“I really like ESPN. They do a great job. But like once every two or three months, they bring all these people on there, and they tell me how me and my team are going to respond to a gay guy.

First of all, every player has played with gay guys. It bothers me when I hear these reporters and jocks get on TV and say: ‘Oh, no guy can come out in a team sport. These guys would go crazy.’ First of all, quit telling me what I think. I’d rather have a gay guy who can play than a straight guy who can’t play.”
A guy is never going to put himself in that situation in a professional locker room. It never crossed my mind, and I never felt any different about the guy.

They’re not going to do anything in the locker room. Doesn’t work like that.

Any professional athlete who gets on TV or radio and says he never played with a gay guy is a stone-freakin’ idiot. I would even say the same thing in college. Every college player, every pro player in any sport has probably played with a gay person.

First of all, society discriminates against gay people. They always try to make it like jocks discriminate against gay people. I’ve been a big proponent of gay marriage for a long time, because as a black person, I can’t be in for any form of discrimination at all.

We gossiped behind each other’s back before; I’ll be the first to admit that. The first people who whine and complain is them Bible-thumpers, who are supposed to be non-judgmental, who rail against them.[...] I don’t worry about what other people do.”

Spotted @Necolebitchie.com

Why No Rapper Should Ever Use The Word “F*ggot” (And Neither Should You)

I saw this on ESPN this morning and felt the need to share. In seven games this season Michael Vick has thrown for 11 touchdowns, rushed for five and currently has a QB passer rating of 108.7.  More importantly, the Eagles are on a three-game winning streak.

What do you think?

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Lala showed off her curves in a short skin tight dress on the red carpet while Adrienne Bailon and Estelle posed for some pics. Amar’e Stoudemire also made an appearance next to his nude photo shoot.

Check it out:

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September 7, 1996 was the last time Iron Mike Tyson walked out of the ring as a heavyweight champion. After defeating Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada the world’s youngest heavyweight was supposed to celebrate regaining the WBA title. But later that night his close friend Tupac Shakur was gunned down and died from his wounds six days later. The general public has not heard Tyson’s thoughts on the events of that night until now.

As part of ESPN’s 30 For 30 series, director Reggie Rock Bythewood tells the story of that infamous night and shares the friendship between Tyson and Tupac in One Night In Vegas. The co-writer of the Notorious biopic spoke with TheUrbanDaily about what it was like to relive one of the most painful nights in hip-hop history.

TUD: What should people take away from this film? Is this more of a Tyson movie or a Pac movie?

Reggie Rock Bythewood: It’s an ESPN film but it doesn’t’ feel like anything that they’ve done before. It’s Pac heavy and Mike heavy. It’s really in many ways a collision of hip-hop and boxing. What I sought out to do was hold up a mirror and honestly reflect Mike and Pac. I shot it as much as I could like a graphic novel. In many ways I felt like Mike and Pac were these heroes out of a graphic novel. Not a comic book. Superheroes in a graphic novel are flawed and don’t always have a happy ending. When you peel away a couple of layers you realize they’re human. I really just wanted to offer a perspective about this night that maybe most of us have never considered or seen.  One of the most significant moments in the documentary is when Dr. Maya Angelou talks about visiting Mike Tyson in jail and being on set with Tupac for Poetic Justice.

What was your relationship with Mike Tyson before and after this?

Really it was all business. On set he had been pretty guarded with me but when the camera comes on he just started opening up and revealing his feelings about his friend Pac. The thing that was interesting is that we had a premier (party) in Harlem at this community center on 123rd street and Mike came out and sat down and watched the film with a bunch of kids. It was almost like it changed him. He got up afterward on stage and really talked about how moved he was by the piece. At this age he can look back himself fourteen years ago, but unfortunately Pac couldn’t do the same.

I think sometimes when you go into it you have a preconceived idea about what you need for the film, but he started telling me stuff about Pac that I didn’t anticipate. The first time Mike met Pac was at the Palladium on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. He saw this little skinny guy trying to get in the club and the bouncers wouldn’t let him in because he wasn’t dressed appropriately. So Mike told the bouncers to cut the guy some slack and so Pace gets in. Later on in the party Pac gets on stage and starts rocking it and that’s how their relationship was formed.

What were the challenges in telling a story that’s 14-years-old?

There is something I set out not to do. I did not set out to do a movie that reveals who [Tupac's] assailants were or any of that. I just set out to do a movie to show how Mike and other people were feeling that night. After the fight it was supposed to be a night of celebration and it came out a tragedy. The challenge is capturing that emotion 14 years later, but people talked about it like it just happened last week.  You could see it in their eyes. From a film-making standpoint I didn’t want the film to just be talking heads so we had a little fun with it. We made it cinematic and used a lot of music with it and I even have some spoken word artists in there. So it’s real different for ESPN.

