May 27, 2008 - Cal Ripken's Real Baseball, the world's only massively multiplayer online sports game (MMOSG) for baseball, announced today they will host a Home-Run Derby Tournament scheduled to begin on June 2nd at 12:00 PM PST.
The Home-Run Derby Tournament is a revolving two-week competition, meaning a new winner will arise from the competition every two weeks. In order to foster competition, each player will compete against players of his or her own skill level. Unlike most Free Agent Tournaments, formal registration for this event is not required. The only requirements to participate in this event are an active account and the ability to provide an accurate character profile with current contact and personal information.
Players may participate in the Home-Run Derby Tournament at any time of the day during the set time parameters established by Cal Ripken's Real Baseball. Home-Runs are not accumulated during the two week term. The player with the most home-runs at the end of ten outs, at the end of two weeks, will be declared the winner. Winners of the Home-Run Derby will earn a spot in Cal Ripken's Real Baseball Hall of Fame! The winners will have the option to place a photograph of him or her in the list of honorees.
"Cal Ripken's Real Baseball brings video gaming and baseball to a whole new level. Players can continue to enjoy the head to head competition with tournaments and other events we have to offer," said Andy Wang, founder and CEO of Netamin Communication Corporation. Regarding the nature of a new tournament like this, Andy went on to mention that "it is a single player tournament, and players will not just experience winning or losing but learn about playing the game of baseball as well. It will help players to have better experience when they start to play with real people!"
Like baseball in real life, Real Baseball hosts different types of events throughout the year. These include tournaments, Homerun Derbies, and Rookie Challenges. Tournaments for Real Baseball are Level based tournaments and grouped into the following categories: Minor, Major, All Star and MVP, are either single elimination or double elimination. Rookie Challenges are fun and educational, intended for new players, and are designed to get them ready for the big leagues and the tournaments.
About Real Baseball (www.PlayRealBaseball.com):
In Real Baseball, baseball enthusiasts and gamers compete in 3D virtual stadiums. With stunning graphics and surround-sound audio reactions from the crowd, participants control customized characters for each position and compete together against other Real Baseball gamers. Players use an avatar to bat, pitch, field, run, steal and perform any baseball action. Participants can practice, play pick-up games, join or found their own teams, compete against rival teams, play in specialized tournaments, and win league championships in post-season play. Gamers create their own characters and build their skill level (player stats) through successful play on the field against other real human players. Unlike current video games that aim to simulate professional sports, Real Baseball delivers a first-person perspective of a character, created and developed by the player, interacting online in real-time with teammates and opponents.
About Netamin (www.Netamin.com):
Netamin Communication Corporation, a pioneer in Massively Multiplayer Online Sports Games (MMOSG), is headquartered in Diamond Bar, California with additional operations in Korea. The company has launched its first MMOSG title, Ultimate Baseball Online, with subsequent titles planned in the team sports genre. Founded in 1998, Netamin is a privately held corporation aiming to provide an online virtual playing field for all major sports. For more information, please visit www.Netamin.com.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Davydenko advances at soggy Roland Garros
In between raindrops on Tuesday, fourth- seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko and ninth-seeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka recorded first-round wins at a wet 2008 French Open.
The 2007 semifinalist Davydenko, fresh off his clay-court title in Austria last week, handled 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 on Court Lenglen, while the rapidly-rising Wawrinka waltzed past German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 at an umbrella-clad Stade Roland Garros. Rain delayed play on three separate occasions on Tuesday.
Day-3 upsets came when Swede Robin Soderling spanked 13th-seeded Argentine clay-court specialist Juan Monaco 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 and capable Croat Mario Ancic ousted 31st-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi 6-2, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2.
Only one other result saw Chilean Paul Capdeville crush German Mischa Zverev 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
Several other matches were either suspended or postponed because of rain, as three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal was tied with Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci 1-1 on Chatrier when they were forced off the court. Nadal is a perfect 21-0 lifetime at Roland Garros, including victories over the great Roger Federer in the last two finals here.
The powerful Nadal is 108-2 in his last 110 matches on red clay, dating back to 2005.
Former world No. 1 and two-time major champion Marat Safin, of Russia, was in action and trailing Frenchman Jean-Rene Lisnard 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 2-1 when play was called.
Twenty-nine of 34 scheduled men's first-round matches were pushed back until Wednesday. On Monday, 14 matches were either suspended or postponed because of inclement weather.
The second round is scheduled to commence with eight men's matches on Wednesday, including ones for third-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic, 10th-seeded Brit Andy Murray and 11th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych. The Australian Open champion and U.S. Open runner-up Djokovic is set to take on Spaniard Miguel Angel Lopez Jaen, while Murray will meet Argentine Jose Acasuso and Berdych will tangle with French favorite Michael Llodra.
The '08 French Open champion will collect more than $1.5 million.
The 2007 semifinalist Davydenko, fresh off his clay-court title in Austria last week, handled 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 on Court Lenglen, while the rapidly-rising Wawrinka waltzed past German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 at an umbrella-clad Stade Roland Garros. Rain delayed play on three separate occasions on Tuesday.
Day-3 upsets came when Swede Robin Soderling spanked 13th-seeded Argentine clay-court specialist Juan Monaco 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 and capable Croat Mario Ancic ousted 31st-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi 6-2, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2.
Only one other result saw Chilean Paul Capdeville crush German Mischa Zverev 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
Several other matches were either suspended or postponed because of rain, as three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal was tied with Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci 1-1 on Chatrier when they were forced off the court. Nadal is a perfect 21-0 lifetime at Roland Garros, including victories over the great Roger Federer in the last two finals here.
The powerful Nadal is 108-2 in his last 110 matches on red clay, dating back to 2005.
Former world No. 1 and two-time major champion Marat Safin, of Russia, was in action and trailing Frenchman Jean-Rene Lisnard 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 2-1 when play was called.
Twenty-nine of 34 scheduled men's first-round matches were pushed back until Wednesday. On Monday, 14 matches were either suspended or postponed because of inclement weather.
The second round is scheduled to commence with eight men's matches on Wednesday, including ones for third-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic, 10th-seeded Brit Andy Murray and 11th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych. The Australian Open champion and U.S. Open runner-up Djokovic is set to take on Spaniard Miguel Angel Lopez Jaen, while Murray will meet Argentine Jose Acasuso and Berdych will tangle with French favorite Michael Llodra.
The '08 French Open champion will collect more than $1.5 million.
Special Shows To Ring In Smashing Pumpkins' 20th
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
The Smashing Pumpkins will celebrate their 20th anniversary with a handful of U.S. shows in August and September, according to the band's Web site.Details have yet to be announced, but frontman Billy Corgan told Billboard.com in March the group would hit Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, among other locales, and that guests will appear at some of them.Meanwhile, in a video interview with Artisan News, Corgan revealed that a DVD chronicling a summer 2007 residency at San Francisco's Fillmore is in the works. Also in the pipeline: the release of early Pumpkins demos and a new single in the fall.
"We're hoping to put out some early demos at the end of this year to start a rolling boxed set," Corgan told Billboard.com. "There's an audience out there that wants to hear the fourth show we ever did with the song we only did that one time. Maybe it's only 500 people, but maybe you find a way."
The Smashing Pumpkins will celebrate their 20th anniversary with a handful of U.S. shows in August and September, according to the band's Web site.Details have yet to be announced, but frontman Billy Corgan told Billboard.com in March the group would hit Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, among other locales, and that guests will appear at some of them.Meanwhile, in a video interview with Artisan News, Corgan revealed that a DVD chronicling a summer 2007 residency at San Francisco's Fillmore is in the works. Also in the pipeline: the release of early Pumpkins demos and a new single in the fall.
"We're hoping to put out some early demos at the end of this year to start a rolling boxed set," Corgan told Billboard.com. "There's an audience out there that wants to hear the fourth show we ever did with the song we only did that one time. Maybe it's only 500 people, but maybe you find a way."
Ne-Yo Says Lindsay Lohan Track Will 'Surprise'
Gary Graff, Detroit
Ne-Yo the artist is busy these days, touring with Alicia Keys and preparing for the Aug. 15 release of his third Def Jam album, "Year of the Gentleman." But Ne-Yo the songwriter is equally, with rash of high-profile tracks either just out or coming. One surprising entry on his docket is an uptempo track called "Bossy" the he worked on with Stargate for Lindsay Lohan's next album. "I gotta admit, we were like ... Lindsay Lohan?'" Ne-Yo says with a laugh. "I mean, I've written for Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Celine Dion and ... Lindsay Lohan? But I will say this; we gave her a quality record and she did a ridiculously fabulous job. I was so shocked I had to call her and apologize for what I was thinking because she did so good. I think the world is gonna be surprised."Just out is the Ne-Yo-penned "Spotlight," the first single from ex-"American Idol" contestant and "Dreamgirls" Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson's self-titled debut, due in September. Ne-Yo says "they're still putting the (album) together right now" but that he's "really, really proud" that his song was chose to be its calling card."They were really trying to figure out where to take her," he explains. "The main issue with Jennifer Hudson is her voice is so huge, so how do you take that and radio-ize it, make it radio-friendly. She can't do ('And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going') every song 'cause you'll eventually be tired of it. So ('Spotlight') is kind of a classy midtempo, and I hope and pray it does well 'cause Jennifer is an amazing talent."Ne-Yo also wrote for Leona Lewis' "Spirit" album and says he's "not surprised at all" by her success. "Her voice is incredible. She's beautiful. She kinda has all the ingredients to be a major star." He co-wrote the track "His Mistakes" for Usher's new album, "Here I Stand," and is happy that "I actually got to sit down wtih Usher and talk to him and see where his head is at now so I could write the right record."
As for the forthcoming Michael Jackson project he's been linked to, Ne-Yo says "there's nothing new. I'm submitting songs and I... still don't know anything about a release date or any of that."
Ne-Yo the artist is busy these days, touring with Alicia Keys and preparing for the Aug. 15 release of his third Def Jam album, "Year of the Gentleman." But Ne-Yo the songwriter is equally, with rash of high-profile tracks either just out or coming. One surprising entry on his docket is an uptempo track called "Bossy" the he worked on with Stargate for Lindsay Lohan's next album. "I gotta admit, we were like ... Lindsay Lohan?'" Ne-Yo says with a laugh. "I mean, I've written for Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Celine Dion and ... Lindsay Lohan? But I will say this; we gave her a quality record and she did a ridiculously fabulous job. I was so shocked I had to call her and apologize for what I was thinking because she did so good. I think the world is gonna be surprised."Just out is the Ne-Yo-penned "Spotlight," the first single from ex-"American Idol" contestant and "Dreamgirls" Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson's self-titled debut, due in September. Ne-Yo says "they're still putting the (album) together right now" but that he's "really, really proud" that his song was chose to be its calling card."They were really trying to figure out where to take her," he explains. "The main issue with Jennifer Hudson is her voice is so huge, so how do you take that and radio-ize it, make it radio-friendly. She can't do ('And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going') every song 'cause you'll eventually be tired of it. So ('Spotlight') is kind of a classy midtempo, and I hope and pray it does well 'cause Jennifer is an amazing talent."Ne-Yo also wrote for Leona Lewis' "Spirit" album and says he's "not surprised at all" by her success. "Her voice is incredible. She's beautiful. She kinda has all the ingredients to be a major star." He co-wrote the track "His Mistakes" for Usher's new album, "Here I Stand," and is happy that "I actually got to sit down wtih Usher and talk to him and see where his head is at now so I could write the right record."
As for the forthcoming Michael Jackson project he's been linked to, Ne-Yo says "there's nothing new. I'm submitting songs and I... still don't know anything about a release date or any of that."
Friday, May 23, 2008
BIG GUNS TARGET FRENCH TITLE
World number one Maria Sharapova and former winner Serena Williams believe the women's draw for the French Open has been thrown wide open following Justine Henin's recent decision to retire from tennis.
Henin has won the last three singles crowns at Roland Garros but she chose last week to quit the sport at the age of 25 to make "a new start" in life.
The Belgian, the first top-ranked woman to retire from the game, has been untouchable in the French capital in recent years but her absence will give her rivals renewed hope that this could be their year to win on the Parisian clay.
Sharapova, who has taken over from Henin at the top of the rankings, is never the most comfortable on the dirt but she is in the easier half of the draw.
The Russian reckons there will be a number of players in contention this year.
"There are a lot of girls that have the opportunity to be number one in the world by the end of the year and a lot of them are good players on clay," said Sharapova, who has never progressed beyond the semi-finals at Roland Garros.
"It's exciting. It's always going to be the toughest one (grand-slam event) in my career to win, I say it every year.
"But that's why I'm here - I love challenges. I'm hungry to go and achieve that challenge."
Fifth seed Williams, the winner here in 2002, added: "She (Henin) has won three in a row so it's definitely the right time to win here.
"It's always the right time to win for me, but it's unfortunate that one of the best players on clay won't be here.
"I'm pretty much insatiable. It's probably the best preparation I've had since 2002.
"I feel like I've played so many claycourt tournaments and I am really feeling like a claycourt player. I really feel comfortable out there."
Williams, who plays fellow American Ashley Harkleroad in the first round, claims she has not looked at the draw but a quick scan would reveal she is in easily the tougher section.
She could meet Ana Ivanovic, the second seed and finalist last year, in the quarter-finals while her sister Venus Williams, third seed Jelena Jankovic and Patty Schnyder are also in her half.
Sharapova, who revealed she is receiving treatment on her calf and shoulder coming into the tournament, opens her campaign against Russian compatriot Evgeniya Rodina.
"It's the first round of a grand slam against somebody that you've never played or practised with before, so that's a challenge," she said.
"Every first round is difficult no matter how you are practising, no matter how you're feeling going out on court. The grand-slam environment is always different."
The French Open is the only grand slam title not to appear on Sharapova's CV.
Serbian duo Jankovic and Ivanovic, who play a qualifier and Sofia Arvidsson respectively, should be her greatest threats this year.
Jankovic, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros last year, comes to Paris with some form under her belt after beating Alize Cornet in straight sets to win in Rome last weekend.
Ivanovic is also a danger. She cracked in spectacular fashion in last year's final against Henin but that experience may have been a blessing in disguise for her.
Home favourite Amelie Mauresmo, the 22nd seed this year, takes on Olga Savchuk in her opening game.
Henin has won the last three singles crowns at Roland Garros but she chose last week to quit the sport at the age of 25 to make "a new start" in life.
The Belgian, the first top-ranked woman to retire from the game, has been untouchable in the French capital in recent years but her absence will give her rivals renewed hope that this could be their year to win on the Parisian clay.
Sharapova, who has taken over from Henin at the top of the rankings, is never the most comfortable on the dirt but she is in the easier half of the draw.
The Russian reckons there will be a number of players in contention this year.
"There are a lot of girls that have the opportunity to be number one in the world by the end of the year and a lot of them are good players on clay," said Sharapova, who has never progressed beyond the semi-finals at Roland Garros.
"It's exciting. It's always going to be the toughest one (grand-slam event) in my career to win, I say it every year.
"But that's why I'm here - I love challenges. I'm hungry to go and achieve that challenge."
Fifth seed Williams, the winner here in 2002, added: "She (Henin) has won three in a row so it's definitely the right time to win here.
"It's always the right time to win for me, but it's unfortunate that one of the best players on clay won't be here.
"I'm pretty much insatiable. It's probably the best preparation I've had since 2002.
"I feel like I've played so many claycourt tournaments and I am really feeling like a claycourt player. I really feel comfortable out there."
Williams, who plays fellow American Ashley Harkleroad in the first round, claims she has not looked at the draw but a quick scan would reveal she is in easily the tougher section.
She could meet Ana Ivanovic, the second seed and finalist last year, in the quarter-finals while her sister Venus Williams, third seed Jelena Jankovic and Patty Schnyder are also in her half.
Sharapova, who revealed she is receiving treatment on her calf and shoulder coming into the tournament, opens her campaign against Russian compatriot Evgeniya Rodina.
"It's the first round of a grand slam against somebody that you've never played or practised with before, so that's a challenge," she said.
"Every first round is difficult no matter how you are practising, no matter how you're feeling going out on court. The grand-slam environment is always different."
The French Open is the only grand slam title not to appear on Sharapova's CV.
Serbian duo Jankovic and Ivanovic, who play a qualifier and Sofia Arvidsson respectively, should be her greatest threats this year.
Jankovic, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros last year, comes to Paris with some form under her belt after beating Alize Cornet in straight sets to win in Rome last weekend.
Ivanovic is also a danger. She cracked in spectacular fashion in last year's final against Henin but that experience may have been a blessing in disguise for her.
Home favourite Amelie Mauresmo, the 22nd seed this year, takes on Olga Savchuk in her opening game.
Michael Johnson could lose Sydney 2000 Games relay gold
By Karolos Grohmann Reuters
Published: May 23, 2008
American sprinter Michael Johnson, one of the United States' most successful athletes, could lose his Sydney 2000 Olympics 4x400m gold medal after a former relay team mate admitted to doping.
Antonio Pettigrew, a member of the Sydney Games gold-winning relay team that also included Johnson and twins Alvin and Calvin Harrison, told a San Fransciso court on Thursday he had used banned substances after the 1996 Olympic trials.
Last year, the International Olympic Committee stripped the team mates of disgraced sprinter Marion Jones of their Sydney Games relay medals after she had similarly admitted to doping.
Pettigrew was testifying in a trial linked to the now-defunct San Franscisco-based Balco lab that provided banned substances to several prominent athletes, including Jones.
"Since the Balco story first broke, the IOC has been very keen to ensure that the impact it has had on the Olympic Games be thoroughly addressed and rectified through our disciplinary procedures," the IOC said in a statement.
"Recent revelations should be viewed with this in mind.
"All new elements coming out on the Balco case - be that from the hearings in the US this week or from other sources - will be studied by the IOC as part of its on-going and now long-standing look at this sorry tale."
Johnson, who won a total of five gold medals in three Olympics, has never been linked to any use of illegal substances.
But the Harrisons and Jerome Young -- a member of the relay team who ran in the Sydney Games' qualifying heats -- have been banned for doping in the past.
MEDAL LOST
The relay team initially lost the medal in 2004 after the Court of Arbitration ruled Young had committed a doping offence in 1999. CAS later reinstated the medals to the winning team because Young had not run in the final.
The Pettigrew case bears striking resemblance to the case of fellow American athlete Marion Jones, who was stripped of her five Olympic medals after admitting to doping last year.
Her Sydney Games 4x100m and 4x400m medals-winning relay team members also had their medals taken away after Jones' admission.
Johnson won his first gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with a win in the 4x400m. He won a stunning 400m and 200m gold at the Atlanta 1996 Games, shattering the world record in the latter race with a time of 19.32, a record that still stands.
Nicknamed "the duck" because of his upright running style, Johnson went on to win the 4x400m and the 400m again in Sydney.
Pettigrew told the court he had received courier packages containing two illegal substances, human growth hormone and erythropoietin (EPO), that increase an athlete's muscle and endurance, which he proceeded to use.
Published: May 23, 2008
American sprinter Michael Johnson, one of the United States' most successful athletes, could lose his Sydney 2000 Olympics 4x400m gold medal after a former relay team mate admitted to doping.
Antonio Pettigrew, a member of the Sydney Games gold-winning relay team that also included Johnson and twins Alvin and Calvin Harrison, told a San Fransciso court on Thursday he had used banned substances after the 1996 Olympic trials.
Last year, the International Olympic Committee stripped the team mates of disgraced sprinter Marion Jones of their Sydney Games relay medals after she had similarly admitted to doping.
Pettigrew was testifying in a trial linked to the now-defunct San Franscisco-based Balco lab that provided banned substances to several prominent athletes, including Jones.
"Since the Balco story first broke, the IOC has been very keen to ensure that the impact it has had on the Olympic Games be thoroughly addressed and rectified through our disciplinary procedures," the IOC said in a statement.
