Entertainment

NBA: The Mighty, Mighty, New York Knicks??

The question that everyone wants to know that watches NBA basketball is, how good can the New York Knicks be? The answer is that the Knicks can be very good. The New York Knicks, once they figure out how all the pieces fit together, could challenge the Miami Heat for Eastern Conference dominance. With the addition of J.R. Smith and the discovery of Jeremy Lin, the sky is now the limit for the New York Knicks.

In addition to Jeremy Lin, J.R. Smith could be the missing piece the New York Knicks needed?

The problem that the New York Knicks face is that no one knows how all the pieces will coexist. Amare Stoudemire, Jeremy Lin, Carmello Anthony and J.R. Smith all have to form some semblance of team chemistry. The main problem that was apparent in last night’s game versus the New Jersey Nets was that Carmello Anthony was not sure where to fit in within the Jeremy Lin run offense.  It was easy to see that Anthony was trying to find his place on the team. I cannot remember the last time that Carmello Anthony played 37 minutes and only had 11 points.

Can Jeremy Lin and Carmello Anthony coexist in New York?

Until Carmello Anthony finds his place on the team and fills his scoring role, the New York Knicks will be just another good team. However, once everything clicks for Anthony, the Knicks will become one of the great teams in the Eastern Conference. No one doubts that Carmello Anthony can score and put up some spectacular performances. The real dilemma is how long will is it going take for Anthony to figure out how to do the same without being the main focus of the offense? Carmello Anthony has to become a role player, who is willing to sacrifice his own personal numbers for the good of the team. I am not sure if Anthony can accomplish the feat, no matter how much Anthony claims he can. Carmello Anthony for most of his career has been a shoot first and ask questions later kind of player. This is definitely one of the most anticipated “wait and see” stories of 2012.

Are we actually going to see a Carmello Anthony that passes the ball this year?

The sooner Carmello Anthony becomes another working part of the Knicks machine rather than driver, the better off the New York Knicks will be. The problem is that time is running short. The shortened NBA season gives the New York Knicks a limited amount of time to make everything fit together before the playoffs. The New York Knicks are going to have work overtime to develop the kind of team work that wins a championship in less time than many of the other top playoff contenders, including the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Can the Knicks actually challenge the Miami Heat this year?

The Miami Heat took almost all of last NBA season to finally come together and start playing like a NBA championship contending team. Even after the Miami Heat were deep into the NBA Playoffs, we still saw some lapses in team chemistry. The New York Knicks can only hope that their learning curve is much shorter and the team comes together before the NBA playoffs begin. If the New York Knicks are able to accomplish the task, the Knicks could ride the Lin-Mello-Stoudemire-Smith wave far into the playoffs.

“Ever Dated an Athlete?”

Him: “Ever dated someone high profile before?” Me: “Whats high profile?”

I honestly don’t like this question at all. It’s worst than asking me my thoughts on abortion. Really. It’s an evasion of my privacy, and you’re asking me this question based on a presumption. You’ve taken one look at me, sized me up, and you’re certain the answer is “yes.”

Deflecting from the question, I will ask, “What do you consider high profile?” and based on that answer, I’ll respond. I should make it clear that I never fancied any local team players. I can’t even name more than 5 Bobcats players or more than 2 Panthers players which is pathetic. I know, I know.

While I love basketball, my teams are the Celtics, Houston Rockets (remember their games in the 80s & 90s?), and I thoroughly enjoy watching Lebron James score.

Besides that, I’m not truly into sports or athletes. It’s just not my thing. These relationships appear to me to be short-lived and tumultuous. They’re flights of fancy …

And I’ve never been too enamored with anyone in the music industry besides Usher. He’s got style that speaks to me. Hah! This is a precursor to my Chris Brown fascination … still. I could belt out nearly any Usher song, on key.

So nope, no high profile dudes in my life.There really isn’t anything juicy to tell. Lol. I date regular dudes. There may have been a doctor; that’s all I’m giving you.

It just isn’t classy to kiss and tell even if I did. But I haven’t.

If there’s a high profile dude currently, he’d be that based on how awesome he treats me not his social status or pay grade. Got it?

