Today’s edition of the Today mill focuses on Ann Curry and her alleged reaction to reports that Matt Lauer may be fired from the struggling show. If you assumed Curry would be laughing all the way to the bank with her severance check, think again. She’s more upset with NBC than anything. While plenty pissed at her former co-host – who she wishes would just shut up – Curry places the blame on NBC for empowering Lauer in the first place. According to reports, the powers that be have allowed him to become a diva, when they should’ve limited his power and kept him focused on journalism. “Ann should be crowing from the rooftops about Matt’s contract not being renewed, but that’s just not who she is,” a source close to Curry says. “Remember, Ann herself was blamed last year for the show losing ratings to Good Morning America … they fired her and the situation didn’t improve!! “There’s a real culture of passing the buck and looking for a scapegoat at Today and it seems that it’s Matt’s turn now to be thrown under the bus.” “She doesn’t blame him for her firing, but Ann feels Matt was afforded way too much power and input when it came to programming decisions.” “At the end of the day he’s just a journalist.” “The line between journalist and executive producer was clouded and Ann thinks the network bosses have no one to blame for the slide but themselves.” Ratings were slipping before Ann Curry’s firing , but the bad PR from that only made things worse, damaging Lauer’s reputation and increasing GMA ‘s lead.
World Series of Poker champ Greg Raymer, a.k.a. Fossilman, was arrested in Wake Forest, N.C., after allegedly trying to solicit a prostitute – online. Fossilman got popped at a hotel on Wednesday. Raymer, 48, was reportedly one of six men who responded to an advertisement posted by an undercover officer on a website frequented by prostitutes. He has since been released on $1,000 bond. As famous for his lizard-eye hologram sunglasses – worn indoors – as for his 2004 WSP title, Raymer has made millions playing poker and is married. Officials say the prostitute(s) involved were female, contrary to initial reports that claimed Raymer and the other men had solicited male escorts.
World Series of Poker champ Greg Raymer, a.k.a. Fossilman, was arrested in Wake Forest, N.C., after allegedly trying to solicit a prostitute – online. Fossilman got popped at a hotel on Wednesday. Raymer, 48, was reportedly one of six men who responded to an advertisement posted by an undercover officer on a website frequented by prostitutes. He has since been released on $1,000 bond. As famous for his lizard-eye hologram sunglasses – worn indoors – as for his 2004 WSP title, Raymer has made millions playing poker and is married. Officials say the prostitute(s) involved were female, contrary to initial reports that claimed Raymer and the other men had solicited male escorts.
Still so sad…. Derrick Rose Offers To Pay For Funeral Of Slain Chicago Infant Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose has reached out to the family of the 6-month old baby girl who was tragically shot to death in Chicago on Monday and offered to cover the cost of her funeral. Rose, who has a 4-month-old newborn baby boy himself [pictured above], also took to his Twitter express his condolences and love for his city following the horrific shooting news. via Inquisitor Defending Chicago Bulls MVP Derrick Rosehas reportedly offered to pay for the funeral of Jonylah Watkins, the 6-month-old baby who was tragically shot to death on the south side of the city on Monday. The Inquisitr reported earlier that an unidentified man walked up to a minivan on Monday and fired several shots in the window. Jonathan Watkins, who was the target of the shooting, was changing Jonylah Watkins’ diaper at the time. The little girl was shot five times. Watkins was also hit but he managed to survive the shooting. Rev. Corey Brooks, acting as a spokesman for Jonylah Watkins’ family, said: “He is giving them the information that they are asking for … He is answering every question.” Brooks also said that the family won’t have to worry about funeral costs as Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose has offered to take care of the funeral costs. This is such a horribly sad story. We continue to keep this family in our thoughts and prayers.
