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Southern Miss president apologizes for racial chant at NCAA tournament

Angel Rodriguez receives apology from Southern Miss president after their band yelled racial chants at him.

University of Southern Mississippi president has apologized on behalf of members of the school’s band began chanting, “Where’s your green card” at a Latino player during an NCAA tournament game on Thursday, according to.

The incident occurred during the University of Southern Mississippi and Kansas State University game, which was aired on TV.

While the Kansas State point guard, Angel Rodriguez, was shooting free throws, the chant was clearly audible.

Not throwing off his game, Rodriguez appeared to not be upset during the chants, leading his team to a 70-64 win.

NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said Southern “responded in a timely and appropriate fashion to address the matter.”

She went on to say, “Any determination of championship misconduct is the purview of the men’s basketball committee and will be addressed following the tournament.”

The president of the University of Southern Mississippi released this statement:
“We deeply regret the remarks made by a few students at today’s game. The words of these individuals do not represent the sentiments of our pep band, athletic department or university. We apologize to Mr. Rodriguez and will take quick and appropriate disciplinary action against the students involved in this isolated incident.”

Rodriguez is a freshman at Southern. He is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Kansas State Wildcats win not only beat the ninth-seeded Southern Miss but also knocked them out of the tournament.

NCAA March Madness can be seen on TBS, TNT, truTV and CBS or if you’re not a TV, watch it online here

Dark Shadows trailer released

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton’s 8th film collaboration, “Dark Shadows,” is set to come to theaters May 11.

“Dark Shadows,” is back, but this time on the big screen. The trailer, released on Thursday, gives us a small glimpse of the film.
The movie, according to Hollywood Reporter, is about a “vampire who becomes a blood sucker out of water after waking up in 1972.”

Imdb.com explains the movie as a young Barnabas, who lived in 1752, breaks the heart of a witch named Angelique Bouchard, who curses him by turning into a vampire and burying him alive. Well when Barnabas finally wakes up, it is 1972. and he finds his house and family is chaos.

The movie, based on the gothic horror soap opera, will follow Barnabas Collins, played by Johnny Depp, and his encounters with various monsters.

The television show aired from 1966 to 1971 and became a, “cult classic, embraced by soap opera fans and lovers of irony,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

Joined by Depp in the cast are Helena Bonham Carter(The King’s Speech), Michelle Pffeifer(What Lies Beneath and Batman Returns), Chloe Mortez( 500 Days of Summer and Kick Ass) and Eva Green, known for her role in Casino Royale.

Directed by Tim Burton, this film marks Burton and Depp’s eight movie collaboration, following Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd and Alice in Wonderland.

The film will be in theaters May 11.

Below is the trailer:

Gallagher placed in medical coma

After suffering a heart attack on Wednesday, Gallagher was placed in a coma to recover.

Comedian Gallagher was placed in a medically induced coma after his heart attack on Wednesday, according to People Magazine.

Gallagher, whose is known for smashing items like watermelons on stage, was scheduled to perform at a club in Texas on Wednesday. After a meet-and-greet with fans, he suffered a heart attack while in the club’s green room.

His manager, Christine Scherrer, has said that he is recovering well but was placed into the coma to help the process along.

Gallagher, whose real name is Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr., will remain in the coma until Friday afternoon, according to the Huffington Post.

Scherrer said that his family is with him and that according to the doctors, everything is well.

This is the second heart attack for Gallagher, who had another one on stage in 2011 at Minnesota show. However, Scherrer said that Gallagher has been in good health since the attack with no serious incidents.

His next six performances have been postponed, according to his website, including shows in El Paso, Texas and Portland, Oregon. His shows from March 29 and on are still scheduled to happen.

Derek Fisher traded to Rockets

With the end of trade deadline, Derek Fisher will be leaving LA for Houston

Derek Fisher has been officially traded from the Los Angeles Lakers, according to CBS News.

Fisher, who joined the Lakers in 1996 along with former player Kobe Bryant, has won five NBA titles with the team.

The Lakers traded Fisher for forward center Jordan Hill from the Houston Rockets and sent Fisher to the Lone Star State.

It’s too early to tell if the trade will help benefit the team or if the Lakers’ key player, Kobe Bryant, will be happy about the trade.

General Manager Mitch Kupchak says that he did not speak with Bryant before or after the trade, and after the news surfaced, Bryant canceled an interview with the Lakers flagship radio station.

Kupchak said at the Lakers training complex,
“It’s hard to put into words what he’s meant to this organization, on the court and off the court. It’s one of the hardest parts of the job that a general manager has; separating the emotions of a relationship you’ve had…We think Ramon will make an immediate impact. Despite Derek’s presence, we felt that we needed more speed and more quickness in the backcourt.”

