Former NFL player Jeff Rohrer marries Joshua Ross
iStock/Thinkstock(LOS ANGELES) — Retired NFL player Jeff Rohrer tied the knot with Joshua Ross over the weekend in Los Angeles, making the former linebacker one of the first ex-NFL players to proudly be in a same-sex marriage.
The former Cowboys star, 59, spoke to People magazine about the big day, saying, “It’s a very, very, very special love affair.”
“We’re the one for each other. It’s unexpected, but it’s undeniable,” he added.
Rohrer came out last week, just days before he and the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” aesthetician, 36, made the marriage official in front of more than 100 family and friends.
The two grooms wore matching tuxedos, Rohrer going with a cream bow tie, while Ross wore a black one.
The couple told People that they will stop in Paris, Barcelona and the Mediterranean for their honeymoon.
Rohrer and his ex-wife divorced 10 years ago and they co-parent two teens. The former NFL player says he lived in the closet for almost 60 years.
“I feel so honored that I’m the one he chose,” Ross said. “After all this time, for him to like take this big leap — it definitely gives me all the feels. I’m becoming a step-father to two teenage children, so that’s always very exciting. Life has changed for the better. A lot of my friends would think is that this is a lot of baggage. What I would say is that it’s a family.”
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SZA to be honored at “Billboard” Women in Music gala
ABC/Randy HolmesSZA will be among the honorees at this year’s Billboard Women in Music gala.
The BET Award winner for Best New Artist will receive the Rule Breaker Award, given to a “female artist who uses her music and platform to defy traditional industry expectations and advance a powerful message for young people today.”
In addition, SZA has five nominations for the Soul Train Music Awards, which will air November 25 on BET.
Billboard‘s VP of content, Ross Scarano, says SZA is one of several female artists who are “creating necessary space for more personal, authentic expression,” and describes her music as “provocative, perspective-shifting work that is challenging traditional notions of songwriting in R&B.”
It was previously announced that Janelle Monae will be honored with the Billboard Women in Music Trailblazer award.
Billboard’s editorial director Jason Lipshutz says, “Janelle Monáe’s insatiable drive to incorporate new, untold stories into her artistic projects — while synthesizing classic funk, soul, R&B, jazz, hip-hop and rock — makes her a truly unique voice.”
Janelle just signed a production deal with Universal Pictures, according to Deadline.com. She stars in the upcoming movie Welcome to Marwen, opening December 21
The Billboard Woman in Music gala will be held December 6 in New York City, and the red carpet pre-show will stream live on Twitter from 7 p.m. ET to 10 p.m. ET.
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Listen now: Trey Songz samples Jill Scott for new song titled, “Jill (Sumn Real)”
ABC/Randy HolmesTrey Songz is paying tribute to Jill Scott with his new song, titled, “Jill (Sumn Real).”
On the track, Trey samples Scott’s single, “He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)”, from her 2001 live double album, Experience: Jill Scott 826+. The song’s cover art also features a photo of Scott performing.
Trey’s tribute comes one week after Twitter exploded with shocked reactions to a video of Scott simulating a sex act during a recent concert.
Songz recently dropped “Shooting Shots,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Torey Lanez, and “How Dat Sound,” featuring 2 Chainz and Yo Gotti, from his upcoming movie, Blood Brother, which opens November 30.
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Scoreboard roundup — 11/18/18
iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Sunday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Memphis 100, Minnesota 87
Portland 119, Washington 109
Orlando 131, NY Knicks 117
L.A. Lakers 113, Miami 97
San Antonio 104, Golden State 92
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Dallas 6, NY Islanders 2
Carolina 2, New Jersey 1
Chicago 3, Minnesota 1
Vegas 6, Edmonton 3
OT Colorado 4, Anaheim 3
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Houston 23, Washington 21
Baltimore 24, Cincinnati 21
Indianapolis 38, Tennessee 10
Pittsburgh 20, Jacksonville 16
Detroit 20, Carolina 19
Dallas 22, Atlanta 19
NY Giants 38, Tampa Bay 35
Oakland 23, Arizona 21
Denver 23, L.A. Chargers 22
New Orleans 48, Philadelphia 7
Chicago 25 Minnesota 20
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(10) Kentucky 92, VMI 82
(11) Michigan St. 101, Tennessee Tech 33
(12) Kansas St. 64, Penn 48
(16) Virginia Tech 89, (23) Purdue 83
(18) Michigan 66, Providence 47
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Ella Mai was shocked to discover that Chris Brown is a fan: “He was telling me how much he loved my music
10 Summers/Interscope RecordsChris Brown has always been one of Ella Mai’s favorites, and when they recorded the song “Whatchamacallit” for her debut album, she was shocked to discover that he was also a fan of her music.
