BEIJING (AP)—As Rafael Nadal stood in front of the medal podium, his nation’s flag draped across his back like a cape, he looked a little like a Spanish Superman.
In tennis, he is.
Already assured of the No. 1 ranking, Nadal was No. 1 at the Olympics. He won a gold medal Sunday, overcoming two set points in the second set and holding every service game to beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3.
The gold medal was the first ever for Spain in Olympic tennis, and another milestone in an astounding summer surge by Nadal, who will officially end Roger Federer’s 41/2-year reign atop the rankings Monday. Nadal has won 38 of his past 39 matches, including victories over Federer in the finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.
“Nowhere in my best dreams I can imagine something like what I did this year,” Nadal said. “I know how difficult it is to win these things, and especially here, because you only have one chance every four years.”
Elena Dementieva earned the gold in women’s singles, taking advantage of 17 double-faults by fellow Russian Dinara Safina to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
In women’s doubles, Venus and Serena Williams of the United States won the gold, beating Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain 6-2, 6-0. The sisters celebrated with shrieks, then shared a hug.
The Williams sisters failed to medal in singles but found considerable consolation in doubles, improving their lifetime Olympic record as a team to 10-0. They won the doubles gold at Sydney but didn’t play in Athens four years ago because Serena was hurt.
“It does mean more for me to win it with Serena, to share this kind of moment with your sister,” Venus said. “I mean, we are practically joined at the hip.”
Yan Zi and Zheng Jie of China beat Ukraine’s Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko for the bronze, 6-2, 6-2.
Russia swept the medals in women’s singles when Vera Zvonareva beat Li Na of China 6-0, 7-5 to win the bronze. That victory made Russia the first nation to win all three medals in one tennis event since Great Britain did so in the 1908 women’s singles.
Tennis was not a medal sport between 1924 and 1988.
Men’s singles has traditionally been an upset-filled event at the Olympics, and Nadal is the first player ranked in the top five to win the gold. He stayed in the athletes’ village and said the experience rejuvenated him.
“I arrived very tired,” he said. “The reason probably I won this title is because I have a fantastic time here enjoying a lot in the village. That was amazing experience for me. Always was a pleasure to know new people, no?”
He took charge against Gonzalez from the start, breaking serve in the second game. Nadal didn’t face any break points until the 12th game of the second set, when he was down 5-6, 15-40.
Gonzalez failed to convert the set points, pushing a volley wide and putting a forehand in the net. The Chilean made five unforced errors in the tiebreaker to give Nadal a commanding lead.
Nadal ripped a backhand passing shot to break at love for a 3-1 lead in the final set, and erased two more break points to hold for 5-2.
He needed four match points to close out the victory, ripping one last Olympian forehand that Gonzalez could barely reach. Nadal collapsed to his back in jubilation.
BEIJING - AUGUST 16: Dinara S… Getty Images - Aug 16, 6:33 am EDT
“I think I played almost perfect match,” he said.
Gonzalez settled for a silver medal after winning a gold in doubles and a bronze in singles four years ago in Athens.
“I have chances in the second set, and I didn’t take it,” Gonzalez said. “After that, Rafa was dominating. He was make me run a lot. He’s a great champion, because he has been winning every important tournament in the past months.”
Another test is around the corner, and now expectations will be high. Even though Federer has won four consecutive U.S. Open titles, Nadal will be seeded No. 1 when the tournament begins Aug. 25.
The No. 5-seeded Dementieva closed out her victory with a forehand winner, then fell to her knees before walking to net for a congratulatory hug from Safina. Dementieva, who won the silver medal at Sydney in 2000, snapped Safina’s 15-match winning streak.
“I never expected a medal—gold, silver or bronze,” said Dementieva, 26. “It’s unbelievable. For me this is the best moment in my career. I’ll never forget it.”
BEIJING - AUGUST 16: Elena De… Getty Images - Aug 16, 7:04 am EDT
Dementieva has been plagued for much of her career by a shaky serve, but it was a frustrated Safina who struggled to put the ball in play. After double-faults she flung her racket, banged it against the concrete and smacked a ball into the stands, but the tantrums failed to help.
Dementieva also packed more punch from the baseline and hit twice as many winners, 26 to 13.
She lost her first three service games and needed 14 points to hold for a 1-0 lead in the second set, giving her a toehold in the match. A flurry of errors by Safina in the final game of the second set helped Dementieva break to even the match.
Safina said she felt the toll of playing nine matches—three in doubles— in the past week.
“I was not the freshest today physically,” she said. “To serve, you have to push yourself up, to jump up. And when the legs are a little bit slow, it just doesn’t go.”
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
U.S. team shows a mean streak in victory over Greece, 92-69
BEIJING - Chris Bosh responded with a gentle laugh that would indicate he is as mild-mannered as they come, even at 6-foot-10.
The question: "You looked mean out there. Where did that come from?"
Mean is kind of the look the U.S. men's basketball team is going for. Particularly on defense. And particularly against Thursday's opponent.
Greece was the last team to beat the U.S. in international play, doing so in the semifinals of the 2006 FIBA world championships, and making the Americans look meek and unprepared defensively.
This time, the U.S. was aggressive and organized, stopping the Greek pick-and-rolls and translating that into easy offense in a 92-69 win.
"That's our identity," Dwyane Wade said of his team's defensive temperament. "No question about it.
"We were very aware of their offensive sets and very aware of their personnel, and we played like that. We were kind of a step ahead of what they wanted to do."
Bosh, a thin 6-10 forward who is forced to play center on a smallish U.S. team, was one of a handful of U.S. players who portrayed that identity to perfection.
Not only did the Toronto Raptor score 18 points on 7 of 8 shooting, standing up to the more physical Greek frontcourt, but he grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots and even tossed in six fouls in 21 minutes.
Bosh's signature play for the game, though, may have been the charge he took against a driving Sofoklis Schortsanitis, who's nicknamed Baby Shaq and has been listed as heavy as 314 pounds.
"Sometimes you could just see it coming," Bosh said. "I just wanted to keep my position and make sure I protect myself, because I knew I was going to take a blow. A big blow."
The Greeks took a bigger one. That play happened during a second quarter that was arguably the most impressive stretch of international basketball this collection of U.S. players has played.
It began with Wade stealing the ball from Greece and throwing a dart lob pass as he was falling out of bounds. Kobe Bryant caught the pass and dunked it with two hands for one of several highlight plays.
That extended the U.S. lead to six points, and by the time the second quarter ended - Bosh closed the half by blocking a three-point attempt - the Americans held a 51-32 lead and had effectively demoralized Greece with defense.
"If teams get two points or three points, we want them to feel like it's a relief," Bosh said. "We want them to feel like that was the hardest two or three points they ever got. It just shows the spirit of the whole thing."