This was the most interesting question that I was asked this past weekend, so I thought I share. I appreciate interesting convos, questions, and comments that may or may not catch me off guard.

Enjoy your Tuesday, Folk.

Aside: I bet someone in the background saying: “She lying.” lol Later!

Practical Tips–Reinforced by the Past Weekend

Practical Tips–Reinforced by the Past Weekend

1. Don’t share personal information with strangers, whether in a bar setting or via text messaging. You don’t know them, and they don’t know you.

2. Always use protection.

3. Don’t overthink and don’t overdrink. Both have their repercussions.

4. Don’t break up with ppl via texts. It causes more heart failure than you know.

5. Don’t put on that bathing suit. It’s still cold outside.

6. Sell domains! “For 10k, you can Coo’ all the hell you want.”

Shawn Chrystopher’s New Cd Set to Drop

Thanks to @Tadmichaell

It’s official! Shawn Chrystopher of GOOD Music has set the release of his album ”My Name is Shawn” for July 10th of this year, sure to be in heavy rotation this summer.

Check out Shawn Chrys backstage the I Am Finally Famous Tour tour in Greensboro, NC with Big Sean and Cyhi Da Prynce as he shouts out 102 Jamz, talks about the tour and his love for Bojangles, and latest mixtape Silent Films for the Blind. This hard spitting west coast rapper shows his funny side and also gets in-depth about carrying on his late father’s name.

Top 5 Picks on #Netflix #Movies #TVShows

Are you home on a Saturday night? There’s nothing wrong with that. I hope you’ve got Netflix to break away from the day-to-day of your cable box. Sometimes I don’t want to see NeNe Leakes scheming nor do I enjoy seeing black women fight. So I hit the Net to find what else could be of interest. And Netflix knows me well, I apparently watch a lot of shows surrounded around supernatural beings and psychological thrillers. There are even classics that interest me like “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” It’s all on Netflix and more.

So aside from all the drama cable’s bringing you, I wanted to share a few undiscovered gems on the Net. Although, Netflix has taken a huge hit with their new underdeveloped venture—Qwikstar, there’s much to be enjoyed on Netflix.

Here are my Netflix picks for the week:

Damages: Glenn Close’s is a morally-challenged, mind-controlling attorney who is just down-right devious in this favorite of mine. Every move may or may not be to her benefit! Big city setting. I’ve fallen in love with Close all over again. Warning: this series is highly-addictive; sure-fire thriller.

The Gates: Supernatural. Vampires, lycans, and witches reside in a ritzy upscale gated community. Struggling to mind their own business, these supernatural housewives, bad ass kids, and nosey neighbors are stirring up trouble for the new cheif in town. All the characters are easy on the eyes. You’re sure to enjoy. Series.

The Perfect Host: Psychological Thriller. Actors David Hyde Pierce and Clayne Crawford star in this suspenseful film. Your opinion on assailants and victims will change with the twists and turns of this movie. You can’t trust nobody. Watch what happens when a stranger seeks help in the middle of nowhere. Movie.

Dirt: Courtney Cox is really turnt up in this series. A real cutthroat cougar, Cox exploits celebs’ personal lives in order to keep her career afloat. She’s the Tabloid Queen of Dirt Magazine. A few deaths, a schizophrenic photojournalist, and coke heads are sure to hold your attention. Series.

Love Jones: Black Romance. Expressions of black love and life’s imperfections pour all over the scenes. Set in Chicago, late 90s, Nia “Nina” Long and Larenz “Darius” Tate ride the waves of lust, love, and romance. Long, full, and close-up shots. Black and white cinematography. I can never get over Darius attempting to run down Amtrak. wtdta?

Saturday nights don’t have to be another re-run, and I’ve just showed you how. Watch one of my favorites and tell me all about it. Enjoy.

Music Monday: iPod Hits on Replay–Come See

Shout out to all those who had to sit through my French Montana rants and lyric singing. Oh, but you love the song now especially since you can watch Yaris Sanchez sport those Tru Religions. Well here it is again. In my opinion, this is the contemporary version of “All About the Benjamins.”

And one more thing, singing* “girls like you remind me that I’m lonely!!” So I hit you with Miguel too. It’s Music Monday, and these are the hits I’m playing on the iPod, singing over and over again.