You co-wrote the screenplay to Notorious. How did that help you with this if at all?

These hip-hop stories just follow me. I remember when I first started out I was writing on A Different World, I had the Kris Kross episode. And on New York Undercover hip-hop was a centerpiece of that series that I was writing on. With Notorious what [I learned] was even icons are human beings. Even icons have flaws and weaknesses. People will expect a lot of edge and grit but we’ll challenged people’s perspectives of both men. I definitely think that we are getting a glimpse in to their world and this night that we haven’t seen before.

Watch excerpts from the documentary below:

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A classic RUN DMC record  said they all want to be down with the king, but tonight only one team in the NBA will have that honor.

It looks like I was wrong. LeBron is joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach to play for the Miami Heat.

When asked what he thought the fan reaction in Ohio will be James said his real friends would love him for who he is and that Akron will always be home.

Pat Riley will not be the coach.

More details as they emerge.

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Newsflash…Serena is fine. No real story. She’s just on the cover of ESPN naked. I’m not mad at all. She can yell at me anytime she wants.

Saying he will coach at Louisville “as long as they’ll have me,” Rick Pitino apologized on Wednesday for “an indiscretion” he committed six years ago.

In a news conference at the university, Pitino did not directly address the report that he admitted that he had consensual sex with the woman charged with trying to extort him and then paid her $3,000. But he did say that “the past seven months have been very difficult on the people I love.”

The Courier-Journal of Louisville, citing police records, reported on Tuesday that Pitino made those admissions.

Pitino did not take questions.

He said that he did admit what he did to his family and to the university and that he tried to handle the problem the same way he advises players to handle adversity.

“When you have a problem, if you tell the truth the problem becomes part of your past,” he said. “If you lie it becomes part of your future.”

Pitino said that he had not commented on the charges against Karen Cunagin Sypher, including trying to extort $10 million from the coach and lying to the FBI.

“A grand jury indictment is a very serious thing and that’s why I haven’t commented on that,” he said.

At one point in the short, seemingly off the cuff, statement, Pitino said that he came to Louisville “at a very difficult time.” He spoke of 9-11 and the university’s need for healing.

“You needed a community to get over it,” he said and concluded that the university and his family has helped him get over this trouble.

As for his wife and five children, Pitino said: “I let them down with my indiscretion six years ago. And I’m sorry for that and I tell them that every day.”

But he also apologized to his “extended family:” the university community, fans and even the press.

The statement came after Pitino’s lawyer disputed part of the Courier-Journal report.

Citing police records, the newpaper reported that Pitino had sex with Cunagin Sypher in a restaurant after closing time and that two weeks later she called to tell him she was pregnant. Pitino then gave Cunagin Sypher $3,000 after she said she needed an abortion and didn’t have health insurance, according to a summary of Pitino’s July 12 statement to police. The coach’s attorney, Steve Pence, said Wednesday that the money was to help her get medical coverage, not specifically to pay for an abortion.

“The way this has been reported in the media is not accurate,” Pence told The Associated Press. “The coach has not done anything illegal.”

For more about this story, please click here to find out what’s going down with Rick Pitino.

VIA ESPN:

Tiger Woods won the Buick Open for a third time and claimed his 69th PGA Tour victory.

Ho hum.

Not quite.

Woods shot a 3-under 69 and coasted to a three-shot victory with a 20-under 268 total at Warwick Hills, which hosted its first Buick Open in 1958 and seemed to stage its final one Sunday.

“I’ve played all around the world, and I’ve never seen a day like this,” said Woods, also the 2002 and 2006 winner at Warwick Hills. “This event has always been special, but today was something else.”

He acknowledged thinking about his walk up 18 at Warwick Hills being his last, leading to him throwing his ball with a lot of velocity back down the fairway to fans. He also tossed a ball into the gallery at 17.

“I never do that, but today was different,” Woods said. “We aren’t coming back here, and I wanted to thank all these people.”

GolfWeek Magazine reported on its Web site that General Motors Co. would end the PGA Tour’s longest partnership, and The Associated Press confirmed it with a person briefed on the decision. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the announcement wouldn’t be made until after the tournament.

GolfWeek also reported The Greenbrier in West Virginia is waiting for the PGA Tour to confirm it will replace the Buick Open in 2010.

