Steve Francis had one of the most fascinating basketball careers in recent memory. After going to war with the Vancouver Grizzlies in the seconds after they decided to draft him, Francis was eventually shipped to the Houston Rockets before the 1999-00 season. As a member of the Rockets, Francis — despite some injury problems — had a number of wildly successful seasons, made numerous All-Star Game… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Opposing Views Discovery Date : 25/04/2012 08:45 Number of articles : 2
‘My great-grandchildren will know exactly who Whitney Houston is,’ 31-year-old New Life singer tells MTV News. By Rob Markman Monica Photo: MTV News Monica and the late Whitney Houston shared a special bond. Not only did the fallen pop icon influence Monica, she also mentored her from a very young age. “Losing somebody that you idolize is one thing, but losing a friend is another thing,” Monica told MTV News during an April 10 interview. “I look back over many, many years of my life, and Whitney wasn’t the type of person that would call and ask if I was OK; she would actually fly to me. She would come looking for me, she would sit with me. “She prepared me and always reminded me to never lose sight of who I was, and I think she could be a testament to that because of what she experienced,” she continued. “It’s hard on a daily basis, especially when I’m thinking about her.” It’s been almost three months since Houston passed away after accidentally drowning in a bathtub in her Los Angeles hotel room. While the wounds are still fresh, Monica marches on. The 31-year-old singer just dropped her seventh solo album, New Life, and has been singing Houston’s songs since the very beginning of her career. In March, Monica partnered with Brandy in Atlanta, and together they sang touching Whitney covers. It was far from the first time they paid homage to her. “I guess I get through the tributes for Nippy because I knew how much she enjoyed them,” Monica explained. “I didn’t just start doing tributes to her: I was signed at 11 years old singing ‘The Greatest Love of All.’ ” While on the road with Trey Songz during his 2010 Passion, Pain & Pleasure Tour , Monica would honor her idol every night, and Houston was alive to see it. “I would put on a gown and do a full-out salute to her from top to bottom and sing,” she said. “She got a kick out of that.” Though Whitney’s death has been difficult for Monica, the spirited singer takes comfort in knowing that her friend and teacher left a legacy that will transcend generations. “I really appreciate the fact that for almost three decades she gave us music that will last,” she said. “My grandchildren will know exactly who she is; my great-grandchildren will know exactly who Whitney Houston is.” Share your favorite Whitney Houston memory in the comments below. Related Videos Whitney Houston: Life And Music Of An Icon Related Photos Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos Related Artists Monica Whitney Houston
The other day we reported on a Denver pimp named “Jell-o” that was popped in Houston trying to set up shop . Now, his coke-white stable has come to his rescue: Jermaine “Jell-o” Wallace’s White Hoe Stable Comes To His Rescue “Thank You Jermaine Wallace” (Clap-Clap) [Video] The women who live with and allegedly work for a man called “Jell-o” say he is not a pimp and they are not prostitutes. Germaine “Jell-O” Wallace was captured by U.S. marshals in northwest Houston on Thursday. He was in a cab with four women at the time. Authorities believe Wallace came here to avoid facing a Colorado judge on charges of sexual assault and pimping. “We’re not doing anything wrong,” said Teresa Weeks, one of the women in the cab. The women claim they’re just good friends who share a mansion in Colorado with Wallace and often travel together. They call themselves exotic dancers and said the money they made was legal. “We like our lives,” said Amber Wilson. “We want to maintain our lives. That’s all we were trying to do is make money to maintain the way that we lived before this happened.” The women said they now work at various strip clubs in Houston. “We treat it like a 9 to 5,” said Kara Laughead. “No funny business. We go in, we work. We make money.” Now the women are supporting an online petition that they hope will make Wallace a free man. “I could see it if he was guilty but he’s an innocent man,” added Weeks. On Thursday, a handcuffed Wallace blamed the women for his arrest. “You all know I’m innocent of these charges. The girls that did this, you’re bogus. You know you’re wrong for lying,” Wallace said. Authorities said Wallace was living the high life in Denver, living in a mansion and driving fancy cars. They believe he