The Daily Roundup for Dec 15

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Idiotic Woman Gets “DRAKE” Tatted On Forehead, Artist Speaks

Recently, a photo surfaced on various social networks of a woman with the word “DRAKE” tattooed across her forehead. While some laughed, others wondered if it was even real. Well, Vice Magazine tracked down the artist responsible for literal headline of 2011 and his thoughts are right off the Take Care tracklist: “Look What You’ve Done.”

You know a tattoo is truly great when half the people you show it to screw their faces up and look like they’re about to keel over and puke, and the other half flat-out cry “fake”. If, like me, you’re a hip-hop nerd you’ll no doubt have seen the photo of a freshly inked DRAKE forehead tattoo that went viral on the rap interwebs this past Tuesday. Now you may cringe in disgust at the very idea of someone so clearly insane being allowed to get this done, but to me, this is just another raw and swollen step towards the day T.O. is officially on the rap map, and so fucking what if it takes a sweater-wearing ex-Degrassi kid from the wealthy Forest Hill suburb to do it? I don’t care who it is. It’s about damn time any Toronto rapper gets tattooed on someone’s face.

Yet despite how genuinely psyched I was about this girl’s near-religious expression of adoration, there were a few questions left floating in my mind; is this going to ruin her life? Who did this? Was she high as fuck one night and thought it would be a larf, or was she emotionally inspired by Drake’s soft and tender voice that touched her soul? More importantly, where are her eyebrows?

I wanted some answers so I tracked down Kevin Campbell, the tattoo artist at the L.A. shop Will Rise who is responsible for this young lady’s new look.

Hi Kevin, so who took the picture?

Norm, my boss. It sucks because the photo makes the tattoo look all crooked and janky, but it's actually pretty well applied and straight as an arrow. The other before, during, and after photos taken by my co-worker are better. But when Norm took the now famous picture, one of her shaved eyebrows was tensed up a bit, making the "A" in "DRAKE" look like dogshit. Her eyebrows were shaved when she came into the shop, btw. Her head was shaved too.

How did you react when she told you what she wanted done?

The funny thing is, I didn't know who Drake was, I figured it was her hood or some shit, not some goofnugget R&B dude.

Did she talk about what it meant to her? Had she been planning for it for a long time or was she kind of just like, "put it on my forehead" and that’s it?

Yeah, she was really psyched about it. She had the shitty font all picked out on her iPhone ready to go and was pretty adamant about putting it on her forehead. She didn't say a word about what it meant to her, some of the guys at the shop asked her, and she just kinda giggled at them. When I printed up the first image of the lettering, she wanted me to go bigger, so that it went pretty much from each side of her hairline to the other. I thought she shaved her eyebrows for the procedure, so when I put the stencil on the first time, it was right over her (missing) eyebrows, but she had me enlarge it a bit and push it up towards the hairline. But yeah, she acted as if she had planned it out for a while; though I'm not really sure how much extended coherent thought could actually go into getting such a stupid tattoo on your forehead.

Wow. Do you feel sort of bad about it after the fact?

My whole deal with people wanting completely outrageous and potentially life ruining tattoos is this: I'll ask them 3 times if they really think that it's a good idea, I tell them what the potential consequences of getting a tattoo on their face might be, and after that, the bad decision is on them. I believe that people get the tattoos that they deserve. The shop where I worked prior to Will Rise was in the center of the Harbor City Crip neighborhood, so I'm not really a stranger to tattooing gang shit on faces, which is what I originally thought that this was. I guess I feel bad that this dumbass got the name of the softest motherfucker in hip-hop tattooed on her forehead. But what makes that any less valid of a tattoo to her? I lost a little sleep over it that first night, wondering if I wanted to be known as the asshole who tattooed "Drake" on some crackhead's forehead. None of the face tattoos I had done prior to this got any publicity, so I was a little surprised that this one took off like it did. I'm still kinda debating whether or not I should send you guys the whole set of pictures, I don't really want to paint the shop in a bad light but it is what it is. In the end, she paid me to do this to her, which really means she did this to herself...