Bryant matched Bosh with a team-leading 18 points, while Wade added 17 and LeBron James put together a complete game with 13 points, six assists, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Greek team that scored 101 points on 63 percent shooting against the U.S. in the world championships was just 41 percent from the floor Thursday, including 4 of 18 from three-point range.
Not only did the U.S. control Greece's pick-and-roll game, but the Greeks only managed seven fast-break points and four second-chance points. Carmelo Anthony even stopped a four-on-one break with good positioning and quick hands.
Wade added six steals, several of which led to transition baskets for the U.S., which is exactly what this team was built to do. Just consider that they did this damage against the Greeks without the designated shooter, Michael Redd, who played just the final six minutes of the game.
"Unless you're on the floor with us, it's hard to understand how fast we are as a team," said James, with a folded American flag bandana covering the logo on his Yankees cap.
The game had the revenge element for the U.S., which made the pool play victory all the more satisfying.
"They were a lot more confident, a lot more cocky, they played with a little more emotion (in the 2006 game)," Wade said. "When you're losing by 10 or 20, you can't play the same. But this is a good team. This is a team we might see again."
The Americans are now 3-0 in pool play, with defending world champion Spain next on the schedule. The Spaniards are also 3-0 after defeating Germany on Thursday.
You can expect more of the mean look from the U.S. players the rest of the way - even if it's a bit out of character.
"I think we all know what it takes to win," Bosh said. "We're going to have to play passionate basketball."
The question: "You looked mean out there. Where did that come from?"
Mean is kind of the look the U.S. men's basketball team is going for. Particularly on defense. And particularly against Thursday's opponent.
Greece was the last team to beat the U.S. in international play, doing so in the semifinals of the 2006 FIBA world championships, and making the Americans look meek and unprepared defensively.
This time, the U.S. was aggressive and organized, stopping the Greek pick-and-rolls and translating that into easy offense in a 92-69 win.
"That's our identity," Dwyane Wade said of his team's defensive temperament. "No question about it.
"We were very aware of their offensive sets and very aware of their personnel, and we played like that. We were kind of a step ahead of what they wanted to do."
Bosh, a thin 6-10 forward who is forced to play center on a smallish U.S. team, was one of a handful of U.S. players who portrayed that identity to perfection.
Not only did the Toronto Raptor score 18 points on 7 of 8 shooting, standing up to the more physical Greek frontcourt, but he grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots and even tossed in six fouls in 21 minutes.
Bosh's signature play for the game, though, may have been the charge he took against a driving Sofoklis Schortsanitis, who's nicknamed Baby Shaq and has been listed as heavy as 314 pounds.
"Sometimes you could just see it coming," Bosh said. "I just wanted to keep my position and make sure I protect myself, because I knew I was going to take a blow. A big blow."
The Greeks took a bigger one. That play happened during a second quarter that was arguably the most impressive stretch of international basketball this collection of U.S. players has played.
It began with Wade stealing the ball from Greece and throwing a dart lob pass as he was falling out of bounds. Kobe Bryant caught the pass and dunked it with two hands for one of several highlight plays.
That extended the U.S. lead to six points, and by the time the second quarter ended - Bosh closed the half by blocking a three-point attempt - the Americans held a 51-32 lead and had effectively demoralized Greece with defense.
"If teams get two points or three points, we want them to feel like it's a relief," Bosh said. "We want them to feel like that was the hardest two or three points they ever got. It just shows the spirit of the whole thing."
Bryant matched Bosh with a team-leading 18 points, while Wade added 17 and LeBron James put together a complete game with 13 points, six assists, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Greek team that scored 101 points on 63 percent shooting against the U.S. in the world championships was just 41 percent from the floor Thursday, including 4 of 18 from three-point range.
Not only did the U.S. control Greece's pick-and-roll game, but the Greeks only managed seven fast-break points and four second-chance points. Carmelo Anthony even stopped a four-on-one break with good positioning and quick hands.
Wade added six steals, several of which led to transition baskets for the U.S., which is exactly what this team was built to do. Just consider that they did this damage against the Greeks without the designated shooter, Michael Redd, who played just the final six minutes of the game.
"Unless you're on the floor with us, it's hard to understand how fast we are as a team," said James, with a folded American flag bandana covering the logo on his Yankees cap.
The game had the revenge element for the U.S., which made the pool play victory all the more satisfying.
"They were a lot more confident, a lot more cocky, they played with a little more emotion (in the 2006 game)," Wade said. "When you're losing by 10 or 20, you can't play the same. But this is a good team. This is a team we might see again."
The Americans are now 3-0 in pool play, with defending world champion Spain next on the schedule. The Spaniards are also 3-0 after defeating Germany on Thursday.
You can expect more of the mean look from the U.S. players the rest of the way - even if it's a bit out of character.
"I think we all know what it takes to win," Bosh said. "We're going to have to play passionate basketball."
Ukraine wins team sabre, US takes bronze
Ukraine won fencing gold Thursday at the Beijing Olympics, defeating China, 45-44, in an exciting conclusion to the women's team sabre competition.
The United States earned the bronze by defeating France.
China led 40-36 when the final two fencers faced off on the piste. That's when Olga Kharlan led a comeback for the Ukranians, defeating China's Tan Xue, 9-4, in the final encounter.
The score was tied at 44-44 when a bit of controversy occurred. Both Kharlan and Tan thought they recorded the winning touch, but after officials examined the video for a few minutes, no point was awarded. The fencers stepped back on the piste and this time Kharlan recorded the winning touch to give Ukraine the gold.
The U.S. team's finish was disappointing after entering this event as favorites following a clean sweep of the individual sabre on Saturday.
The Americans faced off against the Ukranians in the semifinals with a berth in the gold medal match on the line, but were defeated, 45-39. They then notched a 45-38 victory over the French team in the bronze medal match.
"I'm not going to lie: I was very disappointed," said U.S. fencer Sada Jacobson. "The gold medal is what we came to get. To go back with a bronze is good but it's not what I came to get.
On Saturday, Mariel Zagunis won the individual gold, her second straight in the event, defeating Jacobson, her fellow American. Becca Ward then took the bronze for the U.S. by defeating Russia's Sofiya Velikaya.
This was the first time the women's team sabre competition was contested at the Olympics.
The United States earned the bronze by defeating France.
China led 40-36 when the final two fencers faced off on the piste. That's when Olga Kharlan led a comeback for the Ukranians, defeating China's Tan Xue, 9-4, in the final encounter.
The score was tied at 44-44 when a bit of controversy occurred. Both Kharlan and Tan thought they recorded the winning touch, but after officials examined the video for a few minutes, no point was awarded. The fencers stepped back on the piste and this time Kharlan recorded the winning touch to give Ukraine the gold.
