All-Star Game Highlights West Tops East 143-138!
Chris Paul was named MVP of the 2013 NBA All-Star Game after leading the West to a 143-138 win over the East in Houston on Sunday night. The Clippers' point guard scored 20 points and handed out 15 assists in a masterful performance. Paul joins Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas as the only players in All-Star history to notch such a 20/15 performance, according to TNT. Paul also contributed
Kevin Durant scored 19 points in the first half and seemed a frontrunner for MVP honors in the case of a West win but Paul took over the game down the stretch, dissecting the East defense to set up his teammates and create his own shot. The 27-year-old, six-time All-Star scored or was credited with an assist on 15 of the final 24 points scored by the West as it held off the East.
Durant finished with 30 points and enough highlights dunks to hear plenty of Dunk Contest pressure in 2014. Carmelo Anthony paced the East with 26 points and 12 rebounds.
Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Kobe Bryant turned this West victory into an L.A. story.
Paul had 20 points, 15 assists and won MVP honors, Bryant blocked LeBron James' comeback attempt, and the Western Conference beat the East 143-138 on Sunday night.
Kevin Durant scored 30 points and Griffin finished with 19, joining his Clippers teammate, Paul, in creating Lob City deep in the heart of Texas.
James scored 19 points but shot only 7 of 18 after having no shooting troubles during the latter part of the season's first half. Carmelo Anthony led the East with 26 points and 12 rebounds.
The first dunk of the game came 16 seconds in, Paul throwing a pass to Griffin as part of the West's 7-0 start. The West led after each of the first three quarters, though was never ahead by more than eight points through three periods.
They finally pushed it into double figures early in the fourth fueled by former Oklahoma City teammates Russell Westbrook and James Harden, but couldn't put it away until a late run behind the guys from the city of Los Angeles – who along with Lakers center Dwight Howard gave Los Angeles all but one of the West's starting spots.
Paul hit two 3-pointers, Bryant made a layup, and his block of James led to Durant's dunk that made it 136-126. Griffin had one last forceful dunk to help close it out, throwing a pass to himself off the backboard and climbing high in his neon green sneakers to slam it home and make it 142-134.
Harden had 15 points in his home arena, where the sights of the game were on the floor and the sounds were at the rim – which shook repeatedly after thunderous dunks for most of the game before, as usual, players tried to make some stops down the stretch.
Players' sneakers were a variety of pastels and fluorescent colors that looked like they came right from Easter Sunday church, many clashing so badly with their multi-colored socks that they may as well have been created by spilling out random paint buckets.
James and Dwyane Wade wore purple, and Griffin's neon look was also sported by the usually-not-so-loud Tim Duncan and Brook Lopez.
But the NBA's high-flyers sure could leap in them.
Durant slammed one down so hard at one point that he stumbled backward after landing, appearing woozy. He came in as the career leader in points per game with 28.3 and may have won a second straight MVP award if not for Paul's big finish.
Country Singer Mindy McCready Dies at 37 of SUICIDE!
Country star Mindy McCready has died of an apparent suicide, according to reports. A source close to the troubled star has reported that the singer’s body was found in Heber Springs, Arkansas.
In January, McCready’s boyfriend, David Wilson, died. Wilson is the father of McCready’s 9-month-old son, Zayne. Although Wilson’s death was first reported as being a result of a suicide, currently, there has been no official cause of death or any details surrounding it. An investigation is still under way.
However, personal problems plagued her beginning in 2004 and included a custody battle with her mother over one of her sons.
McCready took her older son Zander from her mother and the boy’s legal guardian, Gayle Inge, in late 2011. She fled to Arkansas without permission over what she called child abuse fears. Authorities eventually found McCready hiding in a residence without permission and took the boy into custody.
She and her boyfriend David Wilson had a son, Zayne, in April of 2012. The older son has a different father.