So you see it as your job to give people what they ask for?

There is a way of steering the customer in a direction that would make their whole tattoo idea something that would look better on their skin when the concept they have in their mind sounds good to the but wouldn't translate well into a tattoo. This usually comes up when they come in asking for something like a tattoo of a rose but with 20 names and dates hidden in the petals or something. When it's something as simple as lettering, I could have tried to steer her into a prettier font maybe, or a different location (obviously), but she was already set on this "letterman" font, "like the one on the jacket."

But as far as having a choice, yeah, sure, I could have turned her away, and I'm already getting a ton of flack from other tattooers for this but the way I see it, if she's got her little heart set on getting her forehead tattooed then she'll just keep on trying until somebody finally goes through with it. I think that getting a color portrait of the Joker from Batman is a dumb idea, but who the fuck am I to judge? If some cat from MS13 comes in and wants me to "blast" that shit on his chin or forehead or whatever, who am I to judge the validity of them getting what they get and where they get it? If I tattoo a huge "BK" on a Crip or tattoo "DRAKE" on some R&B crazed girl's face, what's the difference? Who am I to say which one is wrong and which is right?

Are you surprised at how quickly the photo spread?

Honestly, I didn't think this thing would get so much exposure. I'm still kinda debating whether or not it's a great idea to have my name attached to this shit more than it already is. Seeing as that I haven't really established too much of a name for myself, I don't particularly want this one tattoo to represent my whole body of work. It’s not something I’d want to write home to mom about, if you know what I mean. I've actually done some way crazier facial tattoos recently, but was just really careful not to blast the shit all over the internet. There are so many kids walking up and down Fairfax with ridiculous facial tattoos that I didn't think too much about it before I did it. Plus, the whole shaved eyebrow thing usually means you just got put on to your neighborhood or whatever, so I figured she was just some crazy shermed-out cholla that was "down for her calle" or whatever.

In my opinion this whole world's going to shit, and shit rolls downhill, so I might as well just jump in, hold my breath, and pray to G-d that there's a nice big soft puddle of diarrhea for me to land in once everything hits the fan.

I wonder what was going through her mind when she decided to do it.

Man, I wish I could get you in touch with her, I'm sure the story's pretty intense. Sadly she didn't leave a number on her consent form, just her name. But she is supposed to be coming back to finish the tattoo once it heals (she only had enough money for the outline) and I could probably talk to her then. She was on a pretty good one when she came in, and I think by the time I finished, she was coming down, because her attitude changed pretty drastically once the tattoo was finished.
Ouch.

Oprah Winfrey jets into Haiti to check in on Sean Penn's aid work

Oprah Winfrey arrived in Haiti on Sunday evening to interview Sean Penn and visit a settlement camp for displaced people run by his aid group J/P HRO.
A massive, 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti last January 12th, killing 230,000 and making 1.3 million more homeless.
Sean Penn flew to the country to help one week later and now say it's his life's work.
Winfrey, escorted by security guards, walked among the tents with the actor and said Penn's efforts will be featured in an upcoming program on her Oprah Winfrey Network.

'This is part of the next chapter, going around the world to see interesting and fascinating cases of profound examples of what can be done to make a difference in the world,' Winfrey told reporters at the encampment.

Penn said he welcomed the interest of 'the world's most elegant woman' and expected it would help Haiti.
The camp where his group works was built on a former country club golf course and has been home to thousands of people since the earthquake left much of the Haitian capital in ruins.
'Everybody who has spent time in Haiti knows how important it is for the world to see what is going on here. We really appreciate that she's here with us,' Penn said.

Oprah was also expected to meet with fashion designer Donna Karan, who has celebrated the work of Haiti’s artisans through her Urban Zen Foundation since the quake.
The Haitian President has said he will host Oprah Winfrey while she is visiting the Caribbean nation.
President Michel Martelly announced he would meet with Winfrey today in the hope she will serve as a goodwill ambassador for Haiti and help bring aid to the country.
Devastation: The settlement camp which houses 55,000 people is on the site of a former golf course.

