Kanye’s NBA All-Star concert pisses off Manhattan residents: Report

Kanye West is already feeling the wrath of fans angered by his upstaging of Beck at the Grammys on Sunday. But now the rapper is now being criticized for for headlining an NBA All-Star event in the middle of one of Manhattan's busiest neighborhoods.

West was identified by Jay Z’s company Roc Nation as the ­A-list performer who will stage a 45-minute concert on Thursday in the Flatiron District before the NBA All-Star weekend begins — a move that is coming under fire from area residents.

The concert will be held at the Flatiron Plaza at 23rd Street and Broadway — a major crossroads that borders Madison Square Park. Jay Z will attend, but it’s unclear if he will perform. Over 10,000 people are expected to attend the free show — and that's a conservative estimate.

Not surprisingly, a party will reportedly be held afterward at Jay Z's popular 40/40 Club just blocks away on West 25th Street.

City officials and the local leaders had said the concert was being organized by a third-party producer working with the NBA. But the NBA has since distanced itself from the event after community backlash.

After days of 24/7 construction where over one hundred granite blocks and planters will have to be moved, as well as a Citi Bike dock and two solar-powered phone charging stations, Manhattan Community Board Five expressed its concerns regarding the event.

Officials said the city will not make any money from the concert but will use the event fees to recoup sanitation and police costs.

The entire All-Star weekend is expected to bring in almost $200 million to the city, officials said.

Victor Cruz on Mariners deal: 'It's a good day for Robinson Cano'

Victor Cruz was among the first big names to join Jay Z's Roc Nation agency and —with the rapper turned sports agent's influence — was the beneficiary of a five-year, $43 million extension with the New York Giants. But even Cruz had to take pause from preparing for his game against the Chargers upon hearing about Robinson Cano's huge $240 million deal with the Seattle Mariners.

“It’s a good day for Robinson Cano,” said Cruz, who along with Cano is  represented by Jay Z's burgeoning sports management agency. “He deserved every bit of that money and every bit of that contract. So hopefully he goes to Seattle and does some good things for that organization.”

Cano rocked the sports world on Friday after agreeing to the 10-year, $240 million deal with the Mariners — a deal apparently orchestrated by Jay Z.

“I’m ecstatic,” Cruz said. “I know [Cano] personally. He’s a good dude, he’s a great guy. I’m happy he was able to get the deal I know he wanted.”

Cruz said his agent, Tom Condon, did most of the work on extension with the Giants, but admitted Cano’s contract was a “big day” for Jay Z and the company.

“I think it’s a stepping-stone. It’s just proof that anything can be done if you put your mind to it and have the type of backing and type of people that you have around you that do the right thing and understand the business,” Cruz said. “It’s a true testament to the way (Jay Z) does his business and the way he goes about it — the right way.”

The Cano contract should help establish Roc Nation as a major force in the world of sports representation and enhance its image in the eyes other big name athletes.

“I think it’s a smart move to be able to choose and go with what you feel is right and go with the organization that you feel is the right one for you and your mold and your brand,” Cruz said. “I think that was the most important part for myself and Robinson Cano.”

Cruz said he would congratulate both Cano and Jay Z via text, but the New Jersey native isn't ready to trade in his Yankee cap for a Mariner one.

“I’ll be Yankees through and through,” Cruz said. “But I’m definitely a Robinson fan. I hope he does well.”

Jay-Z team goes to bat for A-Rod

While Alex Rodriguez prepares to face the music in the looming Major League Baseball PED investigation, the beleaguered Yankees player has one famous friend singing the third baseman's praises — and it sounds like A-Rod is still OK with Jay-Z.

While A-Rod's suspension looks imminent, last week, according to The New York Post,  Jordan Siev, a lawyer for the rapper-turned-entertainment mogul-turned-sports agent's pop star wife, Beyoncé, represented A-Rod in a telephone conference with Yankee executives.

On the call, Bomber General Manager Brian Cashman, President Randy Levine and Tampa-based trainer Tim Lentych discussed with Siev the time frame for A-Rod’s return to the team.  

Oddly, there was no union official or lawyer on the call, which took place the day after Rodriguez dispatched a tainted New Jersey doctor on a media tour to say he was healthy and ready to return to the field.

 Rodriguez told WFAN he brought Siev on to “make sure everything is documented.”

 “No more mix-ups.”

 Rodriguez is also using publicist Ron Berkowitz — whose Berk Communications represents Jay Z’s new Roc Nation Sports enterprise — as a spokesman.

Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that Jay-Z's sports agency Roc Nation — which was recently approved by MLB and the NBA — was looking to sign A-Rod, sources quickly squashed that notion.

The sources said that it’s not likely that Roc Nation is eager to sign Rodriguez at the moment, noting that his alleged doping issues will make it hard for him to attract sponsorships and he already has a longtime agent Dan Lozano

“Alex has been friends with Jay and Ron for years. It’s not unusual that they’d want to help or give advice where they can. But I don’t believe they are talking about signing him,” one source said.

“He already has a great agent.”

A-Rod and Jay Z have been kicking it together for a long time. They’ve teamed up for celebrity poker games and charity events and have sat courtside at Knick games. The rapper rode on the championship float with Rodriguez at the Yanks’ 2009 parade, and A-Rod  rang in the new year with Jay Z and Beyoncé in 2011.

Yesterday, another A-Rod rep, attorney David Cornwell, told ESPN that Rodriguez’s camp is “focused’’ on appealing any suspension that Major League Baseball might hand down.

While Rodriguez waits for the MLB ball to drop, Jay-Z just wants to have his buddy's back. He knows A-Rod is going to need all the high-profile support he can muster.

