KANSAS APPEARED TO CONTROL THE GAME LATE, BUT MIZZOU CAME BACK. By Jason King

COLUMBIA, Mo. (ESPN.com) – Here are some quick thoughts from Missouri’s classic 74-71 victory over Kansas at Mizzou Arena on Saturday, just the third time these two have ever met while both in the top 10.

Overview: Marcus Denmon scored 29 points, nine of which came in the final 2:05 as No. 4 Missouri rallied from eight down and ended the game on an 11-0 run to win in stunning fashion against bitter rival Kansas.

KU led for most of the second half and the eight-point lead was the largest for either team the whole game, but Denmon swished a 3-pointer with 56 seconds remaining that gave his team a 72-71 cushion. The Jayhawks had three more chances to score but failed each time, as they turned it over four times in the final three minutes.

Tyshawn Taylor turned the ball over on one possession and was called for charging on another. A pair of free throws by Michael Dixon put Mizzou ahead 74-71 with 9.8 seconds left. Elijah Johnson attempted to tie the game at the buzzer, but his 3-point attempt from the top of the key didn’t hit the rim.

Missouri’s victory forces a three-way tie for first in the Big 12 standings, as Mizzou, Kansas and Baylor are all 8-2. Saturday’s game may have been the last between the two rivals in Columbia — the Tigers are leaving the Big 12 for the SEC after this season and Kansas has indicated it doesn’t have any interest in continuing the series.

Star of the game: Denmon is the obvious choice, but Kim English (18 points) and Dixon (15 points, 5 assists) both scored in double figures for Missouri. Thomas Robinson had 25 points and 13 boards for Kansas, while Taylor added 21.

What the win means for Missouri: The Tigers, who are still very much alive in the Big 12 title race, proved they can use speed, athleticism and superior outside shooting to beat a bigger, taller, longer team such as Kansas. There’s no reason to believe this team can’t make a significant run in March.

It also moves first-year coach Frank Haith one step closer to the national coach-of-the-year award. If the season ended today, he’d be the obvious choice. Oh, and there’s the end of that five-game losing streak to their hated rival to the west. That’s pretty big, too.

What the loss means for Kansas: The Jayhawks actually performed somewhat admirably considering the environment and the talent level of their opponent. It’s been obvious all season that this is clearly Bill Self’s worst KU squad. The Jayhawks have limitations and zero room for error. Taylor and Robinson played great but this program still needs a third person to step up on a consistent basis.

Up next: Missouri has a quick turnaround with a road game at Oklahoma on Monday (7 ET, ESPNU), while Kansas travels to Waco, Texas, on Wednesday to take on Baylor (7 ET, ESPN2).

LIL KIM OWES THE GOVERNMENT OVER $1 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAXES. By Mary Jane Collins

LOS ANGELES – Rap star Lil Kim was recently hit with an $86,347 tax bill from the year 2009. Sources report the $86,000 debt was recently tacked on to an already swollen tax bill for Queen B. Kimberly Jones owes the government taxes for every year from 2002 – 2009.

According to documents filed with the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office, Lil Kim owes a total of $1,026,862.42. She is currently working on an untitled EP that has no release date attached to it. It seems every since Biggie died, in addition to her beef with BADBOY Records and Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim has struggled to remain relevant in the music industry.

Ms. Jones better hurry up with that long awaited EP because time is definitely not on her side. Lil Kim should know that they throw stars in jail over taxes.

Mary ‘Jane’ Collins is a hip hop artist and media personality in Kansas City. She also hosts a daily internet radio show to discuss pressing issues associated with the music industry. To learn more about Mary Jane, please visit her blog by clicking here.

For more on Lil Kim’s beef with rapper Nicki Minaj, click the play arrow.

KANSAS CITY POLICE FOUND MAN SHOT DEAD INSIDE CAR ON 57TH TROOST. By Mass Appeal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (MassAppealNews.com) – Police are searching for clues after a victim was murdered outside a Kansas City laundromat on East 57th and Troost Avenue. The homicide took place around 1 a.m. on Saturday morning.

When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a man with a gunshot wound dead inside a vehicle. The victim’s identity hasn’t been released. If you have any information, please contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477)

FBI AGENT SAYS LISA’S PARENTS SHOULD TALK TO POLICE, NOT DR. PHIL. By Beth Vaughn

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (NBCActionNews.com) – Friday afternoon, Baby Lisa’s parents broke their three month long silence. Deborah Bradley and Jeremy Irwin appeared on “Dr. Phil”. Four months have passed since the couple reported their daughter, Lisa Irwin, missing from their Northland home.

