Source: http://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/201201317113/sag-best-dress-vote-2012/
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Who was best dressed at the SAGs? Vote now
Vote for the most elegant star at the 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards. See all the gowns...
VIDEO: One-minute World News
Watch the latest news summary from BBC World News. International news updated 24 hours a day.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/10462520
Aaron Rodgers disappointed in teammates effort in the Pro Bowl
Though it's an exhibition game with an unspoken motto of, "Just don't get hurt," Rodgers told ESPN Milwaukee he was disappointed in his NFC teammates' effort.
"I'll be honest with you," Rodgers said. "I was a little bit disappointed. I felt like some of the guys on the NFC side embarrassed themselves ... I wanted to know the plays and I wanted to play well, and I wanted to give the fans a show, and make the Green Bay fans who watched and were watching for me and my teammates, I wanted to make them proud of their Pro Bowlers. I was just surprised that some of the guys either didn't want to play or when they were in there didn't put any effort into it."
Did someone forget to give Rodgers the memo about the Pro Bowl? Aaron, it's about two things: A) Getting a free trip to Hawaii and B) Not getting hurt. Of course players weren't going full out. Most of them had not played a game in weeks. They are still healing from the bumps and bruises of the season, and want to avoid getting any more at all costs. They're at the game to have fun, not memorize a playbook.
Perhaps Rodgers is still smarting about being ousted from the playoffs before winning a single game. Maybe he just needs an outlet for his competitiveness, and he had high hopes for the Pro Bowl. But instead of getting mad at his NFC compatriots, Rodgers should think about installing Words with Friends or Angry Birds on his phone.
Michael Jackson - Hold My Hand
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Columbia Records/SMG
- Director:
- Album: Illegal Business?
Source:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=605180
Jockey kicked off Kentucky Derby winner will get paid after all
The jockey who was supposed to ride Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom in Saturday's race will get paid like he did.
Robby Albarado was replaced one day before the Derby by the horse's owner and trainer due to concerns about an injury he suffered during a race earlier in the week. John Velazquez took over the mount and rode the 20-1 longshot to the winner's circle. He received $141,180 for the two-minute ride, the standard 10 percent of the purse.
It was revealed Wednesday that Velazquez and horse owner Barry Irwin will pay�undisclosed, matching amounts to Albarado as a reward.
"It's basically because we know what it means emotionally to a guy like that," Irwin said to the Associated Press. "I like the guy and have a high regard for him as a jockey."
The gesture is a classy one and surely much appreciated by Albarado. Is it necessary, though? Paying Albarado would seem to discount the notion that a jockey plays a role in a horse race. It's like they're saying that Animal Kingdom would have won no matter who was in the saddle.
[Photos: Fancy and wacky Kentucky Derby hats ]
Does it stink that Albarado got hurt and had to be taken off the mount? Yes, but that's life. Eric Stoltz was supposed to be in "Back to the Future," it doesn't mean Michael J. Fox should cut him in on residual checks. Pete Best didn't get any money when The Beatles licensed music to iTunes. Kurt Warner didn't cut his 1999 MVP trophy in half and give it to Trent Green. Being there before doesn't entitle you to any reward for things that happen after you've gone.
Both jockeys are among the most successful in their sport. Each have ridden over 4,000 winners and frequently appear near the top of the annual purse earnings list.
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If you only watch one table tennis shot this year, make it this one
Mattias Oversjo was playing fellow Swede Jorgen Persson in a recent table tennis match when Persson hit a cross-table slam that took a wicked bounce and caught Oversjo short-paddled. So he did what any player would do: he hit a crazy, over-the-shoulder, turn-around, no-look forehand that bounced in for a winner.
Oversjo is ranked No. 421 in the world, which makes you wonder how much better the 420 guys ahead of him are.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Now Joe Paterno?s memorial service can be part of your DVD collection
Joe Paterno's memorial service is coming to DVD.
The legendary coach's son, Scott, issued a statement Monday announcing that the Paterno family was going to sell DVD's of the service "soon" through a yet-to-be-created website. All the money generated from sales of the DVD's will be given to an undisclosed charity. Paterno also didn't say for how much each DVD would sell.
Paterno's memorial service, which drew about 12,000 fans and was seen by many more on television and online, was a tough ticket to come by. The athletic department released 10,000 free tickets and they were sold out in 7 minutes. Other tickets found their way to eBay, but the posting was quickly taken down.
The memorial featured speakers representing every decade Paterno was a head coach as well as others who were close with Paterno, including Nike chairman Phil Knight, who was the most outspoken of all of the speakers. His speech drew several standing ovations as he defended Paterno, who had been fired for not doing enough to report the misdeeds of former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky after being told that he was sexually abusing a young boy in the Penn State locker room showers.
Another key speaker was Paterno's other son, Jay, a longtime Penn State assistant coach who gave the last and most tear-jerking speech of the service.
The memorial also featured several video highlighting not only Paterno as a football coach, but also as a father and a member of the Penn State community.
Paterno died Jan. 22 from lung cancer.
- - -
Graham Watson is on Facebook and Twitter: Follow her @Yahoo_Graham
Mayor: East Haven, Connecticut, police chief to retire amid controversy
East Haven, Connecticut, Police Chief Leonard Gallo will retire after the arrests of four police officers for their alleged role in the mistreatment of Latinos, Mayor Joseph Maturo said Monday. 
Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_latest/~3/E5KHDtXNJ_8/index.html
Pacers send Magic to third straight loss (AP)
The Indiana Pacers have played 13 of their first 19 games away from home. It doesn't seem to be bothering them much. Danny Granger scored 24 points and Indiana beat the Orlando Magic 106-85 on Sunday night, earning its eighth road victory of the season to tie Chicago and Oklahoma City for most in the NBA.
Between London and lease, the Rams could fill Goodell?s L.A. vision
If Roger Goodell is looking to start a fight with the city of St. Louis, it certainly appears that the city of St. Louis is eager to respond in kind. The NFL's recent announcement that the Rams would play one "home game" in London in each of the next three seasons was certainly another peg in the Commissioner's global outreach program.
However, Goodell must have also known that a city that is currently being asked to upgrade the Edward Jones Dome or risk breaking a lease that ostensibly goes through 2025, would not be happy about losing a game in each of those years.
That condition can only be broken if the stadium is in a state of disrepair, or if the lease is terminated.
The Rams' response to this claim was disingenuous, to say the least:
We think that playing in London is great for the Rams and great for St. Louis. We are in talks with the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, which is also the region's chief marketing group, about how to make the most of this opportunity. As the CVC said today, this will 'elevate an awareness of St. Louis on the global stage.' We look forward to having amicable and meaningful dialogue with the CVC on many issues and believe those conversations should remain between the parties.
So ? playing in London, and denying the city the revenue gained from a home game, is a good thing? Alrighty then! More likely, it's a good thing for the Rams, who are guaranteed a larger slice of the pie in the London game as the "home" team ? those franchises who choose to play in Goodell's ongoing Britcoms are guaranteed revenue equivalent to a sellout, plus expenses.
[NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: The recession has helped the league ]
This could be yet another example of Goodell's ready-fire-aim thinking, in which he hands down edicts without considering the consequences. It's also possible that the league is looking to add suitable tension to the ongoing negotiations between the Rams and the CVC to freshen up the Edwards Jones Dome and make it a "top-tier facility."
If the Dome doesn't meet those nebulous standards by 2015, the Rams cam break their current lease and move wherever they'd like.� And it just so happens that the NFL has a bunch of new TV deals kicking in for the 2014 season, a stadium project going forward in Los Angeles, and a need for a team to fill that stadium in America's second-largest media market.
It's not too hard to connect the dots. Goodell is one of those people who shows all his cards when he thinks he's being secretive, and this tactic is about as subtle as a Chris Long quarterback sack. Will the CVC be willing to spend millions to upgrade the Dome if they feel that the Rams are cheating the lease?
As the Brits would say, not bloody likely.
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Why Is This News 46: Turkey Bowl Spectacular!
? What exactly are we supposed to do when our chosen sports end for the season? Take a break, right? (No, not really, boss.)
? Why do golf tournaments offer massages to reporters? In heaven's name, why?
? What the hell was I thinking when I wrote "you don't boo women"? I try to explain myself as Kaduk tries hard not to laugh in my face.
? Plus some horrific repressed memories of Turkey Bowls past, like the many times our fathers hammered on us in tackle football as kids.
Yeah, we're kind of all over the map here. Listen while you're stuck in an airport somewhere.
WHY IS THIS NEWS is the Yahoo! Sports Blogs' all-sports podcast, covering sports (and movies, and television, and whatever else strikes our fancy) through the eyes of our esteemed experts. We, as always, are Jay Busbee, the editor of From The Marbles and Devil Ball, and Kevin Kaduk, the editor of Big League Stew, and you are our reader/listener, and we thank you for that.
To play the podcast, click the link below or save it on your computer. You can also click on the iTunes button below (or right here) to subscribe through iTunes, or the RSS button below (or right here) to run the feed to other players. And if you can't get enough, you can follow us on Twitter at @jaybusbee and @bigleaguestew for further updates. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
Why Is This News 46: Turkey Bowl Spectacular!
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/post/why-is-this-news-46-turkey-bowl-spectacular?urn=top,wp311
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Manning, Irsay say no hard feelings (AP)
Peyton Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay insist they are just fine after a week filled with complaints and comments suggesting a rift had developed following one of the most miserable seasons in team history. "We would like to dispel any misperception that there might be any hard feelings between us," the two said Friday in a statement issued by the team.
PICTURES Oh my, how you've changed! Celebrities then and now
See which stars look better with age and those that really don't...
 |  |
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NEWS_CELEBRITYNEWS/~3/zctOgX8OxuA/story01.htm
Mandela to return to Johannesburg from boyhood town
Nelson Mandela returns to Johannesburg on Sunday while his home in his childhood town -- where he's been living since last year -- undergoes repairs. 
Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_latest/~3/f-afyJOVwMk/index.html
Joachim can't take his eyes off his little princess
It's clear Prince Joachim of Denmark is already head over heels for the newest addition to...
Source: http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/201201277092/princess-marie-presents-baby/
Saturday, January 28, 2012
'Exhausted' Demi in hospital as Ashton holidays in Brazil
Demi Moore has been rushed to hospital after an emergency 911 call was placed from her home...
Source: http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/201201257058/demi-moore-rushed-hospital/
Erin Andrews reflects on traumatizing stalker incident
The ESPN sideline reporter isn't over the incident and knows she never will be. She's especially dreading the day her stalker is released from prison. (Michael David Barrett began serving a 30-month prison sentence last March.) "I'm being traumatized every single day for what he did," Andrews said after the sentencing. "This will never be over for me."
She tells interviewer Abigail Pesta about her plans to gain a copyright to the video, a move which would give her lawyers legal backing when they send cease and desist letters to websites that still post the clip. Evidently it takes the threat of litigation for websites to pull down an illicit video of a sexual crime.