The U.S. team's finish was disappointing after entering this event as favorites following a clean sweep of the individual sabre on Saturday.
The Americans faced off against the Ukranians in the semifinals with a berth in the gold medal match on the line, but were defeated, 45-39. They then notched a 45-38 victory over the French team in the bronze medal match.
"I'm not going to lie: I was very disappointed," said U.S. fencer Sada Jacobson. "The gold medal is what we came to get. To go back with a bronze is good but it's not what I came to get.
On Saturday, Mariel Zagunis won the individual gold, her second straight in the event, defeating Jacobson, her fellow American. Becca Ward then took the bronze for the U.S. by defeating Russia's Sofiya Velikaya.
This was the first time the women's team sabre competition was contested at the Olympics.
Initial Bands Announced For CMJ 2008
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Broken Social Scene, Deerhoof, They Might Be Giants and Lee "Scratch" Perry are among the first acts confirmed for the 2008 CMJ Music Marathon, to be held Oct. 21-25 in New York.Also set to appear are the Virgins, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, A Place To Bury Strangers, Beach House, Cool Kids, Crystal Castles, Del McCoury Band, Donavon Frankenreiter, Gang Gang Dance, Jay Reatard, Lykke Li, Minus The Bear, Roisin Murphy, the Dears, Juliana Hatfield, Annuals and Yo Majesty.Among the early confirmed panels are Essential Resources For Independent Labels, Internationally Licensing the Future, Artist Managers: The New Labels?, A New Media Fat Trimming Session and Bands As Brands.
Broken Social Scene, Deerhoof, They Might Be Giants and Lee "Scratch" Perry are among the first acts confirmed for the 2008 CMJ Music Marathon, to be held Oct. 21-25 in New York.Also set to appear are the Virgins, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, A Place To Bury Strangers, Beach House, Cool Kids, Crystal Castles, Del McCoury Band, Donavon Frankenreiter, Gang Gang Dance, Jay Reatard, Lykke Li, Minus The Bear, Roisin Murphy, the Dears, Juliana Hatfield, Annuals and Yo Majesty.Among the early confirmed panels are Essential Resources For Independent Labels, Internationally Licensing the Future, Artist Managers: The New Labels?, A New Media Fat Trimming Session and Bands As Brands.
Jackson Browne Sues McCain Over Song Usage
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Singer/songwriter Jackson Browne is suing Republican presidential nominee John McCain and the Republican party for using his song "Running on Empty" in a recent TV commercial.In the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Browne claims McCain and the party did not obtain permission to use the song for an ad in which "Senator McCain and the Republicans mock Democratic candidate for president Barack Obama for suggesting that the country conserve gas through proper tire inflation."Browne, a lifelong Democrat, is seeking unspecified damages as well as a permanent injunction prohibiting the use of "Running on Empty" in any form by the McCain campaign."Not only have Senator McCain and his agents plainly infringed Mr. Browne's copyright in 'Running on Empty,' but the Federal Courts have long held that the unauthorized use of a famous singer's voice in a commercial constitutes a false endorsement and a violation of the singer's right of publicity," says Browne lawyer Lawrence Iser.
Singer/songwriter Jackson Browne is suing Republican presidential nominee John McCain and the Republican party for using his song "Running on Empty" in a recent TV commercial.In the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Browne claims McCain and the party did not obtain permission to use the song for an ad in which "Senator McCain and the Republicans mock Democratic candidate for president Barack Obama for suggesting that the country conserve gas through proper tire inflation."Browne, a lifelong Democrat, is seeking unspecified damages as well as a permanent injunction prohibiting the use of "Running on Empty" in any form by the McCain campaign."Not only have Senator McCain and his agents plainly infringed Mr. Browne's copyright in 'Running on Empty,' but the Federal Courts have long held that the unauthorized use of a famous singer's voice in a commercial constitutes a false endorsement and a violation of the singer's right of publicity," says Browne lawyer Lawrence Iser.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
American women make beach volleyball medal round
American duo Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh powered into the medal round of beach volleyball at the Beijing Olympics with a three-set victory over Cuba Wednesday.
Youngs and Branagh beat Milagros Crespo and Imara Esteves Ribalta 21-19, 13-21, 15-12 to win their pool. The round-robin stage of the competetion wraps up Thursday, followed by a draw that will place the 16 teams in a single-elimination bracket that begins on Friday.
After being dominated in the second set, the Americans took a 14-11 lead in the tie-breaker. Youngs dinked the ball to the side, past a block, then blocked a spike to reach match point; Crespo fisted a ball into the open court to make it a two-point game, but Young tipped another soft shot to the sand for the clincher.
Also reaching the medal round were Americans Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, the pre-tournament favorites who lost their opener to No. 23 seed Latvia but beat Argentina on Wednesday in straight sets to finish 2-1.
But with the defense-minded Rogers leading the attack, the Americans beat Conde and Mariano Baracetti in 39 minutes and never trailed in the match.
Today in Sports
"They were forced to serve to me because Phil is big, and they're not as big as he is," Rogers said. "I enjoy it when people serve me. In general, I enjoy the challenge. It's kind of a mano-a-mano thing."
Forced to attack because the 6-foot-9 Dalhausser was forced to pass, Rogers converted 22 of the team's 28 killshots.
"I think I'm a little too tall for them," said Dalhausser, who was left to set for his 6-foot-2 partner.
Conde and Baracetti missed the medal round when the Latvian team of Martins Plavins and Aleksandrs Samoilovs beat Sascha Heyer and Patrick Heuscher of Switzerland 21-17, 21-23, 15-13. The Latvians won the pool by virtue of their head-to-head victory over the Americans.
Also Wednesday, Renato Gomes and Jorge Terceiro of Georgia beat Morais Santos Abreu and Emanuel Fernandes of Angola 21-14, 21-13; and Martin Laciga and Jan Schnider of Switzerland beat Joerre Kjemperud and Tarjei Skarlund of Norway 21-17, 21-13.
Reinder Nummerdor and Richard Schuil of the Netherlands beat Eric Koreng and David Klemperer of Germany 21-16, 21-16; and Brazilians Ricardo and Emanuel beat Austrailians Andrew Schacht and Joshua Slack 21-14, 21-17.
On the women's side, Cook and Tasmin Barnett improved to 3-0 while beating previously undefeated Brazilians Ana Paula and Larissa 23-21, 23-21; Georgia's Cristine Santanna and Andrezza Martins beat Russians Alexandra Shiryaeva and Natalya Uryadova 10-21, 22-20, 15-12 in a match tainted by the overtones of the war between the two countries.
