Stock Player Comments And Info

Wharnsby: University goalie crashes NHLPA charity game

admin — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:00:38 +0000

The locked-out NHL players didn’t say anything intstructive about their labour impasse at a charity game Wednesday night in Toronto, which left Ryerson University goalie Louie George the most compelling story of the night.

Three things were clear from the RBC Charity Challenge that was fronted by NHLPA members P.K. Subban and Steven Stamkos at the new Maple Leaf Gardens on Wednesday.

First, after the game the players’ responses to questions about the 95-day-old NHL lockout and the ongoing vote to authorize the NHLPA executive board to file the disclaimer of interest – if the players chose that route – were well scripted.

There were no Evander Kane-like brush fires to put out (see his Twitter photo from earlier this week) and there were no more verbal darts tossed in the direction of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. The players obviously didn’t want to take away from the charity game’s cause, raising money for grass roots hockey.

Secondly, Eric Lindros must be a lousy coach. His Team Subban was badly beaten. Only a late-game comeback made the 13-10 affair appear closer than it was before a sellout of 2,600 at $30 a seat.

“I don’t know if it was all his fault,” Team Subban goalie Martin Biron said, jokingly. “Maybe [assistant coach] Rob Zamuner was to blame, too. I do know we needed a timeout there when we got down early.”

The third development was the guy who had the most fun was Louie George. Who is Louie George? He is a 25-year-old, fifth-year goalie with Ryerson University.

Earlier this week, he switched on his computer to find an email from Ryerson head coach Graham Wise. The message read that the NHLPA needed a fourth goalie for its charity game, was he interested?

“It didn’t take me long to answer that one,” George said. He spelled Biron in the second period, played well and enjoyed the experience.

“It was so much fun,” George continued. “This is something that I’ll never forget.”

George found P.K. Subban, Brad Boyes, David Clarkson, Joffrey Lupul, Chris Campoli and the others on Team Subban extremely welcoming.

“I sat beside Tom Kostopoulos in the dressing room and he could not have been nicer,” George said. “He asked a lot of questions and wanted to know how my season was going.”

Was there much chatter in the dressing room about the lockout among the NHLPA members?

“They talked about it a little, but not much,” George said. “Mostly they were catching up with each other, finding out what they have been up. How much they have been working out or skating. That sort of stuff.”

Predictably, George said he supports the players in their dispute with the owners. Back home in Waterloo, Ont., George has skated with some pros in the summertime.

The Ryerson hockey team is on a break right now. In fact, during some informal morning skates George has played out in recent sessions with his teammates. But he returned to his natural position the past couple of days once he found out of his evening with the pros.

“I think so,” George replied, when asked if this was an experience he can build off when his league resumes in the New Year.

“These guys are so fast. They’re threats from much farther out than I’m used to. I had to be ready.”

Back to accessibility links

Michelle Branch Sonia Couling

Wharnsby: University goalie crashes NHLPA charity game is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

30 Thoughts: NHL opts to play waiting game

admin — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:00:36 +0000

The NHL doesn’t believe the NHL Players’ AssociationÂ is truly ready to make a deal so barring a change, it’s just going to sit tight.

As we wait for this hockey lunacy to get sorted out, here is my best attempt at a bias-free blog on where things stand.

We have killed a lot of trees and wasted a ton of bandwidth arguing about the ongoing vote into the possibility of decertifying the NHL Players’ Association. I get mixed messages about how serious the players are about going down this road. There are some who really want to do it.Â But there are others who want no part of it unless the NHL cancels the season.

Should that apocalyptically stupid scenario actually occur, the last three months will seem like a kiddie party compared to what happens next. The players and owners will really go for the jugular. But as one source said Wednesday: “We need an external push.”

A legal threat could be just that, as it was in the NBA one year ago. Another, of course, is the true deadline for cancelling the season. As of yet, the NHL refuses to reveal that information, although it’s probably around Jan. 15 at the latest.

I don’t believe either constituency supports a lost season. The players want to play and the owners do, too. But the biggest problem is that they don’t trust each other and the path is littered with poison.

As infuriating as all of this is, it’s better they’re not meeting. The breakdowns of the past two weeks are proof that the NHL and NHLPA should not be anywhere near each other unless they’re both serious about making a deal. You can blame who you want, be my guest. But the truth is this: the desire to agree to a new collective bargaining agreement was not 100 per cent there on either side. Collapses only make things worse, so it sounds like the NHL is making a change in strategy.

I don’t know if the league underestimated NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr or just received horrible intel on him. But it did not recognize two very important things.

First, Fehr’s idealogical beliefs are very strong. You may consider his CBA history lessons boring or irrelevant. But he doesn’t. More importantly, he convinced the players how much it mattered and they rallied behind him.

There’ve been times during this process when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s supporters have taken issue with my position that he has disrespected the players. That’s fair comment and those people are correct to point out that the players, especially on Twitter, have disrespected him, too. But the fact is that some of the NHL’s negotiating moves helped Fehr gain a greater buy-in. There is no doubt in my mind the vast majority of the players want to play. But some of Bettman’s decisions accomplished the reverse, pushing the NHLPA in the opposite direction. It was counter-productive.

The second thing the NHL missed was Fehr’s history of waiting until the last second to make deals. Whatever mistakes the league made in this process, it wanted to be playing by now. We’ve talked about the Proskauer Rose playbook and how this is all scripted by “the law firm that’s ruining sports.” But I really believe this has gone further than Bettman wanted it to, which is why he looks so frustrated. Now Fehr is controlling the tempo and has convinced his constituency that the owners will make final concessions at the end. A lot of players don’t like how long this is taking yet they seem to believe that.

Hence, the NHL’s change in strategy. It’s going to wait.

When Ron Burkle (Pittsburgh), Mark Chipman (Winnipeg), Larry Tanenbaum (Toronto) and Jeff Vinik (Tampa Bay) joined the fray two weeks ago, the NHL was upset its decision to raise the make-whole amount to $300 million wasn’t received well by the players. Again, everyone can argue who is right and who is wrong. But those owners really thought that was going to be a significant move towards getting an agreement done. It didn’t happen and, angrily, that offer was pulled from the table.Â

I have had no correspondence with Bettman or deputy commissioner Bill Daly for this blog. However, after several conversations with other NHL executives, my opinion is if those two had reason to believe that putting the make-whole provision back on the table and moving in the players’ direction on contracting issues would lead to an NHLPA vote on their latest proposal, they’d be at the bargaining table immediately to find a way to do it. But they don’t believe that’s a possibility. What they see is a repeat of New York City, where these things are offered and the players say, “Thank you … and we’ll see what else there is.”

Bettman and Daly won’t take that risk. You can argue whether or not they are right or wrong to hold that position. But I think that’s where we are. The NHL doesn’t believe the NHLPA is truly ready to make a deal. So barring a change, it’s going to sit tight.

30 THOUGHTS

1. After hearing Kyle Turris’ reported thoughts about Finland, I thought he was joking, not trying to be harmful, and that he forgot two things. First, people don’t like it when you make fun of their countries, even if not meant maliciously. Second, right now, when it comes to hockey, people don’t have much of a sense of humour about anything.

2. Next apology? Evander Kane, who tweeted this photo early Wednesday morning. Oof. It’s a good thing people aren’t prone to overreacting on Twitter.

3. Winnipeg Jets teammate Ron Hainsey had a lot of interesting things to say about Kane. He’s a big fan. Hainsey believes Kane is a phenomenal talent, joking that “I can’t lift 230 [pounds] once and he does it over-and-over again as a warmup.” The thing, though, is Kane is 21 and impulsive and needs people around him to make sure he thinks things through. Clearly, that didn’t happen here.Â

4. I really hate filling this with lockout-related items, so sorry in advance. But there’s some stuff to go over. Let’s look at some of the sticking points. In the aforementioned NYC negotiations, the NHLPA dropped a demand that, starting in Year 2 of the new CBA, its amount of the financial pie was protected from dropping below the previous season’s. But it did ask for a cap on escrow. I just can’t see the owners going for that at all, even with the 2012-13 schedule on the line.

5. I think the $300-million make-whole is back on the table if the NHL gets a 10-year agreement with an out after eight (as requested by the players).

6. We’ve heard Fehr’s arguments that 10 years is too long because too many players entering the league will be subject to a CBA they didn’t vote on. To me, the bigger question is what’s better for the players — that philosophy or business partners confident that they can sign a decent-sized contract with the NHL and not have to worry about another work stoppage?

7. NHL owners are going to have to move on the five-year max contracts (seven for your own free agents). I know I mentioned it last week, but the effects of Vincent Lecavalier on the Tampa sale and Ilya Kovalchuk on the continuing New Jersey situation have these guys totally spooked. Yes, it’s their own fault and they know it. That’s why they’ve got to go six and eight.

8. The one I’m really having trouble pinning down is the amnesty buyout. It’s very difficult to get a read on what’s going to happen here because word is the commissioner is absolutely against anything that doesn’t count against the salary cap. But you look at the possibility of a $60-million ceiling next season, see where some teams are and say, “This isn’t possible without one.”

9. One possibility: when Ken Hitchcock was hired by St. Louis, he was still owed about $1.3 million by Columbus. The Blues can’t pay him $1 and have the Blue Jackets cough up $1,299,999. There is a formula the league uses where the new team must pay market value, where you look at the salaries of other coaches with his level of experience.

10. So what if you tried that? Well, Wade Redden has played 994 NHL games. If you add up the combined 2011-12 salaries of active players within 50 games of that, you get $3,657,533. (Range: Lecavalier to Petr Sykora.) Redden’s current contract pays him $5 million for this year and next with a cap hit of $6.5 million. The New York Rangers should get stuck with the higher number so, if another team wants him, it must take a cap hit of $2,842,467 (ie. 6.5 million minus 3,657,533).

11. I have to tell you, nothing I’ve suggested in my career was dismissed as quickly as that and I’ve had some really bad ideas. The first two execs I asked shot it down so badly that I didn’t even ask a third. It was interesting because the first GM said, “No one would sign Redden at that number.” What’s key here are the words “at that number” — we’ll get to that later.

12. In the middle of the night, I thought of something else. As it stands now, the buyout for Redden is 67 per cent of his salary over double the term remaining, so the Rangers pay out $6.7 million during the next four years (assuming no change in the next CBA). What if you affected his cap hit the same way? Give New York a choice: $6.5 million on your cap for two years or $4.355 million for four. Do the math and $4,355,000 minus $3,657,533 is $697,467. Now Redden gets another shot.

13. One final note on Redden. It looks like the Rangers have all but guaranteed he is getting the buyout (if there is one) and the sense is there is going to be a lot of interest in him. Don’t know what the final salary will be. But if he’s willing to be reasonable — and you have to believe he will be — he’s going to have options. Lots of execs think he will be good value at a lower number.

14. I ran the same numbers on Scott Gomez. He has played 902 NHL games. The average salary in 2011-12 for players who’ve dressed for between 852 and 952 games was $3,124,656 (Range: Brad Richards to Jamal Mayers).

15. The second thing I suggested was what if teams who buy out a player can only carry 22 on their roster instead of 23? The execs liked it even less … can’t imagine that would thrill the NHLPA, either.

16. Anyway, if I was the commissioner, I’d be quietly polling my owners, asking how many of them would consider an amnesty buyout on their roster. I didn’t ask a ton of guys. But those I did talk to said the number might be lower than we think. Bettman can decide what’s an acceptable amount. However, for argument’s sake, if it’s 15, is it really worth cancelling the season for that?

17. Last thing on this topic. If I was a “have” financially, I’d be demanding it. What else are you getting in this CBA? The share is going down to 50/50 and anything you save there is going into revenue sharing.Â

18. I get asked about the Olympics quite a bit. Nothing is nailed down and it might be done separately from this CBA, but it sounds like both sides want to make it work.

19. Fehr’s mentor, the late Marvin Miller, absolutely hated the idea of every player being made a free agent — a move threatened by the NHL’s anti-disclaimer legal brief. There’s a pretty famous story of former Oakland A’s owner Charlie Finley saying baseball should do just that and Miller being relieved because he knew the other owners would never listen. Miller understood the perfect setup was similar to last summer in the NHL, when you had a few A-level guys — Shea Weber, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter — drive up the price for everyone.Â

20. Seth Jones: crossover appeal — a Page Six mention! (courtesy Nirva Milord from the NHL office) His father is one of the 10 nicest people on the planet.

21. Last week, it was discovered a Boston Bruins fan made a tattoo out of a Tyler Seguin autograph. This happened to Ryan Miller in Buffalo, only it was a female and, I believe, her thigh. Miller wins.

22. I’m not a big fan of players being kept from the world juniors by their NHL teams. If the player makes it clear he doesn’t want to go, like Jason Spezza after three appearances, that’s one thing. But I’m really torn on Mika Zibanejad. If he was from Swift Current, not Stockholm, we’d be demanding a federal investigation.

23. Zibanejad is struggling with AHL Binghamton. He has just seven points in 16 games and, while plus/minus is a flawed stat, he has one of the worst numbers on a team with few negative players. You have to assume the Senators want him to make an NHL impact as soon as possible, especially since they will try to continue momentum from their surprising 2011-12. I can see their rationale.Â

24. A lot of people were very surprised that Frankie Corrado and Derrick Pouliot did not make Team Canada. There are always debates and those two were this year’s hotly discussed omissions.

