Lamar Odom’s best friend died from flesh-eating infection, not OD: Report

Lamar Odom’s best friend and reported drug buddy, Jamie Sangouthai, did not die from a drug overdose as initially suspected, but of a fast-moving flesh-eating disease associated with intravenous drug use, reports TMZ.

Following an initial report from TMZ, the LA County Coroner’s Office confirmed that 37-year-old Sangouthai died Sunday from a rare flesh-eating disease caused by injections from dirty needles.

According to the coroner, the exact term for this type of bacterial skin infection is “necrotizing fasciitis,” which was caused by chronic intravenous drug use.

Sangouthai — whose struggle with drugs was featured on the E! spinoff “Khloe and Lamar” with the former NBA star — went to the hospital for his infected arm, but this type of infection spreads rapidly and often becomes life-threatening in a very short amount of time.

Lamar Odom packing on the pounds during divorce proceedings (PHOTO)

Lamar Odom might have shed tons of publicity-hungry Armenians after separating from reality show star Khloe Kardashian, but it looks like the former NBA star has been packing on the pounds since the divorce proceedings have begun.

Odom is a far cry — well maybe a few tears — from his slim playing days with the Lakers — when he and his fame-starved ex-wife were the picture of camera-ready happiness.

Now it appears the stress of his pending divorce with Kardashian is getting to him after Odom was spotted sporting a noticeably larger gut on Saturday, reported the Daily Mail.

The Mail wrote:

Although he was coming back from a workout in Sherman Oaks, the 6 ft, 10 in basketball player appeared to be heavier around his mid-section compared to his normally much- leaner frame.

As he walked, he looked tired and out of breath.

Carrying a couple of sweatshirts over his left shoulder, the 34-year-old was wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt, which was tucked into a pair of shorts. 

After battling a reportedly out-of-control drug addiction, Odom is apparently feeling the strain of his on-going, public divorce from his ex-wife. Kardashian is reportedly frustrated with him as he continues to drag his feet when it comes to signing divorce papers almost five months after she filed to dissolve their marriage.

In May, Khloe tweeted: "It still hurts... Maybe it always will."

While Lamar is yet to move on in the relationship department, he signed with the New York Knicks in April — a suspect deal that was seemingly made more out of compassion than necessity by his former coach and new Knicks president Phil Jackson.

Khloe Kardashian rebounding from Lamar Odom with Matt Kemp: Report

It didn't take long for Khloe Kardashian to rebound from her troubled marriage to Lamar Odom and find some new pro-sports chum to feed her reality show.

The 29-year-old reality star is apparently in the early stages of a new relationship with Los Angeles Dodgers star Matt Kemp, according to RadarOnline.

The pair were spotted on Friday going to the gym, with Kemp driving his car and Kardashian following in her own white SUV.

Matt drove at a steady, slow pace, perhaps so Kardashian wouldn't be left behind at a stop light. Kardashian kept her eyes hidden behind large-frame sunglasses and just seemed to focus on the road ahead.

A short while later, she pulled into the gym parking lot and walked to the entrance separately while covering her face with her camouflage backpack and her beige designer handbag.

Awww... courtship Beverly Hills style.

Kardashian's  romance with Rihanna's ex has reportedly been in swing for some time though, according to Radar.

Kemp had been in a sort of career slump of late but now we're talking about going from All-Star girlfriend to batting below the Mendoza Line.

Kardashian and Kemp both attended the John Legend show at LA's Nokia Theatre in December. And then on Monday, they were both at Jay Z's concert in LA, which Radar claims that Odom also attended separately but the out-of-work NBA star didn't speak to his estranged wife.

The news of the romance comes on the same day — Friday — that Kardashian filed for divorce from Odom in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences.

Kardashian, who has retained power attorney Laura Wasser, doesn't want spousal support and requests that Lamar not be granted it either.

The couple, who were married on September 27, 2009, have an 'ironclad' prenup that should make division of assets fairly easy.

Lamar Odom raps about doing drugs and cheating on wife (VIDEO)

It looks like Lamar Odom's highly-publicized drug problem is only getting worse — at least that's how it looks in this video — shot this month and obtained by TMZ — showing the former NBA player shirtless and incoherently rapping with some other dude.

The totally out-of-it Odom talks about drugs, making money without the NBA, and cheating on his wife Khloe Kardashian in what has to the most damning evidence that this guy needs real help for his drug addiction — and fast.

In the embarrassing "rap" video, Odom mumbles about making money off his fragrance "Unbreakable," and how he smokes drugs to make "the pain go away." He even drops brother-in-law Kanye West's name.

But in the incriminating part — Lamar raps, "And when Khloe's out of town / I still be on the DL." His friend then follows up, "You know what it is / We the QU [Queens] pimps / Ask any of these shorties / We ran through their cribs."

In other words: when his wife is away, Lamar will play.

As TMZ reported, Lamar's currently training hard in Rhode Island, trying to get back in shape for the NBA — but drugs are still obviously a big part of his life.

It's pretty hard to watch this video without cringing.

Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian secretly selling family home: Report

It's looks like time is winding down for the marriage of Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian who are secretly selling their Los Angeles mansion, according to TMZ.

Real estate sources tell the gossip site that Kardashian has given several San Fernando Valley realtors a pocket listing — meaning the house will not appear in the multiple listing service —  in order to sell the house without much fanfare and to keep gawkers from getting inside.  Any prospective buyer must pre-qualify before seeing the house, meaning they must have enough cash to buy the place.  

The former NBA star and his reality show wife want a cool $4 mil for the house.  They paid $3.95 million in 2009.

