He’s preparing to defend his Sean Bell acquittal protest

The Rev. Al Sharpton will take his public nuisance and disturbing the peace case to court Oct. 6, a Manhattan judge ruled Thursday. Sharpton, who was arrested in early May – along with scores of protestors who froze up major New York City thoroughfares as a statement against the acquittal of three police officers in the shooting death of Sean Bell – had an opportunity recently to admit guilt and avoid a trial and jail time. But the civil rights leader, who heads the Harlem-based National Action Network, wanted a public airing for a case that focuses attention back on what he and others say is the egregiously unfair freeing of the NYPD cops who shot down the 23-year-old Bell outside a Queens nightclub on the eve of his wedding day, Nov. 25, 2006. The officers shot the unarmed groom and his two friends in a haze of 50 bullets. Bell’s friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, survived but were seriously wounded. On Wednesday, Sharpton said there is nothing unlawful about a peaceful protest. “Every time they bring me back, it further exposes the disparity of justice in this city,” he said.

Why you gotta lie, Diddy?

 Score one for all the haters. If you were disgusted by Sean “Diddy” Combs complaining on video that he couldn’t afford to keep using his private jet because of gas prices, fret no more: Diddy lied. Federal Aviation Administration records show no aircraft registered to the Didster, Bad Boy Records or any of his other companies. The Palm Beach Post reports that, instead, Combs’ reps admit that he’s just one of thousands of wealthy travelers who use the services of NetJet, a company that sells air-travel hours. So when you see “your boy” Diddy making the supreme sacrifice he announced by sitting in commercial first-class, be sure to point and laugh at him – as you make your way to the coach section.

The former NFL player was killed in his Miami-area home last year.

It had been set for this month, but the trial of four men accused of murdering NFL star Sean Taylor won’t happen until next year. A judge on Friday set a new trial date of March 3, 2009. Prosecutors say the suspects shot the Washington Redskins safety last November during a robbery attempt at his home in the Miami area. One of the five suspects, 20-year-old Venjah Hunte, has pleaded guilty. The other four have pleaded not guilty and could get life in prison if convicted.

Rapper still denies CO past as Web site offers more proof

Fellow Miami MC Trick Daddy may have let Rick Ross off the hook by saying rumors of Ross’ prison guard past don’t matter. But The Smoking Gun Web site hasn’t let up. The popular investigative Web site has offered what appears to be irrefutable proof that Ross’ denials of having worked as a Florida correctional officer are outright lies. Though Ross recently defended his outlaw image and street-influenced rhymes on a Phoenix radio show, stating “One of my closest homies was on ‘ America ’s Most Wanted,’” The Smoking Gun reports that Ross once got a perfect attendance award for his prison guard work. Among other documents in the Web site’s 86-page acquisition of the rapper’s personnel file are contact information listings for his mother and sister – whose names appear, identically, on Ross’ CD liner notes. Additionally, the file shows a 1997 resignation letter from William Leonard Roberts, who borrowed his Rick Ross stage name from a once-notorious L.A. dope dealer.

Nelly is recruited as new model for Sean John

Rapper Nelly now has not only his own line of blue jeans for women, but he’s modeling men’s clothes, too. The sculpted, shirtless performer’s image was splattered all over the Web and featured on Fox’s Tuesday “Wendy Williams Show” as he appeared with pants hanging slightly below a Sean John underwear waistband. “To me, Nelly is the quintessential definition of the Sean John man,” says the fashion line’s founder, Sean “Diddy” Combs. “He has the attitude, the swagger and, most of all, the physique that our customers can both aspire and relate to. And let’s be honest, all of the ladies out there are going to be thanking us for this campaign.”

Woman who claimed pregnancy by Chris Rock not done yet
Negative test results may have damaged her credibility, but a Georgia woman says she’ll write a book about her alleged affair and disproven, alleged pregnancy by comedian Chris Rock. Lawyers for the comedian say there’s no reason to pay the planned book – or its writer – any attention. “There is a final judgment. This is not Chris Rock’s child,” one attorney for the star says. “It’s been fully litigated, and that includes DNA testing.”