"Recent revelations should be viewed with this in mind.
"All new elements coming out on the Balco case - be that from the hearings in the US this week or from other sources - will be studied by the IOC as part of its on-going and now long-standing look at this sorry tale."
Johnson, who won a total of five gold medals in three Olympics, has never been linked to any use of illegal substances.
But the Harrisons and Jerome Young -- a member of the relay team who ran in the Sydney Games' qualifying heats -- have been banned for doping in the past.
MEDAL LOST
The relay team initially lost the medal in 2004 after the Court of Arbitration ruled Young had committed a doping offence in 1999. CAS later reinstated the medals to the winning team because Young had not run in the final.
The Pettigrew case bears striking resemblance to the case of fellow American athlete Marion Jones, who was stripped of her five Olympic medals after admitting to doping last year.
Her Sydney Games 4x100m and 4x400m medals-winning relay team members also had their medals taken away after Jones' admission.
Johnson won his first gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with a win in the 4x400m. He won a stunning 400m and 200m gold at the Atlanta 1996 Games, shattering the world record in the latter race with a time of 19.32, a record that still stands.
Nicknamed "the duck" because of his upright running style, Johnson went on to win the 4x400m and the 400m again in Sydney.
Pettigrew told the court he had received courier packages containing two illegal substances, human growth hormone and erythropoietin (EPO), that increase an athlete's muscle and endurance, which he proceeded to use.
Willie Nelson: An Epic Life
Veteran Texas scribe Joe Nick Patoski (coauthor, "Stevie Ray Vaughan: Caught in the Crossfire," 1993), well-equipped to pen a 75th-birthday look at Willie Nelson's eventful life, begins with a knowing look at his subject's Abbott, Texas, roots. Born in 1933, the product of a quickly broken marriage, Nelson was just a boy when he realized that writing and performing music promised an escape from poverty and cotton picking. After bouncing around Texas as a journeyman musician and DJ, he finally landed in Nashville, where his success as a songwriter (author of Patsy Cline's "Crazy" and Faron Young's "Hello Walls") led to an RCA recording contract.But Nelson, a cardigan-wearing anomaly in a town full of Nudie-suited establishmentarians, found no commercial or creative satisfaction as a worker on producer-executive Chet Atkins's "countrypolitan" assembly line.Only after he relocated to Austin in 1972 did he find his groove among the wide-open city's cosmic cowboys. Flying the "outlaw country" banner, he morphed into the long-haired, dope-smoking, peripatetically touring Willie universally venerated today.Drawing on interviews with Nelson and his widely extended "family," Patoski pulls together a rich narrative that keenly comprehends Nelson's artistic and geographical perambulations. The author is especially fine in the early going, colorfully recalling Willie's many years on the beer-joint circuit and the cast of sketchy characters who trod those hardwood floors. But Nelson doesn't get any free passes: Patoski dwells in depth on his capriciousness, quick temper, hard-partying lifestyle, infidelities and four tempestuous marriages, as well as his headline-making '90s tax case.The result is a warm, honest portrait of a compulsively footloose, restless artist at home in any musical style‹country, Western swing, jazz, gospel, standard pop, reggae, even polka‹and truly at home only on his tour bus.
2008 Billboard Latin Music Awards Winners
Here are the winners for the 2008 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which were handed out April 10 in Miami.
Hot Latin Song Of The Year: "Mi Corazoncito,” Aventura (Premium Latin)
Hot Latin Song Of The Year, Vocal Duet: "Pegao,” Wisin & Yandel f/ Los Vaqueros (WY/Machete)
Hot Latin Songs Artist Of The Year: Juan Luis Guerra Y 440
Latin Album Of The Year: "El Cartel: The Big Boss," Daddy Yankee (El Cartel/Interscope/IGA)Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Male: "La Vida...Es Un Ratico," Juanes (Universal Latino)
Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Female: "Como Ama Una Mujer," Jennifer Lopez (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Duo Or Group: "Todo Cambio," Camila (Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Pop Album Of The Year, New Artist: "Cualquier Dia," Kany Garcia (Sony BMG Norte)
Top Latin Albums Artist Of The Year: Valentin ElizaldeLatin Rock/Alternative Album Of The Year: "La Radiolina," Manu Chao (Because/Nacional)
Tropical Album Of The Year, Male: "El Cantante," Marc Anthony (Sony BMG Norte)
Tropical Album Of The Year, Female: "90 Millas," Gloria Estefan (Burgundy/Sony BMG Norte) Tropical Album Of The Year, Duo Or Group: Juan Luis Guerra Y 440, "La Llave De Mi Corazon" (EMI Televisa)
Tropical Album Of The Year, New Artist: Andres Jimenez: El Jibaro, "Mi Parranda" (Cuarto Menguante)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Male Solo Artist: Valentin Elizalde, "Lobo Domesticado" (Universal Latino)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Male Duo Or Group: Grupo Montez De Durango, "Agarrese" (Disa/UG)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Female Group or Female Solo Artist: "Mi Vida Loca," Jenni Rivera (Fonovisa/UG)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, New Artist: Los Creadorez Del Pasito Duraguense De Alfredo Ramirez "Recio, Recio Mis Creadorez," (Disa/UG)
Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Male: "Si Nos Quedara Poco Tiempo," Chayanne (Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Female: "Eres Para Mi," Julieta Venegas (Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Duo Or Group: "Todo Cambio," Camila (Sony BMG Norte) Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist: "Hoy Ya Me Voy," Kany Garcia (Sony BMG Norte)
Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Male: "Mas Que Tu Amigo," Tito Nieves (SGZ/La Calle/Univision)
Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Female: "No Llores," Gloria Estefan (Burgundy/Sony BMG Norte)
Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Duo Or Group: "Mi Corazoncito," Aventura (Premium Latin) Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist: "Y Si Te Digo," Fanny Lu (Universal Latino) Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Male Solo Artist: "A Ti Si Puedo Decirte," El Chapo De Sinaloa (Disa)
Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Male Group: "De Ti Exclusivo," La Arrolladora Banda El Limon (Disa/Edimonsa)
Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Female Group or Female Solo Artist: "Mirame," Jenni Rivera (Fonovisa)
Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist: "Cada Vez Que Pienso En Ti," Los Creadorez Del Pasito Duraguense De Alfredo Ramirez (Disa/Edimonsa)
Latin Tour Of The Year: Mana Reggaeton Album Of The Year: "El Cartel: The Big Boss," Daddy Yankee (El Cartel/Intescope/IGA)
Reggaeton Song Of The Year: "Igual Que Ayer," R.K.M. & Ken-Y (Pina/Universal Latino)Latin Ringtone Of The Year: "Me Matas," R.K.M. & Ken-Y (Pina/Universal Latino)
Latin Ringmaster Of The Year: "Lean Like A Cholo," Down AKA Kilo (Silent Giant/Machete) Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year: "Whine Up," Kat DeLuna featuring Elephant Man (Epic)
Latin Rap/Hip-Hop Album Of The Year: "Los Hijos Del Maiz," Kinto Sol (Univision/UG)
Latin Greatest Hits Album Of The Year: "Historia De Un Idolo, Vol. 1" (Special Edition), Vicente Fernandez (Discos 605/Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Compilation Album Of The year: "Bachata #1's," Various Artists (La Calle/UG)
Latin Jazz Album Of The Year: "The New Bossa Nova," Luciana Souza (Verve/VG)
Latin Christian/Gospel Album Of The Year: "Tu Amor,"
Danilo Montero (Integrity Music Latin)
Songwriter Of The Year: Marco Antonio SolisProducer Of The Year: Juan Luis Guerra Publisher Of The Year: Sony/ATV Discos, ASCAP Publishing Corporation Of The Year: EMI MusicHot Latin Songs Label Of The Year: Sony BMG Norte Top Latin Albums Label Of The Year: UGLatin Pop Airplay Label Of The Year: Sony BMG Norte Tropical Airplay Label Of The Year: Sony BMG NorteRegional Mexican Airplay Label Of The Year: FonovisaLatin Rhythm Airplay Label Of The Year: Machete Latin Pop Albums Label of The Year: Sony BMG NorteTropical Albums Label Of The Year: Sony BMG Norte Regional Mexican Albums Label Of The Year: UGLatin Rhythm Albums Label Of The Year: Machete
Hot Latin Song Of The Year: "Mi Corazoncito,” Aventura (Premium Latin)
Hot Latin Song Of The Year, Vocal Duet: "Pegao,” Wisin & Yandel f/ Los Vaqueros (WY/Machete)
Hot Latin Songs Artist Of The Year: Juan Luis Guerra Y 440
Latin Album Of The Year: "El Cartel: The Big Boss," Daddy Yankee (El Cartel/Interscope/IGA)Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Male: "La Vida...Es Un Ratico," Juanes (Universal Latino)
Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Female: "Como Ama Una Mujer," Jennifer Lopez (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Duo Or Group: "Todo Cambio," Camila (Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Pop Album Of The Year, New Artist: "Cualquier Dia," Kany Garcia (Sony BMG Norte)
Top Latin Albums Artist Of The Year: Valentin ElizaldeLatin Rock/Alternative Album Of The Year: "La Radiolina," Manu Chao (Because/Nacional)
Tropical Album Of The Year, Male: "El Cantante," Marc Anthony (Sony BMG Norte)
Tropical Album Of The Year, Female: "90 Millas," Gloria Estefan (Burgundy/Sony BMG Norte) Tropical Album Of The Year, Duo Or Group: Juan Luis Guerra Y 440, "La Llave De Mi Corazon" (EMI Televisa)
Tropical Album Of The Year, New Artist: Andres Jimenez: El Jibaro, "Mi Parranda" (Cuarto Menguante)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Male Solo Artist: Valentin Elizalde, "Lobo Domesticado" (Universal Latino)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Male Duo Or Group: Grupo Montez De Durango, "Agarrese" (Disa/UG)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Female Group or Female Solo Artist: "Mi Vida Loca," Jenni Rivera (Fonovisa/UG)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, New Artist: Los Creadorez Del Pasito Duraguense De Alfredo Ramirez "Recio, Recio Mis Creadorez," (Disa/UG)
Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Male: "Si Nos Quedara Poco Tiempo," Chayanne (Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Female: "Eres Para Mi," Julieta Venegas (Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Duo Or Group: "Todo Cambio," Camila (Sony BMG Norte) Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist: "Hoy Ya Me Voy," Kany Garcia (Sony BMG Norte)
Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Male: "Mas Que Tu Amigo," Tito Nieves (SGZ/La Calle/Univision)
Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Female: "No Llores," Gloria Estefan (Burgundy/Sony BMG Norte)
Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Duo Or Group: "Mi Corazoncito," Aventura (Premium Latin) Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist: "Y Si Te Digo," Fanny Lu (Universal Latino) Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Male Solo Artist: "A Ti Si Puedo Decirte," El Chapo De Sinaloa (Disa)
Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Male Group: "De Ti Exclusivo," La Arrolladora Banda El Limon (Disa/Edimonsa)
Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Female Group or Female Solo Artist: "Mirame," Jenni Rivera (Fonovisa)
Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist: "Cada Vez Que Pienso En Ti," Los Creadorez Del Pasito Duraguense De Alfredo Ramirez (Disa/Edimonsa)
Latin Tour Of The Year: Mana Reggaeton Album Of The Year: "El Cartel: The Big Boss," Daddy Yankee (El Cartel/Intescope/IGA)
Reggaeton Song Of The Year: "Igual Que Ayer," R.K.M. & Ken-Y (Pina/Universal Latino)Latin Ringtone Of The Year: "Me Matas," R.K.M. & Ken-Y (Pina/Universal Latino)
Latin Ringmaster Of The Year: "Lean Like A Cholo," Down AKA Kilo (Silent Giant/Machete) Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year: "Whine Up," Kat DeLuna featuring Elephant Man (Epic)
Latin Rap/Hip-Hop Album Of The Year: "Los Hijos Del Maiz," Kinto Sol (Univision/UG)
Latin Greatest Hits Album Of The Year: "Historia De Un Idolo, Vol. 1" (Special Edition), Vicente Fernandez (Discos 605/Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Compilation Album Of The year: "Bachata #1's," Various Artists (La Calle/UG)
Latin Jazz Album Of The Year: "The New Bossa Nova," Luciana Souza (Verve/VG)
Latin Christian/Gospel Album Of The Year: "Tu Amor,"
Danilo Montero (Integrity Music Latin)
Songwriter Of The Year: Marco Antonio SolisProducer Of The Year: Juan Luis Guerra Publisher Of The Year: Sony/ATV Discos, ASCAP Publishing Corporation Of The Year: EMI MusicHot Latin Songs Label Of The Year: Sony BMG Norte Top Latin Albums Label Of The Year: UGLatin Pop Airplay Label Of The Year: Sony BMG Norte Tropical Airplay Label Of The Year: Sony BMG NorteRegional Mexican Airplay Label Of The Year: FonovisaLatin Rhythm Airplay Label Of The Year: Machete Latin Pop Albums Label of The Year: Sony BMG NorteTropical Albums Label Of The Year: Sony BMG Norte Regional Mexican Albums Label Of The Year: UGLatin Rhythm Albums Label Of The Year: Machete
Bow Wow Turns Focus To Acting
Nellie Andreeva, The Hollywood Reporter
Actor-rapper Shad Moss, aka Bow Wow, is focusing on acting full time. Moss has joined the upcoming fifth season of HBO's "Entourage" in a recurring role, playing Charlie, a new stand-up comic client of E (Kevin Connolly).Additionally, he has landed a role opposite Forest Whitaker, rapper Lil Wayne and Isaiah Washington in the Weinstein Co.'s sports drama "Patriots," about a high school basketball team in post-Katrina Louisiana."After 16 years in the music industry and six successful albums, I've decided to shift my energy to something else I'm passionate about, acting," Moss said. "I'm going to try to be the next Will Smith."Like Moss, Smith started off as a rapper before segueing into acting.Moss released a collaborative album last year with fellow recording star Omarion titled "Face Off." Later this year, he is set to return to the studio to work on his seventh album, titled "H.I.M. (History in Making)."
On the acting side, he recently wrapped the indie "Driving Lessons" and has appeared in the features "Roll Bounce," "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," "Johnson Family Vacation" and "All About the Benjamins."
Actor-rapper Shad Moss, aka Bow Wow, is focusing on acting full time. Moss has joined the upcoming fifth season of HBO's "Entourage" in a recurring role, playing Charlie, a new stand-up comic client of E (Kevin Connolly).Additionally, he has landed a role opposite Forest Whitaker, rapper Lil Wayne and Isaiah Washington in the Weinstein Co.'s sports drama "Patriots," about a high school basketball team in post-Katrina Louisiana."After 16 years in the music industry and six successful albums, I've decided to shift my energy to something else I'm passionate about, acting," Moss said. "I'm going to try to be the next Will Smith."Like Moss, Smith started off as a rapper before segueing into acting.Moss released a collaborative album last year with fellow recording star Omarion titled "Face Off." Later this year, he is set to return to the studio to work on his seventh album, titled "H.I.M. (History in Making)."
On the acting side, he recently wrapped the indie "Driving Lessons" and has appeared in the features "Roll Bounce," "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," "Johnson Family Vacation" and "All About the Benjamins."
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Venus set to rise on Canadian Open at Jarry
PAT HICKEY , The GazettePublished: Thursday, May 22, 2008
Venus Williams has been playing professional tennis since 1994, but the 27-year-old American has never set foot in Montreal.
She's hoping to change that with an appearance in the Rogers Cup Canadian Open women's event, July 26-Aug. 3 at the Jarry Tennis Centre.
"I've wanted to play in the event before, but it's never worked out," Williams said yesterday during a conference call from Paris, where she is preparing for next week's French Open.
"The tournament is only in Montreal every other year and there have been times when I've been entered, but I've had to withdraw because of injury."
In fact, Williams has seldom made the Canadian Open a priority, preferring to warm up for the U.S. Open by playing tournaments in her native California. Her only two appearances at the Canadian Open were in 1997 and '99 in Toronto and she lost in the first round on each occasion.
Injuries have been a major problem in Williams's career. There was a point when experts expected Venus and her younger sister to dominate women's tennis, but they have been plagued by injuries.
Serena reached the final in Montreal, but was forced to abandon the match vs. Monica Seles because of a knee injury.
"My health is good. I took some time off last month, but I've been training hard," Williams said.
Venus Williams has won 36 singles titles on the WTA Tour. She won her fourth Wimbledon title last summer and has won the U.S. Open twice. She also won Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles at the 2000 Games in Sydney.
The Rogers Cup is usually held in mid-August, but has been moved up this year because the Olympic competition in Beijing begins on Aug. 10.
With the event starting three weeks after Wimbledon and ending less than a week before the Olympics, the big question is: How many of the top players will be in Montreal.
Williams said she's still waiting to hear whether she will be selected for the U.S. team in Beijing, but said she will be in Montreal even if she is selected for the Olympic team.
Williams is the second player to be announced for the event. Tennis Canada previously announced that Ana Ivanovic will defend the title she won in Toronto last summer. Ivanovic is No. 2 in the WTA rankings, while Williams is No. 8.
Tournament director Eugène Lapierre said he expected a strong entry list, although past experience has indicated the full list - which will be released on June 18 - doesn't guarantee all the players will be here.
Lapierre said he wasn't hopeful Serena Williams will be on hand, because the sisters usually try to avoid head-to-head meetings outside the Grand Slam events.
He also noted he had spent several weeks trying unsuccessfully to reach Justine Henin, who announced her retirement last week.
"I couldn't reach her and now I know why," he said.
Venus Williams has been playing professional tennis since 1994, but the 27-year-old American has never set foot in Montreal.
She's hoping to change that with an appearance in the Rogers Cup Canadian Open women's event, July 26-Aug. 3 at the Jarry Tennis Centre.
"I've wanted to play in the event before, but it's never worked out," Williams said yesterday during a conference call from Paris, where she is preparing for next week's French Open.
"The tournament is only in Montreal every other year and there have been times when I've been entered, but I've had to withdraw because of injury."
In fact, Williams has seldom made the Canadian Open a priority, preferring to warm up for the U.S. Open by playing tournaments in her native California. Her only two appearances at the Canadian Open were in 1997 and '99 in Toronto and she lost in the first round on each occasion.
Injuries have been a major problem in Williams's career. There was a point when experts expected Venus and her younger sister to dominate women's tennis, but they have been plagued by injuries.
Serena reached the final in Montreal, but was forced to abandon the match vs. Monica Seles because of a knee injury.
"My health is good. I took some time off last month, but I've been training hard," Williams said.
Venus Williams has won 36 singles titles on the WTA Tour. She won her fourth Wimbledon title last summer and has won the U.S. Open twice. She also won Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles at the 2000 Games in Sydney.
The Rogers Cup is usually held in mid-August, but has been moved up this year because the Olympic competition in Beijing begins on Aug. 10.
With the event starting three weeks after Wimbledon and ending less than a week before the Olympics, the big question is: How many of the top players will be in Montreal.
Williams said she's still waiting to hear whether she will be selected for the U.S. team in Beijing, but said she will be in Montreal even if she is selected for the Olympic team.
Williams is the second player to be announced for the event. Tennis Canada previously announced that Ana Ivanovic will defend the title she won in Toronto last summer. Ivanovic is No. 2 in the WTA rankings, while Williams is No. 8.
Tournament director Eugène Lapierre said he expected a strong entry list, although past experience has indicated the full list - which will be released on June 18 - doesn't guarantee all the players will be here.
Lapierre said he wasn't hopeful Serena Williams will be on hand, because the sisters usually try to avoid head-to-head meetings outside the Grand Slam events.
He also noted he had spent several weeks trying unsuccessfully to reach Justine Henin, who announced her retirement last week.
"I couldn't reach her and now I know why," he said.
Baseball Today
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh (7:05 p.m.). The Cubs have taken eight of the nine from the Pirates this season.