NFLPA to investigate Roc Nation's recruitment of Geno Smith

The NFL Players Association is taking a look into Jay-Z’s role in Geno Smith’s decision to choose Kim Miale and the rap star's ever expanding Roc Nation as his agency, according to NFL.com.

Jay-Z's possible involvement in Smith’s decision could be a violation of the “runner rule” that doesn’t allow non-agents to help recruit athletes for agencies. Smith spent time with Jay-Z, as evidenced at least by an Instagram picture the Jets quarterback posted of him with the musician.

It sounds like 99 Problems should be the rookie quarterback's theme song.  Nothing Smith has said or done, since being the Jets' second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, hasn't seemed like anything but trouble for the 22-year-old.

The NFLPA plans to send a letter of inquiry to Miale to determine Jay-Z’s role during the process, according to the report. Smith fired his former agents after he dropped to the 39th overall pick in the draft.

Phone records, emails, and other documents could be sought to confirm the things that potential witnesses may say, given the strong incentive to conceal any evidence of recruiting by Jay-Z. Interviews could be conducted of Smith, Miale, Thornton, Jay-Z, and others with knowledge of the situation.

The biggest problem for the NFLPA could come from its lack of jurisdiction over Jay-Z.  While the union can take action against Miale, the NFLPA can do nothing to Jay-Z or anyone else who doesn’t fall under the union’s regulatory umbrella.  Indeed, the NFLPA lacks the power to compel Jay-Z or anyone else not certified by the NFLPA to cooperate.

Smith’s former adviser, John Thornton, was quoted by CBS recently saying, "I was in those meetings, and Jay-Z connected with him on many levels." Thornton later said he was misquoted.

Smith announced on Wednesday that he decided to choose Roc Nation. 

Robinson Cano shows off his stickball skills up in Harlem

Yes, that was Robinson Cano jacking a Spaldeen into the girders underneath the 125th Street Viaduct Thursday afternoon. And no, the New York Yankees second baseman isn't moonlighting for a stickball team.

Cano was spotted whacking the rubber balls into the steel under Riverside Drive for a magazine photo shoot on the outskirts of Harlem during the team's day off. It looked like the slugger's Home Run Derby appearance all over again.  The only thing missing was his dad lobbing in the pitches.

Cano later wrote on Twitter: "Stick ball anyone?" and posted some photos on Instagram.

Stick ball anyone? instagram.com/p/Y0YVgvnDEi/
— Robinson Cano (@RobinsonCano) May 2, 2013

The popular Cano started his busy day off playing dominoes and getting a new haircut in front of adoring fans before swinging the broom handle.

It seems like Cano's new agency, Jay-Z's RocNation Sports, is keeping the Yankees' free agent-to-be a little busy on the side — just in case the Bronx Bombers play hardball.

Victor Cruz hooking up with Jay-Z's Roc Nation

Victor Cruz is reportedly partnering up with Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports — the rapper's latest sports representation venture, according to ESPN.com.

Roc Nation is an affiliate of Creative Artists Agency, and Cruz recently switched to CAA's Tom Condon to represent him.

Condon is expected to represent Cruz in his contract negotiations with the New York Giants while Roc Nation will most likely help the Giants receiver with his off-the-field interests.

Darren Rovell, ESPN's sports business reporter, tweeted that Jay-Z has a preliminary agent certification for Major League Baseball but currently does not have a certification for the NFL.

That makes the second popular New York athlete to join music impresario Jay-Z in his new venture.  New York Yankees Robinson Cano fired his agent Scott Boras on Tuesday and jumped over to Roc Nation. You can probably expect a lot of popular young athletes to follow suit in the coming months. Roc Nation will act as a marketing arm for both athletes.

Cruz flashes the Roc hand sign after scoring

Cruz was apparently teasing fans about his relationship with Jay-Z during the season after he was caught flashing the Roc hand sign (using both hands to form a diamond) after doing his trademark salsa dances, according to ESPN.  He was coy about the symbolism and politely said he couldn't talk about it when asked.

The 26-year-old Cruz is a restricted free agent at the moment and teams have until April 19 to make an offer.  Highly unlikely considering that any team who wants the receiver will have to cough up a first-round draft pick.

Condon, meanwhile, already has a good relationship with the Giants organization and represents Eli Manning and Mathias Kiwanuka — so the expectations that local-boy Cruz will stay with Big Blue are pretty high.

But there's a better chance that Brooklyn native Jay-Z 's high profile name and brand will keep Cruz and Cano in New York. But if he doesn't, expect a lot of fans to tell the rapper he'll have more than 99 Problems to deal with.

Robinson Cano dumps Scott Boras, becomes first client of Jay-Z's Roc Nation

Robinson Cano announced today that he has fired super-agent Scott Boras and will be joining Jay-Z's newly launched sports agency Roc Nation.  The New York Yankees All-Star will be Roc Nation's first client.

Roc Nation Sports will be led by the rapper with Juan Perez serving as president. They have partnered with CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency to co-represent the second baseman.

“Because of my love of sports, it was a natural progression to form a company where we can help top athletes in various sports the same way we have been helping artists in the music industry for years,” Jay-Z said.

Cano is a member of the Yankees' 2009 World Series championship team, a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and two-time Gold Glove Award winner on the verge of a huge payday.

“At this point in my career, I am ready to take a more active role in my endeavors both on and off the field,” said Cano. “I am confident that the pairing of Roc Nation Sports and CAA Sports will be essential in helping me accomplish my short- and long-term goals. I am making this important decision now so I can keep my focus on helping the Yankees succeed in 2013, while minimizing any distractions for me and my teammates."

Cano would become the third Yankee to cut ties with Boras but, unlike Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira before him, he is leaving before signing a big contract that Boras brokered.

For some reason, Cano's hookup with unabashed Yankees fan Jay-Z sounds like good news for the Bronx Bombers.