Warriors make offer to Elton Brand

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Golden State Warriors have reportedly offered free agent Elton Brand a larger deal than the one offered to him by the Los Angeles Clippers.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Warriors have offered the power forward $100 million over five seasons. Brand, who opted out of the final year of his contract to become a free agent, missed most of the 2007-08 season with a ruptured left Achilles tendon.

The offer comes on the heels of Baron Davis' reported verbal agreement to sign with the Clippers, thereby giving the Warriors more cap space than their cross-state rival.

No deal can be announced until July 9.

[Source: Sports Network]

Black National Anthem

Singer Opts for 'Black National Anthem' Over 'Star-Spangled Banner'

MyFOXColorado.com

July 1, 2008: Rene Marie sings the lyrics of the 'Black National Anthem' to the tune of the 'Star-Spangled Banner.'

A jazz singer shocked some Denver residents after replacing the words to the national anthem with those of the "Black National Anthem" during the annual State of the City address this week.

Rene Marie was asked to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper delivered the annual address on Tuesday. Instead, she sang the lyrics of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" — a hymn commonly referred to as the "Black National Anthem" — to the tune of the national anthem, MyFOXColorado.com reported.

"If anyone has got a right to be angry it's probably me," Hickenlooper told the station. "I guess what I feel most is just deeply disappointed."

The mayor said only Marie, her husband and a musical adviser knew what the local jazz singer had in mind.

"What she said was that she was very sorry, that she meant no disrespect, that she was trying to make a creative expression of her love for the country," Hickenlooper said.

But the change in lyrics angered many residents, including City Councilman Charlie Brown.

"I was mad," he told MyFOXColorado.com. "I almost walked off the stage."

[Source: Fox News]

Ranae Shrider Answers Your Burning Verne Troyer Questions

We’re not quite sure who exactly is asking for details on this relationship, and yet stories about the inner workings of “Austin Powers” star Verne Troyer’s and his ex-girlfriend Ranae Shrider’s relationship continue to emerge in the wake of news of the former couple’s stolen sex tape.

Ranae Shrider is speaking out on her former relationship with the diminutive star. The 22 year-old recently told InTouch Weekly that she was the victim of Verne Troyer cheating on her on more than one occasion…really?

Shrider also revealed to the magazine, "He told me he would only tell people he had a girlfriend if they asked, and he hoped nobody would. If you were in a committed relationship, wouldn't you want people to know? It seems bizarre.”

This isn’t the first time since news of the tape broke that the clearly still not-over-it Shrider has revealed some…er…intimate details about her relationship with Troyer.

She recently spoke out about the relationship on Tampa's MJ Morning (Radio) Show. Shrider was asked, “What is Verne working with? Like what is his mini me? What is it like? What is he working with?”

Why people! Why do these questions even exist? Shrider did not shy away from the question in the least, answering, “The only thing I'm going to say. This is all I'm going to say. Um. As previously reported on interviews made by him, it is definitely not a tripod.”

When pushed to elaborate, by being asked the very pointed question, “So you're saying he's proportionate for a man of 2'8?,” Shrider simply replied, “Yes.”

In case things don’t seem awkward and disastrous enough yet between these two, it should be noted that the couple is still living together- but sleeping in separate bedrooms. Sounds totally healthy.

Seems like Shrider is still a little sore about the break-up and the whole leaked sex tape debacle. Can’t say we blame her…

[Source: Actress Archives]

Brooke Bennett: Body of missing Vt. girl found

Vermont State Police say they have found a body believed to be that of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett, who was last seen alive with her uncle a week ago.

The body was found in Randolph shortly before 5 p.m. ET and her family was notified, said Police Col. James Baker.

According to an affidavit released today, a 14-year-old witness told investigators that Brooke's uncle, Michael Jacques, took her to his home to initiate her into a child sex ring the day she disappeared, the Rutland Herald reports. Jacques is a convicted sex offender.

The unidentified witness told police that she was in the car when Bennett was dropped off at a Randolph convenience store last week, and that Jacques told her that Bennett would be having sex with adult men.

Jacques is in police custody on unrelated sex charges.

[Source: USA Today]

Diana Bianchi Testifies in Christie Brinkley, Peter Cook Divorce Trial

Diana Bianchi testified on the first day of the divorce trial of Christie Brinkley and estranged husband Peter Cook on Wednesday.

Bianchi was Cook's assistant whom Brinkley found having an affair with Cook in 2006. Bianchi, then 18, meet Cook in 2005 at a Hamptons toy store.

Bianchi was hired by Cook to work at his Hamptons architecture firm where she was paid $20,000 to type magazine articles onto the company's Web site. She said they had sex about 10 times before the relationship ended later that year.

Cook took the stand as well, testifying that he had sex with Bianchi in her office and at homes in the Hamptons owned by Brinkley.

Cook then paid her $300,000 in hopes that she would keep their affair quiet. He also gave her spending money, including $500 hidden under a rock

Cook talked about how he and Brinkley frequently watched pornography to get in the sexual mood. His lawyer said he spent about $3,000 a month on porno Web sites.

Alexa Ray Joel, Brinkley's daughter with her second husband Billy Joel, is expected to testify Thursday about Cook's "constant criticism" of her.


[Source: Trans World News]

Bret Favre Considers Return to Football

ESPN: Favre considers return to football


GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Brett Favre is considering coming out retirement, according to an ESPN report. ESPN's Chris Mortensen said Wednesday a Green Bay Packers source told him the 38-year-old Favre told coach Mike McCarthy in the past two weeks that he has the itch to play.

The Packers' former quarterback retired March 6 after a 17-year career.

Cornerback Al Harris said on ESPN's NFL Live that Favre also made similar comments to him.

"I know he has the itch to come back and play," Harris said. "If he will or not, I don't know."

The Packers had planned to use Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback for the upcoming season.

"Aaron is our quarterback," Harris said. "Brett's retired. But if he wanted to come back, there would be some guys who wouldn't mind it. I would welcome him back with open arms."

Favre's commitment to retirement has been questioned since his announcement. That talk resumed in mid-June when Favre withdrew from the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe, scheduled for July 11-13.

Tournament spokesman Steve Griffith said then that Favre had to miss the event because of a scheduling conflict.

Favre is the NFL's only three-time MVP and leads the league with 442 touchdown passes, 61,655 yards passing and 160 career victories. He started 253 consecutive regular-season games, more than any other quarterback in history. Including the playoffs, his streak stands at 275.

[Source: Associated Press]