ATHLETES competing at the Beijing Olympics may be detained by Chinese authorities for up to 72 hours without their embassy or team management being notified of their arrest.
The expected 440 members of the Australian team will be provided with specially printed contact cards - written in Mandarin - urging police or security officials to contact the Australian embassy immediately in the event they are detained. But legally, authorities are not required to make any such contact for up to three days under Public Security Bureau laws.
International Olympic Committee officials have been frustrated in their attempts to have the law set aside for the duration of the Games.
Olympic officials want a protocol introduced that makes it mandatory for an athlete's embassy to be informed immediately if they are detained. "The IOC has expressed concerns about the fact if someone is taken into custody by Chinese authorities, the embassy is not notified for 72 hours," Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said yesterday.
He said athletes had been counselled about isolated protests that might be held outside the designated Olympic zones and, if they were observing such activities, they should not get too close "in case they get swept up in anything".
Section managers of the various sports in the Australian team will be in charge of trying to keep abreast of the whereabouts of their athletes at all times, particularly when they have finished competition and travel outside the Olympic Green area, where about half the events will be held.
But Coates reiterated that athletes had a right to express their opinions - noting that cyclist Cadel Evans wore a pro-Tibetan T-shirt recently.
"As far as we are concerned, when it comes to personal expression in a blog, a personal diary … a protest or demonstration [beyond the Olympic venues or the Olympic village], if they want to do that, fine. But coaches are saying, understandably, it is probably best to wait to finish the competition before you do."
Coates said it was reasonable to ban protests or the expression of political views at Olympic venues, otherwise it "could be warfare".
Meanwhile, a new sponsor of the AOC, BankWest, will be the naming-rights partner of the welcome-home parades in Australian capital cities after the Games.
"It is something we feel the public are entitled to, and the athletes like them," Coates said .
Softballer Natalie Ward said the prospect of being involved in the parades was an incentive to perform well.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Madonna Makes Producers, Producers Don't Make Madonna
The diva plucked William Orbit, Mirwais and Stuart Price from electronic music obscurity, meshing her own pop sensibility with their sonic specialty. But for "Hard Candy," Madge hooked up with name-brand guys like the Neptunes and Timbaland, and even brought on Justin Timberlake as a writing partner. What results is, expectedly, of-the-moment and radio-ready. "4 Minutes," with Timberlake, is already a top three Billboard Hot 100 hit, and harmonious ballad "Miles Away" might be some of her best work yet. But it feels familiar. "Miles" is a close cousin to Timbaland's "Apologize," "Spanish Lesson" is a dead ringer for N*E*R*D's "She Likes to Move," and "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" instantly recalls Timberlake's "Cry Me a River." That's par for pop acts when they collaborate with producers who are bigger stars than they are. But for a vanguard artist like Madonna, it feels like a bit of a concession. —Kerri Mason
Lennon's 'Give Peace a Chance' Lyrics To Be Sold
When John Lennon gave Gail Renard the scribbled lyrics to "Give Peace a Chance" in 1969, he told the teen to hold on to the piece of paper."It will be worth something someday," predicted Lennon, who was in the midst of his famous eight-day "bed-in" with his new wife, Yoko Ono, in Montreal.She did, and it is. Christie's plans to auction the lyric sheet in July as the centerpiece in its rock and pop memorabilia sale. The words to the enduring peace anthem are expected to fetch more than $400,000.The lyrics will go on public view July 5 in London and will be auctioned July 10. They will also be available for viewing by appointment in New York on May 7-10."I think the interest is there because this is certainly one of the most recognizable and influential of John Lennon's solo compositions," said Helen Hall, head of the popular culture department at Christie's South Kensington. "It's important not just as one of Lennon's most famous peace anthems, it's also the fact that it was written at such a historical event."
Few believe the lyric is an example of great songwriting. The Beatles had moved beyond their cute moptop phase and their psychedelic infatuation, but were close to breaking apart as Lennon, heavily influenced by Ono, became a utopian peace activist.Determined to focus world attention on the war in Vietnam, the newlyweds moved into suite 1742 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel and invited the world's media to come interview them.Renard, a teenage fan who sneaked past security guards, was among the first to arrive. She befriended Lennon, helped look after Ono's young daughter, Kyoto, and made copies of the song Lennon wrote during the "bed-in" so their friends could read the lyrics and record it in the room.Renard, now a British-based TV writer and presenter, developed a lifelong friendship with Lennon, who helped launch her journalism career by placing an article she wrote about the bed-in in the Beatles Monthly magazine. She is also selling some rare photographs of herself with Lennon and Ono.The actual recording of "Give Peace a Chance" took about five minutes. It became a worldwide hit after it was touched up in the studio. A number of famous guests, including Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg and Tommy Smothers, sang on the record, which went to No. 14 on the Billboard charts.It was released as a song by the Plastic Ono Band, signaling Lennon's growing disenchantment with the Beatles, particularly longtime songwriting partner Paul McCartney.The song is a simple, casual affair recorded without any of the Beatles' typically high level of musicianship and artistry, but the phrase "Give Peace a Chance" has entered the popular lexicon, surviving long after Lennon's death in 1980.Hall said it ranks with "Imagine" as one of Lennon's most popular songs. She said the prices paid for Beatles' lyrics continue to rise as a new generation discovers the works of Lennon and McCartney."It's interesting to see the reach the Beatles have," she said. "We're seeing a lot of buyers in their 30s and 40s who didn't grow up listening to them."
Few believe the lyric is an example of great songwriting. The Beatles had moved beyond their cute moptop phase and their psychedelic infatuation, but were close to breaking apart as Lennon, heavily influenced by Ono, became a utopian peace activist.Determined to focus world attention on the war in Vietnam, the newlyweds moved into suite 1742 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel and invited the world's media to come interview them.Renard, a teenage fan who sneaked past security guards, was among the first to arrive. She befriended Lennon, helped look after Ono's young daughter, Kyoto, and made copies of the song Lennon wrote during the "bed-in" so their friends could read the lyrics and record it in the room.Renard, now a British-based TV writer and presenter, developed a lifelong friendship with Lennon, who helped launch her journalism career by placing an article she wrote about the bed-in in the Beatles Monthly magazine. She is also selling some rare photographs of herself with Lennon and Ono.The actual recording of "Give Peace a Chance" took about five minutes. It became a worldwide hit after it was touched up in the studio. A number of famous guests, including Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg and Tommy Smothers, sang on the record, which went to No. 14 on the Billboard charts.It was released as a song by the Plastic Ono Band, signaling Lennon's growing disenchantment with the Beatles, particularly longtime songwriting partner Paul McCartney.The song is a simple, casual affair recorded without any of the Beatles' typically high level of musicianship and artistry, but the phrase "Give Peace a Chance" has entered the popular lexicon, surviving long after Lennon's death in 1980.Hall said it ranks with "Imagine" as one of Lennon's most popular songs. She said the prices paid for Beatles' lyrics continue to rise as a new generation discovers the works of Lennon and McCartney."It's interesting to see the reach the Beatles have," she said. "We're seeing a lot of buyers in their 30s and 40s who didn't grow up listening to them."
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Mariners send King Felix to hill vs. A's
Felix Hernandez tries for his third win against no defeats this season when the Seattle Mariners play the rubber match of their three- game series with the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field.
Hernandez has dominated the A's over the course of his young career, going 6-2 against them with a 2.10 earned run average. He struck out a season-high eight batters in beating them earlier this season and is 5-0 against them in his last five starts, while pitching to a 1.22 ERA.
The 22-year-old right-hander, who is 2-0 on the season with a 1.67 ERA, received a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, as he allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings of a 4-2 Seattle win.
Oakland will counter with right-hander Joe Blanton, who is 1-4 with a 4.32 ERA. Blanton lost his second straight game on Tuesday against Minnesota, as he yielded five runs (four earned) and nine hits in 7 2/3 innings.
Blanton lost to Hernandez and the Mariners two starts ago, but is 7-4 lifetime against them with a 3.20 ERA in 13 starts.
In the second game of this set on Saturday, Erik Bedard returned from a stint on the disabled list to limit the Athletics to two hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings, as Seattle held on for a 5-3 win.
Bedard (2-0), who last pitched on April 8 against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, was sidelined with inflammation in his left hip.
Greg Norton was 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored for the Mariners, who snapped a three-game skid. Adrian Beltre doubled and scored two runs, while Yuniesky Betancourt added two hits.
Justin Duchscherer (1-1) gave up two runs on six hits in five innings for the Athletics, whose three-game winning streak came to an end.
Emil Brown finished 2-for-4, while Mike Sweeney notched his second home run of the season.
The Mariners are 17-6 against the Athletics since the start of last season. Oakland, though, has fared pretty well in Seattle over the past few years, going 19-12 at Safeco Field since the start of the 2005 campaign.
Hernandez has dominated the A's over the course of his young career, going 6-2 against them with a 2.10 earned run average. He struck out a season-high eight batters in beating them earlier this season and is 5-0 against them in his last five starts, while pitching to a 1.22 ERA.
The 22-year-old right-hander, who is 2-0 on the season with a 1.67 ERA, received a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, as he allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings of a 4-2 Seattle win.
Oakland will counter with right-hander Joe Blanton, who is 1-4 with a 4.32 ERA. Blanton lost his second straight game on Tuesday against Minnesota, as he yielded five runs (four earned) and nine hits in 7 2/3 innings.
Blanton lost to Hernandez and the Mariners two starts ago, but is 7-4 lifetime against them with a 3.20 ERA in 13 starts.
In the second game of this set on Saturday, Erik Bedard returned from a stint on the disabled list to limit the Athletics to two hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings, as Seattle held on for a 5-3 win.
Bedard (2-0), who last pitched on April 8 against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, was sidelined with inflammation in his left hip.
Greg Norton was 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored for the Mariners, who snapped a three-game skid. Adrian Beltre doubled and scored two runs, while Yuniesky Betancourt added two hits.
Justin Duchscherer (1-1) gave up two runs on six hits in five innings for the Athletics, whose three-game winning streak came to an end.
Emil Brown finished 2-for-4, while Mike Sweeney notched his second home run of the season.
The Mariners are 17-6 against the Athletics since the start of last season. Oakland, though, has fared pretty well in Seattle over the past few years, going 19-12 at Safeco Field since the start of the 2005 campaign.
Pistons, Celtics still fighting, but Magic advance
Surprise, NBA. The first team to advance in the Eastern Conference playoffs wasn't the heavily favored Boston Celtics or the battle-tested Detroit Pistons.
It was the Orlando Magic, who beat the Toronto Raptors 102-92 on Monday to close the first-round series in five games. And it was built on the back of a 22-year-old center whose improvement seems to show no bounds.
Dwight Howard had 21 points and 21 rebounds, his third 20-20 game in five postseason games, and the Magic advanced to the second round for the first time in 12 years.
Orlando hadn't won a playoff series since Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway led the team to the Eastern Conference finals in 1996. The Magic played 28 postseason games in the intervening years, winning only eight.
"To finally get over the hump and get out of the first round, it means a lot for us," Howard said. "But we're not satisfied. Our goal is to win a championship, so we're going to keep playing and try to play the same way to get that goal."
Howard helped limit Raptors star Chris Bosh to nine rebounds and 16 points on 7-of-19 shooting, one game after the Raptors forward set playoff career highs of 39 points and 15 rebounds.
"He's a phenom; he's the best center in the league," Bosh said of Howard, his friend from USA Basketball. "He's probably the strongest guy in the league, and he knows how to use his body. It doesn't surprise me at all. I've seen him play this whole series, I've seen him play this season."
In other NBA playoff games on Monday, Atlanta beat Boston 97-92 and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated Denver 107-101.
T.J. Ford and Carlos Delfino both scored 14 points for the Raptors, while Jason Kapono had 13 and Jose Calderon 12.
"They beat us on the boards. They've got a guy in the middle who cleans up a lot of their misses," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said. "It's hard to ask much more of our big guys when they're battling this guy the way they did with his size and strength, quickness and athleticism. Congratulations Orlando; they played great."
The Magic will face the winner of the Detroit-Philadelphia series, which is tied 2-2, in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Keyon Dooling's free throw after a technical on Bosh put the Magic ahead 73-66 with just under a minute left in the third quarter, and Orlando kept the lead until midway through the fourth. Delfino hit a jumper and Bosh made two free throws in four trips to the line, plus a hook shot over Howard, to draw the Raptors within 84-82.
The Magic, who had the fourth-best 3-point percentage in the NBA this season, struggled again from long range (9-of-32), but made them when it counted. Keith Bogans and Jameer Nelson each hit one and Howard added a layup as the Magic answered with an 8-0 run over 3:13 to open a 92-82 lead, then its largest of the game.
It was enough room to let them coast.
"We didn't even have our best night, and to be able to win it in five games, I'm really proud of them," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
Nelson scored 19 points and Rashard Lewis had 18 points and 13 rebounds for Orlando. Hedo Turkoglu just missed a triple-double with 12 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, while Maurice Evans scored 12 points and Bogans added 11.
While the Pistons-Celtics series continues, the Magic will have two days off from practice.
Howard grinned broadly, still unable to believe it was true.
"It's just an unbelievable feeling," he said. "We did something I feel that hasn't been done here in a while."
Hawks 97, Celtics 92
Joe Johnson scored 35 points - 20 in the fourth quarter - and Josh Smith added 28 points and a team playoff-record seven blocks as host Atlanta evened the series at two games apiece.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Boston.
The Hawks, who had the worst record (37-45) of any playoff team, overcame two double-digit deficits to beat a team that won an NBA-leading 66 games during the regular season.
Johnson took control in the final quarter. After Smith's jumper put the Hawks ahead to stay 81-79, Johnson scored nine straight points.
Ray Allen led Boston with 21 points and Kevin Garnett added 20.
Lakers 107, Nuggets 101
Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 31 points over the final 5 1/2 minutes and Los Angeles completed its sweep of Denver. Pau Gasol added 21 points in the Lakers' first sweep of a playoff series since beating New Jersey in the 2002 NBA finals.
J.R. Smith had 26 points for the Nuggets, the first 50-win team to ever be swept in the first round.
Bryant scored nine straight points to give the Lakers a 97-96 lead. Luke Walton's wide-open 3 gave the Lakers a 100-96 lead with 2:37 left.
Marcus Camby's first points since the series shifted to Denver came on a 3-pointer with 33 seconds left, cutting the Lakers' lead to 103-101, but Gasol dunked and Bryant added two free throws with 18 seconds left.
It was the Orlando Magic, who beat the Toronto Raptors 102-92 on Monday to close the first-round series in five games. And it was built on the back of a 22-year-old center whose improvement seems to show no bounds.
Dwight Howard had 21 points and 21 rebounds, his third 20-20 game in five postseason games, and the Magic advanced to the second round for the first time in 12 years.
Orlando hadn't won a playoff series since Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway led the team to the Eastern Conference finals in 1996. The Magic played 28 postseason games in the intervening years, winning only eight.
"To finally get over the hump and get out of the first round, it means a lot for us," Howard said. "But we're not satisfied. Our goal is to win a championship, so we're going to keep playing and try to play the same way to get that goal."
Howard helped limit Raptors star Chris Bosh to nine rebounds and 16 points on 7-of-19 shooting, one game after the Raptors forward set playoff career highs of 39 points and 15 rebounds.
"He's a phenom; he's the best center in the league," Bosh said of Howard, his friend from USA Basketball. "He's probably the strongest guy in the league, and he knows how to use his body. It doesn't surprise me at all. I've seen him play this whole series, I've seen him play this season."
In other NBA playoff games on Monday, Atlanta beat Boston 97-92 and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated Denver 107-101.
T.J. Ford and Carlos Delfino both scored 14 points for the Raptors, while Jason Kapono had 13 and Jose Calderon 12.
"They beat us on the boards. They've got a guy in the middle who cleans up a lot of their misses," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said. "It's hard to ask much more of our big guys when they're battling this guy the way they did with his size and strength, quickness and athleticism. Congratulations Orlando; they played great."
The Magic will face the winner of the Detroit-Philadelphia series, which is tied 2-2, in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Keyon Dooling's free throw after a technical on Bosh put the Magic ahead 73-66 with just under a minute left in the third quarter, and Orlando kept the lead until midway through the fourth. Delfino hit a jumper and Bosh made two free throws in four trips to the line, plus a hook shot over Howard, to draw the Raptors within 84-82.
The Magic, who had the fourth-best 3-point percentage in the NBA this season, struggled again from long range (9-of-32), but made them when it counted. Keith Bogans and Jameer Nelson each hit one and Howard added a layup as the Magic answered with an 8-0 run over 3:13 to open a 92-82 lead, then its largest of the game.
It was enough room to let them coast.
"We didn't even have our best night, and to be able to win it in five games, I'm really proud of them," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
Nelson scored 19 points and Rashard Lewis had 18 points and 13 rebounds for Orlando. Hedo Turkoglu just missed a triple-double with 12 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, while Maurice Evans scored 12 points and Bogans added 11.
