Thabeet Out, Shane Battier In, OJ Mayo deal a NOGO

With starting forward Rudy Gay out with a shoulder injury for at least three more weeks, the Grizzlies acquired forward Shane Battier from the Houston Rockets for 2009 No. 2 pick Hasheem Thabeet at the NBA trade deadline today.

The Grizzlies also worked with Indiana on a deal that would have sent guard O.J. Mayo to the Pacers for forward/center Josh McRoberts and a Pacers' first-round draft pick. Despite reports of the deal being done, it never reached completion by the deadline. Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace confirmed that Mayo was not traded in a tweet this afternoon.
In the deal with Houston, the Grizzlies traded Thabeet, a 7-3 center, and a future first-round draft pick to reacquire Battier, once one of the most popular members of the Grizzlies.
Battier was a first-round choice of the Grizzlies in 2001 and played five years here before being sent to Houston in a deal that brought the Grizzlies the draft rights to Rudy Gay.
It was long believed that Thabeet would be dealt. He is largely considered a bust as the No. 2 overall pick in 2009.
“I approved Shane because while I thought Rudy (Gay) is out he could basically help us get into the playoffs. And I am committed to getting into the playoffs,” Heisley said. “He’s the best player I could find to replace Rudy. And he’ll be a positive influence in Memphis.”


Source: www.commercialappeal.com

BET Rip the Runway Headliners Announced

BET Networks dominates the catwalk with its seventh annual RIP THE RUNWAY. Sexy duo Mehcad Brooks and Selita Ebanks will strut their stuff as the hosts of the most fashion forward night in style and sound on Saturday, February 26 in New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom. A celebration of music and fashion’s relationship, this year’s RIP THE RUNWAY will feature the collections of Rachel Roy, Tennille White, LaQuan Smith, Man vs. Machine, Lila Nikole, and Haitian designer WISB “Way It Should Be” Apparel, along with dynamic performances by musical heavyweights Wiz Khalifa, Keri Hilson, Fabolous, Lloyd, Melanie Fiona, Miguel and New Boyz. Labeled as the most fashionable night on television which pairs hip sounds with sexy style RIP THE RUNWAY premieres on Monday, March 21 at 10 PM*.



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Tripping Thursdays

Man it feels good to be past humpday! Tripping Thursdays is finally here. I know you have seen plenty of stuff that makes you go #youatrip or #thatsatrip or even #yallatrip! If so, kickoff the conversation. Post things that make you think of someone or something that is a trip.  See you Friday

Image courtesy: www.compserv.sabah.gov.my/

ZBO leads the Grizzlies to a 104-95 Victory over MN

MINNEAPOLIS -- It didn’t take long to discern how the Grizzlies would respond Wednesday night to a bitterly disappointing loss at Denver the night before.
Showing more energy and making a conscious effort to play off their big men, the Grizzlies jumped on the Minnesota Timberwolves early and cruised to a 104-95 victory in the Target Center.
“We got the kinks out and we came back ready to play,” forward Zach Randolph said after leading the Griz with 24 points, 10 rebounds and the determination to limit Minnesota’s double-double machine, Kevin Love. “Everybody contributed. That’s what we need to win games without Rudy (Gay).”

Photo courtesy Jim Mone/Associated Press

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Chris Brown's Court order Lifted

(Reuters) - A court order was lifted on Tuesday that had prevented R&B singer Chris Brown from coming into close contact with his ex-girlfriend Rihanna since a violent altercation two years ago.

Los Angeles Superior Court judge Patricia Schnegg downgraded the stay-away order that said Brown, 21, must stay 50 yards away from Rihanna, or 10 yards at entertainment industry events.
Schnegg replaced it with a less stringent order that bars Brown from harassing or annoying Rihanna, but allows him to speak to her.
Rihanna was not in court but her lawyer said that the "Rude Boy" and "Umbrella" singer had no objection to the change.

Brown, 21, who did attend Tuesday's brief hearing, pleaded guilty in 2009 to assaulting Rihanna on the eve of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. He was sentenced to five years probation and community service and recently completed a year-long domestic violence course.
Brown last week skipped the music industry's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, despite being nominated for three honors. Rihanna performed on the show but failed to win any of the four awards for which she was nominated.