Meet The Writer Who Co-Wrote Rihanna’s “Cockiness”–@DEMJOINTZ

We Called It “Suck My Cockiness.” Guess they thought it was a bit too much . . lol

Recently, Rihanna’s latest album “Talk that Talk” owned the number 3 spot on Billboard Top 200 Album list. Her very showy display of raunchiness and “hoo-rah” for sex exploration doesn’t miss a beat or note … Thanks to her producers and writers.

Exhibit A–”Cockiness.” Here, in this song, we are mesmerized by a play on words … Mmmhmmm … Silently whispers “suck my cock-iness, lick my puss-sway-shun … Ohhh!!”

Now if you ask me, Rihanna has only been with (clears throat) you-know-who … She’s still a very respectable young woman in my eyes (pedestal begins to rock)

But where is she getting all this raunchiness from? Does she have a new man? Or are we being duped by awesome writers trickin’ on her lyrics? We need answers.

Luckily, Nikkipanache.com managed to connect with Producer/Songwriter Dem Jointz, tapping into his writing experience for the best track on Rihanna’s album–”Cockiness.”

With Dem Jointz and Candace Pillay’s lyrics fired up with Bangladesh signature screaming foreigner (lol), “Cockiness” has much oomph … To … Get … You … Going … Read on to what Dem Jointz had to say.

Recently, you co-wrote “Cockiness,” a kinky sex song that debut on Rihanna’s recent album release—Talk that Talk. Can you tell me about that writing experience?

Great Experience!! We were presented with the opportunity via Bangladesh. He gave Candice Pillay & I the beat In LA. We loved the beat off top and just started playing around with ideas. Bang walked in the studio and asked if we had anything so far. So I Go “I Love It, I Love It, I Love It When U Eat It” Candice joins in with “Yum Yum Yum Yum.” We were just playing around …wasn’t seriously considering the idea. HE LOVED IT!!

Few days later I was in the car running errands and it hit me. “Suck My Cockiness Lick My Persuasion” I immediately called Candice. “I NEED U HERE!! MEET ME AT THE STUDIO IN 30.” I tried to pre record the idea, so I wouldn’t lose it. I sounded crazy!!! Candice saw the vision, however, and on the spot wrote the 2nd verse … We knew it was the one!! Everything else is history!!!

Who’s idea was it to name it “Cockiness” and why?

We Called It “Suck My Cockiness.” Guess they thought it was a bit too much . . lol

What’s your favorite verse or stanza from the song?

2nd Verse, Candice caught on right away and took it there. I went crazy when she came with it . . YES YOU SEE IT!! YESSS!!

Would you have sex to this song? Just curious. Would it be to the bassline? Even more curious.

Yes!! I absolutely would! BASSLINE And all!! Lol Wait . . Since bang made the beat “Pause” lol!

I see that you produced a lot of Candace Pillay’s “Loveless” and Teedra Moses “Get Yours” feat Raheem DeVaughn. What other songs have you written?

I’ve co-written and produced / co-produced a few things. And a lot more down the pipeline.

And who are you working with now in the studio (artists, producers, etc)?

Besides Candice Pillay? Just focusing on the task at hand, but I am working with a great artist right now, “Ashley Xaviera.” I’m so excited to get back in the studio with her.

What artists, in your opinion, are hot right now and which of them would you like to work with?

Everyone!!! I’m just happy to have the opportunity!! Shout out to Bangladesh, DeShawn Kennedy, & Manger Denzil Foster

Tis’ the season for GIFTS!!!

What other musical gifts (talents) do you have?

I do it all!! beats, drums, vocal production, writing. I can hold a note somewhat (I think), even engineering . . Mr-One-Stop-Shop-Man!!!

What gift are you eager to give this season?

I want to give my sons iPads for Christmas.

Signing off, what advice would you give aspiring songwriters?
Don’t stop. Think outside the box, and attack your goal with confidence.

Also, here’s a song, Dem Jointz co-wrote/co-produced, Keke Wyatt’s “Unbelievable.” This is a beautiful ballad just right for the season. It’s on repeat over here. Check it out and tell me what you think.