TMZ's sources say the missus is the driving force behind the sale, telling realtors she wants to "start fresh and move on."

Title to the house is held in both Khloe and Lamar's names.

As TMZ first reported, Khloe intends to divorce Lamar, but no documents have been prepared or filed because she knows he's in a fragile state and doesn't want to push him over the edge while his drug addiction is still in check.

Phil Jackson blames Kardashians for Lamar Odom's problems (VIDEO)

Phil Jackson says he's concerned about Lamar Odom and his life after basketball. And thinks he knows the root of the struggling NBA player's troubles as he tries to come back from addiction.

"We thought the Kardashian arrangement, or marriage, was a terrific thing for him because it's a family, a structure, something that would give him support," the  Hall of Fame coach said on "The Seth Davis Show," referring to Odom's marriage to Khloe Kardashian.

"Maybe it wasn't," he continued. "Basically, I think he's thrown his cell phone away ... went into hibernation."

"We're very concerned about him," Jackson said. "But I understand things are looking up ... so I'm really hopefully that will happen. Basketball has been his life and without it, it's a very destructive course."

The first part of the interview ran on Oct. 28; the second is scheduled to go live Friday via the website Campusinsiders.com.

Lamar Odom flies to NYC for meetings with NBA executives: Report

Even after Lamar Odom's reported crack addiction and recent DUI charge, it sounds like the NBA is willing to take another chance on the former Sixth Man of the Year.

Odom flew to New York Wednesday to meet with executives from several NBA teams, reports TMZ, and he's carrying what he claims is proof that he's clean and sober, sources connected the troubled player told the gossip site.

According to TMZ, Odom tested negative for blood and urine tests for drugs and supposedly brought the results with him to New York as evidence. 

Odom has reportedly been in private talks with the executives and potentially wants to make a deal. He also planned to visit his family to get away from the "negative energy" surrounding him in LA.

This is consistent with what other sources have told TMZ about his time with the Kardashians on Tuesday. They said Odom was lucid and showed no signs of being under the influence of drugs.

Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers were once interested in Odom, but when his personal problems became public, they stepped away from signing him.

Odom —who has refused to enter rehab — was told by the interested parties they could meet, provided he could show he was clean. The purpose of the trip is to possibly strike a deal.

Sadly, this wouldn't be the first time Odom said he was done with drugs and ready to restart his NBA career.

Kris Humphries scores one for the other team

Kris Humphries probably came as close as he ever will to playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, after he inadvertently tipped in a basket for the home team last night.

The New Jersey Net finished the game with 15 rebounds and 20 points— too bad a couple of them were for the other guys.

Maybe he was pretending to be Lamar Odom?

You might be able to forgive the much-booed forward for Tuesday night's goof.

He's has a lot on his mind with that $7 million divorce thingee with Kim Kardashian or visions of Blake Griffin having a highlight reel against him every time they meet.

The Nets almost pulled off a big upset until Kobe Bryant rattled home a 3-pointer with 6.8 seconds left— after the Lakers almost blew a 12 point fourth quarter lead— to beat the Nets, 91-87.

Kris, we all make mistakes.  It's not like you entered into a fake marriage for publicity and money.

Lamar Odom Got Lap Dance From "Khloe Look-a-Like"

Lamar Odom was spotted partying at a Washington, D.C. strip club and reportedly spent hundreds of dollars during the night— including a lap dance from a woman who resembled his wife Khloe— reports the New York Post.

The Dallas Mavericks star was seen at the club Sunday night with two teammates the night before the Mavericks were to be honored by President Obama at The White House for winning the 2011 NBA Championship, according to Page Six.

A representative for Odom, the husband of reality star Khloe Kardashian for two years, told the New York Post that the NBA star was at the Stadium strip club, but no one in his group received any private or public dances from any of the girls.

But sources, according to the Post, told Radar Online that Odom was seen spending hundreds of dollars on several lap dances— including some from a "Khloe look-a-like."

I know being a Kardashian look-a-like in strip clubs is all the rage these days but, a Khloe replica strutting her stuff is a lot of woman anywhere.

If Odom wants to keep his club escapades more discreet, he might try not getting lap dances from 6-foot strippers with Dwight Howard-sized shoulders.

I wonder if Kris Humphries looks for Kim K wannabes. Too soon?

Kim Kardashian Accepts Kris Humphries Proposal Even Though He Is Still A Net

New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries is officially engaged to Kim Kardashian.  Humphries slipped a 20.5 carat diamond ring on the reality-show star's finger last week.  It's amazing the publicity-crazed family kept the engagement under wraps for so long.  Must have been planning a TV series or store opening.

E News confirmed that the 26 year-old Humphries popped the question to his 30 year-old bride-to-be on May 18 at Kardashian's Beverly Hills home.

When asked about custom-designed engagement ring, Humphries gushed, "I just wanted it to be big."

To put the token of love into perspective, Kate Middleton's rock is a paltry 18 carat piece of bling.

Kardashian's response to the big moment, after six months of courtship, was blogging "OMGGGGGG" to her legion of fans.

Those Kardashian girls seem to have caught NBA fever.  Kim's sister Khloe is married to Los Angeles Laker Lamar Odom--a relationship which was custom made for a cable television audience.  This relationship should be no different.

Expect another annoying reality show counting down the days to Humphries and Kardashian's big day.  Just what the world needs more shrieking woman and shameless self-promotion.  At least we get to see Bruce Jenner try to make his facial muscles work.

The good news for Humphries, he is still an NBA player.  The bad news, he's still a New Jersey Net.  Have fun in Newark Kim.