The woman whose false rape accusation sent a high school football star to prison has been ordered to pay a $2.6 million judgement in connection to the case, NBC 4 Los Angeles reports.

RELATED: Brian Banks Signs With Atlanta Falcons!

Wanetta Gibson (pictured) was ordered by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Friday to pay a $1.5 million, plus an additional $1.1 million in fees. Gibson was an acquaintance of Brian Banks at Long Beach Polytechnic High School when she accused him of raping her in a school stairwell. Gibson then sued the Long Beach Unified School District, claiming the school was not safe; she won a $750,000 settlement.

RELATED: Five Things Brian Banks Should Receive After His False Rape Conviction

Gibson’s false accusation sent Banks to prison for five years, stripping him of his football scholarship to the University of Southern California. After Banks was released from prison, Gibson sent him a Facebook message saying “Let’s let bygones be bygones.” Thinking the message was odd, Banks worked with a private investigator to set up a meeting with Gibson. It was during their meeting where she admitted, on hidden camera, that she lied about the rape.

With the help of California’s Innocence Project, a judge overturned Banks’ conviction on May 24, 2012.

Since then, Banks had been on a mission to play in the NFL. He tried out for a number of teams, but did not make the cut. However, NFL coaches told him to keep trying. He eventually spent some time with the Las Vegas Locos of the United Football League, until the Atlanta Falcons signed him this spring.

Tawanna Iverson claims her former husband, Allen Iverson, has abducted their five children and is asking the court to force the ex-NBA star to give them back.

SEE ALSO: Allen Iverson is Broke, But Drives A Maybach

TMZ reports that Tawanna just filed documents claiming that A.I. asked for permission to take their children on a short vacation to Charlotte, N.C., from May 22 to May 26. Tawanna reportedly agreed. But when the May 26 rolled around, A.I. allegedly did not bring the kids back. Tawanna claims she set up a meeting with A.I. on June 4 to pick up the kids, but he never showed up.
SEE ALSO: Allen Iverson Allegedly Owes Ex-Divorce Lawyer $60,000

These events have lead Tawanna to believe that Allen never took the children to Charlotte at all; she believes that he is keeping them at a Sheraton hotel in Georgia. Tawanna says this concerns her because she claims Allen’s an alcoholic who drinks around their children.

Not only does Tawanna want the court to force A.I. to return the kids; she wants him punished, too–even if that means tossing him in jail.

This is not the first time Tawanna has tried to get Allen put in jail. Just last week, she asked the court to jail him because she claims he has not paid $40,000 in child support.

SEE ALSO: Picture Of Wendy’s Employee Caught Eating From Frosty Dispenser Goes Viral

“You know, I was close [to attending UNC]. I was close. North Carolina was a very good school but, you know, when I went down there they put me in that Carolina Inn and there was a big Ku Klux Klan rally in North Carolina when I was there. And I’m like, ‘You know what? I’m not coming down here. I’m staying my butt back in Boston.’”

When pressed further by Patrick about the rally, Ewing revealed how scared he truly was.

“Big rally man. I was like… They stuck me in that Carolina Inn. And at night down in North Carolina it gets pitch black and I hear all the crickets and I’m jumping, I’m like ‘what the heck?’ I said, ‘Nah, I’m going home.’”

Ewing instead opted to play ball at Georgetown, his first choice. Even former UNC head coach Dean Smith advised him to choose Georgetown if he didn’t prefer being a Tar Heel. Had Ewing chosen UNC, he and Jordan would have been teammates.

SEE ALSO: Ouch! Man Sues Urologist Over 8 Month Erection

Co-incidentally, Ewing is back in North Carolina. He was recently named head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, owned by his good friend Michael Jordan.

Listen to the interview here:

Ewing’s son, however, wasn’t happy it took his dad so long to get a coaching job–especially after how quickly Jason Kidd was hired as the Brooklyn Nets’ head coach:

“For real though I’m mad J Kidd got a head coaching job a year after retiring n my pops been coaching 10 years n barely gets a look,” Patrick Ewing Jr. Tweeted.

But the young Ewing should Twitter rant no more; pops has a job now. In North Carolina, of all places. Jordan and Ewing will be teaming up after all.

Mix Martial Artist and kickboxer James Wilson (pictured) isn’t called “The Beast” for nothing.

When he steps in to the ring – all 6’0 and 250 pounds of him – Wilson can take his opponents down in any number of ways: If he’s pinned against the cage inside of the octagon, Wilson can use his brute strength to maneuver out of the compromised position and slam the opposing fighter on to the ground. Or he can stand toe-to-toe and win the match with a knockout overhand blow, as was the case with Jim Johnson during a fight early last year.

Wilson is relatively short for a heavyweight – most fighters in his weight class stand around 6’2″ or taller – but he doesn’t think the extra inches he gives up puts him at a disadvantage.

“It’s not about the size, it is about the skill, the heart,” Wilson told NewsOne during a recent interview. “I believe I am the most-explosive heavyweight in the game. And yes, there are a lot of great fighters with more experience, but when ‘The Beast’ comes out, he is unstoppable!”

Wilson, 26, hopes “The Beast” in him will come out this weekend when he enters the ring Friday at the Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa, Okla., where he will fight in the “Road To Glory” Heavyweight kickboxing tournament he plans on winning.

Not bad for man who began training in Kempo Karate and boxing at the age of 24. Before that, he was playing football on full scholarship at Concord University in Athens, W.Va.

Watch James Wilson fight Rick Roufus K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 in Tokyo Final 16, October 14, 2012 here:

But after watching an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) match, Wilson’s days on the gridiron were numbered. [The match] immediately intrigued me,” he said.  “I told my football teammates ‘I’m going to do that one day.’”

And just like that, the ex-running back and linebacker hung up his shoulder pads and laced up a pair of fight gloves for what has been an excellent start in the professional fight game. So far, Wilson has racked up a 3-0 record in MMA fights and a 6-1-1 record in K-1 Kickboxing.

Wilson sees himself being both the MMA and K-1 Kickboxing champion someday. It would be a remarkable accomplishment for the up-and-coming fighter, especially given his upbringing and troubled childhood.

Born south central Los Angeles, Wilson and his four siblings were raised by his mother. According to Wilson, growing up without a Father made his mother’s job of raising five children a near-impossible job.

“As much as she tried, she couldn’t stop me from getting into a gang and doing all the things I had no business doing,” he said. “It was a south central way of life: robbing, drinking, or shooting. I didn’t give a damn. I lost many friends to street violence and my one and only older brother. I was committing all types of crimes. We didn’t have a lot of money, so I did what I had to do to survive. There was a two-year period when we were homeless, sleeping in motels and a small car filled with all of our belongings. I was waking up early to take baths in the restroom of a recreation park before anyone I went to school with could see me.”

Watch James Wilson fight Norm Flores In an MMA fight here:

The traps of street life would eventually catch up with Wilson. He was placed in a group home at the age of 14, where he would spend the next four years of his life. 

“I can honestly say that was one of the best things that ever happened to me,” Wilson said. “My options were to have a stable and structured environment, where I can better myself or go to the California youth authority for 18 months, which is prison for minors. Good thing I choose placement.”

Indeed, Wilson is on track to trumpet one of those “started from the bottom, now we’re here” storylines that have drawn so many fans to MMA. His trainer, Savant Young, told NewsOne that MMA is so popular now that it has the potential to eventually overtake boxing in popularity someday.

“Whether it’s with young boys, grown men, or women, it is consistently growing,” Young said. “I started out as a martial artist doing karate long before MMA took off. In 1996, I started training in mixed combative [fighting] and it was a very different event — it wasn’t as trendy then. 

“The fighters are getting better, and with my own Fight Academy here in Pasadena, Calif., I see and hear daily how many young kids and their parents are interested in MMA. Back in the day, parents would just take kids to Karate or Kung Fu.”

Wilson, who also trains teens during his free time, sees himself taking advantage of MMA’s relative newness to the American sports arena. Not only does he see himself dominating in the ring; he seems himself being to MMA what Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is to the boxing and endorsement worlds.