Wanna find out more on DEM JOINTZ. Here’s his twitter @demjointz Special S/O @Demjointz for doing this interview. I appreciate you.

Tebow Time, Good or Outdated?

To start off the week, I will be discussing on what some people already know and what other people want to deny. Tim Tebow is a winner and his intangibles are truly amazing. While people continue to complain that Tim Tebow is not a conventional quarterback, I say that conventional is not always the answer. While every team hopes to obtain the rights to that great pocket passer quarterback, some teams will actually receive a quarterback that defies all convention and that is Tim Tebow.

As of this weekend Tim Tebow is now 6-1 and He has been able to win most of his games in the 4^th quarter. I hear all the analysts and experts bashing Tebow because of the way he usually plays in the first three quarters of every game. The same people say the game is 60 minutes and wonder why Tim Tebow does not play well in the first 45 minutes of the game. However, why not flip the theory around, the game is 60 minutes and at the end of the game, Tim Tebow makes the plays that are need to win the game. The question is would a coach or an owner rather have a conventional losing quarterback aka Blaine Gabbert or an unconventional winning quarterback aka Tim Tebow? I know if the decision was up to me which one I would choose.

It really does not matter yards a quarterback throws for, or how many passes the quarterback completes, if the quarterback cannot lead his team to a win. While yards, completions and touchdowns are great for fantasy football numbers, in the real world, what matters is if there is a “W” in the win column at the end of the week. Wins are what matter throughout the season. Wins are what decide if a team makes the playoffs or if a team is sitting home drinking cocoa at the end of the regular season. Herm Edwards said it best in his famous quote, “We play to win the game!” People can knock Tim Tebow for not having the greatest quarterback numbers. However, no one can knock Tim Tebow for not knowing how to win a game. Tebow is a winner and he keeps defying the odds to prove people wrong.

I have heard people attribute the Tim Tebow 4^th quarter heroics to a number of things. A majority of people are saying that divine intervention helps Tim Tebow, because of his religious beliefs. Similarly, other people are saying that Tim Tebow has a lucky rabbit’s foot that allows him to win games. In addition, we have some people that have no explanation as to how Tim Tebow keeps being successful. Whether Tim Tebow has divine intervention, a rabbit’s foot, or maybe some new super-hero formula, Tim Tebow has found the secret to success.

People can continue to knock down and bash Tim Tebow for the rest of the year but as the wins pile up, those same people will have to eat their words. I believe criticism will continue to come at Tebow and I am certain that is what fuels him to not give up. Tim Tebow believes in himself to make a difference when everything is put on his shoulders. Tebow will dig down deep and lift up whatever is thrown at him to prove that he can.

We might be witnessing the emergence of the next great quarterback or we could be seeing a one year wonder. We will not truly know what the correct evaluation is until we see what more Tim Tebow has to offer to the football world. The ball is truly in Tim Tebow’s court so to speak. Tim Tebow can work extra hard each week to improve or Tim Tebow can just keep faith that in the 4^th quarter he will make something happen to help his team achieve the win. From all I have seen and know of Tebow, I believe he will do what it takes to become better each week.

If given the time to truly improve his quarterbacking skills, the sky could be the limit for Tim Tebow. We can only wonder if the Denver Broncos will give Tebow the time that is needed to develop into the quarterback they need him to be. Next season could be more of “Tebow Time” or could be the end of Tim Tebow’s time in Denver

JSWMG 3rd Annual Red Pump Affair Recap

Thursday night, I attended JSW Media Group’s 3rd Annual Red Pump Affair which was held at the Harvey B. Gantt Center. Jameka Whitten, the Charlotte ambassador for the Red Pump Project and Owner of JSWMG, put together a night filled with fashion, spoken-word entertainment by Bluz, and networking. Purposefully, JSWMG was able to engage its audience meanwhile educate them on prevention of HIV/AIDS.

JSWMG also awarded Joanne Stevenson for her dedicated work in educating and counseling those who live or are being impacted by the disease. Stevenson gladly received her Red Pump Award–a mounted, sparkling 4-inch red pump.

