Not only does he pick it, he runs it back

LSU has started the 2007 campaign. It materialized last night in a 45-0 thumping of hapless Mississippi State.
Bolstered by safety Craig Steltz’s lengthy interception returns (3 in all) of 49 and 51 yards, LSU piled up 122 yards in interception returns alone — challenging Mississippi State’s passing yardage total (136).
That's the only statistic you need right there. What will USC do on Saturday?

"In 3 minutes it went from the ground to the roof"

USC vs. LSU: Who'd win it?

What if USC and LSU could get it on? Who would win, seriously? USC is the 2007-version-of Linebacker U. and that's a good thing. They have depth unprecedented for a college program, "the best in the history of college football," is what they say.
And it's no wonder the Trojans open their season with
Vandals,
Cornhuskers and
Cougars, they need to calibrate their great talent for the likes of
Cardinals,
Huskies and
Bruins. They will likely escape the season with a few harrowing close calls, but should prevail against them all, probably with one loss (nobody's perfect). The Fightin' Tigers should actually lose one or two of their games in the SEC, but should be propelled in the polls by strong performances against
Florida,

Auburn and a surprising
South Carolina. Should the boys from the bayou meet them somewhere we can expect a battle royale.
TURNOVERS: LSU's
monster tackle Glenn Dorsey would probably have only 1.5 sacks but his constant pressure would force John David Booty to "give up the booty" as in the ball at least twice.
SPECIAL TEAMS: LSU looks to have the edge on this one, what with Reggie Bush long gone from the Trojan stable.
OFFENSE: This is a tie, folks. Booty will be every bit as able to pick apart the LSU secondary as Matt Flynn will be able to bomb over the top of the Trojan defenders. LSU's offense will use a lot of sets to keep
USC's pro-style linebackers in coverage and away from the line of scrimmage. LSU's only chance at rattling Booty is to send blitzers at him from all positions, then of course, hope he's off balance enough to make bad throws.

COACHING: Pete Carroll is Einstein to Les Miles' Dr. Frankenstein. One is pure genius, the other one is a little mad. Look for Carroll to throw the kitchen sink at ole Les and Les to counterpunch by trying to call timeout when he doesn't have any. In the end, only one coach will be holding up his hands. LSU will have had a longer season and taken more bruises in the punishing SEC. A long, drawn-out war doesn't bode well for the Purple-and-Gold. If LSU jumps out on top early, then LSU wins. If it becomes a sloth-fest, the Boyz From Troy.

LSU 2007 season preview: Who dat afraid of USC?

Sat, Sep 08
Virginia Tech - Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 8:15 p.m.
The massacre last semester will weigh heavily on this one: finally Tech fans will get to do what they enjoy the most: Watch the Hokies play smashmouth football. This one reminds me of LSU a couple of years ago after Katrina; they became the sentimental favorite. V-Tech will be the same. Look for one game-turning play to run the emotions off the charts for the Hokies. Ahhh, the suspense is killing me. 21-13 Hokies

Sat, Sep 15
Middle Tennessee Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 7:00 p.m.
LSU will show up for the first half ... then the lead will be so big that the waterboys will show up after that to coast to victory. 55-17 LSU

Sat, Sep 22
South Carolina - Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 7:00 p.m.
"Ole Ball Coach" Steve Spurrier says this is the year his team joins the first tier. He'll have to prove it in the East with the Georgias, Tennessees and Floridas. He's not ready to challenge the West. Not yet. 36-11 LSU

Sat, Sep 29
Tulane - at New Orleans, La. (Louisiana Superdome)
Expect the unexpected — just kidding, LSU will whip the living snot outta these boys — but with love, since they are Louisiana homeboys. 48-3 LSU.


Sat, Oct 06
Florida
- Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 7:00 p.m.
Last year it was the Tim Tebow show plus a stout Gator defense as Florida scored 16 points off three LSU turnovers and earned seven more on a short field following a safety, as the No. 5 Gators took advantage of the errors to win, 23-10, at The Swamp. Without a muffed punt and the turnovers (including a goal-line fumble by JaMarcus Russell) the Tigers would have won the game with the score reversed, but that was then. Look for the Tigers to come out ferocious and dominate the Gators for some getback. Oh, and it gets fugly. 34-10. LSU

Sat, Oct 13
Kentucky - at Lexington, Ky. (Commonwealth Stadium)
If the Tigers can run on you, they will. Last year the Tigers owned the Wildcat defense for 546 total yards; 268 on the ground and 278 in the air. Meanwhile the LSU defense held Kentucky to 227 total yards and recorded its first shutout of the year. Kentucky will be better than last year, and I DO believe in getback (not Karma). This is the upset. 27-24 KU.

Sat, Oct 20
Auburn - Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium)
7:00 p.m.
Last year, these teams met in the 3rd game of the season. And LSU surrendered its first touchdown of the season, but wasn't able to get into the Auburn endzone with a last gasp effort in the final minute. This game will again be a close one, and a seasoned Brandon Cox may be able to pick apart and blitz-happy scheme. Or maybe not. 13-7 LSU.