came to Houston to provide prostitution services to attendees at an upcoming convention. “We didn’t want that here,” said Deputy U.S. Marshal Cameron Welch, who worked the case along with other members of the Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task Force. “The key factor in this deal was looking for those girls. We knew if we found them they would lead back to him.” Wallace is expected to be extradited back to Colorado in the coming weeks. Check this out… this is what he’s on the run for: Denver authorities have begun outlining their case against a ruthless pimp for running a sophisticated hooker ring through the city’s best-known strip clubs. Germaine “Jell-O” Wallace was living in a $1.3 million pad near Castle Rock, Colo., with a driveway full of custom cars and collection of exotic pets when he was busted on pimping, sexual assault and weapons charges in November, police said in recently filed court papers. Authorities said Wallace sent a crew of loyal hookers into the area’s swankiest jiggle joints to turn tricks — and strong-arm other strippers to do the same. Busting an operation as big as his was unusual because police have a hard time getting hookers to talk. “In their mind, it’s in their best interest to take the hit and not affect the business,” vice unit Lt. Aaron Sanchez told the Denver Post. At the rented 35-acre estate, Wallace and his crew rode dirt bikes and four-wheelers, popped ecstasy and tended to a collection of wild animals, the newspaper reported. Court records showed he kept a serval, an African wild cat resembling a small cheetah, and a kinkajou, a small ferret-like mammal native to rainforests in Central and South America. After the arrest, cops impounded half of the cars, including a Pontiac Fiero tricked out to look like a Lamborghini. One blue minivan featured a cartoon of Bugs Bunny grabbing ‘toon sexpot Jessica Rabbit with the words “choose up” – street slang that tells hookers TO join up with richer pimps. One 20-year-old stripper told police she was recruited into Jell-O’s world by a dancer at the swank Centerfold Showclub. The woman said Wallace raped her and forced her and other dancers to recruit Johns for sex in the clubs’ champagne rooms. “We work literally every night unless someone is sick,” the woman told police. She said she brought in about $800 a night and was forced to text Wallace with earnings updates every hour. Cops said Jell-O gave his girls tips for avoiding undercover cops, knew the private spots of each club and occasionally drove the hookers and their johns to dates outside the clubs. The clubs have denied knowing anything about the ring. Four of Jell-O’s top recruiters, Kara Laughead, 24, Allison Kelly, 25, Teresa Weeks, 22, and Amber Wilson, 24, face prostitution and pimping charges. Wallace’s high-profile lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, said his client is innocent. Turn the page to see these hoes…
Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Chevy Woods will also hit the road in July for Under the Influence of Music Tour. By Rob Markman Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller Photo: Getty Images By themselves, Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller are highly influential. Put them together, and the results can be mind-blowing. On Tuesday (April 17), the Pittsburgh pair announced their nine-date Under the Influence of Music joint tour. The run starts July 26 in Cincinnati and will conclude August 5 in Detroit, with Boston, New York and Pittsburgh stops in between. “I’m really excited for this tour, for the fans and as a fan of music myself. It’s gonna be trippy!” Khalifa said in a press release issued to MTV News. Miller added, “I’m excited to go on a tour like this because it brings a group of individuals together to move across the country as a unit to showcase great music.” Not only does the turn unite Pittsburgh’s two biggest rappers onstage, Wiz and Mac also will be bringing Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q of California’s TDE collective on the road with them. Add Taylor Gang’s Chevy Woods into the mix, and the Under the Influence of Music Tour boasts an exciting lineup of new hip-hop talent. The tour comes as Khalifa is prepping his sophomore album, O.N.I.F.C., which he plans to drop August 28. Tickets will ceremoniously go on sale on the stoner holiday of April 20 (Friday) at 4:20 p.m. on Ticketmaster and LiveNation. Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller’s Under the Influence Tour dates:
