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Vision/ Winter 2015
The Caribbean Jamaica police say 2 women caught smuggling cocaine after disembarking flights from Curacao
KINGSTON, Jamaica _ Jamaican police say two alleged drug mules have been arrested after disembarking flights from the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao. In a Monday statement, the Jamaica Constabulary Force identified the two suspects as Jamaican women who worked as market vendors. They recently returned to Jamaica on separate flights from Curacao and were detained by authorities at Kingston’s international airport. Police allege one of the women expelled 55 pellets containing nearly 2 pounds (nearly a kilogram) of cocaine. The other allegedly had just over a pound of cocaine (about half a kilogram) strapped to her body. Early last year, Jamaican police said they were foiling a rising number of attempts to smuggle drugs to and from Curacao.
NEWS
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Convicted drug trafficker says he donated millions to Dominican ex president SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic _ A convicted drug trafficker and former captain of the Dominican Republic's army told a local TV station Thursday that he donated millions of dollars to former president Leonel Fernandez. A man who identified himself as Quirino Ernesto Paulino told TV station Teleradio America on a video call that he donated some $4.6 million in cash from 2002 to 2004 that was delivered in suitcases. Fernandez was elected president for a second time in 2004 after serving from 1996 to 2002. Paulino was arrested in December 2004 following the seizure of nearly
The World IMMIGRATION
1,400 kilograms (3,100 pounds) of cocaine, the largest ever at that time. He was extradited to the United States in 2005 on charges of money laundering and of allegedly importing 33 tons (30 metric tons) of cocaine into that country. He served a 10-year sentence following a plea deal and remains in the U.S. to testify in other cases. Fernandez said in a brief statement that Paulino's comments were part of a campaign to discredit him. “Those attacks highlight the determination of my administration in confronting international organized crime groups, which it extradited as required by law,'' he said. The comments come as the Dominican Republic prepares to hold general elections next year. Fernandez has not said whether he will seek to run again, although supporters and members of his party have been promoting him as a potential candidate.
WASHINGTON _ The White House vows to appeal a judge’s ruling blocking President Barack Obama’s executive order limiting deportations. The ruling puts the program on hold a day before the first wave of immigrants was to begin signing up, and also complicates a tense debate on Capitol Hill. By Erica Werner and Jim Kuhnhenn. The Associated Press
ZIMBABWE-DOGS FOR SALE HARARE, Zimbabwe _ With their economy going to the dogs, some Zimbabweans are turning to man’s best friend as a way to ease their hard times. But animal welfare advocates say a boom in illegal dog breeding is leading to more suffering for the poorly treated pets. By Farai Mutsaka
The Associated Press The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Martinique officials seize more than 1 ton of marijuana at sea
Power line accident involving Carnival float in Haiti kills at least 20, officials say partment of Civil Protection. The float was sponsored by the Haitian hip-hop group Barikad Crew. Some of the victims were instantly electrocuted in a flash of sparks, according to witnesses. Others managed to jump off, causing panic in the crowd.
FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique _ Authorities in the French Caribbean island of Martinique say they have seized more than a ton of marijuana at sea. The government said in a statement Saturday that the drug was being transported by a go-fast boat headed to the nearby island of Guadeloupe. Officials said five people aboard the boat began throwing the drugs overboard when authorities began to follow it. It was not immediately clear if anyone was arrested. The Associated Press
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti _ At least 20 people on a music group's packed Carnival float in the Haitian capital were killed Tuesday when they were electrocuted by a power line, officials said. The accident occurred as thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Port-au-Prince for the raucous annual celebration. People at the scene said someone on the float used a pole or stick to move a power line so the float could pass under it.
KILLINGS BY POLICE-FERGUSON JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. _ Documents show St. Louis-area police wanted National Guard troops in Ferguson, including in the neighbourhood where Michael Brown was shot, when a grand jury announced whether to indict a white officer in the black 18-year-old’s death. But Gov. Jay Nixon wanted police _ not military troops _ to form the front line against civil unrest, which ultimately culminated in clashes with officers and multiple arsons. By David A. Lieb. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ISRAEL-NETANYAHU SCANDAL
“I saw the wire falling and sparks and I started running for my life,'' said Natacha Saint Fleur, a 22-yearold who was near the float at the time. Hundreds of people thronged the General Hospital, where many of the victims were taken, some carrying victims and others searching for family members brought by ambulance. By Evens Sanon THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JERUSALEM _ With Israeli elections looming and the region in turmoil, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself once more enmeshed in a gossipy scandal: A new government report alleged possible financial malfeasance at his official residence, while his wife faced criticism for pettiness and possible security breaches after complaining about their kitchen in a video. By Aron Heller.