Sat, Nov 03
Alabama - at Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Bryant-Denny Stadium)
It's Nick Saban, y'all! The Tigers don't need any pep talk, no motivation. Just show them the hash marks. We're gong to particularly enjoy punishing this team. 'Bama actually has decent talent. Even last year the the two teams combined for 35 points in the first half, until LSU's blitz started to work up ole Brody Coyle. The Tide went scoreless for the last 30 minutes of the contest and the Tigers held on for a 28-14 win. Look for a repeat. 28-14 LSU.

Sat, Nov 10
Louisiana Tech (HC) - Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium)
7:00 p.m.
This game will allow the LSU running backs to pad their stats. No surprises here. 42-0 LSU.

Sat, Nov 17
Ole Miss - at Oxford, Miss. (Vaught-Hemingway Stadium)
The Rebels soundly beat LSU in every aspect of the game through three quarters last year and carried a 20-7 lead into the fourth quarter. But, LSU fought back in the final quarter, scoring with 8:46 left in the game and for the final time in regulation with just 14 seconds to play in a 23-20 overtime thriller. I don't think Ole Miss can play over their heads again. 45-17 LSU.

Fri, Nov 23
Arkansas - Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 1:30 p.m.
This is always, ALWAYS, the scariest game of the season for Tiger fans. The Razorbacks have been down-right scary since Houston Nutt took over the program a few years ago and this year it's no different. As long as Darren McFadden is in the Razorback backfield it could be a long day. Last year LSU needed a 92-yard kickoff return to escape the fifth-ranked Arkansas, 31-26, this year it'll come down to the fourth quarter with maybe a BCS bid on the line. Yeah, I said it.

Letter to Les Miles: SHUT UP!!!!

Letter to Louisiana State Coach Les Miles: Coach, shut up. This is not Oklahoma State. You aint a Cowboy. Stop calling out Saban, and Alabama for that matter. Stop pissing on USC (We barely beat Arizona State a few years back, while USC SHUT OUT Auburn 2 years ago, and has dismantled Arkansas each of the past two years). LSU has never had a motor mouth coach such as you, I know I'm a hometown fan. We all remember a time when we were owned by Alabama. It wasn't that long ago. Sure, we've got the best defensive line in the nation (DT Glenn Dorsey, DE Tyson Jackson) and All-American speed across the board. I know, I know, the schedule is sweet (Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Florida, Auburn and Arkansas all at Death Valley. But that lone road trap? It's Nov. 3 at Alabama. Chill out on the yappin, bro. Just play ball. We still haven't forgotten that timeout you tried to take late in the game against Tennessee two years ago, and how that stopped us from playing for the national title (LSU was up 3 touchdowns and lost). So, from here on out, just play, bro. Just play, bro. Just play.

The Auburn problem

There's a school about 1.5 hours from Atlanta, it's called Auburn University, and it's in Alabama. The coach has been pretty dang successful, yet is ignored by mainstream media (He went 13-0 in 2004, and got a pat on the back). His name is Tommy Tuberville. His Tigers have won more games (33) than any SEC team in the past three years, averaging 11 wins in those seasons. He is LSU's main nemesis, despite the Saban problem. Can the Bayou Bengals beat 'em? Seems to always take divine help. Two years ago, it took a wide right field goal in overtime for Les Miles and his guys to escape with the W. Last year Auburn made a 7-3 lead stand up despite a last-minute drive deep in their territory (Yes, JaMarcus Russell should have thrown it in the end zone). But the fact remains, this team won't lay down (ask Alabama, who has been whipped 5 straight times by them in a state that was painted Tide-red decades ago). And he has everything but a cape. Still, Tuberville has to be a little concerned about LSU as well. Auburn never reached full capacity after the LSU game, and he conceded that they "were hurting" for the rest of the season after the punishing hits in the game. Their quarterback, Brandon Cox, and star running back, Kenny Irons, both missed time after the LSU game, and it cost them a possible national title. Whatever Tuberville comes up with this year, the Bayou Bengals will be waiting.

As Hurricane Dean heads to Gulf, Bush still on vacation

Let's see now: Louisiana has called a state of emergency. A "monster" storm is heading into the Gulf of Mexico. The leader of the free world is ... on vacation! Wow, whodda thunk? Isn't this now the time to prepare for the worst if New Orleans is hit? What could be so important for Bush that he's not in the Oval Office right now making plans for Texas, Louisiana and the Gulf states in case Dean comes calling. As of this writing, Bush is on vacation, or "working holiday" as they say.
I guess "happily clearing trails, chopping cedar, and riding his mountain bike in the 100-degree heat of his Texas ranch" is not a walk in the park after all, huh? Bush has been on vacation since August 2 (the 65th vacation of his presidency)
, from Texas to Kennebunkport, Maine. Will he act now?

Louisiana declares state of emergency as Dean churns toward Gulf

Aug. 18, 8:30 a.m. update: CASTRIES, St. Lucia (AP) -- Hurricane Dean, responsible for 3 deaths already, whipped across the eastern Caribbean Saturday and churned toward Hispaniola, Jamaica and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, with forecasters saying it could turn into a monster Category 5 storm within 72 hours. As winds hit 150 mph, the Gulf of Mexico braces for the worst. But at least one local government official is thinking ahead: In anticipation of potential impact to Louisiana, Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Dean churns across the Caribbean Sea. She has also requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration to ensure Federal assets are available to Louisiana prior to the potential landfall of Dean. We all know what happened last time!!!!