Retired FBI Agent Jeff Lanza sat down with NBC Action News Reporter Beth Vaughn to comb through the Dr. Phil interview. Lanza’s 20 years in the FBI told him that Friday’s episode was more about show business than solving a crime.

Deborah Bradley & Jeremy Irwin appear on Dr. Phil’s show

“This is just show business right now. Dr. Phil called them up and said, ‘I want to get you on the show’ and they’re doing that for their own ratings. They don’t care much about the case, I imagine,” Lanza said.

Bradley told Dr. Phil, in the pre-taped interview, that she agreed to be on the show in hopes of bringing her baby home. Though, Lanza countered by saying that appearing on a national show may help, but talking to police will help more.

To read this article in its entirety, please visit NBCActionNews.com

ARMED SUSPECT ROBS RADIO SHACK STORE IN OVERLAND PARK ON FRIDAY. By Mass Appeal

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (MassAppealNews.com) – Overland Park police are searching for a man who robbed the Radio Shack store at 6945 W. 75th St. on Friday afternoon around 4:45 p.m. The suspect reportedly struck an employee with his gun, confiscated the cash, then fled on foot.

The robber, who wore a red and white wrestling mask, is described as being between 5′6″ to 5′8″ in height with a slender build. He was dressed in a light gray hoodie, a blue shirt and yellow sweat pants. His race is unknown. If you have any information, please contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

MTV’S “TEEN MOM 3″ CHRONICLES THE LIVES OF STRUGGLING MOTHERS. By Mass Appeal

(MTV.com) Teen Mom is an American MTV reality television series. The show is a spin-off of 16 and Pregnant, and it chronicles the challenges of single mothers as they navigate through their first year of motherhood.

In addition to pregnancy, the series focuses on themes of changing relationships; specifically, those of the family, friends, couples, and school.

To view Season 3, Episode 12 titled “Pros and Cons,” click the play arrow.

R& B VOCALIST ERIC BENET DISCUSSES HIS NEW ALBUM “THE ONE.” By Crystal Booker

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (MassAppealNews.com) – R&B sensation Eric Benet made a special stop in Kansas City to have lunch with some of his beloved fans in addition to promoting his brand new album titled “The One,” which is expected to drop in May.

Lucky listeners of Magic 107.3 won the chance to dine with Benet at Kansas City’s FoGo De Chao Brazilian restaurant located in the Country Club Plaza. After chowing down on some good Midwestern food, Benet took time out to discuss his new album and the music industry in general.

Crystal: Tell me, “Who is Eric Benet?” And how long have you been doing music?

Benet: Eric Benet is a guy from Milwaukee who likes to make music. I’ve been doing music my whole life. I’ve been getting paid for it ever since I was around 20 or 21.

Crystal: What style best describes your music?

Benet: I would call what I do “Soul.” It comes from my soul. It comes from the soul of history and the legacy of African American R&B, soul and gospel. So, I just kinda sum my thing up as soul.

Crystal: Of all your collection of songs, is there one that stands out as a favorite? If so, which one? And why?

Benet: No. No. I mean, everytime I create a song it’s like giving birth to a child. So, I can’t really pick a favorite. I love them all for different reasons.

Crystal: Since you’ve been in the music business for such a long time, you’ve seen all the changes that it’s gone through. What’s your opinion of the direction of the music industry today?

Benet: Change that is both good and bad. It’s very good that the power is shifting so that it’s becoming more in the hands of the artist now, or potentially so. If the artist makes some business moves, like I was able to get out of my deal with Warner Bros, he can have his own label. I’m doing things independently with a partnership with EMI Records. That would not have been so easy to do a few years ago. It’s definitely turning out to be a better situation for me. That’s the good stuff.

The bad stuff is people just don’t buy records. This is a generation that less and less they are equating music as something you would pay for. They just expect that it should be free, which is a shame. So your recorded music is something that you don’t really see the returns on that you used to back in the day.

But I think those two changes create an environment along with how assessable technology makes it for someone to record and have their talent noticed. It makes the pool a whole lot bigger. It’s a situation where the numbers are bigger but cream is always going rise to the top. So if you’re talented enough, you still have a future. You just have to get a little bit more creative on how you’re going to make your money in this day and age.