In May 2010, she was hospitalized briefly after police responded to an overdose call at a home in North Fort Myers, Fla., owned by her mother. This followed a stint on “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew,” where she delcared herself clean from drugs.
In 2004, she was charged with obtaining the painkiller OxyContin fraudulently at a pharmacy. She pleaded guilty and was placed on three years’ probation.
She violated the probation with a drunken driving arrest in May 2005. Then she attempted suicide in July 2005, overdosed in September 2005 and slit her wrists again in December 2008.
Also that year, McCready was charged in Arizona with hindering prosecution and unlawful use of transportation. Those charges stemmed from an alleged attempt in June 2005 to purchase two high performance boats, but she claimed she was trying to stop a con man.
Solange Covers “FADER” Magazine
Solange Knowles covers the February/ March 2013 issue of FADER magazine. Solange the little sister of mega star Beyonce’ tells her story of growing up in the industry and making a name for herself.
Check out what she had to say below:
On touring with her Destiny’s Child: “It was really nice, ’cause in a weird way, we were able to have a lot more of a consistent family life,” she says.
On writing two songs for Kelly Rowland’s first solo LP, Simply Deep: “Kelly, I can’t believe she had a leap of faith in me at 15—I had just turned 15!”
Karrine Steffans New Book “How To Make Love To A Martian” About Lil Wayne
Video vixen, Karrine ‘Superhead‘ Steffans is back on the book market. With an already New York Times best seller she now is ranting of details about her on and off relationship with Lil Wayne. The book, How To Make Love To A Martian, talks about there six year love affair. Details inside.
According to Steffans website as she lists herself as, ‘author, cultural icon, badass‘ she talks about the book…
WATCH HERE!
“Martian explores the idea of an impossible love and the transposition of power that often occurs when the love of your life is so out of reach, no matter how close they may seem. It explores the concept of unconditional love, even to one’s detriment, and the loss of life that occurs all in the name of holding on to something and someone so completely unobtainable. How To Make Love To A Martian is grossly interpersonal, introspective and riddled with secrets from a woman who dares to love a Martian, against all odds.”
This is Karrine’s 5th book and is available via download.
FASHION WEEK FAB: Jada Pinkett Smith, John Legend & Chrissy, Rachel Roy And Selita Ebanks Hit Badgley Mischka & Vera Wang
The celebs woke up bright and early to make it to the Vera Wang show this morning. Jada looked fab in a peach dress with mini-pleats and hot multi-colored Louboutins, while Chrissy Teigen kept it bright in a lime green pencil dress and nude pumps with her fiance John Legend.
Lovely.
John and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Chrissy were spotted on their way to the shows after a stop at Barney's New York:
And designer Rachel Roy kicked it front row at Vera as well:
LOVE this look for her.
Selita Ebanks kept it chic in Badgley Mischka as she hit the designers' show:
Nothing like a little glam first thing in the morning....Nice.
TV One’s R&B Divas: La Cast Announced
T he next chapter in TV One’s highly successful R&B Divas reality franchise unfolds with new series R&B Divas: LA. The series, will follow the lives and careers of Kelly Price, Chante Moore, Lil’ Mo, Claudette Ortiz, Michel’le and Dawn Robinson. The Divas will begin production this month in Los Angeles with an anticipated premiere on TV One in the third quarter of 2013. Over eight episodes, viewers and fans will follow these multi-talented ladies as they seek to individually and collectively re-establish themselves in the pop culture limelight with new deals, new drama and new directions for their careers and their lives. Success is the only option for these six friends – but is there room at the top for them all?
