Sheryl Lee Ralph Releases Tell All Book ‘Redefining Diva’
Sheryl Lee Ralph has been around for a minute or two and has seen quite a few things in the industry.
The original Dream Girl and mother of “Moesha” has come out about the dark spots in her career, including beefs with Diana Ross and Brandy.
In her new book, a candid memoir, “Redefining Diva: Life Lessons From the Original Dreamgirl,” she reveals that Ross wasn’t very thrilled about her “Dreamgirls” character, which was loosely based on the diva. Working with Brandy wasn’t all that pleasant either.
“I hope that folks understand that no matter what, I have great admiration for Diana Ross and Brandy. But you know how you have a family of people and sometimes you get on each other’s nerves? That does not mean I love you any less. It’s just that we had a run-in right there and it was very real. It will either bring us closer together or it will move us further apart,” she told BET.com.
Further, she lamented that some of the things that happened on the show were really a reflection of her life in the industry, explaining that more often than not, her opinions didn’t seem to matter.
“It started with a lot of things I didn’t agree with. But I’ve had to deal with a different phenomenon my whole life and that’s been people saying to me, ‘Just shut up.’ Stars don’t have a point a view. Shut up, you’re beautiful, can’t you just be satisfied with that? Shut up, why do you always have to have an opinion about things? It’s a constant I’ve learned the hard way. Sometimes doing the right thing or standing up for yourself doesn’t really matter.”
Cee Lo Sings ‘F–k You’ in Prez’ Presence; Fox News Freaks Out
Friday night at Tyler Perry’s fundraiser for President Obama, Cee Lo Green decided he wanted to do “F–k You,” the uncensored version of his hit “Forget You.”
Actually he sang the censored version first then he asked the audience “Can I curse in here?” But he didn’t wait for the answer, belting out “f*** you!” Cee Lo ultimately switched to the censored “Forget You” lyrics.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney refused to comment on the song when pressed by reporters aboard Air Force One. Carney did admit that the president is “a fan” of Cee Lo’s music and might have his songs on his iPod.
At an earlier fundraiser, the president was interrupted by a “Ludacris” song when someone’s phone started ringing.
“Woah. Got some ‘Luda’ on there?” the president asked of the person’s ring tone, eliciting some hearty laughter from the crowd. “I hope it’s the clean version.”
Meanwhile it was apparently a slow news day for the folks at Fox News’ Sean Hannity show ’cause they couldn’t help themselves and used the situation to create fodder for another non-story while feigning outrage.
Rosie O'Donnell show axed by Oprah Winfrey
Rosie O'Donnell's daily US talk show has been axed from Oprah Winfrey's TV channel after five months for failing to attract high ratings.
The Rosie Show's debut in October, featuring Russell Brand, drew 500,000 viewers. It averaged 204,000 last month, according to Variety magazine.
Winfrey, who set up her Oprah Winfrey Network in January 2011, hailed "an incredible partner".
O'Donnell's previous chat show, which ran from 1996-2002, won multiple Emmys.
Winfrey said she had learned that "a new network launch is always a challenge and ratings grow over time as you continue to gather an audience".
O'Donnell said she had been welcomed "with open arms".
"I wish the show was able to attract more viewers but it did not so I am headed back to my home in New York with gratitude - on we go."
The production, filmed at Chicago's Harpo Studios - home to The Oprah Winfrey Show for 25 years - was at first taped in front of an audience before becoming a more intimate one-to-one interview show.
The final edition will be aired on 30 March.
BBC
Caribbean minister urges regulations to prevent no-shows
A St Vincent government official is calling for more stringent regulations regarding contractual arrangements between overseas artistes and promoters.
According to a Caribbean Media Corporation news report, Opposition Minister of Trade, Industry and Commerce, St Clair Leacock made the comments yesterday following a no-show by Jah Cure. The Jamaican reggae artiste was scheduled for a concert at Victoria Park, Kingstown, the country's capital on Saturday. The artiste was the headliner for Irresistable Temptations.
Jah Cure, whose real name is Siccature Alcock, however, tweeted the day after that his contractual obligations were unmet by the show's promoter.
The report stated that patrons, who had paid EC$50 ($1,500 approximately), became irate and began throwing bottles when they learnt the Unconditional Love singer was not performing. Police had to fire shots to restore order at the event.
The promoter, in his defence, said that while he had paid the singer a US$15,000 deposit, he was, however, unable to make the final payment because 2,000 bogus tickets had been collected at the gate.
"There is a need for tighter regulations in this thing," said Leacock, shadow minister, who was also at the event.