While the Pistons-Celtics series continues, the Magic will have two days off from practice.
Howard grinned broadly, still unable to believe it was true.
"It's just an unbelievable feeling," he said. "We did something I feel that hasn't been done here in a while."
Hawks 97, Celtics 92
Joe Johnson scored 35 points - 20 in the fourth quarter - and Josh Smith added 28 points and a team playoff-record seven blocks as host Atlanta evened the series at two games apiece.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Boston.
The Hawks, who had the worst record (37-45) of any playoff team, overcame two double-digit deficits to beat a team that won an NBA-leading 66 games during the regular season.
Johnson took control in the final quarter. After Smith's jumper put the Hawks ahead to stay 81-79, Johnson scored nine straight points.
Ray Allen led Boston with 21 points and Kevin Garnett added 20.
Lakers 107, Nuggets 101
Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 31 points over the final 5 1/2 minutes and Los Angeles completed its sweep of Denver. Pau Gasol added 21 points in the Lakers' first sweep of a playoff series since beating New Jersey in the 2002 NBA finals.
J.R. Smith had 26 points for the Nuggets, the first 50-win team to ever be swept in the first round.
Bryant scored nine straight points to give the Lakers a 97-96 lead. Luke Walton's wide-open 3 gave the Lakers a 100-96 lead with 2:37 left.
Marcus Camby's first points since the series shifted to Denver came on a 3-pointer with 33 seconds left, cutting the Lakers' lead to 103-101, but Gasol dunked and Bryant added two free throws with 18 seconds left.
Mariah Makes Another Road-Trip Flick
Seven years after making what is widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever, Mariah Carey is back with another road-trip flick.But her new movie, "Tennessee," has little in common with 2001's "Glitter."Premiering at New York's Tribeca Film Festival last Saturday, it follows two brothers seeking their estranged father. On their travels, they meet Krystal, a waitress played by Carey."Mariah said, 'This is going to be refreshing for me; this is actually something that I want,' even knowing that it was a gritty, hard shoot," director Aaron Woodley told Reuters in an interview. "Some people even told me that they forgot it was Mariah Carey when they were watching the film."In 2001, Carey released the semi-autobiographical film "Glitter," which was a commercial and critical flop. She also appeared on MTV's Total Request Live, nearly disrobing in front of a baffled Carson Daly, amid rumors of a nervous breakdown.
Carey, 38, has spent the years since atoning."The whole 'Glitter' experience was very, very hard to go through, but I learned a lot from it," she said in a statement.In 2005, the Long Island, New York native made a big comeback with her multiplatinum album "The Emancipation of Mimi" and won rave reviews for her performance in "WiseGirls," a comedy-drama that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival."She's not a diva and she came to work -- and work hard she did," said "Tennessee" producer Lee Daniels, who acknowledged: "People do feel negatively about her as an actor."But that didn't stop him from offering her the lead female role. Daniels, producer of the Oscar-winning film "Monster's Ball," said he saw Carey in "WiseGirls" and decided "it was clear that she's a very talented actress."Carey's new album, "E=MC2," shot to No. 1 on the U.S. pop chart, debuting with 463,000 sales in the week ended April 20, according to Nielsen SoundScan data. That was the best debut sales week of her career and the strongest of any artist this year. Figures for the week ended April 27 are out on Wednesday.Carey's latest single, "Touch My Body," is her 18th U.S. No. 1 -- taking her past Elvis Presley -- and just behind the Beatles, who managed 20 No. 1 songs.
Carey, 38, has spent the years since atoning."The whole 'Glitter' experience was very, very hard to go through, but I learned a lot from it," she said in a statement.In 2005, the Long Island, New York native made a big comeback with her multiplatinum album "The Emancipation of Mimi" and won rave reviews for her performance in "WiseGirls," a comedy-drama that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival."She's not a diva and she came to work -- and work hard she did," said "Tennessee" producer Lee Daniels, who acknowledged: "People do feel negatively about her as an actor."But that didn't stop him from offering her the lead female role. Daniels, producer of the Oscar-winning film "Monster's Ball," said he saw Carey in "WiseGirls" and decided "it was clear that she's a very talented actress."Carey's new album, "E=MC2," shot to No. 1 on the U.S. pop chart, debuting with 463,000 sales in the week ended April 20, according to Nielsen SoundScan data. That was the best debut sales week of her career and the strongest of any artist this year. Figures for the week ended April 27 are out on Wednesday.Carey's latest single, "Touch My Body," is her 18th U.S. No. 1 -- taking her past Elvis Presley -- and just behind the Beatles, who managed 20 No. 1 songs.
Spears Reprises Guest Role On CBS' 'Mother'
Britney Spears, who proved she's worth a cool million viewers to "How I Met Your Mother," is paying another visit to the CBS sitcom. Spears will reprise her role as bubbly secretary Abby in the May 12 episode, CBS said Monday."We're all so thrilled to have Britney joining us once again," series executive producer and co-creator Craig Thomas said in a statement."And just to head it off at the pass this time around: Yes, Mom, Britney's very nice and no, I can't get her autograph for you," Thomas added, jokingly.Spears' appearance in the March 24 episode won her good reviews and boosted the show's viewership to 10.6 million viewers, in comparison to the 9.6 million who had tuned in the previous week.When last seen, Abby was flirting with womanizer Barney (cast member Neil Patrick Harris). The new episode, which began production Monday, has Abby and Barney sharing their mutual dislike of Ted (cast member Josh Radnor) and acting on it.
"Desperate to get a rise out of his former pal, Barney pops a surprising question to Abby," CBS said in a release."How I Met Your Mother" stars Harris, Radnor, Cobie Smulders, Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segel ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall") as an urban family of 20-something New Yorkers.The pop star's camp originally approached the show about taking part, executive producer Carter Bays told The Associated Press earlier this month.
"Desperate to get a rise out of his former pal, Barney pops a surprising question to Abby," CBS said in a release."How I Met Your Mother" stars Harris, Radnor, Cobie Smulders, Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segel ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall") as an urban family of 20-something New Yorkers.The pop star's camp originally approached the show about taking part, executive producer Carter Bays told The Associated Press earlier this month.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Serena dominates Sharapova
Charleston - Serena Williams continued her domination of Maria Sharapova with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 win in the quarter-finals of the $1,3-million WTA Family Circle Cup on Friday.Williams improved to 5-2 overall against the Russian who lost for just the second time in 26 matches in 2008."In the third set I started to play the Serena game," said the fifth seeded American who has now won four straight against Sharapova. "I'm not new to this."The tournament lost its top seed and defending champion as Serbian Jelena Jankovic was eliminated by ninth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.The defeat left Jankovic still in search of her first title of the season.
Paul continuing to play like an MVP in postseason
By Warren Blatt, Sports Network
The Sports Network
It is fair to say that New Orleans' Chris Paul is not intimidated by the atmosphere of the NBA playoffs. The third-year point guard has shined against the Dallas Mavericks in the first two games of the current first-round series, averaging 33.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 13.5 assists in a pair of double-digit home victories for the Hornets.
New Orleans won the opener 104-92, Game 2 by a convincing 127-103 score, and is nearing its first series victory since defeating the Orlando Magic in a first-round series in 2002.
Paul, who was a first-time All-Star this season, averaged 21.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 11.6 assists in 80 games during the regular season, leading the Southwest Division champion and second-seeded Hornets back to the postseason for the first time since 2004. His stats were extremely impressive, and placed him in what should be a two-man race for NBA MVP with Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, but questions had lingered about his ability to keep up that prolific pace in the postseason.
Superstars can put up the big numbers in the regular season, but in most cases their legacy is determined by what they do in the playoffs and how far they lead their teams. This is just Paul's first trip to the postseason, but it looks like the start of what should be an impressive playoff resume.
The 22-year-old Paul has raised his game to the next level against Dallas. He has dominated veteran Jason Kidd, making his fellow All-Star look completely overmatched. Paul has controlled the tempo of Games 1 and 2, and has been able to find his teammates in the perfect spots for great looks at the basket.
The 35-year-old Kidd, meanwhile, is averaging just 9.0 points and has shot 40.0 percent from the floor. He has had major trouble defending the lightning- quick Paul, and has been distracted by his defensive pressure.
All-Star forward David West and sharp-shooting Peja Stojakovic have benefited greatly from Paul's unbelievable playmaking ability. West is averaging 25.0 points against the Mavs, while Stojakovic has netted 18.0 per game and is shooting an incredible 60.0 percent (9-for-15) from beyond the arc.
West and Stojakovic are perfect examples of how Paul impacts the production of his teammates. The 6-9 West makes his living in the low post and gets easy hoops thanks to Paul's great court vision and ability to draw the defense to him.
Stojakovic, who shot a career-best 44.1 percent from three-point range during the regular season, is a perimeter player and gets plenty of open looks at the net when Paul penetrates the lane and kicks the ball out to him for an open jumper.
Great players make their teammates better and are always ready to rise to the occasion when their teams need them most. That is exactly what Paul has done in his first two NBA playoff games, in turn proving that a lack of playoff experience has not shaken his confidence or affected his play in the least.
Whether it is a regular season or playoff game, Paul plays it like its Game 7 of the Finals. He has put the Hornets on his back, and has them inching closer to the second round of the postseason for the first time in six years.
CARLISLE WOULD WORK IN WINDY CITY
The Chicago Bulls were one of the biggest disappointments in the NBA this season, finishing with a 33-49 record and having its three-year playoff run halted. The Bulls will have to make some tough financial decisions during the offseason regarding forward Luol Deng and guard Ben Gordon, and given the possible personnel hurdles, hiring a competent coach who knows how to win is a no-brainer for this franchise.
The Bulls would be wise to focus their attention on former Detroit and Indiana general Rick Carlisle.
Carlisle, who guided both the Pacers and Pistons to the Eastern Conference finals, will stress defense and knows how to implement a system on both ends off the court. He understands the Central Division, and would get the Bulls back to executing on offense and playing hard-nosed defense. It would be the perfect match.
The Sports Network
It is fair to say that New Orleans' Chris Paul is not intimidated by the atmosphere of the NBA playoffs. The third-year point guard has shined against the Dallas Mavericks in the first two games of the current first-round series, averaging 33.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 13.5 assists in a pair of double-digit home victories for the Hornets.
New Orleans won the opener 104-92, Game 2 by a convincing 127-103 score, and is nearing its first series victory since defeating the Orlando Magic in a first-round series in 2002.
Paul, who was a first-time All-Star this season, averaged 21.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 11.6 assists in 80 games during the regular season, leading the Southwest Division champion and second-seeded Hornets back to the postseason for the first time since 2004. His stats were extremely impressive, and placed him in what should be a two-man race for NBA MVP with Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, but questions had lingered about his ability to keep up that prolific pace in the postseason.
Superstars can put up the big numbers in the regular season, but in most cases their legacy is determined by what they do in the playoffs and how far they lead their teams. This is just Paul's first trip to the postseason, but it looks like the start of what should be an impressive playoff resume.
The 22-year-old Paul has raised his game to the next level against Dallas. He has dominated veteran Jason Kidd, making his fellow All-Star look completely overmatched. Paul has controlled the tempo of Games 1 and 2, and has been able to find his teammates in the perfect spots for great looks at the basket.
The 35-year-old Kidd, meanwhile, is averaging just 9.0 points and has shot 40.0 percent from the floor. He has had major trouble defending the lightning- quick Paul, and has been distracted by his defensive pressure.
All-Star forward David West and sharp-shooting Peja Stojakovic have benefited greatly from Paul's unbelievable playmaking ability. West is averaging 25.0 points against the Mavs, while Stojakovic has netted 18.0 per game and is shooting an incredible 60.0 percent (9-for-15) from beyond the arc.
West and Stojakovic are perfect examples of how Paul impacts the production of his teammates. The 6-9 West makes his living in the low post and gets easy hoops thanks to Paul's great court vision and ability to draw the defense to him.
Stojakovic, who shot a career-best 44.1 percent from three-point range during the regular season, is a perimeter player and gets plenty of open looks at the net when Paul penetrates the lane and kicks the ball out to him for an open jumper.
Great players make their teammates better and are always ready to rise to the occasion when their teams need them most. That is exactly what Paul has done in his first two NBA playoff games, in turn proving that a lack of playoff experience has not shaken his confidence or affected his play in the least.
Whether it is a regular season or playoff game, Paul plays it like its Game 7 of the Finals. He has put the Hornets on his back, and has them inching closer to the second round of the postseason for the first time in six years.
CARLISLE WOULD WORK IN WINDY CITY
The Chicago Bulls were one of the biggest disappointments in the NBA this season, finishing with a 33-49 record and having its three-year playoff run halted. The Bulls will have to make some tough financial decisions during the offseason regarding forward Luol Deng and guard Ben Gordon, and given the possible personnel hurdles, hiring a competent coach who knows how to win is a no-brainer for this franchise.
The Bulls would be wise to focus their attention on former Detroit and Indiana general Rick Carlisle.
Carlisle, who guided both the Pacers and Pistons to the Eastern Conference finals, will stress defense and knows how to implement a system on both ends off the court. He understands the Central Division, and would get the Bulls back to executing on offense and playing hard-nosed defense. It would be the perfect match.
Media Seeks Access To R. Kelly Documents
An attorney for two newspapers and The Associated Press says singer R. Kelly's celebrity status doesn't justify news media being barred from pretrial hearings in his pornography trial in Chicago.The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and the AP are seeking transcripts of closed pretrial hearings and asking that a gag order on attorneys be lifted.Kelly's attorneys want more time to respond.Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan set another hearing on the motion for May 8, a day before jury selection begins and after any pretrial hearings would be held.The 41-year-old singer faces charges he videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl. He's denied the allegations.
Jennifer Lopez Set For TLC Reality Show
Paul J. Gough, The Hollywood Reporter
Jennifer Lopez will executive produce and star in a documentary series at cable channel TLC about her life as an actress and singer, new mother of twins and entrepreneur launching a fragrance line."I think it'll be something very exciting," Lopez said during TLC parent Discovery Networks' "upfront" presentation to advertisers yesterday (April 23) in Manhattan.Lopez and husband Marc Anthony became the parents of a boy and girl in February.
TLC also said it has signed a production deal with the husband-and-wife duo of Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. Under the deal, Ripa, whose day job is co-host of ABC's "Live With Regis and Kelly," also will host a series for TLC.
Jennifer Lopez will executive produce and star in a documentary series at cable channel TLC about her life as an actress and singer, new mother of twins and entrepreneur launching a fragrance line."I think it'll be something very exciting," Lopez said during TLC parent Discovery Networks' "upfront" presentation to advertisers yesterday (April 23) in Manhattan.Lopez and husband Marc Anthony became the parents of a boy and girl in February.
TLC also said it has signed a production deal with the husband-and-wife duo of Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. Under the deal, Ripa, whose day job is co-host of ABC's "Live With Regis and Kelly," also will host a series for TLC.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Kobe Bryant makes it clear: He's happy with LA Lakers and wants to stay
Kobe Bryant made clear what's been, at the very least, a bit ambiguous for nearly a year: He wants to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers and is open to finishing his NBA career with them.
"Absolutely," Bryant said on Monday. "I've always wanted to be here. I just felt like I was in a position where I didn't really have a choice. They wanted to go in an opposite direction. My legs aren't as young as they used to be. Just let me know.
"I love the weather. I love my '63 drop-top Impala. I love the 405 (freeway). I love my guys."
Bryant acknowledged he wouldn't have imagined things would have turned out this way late last May, when he publicly called the Lakers' front office a mess and demanded a trade, feeling he had been misled when he signed a seven-year, $136.4 million (€88 million) contract in July 2004. The Lakers haven't won a playoff series since.
They lead the Denver Nuggets 1-0 in the playoffs.
"I've been sitting on this for four years now," he said. "After three or four years of not getting anything done, to see it today, it feels pretty damn good. It's been a hell of a ride."
Bryant and Lakers owner Jerry Buss met in Barcelona a few weeks after his trade demand, and he again told Buss he wanted out. Then, understanding the difficulty of trading someone of his ability, Bryant said all the right things entering training camp in October, but the peace was broken a few weeks later when Buss said he would "certainly listen to trade offers."
The situation was tenuous at best when the season began, and stories circulated throughout November concerning potential trade possibilities. The speculation stopped, Bryant stayed and the Lakers flourished, going 57-25 to earn the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The 29-year-old Bryant, a leading candidate to win his first MVP award, has stated on several occasions that his 12th NBA season has been the most enjoyable, and did so again.
He said he hasn't necessarily changed his mind about wanting to stay instead of wanting to leave.
"No, I just don't talk about it," Bryant said. "These are answers I've given all year long. I love this team. If they want to win right now, I'm all for them. That's all I've said the whole time. We have a job to do here, so it's important to focus on what we're doing and not get distracted from that.
