When keepin’ it “real” goes wrong… ESPN Will Not Renew Rob Parker’s Comments Via ESPN ESPN will not renew its contract with commentator Rob Parker, who was suspended last month following remarks he made on “First Take” in which he questioned Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III’s “blackness.” “Rob Parker’s contract expired at year’s end. Evaluating our needs and his work, including his recent RG III comments, we decided not to renew his deal,” an ESPN spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday. During a Dec. 13 episode of “First Take” on ESPN2, Parker was discussing Griffin’s answer to a question about Griffin’s role as an African-American quarterback. In questioning Griffin’s “blackness,” Parker cited that Griffin has a white fiancée and is rumored to be Republican. Among his comments, Parker, who is black, said: “Is he a brother or a cornball brother?” Parker later issued an apology on his Twitter account. A day later, on Dec. 20, ESPN announced he was suspended for 30 days. Smooth move Rob, apparently ESPN would rather you and your ugly suits stay away from their airwaves before you embarrass them any further, sayonara sucka. Image via ESPN
The University of Texas women’s track coach who resigned recently has spoken out about the incident, and she’s not very happy. In her words she felt “ratted out” or discriminated against because she’s a black disabled woman. According to CNN: The University of Texas women’s track coach who resigned under fire after the disclosure of an affair with a female student a decade ago doesn’t understand why she was targeted for punishment and questions whether she’s being treated fairly. “Is it because I have a disability? Is it because I’m black? Is it because I’m female? Is it because I’m successful? Is it now because of my sexual preference?” Coach Bev Kearney asked on CNN’s “Starting Point” Tuesday. “I had to finally come to embrace not knowing why, and I had to embrace it because the more you try to figure out why, the harder it is to forgive.” A head coach at Texas since 1993, Kearney is held in great esteem in the track world. She led the Longhorns to six national titles and was inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007. She is widely admired for her gritty resolve to walk again after she was partially paralyzed in an auto accident. But things turned south for Kearney last year when the university learned of an affair in 2002 with a female student. The revelation came at just about the same time Kearney was discussing a pay raise and a contract extension. When asked by CNN’s Soledad O’Brien whether people around her and maybe even her former lover, a one-time student, now age 30, “ratted her out,” Kearney said, “that’s fair.” The affair began in August 2002, which is not long after the university put a policy into its handbook about consensual relationships between staff members and students. Kearney said she never really thought about the relationship from a legal perspective. “You know, you get caught up in the emotional and the physical components of a relationship, and the last thing you’re doing is thinking rationally,” she said. In an e-mail to CNN on Sunday, Patti Ohlendorf, head of the university’s legal affairs department, said: “In Intercollegiate Athletics and the coaching profession, it is unprofessional and unacceptable for a head coach to carry on an intimate relationship with a student-athlete that he or she is coaching. We told Coach Kearney and Mr. Howard that such a relationship crosses the line of trust placed in the head coach for all aspects of the athletic program and the best interests of the student-athletes in the program.” Ohlendorf denied Sunday that gender played a role in the university’s review and said she knows of no other “UT head coach who has entered into such a relationship with a student-athlete on his or her team.” Kearney said “everyone should deserve an opportunity to have fair treatment based upon your policies, whether something is morally acceptable to an individual or not, our law says it’s about the application of the law, and then at some point, there ought to be some form of consideration for that person’s past history, they didn’t find a prior relationship or a subsequent relationship.” Thoughts?? Watch the video of Coach Kearney’s response below:
Kobe Bryant talking ish?? You don’t say! According to NYDailyNews: Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant just can’t get along, and there’s a team in Brooklyn that might be waiting to pick up the pieces. A league source told the Daily News that the Lakers stars got into a heated exchange following a New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, and Bryant went for a low blow – referencing and agreeing with Shaquille O’Neal’s criticisms of Howard being soft. Howard was restrained from going at his teammate, according to the source, and there have been rumblings from the center’s camp that he’s been unhappy with Bryant since earlier in the season. Three days after the altercation, following a disheartening loss to the Clippers, Howard complained about the lack of chemistry on the Lakers. It was a comment seemingly directed at Bryant, who is averaging a league-high 22 shots despite playing with three potential Hall of Famers. The Mike D’Antoni-coached Lakers fell to 15-18 after losing at home to the Denver Nuggets, 112-105, Sunday night despite Howard’s 26 rebounds. Bryant led L.A. with 29 points but took 26 shots. “Look at the difference between our team and (the Clippers),” Howard said. “They just play together. They share the ball. Everybody’s excited when something happens.” Howard again hinted at the disconnect on Saturday. There were always concerns over whether Bryant, a no-nonsense veteran, and Howard, a playful man-child, could co-exist. “(Chemistry) is something we have to do to get better,” Howard told reporters in L.A. “We have to play like we like each other. Even if we don’t want to be friends off the court, whatever that may be, when we step in between the lines or we step in the locker room or the gym, we have to respect each other and what we bring to the table.” Howard, a pending free agent, has not committed to Los Angeles beyond this season. Sounds like it’s on to the next team for Dwight after this season. This is sounding like that Shaq-Kobe beef from before. SMH.
