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By Michael Lopez

Yankee haters have called Alex Rodriguez a lot of things, but getting the title of “slumlord” may be a first. Of course the people jeering A-Rod in this situation are not baseball fans, but rather disgruntled tenants in a complex owned by the MLB slugger.

"He's a slumlord," said Vince, a renter in Rodriguez’ Normandy Park Luxury Apartments in Temple Terrace, Fla. "I'll call it just as I see it."

Alex, a businessman as well as a baseball player, is listed as an owner of Newport Property Ventures, which owns several apartment buildings in the Tampa area. And though the Newport website showcases glamorous living spaces, the tenants who live there tell a very different story.

"You got leaky faucets, leaky bathrooms, screens coming off, dog feces everywhere," said an unnamed renter.

Another source says that several pools in A-Rod’s complexes are overflowing with bacteria and have been unusable for years. In Alex’s defense, AOL Latino reports that Normandy Park has complied with the state Code Enforcement Board's requirements.

Still, the people who live there want their complex cleaned up.

"It's amazing,” said another unnamed tenant. “It's amazing a person that's got that much money can have properties that look like this."

Why do you think A-Rod hasn't cleaned up his properties? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags A-Rod, alex Rodriguez, Chisme, Newport Property Ventures, Slumlords

By Michael Lopez

There are definitely some advantages to having a twin. For one thing, you can share each other’s clothes. And if you’re a celebrity, you can use your lookalike sibling to stand in for you at events and paid appearances. Of course, doing that could get you into quite a bit of trouble, as former MLB star Jose Canseco and his brother Ozzie can attest.

Las Vegas police arrested the less-famous Canseco last weekend for impersonating his brother during a Celebrity Boxing match. Showing up for a “Jose Canseco” fight, Ozzie stepped up to the weigh in, presumably hoping to pass himself off as his twin.

Once Ozzie’s shirt was removed and his brother’s trademark tattoos were not spotted, officials knew they had the wrong guy. So the question became where was the real Jose and why had he skipped out on the fight? That’s where things start to get sticky. According to Jose’s tweets, it all relates to Celebrity Boxing promoter Damon Feldman not living up to his end of the deal.

“Be very careful with Damon Feldman who runs celebrity boxing he will not pay you if you fight for him,” he tweeted.

Unidentified sources told the Miami Herald that those allegations weren't true and that Feldman did indeed pay Jose two $10,000 installments. But that didn’t stop the onslaught of conspiracy-laden Canseco tweets.

“If you Want to know the real story about celebrity boxing and what happened call this number 310 862 6309 also meet Pablo”

Santa Monica phone numbers? Pablo? It’s obvious that this incident is still a long way from getting cleared up. All we can say is the next time Celebrity Apprentice is on, you may want to take a closer look at the slugger in the business suit.

What do you think Jose was trying to pull at the Celebrity Boxing match? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrity Boxing, Chisme, Jose Canseco, Ozzie Canseco, Sports

By Michael Lopez

Though it may seem easy to come up with catchy melodies, songwriting is a difficult task and one that the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) takes very seriously. This year, it made a point to honor Tito “El Bambino” for his songwriting contributions.

Named Songwriter of the Year at ASCAP’s 19th Annual Latin Music Awards, Tito joins an elite club that includes Aventura’s Romeo, Marco Antonio Solis and Daddy Yankee.

Jorge Mejía, senior vice president of Sony Music's Latin American division, emphasized how happy the crowd was to see Tito accept his award.

“Seeing Tito 'El Bambino' accept this award and seeing all of our songwriters of the year united was definitely a highlight of the evening,” Mejía said.

Tito was certainly in good company this year. Other popular Latino composers, such as Joan Sebastian and Camila’s Mario Domm, were honored at the event, along with Alejandro Sanz, who received the prestigious ASCAP Latin Heritage Award.

Mejía’s company also got a nice nod, with Sony/ATV Discos taking home the award for Publisher of the Year. A veteran in the music biz, Jorge offered his unique views on what makes a great songwriter.