China's Wang Jie and Tian Jia remained unbeaten by stopping Kathrine Maaseide and Susanne Glesnes of Norway 17-21, 21-14, 15-8; Liesbet van Breedam and Liesbeth Mouha of Belgium stayed alive by beating Simone Kuhn and Lea Schwer of Switzerland 21-18, 21-17; and Stephanie Pohl and Okka Rau of Germany beat Merel Mooren and Rebekka Kadjik of the Netherlands 21-19, 21-18.
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Youngs and Branagh beat Milagros Crespo and Imara Esteves Ribalta 21-19, 13-21, 15-12 to win their pool. The round-robin stage of the competetion wraps up Thursday, followed by a draw that will place the 16 teams in a single-elimination bracket that begins on Friday.
After being dominated in the second set, the Americans took a 14-11 lead in the tie-breaker. Youngs dinked the ball to the side, past a block, then blocked a spike to reach match point; Crespo fisted a ball into the open court to make it a two-point game, but Young tipped another soft shot to the sand for the clincher.
Also reaching the medal round were Americans Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, the pre-tournament favorites who lost their opener to No. 23 seed Latvia but beat Argentina on Wednesday in straight sets to finish 2-1.
But with the defense-minded Rogers leading the attack, the Americans beat Conde and Mariano Baracetti in 39 minutes and never trailed in the match.
Today in Sports
"They were forced to serve to me because Phil is big, and they're not as big as he is," Rogers said. "I enjoy it when people serve me. In general, I enjoy the challenge. It's kind of a mano-a-mano thing."
Forced to attack because the 6-foot-9 Dalhausser was forced to pass, Rogers converted 22 of the team's 28 killshots.
"I think I'm a little too tall for them," said Dalhausser, who was left to set for his 6-foot-2 partner.
Conde and Baracetti missed the medal round when the Latvian team of Martins Plavins and Aleksandrs Samoilovs beat Sascha Heyer and Patrick Heuscher of Switzerland 21-17, 21-23, 15-13. The Latvians won the pool by virtue of their head-to-head victory over the Americans.
Also Wednesday, Renato Gomes and Jorge Terceiro of Georgia beat Morais Santos Abreu and Emanuel Fernandes of Angola 21-14, 21-13; and Martin Laciga and Jan Schnider of Switzerland beat Joerre Kjemperud and Tarjei Skarlund of Norway 21-17, 21-13.
Reinder Nummerdor and Richard Schuil of the Netherlands beat Eric Koreng and David Klemperer of Germany 21-16, 21-16; and Brazilians Ricardo and Emanuel beat Austrailians Andrew Schacht and Joshua Slack 21-14, 21-17.
On the women's side, Cook and Tasmin Barnett improved to 3-0 while beating previously undefeated Brazilians Ana Paula and Larissa 23-21, 23-21; Georgia's Cristine Santanna and Andrezza Martins beat Russians Alexandra Shiryaeva and Natalya Uryadova 10-21, 22-20, 15-12 in a match tainted by the overtones of the war between the two countries.
China's Wang Jie and Tian Jia remained unbeaten by stopping Kathrine Maaseide and Susanne Glesnes of Norway 17-21, 21-14, 15-8; Liesbet van Breedam and Liesbeth Mouha of Belgium stayed alive by beating Simone Kuhn and Lea Schwer of Switzerland 21-18, 21-17; and Stephanie Pohl and Okka Rau of Germany beat Merel Mooren and Rebekka Kadjik of the Netherlands 21-19, 21-18.
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Federer, Nadal, Djokovic win in Beijing tennis
BEIJING — Perhaps Roger Federer's not washed up yet.
Signaling his recent tailspin may be over, Federer avenged a defeat four years ago at the Olympics by beating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-6 (4) Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals.
It was Federer's biggest victory since he lost to Rafael Nadal in an epic Wimbledon final last month.
Federer wept after losing to Berdych in the second round at the Athens Games in 2004. This time he was shouting "Yes!" and punching the air after he smacked a service winner on match point to finish off Berdych.
"Of course you have memories of such a big tournament and losing," Federer said. "He's a good player. So I'm very happy with this win, because I think this was the first true test in this tournament."
Nadal also advanced, digging out of a hole in a pivotal service game and beating Igor Andreev of Russia, 6-4, 6-2. Venus and Serena Williams won to remain on course for a sibling showdown in the women's final Saturday.
Nadal and Federer could meet for the gold medal Sunday. Regardless of the tournament outcome, Nadal is assured of climbing to No. 1 in the rankings next week, ending Federer's 4½-year reign.
Federer will next face No. 8 James Blake, who advanced by beating No. 10 Gilles Simon of France 6-4, 6-2. Blake, the lone U.S. male to survive the first round of singles, is 0-8 against Federer and has won only one of their 22 sets.
"If he's too good for me, he's too good for me," Blake said. "Every time at the beginning of each match, I've felt like I could come out on top."
Blake is part of an American team that has gone 11-0 the past two days. The Bryan brothers won in doubles, as did Lindsay Davenport and Liezel Huber.
No. 3 Novak Djokovic, who could face Nadal in the semifinals, beat No. 13 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 7-6 (3), 6-3.
No. 4 Serena Williams busted a racket in frustration over a slow start, then rallied to beat 18-year-old Alize Cornet of France 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Williams' outburst came as she fell behind 5-1 in the first set.
"I've been really working on my temper," she said. "But I was just making so many errors, and I wasn't practicing like that at all. It came to a point, I think I hit a backhand in the net, and I had just had enough."
Williams gradually tamed her erratic groundstrokes, and after managing a service break in the opening game of the final set, she held in five consecutive games for the victory.
Venus Williams, playing her first tournament since winning Wimbledon for the fifth time, also reached the final eight by defeating No. 12 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-3, 6-2. Venus, seeded seventh, is seeking to add to her Olympic medal collection after winning the doubles with her sister and the singles at Sydney in 2000.
"It's only every four years, so now is the time to really play well," she said.
Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, who this week achieved the No. 1 ranking for the first time, beat No. 16 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 7-5, 6-1. Jankovic's next opponent will be No. 6 Dinara Safina of Russia, riding a 13-match winning streak after beating Zheng Jie of China 6-4, 6-3.
In doubles, top-seeded Mike and Bob Bryan of the United States beat Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer of Austria 7-6 (2), 6-4. Davenport and Huber eliminated Victoria Azarenka and Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
"It's looking great for the Americans the past couple of days," Mike Bryan said. "It would be great if we could finish up strong here and walk away with a few medals."
Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka won their doubles match, which finished at 11 p.m. Federer then complained about a schedule that will require him to play 11 matches in seven days if he keeps winning.
"I find it a little bit ridiculous," Federer said. "I don't understand why we don't play such a big tournament over 10 days maybe. I think this is asking just a little bit too much."