"I don't want any big stories. The journey we've been on is fun. It's been a blast. With that being said, we play for titles. We want to win the championship. We'll be disappointed if we don't. But if it does happen, we'll regroup and go at it again. We've got some great pieces here. Now it's time to put it all together. We get that big fellow (Andrew Bynum) back down there and we'll really be rolling."
Bryant is under contract through the 2010-11 season, but can opt out after next season. He said he hasn't thought about that. He opted out four years ago before signing a new contract.
Bryant said in his book, general manager Mitch Kupchak has gone from an "F" to an "A-plus."
"He believed in the draft picks he made, he had the patience," Bryant said.
Among the draft picks who have made significant impacts since Shaquille O'Neal was traded following the 2004 season are Bynum, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar and Ronny Turiaf.
And this season, there were the trades for Trevor Ariza and Pau Gasol. Ariza hasn't played since breaking his foot on Jan. 20, but Gasol has been brilliant.
"I just think his skill set at his size is unmatched in this league," Bryant said of Gasol, who had 36 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists in Game 1.
Bryant said he didn't know if he thought he helped push Kupchak into action.
"Maybe. It takes pressure sometimes to make a diamond," Bryant said with a smile. "In hindsight, yeah, that was my strategy. I'm going to get my Phil Jackson on and say I planned it all along."
Bryant had harsh words for Buss and Kupchak last spring.
And now?
"Nah," he replied when asked if there were any lingering bad feelings toward anyone in the organization. "On the serious side, I learned a lesson, which is you have to separate business from the love of the game because there were a lot of decisions that were made business-wise that I wasn't happy with. I took a lot of the blame for a lot of the stuff they were doing. It didn't sit right with me. It still doesn't sit right with me. But you have to be able to separate that from the love that you have for the game of basketball and the respect that you have for your team."
"Absolutely," Bryant said on Monday. "I've always wanted to be here. I just felt like I was in a position where I didn't really have a choice. They wanted to go in an opposite direction. My legs aren't as young as they used to be. Just let me know.
"I love the weather. I love my '63 drop-top Impala. I love the 405 (freeway). I love my guys."
Bryant acknowledged he wouldn't have imagined things would have turned out this way late last May, when he publicly called the Lakers' front office a mess and demanded a trade, feeling he had been misled when he signed a seven-year, $136.4 million (€88 million) contract in July 2004. The Lakers haven't won a playoff series since.
They lead the Denver Nuggets 1-0 in the playoffs.
"I've been sitting on this for four years now," he said. "After three or four years of not getting anything done, to see it today, it feels pretty damn good. It's been a hell of a ride."
Bryant and Lakers owner Jerry Buss met in Barcelona a few weeks after his trade demand, and he again told Buss he wanted out. Then, understanding the difficulty of trading someone of his ability, Bryant said all the right things entering training camp in October, but the peace was broken a few weeks later when Buss said he would "certainly listen to trade offers."
The situation was tenuous at best when the season began, and stories circulated throughout November concerning potential trade possibilities. The speculation stopped, Bryant stayed and the Lakers flourished, going 57-25 to earn the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The 29-year-old Bryant, a leading candidate to win his first MVP award, has stated on several occasions that his 12th NBA season has been the most enjoyable, and did so again.
He said he hasn't necessarily changed his mind about wanting to stay instead of wanting to leave.
"No, I just don't talk about it," Bryant said. "These are answers I've given all year long. I love this team. If they want to win right now, I'm all for them. That's all I've said the whole time. We have a job to do here, so it's important to focus on what we're doing and not get distracted from that.
"I don't want any big stories. The journey we've been on is fun. It's been a blast. With that being said, we play for titles. We want to win the championship. We'll be disappointed if we don't. But if it does happen, we'll regroup and go at it again. We've got some great pieces here. Now it's time to put it all together. We get that big fellow (Andrew Bynum) back down there and we'll really be rolling."
Bryant is under contract through the 2010-11 season, but can opt out after next season. He said he hasn't thought about that. He opted out four years ago before signing a new contract.
Bryant said in his book, general manager Mitch Kupchak has gone from an "F" to an "A-plus."
"He believed in the draft picks he made, he had the patience," Bryant said.
Among the draft picks who have made significant impacts since Shaquille O'Neal was traded following the 2004 season are Bynum, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar and Ronny Turiaf.
And this season, there were the trades for Trevor Ariza and Pau Gasol. Ariza hasn't played since breaking his foot on Jan. 20, but Gasol has been brilliant.
"I just think his skill set at his size is unmatched in this league," Bryant said of Gasol, who had 36 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists in Game 1.
Bryant said he didn't know if he thought he helped push Kupchak into action.
"Maybe. It takes pressure sometimes to make a diamond," Bryant said with a smile. "In hindsight, yeah, that was my strategy. I'm going to get my Phil Jackson on and say I planned it all along."
Bryant had harsh words for Buss and Kupchak last spring.
And now?
"Nah," he replied when asked if there were any lingering bad feelings toward anyone in the organization. "On the serious side, I learned a lesson, which is you have to separate business from the love of the game because there were a lot of decisions that were made business-wise that I wasn't happy with. I took a lot of the blame for a lot of the stuff they were doing. It didn't sit right with me. It still doesn't sit right with me. But you have to be able to separate that from the love that you have for the game of basketball and the respect that you have for your team."
Djokovic serves way into third round in Monte Carlo
MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP) — Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters by defeating Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-3 Tuesday.
The Australian Open champion broke Ljubicic at love in the eighth game of the first set for a 5-3 lead and clinched the set with an ace.
Using a two-handed backhand to counter Ljubicic's booming serve, Djokovic saved two break points in the eighth game of the second set but was rarely troubled.
"I came up with a straight-set win, which is very important for me at the start of the clay-court season," Djokovic said. "I played my best tennis in the most important moments, and that's what actually matters most."
The Serb will meet Andy Murray, who beat Filippo Volandri of Italy 6-4, 6-1.
"I had to adapt my game a little bit," Murray said. "I managed to do that with some important points in the first set. I probably made him come to the net quite a few times as well, with short slices and drop shots."
Murray is expecting a more difficult match against Djokovic.
"Novak is No. 1 in the (ATP) race and won the first Grand Slam of the year," Murray said. "So it's going to be tough."
After missing the chance to even the score at 4-4, Ljubicic's serve withered in the next game and Djokovic won on his first match point when Ljubicic hit a forehand into the net from the back of the court.
Djokovic said he took more time than usual to find his rhythm before pulling away.
"That's why I got off to a nervous start," Djokovic said. "But then I played at a very good level."
Djokovic's best showing on clay so far was last year's title at Estoril, Portugal.
"One of the things that I really try to have this year is patience," Djokovic said. "On the other hand, I'll try to be myself and be aggressive, the kind of style of game that I always have. So it's going to be a real test for me."
Djokovic leads the ATP race and has two tournament wins already this year, compared to one for top-ranked Roger Federer. Second-ranked Rafael Nadal, a clay specialist, is looking for his first.
"I don't want to push myself too much and focus on the points and rankings," Djokovic said. "I know I have enough potential to be top of the world. But I'm only 20 years old, I still have a lot of time ahead of me."
Tommy Robredo of Spain beat Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-4, 7-5 in the first round.
Neither player looked comfortable in an error-strewn match, but the 12th-seeded Robredo capitalized on more opportunities and broke Wawrinka's serve six times. He faces Robin Soderling of Sweden in the second round of the clay-court tournament.
Ivo Karlovic of Croatia also advanced when Sebastien Grosjean retired with an injury while trailing 4-6, 6-4, 4-1. The Frenchman needed treatment on his thigh early in the third set.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin and Igor Andreev won in straight sets. Safin beat Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-3, 6-2, and Andreev defeated Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 7-5, 6-3.
Safin faces fifth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain, while Andreev plays eighth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia.
Also in the first round, Simone Bolelli of Italy beat Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina 6-2, 6-2, and Jarkko Nieminen of Finland dominated Marc Gicquel of France 6-0, 6-4.
No. 11 Juan Monaco of Argentina, Andreas Seppi of Italy and Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain also advanced in straight sets. Ramirez Hidalgo will play top-seeded Roger Federer.
The Australian Open champion broke Ljubicic at love in the eighth game of the first set for a 5-3 lead and clinched the set with an ace.
Using a two-handed backhand to counter Ljubicic's booming serve, Djokovic saved two break points in the eighth game of the second set but was rarely troubled.
"I came up with a straight-set win, which is very important for me at the start of the clay-court season," Djokovic said. "I played my best tennis in the most important moments, and that's what actually matters most."
The Serb will meet Andy Murray, who beat Filippo Volandri of Italy 6-4, 6-1.
"I had to adapt my game a little bit," Murray said. "I managed to do that with some important points in the first set. I probably made him come to the net quite a few times as well, with short slices and drop shots."
Murray is expecting a more difficult match against Djokovic.
"Novak is No. 1 in the (ATP) race and won the first Grand Slam of the year," Murray said. "So it's going to be tough."
After missing the chance to even the score at 4-4, Ljubicic's serve withered in the next game and Djokovic won on his first match point when Ljubicic hit a forehand into the net from the back of the court.
Djokovic said he took more time than usual to find his rhythm before pulling away.
"That's why I got off to a nervous start," Djokovic said. "But then I played at a very good level."
Djokovic's best showing on clay so far was last year's title at Estoril, Portugal.
"One of the things that I really try to have this year is patience," Djokovic said. "On the other hand, I'll try to be myself and be aggressive, the kind of style of game that I always have. So it's going to be a real test for me."
Djokovic leads the ATP race and has two tournament wins already this year, compared to one for top-ranked Roger Federer. Second-ranked Rafael Nadal, a clay specialist, is looking for his first.
"I don't want to push myself too much and focus on the points and rankings," Djokovic said. "I know I have enough potential to be top of the world. But I'm only 20 years old, I still have a lot of time ahead of me."
Tommy Robredo of Spain beat Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-4, 7-5 in the first round.
Neither player looked comfortable in an error-strewn match, but the 12th-seeded Robredo capitalized on more opportunities and broke Wawrinka's serve six times. He faces Robin Soderling of Sweden in the second round of the clay-court tournament.
Ivo Karlovic of Croatia also advanced when Sebastien Grosjean retired with an injury while trailing 4-6, 6-4, 4-1. The Frenchman needed treatment on his thigh early in the third set.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin and Igor Andreev won in straight sets. Safin beat Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-3, 6-2, and Andreev defeated Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 7-5, 6-3.
Safin faces fifth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain, while Andreev plays eighth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia.
Also in the first round, Simone Bolelli of Italy beat Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina 6-2, 6-2, and Jarkko Nieminen of Finland dominated Marc Gicquel of France 6-0, 6-4.
No. 11 Juan Monaco of Argentina, Andreas Seppi of Italy and Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain also advanced in straight sets. Ramirez Hidalgo will play top-seeded Roger Federer.
RYAN CABRERA
For the upside of a year now, the United Kingdom has ushered the lion's share of chart-worthy new pop talent to these shores. American label priorities become all the more confounding after a single spin of Ryan Cabrera's "Say," the catchiest, coolest, most immediate release of the year—since the platinum-selling artist is currently unsigned. Altogether: Duh! Cabrera, best-known for 2004 top 15 "On the Way Down," self-financed new set "The Moon Under Water," due in May, and man, does he put money where his mouth is. This summertime smash brings to mind New Radicals' equally frisky "You Get What You Give," with driving tempo, an inescapably blithe singalong chorus, pop/ rock instrumentation that would make grandma get down and a loose, breezy vocal—not to mention the 25-year-old's manly new look: The blond spikes have retreated for curly, brunette shoulder-length locks. It's all here, baby. Cabrera 2.0 is primed for his close-up. —Chuck Taylor
MARIAH CAREY
She's proclaimed emancipation before, but Mariah Carey's never sounded as free as she does on her 10th album. The usual hummable radio hip-hop and bold ballads are here, in pristine form. ("Bye Bye," a memorial for a lost loved one, is particularly effective.) But so are some coy surprises, like the irresistible "I'm That Chick" (which covertly samples "Off the Wall" for an early Michael Jackson disco bounce) and the Swizz Beatz-produced "O.O.C.," which is catchy enough to make that the vernacular's standard abbreviation for "out of control." Carey even digs deep and pulls up "Side Effects," a Scott Storch-produced, dark hip-hop track that follows a passive woman's descent into domestic abuse ("Sleeping with the enemy/ Aware that he was smothering every last part of me"). Capping it off with Bible-quoting, upright-piano gospel ("I Wish You Well"), Carey's made a pop album with equal parts levity and gravity. —Kerri Mason
Monday, April 21, 2008
Jays come up big against Tigers
TORONTO - The big guy is gone. Long live the little guys.
The Toronto Blue Jays put together another patchwork victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, prevailing 5-3 thanks to pivotal hits by David Eckstein and John McDonald and some solid work by the lesser lights out of the bullpen.
It was the Jays' first day without Frank Thomas, who was released for failing to hit the long ball (or singles and doubles, for that matter). Stepping into the breach were Eckstein, with a three-run homer, and McDonald, who contributed a vital RBI single.Eckstein stands barely five-foot-seven, McDonald a touch below his listed five-foot-11. Both delivered in the fourth inning, when Toronto overcame a 2-1 deficit against lefty Nate Robertson.
"The little men did the work today," said starting pitcher A.J. Burnett.
Burnett, a big man, had to work, too. He managed to hold Detroit to three runs over five arduous innings while throwing 113 pitches, many of them curve balls in the dirt. He walked six.
"I did get quite a bit of ball-blocking practice today," catcher Gregg Zaun deadpanned.
Given the Jays' lack of power so far and their habit of stranding runners galore (44 in the past five games), Sunday's victory underscored their need to balance the load.
"We're not exactly tearing the cover off the ball right now," Zaun observed. "We've got to scratch and claw and get RBIs from everybody in the lineup.
"We're going to need all 25 guys in this room (in order) to be alive in September and have a chance to win this division."
The Jays have won two of three games from the Tigers, with one to go this afternoon before they hit the road. They boosted their record to 10-9 and beat a left-handed starter for the first time this season.
And on offence, the little guys did the heavy lifting.
Eckstein led off the first inning with a broken-bat double and scored on Aaron Hill's bloop double. McDonald singled home Marco Scutaro in the fourth before Eckstein put one over the left-field fence.
Eckstein, who averages about four homers per season, turned the spotlight on McDonald, who was the third baseman Sunday. McDonald came through with two outs, two on and the Jays down 2-1.
"Johnny Mac broke the ice (with) that key base hit," Eckstein said. "For us to be able to be successful, we're going to have to get the key hits with runners on base, especially against clubs like the Tigers, where you don't know if you have enough runs at any point in the game."
Burnett, who said he had "electric stuff," struck out the side in the first inning, but struggled after that. He disputed several calls by plate umpire Jeff Nelson, but admitted he had some sympathy for the arbiter.
"I can see how hard it is to umpire when a guy's throwing what I'm throwing up there and it's going everywhere," Burnett said.
His key pitch came with three walks aboard and two outs in the third.
Burnett threw a 98-mile-an-hour fastball to Magglio Ordonez, who grounded out.
After Burnett left, newcomers Jesse Carlson and Shawn Camp blanked the Tigers on one hit over three innings. Because B.J. Ryan saved Saturday's victory, he was unavailable for the ninth, but Jeremy Accardo rebounded from a slump with a one-hit ninth, finishing it on a double-play grounder by Ivan Rodriguez.
"It feels good to get those rough ones out of my system, get that bear off my back," said Accardo, who had allowed eight runs over his previous four appearances.
Carlson, a rookie, has allowed one run in eight innings since his callup last week. Camp, a veteran, made his first appearance and fanned three in 1 2/3 innings.
John Lott , Canwest News ServicePublished:
The Toronto Blue Jays put together another patchwork victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, prevailing 5-3 thanks to pivotal hits by David Eckstein and John McDonald and some solid work by the lesser lights out of the bullpen.
It was the Jays' first day without Frank Thomas, who was released for failing to hit the long ball (or singles and doubles, for that matter). Stepping into the breach were Eckstein, with a three-run homer, and McDonald, who contributed a vital RBI single.Eckstein stands barely five-foot-seven, McDonald a touch below his listed five-foot-11. Both delivered in the fourth inning, when Toronto overcame a 2-1 deficit against lefty Nate Robertson.
"The little men did the work today," said starting pitcher A.J. Burnett.
Burnett, a big man, had to work, too. He managed to hold Detroit to three runs over five arduous innings while throwing 113 pitches, many of them curve balls in the dirt. He walked six.
"I did get quite a bit of ball-blocking practice today," catcher Gregg Zaun deadpanned.
Given the Jays' lack of power so far and their habit of stranding runners galore (44 in the past five games), Sunday's victory underscored their need to balance the load.
"We're not exactly tearing the cover off the ball right now," Zaun observed. "We've got to scratch and claw and get RBIs from everybody in the lineup.
"We're going to need all 25 guys in this room (in order) to be alive in September and have a chance to win this division."
