Friday's Gossip Tidbit and Wildcat Noshies

Today's Gossip News

Jackson 5 reunion? Don't hold your breath...

In November, Jermaine Jackson told the BBC that the group "is in the studio at the moment" and a full-scale reunion is set for "sometime in 2008." "We feel we have to do it one more time. We owe that to the fans and to the public," he said.

"In the studio at the moment" ? Sorry Jermaine, but your brother, shopping for drapes to hang over his turkey baster kids' faces, in a store named "Studio" does not set the stage for a reunion.

Unfortunately Michael is now a complete nut bar with extra cashews and I don't think we will ever see him performing again. He is just too fragile mentally.

A recent picture of Jermaine just reinforces the idea that plastic surgery is not a friend to the Jackson family.... (except maybe Janet---plea to Miss Jackson--PLEASE, no more surgery...you look fine, if it ain't broke don't put it under the knife)

Seriously...I don't know if it is the hairstyle or old plastic surgery gone to hell, but Jermaine looks like a California Raisin now...




Remember when the Jacksons were good looking?

Look at the picture of young Michael above, wasn't he adorable? For all you young pups who only remember Wacko Jacko, this is what the Jackson 5 looked like:

I thought Michael was friggin' gorgeous as a kid and could not understand his desire to go under the knife, but after his first few surgeries he still looked pretty good:

But then....OMF'nG...more is not better:

Sigh, what a waste of talent. When I listen to "Thriller" now it makes me so sad.

Wildcat News

Our Wildcat's women basketball team kept the basement of the Big 12 occupied last season, but my oh my, whatta a difference a year makes. We were picked to finish in 8th place this year, but the ladies had other ideas:

Kansas State (21-8, 13-3 Big 12) became the first team in Big 12 history to finish in last place one year and win the conference the next. The Wildcats finished with a 4-12 conference record last season and tied with Kansas for last place.


What made this even sweeter is that we beat the Chickenhawks IN Lawrence, not at home, to win our championship.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- Shalee Lehning had a career-high 29 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to help Kansas State win the Big 12 regular season title with a 61-50 win over Kansas on Wednesday night. Kansas State (21-8, 13-3 Big 12) became the first team in Big 12 history to finish in last place one year and win the conference the next. The Wildcats finished with a 4-12 conference record last season and tied with Kansas for last place.

The Wildcats, who were picked to finish eighth in the conference by the league's coaches before the season, won the title outright when Baylor lost to Oklahoma State on Thursday night.

Lehning went 10-of-17 from the field and 9-of-12 from the free throw line.This was her third straight double-double and the 12th of her career. It was Kansas State's 14th win in the last 15 games between the in-state rivals. Kansas (15-14, 4-12) lost their fifth straight. The Jayhawks shot only 39 percent from the field and were out-rebounded 37-28. Kansas State led 27-23 at halftime and pushed the margin to 13 at 48-35 on a layup by Kari Kincaid with just over 12 minutes remaining. But the Wildcats didn't score again for five minutes, letting Kansas back into the game. A 15-4 Jayhawk run cut the lead to 52-50 with 4 minutes remaining, but Kimberly Dietz hit a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats back up by five. Lenning then converted on a three-point play to push Kansas State's lead to 58-50 lead with three minutes left. Dietz added 15 points and Marlies Gipson had 10 points and four blocks for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats will enter the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 1 seed. Kansas will be either the 10th or 11th seed.

Another great video of Clent's proposal

Here is yet another great video of Clent Stewart's proposal to his girlfriend before the last home game. For anyone who is not a Kansas State follower, the little guy in the suit who is hugging all the basketball players at the end of the clip is our University President Jon Wefald.

President Wefald is our national treasure and will be harder to replace than any coach or player. His unbridled love of everything purple and his support of all our athletic programs is nothing short of amazing...and if you ever run into President Wefald be sure to ask him if K-State has ever had any Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater and Udall scholars, LOL. The Wildcat Nation understands this joke.