Nadal and doubles partner Tommy Robredo lost to Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione of Australian 6-2, 7-6 (5).
In the day's showcase match, Federer broke Berdych for a 4-2 lead in the first set and let out a guttural "hmmmpf," sounding as though he was lifting a heavy load off his shoulders. Which is exactly what he's trying to do in Beijing.
The stylish Swiss seeks his first medal after getting shut out at Sydney and Athens. He's also trying to end a slump that has left him without a major title this year, stalling his career total at 12, two shy of Pete Sampras' record.
Federer hit three aces in the final game of the first set, but his serve briefly went haywire two games later. He had three double-faults — more than he often hits in an entire match — and fell behind 3-0.
But those were his only double-faults, and he otherwise served well, breaking back in the fifth game and holding the rest of the way. In the tiebreaker he rallied from 3-1 down while hitting three service winners and his 11th ace.
Since losing to Berdych in Athens, Federer has beaten the Czech seven consecutive times while losing only one set.
"I got it out of my system, I guess, the first time I beat him," Federer said. "It was nice to get him back, I guess, on the Olympic level."
Signaling his recent tailspin may be over, Federer avenged a defeat four years ago at the Olympics by beating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-6 (4) Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals.
It was Federer's biggest victory since he lost to Rafael Nadal in an epic Wimbledon final last month.
Federer wept after losing to Berdych in the second round at the Athens Games in 2004. This time he was shouting "Yes!" and punching the air after he smacked a service winner on match point to finish off Berdych.
"Of course you have memories of such a big tournament and losing," Federer said. "He's a good player. So I'm very happy with this win, because I think this was the first true test in this tournament."
Nadal also advanced, digging out of a hole in a pivotal service game and beating Igor Andreev of Russia, 6-4, 6-2. Venus and Serena Williams won to remain on course for a sibling showdown in the women's final Saturday.
Nadal and Federer could meet for the gold medal Sunday. Regardless of the tournament outcome, Nadal is assured of climbing to No. 1 in the rankings next week, ending Federer's 4½-year reign.
Federer will next face No. 8 James Blake, who advanced by beating No. 10 Gilles Simon of France 6-4, 6-2. Blake, the lone U.S. male to survive the first round of singles, is 0-8 against Federer and has won only one of their 22 sets.
"If he's too good for me, he's too good for me," Blake said. "Every time at the beginning of each match, I've felt like I could come out on top."
Blake is part of an American team that has gone 11-0 the past two days. The Bryan brothers won in doubles, as did Lindsay Davenport and Liezel Huber.
No. 3 Novak Djokovic, who could face Nadal in the semifinals, beat No. 13 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 7-6 (3), 6-3.
No. 4 Serena Williams busted a racket in frustration over a slow start, then rallied to beat 18-year-old Alize Cornet of France 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Williams' outburst came as she fell behind 5-1 in the first set.
"I've been really working on my temper," she said. "But I was just making so many errors, and I wasn't practicing like that at all. It came to a point, I think I hit a backhand in the net, and I had just had enough."
Williams gradually tamed her erratic groundstrokes, and after managing a service break in the opening game of the final set, she held in five consecutive games for the victory.
Venus Williams, playing her first tournament since winning Wimbledon for the fifth time, also reached the final eight by defeating No. 12 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-3, 6-2. Venus, seeded seventh, is seeking to add to her Olympic medal collection after winning the doubles with her sister and the singles at Sydney in 2000.
"It's only every four years, so now is the time to really play well," she said.
Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, who this week achieved the No. 1 ranking for the first time, beat No. 16 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 7-5, 6-1. Jankovic's next opponent will be No. 6 Dinara Safina of Russia, riding a 13-match winning streak after beating Zheng Jie of China 6-4, 6-3.
In doubles, top-seeded Mike and Bob Bryan of the United States beat Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer of Austria 7-6 (2), 6-4. Davenport and Huber eliminated Victoria Azarenka and Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
"It's looking great for the Americans the past couple of days," Mike Bryan said. "It would be great if we could finish up strong here and walk away with a few medals."
Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka won their doubles match, which finished at 11 p.m. Federer then complained about a schedule that will require him to play 11 matches in seven days if he keeps winning.
"I find it a little bit ridiculous," Federer said. "I don't understand why we don't play such a big tournament over 10 days maybe. I think this is asking just a little bit too much."
Nadal and doubles partner Tommy Robredo lost to Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione of Australian 6-2, 7-6 (5).
In the day's showcase match, Federer broke Berdych for a 4-2 lead in the first set and let out a guttural "hmmmpf," sounding as though he was lifting a heavy load off his shoulders. Which is exactly what he's trying to do in Beijing.
The stylish Swiss seeks his first medal after getting shut out at Sydney and Athens. He's also trying to end a slump that has left him without a major title this year, stalling his career total at 12, two shy of Pete Sampras' record.
Federer hit three aces in the final game of the first set, but his serve briefly went haywire two games later. He had three double-faults — more than he often hits in an entire match — and fell behind 3-0.
But those were his only double-faults, and he otherwise served well, breaking back in the fifth game and holding the rest of the way. In the tiebreaker he rallied from 3-1 down while hitting three service winners and his 11th ace.
Since losing to Berdych in Athens, Federer has beaten the Czech seven consecutive times while losing only one set.
"I got it out of my system, I guess, the first time I beat him," Federer said. "It was nice to get him back, I guess, on the Olympic level."
Britney Spears Heading Back To The VMAs?
Britney Spears may get a shot at redemption during this year's MTV Video Music Awards.Widely panned for her glazed-over performance at last year's show, Spears is now in negotiations with MTV to make an appearance at the Sept. 7 ceremony, a spokesperson for MTV said. While the network said nothing has been finalized -- only Lil Wayne and the Jonas Brothers are confirmed so far -- Spears is already appearing in promotional ads for the telecast."This is for real," Spears tells VMA host Russell Brand in one of two spots, which were taped last week, according to MTV. In the ads, Spears, dressed in black with blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, giggles as she and Brand banter flirtatiously. She looks sexy, confident and fit -- the antithesis of her appearance at last year's ceremony.Spears' 2007 performance was heavily hyped to be her comeback after months of negative publicity and erratic behavior. Though her disheveled look and bleary routine during "Gimme More" only became the new benchmark for Spears' decline, it was also the most talked about performance not only of the show, but perhaps the year.Since then, Spears, 26, has appeared to have cleaned up her act. Her father James has been in control of her personal and professional matters as her legal conservator, and she drew high ratings and reviews when she made guest appearances on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" earlier this year.
Spears is working on a new album. If she were to perform, it would surely be a ratings bonanza; last year's VMA's was up 23 percent over the 2006 show.
Spears is working on a new album. If she were to perform, it would surely be a ratings bonanza; last year's VMA's was up 23 percent over the 2006 show.