Country singer suits up for Saints

Million-selling country music singer Kenny Chesney is going to be putting on some black-and-gold football gear this morning to work out with the New Orleans Saints in Cincinnati. Is this a gimmick? Is this just another NFL campaign to blend Cincinnati's country twang with the team's preseason game vs. the Bengals on Saturday? Evidently not.
Chesney actually played wide receiver for Gibbs High in Corryton, Tenn., but says he was "probably the slowest receiver" in the history of his high school football team, but said, "I learned how to really work playing high school football, 'cause you can't play it at any level and not be focused. If you do it halfway, you'll get hurt; you gotta go full-speed all the time. That's just the way it is, and it set me up for life."
Kenny says he first met Saints Coach Sean Payton at one of his shows in 2002, when Payton was the assistant coach of the Dallas Cowboys. "Over the years, we'd become really good friends because there's a very mutual respect for what the other ones does," Kenny says. "He's told me he loves how driven and focused I am about what I do; he loves the intensity I have when I'm onstage, and how passionate I am about what he does, too."

LSU's Miles in diss mode this summer

LSU Les Miles is proving that poise is not one of his strong points. Dude has been talking major smack lately ... Is he that nervous that Alabama has Nick Saban? Check what he said about the No. 1 team in the nation.

"I'd like nothing more than to play USC for the [national] title," Miles said at a function in New Orleans. "I'll tell you this: They have a much easier road to travel."

Of course he's been on Nick Saban's rump this summer as well.

"We now have a new rival in ... Alabama."

That's what he reportedlya told a gathering of LSU boosters and fans. After he turned a few heads with the comments he decided to chill out a bit. "At the end of a recruiting season when there was some hearsay and innuendo, I had an emotional reaction," Miles said. "I regret any choice of words that I made. I am in no way trying to be derogatory towards Alabama. I look forward to competing with Alabama and their head coach."
He also defends what he said about USC, saying instead that it wasn't a diss to the PAC-10 but just some love to his conference. Well, he'd better bring the love next month that's all I know.

Beneath the Underdog (sea level in N.O.)

Why did JaMarcus Go No. 1?

THIS IS WHY!

Bush TD reception in '07 playoffs (in Chicago)

Remember when? The Fall of the Mighty Miami Hurricanes

When did they lose their luster? It was during Miami game vs. Florida International. This game was when U-M lost their swagger. They haven't been the same since.

The Wonders of Michael Vick

If it was one college team Michael Vick embarassed pretty good (and he did alot of them) it was Boston College. Enjoy.

Lil Wayne, Ja Rule arrest footage

Here's footage of of favorite son Lil Wayne and Ja Rule when they were busted arrested last week. They are both facing up to 3 1/2 years on gun charges.

MySpace admits wider use by sex offenders

(AP)- Hotboy326@whatever may actually be "old man looking for sex"@whatever, according to Myspace. The US social networking website has admitted it detected and deleted 29,000 convicted sex offenders on its service, more than four times the figure it had initially reported.

The company, owned by media conglomerate News Corp, said in May it had deleted about 7,000 user profiles that belonged to convicted offenders.

MySpace attracts about 60 million unique visitors monthly in the United States and has an Irish subsite, http://ie.myspace.com.
The new information was first revealed by US state authorities after MySpace turned over information on convicted sex offenders it had removed from the service.

The Conneticut Attorney General, who led a coalition of state authorities to lobby MySpace for more stringent safeguards for minors, said there was an exploding epidemic of sex offender profiles on the site.

For more information, please contact the Louisiana Sex Offender Registry.

These players poised to take Vick's shine as NFL 'it' boy

With the sun about to set on the NFL's relationship with Michael Vick, a few ballers will benefit from his diminished shine:



Most notably, Reggie Bush who's top highlight thus far was probably this knockout hit in the playoffs last year; that being said, Bush will have to improve on his numbers across the board (Well, he did lead all rookies in receptions last year).

Payton Manning is already a posterchild for the NFL, but look for his likeness to increase dramatically as you hear less and less about Vick and all of the NFL commercials edit his footage out. It didn't hurt that ole "PayPay" won the Super Bowl last year as well. And it's no debate that dude has been the best quarterback in the league for the past 3 seasons now.

Vincent Young will certainly see his star rise as a result of the Vick debacle. The arguments over whether he was a taller, saavier, smarter Vick started even before he left college. The pressure is on this youngen to show the world that last year's inaugural season was not a fluke (even if that phantom sack against the N.Y. Giants that allowed Young to run for a 1st down on 4th down was).

And now for our Karma-loving fans:

LSU's freshman impresses early

“Guys in our seven-on-seven drills are really complimentary of his abilities,” LSU coach Les Miles said recently about frosh Terrance Toliver. At 6-foot-f, 180 poiunds, Toliver figures to be a beast for the Tigers in the years ahead. Auburn's tallest backfield defender won't be able to keep up his Toliver. He recently completed some informal workouts with Ole Miss great Eli Manning at the Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State.
Miles said Manning had to be impressed with the youngster. “He tried to throw it beyond Terrance’s grasp,” Miles said, “and Terrance went and got it.”
As for Toliver Miles is chomping at the bit to unleash him. “He’s really stood out. [Returning players on the LSU squad] also like our freshman quarterback (Jarrett Lee), (safety) Chad Jones, really a number of guys.”
TIGER TOT:



LSU puts 12 on ALL-SEC preseason team

Absolut toasts to New Orleans

They've just released Absolut New Orleans. It features "a juicy
taste of mango with a kick of black pepper."
Greaaaaat. Just what we need more alcoholic name-association in New Orleans. I guess "The City That Care Forgot," is not good enough moniker. I guess "The Big Easy," doesn't quite say it.

