Bronx legend Clive Campbell, who as DJ Kool Herc is widely credited as one of hip-hop’s founding fathers, is not suing Jay-Z, developer Bruce Ratner and Barclays bank, as previously reported by the Observer online. The $5 billion lawsuit is being brought by a much less famous Brooklyn activist also named Clive Campbell, and the mix-up is probably a big publicity boon for his lawsuit, as it echoed far and wide across the internets before......

Recently obtained court documents suggest that developer Bruce Ratner is starting to sweat the future of the $4 billion Atlantic Yards project, which would bring the New Jersey Nets to downtown Brooklyn, along with 16 skyscrapers with residential and commercial space. Lawyers for Ratner’s firm were in court last Friday to try and accelerate the appeal process in a lawsuit brought by Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, who argues that the project was rushed to approval......

Earlier this month, Sarah Lewitinn (Ultragrrrl) brought her label, Stolen Transmission, back to the bedroom after leaving Island/Def Jam. This was just one of many things that signaled more changes for the major, and now it turns out that the president of Def Jam, Jay-Z, is stepping down from his position. The NY Times reports:Jay-Z made the announcement with Def Jam’s parent, Universal Music Group, as his employment contract was expiring. Under a separate long-term......

If CBS News Writers Strike, Democrats Will Nix Debate Several presidential candidates - Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson -have announced their intentions not to cross picket lines for a debate sponsored by CBS News on December 10th. The Writers Guild of America announced earlier this week that its members who work for the network’s television and radio operations at both the national and local level have authorized a strike vote. The members have......

Yesterday, Gothamist attended the 33rd annual Atlantic Antic along Atlantic Avenue between Hicks Street and Fourth Avenue. It is not your typical New York street fair with actual local groups, business and restaurants getting involved. Plus the New York Transit Museum had free admission as well as its annual vintage bus festival. Although it did have some of the street fair food staples like Mozzarepas and roasted corn, we weren’t able to find tables......

Hornets 111, Nets 107: It may not be the last game Vince Carter plays for the Nets, but if it is, Carter got his money's worth. Too bad New Jersey didn't. Carter scored 46 points in a loss at home as trade rumors swirl ahead of Thursday's deadline. Jason Kidd, the other prime candidate to be moved, had only 6 points on 2-of-14 shooting. It's at least even money both stay put, but the Nets......

If you're a Nets fan, you probably keep the Tums close at hand. Last night, the Nets managed to lose in the final moments of the game again. This time to the Philadelphia 76ers, 100-98. It was the 2nd night in a row that the Nets lost in overtime (they lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday) . The only other time the franchise has consecutive overtime losses is in 1977. The loss was......

Would-be Yankee pitcher Kei Igawa took a visit to Yankee Stadium last night as the Yankees and the 27 year-old lefty close in on contract negotiations. Reports say that the two parties have agreed in principle on a five-year, $20 million contract. The Yankees bid $26 million just for the right to negotiate with Igawa after failing to bid enough to negotiate with Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. While in town, Igawa was traipsing around......

Yesterday, hundreds protested the police shooting death of Sean Bell with signs like "2 Drink Minimum, 50 Shot Maximum" A bicyclist whose foot was amputated when a city bus hit him was awarded a $11 million settlement (the bicyclist did run a red light, but the bus driver didn't realize someone was hit and so the rear tires also hit the cyclist); the MTA will appeal The city files another lawsuit against retailers who......

So, on the cover of yesterday's NY Times sports section was this huge picture of New Jersey Nets small forward Richard Jefferson (RJ!) hugging point guard Zoran Planinic after a third quarter shot against the Utah Jazz, and we thought to ourselves, "This is some hug...not that there's anything wrong with that." But these are exciting times for Nets, as exciting as being on top of the Atlantic Division five games into the season can......

Certainly not the Miami Heat, but maybe Kobe Bryant (snicker, snicker)? Despite the fact that Shaquille O'neil was limited to 26 minutes and 14 points because of foul trouble, the Heat had no trouble defeating the New Jersey Nets, 104-87. Filling in for Shaq was former Net Alonzo Mourning, who scored 21 points in only 16 minutes of play. The Nets now trail the Heat 2-0 in the best of 7 series. Looks like it's......

Sebastian Telfair, product of Lincoln High in Brooklyn, made his return to the New York area last night as the Portland Trailblazers played the Brooklyn New Jersey Nets. While he hardly had a stellar game, he actually played, which hasn't happened much since the season started. Prior to last night, his only game action the young NBA season came last Friday when he played one minute and picked up an assist against the Clippers. Last......

As if America didn’t have enough going on today, the 2004/2005 NBA season kicks off tonight with a doubleheader on TNT (how’s that for some election coverage counter programming?). The local teams don’t get started until tomorrow when the rebuilt Nets will take on Shaquille O’Neal and the Miami Heat at the Meadowlands and the Knicks travel to the Twin Cities to take on last year’s MVP and the Twolves. Both the Knicks and Nets......

