Today In B'Days...

Ving Rhames is 49.

Ving Rhames has come a loooong way since "Pulp Fiction". He is one of the most manly actors around, but here is a clip of him far removed from his Stacy Adams pimp daddy image. It is from a movie me and my best gay laugh about all the time, "Holiday Heart" with Alfre Woodard. Worst. Transvestite. Ever.

Between Two Boxing Greats...

Two boxing films are coming up, one historical, and one more topical/tabloid like. I'm interested in which one folks find more appealing.

What boxing movie would you most likely pay money to see?

• The Robert Townsend directed movie about Sonny Liston starring Ving Rhames


• The Mike Tyson biopic starring Jamie Foxx

Created on Mar 1, 2008

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more at twiigs.com...

If you love boxing, or are even mildly curious, I suggest you check out the great new blog that marinates in it; The Truth From #1 Pound 4 Pound.

I might be MIA for a couple of days...don't forget to vote for me in my sidebar (you can vote once a day), and don't forget to mention the Shirley Q. Liquor mess on your blogs...Sucio!

When Worlds Collide...

I was rewatching "Pulp Fiction" 2 days ago, and marveled at how different (and not good) Ving Rhames looked.

While in Atlanta yesterday (hello ATLians!) I marveled at the men with the cleanest gators, the freshest brims, and the unnatural fiber clothing all colors of the rainbow; lavender seeming to be a big favorite. It is a phenomenon completely unseen in California.

Today I marveled at this ad that brings both together---I present to you Ving Rhames for Stacy Adams:




Piiiimpin', pimpin', as Katt Williams would say.

Ving Rhames Plays Sonny Liston...

Another interesting tidbit:

Ving Rhames has played tough guys before. In fact, most of his films tend to have him play a strong willed character, with the exception of a few such as 'I Pronounce You Chuck and Larry' and 'Holiday Heart'. In what will probably be his biggest role since playing famed boxing promoter Don King in 'Don King: Only in America', Rhames will play heavyweight boxer Sonny Liston in the biopic 'Phantom Punch', which Robert Townsend will direct.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Phantom" will chronicle Liston's rise to fame as a boxer and the single "phantom punch" he took at the hands of Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) that many believe led to the demise of his career. aol

From IW: I am all for any film that is about our historical heroes...we just don't have enough information about them these days, and I think it's sad. Also, it's good to see Robert Townsend doing something on the radar again. Maybe Ving can make up for single-handedly playing the worst looking transvestite in history, now and forever....

Mike Vick Part Two?

I am not, and never have been, a fan of certain types of dogs. Namely dogs that would do something like this:

A caretaker who was found dead Friday on Ving Rhames' Brentwood property after being mauled by the actor's dogs may not have died from the wounds he suffered in the attack, Los Angeles authorities say.

The 40-year-old man, who Los Angeles County coroner's officials identified as Jacob Adams, was covered in dog bites, according to police, but it could have been a heart attack or other medical condition that actually killed him.

"There's no doubt he was attacked by the dogs," said Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Ray Lombardo. "Whether or not the coroner can determine that the mauling actually caused the death, or the mauling contributed to him having a heart attack, that's a decision the coroner will have to determine."

Police said that they spied at least six dogs on the property when they arrived, but that only four—three bullmastiffs and an English bulldog—were running loose.

At least two of those four dogs were said to be involved in the attack. All four were removed from the Brentwood residence Friday by animal control and are currently being held in quarantine, pending an investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, after which the authorities will decide what happens to the dogs.

The victim, who according to police lived on Rhames' property and had worked for the Pulp Fiction star for two years, was found at about 7:15 a.m. in the estate's gated front yard. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Authorities say that the attack occurred sometime overnight. It looked as if the attack began on the east side of the property and that the caretaker managed to run to the front yard and close a gate behind him before collapsing on the front lawn.

From I.W.: That man was truly a caretaker to the end, on death's door and took the time to close the gate. I don't understand why people keep these types of dogs in a residential situation...give me my sweet Teacup Yorkie any day...if she bites the most that would happen is someone saying "awww isn't that cute?"

Saturday Morning Crush.....

In keeping with my pact with Purple Zoe, we decided to go high school groupie style and talk about our celebrity crushes...I have a few, but seeing that this is a Black Cinema blog, I'll keep it focused on that area...

As I've said in an earlier post, one thing that turns me off about mainstream Hollywood is the lack of "manly men" and what seems to be a current infatuation with using small, boyish, effeminate looking leads. Black Hollywood fortunately, imo, doesn't have that problem, and I think that contributes to our invisibility at the box office....here are a few I think are of note (at least of serious note to me!)

As you can see, I'm an equal opportunity blogger....it's not always about looks; manliness means alot. Thank goodness Common is now an actor...quite honestly this post could have been all about him alone, haha. I know that putting Denzel on the list is generic, but in my defense I was very much on the late train with him...just crushing in the past two years. I appreciate the strength and intelligence he brings to his roles...

Anyhoo-I'm in L.A. until Wednesday. If I see any of my husbands I'll let you know. To see Purple Zoe's crushes, click here; it should be up sometime today.

(as a side note, blessings to Ving Rhames, I hope he works his current situation out; it's very tragic)