Kim and Kris to divorce

Well, can't say I am surprised by this. A whole 72 days after their over-the-top wedding made for a two-part TV special, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries have decided to end the farce and get a divorce.

Ok guys, what gave you the first clue it wasn't gonna last?

1 - Hey Kris, you didn't know she was married before. Red flag!

2 - When Kim's PEOPLE approach you about dating her and you accept to raise your public profile (face it, no one knew who this guy was before he got with Kim, kinda like how no one knew who Kim Kardashian was before Ray J decided to sell that sex tape to Vivid Video) that's a RED FLAG (Kim's peeps actually approached former Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari and he wisely turned down the "opportunity" to be a reality "star")!

3 - RED FLAG #3: you have no money coming in due to the NBA lockout. The Kardashians spend with the best of them! No funds to maintain Kim's lavish lifestyle... yougottago!

I must give credit to Khloe Kardashian-Odom (whose worldwind 10-day romance with LaMar Odom was the union we all thought would not last, but unlike Kim she took her husband's last name brand be damned). She saw right through this train wreck, but she was in the minority. Coincidentally LaMar is also locked out of getting any NBA money yet we don't hear anything about them having issues.

What a colossal waste of money, time and over 400 guests. Is the publicity really that important? Is ratings for the stupid show so vital that a relationship and wedding has to be staged?? These are rhetorical questions by the way.

I get the sense Reggie Bush bailed on this circus because no producer was gonna tell him he was getting married to anyone to push a show along.

Nonsense! I feel like I was robbed of valuable time. I feel like I helped set-up the venue or something. It is such a travesty that these people can just play around with the institution of marriage in the name of ratings.

Okay, whoosah.

Welcome to the Party, Herman

So you say you wanna run for President of the United States? Be prepared to have every bit of your past scrutinized, dug up, and sifted through with a fine tooth comb. Seems like the former CEO of Godfather Pizza was a very naughty man according to reports. Two women accused Cain of sexual harrassment during his time as the head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s.

The women claim Cain made unwanted sexual comments and advances that angered them and made them feel uncomfortable. True to form of anyone who tries to rock the boat of someone in power, the women were allegedly paid to leave the company signing an agreement promising to never speak on the reason they left.

Cain and his spin team denies the allegations. Really?

Add this to the "smoking" ad that recently went viral and the floodgates are now open.

All I can say is when Barack Obama was running for office the only thing they could say about this guy's past was that he was not born in the United States.... oh, that was proven with a birth certificate (Donald Trump you can drop out of the race now). He chain smokes? Okay.

Gonna need more than a book to explain this away, Herman.

R.I.P. Jam Master Jay

It's always tough when the anniversary of the passing of a Hip Hop legend rolls around and you realize how much time has passed since their cowardly murder. Yesterday (Oct. 30th) marked the 9th year since the world (not just the Hip Hop world) lost an icon, the heart of the group Run-DMC in Jam Master Jay.

Unlike Tupac Shakur (killed 15 years ago) and The Notorious B.I.G. (deceased 15 years in March 2012) none of Run-DMC's catalog featured songs prophecizing death or violent imagery, so it is easy to imagine how stunning this ambush on one of music's beloved figures was.

All I remember was Run-DMC was going to perform at a Washington Wizards game on Halloween night then I heard this news and simply thought 'not again'. Sure the backstory says that JMJ was the inspiration for the groundbreaking style of the group and he was very connected to the streets away from the spotlight, but I never associated Jam Master Jay with any shady dealings.

Jay's death effectively ended Run-DMC as we knew it and still hurts to this day.

Just think if Freaky Tah of the Lost Boyz, Big L, B.I.G., 2Pac, Big Pun, and Jay were still alive how different the landscape of HipHop would be.

Yeah.   

Do or Die Game 7!

When people ask me "how could you watch baseball?" I point to Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. Even though I do not have a dog in the race so to speak, the drama and tension is still high and an instant classic on the World Series stage comes along once in a blue moon. Game 6 is why baseball is still the National Pastime. The Texas Rangers were up by 2 runs with 2 outs and 2 strikes on the St. Louis Cardinals TWICE (9th and 10th inning) and could not seal their first World Series victory ever.