My daughter opening her Justin Bieber tickets for Indianapolis, July 10, 2013 on Christmas morning http://www.youtube.com/v/FSbtpqJcM5E?version=3&f=videos&app=youtube_gdata Originally posted here: Unwrapping Justin Bieber Tickets Christmas Morning
GTFOHWTBS! Wall Street wins…again. We knew politicians were shady as hell but, to throw in perks for banks like Morgan Stanely, that have already been bailed out by US already, is just a cotdayum slap in the face! And according to The Huffington Post , there’s a loooong azz list of other tax breaks for that 1% that we couldn’t even try to pull with Uncle Sam: The 11th-hour deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff preserved billions of dollars in corporate tax giveaways even as it slashed take-home pay for millions of American workers. Tucked inside the last-minute fiscal cliff package were more than a dozen tax loopholes, many of which will benefit Wall Street financial firms and some of the nation’s biggest corporations. These breaks will cost hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming year, underscoring the lobbying power of corporate interests. The deal was less kind to the middle class. Congress permitted a cut in the payroll tax to expire, meaning that the tax burden for the average worker will increase about $1,000 in 2013. “This shows that the lobbyists are able to get what they want even when everyone else is starving,” said Phineas Baxandall, senior analyst for tax and budget policy at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. “It also shows they are best able to get what they want when no one else is paying attention.” The corporate loopholes were part of a package of so-called tax extenders tacked onto the main bill. The extenders package, first approved by the Senate in early August, mixes popular benefits, like a deduction for teachers who buy classroom supplies, with corporate-friendly carve-outs, such as the “active financing” exception that permits businesses earning interest on overseas lending to defer U.S. taxes on that income indefinitely. There is even a tax break for construction of new racetracks. The tax extenders were passed for only one year, and they still need to clear another potential hurdle: upcoming negotiations over mandated spending cuts and the debt ceiling. President Barack Obama and congressional leaders have indicated they’d like to see a “grand bargain” on taxes, which would feature lower overall rates but close a slew of loopholes. The financial services industry, whose leaders had earlier joined a group of other corporate executives pushing for a “fair” solution to the fiscal crisis, is one of the primary beneficiaries of special-interest tax breaks. The active-financing exception, for example, permits banks like Morgan Stanley to avoid the 35 percent U.S. corporate tax rate on interest income from money lent overseas. A handful of other U.S.-based multinational companies with financing arms, such as Ford Motor Co. and General Electric, also use that exemption to lower their tax bills. The two-year cost to taxpayers is an estimated $11.2 billion, according to the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. U.S. financial institutions argue that the active-financing exemption is necessary for them to compete in overseas markets with foreign banks that carry a lower tax burden. The loophole was repealed in the Tax Reform Act of 1986, but was reinstated in 1997 as a temporary measure after fierce lobbying by multinational corporations. According to Citizens for Tax Justice, the financial services industry paid an average effective tax rate of 15.5 percent from 2008 to 2010, far lower than that of most other industries. As part of the fiscal cliff deal, Congress also extended another little-known tax break that benefits large multinationals selling products through overseas affiliates. This “pass-through” exemption permits a U.S.-based company to set up a new corporation in a tax haven like the Cayman Islands and sell it a patent owned by the U.S. parent company. Royalties on overseas licensing of that patent would then route to the tax-sheltered firm, instead of the U.S. parent company. The Joint Committee on Taxation says the two-year cost of extending this shelter is $1.5 billion. One of the more unusual tax benefits in the fiscal cliff legislation is a longstanding carve-out for racetracks used by NASCAR. Since 2004, Congress has passed a series of stopgap measures that allow owners of motorsports complexes to accelerate their depreciation expenses. This means that owners can deduct more in expenses, reducing the taxes they must pay. Track owners and NASCAR together have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying for the tax benefit over the past five years, according to lobbying disclosure forms. The International Speedway Corp., which owns and manages NASCAR race tracks, has spent more than $1.1 million lobbying Congress since 2008. Over the same period, NASCAR spent more than $300,000 on lobbying efforts, which included a push to “make permanent the depreciation classification.” Supporters in Congress and industry groups have argued that the tax break is necessary to “maintain the current standard