STARS
Tuesday
_ Vladimir Guerrero, Angels, homered twice to give Los Angeles a 4-3 win in Toronto.
_ Ricky Nolasco, Marlins, outdueled Brandon Webb by allowing just one run on three hits in seven innings in Florida's 3-1 win over Arizona.
Ryan Howard, Phillies, hit two home runs in Philadelphia's 12-2 win at Washington.
_ Omar Vizquel, Giants, doubled to start a game-tying rally in the ninth inning and hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 10th inning of San Francisco's 3-2 win over Colorado.
_ Jeff Francoeur, Braves, homered and drove in four runs and Atlanta beat the New York Mets 11-4.
_ Dana Eveland, Athletics, pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game and helped Oakland beat Tampa Bay 9-1.
_ Jermaine Dye, White Sox, hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning, and added solo shot in the seventh during Chicago's 7-2 win over Cleveland.
ALMOST
Brandon Webb finally lost, when Florida beat Arizona 3-1 Wednesday night, keeping him from becoming the third pitcher since World War I to win his first 10 starts.
NINE FINE INNINGS
Oakland's Dana Eveland pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game, and the A's avoided being swept at home by the Rays for the first time with a 9-1 win Wednesday. ... Texas' Sidney Ponson pitched nine innings for the first time since April 24, 2005. He allowed one run on six hits in the Rangers' 10-1 win over Minnesota. ... Milwaukee's Ben Sheets pitched his 15th career complete game and second of the season, scattering 11 hits and allowing only a run in a 4-1 win over Pittsburgh.
YOUNG HURT
Albert Pujols broke the nose of Padres pitcher Chris Young in the third inning of St. Louis' 11-3 win Wednesday night when he hit a line drive off the right-hander's face. Young immediately fell on his backside and put his right hand up to his face, which had blood running down it. After a few minutes of sitting on the grass, Young walked off holding a bandage on his face with blood on the front of his jersey. He was taken to a hospital.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Shawn Chacon pitched seven solid innings for his first win this season, breaking his major league record streak of nine straight no-decisions to start a season in Houston's 5-3 win over the Cubs. Carlos Lee's three-run homer in the third inning helped Chacon (1-0) overcome a rough start and avoid tying the overall record for consecutive starts without a decision.
O-FOR-EVERYTHING
The two longest active hitting streaks in the majors both ended Wednesday. Randy Winn of the Giants had hit safely in 15 in a row before an 0-for-4 afternoon, while the Rockies' Clint Barmes' streak of 13 straight was halted after going hitless in five plate appearances during San Francisco's 3-2 win in 10 innings.
SQUEEZE PLAY
Matt Treanor pulled off a successful suicide squeeze bunt to get Florida's first run home against Arizona ace Brandon Webb and the Marlins went on to win 3-1 Wednesday night after the bold move by manager Fredi Gonzalez.
SPEAKING
"There's not going to be as much media around to be canonized — that's probably the only good thing." — Arizona ace Brandon Webb after missing out on his chance to become the third pitcher since World War I to win his first 10 starts.
SEASONS
May 23
1901 — The Cleveland Indians scored nine runs with two outs in the ninth inning to beat the Washington Senators 14-13.
1924 — Washington's Walter Johnson struck out 14 in a 4-0 one-hitter over the Chicago White Sox for his 103rd shutout.
1925 — Cincinnati pitcher Pete Donohue had five hits — four singles and a homer — in beating the Philadelphia Phillies 11-2.
1935 — The first major league night game, scheduled for Cincinnati, was postponed because of rain.
1962 — New York's Joe Pepitone hit two homers in the nine-run eighth inning of the Yankees' 13-7 triumph over Kansas City.
1970 — The San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants battled for 15 innings, with the Padres winning 17-16. Nate Colbert led San Diego with five hits and four RBIs.
1984 — The Detroit Tigers won their 16th consecutive road game, 4-2 at California, tying an AL record.
1991 — Tommy Greene, making the 15th start of his major league career, pitched a no-hitter and the Philadelphia Phillies beat Montreal 2-0.
2002 — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shawn Green became the 14th man in major league history to homer four times in a game and set a big league record with 19 total bases. He went 6-for-6, scoring six times with seven RBIs in a 16-3 win at Milwaukee.
2003 — Jeremi Gonzalez earned his first major league victory in nearly five years as Tampa Bay beat Anaheim 3-1. Gonzalez won for the first time since June 28, 1998, while with the Chicago Cubs. He had elbow surgery in 1998 and '99 before the Cubs released him in 2001.
Today's birthdays: Mike Gonzalez 30; Chris Sampson 30.
STARS
Tuesday
_ Vladimir Guerrero, Angels, homered twice to give Los Angeles a 4-3 win in Toronto.
_ Ricky Nolasco, Marlins, outdueled Brandon Webb by allowing just one run on three hits in seven innings in Florida's 3-1 win over Arizona.
Ryan Howard, Phillies, hit two home runs in Philadelphia's 12-2 win at Washington.
_ Omar Vizquel, Giants, doubled to start a game-tying rally in the ninth inning and hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 10th inning of San Francisco's 3-2 win over Colorado.
_ Jeff Francoeur, Braves, homered and drove in four runs and Atlanta beat the New York Mets 11-4.
_ Dana Eveland, Athletics, pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game and helped Oakland beat Tampa Bay 9-1.
_ Jermaine Dye, White Sox, hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning, and added solo shot in the seventh during Chicago's 7-2 win over Cleveland.
ALMOST
Brandon Webb finally lost, when Florida beat Arizona 3-1 Wednesday night, keeping him from becoming the third pitcher since World War I to win his first 10 starts.
NINE FINE INNINGS
Oakland's Dana Eveland pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game, and the A's avoided being swept at home by the Rays for the first time with a 9-1 win Wednesday. ... Texas' Sidney Ponson pitched nine innings for the first time since April 24, 2005. He allowed one run on six hits in the Rangers' 10-1 win over Minnesota. ... Milwaukee's Ben Sheets pitched his 15th career complete game and second of the season, scattering 11 hits and allowing only a run in a 4-1 win over Pittsburgh.
YOUNG HURT
Albert Pujols broke the nose of Padres pitcher Chris Young in the third inning of St. Louis' 11-3 win Wednesday night when he hit a line drive off the right-hander's face. Young immediately fell on his backside and put his right hand up to his face, which had blood running down it. After a few minutes of sitting on the grass, Young walked off holding a bandage on his face with blood on the front of his jersey. He was taken to a hospital.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Shawn Chacon pitched seven solid innings for his first win this season, breaking his major league record streak of nine straight no-decisions to start a season in Houston's 5-3 win over the Cubs. Carlos Lee's three-run homer in the third inning helped Chacon (1-0) overcome a rough start and avoid tying the overall record for consecutive starts without a decision.
O-FOR-EVERYTHING
The two longest active hitting streaks in the majors both ended Wednesday. Randy Winn of the Giants had hit safely in 15 in a row before an 0-for-4 afternoon, while the Rockies' Clint Barmes' streak of 13 straight was halted after going hitless in five plate appearances during San Francisco's 3-2 win in 10 innings.
SQUEEZE PLAY
Matt Treanor pulled off a successful suicide squeeze bunt to get Florida's first run home against Arizona ace Brandon Webb and the Marlins went on to win 3-1 Wednesday night after the bold move by manager Fredi Gonzalez.
SPEAKING
"There's not going to be as much media around to be canonized — that's probably the only good thing." — Arizona ace Brandon Webb after missing out on his chance to become the third pitcher since World War I to win his first 10 starts.
SEASONS
May 23
1901 — The Cleveland Indians scored nine runs with two outs in the ninth inning to beat the Washington Senators 14-13.
1924 — Washington's Walter Johnson struck out 14 in a 4-0 one-hitter over the Chicago White Sox for his 103rd shutout.
1925 — Cincinnati pitcher Pete Donohue had five hits — four singles and a homer — in beating the Philadelphia Phillies 11-2.
1935 — The first major league night game, scheduled for Cincinnati, was postponed because of rain.
1962 — New York's Joe Pepitone hit two homers in the nine-run eighth inning of the Yankees' 13-7 triumph over Kansas City.
1970 — The San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants battled for 15 innings, with the Padres winning 17-16. Nate Colbert led San Diego with five hits and four RBIs.
1984 — The Detroit Tigers won their 16th consecutive road game, 4-2 at California, tying an AL record.
1991 — Tommy Greene, making the 15th start of his major league career, pitched a no-hitter and the Philadelphia Phillies beat Montreal 2-0.
2002 — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shawn Green became the 14th man in major league history to homer four times in a game and set a big league record with 19 total bases. He went 6-for-6, scoring six times with seven RBIs in a 16-3 win at Milwaukee.
2003 — Jeremi Gonzalez earned his first major league victory in nearly five years as Tampa Bay beat Anaheim 3-1. Gonzalez won for the first time since June 28, 1998, while with the Chicago Cubs. He had elbow surgery in 1998 and '99 before the Cubs released him in 2001.
Today's birthdays: Mike Gonzalez 30; Chris Sampson 30.
Pearl Jam, Foos, Lips To Salute The Who On VH1
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and Flaming Lips have signed on to perform at VH1's third annual "Rock Honors," which this year will salute the Who. The event will be held July 12 at Los Angeles' Pauley Pavilion and air five days later.The Who will also perform during the taping, tickets for which go on sale June 6 to members of the group's Wholigans fan club and two days later for the general public.Proceeds will benefit such charities as the Teenage Cancer Trust, which the Who have long supported, VH1's Save the Music Foundation, the Double O Charity and VH1 Classic Rock Autism.
In related Who news, the group's Web site will on June 1 premiere an animated version of "Wire & Glass," the mini-rock opera included on the band's 2006 studio album, "Endless Wire."
Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and Flaming Lips have signed on to perform at VH1's third annual "Rock Honors," which this year will salute the Who. The event will be held July 12 at Los Angeles' Pauley Pavilion and air five days later.The Who will also perform during the taping, tickets for which go on sale June 6 to members of the group's Wholigans fan club and two days later for the general public.Proceeds will benefit such charities as the Teenage Cancer Trust, which the Who have long supported, VH1's Save the Music Foundation, the Double O Charity and VH1 Classic Rock Autism.
In related Who news, the group's Web site will on June 1 premiere an animated version of "Wire & Glass," the mini-rock opera included on the band's 2006 studio album, "Endless Wire."
David Cook Triumphs On 'American Idol'
Katie Hasty, N.Y.
Amid deafening applause, David Cook was crowned the seventh "American Idol" last night (May 21) at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre. The 25-year-old Blue Springs, Mo., native earned 56% of the record 97.5 million votes cast at Tuesday's performance finale, defeating 17-year-old David Archuleta on the Fox TV series.As the credits rolled, Cook, who was a bartender before auditioning for "Idol," sang "Time of My Life," which won the the show's songwriting competition. He cried as host Ryan Seacrest announced his victory, proclaiming, "I am absolutely at a loss for words right now."The night was also chock full of musical and comedic performances. Third-place finalist Syesha Mercado performed alongside Seal, while Cook played guitar and sang with ZZ Top on "Sharp Dressed Man." Graham Nash and fifth-place singer Brooke White strummed together on "Teach Your Children." OneRepublic and Archuleta tackled the former's hit "Apologize." Former "Idol" finalists, including Carrie Underwood and last year's winner Jordin Sparks, also made appearances.Donna Summer danced and sang with the top six ladies -- Mercado, Carly Smithson, White, Kristy Lee Cook, Amanda Overmeyer and Ramiele Malubay -- while Bryan Adams sang a few songs with the top six men -- Jason Castro, Michael Johns, the Davids plus David Hernandez and Chikezie. The top 10 will be touring together this summer as part of American Idols Live.
Castro reprised his popular performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" as interpreted by Jeff Buckley, while Smithson and Johns -- who were voted off surprisingly early in the competition -- dueted on "The Letter." Many music numbers were enhanced by the contestants from "So You Think You Can Dance."
Amid deafening applause, David Cook was crowned the seventh "American Idol" last night (May 21) at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre. The 25-year-old Blue Springs, Mo., native earned 56% of the record 97.5 million votes cast at Tuesday's performance finale, defeating 17-year-old David Archuleta on the Fox TV series.As the credits rolled, Cook, who was a bartender before auditioning for "Idol," sang "Time of My Life," which won the the show's songwriting competition. He cried as host Ryan Seacrest announced his victory, proclaiming, "I am absolutely at a loss for words right now."The night was also chock full of musical and comedic performances. Third-place finalist Syesha Mercado performed alongside Seal, while Cook played guitar and sang with ZZ Top on "Sharp Dressed Man." Graham Nash and fifth-place singer Brooke White strummed together on "Teach Your Children." OneRepublic and Archuleta tackled the former's hit "Apologize." Former "Idol" finalists, including Carrie Underwood and last year's winner Jordin Sparks, also made appearances.Donna Summer danced and sang with the top six ladies -- Mercado, Carly Smithson, White, Kristy Lee Cook, Amanda Overmeyer and Ramiele Malubay -- while Bryan Adams sang a few songs with the top six men -- Jason Castro, Michael Johns, the Davids plus David Hernandez and Chikezie. The top 10 will be touring together this summer as part of American Idols Live.
Castro reprised his popular performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" as interpreted by Jeff Buckley, while Smithson and Johns -- who were voted off surprisingly early in the competition -- dueted on "The Letter." Many music numbers were enhanced by the contestants from "So You Think You Can Dance."
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Kurt Busch tapes intro for 'America's Most Wanted'
NASCAR Sprint Cup star Kurt Busch had an unusual assignment last Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
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The 2004 series champion spent part of the day taping an intro for this Saturday night's edition of “America's Most Wanted,” the popular FOX TV show hosted by John Walsh.
“John was at the track filming on Friday and it was great to meet him and do the filming,” Busch said. “I was in my Miller Lite fire suit and we did a nice little interview first. Then I did the introduction to a segment where they are looking for a woman named Jenny Liang.
“She was living in (Las) Vegas and working at the Mirage Casino when she supposedly murdered her boyfriend and then went on the run. I really enjoyed spending the time with John and I hope that our efforts add support in helping them capture this woman.”
One of the things that impressed Busch most about the taping was Walsh's companions.
“John has an entourage of about 20 people, with two armed guards following him at all times,” Busch said. “With his show helping take down nearly 1,000 dangerous fugitives in the past 20 years, it's pretty easy to understand why he has that kind of support crew.”
The show airs Saturday at 9:00 p.m.
CLASSIC RACE: The 56th edition of the Hoosier Hundred, one of the most prestigious dirt racing events of the year, will take place Friday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
Reigning U.S. Auto Club Silver Crown Series champion Bud Kaeding and two-time National Midget Series champion Jerry Coons Jr. are tied for the Silver Crown points lead.
The race, one of the perennial highlights of the week leading up to the running of the Indianapolis 500, has a list of winners that reads like the roster of a racing hall of fame, including A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones, Rodger Ward, Al Unser, Jimmy Bryant and Bob Swiekert.
Coons, who won the series opener at Phoenix in February, and Kaeding are both looking for their first Hoosier Hundred win, along with Tracy Hines, who leads this year's midget series. Hines, who drives for Tony Stewart Racing, has started the event eight times and placed sixth or better in seven of them.
Track qualifying record holder Johnny Parsons, who first raced in the event 38 years ago, will seek a record 30th start. He also is looking for that elusive victory after finishing second in 1973 and 1989.
One driver not looking for his first Hoosier Hundred win is Dave Darland. The Lincoln, Ind., driver is a prerace favorite, having won the event three times, the latest in 2004.
KING'S REIGN: Stock car King Richard Petty will celebrate his 50th anniversary in NASCAR during the Chicagoland Speedway Sprint Cup race weekend in July.
The 70-year-old Petty, the son of NASCAR pioneer Lee Petty, made his driving debut on July 12, 1958, in the Convertible Division at Columbia Speedway in Cayce, S.C., starting 13th and finishing sixth. He went on to race for 35 years, winning 201 races, including one of 15 starts in the Convertible Division before going on to win seven Cup championships.
Petty Enterprises, the team begun by his father and now run by Richard Petty and son Kyle, will mark the anniversary with several special events and promotions. The team has extended an invitation to the CEOs of its sponsors and partner companies to come to Chicago to help them commemorate the anniversary.
A promotion to get fans involved with the celebration will be announced in June.
“As much as he is renowned for his success on the racetrack, The King has always connected with the fan and still does to this day,” said Brian Moffitt, vice president of marketing for the Petty team. “It's just part of who he is.”
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The 2004 series champion spent part of the day taping an intro for this Saturday night's edition of “America's Most Wanted,” the popular FOX TV show hosted by John Walsh.
“John was at the track filming on Friday and it was great to meet him and do the filming,” Busch said. “I was in my Miller Lite fire suit and we did a nice little interview first. Then I did the introduction to a segment where they are looking for a woman named Jenny Liang.
“She was living in (Las) Vegas and working at the Mirage Casino when she supposedly murdered her boyfriend and then went on the run. I really enjoyed spending the time with John and I hope that our efforts add support in helping them capture this woman.”
One of the things that impressed Busch most about the taping was Walsh's companions.
“John has an entourage of about 20 people, with two armed guards following him at all times,” Busch said. “With his show helping take down nearly 1,000 dangerous fugitives in the past 20 years, it's pretty easy to understand why he has that kind of support crew.”
The show airs Saturday at 9:00 p.m.
CLASSIC RACE: The 56th edition of the Hoosier Hundred, one of the most prestigious dirt racing events of the year, will take place Friday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
Reigning U.S. Auto Club Silver Crown Series champion Bud Kaeding and two-time National Midget Series champion Jerry Coons Jr. are tied for the Silver Crown points lead.
The race, one of the perennial highlights of the week leading up to the running of the Indianapolis 500, has a list of winners that reads like the roster of a racing hall of fame, including A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones, Rodger Ward, Al Unser, Jimmy Bryant and Bob Swiekert.
Coons, who won the series opener at Phoenix in February, and Kaeding are both looking for their first Hoosier Hundred win, along with Tracy Hines, who leads this year's midget series. Hines, who drives for Tony Stewart Racing, has started the event eight times and placed sixth or better in seven of them.
Track qualifying record holder Johnny Parsons, who first raced in the event 38 years ago, will seek a record 30th start. He also is looking for that elusive victory after finishing second in 1973 and 1989.
One driver not looking for his first Hoosier Hundred win is Dave Darland. The Lincoln, Ind., driver is a prerace favorite, having won the event three times, the latest in 2004.
KING'S REIGN: Stock car King Richard Petty will celebrate his 50th anniversary in NASCAR during the Chicagoland Speedway Sprint Cup race weekend in July.
The 70-year-old Petty, the son of NASCAR pioneer Lee Petty, made his driving debut on July 12, 1958, in the Convertible Division at Columbia Speedway in Cayce, S.C., starting 13th and finishing sixth. He went on to race for 35 years, winning 201 races, including one of 15 starts in the Convertible Division before going on to win seven Cup championships.
Petty Enterprises, the team begun by his father and now run by Richard Petty and son Kyle, will mark the anniversary with several special events and promotions. The team has extended an invitation to the CEOs of its sponsors and partner companies to come to Chicago to help them commemorate the anniversary.
A promotion to get fans involved with the celebration will be announced in June.
“As much as he is renowned for his success on the racetrack, The King has always connected with the fan and still does to this day,” said Brian Moffitt, vice president of marketing for the Petty team. “It's just part of who he is.”
(3) San Antonio Spurs (0-0) at (1) Los Angeles Lakers (0-0), 9 p.m.
The defending world champion San Antonio Spurs attempt to earn a trip back to the NBA Finals, as they visit the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference finals series tonight at the Staples Center.
This is the 11th time these teams have met in the postseason. San Antonio is 3-7 versus the Lakers in the playoffs. The Spurs defeated LA in the 1995, 1999 and 2003 semifinals.
