Mike Tyson Floats Idea of ‘Over 40’ Boxing Tournament
Mike Tyson has an idea.
Speaking to Fightnews.com during the WBC convention in Vegas this week, “Iron” Mike says he’s come up with a way to make some money by having past-their-prime heavyweights aged 40 and over battle it out in an elimination tournament.
Think Evander Holyfield, Oliver McCall, Cedric Boswell, Jameel McCline, Larry Donald, Andrew Golota and Riddick Bowe facing off for your entertainment.
“Fighters over 40 cannot compete with the best,” Tyson stated. “They can look good against okay opposition, but not the upper echelon of the heavyweight division. Maybe an over-40 tournament would be a good idea. Just make them fight only eight rounds so they will be full of energy. I’m sure people would buy this. The fights would be entertaining. Everybody over 40 is very welcome except Vitali Klitschko – he is too good.”
Tyson said he himself would not be tempted to fight in such a tournament.
“It’s not for me anymore. I would be afraid to fight,” he said.
Tyson mentioning the word “afraid” in the same sentence as “fight” doesn’t even sound right. Just four months ago, he was promoting his pigeon reality show “Taking on Tyson” and revealing the secret to his domination in the ring.
Digicel goes after LIME’s fixed line customers in Barbados
MOBILE phone provider Digicel says market penetration for cellphones in Barbados is nearly maxed out and it is now going after LIME’s substantial fixed line customers.
Barry O’Brien, Digicel Barbados’ managing director said at the company’s launch of its 4G network, that cellphone penetration was around 110 per cent, while the highest figures achieved in some European countries was about 118 to 120 per cent.
“Barbados has a population of 280,000 and it has a 110 per cent market penetration . . . so the market is not going to grow hugely. What we at Digicel are offering is more products and more services to the market to grow that revenue for us,” he explained.
“The other way we are going to grow is to take customers from our competitors because the population is obviously not growing. The number of homes that people are going to buy is not going to grow substantially,” O’Brien explained.
“The way forward is to grow from being a mobile company – which is where we primarily make our revenue – into a full [information communications technology] company,” he added.
In this connection, he cited Digicel’s recent acquisition of Netxar Technologies, a local ICT company.
O’Brien said Digicel was now eager to bring more competition to the fixed line market.
“Government has been very positive about offering a licence for the landline and has been very supportive. So we are just going through due process and I am very confident we will get it when we need to get it,” O’Brien noted.
The telecom boss said it was much too early to talk about pricing for its planned service, but said it would definitely come in under the current rates.
“As we did with mobile, we hope that it would bring down pricing overall for customers. We are all about bringing value and we certainly would not be offering a service that was more expensive than what exists. It will be about giving value and better service and getting customers to switch over to us like we did in mobile,” O’Brien added.
Jamaica Observer
LIAT seeks to allay concerns among regional travelers
Despite a breakdown in mediation talks with pilots, LIAT management is promising to maintain scheduled flights.
The assurance was given to allay concerns among regional travelers during the Christmas season – one of the busiest periods for the airline.
The company said in a statement that “efforts are continuing to respond to the various labour and other issues which have caused our customers to be concerned about further disruptions to our schedule.”
Mediation talks chaired by Labour Minister Dr Errol Cort broke down on Monday.
Pilots are demanding the immediate reinstatement of their colleague, Captain Michael Blackburn – the union chairman – while management insists he brought the company into disrepute by comments he made on a local radio station.
Blackburn’s December 5 dismissal resulted in three days of industrial action that was shelved in the wake of the minister’s intervention.
Chairman of the group of LIAT unions, Grenada’s Senator Chester Humphrey has warned that “the failure of LIAT’s management to reinstate Captain Michael Blackburn…will lead to further disruption to the airline’s service.”
LIAT said in a statement that it remains in “frank and respectful” dialogue with the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association on areas of concern.
“Discussions are also on-going with various unions aimed at addressing a number of the other concerns which have arisen between the company and its employees,” LIAT added.
Nation News
Political parties meet in Guyana
At the invitation of President Donald Ramotar, the leaders of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) met with the president on Thursday.
Ramotar was accompanied by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon and Presidential Adviser Gail Teixeira. The APNU delegation comprised David Granger, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Joseph Harmon. The AFC delegation comprised Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan, Clayton Hall and Gerhard Ramsaroop.
