Michael Jordan is all smiles at a Knicks game last weekend - he must be looking forward to his dating future.

Michael Jordan and his wife, Juanita, filed for divorce Friday after 17 years of marriage.

“Michael and Juanita Jordan mutually and amicably decided to end their 17 year marriage,” the couple said in a statement issued through their lawyers. “A judgment for dissolution of their marriage was entered today. There will be no further statements.”

Juanita Jordan previously filed for divorce in January 2002, but withdrew her petition a month later when the couple announced they were attempting a reconciliation.

During her last divorce petition, Jordan said attempts to reconcile their marriage had failed and future ones “would be impractical and not in the best interests of the family.”

The couple met at a Chicago restaurant during his second season with the Bulls and were married Sept. 2, 1989, in Las Vegas. They have three children: Jeffrey, Marcus and Jasmine.

The 43-year-old Jordan, a part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, led the Bulls to six NBA titles and was a five-time league MVP. He lives in Highland Park, Ill.

The Godfather of Soul, James Brown lays in state at the Apollo Theater - thousands of fans are expected to pay their respects over the next few days. Brown’s casket left a Georgia funeral parlor Wednesday for an all-night drive to New York to arrive at the Apollo.

JB arrived at Al Sharpton’s Harlem headquarters just before noon Thursday, and was quickly transferred to a horse-drawn carriage for a 20-block procession to the theater.

James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured “Godfather of Soul,” whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. He was 73.

Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday and died around 1:45 a.m. Monday, said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music. Longtime friend Charles Bobbit was by his side, he said.

Copsidas said Brown’s family was being notified of his death and that the cause was still uncertain. “We really don’t know at this point what he died of,” he said.

Along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of others, Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolized him, and sometimes openly copied him.

His rapid-footed dancing inspired Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson among others. Songs such as David Bowie’s “Fame,” Prince’s “Kiss,” George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog” and Sly and the Family Stone’s “Sing a Simple Song” were clearly based on Brown’s rhythms and vocal style.

If Brown’s claim to the invention of soul can be challenged by fans of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, then his rights to the genres of rap, disco and funk are beyond question. He was to rhythm and dance music what Dylan was to lyrics: the unchallenged popular innovator. (Watch the “Hardest Working Man in Show Business” do his thing Video)

“James presented obviously the best grooves,” rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy once told The Associated Press. “To this day, there has been no one near as funky. No one’s coming even close.”

His hit singles include such classics as “Out of Sight,” “(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine,” “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Say It Out Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud,” a landmark 1968 statement of racial pride.

“I clearly remember we were calling ourselves colored, and after the song, we were calling ourselves black,” Brown said in a 2003 Associated Press interview. “The song showed even people to that day that lyrics and music and a song can change society.”

He won a Grammy award for lifetime achievement in 1992, as well as Grammys in 1965 for “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” (best R&B recording) and for “Living In America” in 1987 (best R&B vocal performance, male.) He was one of the initial artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, along with Presley, Chuck Berry and other founding fathers.
‘Disco is James Brown, hip-hop is James Brown, rap is James Brown’

He triumphed despite an often unhappy personal life. Brown, who lived in Beech Island near the Georgia line, spent more than two years in a South Carolina prison for aggravated assault and failing to stop for a police officer. After his release on in 1991, Brown said he wanted to “try to straighten out” rock music.

From the 1950s, when Brown had his first R&B hit, “Please, Please, Please” in 1956, through the mid-1970s, Brown went on a frenzy of cross-country tours, concerts and new songs. He earned the nickname “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business.”

With his tight pants, shimmering feet, eye makeup and outrageous hair, Brown set the stage for younger stars such as Michael Jackson and Prince.

In 1986, he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And rap stars of recent years overwhelmingly have borrowed his lyrics with a digital technique called sampling.

Brown’s work has been replayed by the Fat Boys, Ice-T, Public Enemy and a host of other rappers. “The music out there is only as good as my last record,” Brown joked in a 1989 interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

“Disco is James Brown, hip-hop is James Brown, rap is James Brown; you know what I’m saying? You hear all the rappers, 90 percent of their music is me,” he told the AP in 2003.