Susan Docherty, general manager for GM’s Buick and GMC brands, said she is giving Buick-GMC’s national promotions manager Larry Peck 90 days to figure out the company’s future with the sport.

“There’s been a long history between Buick and golf and there definitely will be a connection going forward,” Docherty said. “What we need to do and stop and evaluate what we want to do going forward.”

Spending about $7 million on a golf tournament in Michigan might not be part of the plans.

“Hopefully, we’ll get back to this region soon,” Woods said.

Early and often at Warwick Hills, from the pro-am when he played with rocker Bob Seger through Sunday, Woods was thanked by fans who appreciated his appearance.

For more about Woods victory, check out the full story by clicking here!

VIA DS:

The intrepid Dan Steinberg is once again wandering around Redskins training camp and in his quest for gold, he struck oil instead by tapping the fertile mind of Clinton Portis about that Sisqo hairstyle he sported earlier this offseason.

Thankfully, Portis returned to his natural hair color, but why did he make the switch in the first place?:

“I just felt like doing something different. You know, I think even with that, from what I hear, now I’m gay? I don’t think there’s a woman in the United States of America that would say I’m gay. So, you know, I don’t hang around men, I don’t live a private life, there’s constantly people around me. You know, I did it because that was something that I felt like doing. At the moment it was like, ‘Ohhh, I want to do something weird and different,’ and that’s what I did, I dyed my hair blond. You know, it wasn’t an attention seeker. I actually was out of the country, I left the country after I did it, so I wasn’t even over here once I did it. So it was just an experiment.”

So just in case people questioned Portis’ sexuality after his whimsical hair experiment, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. The entire U.S. female population can attest to that fact, apparently.

VIA ESPN:

Michael Vick said Thursday that he is getting close to signing with a professional football team but refused to elaborate.

Vick made the comment to reporters as he left a courtroom after a hearing in his bankruptcy case. Asked about his progress in signing with a team, Vick said: “We’re getting close.” He declined to answer additional questions.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally reinstated Vick on Monday, a week after the former Atlanta Falcons star completed his 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring. Vick is free to sign with a team and could be playing in the NFL by Week 6.

He could also play in one of a couple football minor leagues if no NFL team signs him. His agent, Joel Segal, did not immediately return a telephone message.

Vick, 29, did not speak during the hearing. Afterward, the U.S. bankruptcy trustee and a lawyer for Vick’s creditors shook Vick’s hand and congratulated him on his NFL reinstatement. Vick thanked them and said, “It’s exactly what I needed at this point in my life.”

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank Santoro postponed until Friday a decision on whether to approve $1.5 million in legal fees sought by Crowell & Moring, the Madison Avenue law firm representing Vick in the Chapter 11 case. Santoro was astonished that the firm is billing Vick for 8,000 hours of work over about 10 months.

“I don’t understand how that happens,” said Santoro.

Vick’s local attorney, Paul Campsen, said New York attorneys Michael Blumenthal and Peter Ginsberg were unable to attend the hearing because bad weather held up their flight. Santoro said he wants an explanation of the hours on Friday, when he will conduct a hearing on Vick’s bankruptcy plan.

Crowell & Moring originally sought more than $2.6 million but agreed to slash the amount to $1.5 million after the U.S. trustee and attorneys for one of Vick’s major creditors, Joel Enterprises Inc., complained in court papers that the fees were excessive.

Vick filed for bankruptcy protection in July 2008 while he was serving his sentence in the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan. The former Virginia Tech star spent the last two months of his sentence on home confinement in Hampton.

VIA ESPN:

Nike says it is returning videotapes it confiscated of NBA star LeBron James getting dunked on at a recent basketball camp.

Nike said it is giving back tapes to two accredited journalists who filmed Xavier‘s Jordan Crawford dunking over James during a recent pickup game at a skills academy run by the superstar at the University of Akron.

The sports apparel giant said only one of the tapes captured the infamous dunk, which has been an Internet sensation.

Nike said it took the tapes based on its media guidelines that no pickup games be filmed.

This week, videos emerged of Crawford’s dunk in which he drove the lane and slammed over James, who was not guarding him and was the last defender between Crawford and the basket.

VIA NR:

I missed it. Heard it was okay at best, but B.o.B. showcases his talent to a different audience. ESPN’s The Espy Awards aired last night. But you can check out the video of him performing below, as well as our Espy’s gallery.

Had fun? Peep our Espy’s gallery too!

About an hour or so ago, The Urban Daily and NewsOne hit the court to check out what all the fuss was about for this kid, Blake Griffin.

