Keyshia Fires Manny Halley!

R&B singer Keyshia Cole announced via Twitter that she had relieved longtime manger Manny Halley of his duties. Cole, whose latest CD "Calling All Hearts" has sold poorly appears to be reassessing her career direction with the disappointing sales of her latest effort. Perhaps new management will turn things in the right direction for Cole, but a hit record always eases a lot of pain for an artist used to platinum success.

Kensington Strangler Suspect Arrested In Philly!

The Philadelphia Daily News reports that a suspect has been arrested in the two month search for the "Kensington Strangler." Antonio Rodriquez was arrested yesterday after police received an anonymous tip and also matched his DNA to 3 murder victims. Rodriquez was also wanted for an outstanding bench warrant for a previous drug arrest, and police are awaiting a conclusive match with his DNA sample. Stories like these continue to be disturbing, but hopefully the Philly police have their man, and the streets are a little safer, less one more criminal.

The Dungy Tree!

As we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday it's always interesting to take a look at the progress that African Americans have made in areas of prominence. Sports seems to be the one vocation where performance ultimately dictates a person's success, however, in the areas of authority that equality hasn't necessarily correlated. While football is America's most popular sport, and African Americans comprise 75 to 80 percent of the players in the NFL, there are 6 African American coaches for the 32 teams, a percentage of 19 percent.

The 6 African American coaches in the NFL, while a major accomplishment still leaves some room for improvement. Tony Dungy is the only African American coach to win a Super Bowl, but his legacy within the game will stand forever as he has lead the support for promoting diversity within the league. Two of his former assistants Lovie Smith and Mike Tomlin still have their teams in the mix for winning the big game this year. If Dr. King were living, hopefully he'd be satisfied with the progress that's been made in the NFL.

Ted Williams Cleans Up Well!

By now everyone has heard the story of Ted Williams, who caught the eye of a Columbus Dispatch reporter with a sign that he had the "God Given Gift of Voice." Williams has become a YouTube sensation and received numerous job offers including an offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He just announced on "The Today Show" that Kraft Foods has even offered him a job to do voice over work for one of their products. Williams, who is 53 years-old states that he has 9 children and is a recovering drug and alcohol abuser.

Williams' story has a chance to end well despite his problems with abuse and the crime issues. Interesting that prospective employers are accepting his sketchy background, but will not give others opportunities who also have had issues. Perhaps Ted Williams' story will also be a wake up call for employers as well. Only In America!

Walt "Clyde" Frazier Still Has Style!

N.B.A. Hall of Famer turned New York Knicks broadcaster Walt Frazier had Twitter abuzz last night when he wore the sports jacket pictured above while broadcasting the Knicks/Spurs basketball game. During his playing days Frazier was renowned for his sense of style as a New York Knicks point guard. It's cool to see that "Clyde" still has it.

Zuckerberg Smiling To The Bank!

Yesterday it was reported that Mark Zuckerberg's billion dollar baby, social networking site Facebook now has a paper valuation of $50 billion based on an investment infusion of $500 million. Zuckerberg's expected to take Facebook public next year which should put in direct competition with Google in terms of valuation.

Zuckerberg is only 26, and easily living the American dream. As of right now, Facebook generates revenue of about $2 billion annually. It will be interesting to see what steps it takes in the future to keep the revenue numbers rising.

Chuck Berry Still Performing!

I must admit that hearing the news that music legend Chuck Berry had to leave a concert performance in Chicago this weekend surprised me. Berry, who is 84 years-old and still performing his Rock & Roll classics such as "Maybelline," had to leave the concert stage in Chicago due to exhaustion according to his manager. Chuck Berry has to be the Joe Paterno of music to still be performing at his pace. Hopefully he will listen to his body and shut the performances down if necessary just to rest.

R.I.P. Teena Marie!

Word started spreading quickly last night that R&B singer Teena Marie had died yesterday after being found unconscious at home by her daughter. Initially on Twitter it was being treated as a hoax, but was later found to be true and so unfortunate. Teena Marie was first signed to Motown Records in 1976, and later became the protege of Rick James who produced her first album "Wild and Peaceful." This album is a classic record and features my favorite Teena Marie song, "Deja Vu."

It's becoming increasingly sad when artists are remembered more fondly after they pass away. Teena Marie was an icon and a legend. Her early music is truly classic and should be listened to in order to truly appreciate her immense talent. Rest In Peace Teena Marie, we were fortunate to have you with us for 54 years. Thankfully you left us with some great music.

Welcome Back Keyshia!

Keyshia Cole releases her 4th CD tomorrow titled "Calling All Hearts." All 3 of Cole's previous efforts have been certified platinum, but she may have a difficult time duplicating her previous efforts in terms of sales. 2 singles have already been released for "Hearts" and neither has yet to chart in any significant way which is not a good sign for the CD.

Keysia's life has changed quite a bit since her last CD "A Different Me" was released 2 years ago. She has had a baby and become engaged, so personally she's in good place. Career wise she's still making music, but may have to downplay expectations just a little in terms of future record sales.