At Closing, Andre Jarrid, one of Charlotte’s up-and-coming designers/stylist, presented a gawking, eye-catchy, mini collection … suitable for socialites. See clips from the event below. Big shout-out to CBS Radio Personality “Chirl Girl” and DJ Yasmine Young who kept the party going. And thanks to JSW Media Group for inviting us. Next time.

Red Pump Project Founder--Lovette Ajayi and JSWMG--Brittani Menina

An exercise to represent a percentage of infections

Designs by Andre Jarrid

I rather be in Bangladesh … A Review on Rihanna’s “Talk that Talk”

“Cockiness” domineers Rihanna’s new album–”Talk that Talk,” giving raunchy a new meaning. Nothing like Madonna’s Erotica as some compared it to be. It’s definitely better … taking you there where you won’t go in public. Or will you?

This chick hasn’t been the same since “Good Girl Gone Bad.” And I love her that way, trashy and revolting, unsettled and exploring. There’s nothing constant except change, and Rihanna shows us more ways to reinvent ourselves.

Adding to this guilty pleasure, Producer Bangladesh adds his signature, a foreigner yelling in the background. It just gets me going. It’s better than kissing ‘neath the Eiffel Tower with Dirty Money’s “Last Train to Paris” and rings with the same magnitude of excitement as Jay/Ye’s “N*ggas in Paris.” Apparently, I’m missing something commonly found in Paris. Yet I much rather be in Bangladesh with Rihanna.

Speak Now Tour–Taylor Swift Takes Charlotte

CMA Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift performed in Charlotte November 16 at Time Warner Cable Arena. During “Mine” and “Story of Us,” I captured these wonderful pictures. In her two-toned gold and silver fringe dress paired with chocolate knee-high boots, she excited all those who awaited Speak Now Concert since the show was rescheduled from July’s original date. She served it up, and the crowd responded in pure pandomonium.

</a

Swift is a triple-platinum Singer/Songerwriter who is the youngest of six women to earn CMA Entertainer of the Year. “Mine” peaked 100 on Billboard Hot 100. In October, she introduced her fragrance to world–Wonderstruck. Also, ranked the Rolling Stone Hot Women of the year alongside Carrie Underwood, Beyonce, and Rihanna. Enjoy my favorite Taylor Swift song below.

Remembering R&B Artist Heavy D

RIP Heavy D

Week 9: The Tim Tebow Saga and Other News

Well it has been two weeks since the infamous Carson Palmer trade and no one is quite sure who Palmer is as quarterback. Palmer showed flashes of greatness and then flashes of why Bengals fans had begun to lose confidence in their former starting quarterback, the interceptions. Proving last week was no fluke Carson Palmer proceeded to throw three more interceptions this week. On the bright side, Carson Palmer also managed to rack up 332 yards and three touchdowns through the air as well. While it was not a complete disaster, I can already hear Raider Nation tweeting and dialing up Jason Campbell, and doing whatever they can, to get Campbell back on the field.

The most beloved player in the nation took the field again on Sunday. No I do not mean Tom Brady or Michael Vick, but Tim, “I will prove them wrong”, Tebow. After seeing Tebow play on Sunday I am thoroughly convinced that Tebow should switch positions to running back. It would fix all the controversy that Tim Tebow is facing. If Tebow was a running back, Denver could run a halfback pass, and no one would complain about his accuracy. Tim Tebow would be able to do what he does best, which is run the ball. I could see Tim Tebow breaking 1,000 yards in his first season, if he was purely a running back. In addition, Tim Tebow could change the old Bo Jackson, “Bo Knows” advertising campaign to “Tebow knows”.

Ok back to reality, Tim Tebow is still the quarterback of the Denver Broncos and was able to muster a mediocre passing effort at 10-21 for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Tebow managed to avoid throwing interceptions by scrambling for 118 yards. For all the bad that Tim Tebow represents at the quarterback position, Tebow has managed to win two games in his last three starts. Last time I checked, winning is the most important quality in the NFL. Tim Tebow may not win pretty, but he is winning. I know every fan, teammate, coach, and owner alike will take ugly wins over losing pretty any day.