Grand Hustle CEO is dubbed a ‘model probationer’ by probation officer, and judge agrees. By Carter Maness T.I. Photo: Chris McKay/ Getty Images It appears the second time’s the charm for T.I. Released last fall after an 11-month sentence for violating probation on his 2009 gun conviction, the Atlanta rapper has been on such good behavior that a judge has approved an expanded out-of-state travel allowance for up to 12 days at a time. According to TMZ , the request, submitted by T.I.’s probation officer, details that the rapper has been a “model probationer” since he was released from an Atlanta halfway house last September. By following all guidelines and completing a required drug and alcohol counseling program, Tip has been granted more freedom to travel and do business in other states. The expanded freedoms come at a convenient time, as T.I. is nearing the release of his eighth full-length album, Trouble Man. “The album is about 75 percent done. We got a lot of hot, old-school, vintage T.I. records on there,” Tip told MTV News back in December while promoting his F— Da City Up mixtape. “We got those over-the-top crossover records as well, big features and whatnot that we plan on putting into play. I got one with Akon, did a few records with Rico Love. Man, I got records with just about everybody,” he said. “We just putting it together, we done did about 70 records.” Trouble Man will include features from T.I.’s ever-expanding Grand Hustle empire. In February, he made some new additions to his roster in the form of Australian rapper Iggy Azalea and British rapper Chip, plus a joint venture with Houston MC Trae Tha Truth and his ABN label. “We’re gonna work alongside each other for a common goal and release this Trae Tha Truth project,” T.I. said of the deal with Trae. “When cats [who are] cut from a certain cloth give their word and shake their hand, that’s what makes it a done deal — the ink is just a formality.” Related Artists T.I.
Cissy Houston Doesn’t Want Rihanna To Play Whitney Houston In Film Cissy Houston has made it pretty clear how she feels about the idea of Rihanna playing her daughter in a biopic… To put it mildly — she ain’t having it! WHITNEY HOUSTON’s still-grieving mother is furious after learning that RIHANNA might portray her tragic daughter in a feature film, sources tell The ENQUIRER. The 24-year-old R&B singer has referred to Whitney, who accidentally drowned in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel on Feb. 11, as one of her idols. She recently told an interviewer she would love to play Whitney on the big screen. But Whitney’s mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, 78, fumed when she heard Rihanna was gunning for the role. “Over my dead body!” declared the pop star granny, according to a source. “Cissy believes Rihanna celebrates everything she hated about Whitney’s life – the drugging, the boozing, the abusive relationship,” the source continued. As The ENQUIRER reported in January, Rihanna’s pals were urging her to check into rehab after last year’s hard-partying “Loud” tour was plagued with health issues and a trip to the hospital for what her reps said was “the flu.” “Cissy does not think Whitney should be represented by someone like Rihanna,” said the source. “In spite of what anyone thought about Whitney, she sees her as a God-fearing Christian who loved the Lord.” It seems like Cissy hasn’t fully accepted all of who Whitney was and that’s sad but considering that Rihanna hasn’t done much acting outside of “Battleship” we probably wouldn’t want her playing Whitney either. On another note, doesn’t this photo of RihRih’s bestie Melissa kinda remind you of Whitney — something about the wig… Source More On Bossip! Sorry Ye’: 10 Reasons Kim Kardashian Isn’t Even In Beyonce’s League You Can’t Be Serious: Kenya Bell Is Still Talkin’ Yang “I Didn’t Want To Hurt Evelyn On National Television” Freak Out! NFL Baller Jabar Gaffney Goes In On Ex-Wife, Rival Player He Wants To Beat Up And Taking YOUR Chick! What A Banger Looks Like?: Meet Cuban Triple Jumper “Yargelis Savigne” [Video]
From Bieber’s lovely locks to ScarJo’s used tissue, MTV News looks back at the most outrageous celebrity auctions so far. By John Mitchell One Direction’s Niall Horan Photo: Getty Images Wondering just how big One Direction madness has gotten? Well, a half-eaten piece of toast left by the British boy band’s Niall Horan on an Australian talk show has attracted almost $100,000 in online bids. That’s Justin Bieber big, y’all! Digital Spy reports the toast was put up for auction on eBay by the Australian broadcaster behind the morning program “Sunrise.” The One Direction guys visited the show yesterday and were asked to try some traditional Down Under cuisine, including the country’s famous Vegemite spread. Horan was not a big fan and did not finish his toast, so the broadcaster decided to let the leftovers benefit the Australian charity