expected by our competitors and fans.” According to estimates by the Joint Committee on Taxation, the so-called NASCAR loophole will cost taxpayers $46 million this year and an additional $95 million through 2017. A spokesman for the International Speedway Corp., Charles Talbert, said the industry is simply seeking to preserve a tax designation it has relied on for years. He said in an email that racetracks had always used the accelerated depreciation schedule, but Congress had specifically written it into law after the Internal Revenue Service argued that it was improper in the early 2000s. Though Congress was willing to sign off on all these business-friendly goodies, legislative leaders couldn’t muster enthusiasm for extending the payroll tax holiday, which had cost the federal government $120 billion each year in lost revenue. As a result, a worker who earns $50,000 a year will now pay at least $80 per month in taxes. The payroll tax increase will affect as many as 160 million people. These bullsh*t excuses corporations can throw around in order to get a tax break are inexcusable. The Senate, Congress, and The Pres should all be ashamed of themselves. Images via tumblr
This guy isn’t scared of nothin’! Via Politico … House Speaker John Boehner couldn’t hold back when he spotted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the White House lobby last Friday. It was only a few days before the nation would go over the fiscal cliff, no bipartisan agreement was in sight, and Reid had just publicly accused Boehner of running a “dictatorship” in the House and caring more about holding onto his gavel than striking a deal. “Go f— yourself,” Boehner sniped as he pointed his finger at Reid, according to multiple sources present. Reid, a bit startled, replied: “What are you talking about?” Boehner repeated: “Go f— yourself.” The harsh exchange just a few steps from the Oval Office — which Boehner later bragged about to fellow Republicans — was only one episode in nearly two months of high-stakes negotiations laced with distrust, miscommunication, false starts and yelling matches as Washington struggled to ward off $500 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts. The White House and Congress knew of the self-imposed deadline for more than 17 months and they still blew past it, as a president fresh off a strong reelection victory tested — and ultimately broke — the Republican Party’s fidelity to its tax-cuts-only governing philosophy. It took a late intervention of two Senate veterans — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Vice President Joe Biden — to rescue the negotiations. Their relationship, forged over two decades on Capitol Hill, helped move Congress to a resolution because it wasn’t burdened by the raw political conflicts of the past and the legislative fights still to come. But even those longtime Washington hands couldn’t prevent a New Year’s Day drama in the House. Boehner weathered a revolt against the bill, which played out during two meetings in the Capitol basement in which his fellow GOP lawmakers lashed out at having to accept the measure without spending cuts. After hours of uncertainty — even insults against “sleep-deprived octogenarians” from the Senate who passed the bill in the dead of night — the House gave final approval to the deal, 257-167. It was carried by 172 Democrats and 85 Republicans. And it exposed another split: Boehner voted yes, but his top deputies, Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of California, voted no. We don’t think anyone’s too happy with the ‘deal’ these fools made…SMH. Images via facebook
For the love of football , and saving face, PA Governor Tom Corbett has vowed to fight the NCAA’s sanctions against Penn State . According to CNN , he’s blasting the FBI report that was made earlier this year too: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett announced plans Wednesday to file an anti-trust lawsuit against the NCAA over its sanctions against Penn State University following the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal. Last July, the NCAA levied unprecedented sanctions against the university, including a fine of $60 million. It also stripped 14 seasons of football victories from late head coach Joe Paterno. “These sanctions did not punish Sandusky,” or those who allegedly helped cover up his repeated abuse of disadvantaged children, said Corbett at a news conference in State College. He said they instead affect past and current students who were not part of the scandal. “I cannot and will not let it happen without a fight,” said Corbett, adding that the Sandusky case was a criminal matter and not a violation of NCAA rules. Corbett also called a university-funded review of the scandal led by former FBI Director Louis Freeh an incomplete report. Freeh’s 267-page review was released in July and blamed former university president Graham Spanier, Paterno, suspended Athletic Director Tim Curley, and ex-Vice President Gary Schultz for allegedly taking part in a cover-up to avoid bad publicity. The scandal led to Spanier’s ouster and shocked the nation after Freeh’s team concluded that the school’s top administrators had “empowered” Sandusky, the former