Katrina Diaries Part 28: 'The Damage is Done'

Katrina Diaries Part 27: 'Woe to you, Great City'

Katrina Diaries Part 26: 'Live' in the Storm

Katrina Diaries Part 25: 'Wise & Bo at Essence '05 pre-storm'

Katrina Diaries Part 24: '2 Days In New Orleans'

Katrina Diaries Part 23: 18 Months Later

Katrina Diaries Part 22: 'The Fight for Housing 3'

Katrina Diaries Part 21: 'My City of Ruins'

Katrina Diaries Part 20: '... And the Waves'

Katrina Diaries Part 19: N.O. Saints Tribute

Katrina Diaries Part 18: N.O. by Train One Year Later

katrina Diaries Part 17: "Look & Leave"

Katrina Diaries Part 16: Obama speaks

katrina Diaries Part 15: "Kylypso's New Orleans"

Katrina Diaries Part 14: Relief Party

Katrina Diaries Part 13: Tribute to New Orleans Vol. 2

Katrina Diaries Part 12: Documentary by Al Gomez

Katrina Diaries Part 11: Destruction of the Lower 9th Ward

Katrina Diaries Part 10: Tribute to New Orleans

Katrina Diaries Part 9: After the 'Math'

Katrina Diaries Part 8: 'The Day the Music Died'

katrina Diaries Part 7: 'They Took Our Guns'

katrina Diaries Part 6: Birth of the Storm

katrina Diaries Part 5: After the Storm

katrina Diaries Part 4: Video montage

katrina Diaries Part 3: "The Katrina Clap" by Mos Def

Katrina Diaries Part 2: The Drive: Lower 9th Ward

Katrina diaries Part 1: girl, 11, tells of ordeal

The curious tie between Jimmy Walker and the Saints

In the 1960s, there was this smooth-as-leather lanky kid in New England that could do with a basketball what Merlin could do with a wand. A curious link between this kid, who was a legend in Boston circles, and the upstart New Orleans Saints franchise is little known. See, New Orleans drafted this kid. His name was Jimmy Walker, a Boston high school basketball phenom, Providence College All-American and the father of Phoenix Suns NBA player Jalen Rose. Walker died Monday in Kansas City due to lung cancer. He was 63.
Mr. Walker played nine years in the NBA for three teams: the Detroit Pistons, the Houston Rockets, and the Kansas City Kings. But Saints saw the 6-3 lanky kid and thought about a wide reciever catching deep routes along the sidelines. It was a dream before Lynn Swan's acrobatics, before Drew Pearson's long touchdown catches in the back of the endzone, before Jerry Rice's short catches went for 80-yard scores, before T.O. Yeah, see the only problem with that dream, is that ole Jimmy had never played a down of football at Providence. Maybe his heavily Catholic roots in Boston made him diserable to the Saints management. Maybe his athletic prowess was just too good to pass up.

Walker was the No. 1 pick overall in 1967 by the Detroit Pistons, making two All-Star Games, 1970 and 1972, while with Detroit. But his best playing days may have been on the collegiate level. At Providence College from 1964-67 he was viewed as one of the greatest players in New England collegiate history. He scored 50 points against Boston College at Madison Square Garden, and averaged 30 points per game as a senior.
His career scoring record stood for nearly 40 years at Providence until current Celtics forward Ryan Gomes broke it last year.
In the 1990s, it was revealed that Walker was the father of Jalen Rose, a former star guard at the University of Michigan and a member of the Fab Five.

'Sir Bush' comes correct at BET Awards

Little Big Man was reppin' the N.O. at the BET Awards Tuesday night in L.A. Word is the honeys couldn't get enough of the Black & Gold Nightmare after the show. And you know what? Ya girl, Kim Kardashian wasn't even around to throw salt. What up wit dat?

"Sports Center" quotes for summer 2007

"Sports Center" quotes for summer 2007




"New Orleans is still the best offense as long as they don't get one-dimensional."


"Last season the Saints thrived offensively because they used Reggie Bush to create mismatches. they didn't rely too much on the run or press the pass and kept team off balance by mixing it up and throwing ball in run situations and vice versa. That's the key to this team's offensive success and it will continue this season. The Saints are the class of the division and they should repeat as the South champs. They are the most balanced team in the division and have the ability to outscore any team in the South, including the best defense in Carolina."

-Merrill Hoge, former Steelers running back

"Four words. Drew Brees and Sean Payton."
"Last season Payton emerged as the heir to the throne of best playcaller in the league. He put himself on the level of a Mike Holmgren and Mike Shannahan with his inventive playcalling. He consistently kept opposing defenses on their toes with the way he mixed it up and utilized Bush and Deuce McAllister as a tandem Under Payton's tutelage, Brees continued his ascent to the upper echelon of quarterbacks. He's cool under pressure and makes the right decisions for his offense. This team is set offensively. The Saints are the best at the skill positions offensively in this division and defensively play the best team game in the division. That adds up to another divisional crown for the Saints."