“There is never a formula for what makes a good songwriter," he said. "But it always comes down to the music.”

Who are your favorite songwriters? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alejandro Sanz, ASCAP, Hot Stuff, Latin Songwriter Of The Year, Música, Tito El Bambino

By Michael Lopez

Tim Hill's upcoming Easter film Hop blends live action and animation with a sharp sense of humor. The film's stars — Enchanted’s James Marsden, The Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco and the wildly funny Russell Brand — talked with Tr3s about the film, the characters and the on-set laughter.

“It was very funny,” Cuoco said. “James is absolutely hilarious, we had a great time!”

As director Tim Hill had previously noted, Hop required some technical magic to blend animated bunny E.B. (voiced by Brand) into the real world. That meant long takes between shots and plenty of time for goofing around. And even though Russell recorded his lines in a studio, James was present for the sessions and found them to be quite inspiring.

“It was really great for Russell and I to be in the same room together," Marsden said. "We would constantly be riffing off of each other.”

Of course, the three principle actors hardly encapsulate all of the LOL elements of Hop. The film also includes comic cameo performances from Office Space’s Gary Cole, comedienne Chelsea Handler, David Hasselhoff and Hank Azaria as the voice of one bad chicky.

It’s no surprise that the majority of the movie’s laughs come from Brand’s E.B.

“With E.B., I succumbed to the fantasy of being a rock and roll star," Brand said. "Rabbits always represent the trickster. They’re playful little devils.”

That, and the film's sense of wonder, are some of Hop's most appealing attributes.

“In the world of children, there are very different rules," he added. "There’s a kind of naivety and innocence that has been beautifully captured by this film.”

But the film's lessons are what drew Marsden to the script.

“[My kids] are the reason I did this movie," he said. "Hop is ultimately about following your dreams and finding your passion in life.”

Though sweetness plays a strong role in Hop, Cuoco added another great reason to catch it in theaters this weekend.

“In Hop, E.B. wants to be the ultimate rock star and not do what his dad says,” she said.

Certainly that’s a point kids of all ages can identify with.

What’s your favorite Easter film? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Exclusive Entrevistas, Hop, Hot Stuff, James Marsden, Kaley Cuoco, Movies & CineMás, Russell Brand

By Michael Lopez

Tweets have a tendency to be ambiguous. With just 140 characters to work with, it’s often difficult to convey a clear message. So when Kim Kardashian tweeted that boyfriend Kris Humphries is now her ‘future husband,’ did that mean the two got engaged?

“I am so happy my future husband just surprised me!”

Those were the words Kim tweeted Saturday evening. Perhaps the New Jersey Nets star dropped by with flowers and chocolate. Or maybe 26-year-old Kris gave Kim a blinged out diamond ring. Or perhaps the whole thing was a joke.

Kim quickly posted a followup tweet to her 6.9 million followers squashing the entire “future husband” statement.

“Hump was playing on my phone. I will get him back!”

Of course adding an NBA star to the Kardashian family is not that far-fetched of an idea. Kim’s little sister Khloe is currently married to Lakers forward Lamar Odom and she seemed to welcome Kris into the clan.

"Hopefully we'll all get to go on fun trips and hang out," Khloe told People. “That's something that we all look forward to. Kris was out here [for] All-Star weekend, and we hung out. Lamar got to know him and we had fun."

Do you think Kim and Kris could be planning a secret wedding? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrity Couples, Chisme, Engagement Rumors, Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries, twitter

By Sharmaine Jones

It was a long road from the “First Four” but Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) fairytale ride continues with their first "Final Four" appearance in school history!

VCU definitely put the “Madness” in March from the very beginning by convincingly eliminating opponents from higher profile conferences. The #11 seed Rams' journey began by defeating USC 59-46 in the “First Four” round - an expansion of 64 to 68 teams competing in the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament - introduced this year. Next was a dominant performance over #6 Georgetown (74-56) then a breakdown of Purdue's tough defense for a 94-76 victory.

