*Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Stephen A. Smith is citing various NBA sources who claim that fired Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson is a bona fide alcoholic and has a serious gambling addiction, having already been banned from casinos in Detroit, Memphis and Denver.

“If numerous NBA sources are telling the truth — and there’s no reason to believe they’d do otherwise in a situation of this magnitude — Iverson will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away,” Smith wrote in his Sunday column.

This latest news comes after a string of bad breaks for the 35-year-old athlete. In late February, Iverson left Sixers indefinitely to tend to his sick daughter. Two weeks later, it was announced he wouldn’t return to the team. And just as soon as his professional life crumbled, so did his personal life when his wife filed for divorce last week.

But in a report from Smith, who covered Iverson extensively as the Sixers former beat writer, Iverson also has serious problems with alcohol and gambling that is causing him to self-destruct.

In calling on Iverson’s former mentor/coaches to step in, Smith writes:

Where is Pat Croce when you need him? Or Iverson’s coach at Georgetown, John Thompson?

Where is the person with the ideal combination of compassion and toughness who would shelter Iverson at the same time he’s holding his feet to the flames? Someone whose vested interest is in Iverson’s well-being, someone who doesn’t need his money or cachet?

Continue reading Smith’s column here.

*At this point the whole world knows that Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe can act her big butt off. But (yes the pun is intended), that’s the problem.

Gabby, nominated for a best actress Oscar for “Precious,” is loaded with talent and has personality for days, but is she too BIG for Hollywood?!

According to the PopEater’s Rob Shuter, an industry source told him she needs drop a lot of poundage if she wants to keep working.

“I’m not saying it’s correct, but it’s a simple fact that she will have to lose a lot of weight if she wants to keep getting parts,” one casting director told Shuter. “The same thing happened to Nikki Blonsky from ‘Hairspray.’ Everyone said how great she was, and she hasn’t worked since.”

The article goes on to quote friends of Gabby saying that she hasn’t felt any pressure, but they also note that she’s not exactly being inundated with parts, either.

Gerard Butler

In other Gabby news, Justin Timberlake is soooo yesterday as far as “Miss Precious” is concerned. Seems she’s got a new fantasy boyfriend: actor Gerard Butler.

“I’m here, I’m available.” he joked. “Let’s go!”

Okay, so what’s really going on with Tanbad, Ms Thing and Director (at Terminal 4 Media with Psycho), Jay Jay?  Looks like both of them are Psycho’s women and ah jus so it go.

I dont see whats the big deal about them being topless- they are on a topless beach in St Maarten. I done pree that a lot of us women that are hating are doing so because we dont have the guts to make this move. Now posting them to facebook (they are on Psycho and Ms Thing’s pages), obviously they were awaiting exactly this- the media and blogosphere creating a frenzy around it.

A few of the pics disappeared from Tanbad’s facebook page since yesterday, lucky for us, they were already circulating. Check out the last two photos!!!!

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*After four false starts, Lil Wayne was finally taken away in handcuffs to begin his year-long jail term for attempted criminal possession of a weapon.

The rapper was sentenced in Manhattan Monday, where he’ll serve his sentence in city jails, not a state prison. He could be released in about eight months with good behavior.

The Grammy Award-winning rapper, born Dwayne Carter, pleaded guilty in October to having a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic gun on his tour bus in 2007.

Before Monday’s court appearance, it had proved difficult to actually begin Weezy’s agreed-upon sentence.

His first sentencing was postponed in February so he could undergo surgery on his jewel-encrusted teeth. Then, a fire shut down Manhattan’s main criminal courthouse while he was on his way there last week – causing two more delays.

City jail officials haven’t said where the multiplatinum-selling artist will be housed among their roughly 13,000 inmates. His lawyer has said she plans to ask for protective custody out of concern for his safety and health following his extended oral surgeries.

A lot of people were saying that the controversy following the Gaza camp would not hold up until someone ends up dead. Little did we know at the time that infighting and some ‘leffings’ would have factored into the Empire’s problems and as the Gaza-Gully feud ended Gaza-Gaza warfare began (or more appropriately Gaza vs ex-Gaza), and still, is this the end of this foolishness?

Two weeks ago Blak Ryno came forward saying that he was no longer in the Portmore Empire (he is still under contract with Adijaheim Records until August, his contract is under negotiation.) Over the weekend that followed it came to light that Blak Ryno’s Portmore home was shot up. Then on Wednesday last week a man is shot and killed in Big Yard- the community where Gaza studio, Exodus, is- and Ryno’s uptown home is allegedly ‘firebombed.’ Thursday, police raid Exodus studio and men, including artist Popcaan and Vinci, are arrested and later released

First, KNOW that the murder that took place HAS NOT been officially linked to Blak Ryno or Kartel  by Jamaican Law Enforcement or police! The fact the studio was raided says that they believe something more is up though. And some chatter across the net says that the killing is a totally different war that just saw the benefit in the situation and used as a scapegoat. Who knows?

Are the fans really taking the music so seriously that they would go after artists like this or is there some bigger picture why Ryno left the group that is causing these bursts of violence. All the other artists that left the crew left without the quick culmination of so many embarrassing and dangerous events, so what’s the big deal with this departure? Not that ‘Kym’ Hamiton’s (formerly Gaza Kim) recount of her beating in the song ‘The Truth’ is any less serious than anything else,  but from the outside point of view the Gaza is leading itself, step by step, into deeper shit.