“I look at him and how he has evolved to be his absolute best,” Wilson said. “He went from a troubled kid to a family man, entrepreneur, business man, mogul, and philanthropist. I aspire to have that level of success in this sport and ultimately in business too.”

But, first thing’s first: Wilson has to take care of business this Friday in Tulsa. The young fighter is confident he’ll end the night with his hand raised as the sole victor.

“I plan on being crowned the champion by the end of the night,” he said. “After this fight it will established that I am one of the premier heavyweight kickboxers in the world.”

SEE ALSO: The N-Word, Rap And Black Friends: Awkward?

SEE ALSO: Cut It Out, Bill Cosby! This Generation Isn’t Apathetic

The incident, which was caught on a surveillance tape, occurred at a downtown Cincinnati nightclub shortly before midnight on June 5th. Jones reportedly approached two women, who were sitting outside of the establishment. A third woman, whom police investigators have identified as 34-year-old Shannon Wesley, is seen walking over to Jones in a seemingly confrontational manner. The woman is seen reaching for the 29-year-old NFL cornerback’s face, but the video is so grainy that it is difficult to determine whether the woman has an object in her hand.

Jones is then reportedly seen striking the woman so hard that she falls to the ground but quickly gets up.

An unnamed woman then follows Jones, who is quickly escorted away from the scene by an unidentified man.

Watch the incident here:

The NFL, which has a strict conduct policy in place, does not take too kindly to reports of violence, especially against women. Case in point, the Miami Dolphins fired Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, after he got in to a scuffle with his former spouse reality star, Evelyn Lozada, last year.  Johnson was terminated from his NFL team, as a result of his head-butting Lozada during a domestic squabble.

RELATED: Chad Johnson Fired On Primetime TV! [VIDEO]

Meanwhile, Jones, who joined the Bengals in the spring of 2010, has been involved in three police-related incidents since then.  In addition, the grid iron player has been arrested at least seven times.  He is now claiming self-defense with regards to the allegations against him and publicly voiced his innocence via his Twitter account:

https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=REALPACMAN24&tw_i=344128269085470723&tw_p=tweetembed

SEE ALSO: Will Smith’s ‘After Earth’ Is No. 1 Overseas

PHOTO CREDIT: ESPN

Brittney Griner, 22, the #1 Draft Pick for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, will be modeling men’s clothing for Nike, reports ESPN’s Kate Fagan.

Nike is hoping Griner’s marketing clout will transcend the court. The company takes a cookie-cutter approach to signing female ballers, combining a set amount of free gear with a small payment. Sponsorship deals start at $5,000 a year, and only a handful of WNBA players earn more, with $15,000 considered big money. Griner’s deal is within this range; what makes it groundbreaking is the freedom. She will wear apparel branded as menswear, including the skateboarding line Nike SB, and she is allowed to pursue nontraditional marketing deals with outside companies.

“It clicked for me,” Griner says. “I used to do the whole baggy, hard-core, I’m-a-boy look. Then I went through a preppy phase. Now I have the athletic, bow-tie look. I found my style.”

The 6’8 Griner, who wears a size 17 shoe, shares with Fagan the pain that she had to go through hiding her sexuality at Baylor and living with the harsh judgment of her father, who didn’t want to “raise a gay girl.”

After years of shying away from publicly speaking about her gender-bending existence, she now says that it feels good to say that she is a “strong, black, lesbian woman.”

“So many people exist between the two ends of the spectrum, but no one wants to admit it,” says Griner. “If you’re in between, they say something is wrong with you.’We can fix you.’  Well, I don’t need fixing.”

Watch Griner in action here:

Read the entire interview at ESPN.

Former NBA star Stephon Marbury (pictured) took getting served by “The Help” too far. Now he’s having to serve up big bucks for his transgressions.

Marbury and his family’s former personal chef, Thurayyah Mitchell, started doing the nasty back in 2006 while he was married to his present wife, Latasha. He then agreed to pay her $900,000 keep the affair between the two of them.

SEE ALSO: Is Will And Jaden Smith’s ‘After Earth’ Being Sabotaged By Racists?

When Marbury stopped doling out the cash around the $600,000 mark, Mitchell hightailed it to court to file documents demanding the rest of the cash. Marbury went to court as well, claiming that Mitchell’s court filing was a breach of the contract they had agreed upon. On Feb. 1, a judge took Mitchell’s side and granted her the remaining $331, 584.50, plus interest.

SEE ALSO: Fan Miguel Hit Suffering From Brain Damage?

Four months have passed and Mitchell claims she has not seen one red cent of the court-ordered monies, according to TMZ. She is reportedly going for Marbury’s jugular, demanding that a court force him to hand over his Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover and to liquidate some of his assets in order to settle his tab with her.

A court date for the dueling pair is set for June 17.

We hope both Marbury and Arnold Schwarzenegger have learned their lessons…it does not pay to bang the hired help!

David “Deacon” Jones

SEE ALSO: NBA All-Star Mookie Blaylock Faces At Least 2 Charges In Fatal Crash

Jones was a legendary player that other players idolized and was often referred to as “one of the greatest players in NFL history.”  Jones played for the L.A. Rams from 1961 to 1971, San Diego Chargers from 1972 to 1973, and signed on with the Washington Redskins in 1974, marking the end of his stellar career.

Former Rams head coach George Allen once referred to Jones as the “Greatest Defensive End of Modern Football,” while the New York Times pegged the gridiron great as the “Most Valuable Ram of All Time.”  Jones was voted to the NFL’s 75 Year All Time Team and was inducted in to the Pro-Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Jones, who has been deluged with honors throughout his playing career and has never been taken off any sports analyst’s or enthusiast’s list of  “Top 100 players of all time,” actually came from humble beginnings.

Jones was born in Eatonville, Fla., and shared the home with nine other family members.  He attended Hungerford High School, where he excelled in all areas of athletics, baseball, basketball, and football.  Even though Jones managed to earn a scholarship to South Carolina State University, when he finally landed there in 1957, it was revoked after academicians discovered he took part in a civil rights sit-in.

An assistant coach at South Carolina State, who was leaving and had taken a position at Mississippi Vocational, convinced Jones and a handful of other Black players that he could get them scholarships to his new school.

When Jones and the players went to the college, though, they were not allowed to join their White team members at motels and were relegated to sleeping on shoddy cots at the opposing school’s gymnasiums.

The Rams selected Jones in 1961, and he quickly became one of the team’s “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line of players along with Rosey Grier (pictured second from right), Lamar Lundy (pictured far left), and Merlin Olsen (pictured second from left).

These four men are now considered to be one of the best defensive lines in all of NFL history.

Now the only surviving member of the Fearsome Foursome is Grier who is 80. Jones reportedly was also the first to make use of the head slap in order to get a jump on the opposing offensive linemen.

Even though the game of football does eventually wind up taking its physical toll on players, Jones managed to miss only six games out of a possible 196 regular season encounters in his 14 NFL seasons.  The Rams’ unofficial stats show Jones with 159.5 sacks for them and 173.5 for his career.

Throughout the years, “the Father of sack,” who was known for his sense of humor and humanitarian spirit, took on quite a few memorable acting roles on classic TV commercials and memorable shows like “The Brady Bunch,” “The Odd Couple,” and “Bewitched.”  He also appeared in the 1978 Warren Beatty film “Heaven Can Wait.”

In later years, Jones continued his work as CEO of his own foundation, which was set up in 1997.  He also traveled to the Middle East on numerous occasions to visit the troops.

R.I.P., Deacon, you’ll really be sorely missed!

Watch news coverage of David D. Deacon Jones’ death here:

Indiana Pacer, Roy Hibbert (pictured), is apparently oblivious to the hardline that is being taken by sports teams against homophobic language.

The All-Star center was fined $75,000 by the NBA for “using inappropriate and vulgar language” for his remarks during a post-game press conference after his team’s victory over the Miami Heat Saturday night in game six.

Hibbert, who scored 24-points and pulled down 11-rebounds, used the “no-homo” slur as a joke following a question about defending the Heat’s LeBron James. The seven-foot-two player then called the media “motherf*ckas” after responding to a question about his less than stellar finish in the “Defensive Player of the Year” voting.