The Sports Guy has said it many, many times, but we’re gonna repeat it here. It’s hard being an NBA fan these days. I’m not even talking about stye of play, tattoos and cornrows, the flood of high school kids in the league, etc. I’m talking about NBA starts demanding top dollar contracts and then asking to be traded when their team suffers because of it. Case in point, Jason Kidd of the New Jersey......

The New Jersey Nets, still recovering from the KMart trade, are trying to salvage next season before it begins through trades and free agent acquisitions. Kerry Kittles continues to lead the trade talk. Current deals being thrown about include Kittles to the LA Clippers for young PF Chris Wilcox and a deal with Cleveland that would nab the Nets Newark native Eric Williams as well as Dajaun Wagner. Since Williams is a free agent, any......

The NY Post and ESPN are reporting that the New Jersey Nets have reached an agreement in principle with the Portland Trailblazers to send the 22nd pick in Thursday's NBA draft to Portland for backup PG Eddie Gill and $3 million. Due to league rules, the trade cannot be officially announced until Thursday night. This is a curious move for the Nets but the dealing between the teams may just be beginning. Rumours are flying......

For the first time in three years, the New Jersey Nets will not be representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. Their injury plagued season came to an end last week at the hands of the Detroit Pistons. Can the Nets rebound and make another run at the NBA title in the near future? This summer will likely make or break them. - Will Jason Kidd have knee surgery? It was obvious as......

With the New Jersey Nets and Detroit Pistons face-off in second round the NBA playoffs being one of the most exciting match-ups (well, before game 1, at least), Gothamist and Whatevs have decided to have a friendly wager. If the Nets win, Whatevs will send over some Vernors Ginger Beer, some music from Detroit (Motown, MC5; no ICP, please), and a t-shirt. If the 'Stons win, Gothamist will send over from salt water taffy......

Last night, the Knicks were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs, 100-94, by the New Jersey Nets. The victory by the Nets was their 14th consecutive playoff win against Eastern Conference teams. The Knicks, up 6 points with 7 minutes left in the game, actually had a chance to win this game, but the Nets prevailed behind the leadership of Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin. Stephon Marbury, the de facto leader of the Knicks, had 31......

The New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets will meet each other in the first round of the NBA Playoffs this Saturday. It has already been dubbed the "Bridge and Tunnel Battle", the "Lincoln Tunnel Series", the "Tunnel Tussle", and the "Battle of the News" (we came up with that lame one). It's Stephon Marbury vs. Jason Kidd, Old (Coach Wilkens) vs. New (Coach Frank), Knicks vs. Nets, Marbury playing his old team, it's......

Jason Kidd and Allan Houston both have bum knees. Kidd, the Brooklyn New Jersey Nets point guard may miss the rest of the regular season and playoffs with his knee injury with surgery a possibility as well. Houston, the Knicks co-captain, has no idea when he will return. The injuries to both players have post-season implications for their teams. The Nets are virtually assured of the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference when the......

Forget trying to revitalize Newark - the Nets decide to move to Brooklyn (though not officially for two years). The Knicks organization will probably be making phone calls all through the night, mulling over various improvements they should make to Madison Square Garden.......

Mike at Satan's Laundromat has photographs of the Brooklyn that would be lost if Bruce Ratner's plan to bring the New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn goes through. While Ratner's plan is being touted as a way to inject Brooklyn with a healthy dose of pride and prestige as well as money, the photographs suggest it would be at the expense of Brooklyn character. Ratner's Brooklyn plan is reportedly the front runner for the Nets,......

What cause could bring together such diverse names as Sidney "Sonny" Hertzberg and World B. Free, not to mention make Marty Markowitz talk about crying? Bringing the New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn, of course. Bruce Ratner, New York City property mogul and president of Forest City Ratner, wants to buy the Nets and build them a stadium over the LIRR rail yards near the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues in Brooklyn. The central Brooklyn......

It's like a smackdown between Jen and Jake - if Jake had any interest in professional basketball. There's a fight over the New Jersey Nets (Gothamist knows - of all things!) between New Jersey and Brooklyn. Rich NJ senator Jon Corzine is teaming up with developer Charles Kushner and other NJ politicos (Governor McGreevey, former Senator Torricelli) to keep the Nets in NJ, countering NY developer Bruce Ratner's plan to bring the Eastern Conference champions......

Boston Globe reporter Bob Ryan was suspended for a month without pay for saying he'd like to "smack" Joumana Kidd, wife of Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets star, hypothesizing she was using four year old son, T.J to forward her ambitions: Ryan said: "I got theories with this last year, with this woman, this Joumana Kidd, who wants to be a TV star. She wants face time on camera. You know what, the great way......