The Jays have won two of three games from the Tigers, with one to go this afternoon before they hit the road. They boosted their record to 10-9 and beat a left-handed starter for the first time this season.
And on offence, the little guys did the heavy lifting.
Eckstein led off the first inning with a broken-bat double and scored on Aaron Hill's bloop double. McDonald singled home Marco Scutaro in the fourth before Eckstein put one over the left-field fence.
Eckstein, who averages about four homers per season, turned the spotlight on McDonald, who was the third baseman Sunday. McDonald came through with two outs, two on and the Jays down 2-1.
"Johnny Mac broke the ice (with) that key base hit," Eckstein said. "For us to be able to be successful, we're going to have to get the key hits with runners on base, especially against clubs like the Tigers, where you don't know if you have enough runs at any point in the game."
Burnett, who said he had "electric stuff," struck out the side in the first inning, but struggled after that. He disputed several calls by plate umpire Jeff Nelson, but admitted he had some sympathy for the arbiter.
"I can see how hard it is to umpire when a guy's throwing what I'm throwing up there and it's going everywhere," Burnett said.
His key pitch came with three walks aboard and two outs in the third.
Burnett threw a 98-mile-an-hour fastball to Magglio Ordonez, who grounded out.
After Burnett left, newcomers Jesse Carlson and Shawn Camp blanked the Tigers on one hit over three innings. Because B.J. Ryan saved Saturday's victory, he was unavailable for the ninth, but Jeremy Accardo rebounded from a slump with a one-hit ninth, finishing it on a double-play grounder by Ivan Rodriguez.
"It feels good to get those rough ones out of my system, get that bear off my back," said Accardo, who had allowed eight runs over his previous four appearances.
Carlson, a rookie, has allowed one run in eight innings since his callup last week. Camp, a veteran, made his first appearance and fanned three in 1 2/3 innings.
John Lott , Canwest News ServicePublished:
Drake hires Mark Phelps to take over basketball program
Des Moines, IA (Sports Network) - Drake University hired Arizona State assistant Mark Phelps as its new men's basketball coach Monday.
Phelps served on the coaching staff at North Carolina State under Herb Sendek from 1996-2006 before joining Sendek at Arizona State in 2006.
"I consider it an honor and privilege to be named the head coach at Drake University," said Phelps. "President (David) Maxwell has fostered a true family environment where the 'Drake experience' is a special one for students, faculty, staff and the entire Drake community.
Phelps replaces Keno Davis, who left the Bulldogs last week to take over at Providence.
Davis spent just one season as the head coach at Drake, where he replaced his father Tom and led the Bulldogs to a 28-5 record and the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
Drake became the first MVC school to win both the regular season and tourney titles since 2002 under Davis and he was named the conference Coach of the Year.
The Bulldogs also made their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1971 and upended Western Kentucky, 101-99, in overtime.
"I am absolutely thrilled that Mark Phelps will assume leadership of the Drake University men's basketball program," said Hatfield Clubb. " His extensive experience as an assistant in the Pac-10 and the ACC, coupled with his commitment to the holistic development of young men, make him the ideal candidate to continue the established success of the Drake Bulldogs.
"Mark is touted as one of the top assistant coaches in college basketball. His character and his demonstrated passion for the game are just two of the many outstanding qualities that attracted us to him. coach Mark Phelps is a perfect fit for Drake University."
Phelps served on the coaching staff at North Carolina State under Herb Sendek from 1996-2006 before joining Sendek at Arizona State in 2006.
"I consider it an honor and privilege to be named the head coach at Drake University," said Phelps. "President (David) Maxwell has fostered a true family environment where the 'Drake experience' is a special one for students, faculty, staff and the entire Drake community.
Phelps replaces Keno Davis, who left the Bulldogs last week to take over at Providence.
Davis spent just one season as the head coach at Drake, where he replaced his father Tom and led the Bulldogs to a 28-5 record and the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
Drake became the first MVC school to win both the regular season and tourney titles since 2002 under Davis and he was named the conference Coach of the Year.
The Bulldogs also made their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1971 and upended Western Kentucky, 101-99, in overtime.
"I am absolutely thrilled that Mark Phelps will assume leadership of the Drake University men's basketball program," said Hatfield Clubb. " His extensive experience as an assistant in the Pac-10 and the ACC, coupled with his commitment to the holistic development of young men, make him the ideal candidate to continue the established success of the Drake Bulldogs.
"Mark is touted as one of the top assistant coaches in college basketball. His character and his demonstrated passion for the game are just two of the many outstanding qualities that attracted us to him. coach Mark Phelps is a perfect fit for Drake University."
Guns N' Roses 'Negotiating' To Release New Album
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
With a new management team in place, Guns N' Roses is "in negotiations" for the release of its decade-in-the-making album "Chinese Democracy," according to a post on the band's Web site.The message did not elaborate on what the discussions concern, or offer an approximate release date for "Chinese Democracy," which was last on Interscope's release schedule in March 2007.In other GNR news, guitarist Robin Finck has left the Axl Rose-led band to return to Nine Inch Nails, and will tour with the latter act this summer."Robin's plans caught everyone in Guns, as well as our fans, a bit off-guard," the band says. "Neither we nor management, etc., know any more in this regard and we prefer not to speculate or offer opinions at this time."
"When we begin to put tour plans together, we'll see where things are," the post continues. "Until then, Robin's touring with NIN and we're working with management on our game plans."
With a new management team in place, Guns N' Roses is "in negotiations" for the release of its decade-in-the-making album "Chinese Democracy," according to a post on the band's Web site.The message did not elaborate on what the discussions concern, or offer an approximate release date for "Chinese Democracy," which was last on Interscope's release schedule in March 2007.In other GNR news, guitarist Robin Finck has left the Axl Rose-led band to return to Nine Inch Nails, and will tour with the latter act this summer."Robin's plans caught everyone in Guns, as well as our fans, a bit off-guard," the band says. "Neither we nor management, etc., know any more in this regard and we prefer not to speculate or offer opinions at this time."
"When we begin to put tour plans together, we'll see where things are," the post continues. "Until then, Robin's touring with NIN and we're working with management on our game plans."
Replacements Leaving Door Open For Reunion
Wes Orshoski, N.Y.
With the first phase of a long-awaited reissue campaign beginning this week, the Replacements are back in the spotlight 17 years removed from their breakup. Even more notable: principal members Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson aren't ruling out the possibility of a reunion.Stinson tells Billboard the group has received lucrative offers to perform at Coachella and other major festivals, and that he and Westerberg were close to accepting this year. The group would have been rounded out by session drummer Josh Freese (replacing original drummer Chris Mars, who has retired from music to focus on painting), and an unnamed lead guitarist (replacing Stinson's late half-brother Bob, who died in 1995)."We actually talked about it again this year, and I think there was a consensus that, you know, maybe it wasn't the right time (to reunite), or maybe it is the right time," Stinson says. "Paul and I were kind of in cahoots talking to them [and] talking to (his manager) Darren (Hill). There were some things thrown out, and there were other festivals that wanted it too, if we were going to do it."At the last minute, it just didn't seem like the right thing to do, so we didn't do it. But I think Paul and I have something to offer each other still. I think that's pretty obvious when we get together.""I'm very hesitant about dragging the name out there and what damage we could do to the legend," Westerberg offers. "Whatever we did, someone would want something else. If I went up there straight, they'd want us wasted. If we were f--ked up, they'd want us to be this or that.
"But, I don't know," he continues. "The records hold the key to the whole thing. So if I was ever going to play, I'd like to play once the whole shooting match is out, because I don't think I could physically get up there and bellow these 18 songs (from) that first record. That's just sheer youth there. I can't find that in a bottle or a pill. I'm just too creaky for that.The group's first four albums arrive in remastered, expanded form tomorrow (April 22) via Rhino. Reissues of the band's four major-label successors for Sire will follow later this year.
With the first phase of a long-awaited reissue campaign beginning this week, the Replacements are back in the spotlight 17 years removed from their breakup. Even more notable: principal members Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson aren't ruling out the possibility of a reunion.Stinson tells Billboard the group has received lucrative offers to perform at Coachella and other major festivals, and that he and Westerberg were close to accepting this year. The group would have been rounded out by session drummer Josh Freese (replacing original drummer Chris Mars, who has retired from music to focus on painting), and an unnamed lead guitarist (replacing Stinson's late half-brother Bob, who died in 1995)."We actually talked about it again this year, and I think there was a consensus that, you know, maybe it wasn't the right time (to reunite), or maybe it is the right time," Stinson says. "Paul and I were kind of in cahoots talking to them [and] talking to (his manager) Darren (Hill). There were some things thrown out, and there were other festivals that wanted it too, if we were going to do it."At the last minute, it just didn't seem like the right thing to do, so we didn't do it. But I think Paul and I have something to offer each other still. I think that's pretty obvious when we get together.""I'm very hesitant about dragging the name out there and what damage we could do to the legend," Westerberg offers. "Whatever we did, someone would want something else. If I went up there straight, they'd want us wasted. If we were f--ked up, they'd want us to be this or that.
"But, I don't know," he continues. "The records hold the key to the whole thing. So if I was ever going to play, I'd like to play once the whole shooting match is out, because I don't think I could physically get up there and bellow these 18 songs (from) that first record. That's just sheer youth there. I can't find that in a bottle or a pill. I'm just too creaky for that.The group's first four albums arrive in remastered, expanded form tomorrow (April 22) via Rhino. Reissues of the band's four major-label successors for Sire will follow later this year.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Jack Nicklaus: Meeting with a legend
Tiger Woods has been everyone’s hero for the past ten years. During this period he has been the dominant player in world golf and has made he No 1 spot in the world rankings his own property for nearly ten straight years. 13 “major” or “grand slam” championship titles and 66 US PGA Tour victories. No current player even comes close. The only other player who dominated the sport like Tiger is doing now is American Jack Nicklaus who was the supreme player in world golf during the 60’s and 70’s. Jack is a living legend and still leads in major titles – 18 in fact. The question on every golf fan’s mind right now – is Tiger going to beat Jack’s major titles record and if so then when will that milestone be reached ? Imagine getting the opportunity to ask Jack Nicklaus himself this question. Well Jack was in Bangalore just recently to examine a potential golf course design project and I was fortunate enough to be able to ask him this question in person. His answer: “I think Tiger probably will break my record although it is not a given. He still has to get the job done. He might do it soon if he wins 2-3 of them in one year and it might never get done – who knows ? But I think it will take him 5-6 years to get the next 6 to get to 19 and go past my record of 18 majors. He has to stay in good health. He just had a 2nd surgery on the same knee. “ This was Jack’s candid opinion. “ I was lucky with my health – had very few injuries in my career.” “ Tiger certainly seems to have his sights set on my records just like I had my sights set on Bobby Jones record of 12. I am happy to just sit back – watch him chase the record and enjoy it”. Obviously this is not something Jack thinks too much about. Tiger’s chase of Jack’s records is more anticipated by fans and media across the globe. So I talked to Mr Nicklaus about comparing the type of game Tiger plays today to the game in his days with so much technological improvement in equipment. Jack said “ Tiger plays a different game today than what I did. But he is a bit of a hybrid player because although he uses a really high tech driver his irons are not very different from the type I used. But Tiger is different from a lot of the other players today because he shapes his shots a lot like we used to do in our time. He fades and draws the ball the way we used to.
This gives him an advantage over other modern players who basically just hit the same type of shot repeatedly. “He added “ Today some of the clubs are designed such that it is difficult to shape your shots. They don’t allow you to be creative. But Tiger’s driver is high tech and it is the club that gives him the most trouble”. His final assessment on Tiger was “ The game is in good hands today with Tiger – he is a good person and liked by his peers which is important”. With Tiger’s near complete domination currently ( Tiger has either won or finished 2nd in all 10 events he has played in 2008), Jack had this to say on Tiger’s challengers: “ In my time I had Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino who all won at least 8 major championships. Today Tiger’s rivals have a maximum of 3 major titles – Phil Mickleson, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els. I also had Tom Watson who won another bunch of majors. Today Tiger’s rivals have not won so often so they are not good at closing the door when they have a chance to win. Tiger is just so much better at that. When he is in a position to win, he doesn’t back down – he gets the job done. ” I asked Jack how much his close rivalry with players like Arnold Palmer and Gary Player affected his game during his prime years and he said “ I never really gave much thought to what my rivals were doing. In this game you can only control your own game – you can’t control what others are doing. But if I looked at the leaderboard when I was not in the lead - it was always one of those guys who was getting in position to win. That’s not the case today. When you look at the leaderboard today – you really don’t know who is going to win. “ So it was with obvious admiration and excitement that I took notes from my first person encounter with a living legend. We will all be watching Mr Woods chase the record but you can be sure of one thing. Its not something Jack loses much sleep over! The author is a former Asian Games gold medalist
This gives him an advantage over other modern players who basically just hit the same type of shot repeatedly. “He added “ Today some of the clubs are designed such that it is difficult to shape your shots. They don’t allow you to be creative. But Tiger’s driver is high tech and it is the club that gives him the most trouble”. His final assessment on Tiger was “ The game is in good hands today with Tiger – he is a good person and liked by his peers which is important”. With Tiger’s near complete domination currently ( Tiger has either won or finished 2nd in all 10 events he has played in 2008), Jack had this to say on Tiger’s challengers: “ In my time I had Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino who all won at least 8 major championships. Today Tiger’s rivals have a maximum of 3 major titles – Phil Mickleson, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els. I also had Tom Watson who won another bunch of majors. Today Tiger’s rivals have not won so often so they are not good at closing the door when they have a chance to win. Tiger is just so much better at that. When he is in a position to win, he doesn’t back down – he gets the job done. ” I asked Jack how much his close rivalry with players like Arnold Palmer and Gary Player affected his game during his prime years and he said “ I never really gave much thought to what my rivals were doing. In this game you can only control your own game – you can’t control what others are doing. But if I looked at the leaderboard when I was not in the lead - it was always one of those guys who was getting in position to win. That’s not the case today. When you look at the leaderboard today – you really don’t know who is going to win. “ So it was with obvious admiration and excitement that I took notes from my first person encounter with a living legend. We will all be watching Mr Woods chase the record but you can be sure of one thing. Its not something Jack loses much sleep over! The author is a former Asian Games gold medalist
Eckstein helps Blue Jays edge Tigers
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - David Eckstein clubbed a three-run homer and finished with two runs scored as the Toronto Blue Jays edged the Detroit Tigers, 5-3, at Rogers Centre.
"It's one of those things," said Eckstein. "For us to be able to be successful we're going to have to get the big hits when we get runners on base, especially against clubs like the Tigers. When you don't know if you have enough runs at any point in the game, you have to be able to get hits with runners in scoring position."
Alex Rios and John McDonald each drove in a run for the Jays, who have won two straight on the heels of a three-game skid. A.J. Burnett (2-1) lasted five innings to pick up the win, yielding three runs on four hits, with six walks and four strikeouts.
Earlier in the day the Jays released designated hitter Frank Thomas. The 39- year-old disgruntled slugger was benched Saturday after hitting just .167 with three homers and 11 RBI in 16 games.
Toronto remains on the hook for the remainder of Thomas' two-year $18 million contract he signed in November of 2006. That deal also included a $10 million option for 2009 if Thomas had made 376 plate appearances this season.
"Obviously you do miss a presence like Frank," said Jays catcher Gregg Zaun. "I'm sure that had he been given the opportunity over the course of the year he probably would have been looking at another Frank Thomas-like number (of home runs).
"We need some offense right now and unfortunately Frank is a notoriously slow starter," Zaun added.
Clete Thomas went 3-for-5 and knocked in a pair for the Tigers, who have dropped three of their last four games. The loss went to Nate Robertson (0-2), who was charged with five runs on eight hits over five innings. He walked a batter and fanned five in the outing.
The Jays put up a run in the first behind back-to-back doubles from Eckstein and Aaron Hill and a ground out by Rios.
Detroit battled back with a pair in the fourth, as Jacque Jones and Edgar Renteria ripped consecutive singles, Ryan Raburn walked and two batters later, Thomas' line drive to center made it 2-1.
McDonald's RBI single and a three-run homer by Eckstein then put the Jays up 5-2 in the home half, but Detroit got a run back its next trip to the plate as Magglio Ordonez walked and scored on Miguel Cabrera's double.
Jeremy Accardo worked the ninth to pick up his fourth save for Toronto.
Game Notes
Thomas batted .277 with 26 homers and 95 RBIs in 2007 in his only full season with the Jays...Tigers DH Gary Sheffield was out of the lineup due to soreness in his right shoulder...Rios has reached base in 17 of his 18 games this year.
"It's one of those things," said Eckstein. "For us to be able to be successful we're going to have to get the big hits when we get runners on base, especially against clubs like the Tigers. When you don't know if you have enough runs at any point in the game, you have to be able to get hits with runners in scoring position."