The baller issued an apology on Sunday morning, reports ESPN:

“I am apologizing for insensitive remarks made during the post game press  conference after our victory over Miami Saturday night,” the statement read. “They were disrespectful and offensive and not a reflection of my personal  views. I used a slang term that is not appropriate in any setting, private or  public, and the language I used definitely has no place in a public forum,  especially over live television. I apologize to those who I have offended, to  our fans and to the Pacers’ organization.”

Hibbert also reach out to Washington Wizards player, Jason Collins, via Twitter. Collins went public with his homosexuality last month.

Roy Hibbert        ✔@Hoya2aPacer

NBA commissioner David Stern felt the apology was not enough, however. “While Roy has issued an apology, which is no doubt sincere, a fine is necessary to reinforce that such offensive comments will not be tolerated by the NBA,” Stern told ESPN.

Athelete Ally, an organization advocating for the end of homophobia in sports, also released a statement saying, “We are disappointed by Hibbert’s comments, as that kind of language is disrespectful, has no place in sports and is antithetical to the N.B.A.’s policies.”

What does the Pacer’s coach, Frank Vogel, have to say about his player? He told reporters on Sunday that Hibbert is, “not that person and that it was a mistake. It’s simple. I support him. He knows he’s wrong. I didn’t have to tell him that and we all love and support him. Obviously, he made a great mistake. He feels horribly about it. I told him, basically, that we’ve got to move on from it.”

Nough said?

ATLANTA (AP) —

Jonesboro (Ga.) Police Chief Franklin Allen said 46-year-old Blaylock is charged with driving on a suspended license and failing to stay in his lane.

Allen says officers haven’t been able to talk with Blaylock yet because of injuries suffered in the wreck, but they hope to do so as early as Monday. The chief says that interview and talks with prosecutors will determine whether Blaylock will face other charges.

Police say Blaylock was driving an SUV that collided head-on with a van Friday. The crash killed a 43-year-old woman, Monica Murphy. Murphy’s husband, Frankie, was driving the van.

Blaylock lives on a six-acre property near Zebulon, Ga., about 30 miles south of the accident scene. Bryan Bennett, a brother-in-law of Blaylock who was at the house Saturday taking care of two of Blaylock’s youngest children, said doctors operated in the morning on Blaylock’s broken ankle.

Blaylock, who also played for the New Jersey Nets and Golden State Warriors over a 13-year NBA career, was an All-Star in 1994 while with the Hawks. The 6-0 guard averaged 13.5 points, 6.7 assists and 2.3 steals for his career. He made the NBA’s all-defensive teams six times in the 1990s.

At Oklahoma, Blaylock helped the Sooners to reach the 1988 NCAA title game, where they lost to Kansas.

The two oldest of his five children, twin sons, play football for the University of Kentucky. Blaylock, at present, does not have a full-time job, Bennett said, but is living comfortably off his savings from his NBA days.

The former heavyweight champ and boxing icon Evander Holyfield (pictured) is now facing a tough battle in court that has him against the ropes. Holyfield, who is in serious debt, now reportedly owes a whopping $327,858.36 in child support, and if he reportedly fails to come up with the money, his driver’s license could be suspended, according to TMZ.

SEE ALSO: R.I.P., Clarence Burke Jr., Lead Singer Of The Five Stairsteps

Holyfield, who has earned a staggering $250 million during his boxing career, has had more than his fair share of money woes.  Now the Georgia Department of Human Services has been added to the former champ’s list of debtors for reportedly attempting to collect child support payments from Holyfield for months now.

Holyfield was reportedly ordered by the courts to pay one of his baby mamas more than $500,000 for his daughter. The courts placed Holyfield on a monthly payment plan of $2,950 in order to satisfy the child support demand, and although he whittled away at the whopping grand total, he still reportedly owes an exorbitant amount.

Now a Georgia judge has given the agency the go-ahead to begin the process of suspending Holyfield’s driver’s license in an effort to motivate him to pay his child support debt.

A hearing has been set for August to check on Holyfield’s progress in satisfying the support payments.

The demise of Holyfield’s financial empire is a real tearjerker.  The five-time heavyweight champ legend was ousted out of his famed 54,000-square-foot palatial Georgia estate (pictured) last year because he was deep in debt to the tune of $14 million.

Holyfield was then forced to auction off his memorabilia and precious keepsakes in order to keep himself out of his financial hole, which consists of child support debts for a few of his 11 children, delinquent taxes, unsettled lawsuits, divorce, and just plain old bad money management.

SEE ALSO: FLOTUS Encourages Students, Dances To James Brown [VIDEO]

RELATED: Teachers Credited With Saving Students In Okla.

As Durant, who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, watched the catastrophic outcome of the tornado’s wrath on television while in Minnesota on a business trip, the 24-year-old player could not believe the devastation and destruction that the tornado caused to those so near to where he actually resides.  According to the New York Daily News, Durant said, “As the day went on and I saw the footage and the casualties and the houses being blown away, it was tough to see.  I call Oklahoma City my home. I go through Moore all the time. It’s unfortunate. We’re going to come together as a city like we always do and we’re going to bounce back.”

Durant has come to call Oklahoma City his home after living there for five years.  The small forward, who is held in high regard by his midwestern community, planned on returning home Wednesday to lend a hand in the relief efforts.

And he was especially touched by the news of the children who had been killed or injured by the tornado. The 6’10″ giant with a soft spot for kids told Kentucky.com, “Just to get to the hospital, see some kids,” Durant said. “Something. Just something to give some hope. Playing for the Thunder, we mean so much to the state. So many people support us, and I just want to go back and support those people.”

At approximately 3:15 a.m. Friday morning, a tow truck came upon an intoxicated Goodson,who was in the passenger seat of a GMC Yukon stopped on Interstate 80 West outside of Denville, New Jersey.

According to the New Jersey State Police, the driver of the tow truck called 911. When police arrived on the scene a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun was found inside of the the vehicle.

Read more from the NY Daily News:

The driver, Garant Evans, was given the same charges as well as a DWI charge, possession of a weapon with a prior felony conviction and multiple traffic summonses.

Initially, a team spokesman said the Jets “are aware of the report and are gathering information.” Later, the spokesman added, “This is a pending legal matter.

There will be no further comment until the legal process has run its course.”

Every team holds an annual meeting to review the league’s firearm policies and local regulations, usually in training camp, according to NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy. Under the discipline section, the policy reads, “If you violate a public law covering weapons . . . you are not only subject to discipline, including suspension from playing, but also subject to criminal prosecution.”

After being evaluated at Saint Clare’s Hospital, Goodson was transported to Morris County Jail where his bail was set at $50,000.

Goodson was selected in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers and was traded to the Oakland Raiders last year. He signed a three-year, $6.9 million contract with the Jets in March.

]]> http://newsone.com/2461331/mike-goodson-ny-jets-arrested/feed/ 0 mike-goodson kirstenwestsavali Mike Goodson http://newsone.com/2453627/kobe-bryant-memorabilia-mother/ http://newsone.com/2453627/kobe-bryant-memorabilia-mother/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 18:00:37 +0000 Ruth Manuel-Logan http://newsone.com/?p=2453627 ]]>

The saga continues over the heated family feud involving NBA superstar Kobe Bryant (pictured left) and his mother, Pamela (pictured below), regarding a planned auction of more than 100 collectibles from the baller’s past. Pamela alleges that her son gave her the memorabilia, which she had planned to sell, and Kobe vehemently denies this, stating that he wants to pass on the items to his children. Now Kobe’s dad, Joseph (pictured below), and grandmother, Mildred Cox, are siding with Pamela and have entered the courtroom battle as well, reports USA Today.

RELATED: Kobe Bryant Battles Mother In Court Over B-Ball Memorabilia?

The familial-tug-of-war reportedly erupted once Kobe got wind that his mother made plans to have his collectibles sold at an auction on consignment.

After Kobe sent a cease-and-desist order, the auction house sued May 2 in a bid for court approval. The company contends that they advanced Pamela $450,000, who then allegedly used the monies to purchase a Las Vegas home. Subsequently, Kobe reportedly filed a lawsuit on May 7th in an effort to keep his mom from proceeding with her intended sale of his belongings.