The interview is worth a full read, particularly to hear Andrews' advice on steps to take to avoid becoming a stalking victim. She's fearful, yet brave; broken, but strong. Hers is both a heartbreaking and inspiring story.�Some of the most interesting excerpts:
On seeing her stalker face-to-face in court:
It was awful. He ended up walking in right in front of us, and I started to hyperventilate. I looked at my dad and was like, "I can't breathe." My dad was a rock. I had these notes, and he goes, "Look down and concentrate on your notes." I looked down, and you could just hear teardrops hitting my paper. And it was funny, for a guy who stood behind a door and took this video of me and stalked me, he didn't look at me once in court. He couldn't look at me.
On returning to work after the tape was leaked but before the attacker was caught:
For the first few months, I didn't know if someone on my crew had done this to me; I didn't know if this person was still following me. I kept thinking he would jump out of the closet in the hotel. Honestly, I shouldn't have gone back so soon. I should have taken care of myself.
On why she continues to speak out about the incident:
At the time everything happened, I got a ton of letters from women who were stalking victims. People had set up video cameras in their homes, whether it was a neighbor or a handyman. The videos were on the Internet, and the women couldn't get them down or get these guys arrested. They said, "First, we want to welcome you to the sorority. But we also want to tell you to please fight this ? you're our voice." I had to.
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Jules Bianchi gets third driver role at Force India | 2012 F1 season
Jules Bianchi will be Force India's third driver for the forthcoming season.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/Ftxj4iPQv3s/
Caption competition 3: Kimi Raikkonen | Caption competition
Kimi Raikkonen's return to F1 features in today's caption competition.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/NZAReBDkOsQ/
Re: http://www.mrpaparazzi.com/post/17717
It is what she wants to be in
the publis eye for her new movie.....
the publis eye for her new movie.....
Source: http://www.mrpaparazzi.com/post/17717#comment-422987978
Royal filly Kate Middleton allergic to horses
Atishoo! Pass the antihistamines...
| |
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NEWS_CELEBRITYNEWS/~3/726bg6QRNBY/story01.htm
Friday, January 27, 2012
Ratings dip in U.S., Canada for NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft
The second edition of the NHL All-Star Game Fantasy Draft saw its numbers fall in the U.S. and Canada, according to Steve Lepore of Puck The Media (via TV Sports Ratings).
The event, the second-annual draft of the All-Star teams, drew 408,000 viewers on NBC Sports Network.
This was down 35% from last year's numbers (624,000 on 1/28/11). Last year's event took place on a Friday, as opposed to a Thursday this year.
Meanwhile, viewership in Canada on TSN fell from 1.5 million viewers in 2011 to 1.34 million viewers this season.
But let's not exactly shed a tear for TSN: "The 90-minute broadcast on TSN was the #2 program on Canadian television last night for A25-54, A18-49, and A18-34, following THE BIG BANG THEORY on CTV," according to the network.
What's behind the drop in viewership? Lepore opines that the switch from Friday night last season to Thursday night this season might have impacted the numbers. It's not a bad theory ? Thursday night is a much more competitive night of television from a ratings perspective. Plus American Idol was on.
A dip was expected, obviously, because the curiosity factor last season wasn't there. Also missing this season: Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Jonathan Toews and Nicklas Lidstrom, so this news might bolster the view that the All-Star Game needs its stars.
Overall, we found the show to be entertaining television with a few bumps here and there. What would you do to improve it?
Liuzzi admits he may lose HRT seat to pay driver | F1 Fanatic round-up
In the round-up: Vitantonio Liuzzi says HRT "might be forced to look for a driver that brings money."
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/Gc75XC4H8fw/
Pacers deal Bulls first home loss (AP)
Still smarting from an emotional loss in the rugged first round of the playoffs to the Chicago Bulls nine months ago, the Indiana Pacers returned to the United Center and scrapped as if they were back in the postseason. Sure it was just another regular-season game in a schedule crammed with them following the lockout, but after the Pacers beat the Bulls 95-90 Wednesday night -- ending...
Conrad Murray Not Expected To Serve Full Four Years
Legal expert Mike Cavalluzzi tells MTV News he isn't surprised by sentence but doesn't think it's justified.
By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Conrad Murray sits in court after he was sentenced for the involuntary manslaughter of singer Michael Jackson at the Los Angeles Superior Court on November 29, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Judge Michael E. Pastor sentenced Murray to four years in the Los Angeles County Jail for the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson. A restitution hearing has been scheduled for January 23, 2012 to determine the amount of restitution to be paid to the Jackson family.