“Working with Chris Brown was very weird and surreal to me because I’m a huge Chris Brown fan,” the singer from London tells ABC Radio. “I have been since I was like 11-years-old. So I’ve always said it in my head, like ‘Oh, I’m gonna work with Chris Brown one day.’ But, when its right in front of you, it’s like OK. Wow.”
Mai credits the “Back to Sleep” singer for helping to promote her breakthrough single, “Boo’d Up,” before it became a hit.
“It was a little bit unexpected because Chris Brown was listening to my song ‘Boo’d Up’ on his Instagram story like a couple of months before we worked in the studio together,” she remembers. “He showed that he liked my music which is not how I pictured it because I was like that doesn’t make sense. It’s like I’m supposed to be the one that likes your music.”
After growing up in London, Mai attended high school in New York City. She was such a big fan of Brown that she left school early one day to go to the BET studio in Manhattan and see him on 106 and Park.
“It was amazing working with him,” the 24-year-old singer says. “He was super laid back and telling me how much he loved my music. I told him one day I cut school and went to 106 and Park.”
Mai is featured on the Creed II soundtrack, and she will perform Thursday on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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German Teen Survives Formula Three Crash
Mark Thompson/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — German Teenager Sophia Floersch survived a high speed crash during a Formula Three race in Macau on Sunday.
Floersch was going 167 miles per hour when she lost control of the car and vault up over another race car, before crashing into stands holding race officials and photographers.
マカオグランプリで死亡事故か。
当たり方がヒドイ
無事を祈る#マカオグランプリ #F3 pic.twitter.com/G96i1raKPh— のびお (@aochan8800) November 18, 2018
The race was stopped after the crash. Officials say Floersch was conscious and taken to the hospital, where the initial diagnosis was a spinal facture.
Floersch later tweeted that she was okay.
Just wanted to let everybody know that I am fine but will be going into Surgery tomorow morning. Thanks to the @fia and @hwaag_official @MercedesAMGF1 who are taking great care of me.
Thanks to everybody for the Supporting messages.
Update soon.— Sophia Floersch (@SophiaFloersch) November 18, 2018
Four others were injured in the crash.
The race was delayed for more than an hour before it re-started. Dan Ticktum won the race.
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Condoleezza Rice says 'I'm not ready to coach' Cleveland Browns
Harry How/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — She was the first woman named White House National Security Advisor and quarterbacked former President George W. Bush’s foreign policy team as Secretary of State, and now Condoleeza Rice’s name has surfaced as a possible contender for an NFL head coaching job.
When Cleveland Brown’s General Manager John Dorsey said last week that he would consider a woman to lead his perennial losing franchise, Rice’s name was quickly thrown into the mix even though her only NFL experience is being a Browns’ fan.
ESPN cited an NFL source saying the Browns would like to interview Rice for its head coach position, which would make her the first woman ever to be considered for an NFL head-coaching job.
“She’s an amazing person,” an anonymous source told ESPN of Rice, who has been a former member of the College Football Playoff selection committee.
But shortly after the ESPN story was posted online, Dorsey released a statement calling Rice a “great leader” who “possesses the highest possible character.”
Still, he said her name is not on the short or long list to replace Hue Jackson, who was fired as the team’s head coach on Oct. 20 after winning just three games in more than two seasons.
“I have the utmost respect and admiration for all she’s accomplished and was honored to meet her for the first time earlier this season,” Dorsey said in his statement. “Our coaching search will be thorough and deliberate, but we are still in the process of composing the list of candidates and Secretary Rice has not been discussed.”
Rice, 64, issued a statement on Facebook on Sunday, saying, “One doesn’t have to play the game to understand it and motivate players.”
“I love the Browns — and I know they will hire an experienced coach to take us to the next level,” Rice said of the franchise that has not made the playoffs since 2002 and finished last season with an 0-16 record.
“On a more serious note, I do hope that the NFL will start to bring women into the coaching profession as position coaches and eventually coordinators and head coaches,” Rice said. “But experience counts — and it is time to develop a pool of experienced women coaches.”
But she added, “I’m not ready to coach but I would like to call a play or two next season if the Browns need ideas! And at no time will I call for a ‘prevent defense.'”
Rice’s quip was apparently in reference to former Brown’s coach Marty Schottenheimer’s decision in the 1986 AFC Championship game to play “prevent defense” only to see Denver Bronco’s quarterback John Elway lead his team to a 98-yard game-tying touchdown in what became known as “The Drive.” The Broncos went on to win the game 23-20 in overtime, spoiling Cleveland’s dream of making it to the Super Bowl.
Rice is currently a professor of global business and economics at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She is also a senior fellow on public policy at the Stanford’s Hoover Institution.