25. Make it four straight wins for the Portland Pirates, Phoenix’s AHL edition. The Coyotes have some blue-liners coming, too. We know about Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who scored major points by deciding to stay in the AHL rather than going for a more lucrative contract overseas. But there are more.

26. David Rundblad’s overall game has improved this season — and at an important time in his career. He is a 17th overall pick (2009) who has already been traded twice and needs to establish himself. He’ll never be a monster along the boards. But there is a noted difference in his willingness to compete in that area. A guy who always competed defensively, Mike Stone, is on pace for the best offensive numbers of his career.

27. Then there’s Brandon Gormley, who fell to 13th in the 2010 draft amid expectations he would go higher. There were questions about his strength after a poor pre-draft combine. But a few teams saw his skill level and believed that, once he filled out, he’d be just fine. Gormley’s still not where he’s going to be size-wise but it’s coming. And he’s got a great head for the game.

28. A number of coaches, executives and scouts going back to junior really praise Gormley’s ability to get his shot through. In an era of blocking, that’s a big deal. Plus, he has a real confidence at the opposing blue-line. He is willing to stand outside the zone to make a play while keeping the puck inside the line. I understand why the Coyotes are so excited about him.

29. At the NHL board of governors meeting two weeks ago, a young man named Jim Charshafian waited outside Proskauer Rose, trying to make contacts and handing out his resume. Charshafian worked for the AHL San Antonio Rampage last season and was looking for something new. It’s hard to get your foot in the door and not easy to cold call like that. Good luck.

30. As we approach Christmas and the Holiday season, I wanted to send the best to anyone financially affected by the lockout. There are thousands of part-time, full-time or laid-off employees whose situations are tougher than they’d want because of this outrageous battle. This is a hard time of year to feel that way. Hopefully, you get your wish — an end, and soon.Â

Back to accessibility links

Anne Archer Hetty Baynes

30 Thoughts: NHL opts to play waiting game is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

ESPN’s Rob Parker apologizes for comments about RG3

admin — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:01:33 +0000

ESPN analyst Rob Parker upset a lot of people last week when he called Robert Griffin III a “cornball brother,” even though Griffin’s family responded to the ridiculous statements with class.

Parker has since been suspended by the network. On Wednesday, he began to say he’s sorry.

“I blew it and I’m sincerely sorry,” Parker wrote. “I completely understand how the issue of race in sports is a sensitive one and needs to be handled with great care. This past Thursday I failed to do that. I believe the intended topic is a worthy one. Robert’s thoughts about being an African-American quarterback and the impact of his phenomenal success have been discussed in other media outlets, as well as among sports fans, particularly those in the African-American community.

“The failure was in how I chose to discuss it on First Take, and in doing so, turned a productive conversation into a negative one. I regrettably introduced some points that I never should have and I completely understand the strong response to them, including ESPN’s reaction. Perhaps most importantly, the attention my words have brought to one of the best and brightest stars in all of sports is an unintended and troubling result. Robert Griffin III is a talented athlete who not only can do great things on the field, but off the field handles himself in a way we are all taught — with dignity, respect and pride.

“I’ve contacted his agent with hopes of apologizing to Robert directly. As I reflect on this and move forward, I will take the time to consider how I can continue to tackle difficult, important topics in a much more thoughtful manner.”

The apology is good to see. It is certainly better than the alternative. It would be even more impactful if Parker’s previous tweets after the comments didn’t tell followers they were uneducated, silly, pathetic, and typical. Those responses remain on Parker’s page.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.

Hetty Baynes British Marines

ESPN’s Rob Parker apologizes for comments about RG3 is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Chris Johnson expected to stay with Tennessee Titans

admin — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:00:50 +0000

There has been a lot of talk about Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson’s contract situation, and for good reason. He’s paid like a premier running back, but performs erratically.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported Tuesday the Titans owe Johnson $10 million next season, including $9 million that’s guaranteed if he’s on the roster on the fifth day of the new league year. So the Titans won’t wait long before needing to make a decision.

Mr. Rapsheet says Tennessee’s decision could surprise a lot of people. Titans sources and sources who had spoken to Johnson believe that Johnson will be back with the Titans next season. Even though Johnson is a boom or bust or back, he’s still the biggest name on a young offense that has some potential next season with wide receivers Kenny Britt and Kendall Wright growing up. The Titans believe he will help sell tickets and want to keep him. Some of his struggles this year have been attributed to a banged up offensive line.

Johnson’s game on Monday night against the New York Jets was typical performance. He had a 94 yard touchdown, but only gained 28 yards on his other 20 carries. Then again, that 94-yard touchdown was the difference in the game. That’s a tradeoff the Titans sound ready to live with.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.

Carrie Fisher Joan Jett

Chris Johnson expected to stay with Tennessee Titans is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

UFC on FOX 5′s FX-televised prelims add Easton-Assuncao and Siver-Phan

admin — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:00:40 +0000

Two fights have joined FX’s super-sized preliminary-card broadcast for next week’s UFC on FOX 5 event.

FX now airs six fights, not the usual four, prior to the Dec. 8′s main-card broadcast on FOX.

The bouts include bantamweights Mike Easton (13-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) vs. Raphael Assuncao (18-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) and featherweights Dennis Siver (20-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) vs. Nam Phan (18-10 MMA, 2-3 UFC).

UFC on FOX 5 takes place Dec. 8 at Seattle’s KeyArena and features a main event between lightweight champion Benson Henderson and top contender Nate Diaz.

Although FUEL TV carried past UFC on FOX prelims, they now head to the bigger FX. Other bouts part of next week’s three-hour broadcast, which follows additional prelims on Facebook, include heavyweights Brendan Schaub (8-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) vs. Lavar Johnson (17-6 MMA, 2-1 UFC), “The Ultimate Fighter 15″ lightweight winner Michael Chiesa (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) vs. Marcus LeVesseur (22-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC), “TUF 13″ runner-up Ramsey Nijem (6-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) vs. fellow lightweight Joe Proctor (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), and lightweights Yves Edwards (41-18-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC) vs. Jeremy Stephens (20-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC).

The full UFC on FOX 5 card includes:

MAIN CARD (FOX, 8 p.m. ET)

Champ Benson Henderson vs. Nate Diaz (for lightweight title)
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
Rory MacDonald vs. B.J. Penn
Matt Brown vs. Mike Swick

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX, 5 p.m. ET)

Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub
Mike Chiesa vs. Marcus LeVesseur
Raphael Assuncao vs. Mike Easton
Nam Phan vs. Dennis Siver
Ramsey Nijem vs. Joe Proctor
Yves Edwards vs. Jeremy Stephens

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Daron Cruickshank vs. Henry Martinez
John Albert vs. Scott Jorgensen
Tim Means vs. Abel Trujillo

For more on UFC on FOX 5, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Mike Easton)

Rachel McAdams Alyssa Milano

UFC on FOX 5′s FX-televised prelims add Easton-Assuncao and Siver-Phan is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Lindsay Lohan — I Don’t Do Bar Mitzvahs!

admin — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 05:00:33 +0000

Lindsay Lohan
I Don’t Do Bar Mitzvahs!

EXCLUSIVE

13-year-old Jewish boys will have to come of age WITHOUTÂ Lindsay Lohan‘s help — because the actress does not do Bar Mitzvahs … despite recent claims by a talent agency trying to pimp her out for small-scale appearances.

A North Carolina company called 123 Talent recently sent out mass emails, offering to book Lindsay for personal appearances, weddings, and Bar Mitzvahs.

A booking fee isn’t listed on the message — but Lindsay’s film credits are … “The Parent Trap,” “I Know Who Killed Me,” and that creepy Disney movie with Tyra Banks called “Life-Size.”

And now, Lindsay’s pissed — insisting her career hasn’t sunk so low that she’d be forced to do anything like a Bar Mitzvah or a wedding … not yet anyway.

What’s more — sources close to the actress tell us, Lindsay NEVER signed a deal with 123 Talent and never agreed to let them represent her in any way … so the email is totally bogus.

The CEO of 123 Talent –Â which still claims to represent Lindsay on its website — tells us, the pitch was NOT bogus but Lindsay’s team has since “decided to go in another direction.”

The CEO added, “Unfortunately, we are not working with Lindsay Lohan.”

Tracey Shaw Jessica Stroup

Lindsay Lohan — I Don’t Do Bar Mitzvahs! is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Carlos Rogers: 49ers’ win over Pats had ‘playoff’ feel

admin — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:01:08 +0000

The San Francisco 49ers earned their biggest victory of the season on Sunday night. Consider it a primer.

“It’s not the playoffs, but it was a playoff environment,” cornerback Carlos Rogers said, via The Sacramento Bee. “We know the next couple of games are going to be like that.”

Sunday’s 41-34 win over the New England Patriots nearly drifted away as the 49ers squandered a 28-point lead. The Patriots poured on the offense as quarterback Tom Brady threw 40 more passes on the night than Colin Kaepernick. Too many of those throws, however, didn’t go Brady’s way.

The 49ers (10-3-1) clinched a playoff spot and can take the NFC West with a win over the Seattle Seahawks (9-5) next Sunday — another season-defining clash.

The intense race for the playoffs is in full gear. Check out the latest situation in the postseason chase. More …

We’ve seen the 49ers thrive in big moments all year. Coach Jim Harbaugh said it best (at least he said it in a very Jim Harbaughy way) when he compared San Francisco’s ability to tune out the white noise of these high-pressure affairs with his childhood spent near a railroad station:

“The more you hear the train,” Harbaugh said, “the less you hear it.”

We think we understand.

Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.

Alexis Bledel Sienna Miller

Carlos Rogers: 49ers’ win over Pats had ‘playoff’ feel is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Dallas Cowboys dump Pittsburgh Steelers with rally

admin — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:01:33 +0000

The Dallas Cowboys suddenly have learned to win close games, and coach Jason Garrett is making all the right clock-management decisions.

In this long, winding NFL campaign, here’s a sentence no one saw coming at midseason: We have a three-way tie atop the NFC East.

The Cowboys outlasted the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 in overtime Sunday in one of the more entertaining, evenly matched games of the season. Both teams have struggled with injuries, especially on defense, but they attacked this game with the intensity of a playoff contest.

The Cowboys needed the win more, and they got it through excellent quarterback play and timely defense. Tony Romo threw for 341 yards without a turnover, and he came up with another fourth-quarter comeback. The Steelers’ offense moved the ball well during the middle portion of the game, having scored in four of their last five possessions going into the fourth quarter.

After that: Punt, punt and an interception to start overtime that essentially ended the game.

Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr picked off a Ben Roethlisberger pass to start the extra session, setting up Dan Bailey’s game-winning field goal.

The Cowboys spent the first part of the season finding every imaginable way to lose. Now they are finding ways to pull out games. At 8-6, they still have a solid chance to win the NFC East or make the playoffs as a wild card.

The Steelers, meanwhile, have an uphill climb just to make the postseason at 7-7. They are 0-2 since Roethlisberger returned to the lineup. One more loss next week, and the Steelers’ season is over.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.

Danneel Ackles Anette Bening

Dallas Cowboys dump Pittsburgh Steelers with rally is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

CT Shooter Adam Lanza — Learned How to Fire Guns … From His Mom

admin — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 07:00:36 +0000

CT Shooter Adam Lanza
Learned How to Fire Guns
… From His Mom

Breaking News

Mass murderer Adam Lanza learned everything he knew about firearms … from his mother.

Adam’s mom, Nancy Lanza — who was Adam’s first victim — was an avid gun collector who reportedly bragged to friends and neighbors about her weapons and took her son to several firing ranges to teach him how to shoot … in the months leading up to his deadly assault.

One of Nancy’s neighbors, Dan Holmes, told the NY Post … Nancy was a gun enthusiast … an avid collector … often taking her kids to the gun range, infusing them with her obsession with firearms.

Adam used several different guns when he opened fire on Sandy Hook Elementary school earlier this week … all of which were registered to his mother.

Tammy Gretchen Robyn Douglas

CT Shooter Adam Lanza — Learned How to Fire Guns … From His Mom is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

2012 VH1 Divas Red Carpet Live Stream: Watch Now!

admin — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:00:32 +0000

It’s always quite the entertaining spectacle, and this year looks to be no different as the stars are set to converge at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for the 2012 VH1 Divas on Sunday night (December 16).

With live red carpet video coverage available below beginning at 8/7c, the red carpet is sure to be abuzz as special guests this time around include Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato, as well as newly engaged “American Idol” alum, Kelly Clarkson.

As for the show, VH1 Divas 2012 will be hosted by “For Your Entertainment” rocker Adam Lambert with the theme being a celebration of two recently departed diva legends: Whitney Houston and Donna Summer.

Topped off with star presenters such as Stacy Keibler, Jenna Dewan and Kelly Osbourne, check out the pre-ceremony fashion display below ahead of the show’s kickoff at 9/8c on VH1!

Christina Applegate Natalie Portman

2012 VH1 Divas Red Carpet Live Stream: Watch Now! is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Ray Lewis to Judge — Don’t Let My Baby Mama CSI My Bank Accounts!!!

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 22:01:30 +0000

Ray Lewis to Judge
Don’t Let My Baby Mama
CSI My Bank Accounts!!!