The Lakers knocked off San Antonio in the first round of the 1986 and 1988 postseason, 1982, 1983, 2002, 2004 semis and the 2001 West finals.
During the regular season, the teams split four contests. Both clubs won a pair of games at home.
Game 2 of the set is scheduled for Friday in LA.
The third-seeded Spurs, who swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in last year's NBA Finals, have captured four world championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007) in the last nine years. They are 4-5 in conference finals since joining the NBA in the 1976-77 campaign.
San Antonio is 6-0 at home and 2-4 on the road in this year's playoffs. The Spurs defeated the sixth-seeded Phoenix Suns in five contests in round one and survived a seven-game series with No. 2 New Orleans in the semis.
In Game 7 against the Hornets, Manu Ginobili scored 26 points and hit all six of his free throws in the final minute, as the Spurs held on for a 91-82 victory at New Orleans Arena. It was the first time in franchise history that a team has come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a playoff series.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Ginobili is averaging 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the postseason, while point guard Tony Parker, who was the MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals, leads the Spurs in scoring (23.7 ppg) and assists (6.3 apg). Parker is shooting 50.5 percent from the field, including an impressive 46.2 percent from beyond the arc.
All-Star forward Tim Duncan has continued his stellar play for the Spurs in the playoffs. The Wake Forest product has posted 19.3 points and a club-high 13.3 rebounds per game.
Duncan, Ginobili and Parker have received plenty of help from their supporting cast of role players. Bruce Bowen and Ime Udoka have made timely shots and have been tenacious on defense, while veteran big man Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto have been solid in the middle. Swingman Michael Finley is averaging 7.1 points and is shooting 37.8 percent from three-point range.
Gregg Popovich, who has guided the Spurs to four championships during his tenure in San Antonio and was named the 2002-2003 NBA Coach of the Year, always gets the most out of his team, especially in the postseason. He is an impressive 100-55 in the playoffs.
The Lakers, who captured the Pacific Division crown during the regular season, had no problem winning the opening round of the playoffs. They swept Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson and the eighth-seeded Nuggets, 4-0. In the semis, Los Angeles needed six games to eliminate Carlos Boozer and the fourth-seeded Utah Jazz.
NBA MVP Kobe Bryant has brought his best to this year's playoffs. The All-Star guard leads the Lakers in scoring (33.3 ppg) and assists (6.8 apg). He has also grabbed 6.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 49.5 percent from the field.
Pau Gasol, who was acquired in a big trade from the Memphis Grizzlies on February 1, has been everything the Lakers had hoped he would be and more. The seven-foot Spaniard is averaging 20.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the postseason. He is shooting 56.8 percent from the floor and has been the low-post scorer that Lakers have been missing.
Veteran guard Derek Fisher, versatile forward Lamar Odom, Vladimir Radmanovic, Sasha Vujacic and Luke Walton have all done their part in the postseason. Fisher has drained big threes throughout the postseason and is shooting an unbelievable 58.6 percent (17-for-29) from beyond the arc, while Odom has collected 15.6 points and a team-high 10.7 rebounds per game.
Head coach Phil Jackson knows how to win in the playoffs. Jackson has won nine championship rings as a coach. He led the Lakers to three titles in his first four years in LA, and guided the Chicago Bulls to six championships. He is an incredible 187-79 in the postseason.
The Lakers have returned to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2004. They defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games, 4-2, that year. LA has won this round four straight times.
The last time the Lakers lost in the conference finals was in 1998, as they were swept, 4-0, by the Jazz.
LA is 5-0 at home and 3-2 on the road in the 2008 playoffs.
This is the 11th time these teams have met in the postseason. San Antonio is 3-7 versus the Lakers in the playoffs. The Spurs defeated LA in the 1995, 1999 and 2003 semifinals.
The Lakers knocked off San Antonio in the first round of the 1986 and 1988 postseason, 1982, 1983, 2002, 2004 semis and the 2001 West finals.
During the regular season, the teams split four contests. Both clubs won a pair of games at home.
Game 2 of the set is scheduled for Friday in LA.
The third-seeded Spurs, who swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in last year's NBA Finals, have captured four world championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007) in the last nine years. They are 4-5 in conference finals since joining the NBA in the 1976-77 campaign.
San Antonio is 6-0 at home and 2-4 on the road in this year's playoffs. The Spurs defeated the sixth-seeded Phoenix Suns in five contests in round one and survived a seven-game series with No. 2 New Orleans in the semis.
In Game 7 against the Hornets, Manu Ginobili scored 26 points and hit all six of his free throws in the final minute, as the Spurs held on for a 91-82 victory at New Orleans Arena. It was the first time in franchise history that a team has come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a playoff series.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Ginobili is averaging 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the postseason, while point guard Tony Parker, who was the MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals, leads the Spurs in scoring (23.7 ppg) and assists (6.3 apg). Parker is shooting 50.5 percent from the field, including an impressive 46.2 percent from beyond the arc.
All-Star forward Tim Duncan has continued his stellar play for the Spurs in the playoffs. The Wake Forest product has posted 19.3 points and a club-high 13.3 rebounds per game.
Duncan, Ginobili and Parker have received plenty of help from their supporting cast of role players. Bruce Bowen and Ime Udoka have made timely shots and have been tenacious on defense, while veteran big man Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto have been solid in the middle. Swingman Michael Finley is averaging 7.1 points and is shooting 37.8 percent from three-point range.
Gregg Popovich, who has guided the Spurs to four championships during his tenure in San Antonio and was named the 2002-2003 NBA Coach of the Year, always gets the most out of his team, especially in the postseason. He is an impressive 100-55 in the playoffs.
The Lakers, who captured the Pacific Division crown during the regular season, had no problem winning the opening round of the playoffs. They swept Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson and the eighth-seeded Nuggets, 4-0. In the semis, Los Angeles needed six games to eliminate Carlos Boozer and the fourth-seeded Utah Jazz.
NBA MVP Kobe Bryant has brought his best to this year's playoffs. The All-Star guard leads the Lakers in scoring (33.3 ppg) and assists (6.8 apg). He has also grabbed 6.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 49.5 percent from the field.
Pau Gasol, who was acquired in a big trade from the Memphis Grizzlies on February 1, has been everything the Lakers had hoped he would be and more. The seven-foot Spaniard is averaging 20.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the postseason. He is shooting 56.8 percent from the floor and has been the low-post scorer that Lakers have been missing.
Veteran guard Derek Fisher, versatile forward Lamar Odom, Vladimir Radmanovic, Sasha Vujacic and Luke Walton have all done their part in the postseason. Fisher has drained big threes throughout the postseason and is shooting an unbelievable 58.6 percent (17-for-29) from beyond the arc, while Odom has collected 15.6 points and a team-high 10.7 rebounds per game.
Head coach Phil Jackson knows how to win in the playoffs. Jackson has won nine championship rings as a coach. He led the Lakers to three titles in his first four years in LA, and guided the Chicago Bulls to six championships. He is an incredible 187-79 in the postseason.
The Lakers have returned to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2004. They defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games, 4-2, that year. LA has won this round four straight times.
The last time the Lakers lost in the conference finals was in 1998, as they were swept, 4-0, by the Jazz.
LA is 5-0 at home and 3-2 on the road in the 2008 playoffs.
Music Mogul Lou Pearlman Gets 25 Years In Jail
Lou Pearlman, the man who created the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync, was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in federal prison for engineering a decades-long scam that bilked thousands of investors out of their life savings.It was the maximum sentence the boy band mogul could receive for allegedly swindling some $300 million from investors and banks since the early 1980s.He pleaded guilty in March to two counts of conspiracy and single counts of money laundering and presenting a false claim in bankruptcy court.U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp noted that many victims were Pearlman's relatives, friends and retirees in their 70s or 80s who lost everything. "The sympathy factor just doesn't run very high with the court," Sharp said.However, the judge said he would reduce Pearlman's sentence by one month for every $1 million returned to investors. It wasn't clear how, or if, investors would ever be compensated.
"I want to say clearly that there's no pot of gold out there," defense attorney Fletcher Peacock said.Prosecutors allege Pearlman scammed individuals out of an estimated $200 million, and banks out of another $100 million.The courtroom was packed with victims, some of whom gave emotional testimony. Another two dozen or so waited outside."Over the past nine months since my arrest, I've come to realize the harm that's been done," Pearlman said in a short courtroom statement. "I'm truly sorry and I apologize for what's happened."Peacock said Pearlman meant to pay back all the investors, and noted he had returned about $103 million.He said Pearlman got caught up in lawsuits -- also alleged fraudulent business practices -- over his otherwise successful entertainment ventures in the 1990s that prevented him from returning the money.
"I want to say clearly that there's no pot of gold out there," defense attorney Fletcher Peacock said.Prosecutors allege Pearlman scammed individuals out of an estimated $200 million, and banks out of another $100 million.The courtroom was packed with victims, some of whom gave emotional testimony. Another two dozen or so waited outside."Over the past nine months since my arrest, I've come to realize the harm that's been done," Pearlman said in a short courtroom statement. "I'm truly sorry and I apologize for what's happened."Peacock said Pearlman meant to pay back all the investors, and noted he had returned about $103 million.He said Pearlman got caught up in lawsuits -- also alleged fraudulent business practices -- over his otherwise successful entertainment ventures in the 1990s that prevented him from returning the money.
Death Cab For Cutie Scores First No. 1 Album
Katie Hasty, N.Y.
Death Cab For Cutie claims its first No. 1 album as "Narrow Stairs" starts at the top slot on the Billboard 200. The Atlantic set moved 144,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen Soundscan. Death Cab's prior album, 2005's "Plans," debuted at No. 4 with 90,000 and spent 50 weeks on the chart.Reprise's retrospective Frank Sinatra collection "Nothing But the Best" bows at No. 2 with 99,000. It's been nearly 15 years since Old Blue Eyes was this high on the chart. In December 1993, his "Duets" album spent three weeks at No. 2. This new hits collection, which chronicles the legend's tenure on Reprise Records, also commemorates the tenth anniversary of Sinatra's passing on May 14, 1998.Jason Mraz's Atlantic album "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things" enters at No. 3 with 73,000, giving the Warner Music Group and WEA Distribution the top three on the chart for the first time in more than 16 years. "We Sing..." is the singer/songwriter's new high-water mark on the chart; "Mr. A-Z" topped out at No. 5 in 2005.Welsh singer Duffy's A&M/Polydor debut "Rockferry" enters at No. 4 with 71,000. That makes her the third female British newcomer to earn a top 10 debut since the beginning of 2007, joining Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis. The album's single "Mercy" has risen to No. 20 thus far on the Adult Top 40 radio chart.Speaking of Lewis, her Syco/J set "Spirit" climbs 6-5 with 62,000, an 18% slip in sales. Mariah Carey's Island Def Jam album "E=MC2" flip-flops with it, falling 5-6 with 59,000 (-33%). After becoming his first No. 1 last week, Neil Diamond's "Home Before Dark" (Columbia) slips to No. 7 with a 63% sales hit at 53,000.
Madonna's "Hard Candy" (Warner Bros.) continues its decline 3-8 with 53,000 (-43%) and Toby Keith's double-disc collection "35 Biggest Hits" (Show Dog Nashville) descends 2-9 with 41,000, a 60% sales tumble.Keith Sweat's "Just Me" rounds out the top tier, debuting at No. 10 with 37,000. The Keia/Atco/Rhino is Sweat's first studio album since 2002's "Rebirth," which peaked at No. 14 in its opening week.Rock act 10 Years' "Division" (Universal Republic) lands at No. 12 with 28,000. Its last set, "The Autumn Effect," topped out at No. 72 in 2005. Other debuts on The Billboard 200 this week include the Disney soundtrack to "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" at No. 26 with 16,000, Cherish's "The Truth" (Capitol) at No. 40 with 13,000, Filter's "Anthems for the Damned" (Pulse) at No. 42, also with 13,000 and Starbucks' Hear Music compilation "The Second Wave" at No. 43 with 13,000.Album sales this week are down 8.5% from last week's sum with 7.43 million units and down 13.5% from the same week last year.
Death Cab For Cutie claims its first No. 1 album as "Narrow Stairs" starts at the top slot on the Billboard 200. The Atlantic set moved 144,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen Soundscan. Death Cab's prior album, 2005's "Plans," debuted at No. 4 with 90,000 and spent 50 weeks on the chart.Reprise's retrospective Frank Sinatra collection "Nothing But the Best" bows at No. 2 with 99,000. It's been nearly 15 years since Old Blue Eyes was this high on the chart. In December 1993, his "Duets" album spent three weeks at No. 2. This new hits collection, which chronicles the legend's tenure on Reprise Records, also commemorates the tenth anniversary of Sinatra's passing on May 14, 1998.Jason Mraz's Atlantic album "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things" enters at No. 3 with 73,000, giving the Warner Music Group and WEA Distribution the top three on the chart for the first time in more than 16 years. "We Sing..." is the singer/songwriter's new high-water mark on the chart; "Mr. A-Z" topped out at No. 5 in 2005.Welsh singer Duffy's A&M/Polydor debut "Rockferry" enters at No. 4 with 71,000. That makes her the third female British newcomer to earn a top 10 debut since the beginning of 2007, joining Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis. The album's single "Mercy" has risen to No. 20 thus far on the Adult Top 40 radio chart.Speaking of Lewis, her Syco/J set "Spirit" climbs 6-5 with 62,000, an 18% slip in sales. Mariah Carey's Island Def Jam album "E=MC2" flip-flops with it, falling 5-6 with 59,000 (-33%). After becoming his first No. 1 last week, Neil Diamond's "Home Before Dark" (Columbia) slips to No. 7 with a 63% sales hit at 53,000.
Madonna's "Hard Candy" (Warner Bros.) continues its decline 3-8 with 53,000 (-43%) and Toby Keith's double-disc collection "35 Biggest Hits" (Show Dog Nashville) descends 2-9 with 41,000, a 60% sales tumble.Keith Sweat's "Just Me" rounds out the top tier, debuting at No. 10 with 37,000. The Keia/Atco/Rhino is Sweat's first studio album since 2002's "Rebirth," which peaked at No. 14 in its opening week.Rock act 10 Years' "Division" (Universal Republic) lands at No. 12 with 28,000. Its last set, "The Autumn Effect," topped out at No. 72 in 2005. Other debuts on The Billboard 200 this week include the Disney soundtrack to "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" at No. 26 with 16,000, Cherish's "The Truth" (Capitol) at No. 40 with 13,000, Filter's "Anthems for the Damned" (Pulse) at No. 42, also with 13,000 and Starbucks' Hear Music compilation "The Second Wave" at No. 43 with 13,000.Album sales this week are down 8.5% from last week's sum with 7.43 million units and down 13.5% from the same week last year.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Celtics prefer busy schedule to Pistons' rest
WALTHAM, Mass. - Long after practice ended, Ray Allen was still on the court firing up jumpers.
He was even making most of them.
That overtime work Monday showed that, like his Celtics teammates, he had plenty of energy left after two intense seven-game series. And the usually smooth shooter was regaining his rhythm.
Whether the Pistons still have theirs after a six-day layoff will become evident in Tuesday night's opener of the Eastern Conference finals.
"I would rather have the rhythm" of regular competition than extra rest, Allen said, "because (with) the rhythm you don't have to guess from one day to the next" how you'll play.
Boston has played three games since Detroit won its conference semifinal in five games against Orlando last Tuesday. The Celtics advanced with a 97-92 victory over Cleveland on Sunday in which Paul Pierce scored 41 points. Allen had just four and averaged only 9.3 points on 32.8 percent shooting in the series, far below his regular-season performance.
If he starts scoring again, he would give the Celtics their usual three main scoring options, joining Kevin Garnett and Pierce, to go against a Pistons team that has a much more balanced offense than the Cavaliers, who lost Sunday despite 45 points from LeBron James, and Atlanta, Boston's first-round opponent.
"It's the exact opposite," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "You go from Cleveland and Atlanta in a lot of ways with Joe Johnson, where you focus on double-teaming, to playing a team that all the guys in the starting lineup are capable of having good nights."
The matchup with Detroit is what Rivers and many others expected.
Both are deep teams with outstanding defenses. The Celtics had the NBA's best record (66-16), earning home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, and the Pistons were second best (59-23). The Celtics have plenty of players with playoff experience, though not as teammates, and the Pistons are in the conference finals for the sixth straight season.
Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince have been on all of those teams. Rasheed Wallace is in his fifth year with the Pistons. But they last won the NBA title in 2004, then lost to San Antonio the next year.
Pierce, Garnett and Allen are each in the conference finals for only the second time in their careers.
"I think we probably will be the underdog," Pierce said, "knowing that Detroit has been there. They won a championship with this group and are used to going to the Eastern Conference finals and this is just our first trip."
Still, the Pistons are hungry to get back to the finals for the first time since 2005.
"It's only been three years, but it seems like forever," Hamilton said. "We feel ... we haven't been there in a long time. So we want to do everything possible to get right back to where we were at."
Boston was 8-0 at home but 0-6 on the road in the first two rounds. The Pistons have three road wins in this postseason.
The Pistons didn't have home-court advantage the last two times they won the conference finals in 2004 and 2005. Game 2 this week will be Thursday night in Boston, with the next two games Saturday and Monday in Detroit.
"I try not to even put any emphasis on it," Allen said. "I think you approach the situation (as) we're going out here to win a game, regardless of where we are."
Detroit also was solid on the road, going 25-16 in the regular season, with one of those wins in Boston. The Celtics were 35-6 at home.
"That's a big plus for us that we have won there in a season that they won most of their home games," Billups said. "We know we're a great road team in anybody's building and that's to our advantage. Our whole mind-set is to go there and win Game 1."
If they do, the Celtics would be in a big, early hole. The best they could get, then, would be a split before the series shifts to The Palace, where the Pistons were 34-7.
But that wasn't on the Celtics' minds Monday when they went through a light workout after Sunday's draining game that wasn't decided until the final minute.
On Monday, Pierce and his teammates awoke with a rare feeling for the franchise. They were in the conference finals for the first time in six years.
"When you're waking up you notice that the sun's been out. It's been warm outside," Pierce said. "It's very rare that you're playing in the Eastern Conference that you're still playing when it's 70 degrees, so you know you've gone pretty far in the playoffs and I think some guys wake up and say, 'hey, we're still playing,' and they get excited about it."
And the Pistons don't expect to take comfort in the fact that the Celtics were pushed to the limit in both series.
"We've got to go in and play this team like they swept everybody," guard Lindsey Hunter said. "They were the best team in the NBA. They didn't accomplish that by chance. We'll come in as though they're fresh as we are."
Besides, overcoming all the setbacks of a seven-game series should harden the Celtics for what's ahead of them.
"We've learned a lot about each other. It's good for us because as a team this is our first time together," Allen said. "Our valleys that we're going through, seven games, adversity on the road. All that stuff that people say is a reason why we won't win, it's a reason why we will win."
He was even making most of them.
That overtime work Monday showed that, like his Celtics teammates, he had plenty of energy left after two intense seven-game series. And the usually smooth shooter was regaining his rhythm.
Whether the Pistons still have theirs after a six-day layoff will become evident in Tuesday night's opener of the Eastern Conference finals.
"I would rather have the rhythm" of regular competition than extra rest, Allen said, "because (with) the rhythm you don't have to guess from one day to the next" how you'll play.
Boston has played three games since Detroit won its conference semifinal in five games against Orlando last Tuesday. The Celtics advanced with a 97-92 victory over Cleveland on Sunday in which Paul Pierce scored 41 points. Allen had just four and averaged only 9.3 points on 32.8 percent shooting in the series, far below his regular-season performance.
If he starts scoring again, he would give the Celtics their usual three main scoring options, joining Kevin Garnett and Pierce, to go against a Pistons team that has a much more balanced offense than the Cavaliers, who lost Sunday despite 45 points from LeBron James, and Atlanta, Boston's first-round opponent.