One Lakers player is happy about the trade deadline ending. Paul Gasol spent most of the season uncertain about his future with the team but tweeted his relief.
“The uncertainty has come to an end! Happy to continue wearing the Lakers uniform! Now time to focus (on) playing basketball and winning!”

The Lakers point guards have the lowest average in the NBA this season with only 12 total points per game.

Critics have said that Fisher, starting in every game since he rejoined the Lakers in 2007, is having a difficult time keeping up with faster guards.

The Lakers also welcome Ramon Sessions and Christian Eyenga from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
 

Josh Smith wants out of Atlanta?

There are rumors floating around that Josh Smith wants to leave the Atlanta Hawks after his contract.

Under a week before the NBA trade deadline, one Hawks player wants out of Atlanta.
Josh Smith has expressed to the Hawks his desire to be traded before the March 15 deadline, according to the Atlanta Journal- Constitution.

The Washington Post reports that Smith feels he was not promoted enough for the All-Star team and thinks he needs to be placed with a team that will be committed to winning a championship.

Smith has spent his entire career with the Hawks, but has been mentioned in potential trade rumors for three seasons now.

Smith said, “I really don’t pay any attention to it,” when asked about the rumors, “I just go out there and play the way I play and not worry about anything else. I know this is a business. Whatever happens happens in the long run. But I know as long as I’m with the Hawks, I have to put my best foot forward.”

Smith has averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds this season. In response to his free-throw percentage, which dropped to 57.7 at one time during the season, Smith said, “It’s a long season but it came to you real quick. They are throwing games at us left and right. If you look around the league most people’s percentages are down more so than usual.

Rumors are floating around the New Jersey Nets picking up Smith.

Despite this, some critics believe that the Hawks will refuse to let one of their key players go and that the Smith and Hawks relationship will continue.

Hawks coach Larry Drew said about Smith, “People look at the offensive end but defensively he changes the game. He is one of the few players I think that can play a defensive game and impact the game even if his offense is not on that night.”

Coke and Pepsi change recipe

A new California law has forced Coke and Pepsi to change their caramel coloring recipe.

Coke and Pepsi are changing but don’t worry, there won’t be a taste difference.

Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. are changing the way they create their caramel coloring used in the sodas due to a California law that says drinks with a certain amount of carcinogens must be labeled with a cancer warning label, according to TIME.

While the drinks in California have already been altered, the companies have begun to proceed nationally.

According to Beverage Digest, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo account for nearly 90 percent of the soda market.

The American Beverage Association said that its member companies are not going to discontinue the use of caramel coloring but simply make adjustments to fit California’s new criteria.

The association released a statement. “Consumers will notice no difference in our products and have no reason at all for any health concerns.”

Diana Garza-Ciarlante, representative from Coca-Cola said that the company has informed its caramel suppliers to change how they process which will reduce the level of the chemical 4-methylimidazole, that can sometimes form during the cooking process.

Garza-Ciarlante stated  in an email, “While we believe that there is no public health risk that justifies any such change, we did ask our caramel suppliers to take this step so that our products would not be subject to the requirement of a scientifically unfounded warning.”

The Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a report in February with the Food and Drug Administration to ban companies using ammonia-sulfite caramel coloring.

Though the petition is still being reviewed, a spokesperson from the Food and Drug Administration says that a consumer would have to drink more than 1,000 cans of soda a day to reach the levels that have links to cancer.

The American Beverage Association said that although California added the caramel coloring to its list of carcinogens, there have been no studies linked that it causes cancer in humans. The listing, they noted, is based on a study that used lab mice and rats.

James Ellis, 'Disco Inferno' singer dies

James Ellis, one of the voices behind ‘Disco Inferno,’ died on Thursday.

James Ellis, famous for helping sing the hit dance anthem “Disco Inferno” with the Trammps, died Thursday in South Carolina, according to CNN.

Ellis’ deep baritone contributed to the Grammy-winning song from the “Saturday Night Fever” album. The album is number two for best-selling soundtrack album of all times, right behind “The Bodyguard.” The album sold 15 million copies.

Though the Trammps had minor success prior to the release of “Disco Inferno” in 1976, the placement on the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack in 1977 gave them fame.

The soundtrack stayed No.1 on the charts for 24 consecutive weeks in 1978 and “Disco Inferno” climbed to No.11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The group, who started in Philadelphia in 1972, failed to produce another hit as popular as “Disco Inferno” but continued to tour up until 2008 when Ellis health declined.

The group’s biography on allmusic.com says, “But the Trammps’ prowess can’t be measured by chart popularity. Ellis’ booming, joyous vocals brilliantly championed the celebratory fervor and atmosphere that made disco both loved and hated among music fans.”

According to USA Today, Ellis had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, up until his death and passed away in a nursing home.

