standards for uniforms and regulations, the NFL has been in supreme control of how its product is marketed and perceived.
And damn well they should…
That’s just on the field. Off the field, Roger Goodell has been diligent in his efforts to curtail “incidents” with the implementation of a league-wide player conduct policy. Regardless whether one agrees with Goodell’s policies and rulings thus far, the historical precedent had been set.
The NFL is not interested in controversy.
In fact, many players have branded it as the “No Fun League” due to the amount of rules and regulations required of them. The NFL is clear it wants considerable say in the behavior of those who represent the league on any level.
As for Rush Limbaugh, his history is equally relevant in this discussion. From his remarks generally about African-Americans over the years to Donovan McNabb specifically, it’s fair to say that Limbaugh has consistently inspired controversy from both the television and radio studio.
“Sorry to say this, I don’t think he’s been that good from the get-go. I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a Black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn’t deserve. The defense carried this team.”
Rush Limbaugh on Donovan McNabb – 10.2003
Yet, the controversial nature of Limbaugh doesn’t begin or end with just issues of race. There’s a long line of non-African-Americans also waiting to express their dislike of Rush Limaugh and what he espouses.
Rush Limbaugh as an NFL franchise owner (majority stake or otherwise) means he is de facto a representative of the league. Each and every time Limbaugh should open up his mic on his radio show and tells an African-American caller to “take the bone out of his nose” or refers to the President of the United States as “The Magic Negro” or even chides Colin Powell, former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff as a “race loyalist” for supporting said “Magic Negro”…he would be representing the NFL.
I’m not sure the NFL is ready to stomach the hatemail the next time Limbaugh compares the Democrats to Nazis, but like it or not…as an owner he would represent the NFL.
And speaking of anti-Semitism, former Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott could not possibly purchase a baseball team in today’s world. It would simply be bad business for the team and for Major League Baseball.
“Everything you read, when he came in [to power] he was good…They built tremendous highways and got all the factories going…Everybody knows he was good at the beginning but he just went too far.”
Marge Schott – 1996
It’s likely why Mark Cuban’s ownership bid was turned down I mean, ignored by the Chicago Cubs. No, Cuban isn’t a racist but sports franchises are now hyper-sensitive to public personas and the public perception they yield.
And damn well they should (although I think the Cubs whiffed on Cuban.)
The rub in this instance is that although Limbaugh would be a representative of the NFL, the league would not have any editorial control over Limbaugh’s daily radio program. Each and every single day, Rush Limbaugh manages to deeply offend someone and that anger would then be tied to the St. Louis Rams and to the NFL. The routine and inevitable hatemail and calls for boycott of advertisers supporting Rush Limbaugh would also then become the NFL’s problem.
Every subsequent story regarding the “questionable” remarks of one Rush Limbaugh would inevitably include the words “owner of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams” in the opening paragraph. The NFL doesn’t want that and given its stature surely doesn’t need that. In the game of dominoes we always say, “not all money is good money.”
Same applies here.
Controversy makes for good if not great radio. Conversely, it’s a horrible business model for the NFL in 2009.
Where race intersects the discussion of bad business is in the racial makeup of the majority African-American NFL. We saw how this played out on ESPN with Limbaugh as a “football commentator.” ESPN cut bait quckly, as Limbaugh’s baggage immediately became ESPN’s baggage. Note this important Limbaugh historical footnote. The NFL doesn’t need to extrapolate out what Limbaugh “might” mean for the NFL in terms of press. It already has a verifiable, historical example in which to reference. And if there’s anyone who’s good friends with the NFL, it’s ESPN.
Friends don’t let friends drive drunk or make the same mistakes they once made.
The NFL doesn’t need gimmicks like glow in the dark footballs or steel cage matches in which to inspire ratings supremacy. It is already king of the hill. All it needs to do is keep using common sense and good business sense.
Allowing Rush Limbaugh to become an owner would be indicative of neither.
The NFL is a private business entity and can hire whomever it sees fit to represent or endorse its product. Good business sense says that Rush Limbaugh as an owner is no better a decision than Rev. Al Sharpton. The reasons are the same and race is only a piece of a much larger discussion.
There is only risk with no reward for having the NFL associating itself with Rush Limbaugh and all the baggage he brings. To reduce this into a discussion of Sharpton or race misses the point and further marginalizes the real issues of race.
The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mokellyreport.wordpress.com. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com and he welcomes all commentary.
THE BRIDGE: Love & the Black Professional, Part 2
By Darryl James
*Finding someone with which to establish a meaningful relationship is hard while launching a career, but it can be done. In fact, people are doing it every day.
The problem is holding on to the relationship once you find yourself in the middle of it.
The thing I discovered consistently is that many people who have difficulty maintaining relationships haven't properly defined what they want--they start dating without being properly prepared. It's like driving on the highway without a map--unless you have directions, its hard to get to your destination.
