LAWT 02-23-2012

W E E K E N D E R

Vol. XXX, No. 1272

www.lawattstimes.com

Thursday, February 23, 2012

L.A. Watts Times

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

HOROSCOPES A

quarius ~ Bored much? As the week begins, it’s up to you to cultivate a new interest, meet a new person or even just pick up a new book. Bonus: You’ll discover something about yourself, too. Around Wednesday and Thursday, life and potentially even love looks much more exciting! The energy you put out there now comes right back to you, so make it sizzle. A certain situation could be frustrating on Friday or over the weekend. Instead of stewing, find a concrete step to take, even if it’s in an entirely different direction.

By Sunday, you’ll feel in control and ready to go. isces ~ If you have a special someone, let them know exactly how special they to you are as the week begins.

If you’re solo, shop the online personals and don’t hesitate to make the first move! Around Wednesday and Thursday, however, let a situation — romantic, work-oriented or otherwise — evolve a bit prior to deciding the next steps on your personal path. Then that path — full of fun and plenty of positive attention from others in the stars — looks lovely on Friday and through most of the weekend. If there’s a party, you’re the life of it! On Sunday, rest up for a fresh week. ries ~ You may not be operating at top speed as the week begins, but then again, sometimes slow, yet rock-steady progress wins the race. While flattery won’t go over well now, a timely, sincere compliment will be much appreciated.

Around Wednesday and Thursday, you're thinking and talking much quicker. Interactions could go in two directions: Flirtatious or argumentative, or maybe both at once.

Obligations may occupy you more than leisure from Friday through most of the weekend, but Sunday’s energy looks exciting. Temperatures are rising wherever you go, and a romantic situation could become urgent! aurus ~ You’re especially awesome with the interpersonal component as the week begins, particularly if numbers are involved. Make negotiations a pleasure for everyone, sit back and bask in the glory. But beware of unintended downtime around Wednesday and Thursday. You’re susceptible to distractions; consider working off-site if that’s more productive. Then if you’ve got a case to make, the right time comes during the next couple days. Get all your ducks in a row, set up the meeting and ace it. But on Sunday, be ready to compromise. emini ~ Secrets are somewhat antithetical to true romance, but they are also unavoidable sometimes. Early this week, you need to hang onto some vital information for at least a little bit longer, so try to do so without lying overtly. You’re flooded with good energy on Wednesday and Thursday, and you ought to be able to make up for lost time easily — figure out what your sweetheart or date really wants and offer it up! Bickering might mar the weekend, but it’s nothing so important that it needs a therapist or relative to help you sort it out. ancer ~ You’ve got plenty to bring to the table as the week gets going. This is decidedly not the time to dwell in your shell — get face-time with the higher-ups and generally get your ideas visibility. Then expect a bottleneck around Wednesday and Thursday and be proactive about getting the workflow flowing again. At the least, you can be prepared with another project to make headway on instead of twiddling your thumbs. And your creative powers are crazy-good on Friday and over the weekend. Time off isn't downtime the way your wheels are turning.

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eo ~ Beware of finger-pointing as the week begins. No matter which end of it you’re on, it’s problematic — be ready to learn lessons, talk solutions and move forward instead of looking to lay or accept blame. The team’s key around Wednesday and Thursday, especially when it comes to crucial choice-making. Get everyone’s input and acknowledge it appropriately, even the stuff that's not workable. Then show your stick-to-it-iveness on Friday or over the weekend.

You can make any holes punched in your plans look decorative instead of detrimental. irgo ~ You’re achievement-oriented as the week begins, and you have your values in mind, too. Choose your path and feel truly fulfilled — you can’t lose. Around Wednesday and Thursday, what seems like crisp, concise communication to you may feel a little chilly to them. Soften your message with humor, with praise or with a question that shows you’re interested. Whether it’s a date, a party or a game, social stuff goes great from Friday through most of the weekend. Enjoy and plan for some alone time Sunday to recuperate. ibra ~ Get some daylight on a certain hidden agenda at the beginning of the week. With your emotional intelligence, you can do it without making anybody look bad — and it’s crucial to everyone concerned. Then it's time for new business around Wednesday and Thursday. Set ongoing projects aside as much as is realistic; you’re forwardthinking now and you don’t want to let this innovative energy dissolve into the ether. A certain ally is key on Friday or over the weekend. You might want to do them a favor in anticipation of your own needs. corpio ~ If you’re fixated on material things or pinning your hopes on a particular person, some rethinking is in order as the week begins. It’s important to have your values, including independence and forethought. Around Wednesday and Thursday, neither borrow nor lend — avoid entangling finances with others now. Those mental wheels are turning fast from Friday through most of the weekend, but you’re sensitive to emotional nuances as well. It’s an ideal state for bonding, relationship-wise. Plan something utterly relaxing for Sunday. agittarius ~ Beware of biting off more than you can chew as the week gets going. You’ve only got so much bandwidth — unless there’s something you can delegate or otherwise jettison, you might want to deal with what’s already on your plate at this juncture. Then there’s no time for downtime around Wednesday and Thursday. Get proper rest, fit in exercise to clear your head and be inspired, not tired. Then keep your schedule flexible on Friday and over the weekend. You’ll want time to delve into an issue — or perhaps it’s a sudden opportunity. apricorn ~ Let that twinkle in your eye shine as the week begins! Others may be stumbling around half-awake, but you’re off to a stellar start, enjoying yourself and getting a ton done. Around Wednesday and Thursday, beware of overanalyzing a certain situation. At a certain point, it’s time to look at the basics and make a move, and that point’s probably now.

Relationships may get sticky on Friday or over the weekend, and trying to smooth it over just makes more of a mess.

Address the issues directly with the pertinent party, and be ready for change of the positive kind.

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Inside This Edition UC Davis chancellor faces

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faculty confidence vote

BY TERENCE CHEA | ASSOCIATED PRESS

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L.A. Watts Times WEEKENDER Published Weekly – Updates 3800 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008 Administration – Sales – Graphics – Editorial 323.299.3800 - office 323.291.6804 - fax Beverly Cook – Publisher, Managing Editor 1976 – 1993 Charles Cook – Publisher 1976 – 1998 Melanie Polk – Publisher 1998 – 2010

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BlackFacts.com February 26, 1920 Dr. Carter G. Woodson (18751950) instituted Negro History Week, which coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In 1976, the observance was renamed National Afro-American History Month in honor of the nation’s bicentennial. Since then, U.S. Presidents have urged all Americans to celebrate Black History Month.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The chancellor of the University of California, Davis, faces a faculty vote Friday on her ability to lead the campus following the widely condemned pepper-spraying of student protesters.

Members of the UC Davis Academic Senate are voting on a motion of “non-confidence” in Chancellor Linda Katehi’s leadership, citing her handling of campus Occupy protests in November.

A competing motion condemns the police use of excessive force and pepper-spray on student demonstrators but accepts Katehi’s “good faith apology” and expresses confidence in her leadership.

Results are expected after the twoweek voting period ends at 5 p.m. Friday.

The motions are nonbinding but could influence UC leaders as they consider the future of the 57-year-old Katehi, who became chancellor of the 32,000-student campus in 2009.

The faculty vote comes three months after a campus police officer

doused pepper-spray on sitting students who had set up an Occupy encampment on campus. Widely circulated videos of the Nov. 18 incident sparked national outrage and the debate over the use of police force in responding to Occupy protests.

After the incident, Katehi apologized to the campus community for the “appalling use of pepper spray.” The Greek-born chancellor said she had ordered police to remove the tents but avoid arrests and violence.

The vote has sparked a contentious debate among faculty members.

Philosophy professor David Copp urged his colleagues to approve the noconfidence measure. “A wise leader would not have ordered the police to act against non-violent demonstrators,” he wrote in a statement supporting the no-confidence measure.

But Tilahun Yilma, a professor of veterinary medicine, called the motion “unwise and destructive.” In a statement, he wrote: “We are very fortunate to have a person of her caliber in a leadership position to help make our university one of the leading universities nationally and internationally.”

High court to take new look at affirmative action

BY MARK SHERMAN | AP WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will once again confront the issue of race in university admissions in a case brought by a White student denied a spot at the flagship campus of the University of Texas.

The court said Tuesday it will return to the issue of affirmative action in higher education for the first time since its 2003 decision endorsing the use of race as a factor in admissions. This time around, a more conservative court is being asked to outlaw the use of Texas’ affirmative action plan and possibly to jettison the earlier ruling entirely.

A broad ruling in favor of the student, Abigail Fisher, could threaten

affirmative action programs at many of the nation's public and private universities, said Vanderbilt University law professor Brian Fitzpatrick.

A federal appeals court upheld the Texas program at issue, saying it was allowed under the high court's decision in Grutter vs. Bollinger in 2003 that upheld racial considerations in university admissions at the University of Michigan law school.

The Texas case will be argued in the fall, probably in the final days of the presidential election campaign, and the changed makeup of the Supreme Court could foretell a different outcome. For one thing, Justice Samuel Alito appears more hostile to affirmative action than his predecessor, See AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, page 19

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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Chinese leader Xi, Biden promote trade in LA

BY CHRISTINA HOAG AND NOAKI SCHWARTZ | ASSOCIATED PRESS

Former U.S. Rep. Katie Hall of Indiana dies at 73

BY TOM COYNE | ASSOCIATED PRESS SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Former Indiana U.S. Rep. Katie Hall, a key sponsor of the 1983 legislation that established a national holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has died.

She was 73.

Hall’s husband, John Henry Hall, said she died Monday at Methodist Hospitals’ Northlake campus in Gary from an undisclosed illness.

Although she was just a freshman congresswoman at the time, Hall was credited with playing a key role in getting the King holiday approved after it stalled in the House the previous 14 years. She sought the chairmanship of a Post Office and Civil Service subcommittee so she could get the bill moving and held hearings, bringing in King’s widow, Coretta, singer Stevie Wonder, Sen. Edward Kennedy and House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill.

“Sometimes when you get to the goal line, it’s good to go to someone fresh and new to take it over. She brought a freshness of approach, a spirit of reconciliation to what had sometimes been a bitter battle,” Rep. William H. Gray III, a Philadelphia Democrat, said at the time.

John Henry Hall said his wife’s work on that bill was the accomplishment of which she was most proud.

“She was there with President Reagan as well as Coretta Scott King and others when the president signed it.

It was one of the highlights of her career, tremendously so,” he said.

Katie Hall, who was Indiana's first Black member in the U.S. House, was a school teacher who got involved in politics in 1962 shortly after moving to the city. In 1963 she worked on the campaign for Richard Hatcher when he first ran for City Council and helped with his campaign again four years later when ran for mayor of Gary, becoming one of the first Black mayors of big U.S. city.

“That energized her and got her into politics,” James Lane, a history professor at Indiana University Northwest in Gary.

She served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1974-76 and in the Indiana Senate from 1976-82. When

U.S. Rep. Adam Benjamin of northwestern Indiana’s 1st District died suddenly in 1982, two months before the election, Hatcher was influential in persuading Democratic Party officials to nominate Hall to replace him, Lane said. She was picked over Benjamin’s widow, Patricia, during a meeting at Hatcher’s home.

Hall won election to the remainder of Benjamin's term and a full two-year term on the same day in November.

Hall was defeated in the 1984 Democratic primary by Peter Visclosky, who has held the seat since.

Visclosky accused her of being unresponsive to voters outside of Gary.

“She serves one constituent, the mayor of Gary,” Visclosky said at the time.

Visclosky defeated her again two years later. She then served as Gary’s city clerk from 1988 until 2003, when she pleaded guilty to mail fraud as part of a deal with federal prosecutors on 20 felony public corruption charges. Hall and others had been accused of making workers in the city clerk’s office raise money for Hall’s re-election campaigns in order to keep their jobs.

Hall was sentenced to house arrest and probation, but her daughter, Junifer Hall, served a 16-month prison term.

Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson expressed her condolences to Hall’s family in a statement released Tuesday.

“She was a great friend of our family, a phenomenal educator, author of the King holiday bill and a political trailblazer we will never forget,” Freeman-Wilson said.

Hall’s husband said his wife should be remembered as a humanitarian who rose from humble beginnings, growing up on her grandfather’s cotton farm in Mound Bayou, Miss.

“She left a great legacy of love and concern for city, state and country as well as humanity, and her great work rising from the cotton fields of Mississippi to serve in the Congress of the United States of America,” he said.

A public viewing for Hall will be held 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Van Buren Baptist Church in Gary. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Associated Press writer Rick Callahan in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

AP Photo/Los Angeles Times, Jay L. Clendenin, Pool

All smiles: Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, left, with Vice President Joe Biden, shows off a chocolate-covered macadamia nut, given to him by Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, at the start of a meeting of Chinese and American governors, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall last Friday.

Angeles Lakers-Phoenix Suns basketball game Friday night. Following the Lakers 111-99 victory, Xi and his party left for the airport.