Alex Rios and John McDonald each drove in a run for the Jays, who have won two straight on the heels of a three-game skid. A.J. Burnett (2-1) lasted five innings to pick up the win, yielding three runs on four hits, with six walks and four strikeouts.
Earlier in the day the Jays released designated hitter Frank Thomas. The 39- year-old disgruntled slugger was benched Saturday after hitting just .167 with three homers and 11 RBI in 16 games.
Toronto remains on the hook for the remainder of Thomas' two-year $18 million contract he signed in November of 2006. That deal also included a $10 million option for 2009 if Thomas had made 376 plate appearances this season.
"Obviously you do miss a presence like Frank," said Jays catcher Gregg Zaun. "I'm sure that had he been given the opportunity over the course of the year he probably would have been looking at another Frank Thomas-like number (of home runs).
"We need some offense right now and unfortunately Frank is a notoriously slow starter," Zaun added.
Clete Thomas went 3-for-5 and knocked in a pair for the Tigers, who have dropped three of their last four games. The loss went to Nate Robertson (0-2), who was charged with five runs on eight hits over five innings. He walked a batter and fanned five in the outing.
The Jays put up a run in the first behind back-to-back doubles from Eckstein and Aaron Hill and a ground out by Rios.
Detroit battled back with a pair in the fourth, as Jacque Jones and Edgar Renteria ripped consecutive singles, Ryan Raburn walked and two batters later, Thomas' line drive to center made it 2-1.
McDonald's RBI single and a three-run homer by Eckstein then put the Jays up 5-2 in the home half, but Detroit got a run back its next trip to the plate as Magglio Ordonez walked and scored on Miguel Cabrera's double.
Jeremy Accardo worked the ninth to pick up his fourth save for Toronto.
Game Notes
Thomas batted .277 with 26 homers and 95 RBIs in 2007 in his only full season with the Jays...Tigers DH Gary Sheffield was out of the lineup due to soreness in his right shoulder...Rios has reached base in 17 of his 18 games this year.
Season of change ends in disappointment for Devils
By Tom Canavan, AP Sports Writer
NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils opened the season with a new coach, a new arena and a relatively new identity.
Ending the campaign with an embarrassing first-round playoff loss to the rival New York Rangers is going to bring about more changes next year.
"It's definitely going to be a long offseason for a lot of us," Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner said. "We expected to be playing into June. This is definitely tough.
"You work all year to get to the playoffs," he added. "We thought we would play for (the Cup) again. It's up for grabs and we liked our team. I feel we didn't reach our potential. That's frustrating."
Despite losing star center Scott Gomez to free agency, the Devils had hopes of winning a fourth Stanley Cup in this season of change.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Colorado Eastern Conference Stanley Cup New York Rangers Newark New Jersey Devils Martin Brodeur Jaromir Jagr John Madden Meadowlands Scott Gomez Patrik Elias Brian Gionta Lou Lamoriello Jamie Langenbrunner Prudential Center Travis Zajac Ryan Callahan
Brent Sutter was going to give them a no-nonsense coach. The team expected an emotional lift moving from the Meadowlands sports complex to Newark and the new Prudential Center, and they seemingly had the best goaltender in hockey in Martin Brodeur.
After a slow start, the Devils started clicking and eventually took over the top spot in the Eastern Conference in late February. They stayed there on-and-off through the middle of March and then slumped in the final month, finishing with a 4-5-1 record.
They did not win a game in regulation after a 4-2 win at Colorado on March 15.
The Rangers, who won seven of eight games against New Jersey in the regular season, continued the trend in the postseason, taking out the Devils in five games. New York won all three games at the Prudential Center, the first time the Devils lost all three games at home in a playoff series.
"When you limp into the playoffs, this is the result you get," veteran center John Madden said.
Watching the Devils, there is no doubt that president and general manager Lou Lamoriello needs to go out in the offseason and find a scorer.
Zach Parise led the team with 32 goals this season, but there were only three other players with at least 20 goals - Brian Gionta (22), and Patrik Elias and Madden with 20 apiece.
Langenbrunner, who missed the first five weeks of the season with a groin injury, finished with only 13 goals. Dainius Zubrus, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason, scored only 13, while center Travis Zajac suffered the sophomore blues and finished with 14 goals, three less than his rookie season.
The lack of scoring hurt in losing the first two playoff games against the Rangers, but it was mistakes and a sub-par Brodeur that eventually sent the Devils packing.
New Jersey was at its worst in the third period, being outscored 9-2 by the Rangers.
"It used to be we would win when we were in those positions (in the third period)," Elias said. "We used to thrive on that, the third period was our period. This year, we just found a way to lose those games."
The third-period mistakes were glaring. Brodeur started it with a puckhandling error against Ryan Callahan in Game 1. Colin White made the goof in Game 2, bumping Brodeur off the goalpost in a scoreless third period to set up Jaromir Jagr's go-ahead goal.
Turnovers in the final two games led to 5-3 wins by the Rangers.
"I think to some degree as the series went on he (Brodeur) looked tired mentally," Sutter said. "He did a lot for this team this year."
Brodeur, who will turn 36 next month, posted his fourth straight 40-win season (44-27-6), and his eighth overall.
However, he did not come up with the big saves against the Rangers.
Jagr said it's tough to judge Brodeur on one series.
"I don't think he lost confidence, but it looked like he didn't make the big saves like he used to," Jagr said. "It doesn't make him a bad goalie. For me, he is still the best ever."
Defensively, the Devils only gave up 197 goals in the regular season, but the Rangers tallied 19 in the playoffs, including two into empty nets.
"We're a team that took pride in playing well, especially in our own zone," Sutter said. "We didn't do enough to be successful. That's the bottom line. It's disappointing."
NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils opened the season with a new coach, a new arena and a relatively new identity.
Ending the campaign with an embarrassing first-round playoff loss to the rival New York Rangers is going to bring about more changes next year.
"It's definitely going to be a long offseason for a lot of us," Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner said. "We expected to be playing into June. This is definitely tough.
"You work all year to get to the playoffs," he added. "We thought we would play for (the Cup) again. It's up for grabs and we liked our team. I feel we didn't reach our potential. That's frustrating."
Despite losing star center Scott Gomez to free agency, the Devils had hopes of winning a fourth Stanley Cup in this season of change.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Colorado Eastern Conference Stanley Cup New York Rangers Newark New Jersey Devils Martin Brodeur Jaromir Jagr John Madden Meadowlands Scott Gomez Patrik Elias Brian Gionta Lou Lamoriello Jamie Langenbrunner Prudential Center Travis Zajac Ryan Callahan
Brent Sutter was going to give them a no-nonsense coach. The team expected an emotional lift moving from the Meadowlands sports complex to Newark and the new Prudential Center, and they seemingly had the best goaltender in hockey in Martin Brodeur.
After a slow start, the Devils started clicking and eventually took over the top spot in the Eastern Conference in late February. They stayed there on-and-off through the middle of March and then slumped in the final month, finishing with a 4-5-1 record.
They did not win a game in regulation after a 4-2 win at Colorado on March 15.
The Rangers, who won seven of eight games against New Jersey in the regular season, continued the trend in the postseason, taking out the Devils in five games. New York won all three games at the Prudential Center, the first time the Devils lost all three games at home in a playoff series.
"When you limp into the playoffs, this is the result you get," veteran center John Madden said.
Watching the Devils, there is no doubt that president and general manager Lou Lamoriello needs to go out in the offseason and find a scorer.
Zach Parise led the team with 32 goals this season, but there were only three other players with at least 20 goals - Brian Gionta (22), and Patrik Elias and Madden with 20 apiece.
Langenbrunner, who missed the first five weeks of the season with a groin injury, finished with only 13 goals. Dainius Zubrus, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason, scored only 13, while center Travis Zajac suffered the sophomore blues and finished with 14 goals, three less than his rookie season.
The lack of scoring hurt in losing the first two playoff games against the Rangers, but it was mistakes and a sub-par Brodeur that eventually sent the Devils packing.
New Jersey was at its worst in the third period, being outscored 9-2 by the Rangers.
"It used to be we would win when we were in those positions (in the third period)," Elias said. "We used to thrive on that, the third period was our period. This year, we just found a way to lose those games."
The third-period mistakes were glaring. Brodeur started it with a puckhandling error against Ryan Callahan in Game 1. Colin White made the goof in Game 2, bumping Brodeur off the goalpost in a scoreless third period to set up Jaromir Jagr's go-ahead goal.
Turnovers in the final two games led to 5-3 wins by the Rangers.
"I think to some degree as the series went on he (Brodeur) looked tired mentally," Sutter said. "He did a lot for this team this year."
Brodeur, who will turn 36 next month, posted his fourth straight 40-win season (44-27-6), and his eighth overall.
However, he did not come up with the big saves against the Rangers.
Jagr said it's tough to judge Brodeur on one series.
"I don't think he lost confidence, but it looked like he didn't make the big saves like he used to," Jagr said. "It doesn't make him a bad goalie. For me, he is still the best ever."
Defensively, the Devils only gave up 197 goals in the regular season, but the Rangers tallied 19 in the playoffs, including two into empty nets.
"We're a team that took pride in playing well, especially in our own zone," Sutter said. "We didn't do enough to be successful. That's the bottom line. It's disappointing."
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Shaq out with hip bruise
By Sports Network
The Sports Network
Shaquille O'Neal sat out Tuesday night's 127-113 win over the Memphis Grizzlies due to a bruised right hip.
O'Neal injured his hip early in a 105-98 loss to Dallas on Sunday when he fouled Mavericks guard Jason Terry. Terry's knee went into O'Neal's hip on the play. O'Neal stayed in Sunday's game, but was not available for Tuesday's contest.
The 7-foot-1 center missed his first game since he debuted in a Suns uniform on Feb. 20. O'Neal has averaged 13.4 points and 10.6 rebounds in 24 contests for Phoenix.
The Sports Network
Shaquille O'Neal sat out Tuesday night's 127-113 win over the Memphis Grizzlies due to a bruised right hip.
O'Neal injured his hip early in a 105-98 loss to Dallas on Sunday when he fouled Mavericks guard Jason Terry. Terry's knee went into O'Neal's hip on the play. O'Neal stayed in Sunday's game, but was not available for Tuesday's contest.
The 7-foot-1 center missed his first game since he debuted in a Suns uniform on Feb. 20. O'Neal has averaged 13.4 points and 10.6 rebounds in 24 contests for Phoenix.
SHARAPOVA WINS OPENER
Maria Sharapova coasted through her opening match of the Bausch and Lomb Championships with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Czech qualifier Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the second round on Tuesday.
Sharapova, who missed last week's Sony Ericsson Open in Miami due to a right shoulder injury, had not played since losing her first match of 2008 in the semi-finals at Indian Wells.
But in her inaugural appearance at Amelia Island, Sharapova showed no rustiness, dispatching Strycova in 70 minutes at the claycourt event.
The 20-year-old was particularly sharp in the opening set, winning 80 per cent (12 out of 15) of her first serves and needing just 23 minutes to wrap it up.
Sharapova began the year by winning 18 straight matches, capturing titles at the Australian Open and Doha, before the defeat at the hands of fellow countrywoman Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Sharapova, one of the top eight seeds to receive a first-round bye, has never made a claycourt final, only reaching three semi-finals.
Sharapova's main competition could come from second seed Anna Chakvetadze of Russia and third Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia - a pair players who begin their campaigns on Wednesday.
Another player who may challenge for the title is three-time champion and 16th seed Lindsay Davenport, who defeated countrywoman Vania King 6-2 6-3 in their first-round match on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old American, who won here in 1997, 2004 and 2005, has won 30 of 35 matches in 10 appearances here.
Davenport is 43-6 with four titles since returning to the WTA Tour last September, following an 11-month absence to have her first child.
Fourth seed Marion Bartoli of France was upset in her second-round match, falling in three sets to Olga Govortsova of Belarus 4-6 6-2 6-4.
Having reached a career-high ranking of ninth in October, Bartoli continued a miserable stretch which has seen her lose eight of her last 10 contests.
Hungary's Agnes Szavay had no such troubles, defeating Ekaterina Makarova 6-4 6-1 in the second round.
Sharapova, who missed last week's Sony Ericsson Open in Miami due to a right shoulder injury, had not played since losing her first match of 2008 in the semi-finals at Indian Wells.
But in her inaugural appearance at Amelia Island, Sharapova showed no rustiness, dispatching Strycova in 70 minutes at the claycourt event.
The 20-year-old was particularly sharp in the opening set, winning 80 per cent (12 out of 15) of her first serves and needing just 23 minutes to wrap it up.
Sharapova began the year by winning 18 straight matches, capturing titles at the Australian Open and Doha, before the defeat at the hands of fellow countrywoman Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Sharapova, one of the top eight seeds to receive a first-round bye, has never made a claycourt final, only reaching three semi-finals.
Sharapova's main competition could come from second seed Anna Chakvetadze of Russia and third Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia - a pair players who begin their campaigns on Wednesday.
Another player who may challenge for the title is three-time champion and 16th seed Lindsay Davenport, who defeated countrywoman Vania King 6-2 6-3 in their first-round match on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old American, who won here in 1997, 2004 and 2005, has won 30 of 35 matches in 10 appearances here.
Davenport is 43-6 with four titles since returning to the WTA Tour last September, following an 11-month absence to have her first child.
Fourth seed Marion Bartoli of France was upset in her second-round match, falling in three sets to Olga Govortsova of Belarus 4-6 6-2 6-4.
Having reached a career-high ranking of ninth in October, Bartoli continued a miserable stretch which has seen her lose eight of her last 10 contests.
Hungary's Agnes Szavay had no such troubles, defeating Ekaterina Makarova 6-4 6-1 in the second round.
Prince To Headline Second Night Of Coachella
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Prince will make what is believed to be his first U.S. festival appearance ever at Coachella later this month. Organizers confirmed today that the artist will headline the Saturday (April 26) lineup, joining previously announced headliners Jack Johnson (April 25) and Roger Waters (April 27).The addition is reminiscent of 2006, when Madonna joined the Coachella bill just a few weeks before the show. But she performed just five songs in the dance tent, whereas Prince will play a full show on the main stage.This year's Coachella will also feature performances by Kraftwerk, Portishead, the Verve, Aphex Twin, My Morning Jacket, Spiritualized, the Breeders and Serj Tankian, among many others."In this year of a lot of festivals, we think we’ve dug pretty deep," Coachella booker Paul Tollett tells Billboard.com. "We're in our ninth year, and this is a really great addition to the whole story. It's exciting to add another artist into the mix that hasn't played festivals."
Prince, who has been a rumored Coachella headliner for several years, has just one other date on his upcoming schedule: a June 16 show at Dublin's Croke Park.
Prince will make what is believed to be his first U.S. festival appearance ever at Coachella later this month. Organizers confirmed today that the artist will headline the Saturday (April 26) lineup, joining previously announced headliners Jack Johnson (April 25) and Roger Waters (April 27).The addition is reminiscent of 2006, when Madonna joined the Coachella bill just a few weeks before the show. But she performed just five songs in the dance tent, whereas Prince will play a full show on the main stage.This year's Coachella will also feature performances by Kraftwerk, Portishead, the Verve, Aphex Twin, My Morning Jacket, Spiritualized, the Breeders and Serj Tankian, among many others."In this year of a lot of festivals, we think we’ve dug pretty deep," Coachella booker Paul Tollett tells Billboard.com. "We're in our ninth year, and this is a really great addition to the whole story. It's exciting to add another artist into the mix that hasn't played festivals."
Prince, who has been a rumored Coachella headliner for several years, has just one other date on his upcoming schedule: a June 16 show at Dublin's Croke Park.
Strait Speeds Past R.E.M. To Debut At No. 1
For the fourth time in his career, country vet George Strait earns the No. 1 spot on The Billboard 200 with "Troubadour." According to Nielsen SoundScan, the MCA Nashville album moved 166,000 copies, more than enough to push him to the summit of the Top Country Albums tally, his 22nd No. 1 there. The Billboard 200 has hosted at least one new entry from Strait every year since 1984.R.E.M. scores its highest sales and charting week in nearly 12 years with the Warner Bros. set "Accelerate," which debuts at No. 2 with 115,000. "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" also started at No. 2 in September 1996.The multi-label "NOW 27" compilation experiences an 11% sales loss to 60,000, though it climbs 5-3. Last week's chart-topper, Day26's self-titled Bad Boy effort, falls to No. 4 with 51,000, a whopping 73% sales decline. In its 18th week on the chart, the Fox/Razor & Tie soundtrack to "Alvin and the Chipmunks" propels itself back into the top 10 16-5 with a 111% sales increase (also with 51,000); the film was released on DVD on April 1. Rapper Trina bows with "Still Da Baddest" (Slip-N-Slide) at No. 6 with 47,000, her first top 10 set. Her last album, "Glamorest Life," entered at No. 11, though with better sales at 77,000.Danity Kane's sophomore album, "Welcome to the Dollhouse" (Bad Boy), descends 4-7 with 47,0000 (-47%), while Counting Crows' "Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings" (Geffen) slips 3-8 with 43,000 (-59%). With 41,000, Rick Ross' "Trilla" (Slip-N-Slide/Def Jam) falls 6-9 on a 20% sales dip.