Martelly, a former musician who performed under the stage name Sweet Micky, also said he plans an ambitious world tour in an effort to raise money for an education program that seeks to ensure children attend school in Haiti.
Few parents can afford tuition for his country's many private schools.
'We would take the tour to Los Angeles, Korea, Japan, France to raise money for the children's education,' Martelly said, adding that he understands the power of the stage.
'I will get on it and dance and have great groups of entertainers to perform to help Haiti, including Wyclef Jean and Oprah and have others play my music and sing my songs,' he said.
Guards and police cleared the airport on Oprah's arrival so journalists could not film her arrival and security was out in force during her visit as crime is high.
A situation developed when photographer Lionel Lafortune, who was among several journalists trying to cover Winfrey, was detained by a guard as he entered the encampment and took photos.

A private security guard was seen grabbing Lafortune, who works for the newspaper Haiti Progress, and drag him into a small police station at the camp, where officers demanded that he erase the memory card from his camera.
The police continued to hold him until a more senior official arrived and ordered him released, saying: 'Journalists have the right to work without intimidation.'
Later, a Winfrey spokesman, Chance Patterson, said the guard apparently didn't realize Lafortune was a journalist.
'No one knew who he was, or what he had been doing or who he was with,' said Patterson, a senior vice president for Harpo Studios, the producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
'He just came running in apparently and started taking photos and he was stopped and then the supervisor came and said, 'Let him go,' Patterson told the AP. 'That was it.'

Iverson’s Ex Says He Emptied Joint Account, Leaving Her Broke

*TMZ is reporting that Allen Iverson’s divorce has taken a nasty turn.
According to his estranged wife, the former NBA star went on a massive spending spree after she filed for divorce, leaving her completely penniless.
Tawanna just filed new docs in their bitter divorce battle claiming that since she filed for divorce in June, Allen stopped depositing money in their joint bank account and then made several large cash withdrawals, including one for $20,000, which he spent on diamond jewelry.

Tawanna claims the account was $23,000 in the red at the time she filed the court docs and she’s been unable to pay the bills or provide for their 5 kids.
According to Tawanna, who says she gave up her career to be a stay-at-home mom, Allen is worth over $20 million, but refuses to help her out simply out of spite.

Allen denies Tawanna’s allegations in the docs. So far, no hearing date has been set.

Toni Braxton Developing New Cosmetics Line..

Singer Toni Braxton is getting her money by any means necessary. Word on the curb is that she is in the development stages of a new cosmetics line. During an interview Toni’s assistant accidentally dropped news that Toni was working on a cosmetics line and that he was going out to be with her in New York. Now, Toni herself has not confirmed this but lets just hope that the line isn’t junk but something actually worth buying. Of course, Toni always looks fabulous on her reality show, “Braxton Family Values”, so we’re pretty sure the line will be hot! Get it Toni!

Amber Rose as Elvira!!...LOL!

She's rocked a black afro before. But at Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg's "High School" tour stop at the Tabernacle in Atlanta Saturday night, Wiz's girl Amber watched on adoringly from the side of the stage. And she was rocking a new wigged out 'do with her denim cutoffs, zebra stockings, and white blazer.

Long sleek brown tresses instead of her usual blonde baldie.

Music executive dies after being shot in the face by CRAZED Sunset Boulevard gunman

A music executive has died after he was randomly shot by a crazed gunman on Friday while running a quick errand to the bank.

John Atterberry, 40, passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, shortly before 5pm.
Mr Atterberry, who had worked with the Spice Girls and Jessica Simpson, was shot in the jaw and torso by Sunset Boulevard gunman Tyler Brehm.
The 40-year-old, who worked as a film producer, was driving his Mercedes-Benz when he was seriously injured.
The businessman had risen to vice-president at Death Row Records which produced artists such as Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur.
He later founded Infusion Music Group, a music publishing company with credits on albums by Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Brandy, the Spice Girls and Jessica Simpson.