Eazy-E's Ruthless Records Celebrates 20 Years as an Indie Pioneer
Gail Mitchell
Let's hitch a ride on the music time machine back to the year 1987. Whitney Houston, Madonna and Michael Jackson rule the No. 1 hit parade on the pop charts, along with rockers U2, Bon Jovi and Bob Seger. In control on the R&B front are Jackson again, baby sister Janet, Luther Vandross and Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam.Still in its formative years, rap is mostly an East Coast happening. Eight years have elapsed since the Sugarhill Gang rhymed its way to commercial success in 1979 with "Rapper's Delight." And it's three years since Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force landed on "Planet Rock."Now rapper LL Cool J has nabbed his first No. 1 single—"I Need You"—just a year after Run-D.M.C. stepped up its legacy with top 10 singles "My Adidas" and "Walk This Way."It's in this climate that co-founders Eric "Eazy-E" Wright and music industry veteran Jerry Heller decide to launch rap label Ruthless Records. Little did anyone know that the upstart indie would put West Coast and gangsta rap on the map, let alone house a stable of gold- and platinum-selling acts, among them pioneering rap group N.W.A. (Niggaz With Attitude).But Trans World Entertainment director of urban music Violet Brown says, "Eric knew, the DJs knew, and I knew too." Brown's friendship with Eazy-E dates back to the late '80s when she was a DJ shopping for 12-inch singles at the Roadium swap meet in nearby Gardena, Calif. It was here that she met Eazy-E, who was hosting mixtape cassettes being sold by DJ Steve Yano.
"Eric would kind of host these tapes, throwing in lyrics between songs," Brown recalls of the Compton, Calif., native and one-time drug dealer. "I think that's how people first got to know him. I saw him become more and more popular through these tapes."Ruthless began with $7,000 of Eazy-E's own money and 5,000 12-inch copies of his single "Boyz N the Hood." It was written by C.I.A. rapper Ice Cube who, along with World Class Wreckin' Cru DJs Dr. Dre and Yella, had switched allegiance from Kru-Cut Records to Ruthless. Distinguished by Eazy-E's high-pitched voice, "Boyz" sold more than 500,000 copies throughout South Central L.A., according to label figures. Between that record and "Supersonic," a 1988 R&B/pop gold single by female rap group J.J. Fad (Just Jammin' Fresh and Def), Ruthless Records was on its way.But things really began to click in 1988 with the release of N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton." The seminal five-man crew—Eazy-E, Dr. Dre (who produced J.J. Fad), Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella—came together in 1987, managed by Eazy-E's label partner Heller. The group first attracted aural attention on the Ruthless compilation "N.W.A. and the Posse." Issued by Macola Records in 1987, the album featured future Ruthless solo star the D.O.C."At this time," Brown says, "people were putting out their own records but selling them out of their car trunks instead of going after major distribution. But Eric and Jerry got distribution through Priority and took things to a bigger level."Established in 1985 by former K-tel executives Bryan Turner, Mark Cerami and Steve Drath, Priority Records' most recent claim to fame had been the California Raisins' platinum-selling cover of "Heard It Through the Grapevine." On the surface, the Raisins and N.W.A. might not seem like ideal labelmates. But youth and naiveté paid off."I think back and realize that we were incredibly naïve and young," Turner recalls of hearing the incendiary single "Fuck Tha Police" and deciding to distribute N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton." The record, considered by many as pioneering the subgenre of gangsta rap, unflinchingly depicted inner-city youth's anger at police brutality, racial profiling and other social ills."I'd known Jerry for years," Turner continues. "We worked in the same building. Mark [Cerami] and I knew ‘Fuck' would scare some people. We were young and had nothing to lose. But never in a million years did we think we'd get a letter from the FBI castigating us for putting out that kind of music. It's not like we were starting a revolution and distributing arms. It was words. Then [the] Rodney King [incident] happens. It was kind of scary how prophetic the song turned out to be."Amid damning critiques, lack of radio airplay and parental advisory stickers, the album went on to sell double-platinum, followed by Eazy-E's own multiplatinum solo debut, "Eazy-Duz-It." During the next five years, Ruthless produced a series of gold- and platinum-selling albums encompassing R&B, pop and rap by such acts as Michel'le, the D.O.C., Above the Law and MC Ren.The one thing most people didn't know about Eazy-E, Turner says, was his business savvy. "I think overall he was incredibly underrated when it came to the business side of the industry. He was the brains behind the marketing approach: All the artwork, T-shirts, logos . . . all that was him. He would be in my office every day talking about marketing."After Ice Cube left the group in 1989 over royalty disputes, Ruthless released another N.W.A. album, 1991's "Efil4zaggin" ("Niggaz4life" spelled backward). Beyond it being the group's final project, it also ushered in the Nielsen SoundScan era, copping No. 1 its first week out and further cementing the Ruthless legacy."I don't think anyone truly paid attention until SoundScan hit," Brown says. "When the SoundScan chart arrived with real numbers and N.W.A. was No. 1, a gangsta rap group from Compton? That was the wake-up call. That's when people said, ‘Oh, my God. Rap is selling a lot of units.' "Ending its distribution pact with Priority in 1992, Ruthless was later distributed by Relativity Records, which, in turn, was folded into parent company Sony Music and launched as RED. With Dr. Dre, the D.O.C. and Michel'le exiting Ruthless for Death Row, Ruthless bounced back in 1994 with innovative Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony beginning with the group's No. 2 R&B-charting debut album, "Creepin On Ah Come Up.""Everyone was counting him out," group member Bizzy Bone recalls. "Then he found us, a new group with a new flavor: four brothers in braids and sagging jeans harmonizing." Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, whose members have had a stormy personal and legal history, announced a reunion of the original members in June. Their upcoming untitled project will likely be released on Interscope, which signed the group in 2006."[Wright] was always looking for other artists," Brown says. "He told me he wanted Ruthless to be a Motown; to be around for a long time. And not just stay with hip-hop. He was definitely starting to listen to different types of music."National air personality Felicia "Poetess" Morris (of Jamie Foxx's "The Foxx Hole") agrees. "He was a visionary, looking at signing rock groups and Latin artists," says Morris, who met Eazy-E in the early '90s when she was an artist on Interscope. "He always wanted to do it his way; he never sold out. Eazy-E planted the seed for what you see today with a lot of these indie empires."Eazy-E's untimely death from AIDS in 1995, however, precluded him from pursuing his vision or seeing Billboard name Ruthless the No. 1 independent label in 1996 and 1997. Or watching a Ruthless act pick up its first Grammy Award when Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was awarded best rap performance by a duo or group in 1996 for No. 1 R&B/pop single "Tha Crossroads" from second Ruthless album "E. 1999 Eternal.""Ruthless made an incredible impact on the business," Brown says. "Eric put gangsta rap and West Coast rap on the map. And look at the offshoots: Dr. Dre becoming one of the industry's biggest producers; Ice Cube making movies. A lot came from little Eazy-E and Ruthless.""Ruthless was the first label to show that a rapper or rap group could control a lot of their own destiny in terms of making and releasing a record," Turner adds. "And that's a lasting legacy today."Thirteen years after Eazy-E's death, Tomica Woods-Wright is keeping the promise she made to her husband. "Even in his last days," she recalls, "he was telling me, ‘I know it may be a burden. But whatever you do, keep it going for as long as you can.' "Earlier this year, Woods-Wright announced that in celebration of Ruthless' 20th anniversary, the label is gearing up five new acts slated for release between now and the end of the year. In keeping with Eazy-E's multigenre vision, the roster includes R&B singer/songwriter Na'Shay, bilingual pop singer/musician/actress Agina, rapper/songwriter/producer Hopsin, party/dance trio Street Runnaz Click and rapper Stevie Stone. Their albums will be released through a recently renegotiated pact with RED."It's been difficult at times since Eric's death, but it's been worth it," Woods-Wright says. "We have a strong, groundbreaking mix here that represents the next generation. Eric wasn't a quitter. He believed in riding a project until the wheels fell off and if they did, then he always said he'd carry it. This company was—and is—him."