Gratuitous Eva Mendes Friday


It's Friday...so here is CoCo's Eva Mendes fix for the weekend:

Technorati Tags: jackson 5, michael jackson, jermaine jackson, kansas state university, ksu, wildcats, college basketball, shalee lehning, kimberly dietz, clent stewart, proposal, Jon Wefald , Eva mendes

Love Is In The Air...

Wildcat News

Senior Night...love is in the air

The Aging Disco Diva has never hidden the fact that she thinks Clent Stewart is an awesome kid (Yes, I am an old lady, so I can call him a kid) who not only is a very good basketball player, a fantastic student and a wonderful representative of all that is great about Kansas State University, he is an amazing young man who has had a lot of adversity in his life that he has handled with dignity and class. Last night was senior night and traditionally the seniors give their mother's roses and a hug before tip-off. Vanessa Stewart, his mom, passed away last month but was smiling last night as Clent's girlfriend Stephanie stepped in to receive the roses...and a little something extra:

Wildcat Women's basketball news

The woman play tonight---time to pluck those chickenhawks ladies, and grab that Big 12 regular season title.

No 19 Kansas State will look to capture at least a share of its second Big 12 regular season title on Wednesday night, as the Wildcats close out the regular season at 7 p.m., in Lawrence, Kan., against Kansas. The Wildcats moved back into a tie for first place in the Big 12 following a 72-53 loss by Baylor at Texas A&M and K-State’s 81-52 win over Missouri on March 1.

The Wildcats won the first meeting with the Jayhawks this season in Manhattan, 64-58, and took a 54-41 advantage in the series’ history. Kansas holds a 23-22 edge all-time in games played in Lawrence, but K-State has won five of the last six matchups.

Wednesday’s contest can be seen live in the Kansas City-area on Metro Sports and throughout the nation on ESPN360.com. Calling the action will be Nate Bukaty and Patti Phillips providing the color analysis. The Wildcats have enjoyed the television spotlight this season, recording a 7-2 mark in games broadcast on television and a 4-1 record in televised road games.

The game can also be heard live on the K-State Sports Network at 1350 KMAN, with the award-winning Brian Smoller providing the play-by-play and former Wildcat Missy Heidrick providing the color analysis.

Today's Gossip tidbits

No matter how hated you are, you can always count on your parent's love....no scratch that if you are the Dread Pirate Heather. Sheyat...she is so universally loathed even her dear old dad is taking potshots:

Heather Mill's father has attacked her decision to drag her divorce from Sir Paul McCartney through the courts, accusing her of being "greedy".

A judge is due to return a decision on 17 March (08) on what settlement Mills will receive, two years after their four-year marriage ended in 2006. But Mark Mills claims his 40-year-old daughter should have settled months ago after the former Beatle made his first big money offer.He says:

"He's offered her multi-millions. She should take that and stop what she's doing. It's plenty. She's being greedy. How much does she need?"

Why daddy dearest...SHE WANTS IT ALL and SHE WANTS IT NOW! I can only hope that Poppa Mills sold her out to the tabloids and is making some money on the gold digger he spawned. That is Karma with a capital "K" Here is a little known clip of Heather as a child singing her theme song:

What you didn't see is the Aging Disco Diva turning the furnace on high just before the incubus slid down the chute...

Technorati Tags: Clent Stewart, kansas state university, ksu, wildcats, basketball, heather mills, veruca salt

First You Say It, Then You Do It...

Bill Cosby had a cute routine about mothers' obsession with clean underwear: "If you ever have an accident, I hope you have on clean underwear" The punchline was it does not matter if your underwear is clean if you are involved in an accident because you will sheyat them anyway

"First you say it, then you do it"

I had an extreme flying phobia that stopped me from getting on a plane for over 30 years (I had been a passenger on a plane that was involved in what is quaintly referred to as a "Near miss" I think "Near hit" is more accurate)

I did finally suck it up, put my big girl panties on (and consumed a hefty amount of Xanax and liquor before even hitting the airport) and flew back home for my parents 50th wedding anniversary three years ago. A little over a year ago I flew back again to be with my dad on his final life's journey. I still needed adult beverages but was able to substitute subliminal recordings and meditation for most of the Xanax. I will never really ENJOY flying but the phobia has definitely been conquered (thanks to Law of Attraction and Positive Thinking beliefs) I can state right now with 100% certainty though that if I was on the flight shown in the clip below, my clean underwear would be clean no more.... and not only would I have dropped dead of a heart attack--everyone seated within 7 rows of my seat would have drowned in the wave of excrement that would have spontaneously flowed from my terrified body!