"Promoters cannot be allowed to put on a show and speculate that if they sell enough tickets or they collect enough money, they will pay the artiste and people will get their show," he continued.
In responding to the minister's comments, Claude Mills, Jah Cure's publicist, said the artiste's management team would welcome any legislation preventing a recurrence of last Saturday's events.
"We [the team] hope this suggestion is indeed genuine and not just political posturing because this is a serious issue which a lot of Jamaican dancehall and reggae artistes face," Mills told the Observer.
"We are unsure about how such legislation would be enacted and enforced. In the meantime, Jah Cure's team is putting new systems in place, as it relates to future contracts and the payment of performance fees, to prevent this from happening to the artiste again," Mills said.
Last month, the St Lucia government warned promoters it would be putting measures in place to ensure that visiting artistes conform to the laws.
The announcement was made following the third consecutive no-show by Mavado as well as Gyptian.
Tanya Mullings eyes JUNO Award
TORONTO-based singer Tanya Mullings is confident she will take home the JUNO Award for Reggae Recording of the Year on April 1. She is nominated for the song, Rescue Me, which was co-produced by Dean Pond and Maurice Gregory of Third World. The other nominees in the category are Luciano and Dubmatix for Seeds of Love and Life; Jay Douglas for Lover's Paradise, Steele for Woman; and Esco Levi for Bleaching Shop.
The ceremony is scheduled for the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. Although she has won several awards in Canada, Mullings has not had any luck were the JUNO, Canada's version of the Grammy Awards. This is her sixth nomination since 1993. She told the Observer that she is confused as to why she has not yet won.
"It's kinda hard to understand why there has been past nominations where you didn't win, I do believe you can't win all the time but when the winners turn to you and say 'this should have been yours Tanya' it leads you to question who does make the final decision," she said.
While some Canadian reggae acts have a difficult time connecting with Jamaican reggae fans, Mullings does not believe that is the case with her.
"I personally feel I get support from Jamaica but I think where Jamaica is concerned an artiste has to be in the island promoting his/her music. As the saying goes outta sight, outta mind," she explained.
The daughter of late producer/promoter Karl Mullings, Tanya was born in Canada and has been recording and performing for more than two decades.
She cites her father, Alton Ellis, keyboardist Jackie Mittoo, John Holt, Ken Boothe, Cynthia Schloss, Hopeton Lewis and Jay Douglas, as major influences. Mullings has won various industry awards in Canada including 14 Canadian Reggae Music Awards as well as seven Caribbean Crucible Awards.
Currently working on her fifth album, the singer also hosts the Tanya Mullings Show on DaFlavaRadio.com.
JO
Fans call for Gayle after Windies latest defeat
West Indies' embarrassing defeat to Australia in the first One-Day International here Friday, left some fans at the Arnos Vale Stadium vociferously calling for the return of talismanic opener Chris Gayle.
A chant of "we want Gayle" rang out from the stands as West Indies slid to yet another defeat, this time a 64-run loss after they were set a moderate 205 for victory.
Gayle, a former West Indies captain, has not played for West Indies in almost a year since making controversial comments that were critical of the West Indies Cricket Board and coach Ottis Gibson.
He has been mandated by the WICB to withdraw the comments before he can be considered for selection again but the Jamaican has refused.
At the post-match media conference, Windies captain Darren Sammy said the Gayle issue was being dealt with at a higher level.
"Gayle's matter is definitely not in my hands. We all know what the issue is and it's at board level," Sammy said.
"From since I've made my debut, since I've turned out to play I've always been glad to play with any West Indian cricketer, once you're going there and have been selected to represent the region."
Sammy, who replaced Gayle has captain of the regional side, said the fans were free to express their opinions.
"That matter is out of my hands and the crowd — it's a free country and everybody is welcome to voice their opinions," he remarked.
Gayle has continued to play in the various Twenty20 leagues around the world with much success and has also turned out in the WICB competitions, leading Jamaica to victory in the Regional Super50 series last October and blasting a shot-filled century for Jamaica in the Regional Four-Day championship last month.
The impasse has engaged the attention of regional Heads of Government, who discussed the issue at a meeting in Suriname earlier this month.
JO
Windies romp to first ODI win over Aussies since 2006
KIERON Pollard blazed West Indies to a first ODI victory over Australia since 2006, his stand with Dwayne Bravo swallowing up the tourists' modest total in a rain-affected match at the Arnos Vale Ground. (Scores: West Indies 163 for 5 in 38.2 overs (Pollard 47*) beat Australia 154 for 9 in 40 overs (David Hussey 37, Narine 4-27) by five wickets on D/L method).