EXCLUSIVE

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is going for the block … against his baby mama who’s trying to hire a forensic investigator to comb through his finances — all in an attempt to squeeze more child support out of him.

You’ll recall … Lewis and his baby mama Sharnika Kelly are in a nasty battle over child support for their young son — and earlier this year Sharnika asked a judge to throw out their current agreement, claiming when she signed the deal back in 2001, Ray never disclosed his full income.

Sharnika even asked to have a forensic investigator come in and determine how much the NFL star is actually worth — in hopes to have the current $3,500-a-month order increased.

Now Ray is putting his foot down — and recently filed legal docs in Florida asking a judge to bar his baby mama from looking through his finances.

In docs, Ray argues the order established in 2001 is totally legit — and says that Sharnika had a lawyer when she signed, so if she wanted to fight it … she should have done so WAY back then.

A judge has yet to rule.

Tyler Faith Christine Anu

Ray Lewis to Judge — Don’t Let My Baby Mama CSI My Bank Accounts!!! is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Arnie Klein — Bankrupt MJ Doc Dumping Laguna Beach Mansion

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:00:39 +0000

Arnie Klein
Bankrupt MJ Doc Dumping
Laguna Beach Mansion

EXCLUSIVE

Dr. Arnie Klein — Michael Jackson‘s now-bankrupt former dermatologist — has already lost his Hancock Park mansion … and now he’s kissing his enormous Laguna Beach mansion goodbye.

The cash-poor Klein has listed the 3,500 sq. ft. property for $6.63 MILLION.Â Â And get this … Klein tried to unload the property last year, listing it for a cool $12 mil.

Klein’s fall has been breathtaking. He was once the premiere dermatologist to in Bev Hills … the dermatologist to the stars, including MJ, Elizabeth Taylor and Cher.Â

Klein’s medical practices were put under a microscope after MJ died. The doc was fueling MJ with huge quantities of prescription drugs, including Demerol — he injected MJ with Demerol 51 times in the 3 months preceding his death.Â

Many of the scripts were written using aliases for Michael.

Tonya Harding Michelle Johnson

Arnie Klein — Bankrupt MJ Doc Dumping Laguna Beach Mansion is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Lindsay Lohan — I Admit It … I’ve Lost Control of My Life

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:00:33 +0000

Lindsay Lohan
I Admit It …
I’ve Lost Control

EXCLUSIVE

Lindsay Lohan has hit rock bottom yet again and she knows it … finally admitting her life has gone off the rails and she desperately needs professional help … TMZ has learned.

Lindsay’s telling friends, she thought she had turned over a new leaf back in March when she completed the terms of her sentence in the jewelry heist case … and Judge Stephanie Sautner maternally warned, “Stop the nightclubbing and focus on your work.”

Lindsay clearly ignored that advice …Â and now we’re told she’s inconsolableÂ – repeatedly calling her lawyer Shawn Holley in tears.Â In classic Lindsay form, she knows her life is out of control, but she’s blaming it on others, saying she has again hooked up with a bad group of people and had run-ins with “opportunists” who have tried to provoke her.

As for drugs and alcohol … Lindsay is still adamant … she doesn’t have a problem.Â As they say, there is none so blind as those who will not see.

Lindsay believes her real problem is that she never stuck with counseling, but thinks regular appointments with a professional could be her salvation.Â It’s probably not coincidental that counseling is now the only possible way she can avoid jail for the new crimes and probation violation.

Finally … Lindsay is confessing to friends she has a big problem with impulse control … in other words, she doesn’t think before she acts.Â Â She thinks a shrink can help her in that department.

If she did, maybe there’d be no such thing as “Liz and Dick.”

Gail Porter Donna Gubbay

Lindsay Lohan — I Admit It … I’ve Lost Control of My Life is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

The Kardashians Stroll Around Miami Before Heading to Work

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 09:00:33 +0000

After a relaxing day out and about, the Kardashian sisters all headed to the DASH store in Miami on Saturday (December 15) to check up on their south Florida boutique.

Looking stunning in figure-hugging white dresses, Kim and Kourtney made their way past the mob of photographers, while Khloe followed closely behind in a tan and black ensemble.

In a new, recently released preview of their upcoming series “Kourtney and Kim Take Maimi,” the E! reality sisters get tough with their “dolls” after seeing their signature store in disarray.

Appalled at the appearance, Khloe says, “I am not having a good moment right now. This is not the way the store should look,” followed by Kourt saying, “This does not represent us well. I would rather close the store, everyone’s fired, and let’s move on…”

The newest Kardashian spin-off premieres on E! in January. Check out the preview below!

Enjoy the pictures of the Kardashian sisters out and about in Miami, FL (December 15).

Kristen Wiig Heidi Klum

The Kardashians Stroll Around Miami Before Heading to Work is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

New England Patriots will honor shooting victims

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 03:01:36 +0000

We learned earlier Saturday that the New York Giants and New York Jets will wear decals on their helmets to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School

The New England Patriots are also planning a tribute for the victims of this tragedy. In addition to wearing their own decal, the Patriots will send up 26 flares, one at a time, during a moment of silence at Gillette Stadium prior to Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. The flares represent an individual memorial symbol for each person who lost their life on Friday morning in Newtown, Conn.

The NFL had previously requested each home team observe a moment of silent reflection prior to this weekend’s games.

This is a classy gesture by the Patriots’ organization, who clearly have a moving tribute in store. Sunday will start on a reverent tone across the NFL.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.

Julia Brendler Theresa Russel

New England Patriots will honor shooting victims is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Noam Chomsky interview on Slovenian television with Polona FijavÅ¾

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 00:00:28 +0000

Posted by S. Abbas Raza at 11:16 AM | Permalink

Ian McKellen Anne Heche

Noam Chomsky interview on Slovenian television with Polona FijavÅ¾ is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Champ Rockhold calls Larkin attack ‘pretty amateur,’ eyes early 2013 for return

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:00:54 +0000

Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that he never signed a bout agreement to fight Lorenz Larkin and never intended to fight at the promotion’s final event.

When officials announced the Jan. 12 event in early November, Rockhold (10-1 MMA, 9-0 SF) said he informed officials that a wrist injury lingered and that he was unable to fight.

That’s why he’s particularly irritated by a series of verbal attacks from Lorenz Larkin (13-0 MMA, 4-0 SF) regarding his willingness to compete.

“He was obviously misinformed to some extent,” Rockhold said. “I’ve been in that situation, but just to lash out at me, that’s pretty amateur.”

Larkin, who today addressed his grievances with MMAjunkie.com Radio, was twice scheduled to vie for the title before injuries interceded.

“I just feel like guys are acting like they haven’t paved any way for them to go to the UFC and a catastrophe could happen on Jan. 12, where [UFC President Dana White is] going to be like, ‘No. I didn’t like the way you fought, and you’re not going to come over,’” Larkin said.

Rockhold, however, said the UFC wasn’t a part of his decision. He noticed his injury eight weeks prior to a fight scheduled for a Nov. 3 event and announced his withdrawal two weeks later.

“Every time I would grip something, it would be a sharp pain,” he said. “I’d punch wrong, and it would make me want to cry.”

Rockhold saw multiple doctors and had several MRIs done on his wrist. Training never completely resumed.

Four weeks ago, he underwent a blood therapy called PRP (platelet-rich plasma) to speed the healing process on what was diagnosed as a tear to his triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) and ligament sprain. He also spent three weeks in a hard cast, which was removed this past week.

“I don’t take steroids, so I don’t know if I can heal as fast as some of these guys,” Rockhold said. “I do things the way I know how.”

Strikeforce and broadcast partner Showtime dually announced the Jan. 12 event with three title fights: lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez vs. Pat Healy, Rockhold vs. Larkin, and welterweight champ Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine.

Melendez earlier this month withdrew from the event, later titled “Strikeforce: Champions,” citing a nagging shoulder injury. News of Rockhold’s withdrawal became public over the weekend.

Rockhold believes the confusion over his status may stem from a conversation with Strikeforce officials following his first injury in which he gave a timeline for his readiness to fight.

“They never really got back to me, and they just thought I’d be ready, and I wasn’t able to get on it,” he said. “I don’t really know. I don’t really want to get into it, to tell you the truth. I wasn’t able to train.

“They announced the fight, and I immediately called and told them how I felt and now here we are. They wanted to make a date happen, and I know they want to get done with this thing probably as much as anybody else, and for some reason they have to put on a last card. Pushing this card hard, it seems like. I just wasn’t able to make the date at that time.”

Relations between Strikeforce parent Zuffa and Showtime steadily have deteriorated since a March meeting between UFC President Dana White and Showtime officials. White said he was “hands-off” with Strikeforce after his input on the look of the event was nixed.

Two Strikeforce events have been canceled due to high-profile injury withdrawals that prompted Showtime to decline low-wattage events.

With the promotion’s final event slated for January, Rockhold won’t defend the belt he won with a September 2011 decision over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. But he stressed that he didn’t withdraw from the event because he had designs on starting anew in the UFC once Strikeforce folded.

“That was not any part of my thought process,” Rockhold said. “I’m injured. I want to get paid. I want to shut Lorenz’s mouth. I’m not waiting in any shape or form for the UFC. You can never count on that happening. I’ve heard that in the past, and I’m not going to wait for that to happen.

“I have a lot of things I want to do in my life. This has set me back. I was going to buy a house, and now it looks like I’m going to wait until I’m more financially stable. I want to fight, plain and simple. It doesn’t matter who. Except at this point, after the talk, obviously I’m partial to fighting Lorenz.”

The feeling isn’t mutual for Larkin, who said he wants to move on.

Rockhold doesn’t hold that against the middleweight contender. He estimated he’ll be ready to return in three to four months after completely healing his wrist. He is unconcerned with the location of the next bout.

“I’d be completely happy with the UFC, but I just want to fight and get paid,” he said. “I want to be best in the world. Eventually, whether it’s here or there, I want those fights.”

For more on “Strikeforce: Champions,” stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

Nathalie Oberman Diamond

Champ Rockhold calls Larkin attack ‘pretty amateur,’ eyes early 2013 for return is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Justin Bieber Unloads His Pet Hamster On Screaming Fan

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 15:00:47 +0000

Justin Bieber
Unloads Pet Hamster
On Screaming Fan

EXCLUSIVE

Justin Bieber isn’t gonna win pet owner of the year any time soon, because we found out he just dumped his pet hamster on an unsuspecting fan.

We got grainy footage shot Wednesday night after Jingle Ball at the Philips Arena — showing Bieber walking up to a group of screaming fans and signing autographs. Then, suddenly, he handed his hamster cage to a girl in the crowd, declaring, “That’s all you.”

It’s hard to make out much more because of all the screaming, but you can clearly hear Justin tell the girl, “You gotta take care of PAC.”

The girl screams back, “I WILL TAKE CARE OF HIM!”

Funny … PAC the hamster has his own Twitter accountÂ – with over 5,000 followers –Â and his last tweet was on Wednesday … “ATL this is gonna be fun.”

Poor guy never saw it comin’ …

Farrah Fawcett Arnold Schwarzenegger

Justin Bieber Unloads His Pet Hamster On Screaming Fan is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Justin Bieber Unloads His Pet Hamster On Screaming Fan

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:00:34 +0000

Justin Bieber
Unloads Pet Hamster
On Screaming Fan

EXCLUSIVE

It’s hard to make out much more because of all the screaming, but you can clearly hear Justin tell the girl, “You gotta take care of PAC.”

The girl screams back, “I WILL TAKE CARE OF HIM!”

Funny … PAC the hamster has his own Twitter accountÂ – with over 5,000 followers –Â and his last tweet was on Wednesday … “ATL this is gonna be fun.”

Poor guy never saw it comin’ …

Danneel Ackles Anette Bening

Justin Bieber Unloads His Pet Hamster On Screaming Fan is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Amanda Bynes — City Attorney PISSED After Actress Skates in Hit-n-Run Cases

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 06:01:45 +0000

Amanda Bynes
City Atty PISSED After Actress
Skates in Hit-n-Run Cases

EXCLUSIVE

Amanda Bynes is a danger to the public … and a judge should NOT have let her off the hook in her 2 hit-and-run cases after she paid off the victims … this according to the L.A. City Attorney.

We broke the story, Bynes was charged with two counts of hit-and-run stemming from two separate incidents over the past year in which she allegedly plowed into cars … and fled the scene.

But Bynes has since struck a financial settlement with both sets of victims … and Amanda’s attorney went to court this week and convinced the judge to throw out the criminal charges against the actress.

The decision INFURIATED the L.A. City Attorney’s Office, which STRONGLY objected based on the fact that there were multiple incidents and that Bynes has a DUI case pending, stemming from an incident in April when Bynes allegedly crashed into a cop car.

As for the DUI case, the District Attorney’s Office is still moving forward with that case — which is scheduled to go in front of the judge next month.

Expanded playoffs could be part of redone NFL season

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 03:00:32 +0000

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell drew a strong reaction when he talked about expanding the playoffs to 14 or 16 teams earlier this week. It’s not the first time the topic has come up, but NFL.com’s Albert Breer explained Friday that the details surrounding this proposal will be different.