Barack Seeking Support!

When President Barack Obama hastily paraded former president Bill Clinton out for a press briefing on Friday, it gave a hint of desperation for all of the criticism that President Obama has received for agreeing to extend the Bush tax cuts that have been in effect for 10 years. Democrats have berated the President for caving in to Republican pressure.

President Obama did what makes political sense at a time when the economy is still in turmoil. Getting Bill Clinton to c0-sign on the measure should give him some credibility with the American people, something he's been searching for since he took office nearly 2 years ago.

Praying For The Queen!

Word spread yesterday that the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin is battling pancreatic cancer. All that we really know is that Franklin underwent an undisclosed surgery last week and was doing well. Friends and family remain tight lipped regarding her condition, but prayer vigils have been taking place for the last week.

Aretha Franklin is one of the greatest female singers in history regardless of genre. Still only 68 years old, it would be such a tragedy to lose her so soon without hearing that treasure of a voice to serenade us.

Wesley Snipes Trying To Stay Out Of Jail!

Wesley Snipes is putting on the all out press in an effort to stay out of prison. He's scheduled to report to a Pennsylvania prison tomorrow to serve a 3 year stint after being convicted of willfully failing to file tax returns between 1999 and 2001. Snipes appeared on "The Larry King Show" last night with his attorney in an effort to gain public support I assume. Snipes states that he's paid all of the taxes owed and feels he hasn't received just punishment. While I didn't follow the case, when dealing with federal officials it's probably a good idea to be contrite and cooperative. Snipes appeared to be just a little arrogant in his appearance on King's show. Arrogance is not a good look when dealing with the feds.

Dirty Money?

Diddy's latest musical concoction Dirty Money made an appearance on "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend performing "Coming Home" and some other song that used Swizz Beats as the hype man. The fact that the group didn't perform "Hello Good Morning" or "Loving You No More" is quite interesting. The group's debut CD "Last Train To Paris" will be released next week, but it seems as if Diddy has been promoting this record for a year. Already on at least the third single, it looks like the record will go "aluminum foil" as I like to state when a record bombs.

The group, which seems like Diddy and his back up singers, Dawn Richards and Kalenna Harper is another vehicle to promote the brand that is Diddy, which is a disservice to the two talented young women.

The Return!

LeBron James returned to Cleveland last night with his new team the Miami Heat, and while his beginning with the Heat has been more than a little rocky, James' return to Cleveland was downright hostile. Fans booed him every time he touched the ball, and called him 7 letter words throughout the festivities in what could conservatively be called a bludgeoning as the Heat throttled the Cleveland Cavaliers. James had a simply spectacular 3rd quarter, ultimately scoring 38 points and sitting out the 4th quarter as the Heat won the game 118 to 90.

I listened to a Cleveland sports radio station leading up to the game and the hostility towards James is truly unhealthy for Cleveland fans. They had last night to get their sense of loss out of their system. It's obvious that LeBron has moved on, now maybe the fans of Cleveland will do the same.

El's Second Chance

El DeBarge's latest CD hits stores today amid as much fanfare as can be created outside of the marketing budgets of Kanye West and Nicki Minaj. El's CD is titled "Second Chance" and this is his statement to fans after being away from the music scene for 16 years and falling as low as a person can fall while dealing with drug abuse and prison time. El's comeback record should not be judged based on sales because the music landscape is crowded with releases over the next few weeks. El's voice is still magnificent and he's working with the likes of Babyface and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis so expectations in terms of quality should be high and hopefully will not disappoint.

Miami's Heat!

When LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade to form the Miami Heat Big 3, pundits were predicting the team winning 70 plus games and cruising to a championship. As of today the team has a record of 9 and 8 and holding closed door meetings with speculation that head coach Eric Spoelstra will be supplanted as coach by team architect Pat Riley. Needless to say the team is in chaos, and blame is being thrown at everyone participating in what is turning out to be a big mess.

I've seen the team play a few times this year, and the biggest problem is that LeBron and Wade are the same player and both need the ball to be effective. It appears that both players are too stubborn to change their style, which will be a shame when in 2 or 3 years one of the big 3 is traded because the team hasn't met expectations. 17 games is a small sample size in which to judge the new look Heat, but the temperature keeps rising in Miami with each passing loss.

Velma Hart Now Looking For A Job!

Velma Hart, the woman who famously addressed President Obama at a September town hall meeting has lost her job as a chief financial officer for the non-profit organization Am Vets. Her job loss was a part of the organization's efforts to cut expenses. She gained national attention when she told the President the following:

"Quite frankly, I'm exhausted. Exhausted of defending you, defending your administration, defending the man for change I voted for, and deeply disappointed with where we are right now. And quite frankly, Mr. President, I need you to answer honestly, Is this my new reality?"

With Hart's national notoriety and talent she probably won't be unemployed for long, but her job loss is just another example that the economy is still struggling to recover despite what some economic pundits may state. The gainfully employed should not take their situations for granted, because employers have no emotion when deciding who gets to keep their job. It's all about business.