Pamela’s opposing lawsuit contends that Kobe gave her jerseys, trophies, and rings from his high school and early NBA playing days (pictured below). In a court filing on Monday, Pamela added that both Kobe and his wife, Vanessa, made “many false statements” in their sworn statements.

Kobe stated in the court documents that he and his mother had a telephone conversation on May 2 in which he affirmed the fact that he never gave her his belongings.  Reportedly, Pamela states in the court filing, “This conversation never occurred and I never made that statement.”  The Mom also added to the statement that her son, “Never demanded the return of any of the items, nor were they in any way improperly taken from him without his permission.”

Both Joseph and Cox are backing Pamela all the way, because according to Joseph, when Kobe and Vanessa visited their home and Pamela took Kobe and Vanessa to the second floor to see all of the keepsakes, neither Vanessa nor Kobe had any interest in the items.

Joseph, a former NBA player as well, said in the filing, “My son gave my wife these items over the years, stating, ‘Here, Mom, these are for you.’”  Joseph even went on to reveal how he had, on numerous occasions, suggested to his son that he take some of the memorabilia and display them in a room at his own California home, and “he declined to do so.”

Pamela also claims that she’s been in possession of the collectibles for at least 15 years and has even paid a storage company a whopping $90,000 over a five-year period to secure them.

Both Pamela and Joseph moved in to Kobe’s home in 1996. In the court papers, Kobe is also accusing his parents of removing a Teen Choice Award surfboard and trophy, after they were asked to leave his home when he met his future wife Vanessa.

Kobe’s sister, Sharia Washington, has also joined the family feud, but she is backing her brother 100 percent, saying, “I have frequently heard my mother talk about how the family can make money on items associated with Kobe,” she said.

And so the battle rages on among the Bryant’s….

SEE ALSO: Chris Brown Cited For Scary Mural On His House

]]> http://newsone.com/2453627/kobe-bryant-memorabilia-mother/feed/ 5 ionerlogan Kobe Bryant Memorabilia Oklahoma City Thunder v Los Angeles Lakers, Game 5 kobe 1 http://newsone.com/2453664/legends-lingerie-football-league-ogom-chijindu-twerk/ http://newsone.com/2453664/legends-lingerie-football-league-ogom-chijindu-twerk/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 15:45:58 +0000 NewsOne Staff http://newsone.com/?p=2453664 ]]>

Twerking has just hit the gridiron.

Well, at least in the Legends (formerly Lingerie) Football League.

During a game between the L.A. Temptation and the Seattle Mist Tuesday, the “Mist have the ball on a first-quarter drive. On second, Riki Creger-Zier pulls in hitch pass and takes it five yards for a first down before being pulled down by LA’s Ogom Chijindu,” according to Fox Sports.

After the tackle, Chijindu dropped down and started twerking on Creger-Zier’s head. The showboating play was a highlight in itself.

Watch Ogom Chijindu twerk on Riki Creger-Zier’s head:

Though as the New York Daily News points out, the play was asinine given that “Chijindu’s first-quarter tackle wasn’t even for a loss — Creger-Zier went for a first-down on the five-yard grab. Regardless, Chijindu was so impressed with herself that she felt compelled to squat down and rub her rump on the back of Creger-Zier’s helmet. She then sprinted out to midfield and saluted the crowd at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.”

While the play was indeed entertaining, The Mist came away with a 24-20 victory. But that didn’t stop Chijindu from taking to Twitter and having fun about the episode with her 34,294 followers.

I heard @iheartog was twerking on some player face after a touchdown is it true?

— IG’d Up(@Yung_Twit) May 15, 2013

DOES @ericgoldschein KNOW THAT THERE iS NOTHiNG LiKE A “BASiC TACKLE”.FOOTBALL REQUiRES A LOT OF FORM & TECHNiQUE..DON’T GET SO CONFUSED lOl

— ♫♥ Ogom Chijindu ♥♫ (@iHeartOG) May 15, 2013

RT @steezbang22: @iheartog lol u was twerkin on her head <<<lOl…#TWERKteam

— ♫♥ Ogom Chijindu ♥♫ (@iHeartOG) May 14, 2013

DOES @ericgoldschein KNOW THAT THERE iS NOTHiNG LiKE A “BASiC TACKLE”.FOOTBALL REQUiRES A LOT OF FORM & TECHNiQUE..DON’T GET SO CONFUSED lOl

— ♫♥ Ogom Chijindu ♥♫ (@iHeartOG) May 15, 2013

In case you did not know what twerking is, it’s “the act of moving/ shaking ones ass/buns/bottom/buttocks/bum-bum in a circular, up-and-down, and side-to-side motion.
Basically a slutty dance. derived from strip clubs. When a girls’ a*s moves like a bowl of Jell-O,” according to the Urban Dictionary.

]]> http://newsone.com/2453664/legends-lingerie-football-league-ogom-chijindu-twerk/feed/ 3 Legends Football League Ogom Chijindu ionetstarr Legends Football League Ogom Chijindu http://newsone.com/2443724/michael-beasley-sexual-assault/ http://newsone.com/2443724/michael-beasley-sexual-assault/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 20:06:13 +0000 Ruth Manuel-Logan http://newsone.com/?p=2443724 ]]>

Phoenix Suns forward Michael Beasley (pictured) is under investigation by Scottsdale, Ariz., police for charges related to an alleged sexual assault, according to Sporting News NBA.

SEE ALSO: Multi-Million Dollar Buffalo Bills’ Mario Williams Sues Former Fiancée Over Engagement Ring

Details involving Beasley’s alleged involvement in the case are sketchy. Still, police have released the following information about the assault that reportedly took place on January 13th:

At this point we can only say the investigation is ongoing, said David Pubins, Scottsdale police spokesman. We are interviewing those involved and processing any physical evidence we may have to try to determine if criminal charges are appropriate.

The 24-year-old player has been in trouble with the law before and in the not-so-distant past.  Last January, Beasley was reportedly busted by police for speeding; he was clocked at 71 mph in a 45 mph zone. Beasley was reportedly driving a Mercedes that did not have license plates, and he also didn’t have his driver’s license.

What’s more, upon inspection of the vehicle, police reportedly stumbled upon a loaded gun.

The 6’10″ player also spent time at a substance abuse center back in 2009 before he was traded to the Timberwolves. When Beasley joined the Minnesota team in 2010, Timberwolves President David Kahn publicly stated that “he was a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana.”

And in 2011 during the NBA lockout, Beasley was cited by police for marijuana possession and for exceeding the speed limit while driving in a Minnesota suburb.

Beasley, who is in his fifth season with the Suns, averaged a career low of 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.  He currently has a three-year contract with the Phoenix team in a deal that was inked last year for a reported $18 million.

The sexual assault allegations against Beasley are still under investigation.

SEE ALSO: Ja Rule Released From Prison, Put On House Arrest

]]> http://newsone.com/2443724/michael-beasley-sexual-assault/feed/ 1 ionerlogan michael-beasley-suns http://newsone.com/2441626/mario-williams-erin-marzouki-engagement-ring/ http://newsone.com/2441626/mario-williams-erin-marzouki-engagement-ring/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 17:11:58 +0000 Ruth Manuel-Logan http://newsone.com/?p=2441626 ]]>

Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams (pictured left), who reportedly has a six-year, $100 million contract, with $50 million guaranteed with the team, wants the $785,000 10-carat engagement ring he gave to former fiancée, Erin Marzouki (pictured), back and is taking her to court to make sure he gets it, according to the Bleacher Report.

SEE ALSO: You Can’t Make Your Son Date Black Women

The Houston-based lawsuit reportedly alleges that Marzouki never loved Williams and was only in the relationship for monetary gain.  As per the legal document:

[Marzouki] never intended to marry [Williams] and used the relationship as a means to get to [Williams’] money and acquire gifts, according to the Bleacher Report.

The couple reportedly split up last January, when Marzouki decided to call it quits on the relationship.  When the two-time Pro-Bowler reportedly asked for the ring back on several occasions, Marzouki allegedly failed to comply.