Ram's floor general 5'10 point guard Joey Rodriguez is averaging 10 points and 8 assists per game thus far in the tournament. Against Purdue (March 20), Rodriguez's ability to control the tempo and jump-start the offense was key in the victory. An impressive stat line of 12 points, 11 assists and 0 turnovers was of no surprise for the senior guard who went into the game believing they would pull out the “W”.

“We see those guys on TV all year and we say, 'We can play with these guys,'” Rodriguez told sportsillustrated.com. “We got a chance to go out and prove it.”

Whats more impressive is VCU knocked out the only remaining #1 ranked school with a 71-61 upset over Kansas yesterday (Sunday, March 27). Rodriguez, a senior this year, showed tremendous poise and leadership by sinking two huge free-throws with 30-seconds remaining to give VCU a double-digit lead (69-59), snap Kansas' momentum and ultimately seal the win.

"Once again we felt like nobody really thought we could win going into this game," said VCU coach Shaka Smart told poughkeepsiejournal.com. "Our guys have done a phenomenal job of putting all the doubters aside, all the people that didn't believe in us, and going out to do their job."

With the win, VCU becomes only the third No. 11 seed to reach the Final Four but naysayers beware, the best is yet to come:

“We've been working four years to get here.” Rodriguez told asapsports.com. “Now it's our senior year, and we're here. But we're not satisfied now. We want to keep it going. This is a great moment for tonight and a great moment for the university. But, you know, we got a lot more to do.”

VCU's next game is scheduled for Sunday, April 2 against Butler.

Do you think VCU can take it all the way? Sound off in the comments section below or @MTV3.

Tags Championship, College Basketball, final four, First Four, Georgetown, Joey Rodriguez, Kansas, NCAA, Purdue, Shaka Smart, VCU

By Michael Lopez

Just the idea of Oliver Stone tackling a gritty film set in the world of organized crime sounds interesting. Nearly thirty years ago, the writer-director shot to fame for creating Scarface’s legendary Tony Montana. Now he’s looking to breathe life into the drug kingpins from the book Savages, locking in Benicio del Toro as a bad guy lead.

Based on the popular 2010 novel by Don Winslow, Savages tells the story of two Laguna Beach marijuana dealers who find themselves doing battle with a Mexican drug cartel. Mixing gritty violence with bits of dark comedy, the plot has quite a few twists and turns and an over-the-top finale, much like Stone’s Scarface.

Savages the movie already seems to be on the Hollywood fast track. Deadline has confirmed Benicio’s involvement and also teased rumors about Salma Hayek Pinault joining the ensemble as a "Mexican drug cartel matriarch."

With Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch now in talks to play the marijuana dealers, only one more role up for grabs. That would be O, the Laguna Beach female lead who winds up getting kidnapped by del Toro's character. Though recent Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence is under consideration, we can think of another California native who would be absolutely perfect.

Are you excited about Savages? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Benicio Del Toro, Hot Stuff, Movies, Movies & CineMás, Oliver Stone, Savages

By Michael Lopez

Remember when we posted those outrageous behind-the-scenes pictures of Russell Brand and Luis Guzmán? Well now Luis is dropping details about what it was like to be the first Latino Boy Wonder and how much fun it was working on the new movie Arthur.

"I have damaged Robin fans forever and I am proud of it," Luis confessed exclusively to Tr3s. "I wouldn’t recommend wearing a Robin outfit in a size small."

Though if you’re looking for big laughs, then having Russell and Luis as the dynamic duo is a definite recommendation. In one of the funniest scenes in the film, Arthur (Brand) and his driver Bitterman (Guzmán) tear through New York City, suited up in the Batmobile.

"It was a lot of fun," Guzmán went on to say.