Photo: Mario Anzuoni-Pool/ Getty Images
<P>Though he dodged a potential four-year prison term, former <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml">Michael Jackson</a> physician Conrad Murray was sentenced to an equal amount of time in Los Angeles County Jail on Tuesday (November 29) in the death of the pop singer. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:714975.id:1673923" width="240" height="211"></div><p> But the same overcrowding problems that spared the cardiologist from doing time in a federal pen might also save him from serving his entire sentence in county as well. Shortly after the <a href="/news/articles/1675062/conrad-murray-sentence.jhtml">sentence was handed down</a> by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, Los Angeles Sheriff spokesman Steve Whitmore told <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/jackson_family_reacts_conrad_murrays/277336" target="_blank">E! News</a> that Murray would likely end up serving "a little less than two years." Due to overcrowding, most county jail sentences are immediately cut in half, and given the 46 days credit Murray has already been given, he is looking at even less than that. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mtvnews/posts/199210760161755" target="_blank"><b>Do you think Conrad Murray deserved the maximum sentence? Let us know on Facebook.</b></a> Murray's lawyers said afterward that they believed the sentence was unnecessarily long. "Yes, of course [Judge Pastor] was harsh. He gave the stiffest penalty he was entitled to give under the law," Murray's attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, told reporters. "He was openly hostile. ... [Murray has] led 56 years of exemplary life. He was really dreading [sentencing]. I think anybody would dread going into it. He's an honorable man, and he'll get through this. The family is suffering more than Dr. Murray is. ... Dr. Murray is the provider in that family." Pastor had leeway in the sentencing, with options ranging from probation to the full sentence, but in a lengthy ruling from the bench, he said Murray's lack of remorse and negligent behavior called for the highest possible penalty. "He is and remains dangerous ... the request of probation is denied, the court imposes the high term of four years imprisonment in this case," Pastor said during the 90-plus-minute hearing. Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney Mike Cavalluzzi told MTV News that he wasn't surprised by the sentencing but that he didn't believe it was justified. Cavalluzzi said Pastor had incentive to give the full sentence because of the prominence of Jackson and his family and to create the perception that he is tough on crime. "He gets that perception by sentencing him to the max while not having to surrender the defendant to the full sentence," said Cavalluzzi, who was not involved in the case. "He gets the self-satisfaction of being perceived as being tough on crime and making the Jackson family happy, but I don't think it was a fair sentence." Cavalluzzi said when deciding prison versus probation, judges have to look at someone's criminal history and whether a person is likely to complete the terms of their probation, which he believes Murray would. "I'm not seeing aggravating factors here, and I think it was just a chapter in [Murray's] life and he does not have a history of being a mercenary doctor always after money, but of being a good, responsible doctor who was seduced by the celebrity and money that Jackson offered," he said. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:708788.id:1673923" width="240" height="211"></div><p> As to why Pastor gave such a dramatic, lengthy explanation for why he was sentencing Murray to the max, Cavalluzzi said the judge has to have a justification for his actions in the public record. "Because he doesn't have the discretion to give a high prison term, [Pastor] has to justify his sentence in the record and have very specific reasons for it. I don't think there's any way that anyone truly believes that from this day forward Dr. Murray truly represents a threat to society. That's just ludicrous." And while he doesn't agree with the four-year term, Cavalluzzi said the high-profile nature of the case and the glare of the media could have played into the sentence. "It probably gives [<a href="/news/articles/1675068/conrad-murray-sentencing.jhtml">Jackson's family</a>] great comfort to have someone to blame," he said. " 'If not for this awful man, my son, brother, father would be alive.' But it's not fair to do that and it feels like a capitulating judgment in favor of feeding the emotional needs of the family." Upon leaving the courthouse, Michael's brother Jermaine, when asked if the four-year sentence was enough, shook his head and said, "No." Mother Katherine Jackson told local TV station KTLA, "Four years is not enough for someone's life. It won't bring him back. But at least he got the maximum, and I thought the judge was very, very fair." The prosecution, however, was satisfied with the ruling. "We're pleased. That's what we thought was appropriate. The judge obviously agreed with us," deputy district attorney David Walgren said. "It was our position that it was not a simple, one-time mistake; it was a series of mistakes culminating in the abandonment of Michael Jackson when he died ... the judge agreed with that sentiment. A brother and a son and a family member was killed, and whatever the sentence may be, the family of the victim deserves justice. And we did everything to bring them that justice." As for how much time Murray will spend locked up, Cavalluzzi said it is likely to be less than two years and, frankly, he predicted, the doctor could be out even sooner than that. "He might be eligible for house arrest very quickly," he said.</p>
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675080/conrad-murray-sentence-four-years-experts.jhtml
Conrad Murray Not Expected To Serve Full Four Years
Legal expert Mike Cavalluzzi tells MTV News he isn't surprised by sentence but doesn't think it's justified.
By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Conrad Murray sits in court after he was sentenced for the involuntary manslaughter of singer Michael Jackson at the Los Angeles Superior Court on November 29, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Judge Michael E. Pastor sentenced Murray to four years in the Los Angeles County Jail for the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson. A restitution hearing has been scheduled for January 23, 2012 to determine the amount of restitution to be paid to the Jackson family.