A day earlier, Xi toured the Port of Los Angeles, America’s busiest port complex. Nearly 60 percent of the imports moving through the port come from China.

U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson also encouraged more Chinese investment, commenting that “America is truly open for business.” However, he called for balancing the economic and trade relationship, which has been a

lightning rod for critics of China.

Trade between the two countries increased exponentially last year but the U.S. trade deficit also grew by 30 percent, Bryson said.

“We have to work harder to achieve balanced trade growth,” he said.

Any view that the U.S. is the loser in its trade relationship with China “does not square with facts,” Xi said through a translator.

Chinese imports have helped Americans improve their standard of living and created more than 3 million See CHINESE LEADER, page 19

metro.net/expo

Watch for trains on Metro Expo Line tracks.

Test trains are now running in preparation for the upcoming opening of the Metro Expo Line, the newest extension of the Metro Rail system. Trains will be moving in both directions on the tracks.

Please remember to: > Obey all tra;c signals and warning devices. > Be alert at all times. Watch for a “TRAIN” signal. > Always push the button and wait for a “WALK” signal before entering the crosswalk. Never jaywalk across the tracks. > Never sit or stand on tracks. > Do not go around lowered gates. > Never make a left turn on a red arrow.

This tra;c rule will be enforced by cameras at intersections. > Right turns are allowed while an Expo Line train is passing through, but may be restricted at certain intersections.

For more safety tips, visit metro.net/ridesafely.

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AP Photo/Lana Harris, File

Former U.S. Rep. Katie Hall, D-Ind., a key sponsor of the 1983 legislation that established a national holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., died Monday. She was 73.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping began the last day of his U.S. visit by urging closer ties and arguing that Americans benefit from their trade relationship with China.

“A prosperous and stable China will not be a threat to any country,” Xi said Friday. “It will only be a positive force for world peace and development.”

Xi, who is expected to become president of the world’s most populous nation next year, started his fourth day in the United States at a downtown Los Angeles trade conference hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. His American counterpart, Vice President Joe Biden, joined him later.

California Gov. Jerry Brown and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa both lauded the U.S.-China relationship.

“We’ve got a great future together,” said Brown, who announced plans to open a new trade and investment office in China. China is a major trade partner with Los Angeles, which has greatly benefited from its Pacific Rim position and has courted Chinese businesses and their potential jobs.

Xi wrapped up his visit at Staples Center, where he attended a Los

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Mardi Munch’s ‘The Gras Scream’ to sell in revelry, NY; may fetch $80M parades take over New Orleans AP Photo/The Times-Picayune,Ted Jackson

King Zulu Elroy James and Queen Tanyanika Phillips enjoy their reign as they arrive by boat to Lundi Gras festivities on the Mississippi Riverfront in New Orleans on Monday.

BY MARY FOSTER AND STACEY PLAISANCE | AP NEW ORLEANS (AP) — From the family-friendly avenues of the Garden District to raunchy displays in the French Quarter, New Orleans let loose with a Fat Tuesday party as parades rolled and revelers frolicked amid showers of beads, trinkets and music.

The French Quarter began to fill

with costumed revelers soon after dawn. Some people hadn’t stopped drinking since Monday’s Lundi Gras prequel to Mardi Gras.

Wearing a bright orange wig, a purple mask and green shoes, New Orleans resident Charlotte Hamrick walked along Canal Street to meet friends.

“I’ll be in the French Quarter all day,” Hamrick said. “I don’t even go to the parades. I love to take pictures

of all the costumes and just be with my friends. It’s so fun.”

Across the globe, people dressed up in elaborate costumes and partied the day away. In Rio de Janeiro, an estimated 850,000 tourists joined the city's massive five-day blowout.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese, who have suffered deeply in Europe’s debt crisis, defied a government appeal to keep working.

See MARDI GRAS, page 14

AP Photo/Sotheby’s

“The Scream” by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, which dates from 1895 and is one of four versions of the composition, will lead Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale in New York on May 2.

BY KAREN MATTHEWS | ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK (AP) — One of four versions of Edvard Munch’s masterpiece “The Scream” will be sold this spring in New York, Sotheby’s auction house announced Tuesday.

Sotheby’s estimates that the work, which has become a modern icon of human anxiety, will sell for $80 million or more.

The 1895 drawing of a man holding his head and screaming under a streaked, blood-red sky is being sold

by Norwegian businessman Petter Olsen, whose father was a friend and patron of Munch’s. It is the only version of “The Scream” still in private hands.

“I have lived with this work all my life, and its power and energy have only increased with time,” Olsen said. “Now, however, I feel the moment has come to offer the rest of the world a chance to own and appreciate this remarkable work, which is the only version of ‘The Scream’ not in the collection of a Norwegian museum.”

The work will lead Sotheby’s Impressionist and modern sale on May 2. Olsen said proceeds will go toward the establishment of a new museum, art center and hotel in Hvitsten, Norway, where Olsen’s father and Munch were neighbors.

A price tag of $80 million would be among the highest-ever for an artwork. According to Sotheby’s, a total

of eight works have sold for $80 million or more at auction. The record is $106.5 million for Picasso’s “Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust,” sold in 2010

by Christie’s in New York.

The director of the National Museum in Oslo, Audun Eckhoff, told The Associated Press that Norwegian authorities approved the Munch sale a few months ago.

“Our consideration was that it is acceptable, since several versions of ‘The Scream’ remain in Norway,” he said.

One version of “The Scream” is owned by the National Museum and two others by the Munch Museum, also in Oslo.

Sotheby’s said in a news release that this pastel-on-board version of “The Scream” is the most colorful and vibrant of the four and the only version whose frame was hand-painted by the artist to include his poem detailing the work’s inspiration.

In the poem, Munch described himself “shivering with anxiety” and said he felt “the great scream in nature.”

The work will be on view at Sotheby’s in London starting April 13 and then in New York starting April 27.

Curator Petra Pettersen of the Munch Museum said she hopes that whoever buys “The Scream” will display it as well.

“I hope it will not disappear from the public and that it will still be possible to see it at exhibitions,” she said.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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Community demands KFI radio hosts John and Ken be fired

Southwest mechanics reject seniority plan DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines mechanics rejected a plan for combining their seniority list with that of mechanics at AirTran Airways, complicating Southwest’s job of combining the two airlines.

The dispute could go to arbitration, although Southwest on Tuesday held out the hope that the two labor groups could come together on their own.

Seniority often determines job assignments and pay in the airline industry.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents about 1,600 Southwest mechanics, declined to release the vote count. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents about 400 AirTran mechanics, said that group approved the deal 278-42.

AMFA spokesman Sidney “Louie” Key said the agreement failed because of disagreements over how long workers in certain locations would be protected from layoffs if jobs were reduced. AMFA wanted protection for Southwest workers in Baltimore and Orlando, Fla., where maintenance stations for the airlines overlap, and the Teamsters wanted the same for AirTran workers in previously all-AirTran locations such as Atlanta.

Key accused the Teamsters of reneging on a deal under which protection of both groups would expire in 2016.

In a statement, the director of the Teamsters’ airline division, David Bourne, said it was “unfortunate that our members at AirTran will now have to wait a while longer in order to gain the benefits of a merged seniority list and (a single) collective bargaining agreement.”

The unions have clashed before at Southwest. The Teamsters represented the airline’s mechanics until being ousted by AMFA in January 2003, and recently AMFA accused the Teamsters of campaigning to win those workers back.

Southwest said the next step would be a filing for arbitration by AMFA and the Teamsters, which represents about 400 AirTran mechanics.

Southwest Airlines Co. bought AirTran for $1.4 billion last year.

Pilots and flight attendants at the two airlines have approved senioritycombination agreements. Several groups of ground workers are still negotiating.

AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

Apology not accepted: KFI AM 640 Radio’s John Kobylt, left, said in statement that he and his co-host, Ken Chiampou, “used language that was inappropriate” and they “sincerely apologize to our listeners and to the family of Ms. Houston.” The station said in a statement that Kobylt and Chiampou were “suspended for making insensitive and inappropriate comments about the late Whitney Houston.” The hosts are due to return to the airwaves Feb. 27.

BY BRANDON I. BROOKS ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Local radio station, KFI AM 640, suspended John Koblyt and Ken Chiampou, the hosts of the “John and Ken Show,” for “making insensitive and inappropriate comments about the

A. PHILIP RANDOLPH

late Whitney Houston,” it said in a statement last Thursday.

According to audio posted online at UrbanInformer.com, the hosts called the late singer a “crack ho” and said she was “cracked out for 20 years.”

“Management does not condone, support or tolerate statements of this

MARY CHURCH TERRELL

kind,” the station said.

The Houston family, community activists around the country and local organizations are in an uproar after learning that the radio station’s plans are only to temporarily suspend the two hosts.

See KFI RADIO HOSTS, page 19

ROY WILKINS

CLARA DAY

SEIU 721 Salutes Black History Month Honoring the Many Courageous Men and Women Who Fight for a Fair Economy!

Bob Schoonover

Linda Dent

PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT

D E D I C AT E D T O R E L I A B L E Q U A L I T Y P U B L I C S E R V I C E S www.seiu721.org

MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE

facebook.com/seiu721

WHITNEY YOUNG

twitter.com/seiu721

MARY MOULTRIE

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Whitney Houston’s voice still soars

BY NEKESA MUMBI MOODY ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWARK, N.J. — After all the testimonials from relatives and friends, the songs from legends and pop stars, the preaching and even the laughter, the raw emotion of Whitney Houston’s funeral came down to just one moment: The sound of her own voice.

As the strains of her biggest record, “I Will Always Love You,” filled the New Hope Baptist Church at the end of the nearly four-hour service Saturday and her silver-and-gold casket was lifted in the air, the weight of the moment was too much for her mother to bear.

Gospel singer Cissy Houston wailed, “My baby! My baby!” as she was held up by two women and led out of the church behind her daughter’s body.

A few steps behind her was the pop icon's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, also crying uncontrollably as she was comforted by Houston’s close friend, singer Ray J. It was the most searing scene on a day with mixed moods as family, friends and a list of celebrities — sometimes one and the same — came to the humble New Hope Baptist Church, where Whitney Houston first wowed a congregation, to remember one of music’s legends, but also a New Jersey hometown girl.

AP Photo/Mel Evans

Going home in grand style: Whitney Houston’s funeral took place Saturday at the church where she sang in the choir as a girl.

Houston had died the previous Saturday in Beverly Hills, Calif., on the eve of the Grammys at the age of 48.

She was buried Sunday next to her

father, John Houston, in nearby Westfield, N.J. Her death marked the end of a life of stunning achievement. Blessed with a voice of great power and beauty,

Houston became one of pop music’s most successful artists over a career that spanned nearly three decades and segued into film with hits like “The Bodyguard” and “The Preacher’s Wife.”

But her life was not without struggles. An addiction to drugs and a tumultuous union with ex-husband Bobby Brown saw her tumbling from grace.

Both sides of Houston were recalled at the service at New Hope, which was filled with about 300 mourners, including Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Hudson, Diane Sawyer and Houston’s cousin, Dionne Warwick.

“She was someone with a charmed and a beautiful life, sometimes misunderstood, even by herself,” said her sister-in-law and manager, Patricia Houston, “but a life nevertheless that gave joy, happiness, enthusiasm, peace and beautiful music to millions of people around the world.”

Kevin Costner, her co-star in “The Bodyguard,” said that for all of Houston’s beauty and success, she was still yearning for approval from the public and was somewhat insecure a superstar, who “still wondered, ‘Am I good enough? Am I pretty enough?

Will they like me?’ ” “It’s a tree we could all hang from — the unexplainable burden that comes with fame,” he said. “Call it doubt. Call it fear. I’ve had mine. And I know the famous in the room have had theirs.”

See WHITNEY HOUSTON, page 18

Millions are exposed to secondhand smoke and some can’t do anything about it.

Even if you don’t smoke, you can still be exposed to secondhand smoke in your home through vents, doors and windows.

Talk to your landlord about making your building entirely smoke-free. ©2011 California Department of Public Health

TobaccoFreeCA.com

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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Hundreds honor ‘Soul Train’ creator Don Cornelius

BY ANTHONY MCCARTNEY | ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES (AP) — Through music, scripture and song, Don Cornelius was remembered Thursday as the man who elevated black culture and entertainment with his “Soul Train,” demolishing barriers of race and culture, and changing American history.

Hundreds of family, friends, entertainers, sports figures and even some

former “Soul Train” dancers gathered to honor Cornelius’ legacy and recall their recollections of the baritone-voiced host and entrepreneur. The nearly three-hour memorial service featured plenty of laughter and music, including a rousing performance of “Love’s In Need of Love” by Stevie Wonder.

Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson delivered a eulogy that centered on how Cornelius’ creation created a platform for Black music and culture that

hadn’t been seen on television when “Soul Train” debuted in 1970. “Soul Train” was broadcast nationally from 1971 to 2006 and became one of television’s longest running syndicated shows.