The number one NBA draft pick played a variation game of “HORSE” renamed S-U-B-W-A-Y versus that fat-burning spokesperson, Jared.

Our take on Griffin: Overrated.

The would-be power forward may have had an off afternoon with his jumper falling flat on the West 4th court, but when you’re losing to a former glutton and a guy off the street, then you just pray that the highlights don’t make ESPN.

But, they say that I’m a hater…

Judge for yourself when the NBA Draft kicks on this Thursday on ESPN.

Until then… check out our “Blake Griffin Subway Series Gallery” below:

I say yes. I even have a bet going on with the good folks down the hall at GIANT. But as the Cavaliers have their best chance at an NBA championship since like… forever, Spike Lee sat down with the talking drones at ESPN to waxpoetic about King James.

What do YOU think?! Who are some of your predictions for the NBA Finals?!

Spike Lee’s “Kobe Doin’ Work,” a telepic capturing a day in the life of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, will have its world premiere next month during the Tribeca Film Festival before its May debut on ESPN.

During last year’s playoffs, Lee and his cinematographer, Matthew Libatique, spent the day with the NBA standout. With unlimited access to Bryant before, during and after the game, the result is a definitive portrait of one of the sport’s greatest athletes.

The April 25 bow is part of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival. Following its premiere, “Kobe Doin’ Work” will be televised Saturday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPNHD.

“We are proud to kick off the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival with a documentary showcasing not only Spike Lee’s fervent love of basketball, but our collective commitment to great storytelling,” said Keith Clinkscales, senior vice president ESPN content development. “‘Kobe Doin’ Work’ and the entire sports festival slate speak to the power of film and sports to inspire, motivate and transform.”

Seven more sports-themed films will screen during the festival’s April 22 – May 3 run in lower Manhattan.

NBA All Star Lebron James may have a better future in acting than Jesus Shuttlesworth…

5) Glory Days
The best of the “Lebrons” commercials: “That’s a quadruple-double there, boy!”

4) Vitamin Water
I hope this is the only time we see him in court for anything.

3) ESPN “Switched Chairs”
You know you wanna kick someone in your office for doing the same thing.

2) Signs With Cleveland Browns
At 6’ 9” 250lbs this isn’t impossible. And the Browns could use all the help they can get…

1) State Farm Garage Commercial
His Kid-N-Play is pretty good…almost too good.

Bonus:

“Over And Under” w/ Nicole Scherzinger

Baby Jr. raps with the NFL superstars on ESPN after the Super Bowl at one of their many parties.

Lil Wayne has ingrained himself in the wide world of sports with his appearance in LeBron James Nike commerical, narrating the G – Gatorade campaign and now matching wits with ESPN’s own Skip Bayless.

Let’s just hope that he doesn’t go too far in his love of the game…

Oops, too late!

Check out the video, it’s quite lengthy, but entertaining nonetheless, below:

Democratic National Convention, CNN, 6:00pm -

Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention kicks off with discussions about our failing domestic and international economy. Hillary Clinton and Mark Wagner deliver keynote addresses sure to rouse up support for the Obama/Biden campaign. Live from the Pepsi Center in Denver. Be sure to watch!

NFL Live, ESPN2, 7:30pm -

Formerly known as NFL 2Night, the gang’s all here to get you fantasy football nutssalivating for those draft picks and give the hardcore fans ready to see if Brett Favre will be able to last another year in the league.

Golata vs. Bowe II, ESPNC, 8:00pm -

Andrew Golata and Riddick Bowe had a classic bout when they first met in 1997 that ended with the Poland Powerhouse getting disqualified and a riot breaking out. ESPN Classic has their second meeting between these two gladiators ready to rumble at 8:00pm!

Wanna Bet, ABC, 9:00pm -

Bill Engvall, Scott Hamilton, Stuart Scott and others wager money on various contests. One man shoots basketballs with the back of his neck, another tries to open 50 soda bottles with a chainsaw and a teenager remember 10 out of 10 audience members name.

What’s At Stake, BET, 9:00pm -

The top ten political issues relevant to the black community are aired out and discussed tonight at 9:00 on BET’s What’s At Stake. Hosted by Jeff Johnson prepares black America for the upcoming November election.

Million Dollar Listing, BRAVO!, 10:00pm -

With the real estate game on shaky territory, Bravo presents Million Dollar Listing! Josh pursues a housing tip given to him by his grandmother, but meanwhile, Chris jumps through hoops to get a basketball player to sign on that dotted line. Be sure to check this out at 10:00pm!