Williams and Marzouki got engaged on February 19th last year.

The 28-year-old NFL player, whose contract has been deemed one of the most lucrative in NFL history, not only gave his ex the ring, but reportedly also handed her an American Express card a month earlier to which she charged more than $108,000 then added an additional $230,000 worth of “luxury items” according to the lawsuit.

When Marzouki called off the engagement, she allegedly failed to return the ring, and according to Williams’ legal team, she promised to do so if her relationship with Williams came to an end.

In the meantime, Williams’ lawyers are requesting a restraining order and permanent injunction that bars Marzouki and anyone associated with her from doing anything with the ring like selling or even damaging it in any way.

Reportedly, Williams has a good chance of winning the ring back because he lives in the “no-fault” Lone Star state.  In Texas, the person giving the ring is legally allowed to ask for its return “on breach of the marriage engagement” by the donee.

SEE ALSO: Black Folks, We Better Get Moving

]]> http://newsone.com/2441626/mario-williams-erin-marzouki-engagement-ring/feed/ 2 ionerlogan ap_mario_williams_dm_130506_wmain http://newsone.com/2439148/otis-nixon-arrest/ http://newsone.com/2439148/otis-nixon-arrest/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 16:10:20 +0000 Ruth Manuel-Logan http://newsone.com/?p=2439148 ]]> Former major league player Otis Nixon (pictured) was reportedly arrested in Atlanta and charged with possession of cocaine and a drug-related object, after his vehicle was searched this past weekend during a routine traffic stop, reports Yahoo! Sports.

SEE ALSO: Lauryn Hill Sentenced To 3 Months In Prison

Nixon, an outfielder who played for the Braves, Indians, and Montreal Expos, was spotted by police allegedly weaving all over the road in his pick-up truck.

When officers flagged Nixon down and searched him and his vehicle, they reportedly stumbled upon a crack pipe in his pocket and a rock in the passenger seat of the truck.

Upon further inspection of the vehicle, police found an additional crack pipe, rocks on the floor of the driver’s side, and other drug-related paraphernalia as well.

The 54-year-old former baseball player was reportedly given a sobriety test by police that determined that he was not under the influence of any substance.

According to police records, when Nixon was stopped, he reportedly told officers that he was not weaving and had driven a friend home.  Nixon, who himself battled cocaine addiction but has recently been trying to get his own ministry off the ground, also told authorities that the drug apparatuses and rocks belonged to his son and that he had been trying to remove the pipe from him.

On Nixon’s website, he mentions that not only has he been a cocaine addict who has also battled the bottle but that he also is a “born-again Brave” writing:

The Nixon of today shows himself as a preacher, a penitent, a pitchman, an author, a fourth-time husband and an Alcoholics Anonymous member with a one-year sobriety chip in his pocket.

But wait, not so fast!

Nixon was reportedly involved in a scam this past February, when he was accused of allegedly milking folks out of their money, promising he could gain early release for their incarcerated relatives and find a place for them to live after prison.

The case is still being investigated.

Meanwhile, regarding Nixon’s current criminal charges, he was still in jail Monday, being held on $11,880 bond.

SEE ALSO: Lil Kim Sued For $15 Million!

]]> http://newsone.com/2439148/otis-nixon-arrest/feed/ 0 ionerlogan nixon050613 Otis Nixon http://newsone.com/2438770/jason-collins-gay-book-deal/ http://newsone.com/2438770/jason-collins-gay-book-deal/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 00:58:14 +0000 Associated Press http://newsone.com/?p=2438770 ]]>

NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Collins, the NBA veteran who last week announced he was gay, is disputing reports from publishing insiders who say he is shopping a book deal.

Officials at three publishing houses told The Associated Press on Monday that they had been contacted about a planned memoir by Collins, the first active player in any of four major U.S. professional sports leagues to come out as gay. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the proceedings.

Collins tweeted that it wasn’t so: “I have no current plans to write any books. Sorry to disappoint my literary loving fans,” he said, adding a hashtag “GoingToTheGym.”

The publishing officials said Collins was working on the book with Sports Illustrated’s Franz Lidz, to whom he broke the news that he was gay, and was being represented by Kristine Dahl of International Creative Management. Dahl did not immediately respond to phone and email messages left by the AP.

At least one publisher turned down the book, said one official, who noted the extensive media coverage of Collins and expressed concern that his story already has been told.

Earlier Monday, the Democratic National Committee announced Collins would headline its annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender gala, on May 29. President Barack Obama, a Democrat, has phoned the 34-year-old athlete to praise him for his courage.

Collins, who has played for six teams during 12 seasons, was most recently a center for the Washington Wizards. He becomes a free agent on July 1.

SEE ALSO:

What’s Racist About A Talking Goat?

Quote Of The Day: Bill Cosby

]]> http://newsone.com/2438770/jason-collins-gay-book-deal/feed/ 1 Next Chapter kirstenwestsavali AP Photo http://newsone.com/2436433/lebron-james-mvp/ http://newsone.com/2436433/lebron-james-mvp/#comments Sun, 05 May 2013 23:41:34 +0000 Associated Press http://newsone.com/?p=2436433 ]]> MIAMI — LeBron James was at his best this season, and the voters tasked with selecting the NBA’s Most Valuable Player took notice.

Every voter except one, that is.

The NBA still does not have a unanimous MVP, though no one has come closer than James did this season. The Miami Heat star was presented with the Maurice Podoloff Trophy for the fourth time in his career on Sunday after collecting 120 of the 121 first-place votes, with Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks picking up the lone remaining top choice.

“It was probably a writer out of New York that didn’t give me that vote,” James said. “And we know the history between the Heat and the Knicks, so I get it.”

A panel of 120 sports writers and broadcasters cast ballots in the NBA MVP voting, with a combined online fan vote also being taken into account.

Shaquille O’Neal got every first-place vote but one in the 1999-2000 season, when one person cast his ballot for Allen Iverson – who finished seventh that year. This season, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder finished second, well ahead of Anthony, who was third and didn’t even appear on nine of the ballots cast. James was the only player listed on all 121 ballots; Durant was omitted from two, according to the results released by the NBA.

“Congrats to the king,” O’Neal wrote on his Twitter account.

For months, there really had only been two questions about this season’s MVP race: When will James get the award, and would the results be unanimous? The first of those answers became known Friday, the other on Sunday, and even as he was on the dais to pick up the award the now-four-time MVP quickly started steering all of his attention back to the goal of helping the Heat win a second straight title.

Miami hosts Chicago in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday night, when NBA Commissioner David Stern will present James with the trophy, largely just for the benefit of giving Heat fans a pregame reason to cheer.

“My ultimate goal is to win an NBA championship,” James said. “That’s what I was brought here for. That’s why I signed here as a free agent in 2010. It wasn’t to win MVP trophies. It was to win a championship – and win multiple championships – and that’s still my No. 1 priority.”

James averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists this season, leading Miami to a league-best 66-16 record while shooting a career-high 56 percent. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Michael Jordan (five), Bill Russell (five) and Wilt Chamberlain (four) have as many MVP awards, only Russell won four in a five-year span, and only Abdul-Jabbar went back-to-back twice, like James did with trophies in 2009 and 2010 and now again in 2012 and 2013.

Sunday’s ceremony was filled with tributes and even some laughs, like when James’ younger son Bryce posed for photographers on stage while his father was speaking and older brother LeBron Jr. looked on – and when James’ fiancee, Savannah Brinson, appeared on a congratulatory video and called him “Honeybunny.”

“I know you’re embarrassed when I call you that,” Brinson said. “But whatever.”

Over on the far side of the dais, set up on the floor of the Heat home court, James’ teammates roared in hysterics – and Udonis Haslem made sure James knew that they were talking about Brinson’s pet name for her future husband. The 14 other Heat players were dressed casually in team garb, while James donned a dapper suit for the festivities.

As he did on Saturday, a day after it became widely known that the award would be his again, James thanked his teammates.

“I’d rather be sitting over there in shorts and a T-shirt, wondering what the hell they’re joking about, because I want to be a part of that joke,” James said. “And I hate being out of all the jokes. I want to know what was happening, OK, guys? I would much rather be with my guys over there because that’s what it’s all about. Without those guys, this trophy is not possible.”