Born in poverty in Barnwell, South Carolina, in 1933, he was abandoned as a 4-year-old to the care of relatives and friends and grew up on the streets of Augusta, Georgia, in an “ill-repute area,” as he once called it. There he learned to wheel and deal.

“I wanted to be somebody,” Brown said.

By the eighth grade in 1949, Brown had served 3 1/2 years in Alto Reform School near Toccoa, Georgia, for breaking into cars.

While there, he met Bobby Byrd, whose family took Brown into their home. Byrd also took Brown into his group, the Gospel Starlighters. Soon they changed their name to the Famous Flames and their style to hard R&B.

In January 1956, King Records of Cincinnati signed the group, and four months later “Please, Please, Please” was in the R&B Top Ten.

While most of Brown’s life was glitz and glitter, he was plagued with charges of abusing drugs and alcohol and of hitting his third wife, Adrienne.

In September 1988, Brown, high on PCP and carrying a shotgun, entered an insurance seminar next to his Augusta office. Police said he asked seminar participants if they were using his private restroom.

Police chased Brown for a half-hour from Augusta into South Carolina and back to Georgia. The chase ended when police shot out the tires of his truck.

Brown received a six-year prison sentence. He spent 15 months in a South Carolina prison and 10 months in a work release program before being paroled in February 1991. In 2003, the South Carolina parole board granted him a pardon for his crimes in that state.

Soon after his release, Brown was on stage again with an audience that included millions of cable television viewers nationwide who watched the three-hour, pay-per-view concert at Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.

Adrienne Brown died in 1996 in Los Angeles at age 47. She took PCP and several prescription drugs while she had a bad heart and was weak from cosmetic surgery two days earlier, the coroner said.

More recently, he married his fourth wife, Tomi Raye Hynie, one of his backup singers. The couple had a son, James Jr.

Two years later, Brown spent a week in a private Columbia hospital, recovering from what his agent said was dependency on painkillers. Brown’s attorney, Albert “Buddy” Dallas, said singer was exhausted from six years of road shows.

Sorry Kanye - Konami takes it this year! This dude uses more green screen than George Lucas. This video has it all - about 30 location shots, the Starship Enterprise and a giant donut! He’s even got chicks dancing on a laptop - keep on with that Evil Knievel bit while Konami goes Star Wars on yo’ azz!

American (and Atlantic Ocean) Idol winner, Fantasia performs at her record pre-release party over the weekend - all proceeds from the event are going to the Largemouth Bass Anti-Defamation League (Fantasia is half largemouth bass, half Barrino).

Last Night Raven Symone celebrated her 21st birthday at the Tao Nightclub at The Venetian Hotel and Casino Resort - the cake ran away. What happened to the cute Cosby kid? It’s time for a gastro-bypass, Dr. Huxtable.

Congrats to Mary J. Blige - who leads the 49th Annual Grammy Award nominations with a grand total of 8 - including Female Artist of the Year. The Grammys will air live on CBS February 11.

Here’s a list of all nominees for major categories:

Record Of The Year
(Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s), if other than the artist.)

Be Without You
Mary J. Blige
Bryan-Michael Cox, producer; Danny Cheung, Tal Herzberg & Dave “Hard-Drive” Pensado, engineers/mixers
Track from: The Breakthrough
[Geffen Records]

You’re Beautiful
James Blunt
Tom Rothrock, producer; Tom Rothrock & Mike Tarantino, engineers/mixers
Track from: Back To Bedlam
[Custard/Atlantic]

Not Ready To Make Nice
Dixie Chicks
Rick Rubin, producer; Richard Dodd, Jim Scott & Chris Testa, engineers/mixers
Track from: Taking The Long Way
[Open Wide/Columbia]

Crazy
Gnarls Barkley
Danger Mouse, producer; Ben H. Allen, Danger Mouse & Kennie Takahashi, engineers/mixers
Track from: St. Elsewhere
[Downtown/Atlantic]

Put Your Records On
Corinne Bailey Rae
Steve Chrisanthou, producer; Steve Chrisanthou & Jeremy Wheatley, engineers/mixers
Track from: Corinne Bailey Rae
[Capitol]

Album Of The Year
(Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.)

