RAFAEL Nadal last night ensured a superstar showdown against Roger Federer for this year's Australian Open after defeating compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 in the longest match ever played at Melbourne Park.
Both players slumped to the ground, one in elation and the other in despair when Verdasco's brave bid ended with a double fault after five hours and 14 minutes.
"Right now I feel very happy more than tired," Nadal said.
"It was amazing for me. It was one of my best matches in my career.
"Fernando is playing unbelievable. His serve was amazing. It is his best tournament of his career but today, he deserved this win too, so I want to congratulate him too."
So now to Federer. While the decorated pair have shared centre court on the final Sunday of the past three Wimbledon and French Open championships, their first meeting in Melbourne tomorrow night will be a history making occasion.
Federer, who was denied by Nadal in both Paris and London last year, will join Pete Sampras as the joint-holder of the record of Grand Slam titles with 14 if successful in claiming his fourth Australian championship.
A victory by Nadal would see him become the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open.
While Federer has enjoyed an extra night's rest and played at the rarest of levels in his two most recent wins over Juan Martin Del Potro and Andy Roddick, he will be mindful of Nadal's penchant for denying him on the most important of occasions.
Bar for the 22-year-old, it is almost certain Federer would already have reeled in Sampras. More importantly, without Nadal as a rival, Federer could have two Grand Slam's to his name, with his losses in the 2007 and 2008 French Open finals ruining otherwise perfect years.
Regardless, this is the final all in Australia have waited for.
"In my opinion he is the best in history, to be like Pete Sampras, so it is an important match for him, but it is important for me to," Nadal said.
"I am going to play one of the best matches of my career."
But the dream meeting did not come without serious scares for both champions.
Federer's came against Tomas Berdych in the fourth round when he was forced to overcome a two-set deficit.
The test of Nadal's credentials came last night and it was as difficult as they come. Entering the semi-final, Nadal had lost just one set to his older countryman in seven outings.
Their most recent encounter at Grand Slam level was an embarrassment for the 25-year-old Spaniard, with Nadal allowing him just three games in the fourth round at Roland Garros last year. Yet this year's version of Verdasco resembles that player only in name and appearance.
Long nights on the nightclub floors have been replaced by torturous sprints up Magic Mountain in Las Vegas, the strip that honed Andre Agassi's legs of steel.
A concentration span that lasted only as long as the next pretty girl to wander by is now fixed firmly on success at the highest level and Verdasco, the hero of Spain's Davis Cup triumph last night, came closer than many thought possible before last night's clash.
In an enthralling match, it was Verdasco that stole to an early lead through an aggressive gam-plan that garnered the first set.
A night earlier Andy Roddick had played a fine match against Federer, but critics complained he did not take the risks needed to give himself a chance.
That can not be applied to Verdasco, who thumped 93 winners against his freakish rival yet still lost.
"That is too many," Nadal said.
While both served incredibly well in the first set - they averaged above 70 per cent of first deliveries - Verdasco was more willing to take risks from the baseline.
He may have made 20 unforced errors for the set to Nadal's five, but more than compensated in thumping 25 winners to his rival's eight. It was a clear sign he was taking it up to the world's top-ranked player.
The second set proved just as tight, with Verdasco holding his nerve and serve in seeing off several break point opportunities until the final game of the set.
After conceding a 40-15 lead with two uncharacteristically lazy shots, Verdasco watched in dismay as Nadal curled a forehand winner whilst well out of court to bring up set point.
An overhit forehand in the next exchange saw the ledger squared.
The mental toughness on serve continued to evade Verdasco early in the third, with the world No. 15 faltering twice.
Normally, this would be enough for Nadal to bolt away with the match, but Verdasco refused to concede to push the set to a tiebreaker.
Here, though, Nadal proved superior, watching as his older opponent made several mistakes from the ground to throw away the decider.
The fourth set was a classic, neither player ceding an inch. While Verdasco was forced to call for the trainer twice early in the set as his legs fatigued, he continued to push himself from one side to the other against a baseliner as formidible as any in the history of tennis.
Where Verdasco's effort in the third-set tiebreaker was errant, the fourth was spectacular as the Spaniard reeled off six successive points at a standard he could never have dreamed of before closing it out 7-1 with another huge serve as the match passed four hours and twenty minutes.
No quarter was given in the final set with the players stretching each other short and long, side to side, until Verdasco's serve stalled at 5-4.
After slumping to 0-40, he saved two match points with huge serves and blistering volleys, only to throw it away with a double-fault.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Kelly Clarkson Breaks Britney Spears's Record
Life certainly doesn't suck for Kelly Clarkson. Her new single, "My Life Would Suck Without You," will break records on Thursday when it makes the largest leap to No. 1 in the Billboard chart's 50-year history. The song moves to No. 1 from No. 97 on the Hot 100 chart after selling 280,000 digital downloads in its first week out, according to Billboard.com.Clarkson, 26, has set the record once before: Her 2002 single "A Moment Like This" – the American Idol Season 1 victory track – jumped from No. 52 to No. 1 in a single week. Since then, the largest-leap record has been broken five times, most recently by Britney Spears's "Womanizer," which jumped from No. 96 to No. 1 last year. Fans got a sneak peek at Clarkson's new video during last night's Idol episode. It can be viewed in full at att.net. The song is off Clarkson's album All I Ever Wanted, due in stores March 17.
Lawyer: Vick could go to halfway house 'any day'
NEWPORT NEWS, Virignia (AP) -- A lawyer for Michael Vick told a federal bankruptcy judge on Friday that the imprisoned NFL star could be transferred to a halfway house in Virginia any day.
Judge Frank Santoro, presiding over Vick's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, asked about the transfer during a hearing at which he also approved procedures to sell some of the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback's property.
But the U.S. Bureau of Prisons has not given Vick's attorneys a specific date for the move, which attorney Paul Campsen said could occur with only "a day or so" notice.
Vick is serving a 23-month sentence at a federal penitentiary for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy. He is scheduled for release on July 20 but could serve the last few months of his term at a halfway house in Newport News, his hometown.
"We believe he is ultimately going to be reinstated by the NFL," said another Vick bankruptcy attorney, Michael Blumenthal.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has not said whether he will lift Vick's suspension after his release. Vick once was the league's highest-paid player before his indictment and guilty plea left both his finances and his reputation in tatters. He filed for bankruptcy protection in July, claiming assets of $16 million and liabilities of $20.4 million.
Papers filed in his bankruptcy case show exceptionally poor management of Vick's fortune, including lavish and often unexplained spending and an array of questionable investments. The case has been complicated by poor record keeping and Vick's sketchy knowledge of where his money was going.
Santoro said Vick's finances could be "charitably described as in freefall" when he filed his bankruptcy petition.
The judge said he found no fault with Vick's lawyers' efforts to sort out a complex mess but still found the financial disclosure statement difficult to comprehend. He gave the lawyers until Feb. 11 to draft a simplified version, including a chart to help creditors understand how Vick's assets will be handled, and set another hearing for Feb. 27.
Santoro approved the hiring of brokers to sell five boats and four cars owned by Vick.
The judge also approved Vick's plan to sell his suburban Atlanta home at auction. Blumenthal said the eight-bedroom home in a gated lake community has been shown to about 30 potential buyers, and a deal to sell the home for $3.15 million fell through at the last minute.
Now the plan is to start the bidding at $3.2 million. No date has been set for the auction.
Judge Frank Santoro, presiding over Vick's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, asked about the transfer during a hearing at which he also approved procedures to sell some of the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback's property.
But the U.S. Bureau of Prisons has not given Vick's attorneys a specific date for the move, which attorney Paul Campsen said could occur with only "a day or so" notice.
Vick is serving a 23-month sentence at a federal penitentiary for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy. He is scheduled for release on July 20 but could serve the last few months of his term at a halfway house in Newport News, his hometown.
"We believe he is ultimately going to be reinstated by the NFL," said another Vick bankruptcy attorney, Michael Blumenthal.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has not said whether he will lift Vick's suspension after his release. Vick once was the league's highest-paid player before his indictment and guilty plea left both his finances and his reputation in tatters. He filed for bankruptcy protection in July, claiming assets of $16 million and liabilities of $20.4 million.
Papers filed in his bankruptcy case show exceptionally poor management of Vick's fortune, including lavish and often unexplained spending and an array of questionable investments. The case has been complicated by poor record keeping and Vick's sketchy knowledge of where his money was going.