Check out the Divas profiles
KELLY PRICE
Kelly Price’s musical roots were planted in church, where she began singing in the children’s choir at age 2. Her double-Platinum debut album, Soul of a Woman, featuring the record-breaking single “Friend of Mine,” made history as the first to garner the #1 spot on the singles chart without an accompanying video, a rare feat during the era when music videos were the driving force of popular culture. Price returned to center stage three years later with the Platinum-plus seller “Mirror, Mirror,” led by her remake of the R&B classic “As We Lay,” and followed up with the Gold-selling holiday collection One Family: A Christmas Album. Three years after releasing Priceless, she returned to her roots to release the live gospel album This Is Whom I Am. The album included the uplifting single “Healing,” which reached the top of the gospel charts and was also recognized at the 2007 ASCAP Awards as one of the top five songs played across both R&B and gospel genres during 2006. She has collaborated with artists including Mariah Carey, George Michael, Elton John, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Faith Evans, Eric Clapton, Whitney Houston and James Brown. Additionally, Price has modeled for Lane Bryant and Ashley Stewart and taken her talents to the screen and stage with roles in the films Soul Food and Bringing Down the House and the plays Why Did I Get Married? and The Bible Experience. Her latest album, Kelly was released in 2011. In addition to focusing on conquering the music business, Price also is dedicated to her marriage to Jeffrey Rolle, who is also her manager, and their three children.
CHANTE MOORE
Music is in Chante Moore’s blood. Born the daughter of a minister, Moore grew up singing in church and went signed her first record deal at age 22 after she was discovered at a beauty pageant. Moore’s career has included several hit singles that have topped Billboard R&B and Pop charts, including “Love’s Taken Over,” “It’s Alright,” “I’m What You Need” and “Chante’s Got A Man.” Revered in the industry for her four-octave vocal range, the accomplished singer also has worked on numerous outside projects, including the single “One More Time” with Kenny G, “Your Home Is in My Heart” with Boyz II Men for the How Stella Got Her Groove Back movie soundtrack, and “Wey U” on the award-winning soundtrack for the film Waiting to Exhale. Moore has been nominated for multiple Soul Train Music Awards and NAACP Image Awards , and won the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo for the song “Contagious,” featuring The Isley Brothers. On the stage, Moore has appeared in Otis Sallid’s Gospel! Gospel! Gospel at the Wilshire Ebell Theater. Recently divorced, the mother of two is set to star on Broadway in the musical Gospel Soul Rock ‘n’ Roll and has an album set for release in 2013.
LIL’ MO
Cynthia Loving, a.k.a. Lil’ Mo, has made a name for herself as an R&B singer, radio personality, songwriter and record producer. The power of this self-appointed “Godmother of Hip-Hop and R&B” may take some by surprise; while many artists spin tales of their hard-knock childhoods, Lil’ Mo’s family was often called the “fake Cosbys.” A talented songwriter, Lil’ Mo secured a production deal with Flavahood Entertainment, and even before the ink on her contract was dry, Missy Elliott selected one of her tracks for the album Da Real World. Before long, Lil’ Mo’s list of writing and performance credits read like a “Who’s Who” of Hip-hop and R&B, including collaborations with heavy hitters like Fabolous, Jay-Z, Keith Sweat, Black Street and Lil Bow Wow. Lil’ Mo’s most notable collaborations include “Hot Boyz,” with Missy Elliott, “Put it on Me,” with Ja Rule, and “5 minutes,” with R&B Divas: LA co-star Kelly Price. After leaving the music business to focus on her family with husband and manager Phillip Bryant and her four children (ranging in age from 10 to 4 months), Lil’ Mo is ready to stage a comeback and prove to her kids that she is the greatest.
CLAUDETTE ORTIZ
Singer and former model Claudette Ortiz made a splash on the music scene as the lead singer of the popular R&B/Hip-hop group City High. The trio, best known for their 2001 Grammy(R)-nominated single “What Would You Do?” disbanded in 2003. Ortiz and former City High member Ryan Toby are remembered not only for their music but also for their tumultuous marriage, which eventually ended in 2007. Ortiz launched her solo career and released her first single, “Can’t Get Enough,” which peaked at #89 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #37 on the U.S. R&B chart. Now, the single mother of three who once considered enlisting in the Air Force reserves to ensure her family’s financial stability is now back and focused on reviving her music career.