Mr Atterberry's Facebook page was flooded with tributes from friends and colleagues.

Shaunie O'Neal, wife of former basketball player Shaquille O'Neal, wrote on Twitter: 'RIP John keepin the Atterberry family n my prayers.'All My Children actress Liz Vassey added: 'RIP John Atterberry. Shot by the gunman on Sunset and Vine on Friday of last week. God bless his family. 40 years old. Tragic.'
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton said: 'R.I.P. #JohnAtterberry Sending love and strength to his family and friends!' I really think America needs tighter gun control laws! You don't see as much gun violence in Canada!!!!'
Frost/Nixon actress Jenn Gotzon also tweeted: 'RIP #JohnAtterberry (my writer-producer for @GodsCountryfilm) He died today after being shot in the face. pls pray.'

Mr Atterberry was the only seriously injured victim of 26-year-old Brehm, who police say fired nearly 20 bullets in the air and at cars as he screamed that he wanted to die. He was killed by police minutes later.

Brehm's ex-girlfriend said the couple had recently broken up but police said they're still looking for a motive for the attack.
Brehm walked down the middle of Sunset Boulevard, firing on motorists with no clear target and injuring three of them before two police officers who happened to be in the area - an off-duty motorcycle officer working movie set security and a detective - shot and killed him, according to authorities.
The gunman's former girlfriend has described how she woke to 14 text messages informing her of his death.
Alicia Alligood, 24, had broken up with her boyfriend of four-and-a-half years just days before he went on the shooting spree.
She was unaware of his involvement in the shooting until she woke at 7 am the following day to 14 text messages - some from the shooter himself.
Brehm, who neighbours said struggled to get over the December 1 breakup, sent messages minutes before he stood on the Hollywood intersection and shot at passing vehicles.

He had also left Alligood a voicemail hours earlier, telling her he loved her.
But Alligood described her former boyfriend as a 'humanitarian', and someone who was 'extremely motivated to change the world for the better', even managing a non-profit organisation for a friend.
He had met a woman he thought was a pharmaceutical saleswoman who had given him some kind of pills, Alligood said.
He began taking the pills, which Alligood found alarming as he had never taken 'hard' drugs before.
After the breakup, he had moved to his own apartment half a mile from the scene of the shooting, she said

Neighbours said Brehm had been struggling to overcome the separation.
‘He wasn't a bad guy, he just got fed up,’ friend Christina Mesropian told KNBC. ‘He was like “Ah, I'm over it, I'm over it,” but I could tell he wasn't over it.’
Ramon Hernandez, who lived in the apartment next door to Brehm, said the couple had recently moved out. He told KABC-TV he had heard them arguing.
‘I could tell that he was an unstable person,’ Hernandez said, ‘but I don't know the details on what actually made him snap.’
Police have not yet announced a motive for the crime, but Alligood said she believed the breakup was the trigger.
'He wasn't a bad guy, he just got fed up. He was like "Ah, I'm over it, I'm over it," but I could tell he wasn't over it'Friend Christina Mesropian Brehm, who was Hispanic and dressed in a white vest, walked down the middle of Sunset Boulevard on Friday, firing on motorists and in the air until he was shot and killed.
Passers-by initially thought he was an actor from a movie being filmed nearby.
Brehm killed Mr Atterberry and wounded two others before he was killed by an off-duty officer working as a security guard on the neighbouring film, believed to be Sean Penn and Ryan Gosling's crime drama, Gangster Squad.

It is unknown if the actors were on set during the real-life shooting, but they would have heard the gunfire.
He was filmed from an office block as he stood in the middle of the road firing on pedestrians and motorists.
Witness Micah Williams said he thought the suspect was part of a movie. ‘Then the third bullet ricocheted right by our head and I was like, “Dude, they’re shooting at us,” ’ he said.
Another bystander, Gregory Bojorquez, said: ‘At first it seemed like a movie but then I heard the sound of the bullets hitting metal. It was bizarre, like something from a cop show. You get so used to seeing filming in LA that lots of people were watching it thinking it was for a film.’
It is thought the gunman ran out of bullets and had pulled a knife from his belt when he was shot by the policeman.