"It's the exact opposite," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "You go from Cleveland and Atlanta in a lot of ways with Joe Johnson, where you focus on double-teaming, to playing a team that all the guys in the starting lineup are capable of having good nights."
The matchup with Detroit is what Rivers and many others expected.
Both are deep teams with outstanding defenses. The Celtics had the NBA's best record (66-16), earning home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, and the Pistons were second best (59-23). The Celtics have plenty of players with playoff experience, though not as teammates, and the Pistons are in the conference finals for the sixth straight season.
Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince have been on all of those teams. Rasheed Wallace is in his fifth year with the Pistons. But they last won the NBA title in 2004, then lost to San Antonio the next year.
Pierce, Garnett and Allen are each in the conference finals for only the second time in their careers.
"I think we probably will be the underdog," Pierce said, "knowing that Detroit has been there. They won a championship with this group and are used to going to the Eastern Conference finals and this is just our first trip."
Still, the Pistons are hungry to get back to the finals for the first time since 2005.
"It's only been three years, but it seems like forever," Hamilton said. "We feel ... we haven't been there in a long time. So we want to do everything possible to get right back to where we were at."
Boston was 8-0 at home but 0-6 on the road in the first two rounds. The Pistons have three road wins in this postseason.
The Pistons didn't have home-court advantage the last two times they won the conference finals in 2004 and 2005. Game 2 this week will be Thursday night in Boston, with the next two games Saturday and Monday in Detroit.
"I try not to even put any emphasis on it," Allen said. "I think you approach the situation (as) we're going out here to win a game, regardless of where we are."
Detroit also was solid on the road, going 25-16 in the regular season, with one of those wins in Boston. The Celtics were 35-6 at home.
"That's a big plus for us that we have won there in a season that they won most of their home games," Billups said. "We know we're a great road team in anybody's building and that's to our advantage. Our whole mind-set is to go there and win Game 1."
If they do, the Celtics would be in a big, early hole. The best they could get, then, would be a split before the series shifts to The Palace, where the Pistons were 34-7.
But that wasn't on the Celtics' minds Monday when they went through a light workout after Sunday's draining game that wasn't decided until the final minute.
On Monday, Pierce and his teammates awoke with a rare feeling for the franchise. They were in the conference finals for the first time in six years.
"When you're waking up you notice that the sun's been out. It's been warm outside," Pierce said. "It's very rare that you're playing in the Eastern Conference that you're still playing when it's 70 degrees, so you know you've gone pretty far in the playoffs and I think some guys wake up and say, 'hey, we're still playing,' and they get excited about it."
And the Pistons don't expect to take comfort in the fact that the Celtics were pushed to the limit in both series.
"We've got to go in and play this team like they swept everybody," guard Lindsey Hunter said. "They were the best team in the NBA. They didn't accomplish that by chance. We'll come in as though they're fresh as we are."
Besides, overcoming all the setbacks of a seven-game series should harden the Celtics for what's ahead of them.
"We've learned a lot about each other. It's good for us because as a team this is our first time together," Allen said. "Our valleys that we're going through, seven games, adversity on the road. All that stuff that people say is a reason why we won't win, it's a reason why we will win."
Stich backs Djokovic to succeed Federer
Michael Stich says today's top tennis stars should be more open with the media, and thinks Novak Djokovic will eventually replace Roger Federer as World number one, rather than Rafael Nadal.
Janet Jackson Kicking Off Tour In September
Though going out on tour means connecting with fans, it can also mean long hours, high stress, and sleepless nights. Janet Jackson says she's looking forward to all of it."I love all of that, all of that pressure, I really do," Jackson told the Associated Press yesterday (May 19) as she gears up for a North American tour to kick off in September.The tour, which opens Sept. 10 in Vancouver, and includes dates in New York and Washington, D.C., is Jackson's first in seven years. But the singer, who just turned 42 last week, said she hadn't planned on waiting for so long."I was supposed to go on tour with the last album," said Jackson, referring to the 2006 CD "20 Y.O." But the singer said her record label wanted her to wait for her latest CD, "Discipline.""We were actually in full-blown tour rehearsals at that point ... learning numbers, getting everything together, set designs," she said. "I had to kind of shut everything down and go into the studio."
Jackson's shows have always been heavy on choreography and glitzy sets. But she promised fans some surprises this time around. "It will definitely be a big production but it will definitely also be something that I've never done before, that people have never seen from me before," she said.While only a few dates have been announced for the Live Nation-produced outing, Jackson expects to take the "Rock Witchu" tour (named, by the way, for a song on her new album, not for her brother Michael's famous hit) worldwide."It's been a while so I really want to make my rounds," she said. "I haven't been to "Australia in a very long time; I can't wait to go there. There are a lot of places where I really want to stop off at, and that's the idea, that's the goal with this tour.Tickets go on sale June 7.
Jackson's shows have always been heavy on choreography and glitzy sets. But she promised fans some surprises this time around. "It will definitely be a big production but it will definitely also be something that I've never done before, that people have never seen from me before," she said.While only a few dates have been announced for the Live Nation-produced outing, Jackson expects to take the "Rock Witchu" tour (named, by the way, for a song on her new album, not for her brother Michael's famous hit) worldwide."It's been a while so I really want to make my rounds," she said. "I haven't been to "Australia in a very long time; I can't wait to go there. There are a lot of places where I really want to stop off at, and that's the idea, that's the goal with this tour.Tickets go on sale June 7.
Miley Cyrus Prepares To 'Breakout' With New Album
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
On her hit Disney Channel show, she's Hannah Montana. But on her upcoming album, she's just Miley Cyrus. The teen superstar will release the first full-length album under her own name, "Breakout," July 22 via Hollywood Records.The first single, "7 Things," was one of the most added at U.S. top 40 radio outlets last week, garnering 255 spins. It is also enjoying some airplay at adult top 40 stations."7 Things" was produced by John Fields and written by Cyrus with Antonina Armato and Tim James. The latter has previously worked with Cyrus on "Hannah Montana" material, as well as with teen pop favorites like Aly & AJ and the cast of "High School Musical."On the track, Cyrus takes aim at a hurtful ex who won't provide a "sincere apology." "And when you mean it, I'll believe it / If you text it, I'll delete it," Cyrus sings.
Cyrus recently scored her first top 10 Hot 100 hit with "See You Again," and she presently has two different albums in the top half of The Billboard 200: "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert" at No. 33 and "Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus" at No. 65.
On her hit Disney Channel show, she's Hannah Montana. But on her upcoming album, she's just Miley Cyrus. The teen superstar will release the first full-length album under her own name, "Breakout," July 22 via Hollywood Records.The first single, "7 Things," was one of the most added at U.S. top 40 radio outlets last week, garnering 255 spins. It is also enjoying some airplay at adult top 40 stations."7 Things" was produced by John Fields and written by Cyrus with Antonina Armato and Tim James. The latter has previously worked with Cyrus on "Hannah Montana" material, as well as with teen pop favorites like Aly & AJ and the cast of "High School Musical."On the track, Cyrus takes aim at a hurtful ex who won't provide a "sincere apology." "And when you mean it, I'll believe it / If you text it, I'll delete it," Cyrus sings.
Cyrus recently scored her first top 10 Hot 100 hit with "See You Again," and she presently has two different albums in the top half of The Billboard 200: "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert" at No. 33 and "Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus" at No. 65.
Monday, May 19, 2008
US athletics plunges to new low
TO SAY that the US is bracing itself is overdoing it because, when it comes to track and field, it sometimes seems that the country is beyond caring.However, the trial that began in a San Francisco federal courtroom overnight has the potential to deliver a blow of unfathomably damaging proportions.
Trevor Graham, one of the most successful coaches in history, is on trial for perjury, for allegedly telling federal investigators that he had never supplied banned substances to his athletes. Given that 10 of his charges, including Marion Jones, Justin Gatlin and Tim Montgomery, have been suspended or disciplined for doping offences, his position would seem an unenviable one.
The real mess, however, lies in the testimony of the next few days as both the prosecution and defence have suggested that an A-to-Z of new, unknown drugs cheats may be named and shamed in court. The stats, as they appeared in The New York Times last month, are terrifying, with the prosecution's star witness, Angel Heredia, a Mexican former discus thrower and confessed supplier of performance-enhancing drugs, claiming to have the evidence to bring down 12 athletes who between them won 26 Olympic medals and 21 world championships.
Of those 12, apparently, eight had not been previously linked to doping. As a taster, Heredia threw in one of the biggest names of all, Maurice Greene, which means that four of the past five Olympic 100m winners have thus been besmirched (Ben Johnson, 1988; Linford Christie, 1992; Greene, 2000; Gatlin, 2004). Greene has denied any wrongdoing, but only Donovan Bailey (1996) has a reputation that is intact.
With the next Olympics on the horizon, it goes without saying that this is hardly a good time for athletics to be mired in another scandal. It does not help much, either, that Montgomery was sentenced last week to 46 months' prison for cheque fraud or that he is still facing charges of trafficking heroin, or that Gatlin, who has twice failed dope tests, will be in court arguing his right to run in Beijing. How the mighty have fallen.
All of which may explain why the US, where the interest dial in track and field has always been pretty low, appears to be close to switching it to off. One indicator is that NBC, the Olympics broadcaster, lobbied for the Beijing Games schedule to be rejigged, with swimming and gymnastics moved to the morning so that they could be shown live in the US. Athletics, traditionally the blue-riband event, was not a priority.
Meanwhile, in a Los Angeles suburb on Saturday, there was an athletics meeting featuring a stellar cast, yet the Los Angeles Times weekend edition failed to credit it with a single word. The names on show included Tyson Gay, the double world sprint champion, and Jeremy Wariner, the finest quarter-miler on the planet, both of whom filled their pre-meeting press conference not only by sharing the kind of hopes for an Olympic year that you might expect of young men with the world at their feet, but also by urging the public not to give up on them.
"Believe in us again," Wariner said. "We are clean. There's a lot of clean athletes out there."
Yet while this new generation may indeed be cleaner, they are paying for their forebears' misdemeanours. A broad hope among these young stars is that the Graham trial will represent a final drawing of the line, an opportunity to put the past to bed. As Wariner said: "I just hope it is done with after this."
Anyone with an affinity for the sport would share that hope, but it may prove a slim one. If the evidence in San Francisco does unmask another cast of drugs cheats, the lead-up to Beijing - and beyond - will be filled with recriminations, the redistribution of medals and the rewriting of history. Athletics these days is a sport in which medals are won and lost in court and it would be nice if, in China, we could revert to distributing them from a trackside podium.
Much may depend on the presiding judge, Susan Illston. Graham is charged with perjury - he faces up to 15 years in jail - and it is for Illston to decide how relevant is a new list of allegedly transgressing world champions. If she judges that names are appropriate, then both sides have declared that they have ammunition aplenty. Heredia is promising to bring down some of the sport's greats. Graham said: "There's going to be a lot of publicity on a lot of people's parts who did a lot of things behind closed doors. It's all going to be dragged out in front of the whole world. It's going to embarrass the US and it's going to embarrass these athletes."
Trevor Graham, one of the most successful coaches in history, is on trial for perjury, for allegedly telling federal investigators that he had never supplied banned substances to his athletes. Given that 10 of his charges, including Marion Jones, Justin Gatlin and Tim Montgomery, have been suspended or disciplined for doping offences, his position would seem an unenviable one.
The real mess, however, lies in the testimony of the next few days as both the prosecution and defence have suggested that an A-to-Z of new, unknown drugs cheats may be named and shamed in court. The stats, as they appeared in The New York Times last month, are terrifying, with the prosecution's star witness, Angel Heredia, a Mexican former discus thrower and confessed supplier of performance-enhancing drugs, claiming to have the evidence to bring down 12 athletes who between them won 26 Olympic medals and 21 world championships.
Of those 12, apparently, eight had not been previously linked to doping. As a taster, Heredia threw in one of the biggest names of all, Maurice Greene, which means that four of the past five Olympic 100m winners have thus been besmirched (Ben Johnson, 1988; Linford Christie, 1992; Greene, 2000; Gatlin, 2004). Greene has denied any wrongdoing, but only Donovan Bailey (1996) has a reputation that is intact.
With the next Olympics on the horizon, it goes without saying that this is hardly a good time for athletics to be mired in another scandal. It does not help much, either, that Montgomery was sentenced last week to 46 months' prison for cheque fraud or that he is still facing charges of trafficking heroin, or that Gatlin, who has twice failed dope tests, will be in court arguing his right to run in Beijing. How the mighty have fallen.
All of which may explain why the US, where the interest dial in track and field has always been pretty low, appears to be close to switching it to off. One indicator is that NBC, the Olympics broadcaster, lobbied for the Beijing Games schedule to be rejigged, with swimming and gymnastics moved to the morning so that they could be shown live in the US. Athletics, traditionally the blue-riband event, was not a priority.
Meanwhile, in a Los Angeles suburb on Saturday, there was an athletics meeting featuring a stellar cast, yet the Los Angeles Times weekend edition failed to credit it with a single word. The names on show included Tyson Gay, the double world sprint champion, and Jeremy Wariner, the finest quarter-miler on the planet, both of whom filled their pre-meeting press conference not only by sharing the kind of hopes for an Olympic year that you might expect of young men with the world at their feet, but also by urging the public not to give up on them.
"Believe in us again," Wariner said. "We are clean. There's a lot of clean athletes out there."
Yet while this new generation may indeed be cleaner, they are paying for their forebears' misdemeanours. A broad hope among these young stars is that the Graham trial will represent a final drawing of the line, an opportunity to put the past to bed. As Wariner said: "I just hope it is done with after this."
Anyone with an affinity for the sport would share that hope, but it may prove a slim one. If the evidence in San Francisco does unmask another cast of drugs cheats, the lead-up to Beijing - and beyond - will be filled with recriminations, the redistribution of medals and the rewriting of history. Athletics these days is a sport in which medals are won and lost in court and it would be nice if, in China, we could revert to distributing them from a trackside podium.
Much may depend on the presiding judge, Susan Illston. Graham is charged with perjury - he faces up to 15 years in jail - and it is for Illston to decide how relevant is a new list of allegedly transgressing world champions. If she judges that names are appropriate, then both sides have declared that they have ammunition aplenty. Heredia is promising to bring down some of the sport's greats. Graham said: "There's going to be a lot of publicity on a lot of people's parts who did a lot of things behind closed doors. It's all going to be dragged out in front of the whole world. It's going to embarrass the US and it's going to embarrass these athletes."
Mike Tyson tells all in surprising documentary
CANNES, France - Mike Tyson considers it a miracle that he lived to tell his tale. And he's telling it - in graphic detail - in a new documentary at the Cannes Film Festival.
"I lived a wild and extreme life," the former heavyweight champion told reporters. "I used drugs. I had altercations with dangerous people. I slept with guys' wives that wanted to kill me. I'm just happy to be here, you know. It's just a miracle."
The 41-year-old former boxer says he opened up because he fully trusted director James Toback ("Fingers").
And he also had nothing better to do.
"I was in rehab anyway," Tyson said. "I wasn't going anywhere."
Tyson got a prolonged ovation at the Tyson screening in Cannes, which he attended wearing a pinstriped suit with white pocket handkerchief. He said he was not embarrassed by his confessional - much of it about his sex life - though he was overwhelmed by Cannes.
"I feel vulnerable," he said. "Because really to be honest with you, I don't even know what I'm doing here. I had no idea this thing was going to make it to this grand scale here."Toback, who has known Tyson for 23 years and gave him small parts in "Black and White" and "When Will I Be Loved," said he talked to Tyson in a soothing, hypnotic voice to get him to open up.
The movie blends in old video footage and TV interviews. But basically it's Tyson telling his own life story in his trademark lisp - with many surprising moments.
Tyson talks about getting beaten up and stolen from when he was an overweight kid. The fighter chokes up repeatedly when reminiscing about his late trainer, Cus D'Amato, who transformed the troubled teenager into a world-class champion. D'Amato died just the year before a 20-year-old Tyson in 1986 became the youngest heavyweight champion when he knocked out Trevor Berbick. He lost his title four years later.
On-screen, Tyson spares no details in describing his sex life: He talks about his need to dominate women and about suffering from a painful bout of gonorrhea during one of the most important fights of his career.
He covers the career low points, like biting Evander Holyfield's ear in 1997. And he admits to many, many bad decisions.
"I've always been a harsh critic of myself," he said.
On one issue, Tyson still refuses to take responsibility. Tyson insists he is innocent of the 1991 rape of an 18-year-old beauty queen for which he served three years in prison.
"I've been abusive to women before in my life," he acknowledged. But in this case, "I thought (the conviction) was wrong, I thought it was unfair."
"I lived a wild and extreme life," the former heavyweight champion told reporters. "I used drugs. I had altercations with dangerous people. I slept with guys' wives that wanted to kill me. I'm just happy to be here, you know. It's just a miracle."
The 41-year-old former boxer says he opened up because he fully trusted director James Toback ("Fingers").
And he also had nothing better to do.
"I was in rehab anyway," Tyson said. "I wasn't going anywhere."
Tyson got a prolonged ovation at the Tyson screening in Cannes, which he attended wearing a pinstriped suit with white pocket handkerchief. He said he was not embarrassed by his confessional - much of it about his sex life - though he was overwhelmed by Cannes.
"I feel vulnerable," he said. "Because really to be honest with you, I don't even know what I'm doing here. I had no idea this thing was going to make it to this grand scale here."Toback, who has known Tyson for 23 years and gave him small parts in "Black and White" and "When Will I Be Loved," said he talked to Tyson in a soothing, hypnotic voice to get him to open up.
The movie blends in old video footage and TV interviews. But basically it's Tyson telling his own life story in his trademark lisp - with many surprising moments.
Tyson talks about getting beaten up and stolen from when he was an overweight kid. The fighter chokes up repeatedly when reminiscing about his late trainer, Cus D'Amato, who transformed the troubled teenager into a world-class champion. D'Amato died just the year before a 20-year-old Tyson in 1986 became the youngest heavyweight champion when he knocked out Trevor Berbick. He lost his title four years later.
On-screen, Tyson spares no details in describing his sex life: He talks about his need to dominate women and about suffering from a painful bout of gonorrhea during one of the most important fights of his career.
He covers the career low points, like biting Evander Holyfield's ear in 1997. And he admits to many, many bad decisions.
"I've always been a harsh critic of myself," he said.
On one issue, Tyson still refuses to take responsibility. Tyson insists he is innocent of the 1991 rape of an 18-year-old beauty queen for which he served three years in prison.
"I've been abusive to women before in my life," he acknowledged. But in this case, "I thought (the conviction) was wrong, I thought it was unfair."
Neil Diamond Debuts Atop U.K. Album Chart
Paul Sexton, London
Neil Diamond repeated his Billboard 200 feat by entering the U.K. album chart at No. 1 yesterday (May 18) with "Home Before Dark." It's his second album chart-topper in the territory, and first with a studio set. In a double for Columbia, the Ting Tings, the label's U.K. punk-dance duo of Jules De Martino and Katie White, debuted at the top of the singles chart with "That's Not My Name."Diamond, now 67, first entered the British album bestsellers in March 1971 with "Gold." His one previous turn at the U.K. album peak came when "The Greatest Hits 1966-1992" had three weeks at the summit in the summer of 1992. His last album, "12 Songs," produced like the new one by Rick Rubin, debuted on the U.K. chart at No.5 in February 2006.The veteran singer/songwriter was in the territory for promotion around the release of "Home Before Dark," including a concert for BBC Radio 2 aired by the national AC broadcaster on Saturday."Dark" hit the top ahead of a new entry at No. 2 for Australian band Pendulum's "In Silico" (Warner Bros.). That follows the recent success of their single "Propane Nightmares," now at No. 12 after reaching No. 9 two weeks ago. German techno band Scooter's surprise No. 1 of last week, "Jumping All Over the World" (All Around the World/Universal Music TV), fell to No. 3.U.K.-Asian R&B star Jay Sean, formerly with Virgin but now on his own independent 2Point9/Jayded label, made an impressive No. 6 debut with "My Own Way." Sean has already scored two U.K. hit singles from the set, "Ride It" and the recent "Maybe."