Why not have directions in dating?
I developed the New Relationship Workbook to help singles begin to identify some basic elements of a relationship, so that they can at least be better prepared to meet their desired mate.
The Workbook provides a roadmap.
And, when/if you follow the map that I'm going to lay out for you, remember, honesty in planning will lead to honesty in foundation and possibly finding your true North.
This first step is designed to get each person to create their own relationship roadmap. When you do the exercise, it's important to be as honest with yourself as possible.
The exercise may seem simple, but the reality is that most of us date and even marry without giving perfunctory thought to the basics of a relationship.
You can create your own relationship roadmap by making a series of lists, including:
What I want: How are you going to find what you want without first defining what you want? Make a list of things that you have seen in men/women you like, not just the things that you hear about from other people. Focus on things that you have had in previous relationships that worked well for you.
What I offer: List things that are really a part of you. It's important to be honest because if you only imagine yourself to be something, rest assured the other person can see what is really there.
Negotiable: These are things that you don't like but can tolerate. Or things that you want, but will still be okay if they are not there. These are things that you don't mind negotiating (maybe one person is into eating healthy and the other person isn't--they can negotiate on meals).
Non-Negotiable: Please don't play with these. These are things that can't move. You already know that there are some things you simply can not deal with. Don't go falling in love, or even before that--falling in like and excusing things that for you, are inexcusable. They will come back up, and for some relationships, they will never leave until both people do. Examples are religion, geography (one person lives on the East Coast and the other lives on the West Coast).
After you've made the lists, you've begun to construct your roadmap. You are better prepared to get where you want to go, because you're laying out the plan.
Now, you have to ask some basic but serious questions that single people should ask each other. For the most part, they will bring out simple answers, but you should deliver as much detail as possible. It would be more productive to also be as honest as possible, or the exercise won't work.
The questions include:
Desired age of potential mates. Why did you choose the age range?
What is your occupation? What do you do for hobbies? Where do you socialize? What is your chief complaint in dating?
Number of relationships. Length of each one.
Is there a common reason why your relationships end? What part did you play in the ending of your last relationship? What complaint(s) did your last mate lodge against you?
What am I looking for in a mate? (Not just physical, but qualities of character.) What is my goal for a relationship? (i.e. marriage, dating, friends, bed buddy, etc. Be Honest!) When does sex begin?
For women: Am I old fashioned or a “modern woman?” Define your answer.
For men: Am I old school or an “evolved man?” Define your answer.
Based on the above question, am I prepared to step outside of my comfort zone?
Here's a question that should be obvious, but it's not. How many times do we date and not ask this simple question: Are you single?
You should make certain to ask and then you should ask--why? If you know the reasons why a person is single, you can better decide if this person will merge well with you.
There are more questions, but since I have limited space, I chose the most important ones.
Now, some people say that you shouldn't have certain discussions with people you date. I think that's just stupid. You're trying to merge your life with someone, but you won't talk about things that will have to be merged.
For the following topics, list what your views are on the topic, in addition to what you would like your mate's views to be:
Religion, Politics, Sex, Economics/Career, Children and In-Laws.
To round out the exercise, there are a few topics of discussion that should be thrown on the table for both parties to openly communicate around:
Describe your relationship with the parent of the opposite sex. We form our concept of the opposite sex based on our first relationship with a person of the opposite sex, which is our parent. Asking a man about his relationship with his mother can give you a good idea of how he will look at you and how he will treat you. Asking a woman about her relationship with her father will give you a good idea how she will deal with you.
Describe your ideal first date.
Describe the roles of men and women in relationships as you see it. You don't want to get into a relationship with a guy, only to find out that he doesn't want you to work. And guys, you may not want to be in a relationship with a woman who doesn't want to work.
What do you do after a breakup?
What do you do during arguments?
Much of this may seem simple and none of it is new. But these are the things that are all too often overlooked as people leap into love.
It requires some work, but what doesn’t?
If you do the work up front, you can enjoy the playtime, which is what a relationship should be--enjoyable--a respite from the rest of the world--a supportive situation that brings us comfort when the struggle of work—the struggle of life threatens to bring us down.
In order to get to a place where we can love and live in happiness, we have to first believe in it for ourselves. There are so many negative things being said about Black men and about Black women and some of those things come out of our own mouths.
We say these things and believe them, even when a shining example of the opposite is right in front of us.
We're giving power to some things that may be true for some people, but those things don't have to be true for us all.
If we think poorly about each other, our thoughts become reality, and prevent us from raising our condition.
Whatever problems exist are the problems of us all. If we continue to talk about each other as opposed to working with each other, then what is left of our community in any nation will disintegrate and vanish.
We need to be successful in our careers, but we also need love. And if we look at each other in the right way, we can find love and still find success. Part of the secret formula is to accentuate the positive and reduce the negative.
The other part of it is to simply be prepared.
