Here’s some hot topics to get you through your Thursday work day:
Last week, NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan criticized President Obama’s golf game, calling the Commander in Chief a “sh—y golfer” during an interview with Ahmad Rashad. But President Obama wasn’t going to take that lying down. “Mike and I, we know each other, but I’ve never played golf with him. Michael wasn’t very informed about this,” Obama said during an interview on a Wisconsin radio show this week. “There is no doubt that Michael is a better golfer than I am. Of course, if I was playing twice a day for 15 years, that might not be the case.” The president went on to say that there may more important things for MJ to worry about. “He might want to spend more time thinking about the Bobcats–or the Hornets,” he said. [The Grio]
Common will be the host of a new reality series on Spike TV about competitive furniture design. Framework will follow 13 aspiring furniture designers over 10 episodes as they compete for $100,000 cash and a chance to have their work sold to a major manufacturer. Common will appear on a panel of judges along with other notable names in the furniture design business. In addition to hosting, Common will also be acting as producer of the series along with creators Dwight D. Smith and Michael Agbabian. The show is scheduled to premiere Jan. 6. [Entertainment Weekly]
Michael Brown’s parents are going to Switzerland to speak to the United Nations about human rights. The parents of the slain teenager will speak before the 53rd session of the United Nations Committee Against Torture on November 12 and 13. A Saint Louis University law professor helped fund their trip by collecting online donations. Meanwhile, protestors and citizens in and around Ferguson, MO. are waiting for a St. Louis County Grand Jury to conclude it’s inquiry into the murder of the Black teenager by the white police officer, Darren Wilson. [New One]
Nicki Minaj graces the cover of V Magazine‘s December issue and talks girl power and her responsibility to be herself. “I feel it’s important to show females that they can be in charge of their own situation,” she said in her interview. “I love women who take control, who set standards, and who believe in themselves enough to lead the way in terms of their careers.” The rapper also commented on the backlash she received after her Anaconda video. “If a man did the same video with sexy women in it, no one would care,” she said. “You’re talking about news people who don’t even know anything about hip-hop culture. Shame on them for commenting about Anaconda and not commenting on the rest of the oversexualized business we’re a part of.” [Necole Bitchie]