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NBA Player Gets 30 Days for Crash Death

ewiley — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:11:39 +0000

Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith, whose auto accident two years ago led to the death of his very close friend, will spend one month in jail. The 23-year-old athlete began his sentence Tuesday night after reporting to the Monmouth County (N.J.) Jail, immediately after pleading guilty to reckless driving. The sentence reflects a plea deal he struck with a municipal prosecutor in Millstone Township, where the fatal crash occurred on June 9, 2007. He could have faced a much stiffer penalty if the grand jury had convicted him on the more serious felony count of vehicular homicide, which is punishable by several years in prison. Judge Debra Gelson actually sentenced Smith to 90 days in jail, but she suspended 60 of them, and fined him $506, the maximum. She also ordered him to perform 500 hours of community service by visiting sick children in hospitals. Smith, who brought his 4-month-old daughter to court with him, said, “It just tears me up that it went down like that. I take full responsibility for everything that happened, but it was an accident.” Prompted by one of his three attorneys, Smith apologized to the mother of crash victim Andre Bell, 21. “I apologize to Ms. Wanda Bell; she’s another mother figure. She always has been, since the first time I met her.” Gelson said Smith was a role model for children but that his driving record sent the wrong message. “It’s clear Mr. Smith does a lot for children,” she said. “But as much as he does for children, he does them a huge disservice by not sending them a message that speed kills.”

Stallworth Had Pot in His System; Pistons Fire Mike Curry

ewiley — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:05:47 +0000

Stallworth Had Pot in His System
Cleveland Browns wideout Donte Stallworth, now serving 30 days in jail for striking a man with his car and killing him in March, had marijuana in his system at the time of the accident, the athlete’s attorney acknowledged Tuesday. “Evidence leaked or released over the coming days and weeks will reflect exculpatory statements and acts by Donte’, the presence of marijuana in his blood, and it will highlight the critical issue of causation,” David Cornwell said in a statement, confirming a report in the the Miami Herald on Tuesday, based on anonymous sources, that Stallworth tested positive for marijuana. Hall of Famer Jim Brown had told a Miami radio station last month that marijuana was found in Stallworth’s system on the night he struck and killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes. Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter and is serving a 30-day sentence, with two years of house arrest to be served after that. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Stallworth indefinitely. “The NFL’s substance abuse policy addresses the specific discipline that may be imposed for use of illegal substances,” Cornwell said. “We are confident that Commissioner Goodell will respect existing league polices and consider all of the evidence when making his disciplinary assessment.”

Pistons Fire Mike Curry
Detroit Pistons Coach Michael Curry was fired Tuesday after just one season at the helm. The once-powerful Pistons wrapped up last season with a losing record and an embarrassing first-round exit from the playoffs. A year earlier, Joe Dumars, president of Basketball Operations for the Pistons, fired Flip Saunders, who led the team to the Eastern Conference finals in each of his three seasons.

NFL Receiver Strikes Plea Deal in Manslaughter Case

ewiley — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:05:36 +0000

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth has struck a deal with prosecutors to limit his jail time for striking a pedestrian with his car in Miami in mid-March. Stallworth, 28, has agreed to plead guilty to DUI manslaughter for his role in the death of 59-year-old Mario Reyes. Stallworth, who was looking at a possible 15-year sentence, is expected to serve a short jail sentence, followed by a lengthy probation period, Terry Chavez, a spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office told The Associated Press. Stallworth had been drinking at a Miami bar before getting behind the wheel of his 2005 Bentley. “There is a plea agreement and it’s going to be presented to the judge,” Stallworth attorney Christopher Lyons said. Stallworth’s blood-alcohol level was gauged at .126 after the crash; Florida’s limit is .08. The plea agreement was made possible because Stallworth has cooperated with investigators and issued a statement shortly after the crash expressing sympathy for Reyes’ family. “He’s shown remorse and taken responsibility from day one,” Chavez said. Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but was injured much of the year.

