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Ted Ballantine

Tom Brady's tiny new contract ensures he will retire a Patriot

Tom Brady has signed a new contract for well below market value

Tom Brady continues to play a central role in the New England Patriot’s success on the field—but few people expected him to help his team like this.

Brady signed a three-year contract extension on Monday that pays him $27 million overall, a shockingly low sum that represents about half of Brady’s market value. The upside for the Patriots, besides keeping Brady for an extra three years, is that they now have $15 million in cap space that they didn’t have last weekend. 

The deal was actually a restructuring of his previous contract, which ran through 2015 and paid Brady $72 million; the new deal runs through 2017 (at which point Brady will be 40) and includes a $30 million signing bonus spread over 5 years and the following pay scale, according to Sports Illustrated:

2013: $13.8 million
2014: $14.8 million
2015: $13 million
2016: $14 million
2017: $15 million

Those numbers include base salary plus signing and workout bonuses.

Brady has expressed the desire to retire as a Patriot, and this deal gives him the opportunity to do so while giving his team the salary flexibility to sign impact players in free agency this summer.

The low price of his contract came as a surprise, but Brady had hinted previously that he would be willing to take less money in a deal.

“To be the highest-paid, or anything like that, is not going to make me feel any better,” said Brady in 2005.”That’s not what makes me happy. In this game, the more one player gets, the more he takes away from what others can get. Is it going to make me feel any better to make an extra million, which, after taxes, is about $500,000? That million might be more important to the team.”

Tom Brady was the leader of the NFL’s best offense last season; the team also set an NFL record for fastest pace. Brady threw 34 touchdowns against only eight interceptions as his team racked up a 12-4 record after a slow start.

Jesse Jackson Jr. used campaign funds to buy $7,000 elk head, $4,200 fedora

The disgraced former Congressman pled guilt to misusing $750,000 in campaign funds

Former Illinois representative Jesse Jackson Jr. continued his downward spiral as he pled guilty on Wednesday to the felony charge of misusing $750,000 in campaign funds to fund his lavish lifestyle. Among his expenditures: a $7,000 stuffed elk head and a $4,600 fedora, both bought with campaign donations.

“Guilt, your honor—I misled the American people,” said Jackson to a federal judge as he pled guilt as part of a plea bargain. Under the deal, Jackson will likely receive a prison sentence of 46 to 57 months. He will be sentenced on June 28.

“For years I lived off my campaign,” said Jackson, who was reportedly crying during much of the hearing. “I used money I shouldn’t have used for personal purposes.”

The laundry list of Jackson’s illegal purchases range from excessive to downright strange. He spent $43,350 on a gold Rolex watch, $10,000 on furniture and over $5,000 on fur capes and coats for his wife, as well as spending around $60,000 on expensive dinners. According to the New York Times, Jackson also bought over $10,000 worth of electronics and spent $313 at a Build-A-Bear store.

Some of his purchases are sure to raise eyebrows—Jackson allocated $5,000 to buy a football signed by former American presidents, $7,000 on an elk head and $4,600 on a fedora once owned by Michael Jackson.

Jackson’s wife, Sanra, also pled guilty to filing false tax returns; she failed to report $600,000 in income earned between 2006 and 2012.

Jackson was elected to Congress in 1995 at the age of 30. He was one of the most popular black politicians in the country, following in the footsteps of his father, prominent civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.

But the younger Jackson’s career took a nosedive when he was accused of bidding for the Senate seat infamously put to auction by former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. Problems continued during the summer 2012, when Jackson failed to report to Congress for weeks before taking medical leave. He was later confirmed to have bi-polar disorder, and he resigned in November.

US Attorney Richard Machen called the case “tragic”.

“Jesse Jackson Jr. entered public life with unlimited potential, but squandered his bright future by engaging in a self-destructive course of conduct that was staggering in both degree and scope,” Machen said.

Both Jackson and his wife remain free until their June 28 sentencing.

Lil Wayne's new song pulled for offensive Emmett Till reference

The rapper made a sexual analogy to the infamous Emmett Till murder

Lil Wayne has a long history of landing in hot water; his rap sheet includes felony gun possession and a multitude of drug charges, and he’s even been sued by the Rolling Stones. But the rapper’s latest song may have crossed the line—“Karate Chop,” a new song which was leaked online last weekend, features a lyric from Wayne that makes a sexual reference to the infamous Emmett Till beating.

The song is actually a remix of a track already released by rapper Future. The new version, though, features a verse by Lil Wayne which included a sexual analogy involving the Till murder. News outlets aren’t printing the lyric in question.

Epic Records is now saying it’s going through “great efforts” to take the song offline and release an edited version without the explicit lyric.