See the graphic video: 

‘He was screaming he was going to die and that he wanted to die,’ Bojorquez, a photographer who captured images of the shooting's aftermath, told the Los Angeles Times.
'He was just kind of shooting spontaneously,' witness William Wiles told The Baltimore Sun Times, recalling what he saw as he watched incident from his bedroom window.
'He didn't really have any mission or purpose or anyone in particular,' Mr Wiles continued.
One man suffered a grazing wound to his left thigh when a bullet passed through his car door. Another man had minor cuts from broken glass after bullet struck the driver door where it met the window.

Another witness, Chris Johns, said: 'This was like a serious mad man. He snapped and he's going to try to kill as many people as possible.'
He continued shooting at vehicles and in the air when he was confronted by the officers.
They ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. He was shot when he pointed his weapon at the officers. The gunman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Record executive John Atterberry strikes a formal pose with former vice-president Dick Cheney

A truck and another car were struck by bullets, and two people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
In the Los Angeles area, every movie production is required to have a permit, so if there is shooting, for a movie, locals are notified for any loud noises and big signs are placed on street corners.
The area was cordoned off and the gunman lay under a white sheet in the street hours after the gunfire, leaving traffic tangled on busy Hollywood streets, an area is packed with stores and restaurants.

Gucci Mane Free From Jail + Reaches Child Support

Gucci Mane isn’t letting his current jail sentence prevent him from financially supporting his child.

He has reached a custody agreement with Sheena Evans, the mother of his four-year-old son.
Court documents filed in Georgia court state that Gucci will pay Evans two-thousand-26 dollars a month.

Evans will also take primary physical custody, while Gucci Mane will be able to spend time with his son as his schedule allows.

Gucci Mane got out of jail over the weekend after serving a six-month sentence after pleading guilty back in September to two counts of battery, two counts of reckless conduct, and one count of disorderly conduct. Gucci was arrested last January for pushing a woman out of his car while it was moving. Now that my boy out he’s got new people round him and ready to take over the world… The Gucci way… P.S. Gucci people are working on a new reality and have already started taping the show. but Yall will have to stay tuned to find out all the info about the reality show….

Shaunie O'Neal Celebrates Her B-Day With Evelyn, Jen, Tami, & Kenya...Plus A Louis Vuitton Cake

Last weekend, Shaunie O'Neal got her "Basketball Wives" castmates together to celebrate her birthday at the newly opened Philippe Miami on Ocean Drive.

Shaunie donned a cute black and sheer blush Renee London dress and black, red, and gold Giuseppe Zanotti slingbacks as she posed with a monogrammed Louis Vuitton cake and bottle of Ciroc (the sponsor of course.) By the way, the Louis Vuitton Neverfull inspired cake was infused with Ciroc Coconut. Yum!

Shaunie was joined by close friends and family as well as her castmates Tami Roman, Evelyn Lozada, Suzie Ketcham, Jennifer Williams and newbie Kenya Bell. Surprised no cake throwing ensued with all these frenemies in one place.

Guests enjoyed a menu of filet mignon, beijing chicken and spicy prawns, as well as Ciroc cocktails named in honor of Shaunie. That's...special. Happy b-day Shaunie.

Trina’s Birthday at LIV

Miami Beach, FL Trina rang in her 33rd birthday in style for the second year in a row at LIV at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The famed artist hosted the special night alongside Keyshia Dior with one of the largest birthday cakes that LIV has ever created. And of course the Fabulous site World Red Eye was on hand to get some fabu pics….check them out!