"Nothing But the Best," a new Frank Sinatra compilation released by Reprise/Warner Bros. to mark the tenth anniversary of his death May 14, entered at No. 10. Sinatra was No. 1 on the first-ever U.K. album chart with "Songs for Swinging Lovers" in July 1956.The latest vintage act to benefit from a new TV-advertised compilation on UMTV was the Searchers, the influential Liverpool hitmakers of the 1960s who continue to tour. "The Very Best of the Searchers" opened at No. 11, as UMTV's "The Very Best of the Platters" spent a remarkable third week in the top 10, dipping 8-9."That's Not My Name" is not only the Ting Tings' first No. 1 but their first U.K. chart entry. They initially released the track on the indie label Switchflicker before signing to Columbia. De Martino and White were previously together in the unsuccessful group Dear Eskimo, signed to Mercury/Universal.Also on the new singles chart, Rihanna scored a No. 2 debut with "Take a Bow" (Def Jam/Universal) as "4 Minutes" by Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake fell 1-3. Duffy's "Warwick Avenue" (A&M/Universal) climbed 17-13 and the Pigeon Detectives' "This Is An Emergency" (Dance to the Radio) rose 24-14. Nelly & Fergie's "Party People" (Universal Island) improved 19-16 and 16-year-old Gabriella Cilmi's "Sweet About Me," also on Island, inched up 23-19."4 Minutes" is in a fourth week at No. 1 atop Billboard's Eurochart Hot 100 Singles survey, while Madonna's "Hard Candy" leads European Top 100 Albums for a second week.
Neil Diamond repeated his Billboard 200 feat by entering the U.K. album chart at No. 1 yesterday (May 18) with "Home Before Dark." It's his second album chart-topper in the territory, and first with a studio set. In a double for Columbia, the Ting Tings, the label's U.K. punk-dance duo of Jules De Martino and Katie White, debuted at the top of the singles chart with "That's Not My Name."Diamond, now 67, first entered the British album bestsellers in March 1971 with "Gold." His one previous turn at the U.K. album peak came when "The Greatest Hits 1966-1992" had three weeks at the summit in the summer of 1992. His last album, "12 Songs," produced like the new one by Rick Rubin, debuted on the U.K. chart at No.5 in February 2006.The veteran singer/songwriter was in the territory for promotion around the release of "Home Before Dark," including a concert for BBC Radio 2 aired by the national AC broadcaster on Saturday."Dark" hit the top ahead of a new entry at No. 2 for Australian band Pendulum's "In Silico" (Warner Bros.). That follows the recent success of their single "Propane Nightmares," now at No. 12 after reaching No. 9 two weeks ago. German techno band Scooter's surprise No. 1 of last week, "Jumping All Over the World" (All Around the World/Universal Music TV), fell to No. 3.U.K.-Asian R&B star Jay Sean, formerly with Virgin but now on his own independent 2Point9/Jayded label, made an impressive No. 6 debut with "My Own Way." Sean has already scored two U.K. hit singles from the set, "Ride It" and the recent "Maybe."
"Nothing But the Best," a new Frank Sinatra compilation released by Reprise/Warner Bros. to mark the tenth anniversary of his death May 14, entered at No. 10. Sinatra was No. 1 on the first-ever U.K. album chart with "Songs for Swinging Lovers" in July 1956.The latest vintage act to benefit from a new TV-advertised compilation on UMTV was the Searchers, the influential Liverpool hitmakers of the 1960s who continue to tour. "The Very Best of the Searchers" opened at No. 11, as UMTV's "The Very Best of the Platters" spent a remarkable third week in the top 10, dipping 8-9."That's Not My Name" is not only the Ting Tings' first No. 1 but their first U.K. chart entry. They initially released the track on the indie label Switchflicker before signing to Columbia. De Martino and White were previously together in the unsuccessful group Dear Eskimo, signed to Mercury/Universal.Also on the new singles chart, Rihanna scored a No. 2 debut with "Take a Bow" (Def Jam/Universal) as "4 Minutes" by Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake fell 1-3. Duffy's "Warwick Avenue" (A&M/Universal) climbed 17-13 and the Pigeon Detectives' "This Is An Emergency" (Dance to the Radio) rose 24-14. Nelly & Fergie's "Party People" (Universal Island) improved 19-16 and 16-year-old Gabriella Cilmi's "Sweet About Me," also on Island, inched up 23-19."4 Minutes" is in a fourth week at No. 1 atop Billboard's Eurochart Hot 100 Singles survey, while Madonna's "Hard Candy" leads European Top 100 Albums for a second week.
Chesney Wins Again, Lambert Surprises At ACM Awards
Ken Tucker, Las Vegas
Despite a new voting procedure, Kenny Chesney is still the Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year. He won for the fourth straight year last night (May 18), tying Garth Brooks for the record.For the first time ever, the entertainer award was voted for by fans on the Internet, who came to the same conclusion the industry has. "This one is really extra special because long before I had a hit record, the fans came to the shows," Chesney said. "I'm honored to be up here for the fourth year in a row."Still, Chesney made it clear backstage that he thinks the academy made a mistake by making the award fan-voted. Calling the process a "sweepstakes," he said, "I think it's complete disrespect of the artist. It shouldn't be about pushing people's buttons on the Internet. We need to be careful about how we give this award away in the future.""I think the fans should be a part of the it," Chesney said, "but not the one award every artist sacrifices to achieve." Chesney had the top country tour of 2007, selling over 1.1 million tickets and grossing over $71 million, according to Billboard Boxscore.Meanwhile, Miranda Lambert was the surprise winner of album of the year award for "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." "I was sitting behind Kenny Chesney and I just don't feel right taking this," she said from the stage.
The critically acclaimed album has sold 408,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan, but has only spawned two top 20 singles, "Famous in a Small Town" and "Gunpowder & Lead," which she performed on the show. "I've never had a top 10 hit," she added backstage. "I am a little left of center. I'm completely surprised."Sugarland took home an ACM hat for single and song of the year for "Stay." The song peaked at No. 2 in January on Hot Country Songs. The duo introduced producer Byron Gallimore as "part therapist and magician.""It was shocking," the duo's Kristian Bush said of the wins backstage. The duo later debuted their sticks-in-your-head new single, "All I Want To Do," which will appear on their July 22 release "Love on the Inside."Brad Paisley, whose most recent album, "5th Gear," has sold 1 million copies, took home male vocalist honors for the second straight year. "A singer is nothing without inspiration," Paisley said before thanking his wife, actress Kimberly Williams Paisley and son William Huckleberry Paisley. Meanwhile, top video honors went to Paisley's "Online," which was directed by "Seinfeld" star Jason Alexander.With temperatures topping 100 degrees outside, Carrie Underwood kicked off the show inside with an inspired performance of "Last Name," her current top 10 single, before taking top female honors. Just over a week earlier, Underwood was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.Held at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena, the show was hosted for the tenth time by Reba McEntire, who performed with top vocal duo winners Brooks & Dunn on "Put a Girl in It."Garth Brooks was honored with the Crystal Milestone Award for his career achievements and performed a medley of hits, including "The Thunder Rolls," "Friends in Low Places," "We Shall Be Free," "The Dance" and "Ain't Goin' Down (Til The Sun Comes Up)."Taylor Swift took home top new female honors, besting gal pal Kellie Pickler. "Kellie, I love you," Swift said from the stage before dedicating the award to her mother.Initially wearing a hoodie, which was torn off by two male dancers to reveal a black dress, Swift sang "Should've Said No," her new single, before being drenched by a cascade of water falling from above the stage. "This is a performance I've been dreaming up since I was 10," Swift said backstage. "I've never had that much fun on stage."Rascal Flatts, who was honored with an ACM/Home Depot Humanitarian Award, also won top vocal group. Meanwhile, Tracy Lawrence, along with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, picked up the vocal event trophy for "Find Out Who Your Friends Are."George Strait, who celebrated his 56th birthday at the show, performed two songs back-to-back, his recent No. 1 "I Saw God Today" and "Shiftwork" with Chesney.Eddy Arnold, who passed away at age 89 on May 8 and who was honored with an ACM pioneer award in 1984, was feted by Paisley and Underwood, who performed "Make The World Go Away."Jack Ingram, who spent years on the Texas circuit before breaking out nationally with "Wherever You Are" in 2006, picked up the top new male trophy. "It's been a long road to stand in front of as the new male vocalist of the ACM. Dreams come true, never give up," he said."I've put in a lot of miles and a lot of hard work and I'm proud of the work I've done," he added backstage.Lady Antebellum, whose debut single, "Love Don't Live Here," recently reached the top 10 on Hot Country Songs, scored the top new group or duo award only a year after being signed to Capitol Nashville. "Everything that's happened over the last year has been unbelievable," the group's Dave Haywood said backstage. "Being here now is the icing on the cake."
Despite a new voting procedure, Kenny Chesney is still the Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year. He won for the fourth straight year last night (May 18), tying Garth Brooks for the record.For the first time ever, the entertainer award was voted for by fans on the Internet, who came to the same conclusion the industry has. "This one is really extra special because long before I had a hit record, the fans came to the shows," Chesney said. "I'm honored to be up here for the fourth year in a row."Still, Chesney made it clear backstage that he thinks the academy made a mistake by making the award fan-voted. Calling the process a "sweepstakes," he said, "I think it's complete disrespect of the artist. It shouldn't be about pushing people's buttons on the Internet. We need to be careful about how we give this award away in the future.""I think the fans should be a part of the it," Chesney said, "but not the one award every artist sacrifices to achieve." Chesney had the top country tour of 2007, selling over 1.1 million tickets and grossing over $71 million, according to Billboard Boxscore.Meanwhile, Miranda Lambert was the surprise winner of album of the year award for "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." "I was sitting behind Kenny Chesney and I just don't feel right taking this," she said from the stage.
The critically acclaimed album has sold 408,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan, but has only spawned two top 20 singles, "Famous in a Small Town" and "Gunpowder & Lead," which she performed on the show. "I've never had a top 10 hit," she added backstage. "I am a little left of center. I'm completely surprised."Sugarland took home an ACM hat for single and song of the year for "Stay." The song peaked at No. 2 in January on Hot Country Songs. The duo introduced producer Byron Gallimore as "part therapist and magician.""It was shocking," the duo's Kristian Bush said of the wins backstage. The duo later debuted their sticks-in-your-head new single, "All I Want To Do," which will appear on their July 22 release "Love on the Inside."Brad Paisley, whose most recent album, "5th Gear," has sold 1 million copies, took home male vocalist honors for the second straight year. "A singer is nothing without inspiration," Paisley said before thanking his wife, actress Kimberly Williams Paisley and son William Huckleberry Paisley. Meanwhile, top video honors went to Paisley's "Online," which was directed by "Seinfeld" star Jason Alexander.With temperatures topping 100 degrees outside, Carrie Underwood kicked off the show inside with an inspired performance of "Last Name," her current top 10 single, before taking top female honors. Just over a week earlier, Underwood was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.Held at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena, the show was hosted for the tenth time by Reba McEntire, who performed with top vocal duo winners Brooks & Dunn on "Put a Girl in It."Garth Brooks was honored with the Crystal Milestone Award for his career achievements and performed a medley of hits, including "The Thunder Rolls," "Friends in Low Places," "We Shall Be Free," "The Dance" and "Ain't Goin' Down (Til The Sun Comes Up)."Taylor Swift took home top new female honors, besting gal pal Kellie Pickler. "Kellie, I love you," Swift said from the stage before dedicating the award to her mother.Initially wearing a hoodie, which was torn off by two male dancers to reveal a black dress, Swift sang "Should've Said No," her new single, before being drenched by a cascade of water falling from above the stage. "This is a performance I've been dreaming up since I was 10," Swift said backstage. "I've never had that much fun on stage."Rascal Flatts, who was honored with an ACM/Home Depot Humanitarian Award, also won top vocal group. Meanwhile, Tracy Lawrence, along with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, picked up the vocal event trophy for "Find Out Who Your Friends Are."George Strait, who celebrated his 56th birthday at the show, performed two songs back-to-back, his recent No. 1 "I Saw God Today" and "Shiftwork" with Chesney.Eddy Arnold, who passed away at age 89 on May 8 and who was honored with an ACM pioneer award in 1984, was feted by Paisley and Underwood, who performed "Make The World Go Away."Jack Ingram, who spent years on the Texas circuit before breaking out nationally with "Wherever You Are" in 2006, picked up the top new male trophy. "It's been a long road to stand in front of as the new male vocalist of the ACM. Dreams come true, never give up," he said."I've put in a lot of miles and a lot of hard work and I'm proud of the work I've done," he added backstage.Lady Antebellum, whose debut single, "Love Don't Live Here," recently reached the top 10 on Hot Country Songs, scored the top new group or duo award only a year after being signed to Capitol Nashville. "Everything that's happened over the last year has been unbelievable," the group's Dave Haywood said backstage. "Being here now is the icing on the cake."
Friday, May 16, 2008
(1) Boston Celtics (3-2) at (4) Cleveland Cavaliers (2-3), 8 p.m.
The Cleveland Cavaliers attempt to force Game 7 against the Boston Celtics in their Eastern Conference semifinal series, as the clubs meet tonight at Quicken Loans Series.
Boston leads this set 3-2. If necessary, Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday at TD Banknorth Garden. The home team has won all five games in this series.
The winner of this series will face the second-seeded Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.
On Wednesday, Paul Pierce scored 29 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and hit some clutch free throws down the stretch as the top-seeded Celtics rebounded from an early 14-point deficit to beat No. 4 Cleveland, 96-89, in Beantown.
Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Celtics, while Rajon Rondo had 20 points and 13 assists for Boston.
LeBron James scored 35 points on 12-of-25 from the field, but only had two points in the third quarter when the Celtics took control. Delonte West added 21 points for the Cavaliers, who shot a miserable 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from beyond the arc (18.8 percent) and 28-of-41 (68.3 percent) from the free-throw line.
On the injury front for the Cavaliers, guard Daniel Gibson is expected to miss the next 1-2 weeks of action due to a shoulder injury, possibly keeping him out the remainder of the playoffs.
Cleveland has won three straight Game 6s in the postseason. The Cavaliers are 4-1 at home in this year's playoffs. They have lost three in a row when facing elimination from the postseason.
The Celtics are 0-5 on the road in this year's postseason. Boston, which has split its last four Game 6s in the playoffs, has dropped two of its last three games when it has the chance to eliminate its opponent from the playoffs.
The last time the Celtics clinched a playoff series on the road was in 2002, when they defeated Detroit in Game 5 of the East semis.
This is the fourth time these teams have met in the postseason. Boston defeated the Cavaliers in six games, 4-2, in the 1976 East finals, and in four contests, 3-1, in the first round of the 1985 playoffs. Cleveland knocked out the Celtics in seven games in the 1992 East semis.
Boston has made it to the East semis for the first time since 2003. That year, the Celtics were swept by the New Jersey Nets, 4-0. The last time the Celtics won in this round was in 2002 when they knocked out Detroit in five, 4-1, before losing to the Nets in the East finals, 4-2.
The Celtics survived a scare in the opening round, as they knocked out the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in seven games. The home team won every game in the series. Boston won its four contests by an average of 25.3 points.
The Cavaliers, who are the defending Eastern Conference champions and knocked out the Wizards in round one, are 3-2 all-time in the semifinals. They defeated the Washington Bullets in 1976, Boston in 1992 and New Jersey in 2007. Cleveland lost in the semis to Chicago in 1993 and Detroit in 2006.
Boston leads this set 3-2. If necessary, Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday at TD Banknorth Garden. The home team has won all five games in this series.
The winner of this series will face the second-seeded Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.
On Wednesday, Paul Pierce scored 29 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and hit some clutch free throws down the stretch as the top-seeded Celtics rebounded from an early 14-point deficit to beat No. 4 Cleveland, 96-89, in Beantown.
Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Celtics, while Rajon Rondo had 20 points and 13 assists for Boston.
LeBron James scored 35 points on 12-of-25 from the field, but only had two points in the third quarter when the Celtics took control. Delonte West added 21 points for the Cavaliers, who shot a miserable 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from beyond the arc (18.8 percent) and 28-of-41 (68.3 percent) from the free-throw line.
On the injury front for the Cavaliers, guard Daniel Gibson is expected to miss the next 1-2 weeks of action due to a shoulder injury, possibly keeping him out the remainder of the playoffs.
Cleveland has won three straight Game 6s in the postseason. The Cavaliers are 4-1 at home in this year's playoffs. They have lost three in a row when facing elimination from the postseason.
The Celtics are 0-5 on the road in this year's postseason. Boston, which has split its last four Game 6s in the playoffs, has dropped two of its last three games when it has the chance to eliminate its opponent from the playoffs.
The last time the Celtics clinched a playoff series on the road was in 2002, when they defeated Detroit in Game 5 of the East semis.
This is the fourth time these teams have met in the postseason. Boston defeated the Cavaliers in six games, 4-2, in the 1976 East finals, and in four contests, 3-1, in the first round of the 1985 playoffs. Cleveland knocked out the Celtics in seven games in the 1992 East semis.
Boston has made it to the East semis for the first time since 2003. That year, the Celtics were swept by the New Jersey Nets, 4-0. The last time the Celtics won in this round was in 2002 when they knocked out Detroit in five, 4-1, before losing to the Nets in the East finals, 4-2.
The Celtics survived a scare in the opening round, as they knocked out the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in seven games. The home team won every game in the series. Boston won its four contests by an average of 25.3 points.
The Cavaliers, who are the defending Eastern Conference champions and knocked out the Wizards in round one, are 3-2 all-time in the semifinals. They defeated the Washington Bullets in 1976, Boston in 1992 and New Jersey in 2007. Cleveland lost in the semis to Chicago in 1993 and Detroit in 2006.
Lleyton Hewitt considers cutting losses and having surgery
AILING Lleyton Hewitt will today decide whether his next step involves sliding on to the red clay of Roland Garros or slipping into a medical gown to fix his troublesome hip.
The dual Grand Slam winner has been sidelined with the problem since steering Australia to a Davis Cup win over Thailand in Townsville last month. But it has been hindering him since the Australian Open.
Although Hewitt, 27, has taken a tentative step forward this week by taking to the court to practise, his French Open prospects are dire and a Wimbledon campaign is also in doubt.
The world No19's manager David Drysdale yesterday said Hewitt, who has received daily attention from Davis Cup team doctor David Brooks and has consulted specialists at Sydney's North Shore Private Hospital, will decide today whether to abandon the European summer in a bid to correct the problem before the US Open in late August.
"We are still having discussions, looking at what is best for Lleyton, what could happen and what may not happen," Drysdale said.
"He knows we have to make a decision this weekend."
The former Wimbledon and US Open winner said this week he was waiting on the results of scans before deciding on a course of action.
"The hip is starting to feel a little better, but I'm yet to fully test it out on court," Hewitt said. "The specialist did a couple more tests today but the results won't be back for a few days. Once I get those, I can make a decision on the French Open and the grass-court season."
Drysdale said while Hewitt had been able to hit balls this week, his training sessions had been halved from the usual three hours and were of lower intensity than usual.
But he said the South Australian wanted to give himself every chance to play the next two Grand Slam events.
"I guess what we are looking at is how he pulls up after a couple of hits and whether the hip is any better," Drysdale said.
Hewitt has much to consider in terms of deciding his immediate future. He has more than 400 points to defend during this period after enjoying a reasonable run of form on clay and grass last year.