At least 20 people were killed and 46 were injured, according to Nadia Lochard, a co-ordinator for the De-
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Vision Newspaper UK: Editor in Chief : Anthony Whyte, Editor: Nadia Akram, Correspondent in Jamaica: Deana Meyers Contributors: Francesca Quass, Yemi Abiade, Samantha Dennis, Claire Daley, Vision Newspaper Canada: Editor in Chief: Alwin Squire, Editors: Samantha Deschamps, Kelly Deschamps, Marilyn Marshall, Christopher Miller Front page feature photo credit: (AP Photos/Vince Bucci),
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News Opposition alliance emerges as winner in St Kitts & Nevis after tense day of vote counting
Vision/ Winter 2015
ernment well,'' said Douglas, who had been prime minister since 1995. Harris, the prime minister-elect for his bloc as it prepares to begin a five-year term, called it a “great day'' for the twin-island country, which is one of the smallest nations in the world with roughly 55,000 inhabitants. Final results from Monday's election were still pending, but the Team Unity alliance said it won at least seven of the 11 seats in Parliament.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts _ An alliance of three opposition parties won parliamentary elections in St. Kitts and Nevis, denying the former governing party and its prime minister a fifth consecutive term in power, officials said Tuesday.
Outgoing Prime Minister Denzil Douglas conceded defeat late Tuesday afternoon, extending his congratulations to the Team Unity coalition led by Timothy Harris, a former minister in his Cabinet. “I wish our newly elected gov-
Annie Mirza
tel: 416-836-5717 email: annie@financialpro.ca Lic #: M08008375 57 Village Center Place, suite 301 Mississauga, Ontario L5V 1V9
Elections Supervisor Wingrove George was widely criticized earlier Tuesday after he suspended reporting of partial results. The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and other observers called for ballot counting to be expedited. Political leaders from other regional nations said George's office needed to hurry up and
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deliver the results, which had been expected early in the day since St. Kitts and Nevis has only about 36,000 registered voters. “The region's reputation for democracy and for free and fair elections will be under threat as long as this issue in St. Kitts and Nevis remains unresolved,'' Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said in a statement. George told state-owned radio and TV station ZIZ that some candidates were contesting preliminary results, slowing an official announcement from his office. “We don't want to hurriedly make decisions and determinations that we can't recall,'' George was quoted as saying.
Community
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Vision/ Winter 2015
What ’s On
Events Morgan Heritage & Romain Virgo
Kranium
The Spinners
Rich Homie Quan
Venue: Sound Academy
Venue: Luxy Club
Toronto, ON Date: February 6th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca
Toronto, ON Date: February 13th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca
Venue: Living Arts Center Toronto, ON Date: February 13th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca
Theophilus London
Royce Da 5’9
Venue: Tatoo Queen Toronto, ON Date: February 20th, 2015
Venue: Tatoo Queen Toronto, ON Date: February 25th, 2015
Family & Children
Talib Kweli
Toronto Black Film Festival
The Harlem Globetrotters 2015 World Tour
Venue: The Phoenix
Venue: The Rock Pile West
Toronto, ON Date: February 17th, 2015
Date: February 20th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca
Venue: Uptown Theater Toronto, ON Date: February 10th - 15th 2015
Venue: Hersey Center Toronto, ON Date: February 13th 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca
Chris Brown & Trey Songs
Billy Ocean
Jah Bouks
Mike the Knight The Great Scavenger Hunt
Rasta Fest Talent Show Case
Venue: Air Canada Center Toronto, ON Date: February 25th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca
Venue: Woodbine Race Track Toronto, ON Date: February 26th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca
Venue: SVG Lounge Address: 1230 Sheppard Ave Toronto, ON Date: April 5th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca
Venue: The Sony Center Date: February 28th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca
Venue: Uptown Theatre Toronto, ON Date: February 28th, 2015
Vision/ Winter 2015
Community
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Exco Levi Launches His Debut Album Country Man! vinyl. This release builds on the momentum gained by Exco in recent months. 2015 marks his 4th JUNO nomination for Best Reggae Recording, the artists first JaRIA nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and receipt of his first International Achievement Award from Brampton Triple A’s presented at the Brampton Powerade Centre.