The moving spectacular, delicious cake involved careful maneuvering throughout the club and the clearing of the table where Trina and her friends were enjoying the night in order for squeeze it in! The cake and the amazing times were all unforgettable!

Jermaine Dupri Sued for $80,000 over Lamborghini Balance

*The folks who financed Jermaine Dupri’s recently repossessed $330,000 Lamborghini have sued the music producer, claiming he still owes them $80,000 for the car.

According to TMZ, Premier Financial Services filed new legal docs in Georgia Superior Court, claiming Dupri financed the white 2005 Lamborghini Murcielago in 2006 and agreed to make 58 monthly payments of $4,323.
According to the docs, Jermaine paid $70,000 up front for the car and successfully made the majority of payments, but for some reason, stopped making payments in 2009.
As a result, PFS repossessed the car and sold it off for $115,000, according to TMZ, and now they’re out for the difference – insisting they hemorrhaged $79,095 in the deal-gone-wrong. They’re suing Jermaine for their losses.

Tyra and John are OVER and she flees to BALI!

Tyra Banks has gone on a 'spiritual trip' to Bali after breaking up with her boyfriend.
The America's Next Top Model host has embarked on an Eat, Pray Love style trip to the Far East with a female friend to get over the split from banker John Utendahl after three years.

Friends had predicted that Banks, 38, would settle down with Utendahl.

'Tyra has gone away with a female friend and has been island-hopping, visiting Bali and taking a spiritual retreat,' a source told the New York Post.
Utendahl,who runs an investment bank, is reported to have got over the split and was seen at a bar with a leggy Russian model.
Banks first met Utendahl in 2007, but only went public with their romance a year later.
Earlier this year the former Victoria's Secret model and 50 year old Utendahl were spotted during a romantic vacation to Mexico.
Banks, who won an Emmy for her chat show The Tyra Banks Show has never talked publicly about her love life.

But when she appeared on Larry King's Dinner with the King last week she said her tough girl appearance as a judge on Top Model was all an act.
She said: 'In real life I'm passive aggressive..I'm even in coaching to learn how to be confrontational.'
A spokesman for Banks confirmed she was travelling, but refused to comment on reports of her split with Utendahl.
A spokesman said: 'I do not comment on Tyra's personal life.'
In the film Eat, Pray Love Julia Roberts travels to the Far East to get over the end of a relationship.
The film is based on the best-selling book by Elizabeth Gilbert.

IN SPORTS NEWS:
Robert Griffin III Wins The 2011 Heisman Trophy!

Robert Griffin III, a quarterback for Baylor University, was awarded the 2011 Heisman Trophy. A feat not often accomplished by black college QBs. After grabbing 405 first-place votes, Robert Griffin III became the first Baylor University player to win the Heisman Trophy.

He said,
"This is unbelievably believable. It's unbelievable because in the moment we're all amazed when great things happen. But it's believable because great things don't happen without hard work. The great [Baylor] coach Art Briles always says great things only come with great effort. We've certainly worked for this. That's right -- everybody associated with Baylor University has a reason to celebrate tonight."

And the folks at Baylor are certainly happy since this has been their best football season since 1994.

USAToday said,
"Griffin had a superhero of a season. He led the No. 16 Bears (9-3) to their most wins in 25 years and their second consecutive bowl game after a 16-year postseason drought. He also brought one of the Big 12's most downtrodden programs into national prominence. Before RG3, the Bears were at or near the bottom of the Big 12 standings most years and never had a winning record in the league. In one of the greatest seasons in school history, the Bears beat Oklahoma for the first time ever and finished with an emphatic victory over Texas."

And Robert is more than a good athlete, he's smart too. He made the honor roll every semester and finished his degree in political science in three years! And if that isn't enough, he's getting his master's degree in communications in the spring and applying to Baylor law school.

So what about going pro? The son of two army sergeants (he was born in Japan and moved several places before settling in Texas) said, "If the NFL comes knocking, I'm pretty sure you're answering that door."

Congrats!