Photo: Mario Anzuoni-Pool/ Getty Images
<P>Though he dodged a potential four-year prison term, former <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml">Michael Jackson</a> physician Conrad Murray was sentenced to an equal amount of time in Los Angeles County Jail on Tuesday (November 29) in the death of the pop singer. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:714975.id:1673923" width="240" height="211"></div><p> But the same overcrowding problems that spared the cardiologist from doing time in a federal pen might also save him from serving his entire sentence in county as well. Shortly after the <a href="/news/articles/1675062/conrad-murray-sentence.jhtml">sentence was handed down</a> by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, Los Angeles Sheriff spokesman Steve Whitmore told <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/jackson_family_reacts_conrad_murrays/277336" target="_blank">E! News</a> that Murray would likely end up serving "a little less than two years." Due to overcrowding, most county jail sentences are immediately cut in half, and given the 46 days credit Murray has already been given, he is looking at even less than that. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mtvnews/posts/199210760161755" target="_blank"><b>Do you think Conrad Murray deserved the maximum sentence? Let us know on Facebook.</b></a> Murray's lawyers said afterward that they believed the sentence was unnecessarily long. "Yes, of course [Judge Pastor] was harsh. He gave the stiffest penalty he was entitled to give under the law," Murray's attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, told reporters. "He was openly hostile. ... [Murray has] led 56 years of exemplary life. He was really dreading [sentencing]. I think anybody would dread going into it. He's an honorable man, and he'll get through this. The family is suffering more than Dr. Murray is. ... Dr. Murray is the provider in that family." Pastor had leeway in the sentencing, with options ranging from probation to the full sentence, but in a lengthy ruling from the bench, he said Murray's lack of remorse and negligent behavior called for the highest possible penalty. "He is and remains dangerous ... the request of probation is denied, the court imposes the high term of four years imprisonment in this case," Pastor said during the 90-plus-minute hearing. Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney Mike Cavalluzzi told MTV News that he wasn't surprised by the sentencing but that he didn't believe it was justified. Cavalluzzi said Pastor had incentive to give the full sentence because of the prominence of Jackson and his family and to create the perception that he is tough on crime. "He gets that perception by sentencing him to the max while not having to surrender the defendant to the full sentence," said Cavalluzzi, who was not involved in the case. "He gets the self-satisfaction of being perceived as being tough on crime and making the Jackson family happy, but I don't think it was a fair sentence." Cavalluzzi said when deciding prison versus probation, judges have to look at someone's criminal history and whether a person is likely to complete the terms of their probation, which he believes Murray would. "I'm not seeing aggravating factors here, and I think it was just a chapter in [Murray's] life and he does not have a history of being a mercenary doctor always after money, but of being a good, responsible doctor who was seduced by the celebrity and money that Jackson offered," he said. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:708788.id:1673923" width="240" height="211"></div><p> As to why Pastor gave such a dramatic, lengthy explanation for why he was sentencing Murray to the max, Cavalluzzi said the judge has to have a justification for his actions in the public record. "Because he doesn't have the discretion to give a high prison term, [Pastor] has to justify his sentence in the record and have very specific reasons for it. I don't think there's any way that anyone truly believes that from this day forward Dr. Murray truly represents a threat to society. That's just ludicrous." And while he doesn't agree with the four-year term, Cavalluzzi said the high-profile nature of the case and the glare of the media could have played into the sentence. "It probably gives [<a href="/news/articles/1675068/conrad-murray-sentencing.jhtml">Jackson's family</a>] great comfort to have someone to blame," he said. " 'If not for this awful man, my son, brother, father would be alive.' But it's not fair to do that and it feels like a capitulating judgment in favor of feeding the emotional needs of the family." Upon leaving the courthouse, Michael's brother Jermaine, when asked if the four-year sentence was enough, shook his head and said, "No." Mother Katherine Jackson told local TV station KTLA, "Four years is not enough for someone's life. It won't bring him back. But at least he got the maximum, and I thought the judge was very, very fair." The prosecution, however, was satisfied with the ruling. "We're pleased. That's what we thought was appropriate. The judge obviously agreed with us," deputy district attorney David Walgren said. "It was our position that it was not a simple, one-time mistake; it was a series of mistakes culminating in the abandonment of Michael Jackson when he died ... the judge agreed with that sentiment. A brother and a son and a family member was killed, and whatever the sentence may be, the family of the victim deserves justice. And we did everything to bring them that justice." As for how much time Murray will spend locked up, Cavalluzzi said it is likely to be less than two years and, frankly, he predicted, the doctor could be out even sooner than that. "He might be eligible for house arrest very quickly," he said.</p>
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675080/conrad-murray-sentence-four-years-experts.jhtml
Freed aid workers at U.S. base in Italy
Former hostages Jessica Buchanan and Poul Thisted arrived at a U.S. base in Sicily on Thursday, a day after being rescued during a U.S. military raid in Somalia.
Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_world/~3/pfRAdeEf-Rc/index.html
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Steven Tyler?s scarf better than ?Star-Spangled Banner? rendition
Steven Tyler, lead singer of the Boston-based, Hall-of-Fame rock and roll band Aerosmith and an "American Idol" judge, was brought in to sing the national anthem before kickoff of the New England Patriots AFC championship game at home. Well, sing is an overstatement.
It was more of a warbled scream. Associated Press is saying that it would not get him to Hollywood, while Deadspin called it one of the worst anthems of all time. Radar gave him credit for getting all the words right, but that's about it. Sports Grid asked, "How is this guy supposed to pass as a judge on a singing competition when he does? this?" The Boston Herald was one of the few voices to defend Tyler, calling the performance, "pretty decent."
At least he did wear the best scarf in the history of scarves. Pageant queens everywhere now know why there is a worldwide shortage on sequins.
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? Purdue coach has heated exchange with rival fans after loss
? Clint Dempsey scores first American hat trick in Premier League
Be afraid: NHLPA has Scott Hartnell, Joffrey Lupul and others filming their lives
Remember that scene in Season 2 of "HBO 24/7", when Scott Hartnell of the Philadelphia Flyers took one of their cameras and began filming his own mini-documentary in his condo?
Well, look at what Uncle Scott's gonna eat, courtesy of the NHLPA's new deal with BlackBerry.
That's the just-released "Sizzle Reel" for the NHLPA's "Players' Playbook" series, in which players will be taking "home movies" with their BlackBerry Playbooks and the Players' Association will be posting them.
From the PA:
"Move over Hollywood?5 players are moving behind the camera for an all-access look at their lives off the ice. From the dressing room to their living room and beyond, The NHLPA Players' Playbook delivers exclusive videos shot by the NHL players themselves."