The intense race for the playoffs is in full gear. Check out the latest situation in the postseason chase. More …

Breer reported that this playoff expansion talk will come as part of larger considerations to reformat the NFL season. Any proposal for adding postseason games likely would come with the elimination of some preseason games, perhaps with a move to a 16-and-2 format with just two preseason weeks.

Goodell often has spoken about the poor quality of NFL preseason games. The most likely scenario would be to lop off two weeks entirely.

Breer reported there was no discussion about expanding the playoffs at the meeting in Dallas this week; the idea simply was introduced. It will be discussed further at the league’s annual meeting in March.

When the concept first was broached in 2006 by then-Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, fellow NFL owners quickly turned it down. Perhaps Goodell publicly floated the idea to see what the reaction would be. From what we can tell, it hasn’t been positive.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.

Melissa Gilbert Tonya Harding

Expanded playoffs could be part of redone NFL season is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Don’t Give Government Too Much Credit

admin — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:00:39 +0000

In Newsday, Reason magazine Contributing Editor Cathy Young writes:

Entrepreneurs “give back” to society not only in taxes but in products that improve our lives — and in charity. While individual success is aided by public institutions, private associations such as family and community often play a larger role.

Obama is not a quasi-communist; he is just a liberal. Yet at a time when more than 40 percent of our gross domestic product is spent by government, we should be asking how much government is too much. Obama’s speech suggests that his instinct is for more, not less.

Full column at Newsday.

Marisol Thomas Catherine Bach

Don’t Give Government Too Much Credit is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Kristen Stewart & Co. Hold Court at “On The Road” NYC Premiere

admin — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 12:01:37 +0000

Gathering together as they enter the final stretch of promotional obligations, the stars of “On The Road” held a ritzy premiere for their film in New York City on Thursday night (December 13).

With leading lady Kristen Stewart looking lovely in an Erdem frock and Louboutins, fellow castmates like Kirsten Dunst, Garrett Hedlund and Sam Riley also dressed their best for the SVA Theater held screening.

The outing comes as Miss Stewart recently spoke with Huffington Post about her new motion picture’s Oscar buzz and racy, breast baring scene.

The 22-year-old dished, “I do hate also when people go, ‘Oh, wow, great performance. So brave.’ Oh, because I’m naked? That’s very annoying. But at the same time, if that’s what they’re focusing on, then ‘On the Road’ probably isn’t for them anyway.”

Continuing on about the 1957 novel-based movie, Stewart said, “This book celebrates being alive and it celebrates being human, and if you want to cover up and deny any aspect of that, you are denying the spirit of the book. I need to be so rocked by something, so moved by something that the idea of letting it down or ruining it is painful, and that’s what gets you through the shoot. If you start also considering what people are going to think, you’ll never make a movie.”

With the trailer found above, “On the Road” hits theaters on next Friday, December 21st.

Enjoy the pictures from the NYC screening of “On The Road” (December 13).

Alyssa Milano Emma Watson

Kristen Stewart & Co. Hold Court at “On The Road” NYC Premiere is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Don’t Give Government Too Much Credit

admin — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:01:41 +0000

In Newsday, Reason magazine Contributing Editor Cathy Young writes:

Entrepreneurs “give back” to society not only in taxes but in products that improve our lives — and in charity. While individual success is aided by public institutions, private associations such as family and community often play a larger role.

Obama is not a quasi-communist; he is just a liberal. Yet at a time when more than 40 percent of our gross domestic product is spent by government, we should be asking how much government is too much. Obama’s speech suggests that his instinct is for more, not less.

Full column at Newsday.

Becky Delos Santos Nathalie Oberman

Don’t Give Government Too Much Credit is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Megan Fox & Paul Rudd: “This Is 40″ Hollywood Premiere Pals

admin — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:00:44 +0000

Stepping out to show off her latest work, Megan Fox attended the Hollywood premiere of “This is 40″ on Wednesday (December 12).

Stunning in a deep red, curve-hugging dress, the brunette beauty was joined on the red carpet by her co-star, Paul Rudd, before heading in to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

The film – which also stars Leslie Mann and Jason Segal – follows the lives of Pete and Debbie a few years after the events in “Knocked Up.”

Spearheaded by Judd Apatow, the movie will hit theaters nationwide on December 21st.

Catch the trailer for “This is 40″ in the player below!

Enjoy the pictures of Megan Fox and Paul Rudd at the Hollywood premiere of “This Is 40″ (December 12).

Sienna Miller Jack Black

Megan Fox & Paul Rudd: “This Is 40″ Hollywood Premiere Pals is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Notre Dame Vs. Alabama — Mayor In for RIBBING With BCS Champion Wager

admin — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Notre Dame Vs. Alabama
Mayor In for RIBBING
With BCS Champion Wager

EXCLUSIVE

Notre Dame and the University of AlabamaÂ are taking their beef to a new level — TMZ has learned, the mayors of both college towns have made a friendly wager in honor of the BCS National Championship … and a whole lot of BBQ goodness is at stake.

If the Fighting Irish win — Tuscaloosa mayor Walt Maddox will send a heaping portion of coma-inducing grub from Dreamland Bar-B-Que to a rep for South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Maddox has also agreed to donate money to South Bend Big Brothers Big Sisters.

But if ‘Bama wins — Buttigieg has agreed to send gourmet chocolates fromÂ the South Bend Chocolate Company … and will donate to the Tuscaloosa Tornado Recovery Fund.

We’re not suggesting either team would throw the BCS Championship on January 7 — but BBQ and chocolate areÂ awesome.

Just sayin’.

Joan Jett Tania Bryer

Notre Dame Vs. Alabama — Mayor In for RIBBING With BCS Champion Wager is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Richard Sherman’s appeal hearing will be delayed

admin — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:00:44 +0000

The Seattle Seahawks were hit with a double shot of bad news when it was learned starting cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman had been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Darlington: QB class for the ages

Both appealed, though Browner soon changed his mind and began to serve his ban starting with Sunday’s 58-0 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Sherman’s appeal hearing was scheduled for Friday, but the outspoken defender confirmed to NFL.com’s Steve Wyche on Wednesday that the procedure will be delayed, with no new date set as yet.

That means Sherman will be on the field again when the Seahawks meet the Buffalo Bills in Toronto on Sunday.

“It’s gonna get solved and I think at the end of the day it’ll get worked out fine,” Sherman told Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports, who reported the possible delay on Tuesday.

The intense race for the playoffs is in full gear. Check out the latest situation in the postseason chase. More …

Sherman maintains he’s done nothing wrong. According to a report by USA Today, Sherman said he drank from a bottle into which a teammate poured a crushed Adderall pill.

If Sherman plays Sunday, the Seahawks will be down to only two possible games in which both their dynamic corners are concurrently on suspension.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.

Romane Bohringer Gisele Bundchen

Richard Sherman’s appeal hearing will be delayed is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Canadian juniors: Scheifele does right by Hawerchuk

admin — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:00:33 +0000

When the possibility arose a few weeks ago that Winnipeg Jets prospect Mark Scheifele would be shifted to the wing to play alongside a couple other high-end teenage talents in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jonathan Huberdeau, his junior coach Dale Hawerchuk began schooling Scheifele on the finer points of the position.

CALGARY – If Barrie Colts forward Mark Scheifele makes a smooth transition from centre to right wing for the world junior championship, some of the credit will go to Hockey Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk.

Hawerchuck has coached and educated his young star on the finer points of the game in the past two-plus seasons in Barrie.

So when the possibility arose a few weeks ago that Scheifele would be shifted to the wing to play alongside a couple other high-end teenage talents in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jonathan Huberdeau, Hawerchuk began working with Scheifele in practice back home in Barrie.

“We were working on getting the puck out, chipping pucks out, hitting the centreman,” the six-foot-two, 185-pound Scheifele said. “Playing centre you have a lot more defensive responsibility down low compared to the wing where you’re up high blocking shots.”

Hawerchuk was a natural centre in his playing days in the NHL, but he also occasionally had to play out of position. The one everybody remembers was when he lined up alongside Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux every now and again during the 1987 Canada Cup.

Hawerchuk told his prize student stories about his centre-to-wing transition, andÂ also preached patience to Scheifele about the importance of working hard along the boards and reading when an opposing defenceman decides to pinch in from the blue-line in Canada’s defensive zone.

“It’s a good opportunity,” the 19-year-old Scheifele said. “We’ll need to develop good chemistry every day. We’ll need good communication to make sure I go to the right spots.”
This will be theÂ Kitchener, Ont.,Â native’s second tour of duty with the Canadian junior team. Scheifele played on last year’s bronze medal-winning team, but this time around he feels stronger and more experienced.

He opened last season with the Winnipeg Jets, but was returned to junior after seven games. Scheifele then not only played for Canada and the Colts, he played in 10 Calder Cup playoff games for the St. John’s IceCaps last spring.

Roomies

So who is 17-year-old phenom Nathan MacKinnon of the Halifax Mooseheads rooming with at the Canadian junior selection camp? Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Although, the 19-year-old Nugent-Hopkins did not make the cut in his only try to make the Canadian junior team two years ago, he has plenty of experience. He played with the Edmonton Oilers last season, for Canada at the 2012 world championship alongside and agains NHLers nearly twice his age, and in the last couple of weeks with the Oklahoma City Barons in the AHL.

Ouellett on the mend

Defenceman Xavier Ouellett tested his ankle in morning practice and reported he felt fine. Two weeks ago, the 19-year-old blue-liner who plays for the Blainville-Broisbriand Armada, fell awkwardly into the boards in a game.

He began skating again on Saturday back home and will need to be cleared by Canadian team doctors before he’s allowed to see some game action.

Boone to his all-around play

There is only one player eligible for the Canadian junior team who has scored as many times as Oshawa Generals forward Boone Jenner has this season, and that’s Brett Ritchie of the Niagara IceDogs. Both arrived atÂ the Canadian selection camp with a remarkable 27 goals in 32 games.

But despite his goal-scoring prowess, Jenner, one of six returning players, will be asked to do more than score goals. He’ll be asked to shut down opponents. He’ll be asked to perform some penalty-killing duties. He’ll be asked to be physical with his six-foot-two, 205-pound frame.

“I’m totally aware of that,” the London, Ont. native said. “I’m totally fine with that. This is a high-class tournament. We have a lot of high-class talent coming in here.

“Whatever role they have me playing, I’m going to be happy with it. I’m a two-way forward and looking forward to getting into the scrimmages and earning a spot on the team again.”

Back to accessibility links

Kristen Wiig Heidi Klum

Canadian juniors: Scheifele does right by Hawerchuk is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Ginsberg: Jonathan Vilma pursuing defamation lawsuit

admin — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:00:41 +0000

Jonathan Vilma’s season-long suspension was vacated Tuesday, but the New Orleans Saints linebacker still intends to fight for his good name.

NFL.com’s Albert Breer reported Tuesday that Vilma’s lawyer, Peter Ginsberg, said the linebacker won’t let go of the defamation lawsuit he filed in May against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

“Jonathan intends to continue to pursue the defamation lawsuit in order to reclaim his reputation,” Ginsberg told Breer. “We’re pleased that the unjust penalties have been overturned, but this is only one piece in remedying the situation for Jonathan.”

That won’t be an easy fight after Paul Tagliabue vacated punishments for Vilma, Will Smith, Scott Fujita and Anthony Hargrove on Tuesday. The former NFL Commissioner dropped the suspensions but backed the findings of Goodell’s investigation. Gabe Feldman, Director of Sports Law at Tulane, told NFL Network on Tuesday that Tagliabue’s ruling makes Vilma’s suit challenging.

“That was a difficult to begin with because of the very high standard if you’re a public figure,” Feldman said. “You have to prove actual malice. By Paul Tagliabue saying that he did find that Jonathan Vilma engaged in the conduct that was alleged by the Commissioner, it’s going to be very hard for a judge to say that there was actual malice here, that the Commissioner lied about this and basically fabricated it. It doesn’t eliminate the case, but it just makes the case a very difficult one.”

The tangled saga of the “bounty” scandal is fading away, but not for Vilma. His fight wages on. The player’s official statement, prepared by Ginsberg and obtained by Breer, spoke of a fight not yet over:

“Two competing forces have been at play since at least March of this year. Roger Goodell has been trying every conceivable maneuver to avoid real and honest scrutiny of his manufactured allegations that Jonathan Vilma engaged in a bounty program aimed at opposing players and Jonathan has been fighting to have an open and fair review of those accusations.

“We are obviously relieved and gratified that Jonathan no longer needs to worry about facing an unjustified suspension. On the other hand, Commissioner Tagliabue’s rationalization of Commissioner Goodell’s actions does nothing to rectify the harm done by the baseless allegations lodged against Jonathan. Jonathan has a right and every intention to pursue proving what really occurred and we look forward to returning to a public forum where the true facts can see the light of day.

“We call upon Commissioner Tagliabue to release the transcripts of the proceedings held before him so that they are available as we go forward. Finally, it is regrettable that the NFL continues unjustifiably to attack the New Orleans Saints, an organization comprised of decent and honest people who continue to stand strong in the face of these baseless attacks.”

Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.

Ann-Maree Biggar Josie Maran

Ginsberg: Jonathan Vilma pursuing defamation lawsuit is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Chick: What if the Raptors had kept Vince Carter?

admin — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 06:00:50 +0000

In the midst of the Raptors’ gong show season, it once again begs the question of what could have been if Toronto hadn’t traded Vince Carter to New Jersey nearly eight years ago, on Dec. 17, 2004.

