Today's News: Women like Expensive Cars, Bobby & Whitney, AKON...MORE

WOMEN MORE ATTRACTED TO MEN IN EXPENSIVE CARS
British researchers from the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff have scientifically proven the obvious -- women are more attracted to men in expensive cars. The researchers showed women pictures of the same man sitting in two cars -- a $100,000 silver Bentley Continental and a battered Ford Fiesta. The women, ages 21 to 40, picked the man sitting in the Bentley ahead of the same man in the Ford.

Lead researcher Dr. Michael Dunn said the study shows women rate a man higher if he is behind the wheels of a "fancy motor rather than in an old banger." The study also showed that men are more interested in a woman's face and figure -- and not her car. Dr. Dunn said his findings confirmed that women judge a man by his wealth and status whereas men are primarily concerned with what a woman looks like.

"There's a wide variety of evidence that does suggest that females are more influenced by wealth and status," he said. "It's not a recent phenomenon. It is very ingrained and the evidence is not just anecdotal." "Females focus on questions of wealth and status because if the male possesses those, that male would be in a better condition to rear healthy offspring."



BOBBY BROWN, WHITNEY HOUSTON: Crazy Times
A new book about a brutal New York gang claims that Whitney Houston once coughed up 400-thousand dollars to clear a drug debt owed by then-husband Bobby Brown. In Preacher of the Streets, author David Collins writes that in 1993, Bobby got about 25-thousand dollars worth of cocaine from a New Jersey dealer and promised to pay later. But when Bobby couldn't be reached, the dealer contracted with Clarence Heatley, kingpin of the notorious Preacher Crew gang -- who was known for slicing off body parts of rival dealers before killing them. Collins tells the National Inquirer, "Preacher came up with a plan to make himself a lot more than 25-thousand" by holding Brown for ransom. Heatley allegedly tortured Bobby in a Bronx, New York apartment, terrorizing him for two hours through Bobby's weeping pleas to call Whitney -- who purportedly went to the stash house with the cash in a duffle bag.

T-PAIN: His Daddy Goes At Akon
T-Pain's father and one-time manager Saheed Najm is not pulling any punches when it comes to his opinion of Akon. Najm tells Ozone magazine, "I'll slap the [mess] out of Akon. He's a thieving, un-Islamic, back-stabbing [wimp]. Put that in the book. I'm hotheaded enough to tell him that to his face."

It seems that Najm, who is no longer on speaking terms with his son, blames Akon for the estrangement. He claims that Akon, who signed T-Pain to his Konvict Music label, drove a wedge between father and son over money. Najm also claims that Akon told his son that he was a crackhead. Najm says, "Most folks don't know this, but I'm on a waiting list for a heart transplant. For them to disgrace me like this and treat me like a bad daddy -- that's why I'm fighting back. I've let a lot of things go without commenting out of respect for my son." --Chris Morrow


ISAIAH WASHINGTON BEHIND ON RENT
First Isaiah Washington was kicked off Grey's Anatomy, and now he's getting kicked out of his home.

Isaiah and his wife Jenisa supposedly owe 100-thousand dollars in back rent for their L-A home. Last Thursday, a notice was posted on their property informing the couple they had three days to pay or get out. People magazine says it's unclear whether they vacated the premises.

Somewhere T-R Knight is laughing.

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T-R Knight
Actor (T-V's Grey's Anatomy) (Age: 36)

Marcus Allen
The Hall of Fame running back played with the Raiders and Chiefs. (Age: 49)

Leeza Gibbons
T-V and radio reporter (Age: 52)

Teddy PendergrassThe powerful lead voice of Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes on such hits as "The Love I Lost," "Bad Luck" and "If You Don't Know Me by Now" went solo in the mid-'70s. Despite a 1982 car crash that left him a quadriplegic, Pendergrass has continued his career. His 1984 single "Hold Me" was not just his comeback, but the chart debut for his duet partner, future superstar Whitney Houston. (Age: 59)

Ernest Thomas
Actor ("Roger" on What's Happening) (Age: 59)

Diana Ross
Ross sang lead for The Supremes, who were the most successful American recording act of the '60s. Starting with "Where Did Our Love Go," the Detroit trio's 12 number-one hits trail only The Beatles for the decade and led to their 1989 induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since going solo in 1970, Ross has made movies -- her portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues got her nominated for a Best Actress Oscar -- and occasional hit singles. (Age: 65)

Leonard Nimoy
Actor-director ("Mr. Spock" on the original Star Trek) (Age: 78)


Gary Glenn
Silk