Let's hitch a ride on the music time machine back to the year 1987. Whitney Houston, Madonna and Michael Jackson rule the No. 1 hit parade on the pop charts, along with rockers U2, Bon Jovi and Bob Seger. In control on the R&B front are Jackson again, baby sister Janet, Luther Vandross and Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam.Still in its formative years, rap is mostly an East Coast happening. Eight years have elapsed since the Sugarhill Gang rhymed its way to commercial success in 1979 with "Rapper's Delight." And it's three years since Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force landed on "Planet Rock."Now rapper LL Cool J has nabbed his first No. 1 single—"I Need You"—just a year after Run-D.M.C. stepped up its legacy with top 10 singles "My Adidas" and "Walk This Way."It's in this climate that co-founders Eric "Eazy-E" Wright and music industry veteran Jerry Heller decide to launch rap label Ruthless Records. Little did anyone know that the upstart indie would put West Coast and gangsta rap on the map, let alone house a stable of gold- and platinum-selling acts, among them pioneering rap group N.W.A. (Niggaz With Attitude).But Trans World Entertainment director of urban music Violet Brown says, "Eric knew, the DJs knew, and I knew too." Brown's friendship with Eazy-E dates back to the late '80s when she was a DJ shopping for 12-inch singles at the Roadium swap meet in nearby Gardena, Calif. It was here that she met Eazy-E, who was hosting mixtape cassettes being sold by DJ Steve Yano.
"Eric would kind of host these tapes, throwing in lyrics between songs," Brown recalls of the Compton, Calif., native and one-time drug dealer. "I think that's how people first got to know him. I saw him become more and more popular through these tapes."Ruthless began with $7,000 of Eazy-E's own money and 5,000 12-inch copies of his single "Boyz N the Hood." It was written by C.I.A. rapper Ice Cube who, along with World Class Wreckin' Cru DJs Dr. Dre and Yella, had switched allegiance from Kru-Cut Records to Ruthless. Distinguished by Eazy-E's high-pitched voice, "Boyz" sold more than 500,000 copies throughout South Central L.A., according to label figures. Between that record and "Supersonic," a 1988 R&B/pop gold single by female rap group J.J. Fad (Just Jammin' Fresh and Def), Ruthless Records was on its way.But things really began to click in 1988 with the release of N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton." The seminal five-man crew—Eazy-E, Dr. Dre (who produced J.J. Fad), Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella—came together in 1987, managed by Eazy-E's label partner Heller. The group first attracted aural attention on the Ruthless compilation "N.W.A. and the Posse." Issued by Macola Records in 1987, the album featured future Ruthless solo star the D.O.C."At this time," Brown says, "people were putting out their own records but selling them out of their car trunks instead of going after major distribution. But Eric and Jerry got distribution through Priority and took things to a bigger level."Established in 1985 by former K-tel executives Bryan Turner, Mark Cerami and Steve Drath, Priority Records' most recent claim to fame had been the California Raisins' platinum-selling cover of "Heard It Through the Grapevine." On the surface, the Raisins and N.W.A. might not seem like ideal labelmates. But youth and naiveté paid off."I think back and realize that we were incredibly naïve and young," Turner recalls of hearing the incendiary single "Fuck Tha Police" and deciding to distribute N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton." The record, considered by many as pioneering the subgenre of gangsta rap, unflinchingly depicted inner-city youth's anger at police brutality, racial profiling and other social ills."I'd known Jerry for years," Turner continues. "We worked in the same building. Mark [Cerami] and I knew ‘Fuck' would scare some people. We were young and had nothing to lose. But never in a million years did we think we'd get a letter from the FBI castigating us for putting out that kind of music. It's not like we were starting a revolution and distributing arms. It was words. Then [the] Rodney King [incident] happens. It was kind of scary how prophetic the song turned out to be."Amid damning critiques, lack of radio airplay and parental advisory stickers, the album went on to sell double-platinum, followed by Eazy-E's own multiplatinum solo debut, "Eazy-Duz-It." During the next five years, Ruthless produced a series of gold- and platinum-selling albums encompassing R&B, pop and rap by such acts as Michel'le, the D.O.C., Above the Law and MC Ren.The one thing most people didn't know about Eazy-E, Turner says, was his business savvy. "I think overall he was incredibly underrated when it came to the business side of the industry. He was the brains behind the marketing approach: All the artwork, T-shirts, logos . . . all that was him. He would be in my office every day talking about marketing."After Ice Cube left the group in 1989 over royalty disputes, Ruthless released another N.W.A. album, 1991's "Efil4zaggin" ("Niggaz4life" spelled backward). Beyond it being the group's final project, it also ushered in the Nielsen SoundScan era, copping No. 1 its first week out and further cementing the Ruthless legacy."I don't think anyone truly paid attention until SoundScan hit," Brown says. "When the SoundScan chart arrived with real numbers and N.W.A. was No. 1, a gangsta rap group from Compton? That was the wake-up call. That's when people said, ‘Oh, my God. Rap is selling a lot of units.' "Ending its distribution pact with Priority in 1992, Ruthless was later distributed by Relativity Records, which, in turn, was folded into parent company Sony Music and launched as RED. With Dr. Dre, the D.O.C. and Michel'le exiting Ruthless for Death Row, Ruthless bounced back in 1994 with innovative Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony beginning with the group's No. 2 R&B-charting debut album, "Creepin On Ah Come Up.""Everyone was counting him out," group member Bizzy Bone recalls. "Then he found us, a new group with a new flavor: four brothers in braids and sagging jeans harmonizing." Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, whose members have had a stormy personal and legal history, announced a reunion of the original members in June. Their upcoming untitled project will likely be released on Interscope, which signed the group in 2006."