Essay 4591

Charging forward with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Rapper T.I. will remain in jail until a bail hearing takes place later in the week. He was busted for a gun-related incident on Saturday (see Essay 4587), after his bodyguard allegedly sought to purchase three machineguns and two silencers during an ATF sting. Sounds like a pretty minor offense for the average rap artist.

• Lawyers for Madison Square Garden and Knicks coach Isiah Thomas are preparing to challenge the $11.6 million jury award from the infamous sexual harassment trial. Perhaps these morons should focus their time on challenging the amount of money being paid to the busters on their NBA team.

• Diddy may be facing charges for fighting with another man at a SoHo nightclub last Saturday. The brawl allegedly was over a girlfriend both men have dated. During the battle, Diddy reportedly screamed, “I’ll kill you, punk!” More than likely, he’ll wind up paying the punk.

• It’s official. Don Imus will be back on the air December 1 via WABC Radio. The Rev. Jesse Jackson said he’s hoping Imus “uses the restoration of his public forum to uplift, not to degrade. … We respect his right to return to the airwaves, but the American people that criticized his actions will watch him closely.” Imus should book the Rutgers University women’s basketball team as his first guests.

• Another co-defendant in the latest O.J. Simpson fiasco announced he’ll plead guilty to a reduced charge and testify against Simpson and others. Don Imus is going to be really pissed if the case is over before December 1.

• AOL is cutting 2,000 employees—roughly 20 percent of its workforce—to reduce costs and support its online advertising ventures. Wonder if the axed employees were notified via email.