The Cards were down 7-5 and 9-7 and won 10-9 on a walk off homerun by David Freese (above). This is why I love the game! It all comes down to tonight. For all the marbles. Nothing better.

Did Terrell Owens try to commit suicide?

According to a report in the NY Post, Terrell Owens may have attempted suicide on Oct. 6th. That day Owens was rushed to the hospital with shallow breathing and barely awake. Owens has refused to comment on the incident, but the reports come two days after T.O. held a workout that went unattended by NFL scouts. I just wrote a piece on TheUrbanDaily.com wondering how the NFL scout no-show would affect his psyche.

Keep an eye on this brother, please.

Check out NY Post article below:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/terrell_owens_assistant_described_W7nkKbx52PKbz8FJhFt4WJ

The Return of Eddie Murphy?

Let's keep it funky. Eddie Murphy hasn't been Eddie Murphy since Boomerang. Although Nutty Professor and Doctor Doolittle were cute movies, I'm talking about Delirious, RAW, Coming To America Eddie Murphy. The foul-mouthed, raunchy, slick-tounged phenomenon that was destined to take the reins from Richard Pryor when he burst on the scene in the '80s.

After the aforementioned Boomerang, Murphy began a descent into the world of family comedy, a complete 180 from what made him popular. The change in roles was reportedly because of his new role as a father. But now the kids are grown (the oldest Briana is the face of Dark & Lovely beauty products) and with Murphy set to host the Oscars next year and making the talk show rounds in promotion of his new film Tower Heist, it looks like the sense of humor is returning to his glory days.

One can only dream!

Colts Blasted by New Orleans 62-7!

I think the Indianapolis Colts should be contracted from the NFL until Peyton Manning is healthy enough to play. In a football game that looked more like college ball, the New Orleans Saints put up 62 points. Yes you read that correctly. 62 POINTS IN AN NFL GAME.

I know the franchise quarterback is sidelined, but have some pride! Peyton Manning is not on the defensive side of the football. I would have loved to hear the post game pressconference after that one. Knowing coach Jim Caldwell and the classy guy he is, I'm sure he did not complain about running up the score, but what was Drew Brees supposed to do, stop trying to score? These guys are getting paid to play defense and they did nothing yesterday.

The Saints set a points record, put up 557 yards of offense and had 36 first downs.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Indy! No one else is.

What More Does He Have To Do?

Osama Bin Laden? Dead. Two of Bin Laden's top Al-Qaeda operatives? Dead. Moammar Gaddafi? Dead. Four of the U.S.A.'s biggest enemies all killed under Barack Obama's watch. The world is a much safer place than in 2008, heck than in 2010. How can anyone justify removing Obama from office?

Predictably most Republicans have not given Obama any credit for his role in the demise of Gaddafi and liberation of Libya. Once criticizing the President for "leading from behind" in the fight GOP reps credited the "British and the French".

There was a small percentage of Republicans who took off the blinders and gave Obama credit. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), whom Obama defeated in the 2008 presidential election, appeared on Fox News and said, “This is a victory for the president, the Obama administration, but most importantly” for the Libyan people.
Republican Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois, also appearing on Fox News, echoed McCain’s sentiments.“This is a great win for the U.S. military, NATO, the Obama administration and, most importantly, for the people of Libya,” Kirk said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) hailed Gaddafi’s demise and had harsh words for Congress - and Republicans in particular - for putting up roadblocks to U.S. military intervention in Libya that he says prolonged the battle there and needlessly cost lives.

“Congress took an irrational view of the War Powers Act,” Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters. “I guarantee you that a lot of Republicans who wanted the War Power Act invoked would not have asked for it to be invoked if President Obama were not president. To me, national security should be as bipartisan as possible.”

Amen to that Sen. Graham.
 
