Basketball
Ice Cube brings back ‘Friday’ scene for BIG3 league promo
Twenty-three years later, the movie’s iconic scenes are still making the rounds
5:39 PMThe BIG3 basketball league’s second season is quickly approaching, and the league has announced that games will air live on Fridays on FOX and FOX Sports 1. And what better way to announce the news than with a fun, nostalgic twist on its latest promo?
Rapper, actor and BIG3 co-founder Ice Cube combined the love for his league with one of the most memorable scenes from the 1995 cult classic Friday — a move any fan of both can definitely appreciate.
.@IceCube and some of his old friends have a message for you…. #Friday pic.twitter.com/QFe6J7wd1R
— BIG3 (@thebig3) June 5, 2018
In the one-minute promo video, Craig (Ice Cube) sits down to enjoy cereal out of an oversized mixing bowl before pouring out the few droplets of milk left in the carton. As a frustrated Craig rummages through the refrigerator, Mr. Jones (John Witherspoon) appears in the doorway, grapes still in hand, to deliver an updated version of his popular line.
“Every time I’m in the kitchen, you boys in the kitchen in front of my damn TV, watching basketball,” he says.
The modified version of this classic scene includes Craig’s cousin Day-Day (Mike Epps), who first appears in the movie’s sequel Next Friday, and an updated television with clips of last season’s BIG3 games playing in the background.
The BIG3 league’s eight-week season begins June 22 in Houston. The promo comes two months after Ice Cube confirmed there will be another Friday movie, Last Friday, which is currently in production.
Hollywood
Sam Jackson and friends wow at ‘Incredibles 2’ premiere
Judging by the response of an early audience, sequel is worth the super long wait
7:52 AMLOS ANGELES — The Incredibles 2 premiere was a magical place. In addition to guests Wiz Khalifa, Jason George and black-ish star Marcus Scribner, stars of the film — which features Samuel L. Jackson, Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter — were positioned in the carnival-like atmosphere, where they posed with fans who’ve been waiting a decade and a half for a sequel.
In keeping with the spirit of the much-anticipated animated sequel, the party happened before the world premiere of the film, in a tented area near Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre where jugglers juggled, acrobats balanced larger-than-life balls and performers on stilts entertained guests. All this as revelers feasted on deviled eggs, macaroni and cheese, chicken corn dogs, chocolate-dipped Rice Krispies treats, candied apples, flavored snow cones and the requisite open bar.
And a few hours later, as the crowd leapt to its feet at the conclusion of the premiere, the wait felt more than worth it. Unlike other recent premieres (perhaps because this is an animated film?) there wasn’t the usual pomp and circumstance. No director opened with a speech, and no cast members were called onstage to be introduced to the audience. The studio let the film speak for itself, and judging by the rousing round of applause (and early responses), it was the exact right move. The film is in theaters June 15.
HBCU Education
Southern University is first HBCU to get into medical marijuana
It’s agricultural research center gets $7 million in grants
9:43 AMSomebody had to be first.
Southern University and A&M College owns the distinction as the first historically black college or university (HBCU) to launch a medical marijuana program.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based HBCU, known for its nationally acclaimed Fabulous Dancing Dolls, launched the program after a contract with Advanced Biomedics, a Louisiana-based company specializing in pharmaceutical-grade marijuana products, was approved on May 25, Baton Rouge news source WAFB reported.
What does this mean, you ask? Depends on whom you ask.
“This is a momentous event,” said Bobby R. Phills, chancellor of the Southern University Ag Center and dean of the College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences. “We are extremely excited to be able to provide quality medicine for the citizens of Louisiana. This groundbreaking research opportunity will also provide revenue for the University and economic development in North Baton Rouge.”
The Southern University Agricultural Center is currently awaiting the completion of background checks from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry as part of the completion process, and the university plans to construct a facility on a 176-acre plot of land in Baker, Louisiana.
Southern University now joins Louisiana State University in the cannabis ranks, with both public schools set to cultivate and research marijuana in campus facilities in the state, which legalized the substance in 2016 but prohibited recreational use.
The school, which focuses on livestock, farming research and community education, will oversee the program, according to the report provided. The contract with Advanced Biomedics is set to automatically renew its agreement with the school for two consecutive five-year periods, leading to the assumption that this is a long-term partnership.
Southern University’s product will be ready for distribution at Louisiana dispensaries in early 2019, and the university is set to make a healthy amount from the marijuana facilities.
The Agricultural Research Center will receive $6 million, and Southern will get a $1 million signing bonus with each contract renewal.
Clearly it pays to be first.
2018 NBA Playoffs
The Audemars Piguet watch LeBron James wore for Game 1 worth at least $40,000, expert says
According to the luxury brand’s website, only 1,500 of the model were made
2:27 PMOAKLAND, California — Remember when LeBron James broke out a short suit outfit, valued $46,964.95, for Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals? Well, the ensemble is actually worth much more. Just take a look at the Cleveland Cavaliers star’s wrist.
According to watch connoisseur FakeWatchBusta, a social media sensation known for exposing celebrities for wearing inauthentic timepieces, James donned a super-rare Audemars Piguet, called the Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Chronograph during pregame and postgame of the Cavs’ 124-114 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The watch’s features include:
- Self-winding chronograph with date display and small seconds at 12 o’clock
- Ceramic case, bezel and crown.
- 18-carat pink gold pushpieces
- Titanium caseback with medallion.
- Black ceramic case, black dial, anthracite strap.
According to the Swiss luxury brand’s website, only 1,500 were made, and the watch is currently “not for sale.”
“It retailed in shops for right over $40,000,” FakeWatchBusta told The Undefeated via email. The watch can be found on websites, such as swissluxury.com, for a resale value of as much as $46,495. But there’s certainly a chance James’ version of the Royal Oak Offshore Schwarzenegger could be worth more.
“Since he is endorsed by Audemars Piguet,” FakeWatchBusta wrote, “it could also be something special made, of course.”
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Chronograph, worn by LeBron James pregame and postgame of Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals.
James has a longstanding partnership with Audemars Piguet that led to the limited release of his own signature watch, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore LeBron James, in 2013. At a retail price of $51,500, only 600 pieces dropped worldwide. And in early 2018, the watchmaker tapped James for an ad campaign directed by fashion photographer Rankin in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the iconic Royal Oak Offshore.
Come Game 1 of his eighth-straight Finals appearance, James’ choice of watch was surely a no-brainer. The Royal Oak is fit for a king and apparently worth every penny. The accessory brings the minimum total of this Game 1 outfit to nearly $87,000 — not even including his custom jewelry. Guess that’s just the luxury of getting paid more than $33 million a year to play in the NBA.