During the discussions several issues were raised and the following was agreed as the way forward:
i) The three parties would by Monday, December 19, 2011 exchange lists of issues for discussion and prioritization at the next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 21, 2011;
ii) The three parties will name two persons each as their plenipotentiaries who will meet after the meeting of December 21, 2011 to work on identified and agreed on priority issues;
iii) The National Assembly will not be convened in the month of December;
iv) The Minister of Finance will meet with the two identified finance persons of the APNU and AFC in the near future to consult on the preparation of the Budget 2012.
Caribbean News Now
CARICOM cholera-response project underway in Haiti
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is executing a project to improve sanitation infrastructure and to sensitize residents of a Cite Soleil community in Haiti in the practice of safe personal and community hygiene. The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project is being undertaken in support of Haiti’s national strategy to combat the cholera outbreak.
The project will improve access to 25 toilet blocks and hand-washing stations for approximately 15,000 residents or 3000 families in the neighbourhood of Brooklyn, a section of Cite Soleil in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. Additionally, an effective strategy for promoting proper hygiene practices is being developed as part of the cholera response activities. CARICOM is also providing medical supplies as part of its assistance to the government of Haiti in combating the cholera epidemic.
The WASH Project is a response to the request by the government of Haiti for CARICOM’s assistance in the area of sanitation and hygiene, as part of the National Strategy to combat the Cholera Epidemic in Haiti. The area of Cite Soleil was recommended by the designated National Water and Sanitation Agency (DINEPA) for assistance in this regard. The project is being carried out with funding support from the Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID) and in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) as the implementing agency.
Director of the CARICOM Representation Office in Haiti, Ambassador Earl Huntley; senior project officer, CARICOM Haiti Support Unit, Lyndell Danzie-Black; CARICOM public relations consultant, Carlton James; IOM WASH project manager, Nicole Klaesener; and IOM community workers, participated in a ceremony on the premises of Radio Boukman, a community-based radio station, on 8 December, where details of the project were presented to the community.
A highlight of the presentation was a short video feature of a Cite Soleil community renamed “La Difference” due to its pristine environment, a transformation brought about and sustained by the youth of that community. It is hoped that the CARICOM WASH project, which will also assist in maintaining the cleanliness of the neighbourhood through a plastic bottle recycling project, will contribute to a similar transformation in the Brooklyn community.
The WASH Project is part of CARICOM’s continuing efforts to assist Haiti’s recovery efforts since the earthquake and the cholera outbreak. In addition to earlier and ongoing relief efforts, CARICOM, in collaboration with CARDI, has also provided approximately 40,000 kilos of seeds to the Government of Haiti. The seeds for corn, red and black beans were distributed to farmers in the region of Petit Goave.
The Community’s continued assistance includes advocacy on behalf of Haiti, in particular through the good offices of the CARICOM Special Representative, P. J. Patterson, with regard to the reconstruction of Haiti, but also by CARICOM heads of government and foreign ministers in their interface with external partners.
Caribbean News Now
KARTEL ORDERED TO PAY $15M TO TCI PROMOTER
POPULAR DEEJAY Vybz Kartel, who is facing two murder charges, has been ordered by the Supreme Court to pay $15 million in damages to Jamaican promoter Alton Salmon for his failure to perform at a concert in the Turks and Caicos Islands in August 2009.
Salmon, who promotes his business under Abuka Entertainment, said because Kartel breached the contract, he suffered significant losses.
He said some of the tickets were presold and there was a riot at the venue on August 14, 2009, when people turned up and found out that Kartel was not going to perform.
After the suit was filed in the Supreme Court, the defendant Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, was served on December 23, 2009 with the court documents in relation to the suit.
Artiste Failed to defend suit
Kartel failed to file acknowledgement of service or made any attempt to defend the suit.
A default judgment was entered against Kartel and the matter set for assessment of damages.
Supreme Court judge Martin Gayle heard evidence yesterday and assessed damages which totalled $15 million with interest.
For loss of profit Salmon was awarded US$127,736 at the exchange rate of J$89.15 to US$1.00.
Salmon, who was represented by attorney-at-law Romona Nelson, said his reputation was damaged and for loss of reputation, he was awarded J$100,000 with interest at three per cent from December 23 to the date of payment. Salmon was awarded US$32,263 for special damages.
The agreement was an oral one and Salmon said on July 15, 2009, it was agreed that he would pay Kartel US$18,000 to perform at the show. It was also agreed that he would purchase airline tickets and provide hotel accommodation for Kartel and his entourage.
Salmon said he paid Kartel a deposit of US$8,500 and the balance was to be paid at the end of the show. Salmon said he honoured the agreement but Kartel breached the accord.