In the fall of 1983, unbeknownst to many, the world came perilously close to a nuclear war.

Decades later, it doesn’t have the same sex appeal of the Cuban Missile Crisis, but a perfect storm of things happened and it’s safe to say a few decisions and inches in time saved the world. Google “KAL 007,” “Stanislav Petrov” or “Able Archer ’83″ for further information.

What does this have to do with basketball, you ask? Absolutely nothing.

I bring it up is because I was on a grand tour of the Internet once and came across a site where folks had created a disturbing, post-apocalyptic alternate history in which planet Earth had come out on the short end of things in 1983.

The first thing that popped into my head? The Toronto Raptors.

Yes, it’s highly first-world-problem of me to compare the potential collapse of civilization to the silly travels and travails of an NBA team. But given the Raptors’ gong show this season, it once again raises the question of what could have been.

Coming off a 0-5 West Coast swing, with the franchise unwilling and unable to rid itself of the now-banged-up Andrea Bargnani, and with its incompetence this season very likely to go unrewarded when the top-3 protected pick traded to Houston in the Kyle Lowry deal comes out not in the top 3), things are looking very bleak.

So why not live in a fantasy world and devise an alternate history?

Loved Toronto

It begins with the Dec. 17, 2004 — eight years next Monday — trade of Vince Carter to the New Jersey Nets. Perhaps you heard recently that then-Raps coach Sam Mitchell appeared on a Toronto radio station and dropped the bomb that the night before then-GM Rob Babcock’s horrendous trade, Carter told him he didn’t want to be dealt and was backtracking on his exit request.

Those of us with memories know that Carter loved Toronto, and that his trade demand was childish behaviour resulting from the Raptors not heeding his requests — be it, depending on who you believe, not hiring Julius Erving as GM the previous summer, or the team’s cancellation of his mother’s free parking spot.

It was not the good ol’ “nobody wants to play in Toronto” pity party (Carter had put that to rest three years earlier when he signed a six-year contract extension). And given Babcock’s early ineptitude (drafting Rafael Araujo, for example) Vince might have had a point when he felt the team was directionless.

So suppose for a minute there was a truce after Carter body-slammed Mitchell on a massage table, and the deal to the Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and two picks never happened. While Carter had completely tuned out the Raps and was no longer giving his usual 65 per cent, perhaps he could have altered his attitude and given 85 per cent. In truth, his game surged and he did show flashes of his old brilliance after a change of scenery to the Jersey swamp.

If you also assume — the entire point of this ridiculous exercise — that Chris Bosh would have gradually assumed more control by default, then the Raps improving in this made-up scenario would have been entirely plausible.

The 2004-05 and ’05-06 Raptors still would have been bad. And Babcock still would have drafted Charlie Villanueva in ’05, given he was a stretch at his actual No. 7 slot. But would not trading Carter for such a pathetic return have saved Babcock’s job? No.

The hiring of Bryan Colangelo would still have been looked upon as a saving grace. Colangelo had been looking for a way out of Phoenix since Robert Sarver bought the Suns. You have to assume the Raptors may have been a few games better than what they actually achieved, but Colangelo was a brand name in 2006 and would have been too good to pass up. So Babcock would have been fired and Colangelo hired at the same time it really happened.

As easy as it is to criticize Colangelo now, you have to remember what a genius he looked like ever so briefly. By erasing the Araujo mistake by trading him to Utah for two living, breathing human beings in future tabloid staple Kris Humphries and Robert Whaley, he gave birth to the phrase “In B.C. we trust.”

Vince + Bosh = ?

Dealing Villanueva for T.J. Ford worked at the time too. Let’s even concede he would have selected Bargnani first in that year’s draft (LaMarcus Aldridge was too much of a Bosh clone) because we can’t change everything — Colangelo’s affinity for Euros would still have existed. Add his other signings — Anthony Parker, Jorge Garbajosa, etc., prior to the ’06-07 season and you have the team that won the Atlantic on a 20-game improvement from the previous year.

It’s worth betting that Colangelo would have fired Mitchell as early as possible given the rocky relationship with Vince. It’s also plausible to believe he would have promoted Jay Triano even then, given Colangelo’s historical preference from hiring from within. You could never accuse Triano of being a bad coach as you could Mitchell. You wished he had more talent to work with. In this fantasy scenario, he would have had another big piece.

The 2007 Raptors were a decent, albeit flawed, team led by Bosh, an effective-at-the-time point guard rotation of Ford and Jose Calderon, and role players in Parker, Garbajosa, Morris Peterson, Rasho Nesterovic and Humphries.

What if they had Vince?

These are the actual Eastern Conference playoff seedings from that ’06-07 season:

*division winner

Detroit* 53-29
Cleveland 50-32
Toronto* 47-35
Miami* 44-38
Chicago 49-33
New Jersey 41-41
Washington 41-41
Orlando 40-42

Yes, the East was weak then. But let’s say we add the caveat of Carter still being with the Raptors and apply something close to his 21.8 Player Efficiency Rating from that season. Assuming that and other intangibles might be worth three more wins, take some W’s away from the Nets and try this:

Detroit* 53-29
Toronto* 50-32
Cleveland 49-33
Miami* 44-38
Chicago 49-33
Washington 41-41
Orlando 40-42
New Jersey 39-43

In the first round of the playoffs, the Raptors beat Orlando and second-year centre Dwight Howard. In the second round, they get a showdown with the Cavaliers. Looking back, that Cleveland team was the worst Finals team in NBA history. If LeBron doesn’t go off in Game 5 in Detroit, they never get there. Look at these stats to get a true appreciation of how much of a one-man show they were.

Still, they were 4-1 against Toronto that year, outrebounding the Raps every time with the likes of Anderson Varejao and Drew Gooden. But who’s to say having Vince in the backcourt with Ford and Calderon doesn’t free up Bosh to focus more on the glass? James would have got his 30 no matter what, but would Toronto’s home court have made a difference? Would facing LeBron bring out the best in Vince like Allen Iverson did in 2001? Sure, the Raps probably would have lost to the Pistons in the conference finals. But again, what if Vince was totally on point like he was in ’01 or even at times during the 2010 playoffs with Orlando?

Back to reality

This fantasy ends abruptly with the absolute fact that the Raps would have been swept by the Spurs in the Finals, just like the Cavs were. Yet the truth remains that 2007 was their best chance had they had Carter and Bosh together. After the Celtics became the first modern-day superteam by adding Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, true contention would have become less likely.

Unfortunately, this story still probably leads us to where we are today, albeit on a different path. To appease Calderon, Colangelo would have still traded Ford in 2008 (along with Roy Hibbert) for Jermaine O’Neal, who may or may not have been traded for Shawn Marion, who made way for Hedo Turkoglu. The way the NBA works, Vince would have likely been traded or walked away from a declining team as an aging free agent in 2010 or ’11, depending on his extension status. Bosh would have left, as he did in reality, for Miami in ’10.

And we’d probably be right here, calling for Colangelo’s job and shouting about Bargnani. It’s just that we’d have a little bit more success to show for it all.

Yes, dreaming about what could have been. That’s where we are.

Back to accessibility links

Jerri Manthey read more

Chick: What if the Raptors had kept Vince Carter? is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

The European Union and the Habsburg Monarchy

admin — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:01:34 +0000

Robert Cooper in Eurozine:

The Habsburg Monarchy lasted five centuries. It was both solid and flexible; it aroused genuine affection among its citizens. But it vanished in a puff of smoke. Should we expect the European Union, shallow in history and unloved by those it serves, to do better?

To be fair, it was more than a puff of smoke. The bullets from Gavrilo Princip’s revolver killed the Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sofia. What killed the Habsburg Monarchy was the four years of pounding by artillery that followed. This brought death and ruin to the old Europe; in Russia it brought revolution and tyranny, and in Germany regime change accompanied by failed revolution, then inflation and depression, and finally world war and genocide.

What arose from the ashes? The answer is: the European Union and NATO. It is the EU and its resemblance to the Habsburg Monarchy that is the subject of this essay, but something needs first to be said about NATO which was and is its indispensable partner.

Posted by Robin Varghese at 10:27 AM | Permalink

Jackie Chan Laura Dern

The European Union and the Habsburg Monarchy is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

30 Thoughts: NHL could call in NBA lockout fixer

admin — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:01:44 +0000

Last week, the NHL made its call to the relief corps, introducing fresh voices from the owners before talks disintegrated.

Now it’s Don Fehr’s turn. He’s got an ace, the Mariano Rivera of last year’s NBA lockout, in Jim Quin.

Last week, the NHL made its call to the relief corps. It looked like Ron Burkle, Mark Chipman, Larry Tanenbaum and Jeff Vinik were going to combine for the save. But at the end, things went all Joey McLaughlin.

Now it’s Don Fehr’s turn. He’s got an ace, the Mariano Rivera of last year’s NBA lockout, in Jim Quinn.
Â
Quinn’s bio is here and it’s, uh, not bad.

Thirteen months ago, Quinn reached out to the NBA and the National Basketball Players’ Association to settle their insane, tortuous and destructive lockout. The union had filed its disclaimer of interest and things were disintegrating rapidly.

Quinn, who spent almost two decades as the NBPA’s lead outside counsel and had a good working relationship with NBA commissioner David Stern, was invited to step in. Approximately 10 days later, he played a pivotal part in brokering a deal, thanks to several phone conversations with the particulars and a marathon 15-hour bargaining session.

He is available to do it again with the NHL’s own insane, tortuous and destructive lockout.

Quinn’s firm — Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP — is advising the NHL Players’ Association on legal issues. Quinn’s not unfamiliar with hockey’s labour history. He advised the players during the 1992 strike. San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson and agent Mike Liut were among those who worked closely with Quinn during that dispute.

“There are a lot of similarities” between the NBA and NHL lockouts, Quinn said. “But a different dynamic of people.”

The good news is Quinn’s familiar with both, having known Stern for 40 years and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for almost 30.

“We’ve always got along,” Quinn said of Bettman.
Â
The only criticism he delivers is that owners making “take-it-or-leave-it proposals … doesn’t work with professional athletes,” so the opposite approach makes more sense.

“You look for a way to build some trust, make it so that people on each side understand what they are being told is something they can agree to build with … What often happens is you get a lot of rhetoric, so both sides are pushing back. You say to them, ‘Wait a second, there’s got to be a way to talk things out and get something done in the interest of having a season.’”

Quinn declined to get into detail. But after we spoke, one source said that when things threatened to go wrong, he pointed out the importance of playing. Do you think the NHL and NHLPA could use that message?

Some of you will say, “This sounds like mediation. What’s the difference?” Well, the NBA tried mediation, too, and it failed.

Quinn succeeded, according to reports, because he’s calm and knew the parties much better than the mediators could.

He has not been asked by either the NHL or NHLPA to take a more active role in this gong show. Initially, his efforts in the NBA stalemate were rebuffed. But both sides wisely changed their minds and it is apparent during our conversation that he wants the NHL opportunity, too.

“Maybe I can be Santa Claus,” he laughed.

Could be one heck of a present for hockey fans.

30 Thoughts

1. A lot of feedback from my Ron Hainsey blog, but it should be pointed out that not every player involved in the negotiations is having similar things said about them. Kevin Westgarth is getting a ton of media attention and, when his career is over, he’s going to have some options. His work on the pension issues, opposite Murray Edwards, was said to be very impressive.

2. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the lockout-shortened 1995 NHL season and how it was played with a “Memorandum of Understanding” and not a signed collective bargaining agreement. Games resumed as lawyers haggled over the details and the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup. The deal was not finished until August. Well, Fehr was asked about it in New York and sounded amenable to the idea. As for the NHL, deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email: “We would likely entertain the possibility of playing with some interim level of documentation, but I expect that we will require more detail than what he had in 1994-95.” Something to keep in mind.

3. Daly is not prone to public hyperbole, so his “hill we will die on” quote about contract lengths made me do a lot of thinking. In a follow-up email, he wrote that the owners said term limits was the issue needed “to the exclusion of all other Player Contracting Issues.” That makes sense for them because, if you’re down to five-year deals, the variance per season doesn’t hurt as badly.

4. But there’s another question to be asked here, which may be the root of all of this: Vinik bought the Tampa Bay Lightning for about $110 million US. At the time, Vincent Lecavalier had 10 years and $75 million remaining on his contract. The Devils are trying to sort out an enormous financial mess as Ilya Kovalchuk has 13 years and $88 million to go. How much more valuable would these franchises be if neither of those deals existed? What are the players going to do, say ‘No’? But you can see why owners want to straitjacket themselves.

5. Now you might say, “Well, the league’s last offer was seven years for your own guy and the union proposed eight. What’s the big deal?” Well, one thing I’ve learned is an owner tends to answer that differently than a general manager. Also, NHL contracts can only be insured for seven years at a time.

6. A lot of us look at how many players have long-term deals and say, “Wait, we’re fighting a big battle when so few are affected?” But from the players’ perspective, you have to look at it in terms of leverage. If you can, conceivably, get an eight-year term, maybe you get pushed down to five or six. But if you start at five, you can get pushed down to four, three or less. That’s not a lot of security.