Much of the ceremony was tinged with emotion.

Brinson’s mother dabbed tears away from her eyes when James thanked his soon-to-be in-laws for what they do for his family. Dwyane Wade (who was 10th in the voting) spoke in a hushed tone on the video, with soft music playing in the background as he told James to “continue to lead this team because we believe in you, so congratulations, Mr. MVP.” James seemed genuinely touched when dozens of students who are part of his “I Promise” educational program chanted for him when the proceedings were complete.

“And all the ones that I’ve observed and I’ve watched and I’ve seen, somewhere they’ve always gotten better,” said Heat President Pat Riley, talking about all the game’s stars that he’s witnessed in his 46 NBA years. “They always got better as their career advanced. And most importantly, they’ve always made their teammates and their team better. In my humble opinion … I think the man that we’re looking at right here is the best of all of them.”

James was the only player in the NBA to lead his team in scoring, rebounding and assists per game this season, had a record six straight games of scoring at least 30 points while shooting at least 60 percent, became the youngest player in league history to break the 20,000-career-point plateau and won five of the six Eastern Conference player of the month awards.

James is now the second player in NBA history to post at least 2,000 points, 600 rebounds, 500 assists and 100 steals in a season twice, joining Larry Bird, who did it three times. The only other player to do it once was Jordan.

“Four now,” Heat managing general partner Micky Arison said. “And more to come.”

]]> http://newsone.com/2436433/lebron-james-mvp/feed/ 1 Lebron James [3] - Attachment ionetstarr lebron-james-heat1 http://newsone.com/2432226/kobe-bryant-mother/ http://newsone.com/2432226/kobe-bryant-mother/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 17:05:49 +0000 Ruth Manuel-Logan http://newsone.com/?p=2432226 ]]>
NBA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant (pictured) is reportedly battling his mother, Pamela, in a court of law to prevent her from auctioning off cherished basketball keepsakes from his high school playing days and early NBA career, reports TMZ.

SEE ALSO: Kentucky Derby Hopeful Plans On Winning, Making History!

A New Jersey-based auction house, Goldin Auctions, is suing the 34-year-old “Black Mamba” for the right to sell the memorabilia, after the player’s legal team contacted the firm to inform them that they could not do so.

It is being alleged that Pamela made a deal with Goldin Auctions to sell off many of Kobe’s basketball momentos, such as his 2000 All-Star game signed ball, high school varsity letters, and game and practice jerseys.

TMZ states that according to the filed lawsuit, Goldin Auctions allegedly forked over an advance of $450,000 to Pamela, which she plans on using to purchase a home. The lawsuit also states that Bryant willingly handed over the mementos to his mother about five years ago.

Bryant argues that the keepsakes are his possessions and no one has the right to auction them off, so that is why he trying to block the process.

Meanwhile, the case is still awaiting a judge’s decision.

Sound off!

]]> http://newsone.com/2432226/kobe-bryant-mother/feed/ 3 ionerlogan Kobe Bryant mother http://newsone.com/2425628/kevin-krigger-jockey/ http://newsone.com/2425628/kevin-krigger-jockey/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 16:20:10 +0000 Ruth Manuel-Logan http://newsone.com/?p=2425628 ]]>

Kevin Krigger (pictured) is all set to ride horse Goldencents in Kentucky Derby 139 on May 4th, and if he wins, he’ll be the first African-American jockey to do so since 1902, reports the New York Times.

SEE ALSO: Inventor And Engineer Elijah McCoy Born On This Day In 1844

The 29-year-old is ready to make history in a derby that Blacks once dominated, with Blacks winning 15 out of the first 28 runs from 1875 to 1902.

Even though Black jockeys were leaders in the races, the grandstands at Louisville, Ky.’s famed Churchill Downs, where the derby is being held, was off-limits to Blacks during the 1880s. 

The White genteel class refused to share the bleachers alongside Black spectators.

Increasing segregation resulted in Black jockeys being barred from riding a Derby winning horse after 1902. 

Jimmy “Wink” Winkfield (pictured below), victorious in 1901 and 1902, would be the last African-American to win the world-famous race.

Even in Northern cities, White jockeys and officials ran Black riders off the track, whitewashing the derby legacy. Churchill Downs was completely segregated throughout the 1950s, although Blacks were allowed to work as trainers and groomers.

Krigger is looking to leave a historical footprint at Churchill Downs and the U.S. Virgin Islands native will become the second Black jockey to compete in the derby since 1921 and the first to represent his birthplace.

Watch Krigger being interviewed after a win here:

The young rider’s passion for horses developed at an early age. Krigger was about 5 years old when he snuck out of his home, jumped on a neighbor’s horse, and took off at full speed — it was his first riding experience. Krigger told the New York Times, “In the Virgin Islands, horses are pets, like dogs or cats in the U.S.,” Krigger says. “Our neighbors didn’t know I’d be taking theirs for a ride. My great-grandfather saw me fly past him and couldn’t believe it.”

Five years after his first riding experience, Krigger’s parents gave him a mare. He would challenge playmates to compete in horse racing with him by putting his saddle on his parent’s living room couch and pretending he was riding.  Watching the Kentucky Derby on television was a yearly event, Krigger admits, he would never miss.

As a teen, Krigger would walk two hours to the island’s only racetrack, where his fever for the sport only intensified.  While at the track, he became friends with jockey Julio Felix, and not long after, Krigger won his first race at age 17. He soon followed Felix to the United States, the land of Derby dreams.

When Krigger arrived in the United States, he traveled to tracks nationwide in order to find an agent or trainer who would invest in his talent and battled to keep his weight down to a slim 110 pounds. In 2001, he landed at Thistledown Racecourse near Cleveland and won 50 races.  Krigger moved from one track to another leaving a trail of wins everywhere he landed.  Krigger soon got together with a Southern California agent, Tom Knust, who took his career to a more prominent level.

In order to prepare for Sunday’s race, Krigger arrives at a barn each morning around 6:00 a.m. to exercise horses then trains on a mechanical horse called an “Equicizer.” According to Goldencent owner Dave Kenney, “This young man works his butt off.” 

Krigger is confident he will win this year’s derby and will be cheered on by his fiancée, children, parents, and especially, Winkfield’s daughter, who will be watching from Cincinnati. 

“Someone was going to be the latest African-American going for that honor, and I’m proud to be that person,” Krigger said. “But my Derby dream is not, I’m going to be the first African-American to win the Derby since 1902. My Derby dream is, I’m going to win the Kentucky Derby.”

SEE ALSO: Media Does It Again: NBC Affiliate Confuses Jermaine Dupri For Deceased Chris Kelly

]]> http://newsone.com/2425628/kevin-krigger-jockey/feed/ 20 ionerlogan Kevin Krigger Jockey James-Wink_Winkfield-jockey-2 http://newsone.com/2430146/michael-boley-arrested-child-abuse/ http://newsone.com/2430146/michael-boley-arrested-child-abuse/#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 19:16:20 +0000 Ruth Manuel-Logan http://newsone.com/?p=2430146 ]]>

Just three days after he was given the boot by the New York Giants, linebacker Michael Boley (pictured) allegedly turned himself over to Alabama police Feb. 8 and was charged with child abuse, according to TMZ.

SEE ALSO: Kiera Wilmot’s School Expulsion Is Racist

He was released later that day. The entire incident involved no fanfare.

Boley, who was a starting linebacker in Super Bowl XLVI, had remained under the radar of Alabama authorities as a result of an incident involving his then 5-year-old son nearly two years ago. The details of Boley’s case with regards to his son are sketchy.

SEE ALSO: UPDATE: Kris Kross Rapper, Chris ‘Mac Daddy’ Kelly, Dead At 34 From Suspected Drug Overdose [VIDEO]

Reportedly, there were no allegations of sexual abuse, although physical abuse claims might have been at the center of the investigation.

The 30-year-old free agent reportedly struck a plea deal with authorities in Etowah County, Ala., that would allow him to plead guilty, enter a pretrial diversion program and then have the charges dropped upon completion, states TMZ.