The players participating are Hartnell, his buddy Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs; Marty Biron of the New York Rangers; Michael Grabner of the New York Islanders; and amateur film critic Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks.
So, basically, five personable goofballs we can vicariously live through. Awesome.
Besides having the potential for hijinks, this is also a big money deal between RIM and the NHLPA ? yes, the timing is impeccable.
Slowly, through stuff like this and social media, the players are starting to put themselves out there more ... just in time for the next CBA revenue sharing war.
PIP breast implant boss charged
The owner of a French breast implant maker at the centre of an international safety scare has been charged with "involuntary injury", his lawyer says.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-16736385
Hamm to compete for first time since '08 (AP)
Athens Olympic champion Paul Hamm plans to compete at a U.S. men's ranking meet next month, his first competition since breaking his hand at the 2008 national championships. Hamm hopes to earn one of eight spots on the national team available at Winter Cup, Feb. 2 and 4 at the Sports Center in Las Vegas.
Syria Red Crescent official dead
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent says its vice-president has been shot dead, but there are competing claims over who is responsible.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-16724129
In a World of Hurt: A blogger trains, NFL-style
Up through the NFL draft, Shutdown Corner blogger Kristian Dyer will be training at TEST Sports Club in Martinsville, N.J., along with roughly 20 players. All of these athletes are prepping for the NFL scouting combine, different pro days and of course, the NFL draft in April. A former college soccer player, Kristian was a playground legend at quarterback back in middle school but never played a down of organized football. He will be blogging about the life of training for the NFL draft and a career in the league as he lives it firsthand.
Martinsville, N.J. ? And so it begins.
I look to my left and there is a Ray Wegrzynek, a 6-1, 305-pound defensive lineman out of Kean University with his hands on his hips, slowly girating his legs. To my right is Sharrif Harris, a running back out of Southern Illinois University with dreads to his shoulders. In the blink of an eye, they're both racing away from me as I play catch-up. I manage to stay about two steps behind them as we sprint 40 yards.
"Not too bad," I think to myself; after all, these guys have legit ambitions of playing in the NFL someday and I'm a slightly out-of-shape journalist who is more likely to be sidelined by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome than a hamstring pull. I get blindsided by big stories, not by linebackers.
As I walk back to the starting line, kicking up rubber pellets inside the 50-yard field turf of the TEST facility, I feel pretty good about myself. That's when I feel Skip Fuller's arm around my neck.
"Your head was all over the place. Your arms were stiff. You were up way to straight and you weren't running well at all. You were plodding like," Fuller said, pounding down with his feet to demonstrate what looked like Fred Flinstone trying to kick start his Flinstonemobile in ancient Bedrock.
"But other than that, I was OK, right?" I ask.
"Let's work on that first, back to the line," Fuller said.
Slowly I jog back, that sinking feeling in my stomach that I usually associate with a girlfriend finally realizing how cheap I am and dumping me.�Already, I sense my draft stock plummeting and I might have to go the undrafted free-agent route. Fuller knows his stuff, his big smile and gregarious laugh giving no hint of a player who starred at West Virginia and played with the Miami Dolphins.
But clearly, I'm not one of these guys.
Such is the life of a NFL draft prospect, where a slight change in technique, a tenth of a second off a 40 time, a couple extra reps on the bench press will raise an athlete from an also-ran to a sleeper to even a player in demand. These athletes here were all the stars of their teams in college, many were All-Americans and some top players have had agents pursuing them and hanging around since they were in high school.
TEST has produced some top draft prospects over the years, with players like Joe Flacco, Ryan Clady and Patrick Peterson ? all of whom have done their combine training here and went on to be first-round picks.
Others such as Indianapolis Colts Eric Foster or New York Jets Jamaal Westerman went undrafted and now are established players in the league.�And then, there's me.
"You a soccer player?" one of the guys says to me. "You had to be a soccer player."�I look down at my legs and there's no hiding it.
I don't consider myself an athletic slouch having played Division III college soccer at Montclair State University, a perennially ranked program that, after I left, went on to become a national powerhouse (don't make the connection). My coach, Rob Chesney, always pushed us hard to be conditioned and fit and I took pride in being a hard worker when I was a Red Hawk.
But that was nine years ago, as press box food and a lifestyle where excessive blogging can lead to a sweat hasn't done wonders for me. I'm pretty sure Betty White could push me in a sprint at this point. I'm still catching my breath from that last run.
And then there's Jason Peters, a defensive end from Georgia Tech who is right behind me after sprints. While I'm heaving from my last sprint, Peters hasn't even broken a sweat.
My timed 40 was a 5.95 seconds. That has to be good, right?
"You're about a full second behind every one," said Tad Kornegay, an All-American at Fordham who has played in the Canadian Football League the past seven years and works at TEST during the offseason. "Just a full second."
The TEST coaches must be wondering what they got themselves into with me.�I'm fast learning that a second behind everyone else could cost me millions of dollars if a scout was watching. Uhhhh?Then it hits me. Even the hulking offensive and defensive linemen can out pace me. I measured in at 5-10� and 216.4 pounds These guys have a couple inches in height and a hundred pounds on me and I'd be eating their AstroTurf in a head-to-head matchup.
My vertical was better than expected, a solid 24 inches which means that I could get outrebounded by a halfway decent junior varsity basketball team.�There was some individualized training with Geir Gudmundsen, who was twice an All-American at Albany and played professionally for four years. I'm not explosive, he explains, I need to push out stronger. He tells me to close my eyes and extend my arms. I do so and he pushes me forward.
