ALL TALK, PROBABLY NO ACTION

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier they're not.

Kanye West (left) and 50 Cent have been talking trash about each other lately as a way to hype their respective new albums, both due in stores Tuesday (Sept. 11).

That day, the rap rivals are scheduled to perform on BET's 106 & Park. The network has even roped in ESPN's Stuart Scott for the occasion, with the sports announcer expected to give their statistical breakdowns a la a heavyweight fight.

Speaking of stats: According to a recent Associated Press story, 50 Cent has gone as far to say that he would retire if his Curtis album doesn't outsell West's Graduation in their first week of availability.

There's no word on whether West would do the same should 50 Cent's disc top his. Nevertheless, here's a suggestion (more like a wish): If Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates -- also due Tuesday -- outsells the West and 50 Cent discs, can both rappers please retire?



HONORING PAVAROTTI

The Metropolitan Opera will pay tribute to Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who died today (Sept. 6) at age 71, via its Metropolitan Opera Radio channel on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Today through Sept. 13, the station will air some of Pavarotti's top Met performances, starting at 9 p.m. ET each day.