DAWN ROBINSON
Dawn Robinson made a name for herself in the music industry as the youngest member of female R&B vocal group En Vogue. Known for their hits “Free Your Mind,” “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” and “Hold On,” En Vogue won seven MTV Video Music Awards – more than any other female group in MTV history -along with four Soul Train Awards and six American Music Awards. They also garnered seven Grammy nominations. According to Billboard Magazine, En Vogue was the 18th most successful act of the 1990s and one of the most popular and successful female groups of all time, with more than 2,800 accumulated weeks on various Billboard charts. After En Vogue disbanded, Robinson flipped the script and joined Raphael Saadiq (Toni, Tony Tone!) and Ali Shaheed Muhammed to release a one-off album under the group name Lucy Pearl. Their critically acclaimed, self-titled debut went Gold and yielded hit singles “Dance Tonight” and “Don’t Mess With My Man.” In 2002, Robinson married singer/songwriter Dre Allen and released her first solo effort, entitled Dawn. Robinson and Allen divorced in 2007. Now single, with a divorce and several hit records behind her, Robinson is focused on releasing a book, forming another girl group, “GLAMM,” and taking her artistry to the next level.
MICHEL’LE TOUSSAINT
Michel’le Toussaint, or simply Michel’le, is known for her high-pitched, mousy speaking voice – a great contrast to her strong vocals. The R&B singer got her start as the featured female vocalist on World Class Wreckin’ Cru’s 1987 single Turn Off The Lights and quickly signed to Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records. In 1989, she released her self-titled debut album that was produced entirely by then-boyfriend Dr. Dre. The album featured No More Lies and the hit singles Nicety and Something in My Heart. The couple had a son together but broke up shortly after Dr. Dre parted ways with Death Row Records, and in 1997, Michel’le agreed to marry Death Row Records CEO/Founder Suge Knight while he was serving a prison sentence for assault and battery. In 1998, she released her third solo effort, Hung Jury, on Death Records. She went on to marry Shug Knight in 1999, and the couple had one daughter together before divorcing in 2002. The singer’s last recording was the song I Know Where I’m Going on the Dysfunktional Family soundtrack in 2003. Now a single mother, Michel’le is working on reclaiming her place in music, writing a memoir and trying to make time to reenter the dating scene.
Phaedra Parks Says No Thank You to ‘RHOA’ Spin Off
*Phaedra Parks has developed a large fan base and could be large enough for her own, wild reality show.
Bravo thinks so too. But the superstar lawyer and funeral planner is beyond the dollar signs and sees no sense in exploiting the little privacy her family has left to have her own show. She turned down spin off offers.
“I don’t want my mama suing me. I don’t want my parents disowning me because of a TV show,” the pregnant attorney told Perez Hilton.
She didn’t say anyone by name, but we can guess her former co-star Kim Zolciak was the one she was referring to. Kim has experienced some drama with her family since popping out a few kids of her own and putting all her business out there on the streets.
That’s not the Georgia peach way.
“I don’t want to have to fight with my husband or my mama,” Phaedra added.
Besides that, her life is much too hectic for a second show. Phaedra’s got a life and things to do!
“First of all, everyone sees enough of our life already and it’s very invasive. You don’t have a lot of privacy just on being on the ‘Housewives’ in general. There always has to be some drama,” she added.
We know that’s right. You go girl.
Keyshia Cole Getting Divorced
Keyshia Cole has been getting a lot of attention lately but not for anything positive. The ‘bi-racial’ diva has been burning bridges left and right after ebeefing with Destiny’s Child member Michelle William on Super Bowl Sunday.