He gave up hosting duties in 1993.

“Don, we say thanks for being conductor of the ‘Soul Train’ and laying the tracks,” Jackson said. “We thank you because we needed you so badly and you helped us so much.”

See DON CORNELIUS, page 18

A prayerful tribute to Don Cornelius.

MetroBriefs Metro Preparing To Open Expo Line

A brotherhood of friends: From left, Smokey Robinson, Danny Bakewell, Sr., Tony Cornelius (Don’s son), the Rev. Jesse Johnson, Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

Metro has begun pre-revenue testing along the Expo Line corridor between Downtown LA and Culver City in anticipation of opening the new line. The light rail line is the newest extension of the 70-station Metro Rail system. Trains are running on a schedule of every 12 minutes along the route to simulate regular service.

Disadvantaged Workers Get Boost From Metro Metro has set a plan in motion to increase the number of disadvantaged workers hired to work on the agency’s transit and highway projects. An agreement between Metro and local building trade councils calls for 40 percent of the work hours on its projects be done by workers from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

LA Kings Fans Go Metro Rail More trains, more often is the way to see the LA Kings take on their pro hockey rivals at STAPLES Center. Metro’s Red, Purple and Blue lines now have trains running every 10 minutes until midnight. Stay for the shoot-out and when you’re ready to leave, we’ll be there for you within 10 minutes.

Metro ExpressLanes Under Construction

A devastated granddaughter, Christina Cornelius.

One of the earliest “Soul Train” guests, Stevie Wonder pays tribute.

Construction is underway to convert the carpool lanes along the I-110 and I-10 freeways to Express Lanes, specially designed to get you through tra;c with FasTrak®.

They’re free to carpoolers, vanpoolers and motorcycles and available for a toll to solo drivers. For more information, visit metro.net/expresslanes.

Regional Connector Final Report In Review

If you’d like to know more, visit metro.net.

Uplifting words from gospel artist- The “Godfather of Black Music”: Jazz-pop great George Duke.

Photos by Cover Up Photos pastor Donnie McClurkin.

Clarence Avant.

12-1401kg_gen-ce-12-009 ©2012 lacmta

Metro is gathering public comment on the >nal environmental report for the Regional Connector Transit Corridor light rail line. The two-mile underground route will connect the Metro Gold, Blue and Expo lines through Downtown LA. For more information and to comment, visit metro.net/regionalconnector.

8

Thursday, February 23, 2012

UN: W. Africa cocaine trade Unions gearing up to spend big in 2012 election generates $900M a year

BY SAM HANANEL | ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP Photo/Sayyid Azim

A Kenyan soldier guards the largest seizure of cocaine in Kenya in this file picture in Nairobi. Kenya has become a cocaine distribution hub, according to U.S., U.N. and British diplomats. Traffickers from South America are taking advantage of Nairobi’s extensive air links to Europe and Asia, and spending piles of cash to minimize government interference, they say.

BY EDITH M. LEDERER | ASSOCIATED PRESS UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. agency that fights drugs and crime estimated that cocaine trafficking is generating some $900 million annually in West and Central Africa as South American cartels use the shortest route to transport drugs to Europe.

Yuri Fedotov, the head of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, told the

U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that in addition to an upsurge in cocaine trafficking, West Africa is experiencing an increase in piracy, arms and human trafficking.

He said South American drug cartels were not only exploiting poverty but a lack of border controls, weak law enforcement and endemic corruption in West Africa to reach Europe.

“The West African transit route feeds a European cocaine market which

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in recent years grew four-fold, reaching an amount almost equal to the U.S. market,” he said. “We estimate that cocaine trafficking in West and Central Africa generates some $900 million annually.”

That estimate is up from an April 2011 UNODC report that put the figure at $800 million for 2009.

Fedotov said illegal drug consumption is also growing fast in the region, where there are now up to 2.5 million drug users.

He said greater understanding is needed of the extent to which drug trafficking may be linked to piracy off West Africa's coast.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon said there is growing concern about stability in West Africa and the Sahel region to the north because of the rise in organized crime, drug trafficking and piracy, a growing food crisis, the influx of weapons from the upheaval in Libya, and the reported links between insurgent groups, criminal groups and terrorist organizations.

“There is even fear that we could see in this region a crisis of the magnitude of the one in the Horn of Africa,” Ban said, a reference to Somalia, which remains a failed state, with the al-Qaidaaffiliated militant group al-Shabab challenging a weak transitional government.

He told the council that an assessment mission he sent in December to look at the effects of the Libya crisis on the Sahel “found that terrorist groups, such as al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, have begun to form alliances with drug traffickers and other criminal syndicates.”

“Such alliances have the potential to further destabilize the region and reverse hard-won democratic and peace-building achievements,” the secretary-general warned.

Benin’s Minister of State for National Security Issifou N’Douro said the dispersal of Libya’s arsenal and mass departure of Libyans following the ouster of Moammar Gadhafi “has considerably worsened the challenges that West Africa and the Sahel in particular are facing in terms of combatting organized transnational crime.”

The Libyan fallout has led to the growth and radicalization of rebel groups in the Sahel states and “a resurgence in pernicious forms of coordinated criminal activity,” such as kidnapping See COCAINE TRADE, page 16

WASHINGTON (AP) — Unions say they are gearing up to spend more than $400 million to help re-elect President Barack Obama and lift Democrats this election year in a fight for labor’s survival.

Under siege in state legislatures around the country — and fearing the consequences of a Republican in the White House — union leaders say they have little choice as they try to beat back GOP efforts to curb collective bargaining rights or limit their ability to collect dues.

“People are digging deeper,” said Larry Scanlon, political director of the country’s largest public workers union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “If Republicans take over the presidency, Congress and enough state legislatures, unions will be out of business, pure and simple.”

Scanlon’s union was the biggest overall spender in the 2010 midterm elections, doling out about $93 million to help state and federal candidates, mostly Democrats. This year, AFSCME is expected to spend at least $100 million or more on political action, including television advertising, phone banks and member canvassing. The effort is to help the president, Democrats running for the House and Senate, gubernatorial candidates and key state lawmakers.

With increased spending planned by other labor groups, including the powerful Service Employees International Union and the AFL-CIO, unions are likely to top the $400 million they spent to help elect Obama four years ago.

Not all union expenditures on political action are publicly disclosed, so some numbers are based on selfreporting. But unions have long been known as one of the most reliable supporters of Democratic candidates and their efforts have increased with every election as the threats to organized labor grow.

Unions already spent more than $40 million last year to successfully repeal an Ohio law that restricted collective bargaining rights and to recall lawmakers who backed a similar measure in Wisconsin. They are spending millions more in a bid to recall Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who led the charge to curb public employee union rights as a way to balance the state’s budget.

But unions are being spread thin as they deal with a new wave of measures they say are designed to weaken their clout. Indiana passed a right-towork measure earlier this month, and Republicans in New Hampshire are pushing a similar bill. Legislatures in Arizona and Utah are weighing measures to limit bargaining rights for their public employees.

“Part of the Republican strategy is to try to bleed us,” said Mike Podhorzer, political director of the AFL-CIO. “There are certainly more union members now who understand the importance of political engagement and are willing to go door-todoor and make phone calls and do campaigns.”

Tim Phillips, president of the conservative anti-tax and anti-regulation

group Americans for Prosperity, denied any grand strategy to weaken unions. His group, founded with the support of billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, spends millions on anti-Obama and anti-union ads across the country.

“It’s not accurate to say there’s some master plan to drain resources,” Phillips said. “These are genuine public policy efforts.”

But Phillips said he thinks that, for the first time, unions have to confront organized grassroots opposition in a number of states.

“And Americans for Prosperity is absolutely a key component in that,” Phillips said. “The unions have always had the advantage, and we are now matching them.”

The stakes are even higher for unions this year, as GOP presidential hopefuls seeking conservative support have made unions a regular punching bag. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney says he would support states pursuing right-to-work laws and seek to ban unions from using automatic dues deductions for politics. He would also reverse Obama’s executive order encouraging the use of union labor in large government construction projects.

AFSCME, the 1.6-million member union, started early this year, spending $1 million on television ads during Florida’s GOP presidential primary to weaken Romney, the candidate organized labor presumes will emerge as the Republican nominee.

The SEIU teamed up with Priorities USA Action, the major super PAC backing Obama, to buy ads in Florida and Nevada accusing Romney of flip-flopping on immigration policy. SEIU is the single largest contributor to Priorities USA after making a $500,000 contribution in December.

The 2.1 million-member union is expected to spend at least $85 million to help Obama win, similar to what it spent in 2008, spokeswoman Jennifer Farmer said.

So far, unions are finding a way to pay for all the political spending.

Union members are contributing more to political action committees, agreeing to special assessments and spending more time working on political causes.

The AFL-CIO is following a new strategy outlined last summer to contribute less money to specific candidates and spend more on building its infrastructure. The goal is to lay a foundation for year-round mobilization that keeps going in the months following an election. Competing for the union money are the various races, from president to state lawmaker.

“We have to use 2012 not just to win for its own sake but to use as a springboard for 2014 when the governors in all these states are up,” Podhorzer said.

The new strategy emerged after some unions grew frustrated last year that Democrats in Congress were not doing enough to stand up for labor's agenda.

The AFL-CIO also started its own labor super PAC, which allows it to raise unlimited amounts of money and mobilize support beyond its traditional base. The new super PAC has already pulled in $3.7 million.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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Academy Award voters need diversity in script

BY REV. JESSE JACKSON This Sunday, nearly 40 million people are likely to tune in to see who captures an Oscar at the annual Academy Awards ceremonies.

Winning the award can add millions to a film’s box office and supercharge the career of an actor, director, screenwriter or editor.

According to the Academy’s 200910 fiscal year tax filing, the Oscars generated $81.3 million in revenue.

This is a big deal.

It is avidly watched by the moviegoing population of this sprawling and diverse nation of more than 300 million people, and by millions more around the world.

Hollywood sets styles, captures imaginations, touches dreams.

Worldwide, movies provide people with much of what they think about America.

Yet, the 5,765 voting members of the Academy are far from representative of the moviegoing public.

They are more akin to the old packed juries of the segregated South. A remarkable investigation by Los Angeles Times reporters pierced the screen of secrecy to reveal that the voting members are a stunning 94 percent Caucasian and 77 percent male. Only 2 percent are African American, and less than 2 percent are Latino. Their median age is 62, and only 14 percent are younger than 50.

The Academy’s leaders say the organization is trying to do better, but it is hard to see any evidence of that.

Since 2004, the names of 1,000 invitees have been published: 89 percent White, and 73 percent male. The 43 member Academy Board of Governors has all of six women, one of whom is the sole person of color.

The Academy’s executive branch is 98 percent White, as is its writers branch. Corporate board-

The Rev. Jesse Jackson

rooms do better than that.

Defenders of the Academy say its membership reflects a combination of legacy (memberships are for life) and achievement. But the sad reality is that the membership reflects hiring patterns that are equally skewed.

The Times story quotes writer/editor Phil Auden Robinson, who concludes: “If the industry as a whole is not doing a great job in opening up its ranks, it’s very hard for us to diversify our membership.”

Not surprisingly, the voting tends to reflect the composition of the voters. In the 83 years of the Academy, the Times reports, only 4 percent of Oscars have been awarded to an African American. Only one woman has received the award for directing.

In 2011 [editor’s note: for movies that came out in 2010],

not a single minority person was among the 45 nominees for the major awards: best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, director, original and adapted screenplay. More astounding, the Academy failed to identify even one Black male presenter for the awards. AfricanAmerican actors were not only shut out of the awards; they were shut out of the attention that comes from presenting them.

This year, at least, minorities will not be shut out. Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Mexican-born Demian Bichir will contend for major acting awards.

It is long past time for the industry to open up and for the Academy to reach out. It was long past time back in 1996 when the Rainbow Coalition organized a nationwide protest over the lack of minority Oscar nominees.

Women and minorities dream of becoming directors, producers, writers, cinematographers and editors just as White men do. Young talent drives Hollywood and our popular culture more than the established older generation. And Hollywood’s audience across the country and around the world is young and diverse. © 2012 Sun-Times Media

is proud to participate in Black History Month.

The struggle for freedom and equality has always been propelled by a belief that the arc of history bends toward equality and that we have the power to bend it. We have seen that an act as simple as riding on a bus or walking with a sign can influence the course of a nation.

One of the most important lessons of the black American story is that we each have the potential, some would say the responsibility, to bring change for the better.

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10

Thursday, February 23, 2012

The reverb e r a tions of Whitney Houston’s death on Saturday, February 11 in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel will be felt for months (if not years) to come. Unfortunately, this is not the first time we’ve traveled down this road – the road of shock, sadness and having to say goodbye to a beautiful, fierce, regal and gifted Black woman whose voice was stilled far too early.

