Blogs

Video After The Jump

STAR talks RG3 being benched by the Washington Redskins, the gay/black male who was beaten by Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn and Manny Pacquiáo now owing the I.R.S. 18 million dollars.

Radio legend Troi Torain (STAR) always delivers hard-hitting objective truth. As a culture critic he is vicious, as a businessman he is relentless, as a luminary he is un-matched.

Considered a radio pioneer by many, STAR has set precedents on the urban landscape and was recently inducted into News One's "Top 20 Black Radio Jockeys Of All Time."

STAR & BUC WILD made the national stage on MTV (1999) but it was their radio show on New York's Hot 97 and Power 105 (2000 - 2006) that secured their place in Hip-Hop history.

Torain's resume includes The Source magazine, MTV Networks, Hot 97, Power 104.1, Power 105.1, Pulse 87, Hip-Hop Weekly magazine, Vladtv, Thisis50, 100.3 The Beat, shot97.com and VH1 (The Gossip Game).

This clip is from STAR's LIVE show (12noon -- 2pm) on http://shot97.com.

Media relations — thehater1964@yahoo.com

Follow Me

Manny Pacquiao might owe the largest amounts of income tax between two countries in history.

TMZ reports that the Filipino boxer owes the U.S. Internal Revenue Service $18,313,668.79. The government alleges Pacquiao failed to pay his taxes from 2006-2010.

Here's the breakdown:

2006 -- $1,160,324.30
2007 -- $2,035,992.50
2008 -- $2,862,437.11
2009 -- $8,022,915.87
2010 -- $4,231,999.01


That's just the beginning of Pacquiao's financial disater. The Associated Press reports that the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Pacquiao's home country of the Philippines says he failed to pay his taxes in 2008-2009.

The amount he owes there is a staggering 2.2 billion pesos ($50 million) in back taxes.

Rumors have followed Pacquiao for years alleging he spends his money freely and has to continue fighting to survive, but how he got into this nightmarish tax situation should be looked into. Does he have financial advisers? It's a question that needs to be answered.

The Philippine government has placed a lien on one of Pacquiao's most expensive properties in Manilla and have frozen his bank accounts, and those of his wife.

Pacquiao claims that there is a treaty that prevents double taxation and has asked that his bank accounts be unfrozen.

''I appeal to them to remove the garnishment so that I can move and pay for my staff's salaries,'' Pacquiao told reporters in his southern hometown of General Santos city. ''I am not a criminal or a thief.''

He also disputes the amount owed to the United States. He believes that if that were true he would have been arrested during one of his many trips to the country.

Follow Me

American Idol is apparently swinging for the fences in an effort to try and solidify their panel of judges for next season. Mariah Carey is already locked in. Nicki Minaj is heavily rumored to also be on board. And now TMZ is reporting that Fox has reached out to Kanye West.

West is not on board yet, but he has expressed interest.

"He's on the fence," says a source. He's not sure yet if Idol is his type of gig.

If Yeezy accepts the offer he would have to at least be paid what Mariah is making. Which is reported to be $18 million for a season.

Fox executives are interested in possibly going with four judges this season. A combination of two men and two women have been discussed.

Others in the running include Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and Enrique Iglesias.

Follow Me

Comedian Tracy Morgan is catching flack from relatives for failing to help his mother save her home from foreclosure.

Alicia Warden told the New York Daily News she owes less than $25,000 on her Ohio home, but her son who is worth $18 million dollars would only offer her a one time payment of $2000.

Warden says that Morgan initially agreed to pay off the home, then reneged after accusing her of granting the media an interview. A claim she denies.

Morgan's younger sister, Asia Morgan, 41, confirms her mom's dire financial problems which she attributes to her failing health. Asia said she was going to keep quiet about the situation, but it's reached the point where she can no longer be silent.

“He’s never been a nice person,” says Asia of her famous brother. “And money’s just made it worse. My mom’s house isn’t extravagant, but it’s her home, Her health is failing. She has diabetes, and her legs are giving out on her. This would be a drop in the bucket for Tracy. She has a son that can do, and she’s done everything that she could possibly could for her family.”

Morgan's mom lost her job in February 2011, and her unemployment benefits have run out. Her utilities are about to be cut off and she is also close to losing her car. She asked her son for help and got a call back from someone who worked for him.

“Tracy’s offering you a one-shot deal” of $2,000 she was told. Warden turned down the meager offer out of pride.

“I told her, ‘Thank you, but no thank you. I’m not some person in the street,” Warden says. “That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. God don’t like ugly. Karma comes back to you.”

There are obviously two side to every story. The New York Daily News reached out to Tracy for a response and didn't get one.

Follow Me