The hate filled tweets left many wondering what had died up Keyshia’s cooch to make her so bitter…
Well, it looks like a bad marriage will do that. Last night Keyshia left some not so subtle subtweets directed at her baller hubby:
Meet The Cast Of Bravo's Newest Atlanta Reality Show--"Married To Medicine"
It may look like the original make up (with the token non-black woman) of "Real Housewives of Atlanta"...but they're not calling themselves Wives of anything. Even though at least half of them are.
Check out the newest batch of wives bringing the drama on Bravo's "Married To Medicine"....
The show was first announced a while back, and now it's here. Women who are doctors themselves, or married to one, will be putting their lives and contrived drama on display for the Bravo cameras.
According to THR, The docu-series "takes viewers inside the fast-paced and drama-filled social scene of Atlanta's exclusive medical inner circle." Alrighty then.
The show airs Sunday, March 24th at 9p on Bravo. But until then, the trailer is below.
And here's the breakdown of the ladies:
-- Dr. Jacqueline Walters: Doctor to stars like Toni Braxton, T.I. and Usher, this Board-certified OBGYN is also a two-time breast cancer survivor and advocate for breast cancer awareness. She also lives by the motto "Thin Is In" and is obsessed with eating healthy and excessive exercise.
-- Dr. Simone Whitmore: The independent OBGYN, who has her own practice since 2004, has been married to her more laid-back husband, Cecil Whitmore, for 16 years, and they have sons together. Known as "The Warden” and “Witchmore” to her staff, Whitmore in her spare time participates in a mentor program with Spelman College and a local high school.
-- Toya Bush-Harris: Bush-Harris met her husband, emergency medicine physician Eugene Harris, during a speed dating event five years ago while pursuing her master's in education from the University of Phoenix and working two jobs. Bush-Harris is helping to launch her husband’s medical concierge business, working on publishing a children’s nursery book series and volunteers at her church and as a mentor to local young women. The couple to two young boys also are in the process of building a home.
-- Mariah Huq: Dubbed "Queen Bee" and a mother of two, Huq is married to Dr. Aydin Huq, an emergency physician and native of Bangladesh, and openly embraces her husband's culture by attending Mosque, learning to cook traditional Indian food and studying Bengali. The founder/CEO of Mariah Media Group, troop leader of her daughter's Girl Scout Troop and a producer of Married to Medicine, Huq, along with her family, has a foundation in Bangladesh and is currently working to build a hospital in name of her late father-in-law.
-- Quad Lunceford-Webb: Known as the "Black Barbie" in her social circle, Lunceford-Webb is newly wed to psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Lunceford, whose reserved demeanor often clashes with her unpredictable feistiness. The couple, who have two dogs, support the Canine Assistants Foundation and volunteer their time and efforts with various charities and organizations throughout Atlanta.
-- Kari Wells: The British-born model has been married to Colombian-raised orthopedic surgeon Duncan Wells for 10 years. Wells has been the owner of a production company and CFO of her husband’s orthopedic practice and medical realty company. The couple to two kids support many charitable organizations including Doctors Without Borders and Thriving Children Atlanta.
Intrested?
Lady Gaga Cancels Shows
Lady Gaga says she’s “heartsick” to postpone four shows after sustaining an injury that’s left her unable to walk.
A news release says performances that were set for Feb. 13-14 in Chicago, Feb. 16 in Detroit and Feb. 17 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, have been postponed due to a case of synovitis, a severe joint inflammation.
Gaga took to Twitter to explain, saying she injured herself during a performance some time ago and her condition has worsened, leaving her immobile following Monday’s concert in Montreal. She’s been hiding the injury from her staff, but can no longer perform.
“I’ve been hiding a show injury and chronic pain for sometime now, over the last month it has worsened,” she wrote. “I’ve been praying it would heal”.
The remainder of the “Born This Way Ball” tour is expected to continue on schedule, beginning with a two-night stand in Philadelphia on Feb. 19-20. Makeup dates for the missed shows will be announced later.
IS EVA MARCILLE ON DRUGS????
