Really? At the memorial service though??? Speaking at the memorial service for Joe Paterno, Nike chairman Phil Knight on Thursday called the former Penn State football coach a hero and defended Paterno’s actions after being told of alleged sexual abuse by former assistant Jerry Sandusky. “If there’s a villain in this tragedy. It lies in that investigation, not in Joe Paterno’s response to it,” Knight said. Paterno, who in 2002 passed along the allegation to his superiors, died Sunday at age 85. The Bryce Jordan Center crowd gave Knight, who rarely gives interviews, several ovations. For those that don’t know, Phil Knight and Joe Paterno were very good friends, so we get that he wanted to rep for his dead homie. However, the memorial service seems like the wrong place to campaign for his innocence. Let the man rest and in peace and leave the boy-boinking out of the convo! The crowd seemed to like it though, it was provocative, it got the people going #JoePaInParis…SMH Source More On Bossip! Twit Pic Of The Day: Rihanna Gets “Thug Life” Tattoo On Her Knuckles And Sends More Subliminal Tweets About Breezy Since You Love The Smut So Much: A Gallery Of Non-Black Ethnic X-Rated Bangers…Would You Wife Any? For The Stans: Beyonce Working Hard To Get That Pre-Blue Ivy Baawwwdy Back [Photos] Can You Spell That? Celebrity Kid Names That Are Way Weirder Than Blue Ivy Carter
James Farentino, a veteran TV actor whose career was marred by personal problems later in life, has passed away, according to the L.A. Times . He was 73. Farentino, who notched nearly 100 TV roles including recurring roles in series such as Police Story, Dynasty and Melrose Place , was married four times. He played George Clooney’s estranged father on ER , and was also known for a turbulent relationship with Frank Sinatra’s youngest daughter, Tina Sinatra. After a five-year, on-and-off relationship with Tina Sinatra, Farentino in 1994 pleaded no contest to stalking her after being charged with 24 misdemeanor counts of stalking. Sentenced to 36 months’ probation plus psychological and alcohol counseling, Farentino believed that some in the industry treated him differently after the incident. Farentino died Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after a long illness. He is survived by his fourth wife, Stella, whom he married in 1994, and sons David and Saverio.
We reported earlier that Joe Paterno was in critical condition but as of the past hour, his health took a significant decline. Unfortunately, his death has just been reported: A family spokesperson confirmed to the Associated Press that Joseph Vincent Paterno has died at a State College hospital at the age of 85, just over two months after being diagnosed with a form of lung cancer. A posting to Penn State’s official Facebook page read simply: “With great sadness we mourn the passing of Coach Joe Paterno…Few have done more.” Paterno passed away at 9:25 a.m. ET Sunday, and the official cause of death was metastic small cell carcinoma of the lung. The legendary former Penn State head coach was surrounded by family and friends, who had been summoned to the on-campus hospital when Paterno’s health took a turn for the worse recently. “It is with great sadness that we announce that Joe Paterno passed away earlier today,” a statement from the family read. ”His loss leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled. He died as he lived. He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been. His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community.” Very sad news, what legacy do you think Joe Pa will leave? Source
Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, the all-time Division I leader in wins, and who resigned amid the university’s child molestation scandal just months ago, is reportedly near death due to complications from lung cancer. On Saturday, as friends and family were being summoned to State College, Pa., Hospital, a family spokesman said the coach had taken a turn for the worse. Penn State student website Onward State reported that PSU team members were notified of Paterno’s passing via email. However, a Paterno family spokesperson denied the report and his son tweeted that his father “continues to fight.” Known for his “success with honor” motto, thick glasses, rolled-up pants and black cleats, Paterno left an indelible mark on Penn State and college football in general. Joe, 85, has five children with wife Sue and 17 grandchidlren. A Brooklyn native and Brown University graduate, Paterno began coaching the Nittany Lions in 1966 and his tenure stretched to October of this year. In his 46 years as head coach, Paterno holds the all-time Division I record for football coaching wins with a 409-136-3 record and two national titles. After a highly celebrated career and iconic status, Paterno’s career as coach ended as a result of a scandal involving former assistant Jerry Sandusky . Sandusky allegedly sexually assaulted young boys, including a 10-year-old. Paterno was fired over his handling (or lack of handling) of the scandal. Announcing his retirement, he said, “This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.” “I’m sick about it. I didn’t know exactly how to handle it, and I was afraid to do something that might jeopardize what the university procedure was.” “So I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn’t work out that way.” In November, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and his health rapidly deteriorated. Though the scandal sullied Paterno’s image in his final days, the coach enjoyed decades of success and reverence on the campus he and his wife helped build. That’s not likely to change anytime soon.
