TOPS BOX OFFICE--This film image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in a scene from "42." (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, D. Stevens)

by David Germain

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Baseball has scored a rare hit in Hollywood, while another American institution — Tom Cruise — has delivered his latest hit overseas.

RUSSELL SIMMONS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lil Wayne, Ron Howard, Scarlett Johansson and Kim Kardashian are all on the same page when it comes to criminal justice reform.

They're among more than 100 entertainers calling on President Barack Obama to focus on changing drug laws. Rap mogul Russell Simmons helped assemble the coalition of celebrities and civil rights leaders that presented a letter to the president on Tuesday.

The group praises the president's efforts toward drug incarceration reform but insists "the time is right" to move toward replacing jail sentences with intervention and rehabilitation for non-violent offenders. The starry group, which also includes Jennifer Hudson, Nicki Minaj, Susan Sarandon and Will Smith, also asks Obama to form a panel to handle clemency requests and to support a measure that allows judges to waive mandatory minimum sentences.

"It is critical that we change both the way we think about drug laws in this country and how we generate positive solutions that leave a lasting impact on rebuilding our communities," Simmons said, citing Department of Justice data that shows that the United States jails more of its citizens than any other country in the world.

Drug offenders comprise nearly half the federal prison population in the U.S.

APOLOGIZES--This Sept. 29, 2012 file photo shows Rick Ross performing at the BET Hip-Hop Honors at Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta. (Photo by John Amis/Invision/AP, file)

NEW YORK (AP) — A day after Reebok ended its relationship with Rick Ross, the rapper acknowledged that his lyrics on Rocko's song "U.O.E.N.O." were "offensive."

by Terri Schlichenmeyer
For New Pittsburgh Courier
When you look back over your life, there’s a musical score behind it.
You cut your teeth on “A-B-C” and “Rockin’ Robin.”  You hummed “I’ll Be There” in the ear of your first date. Later, you thrilled to “Thriller” and “Beat It” and you swore, with one white-gloved hand, that Billie Jean’s son was not yours.
Then, almost four years ago, the song ended.
So what don’t you know about The Greatest Entertainer of All Time? Find out in “Michael Jackson: King of Pop 1958-2009” by Emily Herbert, read by Andre Blake.
Growing up in a large family in Gary, Indiana, wasn’t easy for Michael Jackson.
Though he loved to sing with his brothers, Michael’s father, Joe, could be cruel and loved to taunt Michael. Honing in on the boy’s deepest weakness, Joe mercilessly teased him about his nose and his skin tone.
Joe also pushed his sons to perform, and the group soon caught record producers’ eyes. Even then, and though he wasn’t initially supposed to be the lead singer, it was obvious that young Michael was the break-out star of the family. His gift was apparent as soon as he stepped on the stage.
It was true that Michael Jackson loved to perform. He was also a perfectionist, and had set his eyes on becoming a movie star in addition to being a musical performer. His first foray, The Wiz, didn’t give him the film stardom he craved, but it did give him a chance to meet Quincy Jones, who became a lifelong friend and collaborator.
Shortly after his role in The Wiz ended, Michael had surgery to correct an injury on his nose. That, says Herbert, made him realize that he could change his face.
In the years between that attempt at movie-stardom and the release of his albums Off the Wall and Thriller, Michael Jackson cemented his reputation as The King of Pop and became a household name. His dances were copied, his signature one-gloved look became fashion, and his albums broke records.
But the King was unhappy.
Over time, Jackson became tired of the hoopla. He loved the crowds, but hated the media and the rumors. In an attempt to remedy that, he made some strategic (but ill-fated) decisions, both privately and publicly, which only made the problem worse. He started to suffer from insomnia, and turned to drugs for relief…
So you say you’re a major Michael Jackson fan?  You’ve read everything about him and watched every interview? Then you’ve done heard this audiobook.
(“Michael Jackson: King of Pop 1958-2009” by Emily Herbert, read by Andre Blake, c.2009, Bolinda Publishing, now available from Brilliance Audio, $19.99 U.S. & Canada, 6 CDs/6:44 in length.)