7. Out of the last lockout, Rick Nash got a five-year, $27-million contract from the Columbus Blue Jackets that set the “new” market. This time, it will be Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Without the ability to backdive, how high is that contact going to get when he’s 28 and 29 years old? What about Lightning sniper Steven Stamkos when he’s 26, 27 and 28?

8. As we move closer to a CBA, amid all of the fire-spitting, the biggest question now among teams is the “transition rules.” The NHL says it doesn’t want amnesties or an escrow limit. So if the cap is $60 million in 2013-14, how are the Lightning ($57.5 million for 15 players), Philadelphia Flyers ($57M for 16) and Boston Bruins ($57M for 16, no goalies) among others going to make it work?

9. The best perspective on the “Manhattan Meltdown” came from a relative of mine who regularly negotiates big deals. “They’re too close not to get it done,” he said. “They just hate each other so much, they’re throwing their last haymakers.”

10. I thought a lot about Fehr’s initial media conference last Thursday, when he came across as Captain Optimism yet knew the league was going shred his offer. He was trying to tell the players not in attendance to hang in there. He knows some are restless because they are unsure of his endgame. Those loyal to the boss say it is to “negotiate a fair deal and we areÂ trying to do that.” Obviously, no one’s going to tell a reporter what the specific plan is. But it sounds like many of the players believe the owners have a “date in mind” and will budge when it arrives.

11. Several of you asked about Decertification/Disclaimer of Interest. It would be the latter because it’s faster. I’ve been told it’s still a threat, although the players have backed off at least twice from pulling the trigger. One possible NHL counter: suspending the league. Would it work? No idea. There is so little case law on this that people are hesitant to guess what’s right.

12. There is a lot of public debate about allowing NHLPA membership to vote on the league’s last proposal. I’ve been told by several people, “There is nothing to vote on” and that’s probably true without a full formal NHL offer, including a few issues that don’t get a ton of attention. But if we get another mega-breakdown, does the league put together something, post it on nhl.com and see what happens?

13. A few of you have asked about the process for an NHLPA vote. I couldn’t find anything. But I was told that the executive board would recommend an agreement to be voted on. Article XII, Section 2 of the organization’s constitution does explain “a majority vote of the members in good standing voting to approve the tentative collective bargaining agreement shall constitute approval of the agreement. The ratification vote of the membership shall be conducted in accordance with applicable laws and/or regulations and shall be by secret ballot.”

14. I was at a charity event and someone asked, “Who do you think is more unified, the owners or the players?” Boy, that is a great question. Both sides have their dissidents, for sure. Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold, who has paid approximately $21 million in bonuses, can’t be liking this. Neither can the Montreal Canadiens with payments towards the $600-million purchase price. There are, percentage-wise, more owners willing to kill the season than players, for sure. But what I think it comes down to is this: who’s got the stomach for a deadline negotiation?

15. That scenario worries a lot of the moderates around the game, who badly want the CBA done beforehand. The concern is if we get into January, the atmosphere will be absolute poison.

16. If they do get this done soon, start on Jan. 1. Even though the Winter Classic is cancelled, it still has a chance to be the NHL’s day. Drop the puck at noon ET and go until the last game is done out West.

17. I was thinking about the kinds of impactful things that the NHL and NHLPA are going to have to do for the fans. Fridge magnets and pocket schedules won’t be enough. Something that means a little more would be offering Centre Ice for free the rest of the season (No blackouts, either). Sign up and get a free code. Yes, it hurts hockey-related revenue, but revenue is damaged this year anyway. Got do to something tangible.

18. Has anyone seen Bettman and Daly angrier than they were last Thursday? Only example anyone would admit: “When Jerry Moyes put Phoenix in bankruptcy court.”

19. The funniest thing about the board of governors meeting was the interaction with pedestrians outside the buidling. With all the media and cameras there, people were stopping, curious to find out who we were waiting for. Hoping for Brangelina, we told them “The NHL’s owners.” You should have seen the looks of pure disappointment on their faces. Sorry, guys, none of you is getting an “Us Weekly” cover anytime soon.

20. I thought Brad Richards of the New York Rangers had a good quote about the lockout. He compared it to a seven-game series where teams alternate victories until the end.

21. Had some questions about re-alignment. Not for this year, I’m told.

22. OK, let’s move on, enough already. Some of Team Canada’s world junior hopefuls will face CIS No. 1-ranked Alberta on Wednesday afternoon. These games are like the Super Bowl for university players, as a good performance in front of the scouts can mean some kind of pro contract. Unfortunately, two of the Golden Bears’ best players — defenceman Ian Barteaux and centre Sean Ringrose — cannot play due to exams.

23. If it was me, I’d blow off the exam, but that would make each player ineligible for the second semester. When I was at Western, economics exams always used to be on Saturdays. Professors said to the football players, “You want to dress for games? Write two days early.” Too bad something similar couldn’t be done here.

24. Wondered if Canada would invite Connor McDavid to the camp, just to get a taste. Totally understand that he may not be ready for the big event, but was curious to see if making him a brief part of camp was an option. Was not considered, though.

25. A few Oilers fans asked if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had anything to gain by playing in the world juniors. Absolutely. A lot of teams like to see their top prospects in big-pressure moments. On the road, high expectations, a lot of games where a loss ends your hopes, important minutes against good players — I’d say you have something to gain.

26. I got a lot of requests on Sunday for updates on prospects. More of that than anything else. So I emailed two NHL guys who have great AHL eyes and asked them to let me know who they liked. They weren’t shy. Both agreed on (NHL team in parenthesis): Nino Niederreiter (NYI), Tomas Tatar (DET), Jason Zucker (MIN), Justin Schultz (EDM), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (PHO), Richard Panik & Tyler Johnson (TB), Jake Gardiner (TOR).

27. Executive A said he could’ve done two or three players per team, but cut down to: Jordan Eberle (EDM), Brayden Schenn (PHI), Brock Nelson (NYI), Nazem Kadri (TOR), Justin Faulk (CAR), Gustav Nyquist (DET), Roman Horak, Sven Baertschi & Barry Brust (CAL), Robin Lehner (OTT) and Curtis McElhinney (CLB).

28. If you thought that wasn’t enough, here’s the rest of the list from Executive B: TJ Brodie (CAL), Jacob Josefson (NJ), Chris Kreider (NYR), Nathan Beaulieu (MON), Charlie Coyle (MIN), Calvin Pickard (COL), Slava Voynov (LA), Lane MacDermid (BOS), Jaden Schwartz (STL), Zemgus Girgensons (BUF), Quinton Howden (FLA), Ryan Johansen, Cam Atkinson, Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (CLB), Ondrej Palat, Alex Killorn, Cory Conacher and Mark Barberio (TB), Eric Tangradi, Joe Morrow, Brian Strait, Brian Dumoulin, Robert Bortuzzo and Simon Despres (PIT), Zach Redmond (WIN).

29. That executive added: “The list is long but there are a lot of players taking advantage of the opportunity,” and “At forward it’s the year of the small player.” He also pointed out that the Penguins are ridiculously rich on the blue-lineÂ with Derrick Pouliot (8th overall, 2012), Olli Maatta (22nd, 2012) Scott Harrington (54th, 2011) en route.

30. Familiarize yourself with “Victor Walk.” Excellent cause.

Back to accessibility links

Valeria Golino Janice Joplin

30 Thoughts: NHL could call in NBA lockout fixer is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

San Francisco 49ers suspend unhappy Brandon Jacobs

admin — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 06:00:36 +0000

The Brandon Jacobs addition was a puzzling move from the start for the San Francisco 49ers. Now the unhappy marriage appears to be over.

The 49ers tweeted Monday that Jacobs has been suspended for the final three games of the regular season.

The 49ers wouldn’t go into specifics regarding the reason for Jacobs’ suspension, saying only it was a matter between the team and the player. Considering the 49ers could have just released the 30-year-old running back (he’s on a one-year contract), the punishment sends a strong message about conduct on coach Jim Harbaugh’s team.

The 49ers recently lost backup Kendall Hunter for the season, but they remain stocked at running back with younger talent such as LaMichael James and Anthony Dixon. A regular fixture on the inactive list, Jacobs finally lost his cool last week, complaining he was “rotting away” by the Bay. He has five carries all season, which for all intents and purposes is over now.

The suspension makes sense after you listen to Harbaugh’s Monday meeting with reporters, which happened a few hours before the move was announced.

The intense race for the playoffs is in full gear. Check out the latest situation in the postseason chase. More …

Harbaugh was asked if Jacobs still was with the team, and he almost comically dodged the question.

“I don’t … I really don’t have a comment for you on that at this point,” Harbaugh said, via Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee. “No comment.”

Harbaugh ultimately spoke loud and clear. The 49ers admitted a mistake in signing Jacobs, and now they are ready to move on.

UPDATE: Jacobs plans to file a grievance in an attempt to stay in San Francisco, be paid or speed up his move to another team, according to Mike Garafolo of USA Today.

Jacobs described the situation as “not a big deal” when he thanked his supporters Monday on Twitter:

Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.

Diane Lane Mariah Carey

San Francisco 49ers suspend unhappy Brandon Jacobs is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Brooke Mueller Faces Jail For Drinking Alcohol While On Probation

admin — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 03:00:31 +0000

Brooke Mueller
Faces Jail
For Testing Dirty

EXCLUSIVE

Brooke Mueller is in hot water because she violated her probation by drinking alcohol … TMZ has learned.

As you know … Brooke pled guilty to felony drug possession in May and was placed on probation for 1 year.Â Part of the deal — she was ordered not to drink alcohol.

Sources very close to Brooke and familiar with the situation tell TMZ … when Brooke was hospitalized last week for OD’ing on drugs (Adderall), her blood was tested and alcohol was present in her system.

It’s unclear if prosecutors will go to court to yank Brooke off probation and into the pokey.Â One thing that could help her — the alcohol level in her blood was very low.

Alicia Silverstone Naomi Campbel

Brooke Mueller Faces Jail For Drinking Alcohol While On Probation is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Ashley Olsen — Smoke-Filled Cockpit Grounds Flight at DFW

admin — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 21:00:38 +0000

Ashley Olsen
Smoke-Filled Cockpit
Grounds Flight at DFW

EXCLUSIVE

Ashley Olsen was on board an American Airlines flight when smoke forced pilots to abort take-offÂ this morning … TMZ has learned.

Sources on board AA flight 2421 tell us the plane was departing from Dallas when something went wrong with an engine shortly after pulling away from the gate.

According to fire officials at DFW … the cockpit filled with smoke, and the pilots quickly returned to the terminal.

Our sources say Ashley was among the roughly 200 passengers who got off the plane safely.

UPDATE: An American Airlines rep says the flight returned to the gate due to an electrical odor in the cockpit … and a new Boeing 767 was brought in to take all 211 passengers to LAX. The rep says the flight was delayed less than 2 hours.

get more Susan George

Ashley Olsen — Smoke-Filled Cockpit Grounds Flight at DFW is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Pam Anderson — Dancing With Tax Liens (All-Star Edition)

admin — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:00:46 +0000

Pam Anderson
Dancing With Tax Liens
(All-Star Edition)

EXCLUSIVE

Pam Anderson REALLY should have tried harder to win “Dancing with the Stars” (and its cash prize) … ’cause girl was just slapped with TWO tax liens totaling over $370k — and could probably use the money.
Tax Lien #1: Filed by the IRS, says Pam owes $259,395.75 for unpaid taxes in 2011.
Tax Lien #2: Filed by the State of CA, says Pam owes $112,118.90 — also for 2011.

All totaled, the “DWTS: All Stars” star — who got axed in round one this time — needs to cough up $371,514.65.

But this isn’t Pam’s first run-in with tax problems. The actress had another lien filed against her back in 2009 for $1.7 MILLION. And at one point, her name even appeared on the Golden State’s list ofÂ “Top 500 Delinquent Tax Payers.”

Anderson’s rep had no comment.

Natalie Portman Gary Estrada

Pam Anderson — Dancing With Tax Liens (All-Star Edition) is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

New TV Spot for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” Released: Watch Here!

admin — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:00:44 +0000

Posted Sunday December 9, 2012 4:32 PM GMT

In anticipation of its release later this week, a new TV spot for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” was unveiled by New Line Cinema on Saturday (December 8).

In the clip, Bilbo meets the infamous creature, Gollum, and agrees to a game of riddles which will send him on an unforgettable adventure.

In the precursor to the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Bilbo Baggins is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Hitting theaters on December 14th, the movie stars Martin Freeman and Ian McKellen in a story that will span three films. Watch the new TV spot below.

Catherine Deelay Michelle Branch

New TV Spot for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” Released: Watch Here! is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

RG3 positive about knee injury after Redskins’ victory

admin — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:01:03 +0000

The early signs regarding Robert Griffin III’s right knee sprain are positive. But the key word there is “early.”

Here’s what we know about the Washington Redskins quarterback after his team’s 31-28 overtime victory over the Baltimore Ravens:

1. Griffin left the game with less than two minutes remaining in regulation after he took a massive hit from Ravens nose tackle Haloti Ngata. Griffin returned for four plays, but he was limping badly. He didn’t play in overtime.