SEE ALSO: Inventor And Engineer Elijah McCoy Born On This Day In 1844

Boley’s latest legal woes are reminiscent of a previous accusation back in 2011 of child abuse that was alleged by the mother of his son. It was alleged that Boley was guilty of ”the repeated willful abuse of a child under 18 from May 30 to June 5″ of that year. The case was investigated by police in Gadsden, Ala., who afterwards turned the case over to the district attorney.

It is not clear whether Boley’s current charges are related to the 2011 allegations.

After the 2011 allegations came to light, another of Boley’s baby mamas revealed in Georgia court documents that she wanted her then 2-year-old son to be supervised during visits with his dad.

Signed to a $25 million contract back in 2009 with the Giants, the team reportedly knew of Boley’s skirmishes with the law. Just one year before he signed with the team, Boley was arrested in Gwinett County, Ga., for allegedly beating up his wife, Chantelle. While the case was not pursued by the prosecutor, the Giants suspended him for the first game of 2009 for breaking the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.

There were rumblings that the Giants might resign Boley, but that ship has probably sailed now.

]]> http://newsone.com/2430146/michael-boley-arrested-child-abuse/feed/ 0 michael boley ionerlogan michael boley http://newsone.com/2427934/chris-gatling-house-squatting/ http://newsone.com/2427934/chris-gatling-house-squatting/#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 20:43:35 +0000 Ruth Manuel-Logan http://newsone.com/?p=2427934 ]]>

Former NBA All-Star Chris Gatling (pictured) faces criminal charges, after being accused of squatting in an upscale Paradise Valley, Ariz., home for more than a year then trying to rent the residence on Craigslist, according to CBS 5.

SEE ALSO: New Black Appointment Showcases Racist Italy

An Arizona police document states that Gatling allegedly broke in to a key box and set up house from July 2010 to August 2011.  The actual owners of the home in question live in California, and they reportedly left the home furnished with the utilities on as well.

Authorities also report that the 45-year-old ex-baller then placed an ad on Craigslist, listing the four bedroom home with an $800-a-month rental price that included a pool and utilities and stating that the property was an “Ex-NBA home.”

Court records reveal that Gatling reportedly received a down payment from one prospective renter but when another also inquired about the property, he or she became suspicious about the entire set up and alerted police.

According to Gatling’s lawyer, Michael Alarid,  the entire case has just been a “misunderstanding.”  The attorney went on to tell CBS 5, ”We’re hopeful that we can resolve everything as soon as possible.”

The 6’10″ forward/center, whose trademarked headband-wearing style took him through a decade-plus of professional ball playing from the Golden State Warriors to the Miami Heat to the Dallas Mavericks with a 19 point average, also has a checkered criminal past.

Gatling was accused of forging personal checks from his ex-girlfriend and “funneling the money through College Bound All-Stars, a traveling youth basketball league that he managed and operated.”

SEE ALSO: Emmett Till’s Family Tries To Halt Lil Wayne’s Mountain Dew Deal

]]> http://newsone.com/2427934/chris-gatling-house-squatting/feed/ 0 ionerlogan gatling http://newsone.com/2424710/chris-broussard-jason-collins/ http://newsone.com/2424710/chris-broussard-jason-collins/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:39:28 +0000 Kirsten West Savali http://newsone.com/?p=2424710 ]]>

UPDATE 12:12 A.M. EST: Chris Broussard issued the following statement:

Today on OTL, as part of a larger, wide-ranging discussion on today’s news, I offered my personal opinion as it relates to Christianity, a point of view that I have expressed publicly before. I realize that some people disagree with my opinion and I accept and respect that. As has been the case in the past, my beliefs have not and will not impact my ability to report on the NBA. I believe Jason Collins displayed bravery with his announcement today and I have no objection to him or anyone else playing in the NBA.

ESPN statement on Chris Broussard’s comments on today’s Outside The Lines:

“We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction from today’s news. ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins’ announcement.”

Speaking on ESPN’s Outside The Lines, Chris Broussard declared that Jason Collins, the 34-year-old  NBA center who came out as gay, is in “open rebellion to God” for living an openly homosexual “lifestyle,” reports Think Progress.

As previously reported by NewsOne, Collins becomes the first pro-athlete of any sports organization to come out as gay — something that apparently upset Broussard so much he had to gay-bash him for the world to see:

Personally, I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or an openly, like premarital sex between heterosexuals. If you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits. It says that, you know, that’s a sin. If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, whatever it maybe, I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ. So I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I don’t think the bible would characterize them as a Christian.

See Broussard’s full remarks below:

Here’s the thing, Broussard: This conversation is about Collins’ truth, not your bible.

No one cares about your self-righteous judgement or to whom you pray. No one cares about your scriptures or fraudulent piety. And no one cares that you’re so draped in Christian hetero-normative privilege that you can’t see straight.

Maybe, Broussard, you should have kept your Jesus in the closet. How’s that for equality?

And to Collins: Congratulations, sir.

One day manhood won’t be measured by vagina count and announcements won’t be necessary. And when that day comes, you will know you helped pave the way for a more inclusive society.

]]> http://newsone.com/2424710/chris-broussard-jason-collins/feed/ 33 chris_broussard_a_l kirstenwestsavali http://newsone.com/2423556/jason-collins-nba-gay/ http://newsone.com/2423556/jason-collins-nba-gay/#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:19:59 +0000 Hannington Dia http://newsone.com/?p=2423556 ]]>

UPDATED 4/29/13, 1:27 p.m.: The Rev. Al Sharpton released the following statement, regarding NBA player Jason Collins coming out as gay:

The announcement made by NBA center Jason Collins today about being a gay male marks the first time a professional athlete has openly confirmed his sexuality. This is a breakthrough moment in sports and another step towards tolerance and fairness in the African-American community.

I salute the courage and candor of Mr. Collins and think he has made a great contribution to this country and I call on others in the civil rights community and the African-American leadership of all fields to embrace this development. We can’t be custodians of intolerance and freedom fighters at the same time. In order to fight for anyone’s civil rights and self expression we must fight for everyone’s civil rights. God Bless Jason Collins for helping to show us the way.

NBA player Jason Collins (pictured), who is currently a free agent, has come out as a gay man in the latest Sports Illustrated issue.

SEE ALSO: Ray J’s Newest Song  ‘I Hit It First’ Calls Out Kim K

In a story written with writer Franz Lidz, Collins immediately reveals that which he has kept secret for years.

“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.”

According to the basketball player, the 2011 NBA lockout forced him to confront himself:

Why am I coming out now? Well, I started thinking about this in 2011 during the NBA player lockout. I’m a creature of routine. When the regular season ends I immediately dedicate myself to getting game ready for the opener of the next campaign in the fall.

But the lockout wreaked havoc on my habits and forced me to confront who I really am and what I really want. With the season delayed, I trained and worked out. But I lacked the distraction that basketball had always provided.”

As with many in the LBGTQ community, Collins says he felt the pressure to follow heterosexual norms for many years. He finally realized he needed to go public with his sexuality after Massachusetts Congressman and friend Joe Kennedy told him he’d march in the 2012 Boston Gay Pride Parade.

I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn’t even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator. If I’d been questioned, I would have concocted half truths. What a shame to have to lie at a celebration of pride. I want to do the right thing and not hide anymore. I want to march for tolerance, acceptance, and understanding. I want to take a stand and say, Me, too.

The Boston Marathon bombings, for example, also helped encouraged Collins to come out, because one never knows what will happen. Collins also argues that many families have gay members.

Some people insist they’ve never met a gay person. But Three Degrees of Jason Collins dictates that no NBA player can claim that anymore. Pro-basketball is a family. And pretty much every family I know has a brother, sister, or cousin who’s gay. In the brotherhood of the NBA, I just happen to be the one who’s out.

With his admission, Collins becomes the first pro-athlete of any sports organization to come out as gay.

Read the rest of his story here.

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His Royal Airness, Michael Jordan, 50, married his model girlfriend Yvette Prieto, 35, in a star-studded Florida wedding that included such guests as Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen and Tiger Woods, reports Hollywood Life.