Speaking of losing pretty, Tom Brady knows all about it. Let’s face it the New England Patriots can score with any NFL team. New England have one of the most prolific offenses in the league. Unfortunately, for the Patriots, they still have no real defensive presence. Some days the defense looks better than other days but in general the New England Patriots defense is far from good. In Sunday’s game, with 1:36 left on the game clock in the 4th quarter and up by three points, the Patriots could not stop the Giants from advancing on a game winning drive. The New England Patriots allowed the New York Giants to march down the field, ending in a touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Jake Ballard. The touchdown pass came with only 15 seconds left on the game clock. The Patriots might want to call up Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison to come back. Maybe they can get Ty Law to stretch those old bones and join the team again. Whatever needs to be done, New England needs some help on defense, some serious help.

This NFL season never ceases to amaze me with all that happens every week. To think, if the NFL lockout did not end, we would have missed out on all this would have been a true tragedy. The ups and downs, all of the controversy is all what makes the NFL the most interesting sports league to watch. I have to thank the NFL owners and players for getting it worked out. Since we may not have an NBA season this year, I will take their catch phrase and say, “NFL Football, It’s fantastic!”

Throwback Tuesday: Nesby Phips

I found this classic interview with Nesby Phips with a guest appearance by Monsta Beatz filmed during the Jet Life Tour in Greensboro, NC I just had to post! Please enjoy

Bye Week Blues: Fantasy Foootball Waiver Wire Help

We are fully into the bye weeks at this point in the NFL season. Now is the time where all the fantasy football players of the world start panicking. A fantasy football owner’s star player has to sit a week and they have no clue which player to start in place of their star. Fantasy owners are frantically looking over the waiver wire to try to find that player that will break out this season. Sometimes the player that lands in a fantasy owner’s weekly lineup is just some player they are hoping will score them some points. Today we will take a look at some waiver wire wonders that can help fantasy owners fill in a week or even better yet reach the playoffs.

I will start with Christian Ponder, the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. Ponder was a hot waiver wire pickup last week. However, Christian Ponder may still be available in quite a few leagues. A great deal of the time fantasy owners like to wait and see on rookie quarterbacks or backups. Ponder did a decent job running the offense and made some good throws. Christian Ponder was 13-32, 219 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Ponder will not wow anyone with those statistics but for his first start, that’s a serviceable bye week filler at the quarterback position for sure.  Christian Ponder will only become a better quarterback as he becomes more comfortable in the offensive scheme. This means that in the future we should see some much bigger games from Ponder and fewer mistakes.

The next player I would like to talk about is Demarco Murray, the running back for the Dallas Cowboys. No one could have predicted that Murray would play to the level he did on Sunday. I have said before that the Dallas Cowboys need to bench Felix Jones and let someone else carry the load. Murray definitely answered the call on Sunday. Demarco Murray rushed 25 times for 253 yards and one touchdown.Only Adrian Peterson had a better rookie debut at the running back position. After Sunday, if Murray is still available I would grab him now. I do not foresee Felix Jones re-claiming the starting job if Demarco Murray continues to perform at a high level. I know that the Dallas Cowboys played the St. Louis Rams who are far from an NFL elite team. However, If Murray can perform at half the level of  his perfromance on Sunday on a weekly basis, I am sure the Dallas Cowboys will be elated in drafting the rookie. In addition, fantasy owners will be able to ride theMurray train into the playoffs.

Another player that fantasy owners need to take a look at is Jake Ballard. Jake Ballard is the starting tight end for the New York Giants. Ballard may not be Jimmy Graham or even Tony Gonzalez, but he is a decent option for the tight end spot. Jake Ballard scored a touchdown in weeks 4 and 5. Moreover, Ballard had season highs in week 6 with five receptions and 81 receiving yards. Jake Ballard has become one of Eli Manning’s favorite targets. Fantasy owners should take note and find a place for Ballard on their team. Jake Ballard could be a valuable number 1 tight end option or great bye week fill-in. Ballard is the real deal for the 2011 fantasy year.