This road has been worn by more than enough BABBWs (Bad and Beautiful Black Women) who had few p peers eers ee rs that could match the ranges of their musical artistry.

We Don’t Really Know Their Lives That could be because those who are the most gifted may also be the most burdened. To a wide-eyed and adoring fan, performers who have talents that appear to have ve come from an “other-worldly” ly” place exert very little eơort; their pure talent renders their workk eơorteơortless.

But work it is.

The constant, seemingly endless cycle of rehearsing; performing; traveling; being in front of the camera (whether you want to be or not); being the subject of a media story (whether you want to be or not), as well as having to be away from family and friends – month

F E AT U R E

after month, sometimes year after year – takes its toll in various forms. Add romantic relationships, marriages/divorces and motherhood to the mix, and various parasites waiting in the wings, and a glimpse of the toattles tal picture begins to emerge (battles with management and record label exrate articl cle) e)). ecutives deserves its own, separate article).

The list of Black women who left us far too early elicits sadness as well as amazement. Sadness that they are no longer physically with us, but amazement at how truly majestic their voices – those “pipes” – were.

BILLIE HOLLIDAY Age 44 (April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) Cause of Death (CoD): Pulmonary edema and heart failure brought on by cirrhosis of the liver (alcohol).

Holliday began her career in the 1930s but it was not unti un till th the e decad until decade of the 50s that she began ake ke h to mak make her mark. She recorded over tun just on the Verve label 100 tunes alon al one between 1952 and 1959. It alone was said that she lacked formal tec te technical training and could not re music, but her distinctive read v voice, emotion and the intensity that she brought to bear are her trademarks. Holliday w also addicted to heroin was a and had been under arrest fo possession of drugs durfor in ng her stay in a hospital, aping pro proximately a month and a half b fo she died. be before DINA AH W DINAH WASHINGTON Ag ge 39 ((August Augu Au gu 29, 1924 – December 14, Age 1963) (CoD): Accidental overdose of Secobarbitol and Amobarbitol and alcohol. Washington won a talent contest at the age of 15 and made her first recording in 1943. She performed solo in clubs and alongside such figures as Fats Waller, Lionel Hampton, Cannonball Ad-

L.A. Watts Times WEEKENDER

d derley, and Clark Terry. But i was in 1959 that “mainit s stream” audiences took note o Washington with her rendiof t o of “What a Diơerence a ti tion Day Makes.” The song won her the G Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues P Performance. Though not an alcoholilic, c, W alcoholic, Washington had been taking diet pills aan nd m diet and medication for insomnia and her weight was one cause of the insecurity and selfdoubt she was said to have. She had also been married eight times, beginning at the age of 18.

DOROTHY DANDRIDGE Age 42 (Nov. 9, 1922 – Sep. 8, 1965) (CoD): Initially Dandridge was said to have accidentally overdosed on an anti-depressant she was taking. Ebony magazine would later report that her death was ruled to have been due to a rare embolism.

Known primarily for her film roles, Dandridge began her career as a singer as part of the Dandridge Sisters. She continued to perform throughout her acting career, and as a solo artist, including recording a full length album for the Verve label with Oscar Peterson and others. She also sang in films such as Carmen Jones with Harry Belafonte.

MARJORIE HENDRICKS Age 34 (March, 1939 - July, 1973) oin overd rdose..

(CoD): Heroin overdose. endr driccks While Margie He Hendricks was known as a soul-lge er, ful and superb singer, on a new generation discovered herr only after Regina King’s portrayal of her in the 2004 biopic of Ray Charles starring Jamie Foxx.

Hendricks became a member s,, of The Raelettes, ngg Charles’ back up sing-

www.lawattstimes.com

ers, in 1956 and was the primary voice heard in “Hit The Road Jack” and “The Night Time (Is The Right Time),” but was dismissed from the group in 1964, after she became hooked on heroin (Hendricks had also been involved with Charles and had given birth to their son in 1959). According to one writer, none of the female singers Charles subsequently paired with “matched him in tone and texture, or challenged him in emotional intensity” as did Hendricks. She continued to perform and record as a solo artist although none of her works did well commercially.

ESTHER PHILLIPS Age 48 (December 23, 1935 – August 7, 1984) (CoD): Liver and kidney failure due to drug use.

Phillips was 13 years old when she won a contest at Johnny Otis’ Barrelhouse Club in Watts; her sister, who had insisted that she enter, dressed her up to look older than she was. Phillips’ voice has been called “truly distinctive” and under-recognized. Her rendition of Gil Scott’s Heron’s “Home is Where the Hatred Is” was nominated in 1973 for Best R & B Artist. When the Grammy went to Aretha Franklin instead, Franklin promptly gave the award to Phillips who, she said, should have won. Otis stated in an interview that Phillips’ problems with substance abuse began when she was “about 20 years old,” and, “she’s had a battle with drugs and alcoholism ever since that time.”

PHYLLIS HYMAN Age 45 (July (J 6, 1949 – June 30, 1995) (CoD): (CoD Suicide by overdose on Pentobarbitol and Secobarbitol.

Secobar The six foot-one inch tall statuesque, graceful grace and gifted actor and songstress had both beauty bea and a voice that was mesmerizing. Hyman’s ma songs were classic, her fans were dieh hards and she delivered to them through four a albums, four films and for two years on Broadw in “Sophisticated Ladies,” a musical based way on the works of Duke Ellington, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best S Supporting Actress in a Musical, and won the T Theatre World Award for Best Newcomer in 19 1981.

Unfortunately, her career only saw one Nu Number 1 hit – 1991’s “Don’t Wanna Change The Worl Wo rl World.”

Hyman had been diagnosed as bi-polar,

Thursday, February 23, 2012

and suơered from food, drug and alcohol addiction at the time of her death. Her sister Jeannie told Jet Magazine shortly after her death that “Phyllis had been in a great deal of emotional and spiritual pain for most of her adult life. And she saw suicide, the taking of her own life, as a means of ending that pain.”

Sarah Vaughan and Etta James also bear some mention. While both women were able to live past the age of 60 their deaths eơectively ended careers that quite possibly had several years left. Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) died at age 66 from lung cancer (she once told an interviewer, “I drink booze, I smoke cigarettes, I stay high, I stay up all night, I hang out”); and although James (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012) died at age 73 from Leukemia her well known bouts with addiction undoubtedly took their toll, a ‘death tax’ so to speak, on her body.

We Don’t Really Know Theirr Fears ON N WHITNEY ELIZABETH HOUSTON ryy 11 1, 22012) 012 12)) Age 48 (August 9, 1963 – February 11, oroner’s The Los Angeles County Coroner’s psyy of ps Oƥce has stated that an autopsy ete ted d Whitney Houston was completed eFebruary 12, but the oƥcial re rensults may not be known for another six to eight weeks. The website TMZ has reported that Houston may have taken Xanax before performing due to anxiety and panic attacks, and that when she was found her “face was below the waterand her legs … up … like she had slid down the back of the tub.” Xanax is said to cause d drowsiness when combined ed with alcohol, and TMZ stated he Houston had “partied heavily” th the g an nd night before her death, “drinking and he ba bar” chatting loudly with friends in the es w ith it h co coof the hotel. Houston’s struggles with ed. caine were also well documented. r,, W Whitn tney eyy H HousThroughout her brief career, Whitney rds inc n lu nc ludi ding ng g E mmys,, mmys ton won more than 400 awards including Emmys,

11

Grammys, American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. Her self-titled 1985 debut album is listed by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

And yet, she still felt she had to steady her nerves in order to perform in front of an audience.

The desire to get it right; to deliver for an audience, coupled with the pressure of a sometimes not-so-compassionate press itching to document any missteps can also, over time, extract a ‘death tax’ Whitney Houston, who enjoyed extraordinary success as a “mainstream” or “crossover” artist, once told an interviewer for Rolling Stone Magazine she was “nobody’s angel.”

Although she may not have fancied herself as an angel, Whitney Houston’s voice was comparable to one. And now, she can rest amongst them.

Peace to you my Sister. We will always love yo you. ways

12

Thursday, February 23, 2012

BCS leaders in no rush to pick a postseason system

BY RALPH D. RUSSO | ASSOCIATED PRESS How many teams will be allowed to play for the national championship is just one of the many issues being considered by the guys who run the BCS. When the games will be played is a hot topic, too.

The 11 conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director met Tuesday in Dallas, along with BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock to resume discussing possible changes to college football’s postseason.

While there seems to be growing support for creating a four-team playoff to determine a champion, how exactly that would work and when the games would be played remain to be seen.

“It’s very clear the commissioners do not want the championship game to be played too late,” Hancock said in a telephone interview.

He couldn’t define “too late,” but in the past the BCS title game has been held as late as Jan. 10, and has regularly been played on Jan. 7 or 8 since it was implemented for the 2006 season.

Hancock added the commissioners were “resolute about not having BCS games in the midweek after Jan. 1”.

The Sugar, Orange and Fiesta bowls take turns being played after Jan. 1, but ratings and attendance for the weekday games have been sagging.

College football leaders were hoping when they implemented this version of the BCS that playing big bowl games in the middle of the week would give those games a TV stage with little competition. Also, that they would help build excitement leading into the national championship game.

Instead, the season seems to drag on after New Year’s Day. Hancock said part of the 4-hour meeting was spent reviewing final exam schedules for all 120 schools. He said the commissioners would like to avoid playing games from early December to about Dec. 21, when most schools have finals.

The commissioners will meet again on Wednesday, but Hancock doesn't expect them to start whittling down the long list of ideas for how to conduct the postseason yet.

“Sooner or later the group will have to begin to narrow the focus, but I think there will be plenty of time for that,” he said.

The commissioners will get together again in March, and another major meeting is scheduled for late April in Miami.

Hancock said he'd be surprised if the work was complete by then.

“I don’t want to put a timetable on it because I might get surprised,” he said. “But I can definitely say it will be a long and deliberate process.”

Year after trade, Melo’s time as Knick falls short

BY BRIAN MAHONEY | ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK (AP) — Carmelo Anthony briefly had what now belongs to Jeremy Lin. Madison Square Garden shook when he was announced. Fans lined up to buy his jerseys, chanted his name, delighted in having the New York native back in the city.

The happy homecoming hasn't lasted.

The Knicks are a sub.-500 team in the year since Anthony’s celebrated trade from Denver, and the New York Post even wrote Tuesday that the Knicks should try to deal him to the Lakers for Pau Gasol.

Still popular, Anthony is no longer beloved. Fans appreciate his talents but question whether they translate to victories, writing on Twitter they feared he'd mess things up once he returned from injury to play with Lin. Anthony tried to laugh that off, but the truth is he craves the popularity of Lin, an underdog success story whom Anthony compared to Rudy.

“I don’t see why fans (would) not like me. I don’t say I wouldn’t care, I don’t care, because I do care if fans like me or not. But at the end of the day, I’m here to do one thing and that’s to win

AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

Maybe Melo can turn ‘Linsanity’ into ‘LinsAnthony’? New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony, right, and Jeremy Lin. At left is Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni. basketball games,” he said last week.

“If people don’t like it, then they don’t like it. I move on, I go on.”

The problem for Anthony is he isn’t winning enough games.

The Knicks were 14-14 after acquiring him on Feb. 22, 2011, after going 28-26 before his arrival. They are 16-17 this season, but 6-4 without Anthony.

Meanwhile, Lin is the winner, leading the Knicks to an 8-2 record since earning his first meaningful minutes in a victory over the Nets on Feb. 4.

Anthony strained his right groin two nights later and missed the next seven games while the offense emerged from what had been a season-long funk.

The better they looked without Anthony, the more people speculated that Anthony, despite being the Knicks’ leading scorer, had been the problem all along.

One person tweeted on Feb. 12 that he wondered if Anthony “knows or cares how terrified Knicks fans are about his return.”

Yes, Anthony was aware. And yes, turns out they had reason to worry.

The Knicks lost 100-92 to New Jersey on Monday, as a rusty Anthony shot only 4 for 11 from the field for 11 points. He said afterward he was trying to play as the Knicks did during the previous two weeks and reiterated his belief in Lin’s ability to run the team.

“I want Jeremy to have the ball.

Hands down. I want him to create for me. I want him to create for Amare (Stoudemire). I want him to create for everybody and still be as aggressive as he’s been over the past two weeks. I want that,” Anthony said.

“There’s going to be times I have the ball during the pick-and-roll situations, being a distributor, trying to be aggressive. But for the most part, I want Jeremy having the ball in his hands.”

Anthony was greeted with a loud cheer Monday, maybe even louder than

Lin's. He was voted by fans to start the All-Star game — though the TNT analysts announcing the picks unanimously said he was undeserving — so he’s still got a huge following. He thanked his fans Tuesday with a message on Twitter.

“Big shout to all my fans and the (Knicks) fans as well,” he wrote. “It’s been 1yr. Wow!!!!!!”

Still, it’s fallen short of hopes.