- Joe Theismann, former Redskins quarterback

 


"This is the most underrated defense in the league. This is the best Saints defense since the days of the Dome Patrol when Rickey Jackson, Vaughn Johnson and Sam Mills roamed the Superdome and decimated opposing offenses. This team may not have the big names and great individual performers that other defenses have, but they have a great team defense ethic and they stick to what they are supposed to do. They don't stray and freelance on the field. Each player knows his role and plays it perfectly."

- Ron Jaworski

Letter to U.S. government: Are You EnterTAINED?!

Spike to return to N.O.

"Please, baby, baby, baby, please."
Spike S. Lee is coming back to the N.O. to update the stories he shared on "When the Levees Broke." Check out the facts RIGHT CHERE.

The Deconstruction of 'Smokey'

(In keeping with our every Friday look at "Friday": Today's treat: "Smokey")

"No sugar? DAYUM. Y'all ain't never got two things that match. Either y'all got Kool-aid, no sugar. Peanut butter, no jelly. Ham, no burger. DAYUM. "

One of the most loved characters in black cinema surfaced in 1995 in a modest-budget movies created by a rapper filmed in 21 days.
The cult classic "Friday" catapulted the sayings of Smokey (played by a comedic Chris Tucker) into the cinematic stratosphere.
But in reconsidering Smokey's character traits, some questions come to the fore.
1. Smokey didn't have a last name? No, "Craig," played by Ice Cube, had a last name. It was Jones. The fact that Smokey didn't have a last name reinforces his role as a scoundrel with no influence of family compared to Craig's "full" family.
2. Did Smokey ever have a job? Smokey didn't have a job yet he ridiculed Craig for having a job — and for getting fired "on yo day off." This, along with the jesterly way Smokey makes fun of "Red" when Deebo knocks him out, combines to make Smokey a comedic yet somewhat unsympathetic figure until the end of the movie where he and Craig's lives are in danger. Some in the black community have criticized the character as being nothing more than a modern-day Stepin' Fetchit but the character flaws in Smokey (the lack of self-esteem, the shiftlessness, and eagerness to do drugs) mimic almost exactly the realities found in many of the urban areas of the country. Even though some positive attributes gradually surface (Smokey did have a car, but it was a backfiring put-put) his actions seem to trap him in a negative cycle of poverty without actually lamenting the fact. Smokey, unlike Craig, appeared to have a strong fatherly and motherly influence, while Smokey's mother — as seen by the bamboo curtains in his house and pro-smoking nonchalance she displays — is herself seemingly an addict (who cusses him out).
3. Smokey was "the bad influence" in the film. Smokey's entrance early in the film can be seen as an antagonist against Craig's workman ideal to keep a job and not do drugs. Smokey, after much whining and sulking, gets Craig to smoke on his front porch and before you know it, they smoke the entire day. The film's pro-marijuana message can be pinned solely on the lips of Smokey, and the film makes him out to be the neighborhood dopeman, but without all the bling and flossings that have come to glorify the dopeman figure since the mid 1990s.
4. Smokey was the clown, Craig was the straight man. Like Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, Chris Tucker and Ice Cube play off each other with comedic genius. The fact that so many fans want to see the duo reunite is a testament to the chemistry onscreen that seemed to carry the film to cult status.
5. Smokey was a drug dealer. And to top it off, he was the worst kind of drug dealer, one who got high on his own supply. This characteristic made him the quintessential loser of the film. Even a crackhead, "Ezal," played by Anthony Johnson is redeemed late in the movie when he scores clothes from a neighbor, and still later when he is seen cheering for Craig to beat Deebo. Smokey, on the other hand, was a "hype," and is seen as being addicted to marijuana. What compounds his indulgences is that his supplier Big Worm is expecting a big payoff from the weed Smokey is supposedly selling for him, but instead Smokey smokes it throughout the day Friday. This could possibly be a metaphor for the "loser" mentality of drug users and how — despite their best intentions — they trap themselves in drug debts and destroy their lives.
After production wrapped and the movie was screened, Faizon Love, who played "Big Worm" in the movie, implied that Chris Tucker was not too pleased with the editing of the film. As one scene was playing, Love said Tucker said "that's f--d up." His displeasure, coupled with his change of morality due to the profanity of "Friday," and his next film "Money Talks," led Tucker to turn down any other "Friday" sequels. It was reported that Tucker had a change of heart about the negative stereotype that "Smokey" presented when he became a born-again Christian. After "Friday" and "Money Talks," Tucker signed on for the "Rush Hour" franchise with Jackie Chan, and increased his salary to $20 million per film. New Line Cinema would have to pay $20 million for Tucker to appear in another "Friday," which seems unlikely.
6. Is Smokey ever rehabilitated? The film ends with Smokey telling Big Worm that he's "going to rehab," as a way to put a positive ending on to the tale of Smokey. And even in "Next Friday," a line by Craig Jones says as much. But the end of Smokey gives way to the rise of Day-Day, Craig's cousin. By starring in the next two "Friday" movies, Day-Day (played by Mike Epps) steals the show with his physical comedy, and continues to play the clown to Ice Cube's straight man.