Set the Duckworth/Lewis-adjusted target of 158 from 40 overs after holding Australia to 154 for 9, the hosts made the worst possible start when Kieran Powell shouldered arms to Brett Lee's first ball of the innings and was palpably lbw.
But from an uncertain 74 for 4, Pollard and Dwayne Bravo constructed the most assured stand of the match, and took West Indies to a deserved win with five wickets and 11 balls to spare.
Pollard's innings was punctuated by three sixes in one critical four-over burst, and it was a spell of scoring that would prove decisive. He saved a fourth for the closing stages of the chase, swinging Doherty over midwicket with such force that the ball clanged off the roof of a stand and bounded out of the ground.
Bravo was run out before the end, the final few runs collected a little nervously, but there was no doubting the importance of his contribution to a West Indian victory that ended a 14-match run without a win against Australia. Though Doherty and Clint McKay bowled diligently for the visitors, they had been given too few runs to defend. The five-match series is now level at one apiece.
The wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh landed the final blows, and with Chris Gayle celebrating in the stands amid speculation of a possible compromise between the former captain and the WICB, the hosts' prospects for this series looked far brighter than they had on Friday.
Sent in to bat as much because of the threat of that rain as anything else, the tourists slipped to 46 for 3 and lost regular wickets across the innings that staggered to 154 for 9. David Hussey, Watson and George Bailey did their best, but could not find the right gears on a pitch slower and lower than the one for the first match.
Kemar Roach had struck twice in his fourth over, the second after a lengthy rain interruption, and Darren Sammy followed up with the wicket of Australia's captain Watson. Roach's display was particularly arresting as he fights to return to the Test team, while Sunil Narine's spin was tidy and intelligent and earned four wickets.
Powell simply lost his bearings against Lee's first ball when West Indies chased, letting go a delivery that shaped back a fraction but would still have been much too close to leave even if it had not moved.
Watson chimed in with a yorker that Samuels played over, and while the slide from 42 for 1 to 74 for 4 was gradual, it left Australia with what appeared a decent chance of rushing to a 2-0 series lead.
However, Pollard swung the game definitively towards West Indies with a flurry of sixes. He powered three in a matter of minutes to push Watson's fields back and cause him to change his bowlers, while also making the runs-to-balls ratio more or less irrelevant.
In contrast to Pollard, Bravo played with good sense and few risks, only once leaping down the pitch to loft Doherty over mid-on. In their contrasting approaches, Pollard and Bravo presented Watson and Australia with a union they could not separate before the match's course had been determined, and it was a joyous celebration by both the home crowd and their players when the target was reached in fading light.
David Warner and Watson had made a steady opening after a brief shower delayed the start, reaching 16 for 0 in five overs. At this point more substantial rain pelted the ground, and sent the players off the field for about 90 minutes.
When they returned, Warner was swiftly disposed of, playing back to a Roach delivery that skidded through low and flicked off stump. Next man Peter Forrest was undone simply and quickly, edging a ball of high pace and teasing line to second slip to depart for a duck in the same over.
Roach's strikes had the hosts buzzing in the field, and when Andre Russell relieved him, Roach had the startling figures of 5-3-4-2. Watson had returned the West Indian fire with a smart six from the bowling of Sammy, but the West Indies captain would have the last laugh when he floated a slower ball that his opposite number chipped to midwicket.
Michael and David Hussey then set about repairing the innings, as Narine's offbreaks received plenty of assistance from the pitch. The elder Hussey was dropped on eight, a sharp chance from the bowling of Sammy bursting through Pollard's hands in the gully.
The drop was not to prove too expensive, as Narine tossed an off break fractionally fuller than his usual length, prompting a thin edge behind and a neat catch by Carlton Baugh. Bailey again looked at home in international company, but was upset to squander his start by cutting Bravo to backward point.
While Lee scrapped as best he could, adding the second six of the innings with a mighty swipe wide of long-on, Australia's total looked insubstantial. Thanks to Pollard, it would prove exactly that.
(ESPN Cricinfo).
Cincinnati beats FSU; 4th Ohio team in Sweet 16
Dion Dixon stole the ball and dunked to put Cincinnati ahead for good with 1:32 left, and the Bearcats edged out Florida State 62-56 Sunday night to reach their first regional semifinal in the NCAA tournament since 2001.
Cincinnati (26-10) will play No. 2 seed Ohio State in Boston on Thursday night in the East, giving the state of Ohio four teams out of the last 16 still standing.
Sean Kilpatrick scored 18 points, Dixon finished with 15 for Cincinnati. Yancy Gates finished with 10, and JaQuon Parker grabbed 11 rebounds.