Youngcare. Bidding opened at $0.99, though a quick succession of bids saw the price of the — we repeat — half-eaten piece of toast rise to $1,000. Within a few hours the price had risen to $15,000, which is when a serious shopper stepped into the mix, putting forth a $50,000 bid. The same bidder continued to make outrageous offers on the toast as other astute 1D fans got in the game, first bidding $80,000, then $85,000, $90,000 and eventually $99,999. That price was matched, meaning that even if the bidder who drove the price up so high was a fraud, there is another person out there willing to pay nearly $100,000 for a piece of half-eaten toast. Curiously, this is not the first time people have gotten all worked up on eBay over curious celeb castoffs. In other toast-related news, during the heyday of ‘NSYNC, a Z-100 DJ auctioned off a piece of French toast that Justin Timberlake took one bite of for a reported $3,154. The toast was purchased by a 19-year-old fan, who reportedly said that she would “probably freeze-dry it, then seal it … then put it on my dresser.” Yep. Justin Bieber gave Ellen DeGeneres a lock of his hair during an appearance on her talk show last year and she decided to put the hair up for auction to benefit the Gentle Barn Foundation, a California-based animal rights organization. Bieber’s luscious locks drew 98 bids and collected $40,688 for the charity. That’s about the cost of tuition at Amherst College. Though it brought in much less cash, a tissue used by Scarlett Johansson on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” still managed to bring in $5,300 for the charity, USA Harvest and online casino GoldenPalace paid $530 for, ahem, “A jar containing air exhaled by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.” Oh, and for “one piece of gum chewed and spat out by the pop princess.” The princess: Britney Spears. The year: 2004. We call dibs on the half-drank bottle of water left by whichever Jonas Brother stops through next. How much would you pay for Niall Horan’s half-eaten toast? Let us know in the comment below! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: One Direction Related Photos One Direction Light Up The ‘Today’ Show Related Artists One Direction
Pop star halts Australian interview when she’s asked about her personal life. By Kara Warner Rihanna Photo: Jon Furniss/ WireImage If there’s one thing to admire about Rihanna , it’s the way she speaks her mind on sensitive issues. But during a recent interview with a reporter from the Australian talk show “Sunrise,” RiRi apparently didn’t appreciate the line of questioning and abruptly ended their chat. Because Rihanna was in Australia to promote her upcoming movie “Battleship,” the conversation began with a discussion about her future in films and whether she’ll put her singing career on the back burner in favor of film. “I don’t see why I can’t do both,” she said. “If I love both, then I’ll do great at both. I love music, and after my first experience with movies, I can’t wait to do more.” One of those potential future films is tackling the coveted role of the late great Whitney Houston in an upcoming biopic , which Rihanna said would be a very emotional experience. “She’s been someone that I’ve looked up to for so long,” she said. “Her music is something that I’ve been very close to, so I guess it would be fulfilling as well as … a lot of pressure.” At this point in the interview the reporter brought up Rihanna’s public persona and the pressures and frustrations associated with having all your day-to-day activities reported in the news — specifically when tabloids and gossip websites speculate about Rihanna’s love life and link her to other celebs, like Ashton Kutcher . “[It’s] very frustrating,” Rihanna said, looking annoyed. “Almost as frustrating as being asked about it.” “Yeah, you don’t like going there?” the reporter asked in a diplomatic way. “I mean, what’s the point?” Rihanna responded. “Well people are interested in you, you’re a big star,” the reporter added. “They are. And they’re interested in a lot of things — a lot of things that don’t matter,” said a visibly irritated Rihanna. “Or shouldn’t.” The reporter added in voice-over at the end of the piece that the interview abruptly ended after Rihanna’s last comment. This isn’t the first time the topic of Rihanna’s love life has halted an interview. Last month in London, Rihanna chastised a reporter at a press conference for bringing up the Ashton rumors . “Wow, how disappointing was that question?” she asked in response. “I’m happy and I’m single, if that’s what you’re really asking.” What do you think about Rihanna’s reaction to the personal line of questioning? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Rihanna