Darryl James is an award-winning author of the powerful new anthology “Notes From The Edge.” Now, listen to Darryl live on BlogTalkRadio.com/DarrylJames every Monday from 8-10pm, PST. View previous installments of this column at www.bridgecolumn.proboards36.com. Reach James at djames@theblackgendergap.com.
TURNER’S TWO CENTS: Yes, Gay Rights ARE Civil Rights!
by Cameron Turner
10-11-09
*A lot of black folks get mad when gays and lesbians equate their struggle for equality with the Civil Rights Movement. But NAACP chairman Julian Bond offered an eloquent rebuttal to that response when he spoke at the massive gay rights March for Equality in DC on Sunday. The lifelong freedom fighter said, “Sexual disposition parallels race. I was born black. I had no choice…Like race, our sexuality isn’t a choice. It is immutable, unchangeable and the Constitution protects us all against prejudice and discrimination based on immutable differences.”
I think Brother Bond is absolutely right, but I know a lot of y’all disagree. Many African-Americans are convinced that sexual orientation is a choice. But even if it is, the Constitution protects us from discrimination based on our choices. For instance, if I chose to abandon Christianity; if I was to leave the AME Church and become a Jew or a Muslim or an adherent of the Ba’hai faith the Constitution and federal law would make it illegal to discriminate against me on the basis of my choosing that religion.
So, the whole nature vs. nurture debate around sexual orientation is really irrelevant when it comes to Constitutional protections against discrimination.
However, the Constitution also defends religious organizations that classify homosexuality as a sin. The Supreme Court upheld the Boy Scouts’ right to exclude gay members, no church can be forced to recognize gay marriage and the hate crimes bill that just cleared the House of Representatives will not bar clergy from preaching their doctrine.
But in the end, the gay rights issue isn’t about religion or morality. It’s about the law and the federal government’s Constitutional obligation to provide equal opportunity and equal protection for all Americans.
So, yes, gay rights are civil rights! That’s what Julian Bond and the NAACP believe, that’s what the activists at Sunday’s March for Equality said and that’s what President Obama is saying by championing the hate crimes bill, by pledging to end the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and by urging Congress to replace the blatant discrimination of the “Defense of Marriage Act” with legislation that would acknowledge the civil and legal legitimacy of unions between consenting adults who happen to be of the same gender.
During his speech to the Human Rights Campaign on the eve of the March for Equality, President Obama articulated the basic question confronting our nation: “Will we uphold the ideals upon which this nation was founded: that all of us are equal, that all of us deserve the same opportunity to live our lives freely and to pursue our chance at happiness?”
I share the optimism of Mr. Obama’s answer: “I believe we can, I believe we will.”
Thanks for listening. I’m Cameron Turner and that’s my two cents.
THINK! IT AIN’T ILLEGAL YET!
Read more “Turner’s Two Cents” on www.UrbanThoughtCollective.com, and www.PasadenaJournal.com. In Los Angeles, watch Cameron Turner on “The Filter with Fred Roggin” selected weeknights at 7:30 on KNBC’s digital companion station, NBC Plus (available on your local cable system).
PEOPLE OF NOTE: Eddie Palmieri: Opening the Fall Season for Lehman Center for the Performing Art
By Deardra Shuler
*9-time Grammy Award winner, Eddie Palmieri, is always a delight to interview. An astute arranger, pianist, musician, and bandleader, Eddie is an originator who set the world of Latin Music on fire with his ability to move fluently from one musical style and genre to another. His discography of music is vast, including over 31 titles. Palmieri’s early influence on Latin music, via his ‘La Perfecta” orchestra, departed from the traditional Caribbean salsa instrumentation and gave birth to a new New York Latin sound. Relying heavily on trombone and flute, instead of trumpets, added color to the popular style of charanga music Latin musicians played at the time, including Eddie’s brother, Charlie. Eddie’s unique sound and music left audiences panting for more.
Everything this talented maestro touches becomes electrified and provides a bold and exciting sound that contributes to his success and popularity.
A world renowned performer, Palmieri and his legendary band will open Lehman Center for the Performing Art’s Fall Season, on Saturday, October 17th at 8:00 p.m., with featured guests Giovanni Hidalgo and David Sanchez. Palmieri will also appear on the Lehman Center stage for the first time with celebrated salsero Issac Delgado. Opening for Eddie will be the Latin Jazz All-Stars showcasing their All-Stars Summit led by musical director and trombonist Papo Vazquez, which will also include Dave Valentin (flute), Anthony Carrillo (percussion) Edward Simon (piano), Piro Rodriquez (trumpet), Alvester Garnett (drums), David Sanchez (sax), John Benitez (bass), Giovanni Hidalgo (percussion) and special guest Andy Gonzalez. This coupling of Latin musical geniuses is sure to have people dancing in the aisles.
Palmieri won his first Grammy for Sun of Latin Music when there was no real music categ
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