He has already forfeited the points earned in reaching the semi-finals at Hamburg last year, while he reached the same round at an event at Poertschach, Austria a week later.
If Hewitt is unable to compete at either the French Open or Wimbledon, his ranking will hit free-fall given he reached the round of 16 at both events last year. Hewitt, whose ranking will slip to its lowest level since he cracked the top 20 in January, 2000, could slide towards 50 depending on the medical advice he receives.
Drysdale yesterday did not rule out surgery, which would jeopardise Hewitt's participation in both the US Open in late August and a qualifying tie against Serbia in September that Australia must win to return to the Davis Cup world group next year.
"There is a lot of talk from people that he should have surgery, but that is a last resort," Drysdale said.
"He would be out for a period of time ... but that could easily happen. We are just trying to remain positive."
The dual Grand Slam winner has been sidelined with the problem since steering Australia to a Davis Cup win over Thailand in Townsville last month. But it has been hindering him since the Australian Open.
Although Hewitt, 27, has taken a tentative step forward this week by taking to the court to practise, his French Open prospects are dire and a Wimbledon campaign is also in doubt.
The world No19's manager David Drysdale yesterday said Hewitt, who has received daily attention from Davis Cup team doctor David Brooks and has consulted specialists at Sydney's North Shore Private Hospital, will decide today whether to abandon the European summer in a bid to correct the problem before the US Open in late August.
"We are still having discussions, looking at what is best for Lleyton, what could happen and what may not happen," Drysdale said.
"He knows we have to make a decision this weekend."
The former Wimbledon and US Open winner said this week he was waiting on the results of scans before deciding on a course of action.
"The hip is starting to feel a little better, but I'm yet to fully test it out on court," Hewitt said. "The specialist did a couple more tests today but the results won't be back for a few days. Once I get those, I can make a decision on the French Open and the grass-court season."
Drysdale said while Hewitt had been able to hit balls this week, his training sessions had been halved from the usual three hours and were of lower intensity than usual.
But he said the South Australian wanted to give himself every chance to play the next two Grand Slam events.
"I guess what we are looking at is how he pulls up after a couple of hits and whether the hip is any better," Drysdale said.
Hewitt has much to consider in terms of deciding his immediate future. He has more than 400 points to defend during this period after enjoying a reasonable run of form on clay and grass last year.
He has already forfeited the points earned in reaching the semi-finals at Hamburg last year, while he reached the same round at an event at Poertschach, Austria a week later.
If Hewitt is unable to compete at either the French Open or Wimbledon, his ranking will hit free-fall given he reached the round of 16 at both events last year. Hewitt, whose ranking will slip to its lowest level since he cracked the top 20 in January, 2000, could slide towards 50 depending on the medical advice he receives.
Drysdale yesterday did not rule out surgery, which would jeopardise Hewitt's participation in both the US Open in late August and a qualifying tie against Serbia in September that Australia must win to return to the Davis Cup world group next year.
"There is a lot of talk from people that he should have surgery, but that is a last resort," Drysdale said.
"He would be out for a period of time ... but that could easily happen. We are just trying to remain positive."
Taylor Hicks To Join 'Grease' On Broadway
Taylor Hicks is going from "Idol" to "Angel." The "American Idol" alum will join the Broadway cast of "Grease" on June 6, playing Teen Angel in the revival of the popular musical.The gray-haired singer -- whose "Idol" fan base was called "The Soul Patrol" -- said he plans to add "soulful flavor" to his performance of "Beauty School Dropout." The flashy role, he said, is "a classic fit for a classic performer.""It's a big number, and, you know, I've made some pretty grand entrances before," Hicks told the Associated Press. "And this one is probably the grandest entrance I've had in my career."Well, besides "Idol." Hicks, 31, took home the title in the fifth season of the top-rated Fox show -- the biggest stage on television.He later lost his record deal with J Records and had been looking for the perfect part to make his debut on The Great White Way.
"If you're gonna be a great entertainer and you're gonna be a great performer, than these are the things that you have to do to season yourself in that manner," said Hicks, who views this "opportunity of a lifetime" as a way to improve his "Idol"-tested skills.The Alabama-born crooner's run ends Sept. 7. He'll be the latest "Idol" to hit Broadway, following runs by season-three winner Fantasia Barrino ("The Color Purple") and a host of also-rans including Clay Aiken ("Spamalot"), Diana DeGarmo ("Hairspray") and Constantine Maroulis ("The Wedding Singer").Hicks' self-titled, post-"Idol" album, released in December 2006, has sold a respectable 702,000 copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan data. But it didn't reach the 1 million mark or register a hit song, unlike previous "Idol" winners.This summer, Hicks intends to finish up a follow-up album -- on his own terms."I've had the creative freedom and the time to write some of the best music that I've ever written in my whole life. ... The options are unlimited and there has been some great interest now that I'm a free agent, so to speak," he said.
"If you're gonna be a great entertainer and you're gonna be a great performer, than these are the things that you have to do to season yourself in that manner," said Hicks, who views this "opportunity of a lifetime" as a way to improve his "Idol"-tested skills.The Alabama-born crooner's run ends Sept. 7. He'll be the latest "Idol" to hit Broadway, following runs by season-three winner Fantasia Barrino ("The Color Purple") and a host of also-rans including Clay Aiken ("Spamalot"), Diana DeGarmo ("Hairspray") and Constantine Maroulis ("The Wedding Singer").Hicks' self-titled, post-"Idol" album, released in December 2006, has sold a respectable 702,000 copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan data. But it didn't reach the 1 million mark or register a hit song, unlike previous "Idol" winners.This summer, Hicks intends to finish up a follow-up album -- on his own terms."I've had the creative freedom and the time to write some of the best music that I've ever written in my whole life. ... The options are unlimited and there has been some great interest now that I'm a free agent, so to speak," he said.
Dave Matthews Band Still Plugging Away On New CD
Gary Graff, Detroit
The Dave Matthews Band is emphasizing the "band" part of its equation on the group's next album. "It literally was a collaborative effort from beginning to end," violinist Boyd Tinsley tells Billboard.com. "Every song was written by everybody at the same time -- we've never really done that before.""We all got together and played and got these ideas, and we'd all work through building these songs all together," he continues. "Everybody's just really excited about it. That's why I say it sounds very much like DMB. It couldn't be more purely DMB than what it is."But the album, DMB's first since 2005's chart-topping "Stand Up," is a long way from done. The group, along with guitarist Tim Reynolds and producer Rob Cavallo, got together early in the year in Charlottesville, Va., to start working on ideas, then in March continued in Seattle to be closer to Matthews' home.Tinsley says the songs have been composed and are now waiting for Matthews to write lyrics, with a plan to return to the studio after the group comes off the road in early September.Tinsley says the music "sounds very much like DMB, but like songs you've never heard before." He says the "vibe, the whole mood of the songs" reminds him of album such as "Under the Table and Dreaming," "Crash" and "Before These Crowded Streets" but "coming from an entirely different direction" and benefiting from having Reynolds' guitar back in the mix for the first time since "...Crowded Streets."
"Tim just sort of expands upon things," Tinsley explains. "He's such an amazing musician. [He] adds this quality to the music that opens it up."The new songs are still in such an unfinished form, however, that Tinsley isn't sure if any of them will be debuted during DMB's extensive summer tour, which begins May 30 in Burgettstown, Pa., and runs through Sept. 10 at New York's Madison Square Garden."It might be a situation where we might take a couple of those in rehearsals and in sound checks and sort of work out arrangements to play this summer," he says. "We haven't really discussed that too much. That's the sort of thing that really comes spontaneously when we get together."
The Dave Matthews Band is emphasizing the "band" part of its equation on the group's next album. "It literally was a collaborative effort from beginning to end," violinist Boyd Tinsley tells Billboard.com. "Every song was written by everybody at the same time -- we've never really done that before.""We all got together and played and got these ideas, and we'd all work through building these songs all together," he continues. "Everybody's just really excited about it. That's why I say it sounds very much like DMB. It couldn't be more purely DMB than what it is."But the album, DMB's first since 2005's chart-topping "Stand Up," is a long way from done. The group, along with guitarist Tim Reynolds and producer Rob Cavallo, got together early in the year in Charlottesville, Va., to start working on ideas, then in March continued in Seattle to be closer to Matthews' home.Tinsley says the songs have been composed and are now waiting for Matthews to write lyrics, with a plan to return to the studio after the group comes off the road in early September.Tinsley says the music "sounds very much like DMB, but like songs you've never heard before." He says the "vibe, the whole mood of the songs" reminds him of album such as "Under the Table and Dreaming," "Crash" and "Before These Crowded Streets" but "coming from an entirely different direction" and benefiting from having Reynolds' guitar back in the mix for the first time since "...Crowded Streets."
"Tim just sort of expands upon things," Tinsley explains. "He's such an amazing musician. [He] adds this quality to the music that opens it up."The new songs are still in such an unfinished form, however, that Tinsley isn't sure if any of them will be debuted during DMB's extensive summer tour, which begins May 30 in Burgettstown, Pa., and runs through Sept. 10 at New York's Madison Square Garden."It might be a situation where we might take a couple of those in rehearsals and in sound checks and sort of work out arrangements to play this summer," he says. "We haven't really discussed that too much. That's the sort of thing that really comes spontaneously when we get together."
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Ronaldo: Champs Lge win will make me the best
Cristiano Ronaldo insists he must win the Champions League before he can be regarded as the best player in the world.
The Manchester United star is already regarded by many observers as the number one footballer on the planet after scoring an incredible 41 goals this season.
The Portugal international, 23, has surprised himself with his performances as United retained the Premier League, but he is determined to cement his status with victory over Chelsea in Moscow on Wednesday night.
'I have been totally surprised by how many goals I have scored as I am not even a centre forward,' he told the Daily Mail. 'But to be the best in the world I have to win titles like the Champions League and the Premier League.
'I am a winner and I have a dream that we will win the double this season. It would be madness if we did but why is it not possible now?
'It is not easy to win anything, especially not the Champions League. I think if you win that then you go down in history and that is what I want.'
Ronaldo revealed he is feeling fresh ahead of the Champions League final and the European Championships.
He said: 'No player gets tired when they are winning games and trophies. This is the type of situation now that players dream of. Manchester United is a 'superclub' and we are obliged to win things every season. So tiredness does not come in to it.
'Next season we will be obliged to repeat what we have done and I'm sure that we will.'
The Manchester United star is already regarded by many observers as the number one footballer on the planet after scoring an incredible 41 goals this season.
The Portugal international, 23, has surprised himself with his performances as United retained the Premier League, but he is determined to cement his status with victory over Chelsea in Moscow on Wednesday night.
'I have been totally surprised by how many goals I have scored as I am not even a centre forward,' he told the Daily Mail. 'But to be the best in the world I have to win titles like the Champions League and the Premier League.
'I am a winner and I have a dream that we will win the double this season. It would be madness if we did but why is it not possible now?
'It is not easy to win anything, especially not the Champions League. I think if you win that then you go down in history and that is what I want.'
Ronaldo revealed he is feeling fresh ahead of the Champions League final and the European Championships.
He said: 'No player gets tired when they are winning games and trophies. This is the type of situation now that players dream of. Manchester United is a 'superclub' and we are obliged to win things every season. So tiredness does not come in to it.
'Next season we will be obliged to repeat what we have done and I'm sure that we will.'
Jankovic, Serena reach Italian Open quarters
By Paul Virgo
ROME (Reuters) - American Serena Williams and holder Jelena Jankovic moved into the quarter-finals of the Italian Open on Thursday with wins over unseeded opponents.
Fifth seed Williams tamed lively Italian wildcard Sara Errani 6-4 6-3, while Serbian fourth seed Jankovic strolled past Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-1 6-1.
Williams twice came back from a break down in the first set before taking Errani's serve in the final game with the help of two big smashes and a net-cord winner.
Italy's last hope in the tournament also proved a worthy opponent in the second set, when former world number one Williams again recovered to clinch the match.
Jankovic played assured tennis, mixing her strokes well, but Kirilenko made some careless errors and at one stage blasted a ball into the stands in frustration.
Swiss ninth seed Patty Schnyder stayed on course for a quarter-final with Maria Sharapova by edging a fine tussle with eighth-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 4-6 6-4 7-6.
Russian Sharapova, heading the queue to become world number one next week after Justine Henin retired from tennis on Wednesday, meets Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in the third round later on Thursday.
Serena's sister Venus Williams, seeded seven, takes on Russian 10th seed Vera Zvonareva in the late match with the winner facing Jankovic in the last eight.
ROME (Reuters) - American Serena Williams and holder Jelena Jankovic moved into the quarter-finals of the Italian Open on Thursday with wins over unseeded opponents.
Fifth seed Williams tamed lively Italian wildcard Sara Errani 6-4 6-3, while Serbian fourth seed Jankovic strolled past Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-1 6-1.
Williams twice came back from a break down in the first set before taking Errani's serve in the final game with the help of two big smashes and a net-cord winner.
Italy's last hope in the tournament also proved a worthy opponent in the second set, when former world number one Williams again recovered to clinch the match.
Jankovic played assured tennis, mixing her strokes well, but Kirilenko made some careless errors and at one stage blasted a ball into the stands in frustration.
Swiss ninth seed Patty Schnyder stayed on course for a quarter-final with Maria Sharapova by edging a fine tussle with eighth-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 4-6 6-4 7-6.
Russian Sharapova, heading the queue to become world number one next week after Justine Henin retired from tennis on Wednesday, meets Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in the third round later on Thursday.
Serena's sister Venus Williams, seeded seven, takes on Russian 10th seed Vera Zvonareva in the late match with the winner facing Jankovic in the last eight.
Ulrich Reveals Metallica Tour Plans at L.A. Benefit
Mitchell Peters, L.A.
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich revealed last night (May 14) during an intimate Los Angeles benefit concert that the band will follow the September release of its new, as-yet-untitled album with a tour in October."That was the first show of the tour," announced Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, who, along with his bandmates, shredded through a nearly two-hour set with such hits as "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Fuel," "Master of Puppets," "...And Justice for All," "Enter Sandman," and "Seek and Destroy," at Los Angeles' 2,300-capacity Wiltern Theatre.The group didn't reveal any new material during its lengthy set. Nevertheless, "it feels good to play live again," singer/guitarist James Hetfield told a packed audience. "We haven't played here in a long time." Last's night concert was pulled together on short notice to help raise funds for the nonprofit Silverlake Conservatory of Music. The organization was co-founded by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who joined Metallica onstage for "Fight Fire With Fire," from the band's 1984 album "Ride the Lightning." Money raised from the concert will go toward the Silverlake Conservatory of Music's programs and operations, along with scholarships for low-income students who can't afford instruments and music lessons.
Bill White, director of development at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, tells Billboard.com that the idea for the benefit concert came together during a board meeting when Flea offered to ask Metallica's Ulrich if the band would be interested in doing a benefit show on the school's behalf. As a result, "We'll probably raise over $300,000 net on this," White says. "It's a gift from Metallica to the school." Tickets for the concert went on sale Sunday for $200 apiece, along with a limited amount of VIP tickets that ran $500. Along with its annual Hullabaloo fund-raiser, which last year featured Eddie Vedder and Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Silverlake Conservatory of Music has plans to do more one-off benefit concerts in the future, according to White. Meanwhile, Metallica will remain on the West Coast this weekend to play Tucson, Ariz.'s KFMA Day (today), KROQ-Los Angeles' Weenie Roast (May 17), followed by Manchester, Tenn.'s Bonnaroo Music Festival (June 13). No other North American dates were announced at deadline, but the rock act also has a handful of concert and festival appearances in Europe slated for August.Along with Metallica, last night's benefit concert featured rock act Scars On Broadway, the new band from System Of A Down guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan. As previously reported, Scars on Broadway's as-yet-untitled debut album is slated for a late summer release.
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich revealed last night (May 14) during an intimate Los Angeles benefit concert that the band will follow the September release of its new, as-yet-untitled album with a tour in October."That was the first show of the tour," announced Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, who, along with his bandmates, shredded through a nearly two-hour set with such hits as "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Fuel," "Master of Puppets," "...And Justice for All," "Enter Sandman," and "Seek and Destroy," at Los Angeles' 2,300-capacity Wiltern Theatre.The group didn't reveal any new material during its lengthy set. Nevertheless, "it feels good to play live again," singer/guitarist James Hetfield told a packed audience. "We haven't played here in a long time." Last's night concert was pulled together on short notice to help raise funds for the nonprofit Silverlake Conservatory of Music. The organization was co-founded by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who joined Metallica onstage for "Fight Fire With Fire," from the band's 1984 album "Ride the Lightning." Money raised from the concert will go toward the Silverlake Conservatory of Music's programs and operations, along with scholarships for low-income students who can't afford instruments and music lessons.
Bill White, director of development at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, tells Billboard.com that the idea for the benefit concert came together during a board meeting when Flea offered to ask Metallica's Ulrich if the band would be interested in doing a benefit show on the school's behalf. As a result, "We'll probably raise over $300,000 net on this," White says. "It's a gift from Metallica to the school." Tickets for the concert went on sale Sunday for $200 apiece, along with a limited amount of VIP tickets that ran $500. Along with its annual Hullabaloo fund-raiser, which last year featured Eddie Vedder and Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Silverlake Conservatory of Music has plans to do more one-off benefit concerts in the future, according to White. Meanwhile, Metallica will remain on the West Coast this weekend to play Tucson, Ariz.'s KFMA Day (today), KROQ-Los Angeles' Weenie Roast (May 17), followed by Manchester, Tenn.'s Bonnaroo Music Festival (June 13). No other North American dates were announced at deadline, but the rock act also has a handful of concert and festival appearances in Europe slated for August.Along with Metallica, last night's benefit concert featured rock act Scars On Broadway, the new band from System Of A Down guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan. As previously reported, Scars on Broadway's as-yet-untitled debut album is slated for a late summer release.
Rihanna Overtakes Leona Lewis On Hot 100
Jonathan Cohen and Katie Hasty, N.Y.
As tipped here yesterday, Rihanna's "Take a Bow" makes a near-record-breaking jump on the Hot 100 this week to overtake Leona Lewis' four-week No. 1, "Bleeding Love." "Take a Bow" soars 53-1 thanks to digital sales of 267,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan."Bleeding Love" slips to No. 2 this week, with Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" featuring Static Major down 2-3. The next six songs on the chart are all down one position from last week: Jordin Sparks' "No Air" featuring Chris Brown (3-4), Usher's "Love in this Club" featuring Young Jeezy (4-5), Ray J & Yung Berg's "Sexy Can I" (5-6), Madonna's "4 Minutes" featuring Justin Timberlake (6-7), Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" (7-8) and Natasha Bedingfield's "Pocket Full of Sunshine" (8-9).Danity Kane's "Damaged" inches up 11-10 to round out the top tier, its first top 10 hit since 2006. The week's top debut belongs to Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," which is available as an immediate download with pre-orders of the band's forthcoming Capitol album, "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends." Another Coldplay track, "Violet Hill," starts at No. 40.As his self-titled sophomore set lands at No. 7 on The Billboard 200, Gavin DeGraw's "In Love With a Girl" surges 34-24 as this week's biggest digital sales gainer. Keyshia Cole's "Heaven Sent" is this week's greatest airplay gainer.Other tracks new to the Hot 100 this week include DJ Laz' "Move Shake Drop" at No. 56, Maroon 5's "If I Never See Your Face Again" remix with Rihanna at No. 57, T.I.'s "No Matter What" at No. 72, Katy Perry "I Kissed a Girl" at No. 76 and Alicia Keys'
James Otto's "Just Got Started Lovin' You" continues to lead the Hot Country Songs tally as "Lollipop" tops the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for a third.Flex's "Te Quiero" crowns Hot Latin Songs stays at No. 1 for a sixth week on Hot Latin Songs. Weezer holds on to the summit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart with "Pork & Beans," a second week there. Disturbed follows suit on Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks as "Inside the Fire" also sits at No. 1 for a second.