Florida State (25-10) snapped a six-game winning streak that took the Seminoles to their first Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title. But the `Noles are heading home short of the regional semifinal they reached a year ago.
Luke Loucks led the Seminoles with 14, Bernard James had 11 and Michael Snaer 11.
AP
Federer, Azarenka take home titles after easy Indian Wells finals
Roger Federer is on a roll again, and Victoria Azarenka can't be stopped, either.
They each won titles in straight sets at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday and earned matching $1 million paychecks, the richest in tournament history.
Federer defeated John Isner 7-6 (7), 6-3 for his record fourth title at Indian Wells, avenging a loss to the American who beat him in Davis Cup play.
Azarenka routed Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-3 in the WTA Tour's first final between the No. 1 and No. 2 players since 2008.
Federer improved to 39-2 since last year's U.S. Open, with his only losses to No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of the Australian Open and the 11th-ranked Isner, who won on the Swiss star's home turf last month.
AP
U.S. Congress Seeks Hearing to Examine Antigua Government's Role in $7 Billion Stanford Pnzi Scheme
A group of ten United States Congressmen from seven states have asked House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) to hold a Congressional hearing to investigate the government of Antigua and Barbuda’s role in the $7.2 Stanford billion Ponzi scheme and determine if international treaties have been violated.
Eighteen U.S. Representatives from nine states have recently joined House Resolution 507 expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the “Government of Antigua and Barbuda has committed numerous acts against the interests of United States citizens and operated the financial sector and judicial system of Antigua and Barbuda in a manner that is manifestly contrary to the public policy of the United States."
Led by Representative Mike Coffman (R-CO), the Resolution was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, and the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. The letter sent to Chairman Ros-Lehtinen today seeks a joint hearing of both subcommittees, and urges a prompt response as the actions cited in the letter “continue to harm” the constituents of the Resolution cosponsors.
While the Resolution focuses primarily on the actions of the government of Antigua and Barbuda to challenge the authority of the U.S. District Court and the Department of Justice in the aftermath of the Stanford Financial Group fraud, it also cites the illegal expropriation of U.S. citizen-owned Half Moon Bay.
“We are especially alarmed the Stanford case is not the first instance in which the government of Antigua and Barbuda has illegally seized assets belonging to U.S. citizens,” the letter states. “The 2007 expropriation of Half Moon Bay, owned by 12 U.S. citizens, was recently cited in the Ninth Report to Congress on the Operation of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (December 31, 2011). In that report, the Office of the United States Trade Representative specifically referenced the government of Antigua and Barbuda’s failure to meet the requirements specified in the United States Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act.”
A jury in Houston, Texas recently found Allen Stanford guilty of 13 of 14 criminal counts alleged by the U.S. Department of Justice, and subsequently approved the forfeiture of $330 million currently held in Stanford-owned bank accounts in the UK, Switzerland and Canada.
Joint Liquidators appointed first by the government of Antigua and Barbuda and then by the High Court of Antigua have litigated in foreign jurisdictions to gain control of the proceeds of the forfeited bank accounts.
“The three-year international turf war waged by the Antiguan Joint Liquidators has cost Stanford victims tens of millions of dollars that would have otherwise been available for their recovery,” said Peter D. Morgenstern, an attorney representing hundreds of Stanford victims. “Continued litigation by Joint Liquidators Marcus Wide and Hugh Dickson of Grant Thornton—for no reason other than to enrich themselves at the expense of Stanford victims—could keep the forfeited funds from Stanford victims for years.
“The government of Antigua and Barbuda acted as Allen Stanford’s business partner, and allowed him to operate above the law for two decades as he stole from thousands of innocent investors from around the world,” said Angela Shaw, the Director and Founder of the Stanford Victims Coalition. “Instead of taking steps to cooperate with the U.S. government and the U.S. District Court-appointed Receiver to help Stanford victims recover their losses, the government of Antigua and Barbuda looked out for itself—seizing assets that were funded by Stanford investors, and defaulting on loans
made with stolen funds. Under no circumstances should such a country receive U.S. taxpayer funds.”
House Resolution 507 is led by Representative Mike Coffman of Colorado, and joined by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, Representatives Michael McCaul, John Culberson, Ted Poe, Kay Granger, Kenny Marchant, and Pete Sessions, all of Texas; Representatives Jeff Boustany and Bill Cassidy, both of Louisiana; Representative Jo Bonner of Alabama; Representatives John Duncan and Steve Cohen of Tennessee; Representative Vern Buchanan of Florida; Representatives Mike Hall and Tim Griffin of Arkansas; Representative Greg Harper of Mississippi; and Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri.
CaribbeanPressRelease