R&B sensation Eric Benet and Crystal Booker discuss the ups and downs in music

Crystal: There have been a lot of musicians that have turned to acting. Do you have any aspirations to do theater?

Benet: I don’t really have a passion to do acting. However, if the right thing came across my desk, I may be interested. I just did this movie “Trinity Good Heart” and it was a really beautiful family story. It was something that I felt like I could really sink my teeth into and it was a great experience. But I’m not like going on auditions and actively trying to find scripts and roles right now. It’s one of those things where I’m just going to concentrate on my thing, which is music, and if the right situation presents itself, I would be into it.

Crystal: Do have any advice for aspiring artists who want to get into the industry?

Benet: Yes. Continue working on your craft. The pool is bigger. When I was coming up everybody wanted to be a star. Now, even more want to be a star and everybody has access to be seen now. So, you have to always be working on your craft. There is always going to be somebody better than you. But opportunity is about timing, luck and talent. You can’t really work on the luck part and there is only so much you can do with the timing. So, the most that you have control over is talent. So, keep working on your craft.

Crystal: If you weren’t in the industry, what would your fall-back plan have been?

Benet: Post office. Working at the post office. No, I’ve always enjoyed writing. I wrote a screen play so I probably would have been a writer of some kind.

Crystal: Do you plan to do anything with your screen play?

Benet: Well, it’s one of those things. I live in LA. It’s like, if you go into a restaurant, chances are the waiter or the waitress is an actor. Everybody in LA has a screen play. I wrote it. It was a great exercise in creativity for me. I’m going to keep letting people who have the connections and the power to make something of the screen play. I’ll keep letting them see it and maybe something will come of it, maybe not.

Eric Benet greeted the masses before signing autographs for the fans in Kansas City

Crystal: Tell me about your latest project.

Benet: I have a new album coming out it’s called “The One.” It comes out in May. It’s the first independent release “Real Love,” first single. It’s doing great – broke into the top ten and we’re doing great work on that. So, keep an eye out for the album on Jordan House Records partnership with EMI. That’s what’s up!

Crystal: Jordan House Records? So, is that a new record company?

Benet: That is my record company and my first independent release.

Crystal: Why is it called Jordan House Records?

Benet: Well, it’s called Jordan House because my full name is Eric Benet Jordan. And I grew up in a house that was so musical. I was the baby. Everybody played an instrument – all my siblings, everybody sang. People would walk past our house and at any given time you could hear music coming from our house. So, our house became known as the music house called the “Jordan House”.

Crystal: Are you looking for artists for your new label?

Benet: Right now I’m concentrating on finishing Jordan House’s first release which will be “The One.” After that, I’ll keep my ears and eyes open for some talent to develop.

Crystal: Would you agree that talent sometimes is not a factor in today’s music industry?

Benet: Often times, talent is not a factor. In this day and age it’s even less. We live in an age now where there are so many people who built empires on their fame but they have no redeemable talent at all. It goes back to that thing I said before where it’s about timing and luck. Talent has something to do with it but not everything.

Crystal: Do you have any contact info to share? Such as a website, Face Book or Twitter?

Benet: My Twitter is @ebenet, my website is ericbenet.net and Face Book is facebook/ebenet.

Crystal: Awesome! Thank you. Good luck with your record company.

Benet: Thank you.

Crystal Booker, a distinguished member of the Kansas City Film Critic’s Circle, is the movie critic of Kansas City’s Magic 107.3 FM. She is also a contributing writer to I Love Black Movies.com. To view her movie reviews, click here. For the latest reports and entertainment news, check out “Celebrity Interviews.” She welcomes both your questions and comments at cbooker@massappealnews.com

To view ABC’s “Castle” Season 4, episode #13 titled “An Embarrassment of Bitches,” click play.

THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS SPARKED THE RE-OPENING OF THE JFK. By Mass Appeal

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (MassAppealNews.com) – On Wednesday (Feb. 1), the Harlem Globetrotters made a rare appearance inside the American Heartland to help reopen the John F. Kennedy Recreation Center in Kansas City, Kan. Dozens of residents came out to lend their support.

The nationally-acclaimed hoopsters, known most for their on-court comedy, led a series of mini-clinics and basketball workshops for area youth. They also conducted a scrimmage to dazzle the masses. The Globetrotters will perform at the Sprint Center on Saturday night. They donated 100 tickets to KCK kids.

To purchase tickets, and for show-times, please *CLICK HERE*

NBC Action News sports anchor Jack Harry says Missouri has a better team than Kansas.