It’s a sad state of affairs in Africa Nigeria imposed a 24-hour curfew Saturday in the northern city of Kano after assailants killed scores of people and wounded others in a hail of gunfire and coordinated bombings of eight government sites. A military official told CNN that at least 156 people were dead and feared the number would rise. “The hospitals are not equipped to deal with the influx and severity of the injuries, so we are expecting that figure to go up further,” the official said. Nwankpa Nwankpa, a Red Cross information officer in the capital, Abuja, said 50 people were injured in the attacks. He said that search and rescue operations are underway and volunteers are working to assist the injured. The attacks targeted several police stations, barracks and the building housing the assistant inspector general of police in Kano, Nigeria’s second largest city. A passport office, state security headquarters and the immigration office were also hit, police said. This probably will not bode well for Nigeria’s foreign relations as an militant Islamic group has proudly taken responsibility for the death’s of the countries citizens. Islamist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the blast in a phone call to the Daily Trust, according to journalists at the newspaper. Nigeria closed its borders Saturday with Cameroon and Niger, whom it has accused of allowing the militants to move freely into Nigeria. …In December, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in four northern states. The declaration followed a series of Christmas Day attacks on Christian churches blamed on the Boko Haram group. The man suspected of masterminding those attacks, named Kabiru Sokoto, was briefly captured this week before escaping police custody while being transferred to another prison. Several police officers and the local commissioner are under investigation over his escape. A 50 million naira ($307,000) reward was also offered by police Thursday for any information leading to Sokoto’s re-arrest. R.I.P. to those who perished in this tragedy Source More On Bossip! Twit Pics Of The Day: Rihanna Toots That Thang Up In A White Bikini And Invites Khloe Kardashian To Come “Tap That” [Photos] Reading Is Fun-damental: 10 Of Hottest “Hood Classic” Books And Their Authors Must Be The Shoes: The Hottest Women In The World Wearing Killer Heels…And Not Much Else Black And Missing: Lost People And Faces That Mainstream Media Have Not Been Looking For [Photos/Info]
At last…Beyonce speaks According to TMZ reports : Beyonce Knowles — who played Etta James in “Cadillac Records” — has released a statement on the singer’s death … praising James as “one of the greatest vocalists of our time.” James infamously slammed Beyonce in 2009 after Knowles sang “At Last” at Obama’s inauguration .. when Etta said, “That woman he had singing for him, singing my song … she’s going to get her ass whipped.” But Beyonce was gracious … adding in today’s statement, “I am so fortunate to have met such a queen. Her musical contributions will last a lifetime.” She continued, “Playing Etta James taught me so much about myself, and singing her music inspired me to be a stronger artist. When she effortlessly opened her mouth, you could hear her pain and triumph. Her deeply emotional way of delivering a song told her story with no filter. She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed.” R.I.P. Ms. James Hey Bey-Bey, bring out dat baby! Flip the page to peep a gallery of pics of Bey and Etta James together
Sarah Burke, a four-time X-Games champion, has passed away from injuries sustained during a training run last week. She was 29. The Canadian crashed in Park City, Utah on January 10 and, according to reports, fell into cardiac arrest soon after. She was airlifted to a hospital and underwent surgery to repair a tear in a significant artery before being placed in a medically-induced coma on life support. But it was all too much and Burke lost her battle earlier today due to a lack of oxygen to her brain, doctors said. She was surrounded by family and friends when she died and donated her organs and tissues. Sarah is survived her husband of two years, skier Rory Bushfield. “Sarah, in many ways, defines the sport,” said Peter Judge, the CEO of Canada’s freestyle team, prior to her death. “She’s been involved since the very, very early days as one of the first people to bring skis into the pipe. She’s also been very dedicated in trying to define her sport but not define herself by winning. For her, it’s been about making herself the best she can be rather than comparing herself to other people.”