The last addition to add to a budding fantasy team is the San Francisco 49ers defense. Every good fantasy owner knows the Baltimore Ravens Defense or the Pittsburgh Steelers defense as the best two defenses in the league usually. This year the Pittsburgh Steelers had a rough start to the year but seem to have righted the ship. Very few fantasy owners know or have thought about the 49ers defense as an elite defensive squad. If you are using standard scoring the 49ers have been consistent and the last two weeks the 49ers have really brought the pain. The 49ers defense only allowed Tampa Bay Buccaneers to put up three points against them and then the very next week held the high-flying Detroit Lions offense to only 19 points. The 49ers defense is a great defense to lean on the rest of the year. If the 49ers can keep up the defensive intensity, fantasy owners may have found another elite defense to help them win the playoffs and maybe even win the championship.

These are some of the waiver wire additions that will help fantasy owners win some much needed games and rise to the top of the rankings. If these players are still on the waiver wire grab them because each one is just starting to blossom into real fantasy contributor. When these players reach their full potential, they could truly turn around a fantasy season. I would rather be on the receiving of the dividends end than the end that missed out.

Auctioning Off Men for a Good Cause 11/11 KaluNC

Morning, ladies. Just received this in my inbox yesterday and had to share. There will be a date auction at Kalu which is on Sixth, Novemeber 11. There, women can bid on eligible bachelors of Charlotte. When is the last time you had a date? Was it even worth your time? Apparently, these brothers have been handpicked for their semblance of ‘creme of the crop.’ So maybe you’ll have better luck here. It’ll cost you, though … Details below.

Here’s a glimpse of what the night will have to offer. Looks like chocolate! And lots of it. Think I’m gonna attend just for that … I can get my look on. “OWWWWW”

For more info, hit up Metro Proponent.

Caution: Hot Contents

When people ask: “What’s Socially Panache?” I tell them plain and simple that it’s being sexy without being tasteless.

But to further explain it … It’s smarts bearing confidence, constantly beaming positivity, and a socially conscious individual. That’s what our brand is all about!

As women making it in this Brave New World, we find ourselves moving at the speed of light, juggling career with personal fulfillment. In maintaining a lifestyle that suits us best, we shan’t jeopardize our integrity.

Join the Socially Panache movement … Where you can be as sexy, as smart, and as socially conscious as you want to be with much class!

Interested in purchasing a mug? Get yours and join the new wave of being Socially Panache today.

Later, Panachers!

http://Socially Panache Mugs. Get them here.

Special Event Report: National Black MBA Conference 2011, Atlanta, Ga.

I am going to take a break from sports today to tell my readers about a great event I attended last week. I attended the 33^rd National Black MBA Association Conference. I have been anticipating the conference ever since I signed up for the event a few months ago. The conference is a wonderful experience with something for everyone who is a current or graduated MBA student.

This year’s conference was held in Atlanta,GA., which is fairly close to my hometown of Charlotte, NC. The National Black MBA Association Conference or NBMBAA Conference lasts essentially five days beginning on Tuesday and finishing up on Saturday. The conference also offers different packages that anyone can purchase. A person interested in attending the NBMBAA Conference can choose different conference packages to purchase. A package could include access to every event of the conference or just specific parts of the National Black MBA Association Conference. Depending on an attendee’s purpose for being at the NBMBAA Conference, an attendee can purchase the package which best suits his or her needs. The cost for every event the conference has to offer can run an attendee over 1000 dollars. However, if an attendee only goes to one part of the NBMBAA Conference, such as the Career Exposition , then cost is much less.

An attendee can choose to stay at one of the recommended hotels given in the conference information or choose their own housing. Staying in the recommended hotel locations definitely makes getting around easier and attending evening conference events. All of the conference events took place in downtown Atlanta, centered around the Omni Hotel. All of the locations for each NBMBAA Conference events met and exceeded all expectations.

The conference hosts a great deal of guest speakers. This year one of the feature guest keynote speakers was none other than John Legend. The conference also featured a golf tournament named the National Black Masters Golf Tournament. In addition, the National Black MBA Association Conference hired entertainment every night for attendees of the conference. The entertainment featured Biz Markie, Kid Capri, and other music performers. These performances and events were included in the entertainment package of the conference.

