6064: Taking Care Of Personal Business.

Ringing in the news with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Fred Goldman is seeking to nab O.J. Simpson’s Hall of Fame ring, as a Santa Monica judge ruled Simpson is prohibited from trying to sell it or give it away. Goldman continues his attempts to collect on the multimillion-dollar wrongful death judgment. Note to Goldman: don’t think about securing the ring while accompanied by buddies packing firearms.

• Russell Simmons joined mortgage consultants and entertainment artists at the Hip-Hop Summit at Clark Atlanta University to offer money advice. “There are opportunities out there, but people just don’t know about it,” said Simmons, insisting now is the best time to buy a home. “With financial stability, it’s a great time to buy when it’s low. It’ll pick back up in the long run.” Wonder if any of the rappers present succeeded in coming up with rhymes for subprime mortgage crisis.

• Mervyns is the latest retailer to fail, announcing plans to close all 149 stores. “We are disappointed with this outcome but the company’s declining liquidity position and the extremely challenging retail environment, together with the fact that we have exhausted all other possibilities, requires that we take this action,” said the chief executive of Mervyns. “We are confident that the deep discounts available through going out of business sales will drive significant traffic in our stores.” Maybe they could create cross-promotional efforts with Linens ‘n Things.

Essay 4978

Slow news day in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Can’t help but wonder what’s really going through President Bush’s head while dealing with foreign cultures. Then again, he often appears equally uncomfortable when coping with American culture.

• O.J. Simpson left a nasty voicemail message with a bail bondsman, which led to the man’s latest trip to jail. And the bail bondsman believes someone working for Ron Goldman learned about the message and ultimately prompted him to forward it to the Clark County D.A.’s Office. The bail bondsman said, “I believe [the person who called and threatened to tell authorities about the voicemail message is] working for the Goldman family. He was asking a lot of specific questions.” But Goldman insisted he knew nothing about it. “I’d like to tell you that is accurate but I don't think it’s true,” said Goldman. “I wish, but unfortunately, no.” Simpson probably wants to leave a nasty voicemail for Goldman. And vice versa.

Essay 4777

Taking shots with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Rodney King was struck in the face and arm with shotgun pellets in San Bernadino on Wednesday, although his injuries are reportedly not life threatening. Guess we can’t all get along. No word if Vice President Dick Cheney is involved.

• An Arkansas lawmaker apologized for sending an email that stated, “we are being outpopulated by the blacks” and “we are being overrun” by undocumented immigrants. However, he insisted the message was not racist. Perhaps the official should seek counsel from Dog the Bounty Hunter.

• Fred Goldman is back in court, this time to fight a Swedish web site offering free downloads of O.J. Simpson’s “If I Did It” book. Goldman, who owns the rights to the book, demanded that the pirate site stop posting the book. But in the lawsuit, the site operators stated, “they are not subject to the laws of the United States.” They appear to be taking an O.J. Simpson defense, as the man acts like he’s not subject to the laws of the United States too.