Shaq, La Toya Share MJ Tributes

Plus, mom and sister speculate about murder

(NEWSER) - Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death, so of course, he’s all over the news:

• In a BBC interview, brother Jermaine says that “if Michael would have embraced Islam he would still be here today,” the Telegraph reports. “Why? Because when you are 100% clear in your mind as to who you are and what you are and why you are and everybody around you, then things change in a way that’s better for you.”

Michael Jackson's daughter and sister weigh in on King of Pop's death

(NEWSER) - Paris Jackson and her aunt La Toya both have theories on Michael’s death—one sad, one a little wacky. “What happened is they worked him too hard,” La Toya remembers Paris telling her. “They kept working him and Daddy didn't want that, but they worked him constantly.” La Toya, however, believes her brother was murdered over the catalog of songs he owned, the Mirror reports. More»

Plus, ubiquitous biographer publishes another shocking book, more

(NEWSER) - Joe Jackson wants to turn his grandchildren into the “Jackson 3,” Michael’s biographer tells the Sun. “Joe wants the children to go on a world tour in 2010. He has also already offered recording contracts to two of Michael’s kids,” Ian Halperin tells the tabloid. “He wants to exploit the kids the same way he did Michael.” More:

• Halperin—who else?—has a new book out, and it includes allegations that Michael Jackson was gay, according to the Sun: “The very first time he had sex with me he said, ‘The King of Pop’s going to lick your lollipop,’” says one alleged lover.

Plus: Michael Jackson's last words

(NEWSER) - In a Today interview airing tomorrow and Friday, Dr. Conrad Murray finally explains why he didn’t call 911 as soon as Michael Jackson stopped breathing—although his explanation may still leave you with a few questions. Emergency responders wouldn’t have been able to come through the gate, the doctor claimed: "No one is allowed to come upstairs except for Mr. Jackson." When Savannah Guthrie pointed out that Murray could have called Jackson’s bodyguard and asked him to meet them at the gate, Murray said he didn’t want to "leave a full explanation on the phone" and started CPR instead. More»

Conrad Murray reportedly requested a ride to mansion to get cream

(NEWSER) - Michael Jackson's personal assistant took the stand today in the Conrad Murray trial , and talked about a mysterious cream he says the doctor wanted to retrieve right after the singer's death. Michael Amir Williams testified about the day Jackson died, saying "we were making small talk about how horrible it was, just tearing (up)." The doctor then said "there's some cream in Michael's room or house that he wouldn't want the world to know about … so he requested I or someone else give him a ride back to house to get it." More»