And from the interview it was clear that Luis was referring to the entire Arthur experience. Based on the 1981 film of the same name, this new version follows many similar plot points about a drunken playboy billionaire. Luis went on to emphasize some of the changes he and Russell incorporated into their classic characters.

"Working with the wittiness of Russell Brand was amazing. I have seen the original [Arthur] and it stands alone. But with this, we gave it our own touch and our own flavor. This one has its own magic."

Just look at Luis’ Twitter page and you can see that he and Russell shared a bond both on and off the set. Guzmán emphasized that he is now a regular tweeter and has become a big fan of using the social network to keep fans updated about his latest projects.

"I tweet all the time. Right now it’s about [my HBO series] How To Make It In America. We’re just now starting to film our second season."

With credits that include heavy dramas, fantasy films, and bawdy comedies (à la Arthur), it’s clear that Luis has a lot of range. Though when asked about it, Guzmán emphasized that he treats each genre the same.

"I just really enjoy working and to be working on good projects."

By the looks of things, Arthur falls right into that line.

Are you excited to see Luis Guzmán in Arthur? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Arthur, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hot Stuff, luis guzman, Movies, Movies & CineMás, Russell Brand

By Michael Lopez

It certainly seems like the beauty pageant world has been rocked by scandals these days. While Miss San Antonio continues to fight it out in court over her "too many tacos" dismissal, the new Miss Dominican Republic is facing charges that she paid off the judges to win her crown.

In all honesty, it’s hard to believe that 2011 winner Dalia Fernandez didn’t earn her title fair and square. The dark-haired Latina has a huge fan base and is already considered a front runner to replace Ximena Navarette as the next Miss Universe.

Despite it all, several contestants from the Miss Dominican Republic pageant have spoken out about unfair favoritism towards Fernandez.

"There are rumors that the crown was sold, that it was sold quite some time ago. A lot of the [contestants] did not believe it, but that's what happened," contender Alba Jimenez said on Spanish TV. "I've lost my trust in pageants."

Another contestant, Gabriela Ferreiras went on to say that Dalia paid $110,000 to secure her victory.

"It was all a montage, everyone noticed that it was a montage for her. They always were with her, they always ate with her, it was always the best for her. They say that $110,000 dollars, that's what they say."

Executives from the pageant are strongly denying any wrongdoing. Organizer Leonel Lirio went on record to emphasize that all of the contenders are judged fairly and equally.

"It's not possible because everyone of them arrives and receives the same type of training, treatment and the same attention. She may not have responded the way people expected, but what others gained with their responses, she surpassed with her physical beauty."

Do you think Dalia Fernandez “bought” her crown? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Beauty Pageants, Chisme, Dalia Fernandez, Dominican Republic, Miss Dominican Republic

By Michael Lopez

Little by little, technology has begun to adapt to Latinos. First we had the iPhone translation app and now the very first Spanish-language laptop is hitting the shelves, courtesy of Dell. Their new Inspiron M5030 is truly the first of its kind and will feature some very unique modifications.

“Dell understood the need to offer its Spanish speaking consumers a laptop that was 100 percent designed for them. Our research shows that there are over 17 million individuals in the U.S. who communicate exclusively in Spanish and for whom connectivity with family is essential,” Dell account executive Gerald Zapata recently stated. “This was a clear opportunity for us.”

Given a price tag of $499, the Inspiron will come equipped with a Spanish version of Windows 7 and tons of added features. There will be Spanish-language instructions, Español tech support numbers, and new accent and punctuation keys – Because as all Spanish writers can attest, finding the Ñ is not always an easy task.

Unfortunately, if you want to personally test the merchandise you’ll have to make a trip to Florida or Georgia. Right now the computer is only being sold at BrandsMart USA outlets in those two states.

That’s not to say you can’t purchase one online. The Español laptop is available at the BrandsMart website and Zapata has said that Dell plans on distributing it to more retail stores across the country.

Would you buy the Spanish-language laptop? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Computers, Cultura, Dell, Hot Stuff, Inspiron M5030, Technology