I catch my balance and shoot him a dirty look.
"You put your right leg out to balance yourself. That's now your push off leg when you do these sprints," Gudmundsen said.
At this point, my 90 minutes of training and my first day living the life has come to an end. The guys are gulping down protein drinks and I stretch a little with Harris, my heart still beating and my face flushed like I had just gone through a mega tanning session with the cast of "The Jersey Shore."
Harris is cool and composed, taking me through some leg stretches with bands. Turns out I'm really good at this stretching thing.�"You've got good flexibility," Harris said.
All right, finally something to hang my hat on. Maybe just maybe that NFL contract isn't so far away after all.�I get up and dust the fake grass off my leg, finally feeling good about myself after a very long and humbling morning.�Gudmundsen comes over and shakes my hand.
"Good first day," he says and I smile with that sense that maybe I've arrived. I mean, here's a trainer who has worked with the likes of NFL stars Jerricho Cotchery and Bart Scott and he just complimented me. Maybe I'm closer than I think.
"See you 9:30 tomorrow for leg day. You'll probably be sick after the first circuit. We keep trash cans nearby."
That would be trash cans in case I decide to lose my breakfast.
I've so not arrived.
Follow Kristian R. Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/world-hurt-blogger-trains-nfl-style-231405931.html
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Chris Weidman: From parents? basement to network TV
At Wednesday's open workouts for UFC on Fox 2, Weidman said he has not had time to sit back and think about all he's accomplished in such a short time.
"I really haven't set back to think about it all in a 10-month period. It started getting tough. Any amount of money at that point was going to get me to come," Weidman said.
When he took the fight with Alessio Sakara last March, he was on the verge of signing with Bellator. He even had dinner reservations to celebrate the signing, but gave himself more time to consider the contract. Waiting opened the door for the UFC to sign him.
By July, he had a decision over Sakara and a submission of Jesse Bongfeldt, and a new home for his wife and now two-year-old daughter Cassidy.
Weidman's spot on the card this weekend was just as surprising. When Mark Munoz was injured last week, the UFC had to scramble to create a card that would make people tune in to Fox. Michael Bisping was given the spot against Chael Sonnen, leaving a hole on the card to fight Maia. Weidman, who beat Tom Lawlor in November, was called.
"At the time, I was surprised, because I thought I was going to fight April 22. But I had a funny feeling that something was going to end up happening.
The bout against Maia was too good to pass up, even on 10 days notice.
"At first it was that I'm not going to fight him this week. I'm going to fight him eventually. March, April. Once I talked to my coach and decided that, they came back and said he doesn't want to leave this card. I got so excited to fight Maia at that point, I didn't care where or when."
His first concern was weight. Weidman said he was around 217 lbs. last week. Though he says that his weight is fine now, he had to turn down the comfort food his wife was cooking.
Beating Maia, an accomplished grappler, would push Weidman ever closer to a title shot. Though fighters taking bouts on short notice are often in a no-lose situation, Weidman sees this bout as a must-win.
"I don't see it [as no-lose]. I see it as I have to win this fight. If I win this fight, it puts me on a list of contenders, and closer to getting that belt."
His intention is not to just fight for the UFC middleweight belt, but also to fight in his home state of New York. Currently, MMA is illegal in New York.
"My main goal is obviously to not only get the belt, but fight at Madison Square Garden in New York. It would be a dream come true. They have to legalize it, but at the right time so I can be fighting on it for the belt."
Weidman hopes the shows on Fox will help change perceptions on fighters.
"We're 100 percent athletes. Just turn on the TV and watch us. Come meet us. We're not those guys 10 years ago who were perceived as brutal. We're athletes. Good guys. Trying to make a living for our families."
Long Island's Weidman hopes to start New York on its winning ways. As a New York Giants fan, Weidman wants to see his team win the Super Bowl.
"I like Tom Brady, he's a pretty good guy, but we're coming after him."
Stanford drops list of easy ?jock courses? for athletes
The list, which highlighted dozens of classes with a reputation for being easy, had been around for a decade and was available at an athlete resource center. Some athletes said it was a list that led to an easy grade. School officials insist it was designed to accommodate athletes, whose practice schedules can make it difficult to attend certain classes.
Whatever its intention, the list is gone, discontinued after Stanford students from California Watch started poking around.
The San Francisco Chronicle later reported the story a well, describing the "Courses of Interest" list, which was distributed by the Athletic Academic Resource Center:
The center's four advisers compiled the list to help student athletes find introductory classes that fit into constrained time schedules and fulfilled general education requirements. Afternoon practices mean that athletes have to choose classes that start from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. The list mostly contained classes during those hours.
Nearly 200 courses in 16 academic departments and programs offered during the 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. time slots were left off the list.
We all know athletes get special treatment at school. In the grand scheme of all the benefits (proper and improper), this barely registers.� You don't need a list to figure out that a course called "Social Dances of North America I" that's described as an "introduction to the partner dances found in American popular culture: waltz, swing, tango, club two step, cha cha, merengue, and salsa" is going to be an easy A. Everybody at college knows the joke courses and easy instructors. I mean, RateMyProfessors.com doesn't exist because sophomores want to find academically rigorous classes.
The courses on the list are offered to all students at Stanford. Nobody should feel guilty about taking them. If they were that easy, the school shouldn't have them on the register in the first place. Not every class can be molecular thermodynamics.