How much punishment is enough punishment for using a racial slur ? NASCAR is allowing Jeremy Clements to return to the track after some counseling following use of a racial slur in an interview. He wasn’t referring to blacks when he said the n-word and he’s since paid a fine and taken sensitivity training. So is it time to forgive him his indiscretion? Via Latinos Post : Two weeks after being suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for using an inappropriate slur during an interview at Daytona, Jeremy Clements has been reinstated to race again. Clements, a Nationwide Series driver, was reinstated on Wednesday, NASCAR officials announced, roughly two weeks after he was suspended for what NASCAR says was Clements’ use of the “n-word” during a Feb. 23 interview with MTV blogger Marty Beckerman during the weekend of the Daytona 500. After taking several racial insensitivity counseling sessions, NASCAR has agreed to reactivate Clements, but will keep him on probation until September. “As part of the requirements for reinstatement, Jeremy Clements participated in an individualized program with Dr. Richard Lapchick and his staff at the National Consortium for Academics and Sports,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations in an official statement on NASCAR’s website. “In Dr. Lapchick and his staff’s judgment, Jeremy has successfully completed the program. We’re pleased that Jeremy has taken these important steps and will return to racing starting this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.” The suspension cost Clements $2,400 to take the classes and he missed out on two races at Phoenix and Las Vegas. In an interview with ESPN, Clements, 28, said that this period was a tough time for him, but he had learned a lot from the experience and about using certain words in a racial context. “I learned a great deal about that and myself, how it affects everything that has to do with family, friends, church, sponsors and the team. I’m excited to be back in the race car. Nothing like that will ever happen again,” he said. The comment drew attention at a time where NASCAR has been blossoming outwards in diversity with the rise of female race car star Danica Patrick and the arrival of African-American driver Darrell Wallace Jr. as a full-time Truck Series participant. “We want as many different fans as we can get,” Clements said. “We want a diverse set of fans and people to be in the sport. I definitely don’t want people turned away from [NASCAR] just because that word was used one time. Based on the original account of the incident, Clements used the word to refer to a “racing term” and not in regards to any specific person or race of people. Via ESPN : “He [Clements] walked us toward where she was, and on the way over, I explained to him that ‘Guy Code’ [the name of an MTV blog] is rules for guys, how you treat your friends, how you treat your ladies, things like that. I was there to do a humor piece, so I asked him what would be ‘Guy Code’ for race car drivers, and he blurted out [a phrase that used the N-word].” Should that matter? NASCAR
As the College of Cardinals decides on who will be the next Pope , one layman is determined to meet His Holiness and chart a global course for peace and prosperity. Fresh off his “basketball diplomacy” trip to North Korea, NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman is en route to Vatican City with hopes of meeting the new pontiff. On Tuesday, Rodman was en route to Rome with the goal of meeting the Catholic Church’s next leader, with the conclave underway inside the Sistine Chapel. While it may be some time before white smoke billows out of the chapel’s chimney signaling the election of a new pope, Rodman is excited about it. He said his recent meeting with reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would prove he was worthy of at least a meeting with the pontiff-elect. “I want to be anywhere in the world that I’m needed,” Rodman told TMZ. “I want to spread a message of peace and love throughout the world.” The former Chicago Bulls star said his “people” were in contact with the powers that be to arrange a meeting with the successor to Pope Benedict XVI . ”He wants Obama to do one thing: Call him,” Rodman told ABC’s This Week . Claiming that he broke barriers in North Korea that no one else could, Rodman said he could also be the man to help craft plan of peace for the new pontiff. Here’s hoping?
This small set meets our needs perfectly. It was purchased to replace our trusty 5 in BW analog at the time of the digital conversion. We use this set only in the bathroom in the morning to watch news and sports while getting ready for work, so we are not with concerned with receiving scores of channels. It took about 9 days to arrive using the free shipping option. The set was well packaged and unlikely to be damaged with routine handling. Setup was a breeze following stepwise instructions (wit
Pictures Of James Harden’s New Girlfriend James Harden may have finally gotten tired of spending his game checks at Onyx long enough to find himself a boo thang. The lady in question is none other than Claudia Nelson, urban model and former cover girl. And like most model types booed up with athletes, she took to Instagram to share the news as soon as she could. So who is this dime? Well, take a look cuz we got pics!
A drive-by shooting in front of a crime-ridden apartment complex in Washington D.C. this morning left 13 people injured , the youngest of who was 17 years old. Detectives are looking for information on two vehicles seen around Tyler House – which is located on North Capitol Street/New York Avenue – around 2:10 a.m. The eight-story, subsidized building has been the scene of many crimes over the years. Fortunately, this time around, none of the wounded are in critical danger. D.C. police chief Cathy L. Lanier says no motive has been determined yet, though Fur Nightclub (located a block away) has been the source of numerous recent complains, with patrons gathering in front of Tyler House after the establishment closes for the evening. “A whole lot of people with cash in their pockets come out onto the street, and the guys from Tyler House are waiting for them,” says Commander Andy Solberg. That’s when you get the holdups and that’s the source of the shootings in the neighborhood.”
In a stunning move that has left teammates shocked and angry, the Baltimore Ravens have traded All-Pro wide receiver Anquan Boldin to their 2013 Super Bowl opponents. In exchange, Baltimore will receive a sixth round draft pick… and… wait… THAT’S IT?!? Boldin is coming off an impressive postseason, catching 22 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns in four games. But the Ravens had reportedly asked the receiver to rework his contract and, upon his refusal, they will save $5.5 million in salary cap room with this trade. Not that it’s any comfort to Torrey Smith. The wideout took to Twitter in response this afternoon and wrote: “This business is BS at times.”