Van Morrison's Lost Highway album "Keep It Simple" earns the songwriter his first top 10 hit of his 40-plus-year career, debuting at No. 10 with 37,000. His previous high water marks were with 2005's "Magic Time" and 2002's "Down the Road," both at No. 25.In a week where 31 titles debut on the chart, the Rolling Stones' Interscope soundtrack to its Martin Scorsese-directed concert film "Shine a Light" bows at No. 11 with 37,000, while the Black Keys' "Attack and Release" (Nonesuch) begins at No. 14 with 29,000, both career bests for the Akron, Ohio-based duo.Rock act Sevendust's "Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow" (Asylum) has a No. 19 start with 25,000 and George Michael's Epic retrospective "Twentyfive" debuts at No. 23 with 23,000.Album sales this week are down 3.5% compared to last week at 7.99 million and down 24.5% against the same week in 2007.
Van Morrison's Lost Highway album "Keep It Simple" earns the songwriter his first top 10 hit of his 40-plus-year career, debuting at No. 10 with 37,000. His previous high water marks were with 2005's "Magic Time" and 2002's "Down the Road," both at No. 25.In a week where 31 titles debut on the chart, the Rolling Stones' Interscope soundtrack to its Martin Scorsese-directed concert film "Shine a Light" bows at No. 11 with 37,000, while the Black Keys' "Attack and Release" (Nonesuch) begins at No. 14 with 29,000, both career bests for the Akron, Ohio-based duo.Rock act Sevendust's "Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow" (Asylum) has a No. 19 start with 25,000 and George Michael's Epic retrospective "Twentyfive" debuts at No. 23 with 23,000.Album sales this week are down 3.5% compared to last week at 7.99 million and down 24.5% against the same week in 2007.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
NHL sets attendance record
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The National Hockey League, aided by tight races among several teams jockeying for playoffs spots, on Monday said fan attendance for the 2007-2008 regular season rose 1.8 percent to a record high for the third consecutive year.
Total attendance at more than 21.24 million resulted in a per-game average of 17,265 people per game, the NHL said in a statement. That was the first time the league topped 17,000 per game in a season.
Analysts have said in the past that the NHL, with much smaller national television contracts than other U.S. pro sports leagues, relies more heavily on fan attendance.
NHL teams played to 93.6 percent of capacity over the 1,230 games, outdoing the 2006-2007 season figures of 20.86 million and 16,961 per-game, or 91.7 percent of capacity, the NHL said. In 2005-2006, the respective figures were 20.85 million and 16,955 per game. NHL games have attracted 20 million or more fans in each of the past seven seasons.
In the just-completed regular season, the NHL's six Canadian teams once again sold every possible ticket, including the Montreal Canadiens team that led the league with a per-game average of 21,273.
Some analysts and observers of the sport have speculated that some of the teams in the southern part of the United States should be folded or relocated to Canada, where hockey is a more popular sport.
For the purposes of calculation, the Buffalo Sabres were credited with a normal regular-season sellout (18,690) for the Winter Classic against the Pittsburgh Penguins on New Year's Day at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo. If the actual attendance of 71,217 for the outdoor game is included, the aggregate NHL attendance increases to 21.29 million, or 17,302 per game.
(Reporting by Ben Klayman, editing by Mark Porter)
Total attendance at more than 21.24 million resulted in a per-game average of 17,265 people per game, the NHL said in a statement. That was the first time the league topped 17,000 per game in a season.
Analysts have said in the past that the NHL, with much smaller national television contracts than other U.S. pro sports leagues, relies more heavily on fan attendance.
NHL teams played to 93.6 percent of capacity over the 1,230 games, outdoing the 2006-2007 season figures of 20.86 million and 16,961 per-game, or 91.7 percent of capacity, the NHL said. In 2005-2006, the respective figures were 20.85 million and 16,955 per game. NHL games have attracted 20 million or more fans in each of the past seven seasons.
In the just-completed regular season, the NHL's six Canadian teams once again sold every possible ticket, including the Montreal Canadiens team that led the league with a per-game average of 21,273.
Some analysts and observers of the sport have speculated that some of the teams in the southern part of the United States should be folded or relocated to Canada, where hockey is a more popular sport.
For the purposes of calculation, the Buffalo Sabres were credited with a normal regular-season sellout (18,690) for the Winter Classic against the Pittsburgh Penguins on New Year's Day at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo. If the actual attendance of 71,217 for the outdoor game is included, the aggregate NHL attendance increases to 21.29 million, or 17,302 per game.
(Reporting by Ben Klayman, editing by Mark Porter)
Davydenko shocks Nadal
MIAMI: Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko defeated Spanish second seed Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-2 Sunday in the final of the $3.77-million Miami ATP Masters Series Sony Ericsson Open hardcourt event.
Davydenko won $590,000 and his 12th career ATP title, his first since capturing the crown at Moscow last October and what he dubbed the biggest title of his career.
Davydenko’s best Miami result in six prior appearances was reaching the fourth round two years ago.
“For me it’s surprising standing here [as the winner]. I never play good in Miami,” Davydenko said. “For me to beat Nadal in the final, first time in my career. I think it’s crazy.”
Reigning French Open champion Nadal, ranked second in the world for a record 140 weeks in a row since July of 2005, had won both prior meetings with Davydenko but struggled from the start Sunday.
Davydenko became the first Russian to win the Miami crown by dispatching two foes in a row he had never beaten. He ousted Andy Roddick in the semifinals despite having lost all five prior matches with the sixth-seeded American.
“Beating those two guys in two sets was amazing to me,” Davydenko said.
“Maybe something in my tennis will change from Miami in the future. Maybe I feel more confident because I beat very good guys here and now in the future maybe something different, maybe much faster, maybe much better.”
Davydenko broke Nadal early but the Spaniard broke back at love when the Russian netted a forehand to level the first set at 2-2. Nadal held but Davydenko won six of the next seven games to seize command of the match.
Nadal was broken in the seventh game by Davydenko, who held twice more to claim the opening set, then broke the Spaniard again to begin the second set when Nadal sent a forehand wide.
Nadal surrendered another break in the fifth game of the second set when Davydenko blasted a winner past him for a 4-1 lead. Davydenko held at love for a 5-1 edge and, after Nadal held serve, closed out the match on his second championship point opportunity with a forehand winner after 82 minutes.
Davydenko, who was down a match point earlier in the tournament, stunned even himself by using the same racket throughout the week.
“I want to keep forever this racket,” he said.
Nadal had been an ATP-best 21-5 in reaching the final before Davydenko denied him a 24th career title and what would have been his first ATP crown since Stuttgart in July.
“He played at a very good level. I didn’t play a good match. That’s it,” Nadal said. “When you don’t play at 100 percent against top players, it’s tough to win. I didn’t feel my rhythm on the court so I played a bad game today.”
Nadal, 21, was foiled in his bid to be the first Spaniard to take the Miami title, having also finished runner-up in 2005 when he lost to world number one Roger Federer, who was ousted by Roddick in a quarter-final this week.
Davydenko, 26, spent much of last year dealing with an ATP match-fixing probe that remains unresolved.--AFP
Davydenko won $590,000 and his 12th career ATP title, his first since capturing the crown at Moscow last October and what he dubbed the biggest title of his career.
Davydenko’s best Miami result in six prior appearances was reaching the fourth round two years ago.
“For me it’s surprising standing here [as the winner]. I never play good in Miami,” Davydenko said. “For me to beat Nadal in the final, first time in my career. I think it’s crazy.”
Reigning French Open champion Nadal, ranked second in the world for a record 140 weeks in a row since July of 2005, had won both prior meetings with Davydenko but struggled from the start Sunday.
Davydenko became the first Russian to win the Miami crown by dispatching two foes in a row he had never beaten. He ousted Andy Roddick in the semifinals despite having lost all five prior matches with the sixth-seeded American.
“Beating those two guys in two sets was amazing to me,” Davydenko said.
“Maybe something in my tennis will change from Miami in the future. Maybe I feel more confident because I beat very good guys here and now in the future maybe something different, maybe much faster, maybe much better.”
Davydenko broke Nadal early but the Spaniard broke back at love when the Russian netted a forehand to level the first set at 2-2. Nadal held but Davydenko won six of the next seven games to seize command of the match.
Nadal was broken in the seventh game by Davydenko, who held twice more to claim the opening set, then broke the Spaniard again to begin the second set when Nadal sent a forehand wide.
Nadal surrendered another break in the fifth game of the second set when Davydenko blasted a winner past him for a 4-1 lead. Davydenko held at love for a 5-1 edge and, after Nadal held serve, closed out the match on his second championship point opportunity with a forehand winner after 82 minutes.
Davydenko, who was down a match point earlier in the tournament, stunned even himself by using the same racket throughout the week.
“I want to keep forever this racket,” he said.
Nadal had been an ATP-best 21-5 in reaching the final before Davydenko denied him a 24th career title and what would have been his first ATP crown since Stuttgart in July.
“He played at a very good level. I didn’t play a good match. That’s it,” Nadal said. “When you don’t play at 100 percent against top players, it’s tough to win. I didn’t feel my rhythm on the court so I played a bad game today.”
Nadal, 21, was foiled in his bid to be the first Spaniard to take the Miami title, having also finished runner-up in 2005 when he lost to world number one Roger Federer, who was ousted by Roddick in a quarter-final this week.
Davydenko, 26, spent much of last year dealing with an ATP match-fixing probe that remains unresolved.--AFP
The Roots Bump 'Birthday' From New Album
Gary Graff, Detroit
The intended first single from the Roots' new album, which features Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump, has fallen off of "Rising Down," due April 29 via Def Jam.Drummer and co-producer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson tells Billboard.com that the track, "Birthday Girl," has been bumped simply because it does not fit the tone of what he calls "the most incendiary, political album of our career to date.""It was just sticking out like a sore thumb," Thompson says of "Birthday Girl," which was built from an idea that's been around since sessions for the Roots' 2004 album "The Tipping Point." "Initially it was going to kick-start the record ... but then that didn't work. Then we were going to have a 'halftime' thing where it was gonna come in the middle of the record as a break from the political thing, but that didn't work, either."Then we tried to make it the last song on the record, and that wasn't working," he continues. "Then we tried to make it the hidden track, and that wasn't effective. Basically the album was complete; it starts with 'Rising Down' and it ends with 'Rising Up,' so that makes more sense to me."Thompson says that even though it won't be on the album, "Birthday Girl" will still be available as an iTunes exclusive later this month. The Roots and Stump -- who became friendly with the band at its 2004 pre-Grammy Awards jam session -- have filmed a video for "Birthday Girl," which will be available on viral outlets.
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"Rising Down" also features guest appearances by Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Saigon and others. The political tone, Thompson says, was inspired by circumstances in the Roots' native Philadelphia, where high school dropout rates are 45 percent and crime has sharply increased."Add up all that, plus being in your mid-30s and working 300 nights a year and this being an election year -- yeah, all that's what this album's about," Thompson says.The Roots kick off a U.S. tour tomorrow (April 9), which includes appearances at the Green Apple Festival in Washington, D.C., the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. An eight-show run with Erykah Badu begins May 4 in Detroit.
The intended first single from the Roots' new album, which features Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump, has fallen off of "Rising Down," due April 29 via Def Jam.Drummer and co-producer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson tells Billboard.com that the track, "Birthday Girl," has been bumped simply because it does not fit the tone of what he calls "the most incendiary, political album of our career to date.""It was just sticking out like a sore thumb," Thompson says of "Birthday Girl," which was built from an idea that's been around since sessions for the Roots' 2004 album "The Tipping Point." "Initially it was going to kick-start the record ... but then that didn't work. Then we were going to have a 'halftime' thing where it was gonna come in the middle of the record as a break from the political thing, but that didn't work, either."Then we tried to make it the last song on the record, and that wasn't working," he continues. "Then we tried to make it the hidden track, and that wasn't effective. Basically the album was complete; it starts with 'Rising Down' and it ends with 'Rising Up,' so that makes more sense to me."Thompson says that even though it won't be on the album, "Birthday Girl" will still be available as an iTunes exclusive later this month. The Roots and Stump -- who became friendly with the band at its 2004 pre-Grammy Awards jam session -- have filmed a video for "Birthday Girl," which will be available on viral outlets.
CM8ShowAd("Middle");
"Rising Down" also features guest appearances by Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Saigon and others. The political tone, Thompson says, was inspired by circumstances in the Roots' native Philadelphia, where high school dropout rates are 45 percent and crime has sharply increased."Add up all that, plus being in your mid-30s and working 300 nights a year and this being an election year -- yeah, all that's what this album's about," Thompson says.The Roots kick off a U.S. tour tomorrow (April 9), which includes appearances at the Green Apple Festival in Washington, D.C., the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. An eight-show run with Erykah Badu begins May 4 in Detroit.
Stone Temple Pilots Rock Houdini Mansion
Group Confirms Reunion Plans During Short Set
Mitchell Peters, L.A.
The reunited Stone Temple Pilots solidified their summer reunion tour plans last night (April 7) with a brief performance at the former estate of magician Harry Houdini, tucked away in Los Angeles' Hollywood Hills.The group's 30-minute set, its first since disbanding in 2002, featured modern rock radio staples such as "Big Empty," "Plush," "Interstate Love Song" and "Vasoline." Frontman Scott Weiland didn't say much, but he made one thing clear to the hundreds of radio contest winners, celebrities and music industry onlookers: "We're back and we're going on tour this summer." As previously reported, STP will embark on a full-fledged summer amphitheater tour of North America, beginning with the Rock on the Range festival on May 17 at Columbus, Ohio's Columbus Crew Stadium. Live Nation will produce many dates on the upcoming 65-date trek. The group's last tour in 2002 grossed nearly $1.3 million from 13 concerts that drew approximately 42,000 concertgoers, according to Billboard Boxscore. Ahead of its summer jaunt, the band has launched a new Web site and official fan club that will give concertgoers access to pre-sale tickets, as well as VIP packages and premium seating. Dates for the first leg of the tour can be found on the site.Last night, STP also played "Lady Picture Show," "Big Bang Baby" and "Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart." Weiland said the concert's setting at the Harry Houdini Estate had special meaning to the band.
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"We shot our video for 'Creep' here in the early '90s -- yeah, we're old," the singer joked, noting that the Gus Van Sant-produced clip never saw the light of day. "It looked like an Obsession commercial, which is cool, but it wasn't what we wanted to portray." Last night's tour announcement arrived a week after Velvet Revolver founding members Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner released a statement saying Weiland was out of the band. The singer responded to the move via a venom-filled statement of his own. Velvet Revolver's last concert with Weiland was April 1 at Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam. A new singer has not yet been named, despite Weiland's suggestion that "Sebastian Bach would be a fantastic choice."The reunited STP -- Weiland, guitarist Dean DeLeo, bassist Robert DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz -- plans to record a new album once the tour ends. The band's last album was 2001's "Shangri-La Dee Da," which has shifted 364,000 units in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Mitchell Peters, L.A.
The reunited Stone Temple Pilots solidified their summer reunion tour plans last night (April 7) with a brief performance at the former estate of magician Harry Houdini, tucked away in Los Angeles' Hollywood Hills.The group's 30-minute set, its first since disbanding in 2002, featured modern rock radio staples such as "Big Empty," "Plush," "Interstate Love Song" and "Vasoline." Frontman Scott Weiland didn't say much, but he made one thing clear to the hundreds of radio contest winners, celebrities and music industry onlookers: "We're back and we're going on tour this summer." As previously reported, STP will embark on a full-fledged summer amphitheater tour of North America, beginning with the Rock on the Range festival on May 17 at Columbus, Ohio's Columbus Crew Stadium. Live Nation will produce many dates on the upcoming 65-date trek. The group's last tour in 2002 grossed nearly $1.3 million from 13 concerts that drew approximately 42,000 concertgoers, according to Billboard Boxscore. Ahead of its summer jaunt, the band has launched a new Web site and official fan club that will give concertgoers access to pre-sale tickets, as well as VIP packages and premium seating. Dates for the first leg of the tour can be found on the site.Last night, STP also played "Lady Picture Show," "Big Bang Baby" and "Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart." Weiland said the concert's setting at the Harry Houdini Estate had special meaning to the band.