He wore a huge grin throughout his Feb. 23 debut Milwaukee, when the words “I was born in Brooklyn, New York” played across the overhead video board to a raucous ovation before he scored 27 points in a victory. He doesn’t flash it nearly as often now in a frustrating season in which he’s battled an assortment of injuries.

The Knicks paid an enormous price to get Anthony, surrendering starters Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov and top reserve Wilson Chandler, and that’s created expectations that are nearly impossible to meet. He could have waited and joined the Knicks as a free agent with their core intact, and those holding that against him are likely the ones behind the occasional groaning at the Garden when Anthony launches an ill-advised shot.

Lin, on the other hand, was a simple waiver pickup who had already been cut twice this season, the type of guy that’s easy to love.

The undrafted Harvard guard has downplayed concerns of his ability to play with Anthony, noting Monday was also the debut of Baron Davis and the second game with J.R. Smith.

“We’re not in panic mode, because it doesn’t just work where all of sudden people show up and you have great chemistry,” Lin said. “So we”re going to have to work through some struggles, so as long as we’re all committed and buying in, we’ll be fine.”

See MELO, page 18

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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Woods not a top seed, but still a target MARANA, Ariz. (AP) — Rory McIlroy made his pro debut in America, a 19-year-old from Northern Ireland identified by his freckles, the brown curls coming out of his cap and his raw talent.

He reached the quarterfinals of the Match Play Championship until he ran into the eventual champion, Geoff Ogilvy, who had to make five birdies on the back nine to hold off the kid.

Ogilvy birdied the last three holes and won only one of them, the 17th, for a 2and-1 win.

where he’s hitting it.”

Woods beat him, 9 and 8, the most lopsided-match in the history of this event.

But that was when Woods was No. 1 in the world. He is the No. 19 seed this week at Dove Mountain.

That was when Woods was winning two majors a year. Now he hasn’t won a tour event in more than two years. Hearing these comments on Tuesday when he arrived at Dove Mountain, he smiled.

“I feel exactly the same way as he

Ali’s life to be honored in Vegas by celebrities

AP Photo/Jeff Bottari

Children of boxing legend Muhammad Ali arrive at the Keep Memory Alive 16th Annual “Power of Love Gala” honoring Muhammad Ali with his 70th birthday celebration on Saturday in Las Vegas.

AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

Getting out of a sand trap: Tiger Woods, here on the second green during a practice round at the Match Play Championship golf tournament on Tuesday in Marana, Ariz.

“He’s the real deal,” Ogilvy said that day. “He’s going to be around for a while.”

That was three years ago.

McIlroy returns to Dove Mountain as the reigning U.S. Open champion after smashing records at Congressional. He is No. 2 in the world and has a chance to become the secondyoungest player to reach the top of the ranking if he were to win this week.

He is dating tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. He already has switched managers. And he plans to play a full PGA Tour schedule. It's hard to believe he has gone through so much at such a young age.

“I feel very content and very happy at the moment with everything that’s going on,” he said. “I feel like my golf game is in good shape.”

Just don’t get the idea he’s comfortable with everything.

After all, this is the Match Play Championship. There are 64 players in the single-elimination tournament, such a quirky event that not even the best can make plans to stick around Dove Mountain for more than one day.

Tiger Woods is a three-time winner of this World Golf Championship and, if he takes any motivation from the assessment of his opponent, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, he isn't saying.

“I think he’s beatable,” the Spaniard said. “Of course, I have to play good.”

Such comments were all Woods used to need to get fired up. The most famous incident took place in 2006 at La Costa, when Stephen Ames as the No. 64 seed said anything could happen, adding with a smile, “especially

does,” Woods said. “I feel he’s beatable, too.”

Then again, that goes for all 64 players in the field.

McIlroy hasn’t made it out of the second round the last two years. Lee Westwood, the No. 3 player, who also has a chance to topple Luke Donald at No. 1 in the world this week, has never made it out of the second round.

“It’s not quite happened for me,” Westwood said. “I suppose I'm a fairly steady to slow starter to the tournament. I ease my way into it, which you can generally do in stroke-play events.

But in this, if you come out slow and shoot 1 over for the front nine, you could find yourself three or four down and only have four holes to recover.”

It all got under way on Wednesday at Dove Mountain, with Donald as the top seed and the prime example why no one can count on anything this week.

His opponent? The No. 64 seed, Ernie Els, a three-time major champion and seven-time winner of the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, where the matches are contested over 36 holes instead of the 18-hole sprints in Arizona.

Not since the inaugural Match Play Championship in 1999 has No. 1 against No. 64 featured such big stars, when Woods beat Nick Faldo.

Of course, there’s a reason Els comes in as the No. 64 seed.

The Big Easy hasn’t won since the South African Open at the end of 2010, and he got into this tournament only because Phil Mickelson is taking a family vacation (Paul Casey later withdrew with injury).

See TIGER WOODS, page 16

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A casino owner paid more than a million dollars for boxing gloves Muhammad Ali used to defend his title. Samuel L. Jackson dedicated a rendition of “Stand By Me” to the boxer. And President Barack Obama told the icon in a birthday tribute that he inspired the world.

By the end of the night, all Ali needed to do to capture the hearts of 2,000 revelers in Las Vegas Saturday was go onstage and smile.

Ali sat next to Stevie Wonder, who played keyboards and sang his version of “Happy Birthday,” while stars including Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Kelly Rowland, LL Cool J, Quincy Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard and boxing promoter Bob Arum followed along.

Combs pinched Ali’s cheeks and whispered in his ear, then closed out the nearly 5-hour gala by professing his deep admiration for the fighter.

Ali’s eyes widened. He pointed at Combs, then back at his own head, twirling his index finger as if to tell Combs he’s crazy.

“The greatest of all time,” Combs said after leading the crowd in shouting “Happy birthday, Ali.” The moment closed out the celebration of Ali’s life and fundraiser to generate millions of dollars for brain research, a mission Ali's family says is important to him in part because of his nearly 30-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

“Happy birthday, champ,” Obama told Ali through a video message, saying he wished he could have attended a swanky dinner gala in Las Vegas featuring some of the biggest names in sports, film, television and music.

“As a fighter, you were something spectacular,” Obama told Ali, who turned 70 last month. “You shocked the world, and you inspired it, too. And even after all the titles and legendary bouts, you’re still doing it.”

A set of gloves Ali used to defeat Floyd Patterson in 1965 in Las Vegas — the first heavyweight title fight in Sin City — sold for $1.1 million. It came with one of the original posters used to promote the fight, which had Muhammad Ali’s chosen name as a subscript to Cassius Clay, the name he was born with. When Ali converted to

Islam, many people resisted calling him by his new name.

Ali entered the room and sat at a table with his family before bidding began on the gloves.

Lorenzo Fertitta, a casino owner and owner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the mixed marital arts league, won the gloves, which organizers had said earlier they hoped would fetch $500,000.

Football great Jim Brown said Ali represents the greatest of America, because at one time people only recognized his athletic ability and didn't like what he had to say. That changed over time, he said.

“America started with slavery and ended up with a Black president,” Brown said. “Muhammad Ali was a part of that ... a big part.”

Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali, told the starstudded crowd that her husband's greatest wish has always been to inspire and help others. She said he feels that his life really began when he retired from the ring.

“Muhammad’s gift of inspiration is timeless, and now more relevant than ever,” she said after being introduced by music icon Quincy Jones.

Lonnie Ali introduced a video montage of her husband's life, including clips from his work with children.

“People look for miracles, people look for wonders, people expect surprises of all kinds,” Ali said in the video. “Yet the greatest wonder, the greatest miracle, the greatest surprise is to be found in one’s heart.”

Guests arriving on the red carpet included football great Franco Harris, supermodel Cindy Crawford, acting star Jackson, Ali’s children and grandchildren, and Chuck Wepner, who fought Ali in 1975 for the heavyweight title and lost.

“I would go anywhere in the world for Muhammad Ali’s birthday,” Wepner said.

One of Ali’s daughters, Rasheda Ali, said the gala was a chance for friends, family and A-listers who look up to her father to show their respect for his life and legacy as a humanitarian. In return, she says he’ll be honored to see them there.

“He has not left that need to help

others,” Rasheda Ali said. “That’s one of his core values — his charity and his giving.”

The gala — with tickets starting at $1,500 per plate — was held at the MGM Grand, the site of most of boxing's major fights the past two decades.

Famous faces converged on the 160 See MUHAMMAD ALI, page 16

14

Thursday, February 23, 2012

What’s next for the Soul Train brand?

BY SUZANNE GAMBOA | ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File

Hall of Fame basketball player turned businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson is part of a group of Black entrepreneurs that had begun working to revive Don Cornelius’ creation, “Soul Train,” prior to his death.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Before the death of Don Cornelius stirred pangs of “Soul Train” nostalgia in the American public, a group of Black entrepreneurs already had begun working to revive Cornelius’ creation and carry it beyond the continued popularity of the show’s dances and television reruns.

What, exactly, can be done with “Soul Train,” given that it lasted nearly four decades and is considered an American institution, even though there hasn’t been a new episode in six years? Will the soul of “Soul Train” carry on, or drift into history?

Soul Train Holdings LLC, the entity created by NBA legend and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson when he bought the “Soul Train” library and brand last year, has a lot of ideas. Among them are bringing a “Soul Train” variety show back to television, CEO Kenard Gibbs told The Associated Press. There have been discussions with writers about taking “Soul Train” to Broadway, Gibbs said, and also in the works are film opportunities, potential book

deals and, in 2013, the first “Soul Train” cruise.

“The brand itself, we believe, has far, far other entertainment-based tentacles we can stretch,” Gibbs said.

During a memorial for Cornelius in Los Angeles last week, Johnson assured Cornelius’ son Tony, “The brand that your father has created will last a lifetime.”

Black Entertainment Network LLC, BET, and Centric TV, a BET Network, also has rights to the Soul Train brand and name, and have revamped the Soul Train Awards, which have aired on BET Networks since 2009. The awards show has been the network's second highestrated special, said Paxton Baker, Centric executive vice president and general manager.

Baker said the show has held its own and plans are under way for a tribute to Cornelius for this year’s show, planned for broadcast Nov. 25, keeping its Sunday-after-Thanksgiving air date tradition, on BET and Centric.

“For our part, it was a great brand and made a lot of sense for us to go out and acquire the brand and put our stamp on it,” Baker said.

There are some 1,100 hours of “Soul Train” episodes and specials, many of which have only aired once on television. Some are posted on the “Soul Train” Web site, reminding viewers of celebrities’ past lives.

Talk show host Jay Leno recently reminded star athlete Johnson that even he once grooved on the iconic show’s

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dance floor. Leno aired a clip of a younger, slimmer Johnson towering over the other dancers with moves best described as bouncing, and jokingly asked if Johnson bought “Soul Train” “just so you could burn that tape?”

There is no shortchanging the impact that “Soul Train” still has today. “Soul Train” lines — some impromptu, some

organized — popped up around the country in honor of Cornelius after his death Feb. 1. Well before Cornelius died, they were a staple at weddings or other festive gatherings, and even found their way into movies such as Spike Lee’s “Crooklyn” in 1994 and the family holiday story “This Christmas” in 2007.

See SOUL TRAIN, page 15

MARDI GRAS Continued from page 4 In New Orleans, Brittany Davies was struggling through the early morning hours. Still feeling the effects of heavy drinking from the night before, her friends had her out again on Tuesday.

“They’re torturing me,” the Denver woman joked. “But I’ll be OK after a bloody mary.”

The predominantly AfricanAmerican Zulu krewe was the first major parade to hit the streets, shortly after 8 a.m. Most krewe members were in the traditional black-face makeup and the Afro wigs Zulu riders have sported for decades.

In the oak-lined Garden District, clarinetist Pete Fountain prepared to lead his Half-Fast Walking Club on its annual march down St. Charles Avenue.

Fountain, 82, gave a thumbs-up to start off and his band launched into “When The Saints Come Marching In” as they rounded the corner onto St. Charles Avenue shortly after 7 a.m. It was the 52nd time that Fountain’s group has paraded for Mardi Gras. This year, the group wore bright yellow suits and matching porkpie hats for its theme, “Follow the Yellow Brick Road.”

In the Quarter, Joshua Westbrook of Alabama had been on Bourbon Street drinking since Monday afternoon. His eyes were tired Tuesday morning but he was determined to see Mardi Gras through.

“I’m struggling, but I’m going to push through it,” he said.

Costumes were the order of the day, ranging from the predictable to the bizarre.

Wearing a purple wig, New Orleans resident Juli Shipley carried a gallon of booze down Bourbon Street and filled her friends’ cups when they got low. “We’re going to wander all day and people-watch,” Shipley said.

“That’s the best part of Mardi Gras — the costumes. They’re amazing.”

Partygoers were dressed as Wizard of Oz characters Dorothy and the Wicked Witch, bags of popcorn, pirates, super heroes, clowns, jesters, princesses and lots of homemade costumes with the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.