According to my peeps over at Mouth To Ears. Eva was rolling all weekend and we ain’t talking about a river. Sources claim that all weekend she was high as a kite. While our sources think she was on a molly others are saying cocaine. We can not say which is true, but we hope neither. Sources went as far to say that her new love interest, Kevin Mccall, ( who is friends with Chris Brown and wrote deuces) is not putting the smash on her situation. They say he is so in love with her he lets her do whatever.
But last we checked she is grown so what is he really supposed to do ? Eva if you are on drugs, get it together. Because the streets are talkin………and they not whispering.
Who’s Molly? Hip-hop’s newest designer drug
Molly isn’t as innocent as she sounds.
References to Molly in hip-hop lyrics – such as Kanye West’s in “Mercy” (“Something about Mary, she gone off that Molly”) and those of 2 Chainz in “Beez in the Trap” (“Got your girl on Molly and we smoking loud and drinking”) – leaves listeners wondering who or what she is.
The moniker Molly was intended to refer to capsules of MDMA, also known as ecstasy. However, a wide range of white powder-filled capsules containing any variety of substances are being marketed with the same name.
“It’s a brand name that doesn’t really mean anything,” says Dr. Susan Smolinske, director of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Poison Control Center. “You don’t know what you’re taking and it’s probably not what you think it is.”
Testing on Molly capsules this year from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Miami and Boston found that Molly did not contain MDMA at all, but methylone — an active ingredient in the recently publicized “bath salts.” Some capsules contained nothing more than caffeine.
“Methylone scares me a lot. We had a death from it,” says Smolinske. “[The patient] bought what she thought was ecstasy. She ingested two capsules… She was seen to have a seizure, had a body temperature of 107 degrees, [her organs failed] and she died two days later.”
The 24-year-old woman left two capsules that the center could analyze, and researchers found two types of “bath salt” chemicals, including methylone.
Some who use and market Molly claim it’s safer because they believe it is a purer form of ecstasy. However, there is chemically no difference in what both Molly and ecstasy intend to be: pure MDMA.
Unfortunately for Molly users, it seems that Molly has developed the same problem ecstasy did – being combined, or even replaced, with other chemicals.
Previously known as a nightclub drug, MDMA heightens one’s senses. It also causes increased feelings of intimacy with others, elation and less anxiety, all with a slight boost in energy, hence the draw.
“You’re disinhibited, but it’s unlike alcohol which also makes you open, but sloppy and tired,” says Dr. Lewis Nelson, emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist at New York University School of Medicine. Nelson and his colleagues, though, are seeing Molly users whose symptoms aren’t typical of MDMA use.
“If you took MDMA [either Molly or ecstasy], you should get more introspective, more interpersonal, but you don’t get wired, you don’t get violent,” he adds, suggesting those capsules contained other ingredients.
While data on Molly is limited, the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Poison Control Center reports four bad reactions to Molly capsules so far. All four users were between 18 and 21 years of age, and most of the capsules were purchased at music festivals. Other centers report Molly users developing bleeding in the brain.
Across the country, older adolescents and college-aged kids are the most frequent users of Molly. Nelson says that while Molly has made its way through different urban and suburban neighborhoods, he hasn’t yet seen it take hold in inner-city communities.
Smolinske suggests that if someone has ingested Molly and develops shakes, high blood pressure, a fast heart rate, dilated pupils or high fever, they should seek treatment immediately. She also warns that, depending on the chemical in the capsule, it can be habit-forming, and even lead to violent, psychotic behavior
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘How Are You Celebrating Abe Lincoln’s Birthday?’
Happy Birthday! Thanks for the penny, log cabins, log toys, the Town Car, a town in Nebraska, Matthew McConaughey as a lawyer, the Park (all of them), killing all those vampires, and freeing slaves. Anything else I forgot, my bad. Sick beard by the way.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD EVERYBODY!!!
EFREM