Loyalty is real and it must be the ultimate diss to leave the one that put yuh on, but come on, a so dem a go hard…

Last year I featured the coconut octopus (and gave myself nightmares about it). Now, meet the Moroccan Tree Goat…How do they even balance???

Goats on trees are found mostly only in Morocco. The goats climb them because they like to eat the fruit of the argan tree, which is similar to an olive. Farmers actually follow the herds of goats as they move from tree to tree. Read the rest of this entry »

Lee Boyd Malvo was no doubt a victim of John Muhammed’s tyrannical plan. How can you forgive someone when they’ve done terrible wrong, even when you suspect that they didn’t totally grasp what they were doing or were brainwashed into doing so? Read the rest of this entry »

Elder in the music bizz, Mystic Bowie, has issued this statement about the nature of reggae music and Rasta livity in response to Buju B being an alleged cocaina cowboy. Him a drop some knowledge and some affirmations still, read it:

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I am very glad to see Jamaican  Marvadene Anderson ,High School athlete, featured in Miami Live Magazine. This is a e-mag that features the likes of DJ Khaled, Flo-Rida and Pretty Ricky!! You go girl, a blessings and support wi say:

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Nastyness at its height. Yuh betta give thanks you were raised by an Island Mama who made sure to teach you to wash all ‘new’ draws before you wear them, whether or not they were packaged. Watch this video to see the disgusting piss-up and shit- up drawers stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom and Victoria’s Secret are re-selling. Read the rest of this entry »

The US have continued to press the government of Jamaica not to let up on drug policing in its Annual International Narcotics Control policy Report.  This department of Obama’s administration have been watching Jamaica intensely because they want the extradition of  Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. ‘Dudus’ rose from boy in Jamaica to one of America’s most wanted druglords. Below I’ve summed up a few points and inserted some quotes from the document

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One day after an offer to house O.J. Simpson’s acquittal suit was rejected by the Smithsonian, the National Museum of Crime and Punishment – also located in Washington – has pitched itself as an alternative.

The museum’s Chief Operating Officer Janine Vaccarello made the request in a letter addressed to Fred Goldman, reports TMZ.com.

But more parties have to sign off on the idea before the suit can be acquired. Goldman’s attorney, David Cook, tells TMZ a unanimous decision has to be made between his client, Simpson and the suit’s owner Mike Gilbert.

(Source)

I am extremely critical of Kartel but I want to make sure you know that this is not because I am a Gully fan (isnt that war done anyway??). I am harsh towards ‘Di Teacha‘ because I KNOW he has the knowledge and most definitely the power to do just that- TEACH. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re addicted to your Crackberry and BBM you might appreciate these codes for flag smileys.

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Nearly every part of the world is exposed to reggae music but dancehall on the major global radar is still an upcoming practice. Here is a dancehall party that you missed if you were in Poland these past weeks. The show starred the touted “Pimps of Dancehall 2010″ – Splendid Sound, Jasna Liryka, Silesian, Junior Stress, Dreadsquad

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Puerto Rico is slated to invalidate all birth certificates later this year. Associated Press reports indicate that the U.S. commonwealth will invalidate all birth certificates of people born there as of July 1. The move is to combat identity theft.

As of July 1, all previously issued Puerto Rican birth certificates will be invalid which means more than a third of the 4.1 million people of Puerto Rican descent living in the 50 states must arrange to get new certificates.

Puerto Ricans will also no longer be able to use a certified copy of their birth certificate as proof of identity to obtain a driver`s license at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Scammers have reportedly been stealing birth certificates of Puerto Ricans and selling it to undocumented immigrants to help them obtain U.S. passports and licenses in the U.S.

(source)

The long-perpetrated image of the black man as an sexual god continues to flourish as the niche market for black male prostitutes in Thailand booms.

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While the rest of twitter took to representing their city, Jamaican tweeters banded together for the tag #imfromjamaica . Some of these had me laughing over and over again. Some of them are real social commentary. Some are just playin around. Read them for some funny reflections of Jamaica by Jamaicans and follow the tweeters for more updates on Jamaica, dancehall, reggae, life. Read the rest of this entry »

Natural Hair is finally the ‘in’ thing!!! Everywhere women are sporting locks, fro’s and twists. Its a wonderful sight and I hope it lasts!! Last week I asked some of the natural beauties on my twitter list why is it that they have natural hair and how long have they had it like that.  Join me on twitter (twitter.com/urban_z) and get a head start by following these great women below. Keep an eye out for the tweets from Roots Reggae Star Etana and Crochet Queen Minka.

Why is it that they have natural hair and how long have they had it like that?

THANKS TO ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN FOR PARTICIPATING

This is Part 3 of what Jamaican tweeters across the world were saying about their island home with the hashtag #imfromjamaica last week. Some of these had me laughing over and over again. Some of them are real social commentary. Some are just playin around. Join us on twitter (find me at http://twitter.com/urban_z).

Check out the first two parts if you havent seen them yet below in ‘related posts’

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