Reggae recording star, and 3 time JUNO Award winner Exco Levi has announced 2 dates for the launch of his debut album, Country man; Wednesday March 18th, 2015 at Crawford (718 College Street West), and Thursday March 19th, 2015 at Belleeny’s (4000 Steeles Avenue West) in Toronto and North York respectively. After his 15 years of recording experience including almost 100 singles which has earned him multiple awards in Canada, the US and Jamaica, Exco, has chosen two venues to host the launch of his debut 19 track album entitled Country man. The deeply personal album which was written by Exco, bears songs that describe his challenges as a new immigrant to Canada, the mind set of children who are not on the right path, and Levi’s reliance on God for strength and support throughout the good and not so good times in his life. Produced by Donovan Germaine for Penthouse Records and Exco’s newly formed High
Priest Records, the music helps the words come to life, especially with songs “Country Man,” “Letter to Jah” and “Natty Haffi Long” which each have a groove that causes listeners to sing along with the chorus. Of this recording experience Exco says “putting together this album has been the most rewarding experience. There’s nothing like having an album that fans can play as much as they like. This is a piece of me that they are playing throughout their day and it feels good.” Recorded at the Penthouse Studios in Kingston, Jamaica and in Canada at his High Priest Music with the exception of “Storms of Life” which was recorded by Silly Walks Discotheque in Germany, Exco spent four months in Jamaica and more in Canada putting this project together with contribution from Reggae’s finest musicians. “Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, Dean Fraser, Firehouse Crew, London’s Mafia and Fluxy, Dave Kelly, Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace to name a few have blessed Country man,” says Exco Levi. Classic background vocals from legends Pam Hall,
Mitsi Campbell and Twiggy fill out the body of the music and co-writer / vocalist Romain Virgo complete the sound of Exco’s debut album. Country Man is a significant musical milestone in the musical landscape. The album will be available on compact disc as well as limited edition
Exco has previously won 3 consecutive JUNO’s for Best Reggae Recording. Anne Murray is the only artist in Canadian history to win 7 consecutive JUNO’s for Country Female Vocalist of the Year. He is also 1 of 10 to be featured on the CBC as Top Reggae Artists to Watch in Canada. Fans can connect with Exco on Twitter @ Excolevi or https://www.facebook.com/ ExcoLevimusic
Media inquiries can be directed to natashavoncastle@gmail.com
General inquiries can be sent to Jones & Jones 905-452-1911
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Vision/ Winter 2015 Music Former rap mogul 'Suge' Knight taken by ambulance from court for second time in month
His attorney David Kenner said bailiffs and a judicial officer told him Knight had stomach issues and was taken for an evaluation before Kenner had a chance to see him. The Sheriff's Department did not have immediate information on Knight's condition. Earlier this month, the Death Row Records co-founder was rushed from a Compton courthouse with chest pains after he pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and hit-and-run charges.
LOS ANGELES _ Former rap mogul Marion “Suge'' Knight was taken by ambulance Thursday from a Los Angeles courthouse for an undisclosed medical issue. It was the second time in recent weeks that Knight has
been taken to a hospital as he faces murder and robbery charges in separate cases.
Knight, 49, spent more than a day in the hospital receiving treatment.
Knight had been scheduled to appear Thursday for arraignment on a criminal threats charge, but he never made it to the courtroom.
He is charged with killing 55-year-old Terry Carter in the parking lot of a Compton burger stand in late January, and seriously injuring another man. Knight remains jailed without bail in that case.
Knight was charged with robbery after a celebrity photographer reported that Knight and comedian Katt Williams stole her camera in September. Knight has pleaded not guilty to robbery, and prosecutors recently added the threats charge. Williams also pleaded not guilty to robbery. Knight was shot six times at a nightclub in September, days before he was accused of taking the camera in Beverly Hills. His attorneys have previously cited complications from the wounds as the reason for his medical issues. A judge has refused to allow Knight's personal physician to evaluate him in jail. By Anthony McCartney THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tifa’s ready to release new album next month will have approximately 22 tracks. It will have R&B, techno and gospel… everything except country and western,” she told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.