CM8ShowAd("Middle");
"We shot our video for 'Creep' here in the early '90s -- yeah, we're old," the singer joked, noting that the Gus Van Sant-produced clip never saw the light of day. "It looked like an Obsession commercial, which is cool, but it wasn't what we wanted to portray." Last night's tour announcement arrived a week after Velvet Revolver founding members Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner released a statement saying Weiland was out of the band. The singer responded to the move via a venom-filled statement of his own. Velvet Revolver's last concert with Weiland was April 1 at Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam. A new singer has not yet been named, despite Weiland's suggestion that "Sebastian Bach would be a fantastic choice."The reunited STP -- Weiland, guitarist Dean DeLeo, bassist Robert DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz -- plans to record a new album once the tour ends. The band's last album was 2001's "Shangri-La Dee Da," which has shifted 364,000 units in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Unrelenting demonstrations in disrupt Olympic torch relay across Paris, in second day of chaos
PARIS - Paris' Olympic torch relay descended into chaos Monday, with protesters scaling the Eiffel Tower, grabbing for the flame and forcing security officials to repeatedly snuff out the torch and transport it by bus past demonstrators yelling "Free Tibet!"
The relentless anti-Chinese demonstrations ignited across the capital with unexpected power and ingenuity, foiling 3,000 police officers deployed on motorcycles, in jogging gear and even inline skates.
Chinese organizers finally gave up on the relay, canceling the last third of what China had hoped would be a joyous jog by torch-bearing VIPs past some of Paris' most famous landmarks.
Thousands of protesters slowed the relay to a stop-start crawl, with impassioned displays of anger over China's human rights record, its grip on Tibet and support for Sudan despite years of bloodshed in Darfur.
Five times, the Chinese officials in dark glasses and tracksuits who guard the torch extinguished it and retreated to the safety of a bus — the last time emerging only after the vehicle drove within 15 feet of the final stop, a track and field stadium. A torchbearer then ran the final steps inside.
Outside, a few French activists supporting Tibet had a fist-fight with pro-Chinese demonstrators. The French activists spat on them and shouted, "Fascists!"
In San Francisco, where the torch is due to arrive Wednesday, three protesters wearing harnesses and helmets climbed up the Golden Gate Bridge and tied the Tibetan flag and two banners to its cables. The banners read "One World One Dream. Free Tibet" and "Free Tibet." They later climbed down.
In all, seven people were charged with conspiracy and causing a public nuisance, with the three climbers facing additional charges of trespassing, said Mary Ziegenbien, a spokeswoman with the California Highway Patrol.
On Tuesday, China condemned protests as "despicable," blaming them on groups seeking to split Tibet from the country.
The 17.4-mile route in Paris started at the Eiffel Tower, headed down the Champs-Elysees toward City Hall, then crossed the Seine before ending at the Charlety track and field stadium.
Throughout the day, protesters booed trucks emblazoned with the names of Olympic corporate sponsors, chained themselves to railings and hurled water at the flame. Some unfurled banners depicting the Olympic rings as handcuffs from the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame cathedral. Others waved signs reading "the flame of shame."
The Interior Ministry said police made 18 arrests.
Officers sprayed tear gas to break up a sit-in by about 300 pro-Tibet demonstrators who blocked the route. Police tackled protesters who ran at the torch; at least two activists got within arm's length before they were grabbed by police. Near the Louvre, police blocked a protester who approached the flame with a fire extinguisher.
One detained demonstrator, handcuffed in a police bus, wrote "liber" on her right palm and "te" on the other — spelling the French word for "freedom" — and held them up to the window.
With protesters slowing down the relay, a planned stop at Paris City Hall was canceled. Earlier, French officials hung a banner declaring support for human rights on the building's facade.
A spokesman for the French Olympic Committee, Denis Masseglia, estimated that a third of the 80 athletes and other VIPs who had been slated to carry the torch did not get to do so.
On a bus carrying French athletes, one man in a track suit shed a tear as protesters pelted the vehicle with eggs, bottles and soda cans.
The chaos started at the Eiffel Tower moments after the relay began. Green Party activist Sylvain Garel lunged for the first torchbearer, former hurdler Stephane Diagana, shouting "Freedom for the Chinese," before security officials pulled him back.
"It is inadmissible that the games are taking place in the world's biggest prison," Garel said later.
Outside parliament, as the torch passed, 35 lawmakers protested, shouting "Freedom for Tibet."
"The flame shouldn't have come to Paris," said Carmen de Santiago, who had "free" painted on one cheek and "Tibet" on the other.
Pro-Chinese activists carrying national flags held counter-demonstrations.
"The Olympic Games are about sports. It's not fair to turn them into politics," said Gao Yi, a Chinese doctoral student in computer science.
France's former sports minister, Jean-Francois Lamour, stressed that though the torch was extinguished along the route, the Olympic flame itself still burned in a lantern where it is kept overnight and on airplane flights. A Chinese official said that flame was used to re-light the torch each time it was brought aboard the bus.
Pro-Tibet advocate Christophe Cunniet said he and other activists were detained after they waved Tibetan flags, threw flyers and tried to block the route. Cunniet said police kicked him, cutting his forehead. "I'm still dazed," he said.
At least one athlete, former Olympic champion Marie-Jose Perec, was supportive of the demonstrators. "I think it is very, very good that people have mobilized like that," she told French television.
But other athletes and sports officials were bitterly dismayed.
"A symbol like that, carried by young people who want to deliver a message of peace, should be allowed to pass," said the head of the French Olympic Committee, Henri Serandour. "These games are a sounding board for all those who want to speak about China and Tibet. But at the same time, there are many wars on the planet that no one is talking about."
International Olympic Committee spokeswoman Giselle Davies agreed. "We respect that right for people to demonstrate peacefully, but equally there is a right for the torch to pass peacefully and the runners to enjoy taking part in the relay," she said.
China's Foreign Ministry assailed the demonstrations. "We express our strong condemnation to the deliberate disruption of the Olympic torch relay by Tibetan separatist forces," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a Web statement. "Their despicable activities tarnish the lofty Olympic spirit and challenge all the people loving the Olympic Games around the world."
Jiang also disputed reports that the torch had to be extinguished several times, calling them false. "To protect the security and dignity of the Olympic torch under the circumstances there, the modes of relay were temporarily changed," she said.
Jiang also denied that authorities were in any way forced to extinguish the torch, implying it was their decision to put it out.
Police had hoped to prevent the chaos that marred the relay in London a day earlier. There, police had repeatedly scuffled with activists and 37 people were arrested.
Beijing organizers criticized the London protests as a "disgusting" form of sabotage by Tibetan separatists.
"The act of defiance from this small group of people is not popular," said Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Beijing Olympic organizing committee. "It will definitely be criticized by people who love peace and adore the Olympic spirit. Their attempt is doomed to failure."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has left open the possibility of boycotting the Olympic opening ceremony depending on how the situation evolves in Tibet. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Monday that was still the case.
Activists have been protesting along the torch route since the flame embarked on its 85,000-mile journey from Ancient Olympia in Greece to the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Olympics.
The round-the-world trip is the longest in Olympic history, and is meant to highlight China's rising economic and political power. Activists have seized on it as a platform for their causes.
The relay also is expected to face demonstrations in New Delhi and possibly elsewhere on its 21-stop, six-continent tour before arriving in mainland China May 4.
_____
Associated Press writers Nicolas Garriga, Angela Doland, John Leicester and Alfred de Montesquiou contributed to this report.
The relentless anti-Chinese demonstrations ignited across the capital with unexpected power and ingenuity, foiling 3,000 police officers deployed on motorcycles, in jogging gear and even inline skates.
Chinese organizers finally gave up on the relay, canceling the last third of what China had hoped would be a joyous jog by torch-bearing VIPs past some of Paris' most famous landmarks.
Thousands of protesters slowed the relay to a stop-start crawl, with impassioned displays of anger over China's human rights record, its grip on Tibet and support for Sudan despite years of bloodshed in Darfur.
Five times, the Chinese officials in dark glasses and tracksuits who guard the torch extinguished it and retreated to the safety of a bus — the last time emerging only after the vehicle drove within 15 feet of the final stop, a track and field stadium. A torchbearer then ran the final steps inside.
Outside, a few French activists supporting Tibet had a fist-fight with pro-Chinese demonstrators. The French activists spat on them and shouted, "Fascists!"
In San Francisco, where the torch is due to arrive Wednesday, three protesters wearing harnesses and helmets climbed up the Golden Gate Bridge and tied the Tibetan flag and two banners to its cables. The banners read "One World One Dream. Free Tibet" and "Free Tibet." They later climbed down.
In all, seven people were charged with conspiracy and causing a public nuisance, with the three climbers facing additional charges of trespassing, said Mary Ziegenbien, a spokeswoman with the California Highway Patrol.
On Tuesday, China condemned protests as "despicable," blaming them on groups seeking to split Tibet from the country.
The 17.4-mile route in Paris started at the Eiffel Tower, headed down the Champs-Elysees toward City Hall, then crossed the Seine before ending at the Charlety track and field stadium.
Throughout the day, protesters booed trucks emblazoned with the names of Olympic corporate sponsors, chained themselves to railings and hurled water at the flame. Some unfurled banners depicting the Olympic rings as handcuffs from the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame cathedral. Others waved signs reading "the flame of shame."
The Interior Ministry said police made 18 arrests.
Officers sprayed tear gas to break up a sit-in by about 300 pro-Tibet demonstrators who blocked the route. Police tackled protesters who ran at the torch; at least two activists got within arm's length before they were grabbed by police. Near the Louvre, police blocked a protester who approached the flame with a fire extinguisher.
One detained demonstrator, handcuffed in a police bus, wrote "liber" on her right palm and "te" on the other — spelling the French word for "freedom" — and held them up to the window.
With protesters slowing down the relay, a planned stop at Paris City Hall was canceled. Earlier, French officials hung a banner declaring support for human rights on the building's facade.
A spokesman for the French Olympic Committee, Denis Masseglia, estimated that a third of the 80 athletes and other VIPs who had been slated to carry the torch did not get to do so.
On a bus carrying French athletes, one man in a track suit shed a tear as protesters pelted the vehicle with eggs, bottles and soda cans.
The chaos started at the Eiffel Tower moments after the relay began. Green Party activist Sylvain Garel lunged for the first torchbearer, former hurdler Stephane Diagana, shouting "Freedom for the Chinese," before security officials pulled him back.
"It is inadmissible that the games are taking place in the world's biggest prison," Garel said later.
Outside parliament, as the torch passed, 35 lawmakers protested, shouting "Freedom for Tibet."
"The flame shouldn't have come to Paris," said Carmen de Santiago, who had "free" painted on one cheek and "Tibet" on the other.
Pro-Chinese activists carrying national flags held counter-demonstrations.
"The Olympic Games are about sports. It's not fair to turn them into politics," said Gao Yi, a Chinese doctoral student in computer science.
France's former sports minister, Jean-Francois Lamour, stressed that though the torch was extinguished along the route, the Olympic flame itself still burned in a lantern where it is kept overnight and on airplane flights. A Chinese official said that flame was used to re-light the torch each time it was brought aboard the bus.
Pro-Tibet advocate Christophe Cunniet said he and other activists were detained after they waved Tibetan flags, threw flyers and tried to block the route. Cunniet said police kicked him, cutting his forehead. "I'm still dazed," he said.
At least one athlete, former Olympic champion Marie-Jose Perec, was supportive of the demonstrators. "I think it is very, very good that people have mobilized like that," she told French television.
But other athletes and sports officials were bitterly dismayed.
"A symbol like that, carried by young people who want to deliver a message of peace, should be allowed to pass," said the head of the French Olympic Committee, Henri Serandour. "These games are a sounding board for all those who want to speak about China and Tibet. But at the same time, there are many wars on the planet that no one is talking about."
International Olympic Committee spokeswoman Giselle Davies agreed. "We respect that right for people to demonstrate peacefully, but equally there is a right for the torch to pass peacefully and the runners to enjoy taking part in the relay," she said.
China's Foreign Ministry assailed the demonstrations. "We express our strong condemnation to the deliberate disruption of the Olympic torch relay by Tibetan separatist forces," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a Web statement. "Their despicable activities tarnish the lofty Olympic spirit and challenge all the people loving the Olympic Games around the world."
Jiang also disputed reports that the torch had to be extinguished several times, calling them false. "To protect the security and dignity of the Olympic torch under the circumstances there, the modes of relay were temporarily changed," she said.
Jiang also denied that authorities were in any way forced to extinguish the torch, implying it was their decision to put it out.
Police had hoped to prevent the chaos that marred the relay in London a day earlier. There, police had repeatedly scuffled with activists and 37 people were arrested.
Beijing organizers criticized the London protests as a "disgusting" form of sabotage by Tibetan separatists.
"The act of defiance from this small group of people is not popular," said Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Beijing Olympic organizing committee. "It will definitely be criticized by people who love peace and adore the Olympic spirit. Their attempt is doomed to failure."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has left open the possibility of boycotting the Olympic opening ceremony depending on how the situation evolves in Tibet. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Monday that was still the case.
Activists have been protesting along the torch route since the flame embarked on its 85,000-mile journey from Ancient Olympia in Greece to the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Olympics.
The round-the-world trip is the longest in Olympic history, and is meant to highlight China's rising economic and political power. Activists have seized on it as a platform for their causes.
The relay also is expected to face demonstrations in New Delhi and possibly elsewhere on its 21-stop, six-continent tour before arriving in mainland China May 4.
_____
Associated Press writers Nicolas Garriga, Angela Doland, John Leicester and Alfred de Montesquiou contributed to this report.
French consider a Beijing boycott
AS the Olympic flame passed through Paris yesterday, France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner again raised the prospect of the French President boycotting the Beijing opening ceremony.
"President (Nicolas) Sarkozy said that he is keeping all options open, that all the paths should be pursued based on how the situation develops" in Tibet, he told LCI television.
Mr Sarkozy and Mr Kouchner have said that France is open to different scenarios regarding the opening ceremony. But Mr Kouchner said France opposed a boycott of the full Olympic Games, claiming the French boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan achieved nothing.
The Olympic flame was to snake from the Eiffel Tower through the snow-sprinkled French capital last night. About 3000 French police were on hand to protect the torch relay amid the threat of "spectacular" protests, including plans by Paris's Socialist mayor, Bertrand Delanoe, to unfurl a giant banner over city hall in defence of human rights.
Torchbearers were to be protected by 65 motorcycle police, 100 firemen, another 100 police on roller blades and nearly 50 vehicles with more than 200 riot police. The tight security in France follows clashes between police and protesters in London the previous night, which reduced the torch relay to farce and ignominy.
More than 35 protesters were arrested and police were forced to reroute the procession to protect the 80 runners.
Despite nearly a year of planning and the deployment of 2000 officers, Metropolitan Police were unable to stop protesters breaking through the security cordon at vulnerable points.
In west London, the torch was nearly taken from former children's show presenter Konnie Huq, and two demonstrators tried to douse the flame with a fire extinguisher near Ladbrooke Grove. The torch was diverted from foot to a bus at St Paul's to avoid increasingly chaotic scenes.
Scott Earley Jr, from Glasgow, needed dozens of police to keep baying mobs from snatching the torch as he ran past Big Ben to Westminster Bridge. "Everyone was running at you. It was a bit weird," he said.
Fu Ying, the Chinese ambassador to Britain, was forced to run her stretch of the route through Chinatown after ditching plans to run through Bloomsbury, where hundreds of pro-Tibet protesters were waiting.
Police pushed protesters behind barriers 20m from the route to separate them from pro-Chinese groups waving red communist flags on the pavement.
Despite attempts to create a festival atmosphere, with bands, dance troupes and costumed dragons, the loudest shouts from Wembley to Greenwich were of "Free Tibet" and "Stop the Killing".
Beijing Olympics organisers yesterday criticised the London protesters, describing their actions as a "disgusting" form of sabotage. "A few Tibetan separatists attempted to sabotage the torch relay in London, and we strongly denounce their disgusting behaviour," said Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Beijing Olympic organising committee.
"The act of defiance from this small group of people is not popular. It will definitely be criticised by people who love peace and adore the Olympic spirit. Their attempt is doomed to failure."
San Francisco police said security would be noticeably tighter than in previous torch relays through the city in 1992 and 1996 when the torch relay begins its US leg tomorrow.
Activists demonstrating against China's human rights record have protested along the torch route since it began its 137,000km, 130-day odyssey from Ancient Olympia in Greece to Beijing for the opening ceremony, which is on August 8.
Protests in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, turned violent on March 14, and unrest quickly spread to other Tibetan-inhabited areas of western China. Beijing clamped down with a huge mobilisation of paramilitary police and has ignored international calls to hold talks with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
Mr Kouchner, who spoke with the Dalai Lama on Sunday, called yesterday for more discussions about the tensions in and around Tibet. "It is in opening the doors that we can change the situation," Mr Kouchner, a longtime humanitarian campaigner and founder of aid group Doctors Without Borders, said.
Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said he was "very concerned" about the unrest in Tibet and other international issues surrounding the Games.
The extraordinary comments by Mr Rogge illustrate how the largest anti-government protests in Tibet in two decades are continuing to rock the Olympic movement, four months before the summer Games.
"The torch relay has been targeted. The IOC has expressed serious concerns and calls for rapid, peaceful resolution in Tibet," he said in a speech to the Association of National Olympic Committees in Beijing.
AP, The Times
"President (Nicolas) Sarkozy said that he is keeping all options open, that all the paths should be pursued based on how the situation develops" in Tibet, he told LCI television.