Ellis’ memorial service will be held March 16 at Central Church of God in Charlotte, North Carolina.

He was 74.

Toyota recall affects around 700,000 vehicles

Some of Toyota’s Camrys’ and Venza vehicles are up for recall due to mechanical problems

Toyota Motor Corp. intends to recall nearly 700,000 vehicles due to safety issues.
495,000 Tacoma trucks the model years 2005 to 2009 need a replacement steering wheel spiral cable assembly, reported Christian Science Monitor.

Also included in the recall are 2009 Camry sedans and 2009 to 2011 Venza vehicles that need a new stop lamp switch. 70,500 Camrys and 116,000 Venzas are included in the recall.

According to Forbes, the Camry is the best-selling passenger car in the United States, but has been struggling to stay on top due to last year’s earthquake- related disruptions.

Toyota said that while the cars, being recalled were going through the installation process, silicon grease may have reached the inside of the switch, causing an increase in electrical resistance. Toyota believes that this happened at one of its North American assembly lines.

The company released a statement saying:
“If this occurs, warning lamps on the instrument panel may be illuminated, the vehicle may not start, or the shift lever may not shift from the ‘park’ position. In some cases, the vehicle stop lamps may become inoperative.”

Chrysler Group is also issuing a large recall.

Around 210,000 Jeep Liberty vehicles are being recalled from the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard states that use salt on the roads in the winter. Corrosion on the rear control arms could cause driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Toyota has had two other recalls in the past year. In April 2011, the company recalled 300,000 US sport utility vehicles in the United States to fix faulty airbag sensors. In June 2011, they recalled around 139,000 vehicles globally because of an issue with the steering system.

Toyota says it is in the process of obtaining these replacements parts and that owners affected will be notified and given the parts for free.

The company has not seen any accidents or injuries caused by these issues.

to read more: click here or here.

The Lone Ranger remake photo released

A photo of the two stars, Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, gave little clues to the 2013 remake of “The Lone Ranger.”

A movie still from Disney’s action-adventure The Lone Ranger was tweeted by Jerry Bruckheimer on Thursday, leaving the internet pondering about the upcoming film.

Directed by Gore Verbinski, known for the first three Pirates of the Caribbean and 2011’s Rango, there is very little known about the film at this point.

The photo released shows Johnny Depp in full makeup with a crow on his head and Armie Hammer, in a suit with the traditional Lone Ranger mask.

The Lone Ranger television show aired from 1949-1957 and showed America a Texas Ranger who travels around with his Native American friend Tonto doing good deeds. Clayton Moore played the Lone Ranger and Jay Silverheels played sidekick Tonto.

Verbinski’s remake will put Tonto as the main character and the Lone Ranger as the sidekick.

Depp told Entertainment Weekly, “I started thinking about Tonto and what could be done in my own small way to..’Eliminate” isn’t possible-but reinvent the relationship, to attempt to take some of the ugliness thrown on the Native Americans, not only in The Lone Ranger, but the way Indians were treated throughout history of cinema, and turn it on its head.”

The film is currently filming in New Mexico and according to imdb.com it is projected to be released May 13, 2013. Other cast members include: Helena Bonham Carter, William Fichtner and Tom Wilkinson.

To read more: click here.

Bob Dylan honored in Paris Exhibit, new CD collection come out

Bob Dylan will be on display for Paris to see in a photo exhibit, along with that Dylan is set to release a new CD collection this year.

Bob Dylan will be honored in a new photo exhibit, located in Paris, and will be releasing a new CD box later this year, according to the Christian Post.

The folk artist will be featured in an exhibition featured at the Cite de la Musique in Paris.

The photographer, Daniel Kramer toured with Dylan for a few years and captured these moments.

The pictures are said to show a less public view of Dylan like him playing chess and walking alone on the sidewalk.

Dylan gained his note-worthy fame as an artist with hits like “Blowin’ in the Win” and “The Times, They Are a-Changin.” In addition to that, his activism has helped make Dylan a household name.

With his music evolving over the years from rock and roll to folk-art, Dylan wrote in notes on his CD set “Biography,” “The thing about rock and roll is that for me anyway it wasn’t enough…the songs weren’t serious or didn’t reflect life in a realistic way.”

Dylan has released over 50 albums, according to his website, spanned from the 1960s to the present.

Dylan is a known supporter of Amnesty International and human rights.

The new CD set, currently has set release date, will have all of Dylan’s music, including un-released tracks. Roger Friedman, music critic for Forbes, said, “The massive box will be a Dylanographer’s delight, collecting every single track.”

Priced around $300 with a code for free downloads, Dylan fans will be ecstatic for this collection.

Dylan is currently on an international tour, scheduled to play in Brazil on April 15.