Obama has a lot on his plate in trying to bring the economy back from the depths of the great recession that began at the end of the Bush presidency and ending a war incited by lies and manipulation of intelligence by the Bush White House.
 
Obama has been honest with the American people from the beginning. He said it would take more than one term to clean up the mess he inherited and his foreign policy has exceeded expectations.
 
Give the man some credit. Can any Republican supporter honestly look at the field fighting to represent the GOP in 2012 and say they would do a better job under such extreme circumstances? One guy can't get a thought out without stuttering, another guy employed illegal immigrants to work on his lawn.
 
I digress.
 
Nice work, Mr. President. Keep it up.

NBA Stars To Go Out On Six Game Exhibition Tour

According to sources top NBA superstars LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, and more are in talks to embark on a six-game traveling exhibition tour that would pay each athlete in the high six figures up to $1 million per game. The tour would make stops on four continents including London twice.

With the NBA still in talks to end the lockout, the top NBA players are taking matters into their own hands. But what about the mid to lower level players that don't have this option? Wouldn't this turn players not able to make money against the superstar pros?

I don't see how this wouldn't bolster the owners' leverage in negotiations.

Texas Rangers Headed Back To World Series

There was a time not too long ago when the Texas Rangers baseball team could not get into the postseason. Perennial bottomfeeders, the Rangers always had a mighty offense but no pitching. They slowly began to plug the holes in their rotation and postseason entry soon followed.

Then there was a time not too long ago when the Texas Rangers could not get past the New York Yankees in the playoffs. It seemed like it was a yearly ritual for Texas to be bounced from the second season by the Bronx Bombers.

Yet, lo and behold. These aren't your granddaddy's Texas Rangers. Not even your daddy's Rangers, hell, not even your older brother's Rangers. These boys of the Lone Star state, run by a baseball and Rangers legend in Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, coached by Ron Washington, bolstered by the offense of Josh Hamilton and the pitching, yes PITCHING, of CJ Wilson and crew, are headed to the World Series for the second consecutive year.

After vanquishing the hated Yankees in the ALCS last season, the Rangers headed to their first Fall Classic in their 50 year history only to fall short to the San Francisco Giants. The Rangers dusted themselves off and, this time behind the bat of Nelson Cruz and Adrian Beltre, find themselves right back where they ended last season.

The Rangers, in recent years shown to be the go-to team of the Steroid Era in the early 2000s with admitted user Alex Rodriguez (who said he used while a member of the Rangers), disgraced first baseman Rafael Palmiero, whistle blower Jose Canseco, and Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez who Canseco named as a user on the team, are a laughingstock no more.

Can they finish the job?

Is This Really The Face Of The Republican Party?

Herman Cain, best known for making a self-made fortune through his own pizza empire, may be the best hope for the Republican Party to unseat President Barack Obama in 2012.

Huh?

According to some polls, Cain has a slim lead over Mitt Romney in who the GOP wants to represent their party in the Presidential election. Cain caused a firestorm when he stated that Black people cannot blame racism for the unemployment rate and other setbacks that affect the African American community. He used himself as an example of someone who perservered.

Now a largely conservative political base is putting their future in the hands of a Black man? There are other Black men that have attempted a run at The White House as a Republican representative yet never made a dent in the polls.

Excuse me for being a bit skeptical about Cain's validity as a true GOP front runner. Cain has said that all Black people do not vote Democrat. While this may be true, I venture to think the Black Republican vote is not as high as the rest of the Republican fan base. That being said I have to believe either Mitt Romney's Mormon background and Rick Perry's multiple slip-ups have sent many votes in Cain's direction.

The conspiracy theorist in me also believes (and I may be giving a base that calls the Tea Party among its supporters too much credit) that having Cain as a GOP front runner is a tactic similar to John McCain picking Sarah Palin as his VP candidate to gain the women's vote. The GOP is hoping that Cain can take Black voters away from Obama and get a Republican back into The Oval Office.