Mr Sarkozy and Mr Kouchner have said that France is open to different scenarios regarding the opening ceremony. But Mr Kouchner said France opposed a boycott of the full Olympic Games, claiming the French boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan achieved nothing.
The Olympic flame was to snake from the Eiffel Tower through the snow-sprinkled French capital last night. About 3000 French police were on hand to protect the torch relay amid the threat of "spectacular" protests, including plans by Paris's Socialist mayor, Bertrand Delanoe, to unfurl a giant banner over city hall in defence of human rights.
Torchbearers were to be protected by 65 motorcycle police, 100 firemen, another 100 police on roller blades and nearly 50 vehicles with more than 200 riot police. The tight security in France follows clashes between police and protesters in London the previous night, which reduced the torch relay to farce and ignominy.
More than 35 protesters were arrested and police were forced to reroute the procession to protect the 80 runners.
Despite nearly a year of planning and the deployment of 2000 officers, Metropolitan Police were unable to stop protesters breaking through the security cordon at vulnerable points.
In west London, the torch was nearly taken from former children's show presenter Konnie Huq, and two demonstrators tried to douse the flame with a fire extinguisher near Ladbrooke Grove. The torch was diverted from foot to a bus at St Paul's to avoid increasingly chaotic scenes.
Scott Earley Jr, from Glasgow, needed dozens of police to keep baying mobs from snatching the torch as he ran past Big Ben to Westminster Bridge. "Everyone was running at you. It was a bit weird," he said.
Fu Ying, the Chinese ambassador to Britain, was forced to run her stretch of the route through Chinatown after ditching plans to run through Bloomsbury, where hundreds of pro-Tibet protesters were waiting.
Police pushed protesters behind barriers 20m from the route to separate them from pro-Chinese groups waving red communist flags on the pavement.
Despite attempts to create a festival atmosphere, with bands, dance troupes and costumed dragons, the loudest shouts from Wembley to Greenwich were of "Free Tibet" and "Stop the Killing".
Beijing Olympics organisers yesterday criticised the London protesters, describing their actions as a "disgusting" form of sabotage. "A few Tibetan separatists attempted to sabotage the torch relay in London, and we strongly denounce their disgusting behaviour," said Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Beijing Olympic organising committee.
"The act of defiance from this small group of people is not popular. It will definitely be criticised by people who love peace and adore the Olympic spirit. Their attempt is doomed to failure."
San Francisco police said security would be noticeably tighter than in previous torch relays through the city in 1992 and 1996 when the torch relay begins its US leg tomorrow.
Activists demonstrating against China's human rights record have protested along the torch route since it began its 137,000km, 130-day odyssey from Ancient Olympia in Greece to Beijing for the opening ceremony, which is on August 8.
Protests in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, turned violent on March 14, and unrest quickly spread to other Tibetan-inhabited areas of western China. Beijing clamped down with a huge mobilisation of paramilitary police and has ignored international calls to hold talks with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
Mr Kouchner, who spoke with the Dalai Lama on Sunday, called yesterday for more discussions about the tensions in and around Tibet. "It is in opening the doors that we can change the situation," Mr Kouchner, a longtime humanitarian campaigner and founder of aid group Doctors Without Borders, said.
Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said he was "very concerned" about the unrest in Tibet and other international issues surrounding the Games.
The extraordinary comments by Mr Rogge illustrate how the largest anti-government protests in Tibet in two decades are continuing to rock the Olympic movement, four months before the summer Games.
"The torch relay has been targeted. The IOC has expressed serious concerns and calls for rapid, peaceful resolution in Tibet," he said in a speech to the Association of National Olympic Committees in Beijing.
AP, The Times
Monday, April 7, 2008
RAIKKONEN READY TO MOVE UP A GEAR
By Ian Parkes, PA Sport, Manama
Kimi Raikkonen emerged from a weekend that was less than perfect with the lead in the world championship, and now he is ready to crank up the pressure.
Raikkonen was unable to match the pace of Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa throughout the three days of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
But the reigning world champion still came home second behind the Brazilian to open up a three-point cushion in the drivers' title race.
That was primarily due to Lewis Hamilton finishing a miserable 13th after the Briton committed two mistakes in the opening two minutes to wreck his race.
With the season heading towards Europe, starting with the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona in three weeks' time, Raikkonen is looking to consolidate his lead at the top of the standings.
"It wasn't perfect all weekend," assessed Raikkonen.
"The problem was that one lap was good, but the next different and we never really found the perfect mid-way if you like.
"It's one of those things that we couldn't really get the car right.
"But out of a bad weekend I still finished second and I'm leading the championship, so I leave Bahrain reasonably satisfied.
"That is the main thing, and we know we have the speed once we get everything right, so although the race was difficult, I am happy with second.
"Out of the first three races it is really important to get as many points as possible.
"After that the season really starts, so heading into Europe I am very happy to be leading, and hopefully we can be really strong in the next races.
"If I continue to score second places I won't be too disappointed, although of course I would rather win than be second."
Raikkonen appreciates it was Hamilton's errors that enabled him to leapfrog to the top of the standings, while Ferrari are a point behind BMW Sauber in the constructors' championship.
The Finn, though, was always confident he would have the measure of Hamilton on the Sakhir circuit.
"Although he was leading the championship, we knew we should be able to beat him anyhow, and if he doesn't score points it's even better for us," mocked Raikkonen.
"I'm now leading and that's good for me, whilst we have caught up a lot in the constructors' championship.
"We are only one point behind now, which shows one race can make a big difference, so I think overall it's been a very good weekend for the team."
Kimi Raikkonen emerged from a weekend that was less than perfect with the lead in the world championship, and now he is ready to crank up the pressure.
Raikkonen was unable to match the pace of Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa throughout the three days of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
But the reigning world champion still came home second behind the Brazilian to open up a three-point cushion in the drivers' title race.
That was primarily due to Lewis Hamilton finishing a miserable 13th after the Briton committed two mistakes in the opening two minutes to wreck his race.
With the season heading towards Europe, starting with the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona in three weeks' time, Raikkonen is looking to consolidate his lead at the top of the standings.
"It wasn't perfect all weekend," assessed Raikkonen.
"The problem was that one lap was good, but the next different and we never really found the perfect mid-way if you like.
"It's one of those things that we couldn't really get the car right.
"But out of a bad weekend I still finished second and I'm leading the championship, so I leave Bahrain reasonably satisfied.
"That is the main thing, and we know we have the speed once we get everything right, so although the race was difficult, I am happy with second.
"Out of the first three races it is really important to get as many points as possible.
"After that the season really starts, so heading into Europe I am very happy to be leading, and hopefully we can be really strong in the next races.
"If I continue to score second places I won't be too disappointed, although of course I would rather win than be second."
Raikkonen appreciates it was Hamilton's errors that enabled him to leapfrog to the top of the standings, while Ferrari are a point behind BMW Sauber in the constructors' championship.
The Finn, though, was always confident he would have the measure of Hamilton on the Sakhir circuit.
"Although he was leading the championship, we knew we should be able to beat him anyhow, and if he doesn't score points it's even better for us," mocked Raikkonen.
"I'm now leading and that's good for me, whilst we have caught up a lot in the constructors' championship.
"We are only one point behind now, which shows one race can make a big difference, so I think overall it's been a very good weekend for the team."
GOLF NEWS
Padraig Harrington is up into an automatic Ryder Cup qualifying position after his 26th-place finish in the Houston Open.
Young German Martin Kaymer drops from fifth to eighth in the combined list as a result.
:: Latest leading places in the European Ryder Cup tables after the Houston Open and Portuguese Open (top five on world list on August 31 qualify, plus next five on European list. Captain Nick Faldo then adds two wild cards):
(Capitals indicate players currently in qualifying positions)
World List
1 LEE WESTWOOD 156.14, 2 JUSTIN ROSE 137.58, 3 HENRIK STENSON 132.14, 4 DANIEL CHOPRA 112.56, 5 PADRAIG HARRINGTON 100.48, 6 Martin Kaymer 100.38, 7 Luke Donald 94.67, 8 Ian Poulter 89.95, 9 Graeme McDowell 82.40, 10 Soren Hansen 76.15, 11 Nick Dougherty 74.61, 12 Miguel Angel Jimenez 68.86
European List
1 Lee Westwood 1,389,687, 2 Justin Rose 1,216,171, 3 Henrik Stenson 1,092,068, 4 GRAEME McDOWELL 871,172, 5 NICK DOUGHERTY 859,478, 6 MARTIN KAYMER 784,819, 7 SOREN KJELDSEN 750,918, 8 ROBERT KARLSSON 748,775, 9 Steve Webster 738,660, 10 Soren Hansen 728,150, 11 Gregory Bourdy 721,196, 12 Miguel Angel Jimenez 667,593
Young German Martin Kaymer drops from fifth to eighth in the combined list as a result.
:: Latest leading places in the European Ryder Cup tables after the Houston Open and Portuguese Open (top five on world list on August 31 qualify, plus next five on European list. Captain Nick Faldo then adds two wild cards):
(Capitals indicate players currently in qualifying positions)
World List
1 LEE WESTWOOD 156.14, 2 JUSTIN ROSE 137.58, 3 HENRIK STENSON 132.14, 4 DANIEL CHOPRA 112.56, 5 PADRAIG HARRINGTON 100.48, 6 Martin Kaymer 100.38, 7 Luke Donald 94.67, 8 Ian Poulter 89.95, 9 Graeme McDowell 82.40, 10 Soren Hansen 76.15, 11 Nick Dougherty 74.61, 12 Miguel Angel Jimenez 68.86
European List
1 Lee Westwood 1,389,687, 2 Justin Rose 1,216,171, 3 Henrik Stenson 1,092,068, 4 GRAEME McDOWELL 871,172, 5 NICK DOUGHERTY 859,478, 6 MARTIN KAYMER 784,819, 7 SOREN KJELDSEN 750,918, 8 ROBERT KARLSSON 748,775, 9 Steve Webster 738,660, 10 Soren Hansen 728,150, 11 Gregory Bourdy 721,196, 12 Miguel Angel Jimenez 667,593
R.E.M. Earns Eighth U.K. No. 1 Album
Paul Sexton, London
"Accelerate" (Warner Bros.) took R.E.M. back to the top of the U.K. album chart yesterday, debuting at No. 1 to become its eighth British bestseller. London-born R&B singer Estelle, now based in New York, scored a third week at the singles chart summit with "American Boy" (Homeschool/Atlantic) and added a No. 6 entry for the album "Shine."R.E.M.'s success comes despite the relative failure of "Supernatural Superserious," the first single from the album, which peaked at No. 54 on digital sales last month and could only re-enter the published top 75 chart at No. 63 this week following its physical release. "Accelerate" takes the band's span of No. 1 U.K. albums to 17 years, a run that began when "Out of Time" had a week at the peak in March 1991.Duffy's "Rockferry" (A&M/Universal) thus fell to No. 2 after four weeks atop the album chart, Leona Lewis' "Spirit" (Syco Music/Sony BMG) edged up 4-3 and Nickelback's "All the Right Reasons" (Roadrunner) jumped 6-4. Panic At The Disco's "Pretty Odd" (Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen) fell sharply from its No. 2 debut to No. 11, but U.K. girl pop outfit Girls Aloud's "Tangled Up" (Fascination/Polydor/Universal) climbed 28-12.Scouting For Girls' self-titled Epic album improved 20-13 and Newton Faulkner's "Hand Built By Robots" (Ugly Truth/Sony BMG) raced 26-14. Gnarls Barkley's "The Odd Couple" (Warner Bros.) debuted at No. 19, but the single "Run" fell from its No. 32 peak to No.39.As Estelle continued at the top of the singles chart and "Low" (Atlantic) by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain held at No. 2, the big mover was the Kooks' "Always Where I Need To Be" (Virgin/EMI). The first single from the English band's second album, "Konk," due April 14, raced 71-3. Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" (Def Jam/Universal) debuted at No. 6 to become her 23rd U.K. top 10 single.
On Billboard's pan-European charts, "Back to Black" (Universal Island) is in a 13th aggregate and sixth consecutive week at No. 1 on European Top 100 Albums for Amy Winehouse, while Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" (Syco Music/Sony BMG) is enjoying a fourth week atop Eurochart Hot 100 Singles, and second consecutively.
"Accelerate" (Warner Bros.) took R.E.M. back to the top of the U.K. album chart yesterday, debuting at No. 1 to become its eighth British bestseller. London-born R&B singer Estelle, now based in New York, scored a third week at the singles chart summit with "American Boy" (Homeschool/Atlantic) and added a No. 6 entry for the album "Shine."R.E.M.'s success comes despite the relative failure of "Supernatural Superserious," the first single from the album, which peaked at No. 54 on digital sales last month and could only re-enter the published top 75 chart at No. 63 this week following its physical release. "Accelerate" takes the band's span of No. 1 U.K. albums to 17 years, a run that began when "Out of Time" had a week at the peak in March 1991.Duffy's "Rockferry" (A&M/Universal) thus fell to No. 2 after four weeks atop the album chart, Leona Lewis' "Spirit" (Syco Music/Sony BMG) edged up 4-3 and Nickelback's "All the Right Reasons" (Roadrunner) jumped 6-4. Panic At The Disco's "Pretty Odd" (Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen) fell sharply from its No. 2 debut to No. 11, but U.K. girl pop outfit Girls Aloud's "Tangled Up" (Fascination/Polydor/Universal) climbed 28-12.Scouting For Girls' self-titled Epic album improved 20-13 and Newton Faulkner's "Hand Built By Robots" (Ugly Truth/Sony BMG) raced 26-14. Gnarls Barkley's "The Odd Couple" (Warner Bros.) debuted at No. 19, but the single "Run" fell from its No. 32 peak to No.39.As Estelle continued at the top of the singles chart and "Low" (Atlantic) by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain held at No. 2, the big mover was the Kooks' "Always Where I Need To Be" (Virgin/EMI). The first single from the English band's second album, "Konk," due April 14, raced 71-3. Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" (Def Jam/Universal) debuted at No. 6 to become her 23rd U.K. top 10 single.
On Billboard's pan-European charts, "Back to Black" (Universal Island) is in a 13th aggregate and sixth consecutive week at No. 1 on European Top 100 Albums for Amy Winehouse, while Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" (Syco Music/Sony BMG) is enjoying a fourth week atop Eurochart Hot 100 Singles, and second consecutively.
Radiohead, Rage, NIN, Kanye Set For Lollapalooza
Ray Waddell, Nashville
After being leaked by a Chicago newspaper on Friday, the lineup for the 2008 Lollapalooza festival is now official. Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West and Wilco lead the bill for the event, to be held Aug. 1-3 at Chicago's Grant Park.Lollapalooza, which is produced by Austin, Texas-based C3 Presents, grossed $9.8 million last year and sold out at 167,330 over the three days, according to Billboard Boxscore. It was the fifth-highest-grossing festival in the world in 2007, and C3 partner Charles Attal says ticket sales are outpacing last year.Also on this year's bill are the Raconteurs, Love And Rockets, Gnarls Barkley, Bloc Party, the Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, Battles, Mark Ronson, Cat Power, Lupe Fiasco, G. Love & Special Sauce, Brazilian Girls, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Dierks Bentley, the National, Girl Talk, the Gutter Twins and dozens more.Advance three-day passes are now on sale at $190 for a limited time, then will be available at $205, with no service fees and a print-at-home option.Lollapalooza 2008 sponsors include AT&T, Bud Light, PlayStation, MySpace, Citi, BMI, Blackstone Winery, f.y.e., Glaceau, Small Paul, Sweet Leaf Tea, and Southern Comfort.
For an exclusive Q&A with Lollapalooza producer Charles Attal, click here
After being leaked by a Chicago newspaper on Friday, the lineup for the 2008 Lollapalooza festival is now official. Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West and Wilco lead the bill for the event, to be held Aug. 1-3 at Chicago's Grant Park.Lollapalooza, which is produced by Austin, Texas-based C3 Presents, grossed $9.8 million last year and sold out at 167,330 over the three days, according to Billboard Boxscore. It was the fifth-highest-grossing festival in the world in 2007, and C3 partner Charles Attal says ticket sales are outpacing last year.Also on this year's bill are the Raconteurs, Love And Rockets, Gnarls Barkley, Bloc Party, the Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, Battles, Mark Ronson, Cat Power, Lupe Fiasco, G. Love & Special Sauce, Brazilian Girls, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Dierks Bentley, the National, Girl Talk, the Gutter Twins and dozens more.Advance three-day passes are now on sale at $190 for a limited time, then will be available at $205, with no service fees and a print-at-home option.Lollapalooza 2008 sponsors include AT&T, Bud Light, PlayStation, MySpace, Citi, BMI, Blackstone Winery, f.y.e., Glaceau, Small Paul, Sweet Leaf Tea, and Southern Comfort.
For an exclusive Q&A with Lollapalooza producer Charles Attal, click here
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