Daniel Radcliffe, Robert Pattinson and Florence Welch also on Sunday Times Rich List. By Gil Kaufman Adele Photo: Getty Images He’s the star of one of the biggest movie franchises in history and she’s the best-selling musician of the past year. Together “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe and Adele top the Sunday Times Rich List of England’s youngest stars. Just how big a year did Adele, 23, have thanks to the global smash success of her 21 album? Consider that in 2012 her fortune has risen to more than $31.8 million from $9.5 million just a year before, according to the list, which will be published at month’s end. She placed well ahead of Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole, whose fortune was estimated at $19.1 million on the list of the richest British musicians under 30. Among the other notable music makers on the list were Florence and the Machine singer Florence Welch, whose worth rose to more than $11.1 million, Taio Cruz ($7.9 million) and a new entry on the chart in a 10-way tie for 14th place, Adele’s former BRIT School mate Jessie J ($7.9 million). The top 10 was dominated by women, with only two fellas, Craig David (#6, $12.7 million) and Paolo Nutini (#6, $12.7 million) making the cut among top earning ladies Leona Lewis, Katie Melua, Joss Stone, Charlotte Church, Lily Allen, Natasha Bedingfield and Duffy. On the acting side, “Potter” star Radcliffe is still far-and-away the richest British actor under 30, with a fortune estimated at $86.1 million, up from $76.6 million last year. Well behind is “Twilight” actor Robert Pattinson (#2, $63.6 million), Keira Knightley (#3, $47.7 million) and, in fifth place, “Potter” co-star Emma Watson ($41.4 million). Yet another “Potter” alum, Rupert Grint, landed in the #6 position with a war chest of $38.2 million. Related Artists Adele
Police close their investigation into the singer’s death after concluding it was accidental. By Gil Kaufman Whitney Houston Photo: 20th Century Fox/Getty Images Police investigators have concluded their probe into the death of Whitney Houston and concluded that she died of accidental drowning. According to CNN , the probe by the Beverly Hills Police Department was officially closed after investigator found “no evidence of foul play.” In a statement from the department, police said, “Based on the findings of our investigation and our review of the coroner’s report, we have determined that this is not a criminal matter.” The Los Angeles County coroner released its autopsy report last week in which it determined that Houston’s February 11 death was an accidental drowning with the “effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use” as contributing factors. The conclusion of the police investigation was followed by the release of the 911 emergency call about the incident, in which a hotel security officer told the 911 operator that the woman who called for help from Houston’s room was “irate and pretty much out of it.” The security officer did not identify Houston as in the call. “I need paramedics, apparently I’ve got a 46-year-old female, found in the bathroom,” he told the 911 operator. “That’s all I’ve got right now, but they’re requesting paramedics.” The autopsy report said that Houston’s assistant found the singer, who is actually 48 years old, face down in a bathtub of “extremely hot water.” “I’m not sure if she fell, or if she was in the bathroom with the water,” the security officer said in the call, adding, “apparently she wasn’t breathing.” When asked if the guard could get the 911 operator into the room to give CPR instructions, the security officer said “no, because she [the woman who called from Houston’s room] kept hanging up on us.” The coroner’s report did not detail exactly what happened to cause Houston’s death, but addiction medicine specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky told CNN he had a theory. Pinsky examined the autopsy report and suggested that Houston might have suffered a seizure brought on by the use of cocaine, possibly combined with a withdrawal from alcohol and a prescription sedative. Police did find an empty bottle of the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in Houston’s room, as well as empty beer bottles, but alcohol was not detected in her body and the level of the sedative in her blood was low. “To me, a sudden drop-off in the Xanax level, a drop-off in your alcohol consumption, add cocaine, that’s a recipe for a seizure,” Pinsky said. “Somebody who’s now upside down in a bathtub could easily seize and drown.” Related Videos Whitney Houston: Life And Music Of An Icon Related Photos Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos Related Artists Whitney Houston