NFL Star Facing Prison Time in Fatal Accident

ewiley — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:37:19 +0000

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who struck a pedestrian with his car in Miami last month, was charged Wednesday with DUI manslaughter. Initially, no charges were filed as authorities awaited the results of his blood alcohol level. Stallworth’s blood-alcohol level was reportedly 0.126 percent; the state’s legal limit is 0.08 percent. The 28-year-old Stallworth could spend as much as 15 years in prison if convicted for the March 14 accident that killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes. Stallworth has said that he was “grief-stricken” over Reyes’ death. In 2008, Stallworth signed a seven-year contract with the Browns worth $35 million. Recognized as one of the league’s speedy receivers, Stallworth has played for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

SPORTS: Barkley’s Facing Jail Time; Ex-Dodgers’ Skipper Shocked About A-Rod

ewiley — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:14:47 +0000

Barkley’s Facing Jail Time
Charles Barkley will do some jail time in connection with his drunken driving arrest in Arizona on New Year’s Eve. The former NBA star and TV analyst, who pleaded guilty Monday to one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence, will begin a five-day jail sentence on March 21. He must also pay more than $2,000 in fines and attend an alcohol treatment program. The 45-year-old outspoken ex-athlete was arrested after failing a field sobriety test shortly after leaving a Scottsdale nightclub. Arizona also requires him to install an ignition interlock device on his vehicles.

Ex-Dodgers’ Skipper Shocked About A-Rod
Longtime Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda lost a bit of respect for slugging star Alex Rodriguez following the third baseman’s acknowledgement three weeks ago that he had used performance-enhancing drugs. “I never thought about him ever taking steroids,” Lasorda said of A-Rod. “So when it did, that just shocked me. Shocked me. I didn’t think he would do that. …Sure, it changes my perception of him as a person and what he did, absolutely … and I feel so bad about that. The guy, he was always somebody special. We established that relationship. … I just had so much respect, so much really good feeling about him. I never thought that he would have done it.” Last month, Sports Illustrated reported that Rodriguez was among a list of 104 players who tested positive during an anonymous drug survey conducted by Major League Baseball in 2003.

Sports: Charles Barkley Won’t be Seen in T-Mobile Ads

hbarber — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:38:22 +0000

Charles Barkley won’t be seen in T-mobile ads. The T-mobile cell company has announced that it won’t be airing those entertaining Charles Barkley-Dwyane Wade commercials, at least for the time being. Barkley, who was also suspended from his NBA commentating job for the TNT network, is still suffering backlash from his New Year’s Eve drunk-driving arrest in Arizona. T-mobile says the Barkley ads will be replaced by general company promo until further notice. After his arrest, the former NBA great told police he ran a stop sign while hurrying to get oral sex from a woman passenger.

Barkley Will Fight DUI Charge

ewiley — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:44:31 +0000

EX NBA baller Charles Barkley has hired a criminal defense attorney to navigate him through his drunken-driving case from his arrest Wednesday in Arizona. Attorney Scott Maasen has “launched an independent investigation into the case and managed to get the basketball star to finally talk about it,” TMZ.com reported. In a statement released Monday, Maasen said, “Mr. Barkley, who has no prior DUI convictions, believes wholeheartedly in the court system and is cooperating fully with the court’s process. Mr. Barkley wishes to thank family, friends and his ardent fans for their tremendous outpouring of support during this difficult time.” Barkley is set to appear in court on Jan. 20.

SPORTS: Barkley Was Juiced; Rutgers Standout Goes Pro

ewiley — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:15:17 +0000

Report: Barkley Was Juiced When Arrested
Charles Barkley had a night of heaving drinking with actor Jaleel White and retired NFL player Michael Strahan at a Scottsdale, Ariz., bar the night he was nabbed on a DUI charge, the Dirty.com reports. Barkley spent Tuesday evening at the nightclub Dirty/Pretty running up a hefty bar tab with White, a.k.a. Steve Urkel from “Family Matters,” and former New York Giants linebacker Strahan, the Web site reported. TMZ.com reports that Barkley had wine coolers and bear claw donuts in the car at the time of his arrest. Barkley told the arresting officer that he was on his way to get oral sex from a woman who had given him “the best one he ever had in his life” a week earlier, the Web site reports.