In order to get an undergraduate degree, students are required to take four quarters of humanities, one class in applied sciences, mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences and various classes in ethical reasoning, American cultures and gender studies. A dance class is probably a nice break from the grind.
The director of the Athletic Academic Resource Center claims the list was merely an advising guide. That statement has been refuted by athletes, one of whom said that he grabbed the list from the door of the resource center and walked out without speaking to anyone. "I never used it before this year," Ryan Sudeck, a junior crew team member told the newspaper. "But this quarter it was like, 'Oh, I need an easy class to boost my GPA.'"
That easy class will still be there next year. In all likelihood, so will the list. Unofficially, of course.
Follow Yahoo! Sports on Facebook and be the first to know about the most interesting stories of the day.
Other popular Yahoo! Sports stories:
? Professor honored at half tossed from basketball game
? Chris Webber gets 'misty' after latest Heat loss
? NFL coach becomes coach of another pro team
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/post/stanford-drops-list-of-easy-jock-courses-for-athletes?urn=top,wp4
Why Today is the Most Important Day for Ducati?Ever
The first Ducati 1199 Panigale rolled off the assembly line at Ducati’s Borgo Panigale factory today, officially starting production of the Italian company’s flagship model. While maybe the the production of the first Panigale is not the most newsworthy of subjects, make no mistake at how important this motorcycle is for both Ducati and sport bikes in general going into the future. Featuring a new step in production motorcycle chassis design, we’ve also already talked ...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/-fml-M6o48A/
Jeremy London -- Charged with Domestic Battery, Officially Described as Homeless
Jeremy London has formally been charged with domestic battery for allegedly beating up his baby mama in Palm Springs last month -- but the crazy part ... legal docs filed in the case describe the actor as homeless.Jeremy still hasn't been arrested…
TMZ
Jeremy London -- Charged with Domestic Battery, Officially Described as Homeless
Source: http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/24/jeremy-london-domestic-battery-homeless/
Video: Streaker gets gored after running with the bulls
Up until 30 seconds ago, I figured you couldn't get much more stupid than running with the bulls in Pamplona and capping off the mad dash by getting into a frenzied bull ring with dozens of other idiots in an attempt to avoid a goring by an angry bull. Then I saw this clip and realized there's something even dumber: running with the bulls in Pamplona and capping off the mad dash by getting in a frenzied bull ring with dozens of other idiots in an attempt to avoid a goring by an angry bull while streaking.
(Note: The video is free from both gratuitous nudity and violence but has hints of both. You can't see anything, if you catch my drift. Let's call it marginally SFW.)
I'm not going to say anybody ever deserves getting horned by by a bull but, actually, that's exactly what I'm going to do. That guy totally had it coming.
Judge Puts Off Decision In Halle Berry Case
Halle Berry will have to wait until Monday to get a decision from a judge ... on whether her baby daddy, Gabriel Aubry, should be prohibited from having any contact with Nahla until the child endangerment investigation runs its course.Sources tell…
TMZ
Judge Puts Off Decision In Halle Berry Case
Source: http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/24/halle-berry-gabriel-aubry/
Stanford drops list of easy ?jock courses? for athletes
The list, which highlighted dozens of classes with a reputation for being easy, had been around for a decade and was available at an athlete resource center. Some athletes said it was a list that led to an easy grade. School officials insist it was designed to accommodate athletes, whose practice schedules can make it difficult to attend certain classes.
Whatever its intention, the list is gone, discontinued after Stanford students from California Watch started poking around.
The San Francisco Chronicle later reported the story a well, describing the "Courses of Interest" list, which was distributed by the Athletic Academic Resource Center:
The center's four advisers compiled the list to help student athletes find introductory classes that fit into constrained time schedules and fulfilled general education requirements. Afternoon practices mean that athletes have to choose classes that start from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. The list mostly contained classes during those hours.
Nearly 200 courses in 16 academic departments and programs offered during the 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. time slots were left off the list.
We all know athletes get special treatment at school. In the grand scheme of all the benefits (proper and improper), this barely registers.� You don't need a list to figure out that a course called "Social Dances of North America I" that's described as an "introduction to the partner dances found in American popular culture: waltz, swing, tango, club two step, cha cha, merengue, and salsa" is going to be an easy A. Everybody at college knows the joke courses and easy instructors. I mean, RateMyProfessors.com doesn't exist because sophomores want to find academically rigorous classes.
The courses on the list are offered to all students at Stanford. Nobody should feel guilty about taking them. If they were that easy, the school shouldn't have them on the register in the first place. Not every class can be molecular thermodynamics.
In order to get an undergraduate degree, students are required to take four quarters of humanities, one class in applied sciences, mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences and various classes in ethical reasoning, American cultures and gender studies. A dance class is probably a nice break from the grind.
The director of the Athletic Academic Resource Center claims the list was merely an advising guide. That statement has been refuted by athletes, one of whom said that he grabbed the list from the door of the resource center and walked out without speaking to anyone. "I never used it before this year," Ryan Sudeck, a junior crew team member told the newspaper. "But this quarter it was like, 'Oh, I need an easy class to boost my GPA.'"
That easy class will still be there next year. In all likelihood, so will the list. Unofficially, of course.
Follow Yahoo! Sports on Facebook and be the first to know about the most interesting stories of the day.
Other popular Yahoo! Sports stories:
? Professor honored at half tossed from basketball game
? Chris Webber gets 'misty' after latest Heat loss
? NFL coach becomes coach of another pro team
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/post/stanford-drops-list-of-easy-jock-courses-for-athletes?urn=top,wp4
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