defensive coordinator for the football team, to continue his abuse. The NCAA said in a statement Wednesday it was disappointed by the governor’s action. “Not only does this forthcoming lawsuit appear to be without merit, it is an affront to all of the victims in this tragedy — lives that were destroyed by the criminal actions of Jerry Sandusky,” said Donald M. Remy, NCAA executive vice president and general counsel. “While the innocence that was stolen can never be restored, Penn State has accepted the consequences for its role and the role of its employees and is moving forward. Today’s announcement by the governor is a setback to the university’s efforts.” Penn State also issued a statement Wednesday saying it remained “committed to full compliance with the Consent Decree, the Athletics Integrity Agreement and, as appropriate, the implementation of the Freeh report recommendations.” The fine is expected to be paid over five years and will fund an endowment with a mission of fighting child abuse and supporting victims. Pennsylvania’s U.S. House delegation objects to the NCAA’s plans to spend only 25% of those funds within the state. The delegation wants the association to spend all of the $60 million in Pennsylvania, according to a November letter to the NCAA. “While we fully support the stated purpose of the endowment, we believe its funds should be used solely for programs and organizations within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where a need exists for the creation of prevention programs for abused children,” the letter stated. Sandusky, 68, was convicted last June on 45 counts of child abuse, ranging from corruption of minors to involuntary deviate intercourse, which were laid out in graphic testimony by his accusers over the course of the less-than-two-week trial. In October, he was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison, meaning he’ll likely die behind bars. SMH. The NCAA’s sanctions were most definitely harsh, but then again, so was the corruption that took place for years. Do you think the Governor should take a seat and not dig this sh*t up again?? Images via tumblr
Scheme on that Drizzy! Well Kobe may have laughed it off when fans were chanting Drake’s “She wasn’t wit me shootin’ in the gym” off his “Stay Schemin’” verse but apparently Vanessa doesn’t find it very funny. The real actual basketball wife finally addressed the lyrics nearly a year after they dropped in a lil rant in her Instagram comments. Here’s what she had to say: I love when immature kids quote a rapper that has never been friends with Kobe and knows nothing about our relationship. Just shows how gullible they are. I don’t need to be in the gym. I’m raising our daughters, signing checks and taking care of everything else that pertains to our home life. I really wish people would stop THINK and then realize that they are being sucked into someone’s clear intention to monetize and gain attention off of our family’s heartache. This is real life. I hold down our home life so my husband can focus on his career. It’s a partnership. Since my husband is isn’t friends with Drake, we received a text of an apology forwarded from his manager. It’s done and over with and it’s now time for people to THINK before speaking. There ya go Drizzy, don’t worry if she shoots hoops, she writes checks! But on the real, did she take it too far with the signing checks line bit? In case you haven’t been following her on IG (she just joined this November) we compiled a few of our favorite posts she’s done in the last couple months. Hit the flip to see ‘em.
THG is counting down the 100 Hottest Bikini Bodies of 2012! For months, we’ve been paying tribute to the hottest celebs with bikini photos galore, and the competition started out flat out sweltering and became … even more sweltering. Keeping the heat rising in the #2 spot: Kim Kardashian! Most recently, Marisa Miller bikini photos came in at #3. Today … it’s the Armenian goddess herself, the sex tape, social media and reality star Kanye West announced just last night that he put a baby in. Yes, he got Kim Kardashian pregnant , folks! Really, that is there to say about Kim that hasn’t been said time and again. She fornicated on tape with Ray J, catapulting herself to sex tape fame. She was married to Kris Humphries for 72 days before filing for divorce. They’re still married, a year later, as she’s carrying the spawn of Yeezy. She markets her “brand” to sell just about anything, namely herself. She poses for a lot of risque photos and has a curvaceous body. What about her is interesting? What makes her personality stand out? Why do people care so much about Kim Kardashian, exactly? We have no idea, people. We’re not tying to diss her. We genuinely have no answer. Then again all you have to do is scroll through this sort of NSFW gallery below and you’ll get an idea. That about sums it up. She’s easily the least talented or noteworthy A-list celebrity ever, but in a way you have to give her credit for that – she’s done more with less! Click to enlarge some of our best Kim Kardashian pictures below! Who’s #1 in THG’s bikini photo countdown!? Find out later today!
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