“We regret the unauthorized remix version of Future’s ‘Karate Chop’ was leaked online and contained hurtful lyrics,” the label said in a statement. It went on to say that Epic will go “through great efforts to take down the unauthorized version…Out of respect for the legacy of Emmett Till and his family and the support of the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.”

Emmett Till, a black teenager from Chicago, was murdered in 1955 for whistling at a white woman while visiting his family in Mississippi. His body was found wrapped in barbed wire, with his eyes gouged out and a gunshot wound to the head. An all-white jury eventually dismissed charges against the two white men who stood trail for the murder.

Airickca Gordon-Taylor, a cousin of Emmett Till, told the Chicago Sun-Times the lyric was hurtful to Till’s family.

“My agenda is not to be disrespectful to Lil Wayne, even as much as I feel he’s been disrespectful to my family. We just want Emmett’s name removed from that song.

“He wouldn’t even be out there rapping these stupid lyrics without the sacrifice Emmett made. Personally, I think Lil Wayne should just go ahead and apologize to my family. It’s hurtful.”

Oscar Pistorious, double amputee who ran in Olympics, charged with Valentine's Day murder

The athlete, nicknamed ‘Blade Runner’, allegedly shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, to death Thursday

Oscar Pistorious, the double amputee who ran in the 2012 Summer Olympics, was charged on Thursday with the murder of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.

Reeva Steenkamp, 30, was found shot to death in Pistorious’ South African home early Thursday. Police reportedly found Pistorious in his home with the dead Steenkamp, and a 9mm pistol was found in the residence. According to police spokesperson Denise Beukes, Pistorious is the only suspect in the murder.

The LA Times is reporting that there has been a string of “domestic incidents” at Pistorious’ home previously, but some media outlets in South Africa are saying the murder was an accident; Steenkamp was allegedly trying to surprise Pistorious for Valentine’s Day when something went wrong. The Olympic star may have mistook his girlfriend for a burglar and shot her to death.

“We have also taken cognizance of the media reports during the morning of an alleged break-in or that the young lady was mistaken to be a burglar,” said Beukes. “Obviously our forensic investigation is still ongoing and we’re not sure where this report came from…. Our detectives have been on the scene, our forensic investigators have been on the scene and the investigation is ongoing.”

Pistorious was known for keeping weapons in his home to guard against South Africa’s rising crime rate, according to Daily Mail writer Jonathon McEvoy.

“There was the pistol by the bed, the machine gun up against the wall, the baseball bat under the window, a cricket bat too. He was concerned by safety and security to a high level, there was no doubt about that,” said McEvoy, who interviewed the track star at his home in 2011.

Pistorious will appear in court on Friday and authorities say they hope to deny him bail. He was originally scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, but the appearance was delayed to allow forensic investigators more time to gather evidence.

“When a person has been accused of a crime like murder they look at things like testing under the figure nails, taking a blood alcohol sample and all kinds of other test that are done. They are standard medical tests,” Beukes said.

Steenkamp, according to the Chicago Tribune, had been dating Pistorious for about a year. Her latest Twitter postings offered no signs of trouble and she seemed excited for Valentine’s Day; her last tweet read:

“What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow???”

Rob Gronkowski: Porn Star?

The tight end has been asked to participate in a porn film for Sex.com

New England Patriots tight-end Rob Gronkowski is well-known for his play on the football field. But his activities outside-the-lines are becoming a thing of legend as well; in the last year, cameras have caught Gronk hitting the clubs the night after his team’s 2012 Super Bowl loss, wrestling while trying to recover from a broken forearm, and generally engaging in shirtless antics in public places.

But Rob Gronkowski’s personal life took another entertaining turn this week when Sex.com reportedly offered him a chance to appear in a porn scene—and walk away with a payday of $3.75 million.

“There is no question that Rob Gronkowski has what it takes to make an excellent male performer in today’s adult industry,” Sex.com said in a statement. “He has proven both on and off the field that he has the body and the attitude to be a hugely popular male adult star.”

If accepted, the scene would include porn star Bibi Jones—someone Gronk is very familiar with if pictures released over Twitter are any indication.

The potential payday of nearly $4 million equals the salary Gronk would be due in 2014, but he doesn’t need the money; he signed a 6-year, $54 million contract extension last off-season.

A $3.75 million paycheck would be ludicrously high for even the most famous of adult stars—Ron Jeremy has appeared in over 2,000 adult films but grossed around $5.5 million, according to the New York Post.

It’s unclear is Gronk would be violating the NFL Code of Conduct by accepting the offer. It likely doesn’t matter; for better or for worse, the superstar tight end seems to have ignored the offer.