FEMALE dancehall deejay Tifa said she is in the final phase of production work on her debut album slated for release next month. According to the deejay, the yetto-be titled, reggae-influenced set, will show her versitility. “The album is long overdue and
“I’m at a place where I believe people are ready for the album. Spell It Out is almost six years ago,” she continued. Released 2009, Spell It Out was the track that gave her the break. The upcoming album will have the credits of dancehall’s prominent producers including ZJ Chrome and Ward 21 as well as production houses UIM Records
and Washroom Entertainment. Tifa, whose given name is Latifa Brown, is riding on a high with her latest single Jealous Ova. Produced by High Up Entertainment, the track is a collaboration with Dexta Daps. She is also getting steady rotations with Cute Bubble, One Time and Sad Bad, a collaboration with Chino. She is nominated in three categories of the Youth View Awards (YVAs) scheduled for this Saturday at the National Indoor Sports Arena. “It is an honour, especially to be recognised by my Jamaican people. The YVAs is the main award show so having three nominations means I am doing something good,” she said.
She earned nominations for Favourite Local Artiste of the Year, Celebrity Role Model, and Female Fashion Icon of the Year. Last year, she led the pack with three wins for the Female Fashion Icon of the Year; Favourite Local Female Artiste of the Year; and Young, Hot and Hype Female Artiste of the Year. For this year, she said she will be doing more work locally. “I spent a lot of time away from home last year. Therefore, this year, I will be covering more local grounds. My fans will see me getting a lot more endorsements and releasing singles. I am also auditioning for a movie role for which I will be giving more details later in the year,” she said. www.jamaicastar.com
Vision/ Winter 2015
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Q&A: Actor comedian Eddie Murphy says new reggae single inspired by recent news events if one of these tracks jumps off, if one of them connects with the people digging it and I get some momentum going, I'll put an album but I'm not planning an album until I'm sure people want to hear something. Otherwise it'll stay on the shelf for years and years. A hundred years from now they dig through everything and I'm totally fine with them finding hours and hours and hours of collaborations and they'll say, 'We didn't even know Eddie Murphy.' I'm totally fine with that. AP: What about any upcoming film projects? Murphy: About two weeks ago I just finished a movie, it's not a comedy though. It's called 'Cook' and it's got a really strong director, the guy that directed 'Driving Miss Daisy' and 'Tender Mercies,' a guy named Bruce Beresford, a really strong director from Australia. We just finished it two weeks ago.
LONDON _ Veteran actor-comedian Eddie Murphy is on a different chart these days, with his latest single rising to the top of the most downloaded reggae songs on iTunes. Released Jan. 27, “Oh Jah Jah'' was inspired by recent news events, Murphy said. “I was watching CNN about two or three months ago and all this craziness was going on with the terrorism and chopping off people's heads and then St. Louis, Ferguson. A bunch of police brutality going on (at the) same time and I had that progression, but I didn't have any lyrics, but I had that groove. I'd been playing that progression for about a month and then I was
watching the news and it all came together one day,'' he said. Murphy, who will appear on NBC's “SNL 40th Anniversary Special'' on Sunday, recently spoke to The Associated Press about his music, film and comedy. AP: If you were to release a reggae album would you put it out as Eddie Murphy or would you think of a reggae name? Murphy: I've got 25 years of stuff on the shelf. I could go right now and pick six, seven, eight reggae songs and put out a reggae album. I could go back there and pick seven or eight country songs and do a country album, or I could
do a regular dance/R&B album. I've had people say, 'You should put a record out because it's a good song and if they didn't know it was you they'd like it under a different name,' but, hey, these are my tracks and I'm not hiding behind any of it. It is what it is. AP: Will there be an upcoming album or any collaborations? Murphy: I have collaborations with all kinds of different artists over the years. Stuff with B.B. King, I've recorded with Paul McCartney, Snoop, I've recorded with a bunch of different interesting artists. Raphael Saadiq. As far as future collaborations, that all has to come together organically. As far as an album coming out,
AP: Any plans on returning to stand-up comedy? Murphy: When I was doing stand-up it was a hundred comedians, now it's a hundred thousand of them. So if I got onstage again I'd have to be doing something that makes me different from all these other hundred thousand comics. My fantasy when I think about live performances is playing with a really strong band playing a half-hour or 40 minutes of music and having the curtains go down then doing an hour of stand-up comedy. I'd have a really fly show if I could pull that one off. By Bianca Roach THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Music
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Vision/ Winter 2015
DRAKE HITS NUMBER ONE LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Drake's album was a surprise. Drake's album hitting number one this week was not. “If You're Reading This It's Too Late'' is tops on the Billboard album chart with just three days of sales and all of them digital. It sold 495-thousand copies, plus 40-thousand digital stream equivalents, which Billboard now uses to compute album rankings. It's Drake's fourth number-one album.