Master P blasts back at 50 Cent

Well, it seems 50 Cent bombed first:
The New York artist was asked by reporters about toning down rap lyrics in the wake of the Don Imus controversy.
When Master P, who is among those who have agreed to drop the vulgarity, was used as an example, 50 laughed, saying: “Well Master P doesn’t sell CDs anymore.” “You can tell him I said it. Cameras is rollin’ right?...Curtis, June 26.”
Well, somewhere in the southern Louisiana, off Interstate 10, you could hear a soft rumbling, "Uuuuuughhhhh," from the P man himself.
Roused from his hip-hop hibernation, "Ghetto Bill" wrote an open letter to "half-dolla":
Master P’s open letter:

LSU to PETA: Rickety-ROOWWLLL!!!

Animal rights activists are urging LSU not to replace Mike V, the university’s late Bengal tiger, with a live animal.
True to Louisiana character, LSU has told the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to stuff it.
Afte the Fighting Tigers lost the bengal mascot Mike V, PETA has been urging LSU to use a human mascot — not a live tiger — like the university has done for more than half a century.
LSU officials say they'll have none of it.
“The live tiger mascot has been part of the LSU family and community for 71 years, and we will be getting a Mike VI,” said Ginger Guttner, spokeswoman for the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, which is leading the process.
Not only will they actively look for a new tiger, but they want to have it in place before football season, where the Tigers will face the perenially bragadocious Auburn Tigers at home as well as Florida Gators.
But PETA aint giving up, they say the university's 15,000-square foot santuary won't cut it.
“It doesn’t come close to providing a tiger with the space that they need and doesn’t allow them to exhibit any natural behavior,” Wathne said. “There are many, many traditions that have gone by the wayside and this should be one of them.”
But if Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and Auburn can't bully LSU, then don't expect PETA to either.
“LSU stands behind its treatment of its tigers,” O’Keefe said.
Not to be outdone, PETA officials say the captive tiger is akin to imprisoning a human.
“Very few of us will choose to live in prison with the hope of extending life,” the PETA official said.
But yet, PETA wants LSU to have a human mascot and put him in the cage instead?! Hmmmm. I don't get it.

The Rise of Funk — and its New Orleans ties

It's kind of natural, that it'd all begin with Dick, if you know what I mean. New Orleans was the place, and the 1940s was the time. Blues was still the prevalent music for black folks. Rock and roll didn't exist. What did exist was "New Orleans" R&B. This subgenre of Rhythm & Blues was typified by rapid-fire playing of the piano and holy ghost wails from the vocalist. Richard Penniman aka, Little Richard ventured down to Nola to get some of this vibe when he ventured into a studio in the crescent city. What Little Richard did was validate this artform and bring it to the masses. It later solidified and crusted into "Funk," which we all know about today.
The recipe — which is basically a gospel base with one part New Orleans R&B, one part European electro, one part blues, one part LSD — got its start right here in the Big Easy. Now, RUN TELL DAT!
Follow the chronology like so:

1. Little Richard comes to New Orleans for studio sessions. He fuses gospel leanings with "New Orleans R&B," a furious piano style and horn style. In between sessions, he sings a song called "Tutti-Frutti, Good Booty." It is changed to "Tutti-Frutti (aw, Rutti)" and becomes his first hit.
2. Little Richard gets "this new cat," James Brown, who is influenced by him, to come to Macon, Ga. (along with Bobby Byrd). They both perform "R&B".
3. Little Richard tours Europe.... shows ropes to "4 British boys" : Paul, George, Ringo and John. Mick jagger opens for Litte Richard (and Bo Diddley) in Europe. (The Beatles open for Little Richard as well).
4. James Brown hires bass player named "Bootsy Collins," for his band, The JBs (with also includes saxophonist Maceo Parker, who starred on all of the solos in the band's biggest hits).
5. Bootsy later moves to Detroit to join a Motown song writer by the name of George Clinton, in a band called Funkadelic. Clinton, the self-described "Prime Minister of Funk," started recording under Motown with a doo-wop group called the Parliaments. They would eventually morph into Parliament/Funkadelic.
6. A young, prolific musician, Jimi Hendrix, plays guitar for Little Richard's touring band, The UpSetters, for a short time. Psychedelia hits America (recreational use of LSD explodes).
7. Rick James moves to Motown, and after his band aspirations expire, becomes a staff songwriter, writing under the name Terry Johnson. Later Rick James records a solo album of pure funk.
8. An outrageous funk band, Sly and the Family Stone, emerges in the 1970s, led by a bass player who introduces the "slap technique," and spawns a genre of disco. His name is Larry Graham.
9. Prince opens for Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones in 1980 and Rick James in 1981. Prince with his best albums driven by funk, spawns the "Minneapolis Sound," heavy synth bass, pop percussions and melotic cords.
- Prince joins Larry Graham in the mid-1990s and the two join with Maceo Parker to create a more understated funk.
- Who has the funk now?

In Case You Missed It ...

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'You know I wouldn't trip'

"It's Friday!

