Category: Entertainment Blog

Entertainment blog

Carmelo Anthony enjoys birthday party in NYC

carmelo anthony

Carmelo Anthony wanted a low-key birthday and he got one. According to a source familiar with the situation, the Knicks forward celebrated his 28th with wife LaLa Vasquez and a group of about 15 at SoHo nightclub Greenhouse on Tuesday night. Our insider says Anthony insisted on “no cake, no balloons,” but didn’t refuse a couple of bottles of Champagne that his pal Swizz Beatz, who was among the guests, and DJ Clue, who was spinning at the club after a Bartenura Moscato wines event, sent his way. Anthony’s party arrived around 12:30 a.m. and the superstar stayed until 3. Interestingly, no teammates were on hand for the soiree.

— Reported by Gatecrasher/New York Daily News

Metta World Peace stars in mental health PSA

NBA star Metta World Peace has said a lot of bizarre things in his career on and off the court.

And his recent public service announcement is yet another head-scratcher.

The trippy PSA stars Peace as ‘Metta Man’ a superhero who skateboards through the New York City skyline. The ad also features Larry King, a Cooper Mini, and a 40 pound curling stone. The partically animated video ends with Peace executing a backboard-shattering dunk.

“I may do some wild things at times,” he says, at the end of the 60 second PSA. “But there’s something I’m really serious about. Mental health.”

The spot directs viewers to Limelight Mental Health, a non-profit organization that claims to boost awareness and reduce stigma surrounding mental illness. Limelight encourages people to wear lime green bracelets or ribbons for mental health awareness.

— Reported by Lindsay Goldwert of the New York Daily News

Ron Artest mental health PSA video

NBA 2K13 release date is October 2, 2012

Good news, basketball fans. There’s a release date for the next edition of the best NBA video game around.

2K Sports today announced that NBA 2K13, the next installment of the top-rated NBA video game simulation franchise* for twelve straight years and the follow-up to the award-winning NBA 2K12, release date is Tuesday, October 2, 2012 in North America and October 5, 2012 internationally for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, Wii system and Windows PC. A Wii U version of NBA 2K13 will be available in the launch window, at a later date.

As always, InsideHoops.com will check the game out for you — usually before it’s released — and let you know what’s especially hot about it and the changes that hopefully make it even better than before.

“The NBA All-Star package is our way saying ‘thank you’ to fans for their ongoing love of the NBA 2K series,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “This content provides a ton of depth and value to our fans, and it’s just the beginning of a lot of big news about NBA 2K13.”

Fans that pre-order NBA 2K13 for the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 will receive a new downloadable NBA All-Star content package. This add-on content will be set in Houston, the site of the 2013 NBA All-Star Game and will allow fans to stage their own NBA All-Star Game, including three NBA All-Star events – Three Point Shootout, Rising Stars Challenge, and the Slam Dunk Contest featuring all-new intuitive, pick-up-and-play controls.

We’re looking forward to it.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim about to graduate with college degree in Sociology

Former NBA All-Star, 2000 Olympic gold medalist and third overall selection in the 1996 NBA Draft Shareef Abdur-Rahim can now add “college graduate” to his impressive resume.

Abdur-Rahim will graduate Monday, May 14 from the University of California at Berkeley – the school where he played his freshman season of NCAA basketball. He’ll receive his degree in Sociology having recorded a 3.8 grade point average.

Entering the NBA following his freshmen year at Cal, Abdur-Rahim continued to pursue his education through off-season summer courses as well as extension programs during his NBA playing schedule. He played 12 seasons in the NBA with the Vancouver Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.

Abdur-Rahim announced his retirement as a NBA player in September of 2008 and immediately joined the Kings coaching staff. After two years of coaching, he was promoted to the position of assistant general manager with the organization.

With education as his longstanding focus, Abdur-Rahim launched the Future Foundation in 2001 in his home state of Georgia. Through its mission, the foundation continues to provide support systems for Atlanta’s disadvantaged youth in order to increase their options for post-secondary education.

Since its inception 11 years ago, the foundation has enjoyed great success due to Abdur-Rahim’s support, guidance and passion for education. Future Foundation’s teen center in Atlanta boasts a 100 percent graduation rate.

“Much of my work outside basketball has been dedicated to my non-profit organization. The Future Foundation’s focus is to help young people reach their educational potential,” said Abdur-Rahim.

“Although I left Cal after only one year, it has always been my goal to complete my degree,” he said. “Receiving my degree will be an extremely proud moment for me and my family. I hope it will also help inspire many of the students our foundation proudly serves and encourages. “

Don Nelson to get college degree after nearly 50 years

Don Nelson

Just a week after Shaquille O’Neal received his doctorate degree, Don Nelson will receive his Bachelor’s degree in physical education that was nearly 50 years in the making.

The winningest coach in NBA history, the now-retired Nelson, who turns 72 next week, will take part in commencement ceremonies this Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on the campus of the University of Iowa.

“The reason I coached all these years was that I enjoyed so much being around young, talented people,” Nelson told the Des Moines Register. “This will be like coaching my teams, really. I love talented, young kids.”

Nelson, who spent 14 years as a NBA player, followed by 31 seasons as an NBA head coach, needed to require foreign language requirements to finally obtain his long-desired degree, which he put on hiatus when he left Iowa in 1962. He was able to complete those language requirements through correspondence/online classes.

— Reported by the Sports Xchange