Sports

NBA Playoffs Top Charts

Cable TV Ratings for Week of April 28 – May 4
NBA Playoffs slam dunk top 25 cable list,
making TNT most-watched network

(May 7, 2008) Are you ready for some b-ball? The NBA playoffs are dominating the cable viewing of black households, taking the top three spots on the week’s top 25 cable shows. While none of the games attracted two million viewers like "House of Payne" typically does, their two-hour length keeps them locked on the station longer. ESPN was also able to make the chart by carrying a match-up.

TNT dribbled its way to the "most watched" network status with seven shows. TBS finished second with four shows — all of the "Payne," and BET tied with USA for third with three shows each.

The total number of viewers for the top 25 list was 27.8 million, a three percent decrease from the previous week.

Top 25 Cable Shows in Black Households

  Rank | Program | Network | Rating | # of Viewers

Source: Nielsen Media Research. Based on live
and same day viewing. Number of viewers shown
in thousands. Representing more than 13.45 million
television households in the U.S., the African-
American television audience is the largest minority
segment in Nielsen measurement samples.
All times eastern.

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Celebrity Poker Tournament

E!’S KHLOE KARDASHIAN AND POKER CHAMP JAMIE GOLD HOST 3RD ANNUAL URBAN HEALTH INSTITUTE CELEBRITY POKER TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER ON SATURDAY, MAY 17

A-List Celebrities, Top Poker Pros and Ace Physicians Converge on the Legendary Playboy Mansion in a High Stakes Night for Charity

Don Cheadle, Anthony Anderson, Aaron McGruder, Salli Richardson Whitfield, Dondre Whitfield and Special Guest DJs Idris Elba, Spinderella Among Confirmed Celebs

Los Angeles, CA (BlackNews.com) – On Saturday night, May 17, 2008, what happens in Vegas stays at Beverly Hills’ famed Playboy Mansion when the Urban Health Institute presents its Third Annual Celebrity Poker Tournament and Casino Night hosted by Khloe Kardashian from the hit E! reality show Keeping Up with The Kardashians and 2006 World Series of Poker Champion Jamie Gold. $50,000 worth of prizes, beautiful Playboy bunnies, the most recognizable sports and entertainment personalities and authentic Vegas-style competition will make this night an unforgettable experience – all for a worthy cause.

At last year’s event, Dancing With the Stars’ Shannon Elizabeth eliminated Academy Award(TM) nominated actor Don Cheadle, Jennifer Tilly, Dr. Jerry Buss, Mekhi Phifer and others including real-life poker Pros Annie Duke, Steve Dannenman, and Phil Laak, to take home the grand prize. The event raised more than $50,000 for UHI’s health-related programs.

This year’s competition promises to be even more fierce, with the grand prize winner receiving a coveted seat in the WSOP(TM) World Championship No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em tournament in Las Vegas and other top-drawer prizes. Confirmed celebrity participants include Don Cheadle, Anthony Anderson, Idris Elba, Dondre Whitfield and Salli Richardson Whitfield, Aaron McGruder, Glynn Turman, Claudia Jordan, Tommy Ford, Olivia Brown, Mellyssa Ford, Antonio Pierce (NY Giants), 80’s R&B heartthrob and radio personality Al B. Sure, Carl Payne, Chris Spencer, Kevin Hart, Mad Mike (MTV’s Pimp My Ride), F. Gary Gray (Film Director – The Negotiator, The Italian Job), 104.3 My Fm’s Valentine, KTLA’s Mark Kristi, and the Brunson Family (professional poker players) among others. Special celebrity guest DJ Spinderella will provide the soundtrack for the night, aided by a special performance from So So Def Recordings artist J-Kwon.

The stakes are high and seats are filling quickly, but not just with celebrities. If amateur poker players have $1500 to buy-in and the skills to compete, they may earn bragging rights for besting a Hollywood heavy-hitter or a real pro. Or, participants can contribute $500 and try their luck at roulette, craps, blackjack and other casino games for great prizes, as the grounds of the Playboy Mansion are transformed into a Vegas Casino for one magical night.

There’s a silent auction where attendees can bid on fabulous signed memorabilia, trips for two, jewelry, spa packages and much more hosted by Bang the Gavel. Jamie Gold will auction off a private poker lesson, and ticketed guests are automatically entered to win a VIP Mandalay Weekend Package which includes 2 premium tickets to the Judah vs. Mosley bout, as well as accommodations and dinner at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.

Online registration is available at www.uhievents.org

The Urban Health Institute (UHI) is a non-profit organization, founded by Los Angeles-based physician, Kevin Brown, to provide direct care, medicine and medical equipment in response to natural and man-made disasters. The organization enlists pro-bono participation from local health care professionals to provide public health education and information about the availability of health-related and specialty care resources in disadvantaged communities around the globe. Proceeds from this event will go directly to fund the Urban Health Institute’s monthly health education seminars, quarterly health fairs and purchase medical supplies for underserved communities locally and abroad.