Martin Delaureal, a New Orleans investment banker, and his toddler sons Tripp and Ashton, were dressed as chefs, in tall hats and white aprons.

Delaureal’s hat was labeled Chef Menteur — a local highway named after an Indian chief. Delaureal said his wife made the costumes, planning to come as Bun in the Oven. She had to miss the parades — baby Liam was born Monday.

Retirees Julie and Mike Keating of Colorado were in a group of four dressed as birds and other characters from the Angry Birds online game.

At New Orleans’ antebellum former city hall, Mayor Mitch Landrieu

toasted Zulu's make-believe royalty and celebrities. Among them was New Orleans native and former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young.

“It’s good to be home,” Young said. And saluting the good weather of the day, he added, “God always smiles on New Orleans when it needs it.”

After Zulu, the parade of Rex, king of Carnival, would make the trek down St. Charles Avenue and to the city's business district, with hundreds of thousands of people pleading for beads and colorful aluminum coins, known as doubloons.

Along St. Charles, groups of people, many in costumes, ate breakfast as children played in the street. Small groups were already on the move. The Skeleton Krewe, 25 people dressed in black skeleton outfits, were on their way to the St. Louis Cathedral.

Tom White, 46, clad in a pink tutu, bicycled down the avenue with his wife, Allison, on their way to the French Quarter. “I’m the pink fairy this year,” he said. “Costuming is the real fun of Mardi Gras. I’m not too creative but when you weigh 200 pounds (90 kilograms) and put on a tutu, people still take your picture.”

His wife was not in costume.

“He’s disgraced the family enough,” she said.

The stakeout for prime spots along the Mardi Gras parade route started Monday, with legions of Carnival die-hards jockeying for the best places to vie for beads thrown from floats on Fat Tuesday.

Stephanie Chapman and her family had set up in their usual spot on the St. Charles streetcar tracks. They arrived at 4 a.m. Tuesday and would be staying for the duration.

“This is a beautiful day and we’ll be here until it’s over. It won’t rain on my parade, but if it does I won’t pay any attention,” she said.

It was partly cloudy, but rain was not in the forecast. Temperatures were in the 70s (20s Celsius). And as the day wore on, the warm weather was expected to encourage flesh-flashing and other raunchy acts in the French Quarter.

Across the Gulf Coast, Mardi Gras was getting into full swing. In the Cajun country of southwest Louisiana, masked riders were preparing to go from town to town, making merry along the way in the Courir du Mardi Gras. And parades were scheduled elsewhere around Louisiana and on the Mississippi and Alabama coasts. The celebration arrived in Louisiana in 1682 when the explorer LaSalle and his party stopped at a place they called Bayou Mardi Gras south of New Orleans to celebrate.

The site is now lost to history.

The end of Mardi Gras gives way to the beginning of Lent, the period of fasting and repentance before Easter Sunday.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

15

Judge dismisses AEG Live from Joe Jackson lawsuit LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge granted a motion Tuesday to dismiss concert promoter AEG Live from a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Michael Jackson's father.

City News Service said Superior Court Judge Yvette Palazuelos agreed with AEG attorneys who said Joe Jackson should have joined a separate suit filed by his wife, Katherine. The judge said the law does not favor multiple suits by individual heirs.

She said that to allow Joe Jackson’s suit against AEG Live to go forward would “allow the heirs of a decedent to file as many suits as there are heirs.”

“Allowing Joseph Jackson to continue with his subsequent suit against AEG Live, alleging the same wrongful death claims as AP Photo/Nick Ut, File the related case, would contraJoe Jackson, father of the late pop star vene the purpose of the oneaction rule,” she said.

Michael Jackson.

AEG also argued that Joe Jackson is not a legitimate heir to his son’s fortune. The father was not mentioned in the King of Pop’s will.

“At the time Michael Jackson died, (his father) was estranged from his son, who repeatedly and publicly accused him of physical and other abuse,” the AEG Live court papers said.

The decision leaves Dr. Conrad Murray and Applied Pharmacy Services of Las Vegas as the only defendants in Joe Jackson’s suit. Murray is in jail after having been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson’s death. He says he is broke.

Katherine Jackson alleges in her suit that AEG Live is responsible for medical decisions made by Murray.

AEG Live attorney Marvin Putnam called the ruling a major victory for the entertainment giant. Joe Jackson’s lawyer, Maureen Jaroscak, called it a temporary setback and suggested that the 83-year-old Jackson might now try to become a party to his wife’s lawsuit.

Michael Jackson died in June 2009 from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol, which Murray was administering to him as a sleep medication.

Veteran actor Dick Anthony Williams passes away Dick Anthony Williams, a veteran actor perhaps best known for his role as Pretty Tony in “The Mack,” died Thursday in Los Angeles, said his family and friends. The cause was not announced.

Born in Chicago on August 9, 1934, Williams had an extensive career on stage, films and television.

Williams’ film credits include “Five on the Black Hand Side,” “The Jerk,” “Mo’ Better Blues” and “Edward Scissorhands,” among others.

Williams also worked steadily on Broadway, earning Tony nominations for his roles in “What the WineSellers Buy” and “Black Picture Show.” He was a series regular on the 1990s drama “Homefront” and was featured in the mini-series “King,” “American Playhouse” and “Our Family Honor.” Williams had guest roles on episodic TV series such as “Dragnet,” “The X-Files,” “Martin” and “The Shield.”

With Woodie King, Jr., Williams co-founded the New Federal Theatre (NFT) in New York, which showcased a multitude of AfricanAmerican artists, including Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Phylicia Rashad and Denzel Washington, among others.

Dick Anthony Williams Williams was preceded in death by his wife, acclaimed actress Gloria Edwards. He is survived by

his children, Mona, Jason and Mikah, and a host of family and friends.

SOUL TRAIN Continued from page 14 “What ‘Soul Train’ did was to make it so visible and make it almost a ritual for Black America,” said Mark Anthony Neal, a professor of African and African-American Studies at Duke University.

In the 1970s, “Soul Train” alone provided a national, weekly showcase for R&B artists, Black culture and fashion, and gave advertisers an entrée to the Black consumer market.

By the '80s, mainstream audiences moved on while African Americans stuck with the show, said Christopher Lehman, author of “A Critical History of Soul Train on Television.”

“As a result, mainstream audiences begin to see ‘Soul Train’ as a show that is a relic of the ’70s just because it hadn’t been showing music that was popular with the mainstream since the ’70’s, even though the music had been popular with African Americans all along,” Lehman said.

The success of “Soul Train” got many others in the game, some that had far more resources to devote to the programming, said Marc Lamont Hill, associate professor of education at Columbia University and an expert on the hip-hop generation. “Soul Train” had to compete with video shows on BET that broadcast Black artists, and eventually MTV and VH-1. A plethora of awards shows also provide competition, including the BET Awards.

Now, Hill said, the entertainment culture has shifted, where shows featur-

ing Black culture are no longer owned solely by African Americans, he said.

“To some extent ‘Soul Train’s’ legacy is partially dependent on people who didn’t create it, who may not be as committed to the culture as its original creators,” Hill said.

Gibbs acknowledged that it is not easy to continue a television show’s brand beyond its lifetime on television — and there are few shows that have.

But he said he’s certain it can happen for “Soul Train.”

“I think that dance, fashion and music, the best of music, are really the tentpoles for ‘Soul Train’ going forward.

I believe those things are enduring just as the ideas and ideals of love, peace and soul are enduring,” Gibbs said.

Whatever the future of the show and its progeny, Black independent media — what was the “germ” of “Soul Train” — are increasing their foothold in American mainstream culture, Neal said. Radio show producers Tom Joyner and Michael Baisden and Issa Rae, creator of the Web-produced show “The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl” are carrying on the “Soul Train” legacy and “all benefitting from something Don Cornelius set in motion with ‘Soul Train’,” Neal said.

“When all is said and done, he wanted to be able to present Black acts on television on what he saw as its most organic context .... He understood correctly there was an interest for that well beyond Black communities,” Neal said.

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16

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Countdown to the Oscars

MUHAMMAD ALI Continued from page 13

JAMES ARMSTRONG Barber and Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement

BY JOY CHILDS, SENTINEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER With all the attention focused on the nominations of “The Help” and Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer as the best in their respective categories — and deservedly so — little attention has been paid to another gem of a nomination in the documentary short category: “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Right Movement.”

But don’t miss it when it comes out at a theatre near you, or when it arrives in DVD. It’s perfect that “Barber” is running for an Oscar during Black History Month. As most know, a “foot soldier” is one who’s trained, armed and equipped to fight on foot, especially in doing active and usually unglamorous work in support of an organization or movement.

That would describe the barber of Birmingham — James Armstrong — to a T. It was the summer of 2008, and the potential nomination of Barack Obama as the first African American president compelled Bay Area photographer

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replicated anywhere else in the country.

Thus, the idea for a documentary film was born.

While Fryday had never spent much time in the South, she connected with key contacts in Birmingham and Selma who would help guide her in her quest to uncover potential characters to film. Fortuitously, she was guided to the barbershop of James Armstrong. She immediately knew he would be a strong central protagonist.

She returned to the Bay Area in search of a potential partner to join her on the project and to help translate her inspiration into film. She eventually met veteran documentary producer/ director Gail Dolgin who recognized the potential for a strong and important program and joined forces with Fryday.

Later Birmingham’s civil rights historian and museum curator, Shirley Floyd, contributed her expansive knowledge to the project.

At 85-years-young, jauntily wearing a bowtie and suspenders, Armstrong cut hair at his downtown Birmingham barbershop — which had been a hub for haircuts and civil rights discussions since 1955 — while recounting his experiences as a “foot soldier,” citing the pictures on the walls of his shop as he did. Among his clients was civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Armstrong used his barber chair to educate: “If you want a voice, you have to vote; you can’t complain about nothing if you don’t vote.” He is mostly known for a lawsuit he filed in August 1957 that led to the desegregation of Graymont Elementary in Birmingham, Ala., in 1963. Despite threats to his life and home, his lawsuit resulted in two of his sons, Dwight and Floyd, becoming the first Black children to integrate that all-White school.

Though he faced immeasurable dangers, Armstrong believed that “dying isn’t the worst thing a man can do—the worst thing a man can do is nothing,” he once said.

No one can accuse Mr. Armstrong of doing nothing; and on the eve of the election of the first African-American president, the barber of Birmingham saw his unimaginable dream come true.

For more information about this informative documentary, go to www.barberofbirmingham.com.

Even better: If you’d like to see this 25-minute gem, its last local screening before Oscar Sunday is this Saturday at 6:15 p.m. at the Writers Guild of America, 135 S. Doheny Drive in Beverly Hills.

tables adjacent to two rings and a stage — Terrence Howard, David Beckham, Anthony Hopkins, Manny Pacquiao and Lenny Kravitz, among others.

They spoke and performed in tribute to a fighter who went 56-5 in the ring with 37 knockouts and became perhaps the most famous athlete ever because of his personality and willingness to publicly stand up for his beliefs.

“He’s done it with guts and grace, with his fists, and with his wits,” Jackson said. “He’s one of the groundbreaking figures of the generation that helped make the world a more open place when it comes to who we can love, where we can go and what we can do. Thank you, champ.”

Wonder, who performed earlier in the day at Whitney Houston’s funeral, performed “Keep Our Love Alive” and “Superstition.” Rasheda Ali said Wonder was the performer her father was most looking forward to seeing.

Wonder wasn’t the only performer.

Snoop Dogg sang a medley of his hits, John Legend, Kravitz, Slash, Kelly Rowland and Cee Lo Green all performed. LL Cool J rapped “Mama Said Knock You Out” as DJ Z-Trip span a remixed version of the song that included Ali audio, including his famous “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” quote.

Tennis great Andre Agassi said Ali has shown the world that each person has a duty — regardless of their occupation — to live for more than him or herself and help others.

“What he did with his platform was unparalleled and the impact he’s had as a result, we still feel to this day, which is why we’re all out here tonight,” Agassi said. “We’re grateful to what he’s done.

He’s been a leader — we’re also challenged and charged with a duty of figuring out a way to do more.”

TIGER WOODS Continued from page 13 Donald is coming off a year in which he won money titles on the PGA Tour and European Tour, and won a career-high four tournaments, starting with the Match Play Championship.

Donald was so dominant at Dove Mountain last year that he never played the 18th hole all week in competition.

“He had an unbelievable year last year, and becoming world No. 1. So he’s got a lot going for him,” Els said.

“It’s 18 holes, you know? It’s not like I'm the worst match-play player in the world, either. I think I know what I need to do. You’ve got to keep the ball in play. You’ve got to keep it in play on every single hole, because he’s going to be in every hole.”

McIlroy takes on George Coetzee, who is playing for the first time ever in America as a pro. Coetzee got in when Casey’s shoulder injury from snow-

Ali has lived with Parkinson’s disease for nearly 30 years, a degenerative brain condition that some doctors say can be brought on by punches to the head.