Rutgers Star Will Go Pro
Rutgers wideout Kenny Britt said he will not play his senior year, opting instead to enter the NFL Draft. “It’s always been a dream to me to go to the NFL,” Britt said at a news conference at Rutgers’ Hale Center. “This year was my gateway, my opening.” Britt said he went through potential scenarios with his family members and coach Greg Schiano for more than two hours on Friday before arriving at his decision. Britt, a 6-4, 215-pound junior from New Jersey, is the Big East’s all-time leading receiver with 3,043 career yards. He was named a third-team All-American this year and tied former Pitt receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s Big East record of 14 career 100-yard receiving games. This season, he finished with 87 catches for 1,371 yards, a Rutgers single-season record.

Entertainment News: Kanye West Hasn’t Got A #*%@ Anger Problem; Wife of Snoop Dogg Is Free To Cruise L.A.; Nelly Joins Singer Sheryl Crow on Olympics CD

thenry — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:43:41 +0000

The rap super star denies rumors that he’s planning to get therapy

So he’s known for throwing a fit every once in a while. What grown man doesn’t? Rap star Kanye West has put to rest rumors that he has any plans of seeking anger management. The man who recently filled his blog with profanity after he was criticized for taking the stage late at a Tennessee music festival has posted the following kinder, gentler clarification on his official site: “Now the media is saying I’m going to anger management something or ‘nother. I have never had any conversations about anger management. If anything, I need anger enhancement! lol! I get off the plane in Hawaii today and the world is saying my management team said blah blah blah… Oh and a sidebar – I don’t know if everyone has realized this yet, but I don’t do interviews; if there’s anything I wanna say, I’ll say [it] right here on my own blog.”

“Boss Lady” won’t face drunken driving charges.
Maybe she was only doing her mug shot impression of a person who’d been driving drunk. A Cali court has thrown out charges against rapper Snoop Dogg’s wife Shanté Broadus, following her arrest for alleged DUI. Citing a lack of evidence – apparently including her booking photo – a judge dismissed the count against “Boss Lady,” as she’s known on Snoop’s reality series. Guess you really can’t judge a book by its cover, if “Boss Lady’s” best drunk woman pose is any indication.

Nelly joins singer Sheryl Crow on Olympics CD

The rap world is making its contribution to the U.S. Olympics through Nelly’s contribution on a forthcoming, exclusive CD. The St. Louis rapper joins pop singer Sheryl Crow and other artists to lay tracks that will be used to help motivate athletes bound for the Games in Beijing. “I know this soundtrack is something we will all be able to enjoy while we’re in Beijing and will help motivate us to compete at our very best,” says swimmer Michael Phelps. The Olympics begin Aug. 8.

Entertainment News: Janet Jackson gets MTV series; Young Jeezy Charged With DUI After Arrest In Atlanta; Gary Dourdan To Return To ‘CSI’

thenry — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:35:05 +0000

R&B superstar to join reality show ranks.

Janet Jackson is set to become the next reality TV star with a show that will find her mentoring other singers and performers. The mega-entertainer’s MTV series will put Jackson in the role of talent scout, seeking the next undiscovered pop superstar. “It’s really about finding who’s the next Janet Jackson or Justin Timberlake or Usher,” says executive producer Dave Broome. “And we’ll find it from a pool of people who you wouldn’t typically find it from. We’ll go to YMCAs, church groups, local community centers and try to cast the show.” Jackson ’s world tour kicks off Sept. 10 and may showcase the winner of the series.

Young Jeezy is charged with DUI after arrest in Atlanta
Young Jeezy was pulled over for allegedly driving a vehicle that had no license plate. Cops say he was also found with an open container and no proof of insurance. The rapper was released from the ATL City Detention Center on bond and scheduled for court July 17.

Gary Dourdan is re-hired to “CSI”
After his high-profile drug arrest this past spring, amid rumors that he has a dope problem, Gary Dourdan is expected to return to TV’s “CSI.” The actor pleaded guilty to possession after he was arrested in April while asleep in an illegally parked car in California . “CSI” show execs left questions about whether Dourdan’s planned separation from the show was forced or voluntary. But he’ll return next season, having been re-hired. Dourdan first gained notice on television as a cast member of the 1990s sitcom “A Different World.”