Over 500 guests gathered at Bethesda-by-the Sea, an Episcopal church in Palm Beach, to see Jordan wed his long-time love. And after the nuptials, a lavish reception for over 2,000 guests took place at the Bears Club, a Jack Nicklaus designed golf community in Jupiter, Florida, where the basketball legend just build a 38,000 square foot home.

As previously reported by NewsOne, Jordan, met Prieto at a Miami nightclub in 2008 and proposed during the Christmas holiday in 2011. The couple applied for a marriage license last month.

This is the first marriage for Prieto and the second for Jordan, who was married to Juanita Vanoy for 17 years before divorcing amid rumored infidelities in 2006.

They have three children.

Even though the wedding went off without a hitch, there was plenty drama before the couple made it down the aisle.

As previously reported by NewsOne, Pamela Smith, Jordan’s ’90s ex-fling and allegedly the mother of his child, was suing for child support. She claimed that her son, Grant Pierce Jay Jordan ‘Taj’ Reynolds, begged her to file suit so that Jordan would be forced to publicly acknowledge him.

According to Smith, she and Jordan have a “good” relationship and she didn’t want to embarrass him, but Taj no longer wanted to keep his paternity secret. Even though Jordan gave them money and gifts over the years, the boy could never tell anyone that he was his father.

Jordan asked that the paternity suit be dismissed and Smith eventually dropped it.

As previously reported by NewsOne, Jordan had Prieto sign a prenup to protect his reported $650-million fortune.

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In addition to the exorbitant spousal support sum, Wade is also expected to dig deep in to his pockets to pay for Siohvaughn’s living and travel expenses, which reportedly amounts to about $10,000 extra per month.

Wade and Siohvaughn, who were high school sweethearts since age 15 and were married for five years until it ended in 2007, had an unfortunately rocky break-up.

Afterward, the couple battled each other in court for the custody of their two boys, with mug-slinging and vicious character assassinations occurring on both sides. 

Siohvaughn, who was oftentimes labeled “mentally unstable” in the press, accused Wade of giving her an STD, being unfaithful, a gun lover, a drug and alcohol abuser, and not properly taking care of his children. 

Wade was also guilty of trying to crucify his wife in the media, claiming she was physically abusive toward him throughout their entire marriage. 

Most of the allegations were found to be baseless and were eventually thrown out of court.

In March 2011, Wade was awarded full sole custody of his boys, ages 5 and 10, and Siohvaughn was granted regular custody time on alternating weekends as well as during other times throughout the year.

Despite the fact it’s been a grueling five-plus years that Wade and Siohvaughn have been at it, there is more to come: a trial is scheduled in the Windy City for early July to determine the distribution of marital assets.

According to Gossip Extra, there is speculation that Siohvaughn is gunning for half of everything Wade made between the time he was drafted by the Miami Heat until their divorce; the baller currently has a $107 million contract.

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The new documentary film on the Williams sisters, “Venus and Serena” (pictured left and right), provides a dramatic and provocative behind-the-scenes look at lives of the two sisters who have dominated the women’s tennis world for more than a decade.

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Fans and critics alike will develop a deeper understanding of the discipline and determination that recently helped the Williams sisters lead the United States to victory in the Fed Cup World Group playoffs in Delray Beach, Fla., guaranteeing America a spot in 2014. The film, which was made available on iTunes earlier this month, is scheduled to debut in theaters on May 10th.

“My parents told me I’d be No. 1 in the world,” Venus said in a clip of the film made by ABC News veterans Michelle Major and Maiken Baird. “I was brainwashed.”

If that is brainwashing, then perhaps more parents need to follow the lead of Richard Williams and Oracene Price, who coached their daughters to the top, Major told NewsOne. The film shows them doing drills with their father, which included running and throwing tennis rackets.

Watch the trailer to “Venus and Serena” here:

“The film is a great lesson for parents,” Major said. “You can help your kids be the best they can be. I really, really want to have kids so that I can inspire them similarly. There was a lot of love. I feel that I had that advantage growing up too.”

In one scene, Richard interrupts a television reporter who repeatedly badgers Venus about the confidence she expressed before a match, saying she had already told him once that she was confident about winning.

“She told me that her father was defending her,” Major said. “You can’t really see that from the clip, but she was really being badgered.”

Indeed, Richard, known for his outbursts, which he gifted to Serena, had a plan for the girls from the start.

“I’d written a plan before they were born, 78 pages,” he says in a clip in the film.

The film isn’t particularly revelatory for anyone who is familiar with their story, but what it does do is put a human face on a pair of winners who pulled themselves up from the streets of Compton, Calif., to winning more than 20 major singles titles and becoming the first sisters to hold the top two spots in tennis at the same time.

It also highlights fun and intimate details of their lives, such as showing them discussing marriage, horsing around in the Miami home they share, and singing karaoke — ahem, it’s a good thing they are superb tennis players.

“Venus and Serena” also chronicles the talented duo through a tumultuous 2011, when they were dogged by health problems. It opens with Serena’s pulmonary embolism, and shows her being led to surgery at a hospital. It also follows her post-surgery ups and downs, especially as she struggles with a drainage tube attached to her abdomen after a hematoma.

Venus discovered she suffers from the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome and is shown withdrawing from her second-round match during the 2011 U.S. Open.

Viewers get to see the women working toward recovery.

The film shows archival footage of the Williams sisters in their early years, including training with their parents and with coach Rick Macci, and Venus’s first professional match. It also shows their command over women’s tennis and their Grand Slam finals against each other. They say in the film that their father trained them to compete against themselves and each other, which is how they developed their game.

“It was Richard who is the reason they won,” Major said. “He trained them unconventionally. The entire family would be on the court during their training for up to five hours a day. It was all to support Venus and Serena. I’m enraptured by the young footage of the girls and also that of Richard. You can’t take your eyes off of him because he is so determined.”

Major brushed back early criticism of the film that said that the sisters didn’t support it, a claim that is backed by subsequent media reports. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and has also been shown at DOC NYC, the Montclair Festival, and the Miami International Film Festival.

Major, who worked for years as a television news producer for “Diane Sawyer,” “Good Morning America,” and ABC, got a hankering to do a film as a budding journalist, after seeing clips of interviews of the sisters and their dad.

“Venus was 14 and Serena was about 13,” Major recalls, “and I remember talking to the producer. He said Venus is great, but her little sister is going to be so great.”

Despite setbacks, neither player has shown signs of wanting to slow down.

“Venus doesn’t want to retire until she’s 40, and Serena has said she doesn’t want to retire until she physically cannot play anymore. That is what’s going to happen. Serena is getting better every day and Venus is learning to master her autoimmune disease and could get back on top as well.”

Recently, Serena, 31, helped rally the women’s team to an important win at the Fed Cup World Group along with Venus, 32, who was already on the team. Both scored a third gold medal in doubles at last year’s London Olympics.

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Could we be seeing the second coming of Tiger Woods?

In Ginger Howard‘s (pictured) young career, she’s won 78 trophies, ranking first in 41 out of 66 events, and the golf world has taken notice. Now, 18-year-old Howard has made history as the youngest member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), according to BlackNews.com.

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After enrolling at the IMG Golf Academy in Florida, Howard quickly advanced, petitioning the LPGA to allow her to play in its qualifying tournament last year, even though she wasn’t the mandatory 18 years old then.

What has separated her from other golfers her age? According to her swing coach at IMG, it is her toughness and love for the game.

“She loves and she thrives on the pressure and the tournament golf,” said Nathan Bertsch. “That’s the maturity in the game that is really special to me.”

Naturally, Howard’s ascent has been punctuated by its challenges: As she competed at the LGPA’s Q-School, Howard’s mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Fortunately, both of her mother’s thyroids were removed after Howard won the second stage of Q-School.

Afterward, her dad quit his job to be with her on the road. And while traveling with his daughter on her hectic schedule had made it challenging to find work, Robert Howard recently found work at the nonprofit Golf To End Cancer. Howard’s mother also recovered from her cancer and works as a nurse at IMG Academies, according to Golf Week.

While she’s still young, Howard has a bright future, which only seems to get brighter by the day.

You can learn more about Ginger on her website.

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