Dr. Brown and his Urban Health Institute colleagues organized this event at the Playboy Mansion in an effort to bring visibility to their imperative work, while offering potential donors a once-in-a-lifetime experience. "The work we do is hard and sometimes discouraging when we are limited by lack of funding," said Dr. Brown. "Creating an opportunity for folks to experience the Playboy Mansion, play an exciting game and mingle with stars is great incentive beyond supporting a worthy cause." Last year’s event helped support UHI’s recent medical mission to remote Nigerian villages, as well as ongoing local health clinics and fairs.

This year’s event is sponsored by media partners Card Player Magazine, LA.com, Skinnie Magazine, 104.3MYfm, Remy Martin, Screaming O, and Rolling Out Magazine.

For pre-event interview opportunities, artwork and media credentials requests, please contact Tosha Whitten-Griggs at 202-246-7875 or tosha_whittengriggs@hotmail.com. For more information about the Celebrity Poker Tournament please contact Yvette McNally at 323-791-9791 or visit www.uhievents.org. To learn more about the Urban Health Institute, please visit their website at www.uhinstitute.org

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Black U.S. Olympic Hopefuls

U.S. OLYMPIC HOPEFULS’ PERSONALITIES SHINE LIKE GOLD AS BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES APPROACH

Getting to Know America’s Black, Beijing-Bound Athletes On and Off the Field

Allyson Felix                                                                    Bryan Clay
Courtesy of: NBC Olympics/ USOC

Boston, MA (BlackNews.com) – Today marks the official 100-day countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, where hundreds of athletes will achieve their lifelong dream by representing Team USA on the world stage. It is easy to recognize their athletic talent, but what happens when we follow them off the field — and into their personal lives?

Many fans may be surprised to learn about the stories and personal interests of their favorite Olympians and Olympic hopefuls.

Allyson Felix (Los Angeles, Calif.) doesn’t just look good sprinting across the finish line — this fashionista looks good every time she steps out of the house. When she’s not sporting her track shoes, she is always looking for a chance to wear her red Christian Louboutins. But don’t let her obsession with shoes fool you, Felix is firmly grounded by her faith in God, and her strong family relationships.

Cullen Jones (New York, N.Y.) grew up in the Bronx with the hopes of being a professional runner. It wasn’t until 2006 that he gave up running to pursue swimming full-time. He now holds six medals and is the first African-American to break a long-course world-record in swimming. Jones is an aspiring filmmaker and will be featured in a documentary called, "Parting the Waters," to be released this summer.

Reese Hoffa (Athens, Ga.), a 285-pound shot-putter is not your "typical" athlete. For starters, he has no gall bladder. But the thing that truly makes him unique is the challenges he has overcome. He was given up for adoption at age three, but later, as an adult, he embarked upon an emotional quest and was reconnected with his birth mother. He carries his fierce competitive spirit into playing video games — his favorite way to relax after a meet.

Sanya Richards (Austin, Texas) has found precious medals both on and off the field. She was engaged to New York Giants cornerback (and Super Bowl champion) Aaron Ross in December 2007. The proposal was an unexpected surprise in the middle of a New York Giants-Washington Redskins Sunday Night Football game. An NBC camera, filling for its Olympics coverage, caught Ross asking Richards to marry him. She, of course, offered a resounding, "Yes." The couple has yet to announce a wedding date but revealed that the ceremony would take place in her hometown of Austin, TX. Between training and wedding planning, Richards also finds the time to volunteer for the American Behcet’s Disease Association.

Dwight Phillips (Snellville, Ga.), a long jumper, recovered from two badly broken legs at the age of 14 to go on to win a gold medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. In his spare time, he experiments with photography and has stepped into a completely new role as manager of an emerging hip-hop band.

With an intense training schedule, competitions, public appearances and family life, many athletes still manage to find the time to give back to their communities.

Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.), has found the time in her busy training schedule to volunteer with multiple organizations. She participates in community outreach as part of the USA Track & Field’s "Be A Champion" program. She also volunteers at Arcola Lakes Elementary School in Miami assisting a class of deaf students who are teaching her sign language. Additionally, Williams desires to set up a scholarship fund to assist emerging female athletes in their quest for academic and athletic excellence. And, to top all of this community work, she is currently looking to establish her own charitable fund.

Bryan Clay (Glendora, Calif.), was once a rebellious teenager, but his success in sports and acceptance of the Christian faith has led him to an incomparable work ethic, commitment to excellence and unwavering integrity. He has established the Bryan Clay Foundation which provides student-athletes with academic and athletic scholarships, and is providing high school physical education departments with equipment and improved facilities.

The Opening Ceremony for the Olympic Games in Beijing will be held on 8.8.08.

To get to know the athletes better, and to see who else is competing, visit www.NBCOlympics.com

For media inquiries or athlete interview requests, please contact: Juliet Pyles, AMP Agency, (774) 392-1074, jpyles@ampagency.com.