That won’t stop some people from eagerly awaiting the release of the film, which Twitter has tentatively titled: “From Tight End to Wide Receiver: The Bibi Jones Story”.

North Korea conducts new nuclear test with most powerful weapon yet

China, Russia, US among countries condemning the test

North Korea conducted its third nuclear test Tuesday and said the missile that was tested had “greater explosive force” than any the country had tested before. The actions violated international sanctions and drew condemnation from global superpowers, such as Russia, China and the United States.

BBC first reported seismic activity in North Korea early Tuesday morning, which was initially thought to indicate a shallow earthquake. The quake was later determined to be man-made in origin and a result of nuclear testing.

The test took place early Tuesday morning and was the third such test in North Korea’s history; the previous two took place in 2006 and 2009. There are several estimates regarding the power of the weapon, but all analysts seem to agree that North Korea is gradually testing more dangerous devices.

The pentagon’s top intelligence official, James R. Clapper Jr., said in a statement Tuesday that he believes North Korea is making progress with its nuclear program. He estimated the explosion yield of the newly tested device to be several kilotons, which is notably greater than the weapon tested by North Korea in 2006, which clocked in at less than one kiloton. For reference, the nuclear device dropped on Hiroshima by the US during World War II had an explosion yield of 15 kilotons.

The South Korean Defense Ministry released its own estimate, which placed the explosive yield of the weapon between six and seven kilotons.

The Korean Central News Agency (KNCA), North Korea’s state media outlet, confirmed the test in a statement released Tuesday.

“It was confirmed that the nuclear test that was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturized and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment,” KCNA said.

North Korea indicated that the tests wouldn’t be the last.

“This nuclear test was our preliminary measure, for which we exercised our most restraint. If the U.S. continues to be hostile until the end and complicates affairs, we cannot but consecutively take high-level secondary and third measures,” North Korea said in a statement released Tuesday.

The test, as expected, drew international criticism. President Obama released a statement calling the test a “highly provocative act”.

Even China, a close ally of North Korea, voiced its disapproval.

“The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in spite of the international community’s widespread opposition, once again carried out a nuclear test. The Chinese government expresses firm opposition.”

The United Nations Security Council immediately schedules an emergency meeting to take place at 9 a.m. EST in New York.

Brandon Webb, once a top pitcher, retires due to injuries

The injury-plagued pitcher has retired after seven seasons in the MLB

Brandon Webb, who was one of the top pitchers in baseball but suffered from chronic shoulder injuries, retired on Monday at the age of 33.

Webb won the National League Cy Young award in 2006, a award reserved for the best pitcher of the year, accumulating a 16-8 record and a 3.19 ERA. His success continued until 2008, as he went 70-34 and was selected to three all-star games in that span. He finished second in Cy Young voting during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Between the 2003 and 2008 seasons, Webb pitched at least 200 innings every year—a high mark for any pitcher, let alone one as young as he was at the time. The heavy workload would later come back to bite Webb.

He started the first game of the 2009 season for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but only pitched four innings as his shoulder began to bother him and he was pulled from the game. He would never make a major-league appearance again, as his injuries held him out the entire 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Webb attempted a comeback in 2011, signing with the Texas Rangers. But he never appeared in a game for the team because he re-injured his shoulder

Webb’s agents, Mike Montana and Jonathon Mauer, confirmed his retirement Monday.

”He has worked so hard over the past three years to come back but his shoulder just wouldn’t allow it to happen,” Montana told the Associated Press. ”He’s a first class guy with a great family that he’ll get to spend more time with now.”

Webb played seven seasons in the MLB. He tallied a 3.27 ERA and a win/loss record of 87-62.

Free pancakes at IHOP in celebration of National Pancake Day

IHOP is giving away free pancakes all day Tuesday, Feb. 5

Once again, National Pancake Day is here–and once again, IHOP is celebrating by giving away free pancakes all day on Tuesday, Feburary 5. 

For the eighth year in a row, the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) is giving away free pancakes to any customer that comes in between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.. Although the meal is free, customers are encouraged to donate to the Children’s Miracle Network, which raises money for children’s hospitals across the country. 

IHOP’s goal is to donate $3 million by the end of the day, and there’s no reason to think they won’t reach their goal– the guise of free pancakes has worked well in the past. IHOP’s free pancake promotion has raised $10 million dollars in the past. 

IHOP is owned by DIneEquity, which is also the parent company of Applebee’s. More than 1,500 IHOP restaurants across the country will be giving away free pancakes, although there is a bit of fine print: customers can get one short stack of pancakes per person free of charge. The offer, of course, can’t be combined with any other coupons or promotions. 