The gala raised funds for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky., a cultural attraction that celebrates Ali’s life and pushes educational goals on a wide range of topics for adults and children.

Larry Ruvo, chairman of the clinic’s fundraising arm, Keep Memory Alive, said he's not sure whether the fundraiser will exceed its record of $27 million but he hopes so.

The gala’s auction includes some items that only an A-lister or others with incredibly deep pockets could possibly afford. The top item was Ali's gloves that he used to fight Floyd Patterson in 1965, a bout he won by knockout in the 12th round.

“If it’s $100, great; $100,000 would be better!” Larry King said in trying to drum up bids.

Magician David Copperfield auctioned off a four-night trip to his set of 11 private islands in the Bahamas for $300,000.

A fundraising concert featuring Kravitz, Green, guitarist Slash and others for the general public was planned in the same room Sunday night.

Boxing promoter Bob Arum said during a pre-gala reception Friday night attended by celebrities including Hopkins and Larry King that Ali will go down as one of the most important Americans in history.

“Without Muhammad Ali, there wouldn’t have been an Obama,” he said. “There wouldn’t have been a mixed-race president.”

ABC and ESPN plan to air the gala on Feb. 25. boarding was not fully healed.

Westwood plays Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium. Martin Kaymer, who lost in the championship match to Donald a year ago, is the No. 4 seed and opens with Greg Chalmers of Australia.

No one knows how long they will stay. The smart players don’t even bother looking ahead in the bracket to see whom they might face in the next round. Ben Crane opens with Bubba Watson, interesting in that their caddies are sharing a room this week.

“If you get on a roll and you play well, you can run the tables here,” said Steve Stricker, who did just that in 2001 as the No. 55 seed.

“I don’t think it really matters where you come from, to tell you the truth,” he said. “They’re all good players. There are 64 good players here, and they deserve to be here. They’ve shown that they’ve played well over the last year to be within that top 64. So you need to play well, just because everybody is good.”

COCAINE TRADE Continued from page 8 with ransom demands and shootouts between security forces and insurgents with better weapons, he said.

Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe, whose country holds the Security Council presidency this month and organized the meeting, said terrorist actions in Nigeria and the Sahel have added to West Africa and the

Sahel becoming “channels for trafficking of all kinds.”

He proposed an International Contact Group on Organized Transnational Crime, which would include interested countries to better coordinate material and financial help to the region and individual governments.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

17

43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards recap

BY BRITTANY K. JACKSON SENTINEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

he 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards, held at the historic Shrine Auditorium this past weekend, gave industry pioneers in the fields of music, writing/directing, television, literature, and film an opportunity to unite and celebrate the remarkable achievements of people of color.

The red carpet was filled with joyous moments as well as melancholic expressions, as many stars reflected on their most significant moments with some of our recently fallen icons.

Actress Anika Noni Rose caught up with The Sentinel and The L.A. Watts Times and shared that she is very grateful to just have a “great time.”

She loves being “able to celebrate culture” and meet people that she has “admired for so long.”

“Art inspires me,” Rose said.

“Listening to Viola Davis speak to Oprah last night and the things that she talked about and that she has faced …

It’s not about being liked, it’s about telling the truth. It’s about being honest and being true to yourself and your art, and I love that.”

Kirk Franklin took home the award for Outstanding Gospel Album with “Hello Fear” and also the award for Outstanding Song for “I Smile.”

Franklin caught up with us on the red carpet and shared his thoughts: “I don’t do the music just because I have nothing else to do,” Franklin shared. “This is something I believe in. I am an out- loud Christian. You know this is what I do.

I’m super far from perfect, flawed up, jacked up but, in my heart, I love the Lord 100 percent — and hopefully that’s what you’re seeing.”

Hosts Sanaa Latham and Anthony Mackie presented the night’s stars, recognizing not only their talent but also the seeds of wisdom, education and prosperity that they have planted in our society.

Performances of the night included Jill Scott, who won the outstanding female artist award, and Yolanda Adams, who gave a touching tribute to the late Whitney Houston. Winners in recording included Jennifer Hudson, who won for outstanding music video and Sounds of Blackness, who won for outstanding world music album.

Shirley Strawberry with Lyah Le Flore won the outstanding literary work — debut author award for the “Strawberry Letter,” which provides captivating lessons on living a better life.

The night’s most inspirational nods featured Cathy Hughes, who received the NAACP chairman’s award for her outstanding contributions in public service as the founder of Radio One/TV One. The Black Stuntmen’s Association received the President’s Award, given for bringing to light the countless contributions of the African American stuntmen while securing diverse opportunities for both men and women in the aerial field.

George Lucas was the recipient of the Vanguard Award, an innovator who broke barriers in film when he implemented computer technology into filmmaking and executive produced “Red Tails,” starring an all-Black cast.

Ben Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP, expressed the importance of the night’s events, citing Whitney Houston’s “courage and conviction to stand up against the South African government” and the historic presence of Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier on the same stage, monumental figures in film who provided an avenue for Blacks on and off the screen. Jealous also spoke highly of George Lucas, who surmounted the odds to produce “Red Tails,” the dramatic depiction of the African American serviceman’s journey during World War II. The 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards stood firmly as a testament to the creativity and richness of Black history. The series “Unsung” won for outstanding news — information series or special for showcasing the history of pioneers in Black music and being able to provide new generations with insight into the multi-faceted genres of the past.

The night ended with Kirk Franklin, who brought down the house leaving all who attended and watched the show inspired and ready to take on the world. This year’s 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards definitely taught us to celebrate and cherish our legacy and contributions to the world.

For a complete listing of the winners for the 43rd Annual NAACP Award, please visit www.lasentinel.net.

A quartet of sisterfriends: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Cicely Tyson and Viola Davis.

Actor-comedian Mike Epps, left, and NAACP Handsome and legendary: Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier.

President and CEO Ben Jealous.

George Lucas (from left), Mellody Hobson, Hill Harper.

Gospel all-star Kirk Franklin and his wife, Tammy.

Ne-Yo and Samuel L. Jackson Photos by Cover Up Photos

18

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Whitney Houston’s dress, earrings up for auction

BY SANDY COHEN | AP LOS ANGELES (AP) — There had to be an auction, but so soon?

A black velvet dress that belonged to Whitney Houston and a pair of earrings she wore in “The Bodyguard” will be sold to the highest bidder next month.

Celebrity auctioneer Darren Julien said Sunday the pieces and other Houston items became available after the singer’s unexpected death on Feb. 11 and will be included among a long-planned sale of Hollywood memorabilia, such as Charlie Chaplin’s cane, Clark Gable’s jacket from “Gone With the Wind” and Charlton Heston’s staff from “The Ten Commandments.”

Julien said celebrity collectibles often become available after their namesakes die.

“It proves a point that these items, they’re an investment,” Julien said. “You buy items just like a stock. Buy at the right time and sell at the right time, and they just increase in value.”

But could it be too soon to profit from Houston’s passing? She was just buried on Saturday.

“It’s a celebration of her life,” Julien said. “If you hide these things in fear that you’re going to offend someone — her life is to be celebrated. These items are historic now that she passed. They become a part of history. They should be in museums.

She's lived a life and had a career that nobody else has ever had.”

Houston is “someone who’s going to maintain a collectability,”

he said. “For people who are fans of Whitney Houston and never would have had a chance to meet her and never got to talk to her, these are items that literally touched a part of her life. They are a way to relate to her or be a part of her life without having known her.”

The singer’s floor-length black dress is valued at $1,000 but likely to collect much more. The same goes for the vest she wore in “The Bodyguard,” listed at $400, as well as the faux-pearl earrings that start at $600.

Houston fans and other collectors can bid online, by phone or in person during the “Hollywood Legends” auction on March 31 and April 1. Lots will be shown during a free public exhibition beginning March 19 at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, Calif., just blocks from the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where Houston died at age 48.

AP Photos/Julien’s Auctions

This floor-length, long-sleeve black velvet dress, owned by Whitney Houston, is part of the “Hollywood Legends” auction scheduled to run from Sat., March 31 through Sun., April 1, at Julien’s Auctions gallery in Beverly Hills.

This pair of pearl drop earrings, worn

by Whitney Houston in the movie “The Bodyguard” in 1992, is part of the “Hollywood Legends” auction scheduled to run from Sat., March 31 through Sun., April 1, at Julien’s Auctions gallery in Beverly Hills.

DON CORNELIUS Continued from page 7 Several speakers noted that Cornelius didn’t just give a platform to performers such as Wonder, Aretha Franklin and the Jackson 5, but he also gave opportunities to Black cameramen and demonstrated that television programming aimed at Black audiences was viable.

At several points during the service, photos of Cornelius on the show’s set were displayed for the gathering, which ended with clips of the popular host dancing and delivering his signature sign-off, “Love, Peace and Soul!”

Smokey Robinson joked that Cornelius would often ask guests questions that veered away from their music, such as what they were driving and when they’d last eaten at a particular restaurant.

“I’m really happy to be here because Don was my brother and I am celebrating his life,” a smiling Robinson said. “I don’t what the rest of you are doing.”

Remaining upbeat, Robinson told the crowd, “He started a platform for Black people that before that time had not been seen. It had been heard, but it had not been seen.”

Pastor Donnie McClurkin, who led the service, noted that his mother didn’t allow her children to listen to popular music. But when she went grocery shopping on Saturdays, he and his siblings caught up on all the latest dance moves

and music by watching “Soul Train.”

Cornelius was born in September 1936 in Chicago, served as a Marine in Korea and worked various jobs before getting into broadcasting in the mid1960s.

He was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 1995 and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but his greatest legacy was the impact of his show, which not only brought Black culture, but also Black advertisers to nationwide audiences. His show came long before there were any networks devoted to television programming for Black audiences, or Black actors in prominent roles on network shows — key cultural barriers that Cornelius helped break down.

Cornelius’ granddaughter Christina said that to the world, her grandfather was a visionary and trailblazer.

“He was all those things. But to me he was just grandpa,” she said, breaking down. “My smooth-voiced, loving grandpa.”

Several speakers, including Cornelius’ son Tony, spoke of continuing Cornelius’ legacy.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson recalled meeting Cornelius in the early 1980s after he started playing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Shoot, I come around the corner and I see that big ‘fro, I already knew who it was,” Johnson said as the crowd

laughed, “but I was scared because I always wanted to meet him.”

On Thursday, Johnson said he was committed to helping keep the “Soul Train” going.

“Tony, it’s our job to keep the legacy going,” Johnson said. “The brand that your father has created will last a lifetime.”

Several speakers also offered condolences to the family of Whitney Houston, who appeared on Cornelius’ show and died unexpectedly Saturday at age 48.

Wonder mused that Cornelius would be pleased to have Houston join him and other musicians in heaven.

“I can only hope we continue to keep this man’s life and legacy alive,” Wonder said.

Cornelius, 75, died Feb. 1 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and Jackson urged people not to judge him.

“We reveal our successes to the world but we conceal our pain,” he said.

Rather, Jackson said, the public and those who knew Cornelius well should remember what Cornelius built with “Soul Train” and what it meant to the world.

“It brought joy. It brought pride. It brought talent. It brought hope. It brought opportunity. It blazed trails. It reconciled racism,” he said. “Tell them what you know, not what you imagine.”

WHITNEY HOUSTON Continued from page 6 Many who spoke talked about Houston’s unshakable faith in Jesus Christ. They said it got her through some of her most difficult times.

Perry recalled a conversation where Houston would look sad when reflecting on her troubles, but then would hasten to add that God was taking care of her.

“The other thing I know for sure — and this is more important than anything that she’s done in her life — Whitney Houston loved the Lord,” he said.

Fittingly, music played a major role in the send-off to one of music’s greatest voices.

Stevie Wonder rewrote lyrics to “Ribbon in the Sky” for Houston — “you will always be a ribbon in the sky,” he sang.

So did gospel’s the Rev. Kim Burrell for “A Change is Gonna Come,” which Warwick said was Houston’s favorite song of all time.

R. Kelly brought the New Hope Baptist Church to its feet with a stirring version of “I Look to You,” the title of Houston’s final studio album.

And Keys, her voice breaking at times, dedicated her song “Send Me An Angel” to Houston.

Brown briefly appeared at the funeral, walking to the casket, touching it and walking out. He later said in a statement that he and his children were asked repeatedly to move and he left rather than risk creating a scene.

Close family friend Aretha Franklin, whom Houston lovingly called “Aunt Ree,” had been expected to sing at the service, but said early Saturday she was too ill to attend.

Franklin said in an email to The Associated Press that she had been up most of the night with leg spasms and sent best wishes to the family.

Saturday night, Franklin performed at Radio City Music Hall and remembered Houston with a light gospel rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” Warwick presided over the funeral, introducing speakers and singers and offering short insights about her cousin; she joked that Houston’s Super Bowl performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” became almost as big as the telephone book.