However, I will focus on the job fair for the remainder of this post. The National Black MBA Association Conference did not let attendees enter the job fair unprepared. The conference offered meetings with individual advisors to help attendees with their resume. An additional service of a personal development coach could be purchased for an additional fee. In addition, the conference also featured its own cyber café for attendees. The job fair was held in the Georgia Dome and all the major companies were in attendance. Intel, Microsoft, HP, and Dell were just some of the technology companies that attended the conference. Glaxo Smith Kline, Davita, and many other Healthcare companies attended the conference as well. If retail was more of attendee’s desire Home Depot, Walgreens, Target, and Wal-Mart all had booths at the conference. I just named a few of the companies in attendance but no matter what field or career an attendee was seeking, the attendee had many potential employers to choose from. A great deal of the attending companies were doing interviews right at their conference booth locations. Each conference attendee had an opportunity to get in front of decision makers and established employees in their desired fields.

Colleges and government agencies were out in full force seeking talented individuals. If an MBA student or graduate wanted to continue their education the choices were many, including Ivy League schools such as Harvard and Cornell. If an attendee was interested in working for the CIA, FBI, or other government agencies representatives were also available to answer questions and provide guidance.

The NBMBAA Career Exposition lasted two days and attendees will need both days to make the most out of the event.  I spent the majority of each day walking around visiting different employers and learning about the job opportunities available. I admit I did spend a few minutes just looking at the displays and seeing how each company decided to represent themselves. Each company in attendance gave away all sorts of goodies. The companies that were food related such as General Mills gave away samples of their individual food products. A great deal of companies gave away pens or bags. The bags from various companies were a great help as an attendee will begin to accumulate company business cards, goodies, and brochures. Many of the companies also had suites at different hotel locations where you could network with company executives and talk with employees more after the career exposition closed down for the day. This was a great way for an attendee to continue to make that lasting impression.

I would recommend an attendee pack some energy bars or something healthy. While there was various food vendors at the conference the majority of the choices consist of fast food. The food choices consisted of Papa Johns Pizza, Sonny’s BBQ, and other local vendors. I ended up carrying around protein bars and that kept me moving right along throughout each day. Either way an attendee will need to keep his or her strength and energy level high. I also recommend comfortable dress shoes as a great deal of walking and standing is required to make the most of the experience. An attendee will not have to worry about getting their gym workout in at all, their legs and will be worked to their max.

Lastly, I will make it clear that even though the conference is sponsored by the National Black MBA Association, the attendees included every race. The mix of attendees was very diverse and it is great place to meet people of all cultures and nationalities. I had some very interesting conversations just moving from one area to another. I even managed to see a few people I knew among the crowd. All in all the whole conference was a wonderful experience and I learned a lot in my time there. I would recommend anyone who is a current MBA student or graduate to attend the event next year.

For more information regarding the National Black MBA Association Conference for 2011 and next year’s National Black MBA Association Conference for 2012 please visit: http://www.nbmbaaconference2011.org/

For more information about joing the National Black MBA Association please visit: http://www.nbmbaa.org/

Their National Black MBA Association Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/nbmbaaHQ Click Like on their page and follow them.

Day with J Cole!

J. Cole graced Winston-Salem, NC with his presence right after his CD Cole World: The Sideline Story release last Tuesday and trust me, he made his presence known. The humble rapper from Fayetteville, NC may stay out of the spotlight as far as rumors and bad media but he definitely makes a great impression on who it matters to the most – the fans. We followed him from his autograph signing at Hanes Mall to his performance at Winston-Salem State University’s homecoming and even grabbed a quick interview on his tour bus. Check the Youtube video to hear what he has to say about his first CD and his advice to young women in college. (Sorry for the bad camera work during the concert footage, I’m not as talented as WynterSpring!)

Purchasing Tickets for @BigSean Show Oct 4?? Mention NikkiPanache as an Affiliate Co!

"Photoshoot Fresh"

Nikkipanache.Com will cover Big Sean show October 4 at Greene Street Music.

In celebration, a kind of pre-game here at NP, I gotta share a personal favorite off the Finally Famous LP–”I Do It.” Grandstanding, Sean shows off his freshness especially that oversized medallion ring, that chocolate skin, and his nice set of pearly-whites. I’m sure you have your own reasons for liking @BigSean. Let “I Do It” be another!

See BigSean in person, October 4, Greene Street Music.