“I was trying to make a play, and as soon as I turned it inside, I said, ‘Oh lord, here we go,’Â ” Griffin said. “It was a freak play, my leg got hit after I was already down. It was pretty painful. Just praying that I’ll be all right.”

2. Griffin says he’ll undergo an MRI, but the first look at the severity of the injury was positive.

“I’m not a doctor, but I know what an ACL feels like, and it doesn’t feel like an ACL,” Griffin said. “(The doctors) said my ligaments feel good, but it depends on what the MRI says. I’m feeling positive vibes from them and from the team.”

3. We’re feeling positive vibes, too. Consider: The Redskins allowed Griffin to go back on the sideline in uniform after examining him in the locker room. They wouldn’t have risked that if they believed Griffin was seriously hurt.

The Redskins also allowed Griffin to conduct his normal postgame interview from the podium. A player usually doesn’t do that after he has been hurt.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
Steffi Graf Chyna (Joanie Laurer)

RG3 positive about knee injury after Redskins’ victory is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Champ Rockhold calls Larkin attack ‘pretty amateur,’ eyes early 2013 for return

admin — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:01:10 +0000

Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that he never signed a bout agreement to fight Lorenz Larkin and never intended to fight at the promotion’s final event.
When officials announced the Jan. 12 event in early November, Rockhold (10-1 MMA, 9-0 SF) said he informed officials that a wrist injury lingered and that he was unable to fight.

That’s why he’s particularly irritated by a series of verbal attacks from Lorenz Larkin (13-0 MMA, 4-0 SF) regarding his willingness to compete.

“He was obviously misinformed to some extent,” Rockhold said. “I’ve been in that situation, but just to lash out at me, that’s pretty amateur.”

Larkin, who today addressed his grievances with MMAjunkie.com Radio, was twice scheduled to vie for the title before injuries interceded.

“I just feel like guys are acting like they haven’t paved any way for them to go to the UFC and a catastrophe could happen on Jan. 12, where [UFC President Dana White is] going to be like, ‘No. I didn’t like the way you fought, and you’re not going to come over,’” Larkin said.

Rockhold, however, said the UFC wasn’t a part of his decision. He noticed his injury eight weeks prior to a fight scheduled for a Nov. 3 event and announced his withdrawal two weeks later.

“Every time I would grip something, it would be a sharp pain,” he said. “I’d punch wrong, and it would make me want to cry.”

Rockhold saw multiple doctors and had several MRIs done on his wrist. Training never completely resumed.

Four weeks ago, he underwent a blood therapy called PRP (platelet-rich plasma) to speed the healing process on what was diagnosed as a tear to his triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) and ligament sprain. He also spent three weeks in a hard cast, which was removed this past week.

“I don’t take steroids, so I don’t know if I can heal as fast as some of these guys,” Rockhold said. “I do things the way I know how.”

Strikeforce and broadcast partner Showtime dually announced the Jan. 12 event with three title fights: lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez vs. Pat Healy, Rockhold vs. Larkin, and welterweight champ Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine.

Melendez earlier this month withdrew from the event, later titled “Strikeforce: Champions,” citing a nagging shoulder injury. News of Rockhold’s withdrawal became public over the weekend.

Rockhold believes the confusion over his status may stem from a conversation with Strikeforce officials following his first injury in which he gave a timeline for his readiness to fight.

“They never really got back to me, and they just thought I’d be ready, and I wasn’t able to get on it,” he said. “I don’t really know. I don’t really want to get into it, to tell you the truth. I wasn’t able to train.

“They announced the fight, and I immediately called and told them how I felt and now here we are. They wanted to make a date happen, and I know they want to get done with this thing probably as much as anybody else, and for some reason they have to put on a last card. Pushing this card hard, it seems like. I just wasn’t able to make the date at that time.”

Relations between Strikeforce parent Zuffa and Showtime steadily have deteriorated since a March meeting between UFC President Dana White and Showtime officials. White said he was “hands-off” with Strikeforce after his input on the look of the event was nixed.

Two Strikeforce events have been canceled due to high-profile injury withdrawals that prompted Showtime to decline low-wattage events.

With the promotion’s final event slated for January, Rockhold won’t defend the belt he won with a September 2011 decision over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. But he stressed that he didn’t withdraw from the event because he had designs on starting anew in the UFC once Strikeforce folded.

“That was not any part of my thought process,” Rockhold said. “I’m injured. I want to get paid. I want to shut Lorenz’s mouth. I’m not waiting in any shape or form for the UFC. You can never count on that happening. I’ve heard that in the past, and I’m not going to wait for that to happen.

“I have a lot of things I want to do in my life. This has set me back. I was going to buy a house, and now it looks like I’m going to wait until I’m more financially stable. I want to fight, plain and simple. It doesn’t matter who. Except at this point, after the talk, obviously I’m partial to fighting Lorenz.”

The feeling isn’t mutual for Larkin, who said he wants to move on.

Rockhold doesn’t hold that against the middleweight contender. He estimated he’ll be ready to return in three to four months after completely healing his wrist. He is unconcerned with the location of the next bout.

“I’d be completely happy with the UFC, but I just want to fight and get paid,” he said. “I want to be best in the world. Eventually, whether it’s here or there, I want those fights.”

For more on “Strikeforce: Champions,” stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

Michelle Branch Sonia Couling

Champ Rockhold calls Larkin attack ‘pretty amateur,’ eyes early 2013 for return is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Breaking The Taboo

admin — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 06:00:37 +0000

Posted by S. Abbas Raza at 02:14 PM | Permalink

Denise Van Outen Betty White

Breaking The Taboo is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Detroit Lions’ Willie Young wanted to amputate finger

admin — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:00:32 +0000

We all know professional football is a tough game played by tough men. Still, it’s easy to be blown away by just how much some players go through to stay on the field.

Jeremiah: Best Week 14 matchups

Consider the case of Detroit Lions defensive end Willie Young, who cut his middle finger to the bone and severed nerves while tackling Green Bay Packers running back James StarksÂ three weeks ago.

The cut was deep enough that stitches wouldn’t help, and the finger still looked badly mangled as of Friday. The only treatment has been to soak it in chemicals and disinfectants. You can see what the finger looks like here, but be warned it’s not for the faint of heart.

And now the crazy part. Young said this week he seriously contemplated having the finger amputated to spare him the nuisance. Yep, the ol’ Ronnie Lott move.

“Two weeks ago I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s get rid of it,’” Young said, according toÂ the Detroit News. “But it’s a little better now, so maybe I will keep it.”

Harrison: Week 14 predictions

Young has not missed a practice or game since suffering the injury. He said his plan is to continue “to tape it up and eat the pain.”

And how bad is that pain?

“On a scale of one to 10,” he said, “nine point nine, nine, nine, nine.”

Remember this story the next time you’re complaining about a hangnail.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.

Michelle Johnson Suzanne Snyder

Detroit Lions’ Willie Young wanted to amputate finger is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Darnell Dockett fined $200,000 by Arizona Cardinals

admin — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 12:00:38 +0000

Kerry Rhodes insists teammate Darnell Dockett didn’t spit on him during the Arizona Cardinals’Â 7-6 loss to the New York Jets. But Dockett’s actions still were enough to warrant serious condemnation from the team.

Harrison: Week 14 predictions

NFL.com’s Albert Breer reported Friday that the Cardinals fined Dockett $200,000 for conduct detrimental to the team, according to a source briefed on the fine.

A union source told Breer and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport that the NFL Players Association already has begun the progress of filing a grievance on Dockett’s behalf.

After the news broke, Dockett tweeted his thanks to the NFLPA and said “I ain’t got no worries.”

The punishment came five days after Dockett and Rhodes argued on the field about defensive strategy late in the fourth quarter. Rhodes — and defensive coordinator Ray Horton, who said Friday that he suggested the plan — wanted to let the Jets score, giving the Cardinals’ offense a final possession while facing an eight-point deficit. Dockett disagreed with that thinking. Jets running back Shonn Greene eventually broke a run and knelt down at the Arizona 1-yard line, allowing New York to run out the clock.

It was reported that Dockett, who apologized Wednesday, spit on Rhodes during the altercation, prompting Rhodes to release a statement.

“Yes, we had a disagreement on the field but, no he did NOT spit in my face,” Rhodes said in an email released by the team Tuesday. “I’m not going to get into all the details because I think those are things you keep within the team. But Darnell and I talked after the game, we’re both moving on and I’ll leave it at that.”

The severity of the fine makes sense given the implication that Dockett was defying coaches’ orders on the field. This is an obvious no-no that won’t make Dockett any new friends. Dockett, 31, signed a six-year, $56 million contract with the Cardinals in 2010.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.

Allie Mutch David Beckham

Darnell Dockett fined $200,000 by Arizona Cardinals is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Miami Dolphins: New England Patriots disrespected us

admin — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 09:01:28 +0000

The New York Jets are the AFC East team that prays at the altar of “ground and pound,” but it was the New England Patriots who used that philosophy Sunday to finish off the Miami Dolphins.

Harrison: Week 14 predictions

The Patriots ran the ball 13 out of 16 plays on their game-icing, field goal drive in a 23-16 win, repeatedly finding success with runs over the left guard. That repetitiveness bothered some Dolphins players.

“It really (ticked) me off,” backup defensive tackle Tony McDaniel said, according to The Palm Beach Post. “It was disrespectful to us to run the same play over and over and be successful.

“Normally when somebody’s driving down the field, you just think, ‘Well, they just had a good run there,’ but you run the same play over and over, as a competitor, that (ticks) me off.”

The intense race for the playoffs is in full gear. Check out the latest situation in the postseason chase. More …

“It is disrespectful,” defensive tackle Randy Starks agreed, “but you’ve got to stop it. We never stopped it, so I’d keep running the same play, too.”

An inability to stuff a simple run play must’ve been a difficult way for the Dolphins to lose, but “disrespectful” is the wrong word.

Frustrating? Sure. Embarrassing? Even better. But respect has no place in matters concerning the line of scrimmage.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.

John Goodman Rebecca Demorney

Miami Dolphins: New England Patriots disrespected us is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Kat Von D — I’m RIDDING Jesse James from My Body

admin — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:00:39 +0000

Kat Von D
I’m RIDDING Jesse James
from My Body

Breaking News

Remember when Kat Von D vowed to NEVER remove her tattoo of Jesse James‘ face even though they broke up?? ‘Memba that? Well … she just changed her mind.
Kat just posted a photo showing a laser beam blasting away at the portrait of a young Jesse that Kat had inked on to her rib cage back when they were dating.

When they broke up last year, Kat told us the tat had “a lot of meaning” … and she wanted to keep it to preserve the memory.

But Kat has obviously had a change of heart … and paid a visit to Dr. Tattoff. She also tweeted, “AND SO IT BEGINS! First round of tattoo removal well underway! ”

No word on why Kat changed her mind … but we’re guessing a giant portrait of the ex-boyfriend doesn’t sit well with the current boyfriend.

Hetty Baynes British Marines

Kat Von D — I’m RIDDING Jesse James from My Body is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Don’t Give Government Too Much Credit

admin — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 05:00:38 +0000

In Newsday, Reason magazine Contributing Editor Cathy Young writes:

Entrepreneurs “give back” to society not only in taxes but in products that improve our lives — and in charity. While individual success is aided by public institutions, private associations such as family and community often play a larger role.

Obama is not a quasi-communist; he is just a liberal. Yet at a time when more than 40 percent of our gross domestic product is spent by government, we should be asking how much government is too much. Obama’s speech suggests that his instinct is for more, not less.

Full column at Newsday.

Lillian Muller Hedy Burress

Don’t Give Government Too Much Credit is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Taylor Lautner’s Toscana Lunch Meeting

admin — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:01:32 +0000

Posted Thursday December 6, 2012 6:46 PM GMT

Seemingly enjoying his post-Twilight life, Taylor Lautner was all smiles after having lunch at Toscana in Brentwood, California on Thursday (December 6).

The “Breaking Dawn – Part 2″ star looked handsome in a red plaid shirt, jeans, and brown shoes as he shook hands with a man before picking up his car from the valet.

On deck for the 20-year-old actor is the comedy “Grown Ups 2,” currently in post-production. The sequel to the 2010 comedy stars Adam Sandler, Salma Hayek, Kevin James, and Chris Rock.

In the movie set for release in July, Taylor plays “Frat Boy Andy” alongside the Governator’s son, Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Enjoy the pictures of Taylor Lautner out to lunch at Toscana (December 6).

Tammy Gretchen Robyn Douglas

Taylor Lautner’s Toscana Lunch Meeting is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Three Beats for Beatbox Flute Movement I

admin — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 08:01:29 +0000

Posted by S. Abbas Raza at 10:38 AM | Permalink

Robin Quivers Kevin Smith

Three Beats for Beatbox Flute Movement I is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

John Travolta — Ummmm ….

admin — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:00:38 +0000

SIGN IN / REGISTER

What’s your email address?

I’m already a member I’m already a member
I’m new I‘m new

Voice yourself on TMZ today, join in on the discussions and personalize your avatar!

What’s your password?

Remember me
Â Â

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?
Gary Estrada Judy Landers

John Travolta — Ummmm …. is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Jesse Ronson guns for UFC contract following weekend win over Ryan Healy

admin — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 02:00:28 +0000

http://mmajunkie.com Sore hands and feet are Jesse Ronson’s only career roadblocks at this moment.
Ronson believes a recent victory over fellow lightweight Ryan Healy proves he’s capable of joining his well-known teammates in the UFC.