The Career That Never Will Be!

It was announced last night that Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden's season was over before it started as he will be having the dreaded microfracture surgery on his left knee. Oden had the same surgery on his right knee in 2007, so in the span of 3 years he will have had the same surgery on both knees. Oden was once lauded as a franchise saving player and was the Number 1 pick in the draft ahead of Kevin Durant, but with with all the injuries it's doubtful that he'll ever be what he could've been. He will likely now become a serviceable center and a role player, which may be difficult for him to accept, but that seems to be his new reality.

Everybody Loves Mike Vick!

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick put on a captivating show while leading the Eagles past the Washington Redskins last night in what can conservatively be considered a drubbing. Vick's statistics don't matter, because simply he was breathtaking in his passes and when he took off to run against the defenseless Redskins.

It's interesting now that Vick has regained his athletic prowess, everybody loves him again. I hope that Vick remains as humble as he has been since being released from prison. People will again begin coming out of the woodwork to soak up everything Vick, but he should remember when he was down who was in his corner.

No More Moss!

I guess we can stick a fork in the career of Randy Moss. Moss' NFL career will not be ending, but his days as a top tier talent appear to be over. Moss played for his third NFL team this season yesterday in the Tennessee Titans, and only had one catch. He's in the last year of his contract and was counting on one more big payday, which probably will not be coming. Moss appears to still have the talent to be a top level wide receiver, but the desire just may not be there, except to collect his money. His numbers alone dictate that he's a Hall of Famer, but a first ballot Hall of Famer may not be in the cards.

Michael Steele Not A Wanted Man!

The Baltimore Sun reports that Republican Chairman Michael Steele may not be a wanted man by his party if he decides to seek reelection as party chairman. Steele has been accused of not being a good leader by those looking to supplant him, although the party recently dominated the mid term elections. Steele has been coy about his future plans, but if he chooses not to run again or loses the chairman election, surely he'll surface on Fox News doing what he does best, being a talking head.

"Breaking News"

This is the new song titled "Breaking News" that has created controversy because some of his family members don't think the song is being sung by MJ. The vocals clearly sound like deceased "King of Pop" but unfortunately it sounds like a throw away song that Jackson never would've released on his own. Surely there have to be better songs that he recorded over the years that would create a quality product. Michael Jackson's musical legacy doesn't have to be tainted by releasing bad music.

Where There's Smoke With Cam Newton!

The timing of the allegations against Auburn quarterback Cam Newton are interesting. Surely they coincide with the fact that he's the leading Heisman Trophy candidate, but does have baggage going back to his days at the University of Florida. Allegations of cheating at Florida and requesting to be paid to attend Mississippi State have surfaced in the past two weeks that appear to have the intent to derail his run at the Heisman.

There's no question that a smear campaign has been orchestrated to taint Newton and his family. The NCAA and Auburn have been investigating the allegations, and Auburn seems satisfied that Newton is eligible to play football. There's definitely some smoke to the allegations, since Newton, nor his father want to address the allegations, simply saying they're in the past. The bottom line with the Cam Newton smear campaign and his eligibility is that if he hasn't accepted any money or gifts from anyone, then he should be clean. He and his father maybe did ask for money to attend Mississippi State, but at this point there's no proof that any money exchanged hands, which is totally different from the Reggie Bush fiasco.

Unnecessary Death of Bobby Tillman!

18 year-old Bobby Tillman attended what was intended to be a small house party in Douglasville, GA on Saturday evening. The party escalated to possibly as many 80 people and became out of control. According to reports, a female attendee hit a male attendee for some unknown reason. The male, choosing not to hit the female back, decided to hit the next male walking by who happened to be young Bobby. Upon being hit, Bobby was assaulted by more young men ultimately resulting in his death.

4 young men are now in jail being charged with Bobby Tillman's death. This is truly one of the truly unnecessary killings in recent memory. If this is an 18 and 19 year-old black male's mentality to hit another person without provocation, then the next generation is truly in trouble. Immediately 5 lives are gone, Tillman's mother has lost a son and this is not even considering what the owner's of the house that held the party is having to deal with in terms of future lawsuits.

A New Normal!

President Obama appeared on "60 Minutes" last night to discuss his emotional stability after the political "shellacking" that he took last Tuesday. Very interesting interview to say the least and The President vows to work with Republicans to prevent gridlock in policy making. One thing that the President said that stuck with me is that we may be in a "new normal" in terms of the economic structure of our country and employment. President Obama stated that he hopes that the new normal isn't company's doing more with less, satisfied that they will still make the same profits while expecting more from employees, which will prevent job creation.

The reality is that we're probably in a "new normal" from a employment perspective. Politics is often a dirty business, but business' look at bottom line numbers in terms of profits. The President can impact many things, however he can't force company's to hire when the company is operating efficiently and making desired profits. This philosophy puts most company's in the mode of simply replacing workers that they have to replace.