THE GAME - THE GAME ESCAPES JAIL ON COUSIN-BEATING CHARGES

Rapper THE GAME will avoid a jail sentence for attacking his cousin at a family funeral if he attends 36 anger management meetings in the next five months.
The star fought his relative over funeral costs at the service in July (08).
Robert 'Kirky' Kirkwood filed a police report accusing the star of punching him at his sister Shannon Johnson's funeral and the rapper was arrested and charged with criminal battery.
Speaking shortly after the incident, The Game revealed he felt like his extended family were using emotional blackmail to get him to pay for all of the funeral expenses.
But, on Tuesday (30Sep08), a California judge told the rapper, real name Jayceon Taylor, the charges against him will be quashed if he completes the anger management meetings by February 2009, reports TMZ.com.
Taylor faced jail if convicted, because he is currently on parole for a previous firearms offence, which landed him behind bars earlier this year (08).