AFROMAN ARRESTED
BILOXI, Miss. (AP) _ “Because I Got High'' rapper Afroman has been arrested for punching a woman who got on stage during his show Tuesday in Biloxi, Mississippi. His representative says Afroman did not know if the fan was a man or a woman and “just reacted to someone being on the stage.'' His rep calls it “a completely involuntary reflex reaction to people infringing on his stage space'' and blames poor security. The owner of the venue says when the incident happened about five songs into the show, the venue pulled the plug on the concert and security met Afroman at the stage to take him into custody. Police say Afroman was charged with misdemeanour simple assault and released after posting 330-dollar bond
Essence Fest 2015: Lineup includes Kevin Hart, Common, Mary J. Blige, & Kendrick Lamar
NEW ORLEANS _ The 2015 Essence Festival will feature Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, comedian Kevin Hart, Common and Trombone Shorty, among others, on its main stage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Festival officials announced Wednesday that Hart will headline the three-day festival's opening on Thursday, July 2. The festival first presented a smaller Thursday night event, with reduced seating and only one stage, in 2014.
TWO MEMBERS OF NICKI MINAJ'S TEAM STABBED
PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Nicki Minaj says two men who had just joined her tour as team members have been stabbed, one fatally. Minaj tweeted the two
men had flown into Philadelphia for rehearsals two days ago. Philadelphia police say a 29-year-old man was killed and a 26-year-old man is critically wounded. Their names were not given. Police say a man started arguing with the victims inside a bar early yesterday and pulled a knife once they got outside. Police are offering a 20-thousand-dollar reward for information leading to an arrest. Minaj calls the stabbings “another senseless act of violence that took the life of a great guy.''
Other acts booked for the 2015 Essence include homegrown rapper Mystikal, plus Kool Moe Dee, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Floetry, jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding, Kelly Price, Bilal, and such local acts as Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk and Tank & the Bangas. Additional acts for both the main stage and the four secondary “superlounge'' stages should be announced in the coming weeks. The Canadian Press
RITA MARLEY recovering from health issues
RITA Marley, the widow of reggae legend Bob Marley, is currently recovering after some health challenges last year. Rita's son Ziggy confirmed that his mother was "doing good" following what he described as "some physical ailments". The reggae king's widow was noticeably absent from the celebrations to mark Marley's 70th birthday last weekend. "She's at the stage now where she's slowing down and taking things easy, but she's doing good," Marley told the Jamaica Observer www.jamaicaobserver.com
Pharrell Williams has deal for 4 picture books, one inspired by his hit song. Putnam announced Tuesday the book, “Happy,'' will be published Sept. 22 and will feature photographs of children from around the world “celebrating what it means to be happy.'' It plans a first printing of 250,000 copies. NEW YORK _ Pharrell Williams has a “Happy'' deal for a series of children's picture books. The Grammy Award-winning performer has an agreement with Putnam Books for Young Readers for four picture books, starting with
Pharrell has won 10 Grammys, including two for “Happy.'' “Happy'' was featured on the soundtrack of “Despicable Me 2'' and was an Oscar nominee last year for best song. The Canadian Press
Music
Vision/ Winter 2015
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Album Review
So Much Things to Say Bob Marley Interviews
Non Fiction Ne Yo
Easy Skanking in Boston
Hogg Life the Begining Slim Thug
Tuff Gong International will digitally release So Much Things to Say, a rare thirty-five minute interview with Bob Marley from 1973, by legendary Jamaican DJ and journalist Neville Willoughby. The interview was recorded in Jamaica upon Marley’s return from the Burnin’ album tour in the U.S. and UK. The recording, combined with background tracks, has been digitally remastered and re-edited by Marley’s wife, Rita, and their daughter, Cedella Marley.