Lamar Odom sent packing from L.A and dealt to Dallas

Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom, so hurt by being included in a three-team trade for Chris Paul that was vetoed by the NBA last week, finally was dealt on Sunday, going to the Dallas Mavericks for an $8.9 million trade exception, as well as a protected first-round pick.

The Lakers also threw in a 2012 second-round draft pick in the deal, which came two days after Odom requested a trade, according to a Lakers team source.
"Right now, for me, having Odom, Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, we may have the best forward trio in this league right now. And that's exciting," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "Lamar Odom is a guy we have great respect for as a person and as an all-around player in this league. We feel he's going to add so many different dimensions for us -- length, playmaking, scoring, experience, championship experience."

Odom will aid the Mavs' recovery from Tyson Chandler's departure to the New York Knicks.
"Excited," Nowitzki said, describing his first emotion on hearing of the deal. "I mean really to get Lamar Odom for a trade exception -- and I don't even know what that is -- so we turned nothing into a great player. I've always been a fan of his game because he's always been a great all-around player. He's very smooth, very fun to watch, so I think he's going to fit in great. He can play multiple positions, he can guard multiple positions, he's long, so I think he's going to fit in well."

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak praised Odom for his time in L.A.

"Lamar was a fine player for us in his seven years with the Lakers and was a key to helping us win two championships," Kupchak said. "In addition, he always conducted himself with class and professionalism and we wish him well in the remainder of his career."
Regardless of whether the Lakers use the trade exception from Dallas in a subsequent trade, at the very least, the Lakers feel the trade allowed them to move a disgruntled player while saving close to $18 million in salary and luxury tax penalties, the source said. Another team source said there was also concern Odom would not have had as vital a role this season under new coach Mike Brown as he did under Jackson, when he was relied upon to activate the triangle offense when he was on the floor with the second unit.

Without those additional responsibilities, Odom becomes a very pricey substitute to retain on the roster.

Odom, 32, averaged 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game last season while shooting a career-high 53 percent from the field. He contributed to two championship-winning teams and was named the league's Sixth Man of the Year last season. He has spent 11 of his 12 season in the NBA in L.A. (seven with the Lakers, four with the Clippers).
Odom's Laker teammates said there weren't happy with the deal.

"To be honest with you, I don't like it," Kobe Bryant said. "It's tough to lose Lamar. Pau (Gasol) is still here, and we're all thankful for that. It's hard when you've been through so many battles with players to just see them go somewhere else. It's tough."

Bryant and Derek Fisher led a chorus of confused anger from the Lakers, who have no idea what their front office is planning just two weeks before the season opener. Los Angeles is thought to be working on a deal for Orlando center Dwight Howard, but the trade exception obtained from Dallas could be only a minor part of any potential deal.

"As a basketball player, it confuses you as to what your focus should be," Fisher said. "I'm very disappointed and frustrated for (Odom and Gasol). If I had my choice, Lamar would be a Laker for life."

Bryant said he hated seeing Odom leave Los Angeles: "Especially to them. We were supposed to come back and get them back. It's tough. ... Do I think we got too little? Who did we get? I don't think Mark Cuban is protesting this trade."
Odom indicated he was hurt by being included in the scuttled trade with New Orleans for Paul. Los Angeles, Houston and New Orleans agreed on a deal Thursday that would have sent Odom and Lakers forward Pau Gasol to New Orleans for Hornets guard Paul. Gasol would then have been sent to Houston for Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Goran Dragic and a 2012 first-round pick.
NBA commissioner David Stern nixed the trade shortly thereafter and said he was stepping in to protect the best interests of the Hornets, who are currently controlled by the league while it shops for a new owner for the franchise.

In the aftermath of the canceled deal, Odom skipped the Lakers' first day of training camp Friday. He did, however, go to the practice facility to have a face-to-face meeting with general manager Mitch Kupchak, during which he expressed his desire to be traded, according to the source. Kupchak asked Odom to reconsider his position and told the 12-year veteran to think over his decision.
"You don't want to go to no place you're not wanted," Odom told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday.