That “Chicken Of The Sea” captain Francesco Schettino needs to be really afraid now! A young Moldovan woman was invited onto the bridge of the ill-fated Italian cruise ship that hit a reef and capsized and Italian authorities are now interesting in questioning her regarding that happened the night of the crash. Speculation swirled around the mysterious blond woman – variously described as a ballerina, a ship employee and an undocumented passenger – reportedly seen with the captain of the Costa Concordia shortly before the 17-deck vessel became impaled Friday on a rock off the Italian coast and pitched on its side. Domnica Cemortan, 25, who has dual Moldovan and Romanian citizenship, staunchly defended the actions of 52-year-old Capt. Francesco Schettino, saying he saved lives. London’s Daily Telegraph reported today that she was the guest of one of the ship’s officers and may be the woman that passengers saw drinking and chatting with Schettino a few hours before the Costa Concordia ran aground. Italian authorities, who are investigating the accident and the captain’s conduct, want to interview Cemortan, who according to her Facebook page was born in Chisinau, Moldova, and lives in Romania. The woman’s name was missing from the list of passengers and crew, but Costa Crociere, owners of the boat, said it could provide her ticket number. Cemortan had worked for Costa Cruises, but was thought to be taking a “holiday” on the ill-fated ship. London’s Daily Mail said she was a passenger representative. Italian media speculated Cemortan might have been a special guest of the captain, who is now under house arrest near Naples pending possible charges of multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship. Cemortan said she was dining with friends at the time of the disaster and denied Schettino was also having drinks on deck. The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported investigators were focusing on a series of telephone calls made from the liner after it hit rocks last Friday night off the island of Giglio and before an evacuation was ordered almost an hour later. Corriere della Sera said the investigators were trying to determine if company bosses were trying to avoid the “economic consequences” of an evacuation, which would entail an automatic compensation payment of $38.8 million for the 3,000 passengers aboard. Meanwhile, divers and salvage teams, who resumed their search of the ship after it was suspended Wednesday when the vessel slipped and moved, raced against time to recover bodies and siphon fuel amid forecasts of worsening weather, Sky News reported. “I’m not calm at all,” Environment Minister Corrado Clini said Thursday, according to ANSA news service. “Our time is very limited. We are running the risk of the ship moving, being damaged or the fuel tanks breaking.” The boat, which had just begun its Mediterranean cruise, carried some 230,000 tons of fuel that threatened to leak into the waters off Giglio, a marine sanctuary and popular holiday spot. At least 11 are known dead in the disaster, with more than 20 others still missing. Clini said operations to empty the ship’s fuel reserves would begin only once all the missing were accounted for, ANSA said. Costa Crociere confirmed it would give refunds to all passengers who were onboard and cover any expenses they incurred in the aftermath of the disaster. But the company angered many survivors when one of its executives accused passengers of “sensationalism” in their accounts of the disaster. “I have read, seen and heard so much nonsense from these survivors, who tended as usual to choose sensationalism rather than information,” Costa Crociere assistant director Monica Bova wrote in a letter posted on the Il Secolo website. Seems like ALL these muhfuggas affiliated with that ship are some a$$holes. They really ought to be ashamed. SMH. Source More On Bossip! Get Your Life Together: 10 Classic Junk Food Snacks That Will Turn You Into A Paula Deen Chubby-Lumpkins Visitation Hours: Famous Dads That Are Always With Their Kids Even Though It Didn’t Work Out With Mommy X-Rated Bangers: The Hottest Black Adult Movie Stars In The Biz…Would You Wife Any Of Them? Part 3! Beautifully Coupled Up: Look At This Atlanta Falcons Player And His Boo’s Engagement Pics
In case you forgot, the reason why most of you are off tomorrow is that today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Had his life not been cut short on April 4, 1968, Dr. King would have been 83 today. But he once said that his number of years were not what mattered: “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land.” And if you are a person of color living in America, there is no denying that Dr. King played a great role to getting you to your “promised land.” Hit the flip and check out a few of our favorite photos of Dr. King over the years and ten facts you may not have know about him.
Well this is quite interesting: A U.S. District Court judge has rejected a challenge to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — filled when the Department of Justice barred the city of Kinston, N.C. from holding nonpartisan elections — reasoning that lack of access to party affiliation would discriminate against minority voters who otherwise wouldn’t know how to find Democratic candidates on a ballot. The challenge was initiated after the Justice Department rejected a 2008 referendum vote in which the city of Kinston voted to stop listing candidates’ party affiliations on ballots. Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department must approve changes to election law in regions with a history, however distant, of racial discrimination. The Justice Department prevented the 2008 referendum change, arguing in part that “the elimination of party affiliation on the ballot will likely reduce the ability of blacks to elect candidates of choice.” In other words, they are saying that if the parties are eliminated black people won’t know who to vote for…SMH. Discuss.. Source