DMX, Wife Tashera Book VH1 Reality Show ‘Couples Therapy’
Rapper DMX and his wife Tashera Simmons will try to work out their marital rough spots on VH1’s new reality series “Couples Therapy.”
The show will feature a total of five “celebrity” couples visiting the couch of nationally renowned relationship therapist Dr. Jenn Berman, including Linda Hogan (“Hogan Knows Best”) and Charlie Hill, Chris Nirschel (“The Next Food Network Star”) and Angelina Pivarnick (“Jersey Shore”), Kasey Kahl (“Bachelorette”) and Vienna Girardi (“The Bachelor”), and Reichen Lehmkuhl and Rodiney Santiago (“The A-List: New York”).
These five couples at a crossroads in their relationships will join together for 21 days as they undergo intensive relationship therapy. Under the guidance of Dr. Berman, the couples will participate in group and individual therapy along with relationship exercises out in the “real world” to see if they can rekindle the love they used to have for one another — or if it’s simply time for them to move on.
“Couples Therapy” is set to premiere with eight, one hour episodes in the spring of 2012 on VH1.
In-Vitro Fertilization: Just What Khloe (and Lamar) Ordered
After Octo-Mom, Nadya Sulema, did it, you’d think no one would want in-vitro fertilization.
Well, think again. Khloe Kardashian isn’t going to wait any longer to try to conceive a child naturally. She and husband, Lamar Odom, are moving along with the procedure.
“She is desperate for a baby with Lamar and will do whatever it takes,” a friend of the couple told Us Weekly magazine. “They have faith the IVF will work.” The reality star has even started consultations as well as consumption of pre-natal vitamins
The couple, which has been married for two years, has been very public about wanting to start/expand their family. Lamar has two children from a previous relationship.
Since nothing has been working for the couple, this is the route they’ll go. And Khloe seems especially desperate since her sister Kourtney, is expecting her second child with boyfriend Scott Disick.
“She’s thrilled for Kourtney, but she’s really sensitive,” another source said. “And it’s hard to see your sister get something you want so badly.”
Kobe Served Walking Papers by Vanessa Bryant
Vanessa Bryant filed legal docs Friday afternoon, citing “irreconcilable difference.”
Here’s what TMZ is reporting:
Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ … Vanessa — who stuck by Kobe after he was charged with sexually assaulting a Colorado woman in 2003 — decided to end the marriage because she believes Kobe has been unfaithful … again.
As one source puts it, “She’s been dealing with these incidents for a long time and has been a faithful wife, but she’s finally had enough,” adding, “This one is the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
And our sources say … Kobe “desperately” wants to win Vanessa back and will do “whatever it takes” to save their 10 1/2 year marriage.
According to the legal docs, Vanessa is asking for joint custody of their 2 daughters — 8-year-old Natalia and 5-year-old Giana — but Vanessa is asking that Kobe get visitation rights, which means she wants the kids in her care most of the time.
We’ve learned the couple has NO PRENUP, so 29-year-old Vanessa is entitled to half of the Kobe empire from the last decade.
She’s also requesting spousal support … which is typical in divorce cases. Kobe, who filed his response to the divorce minutes after Vanessa filed her petition, says he will pay her spousal support.
According to the docs, Vanessa is being repped by disso-queen Laura Wasser and attorney Samantha Klein. Wasser reps oodles of celebs, including Britney Spears, Angelina Joile, Maria Shriver and Kim Kardashian.
Kobe went to the Jay-Z concert Tuesday night in L.A. without Vanessa, and people who saw him there say he looked miserable.
Vanessa signed the divorce petition on December 1. Kobe signed his response on December 7.
TMZ
Snoop Sued by Lebanese Concert Promoter for Smoking in Beirut Club
A Lebanese promoter is suing rapper Snoop Dogg for “tainting his reputation” as a result of smoking pot in his Beirut club in 2009.
According to reports, Lebanese authorites are conducting a criminal investigation into the matter, which took place after a 2009 performance at Forum de Beirut.
The promoter says that the act was filmed and subsequently appeared in Snoop’s “That’s Tha Homie” video, from his album Malice in Wonderland.
Kalaouz has threatened to take further legal action if he is not compensated $280,000, in addition to an agreement that Snoop perform two shows in the Middle East.
Performing for his Lebanese fans shouldn’t be a big issue for Snoop, who enjoyed his time spent in the country.
“Where do you go if you wanna hang with the Snoop? Beirut, Lebanon. Where do all the party people go to have a good time? Beirut, Lebanon,” Snoop rapped.