Wildcat News

Tonight is Senior Night

Kansas State (18-10, 8-6 Big 12) closes out its home regular season schedule on Tuesday evening, as the Wildcats celebrate Senior Night by hosting Colorado (11-17, 3-11 Big 12) at Bramlage Coliseum at 8 p.m. CT. The squad will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak, including its first loss in Bramlage Coliseum in 2008. The four-game skid is the longest drought for the program since dropping six in a row from Feb. 2-19, 2005. The team has posted a 13-2 record at home this season, including a 6-1 mark since the start of league play. A win against the Buffaloes would enable the Wildcats to tie two other squads (1998-99 and 2006-07) for the most wins in a single season at Bramlage Coliseum and most at home in Big 12 play.

Prior to the contest, the school will celebrate the accomplishments of its four seniors - David Hoskins, Clent Stewart, Blake Young and James Franklin. Stewart, who ranks among the school’s career top-10 in four categories, is completing his fourth and final season, while Young and Franklin are finishing up a two-year stint after transferring from junior college. Hoskins will be honored on Tuesday despite the fact that he should be applying for a sixth-year waiver from the NCAA following the season. He has been out the entire 2007-08 season with a knee injury. The quartet will look to become the first K-State team to advance to the postseason in back-to-back seasons in almost a decade (1997-98 and 1998-99) and the first to advance to the NCAA Tournament in 12 years since the 1995-96 season.

Tuesday’s contest will be televised regionally on the Big 12 Network via ESPN Plus (KMCI - Kansas City; KSNT - Topeka; KSAS - Wichita) with Dave Armstrong (play-by-play) and Reid Gettys (analyst) calling the action. The game is also available nationally on the ESPN Full Court package. It will the fifth of six appearances on the network and one of a school-record 29 televised contests.

The Diva is excited that her beloved Wildcats will be playing this evening, but sad that we will be bidding our four awesome seniors goodbye.

Technorati Tags: bill cosby, viral video, hamburg plane , kansas state university, college basketball, ksu, wildcats, david hoskins, clent stewart, blake young, james franklin, senior day

Open Letter from the Stewart Family

Time to take a small break from the silliness of celebrity gossip:

The Stewart family released this beautiful letter today thanking fans everywhere who sent their thoughts and prayers after the passing of Vanessa Stewart. I wanted to share this with those of you who, though were not Kansas State Wildcat fans, have told me that you started following this story after reading about it on this blog. Mr. Stewart continues to make the trip up from Oklahoma to watch Clent play each home game, but seeing that empty seat next to him just brings a lump to the throat of every member of the Wildcat Nation.

Courtesy: Kansas State University

Release: 02/18/2008

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Senior guard Clent Stewart and his family released the following open letter to the Wildcat nation to thank them for their thoughts and prayers during the last few weeks.

Clent, Sr., Clent, Jr., and LaTori would like to offer our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported the family during our time of bereavement.

To the Kansas State Men Basketball Team – Your unyielding faith and support has inspired us and reminded us that God is in control and that He doesn’t make mistakes. He needed an Angel and has allowed Vanessa to spread her wings and answer His higher calling. Thank you for propping us up so we may continue to stand, and for allowing Him to use you to comfort us.

To the Kansas State University Family - "Thank You" simply isn't enough. Some of the best moments Vanessa had as she fought to stay with us were at KSU. She enjoyed the trips to Manhattan. She knew that there she would be able to set sickness aside, even if only for a short while. There she was allowed to cheer for her son and his "brothers from other mothers", and be a FAN. Thank you for giving her those moments. She will be front row forever. "GO CATS"!!!

