Category Archives: Celebrity
Death and Taxes
Some guys have all the luck. Last year the estate tax was 45%. Next year it will be 55%. This year? Nil. Zero. The empty set. Businesses say this sort of thing makes it tough to plan for the future. One business isn’t complaining. Since he died in 2010, George Steinbrenner’s heirs won’t have to sell the Yankees to pay the taxes.
Cleveland Breaks
Brian Windhorst’s reporting in the Plain Dealer brings some more witness to the possibility of collusion. Friday night in Miami Chris Bosh said that he, James, and Wade had been talking about “the moment for months”. The same agency, Creative Artists, represented all three players and Pat Riley met with LeBron in November, inspiring him to give up Michael Jordan’s number 23.
Maureen Dowd gets in on the act,calling Miami a “Hoops Cartel”.
Fishy in Miami
Guys propose marriage on the Jumbotron all the time at sporting events so why shouldn’t LeBron let down the home town fans on national tv – for a second time, if we’re counting playoff performances? The thing is, LeBron loves the spotlight so much it’s possible he was using his ESPN infomercial to make a confession.
By dumping on his Cleveland teammates again, this time to run off with Dwade and Heronimous Bosh, could he be guilty of collusion?
According to the same ESPN (this time wearing its reporters hat), NBA commisioner David Stern has said, “he’s been assured at the “highest level” that there will be no sitdown among LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the other superstars”. Well, that’s good to know. Otherwise it might seem suspicious that the threesome signed with the same team for less – 30 million less in James case – than they could have earned elsewhere.
Gotcha Journalism
Bob Etheridge, D-NC was asked by one of two student video bloggers if he supports Obama’s agenda. Clearly a trick question for a Democrat these days. Etheridge surmised his predicament and responded as prudently as possible. He grabbed the kid’s wrist, put a Vulcan Death Grip on his neck, bear hugged him, and demanded that he identify himself. When the video became public, as it always does, the congressman apologized and his peers came to his defense.
Helen Thomas Sketchbook
Helen Thomas was forced into early retirement yesterday at age 89. (Go here for Dana Milbank’s column. Go here to watch Helen torment Robert Gibbs.)
Helen was recorded saying that Jews should get out of Palestine and go back to Poland. With that she bolted across the borders of acceptable free speech. She now exists beyond the pale along with cartoons of Muhammad and questions about the Civil Rights bill.
I wrote a children’s book with Helen and I’ve heard her talk this way about the Middle East many times. Helen’s opinions aren’t my opinions but they’ve been widely known for years.
Go here to see Ari Fleisher demand Helen’s resignation (reason enough for her to stay on).