Santoro said Vick's finances could be "charitably described as in freefall" when he filed his bankruptcy petition.
The judge said he found no fault with Vick's lawyers' efforts to sort out a complex mess but still found the financial disclosure statement difficult to comprehend. He gave the lawyers until Feb. 11 to draft a simplified version, including a chart to help creditors understand how Vick's assets will be handled, and set another hearing for Feb. 27.
Santoro approved the hiring of brokers to sell five boats and four cars owned by Vick.
The judge also approved Vick's plan to sell his suburban Atlanta home at auction. Blumenthal said the eight-bedroom home in a gated lake community has been shown to about 30 potential buyers, and a deal to sell the home for $3.15 million fell through at the last minute.
Now the plan is to start the bidding at $3.2 million. No date has been set for the auction.
Madonna Resuming Sticky & Sweet Tour This Summer
Madonna will crank up her Sticky & Sweet tour again this summer with about 25 more shows in the U.K. and Europe, which will add to the total of what's already the top-grossing tour ever by a female or solo artist.The final leg of the tour will start in London at the O2 Arena on July 4. Madonna will also play the Manchester (U.K.) Evening News Arena, with the rest of the dates on the tour being stadiums in European markets she has either never played or hasn't played in several years, according to tour producer Arthur Fogel, chairman of global music for Live Nation.Adding another leg to a tour is a highly unusual move for Madonna. "It absolutely has not happened in the four tours I've been involved with," Fogel tells Billboard.com. "There has been talk [of extending] during each one, but it has never come to be. But with this one, she loves the show, she's had a great time and she's excited about playing new markets."Fogel says the demand is clearly present in these fresh Madonna markets; London is the only repeat market from the 2008 leg. "It's amazing when you look at the number of markets that she's never played, including this last run in 2008," he says. "We went to quite a few markets she has never played or hasn't been to in 15-plus years. This [extension] is really a continuation of that in the sense of playing new and different markets."Madonna has enjoyed remarkable box office growth over her past four tours, raking in $75 million in 2001, $125 million in 2004, $194 million in 2006 and $280 million last year, according to Billboard Boxscore. All of these tours were produced by Fogel and his team, and all included roughly the same number of dates (55-60 shows). Attendance has also remained steady, and ticket prices were the same on the past two tours, Fogel says.
U2, Kid Rock, Plant/Krauss Added To Grammys
U2, Kid Rock, Rihanna and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss have joined the performance lineup for the 51st Grammy Awards, to be held Feb. 8 at Los Angeles' Staples Center and broadcast live on CBS.They join previously announced performers Kenny Chesney, Coldplay, Jennifer Hudson, Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, Paul McCartney (with Dave Grohl on drums), Katy Perry, Radiohead, T.I. and Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood, and Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I. and Kanye West.The first batch of award presenters include Jack Black, Duffy, Josh Groban and Charlie Haden, along with actors Simon Baker, Samuel L. Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Taylor Swift Plots First Headlining Tour
As expected, Taylor Swift will embark on her first headlining tour this spring, beginning April 23 in Evansville, Ind. The 52-city trek will feature "multiple costume changes" and a stage with a "fairy-tale castle," according to Swift's publicist.Swift is touring in support of her sophomore album, "Fearless," which is so far the top seller of 2009 with 287,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It has spent eight straight weeks at No. 1 on The Billboard 200, and since its release last November, it has shifted 2.4 million.Before the tour, Swift will play three one-offs, including a March 20 show before 71,00 fans at Houston's Livestock Show and Rodeo. Kellie Pickler and new act Gloriana will open all dates. For the full tour itinerary, visit TaylorSwift.com.After the North American run, the plan is for Swift to play fall dates in the United Kingdom, and somewhere along the way Japan will be part of the picture."It will be super thrilling for her fans in the States to see photos of her in front of Buckingham Palace, downtown Tokyo and then the next time she's in Cedar Rapids [Iowa] she'll be that much a bigger star, but still Taylor -- approachable," Scott Borchetta, the president of
McCartney, Killers, Cure Anchor Coachella Lineup
Paul McCartney, the Killers and the Cure lead the bill for the tenth Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, to be held April 17-19 at Empire Polo Field in Indio, Calif. Also confirmed are My Bloody Valentine, Amy Winehouse, Morrissey, Leonard Cohen and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.McCartney will be making his maiden American festival appearance at the event. "I have heard that Coachella is one of the greatest festivals in the world," he said in a statement. "I'm really excited to get out there and rock!"Coachella has been after My Bloody Valentine for years, and nearly had the band booked for its 2008 festival. But frontman Kevin Shields ultimately decided the freshly reunited MBV would not have been ready to perform by last year's show date and instead waited until the fall before playing North American shows.As for Winehouse, this will be her first major American appearance since performing at the 2008 Grammy Awards. The U.K. artist's 2007 Coachella set came at a time when she was breaking through in the States with her single "Rehab" and album "Back to Black," but in the past 18 months she's been beset with drug problems and erratic behavior.Meanwhile, Cohen's Coachella appearance will be part of his first North American tour in 15 years, which begins Feb. 19 in New York.
Other highlights of the festival lineup include Fleet Foxes, Conor Oberst, the Black Keys, the Hold Steady, Superchunk, Dr. Dog, TV On The Radio, Okkervil River and Band Of Horses from the world of indie rock; and MSTRKRFT, Girl Talk, Thievery Corporation, the Crystal Method, Throbbing Gristle, Groove Armada and Roni Size from the dance and electronic community.The Drive-By Truckers will perform their own set on April 18 as well as back soul legend Booker T & the MGs, while rock veterans such as X, Paul Weller, Henry Rollins and Bob Mould add a dose of experience to the lineup.Among the buzz bands and notable newcomers playing this year are White Lies, who currently have the No. 1 album in the United Kingdom, N.A.S.A., the Airborne Toxic Event, Cage the Elephant, Gang Gang Dance, Hercules and Love Affair, Vivian Girls, Lykke Li, Late Of The Pier, the Knux and the Gaslight Anthem.Coachella tickets go on sale this morning via Ticketmaster. For the first time, festival promoter Goldenvoice is offering a layaway plan for three-day passes, which is available only online and through Feb. 28. Here is the lineup for the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival: FRIDAY APRIL 17: Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand, Leonard Cohen, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Beirut, The Black Keys, Girl Talk, Silversun Pickups, The Ting Tings, The Crystal Method, Ghostland Observatory, Crystal Castles, The Airborne Toxic Event, We Are Scientists, N.A.S.A., Patton & Rahzel, M. Ward, The Presets, The Hold Steady, A Place to Bury Strangers, Felix da Housecat, Buraka Som Sistema, Ryan Bingham, Bajofondo, Peanut Butter Wolf, Noah & the Whale, White Lies, The Bug, Alberta Cross, Los Campesinos!, Craze & Klever, Molotov, Switch, Gui Boratto, Steve Aoki, The Aggrolites, People Under the Stairs, The Courteeners, Cage the Elephant, Dear and the Headlights. SATURDAY, APRIL 18: The Killers, Amy Winehouse, Thievery Corporation, TV on the Radio, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, MSTRKRFT, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Atmosphere, Mastodon, TRAV$DJ-AM, Henry Rollins, Crookers, Turbonegro, Hercules and Love Affair, Superchunk, Glasvegas, Dr. Dog, Drive-By Truckers, Booker T & the DBT's, Amanda Palmer, The Bloody Beetroots, Surkin, Para One (Live), Calexico, Liars, Bob Mould Band, Zane Lowe, Electric Touch, Blitzen Trapper, James Morrison, Drop the Lime, Glass Candy, Thenewno2, Gang Gang Dance, Billy Talent, Ida Maria, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Zizek, Cloud Cult, Tinariwen.SUNDAY, APRIL 19: The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Throbbing Gristle, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Weller, Peter Bjorn and John, X, Antony & the Johnsons, Roni Size, Public Enemy, Jenny Lewis, Groove Armada, Paolo Nutini, Christopher Lawrence, Lykke Li, The Kills, Okkervil River, M.A.N.D.Y., Clipse, Sebastien Tellier, Fucked Up, Perry Farrell, The Horrors, Late of the Pier, K'naan, Junior Boys, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Supermayer, No Age, Vivian Girls, Shepard Fairey, Themselves, Gaslight Anthem, The Knux, Mexican Institute of Sound, The Night Marchers, Marshall Barnes.