Superstar hitmaker NE-YO returns with his first album in two years, Non Fiction – one that’s sure to be one of his most talked about. That’s thanks to the deeply compelling personal, relatable subjects NE-YO combines here with some of his most creative, accessible music to date.
In this, Bob Marley’s 70th birthday year, there will be a variety of releases and events to commemorate the Legend, his work and iconic impact. Over the course of the year, his legacy will be remembered by new releases of rare and unreleased material as well as fan favorite deluxe editions of his most memorable work. The first release will be available on February 17. Bob Marley & The Wailers: Easy Skanking In Boston ’78, features two historic live shows from Boston’s Music Hall, June 8, 1978.
Recently Slim Thug announced a new album series and documentary, Hogg Life. The first in the threepart album series, Hogg Life: The Beginning is set to drop on February 17th. Stay tuned for details on the next two album instalments as part of the Hogg Life series.
www.bobmarley.com
www.amazon.com
Bob Marley
Purchase the album on iTunes here when it drops
www.bobmarley.com www.hotnewhiphop.com
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Sports
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Kevin Garnett returns home to Timberwolves in deadline deal with Brooklyn years, ever since he returned to the organization that fired him in 2005. When he was negotiating with teams to trade Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer, Saunders tried to recruit the Nets as the third team in the deal and bring Garnett back to mentor a young and impressionable roster. The Nets, and Garnett, weren't ready to move at the time, so Saunders and Newton, the general manager, got the Philadelphia 76ers to include Young in the package that also brought Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett to the Wolves for Love. Young got off to a rough start in his first season in Minnesota, enduring the sudden loss of his mother and struggling while starters Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic were out injured. When all three were back on the court in January, Young's production increased noticeably. In his final 15 games, Young averaged 16.3 points on 49 per cent shooting with 6.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists, a 26-year-old forward playing well in his prime.
MINNEAPOLIS _ When Flip Saunders and Milt Newton woke up on Thursday morning, they had no idea how the day would end. Kevin Garnett was mulling a possible return to Minnesota, and a full no-trade clause in his contract gave him all the leverage. As Saunders learned in 10 years coaching Garnett with the Timberwolves from 1995-2005, the hyper competitive and supremely loyal power forward loathed change. So even with 12 years of familiarity with Minnesota and the Timberwolves, even with the same man who coached him from an skinny, 19-year-old rookie into a perennial All-Star and MVP on the Timberwolves sideline, there was no way to know which way Garnett was going to go as the clock ticked down on the trade deadline.
Like Garnett has done for most of his career, he took his time and made everyone wait. And just like that, seven minutes before the 3 p.m. Eastern deadline, Garnett finally relented, agreed to uproot his family in the middle of a second straight disappointing season in Brooklyn, and come back to the franchise he put on the map. “Kevin doesn't like change,'' Saunders said late Thursday night after the trade that sent Thaddeus Young to the Nets for Garnett was approved by the league. “That's how he's always been. But I think when he looks back, he doesn't think moving from Brooklyn to here as a big change. I think he looks at it from moving back and being home.'' Saunders has had his eye on Garnett _ the only true superstar in the franchise's 26-year history _ for two
But the Wolves were still buried in the Western Conference standings, and Young had a player option on his contract for nearly $10 million next season. The Wolves called around the league trying to find a good fit, but many teams were concerned with his contract situation. Nets GM Billy King drafted Young when he was the GM in Philadelphia and had long been interested in a reunion in Brooklyn. Late Wednesday night, small signs started to emerge that Garnett might be amenable to returning to the team that drafted him out of high school in 1995, and the wheels were in suddenly in motion. “I wasn't here the first time (Garnett was in Minnesota), but I was told that he takes his time in making his decisions,'' Newton said. “And then all of a sudden he's ready to make a decision and it was something of that sort. In regards to what Billy and I were thinking and at the end of the day, we had a lot of back and