Image courtesy igossip.com

Source: www.reuters.com

Carmelo Anthony in Manhattan for Knicks Announcement

Melo has been spotted in Manhattan.
Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks' newest star, surfaced Wednesday at a Downtown hotel, looking, well, mellow.
Dressed in a grey sweatshirt and black sweatpants, headphones resting on his noggin, Anthony looked like he didn't have a care in the world as he toted his laptop through the lobby.

Carmelo Anthony leaving his hotel after arriving in the Big Apple

Never mind that Anthony was just hours away from donning the blue and orange and making his much anticipated debut with the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Never mind that Anthony has been heralded as the 6-foot-8 savior of a basketball franchise desperately in need of a championship.
If Anthony was feeling the pressure, he wasn't showing it.
Meanwhile, New York sports fans were in the grips of Melo madness.

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FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS: the Movie

Have you ever lied to your boss about having to attend a funeral just so you could have the day off? Well what if your bluff was called and you had to attend a funeral where you meet the girl of your dreams but also being mistaken by thugs as a man who ran with the deceased and left unfinished business. What would you do? Director Anwar Jamison and producer William Johnson have put together a suspenseful masterpiece (winner of the Narrative feature Award of Merit-2010 Los Angeles Cinema festival of Hollywood) that is definitely going to keep you on the edge of your seat! 

The movie also features a host of local southern talent which includes Tiffany Strange, Luis Ranz, Abayomi Stovall, Jarron Robinson, Aarron McClinton,  Darius Frye and myself just to name a few. 

For more information about the movie FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS and to purchase your copy, please click the link below:

 Click Here to Visit the Official Website

STAN to LITTLE WAYNE: I snagged your Swag so I could Meet You

Apparently one man wants to show Lil Wayne too much brotherly Love.  Weezy better be Mo’ careful about flashing his notorious “BLING BLING” it seems!

A man who allegedly broke onto the set of a Lil Wayne music video and stole items admitted to cops his plan was just a cheap trick to score some face time with Weezy ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

 

We're told after 20-year-old Marcus Negrete was arrested for allegedly swiping some swag -- he told officers he took the items hoping he could return the stuff back to Weezy in person -- and maybe get a little one-on-one time with the singer.  Apparently he never considered the consequences.

The incident occurred last Friday on the set of Weezy's new music video in Glendora, CA.  We're told Marcus allegedly ran off with a laptop, Louis Vuitton purse, wallet, and a pair of NBA All-Star tickets.

Unfortunately for him -- the stuff didn't belong to Wayne -- and the laptop was equipped with a GPS sensor ... so cops were able to track it down and bust Marcus.

Marcus pleaded not guilty to the charges.

What is your take on this situation? What would you say if you were Lil Wayne?

Image courtesy killerhiphop.com

TMZ.com

WILD WEDNESDAYS

It has been said that everyone of us have a  WILD STREAK in us! There is nothing with being a little wild or letting your hair down as it is called. Most of us deal with so much drama in our lives from work and home that we need to be a little wild to feel human again.  What is the wildest thing you have done or the would like to do before you die? Dont be scared, just be WILD!

Image courtesy fanpop.com

Denver Pounds the Memphis Grizzlies

DENVER — With or without Carmelo Anthony in the building, Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins believed the Denver Nuggets would be a dangerous team.
He couldn’t have been more correct.
The depleted Nuggets hardly appeared stressed about playing their first game since Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks. And for a team that had dazzled before the All-Star break, the Grizzlies were anything but sharp coming out of it.
Dangerous just about summed up the Grizzlies’ stunning and embarrassing 120-107 loss to the Nuggets on Tuesday night in the Pepsi Center.
Memphis is locked in a tight race for the final four spots in the Western Conference playoff standings. That makes every game against a head-to-head competitor, such as the Nuggets, hugely important.
But instead of extending their winning streak to five games, the Griz just handed the tie-breaker edge to a Nuggets team missing its two best players and that could dress only nine players.