To the Print and Televised Media (too many to name) - Thank you for bringing awareness to the public that the fight against Cancer is still being waged in the hospitals and hearts of those who have been touched. We pray that your coverage of Vanessa's battle will encourage others to join the fight.

To all our other relatives, friends, coworkers, and anyone who was touched by and supportive of our fight - THANK YOU AND WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

To anyone we failed to mention - please blame it on our heads and not our hearts. We sincerely appreciate all the kind words, deeds, thoughts, prayers, meals, and other acts of kindness offered on our behalf as we have grieved. This new journey will be difficult, but we are certain that with the determination Vanessa taught us and your support, we will be able to greet each new day and the challenges it holds with the strength to make it through.

Again, Sincere Thanks and Much Love,



The Stewart Family

Technorati Tags: Vanessa Stewart, Clent Stewart, open letter

Vanessa Stewart Tribute Video

As the Wildcat Nation knows Vanessa Stewart passed away last week. Here is a beautiful video created by the talented "RoyalPurpleYearbook" :

Technorati Tags: Vanessa Stewart, Kansas State University, Clent Stewart, KSU, Wildcats, tribute, college basketball

A Mother's Love--Vanessa & Clent Stewart

There was a wonderful article about the relationship between Clent Stewart and his mom. As I write this her funeral is going on and it seemed appropriate to share this with all of you....

NewsOK.com

Sat February 9, 2008

K-State's 'motivator' deals with tragic loss
By Andrea Cohen

Staff Writer


Clent Stewart drove from Manhattan, Kan., to Norman early Monday morning to tell his mother he loved her.

On her deathbed, she responded: "Play hard.”

Play hard. Study hard. These were messages Vanessa Stewart ingrained in her son as he was growing up in Tulsa. She passed her wisdom to Clent, now a senior at Kansas State, one last time on Monday. She died Tuesday after a long struggle with breast cancer.

"My dad called me Sunday at one in the morning to let me know she wasn't doing very well,” Stewart said. "He never told me ‘Come down here right now.' He said ‘Do what you have to do. Take care of your responsibilities.' That's exactly what my mom would say.”
Stewart left first thing Monday morning.

"I felt very fortunate that I got to tell her I loved her,” Stewart said Friday. "It's tough. She was a big inspiration in my life. We're trying to make it through.”

Stewart's Kansas State teammates flew to Norman Friday night to mourn with Stewart and his family, then turned around and flew back for this evening's game against Oklahoma State. Vanessa's funeral is this morning. The No. 20 Wildcats host OSU today at 5 p.m. Stewart said he does not plan to play today but hopes to return for K-State's game Wednesday in Lubbock.
Last week the Wildcats wore pink warmup tops in honor of Vanessa, and have sewn patches that say "V.S” onto their uniforms. Freshman Michael Beasley told the Kansas City Star that the team was thinking of Stewart the whole game.

"Clent is the motivator before the game, keeps us together during the game,” Beasley told the paper. "He does the little things as well as the big things. We showed we can play without him, but it's much easier when he's here.”

Stewart said his teammates' support — and the support of the Oklahoma basketball community he grew up in — has been amazing. His voice mail is full, and he's received about 80 text messages, including one from OSU sophomore Obi Muonelo, who played AAU ball a couple years behind Stewart.

Stewart, an excellent student at Tulsa Union, was offered scholarships by Stanford, Vanderbilt and Tulsa. He chose Kansas State in large part to stay close to his mom, who was diagnosed with cancer when he was in high school. Regular fixtures around Union, the Stewarts also made most K-State home games.

"You couldn't ask for a better person to be supporting your program,” Union basketball coach Rudy Garcia said. "To raise a son like Clent — he's the kind of guy we talk to our guys about now. He's a great leader, a great human and a reflection of her.”