Taking The Long Way
Dixie Chicks
Rick Rubin, producer; Richard Dodd, Jim Scott & Chris Testa, engineers/mixers; Richard Dodd, mastering engineer
[Open Wide/Columbia]

St. Elsewhere
Gnarls Barkley
Danger Mouse, producer; Ben H. Allen, Danger Mouse & Kennie Takahashi, engineers/mixers; Mike Lazer, mastering engineer
[Downtown/Atlantic]

Continuum
John Mayer
Steve Jordan & John Mayer, producers; John Alagia, Michael Brauer, Joe Ferla, Chad Franscoviak, Manny Marroquin & Dave O’Donnell, engineers/mixers; Greg Calbi, mastering engineer
[Aware/Columbia]

Stadium Arcadium
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Rick Rubin, producer; Ryan Hewitt, Mark Linette & Andrew Scheps, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
[Warner Bros.]

FutureSex/LoveSounds
Justin Timberlake
Nate (Danga) Hills, Jawbreakers, Rick Rubin, Timbaland & Justin Timberlake, producers; Jimmy Douglass, Serban Ghenea, Padraic Kerin, Jason Lader, Andrew Scheps, Timbaland & Ethan Willoughby, engineers/mixers; Herb Powers, Jr., mastering engineer
[Jive Records/Zomba Label Group]

Song Of The Year
(A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

Be Without You
Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox & Jason Perry, songwriters (Mary J. Blige)
Track from: The Breakthrough
[Geffen Records; Publishers: Chrysalis Music, Mary J. Blige Music, Naked Under My Clothes Music, Universal Music Corp., Babyboy’s Little Publishing, Jason’s Lyrics, Noontime South, Reach Global Tunes, WB Music.]

Jesus, Take The Wheel
Brett James, Hillary Lindsey & Gordie Sampson, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
Track from: Some Hearts
[Arista/Arista Nashville/19; Publishers: Dimensional Music of 1091/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, Raylene Music/BPJ Administration, No Such Music, Passing Stranger Music/1609 Songs/Music of Windswept.]

Not Ready To Make Nice
Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison & Dan Wilson, songwriters (Dixie Chicks)
Track from: Taking The Long Way
[Open Wide/Columbia; Publishers: Woolly Puddin’ Music, Chrysalis Music, Sugar Lake Music.]

Put Your Records On
John Beck, Steve Chrisanthou & Corinne Bailey Rae, songwriters (Corinne Bailey Rae)
Track from: Corinne Bailey Rae
[Capitol; Publisher: Global Talent Publishing.]

You’re Beautiful
James Blunt, Amanda Ghost & Sacha Skarbek, songwriters (James Blunt)
Track from: Back To Bedlam
[Custard/Atlantic; Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music, David Platz Music.]

Best New Artist
(For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.)

James Blunt

Chris Brown

Imogen Heap

Corinne Bailey Rae

Carrie Underwood

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

Ain’t No Other Man
Christina Aguilera
Track from: Back To Basics
[RCA Records]

Unwritten
Natasha Bedingfield
Track from: Unwritten
[Epic/Phonogenic]

You Can Close Your Eyes
Sheryl Crow
Track from: Sheryl Crow Artist’s Choice Deluxe Edition
[Hear Music/Universal Music]

Stupid Girls
Pink
Track from: I’m Not Dead
[LaFace/Zomba Label Group]

Black Horse And The Cherry Tree
KT Tunstall
[Relentless/Virgin]

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

You’re Beautiful
James Blunt
Track from: Back To Bedlam
[Custard/Atlantic]

Save Room
John Legend
Track from: Once Again
[Columbia/GOOD/Sony Urban]

Waiting On The World To Change
John Mayer
Track from: Continuum
[Aware/Columbia]

Jenny Wren
Paul McCartney
Track from: Chaos And Creation In The Backyard
[Capitol]

Bad Day
Daniel Powter
Track from: Daniel Powter
[Warner Bros.]