In commemoration of this beautiful day, I thought I'd have some fun and give you the funniest scene from the funniest movie of the last 15 years. "Friday."

(Pooh steps to neighborhood bully, Deebo)
POOH: Can I talk to you for a second?


SMOKEY: Ohh, s--t.


POOH: Pop's tripping, man.


He want me to ask
for my bike back.



You know I wouldn't trip.


DEEBO: What bike?


POOH: The Beach Cruiser...
the one I let you use,


the one I been asking you about.


DEEBO: Oh, that bike.



I didn't know
you wanted it back, homie.



It's right here.
Follow me, homes.


POOH: Yeah, it's just like
it's both of ours.


We just keep it
down at my house.

PAYOW!

(Deebo riles back and knocks the s--t out of Pooh.)
Aw, s--t!
Whoo!


(Kids cackle)


DEEBO: That's my bike, punk!


(Smokey runs over to Pooh, leans down and says ...)
You got knocked the f--k out!


(Pooh's father hurriedly gets out of the car.)
DEEBO: You want some of this,
too, old man? Huh?

(Pooh's father runs up to Deebo, then thinks better of it.)
POOH'S FATHER: No!


Get off your ass
and get in this car.


Boy, I don't know
why you come here


messing with these people.

Hurry up!

(END OF SCENE).
Read the entire "Friday" script right here.

A few of Louisiana-born StarBlacks!

Anthony Mackie from the famed Mackie clan of New Orleans, has made a name of himself in acting. After attending the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, he hopped to Jilliard in New York, the Bayou boy took bit parts in theater before making it to the big screen in such slept-on gems as "She Hate Me" and "8 Mile." Look for him in 2008 in the feature length film, Jesse Owens.


The lovely Lynn Whitfield, Last Page she of an affluent Baton Rouge family, has been giving that seductive glare and pointy-chin with smile. After early work in theater she made her big screen debut in "Doctor Detroit," and would find mainstream success when she beat out 500 other actresses in the casting lead for "The Josephine Baker Story." She would later return to her roots in "Eve's Bayou," where she plays a controlling wife and mother, which is what she also what she plays in Tyler Perry's "Madea's Family Reunion" . In a career that spans 30 years, she is definitely repping the Bayou right!


Winton Marsalis, the second born of the musical Marsalis brood in New Orleans, is the definitive jazzman of modern music. He, and he alone, has trumpeted — literally and figurately — a return to the traditional jazz sound while casting aside "new cats" that would tarnish the pure stuff with "fusion," and, lord forbid, hip-hop. Marsalis has lived in New York for most of the past 2 decades but has never stopped returning to his stomping grounds in the Crescent City, the birthplace of Jazz. Here's to you, Winton: Play dat thang, boi!

Homegirl Claudia Hayden is definitely doing her thing. Hailing from Baton Rouge, she is one of the bright creative stars in none other than the Big Apple. Daughter of the late, great artist and world renown sculptor Frank Hayden, Claudia has fed off her heritage to compose music scores, abstract art and many other artistic endeavors.

She's 26. He's 22.
He's a Saint.
She aint.
Okay, okay. That's not fair. Anyway, this is old news, but I wanted to have some fun with it. We all know Reggie Bush is crushing Kim Kardashian of Ray J. sex tape fame and of Nick Cannon fame (Honestly, who wants a woman after Nick Cannon?). Well, Bush and Kim met through Paris Hilton and Bush’s former USC teammate, Matt Leinart. But I just wanted to help my boy navigate through what is surely a "fairly worn" field. Woudn't want my boy to get "smurf-toe," ... or, I mean "turf-toe."

'24' reasons why not to trust Allstate

1. State Farm to reopen 350 hurricane claims in Louisiana


2. Jury says Allstate must pay millions to Louisiana man


3. Allstate finds way around state rule


4. Allstate To Appeal Katrina Verdict


5. Allstate says Katrina victim lied

6. Allstate sto stop issuing rental policies

7. Miss. Gulf Coast area included in Allstate reduction scenario

8. Allstate raising rates average of 29.5 %; Coast to see 90% increases

9. Insurer settles with 34 Katrina homeowners

10. Allstate urged to ditch change

Russell's first week on the job

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- JaMarcus Russell had a few nerves at his first practice as a Raider last week. Then that moment came. You know, the moment when you know he's going to be a beast in the NFL. Number 18, a receiver with fleet feet, took off across the middle, but had a man all over him.
POKOW!
Russ dropped back and rifled a pass through tight coverage that hit fellow rookie Johnathan Holland between the 1 and the 8 on his jersey.
Af the Oakland Raiders' first practice, even the veteran players were impressed.
"I think that kid, 18, is in there getting a rubdown," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "[He] caught that square-in, I bet he's got some markings on his chest. If nothing else, we're going to learn to catch with our hands or somebody's going to the hospital for some trauma. That kid's got a live arm so let's have some fun with it."

All was not perfect for the No. 1 pick though. Russ managed to fumble two snaps from center, overthrew Jerry Porter on a deep route and plain jacked up some short throws. Still, come September, we'll all "Raise One for the Na-tion."