The last game Vanessa attended was K-State's historic win over Kansas last month.
"That being the last game she got to see means everything,” Stewart said. "My coach awarded me with the game ball afterward. He said ‘With everything he's going through and how he played he deserves it.' I let her know that and it meant so much.”

Garcia has remained close to the family even after they moved from Tulsa to Norman. He said Stewart is like a son to him and calls "when he's unsure about things.” He said the timing is especially heartbreaking given K-State's basketball situation. Stewart went to K-State when the program was near the bottom of the Big 12. Stewart is now a starter on a 16-5 team challenging for the conference title and should play in the NCAA Tournament.

Said Garcia: "I was praying his mom would be around to see him do that.”

Vanessa Stewart Passes Away

Vanessa Stewart passes away

The Wildcat nation was so saddened to hear about the passing of one of our own, Vanessa Stewart. Vanessa is the mother of Clent Stewart; a leader on and off the basketball court. Clent is not only a heck of a good basketball player; he is an excellent student, a perennial Academic All-Big 12 team member and a reflection of the great parenting he received from his Mom and Dad.

Vanessa was always in the crowd, smiling and sporting the colorful head scarves she had to wear after losing her hair--first dealing with breast cancer and then bone cancer. She lost her brave fight with Stage 4 bone cancer and died Tuesday afternoon. Even while battling her illness Vanessa was a fixture at Bramlage Coliseum during Clent’s four years at Kansas State. She was in the crowd to witness the Wildcats' historic win over Kansas last Wednesday. Immediately after the buzzer sounded, Clent ran up in to the crowd to embrace her as his teammates celebrated on the floor.

Earlier this season in a profile in The Manhattan Mercury, Stewart said of his mother, "She's my inspiration. I don't know of anyone with more courage than my mother."

In a Q&A section in the KSU media guide, Stewart was asked what he would do if he won a $1 million lottery: "Help find a cure for breast cancer,"

Asked what person he would like to switch places for a day, Stewart said, "My mom. She's been through so much. I would like to see the world as she views it."

A moment of silence was held in Vanessa Stewart's memory prior to the 7 p.m. tipoff. The K-State coaching staff wore pink ribbons on their left chest, while players wore pink warm-ups and sported a black round patch bearing her initials on their jerseys:

Several fans also wore pink.

"Stew has never let anybody know how much hurt and pain this whole experience has been on him, that's what makes him such a great kid," Martin said. "Even though for the last two or three years he has been battling this privately, he has never allowed anybody publicly to realize it or let it affect who he is publicly."

Martin said he doesn't expect Stewart, who has made 110 appearances in his career — more than any other Wildcat — to return to the team until Sunday.

The team will fly to Norman later this week to visit Stewart and attend a viewing.

"We're going to go down there Friday as a team, and let him know that we're here for him, and how important he is to us," Martin said.

Vanessa Stewart's funeral is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday. The Wildcats won't be able to attend because they have to be back to Manhattan for a 5 p.m. game against Oklahoma State


MANHATTAN, Kan. – Funeral services for Vanessa Stewart, mother of senior guard Clent Stewart, will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, in Norman, Okla., the family has announced.

Mrs. Stewart passed away Tuesday after a long and courageous battle with bone cancer. She is survived by her husband, Clenton Sr., and sister Phyllis Weaver both of the home; daughter LaTori (Brian) Carter, Norman, Okla.; son Clenton Jr., of Manhattan; grandson Jordan LeGrand Carter; her mother Evangelist Ernestine Weaver of Forrest City, Ark.; sisters Cheryl (Wendell) Starr; Jackie (James) Brown, brother Daryl Weaver all of Kansas City, Kan.; sister Anika Anderson (Sven) Hack of St Louis, Mo.; and sister-in-law Kathy Stewart of Forrest City, Ark.

Services will be held at the Crosspointe Church, 2601 SE 24th Avenue in Norman. Interment will follow at the Warren Cemetery in Norman. Services are under the direction of Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cancer Care Center of Norman. Condolences may be sent online at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/Obituaries.htm.