As tipped here yesterday, Rihanna's "Take a Bow" makes a near-record-breaking jump on the Hot 100 this week to overtake Leona Lewis' four-week No. 1, "Bleeding Love." "Take a Bow" soars 53-1 thanks to digital sales of 267,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan."Bleeding Love" slips to No. 2 this week, with Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" featuring Static Major down 2-3. The next six songs on the chart are all down one position from last week: Jordin Sparks' "No Air" featuring Chris Brown (3-4), Usher's "Love in this Club" featuring Young Jeezy (4-5), Ray J & Yung Berg's "Sexy Can I" (5-6), Madonna's "4 Minutes" featuring Justin Timberlake (6-7), Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" (7-8) and Natasha Bedingfield's "Pocket Full of Sunshine" (8-9).Danity Kane's "Damaged" inches up 11-10 to round out the top tier, its first top 10 hit since 2006. The week's top debut belongs to Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," which is available as an immediate download with pre-orders of the band's forthcoming Capitol album, "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends." Another Coldplay track, "Violet Hill," starts at No. 40.As his self-titled sophomore set lands at No. 7 on The Billboard 200, Gavin DeGraw's "In Love With a Girl" surges 34-24 as this week's biggest digital sales gainer. Keyshia Cole's "Heaven Sent" is this week's greatest airplay gainer.Other tracks new to the Hot 100 this week include DJ Laz' "Move Shake Drop" at No. 56, Maroon 5's "If I Never See Your Face Again" remix with Rihanna at No. 57, T.I.'s "No Matter What" at No. 72, Katy Perry "I Kissed a Girl" at No. 76 and Alicia Keys'
James Otto's "Just Got Started Lovin' You" continues to lead the Hot Country Songs tally as "Lollipop" tops the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for a third.Flex's "Te Quiero" crowns Hot Latin Songs stays at No. 1 for a sixth week on Hot Latin Songs. Weezer holds on to the summit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart with "Pork & Beans," a second week there. Disturbed follows suit on Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks as "Inside the Fire" also sits at No. 1 for a second.
Monday, May 12, 2008
(1) Detroit Red Wings (2-0) at (5) Dallas Stars (0-2), 8 p.m.
The top-seeded Detroit Red Wings will try to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals tonight, when they visit the Dallas Stars for Game 3 at American Airlines Center.
Detroit has grabbed a two games to none lead in this series after posting wins in Games 1 and 2 on its home ice. The Red Wings recorded a 4-1 decision in the opener last Thursday and followed with a 2-1 triumph on Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena.
The Red Wings have won eight straight games since head coach Mike Babcock made a goaltending switch and replaced Dominik Hasek with Chris Osgood. Detroit was tied with Nashville 2-2 in the opening round series, but won two straight to win that set and then swept Colorado in four games during the conference semifinals.
In Game 2 against Dallas, Chris Osgood needed to make just 17 saves to help the Red Wings earn the 2-1 decision over the Stars. Osgood is 8-0 with a 1.40 goals against average and .939 save percentage in this postseason.
Darren Helm and Henrik Zetterberg each scored a goal for the Red Wings, who are a perfect 7-0 on their home ice in the postseason.
Detroit was without forward Johan Franzen, the leading goal-scorer of the playoffs with 12, who was scratched from the lineup because of concussion- like symptoms. Franzen, who has 27 goals in 27 games dating back to the regular season, is also expected to miss tonight's contest.
Stephane Robidas scored the lone goal while Marty Turco stopped 32 shots in the loss for the Stars.
In addition to losing the game on Saturday, Dallas also saw two-way forward Jere Lehtinen leave due to a leg injury in the second period. Lehtinen, a three-time Selke Trophy winner as the league's top defensive forward, is questionable for tonight's test.
Mike Ribeiro, Dallas' leading scorer in the regular season and the playoffs, was involved in a controversial altercation with Osgood late in the third period of Game 2. After Osgood appeared to hit Ribeiro in the face with the butt-end off his stick, the Stars forward then took a two-handed swing from behind the net and hit the goaltender in the chest with his stick. Ribeiro was given a 10-minute game misconduct for the slash.
After much speculation, Ribeiro was not suspended, but rather both he an Osgood were fined an undisclosed amount by the NHL. Ribeiro is leading Dallas with 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) in the playoffs after posting a team-high 83 points during the regular season.
The Red Wings are in the conference finals for a second straight year. Detroit lost to eventual Stanley Cup champion Anaheim in six, hard-fought games last season.
The Stars are in the conference finals for the first time since 2000. Dallas ousted Anaheim in six games in the first round and raced out to a 3-0 series lead against San Jose in the conference semifinals before moving on with a 2-1 victory in the fourth overtime of Game 6. Dallas is just 1-4 since taking a 3-0 lead on the Sharks in the second round.
The Red Wings won three of the four regular-season meetings with Dallas this season. The Stars found goals hard to come by in those contests, as they managed to score just five times in the four tests.
Detroit has won all three of its postseason meetings with the Stars franchise. The teams last met in the 1998 conference finals when the Red Wings beat Dallas in six games en route to their second straight Stanley Cup crown.
The Stars had a solid 23-16-2 record as the home club this season, while the Red Wings were terrific on the road with a 25-12-4 mark.
Game 4 of this series is scheduled for Wednesday night in Dallas.
Detroit has grabbed a two games to none lead in this series after posting wins in Games 1 and 2 on its home ice. The Red Wings recorded a 4-1 decision in the opener last Thursday and followed with a 2-1 triumph on Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena.
The Red Wings have won eight straight games since head coach Mike Babcock made a goaltending switch and replaced Dominik Hasek with Chris Osgood. Detroit was tied with Nashville 2-2 in the opening round series, but won two straight to win that set and then swept Colorado in four games during the conference semifinals.
In Game 2 against Dallas, Chris Osgood needed to make just 17 saves to help the Red Wings earn the 2-1 decision over the Stars. Osgood is 8-0 with a 1.40 goals against average and .939 save percentage in this postseason.
Darren Helm and Henrik Zetterberg each scored a goal for the Red Wings, who are a perfect 7-0 on their home ice in the postseason.
Detroit was without forward Johan Franzen, the leading goal-scorer of the playoffs with 12, who was scratched from the lineup because of concussion- like symptoms. Franzen, who has 27 goals in 27 games dating back to the regular season, is also expected to miss tonight's contest.
Stephane Robidas scored the lone goal while Marty Turco stopped 32 shots in the loss for the Stars.
In addition to losing the game on Saturday, Dallas also saw two-way forward Jere Lehtinen leave due to a leg injury in the second period. Lehtinen, a three-time Selke Trophy winner as the league's top defensive forward, is questionable for tonight's test.
Mike Ribeiro, Dallas' leading scorer in the regular season and the playoffs, was involved in a controversial altercation with Osgood late in the third period of Game 2. After Osgood appeared to hit Ribeiro in the face with the butt-end off his stick, the Stars forward then took a two-handed swing from behind the net and hit the goaltender in the chest with his stick. Ribeiro was given a 10-minute game misconduct for the slash.
After much speculation, Ribeiro was not suspended, but rather both he an Osgood were fined an undisclosed amount by the NHL. Ribeiro is leading Dallas with 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) in the playoffs after posting a team-high 83 points during the regular season.
The Red Wings are in the conference finals for a second straight year. Detroit lost to eventual Stanley Cup champion Anaheim in six, hard-fought games last season.
The Stars are in the conference finals for the first time since 2000. Dallas ousted Anaheim in six games in the first round and raced out to a 3-0 series lead against San Jose in the conference semifinals before moving on with a 2-1 victory in the fourth overtime of Game 6. Dallas is just 1-4 since taking a 3-0 lead on the Sharks in the second round.
The Red Wings won three of the four regular-season meetings with Dallas this season. The Stars found goals hard to come by in those contests, as they managed to score just five times in the four tests.
Detroit has won all three of its postseason meetings with the Stars franchise. The teams last met in the 1998 conference finals when the Red Wings beat Dallas in six games en route to their second straight Stanley Cup crown.
The Stars had a solid 23-16-2 record as the home club this season, while the Red Wings were terrific on the road with a 25-12-4 mark.
Game 4 of this series is scheduled for Wednesday night in Dallas.
Woods hoping to play Memorial at end of May
Tiger Woods said Monday he is back to chipping and putting and may try and play before the U.S. Open.
In a teleconference at Bellerive Country Club to promote the BMW Championship here in September, Woods said he is feeling good. It will be his first tournament in St. Louis.
"The rehab is going well," Woods said from Orlando "I'll you what, I'm getting sick and tired of riding the bike."
He has ventured back on the practice range in a limited way.
TIGER SIDELINED: Woods has surgery for injured knee
"I'm chipping and putting. I hope to work up from that. I need to get stronger and get my game ready to compete and get back out there."
Woods had arthroscopic surgery April 15, two days after he finished three shots behind Trevor Immelman in the Masters. It was the second time in five years Woods had surgery on his left knee to clean out some cartilage.
The surgery was performed in Park City, Utah, by Thomas Rosenberg, who also operated on Woods' left knee in December 2002. The 2002 surgery drained fluid from around the anterior cruciate ligament and removed a benign cyst.
Woods won 30 times and five majors since the 2002 surgery.
Woods also had surgery in 1994 on his left knee to remove a benign tumor.
It was estimated he would need at least four weeks to recover from his latest operation.
He does not believe he has a chronic condition with his left knee. Woods said he is not worried about his health.
"Now I've had three," Woods said having knee surgery. "It is what it is. It's the nature of playing sports."
Before the surgery, Woods was having another terrific year. He has won three PGA Tour titles this season and hasn't finished out of the top five in five events this year.
Since having his surgery, Woods missed defending his title at the Wachovia Championship. He also missed last weekend's Players Championship for the first time in his career. Sergio Garcia won The Players Championship in a playoff with Paul Goydos.
After winning, Garcia, a 28-year-old Spaniard who has had seven PGA Tour victories, had a quip about Woods not playing in the tournament.
"First of all," Garcia said, "I want to thank Tiger for not being here. That always makes things a little bit easier."
Woods said he did not take offense and would not use the statement for motivation when he returns to the game.
"I think it's just poking fun," Woods said simply.
He is hoping to return for the Memorial Invitational in Ohio, which starts May 29.
The U.S. Open will be June 12-15 at Torrey Pines, a course where Woods has won six times as a pro. In his 2008 debut at the Buick Invitational at Torry Pines, Woods scored an eight-shot victory — the first of four straight victories this year. Woods won the Buick Invitational for the third straight time, and he also won there as a junior.
Woods said the course will play differently for the U.S. Open.
"I'm looking forward to playing there when it is dry and fast," Woods said. "The golf course will be set up fair and it will be difficult. You will have to play well and to win a U.S. Open, you have to play well."
Woods was at Bellerive for the American Express Championship on Sept. 11, 2001. He was in the midst of a practice round when the hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center in New York. A member of the PGA security came out on the course to get the players.
"We all knew what that meant," Woods said when he was informed about the incident. "We all went to the clubhouse to watch the horrific events."
How did he get out of St. Louis?
"I basically stole a Buick and drove home," Woods laughed. "I drove non-stop. It took me 18 hours to get home. "
As defending champion of the BMW Championship, a FedEx Cup event, that previously was held in Chicago, Woods said he would come to St. Louis to defend his championship in the Sept. 4-7 event.
"Once you enter the week, it's up for grabs," Woods said. "You're defending champ for 51 weeks and that's it. Anyone can win. That's how I've always approached it.
"I haven't done a whole lot in St. Louis before. I'm looking forward to getting back."
It has not been all boring rehab for Woods.
Since the surgery, Woods went to Las Vegas for "Tiger Jam XI," a charity concert that raised more than $1.5 million for his foundation. Van Halen played and Woods said he enjoyed the show.
"It was incredible. I liked the first half and I struggled in the second half as my pain meds wore off," he said with a grin. "Eddie (Van Halen) and I are good friends. I've always been a huge Van Halen fan."
In a teleconference at Bellerive Country Club to promote the BMW Championship here in September, Woods said he is feeling good. It will be his first tournament in St. Louis.
"The rehab is going well," Woods said from Orlando "I'll you what, I'm getting sick and tired of riding the bike."
He has ventured back on the practice range in a limited way.
TIGER SIDELINED: Woods has surgery for injured knee
"I'm chipping and putting. I hope to work up from that. I need to get stronger and get my game ready to compete and get back out there."
Woods had arthroscopic surgery April 15, two days after he finished three shots behind Trevor Immelman in the Masters. It was the second time in five years Woods had surgery on his left knee to clean out some cartilage.
The surgery was performed in Park City, Utah, by Thomas Rosenberg, who also operated on Woods' left knee in December 2002. The 2002 surgery drained fluid from around the anterior cruciate ligament and removed a benign cyst.
Woods won 30 times and five majors since the 2002 surgery.
Woods also had surgery in 1994 on his left knee to remove a benign tumor.
It was estimated he would need at least four weeks to recover from his latest operation.
He does not believe he has a chronic condition with his left knee. Woods said he is not worried about his health.
"Now I've had three," Woods said having knee surgery. "It is what it is. It's the nature of playing sports."
Before the surgery, Woods was having another terrific year. He has won three PGA Tour titles this season and hasn't finished out of the top five in five events this year.
Since having his surgery, Woods missed defending his title at the Wachovia Championship. He also missed last weekend's Players Championship for the first time in his career. Sergio Garcia won The Players Championship in a playoff with Paul Goydos.
After winning, Garcia, a 28-year-old Spaniard who has had seven PGA Tour victories, had a quip about Woods not playing in the tournament.
"First of all," Garcia said, "I want to thank Tiger for not being here. That always makes things a little bit easier."
Woods said he did not take offense and would not use the statement for motivation when he returns to the game.
"I think it's just poking fun," Woods said simply.
He is hoping to return for the Memorial Invitational in Ohio, which starts May 29.
The U.S. Open will be June 12-15 at Torrey Pines, a course where Woods has won six times as a pro. In his 2008 debut at the Buick Invitational at Torry Pines, Woods scored an eight-shot victory — the first of four straight victories this year. Woods won the Buick Invitational for the third straight time, and he also won there as a junior.
Woods said the course will play differently for the U.S. Open.
"I'm looking forward to playing there when it is dry and fast," Woods said. "The golf course will be set up fair and it will be difficult. You will have to play well and to win a U.S. Open, you have to play well."
Woods was at Bellerive for the American Express Championship on Sept. 11, 2001. He was in the midst of a practice round when the hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center in New York. A member of the PGA security came out on the course to get the players.
"We all knew what that meant," Woods said when he was informed about the incident. "We all went to the clubhouse to watch the horrific events."
How did he get out of St. Louis?
"I basically stole a Buick and drove home," Woods laughed. "I drove non-stop. It took me 18 hours to get home. "
As defending champion of the BMW Championship, a FedEx Cup event, that previously was held in Chicago, Woods said he would come to St. Louis to defend his championship in the Sept. 4-7 event.
"Once you enter the week, it's up for grabs," Woods said. "You're defending champ for 51 weeks and that's it. Anyone can win. That's how I've always approached it.
"I haven't done a whole lot in St. Louis before. I'm looking forward to getting back."
It has not been all boring rehab for Woods.
Since the surgery, Woods went to Las Vegas for "Tiger Jam XI," a charity concert that raised more than $1.5 million for his foundation. Van Halen played and Woods said he enjoyed the show.
"It was incredible. I liked the first half and I struggled in the second half as my pain meds wore off," he said with a grin. "Eddie (Van Halen) and I are good friends. I've always been a huge Van Halen fan."
Fans Not Likely To Make Cut On R. Kelly Jury
Attorneys in R. Kelly's child pornography trial are expected to begin questioning 150 potential jurors today (May 12), and it's unlikely any of his fans will be chosen to hear the allegations against one of urban music's biggest stars.The 41-year-old hitmaker has pleaded not guilty to charges that he videotaped himself having sex with a girl as young as 13.The selection of the 16 jurors, four of them alternates, will be key for both prosecutors and defense attorneys, said Steve Cron, a defense lawyer from Santa Monica, Calif., who has practiced for 35 years. "In a case where a celebrity has good and bad public images, it's critical," said Cron, who has no link to the Kelly case.It's unlikely the defense could pack the jury with R. Kelly fans, because "the prosecution should be successful in excluding them," he said.Prosecutors may seek well-educated jurors, which could help cause if they call technical experts to speak about the
When the trial gets underway, prosecutors will face a daunting challenge: The girl believed to be on the videotape, who is now 23, says it wasn't her. And Kelly's lawyers -- including prominent Chicago attorney Ed Genson -- haven't conceded it's Kelly in the video.Prosecutors say the videotape was made between Jan. 1, 1998, and Nov. 1 2000, and that the girl who appears in it was born in September 1984. Kelly was indicted on pornography charges June 5, 2002, after the tape surfaced. If jurors find the artist guilty, he could go to prison for up to 15 years.On the first day of the trial on Friday, Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan addressed the potential jurors. "As you know, this is a high-profile case," he said, according to court transcripts. "And if you don't know, God love you. You're probably the only person on earth that doesn't."The first session lasted about 30 minutes, and reporters were not allowed to attend.Kelly, who usually sat poker-face at pretrial hearings, smiled and said hello when the judge introduced him to the potential jurors, according to Verna Sadock, a sketch artist who was in the courtroom.As the judge read the 14-count indictment, some of the potential jurors looked uncomfortable as he went through some of the more graphic sections, Sadock said.Kelly's lawyers have argued that pretrial publicity has precluded the possibility of selecting an impartial jury.Defense attorney Marc Martin cited a front-page story in Friday's Chicago Sun-Times about a possible witness. Potential jurors, he said, could not have avoided seeing the article or hearing about it on radio or television.But the judge denied a defense motion to postpone the trial, which had already been delayed for six years, suggesting that jury selection could weed out any tainted jurors.Selecting a jury should take about a week, and the trial itself could take several weeks. Despite defense arguments, Cron said it is possible to find fair and impartial jurors."They got a jury for the Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson trials," said Cron. "They'll find one for this trial too."
When the trial gets underway, prosecutors will face a daunting challenge: The girl believed to be on the videotape, who is now 23, says it wasn't her. And Kelly's lawyers -- including prominent Chicago attorney Ed Genson -- haven't conceded it's Kelly in the video.Prosecutors say the videotape was made between Jan. 1, 1998, and Nov. 1 2000, and that the girl who appears in it was born in September 1984. Kelly was indicted on pornography charges June 5, 2002, after the tape surfaced. If jurors find the artist guilty, he could go to prison for up to 15 years.On the first day of the trial on Friday, Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan addressed the potential jurors. "As you know, this is a high-profile case," he said, according to court transcripts. "And if you don't know, God love you. You're probably the only person on earth that doesn't."The first session lasted about 30 minutes, and reporters were not allowed to attend.Kelly, who usually sat poker-face at pretrial hearings, smiled and said hello when the judge introduced him to the potential jurors, according to Verna Sadock, a sketch artist who was in the courtroom.As the judge read the 14-count indictment, some of the potential jurors looked uncomfortable as he went through some of the more graphic sections, Sadock said.Kelly's lawyers have argued that pretrial publicity has precluded the possibility of selecting an impartial jury.Defense attorney Marc Martin cited a front-page story in Friday's Chicago Sun-Times about a possible witness. Potential jurors, he said, could not have avoided seeing the article or hearing about it on radio or television.But the judge denied a defense motion to postpone the trial, which had already been delayed for six years, suggesting that jury selection could weed out any tainted jurors.Selecting a jury should take about a week, and the trial itself could take several weeks. Despite defense arguments, Cron said it is possible to find fair and impartial jurors."They got a jury for the Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson trials," said Cron. "They'll find one for this trial too."
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