By Sherri L. Smith, BlackWeb20.com

So apparently it’s okay to start rocking 80s throwback fashions. From that shag that Kanye was rocking awhile back to will.i.am’s  asymmetrical cut that has the makings of an undercover gumby, the 80s are slowly encroaching on the new millennium. What’s next, a resurgence of jheri curls? I shudder at the thought. Read the rest of this entry »

Ex-Footballer ‘Refrigerator’ Perry Very Ill William Perry, the refrigerator-sized defensive lineman who had one of the most memorable touchdowns in Super Bowl history, is in serious condition in a South Carolina hospital. Perry, 46, landed in the hospital more than a week ago for complications stemming from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a chronic nerve inflammation disorder, but his condition only worsened, The Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune reported. As a 300-plus-pound lineman for the Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl team, Perry was called on by Coach Mike Ditka to carry the bowl on a short-yardage play. Perry, of course, blasted a refrigerator-sized hole in the defensive line of the New England Patriots on his way to end zone pay dirt. “Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a rare condition that occurs when immune system cells mistakenly attack nerve cells that support the muscles,” The Associated Press reports. “Symptoms include weakness or tingling in the legs, which may spread to the arms and upper body. In the most severe cases, GBS can lead to paralysis and death.”

Lyfe Jennings allegedly threatened woman. Star performer Chester “Lyfe” Jennings is free on $50,000 bond after an incident allegedly involving a gun, chase and car wreck. Jennings, who served 10 years in prison for arson before launching his music career, is accused of kicking in a door in Georgia, firing a pistol in the street and fleeing Smyrna, Ga. cops before he crashed his vehicle. Jennings was on a rampage in search of his children’s mother, police say. He faces trespass and weapons charges, a count of eluding police and a driving under the influence. Jennings’ mentor Yolanda “LaLa” Brown was murdered a year ago this week in a case that’s still unsolved.

Actress longs for role as Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.

A star of the – for some reason – popular “High School Musical” franchise has dreams of portraying an actual musical performer on screen. Monique Coleman says she’d love to take on the role of the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in a film about Lopes’ old group TLC. Lopes died at age 30 after a 2002 car crash in Honduras. As part of the R&B trio for which she rapped and co-wrote, the entertainer helped sell 22 million records. Lopes also made news for her devastating arson to the mansion of one-time boyfriend and NFL star Andre Rison.

Will.i.am writes Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa tracks. Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am is the voice of Moto Moto as well as the writer of four original tracks in the forthcoming Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. The animated film opens nationwide Nov. 7. The soundtrack, will.i.am’s first musical movie contribution, is set for release three days before the movie. The performer is best known for his Grammy-winning work with one of the world’s biggest pop groups.

They killed an African-American man – just because he was Black

Two Kansas City men will spend the rest of their lives in prison for killing a man who was on his way to work – just because he was Black. A federal judge ruled that Gary Eye  and Steven Sandstrom, whose lives were spared by jurors for the March 2005 murder of William McCay, should never be free again. “I’m innocent of all these charges,” Sandstrom said. “This was not a hate crime. Not even close to it, your honor.” But Eye opted not to say anything during his sentencing hearing. Yvonne McCay, the victim’s mother, said she is now ready to move forward. “Justice has been served,” McCay said. “None of this will bring him back, but I pray constantly to God to remove this malice from my heart for these individuals.”

Looks like Barbie decided to pledge AKA. As BET.com reported earlier this year, Mattel created a limited-edition Barbie doll in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the nation’s oldest Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Now, she’s ready to make her debut. The doll, dressed in her salmon pink and apple green evening gown (the sorority’s official colors) and adorned with gold jewelry, will sell for $50 and will be introduced to the 35,000 members going to the sorority’s convention in Washington, D.C. starting this weekend, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. It will also be available through BarbieCollector.com, the Barbie Collector catalog and other outlets and partnerships with the sorority. The group will receive a portion of the proceeds. Since being founded on the campus of Howard University in 1908, 200,000 women have been inducted including poet Maya Angelou, author Toni Morrison and TV host Star Jones.

Judge rejects Black union members’ discrimination suit
A federal judge threw out a discrimination suit against a Kansas City construction union, ruling that the five Black union members didn’t prove their case. Robert G. Franklin, Steve Bailey, Edward W. Lewis, Glenn E. Steele and Leon Booker, active and retired members of Sheet Metal Workers Local 2 had argued that they had been discriminated against by the union’s jobs-referral list in January 2006, The Kansas City Star reports. “My only regrets in this matter are that the reputation of Local 2 has been challenged and that the resources of the hard-working men and women of all racial groups that make up the union have been used to defend allegations that were unfounded,” Ken Alexander, Local 2 business manager, said in a statement. “In my opinion, this case should never have been filed.”

Louisiana lawmaker is in another battle
Rep. William Jefferson, who has spent a good chunk of the past couple years fighting allegations that he has used his position as a national politician to swing fat-cat money deals for his wife and kids, is facing a barrage of challengers for his Louisiana congressional seat. Included in the suddenly crowded field of Democrats is Helena Moreno, a former TV news reporter; Troy Carter, a former New Orleans City Council member; Byron Lee, a member of the Jefferson Parish Council; and state Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, who see a chance to unseat the reeling lawmaker. “Obviously, the congressman has issues that he has to deal with,” Carter said, according to The Times Picayune newspaper. Jefferson, who is seeking his 10th term in the U.S. House of Representatives, has seen his power on the Hill evaporate in the wake of federal criminal investigations into alleged bribery and influence-peddling. He is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from representatives of a Nigerian telecommunications firm and promises of jobs for his wife and children in exchange for his support of favorable legislation.