Hudson, who sang “I Will Always Love You” in a Grammy tribute the night after Houston’s death, mourned Houston along with Monica, Brandy, and Jordin Sparks — representing a generation of big-voiced young singers who grew up emulating the star of the ’80s and ’90s. Sparks stars with Houston in the remake of the 1970s

film “Sparkle,” due out in August.

As the funeral began, mourners fell quiet as three police officers escorted Houston’s casket, draped with white roses and purple lilies. White-robed choir members began to fill the pews on the podium. As the band played softly, the choir sang in a hushed voice, “Whitney, Whitney, Whitney.”

A program featuring a picture of Houston looking skyward read “Celebrating the life of Whitney Elizabeth Houston, a child of God.” Pictures of Houston as a baby, with her mother and with her daughter filled the program.

“I never told you that when you were born, the Holy Spirit told me that you would not be with me long,” Cissy Houston wrote her daughter in a letter published in the program.

“And I thank God for the beautiful flower he allowed me to raise and cherish for 48 years.”

“Rest, my baby girl in peace,” the letter ends. It is signed “Mommie.”

Over her career, Houston sold more than 50 million records in the United States alone. Her voice, an ideal blend of power, grace and beauty, made classics out of songs like “Saving All My Love For You,” “I Will Always Love You,” “The Greatest Love of All” and “I’m Every Woman.” Her six Grammys were only a fraction of her many awards.

Houston had her first No. 1 hit by the time she was 22, followed by a flurry of No. 1 songs and multi-platinum records. Her last album, “I Look To You,” debuted on the top of the charts when it was released in 2009 with strong sales, but it didn’t have the staying power of her previous records. A tour the next year was doomed by cancellations because of illness and sub-par performances.

On Saturday, fans were kept blocks from the church and the invitation-only funeral, but their presence was felt. A huge shrine of heartshaped balloons and personal messages covered the street corner around the church entrance.

A few fans gathered hours before the service as close as they could get to the church, some from as far away as Washington, D.C., and Miami.

Bobby Brooks said he came from Washington “just to be among the rest of the fans.”

“Just to celebrate her life, not just her death,” he said. “Just to sing and dance with the people that love her.”

Contributing to this report were AP Global Entertainment and lifestyles editor Alicia Quarles and entertainment writer Mesfin Fekadu.

MELO Continued from page 12 D’Antoni and Stoudemire have also used the “buying in” term, and though nobody has ever said so, the hunch is always that they’re talking specifically about Anthony.

D’Antoni’s offense flows best with quick ball movement and unselfish play, and Anthony’s preference has also been to isolate and hold the ball before trying to take his man 1-on-1.

Anthony has had moments of brilliance with the Knicks, such as his 42point, 17-rebound Game 2 performance against Boston in the playoffs.

His 20 game-winning or tying baskets with under 10 seconds left are second among active players to Kobe Bryant’s 22, so the Knicks need him on the floor no matter what this season’s results have been.

Extra practice time around the AllStar break should allow Lin and Anthony to develop cohesion, and eventually New York’s two most popular players might be just as productive.

Maybe Melo can turn Linsanity into LinsAnthony.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

19

CHINESE LEADER

GOVERNMENT

Continued from page 3 new jobs in the U.S. from 2001 to 2010, Xi said.

U.S.-China trade is expected to top $500 billion soon, and the countries have moved from “mutual estrangement to a close exchange with increasingly intertwined interests,” he said.

Outside the hotel hosting the trade forum, picketers protested Chinese policies in Tibet and its treatment of Falun Gong followers. Two protesters were cited for standing in the roadway but no one was arrested, Los Angeles Police spokesman Cleon Joseph said.

After the trade forum, Xi and Biden visited a suburban school in South Gate that specializes in Asian studies to promote more American students studying in China.

The vice presidents watched a traditional Chinese “dragon dance” performed by middle- and high-school students at the International Studies Learning Center, a public school that is part of the Asia Society’s network of schools across the country.

“You are an impressive group of students,” Biden said. “Thank you for making America look so good.”

Biden told the students that the U.S.-China relationship is the single most important relationship the country has in the 21st century. He said he and President Barack Obama believe that the most significant factor in improving U.S.-China ties is increasing educational opportunity for American students in China.

Under the 100,000 Strong Initiative, the White House aims to have at least that many American students studying in China.

Xi, who spoke with a class of high school students learning Chinese, lauded their Mandarin skills, saying it was important to learn the culture as well as the language to avoid misunderstandings.

Later, Xi and Biden both addressed a luncheon at the trade forum, saying how they had developed a close, personal friendship through visits. “I can say with confidence my visit has been a full success,” Xi said.

The officials then met with governors of seven Chinese provinces and five U.S. states and one U.S. territory — the Northern Mariana Islands — to further promote commerce.

“We have a significant opportunity to increase trade with China but we have some impediments on both sides,” Biden said. “We are working through them. We are convinced they can be overcome.”

Biden said he appreciated Xi’s candor. “He is very, very direct. When we disagree, there’s a clear statement of disagreement,” Biden said. “I was impressed by how much he wants to know about how our system works.”

Accompanied by Brown and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Xi saw the Lakers beat the Suns 111-99.

The National Basketball Association has been enormously popular in China since the arrival of 7-foot-6 (228-meter) center Yao Ming, who spent eight seasons with the Houston Rockets before retiring in July. The recent exploits of Jeremy Lin, an Americanborn point guard from Harvard who has had a phenomenal two-week run with the New York Knicks, has only added to

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Continued from page 2 Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. For another, Justice Elena Kagan, who might be expected to vote with the court's liberal-leaning justices in support of it, is not taking part in the case.

Kagan’s absence probably is a result of the Justice Department’s participation in the Texas case in the lower courts at a time when she served as solicitor general.

The challenge to the University of Texas program comes from Abigail Fisher, who filed a lawsuit with another woman when they were denied admission there. They contended the university’s race-conscious policy violated their civil and constitutional rights. By then, the two had enrolled elsewhere.

The other woman has since dropped out of the case and the state has said that Fisher is a senior at Louisiana State University whose impending graduation should bring an end to the lawsuit. But the Supreme Court appeared not to buy that argument Tuesday.

The Project on Fair Representation, which opposes the use of race in public policy, has helped pay Fisher’s legal bills. “This case presents the Court with an opportunity to clarify the boundaries of race preferences in higher education or even reconsider whether race should be permitted at all under the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection,” said Edward Blum, the group’s director.

The project also issued a statement in Fisher’s name. “I hope the court will decide that all future UT applicants will be allowed to compete for admission without their race or

ethnicity being a factor,” she said.

Most entering freshmen at Texas are admitted because they are among the top 10 percent in their high school class. Fisher’s grades did not put her in that category.

The Texas policy applies to the remaining spots and allows for the consideration of race along with other factors.

Texas had dropped affirmative action policies after a 1996 appeals court ruling. But following the high court ruling in 2003, the university resumed considering race starting with its 2005 entering class Texas said its updated policy does not use quotas, which the high court has previously rejected. Instead, it said it takes a Supreme Court-endorsed holistic approach to enrollment, with an eye toward increasing the diversity of the student body.

Before adding race back into the mix, Texas’ student body was 21 percent African-American and Hispanic, according to court papers.

By 2007, the year before Fisher filed her lawsuit, African-Americans and Hispanics accounted for more than a quarter of the entering freshman class.

Fitzpatrick said two other states, California and Florida, use similar “top 10” plans, although California law explicitly prohibits the consideration of race.

“But the vast majority of schools that are selective are using affirmative action, though they don't like to advertise it for fear of being sued,” he said.

The case is Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, 11-345.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (METRO) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Metro will receive proposals for RFP PS12511011 Data Imaging and Archivingper specifications on file at the LACMTA Office of Procurement & Material Mgmt, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (9th Floor).

All proposals must be received on or before 2: 00PMPacific Time, March 22, 2012at the address listed above, sent to the attention of Linda Wasley.Proposals received later than the above date and time will be rejected and returned to the proposer unopened.

You may obtain a copy of the RFP from the www.metro.net website, or further information by emailing Linda Wasleyat wasleyl@metro.net.

2/23/12 CNS-2265091# WATTS TIMES LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORATION AUTHORITY (METRO) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will receive proposals for RFP No. PS 4430-2886, FY 2010-2012 TDA TRIENNIAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW as outlined in the Statement of Work on file at the LACMTA Office of Procurement, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (9th Floor).

Metro is required by State PUC sec. 99246 to conduct an independent performance review of all LA County Transit Operators receiving TDA Article 4/8, and operators receiving Proposition A funds in lieu of TDA funds and Metro as the Regional Transportation Planning Agency.

the popularity and hype of the NBA in China. Lin is the first American-born NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent.

The league had been staging preseason games in China over the previous few years, although international play was scrapped this season because of the lockout.

Xi’s U.S. tour comes at a politically challenging time in U.S.-China relations, with the White House sending stern messages on currency exchange,

intellectual property protection and trade policies, and Republican presidential candidates claiming Obama isn’t doing enough to keep America’s economy competitive with China’s.

The Asian power sells four times as many goods to the U.S. as the United States sends in return to China.

However, China became the top market for U.S. agricultural goods last year, purchasing $20 billion in U.S. agricultural exports, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

All proposals must be received on or before 3:00 P.M. Friday, MARCH 30th, 2012 at the address listed above, sent to the attention of BARBARA A. GATEWOOD, Senior Contract Administrator.

Proposals received later than the above date and time will be rejected and returned to the proposer unopened. A Pre-Proposal conference will be held at 1:00 P.M. on THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012, MULLHOLLAND CONFERENCE ROOM, 15TH Floor located at the address above.

Copies of the RFP will be available as of February 20th, 2012 via the website at www.metro.net. You may also obtain a copy of the RFP, or further information by calling PROCUREMENT RECEPTIONIST DESK (9th Floor) at (213) 922-1037, or via Fax at (213) 922-1004.

2/23/12 CNS-2261088# WATTS TIMES

To place a Classified Ad Call (323) 299-3800

KFI RADIO HOSTS Continued from page 5 The suspension is completely unacceptable, considering that John and Ken have a long history of this kind of reckless behavior on the air.

How many chances can two people get when they continue to cross a line that should never be crossed?

State Senator Curren D. Price, Jr., chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, issued the following statement on the suspension of KFI radio co-hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou for their comments about Whitney Houston: “The untimely and mysterious death of singer Whitney Houston has shocked and saddened not only her family and friends but also millions of her fans around the world who were thrilled and inspired by her musical genius and hard work in the entertainment world for more than 20 years,” said Senator Price.

“While these radio ‘shock-jocks’ are known for their uncivil and offcolor antics on the airways, John and Ken of KFI AM stooped to a new low when they characterized the deceased popular singer as a ‘crack ho.’

The California Legislative Black Caucus denounces their insensitive and vulgar statements and calls for their immediate resignation. Their two-week suspension is not enough.

“For too long, the residents of California have endured a steady diet of these offensive and polarizing

statements that John and Ken regularly spew on their radio show. Their hateful vitriol does nothing to promote the civil discourse and cooperation that is needed between American citizens as we tackle the most challenging issues of our time.

“There are many thoughtful and talented journalists in Southern California; KFI AM needs to replace John and Ken with some of them. I’m sure their radio sponsors will be grateful.

“The Caucus will support a boycott of Clear Channel and its sponsors if these radio hosts are not removed permanently from their lineup.” (Clear Channel is KFI’s parent company).

Organizations such as the Brotherhood Crusade, the Los Angeles NAACP, the Los Angeles Urban League and SCLC of Los Angeles are asking for KFI AM to be responsible and do what is right by the community and the Houston family: Fire John and Ken immediately.

Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel and the L.A. Watts Times newspapers, shared in the disbelief about the temporary suspension of John and Ken and was very adamant about the fact that KFI AM should expect a major backlash if they do not act appropriately and fire John and Ken. “It is unconceivable that in 2012

those who have control of the airwaves are still disrespecting Black people in general and Black women in particular,” Bakewell shared. “The statement alluded to Ken and John over KFI radio station describing Whitney Houston deserves their immediate termination. Anything less is a gross insult to Black people and to the memory of Whitney Houston.”

Kobylt said in statement that he and Chiampou “used language that was inappropriate” and they “sincerely apologize” to their listeners and to Houston's family. “We made a mistake, and we accept the station's decision,” said Kobylt.

As of this writing, the two hosts, who broadcast their show weekday afternoons, are expected to return to the airwaves on February 27th.

It will be interesting to see how things play out now that Sen. Price and the community have taken notice, in addition to the barrage of complaints being filed by concerned listeners.

The community hopes that this is a permanent wakeup for Clear Channel and that KFI AM does the right thing by its audience.

They need to fire John and Ken immediately and learn that Black people will not tolerate this type of malicious and reckless behavior anymore.

20

Thursday, February 23, 2012

CLOSER

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