Other highlights of the festival lineup include Fleet Foxes, Conor Oberst, the Black Keys, the Hold Steady, Superchunk, Dr. Dog, TV On The Radio, Okkervil River and Band Of Horses from the world of indie rock; and MSTRKRFT, Girl Talk, Thievery Corporation, the Crystal Method, Throbbing Gristle, Groove Armada and Roni Size from the dance and electronic community.The Drive-By Truckers will perform their own set on April 18 as well as back soul legend Booker T & the MGs, while rock veterans such as X, Paul Weller, Henry Rollins and Bob Mould add a dose of experience to the lineup.Among the buzz bands and notable newcomers playing this year are White Lies, who currently have the No. 1 album in the United Kingdom, N.A.S.A., the Airborne Toxic Event, Cage the Elephant, Gang Gang Dance, Hercules and Love Affair, Vivian Girls, Lykke Li, Late Of The Pier, the Knux and the Gaslight Anthem.Coachella tickets go on sale this morning via Ticketmaster. For the first time, festival promoter Goldenvoice is offering a layaway plan for three-day passes, which is available only online and through Feb. 28. Here is the lineup for the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival: FRIDAY APRIL 17: Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand, Leonard Cohen, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Beirut, The Black Keys, Girl Talk, Silversun Pickups, The Ting Tings, The Crystal Method, Ghostland Observatory, Crystal Castles, The Airborne Toxic Event, We Are Scientists, N.A.S.A., Patton & Rahzel, M. Ward, The Presets, The Hold Steady, A Place to Bury Strangers, Felix da Housecat, Buraka Som Sistema, Ryan Bingham, Bajofondo, Peanut Butter Wolf, Noah & the Whale, White Lies, The Bug, Alberta Cross, Los Campesinos!, Craze & Klever, Molotov, Switch, Gui Boratto, Steve Aoki, The Aggrolites, People Under the Stairs, The Courteeners, Cage the Elephant, Dear and the Headlights. SATURDAY, APRIL 18: The Killers, Amy Winehouse, Thievery Corporation, TV on the Radio, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, MSTRKRFT, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Atmosphere, Mastodon, TRAV$DJ-AM, Henry Rollins, Crookers, Turbonegro, Hercules and Love Affair, Superchunk, Glasvegas, Dr. Dog, Drive-By Truckers, Booker T & the DBT's, Amanda Palmer, The Bloody Beetroots, Surkin, Para One (Live), Calexico, Liars, Bob Mould Band, Zane Lowe, Electric Touch, Blitzen Trapper, James Morrison, Drop the Lime, Glass Candy, Thenewno2, Gang Gang Dance, Billy Talent, Ida Maria, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Zizek, Cloud Cult, Tinariwen.SUNDAY, APRIL 19: The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Throbbing Gristle, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Weller, Peter Bjorn and John, X, Antony & the Johnsons, Roni Size, Public Enemy, Jenny Lewis, Groove Armada, Paolo Nutini, Christopher Lawrence, Lykke Li, The Kills, Okkervil River, M.A.N.D.Y., Clipse, Sebastien Tellier, Fucked Up, Perry Farrell, The Horrors, Late of the Pier, K'naan, Junior Boys, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Supermayer, No Age, Vivian Girls, Shepard Fairey, Themselves, Gaslight Anthem, The Knux, Mexican Institute of Sound, The Night Marchers, Marshall Barnes.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Ivanovic falls at Aussie Open
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Ana Ivanovic's hopes of a return trip to the Australian Open final fell apart in a barrage of mistakes Friday as Russia's Alisa Kleybanova ousted the 2008 runner-up with a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2 victory in the third round.
With the 19-year-old Kleybanova constantly aggressive, fifth-ranked Ivanovic lost her serve nine times and finished with 50 unforced errors to just 23 winners.
When it was over, Kleybanova dropped to the ground on both knees, pumped her fists she walked off court, throwing a towel to someone in the crowd.
The Serb's loss came on a day that the late match between second-ranked Roger Federer and former No. 1 Marat Safin -- which the Swiss star won in three sets -- was supposed to produce the biggest news.
Instead, ethnic violence erupted between nationalist fans after Serbia's Novak Djokovic, the defending men's champion, beat Bosnian-born American Amer Delic.
One of several thrown chairs hit a woman and left her briefly unconscious. Insults and water bottles filled the air. Arrests were made, with dozens of people ejected from Melbourne Park.
This was what organizers had feared when they announced before the tournament that they were instituting a no-tolerance policy for disruptions.
They wanted the focus to remain on tennis -- such as Kleybanova's upset victory, Andy Roddick's 22 aces while winning in straight sets or top-ranked Jelena Jankovic and No. 3 Dinara Safina advancing.
Instead of talking about how defending champion Djokovic reached the third round with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory packed with drama and good sportsmanship, the 21-year-old Serb and Delic were mostly quizzed about the chaotic scene that followed -- when their supporters clashed outside near a big-screen TV showing the match.
Police said about 30 Bosnian and Serbian youths were ejected from Melbourne Park. Two men were charged with riotous behavior and a third was fined on the spot. The woman who was knocked out was not seriously injured.
"There's absolutely no place for that here. This is a tennis match," said Delic, who attended the University of Illinois and lives in Jacksonville, Florida. "As I'm sure you all saw at the end, Novak and I are friends. We're both competitors. In the end it was a fair match, and there was no reason for such things."
Before finally asking reporters to change the subject, Djokovic lamented that players can't control their fans. Delic had earlier used his Web site to ask his backers, who were boisterous to the point of disruption in the qualifier's first two matches, to tone it down.
And that wasn't even all of the day's drama -- a man was arrested after dancing across a court, naked from the waist down, as Serena and Venus Williams won a second-round doubles match.
In a rematch of the 2005 men's semifinal, won by Safin en route to the championship, was dominated by Federer, who again looked sharp in his pursuit of a 14th Grand Slam title that would tie Pete Sampras' record, winning 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (5).
Federer never faced a breakpoint, and the mercurial Safin's growing frustration nearly boiled over when he was called for a foot-fault on his second serve. That gave him a double-fault and Federer a 4-1 lead in the third-set tiebreaker. Safin rallied to lead 5-4 before Federer ran off the last three points, the last on a backhand winner down the line.
"He gave me quite a few free points in the first two sets, but after that he got tougher," Federer said. "I'm pretty lucky I got through in three."
Safin has said he is unlikely to continue playing after this year. Federer clearly would miss him.
"I always like to play Marat," Federer said. "We go back, we like playing each other. It doesn't matter who wins."
After dropping the first set, the 21-year-old Ivanovic lost her first two service games in the second, falling behind 0-3. She rallied to force a tiebreaker, where both women were pumping their fists after every point they won. Ivanovic did a three-punch combination after whacking an overhead winner on set point.
The jubilation was short-lived: Ivanovic found herself again down 0-3 in the deciding set and never caught up. Serving at 2-5, she fell behind 0-40. She saved one match point with a high, lunging volley winner before Kleybanova hit a forehand crosscourt that went untouched to end the match in 2 hours and 43 minutes.
Kleybanova, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year in her third Grand Slam, dropped to her knees in relief and disbelief.
Unlike their fans, there was no animosity on court between Djokovic and Delic.
"Of course, I have a big respect for Amer," Djokovic said, to loud cheers from the crowd. "He absolutely deserves your applause and even more. He has one of the biggest serves on tour. It was very difficult for me to read."
Djokovic next plays the winner of a late match between American Mardy Fish and 2006 runner-up Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus.
Roddick had a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Fabrice Santoro and next plays No. 21 Tommy Robredo of Spain, who beat Taiwanese player Yen-hsun Lu.
"It was one of the most exciting matches of my life," Kleybanova said. "I will never forget this night."
No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who won a warmup tournament in New Zealand, extended his winning streak to seven matches. No. 19 Marin Cilic of Croatia ousted No. 11 David Ferrer of Spain.
On the women's side, Olympic silver medalist Safina beat No. 25 Kaia Kanepi of Estonia. Fellow Russians Vera Zvonareva, seeded seventh, and No. 10 Nadia Petrova also advanced to the fourth round.
Unseeded Jelena Dokic, a former Wimbledon semifinalist making her first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam after a three-year absence to deal with personal problems, knocked off a seeded player for the second straight round, rallying from a set down to beat No. 11 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.
With the 19-year-old Kleybanova constantly aggressive, fifth-ranked Ivanovic lost her serve nine times and finished with 50 unforced errors to just 23 winners.
When it was over, Kleybanova dropped to the ground on both knees, pumped her fists she walked off court, throwing a towel to someone in the crowd.
The Serb's loss came on a day that the late match between second-ranked Roger Federer and former No. 1 Marat Safin -- which the Swiss star won in three sets -- was supposed to produce the biggest news.
Instead, ethnic violence erupted between nationalist fans after Serbia's Novak Djokovic, the defending men's champion, beat Bosnian-born American Amer Delic.
One of several thrown chairs hit a woman and left her briefly unconscious. Insults and water bottles filled the air. Arrests were made, with dozens of people ejected from Melbourne Park.
This was what organizers had feared when they announced before the tournament that they were instituting a no-tolerance policy for disruptions.
They wanted the focus to remain on tennis -- such as Kleybanova's upset victory, Andy Roddick's 22 aces while winning in straight sets or top-ranked Jelena Jankovic and No. 3 Dinara Safina advancing.
Instead of talking about how defending champion Djokovic reached the third round with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory packed with drama and good sportsmanship, the 21-year-old Serb and Delic were mostly quizzed about the chaotic scene that followed -- when their supporters clashed outside near a big-screen TV showing the match.
Police said about 30 Bosnian and Serbian youths were ejected from Melbourne Park. Two men were charged with riotous behavior and a third was fined on the spot. The woman who was knocked out was not seriously injured.
"There's absolutely no place for that here. This is a tennis match," said Delic, who attended the University of Illinois and lives in Jacksonville, Florida. "As I'm sure you all saw at the end, Novak and I are friends. We're both competitors. In the end it was a fair match, and there was no reason for such things."
Before finally asking reporters to change the subject, Djokovic lamented that players can't control their fans. Delic had earlier used his Web site to ask his backers, who were boisterous to the point of disruption in the qualifier's first two matches, to tone it down.
And that wasn't even all of the day's drama -- a man was arrested after dancing across a court, naked from the waist down, as Serena and Venus Williams won a second-round doubles match.
In a rematch of the 2005 men's semifinal, won by Safin en route to the championship, was dominated by Federer, who again looked sharp in his pursuit of a 14th Grand Slam title that would tie Pete Sampras' record, winning 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (5).
Federer never faced a breakpoint, and the mercurial Safin's growing frustration nearly boiled over when he was called for a foot-fault on his second serve. That gave him a double-fault and Federer a 4-1 lead in the third-set tiebreaker. Safin rallied to lead 5-4 before Federer ran off the last three points, the last on a backhand winner down the line.
"He gave me quite a few free points in the first two sets, but after that he got tougher," Federer said. "I'm pretty lucky I got through in three."
Safin has said he is unlikely to continue playing after this year. Federer clearly would miss him.
"I always like to play Marat," Federer said. "We go back, we like playing each other. It doesn't matter who wins."
After dropping the first set, the 21-year-old Ivanovic lost her first two service games in the second, falling behind 0-3. She rallied to force a tiebreaker, where both women were pumping their fists after every point they won. Ivanovic did a three-punch combination after whacking an overhead winner on set point.
The jubilation was short-lived: Ivanovic found herself again down 0-3 in the deciding set and never caught up. Serving at 2-5, she fell behind 0-40. She saved one match point with a high, lunging volley winner before Kleybanova hit a forehand crosscourt that went untouched to end the match in 2 hours and 43 minutes.
Kleybanova, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year in her third Grand Slam, dropped to her knees in relief and disbelief.
Unlike their fans, there was no animosity on court between Djokovic and Delic.
"Of course, I have a big respect for Amer," Djokovic said, to loud cheers from the crowd. "He absolutely deserves your applause and even more. He has one of the biggest serves on tour. It was very difficult for me to read."
Djokovic next plays the winner of a late match between American Mardy Fish and 2006 runner-up Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus.
Roddick had a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Fabrice Santoro and next plays No. 21 Tommy Robredo of Spain, who beat Taiwanese player Yen-hsun Lu.
"It was one of the most exciting matches of my life," Kleybanova said. "I will never forget this night."
No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who won a warmup tournament in New Zealand, extended his winning streak to seven matches. No. 19 Marin Cilic of Croatia ousted No. 11 David Ferrer of Spain.
On the women's side, Olympic silver medalist Safina beat No. 25 Kaia Kanepi of Estonia. Fellow Russians Vera Zvonareva, seeded seventh, and No. 10 Nadia Petrova also advanced to the fourth round.
Unseeded Jelena Dokic, a former Wimbledon semifinalist making her first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam after a three-year absence to deal with personal problems, knocked off a seeded player for the second straight round, rallying from a set down to beat No. 11 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.
Milan coach wants Beckham to stay
MILAN, Italy (AP) -- AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti hopes David Beckham can stay at the Serie A club beyond his short-term contract, which expires in March.
The England midfielder scored his first goal for AC Milan on Sunday in the team's 4-1 victory over Bologna.
"In football anything's possible," Ancelotti said Monday, speaking on a radio show. "Beckham knows what our wish is. We all hope that he can stay with us."
Ancelotti, however, stressed that the choice rests with Beckham and that Milan would exert no pressure.
Beckham, who is on a three-month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, is due to return to Major League Soccer on March 9.
"Once Beckham goes back to America on March 9, we'd certainly be saddened," Ancelotti said. But "there will be no kind of pressure from the club. The choice is only and exclusively his."
Beckham has started all three of Milan's matches since he arrived, and Ancelotti gave him credit for jelling with the team. He credited Beckham's "desire to play again in an important league, his intelligence and seriousness."
Beckham said after the game Sunday that he is having a "great time" in Milan.
Speaking about his future, he said: "We'll have to see."
AC Milan is third in the Serie A, behind Inter Milan and Juventus.
The England midfielder scored his first goal for AC Milan on Sunday in the team's 4-1 victory over Bologna.
"In football anything's possible," Ancelotti said Monday, speaking on a radio show. "Beckham knows what our wish is. We all hope that he can stay with us."
Ancelotti, however, stressed that the choice rests with Beckham and that Milan would exert no pressure.
Beckham, who is on a three-month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, is due to return to Major League Soccer on March 9.
"Once Beckham goes back to America on March 9, we'd certainly be saddened," Ancelotti said. But "there will be no kind of pressure from the club. The choice is only and exclusively his."
Beckham has started all three of Milan's matches since he arrived, and Ancelotti gave him credit for jelling with the team. He credited Beckham's "desire to play again in an important league, his intelligence and seriousness."
Beckham said after the game Sunday that he is having a "great time" in Milan.
Speaking about his future, he said: "We'll have to see."
AC Milan is third in the Serie A, behind Inter Milan and Juventus.
Friday, January 23, 2009
No Doubt Drafts Paramore For Summer Tour
No Doubt has enlisted Paramore as the opening act on its first tour in five years, which will begin in May. The Sounds, Janelle Monae and Bedouin Soundclash will rotate as the third band on the bill.Dates have yet to be announced for the Live Nation-promoted tour, which will play outdoor amphitheatres and arenas in North America. The only confirmed show so far is May 3 at New Jersey's Bamboozle Festival."The whole reason for going on this tour was to have fun, try on all our favorite songs again and to get inspired to make new music," No Doubt's Gwen Stefani says. "It feels good to be all together again."In the midst of tour prep, No Doubt has been working on and off on a new studio album, a release date for which has not been announced.Paramore will be making a final push behind its breakthrough 2007 Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic album, "Riot!," which has sold 1.13 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Katy Perry Ready For First Headlining Tour
With digital sales still robust for her two breakthrough singles, Katy Perry will launch her first headlining tour Jan. 23 at the Showbox in Seattle.She'll make a brief detour to perform Feb. 8 at the Grammy Awards as part of the My Grammy Moment promotion, where a fan will get to perform alongside her during the telecast.The tour will hit theaters with 1,000- to 2,000-seat capacities; there will also be an 11-date European run, including several U.K. performances, and stops in Japan."Our philosophy has always been to sell places out," says Creative Artists Agency's Mitch Rose, who worked Perry's tour. "We set the ticket price at $18-$20 for most markets, because we wanted to ensure a sellout. We could have charged more and we know we're leaving money on the table, but making sure the rooms were packed was our first priority."But just because the rooms are small doesn't mean Perry will keep her show simple. "I have the guy who creates stages for Madonna working on this tour," she tells Billboard. "I'm indulging my obsession with fruit and cats and designing all different outfits."
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This quirkiness is leading her to other opportunities. Perry says she'd like to develop a clothing line at some point, but she's in no hurry. "It would take two years to do it right," she says. "I don't want to do something rushed and sloppy. I look at something like Gwen Stefani's line, L.A.M.B., and that took forever to do."Stefani is a role model of Perry's, not just for her sense of style but her long career. Perry believes interacting with her fans is key; she's constantly blogging and responding to MySpace messages, as well as putting in time after every show to chat and sign autographs."All the big pop girls come across as being so scared and so distant," Perry says. "I understand diva-ness, but I cultivate an image as the pop star next door. You need to have some mystery and some privacy, and there are parts of me that I hold back. But at the same time, I love meeting people and e-mailing with them and blogging about funny things."
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This quirkiness is leading her to other opportunities. Perry says she'd like to develop a clothing line at some point, but she's in no hurry. "It would take two years to do it right," she says. "I don't want to do something rushed and sloppy. I look at something like Gwen Stefani's line, L.A.M.B., and that took forever to do."Stefani is a role model of Perry's, not just for her sense of style but her long career. Perry believes interacting with her fans is key; she's constantly blogging and responding to MySpace messages, as well as putting in time after every show to chat and sign autographs."All the big pop girls come across as being so scared and so distant," Perry says. "I understand diva-ness, but I cultivate an image as the pop star next door. You need to have some mystery and some privacy, and there are parts of me that I hold back. But at the same time, I love meeting people and e-mailing with them and blogging about funny things."
Giants WR Biddle shot in hand, leg
DECATUR, Ala. (AP) -- New York Giants receiver Taye Biddle is recovering from gunshot wounds to his hand and leg after being shot while visiting family in his hometown.
Decatur police said in a statement Thursday that Biddle was shot outside a residence and was treated and released from a hospital. Police said there was no evidence Biddle caused or provoked the shooting.
"He had surgery on his hand today," Biddle's friend, Bruce Jones, told The Decatur Daily Thursday. "He told me his leg is OK, and he ought to be fine."
The 25-year-old Biddle grew up in Decatur and played college football at the University of Mississippi.
Police have not made any arrests in the case.
Biddle was promoted from the Giants' practice squad after receiver Plaxico Burress was suspended for a game in September.
Decatur police said in a statement Thursday that Biddle was shot outside a residence and was treated and released from a hospital. Police said there was no evidence Biddle caused or provoked the shooting.
"He had surgery on his hand today," Biddle's friend, Bruce Jones, told The Decatur Daily Thursday. "He told me his leg is OK, and he ought to be fine."
The 25-year-old Biddle grew up in Decatur and played college football at the University of Mississippi.
Police have not made any arrests in the case.
Biddle was promoted from the Giants' practice squad after receiver Plaxico Burress was suspended for a game in September.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Source: Orioles RF Markakis agrees to $66M, six-year deal
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Right fielder Nick Markakis and the Baltimore Orioles reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a $66 million, six-year contract, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The contract is pending a physical, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been signed.
The deal, the second-richest in team history, covers three years Markakis would have been eligible for arbitration and the first three after he would have been eligible for free agency. The agreement was first reported by The Sun.
Markakis hit a career-high .306 with 20 homers and 87 RBIs for the Orioles last season, his third in the majors. He played in 157 games, drew 99 walks and led all AL outfielders with 17 assists.
The only higher deal for the Orioles was the $72 million, six-year contract shortstop Miguel Tejada signed before the 2003 season.
Markakis was selected by Baltimore with the seventh overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft. The 25-year-old has a .299 career batting average and has not played in fewer than 17 games in any of his three big league seasons.
His best season was in 2007, when he batted .300 with 23 homers and 112 RBIs in 161 games.
Markakis gives the Orioles a combination of speed, power and defense. Besides possessing a strong arm and impressive first-to-third speed, he stole 10 bases and had a .491 slugging percentage.
On August 22, 2006, Markakis hit three homers in a game -- the 18th Orioles to accomplish the feat and the first since 1999.
In other news Monday, the Orioles obtained minor league pitcher David Pauley from the Boston Red Sox for right-hander Randor Bierd.
The 25-year-old Pauley went 14-4 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 starts with Triple-A Pawtucket in 2008 and is 56-52 with a 3.92 ERA in 177 minor league games over eight seasons. He went 0-1 with an 11.68 ERA in six games with the Red Sox last season.
Bierd was 0-2 in 29 games with Baltimore in 2008.
The contract is pending a physical, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been signed.
The deal, the second-richest in team history, covers three years Markakis would have been eligible for arbitration and the first three after he would have been eligible for free agency. The agreement was first reported by The Sun.
Markakis hit a career-high .306 with 20 homers and 87 RBIs for the Orioles last season, his third in the majors. He played in 157 games, drew 99 walks and led all AL outfielders with 17 assists.
The only higher deal for the Orioles was the $72 million, six-year contract shortstop Miguel Tejada signed before the 2003 season.
Markakis was selected by Baltimore with the seventh overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft. The 25-year-old has a .299 career batting average and has not played in fewer than 17 games in any of his three big league seasons.
His best season was in 2007, when he batted .300 with 23 homers and 112 RBIs in 161 games.
Markakis gives the Orioles a combination of speed, power and defense. Besides possessing a strong arm and impressive first-to-third speed, he stole 10 bases and had a .491 slugging percentage.
On August 22, 2006, Markakis hit three homers in a game -- the 18th Orioles to accomplish the feat and the first since 1999.
In other news Monday, the Orioles obtained minor league pitcher David Pauley from the Boston Red Sox for right-hander Randor Bierd.
The 25-year-old Pauley went 14-4 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 starts with Triple-A Pawtucket in 2008 and is 56-52 with a 3.92 ERA in 177 minor league games over eight seasons. He went 0-1 with an 11.68 ERA in six games with the Red Sox last season.
Bierd was 0-2 in 29 games with Baltimore in 2008.
Jets agree to terms with Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Jets are confident Rex Ryan was worth the wait.
The Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator was hired Monday as New York's coach, three weeks after the Jets fired Eric Mangini following a late-season collapse.
"We got the right man for the job," owner Woody Johnson said in a statement.
It became apparent the 46-year-old Ryan was at the top of the Jets' list of candidates when several other teams filled their coaching vacancies and New York's remained open. The Jets needed Baltimore's season to end -- which happened Sunday with a 23-14 loss at Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game -- before offering him the job.
Ryan, the son of former NFL coach Buddy Ryan, will be formally introduced at a news conference Wednesday at the Jets' facility in Florham Park, N.J.
"It's been a dream of mine to become a head coach in the NFL," Ryan said in a statement. "Coming here to the New York Jets, where my father once coached and was part of the Super Bowl III staff, is fantastic. I look around at the facilities and the people they have in place and see a first-class organization. I'm just proud to be part of it."
The Jets announced the hiring, but released no other details. The contract is for four years, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity earlier Monday because the deal had not yet been announced.
The deal was finalized Monday afternoon after Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum flew down to Baltimore in the morning to iron out the details, Jets spokesman Bruce Speight said.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Rex has the expertise and instincts to build on the foundation that we have in place and take this franchise to the ranks of the NFL's elite," Johnson said.
Ryan takes over a team that started 8-3, but missed the playoffs with quarterback Brett Favre after losing four of its last five games.
"I'm very much looking forward to meeting Coach Ryan," wide receiver Chansi Stuckey said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "His reputation precedes him by the success that Baltimore has had, and I'm very excited to get started."
The Ravens' defensive coordinator the last four seasons is the twin brother of Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. His Baltimore defense helped the Ravens to the AFC championship game and has been ranked in the top six in total yardage allowed the last four seasons under Ryan, including second overall this season while leading the NFL with 34 takeaways.
"I think it's a gain for them and a loss for us, but it's well-deserved," Ravens linebacker Bart Scott said. "It was a long time coming."
This will be the first head coaching job for Ryan, who is said to be well liked among his players because of his straightforward, no-nonsense style.
Scott said Ryan makes a good coach because of "his ability to come down to the level of his players and become one of them."
Ryan also interviewed for the St. Louis Rams job that went to Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
The Jets interviewed at least five other candidates, including offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, assistant head coach/offensive line coach Bill Callahan, Arizona assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm, Indianapolis defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and fired Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski.
Whether Ryan will have Favre on his roster this season is unclear. The 39-year-old quarterback recently said he would take several weeks before deciding whether to return.
Nicknamed "The Mad Scientist" for his aggressive and unpredictable game plans, Ryan prefers to run a 3-4 defensive scheme, which the Jets already have in place. New York spent big money last offseason acquiring players that excel in the 3-4, including nose tackle Kris Jenkins and linebacker Calvin Pace.
Ryan inherits a defense that had an impressive start with 29 sacks in its first eight games but just 12 in the last half of the season. The secondary also might need a makeover, ranking 29th overall against the pass despite Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis and playmaking safety Kerry Rhodes.
Ryan, who was with the Ravens for 10 seasons, was fired when the entire staff was let go after the 2007 season. Ryan interviewed for the job that went to John Harbaugh, who rehired Ryan.
The Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator was hired Monday as New York's coach, three weeks after the Jets fired Eric Mangini following a late-season collapse.
"We got the right man for the job," owner Woody Johnson said in a statement.
It became apparent the 46-year-old Ryan was at the top of the Jets' list of candidates when several other teams filled their coaching vacancies and New York's remained open. The Jets needed Baltimore's season to end -- which happened Sunday with a 23-14 loss at Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game -- before offering him the job.
Ryan, the son of former NFL coach Buddy Ryan, will be formally introduced at a news conference Wednesday at the Jets' facility in Florham Park, N.J.
"It's been a dream of mine to become a head coach in the NFL," Ryan said in a statement. "Coming here to the New York Jets, where my father once coached and was part of the Super Bowl III staff, is fantastic. I look around at the facilities and the people they have in place and see a first-class organization. I'm just proud to be part of it."
The Jets announced the hiring, but released no other details. The contract is for four years, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity earlier Monday because the deal had not yet been announced.
The deal was finalized Monday afternoon after Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum flew down to Baltimore in the morning to iron out the details, Jets spokesman Bruce Speight said.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Rex has the expertise and instincts to build on the foundation that we have in place and take this franchise to the ranks of the NFL's elite," Johnson said.
Ryan takes over a team that started 8-3, but missed the playoffs with quarterback Brett Favre after losing four of its last five games.
"I'm very much looking forward to meeting Coach Ryan," wide receiver Chansi Stuckey said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "His reputation precedes him by the success that Baltimore has had, and I'm very excited to get started."
The Ravens' defensive coordinator the last four seasons is the twin brother of Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. His Baltimore defense helped the Ravens to the AFC championship game and has been ranked in the top six in total yardage allowed the last four seasons under Ryan, including second overall this season while leading the NFL with 34 takeaways.
"I think it's a gain for them and a loss for us, but it's well-deserved," Ravens linebacker Bart Scott said. "It was a long time coming."
This will be the first head coaching job for Ryan, who is said to be well liked among his players because of his straightforward, no-nonsense style.
Scott said Ryan makes a good coach because of "his ability to come down to the level of his players and become one of them."
Ryan also interviewed for the St. Louis Rams job that went to Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
The Jets interviewed at least five other candidates, including offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, assistant head coach/offensive line coach Bill Callahan, Arizona assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm, Indianapolis defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and fired Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski.
Whether Ryan will have Favre on his roster this season is unclear. The 39-year-old quarterback recently said he would take several weeks before deciding whether to return.
Nicknamed "The Mad Scientist" for his aggressive and unpredictable game plans, Ryan prefers to run a 3-4 defensive scheme, which the Jets already have in place. New York spent big money last offseason acquiring players that excel in the 3-4, including nose tackle Kris Jenkins and linebacker Calvin Pace.
Ryan inherits a defense that had an impressive start with 29 sacks in its first eight games but just 12 in the last half of the season. The secondary also might need a makeover, ranking 29th overall against the pass despite Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis and playmaking safety Kerry Rhodes.
Ryan, who was with the Ravens for 10 seasons, was fired when the entire staff was let go after the 2007 season. Ryan interviewed for the job that went to John Harbaugh, who rehired Ryan.
Kelly Osbourne Arrested for Assault
Kelly Osbourne has been arrested for allegedly slapping a journalist in a London nightclub last summer. The 24-year-old daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne was released on bail as inquiries continue. She is scheduled to return to see authorities in March. The allegations stem from a claim that Osbourne hit gossip columnist Zoe Griffin after Griffin wrote an article mocking Osbourne's model boyfriend Luke Worrall. In a piece last August in the U.K. newspaper The Mirror, Griffin wrote that she was approached in Punk nightclub by Osbourne, who took issue with a story Griffin had written saying Worrall had to ask how an earthquake was caused. Griffin quoted her saying, "I have an issue with you. My boyfriend knows what an earthquake is and everyone has been laughing at him and he's upset." As the conversation drew to a close, Griffin wrote, "That's when I felt a hard slap to my right cheekbone." As is customary, Scotland Yard would not name any of the alleged protagonists. But a statement read by a spokeswoman said, "I can confirm that a 24-year-old woman attended a central London police station by appointment at 3pm on January 2." "She was arrested for common assault relating to an alleged incident in Soho in the early hours of 29th August 2008," the statement continues. "She was bailed to attend a central London police station on a date in March." A rep for Osbourne had no comment.
McGahee released from hospital
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- Willis McGahee joined his teammates Monday at Baltimore's training complex after doctors told him he would make a full recovery from a fierce helmet-to-helmet hit in the AFC championship game that had him carted off the field.
"I'm all right. Everything is OK," the running back told reporters as the Ravens cleared out their lockers. "The MRI and the CAT scan checked out good. I was scared, but I didn't know how serious it was. It was pretty intense."
The play occurred in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh's 23-14 victory. McGahee had just caught a pass and taken two steps before being met by safety Ryan Clark, who drove his helmet into McGahee's facemask. McGahee's head snapped back, and he lost the ball as he dropped to the ground.
"I didn't even see him coming," McGahee said.
Clark also collapsed, though it was immediately apparent that his injury wasn't serious. Players from both teams gathered around McGahee, who lay motionless before being taken away.
"I blacked out. I woke up when they were taking my facemask off," McGahee said. "I opened my eyes and I was talking. The next thing I knew I woke up in some room and they were taking me to the ambulance."
McGahee said he has a concussion and his neck is extremely sore. But he said he would be ready to go next season.
He hadn't watched the replay of the hit by late Monday afternoon, but his memory of the aftermath was vivid.
"I felt like I was OK when I was on the ground, regained consciousness and starting moving," he said. "But then they told me not to move, so I started to get a little worried. After we got inside they took X-rays and told me everything was OK."
As a precaution, McGahee was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for a CAT scan and MRI, then held overnight for observation. He was released early Monday morning and dropped by his home in Baltimore before attending a team meeting.
Starting at tailback in place of the banged-up Le'Ron McClain, McGahee ran for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
"I just wanted to make a difference in the football game. This was my first AFC championship game," he said.
"I'm all right. Everything is OK," the running back told reporters as the Ravens cleared out their lockers. "The MRI and the CAT scan checked out good. I was scared, but I didn't know how serious it was. It was pretty intense."
The play occurred in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh's 23-14 victory. McGahee had just caught a pass and taken two steps before being met by safety Ryan Clark, who drove his helmet into McGahee's facemask. McGahee's head snapped back, and he lost the ball as he dropped to the ground.
"I didn't even see him coming," McGahee said.
Clark also collapsed, though it was immediately apparent that his injury wasn't serious. Players from both teams gathered around McGahee, who lay motionless before being taken away.
"I blacked out. I woke up when they were taking my facemask off," McGahee said. "I opened my eyes and I was talking. The next thing I knew I woke up in some room and they were taking me to the ambulance."
McGahee said he has a concussion and his neck is extremely sore. But he said he would be ready to go next season.
He hadn't watched the replay of the hit by late Monday afternoon, but his memory of the aftermath was vivid.
"I felt like I was OK when I was on the ground, regained consciousness and starting moving," he said. "But then they told me not to move, so I started to get a little worried. After we got inside they took X-rays and told me everything was OK."
As a precaution, McGahee was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for a CAT scan and MRI, then held overnight for observation. He was released early Monday morning and dropped by his home in Baltimore before attending a team meeting.
Starting at tailback in place of the banged-up Le'Ron McClain, McGahee ran for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
"I just wanted to make a difference in the football game. This was my first AFC championship game," he said.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Mavs' owner Cuban fined by NBA
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mark Cuban is in trouble with the NBA again.
The league fined the Dallas Mavericks owner $25,000 Friday for "improper interactions with Denver Nuggets players" at halftime and his conduct immediately following the Mavericks' 99-97 loss on Tuesday.
The penalty was the 14th the league has announced against Cuban, who has been penalized about $1.5 million over the years and suspended from three games.
Cuban went onto the court at halftime to complain to J.R. Smith about an elbow he saw the Nuggets player throw at the Mavs' Antoine Wright. Denver coach George Karl criticized Cuban following the game, then again the next day at practice, for coming onto the court and yelling at one of his players.
The league informed teams before the 2006-07 season that club personnel other than coaches was prevented from going into huddles or the floor -- a ruling Cuban felt was aimed at him.
There was no action against Smith.
Cuban was then angered at the end after a disputed foul called on Jason Terry led to the go-ahead free throws by Chauncey Billups with 2.2 seconds left. The Mavericks felt that Billups created the contact.
A frequent critic of the officiating, Cuban was fined twice during the 2006 playoffs, including after Game 5 of the NBA finals, for his conduct.
The league fined the Dallas Mavericks owner $25,000 Friday for "improper interactions with Denver Nuggets players" at halftime and his conduct immediately following the Mavericks' 99-97 loss on Tuesday.
The penalty was the 14th the league has announced against Cuban, who has been penalized about $1.5 million over the years and suspended from three games.
Cuban went onto the court at halftime to complain to J.R. Smith about an elbow he saw the Nuggets player throw at the Mavs' Antoine Wright. Denver coach George Karl criticized Cuban following the game, then again the next day at practice, for coming onto the court and yelling at one of his players.
The league informed teams before the 2006-07 season that club personnel other than coaches was prevented from going into huddles or the floor -- a ruling Cuban felt was aimed at him.
There was no action against Smith.
Cuban was then angered at the end after a disputed foul called on Jason Terry led to the go-ahead free throws by Chauncey Billups with 2.2 seconds left. The Mavericks felt that Billups created the contact.
A frequent critic of the officiating, Cuban was fined twice during the 2006 playoffs, including after Game 5 of the NBA finals, for his conduct.
Chargers bracing fans for no LT?
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The San Diego Chargers appear to be bracing their fans for the possibility that LaDainian Tomlinson's brilliant eight-year run with the team could be over.
According to the team's Web site, club president Dean Spanos called the star running back Thursday to discuss reports that the Chargers might part with Tomlinson, who has been slowed by injuries the last two postseasons and will count $8.8 million against the salary cap next year.TROTTER: LT: Trading me would be 'ridiculous'
"We talked about the situation and I just tried to explain everything that must be considered," Spanos said in a story detailing the offseason decisions the team must make. "I told him we haven't even started our discussions and won't for a while, so don't jump to any conclusions. And I told him I would call him personally to make sure he's aware of everything that's going on."
Tomlinson, the NFL MVP in 2006, missed the Chargers' playoff loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday with a groin injury. That, coupled with the lowest rushing total of his career, has led to speculation that the team might try to trade or even release L.T.
Tomlinson, who turns 30 in June, is under contract through 2011. Slowed by toe and groin injuries, Tomlinson gained a career-low 1,110 yards in 2008. Two seasons earlier, he set NFL records with 31 touchdowns -- including 28 rushing -- and 186 points.
The team declined to make Spanos available for further comment. Tomlinson didn't immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
Six years ago, the Chargers were criticized for the way they got rid of star linebacker Junior Seau. Feeling Seau's play was in decline, the Chargers told him he was free to pursue a trade.
During a farewell news conference at the restaurant he owns, Seau said he had lobbied the team to release him so he could seek a free-agent deal. Describing himself as fired, unemployed and humbled, the 12-time Pro Bowler Seau was then traded to the Miami Dolphins.
In another unpopular move, the Chargers cut hard-hitting safety Rodney Harrison after the 2002 season because he'd been slowed by an ankle injury. The Patriots signed Harrison as a free agent and he ended up winning two Super Bowls with them.
Tomlinson hurt his groin in the regular-season finale against Denver on Dec. 28. He started the wild-card playoff game against Indianapolis but came out after scoring a touchdown early in the second quarter. The Chargers went on to beat the Colts 23-17 in overtime, carried by Darren Sproles' 328 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner.
Tomlinson didn't suit up against Pittsburgh, which beat the Chargers 35-24. The Steelers held Sproles, who'll become an unrestricted free agent, to 15 yards on 11 carries.
After the Broncos game, the Chargers announced that Tomlinson had a strained groin. Reports surfaced the day of the playoff game against the Colts that Tomlinson had a detached tendon that connects one of his groin muscles to his pubic bone.
Four days later, Tomlinson -- long the franchise's most brutally honest employee -- confirmed that he had a detached tendon and practically scoffed at the team's public diagnosis.
"If it was a strain I'd be able to play with it, trust me," Tomlinson said. "A lot of guys have strains."
General manager A.J. Smith was livid that the severity of Tomlinson's injury was revealed and called out the player's camp.
A year ago, Tomlinson missed most of the AFC championship game at New England with a sprained ligament in his left knee. He stood glumly on the sidelines huddled in a parka, wearing his helmet with a tinted visor. Some people criticized Tomlinson's toughness, but the Chargers themselves had provided an overly optimistic update on his injury, announcing in the press box early in the second quarter that Tomlinson had a "sore knee" and that he "can return."
Perhaps wanting to keep up some gamesmanship, the Chargers never updated that report even though Tomlinson and coach Norv Turner later said they knew by early in the second quarter that the running back wouldn't return.
"It's obvious that I couldn't play," Tomlinson said afterward. "If I could have played, I would have been in there."
Tomlinson's agent, Tom Condon, has declined comment.
Condon clients have been at odds with Smith in the past, notably Marty Schottenheimer, Donnie Edwards and Eli Manning.
Schottenheimer was fired as San Diego's coach in February 2007 because of what Spanos called a "dysfunctional situation" with Smith. Edwards, who led the Chargers in tackles for five straight seasons, fell into disfavor with Smith, apparently for asking one time too many for a contract extension, and was allowed to leave as an unrestricted free agent following the 2006 season.
Three days before the 2004 draft, Smith revealed that Archie Manning, through Condon, didn't want his son, Eli, to be taken by the Chargers with the No. 1 pick overall.
Smith picked Manning anyway, then dealt him to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers and a haul of picks that he used to select kicker Nate Kaeding in that draft and star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman in the first round of the 2005 draft.
Eli Manning was MVP of the Giants' Super Bowl upset of New England last year.
After the 2005 season, Smith chose to keep Rivers over Drew Brees, another Condon client.
According to the team's Web site, club president Dean Spanos called the star running back Thursday to discuss reports that the Chargers might part with Tomlinson, who has been slowed by injuries the last two postseasons and will count $8.8 million against the salary cap next year.TROTTER: LT: Trading me would be 'ridiculous'
"We talked about the situation and I just tried to explain everything that must be considered," Spanos said in a story detailing the offseason decisions the team must make. "I told him we haven't even started our discussions and won't for a while, so don't jump to any conclusions. And I told him I would call him personally to make sure he's aware of everything that's going on."
Tomlinson, the NFL MVP in 2006, missed the Chargers' playoff loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday with a groin injury. That, coupled with the lowest rushing total of his career, has led to speculation that the team might try to trade or even release L.T.
Tomlinson, who turns 30 in June, is under contract through 2011. Slowed by toe and groin injuries, Tomlinson gained a career-low 1,110 yards in 2008. Two seasons earlier, he set NFL records with 31 touchdowns -- including 28 rushing -- and 186 points.
The team declined to make Spanos available for further comment. Tomlinson didn't immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
Six years ago, the Chargers were criticized for the way they got rid of star linebacker Junior Seau. Feeling Seau's play was in decline, the Chargers told him he was free to pursue a trade.
During a farewell news conference at the restaurant he owns, Seau said he had lobbied the team to release him so he could seek a free-agent deal. Describing himself as fired, unemployed and humbled, the 12-time Pro Bowler Seau was then traded to the Miami Dolphins.
In another unpopular move, the Chargers cut hard-hitting safety Rodney Harrison after the 2002 season because he'd been slowed by an ankle injury. The Patriots signed Harrison as a free agent and he ended up winning two Super Bowls with them.
Tomlinson hurt his groin in the regular-season finale against Denver on Dec. 28. He started the wild-card playoff game against Indianapolis but came out after scoring a touchdown early in the second quarter. The Chargers went on to beat the Colts 23-17 in overtime, carried by Darren Sproles' 328 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner.
Tomlinson didn't suit up against Pittsburgh, which beat the Chargers 35-24. The Steelers held Sproles, who'll become an unrestricted free agent, to 15 yards on 11 carries.
After the Broncos game, the Chargers announced that Tomlinson had a strained groin. Reports surfaced the day of the playoff game against the Colts that Tomlinson had a detached tendon that connects one of his groin muscles to his pubic bone.
Four days later, Tomlinson -- long the franchise's most brutally honest employee -- confirmed that he had a detached tendon and practically scoffed at the team's public diagnosis.
"If it was a strain I'd be able to play with it, trust me," Tomlinson said. "A lot of guys have strains."
General manager A.J. Smith was livid that the severity of Tomlinson's injury was revealed and called out the player's camp.
A year ago, Tomlinson missed most of the AFC championship game at New England with a sprained ligament in his left knee. He stood glumly on the sidelines huddled in a parka, wearing his helmet with a tinted visor. Some people criticized Tomlinson's toughness, but the Chargers themselves had provided an overly optimistic update on his injury, announcing in the press box early in the second quarter that Tomlinson had a "sore knee" and that he "can return."
Perhaps wanting to keep up some gamesmanship, the Chargers never updated that report even though Tomlinson and coach Norv Turner later said they knew by early in the second quarter that the running back wouldn't return.
"It's obvious that I couldn't play," Tomlinson said afterward. "If I could have played, I would have been in there."
Tomlinson's agent, Tom Condon, has declined comment.
Condon clients have been at odds with Smith in the past, notably Marty Schottenheimer, Donnie Edwards and Eli Manning.
Schottenheimer was fired as San Diego's coach in February 2007 because of what Spanos called a "dysfunctional situation" with Smith. Edwards, who led the Chargers in tackles for five straight seasons, fell into disfavor with Smith, apparently for asking one time too many for a contract extension, and was allowed to leave as an unrestricted free agent following the 2006 season.
Three days before the 2004 draft, Smith revealed that Archie Manning, through Condon, didn't want his son, Eli, to be taken by the Chargers with the No. 1 pick overall.
Smith picked Manning anyway, then dealt him to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers and a haul of picks that he used to select kicker Nate Kaeding in that draft and star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman in the first round of the 2005 draft.
Eli Manning was MVP of the Giants' Super Bowl upset of New England last year.
After the 2005 season, Smith chose to keep Rivers over Drew Brees, another Condon client.
Bucs fire coach Gruden, GM Allen
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen on Friday after the team collapsed following a 9-3 start and failed to make the playoffs.
Gruden, who helped lead the Buccaneers to a victory over the Oakland Raiders in the 2003 Super Bowl, was Tampa Bay's coach for seven years. Allen was general manager for the last five seasons.
"We will be forever grateful to Jon for bringing us the Super Bowl title, and we thank Bruce for his contributions to our franchise," Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement. "However after careful consideration, we feel that this decision is in the best interest of our organization moving forward."
The Buccaneers were tied for first place in the NFC South heading into December, but finished with losses to Carolina and Atlanta on the road and San Diego and Oakland at home, where they had been 6-0. One more win would have landed a NFC wild-card berth.
The 9-7 record this season left Tampa out of the playoffs for the fourth time in six years.
Gruden, who helped lead the Buccaneers to a victory over the Oakland Raiders in the 2003 Super Bowl, was Tampa Bay's coach for seven years. Allen was general manager for the last five seasons.
"We will be forever grateful to Jon for bringing us the Super Bowl title, and we thank Bruce for his contributions to our franchise," Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement. "However after careful consideration, we feel that this decision is in the best interest of our organization moving forward."
The Buccaneers were tied for first place in the NFC South heading into December, but finished with losses to Carolina and Atlanta on the road and San Diego and Oakland at home, where they had been 6-0. One more win would have landed a NFC wild-card berth.
The 9-7 record this season left Tampa out of the playoffs for the fourth time in six years.
Hill, Hudson To Sing At Super Bowl XLIII
The voices of Faith Hill and Jennifer Hudson will ring out loud and clear at Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla. Hill will sing "America the Beautiful" as part of the pre-game festivities, while Hudson will perform the National Anthem.Hill, who sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta, joins a select group of Vicki Carr, Ray Charles and Alicia Keys as the only artists to perform "America the Beautiful" at the big game.As previously announced, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
Depeche Mode Unveils New 'Sounds'
Personally and professionally, synth-pop survivors Depeche Mode are on sturdier footing than ever as they near their 30th anniversary, as well as the April 21 release of their new album, "Sounds of the Universe.""Sometimes you have to pinch yourself, because we've had our rough moments in the past," keyboardist Andy Fletcher tells Billboard. "It's nice to be at this stage of our careers and be making good records and getting along well.""Universe" is led by the three-minute, hard-edged single "Wrong," which Fletcher calls an antidote to "bubble-gum pop" inappropriate "for where we are in society at this moment."Frontman David Gahan spells primary songwriter Martin Gore on tracks like "Hole to Feed," based on a Bo Diddley beat, while Gore takes the mic on the ballad "Jezebel." Other songs include the midtempo stomper "Peace" and the rhythm-driven "Fragile Tension.""We think this album has got quality. And we recorded a lot of extra tracks which will be on a deluxe version," Fletcher says of the follow-up to 2005's "Playing the Angel," the band's first album since extending its longterm deal with EMI to include North America.
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Depeche Mode begins an international stadium tour May 10 in Tel Aviv; North American dates are taking shape for August and September."In some ways, what's bizarre is that we're actually playing to more people now than even at the height of our chart success with 'Violator,'" Fletcher says. "I think it's down to different generations listening to Depeche Mode. We've been going for nearly 30 years, and it has just grown and grown and grown."
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Depeche Mode begins an international stadium tour May 10 in Tel Aviv; North American dates are taking shape for August and September."In some ways, what's bizarre is that we're actually playing to more people now than even at the height of our chart success with 'Violator,'" Fletcher says. "I think it's down to different generations listening to Depeche Mode. We've been going for nearly 30 years, and it has just grown and grown and grown."
U2 Reveals New Album Track List
January 16, 2009 12:01 AM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
U2 has unveiled the track list for its new album, "No Line on the Horizon," due March 3 from Interscope. The 11-song set is led by the single "Get on Your Boots," which premieres Monday (Jan. 19) on Dublin's 2FM. It will be released digitally Feb. 15 and physically the following day.The new album blends such classic U2 rockers as "I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" and "Get on Your Boots" with more experimental fare like the seven-minute "Moment of Surrender" and "Fez -- Being Born." The former is an electro-leaning track with an Eastern-inspired scale in the chorus, making it one of the weirder U2 tracks in decades.Sources say U2 recorded enough material with producers Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno and Steve Lillywhite for an entire separate album, but it is unknown if any of it will see the light of day.As previously reported, "No Line on the Horizon" will be available in five different incarnations. Japanese artist/photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto shot the album cover, viewable by clicking here.U2 is expected to tour this summer, its first outing since signing a multi-rights deal with Live Nation last March. The group will perform "Get on Your Boots" Feb. 18 at the BRIT Awards ceremony in London.
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
U2 has unveiled the track list for its new album, "No Line on the Horizon," due March 3 from Interscope. The 11-song set is led by the single "Get on Your Boots," which premieres Monday (Jan. 19) on Dublin's 2FM. It will be released digitally Feb. 15 and physically the following day.The new album blends such classic U2 rockers as "I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" and "Get on Your Boots" with more experimental fare like the seven-minute "Moment of Surrender" and "Fez -- Being Born." The former is an electro-leaning track with an Eastern-inspired scale in the chorus, making it one of the weirder U2 tracks in decades.Sources say U2 recorded enough material with producers Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno and Steve Lillywhite for an entire separate album, but it is unknown if any of it will see the light of day.As previously reported, "No Line on the Horizon" will be available in five different incarnations. Japanese artist/photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto shot the album cover, viewable by clicking here.U2 is expected to tour this summer, its first outing since signing a multi-rights deal with Live Nation last March. The group will perform "Get on Your Boots" Feb. 18 at the BRIT Awards ceremony in London.
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