August 22nd, 2008

The income of an imprisoned NFL star is made public.
In the wake of a bankruptcy judge’s recent decision to examine ex-NFL quarterback Michael Vick’s deteriorating estate, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Vick earns about $277.69 per month. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who made millions in salary and endorsement deals, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month while imprisoned for dog-fighting. Vick confessed that he financed illegal canine competitions in his native Virginia and is suspended indefinitely from the NFL. The Journal Constitution’s report doesn’t include Vick’s hardly mentionable prison paycheck – he earns 12 cents per hour.
TAGS: $300, michael, vick
August 18th, 2008
Shaq cancels plans for divorce

Weeks after a Memorial Day weekend photo showed Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal and his wife Shaunie lounging together on vacation, the couple confirms that they’ll remain together. Shaq filed for divorce last September, calling the marriage “irretrievably broken.” And this spring, he famously rapped about his ex-Laker teammate, saying, “Kobe ratted me out, that’s why I’m gettin’ divorced.” But rumors of Shaq’s infidelity or of Shaunie’s abuse of his paychecks are no longer a factor, Mrs. O’Neal says. “Neither one of us could probably answer why we were getting (divorced) in the first place,” she observes. “Things have been going so great that someone actually had to remind us that ‘Hey, you do remember those papers are still there.’ Literally, it was days ago. So, we’ve agreed that before we leave Florida in a few days we’ll make sure that that’s gone away.”
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Michael Vick’s estate suffers as he serves time
A bankruptcy judge may appoint a trustee to oversee ex-NFL star Michael Vick’s estate while the suspended player serves prison time for financing an illegal dog-fighting ring. A Sept. 5 hearing could determine how the former Falcon’s property will be handled. “It has become clear, since the filing of this case, that Mr. Vick has very limited knowledge of the state of his finances,” wrote bankruptcy Judge Frank Santoro. “…It appears that Mr. Vick has routinely relied upon others to make financial decisions for him, giving them discretionary control over large sums of money.” Vick filed for bankruptcy protection July 7. A former advisor to Vick was recently accused of hustling a church out of $500,000.
U.S. Olympians have a tough weekend in Beijing. The U.S. men’s track and field team had a less than stellar weekend on the track, capped off by Tyson Gay failing to qualify for the 100-meters final. Did the U.S. women fare any better? See more of our coverage at BET.com’s Olympics ‘08.
TAGS: estate, field, marriage, michael, olympians, Olympics, reconcile, Shaq, Sports, track, vick, wife
August 15th, 2008
Were you paying attention this week?

BET News Quiz: A football league eyes jailed quarterback Michael Vick; rappers mix it up backstage; minorities are rapidly becoming the majority. Take the quiz here!
TAGS: backstage, BET.com, fight, michael, news, quiz, rappers, vick
August 14th, 2008
United Football League plans to recruit Michael Vick

Convicted dog-fighter and suspended NFL star Michael Vick could have a new home in a competing football organization. The former Atlanta Falcon, who’s serving a sentence for sponsoring illegal canine fights in Virginia, has apparently been courted behind bars. United Football League commissioner Michael Huyghue says his organization is “98 percent” sure Vick will play on one of its six teams during their debut season. Vick’s release from federal custody is expected in 2009.
TAGS: 2009, dog, fighting, michael, NFL, Play, prison, vick
July 9th, 2008
Michael Vick Claims Up To $50 Million In Debt

Imprisoned ex-NFL star Michael Vick has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, claiming he owes between $10 million and $50 million to creditors. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, who admitted to funding an illegal dog-fighting ring and is serving federal time in Kansas, “will seek to rebuild his life and career,” court papers state. Vick was suspended from the NFL in light of his confession last year and lost numerous product endorsement deals. He still faces charges in Virginia as he serves a 23-month sentence at the Leavenworth pen. Vick has been named in multiple lawsuits, including alleged loan default.
TAGS: bankruptcy, michael, vick