Odom abstained from practicing again on Saturday, instead using the practice time to undergo his annual team physical. In a conversation with Lakers management on Saturday, Odom's agent, Jeff Schwarz, reiterated Odom's desire to be traded, according to the source.
While Odom opted to stay away from the team while the trades were still in flux, Gasol has continued to practice with the team in the interim. Gasol was present for the team's media day Sunday and even filmed a television promo for the Lakers' Christmas Day game against Chicago. He looked into a camera and declared, "We're back!" while wearing his No. 16 Lakers jersey.

Gasol practiced with the team Sunday following the media day festivities.
"I don't think this is personal at all," Gasol said. "This is a business move, I think. The franchise is looking to do its best for the best interest of the franchise and the team. ... I'll just have to be professional. My wish is to stay here. I love being part of this team, this franchise, this city, their fans, everybody. So it's been during this last couple of days to have this uncertainty and insecurity. And probably, it's not over yet.
"I'm just going to be as professional as I can be and do my job and also just do what I love and play basketball and play with a team I like to play with."

Alicia Keys “Stick Fly” didn’t STICK with Broadway Theater Critics

Stick Fly, produced and scored by the No One singer, opened at the Cort Theatre on Thursday night (08Dec11), but the show has failed to meet critics' expectations.
Reviewer David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter has dismissed the show as "scattershot entertainment", insisting the production "lacked emotional substance" and "comes up short as both comedy and dysfunctional family drama".

The New York Post's Elisabeth Vincentelli blamed the show's "sluggish" direction by Kenny Leon for its shortfalls, while the New York Daily News' critic Joe Dziemianowicz echoed the same sentiment, stating the nearly three-hour show "could benefit from some tightening".
Keys didn't escape criticism either - Rooney claimed the singer's "transitional music is used too liberally, more often calling attention to itself than serving the dramatic tone".

OUCH…….Anywho Stick Fly is due to run until 29 January (12).

Beyonce Buys a House with an Elevator for Easy Access to the Nursery

Beyonce and Jay Z are ready to settle in as new parents and have chosen a home in Miami with direct access to the nursery.
Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z are buying a new home with a direct lift to the nursery so they can always get to their baby as quickly as possible.
The 'Halo' singer is pregnant with the couple's first child and they are reportedly hoping to have moved into the palatial mansion in Miami, Florida before the baby is born so that they can enjoy becoming first time parents.

A source told More! magazine: "The house they like has its own private beach and an indoor pool and gym, as well as a Jacuzzi, sauna and recording studio. It's a Mediterranean-style villa designed by the decorator who did Gianni Versace's mansion, and there's a nursery by the master bedroom, as well as a lift that goes from the sitting room right up to where the baby's bedroom is so they can be at their baby's side the moment they hear the baby monitor go off."
The 3 million home also features a suite for Beyonce's mother and a villa for her sister Solange and nephew Julez.

The source added: "There's even a luxurious suite nearby where Bey's mum Tina can stay. The grounds also feature a villa in the garden for her sister Solange and seven-year-old nephew Julez."

Nelly Cancels Visit With Troops Due To Illness

It appears as if hip-hop star Nelly has managed to upset a few members of the military.
According to TMZ, the rapper was slated to meet with troops at Alaska’s Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson on Saturday, but he wound up canceling due to the flu. Nelly performed in Anchorage on Friday night, but the next day he sent out a tweet saying he had a fever and was throwing up.

He also apologized for not being able to make his meet and greet with the troops.

The apology didn’t do much to satisfy his fans, however, as Nelly’s Facebook page was flooded with comments from disappointed supporters. One person even posted a photo of a group of troops waiting for Nelly to arrive with a caption that accuses the rapper of standing them up.

AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
“$5 DVD Pit”

When your kids wants to play in a ball pit and you have shopping to be done, it’s times like these when you need to be creative. Let’s face it, some parents are just more resourceful than others.

SEE YA!!!

EFREM