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
(For established duos or groups, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

My Humps
The Black Eyed Peas
Track from: Monkey Business
[A&M Records]

I Will Follow You Into The Dark
Death Cab For Cutie
Track from: Plans
[Atlantic Records]

Over My Head (Cable Car)
The Fray
Track from: How To Save A Life
[Epic]

Is It Any Wonder?
Keane
Track from: Under The Iron Sea
[Interscope Records]

Stickwitu
The Pussycat Dolls
Track from: PCD
[A&M Records]

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
(For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

For Once In My Life
Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder
Track from: Duets: An American Classic
[RPM Records/Columbia]

One
Mary J. Blige & U2
Track from: The Breakthrough
[Geffen/Matriarch Records]

Always On Your Side
Sheryl Crow & Sting
Track from: Wildflower
[A&M Records]

Promiscuous
Nelly Furtado & Timbaland
Track from: Loose
[Geffen/Mosley Music Group]

Hips Don’t Lie
Shakira & Wyclef Jean
Track from: Oral Fixation Vol. 2
[Epic]

Best Pop Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

Back To Basics
Christina Aguilera
[RCA Records]

Back To Bedlam
James Blunt
[Custard/Atlantic]

The River In Reverse
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
[Verve Forecast]

Continuum
John Mayer
[Aware/Columbia]

FutureSex/LoveSounds
Justin Timberlake
[Jive Records/Zomba Label Group]

Best R&B Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

The Breakthrough
Mary J. Blige
[Geffen Records]

Unpredictable
Jamie Foxx
[J Records]

Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
India.Arie
[Motown Records]

3121
Prince
[Universal Republic]

Coming Home
Lionel Richie
[Island Def Jam Recordings]

Best R&B Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

Be Without You
Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox & Jason Perry, songwriters (Mary J. Blige)
Track from: The Breakthrough
[Geffen Records; Publishers: Chrysalis Music, Mary J. Blige Music, Naked Under My Clothes Music, Universal Music Corp., Babyboy’s Little Publishing, Jason’s Lyrics, Noontime South, Reach Global Tunes, WB Music.]

Black Sweat
Prince, songwriter (Prince)
Track from: 3121
[Universal Records; Publisher: Controversy Music.]

Deja Vu
Shawn Carter, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Beyoncé Knowles, Makeba, Keli Nicole Price & Delisha Thomas, songwriters (Beyoncé Featuring Jay-Z)
[Sony Urban Music/Columbia; Publishers: Beyoncé Publishing, EMI Blackwood Music, 23000 Music Publishing, Makeba Yoga Flames Music/Janice Combs Publishing/EMI Blackwood, Price Tag, EMI April Music/Carter Boys Publishing.]

Don’t Forget About Us
Johnta Austin, Mariah Carey, Bryan-Michael Cox & Jermaine Dupri, songwriters (Mariah Carey)
Track from: The Emancipation Of Mimi (Ultra Platinum Edition)
[Island Records; Publishers: Rye Songs, Shaniah Cymone Music, EMI April Music, Babyboy’s Little Publishing Company, Noontime South, Naked Under My Clothes, Chrysalis Music.]

I Am Not My Hair
Drew Ramsey, Shannon Sanders & India Arie Simpson, songwriters (India.Arie)
Track from: Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
[Motown Records; Publishers: Gold & Iron Music, Wang Out Music Sony, Combustion Windswept, Noka International/Famous Music.]

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

Ring The Alarm
Beyoncé
Track from: B’Day
[Sony Urban Music/Columbia]

Be Without You
Mary J. Blige
Track from: The Breakthrough
[Geffen Records]

Don’t Forget About Us
Mariah Carey
Track from: The Emancipation Of Mimi (Ultra Platinum Edition)
[Island Records]

Day Dreaming
Natalie Cole
Track from: Leavin’
[Verve Records]

I Am Not My Hair
India.Arie
Track from: Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
[Motown Records]

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

Heaven
John Legend
Track from: Once Again
[Columbia/GOOD/Sony Urban Music]

So Sick
Ne-Yo
Track from: In My Own Words
[Def Jam Recordings]

Black Sweat
Prince
Track from: 3121
[Universal Records]

I Call It Love
Lionel Richie
Track from: Coming Home
[Island Def Jam Recordings]

Got You Home
Luther Vandross
[J Records/Epic/Legacy Recordings]

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
(For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

Breezin’
George Benson & Al Jarreau
Track from: Givin’ It Up
[Concord Records/Monster Music]

Love Changes
Jamie Foxx Featuring Mary J. Blige
Track from: Unpredictable
[J Records]

Everyday (Family Reunion)
Chaka Khan, Gerald Levert, Yolanda Adams & Carl Thomas
Track from: Madea’s Family Reunion — Music From The Motion Picture
[Motown Records]