During a press conference last week, Dorsey initially said, “I know me personally, I would like to see a man of character. I would like to see a man who can lead young men. I would like to see a man who has high football acumen. Those are the three basic things there that I would look for.”
But then he changed his tune when asked if age is a significant factor for the next head coach.
“I just want the best possible head coach to move this thing forward regardless of age,” Dorsey said. “It could be a woman, too. Do not look at me like that. I am serious. Who knows? We will look at everything is what I am trying to tell you all.”
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Diddy responds to the passing of his ex Kim Porter: “We were more than soulmates”
Allen Berezovsky/Getty ImagesJust days after the death of his ex, model-actress Kim Porter, Sean “Diddy” Combs has broken his silence to offer a heartfelt response to Porter’s unexpected passing.
“For the last three days I’ve been trying to wake up out of this nightmare,” Diddy wrote, captioning a Instagram video that showed him and Porter lovingly embracing.
“But I haven’t,” he continues. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you baby. I miss you so much. Today I’m going to pay tribute to you, I’m going to try and find the words to explain our unexplainable relationship.”
Set to music, the video tribute shows the former couple in happier times as they dance around a room during a photo shoot.
“We were more than best friends, we were more than soulmates,” he adds. “WE WERE SOME OTHER S***!! And I miss you so much. Super Black Love”
Porter and Diddy started dating in 1994. Their relationship continued on and off for 13 years before ending in 2007. They had three children together: twin daughters Jessie James and D’Lila, 11, and son Christian, 20.
Despite their breakup eleven years ago. Diddy and Kim remained close through their children and often celebrated holidays with their two daughters and one son.
As previously noted, a coroner will perform an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.
According to TMZ, law enforcement officers said that Porter wasn’t feeling well the night before she passed and when family members went to wake her on Thursday, she was non-responsive. When paramedics arrived they pronounced she had passed away.
Porter was suffering from flu-like symptoms, and was being treated with saline and vitamins.
Among the celebrities responding to Diddy’s touching post with prayers and condolences: Tyrese, David Beckham, Jill Scott, Miguel, Tyga, Halle Berry, Ghostface Killah, Evelyn Lozada, Raekwon and Lenny Kravitz.
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Scoreboard roundup — 11/16/18
iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Friday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Philadelphia 113, Utah 107
Indiana 99, Miami 91
OT Boston 123, Toronto 116
Brooklyn 115, Washington 104
Minnesota 112, Portland 96
New Orleans 129, N.Y. Knicks 124
Memphis 112, Sacramento 104
Milwaukee 123, Chicago 104
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
SO Buffalo 2, Winnipeg 1
OT Dallas 1, Boston 0
SO L.A. Kings 2, Chicago 1
OT Washington 3, Colorado 2
OT Toronto 2, Anaheim 1
St. Louis 4, Vegas 1
TOP 25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
(23) Boise St. 45, New Mexico 14
TOP 25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(2) Kansas 89, Louisiana-Lafayette 76
(4) Virginia 97, Coppin St. 40
(6) Nevada 87, UALR 59
(7) North Carolina 108, Tennessee Tech 58
(12) Kansas St. 95, E. Kentucky 68
(13) Oregon 80, (15) Syracuse 65
(16) Virginia Tech 88, Northeastern 60
(17) Mississippi St. 79, Long Beach St. 51
(20) UCLA 95, St. Francis (Pa.) 58
(22) LSU 74, Louisiana Tech 67
(23) Purdue 79, Davidson 58
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Report: Tamar Braxton left in the middle of “Redemption of a Dogg” musical in D.C. because her food had not arrived
Tamar Braxton did not return for the second act of Snoop Dogg’s Redemption of a Dogg musical Sunday afternoon Washington, D,C., and reportedly she left because her food had not arrived, according to DailyMail.com.
A source told the Daily Mail that the 41-year old singer left at intermission because a friend that was delivering her food was denied entry by security.
Tamar has been touring across the country in the musical, and after she performed in the first act, another actress replaced her for the second act, The Washington Post reports.
When the performance ended, the play’s writer/director, Je’Caryous Johnson, told the crowd that Braxton “had a brief emergency and couldn’t do the curtain call.”
‘Please, it’s important that we pray for her, this is a very vulnerable time so please just pray for her,” Johnson added. “She’s sorry she couldn’t be here for this curtain call, but she did get a chance to be here for you and she did the best she could.”
A second show was performed Sunday night, and producers placed signs at the box office reading, “Due to unforeseen circumstances Tamar Braxton will not star in tonight’s show.”
The Redemption of a Dogg tour resumes tonight in Los Angeles. Tamar commented on Instagram that she will be back on stage.
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