National Pancake Day isn’t entirely made up, according to IHOP. The restaurant says that the tradition of making pancakes on Feb. 5 is hundreds of years old, and comes from the tradition of making pancakes to use all the dairy products that are forbidden during Lent. 

Mallory Hagan, otherwise known as Miss America 2013, will be flipping pancakes during the promotion at a Hollywood location.

Check out the promotion details at this link: http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/

 

Obama, Senate propose dueling plans for immigration reform

Eight Senators released a proposal on Monday to introduce immigration reform to Congress, but the President has his own ideas as well

Immigration reform has long been a divisive economic and moral issue with the American public. But the subject is now a hot topic in Washington, D.C., as President Obama disclosed his immigration plan in a speech Tuesday amidst discussion in the Senate about an alternate bi-partisan proposal.

“I’m here today because the time has come for common sense, comprehensive immigration reform,” Obama said during a speech Tuesday. “Now’s the time…we need Congress to act on a comprehensive approach that finally deals with the 11 million undocumented immigrants who are in this country right now.”

A group of four Republican and four Democratic senators—the self-titled “Group of Eight”—released a proposal on Monday that outlined a plan for immigration reform that they believe can pass through Congress. The plan includes a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, a streamlined legal immigration system, and more emphasis on border security.

Specific details about the senators’ proposal are scarce, but Obama indicated that he is encouraged by the progress.

“The good news is that, for first time in many years, Republicans and Democrats seem ready to tackle this problem together,” he said.

Obama indicated that he would push his own immigration proposal into Congress if lawmakers fail to pass their own reform bill soon. His plan is similar to the “Gang of Eight” proposal, but contains more liberal tendencies such as requiring gay couples to be treated the same as heterosexual couples under immigration law. Obama’s plan also calls for an easier path to citizenship right away, while the Senate’s proposal requires border security to be tightened before illegal immigrants could become citizens.

Obama said his plan would increase border security as well, although Obama noted that his administration has deported 400,000 illegal immigrants in 2011, a US record. His plan would also provide a clear but difficult path for illegal immigrants to become citizens of the Untied States. The proposed process requires immigrants to pay back taxes and a fine, and includes background checks and education in English.

“It won’t be a quick process, but it will be a fair process,” he said. “And it will lift these individuals out of the shadows, and give them a chance to earn their way to a green card and eventually to citizenship.”

Many Republicans are wary of the President’s progressive plan and prefer the more conservative proposal being developed in the Senate. Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), said Obama runs the risk of reversing the progress already in the Senate made by offering a new proposal.

“Any solution should be a bipartisan one, and we hope the President is careful not to drag the debate to the left and ultimately disrupt the difficult work that is ahead in the House and Senate,” he said.

Allen Iverson, mulling another NBA comeback, turns down D-League oppurtunity

Allen Iverson is trying to join an NBA team–but turned down a spot in the D-League which could have gotten him there

Allen Iverson is attempting to make an NBA comeback—again—but has turned down an opportunity to play in the D-League, saying that it isn’t the place he would like to launch his return to professional basketball.

Iverson, who has been trying to break back into the NBA for several years, was fielding an offer to play for the Texas Legends of the NBA Developmental League. The team is affiliated with the Dallas Mavericks, and would have been a good way to get on the radar of NBA scouts. Alas, Iverson couldn’t bring himself to play in anything other than the NBA.

Iverson said over Twitter: “I thank Donnie and Dallas for the consideration and while I think the D-League is a great opportunity, it is not the route for me…I realize my actions contributed to my early departure from the NBA, should God provide me another opportunity I will give it my all. … My dream has always been to complete my legacy in the NBA.”

He added: “To my fans, I love y’all! Not a day goes by that I am not asked when am I coming back, we all must accept that my return is not up to just me.”

Gary Moore, Iverson’s manager, spoke with the Associated Press and confirmed his client’s decision.

“Hopefully, one day, he’ll get an opportunity to possibly join a team and help a team – come off the bench and maybe give a team some very valuable minutes in this playoff stretch,” Moore said. “I’m not a guessing man, but if I had to bet, I would surely feel like Allen is going to try and get himself in shape to return sometime this year.”

The Dallas Legends had been at the front of the waiver line, meaning that they would have had first dibs on Iverson if he chose to become a free agent in the D-League. The team has a history of sending players up to the NBA, as happened this season with 37-year-old point guard Mike James, who now plays on the Dallas Mavericks.

Iverson, an 11-time all-star and one-time MVP, has also turned down opportunities to play in China in the past.

Iverson played in the NBA as recently as the 2009-10 season, when he experienced brief stints with both the Memphis Grizzlies and the Philadelphia 76’ers. He left the NBA after taking a leave of absence, only playing in 28 games.