forth on what we were willing to do and what we weren't willing to do and it just happened all of a sudden at the last minute.'' While some Timberwolves fans were concerned with giving up a starting-calibre forward in his prime for a 38-year-old future Hall of Famer whose best days are behind him, the majority of Twin Cities basketball fans who equate Garnett with the only tangible success the franchise has ever had rejoiced at the news. The Timberwolves have never made the playoffs without Garnett on the roster and are currently mired in an 11-year post-season drought. In his second tour in Minnesota, Garnett won't have to carry the load like he did in leading the Wolves to the 2004 Western Conference finals. Instead, he will be asked to set a strong example for youngsters like point guard Ricky Rubio, rookies Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Adreian Payne and second-year players Shabazz Muhammad, Gorgui Dieng and Bennett. “He put the Minnesota Timberwolves all around the world,'' Rubio said. “Even when I was in Europe and Spain, I knew (about Minnesota) because KG was here. That means a lot. It's an honour to play with him and have him in the locker room.'' Garnett has expressed an interest in owning the Wolves when his playing days are over. This move could help make that happen, but not yet. “It means a lot to me to have Kevin Garnett back on our team,'' Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said. “I have great respect for Kevin as a person and a player. He was the first player we drafted after I bought the team and we got to see him develop into one of the best players in the world. Like our fans, I'm excited to be able to watch Kevin in a Timberwolves uniform once again.'' By Jon Krawczynski THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
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Vision / Winter 2015
Norm Macdonald defends Eddie Murphy on Twitter after awkward 'SNL' appearance Macdonald wrote that Murphy decided the laughs weren't worth it and he did not want to “kick a man when he is down.'' As a result, Murphy only delivered a brief and awkward speech during the special, which baffled many viewers. “Eddie Murphy, I realize, is not like the rest of us. Eddie does not need the laughs,'' wrote Macdonald. “Eddie Murphy is the coolest, a rockstar even in a room with actual rockstars.''
TORONTO _ Former “Saturday Night Live'' cast member Norm Macdonald says Eddie Murphy didn't perform a sketch on the show's recent anniversary special because he didn't want to impersonate Bill Cosby. In a flurry of tweets Wednesday night, the Ottawa-born Macdonald wrote that writers wanted Murphy to do a Cosby im-
pression on Sunday's 40th anniversary program on NBC.
Macdonald also wrote that while Murphy was an “SNL'' cast member in the 1980s, “in Lorne's absence, (he) kept the show alive. Singlehandedly.''
It was intended to be in a “Celebrity Jeopardy'' bit that involved several stars.
“To every comedian who ever performed on 'SNL,' what Eddie accomplished was unthinkable.''
But Murphy didn't feel comfortable with the idea, amid allegations from numerous women that they were sexually abused by Cosby.
Macdonald spent five seasons with “SNL,'' and anchored the “Weekend Update'' segment for three years.
Vision/ Winter 2015
lifestyle
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BANG ON TREND! FASHION BITES
RIHANNA'S GOT IT IN THE BAG
Rihanna won't let Kanye West take the style spotlight at New York Fashion Week. The Grammy Award winner introduced a new one-off bag she designed for Fendi at the brand's first store opening in New York on Friday. She praised West's Yeezy Boost sneakers, rolled at the day before at a runway show that included Kim Kardashian, Beyonce and a crying North West in the front row. “I think it was amazing. I love that he takes risks. I love that he pushes boundaries and it was very Kanye,'' she said of his effort. Rihanna's Fendi baguette bag is part of a larger project in which five different women try their hand
at accessory-designing for charity. “When I was designing this purse I wanted to make something really edgy but still chic, something that a woman can wear all the time, something that reflects the way I like to dress. I always wear all-black, especially to perform but I wanted it to be wearable,'' Rihanna said. The Barbadian singer was joined by Sarah Jessica Parker, British model Jourdan Dunn, artist Rachel Feinstein and blogger Leandra Medine on Fendi's roster. Parker, whose iconic 'Sex and the City' character Carrie Bradshaw launched baguette madness among the masses when she carried it on the show, said she worked tirelessly to get her
vision right. “I like the idea of sort of vintage cloth, kind of the stripes of Fendi colours and I wanted to try to figure out a way to get the 'F' in there so I looked at endless amounts of materials and fabrications and skins and velvets and colours and I really wanted to work with purple and indigo and cream and after many iterations and drawing really crudely on napkins, this is what I came up with,'' she said. The five baguette purses will be displayed in Fendi's new flagship store until 13 March and will be up for auction. Proceeds will benefit five charities chosen by the five designers. _Cristina Jaleru
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