[Wright] was always looking for other artists," Brown says. "He told me he wanted Ruthless to be a Motown; to be around for a long time. And not just stay with hip-hop. He was definitely starting to listen to different types of music."National air personality Felicia "Poetess" Morris (of Jamie Foxx's "The Foxx Hole") agrees. "He was a visionary, looking at signing rock groups and Latin artists," says Morris, who met Eazy-E in the early '90s when she was an artist on Interscope. "He always wanted to do it his way; he never sold out. Eazy-E planted the seed for what you see today with a lot of these indie empires."Eazy-E's untimely death from AIDS in 1995, however, precluded him from pursuing his vision or seeing Billboard name Ruthless the No. 1 independent label in 1996 and 1997. Or watching a Ruthless act pick up its first Grammy Award when Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was awarded best rap performance by a duo or group in 1996 for No. 1 R&B/pop single "Tha Crossroads" from second Ruthless album "E. 1999 Eternal.""Ruthless made an incredible impact on the business," Brown says. "Eric put gangsta rap and West Coast rap on the map. And look at the offshoots: Dr. Dre becoming one of the industry's biggest producers; Ice Cube making movies. A lot came from little Eazy-E and Ruthless.""Ruthless was the first label to show that a rapper or rap group could control a lot of their own destiny in terms of making and releasing a record," Turner adds. "And that's a lasting legacy today."Thirteen years after Eazy-E's death, Tomica Woods-Wright is keeping the promise she made to her husband. "Even in his last days," she recalls, "he was telling me, ‘I know it may be a burden. But whatever you do, keep it going for as long as you can.' "Earlier this year, Woods-Wright announced that in celebration of Ruthless' 20th anniversary, the label is gearing up five new acts slated for release between now and the end of the year. In keeping with Eazy-E's multigenre vision, the roster includes R&B singer/songwriter Na'Shay, bilingual pop singer/musician/actress Agina, rapper/songwriter/producer Hopsin, party/dance trio Street Runnaz Click and rapper Stevie Stone. Their albums will be released through a recently renegotiated pact with RED."It's been difficult at times since Eric's death, but it's been worth it," Woods-Wright says. "We have a strong, groundbreaking mix here that represents the next generation. Eric wasn't a quitter. He believed in riding a project until the wheels fell off and if they did, then he always said he'd carry it. This company was—and is—him."
Beijing to "re-educate" Games ticket scalpers
BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing has launched a crackdown on ticket scalping ahead of the Olympics in August, threatening to detain serious offenders for up to four years' "re-education through labor", local media reported on Monday.
Most Chinese entertainment events attract a throng of touts, known locally as "yellow bulls", hoping to resell tickets, and rampant scalping of train seats ahead of major festivals has become a regular complaint among homeward-bound travelers.
Police in the Chinese capital had started a "coordinated action" to patrol venues during major events, and the stepped-up efforts would last until after the Paralympic Games in September, the Beijing News said, citing a spokesman with the city's public security bureau.
"(Offenders involved in) the counterfeit, alteration, and illegal selling of tickets for major events can be detained according to (relevant) laws," the paper quoted the unnamed spokesman as saying.
"Those deemed to have seriously disturbed public order can be detained for re-education through labor," the spokesman said.
China's system of "re-education through labor" empowers police to sentence petty criminals for up to three years' jail without going through the courts.
Sentences can be extended to four years in special cases, but most detainees are released after one or two years.
The system has been criticized by rights groups who say it undermines the rule of law and has spawned many illegal detentions, including political prisoners.
Beijing Games organizers have banned the reselling of Olympic tickets and demanded those who secured tickets for the opening and closing ceremony submit photographs and other personal data to combat scalping.
But opening ceremony tickets have appeared for sale on the Internet for up to $150,000 yuan ($21,300) each.
Seven million tickets for the August 8-24 Games will be made available to the general public, with nearly three-quarters reserved for mainland China residents.
Most Chinese entertainment events attract a throng of touts, known locally as "yellow bulls", hoping to resell tickets, and rampant scalping of train seats ahead of major festivals has become a regular complaint among homeward-bound travelers.
Police in the Chinese capital had started a "coordinated action" to patrol venues during major events, and the stepped-up efforts would last until after the Paralympic Games in September, the Beijing News said, citing a spokesman with the city's public security bureau.
"(Offenders involved in) the counterfeit, alteration, and illegal selling of tickets for major events can be detained according to (relevant) laws," the paper quoted the unnamed spokesman as saying.
"Those deemed to have seriously disturbed public order can be detained for re-education through labor," the spokesman said.
China's system of "re-education through labor" empowers police to sentence petty criminals for up to three years' jail without going through the courts.
Sentences can be extended to four years in special cases, but most detainees are released after one or two years.
The system has been criticized by rights groups who say it undermines the rule of law and has spawned many illegal detentions, including political prisoners.
Beijing Games organizers have banned the reselling of Olympic tickets and demanded those who secured tickets for the opening and closing ceremony submit photographs and other personal data to combat scalping.
But opening ceremony tickets have appeared for sale on the Internet for up to $150,000 yuan ($21,300) each.
Seven million tickets for the August 8-24 Games will be made available to the general public, with nearly three-quarters reserved for mainland China residents.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Bogomolov wins unisex tennis tourney
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Alex Bogomolov beat Phillip King by a point Sunday to win the Shotgun 21 World Tennis Championships, a tournament believed to be the first involving ranked men and women going head to head.
Jill Craybas was the only woman to defeat a man in the tournament, beating retired pro Alexander Reichel 21-16.
Bogomolov, recently ranked 198th in the world, won $10,000 at the event organized by tennis promoter Steve Bellamy.
The one-day competition in suburban Pacific Palisades came with several big rules changes: no overhand serve, second serves or lets. All serving was drop-hit and struck from below the waist. The format was similar to table tennis, with the winner being the first to reach 21 points and each player serving five points before service alternates.
Jill Craybas was the only woman to defeat a man in the tournament, beating retired pro Alexander Reichel 21-16.
Bogomolov, recently ranked 198th in the world, won $10,000 at the event organized by tennis promoter Steve Bellamy.
The one-day competition in suburban Pacific Palisades came with several big rules changes: no overhand serve, second serves or lets. All serving was drop-hit and struck from below the waist. The format was similar to table tennis, with the winner being the first to reach 21 points and each player serving five points before service alternates.
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