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Image courtesy nba.com
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Jay- Z Wins in Court

The rapper was battling a UK chef over the Rockafella trademark

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z has won the latest round in an ongoing legal battle over the name of a restaurant in England.
The rapper filed suit against celebrity chef Terry Miller five years ago over the name of his Rockafella restaurant in Newcastle, claiming the title would lead to confusion with his Roc-A-Fella Records music empire.
A judge ruled in Miller's favor and last year, he was granted the U.K. trademark for the restaurant and food-branding name Rockafella, while Jay-Z was ordered to pay the cook's legal costs.
But the "99 Problems" hitmaker appealed the decision and was handed victory during a hearing in London on Monday.
Professor Ruth Annand overturned the original judgement, claiming the previous case manager was wrong to say the two business names would not clash because Jay-Z's entertainment ventures were not entirely separate from the catering trade.
Miller, who launched the business after winning U.K. cooking reality show Hell's Kitchen in 2005, closed the eatery in 2010, but runs a catering company under the same name. He is reportedly considering appealing the latest ruling
Image courtesy missinfo.tv
Copyright World Entertainment Network 2011 

Michigan orders Detroit to close 50% of its Public Schools

Michigan orders DPS to make huge cuts

Bobb told to consolidate services, close half of schools to end deficit

Jennifer Chambers / The Detroit News

Lansing— Swift and severe changes are coming to Detroit Public Schools.
State education officials have ordered Robert Bobb to immediately implement a financial restructuring plan that balances the district's books by closing half of its schools, swelling high school class sizes to 60 students and consolidating operations.

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This week, Bobb, the district's emergency financial manager, said he is meeting with Detroit city officials and will set up a meeting with Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency to discuss consolidation opportunities in areas such as finance, public safety, transportation and other areas.
Bobb also is preparing a list of recommended school closures and Friday said layoff discussions are under way and would be announced closer to April, when notices would be issued. "We are moving forward with the plan," he said "Right now my focus is on my transition plan and the DEP (deficit elimination plan)."
Bobb's last day with DPS is June 30. After that, the state plans to install another financial manager who must continue to implement Bobb's plan, according to a Feb. 8 letter from Mike Flanagan, the state superintendent of public instruction.
In the letter, Flanagan said the Michigan Department of Education gave preliminary approval to Bobb's plan to bring the 74,000-student district out of its financial emergency. As a condition of approval, Flanagan said Bobb cannot declare the district in bankruptcy during the remainder of his contract.
Bobb, appointed emergency financial manager in March 2009, filed his deficit elimination plan with the state in January, saying it would wipe out the district's $327 million deficit by 2014. On Feb. 9, he told state lawmakers the plan is the only way DPS "can cut its way out" of its legacy deficit.
At the same time, Bobb said he doesn't believe the proposal is viable because it would drive more students away, exacerbating the district's financial emergency. But on Friday, Bobb confirmed he is working to implement the plan that will shrink the district to 72 schools for a projected 58,570 students in 2014.
"I believe the district can work its way out of these challenges," Bobb said. "It will take some time. I am firm believer we have to continue to make the deep cuts, and they are going to be painful. In the long run, the district will be stronger. There can be no retreat."
Bobb said he continues to work on an alternative plan — one similar to a General Motors-style restructuring — but has yet to release details or announce a sponsor for such a bill.
"Whatever comes out of the transition plan and whatever my new thinking is will be a part of that," he said.

More From The Detroit News:

http://detnews.com/article/20110221/SCHOOLS/102210355/Michigan-orders-DPS-to-make-huge-cuts#ixzz1EiUSnl82

F*** it Fridays: Leave Your Stress Here

Several of my facebook friends have told me they really enjoy my F*** it Friday posts where people can post things they want to say f*** it to that may have happened during the week. I call it a space to vent and let it all go so that you can enjoy the weekend! . So here's to the weekend:  F*** It and CHEERS!

Thought for today: February 17, 2011

In 1967, a soul sister by the name of Aretha Franklin song a hit which spelled the following letters R-E-S-P-E-C-T or respect.  In today's society, it seems that respect has been thrown out with the trash. We have become so infatuated with "RIGHT NOW" and "IMMEDIATE" that we fail to respect each other. Our young generation of children feel they are "ENTITLED" to everything without working for anything.  Nobody wants to respect anyone else and we need to change that.  Today, take the time to be respectful. Think about your actions before you make them and think about your words before you say them. Lets see if we can start a #TEAMRESPECT movement and bring respect back to a world who could seemingly care less about the next human being.