Then Cain would most likely be a figurehead to a VP who would really run the show (i.e. Dick Cheney). This is no disrespect to Herman Cain's ability to run the country, but the GOP and their supporters are dangerous people. We have seen what GOP supported media outlets can do to undermine Democratic Presidents, all journalistic integrity goes out the window if you're on the wrong side of Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and anyone at FOX News.

Obama inherited a lot of the mess left by the Bush-Cheney regime and at times his critics blame him for the state of the country. Obama did not falsify intelligence, manipulate or take advantage of the fear of Americans after the 9/11 attacks to send our troops to war. Obama has at least given a timetable for the withdrawal of troops, something that did not happen under his predecessor's tenure (he of the infamous "Mission Accomplished" proclamation).

But I digress.

Could we see two Black men battle for the Presidency in 2012?

I wouldn't bet on it. This is still America after all.

The G.O.A.T!

LL Cool J received the I AM HIP HOP Icon Award at the BET Hip Hop Awards televised on Tuesday night (Oct. 11th). LL's contributions to Hip Hop are self explanatory, yet his acceptance speech shows that "The Ripper" still has it.

See the speech below:

D-Day for the NBA

Today (Monday Oct. 10th) is the supposed hard deadline for a deal to be done in the NBA lockout before regular season games are canceled according to Commissioner David Stern. Whatever will you do with no NBA season this year? See the link below for some suggestions.

http://theurbandaily.com/theurbandaily-original/jamiylsamuels/what-to-do-during-the-nba-lockout/

What Year Is This?

Really? This is a color photo so this is not the '60s. What in the name of Mateen Cleaves is going on at Michigan State University?

Please see link below. I can't....

http://www.thegrio.com/education-1/michigan-state-university-rocked-by-racial-intimidation.php

R.I.P. Steve Jobs

The technology world lost a genius yesterday (Oct. 5th) when Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 56. Jobs singlehandedly changed the face of communication with his innovations. The iPod, iPhone, and iPad to name a few have revolutionized the way we listen to music, speak on the phone and use a computer.

Just weeks after he stepped away from his post as CEO of "a company only he could have built", Jobs was gone. I can't imagine the unveiling of a new version of the iPhone without Jobs walking the stage gushing about his vision like it was a newborn.

He will be missed.

NBA Cancels Preseason Games

Think about it. Just a year ago these three guys were the headliners of one of the most anticipated NBA seasons ever.

Now 365 days later the NBA regular season most definitely will not start on time, if there is a season at all.

One thing I never understood about labor disputes in sports. It's not like these are construction workers or teachers fighting for better wages. The NFL were fighting over how to split $9 billion in revenue before it dawned on them that they were about to flush their popularity down the toilet. The NBA stand to lose $2.2 billion if there is no 2011-12 season. This is money many of us will not make in our lifetime.

What is the combined salary of the "Heatles" again?

Right.

Average Joe civilian laughs when these athletes cry that they're underpaid. Just get on the court. Get on the field.

Infomercial star Don Lapre dead

Seriously did anyone think those infomercials where you get rich working from home were true? You know the infomercials that come on at 3a.m. when normal folks are sleeping, talking about how you can lose weight with some miracle cream or pill, or how you can make $50,000 a week from the comfort of your home.

Well, Arizona pitchman Don Lapre the "face" of latenight get-rich-quick schemes just reportedly ended his life in prison on Sunday (October 2nd) morning days before he was to stand trial on charges of bilking investors and customers out of $52 million.

This guy was pushing vitamins.

*In my best Herman Edwards voice* "Hello?"

According to an article on AOL TV by Catherine Lawson "'The Greatest Vitamin In The World' pitchman was accused of overseeing and promoting a misleading opportunity."

I must say I am shocked by this. The man who turned his hard luck life around by placing thousands of tiny classified ads in newspapers around the world is a fraud?? All sarcasm aside I am really stunned that so many people did not change the channel or turn off the television like I did everytime I saw this moron appear on my screen.

Lapre tried to kill himself  before when federal marshalls arrived to arrest him and now has succeeded in taking the cowardly way out instead of facing the music.

There are no shortcuts in life people. Get-rich-quick schemes are just that: schemes.