OTHER JAMARCUS LINKS:
Teammate Sapp slims ... fast
Russell starts at bottom

Ice Man returns

Percy Robert Miller, better known as "Da Ice Cream Man," aka, "Ghetto Bill," aka, Master P, has announced that he will re-release his album "Ghetto D", in a 10th Anniversary Edition. This is the album that gave the world "Make 'em Say Uhhh," along with "Weed and Money," and of course, the title track. The 1997 LP sold over 3 million copies at last count. The 10th Anniversary Edition will include four bonus tracks that were previously unreleased. 
Ghetto D: 10th Anniversary Edition will be released on May 8th thru Capitol/Priority/No Limit Records.
 
Tracklisting: 
Disc 1: Original Ghetto D
 
 1. Ghetto D w/ C-Murder, Silkk the Shocker
 2. Let’s Get ‘Em w/ Mystikal, Silkk the Shocker
 3. I Miss My Homies w/ Pimp C, Silkk the Shocker
 4. We Riders w/ Mac
 5. Throw ‘Em Up w/ Kane & Abel
 6. Tryin 2 Do Something w/ Fiend, Mac
 7. Plan B w/ Mia X
 8. Weed & Money w/ Silk the Shocker
 9. Captain Kirk w/ Fiend, Silkk the Shocker
10. Stop Hatin w/ Fiend, Silkk the Shocker
11. Eyes On Your Enemies w/ Silkk the Shocker
12. Make ‘Em Say Ugh w/ Fiend, Silkk the Shocker
13. Going Through Somethangs w/ Big Ed, Serv-On
14. Only Time Will Tell w/ Mac
15. After Dollars, No Cents w/ Silkk the Shocker
16. Gangstas Need Love w/ Silkk the Shocker
17. Pass Me Da Green w/ C-Murder, Prime Suspect
18. Come And Get Some w/ C-Murder, Prime Suspect
19. Burbons And Lacs w/ Silkk the Shocker, Lil’ Gottie
 
Disc 2: Previously Unreleased or Unavailable Bonus Tracks
 
1. Weed & Hennessey w/ C-Murder, Silkk the Shocker
2. Scream (Previously Unreleased) w/ Silkk the Shocker
3. Playa For Life w/ Rappin 4-Tay
4. Make ‘Em Say Ugh (Instrumental)

Our boy, Avery, gets sent home

"We'll just see how everybody responds," Dallas coach Avery Johnson, Louisiana native and Southern University alum, said Wednesday at Oracle Arena, after his Dallas Mavericks squeaked out a gut-wrenching win in the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs. Ole Avery is a homeboy (Lutcher, La.). We're all proud of him and we thought this was going to be the year. Alas, Johnson and his Dallas Mavericks got eliminated Thursday night by the Golden State Warriors in a thrilling series. Johnson faced his mentor and the friend, Don Nelson, who groomed the ex-point guard to succeed him as the Mavericks coach after an eight-year run in Dallas. But in the end alot of people say too much pressure was on Dallas' star, Dirk Nowitski, who failed to deliver.

Illusion ... or slight of hand?

President Bush said Saddam had WMD. And the American people bought it. There are several reasons for this.
A. The American people are largely uneducated
B. Reinforcement conditioned the American people to believe.
C. Bush painted an illusion
CLICK HERE and tell me it aint so.

Militia on Burbon?

NEW ORLEANS -- Besieged by crime, French Quarter businesses and residences are in the early stages of setting up a loosely run militia.
The area is already under the strict watchful eyes of the National Guard, Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Police Department.
Citing violence against women and unsafe streets, the organizers are calling on French Quarter business owners, residents and supporters to chip in funds in increments of $100 to $50. See story here.

HIV in Louisiana: Playing it safe

2007 should be the year of WIUOTWFO (Wrap It Up Or It Will Fall Off!). Louisiana HIV cases are increasing. Since we have a big French influence it shouldn't be a big shock to get the point of these ads in France, which shocked people into seeing what a big risk it is these days to "slip up (or down)" with somebody. The full statistics are scary, but below is just a breakout of what's going on in the Bayou. As a matter of fact, uh, and a matter of public health, I will take it upon myself to explain to you how a random conversation should go with a person you just meet at a bar, club, library or even your place of worship:
Me: Hello.
Attractive person: uh, hi.
Me: I saw you over here looking at the menu.
Attractive person: uh, yes, I'm just seeing what I'll order.
Me: Uh, I don't mean to be so straight forward. Uh, have you thought about condiments?
Attractive person: Condiments?
Me: Oh yes laud! Condiments, you see, make the meal.
Attractive person: You mean like, jelly, or ketchup?
Me: Well, the jelly seems to work, but i've never used it. Latex probably is your best bet. Ketchup? You may want to stay away from anything red ... if you know what I mean.

OR, you could try something like this:

ME: Hello, there.
Attractive person: Hello.
ME: you showl is pretty.
Attractive person: (wierd stare)
ME: Protect ya neck, BIIIIOTCH!

Or, probably this:
ME: What's up
Attractive person: Nothing
ME: Well, actually that's not true, BUT, I've got protection. And to be honest I've got this stuff that adds 15 minutes to my endurance.
Attractive person: What did you just say?
ME: Oh, um, I said, I just saved 15 percent on my insurance.
Attractive person: Oh, okay. Let's do it!

Seeeee? It works, and of course, I was "safe" about it.