Family Affair
(Sly & The Family Stone), John Legend, Joss Stone With Van Hunt
Track from: Different Strokes By Different Folks
[Epic/Legacy Recordings]

Beautiful, Loved And Blessed
Prince & Támar
Track from: 3121
[Universal Records]

Best Rap Solo Performance
(For a solo Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

Touch It
Busta Rhymes
Track from: The Big Bang
[Aftermath/Interscope Records]

We Run This
Missy Elliott
Track from: The Cookbook
[Goldmind/Atlantic]

Kick, Push
Lupe Fiasco
Track from: Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor
[1st & 15th/Atlantic]

Undeniable
Mos Def
[Geffen Records]

What You Know
T.I.
Track from: King
[Grand Hustle/Atlantic]

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
(For duo, group or collaborative performances of Rap only. Singles or Tracks only.)

Ridin
Chamillionaire Featuring Krayzie Bone
[Universal Records]

Georgia
Ludacris & Field Mob (Featuring Jamie Foxx)
Track from: Ludacris Presents…Disturbing Tha Peace And From Field Mob — Light Poles And Pine Trees
[DTP/Geffen/Def Jam Recordings]

Grillz
Nelly Featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp
Track from: Sweatsuit
[Universal Records]

Mighty “O”
Outkast
[La Face/Zomba Label Group]

Don’t Feel Right
The Roots
[Def Jam Recordings]

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
(For a Rap/Sung collaborative performance by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

Smack That
Akon Featuring Eminem
[SRC/Universal Records]

Deja Vu
Beyoncé Featuring Jay-Z
[Sony Urban Music/Columbia]

Shake That
Eminem Featuring Nate Dogg
Track from: Curtain Call — The Hits
[Aftermath/Shady/Interscope Records]

Unpredictable
Jamie Foxx Featuring Ludacris
Track from: Unpredictable
[J Records]

My Love
Justin Timberlake Featuring T.I.
Track from: FutureSex/LoveSounds
[Jive Records/Zomba Label Group]

Best Rap Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

It’s Goin’ Down
Chadron Moore & Jasiel Robinson, songwriters (Yung Joc)
Track from: New Joc City
[Bad Boy South; Publishers: Granny Man Publishing, Malik/Mekhi Music, Basement Funk, Regina’s Son Music.]

Kick, Push
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, songwriter (Lupe Fiasco)
Track from: Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor
[1st & 15th/Atlantic; Publishers: Hey Lu Chill Music/Heavy as Heaven, 1st & 15th Publishing/Mr. Lopez Music.]

Money Maker
Christopher Bridges & Pharrell Williams, songwriters (Ludacris Featuring Pharrell)
Track from: Release Therapy
[Disturbing The Peace/Def Jam Recordings; Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music, Waters of Nazareth Publishing.]

Ridin
Anthony Henderson, J. Slainas, O. Salinas & Hakeem Seriki, songwriters
(Chamillionaire Featuring Krayzie Bone)
[Universal Records; Publishers: Chamilitary Camp Music, Play-N-Skilz Music, EMI Publishing.]

What You Know
A. Davis & Clifford Harris, songwriters; (Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson & Curtis Mayfield, songwriters) (T.I.)
Track from: King
[Grand Hustle/Atlantic; Publishers: Club Crown Publishing, Toomp Stone Publishing, Careers-BMG Music, WB Music Corp., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing.]

Best Rap Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
[1st & 15th/Atlantic]

Release Therapy
Ludacris
[Disturbing Tha Peace]

In My Mind
Pharrell
[Star Trak/Interscope Records]

Game Theory
The Roots
[Def Jam Recordings]

King
T.I.
[Grand Hustle/Atlantic]

It was just a matter of time before our man Flavor Flav went Hollywood socialite - we still love you Flav.

Whoaaaaaaa… New York pumped up her boobs, raided a strip club for an outfit and trotted her skank Flavor of Love friends out to the VH1 Big in ‘06 Awards last night - even with the new volleyball sized breast implants, we still can’t get past that face!

The celebs represented at the World AIDS Day Event at Emporio Armani in New York City last night - Beyonce brought her wind machine with her - Amerie and Akon chatted it up - Chris Brown signed autographs - and Eve was there to get tested (we kid - we kid). Take a look: