Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
As the September release of its first album in five years draws near, Metallica has launched the Web site "Mission: Metallica" to offer fans a wealth of exclusive content and teasers of new songs.A preview clip shows the band recording and clowning around in the studio. Fans who sign up will be eligible to "win backstage passes to every show this summer," among other special offers."Mission: Metallica" also has a "platinum" level, entitling fans to a copy of the new album delivered on street date, weekly "fly on the wall" video clips, contests to travel to shows and/or Metallica's San Francisco compound, live show downloads, ringtones and more.It is unclear what, if anything, the services will cost.
Metallica will be on the road this summer in advance of the as-yet-untitled album, beginning Wednesday (May 14) with a show at Los Angeles' intimate Wiltern Theatre. A European run begins May 28 in Chorzow, Poland.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Baseball Today
Cincinnati at New York Mets (1:10 p.m.) Johan Santana goes for win No. 4 against the struggling Reds in the second of a three-game weekend series. Bronson Arroyo, scheduled to pitch for Cincinnati, lasted only 1 1-3 innings — the shortest of his 166 career starts — in a 14-7 loss at Atlanta on Sunday.
STARS
Thursday
_Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks, improved to 8-0 with his 13th career complete game in an 8-3 victory over Philadelphia.
_Jermaine Dye, White Sox, homered for the third straight game in a 6-2 win over the Twins.
Matt Holliday, Rockies, had four singles and scored three times in a 9-3 victory over St. Louis.
_Daniel Cabrera, Orioles, threw a three-hitter to remain perfect in four decisions against Kansas City with a 4-1 victory.
_Dioner Navarro, Rays, hit a grand slam in the 13th to help Tampa Bay beat Toronto 8-3.
_Matt Treanor, Marlins, hit a three-run homer to give himself a career-high in RBIs with one swing and help Florida beat Milwaukee 7-2.
ROLLING
Brandon Webb became the first pitcher to win his first eight starts since Jon Garland of the White Sox in 2005 and the first in the NL since Pedro Martinez for Montreal in 1997. He tossed his 13th career complete game in Arizona's 8-3 victory over Philadelphia.
IMPERFECT
The Blue Jays rallied for three runs in the ninth inning against Rays closer Troy Percival, who came into the game without allowing a run and perfect in seven save opportunities. Despite Percival's first blown save, Tampa Bay beat the Blue Jays 8-3 in 13 innings.
ONE-RUN RELIEF
The Braves finally won a one-run game when Matt Diaz hit a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning to beat San Diego 5-4 and extend Atlanta's winning streak to six. Atlanta was the first team since the 2000 Houston Astros to lose its first nine one-run games. The Braves were the only team in the major leagues without a one-run victory.
SUPER SUBS
Reserve outfielders Willie Harris and Rob Mackowiak started and homered to help the Nationals beat Houston 8-3.
OWNING KC
Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera improved to 4-0 against Kansas City, tossing a three-hitter with seven strikeouts in a 4-1 victory. Cabrera's lifetime ERA is 4.89, but against the Royals, it's 2.25.
BIG SERIES
Ryan Ludwick hit two solo home runs in St. Louis' 9-3 loss to Colorado. He went 9-for-13 in the four-game series with three doubles, three home runs and six RBIs. Ludwick entered Coors Field with a .308 average and departed at .363.
MILESTONE
Josh Beckett recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in Boston's 5-1 victory over Detroit.
GOING YARD
Kevin Youkilis hit his third homer in two days at Detroit as the Red Sox beat the Tigers 5-1. Youkilis finished with four homers in the series and now has eight at Comerica Park. He has no more than two at any other road venue.
ROUGH STUFF
Richie Sexson charged the mound and flung his helmet at Rangers pitcher Kason Gabbard after the left-hander threw a pitch eye-high to the Mariners' first baseman in the fourth inning. Both benches cleared, but no punches were thrown. Sexson was ejected.
STREAKS
The Brewers lost their season-high sixth straight game, 7-2 to the Marlins. ... The Nationals beat the Astros 8-3 to snap Houston's five-game winning streak. ... The Braves extended their winning streak to a season-high six straight with a 5-4 victory over San Diego.
SPEAKING
"Amen! Hallelujah!" — Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones, after the Braves beat San Diego 5-4 for their first one-run victory of the season. Atlanta was the first team since the 2000 Houston Astros to lose its first nine one-run games.
SEASONS
May 10
1909 — Pitching for Winchester in the Blue Grass League, Fred Toney worked 17 no-hit innings before winning 1-0 over Lexington.
1934 — Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees played five innings before removing himself from the game because of illness. By that time, he had two homers, two doubles and seven RBIs against the Chicago White Sox.
1944 — Cleveland's Mel Harder became the 50th player to win 200 games as the Indians beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4.
1967 — Braves outfielder Hank Aaron hit an inside-the-park home run. It was the only one of his 755 homers that did not clear the fence.
1970 — Hoyt Wilhelm pitched his 1,000th major league game, but the Atlanta Braves lost 6-5 to the St. Louis Cardinals.
1981 — Charlie Lea became the first French-born pitcher to throw a no-hitter as the Montreal Expos beat the San Francisco Giants 4-0 in the second game of a doubleheader.
1999 — Nomar Garciaparra hit two grand slams and a two-run homer to become the first AL player with 10 RBIs since 1975, leading the Boston Red Sox past the Seattle Mariners 12-4.
2001 — Jeromy Burnitz went 3-for-4 with three homers and six RBIs as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cubs 11-1.
STARS
Thursday
_Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks, improved to 8-0 with his 13th career complete game in an 8-3 victory over Philadelphia.
_Jermaine Dye, White Sox, homered for the third straight game in a 6-2 win over the Twins.
Matt Holliday, Rockies, had four singles and scored three times in a 9-3 victory over St. Louis.
_Daniel Cabrera, Orioles, threw a three-hitter to remain perfect in four decisions against Kansas City with a 4-1 victory.
_Dioner Navarro, Rays, hit a grand slam in the 13th to help Tampa Bay beat Toronto 8-3.
_Matt Treanor, Marlins, hit a three-run homer to give himself a career-high in RBIs with one swing and help Florida beat Milwaukee 7-2.
ROLLING
Brandon Webb became the first pitcher to win his first eight starts since Jon Garland of the White Sox in 2005 and the first in the NL since Pedro Martinez for Montreal in 1997. He tossed his 13th career complete game in Arizona's 8-3 victory over Philadelphia.
IMPERFECT
The Blue Jays rallied for three runs in the ninth inning against Rays closer Troy Percival, who came into the game without allowing a run and perfect in seven save opportunities. Despite Percival's first blown save, Tampa Bay beat the Blue Jays 8-3 in 13 innings.
ONE-RUN RELIEF
The Braves finally won a one-run game when Matt Diaz hit a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning to beat San Diego 5-4 and extend Atlanta's winning streak to six. Atlanta was the first team since the 2000 Houston Astros to lose its first nine one-run games. The Braves were the only team in the major leagues without a one-run victory.
SUPER SUBS
Reserve outfielders Willie Harris and Rob Mackowiak started and homered to help the Nationals beat Houston 8-3.
OWNING KC
Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera improved to 4-0 against Kansas City, tossing a three-hitter with seven strikeouts in a 4-1 victory. Cabrera's lifetime ERA is 4.89, but against the Royals, it's 2.25.
BIG SERIES
Ryan Ludwick hit two solo home runs in St. Louis' 9-3 loss to Colorado. He went 9-for-13 in the four-game series with three doubles, three home runs and six RBIs. Ludwick entered Coors Field with a .308 average and departed at .363.
MILESTONE
Josh Beckett recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in Boston's 5-1 victory over Detroit.
GOING YARD
Kevin Youkilis hit his third homer in two days at Detroit as the Red Sox beat the Tigers 5-1. Youkilis finished with four homers in the series and now has eight at Comerica Park. He has no more than two at any other road venue.
ROUGH STUFF
Richie Sexson charged the mound and flung his helmet at Rangers pitcher Kason Gabbard after the left-hander threw a pitch eye-high to the Mariners' first baseman in the fourth inning. Both benches cleared, but no punches were thrown. Sexson was ejected.
STREAKS
The Brewers lost their season-high sixth straight game, 7-2 to the Marlins. ... The Nationals beat the Astros 8-3 to snap Houston's five-game winning streak. ... The Braves extended their winning streak to a season-high six straight with a 5-4 victory over San Diego.
SPEAKING
"Amen! Hallelujah!" — Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones, after the Braves beat San Diego 5-4 for their first one-run victory of the season. Atlanta was the first team since the 2000 Houston Astros to lose its first nine one-run games.
SEASONS
May 10
1909 — Pitching for Winchester in the Blue Grass League, Fred Toney worked 17 no-hit innings before winning 1-0 over Lexington.
1934 — Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees played five innings before removing himself from the game because of illness. By that time, he had two homers, two doubles and seven RBIs against the Chicago White Sox.
1944 — Cleveland's Mel Harder became the 50th player to win 200 games as the Indians beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4.
1967 — Braves outfielder Hank Aaron hit an inside-the-park home run. It was the only one of his 755 homers that did not clear the fence.
1970 — Hoyt Wilhelm pitched his 1,000th major league game, but the Atlanta Braves lost 6-5 to the St. Louis Cardinals.
1981 — Charlie Lea became the first French-born pitcher to throw a no-hitter as the Montreal Expos beat the San Francisco Giants 4-0 in the second game of a doubleheader.
1999 — Nomar Garciaparra hit two grand slams and a two-run homer to become the first AL player with 10 RBIs since 1975, leading the Boston Red Sox past the Seattle Mariners 12-4.
2001 — Jeromy Burnitz went 3-for-4 with three homers and six RBIs as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cubs 11-1.
Henin crashes out of German Open
World number one Justine Henin was sent crashing out of the German Open by Russia's Dinara Safina on Thursday.
The Belgian, playing only her second match following a month off with a knee injury, went down 5-7 6-3 6-1.
It was Henin's first defeat on clay since losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Berlin semi-finals last year.
There was another shock as third seed Kuznetsova lost 1-6 6-2 6-2 to Alona Bondarenko, but Serena Williams beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3 6-1.
"I tell myself if I play well, I make it easier on myself," said Williams, who is chasing her fourth straight title. "I'm not tired, I've had a lot of time off and I am in top shape."
Second-seeded Ana Ivanovic won through 7-5 4-6 5-4 against Sybille Bammer, while Jelena Jankovic, the fourth seed, beat Martia Kirilenko 6-2 6-4 and seventh seed Elena Dementieva downed Vera Dushevina 7-5 6-3.
Henin's defeat means she misses out on a clash with Williams in the last eight.
A three-times winner in Berlin and four-times French Open champion, Henin had been looking to kick-start her season on her favourite surface ahead of defending her Roland Garros title later this month.
But despite having won all five previous meetings against Safina, the top seed struggled desperately on serve and was broken eight times.
"It was pretty difficult out there and very frustrating, I am very disappointed," said Henin.
"I struggled during the whole match, I didn't have the intensity, she just played better then me."
She added: "This week was important, not only in terms of the French Open, but also in terms of getting some confidence back.
"I will take a few days off, focus on Rome and we will see what happens now in the next few weeks."
Safina never had taken a set off Henin in five previous meetings.
"Going into the match, I had a feeling I could win - she hasn't played well since the Australian Open," said Safina.
Elsewhere world number three Novak Djokovic struggled into the last eight of the Rome Masters with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win over Igor Andreev in round three.
The Serbian looked to be struggling physically when pegged back to one set all but found his form in the decider.
Djokovic is on course for a semi-final with world number one Roger Federer, who beat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.
Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko crashed out after losing 4-6 6-2 7-6 to Spain's Tommy Robredo.
Djokovic suffered with illness at Monte Carlo two weeks ago and looked uncomfortable early on against Andreev.
He faces Nicolas Almagro next, after 12th seed Fernando Gonzalez pulled out of their match with a leg injury.
"I'm very relieved and satisfied to get through this one," said Djokovic. "He's one of the most difficult players to beat on this surface.
"I was trying to be aggressive and I think the patience was very crucial.
"I didn't know what to expect from my physical condition and I'm very happy.
"I'm a little bit tired but not as much in the last few weeks and recent matches."
Federer was made to work hard by his Croatian opponent, facing two break points in only his second service game.
The Swiss star, who next meets Radek Stepanek, forced five break points in game eight but big serving from Karlovic denied him then and at 6-5 when he had set-point.
Karlovic finally cracked in the tie-break when Federer produced a stunning forehand return pass and Karlovic netted a backhand.
Federer gained an early break at 2-2 in the second, hitting a forehand winner on the line, and broke again in the final game to seal his sixth victory in as many victories over Karlovic.
"It's difficult to judge against him. Ivo has an unbelievable serve, probably the best we have in the game," Federer said.
"And he comes to the net too, so there's always a lot of pressure."
Sixth-seeded Andy Roddick beat local favourite Simone Bolelli 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 and another American, number eight seed James Blake, battled past Fernando Verdasco of Spain 5-7 7-5 6-2.
"Who would have thought we would have a couple Americans making up a quarter of the draw in the quarter-finals," said Roddick, who will take on Robredo. "I guess we landed on the moon."
Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero failed to build on Wednesday's shock win over countryman Rafael Nadal and lost 6-4 6-3 to Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.
Britain's Jamie Murray and partner Max Mirnyi lost 6-4 6-4 to American pair Mike and Bob Bryan in the second round of the doubles event.
The Belgian, playing only her second match following a month off with a knee injury, went down 5-7 6-3 6-1.
It was Henin's first defeat on clay since losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Berlin semi-finals last year.
There was another shock as third seed Kuznetsova lost 1-6 6-2 6-2 to Alona Bondarenko, but Serena Williams beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3 6-1.
"I tell myself if I play well, I make it easier on myself," said Williams, who is chasing her fourth straight title. "I'm not tired, I've had a lot of time off and I am in top shape."
Second-seeded Ana Ivanovic won through 7-5 4-6 5-4 against Sybille Bammer, while Jelena Jankovic, the fourth seed, beat Martia Kirilenko 6-2 6-4 and seventh seed Elena Dementieva downed Vera Dushevina 7-5 6-3.
Henin's defeat means she misses out on a clash with Williams in the last eight.
A three-times winner in Berlin and four-times French Open champion, Henin had been looking to kick-start her season on her favourite surface ahead of defending her Roland Garros title later this month.
But despite having won all five previous meetings against Safina, the top seed struggled desperately on serve and was broken eight times.
"It was pretty difficult out there and very frustrating, I am very disappointed," said Henin.
"I struggled during the whole match, I didn't have the intensity, she just played better then me."
She added: "This week was important, not only in terms of the French Open, but also in terms of getting some confidence back.
"I will take a few days off, focus on Rome and we will see what happens now in the next few weeks."
Safina never had taken a set off Henin in five previous meetings.
"Going into the match, I had a feeling I could win - she hasn't played well since the Australian Open," said Safina.
Elsewhere world number three Novak Djokovic struggled into the last eight of the Rome Masters with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win over Igor Andreev in round three.
The Serbian looked to be struggling physically when pegged back to one set all but found his form in the decider.
Djokovic is on course for a semi-final with world number one Roger Federer, who beat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.
Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko crashed out after losing 4-6 6-2 7-6 to Spain's Tommy Robredo.
Djokovic suffered with illness at Monte Carlo two weeks ago and looked uncomfortable early on against Andreev.
He faces Nicolas Almagro next, after 12th seed Fernando Gonzalez pulled out of their match with a leg injury.
"I'm very relieved and satisfied to get through this one," said Djokovic. "He's one of the most difficult players to beat on this surface.
"I was trying to be aggressive and I think the patience was very crucial.
"I didn't know what to expect from my physical condition and I'm very happy.
"I'm a little bit tired but not as much in the last few weeks and recent matches."
Federer was made to work hard by his Croatian opponent, facing two break points in only his second service game.
The Swiss star, who next meets Radek Stepanek, forced five break points in game eight but big serving from Karlovic denied him then and at 6-5 when he had set-point.
Karlovic finally cracked in the tie-break when Federer produced a stunning forehand return pass and Karlovic netted a backhand.
Federer gained an early break at 2-2 in the second, hitting a forehand winner on the line, and broke again in the final game to seal his sixth victory in as many victories over Karlovic.
"It's difficult to judge against him. Ivo has an unbelievable serve, probably the best we have in the game," Federer said.
"And he comes to the net too, so there's always a lot of pressure."
Sixth-seeded Andy Roddick beat local favourite Simone Bolelli 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 and another American, number eight seed James Blake, battled past Fernando Verdasco of Spain 5-7 7-5 6-2.
"Who would have thought we would have a couple Americans making up a quarter of the draw in the quarter-finals," said Roddick, who will take on Robredo. "I guess we landed on the moon."
Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero failed to build on Wednesday's shock win over countryman Rafael Nadal and lost 6-4 6-3 to Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.
Britain's Jamie Murray and partner Max Mirnyi lost 6-4 6-4 to American pair Mike and Bob Bryan in the second round of the doubles event.
Madonna Announces 'Sticky and Sweet' Tour
Ray Waddell
Madonna is set to embark on a world tour beginning Aug. 23 in Cardiff, Wales with dates through the end of the year. Billed as the Sticky and Sweet tour, the trek will span three continents and include between 50-60 shows total, Billboard.com has learned.Produced globally by Live Nation, Madonna's tour in support of her current chart-topping Warner Bros. release "Hard Candy" -- which debuted atop the Billboard 200 yesterday -- will play stadiums in the U.K. and Europe until the end of September, arenas and a "handful" of stadiums in 16 markets in North America in October and November, and then stadiums in Mexico and South America late November-December. Only the European and North American dates were announced today (May 8)."I'm thrilled to be involved in another worldwide Madonna extravaganza," Arthur Fogel, chairman of global music for Live Nation, tells Billboard.com. Fogel has helmed Madonna's last three world tours, which grossed almost $400 million combined. Her 2006 Confessions tour is, at $194 million, the top-grossing tour ever by a female artist.The upcoming tour is the first major manifestation of the multi-faceted10-year deal between Madonna and Live Nation, valued in published reports at $120 million."The reality is she's delivered her last album to Warner Bros., and it's a smash, which is great for everybody," Fogel says. "We now have a tremendous opportunity with a tremendous artist to do all kinds of new and innovative things on many different levels, and this tour will be the start of that rollout."
The tour follows a familiar Madonna touring blueprint in that it visits a limited number of markets in a four-month time frame, with multi-night stands in major cities. Ticket on-sale details will be announced today, along with a presale through Live Nation's corporate sponsorship partner Citi. Fogel says ticket prices will be "basically the same as they've been the past two tours," which means primarily in the $55-$350 range.
Here are the dates for Madonna's Sticky and Sweet tour:
Aug. 23 - Cardiff, Wales; Millennium Stadium
Aug. 26 - Nice, France; Stade Charles Ehrmann
Aug. 28 Berlin, Germany; Olympic Stadium
Sep. 2 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Arena
Sep. 4 - Dusseldorf, Germany; LTU Arena
Sep. 6 - Rome, Italy; Olympic Stadium
Sep. 9 - Frankfurt, Germany; Commerzbank Arena
Sep. 11 - London, England; Wembley Stadium
Sep. 20 - Paris, France; Stade de France
Oct. 3 - E. Rutherford, NJ; Izod Center
Oct. 6 - New York, NY; Madison Square Garden
Oct. 7 - New York, NY; Madison Square Garden
Oct. 15 - Boston, MA; TD BankNorth Garden
Oct. 18 - Toronto, ONT, Canada; Air Canada Centre
Oct. 22 - Montreal, QC, Canada; Bell Centre
Oct. 26-Oct Chicago United Center
Oct. 30 - Vancouver, BC, Canada; BC Place Stadium
Nov. 1 - Oakland, CA; Oracle Arena
Nov. 4 - San Diego, CA; Petco Park
Nov. 6 - Los Angeles, CA; Dodger Stadium
Nov. 8 - Las Vegas, NV; MGM Grand Garden Arena
Nov. 11 - Denver, CO; Pepsi Center
Nov. 16 - Houston, TX; Minute Maid Park
Nov. 19 - Philadelphia, PA; Wachovia Center
Nov. 22 - Atlantic City, NJ; Boardwalk Hall
Nov. 24 - Atlanta, GA; Philips Arena
Nov. 26 - Miami, FL; Dolphin Stadium
Madonna is set to embark on a world tour beginning Aug. 23 in Cardiff, Wales with dates through the end of the year. Billed as the Sticky and Sweet tour, the trek will span three continents and include between 50-60 shows total, Billboard.com has learned.Produced globally by Live Nation, Madonna's tour in support of her current chart-topping Warner Bros. release "Hard Candy" -- which debuted atop the Billboard 200 yesterday -- will play stadiums in the U.K. and Europe until the end of September, arenas and a "handful" of stadiums in 16 markets in North America in October and November, and then stadiums in Mexico and South America late November-December. Only the European and North American dates were announced today (May 8)."I'm thrilled to be involved in another worldwide Madonna extravaganza," Arthur Fogel, chairman of global music for Live Nation, tells Billboard.com. Fogel has helmed Madonna's last three world tours, which grossed almost $400 million combined. Her 2006 Confessions tour is, at $194 million, the top-grossing tour ever by a female artist.The upcoming tour is the first major manifestation of the multi-faceted10-year deal between Madonna and Live Nation, valued in published reports at $120 million."The reality is she's delivered her last album to Warner Bros., and it's a smash, which is great for everybody," Fogel says. "We now have a tremendous opportunity with a tremendous artist to do all kinds of new and innovative things on many different levels, and this tour will be the start of that rollout."
The tour follows a familiar Madonna touring blueprint in that it visits a limited number of markets in a four-month time frame, with multi-night stands in major cities. Ticket on-sale details will be announced today, along with a presale through Live Nation's corporate sponsorship partner Citi. Fogel says ticket prices will be "basically the same as they've been the past two tours," which means primarily in the $55-$350 range.
Here are the dates for Madonna's Sticky and Sweet tour:
Aug. 23 - Cardiff, Wales; Millennium Stadium
Aug. 26 - Nice, France; Stade Charles Ehrmann
Aug. 28 Berlin, Germany; Olympic Stadium
Sep. 2 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Arena
Sep. 4 - Dusseldorf, Germany; LTU Arena
Sep. 6 - Rome, Italy; Olympic Stadium
Sep. 9 - Frankfurt, Germany; Commerzbank Arena
Sep. 11 - London, England; Wembley Stadium
Sep. 20 - Paris, France; Stade de France
Oct. 3 - E. Rutherford, NJ; Izod Center
Oct. 6 - New York, NY; Madison Square Garden
Oct. 7 - New York, NY; Madison Square Garden
Oct. 15 - Boston, MA; TD BankNorth Garden
Oct. 18 - Toronto, ONT, Canada; Air Canada Centre
Oct. 22 - Montreal, QC, Canada; Bell Centre
Oct. 26-Oct Chicago United Center
Oct. 30 - Vancouver, BC, Canada; BC Place Stadium
Nov. 1 - Oakland, CA; Oracle Arena
Nov. 4 - San Diego, CA; Petco Park
Nov. 6 - Los Angeles, CA; Dodger Stadium
Nov. 8 - Las Vegas, NV; MGM Grand Garden Arena
Nov. 11 - Denver, CO; Pepsi Center
Nov. 16 - Houston, TX; Minute Maid Park
Nov. 19 - Philadelphia, PA; Wachovia Center
Nov. 22 - Atlantic City, NJ; Boardwalk Hall
Nov. 24 - Atlanta, GA; Philips Arena
Nov. 26 - Miami, FL; Dolphin Stadium
Coldplay Sets Dates for Extensive Viva La Vida Tour
Ray Waddell, Nashville
Coldplay's Viva La Vida world tour -- which will land in North America, Europe and Japan -- is set to begin at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center on June 29 and extend well into next year, Billboard.com can reveal.Save for the Pemberton Festival in Vancouver on July 27, Coldplay will play arenas in North America, the U.K. and Europe on the tour's first leg. Some North American dates will go on sale May 16-17, but the majority go up June 14, the weekend before "Viva La Vida" is released. Ticket info will be available at http://www.coldplay.com/.As previously reported, Coldplay will play free concerts in London (June 16 at the Brixton Academy) and New York (June 23 at Madison Square Garden). Information on how to win tickets to these shows will be available at the band's website beginning today (May 9). The contest runs through June 1 and winners will receive notification on June 5.Roughly 50 shows are planned for North America, followed by Europe and the U.K. Coldplay will also headline the Summer Sonic festival Aug. 9-10 in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. About 90 dates total are expected for this year. More shows are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. "Last time we ended up doing 150 shows; we’ll probably end up roughly the same," Coldplay manager Dave Holmes tells Billboard.com.Live Nation will promote shows in Europe and North America, with U.K. dates promoted by SJM. Lighting and set design for the tour are by Paul Normandale and features "lots of projection," Dave Holmes says. "It will really blow people away."
Ticket prices are still being determined, but a three-tiered pricing strategy is likely, with prices roughly in the $50, $65 and $85 range. "You're not going to see us coming out with $125-$150 tickets," Holmes says.
Here are the confirmed North American dates for Coldplay's Viva La Vida Tour:
June 29: Philadelphia, PA; Wachovia Center
July 2: Washington, DC; Verizon Center
July 3: Hartford, CT (XL Center)
July 5: Detroit, MI (The Palace of Auburn Hills)
July 6: Cleveland, OH (Quicken Loans Arena)
July 8: St. Paul, MN (Xcel Energy Center)
July 9: Kansas City, MO (Sprint Center)
July 10: Oklahoma City, OK (Ford Center)
July 12: Phoenix, AZ (Jobbing.com Arena)
July 19: Las Vegas, NV (MGM Grand Garden Arena)
July 21: Sacramento, CA (ARCO Arena)
July 24: San Jose, CA (HP Pavilion)
July 27: Pemberton, BC (Pemberton Festival)
July 29: Edmonton, AB (Rexall Place)
July 30: Calgary, AB (Pengrowth Saddledome)
August 1: Winnipeg, MB (MTS Centre)
August 3: Omaha, NE (Qwest Center)
August 4: Chicago, IL (United Center)
October 20: Montreal, QC (Bell Centre)
October 21: Ottawa, ON, (Scotiabank Place)
October 26: East Rutherford, NJ (Izod Center)
October 29: Toronto, ON (Air Canada Centre)
October 30: Toronto, ON (Air Canada Centre)
November 3: Boston, MA (TD Banknorth Garden)
November 11: Atlanta, GA (Philips Arena)
November 18: Houston, TX (Toyota Center)
November 19: Dallas, TX (American Airlines Center)
November 21: Denver, CO (Pepsi Center Arena)
November 22: Salt Lake City, UT (Energy Solutions Arena)
Coldplay's Viva La Vida world tour -- which will land in North America, Europe and Japan -- is set to begin at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center on June 29 and extend well into next year, Billboard.com can reveal.Save for the Pemberton Festival in Vancouver on July 27, Coldplay will play arenas in North America, the U.K. and Europe on the tour's first leg. Some North American dates will go on sale May 16-17, but the majority go up June 14, the weekend before "Viva La Vida" is released. Ticket info will be available at http://www.coldplay.com/.As previously reported, Coldplay will play free concerts in London (June 16 at the Brixton Academy) and New York (June 23 at Madison Square Garden). Information on how to win tickets to these shows will be available at the band's website beginning today (May 9). The contest runs through June 1 and winners will receive notification on June 5.Roughly 50 shows are planned for North America, followed by Europe and the U.K. Coldplay will also headline the Summer Sonic festival Aug. 9-10 in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. About 90 dates total are expected for this year. More shows are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. "Last time we ended up doing 150 shows; we’ll probably end up roughly the same," Coldplay manager Dave Holmes tells Billboard.com.Live Nation will promote shows in Europe and North America, with U.K. dates promoted by SJM. Lighting and set design for the tour are by Paul Normandale and features "lots of projection," Dave Holmes says. "It will really blow people away."
Ticket prices are still being determined, but a three-tiered pricing strategy is likely, with prices roughly in the $50, $65 and $85 range. "You're not going to see us coming out with $125-$150 tickets," Holmes says.
Here are the confirmed North American dates for Coldplay's Viva La Vida Tour:
June 29: Philadelphia, PA; Wachovia Center
July 2: Washington, DC; Verizon Center
July 3: Hartford, CT (XL Center)
July 5: Detroit, MI (The Palace of Auburn Hills)
July 6: Cleveland, OH (Quicken Loans Arena)
July 8: St. Paul, MN (Xcel Energy Center)
July 9: Kansas City, MO (Sprint Center)
July 10: Oklahoma City, OK (Ford Center)
July 12: Phoenix, AZ (Jobbing.com Arena)
July 19: Las Vegas, NV (MGM Grand Garden Arena)
July 21: Sacramento, CA (ARCO Arena)
July 24: San Jose, CA (HP Pavilion)
July 27: Pemberton, BC (Pemberton Festival)
July 29: Edmonton, AB (Rexall Place)
July 30: Calgary, AB (Pengrowth Saddledome)
August 1: Winnipeg, MB (MTS Centre)
August 3: Omaha, NE (Qwest Center)
August 4: Chicago, IL (United Center)
October 20: Montreal, QC (Bell Centre)
October 21: Ottawa, ON, (Scotiabank Place)
October 26: East Rutherford, NJ (Izod Center)
October 29: Toronto, ON (Air Canada Centre)
October 30: Toronto, ON (Air Canada Centre)
November 3: Boston, MA (TD Banknorth Garden)
November 11: Atlanta, GA (Philips Arena)
November 18: Houston, TX (Toyota Center)
November 19: Dallas, TX (American Airlines Center)
November 21: Denver, CO (Pepsi Center Arena)
November 22: Salt Lake City, UT (Energy Solutions Arena)
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Celtics' view quickly in focus
By Christopher L. Gasper
WALTHAM - Less than 24 hours after finally closing out an emotionally and physically tough seven-game series against the Atlanta Hawks with a 99-65 victory Sunday, the Celtics were at practice yesterday, cramming for their second-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which starts tonight at TD Banknorth Garden.
How much time did they spend celebrating the dispatch of the pesky Hawks? About as much time as it takes point guard Rajon Rondo to go coast-to-coast. When the Celtics returned to the locker room after Game 7, the coaching staff had Cleveland playbooks and DVDs awaiting them, in preparation for yesterday's practice session at the team's training facility.
"It was a good win for us finally getting past the first round," said Paul Pierce. "But when the game was over and we were in the locker room, we really didn't have any time to think about Atlanta. We had to go and get ready for Cleveland."
The coaching staff had Cleveland on the brain even earlier. Coach Doc Rivers said yesterday that when the Cavaliers went up, 3-1, on the Washington Wizards more than a week ago, all the preparation shifted to LeBron James and Cleveland. Such is the nature of NBA life this time of year.
But while Cleveland had a day of downtime Saturday after eliminating the Wizards Friday night, the Celtics spent the weekend trying to finish off a frantic series with the Hawks that left an impression on guard Ray Allen, both literally and figuratively.
"That was the first time that we've really been tested and who we were and what we meant and what we stood for as a team," said Allen, sporting a nasty gash on his left shoulder. "Honestly, for myself, I like those moments.
"For us it's opened up the lines of communication. I've been on teams in the past that when you lose, you splinter apart. This team has always come together, and I think that's the sign of a true team."
Allen acknowledged that such a quick turnaround after a hard-fought series can be a little challenging mentally.
"You're split half and half because you have the feeling of celebration," said Allen. "You have the feeling of joy and euphoria, but at the same time you say, 'There is another grind that is about to take place.'
"We know how we approached that series. We knew every play that Atlanta was running, and now it's like you have to tune back in and start all over. You got the new booklet of all their plays, what they're going to run, and it's time to do it again."
Judging by practice, said Rivers, his players weren't that mentally or emotionally drained because they had taken the time Sunday night to go over the Cleveland material.
"I would say most of them have because they were already calling out their plays," said Rivers. "That's pretty good."
The coach downplayed his team's lack of rest, saying it's just like the regular season.
In fact, Pierce said he prefers not waiting around for the next round.
"I like it," said Pierce. "We continue to play instead of sit around. I don't like to sit around three, four, five days anyway.
"We are playing. We got a rhythm going. Hopefully, we can take it into Game 1 of the Cleveland series. I think the guys will be fine. We got a bunch of old guys. We don't need to sit around too much."
The same went for the not-so-old guys, like Rondo, who was showing no ill effects, other than a slightly sore tailbone, from the flagrant foul he absorbed courtesy of Atlanta's Marvin Williams in Game 7.
"We got one day to rest," said Rondo. "We've had games where we had back-to-backs, so it's not a big deal to me. I'm not tired. I'm ready to go."
The always-intense Kevin Garnett already seemed to be in game mode after practice. Garnett said the Celtics had nothing to celebrate after eliminating Atlanta.
"We prepared to win that game and move on, and that's what it was," Garnett said. "It wasn't time to celebrate. We're not celebrating anything."
Well, actually, the Celtics can celebrate one thing: The fact that they do have a game tonight, no matter how much time they have to prepare for it. That's good enough for Rivers, who is making his first foray into the second round of the playoffs as a head coach.
"I'll take a week or I'll take a day," said Rivers. "The fact is that we're playing the next round and that's what you want to do."
Marc J. Spears of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
WALTHAM - Less than 24 hours after finally closing out an emotionally and physically tough seven-game series against the Atlanta Hawks with a 99-65 victory Sunday, the Celtics were at practice yesterday, cramming for their second-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which starts tonight at TD Banknorth Garden.
How much time did they spend celebrating the dispatch of the pesky Hawks? About as much time as it takes point guard Rajon Rondo to go coast-to-coast. When the Celtics returned to the locker room after Game 7, the coaching staff had Cleveland playbooks and DVDs awaiting them, in preparation for yesterday's practice session at the team's training facility.
"It was a good win for us finally getting past the first round," said Paul Pierce. "But when the game was over and we were in the locker room, we really didn't have any time to think about Atlanta. We had to go and get ready for Cleveland."
The coaching staff had Cleveland on the brain even earlier. Coach Doc Rivers said yesterday that when the Cavaliers went up, 3-1, on the Washington Wizards more than a week ago, all the preparation shifted to LeBron James and Cleveland. Such is the nature of NBA life this time of year.
But while Cleveland had a day of downtime Saturday after eliminating the Wizards Friday night, the Celtics spent the weekend trying to finish off a frantic series with the Hawks that left an impression on guard Ray Allen, both literally and figuratively.
"That was the first time that we've really been tested and who we were and what we meant and what we stood for as a team," said Allen, sporting a nasty gash on his left shoulder. "Honestly, for myself, I like those moments.
"For us it's opened up the lines of communication. I've been on teams in the past that when you lose, you splinter apart. This team has always come together, and I think that's the sign of a true team."
Allen acknowledged that such a quick turnaround after a hard-fought series can be a little challenging mentally.
"You're split half and half because you have the feeling of celebration," said Allen. "You have the feeling of joy and euphoria, but at the same time you say, 'There is another grind that is about to take place.'
"We know how we approached that series. We knew every play that Atlanta was running, and now it's like you have to tune back in and start all over. You got the new booklet of all their plays, what they're going to run, and it's time to do it again."
Judging by practice, said Rivers, his players weren't that mentally or emotionally drained because they had taken the time Sunday night to go over the Cleveland material.
"I would say most of them have because they were already calling out their plays," said Rivers. "That's pretty good."
The coach downplayed his team's lack of rest, saying it's just like the regular season.
In fact, Pierce said he prefers not waiting around for the next round.
"I like it," said Pierce. "We continue to play instead of sit around. I don't like to sit around three, four, five days anyway.
"We are playing. We got a rhythm going. Hopefully, we can take it into Game 1 of the Cleveland series. I think the guys will be fine. We got a bunch of old guys. We don't need to sit around too much."
The same went for the not-so-old guys, like Rondo, who was showing no ill effects, other than a slightly sore tailbone, from the flagrant foul he absorbed courtesy of Atlanta's Marvin Williams in Game 7.
"We got one day to rest," said Rondo. "We've had games where we had back-to-backs, so it's not a big deal to me. I'm not tired. I'm ready to go."
The always-intense Kevin Garnett already seemed to be in game mode after practice. Garnett said the Celtics had nothing to celebrate after eliminating Atlanta.
"We prepared to win that game and move on, and that's what it was," Garnett said. "It wasn't time to celebrate. We're not celebrating anything."
Well, actually, the Celtics can celebrate one thing: The fact that they do have a game tonight, no matter how much time they have to prepare for it. That's good enough for Rivers, who is making his first foray into the second round of the playoffs as a head coach.
"I'll take a week or I'll take a day," said Rivers. "The fact is that we're playing the next round and that's what you want to do."
Marc J. Spears of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
Henin coasts, Ivanovic struggles at German Open
BERLIN: Defending champion Ana Ivanovic overcame a slow start Wednesday to beat Uzbek qualifier Akgul Amanmuradova 7-6 (0), 6-2 and reach the round of 16 at the German Open.
The second-ranked Serb couldn't break her opponent's serve in the first set, but pulled it out in the tiebreaker with precise drop shots and forehand winners that hit the line.
Ivanovic took control in the second set against the 1.90-meter (6-foot-3) Amanmuradova, who only entered the main draw when former No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo pulled out injured Monday.
"This was the tournament that made me. I found my game here," the 20-year-old Ivanovic said of last year's win. "Ever since then I have the confidence to believe I can be a top player."
Ivanovic had more trouble against Amanmuradova, a former basketball player, than anticipated.
Today in Sports
"I definitely didn't perform well," Ivanovic said. "She's very tall, she has a strong serve and they kicked high. It took me time to get used to them,"
Top-ranked Justine Henin also advanced, beating Chan Yung-jan of Taiwan 6-0, 6-2.
The Belgian returned from a break looking to regain confidence after a 6-2, 6-0 pounding by Serena Williams in her last match - the most one-sided loss for a No. 1 player in nine years.
"If I can get my confidence back, then it has to be here," said Henin, a three-time champion. "The German Open has been very good to me."
Fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic beat Peng Shuai of China 7-5, 6-0, and Victoria Azarenka rallied to upset sixth-seeded Anna Chakvetadze 1-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4.
The German Open, with 17 of the world's top 20 players in the field, is expected to establish a favorite for the upcoming French Open.
Ivanovic believes this year the favorite has to be Williams, who is riding a 16-match winning streak, and not four-time French Open champion Henin.
"Henin has mastered clay, but I think the game is getting more powerful, like Serena is playing," she said.
A second title in Berlin would also rank Ivanovic, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, among the French Open contenders.
"I definitely think I have the game," the Serb said. "At the French Open final, I was just too nervous. At the Australian, it was better. It's a learning experience."
The second-ranked Serb couldn't break her opponent's serve in the first set, but pulled it out in the tiebreaker with precise drop shots and forehand winners that hit the line.
Ivanovic took control in the second set against the 1.90-meter (6-foot-3) Amanmuradova, who only entered the main draw when former No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo pulled out injured Monday.
"This was the tournament that made me. I found my game here," the 20-year-old Ivanovic said of last year's win. "Ever since then I have the confidence to believe I can be a top player."
Ivanovic had more trouble against Amanmuradova, a former basketball player, than anticipated.
Today in Sports
"I definitely didn't perform well," Ivanovic said. "She's very tall, she has a strong serve and they kicked high. It took me time to get used to them,"
Top-ranked Justine Henin also advanced, beating Chan Yung-jan of Taiwan 6-0, 6-2.
The Belgian returned from a break looking to regain confidence after a 6-2, 6-0 pounding by Serena Williams in her last match - the most one-sided loss for a No. 1 player in nine years.
"If I can get my confidence back, then it has to be here," said Henin, a three-time champion. "The German Open has been very good to me."
Fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic beat Peng Shuai of China 7-5, 6-0, and Victoria Azarenka rallied to upset sixth-seeded Anna Chakvetadze 1-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4.
The German Open, with 17 of the world's top 20 players in the field, is expected to establish a favorite for the upcoming French Open.
Ivanovic believes this year the favorite has to be Williams, who is riding a 16-match winning streak, and not four-time French Open champion Henin.
"Henin has mastered clay, but I think the game is getting more powerful, like Serena is playing," she said.
A second title in Berlin would also rank Ivanovic, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, among the French Open contenders.
"I definitely think I have the game," the Serb said. "At the French Open final, I was just too nervous. At the Australian, it was better. It's a learning experience."
The Police Announce Last Show Ever
Ray Waddell, Nashville
The Police and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg today (May 6) announced at a press conference in Times Square the band's final concert ever, to be held in New York on a date still to be revealed in August.This final concert -- for which ticket and venue information have yet to be announced -- will be a fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the production of arts programming for public television stations Thirteen/WNET and WLIW New York. Tickets will be available nationally online via the Thirteen/WNET and WLIW Web sites.Additionally, Sting and the Police announced that they will contribute $1 million to Mayor Bloomberg's MillionTreesNYC initiative -- a gift the city will match -- to plant trees all over New York City.At the press conference, held in Times Square, Sting commented: "Some people may be surprised to know that the greatest single contribution to greenhouse gases is deforestation. We all want cleaner and cooler air, and planting trees is the best way to achieve that."We have a long history in New York," he added. "We came here first in 1978. We want to leave a gift that will last for decades."
The contribution by the Police to the MillionTreesNYC initiative -- which aims to plant 1 million trees by 2017 -- will fund the planting of 10,000 trees across all five of New York City’s boroughs.Mayor Bloomberg commented: "We hope the donation by the Police will inspire many more people to get involved.... A lot of people make a lot of money, spend a little bit of it, and don’t give any of it away. So these guys are role models."In response to a question about whether the final Police show would take place in Central Park, Bloomberg responded, "The venue will probably be indoors, but that’s all I’m going to say."During the conference, the mayor presented each member of the Police with his own key to New York City, and Sting presented the mayor with an all-access backstage pass that he said could be used at "any Police concert."The Police began the final leg of their reunion tour May 1 in Ottawa, the first of about 50 shows taking place this summer in amphitheaters, arenas and stadiums primarily in North America and Europe. Most stops are in markets not played in 2007, when the Police was the top tour of the year at more than $212 million gross and nearly 2 million in attendance, according to Billboard Boxscore. Produced by Live Nation and RZO Productions, the Police reunion tour captured the Top Tour (gross) and Top Draw (attendance) awards at last November's Billboard Touring Conference in New York.Joining the Police this time around in North America are Elvis Costello &the Imposters. In between the 33 North American dates, the Police return to Europe for a number of major festivals. The tour is expected to be one of the top five highest-grossing tours of all time, with revenues topping $340 million.As of today, the last Police date on the books is Aug. 5 at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, N.Y.--Additional reporting by Evie Nagy, N.Y.
The Police and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg today (May 6) announced at a press conference in Times Square the band's final concert ever, to be held in New York on a date still to be revealed in August.This final concert -- for which ticket and venue information have yet to be announced -- will be a fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the production of arts programming for public television stations Thirteen/WNET and WLIW New York. Tickets will be available nationally online via the Thirteen/WNET and WLIW Web sites.Additionally, Sting and the Police announced that they will contribute $1 million to Mayor Bloomberg's MillionTreesNYC initiative -- a gift the city will match -- to plant trees all over New York City.At the press conference, held in Times Square, Sting commented: "Some people may be surprised to know that the greatest single contribution to greenhouse gases is deforestation. We all want cleaner and cooler air, and planting trees is the best way to achieve that."We have a long history in New York," he added. "We came here first in 1978. We want to leave a gift that will last for decades."
The contribution by the Police to the MillionTreesNYC initiative -- which aims to plant 1 million trees by 2017 -- will fund the planting of 10,000 trees across all five of New York City’s boroughs.Mayor Bloomberg commented: "We hope the donation by the Police will inspire many more people to get involved.... A lot of people make a lot of money, spend a little bit of it, and don’t give any of it away. So these guys are role models."In response to a question about whether the final Police show would take place in Central Park, Bloomberg responded, "The venue will probably be indoors, but that’s all I’m going to say."During the conference, the mayor presented each member of the Police with his own key to New York City, and Sting presented the mayor with an all-access backstage pass that he said could be used at "any Police concert."The Police began the final leg of their reunion tour May 1 in Ottawa, the first of about 50 shows taking place this summer in amphitheaters, arenas and stadiums primarily in North America and Europe. Most stops are in markets not played in 2007, when the Police was the top tour of the year at more than $212 million gross and nearly 2 million in attendance, according to Billboard Boxscore. Produced by Live Nation and RZO Productions, the Police reunion tour captured the Top Tour (gross) and Top Draw (attendance) awards at last November's Billboard Touring Conference in New York.Joining the Police this time around in North America are Elvis Costello &the Imposters. In between the 33 North American dates, the Police return to Europe for a number of major festivals. The tour is expected to be one of the top five highest-grossing tours of all time, with revenues topping $340 million.As of today, the last Police date on the books is Aug. 5 at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, N.Y.--Additional reporting by Evie Nagy, N.Y.
Neil Diamond Treats NYC To 'Secret Show'
Susan Visakowitz, N.Y.
Neil Diamond is set to perform a free show at New York City's The Bitter End tonight (May 7) as part of the MySpace Music "Secret Shows" series.As previously reported, Diamond's new album, "Home Before Dark," his second collaboration with producer Rick Rubin, was released yesterday (May 6) via Columbia Records. Diamond kicks off a 37-date North American tour on July 19 in St. Paul, Minn.Diamond told Billboard.com in April of his plans for the coming dates, "I always like to include songs I haven't done in the show in awhile. We just took out one of the songs we'd been using in the show as part of the rehearsals and replaced it with something that was better-suited and I had definitely wanted to do but couldn't find a place for."The North American leg of Diamond's trek follows a European tour that begins May 24 in Rotterdam, Holland.
MySpace Music has organized more than 100 Secret Shows since the franchise launched in February 2006 with artists like Rilo Kiley, Franz Ferdinand, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Ray LaMontagne performing in cities worldwide.
Neil Diamond is set to perform a free show at New York City's The Bitter End tonight (May 7) as part of the MySpace Music "Secret Shows" series.As previously reported, Diamond's new album, "Home Before Dark," his second collaboration with producer Rick Rubin, was released yesterday (May 6) via Columbia Records. Diamond kicks off a 37-date North American tour on July 19 in St. Paul, Minn.Diamond told Billboard.com in April of his plans for the coming dates, "I always like to include songs I haven't done in the show in awhile. We just took out one of the songs we'd been using in the show as part of the rehearsals and replaced it with something that was better-suited and I had definitely wanted to do but couldn't find a place for."The North American leg of Diamond's trek follows a European tour that begins May 24 in Rotterdam, Holland.
MySpace Music has organized more than 100 Secret Shows since the franchise launched in February 2006 with artists like Rilo Kiley, Franz Ferdinand, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Ray LaMontagne performing in cities worldwide.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Leipheimer holds on, finishes 3rd
By JAME RAIAFOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
ATLANTA, Ga. -- After nearly 600 miles and seven days of racing, the Tour de Georgia, like many bike races, was determined by split-second choices. Levi Leipheimer made the wrong decision.
ATLANTA, Ga. -- After nearly 600 miles and seven days of racing, the Tour de Georgia, like many bike races, was determined by split-second choices. Levi Leipheimer made the wrong decision.
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