“I would like for this fight to put me on the next level, but we’ll see how it goes,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Ronson (12-2) dominated Healy (23-12) over three rounds to earn a unanimous-decision win at this past Friday’s Score Fighting Series 7 event, which took place at Hamilton Place Theatre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The event’s main card, including Ronson’s feet, aired on AXS TV.

One judge scored the lopsided fight 30-25 in favor of Ronson, a native of nearby London, Ontario. The crowd, including 75 of his friends and family, chanted “UFC” during the action.

Ronson, though, snickered at the thought of a UFC offer on his desk.

“I didn’t know they came that soon,” he joked. “Was I supposed to get it on Saturday?”

The 26-year-old has had far more time to win over his training partners at London’s Adrenaline Training Center, which Sam Stout, Chris Horodecki and Mark Hominick founded. An endorsement from the Canadian MMA stars won him the representation of agent Rob Roveta.

“They’re pulling for me,” Ronson said. “We’ll see if I get that call.”

The resources at Ronson’s disposal were considerably smaller in his early career. He trained at a kickboxing academy in London and had few grappling partners.

“I would do jiu-jitsu with the guys that were there,” he said, “with guys that didn’t know what jiu-jitsu was, and I was fighting MMA.”

That changed when Ronson joined Adrenaline in September 2010. Although he went 1-2 in his next three outings, including an eye-opening loss to the well-rounded Mike Ricci of “The Ultimate Fighter 16″ fame, he has won his past seven fights.

And Healy, who’s brother is current Strikeforce contender Pat Healy, couldn’t keep the fight on the mat to ground and pound him.

Although satisfied with his win, Ronson expressed frustration at being unable to finish his opponent, who took no fewer than three head kicks in the waining minute of the third and final round.

“I was just upset because I think I landed six or seven clean ones with my power leg and two or three with my lead leg, and I was like, ‘This guy has to go down from one of these,’” Ronson said. “So I threw the one and he wobbled, so I’m like, ‘One more and he’s going down.’ I hit him with the second one, and he didn’t go down. The more he didn’t go down, the more I wanted to hurt him and try to knock him out.”

The knockout didn’t come, but Ronson certainly made a statement about his abilities.

If the UFC comes calling, he said he’d like to fight in February. But in reality, any time will do.

“If they call me and say, ‘Do you want to fight this guy,’ I’m not going to say no,” Ronson said.

For more on Score Fighting Series 7, stay tuned to the MMA Events section of the site.

Jacqueline McKenzie Carey Mulligan

Jesse Ronson guns for UFC contract following weekend win over Ryan Healy is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Frankie Muniz Suffers ‘Mini-Stroke’

admin — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:00:43 +0000

Frankie Muniz
Suffers ‘Mini-Stroke’

Exclusive Details

“Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz suffered a mini-stroke last week — and sources tell TMZ, doctors are still stumped about the cause.
Sources close to Frankie tell TMZ, the 26-year-old was taken to an Arizona ER on Friday when friends noticed he was “acting really weird” — having trouble speaking and understanding words — and they got freaked out.

Doctors told Frankie he had suffered a “mini-stroke” though they didn’t know what caused it. We’re told Frankie’s still awaiting test results.

Frankie’s birthday is tomorrow and his band Kingsfoil is set to begin touring on Friday — but he’s currently under doctor’s orders to take it easy.

Â

Kimberly Joseph Allie Mutch

Frankie Muniz Suffers ‘Mini-Stroke’ is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Rex Ryan could name New York Jets’ QB on Tuesday

admin — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 08:00:46 +0000

Greg McElroy helped drive the New York Jets to their only touchdown in Sunday’s 7-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Was that enough to win him the starting quarterback job?

Rapoport: McElroys avoid drama

NFL.com’s Albert Breer reported Monday that Jets coach Rex Ryan met with people at different levels of the organization throughout the day regarding the quarterback situation and chose to sleep on it. A team source said a final decision hasn’t been made, but it could come Tuesday.

A Monday report by CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora suggested McElroy, not incumbent Mark Sanchez, likely will be the choice to start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As for Tim Tebow? La Canfora reported Tebow isn’t regarded as a starting candidate, and coaches have been reluctant to play him at all this season. Tebow’s rib injury doesn’t factor into their opinion.

Ryan already has done the hard part here, benching Sanchez for the first time in four seasons. If you’ve followed the Jets, you know Ryan has been reticient to give Tebow a piece of this offense. We’re not convinced Sanchez would’ve even come out of Sunday’s game if Tebow were active and available.

That leaves McElroy, a former seventh-round draft pick out of Alabama, who, according to La Canfora, impressed the Jets with “the improved pace and verve of the offense.”

We don’t know about all that, but McElroy did provide the Jets and their fan base with a spark invisible under Sanchez. It makes sense to give McElroy his first start. What else do the Jets have to lose?

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.

Kim Katrel Winona Ryder

Rex Ryan could name New York Jets’ QB on Tuesday is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Kate Bosworth Sings “Winter Wonderland” for TopShop Ad Campaign

admin — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 02:00:31 +0000

Posted Monday December 3, 2012 8:15 PM GMT

Getting into the holiday spirit for the women’s fashion company Topshop, Kate Bosworth sings a sultry rendition of the classic “Winter Wonderland” in the company’s first Christmas film campaign.

Directed by the 29-year-old actress’s fiancÃ©e, Michael Polish, the video was inspired by the famous Michelle Pfeiffer piano scene in “The Fabulous Baker Boys.”

According to Kate, “This project brings together two important aspects of my life: cinema and fashion. I have always been a fan of the Topshop brand and it has been an honour to work with Sir Phillip and the team. I hope everyone enjoys watching it as much as we did making it.” You can download the rendition on iTunes right now.

Excited about the chance to work with her man, on Monday Ms. Bosworth tweeted, “Me & @michael_polish had so much fun in London working with the @Topshop team on our Holiday film, Winter Wonderland.”

Catch the full video below.

Emma Watson Valeria Golino

Kate Bosworth Sings “Winter Wonderland” for TopShop Ad Campaign is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Marisa Miller: Stunning & Pregnant for Allure Magazine

admin — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 20:01:30 +0000

Posted Monday December 3, 2012 2:50 PM GMT

She may be pregnant, but that’s not stopping the stunning Marisa Miller from landing a feature on Allure’s blog.

The 34-year-old supermodel rocked her birthday suit for the gorgeous Brian Bowen Smith shot spread while dishing about topics including posing nude while pregnant to her fitness routine.

A few highlights from Miss Miller’s interview are as follows. For more, be sure to pay a visit to Allure!

On posing nude while pregnant:
“I always felt, even before I got pregnant, that it’s better to accentuate your curves. A lot of women try to tuck their butt in or kind of slouch because they’re trying to hide. Obviously, you can’t suck it in, but it’s important to really show off the belly. For some reason, for me, from the side, it looks the biggest, so that’s what I tried to do.”

On her current skincare routine:
“When I found out I was pregnant, the first thing that had to go was the acne medicine and chemical-filled face washes and lotions. I made sure everything was natural and organic, and I started reading blogs from other pregnant women. Everyone was talking about AfricanBlack Soap. It’s made out of plantain ash, Vitamin E, and shea butter, and it worked really, really well. I felt so weird using soap because you think, Don’t use soap on your face. Use a cleanser, something fancy. But I haven’t had a breakout since my first trimester.”

On her fitness routine:
“I’d heard that swimming feels so good when you’re pregnant, and I love being in the ocean. I was even paddle boarding up until 17 weeks, but then my center of gravity and balance were completely off. I looked so funny standing up on the board with all that extra weight in front. I did Pilates five times a week during my second trimester, but it’s so modified now, mostly stretching and breathing. It’s easy to feel swollen and puffy, and moving really helps with the circulation.”

Photo Credit: Brian Bowen Smith for Allure

Famke Janssen Thora Birch

Marisa Miller: Stunning & Pregnant for Allure Magazine is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

UFC on FOX 5′s FX-televised prelims add Easton-Assuncao and Siver-Phan

admin — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:00:39 +0000

http://mmajunkie.com Two fights have joined FX’s super-sized preliminary-card broadcast for next week’s UFC on FOX 5 event.
FX now airs six fights, not the usual four, prior to the Dec. 8′s main-card broadcast on FOX.

The bouts include bantamweights Mike Easton (13-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) vs. Raphael Assuncao (18-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) and featherweights Dennis Siver (20-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) vs. Nam Phan (18-10 MMA, 2-3 UFC).

UFC on FOX 5 takes place Dec. 8 at Seattle’s KeyArena and features a main event between lightweight champion Benson Henderson and top contender Nate Diaz.

Although FUEL TV carried past UFC on FOX prelims, they now head to the bigger FX. Other bouts part of next week’s three-hour broadcast, which follows additional prelims on Facebook, include heavyweights Brendan Schaub (8-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) vs. Lavar Johnson (17-6 MMA, 2-1 UFC), “The Ultimate Fighter 15″ lightweight winner Michael Chiesa (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) vs. Marcus LeVesseur (22-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC), “TUF 13″ runner-up Ramsey Nijem (6-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) vs. fellow lightweight Joe Proctor (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), and lightweights Yves Edwards (41-18-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC) vs. Jeremy Stephens (20-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC).

The full UFC on FOX 5 card includes:

MAIN CARD (FOX, 8 p.m. ET)

Champ Benson Henderson vs. Nate Diaz (for lightweight title)

Alexander Gustafsson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua

Rory MacDonald vs. B.J. Penn

Matt Brown vs. Mike Swick

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX, 5 p.m. ET)

Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub

Mike Chiesa vs. Marcus LeVesseur

Raphael Assuncao vs. Mike Easton

Nam Phan vs. Dennis Siver

Ramsey Nijem vs. Joe Proctor

Yves Edwards vs. Jeremy Stephens

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Daron Cruickshank vs. Henry Martinez

John Albert vs. Scott Jorgensen

Tim Means vs. Abel Trujillo

For more on UFC on FOX 5, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Mike Easton)

Portia De Rossi Anne Archer

UFC on FOX 5′s FX-televised prelims add Easton-Assuncao and Siver-Phan is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Champ Rockhold calls Larkin attack ‘pretty amateur,’ eyes early 2013 for return

admin — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 23:01:27 +0000

Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that he never signed a bout agreement to fight Lorenz Larkin and never intended to fight at the promotion’s final event.
When officials announced the Jan. 12 event in early November, Rockhold (10-1 MMA, 9-0 SF) said he informed officials that a wrist injury lingered and that he was unable to fight.

That’s why he’s particularly irritated by a series of verbal attacks from Lorenz Larkin (13-0 MMA, 4-0 SF) regarding his willingness to compete.

“He was obviously misinformed to some extent,” Rockhold said. “I’ve been in that situation, but just to lash out at me, that’s pretty amateur.”

Larkin, who today addressed his grievances with MMAjunkie.com Radio, was twice scheduled to vie for the title before injuries interceded.

“I just feel like guys are acting like they haven’t paved any way for them to go to the UFC and a catastrophe could happen on Jan. 12, where [UFC President Dana White is] going to be like, ‘No. I didn’t like the way you fought, and you’re not going to come over,’” Larkin said.

Rockhold, however, said the UFC wasn’t a part of his decision. He noticed his injury eight weeks prior to a fight scheduled for a Nov. 3 event and announced his withdrawal two weeks later.

“Every time I would grip something, it would be a sharp pain,” he said. “I’d punch wrong, and it would make me want to cry.”

Rockhold saw multiple doctors and had several MRIs done on his wrist. Training never completely resumed.

Four weeks ago, he underwent a blood therapy called PRP (platelet-rich plasma) to speed the healing process on what was diagnosed as a tear to his triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) and ligament sprain. He also spent three weeks in a hard cast, which was removed this past week.

“I don’t take steroids, so I don’t know if I can heal as fast as some of these guys,” Rockhold said. “I do things the way I know how.”

Strikeforce and broadcast partner Showtime dually announced the Jan. 12 event with three title fights: lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez vs. Pat Healy, Rockhold vs. Larkin, and welterweight champ Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine.

Melendez earlier this month withdrew from the event, later titled “Strikeforce: Champions,” citing a nagging shoulder injury. News of Rockhold’s withdrawal became public over the weekend.

Rockhold believes the confusion over his status may stem from a conversation with Strikeforce officials following his first injury in which he gave a timeline for his readiness to fight.

“They never really got back to me, and they just thought I’d be ready, and I wasn’t able to get on it,” he said. “I don’t really know. I don’t really want to get into it, to tell you the truth. I wasn’t able to train.

“They announced the fight, and I immediately called and told them how I felt and now here we are. They wanted to make a date happen, and I know they want to get done with this thing probably as much as anybody else, and for some reason they have to put on a last card. Pushing this card hard, it seems like. I just wasn’t able to make the date at that time.”

Relations between Strikeforce parent Zuffa and Showtime steadily have deteriorated since a March meeting between UFC President Dana White and Showtime officials. White said he was “hands-off” with Strikeforce after his input on the look of the event was nixed.

Two Strikeforce events have been canceled due to high-profile injury withdrawals that prompted Showtime to decline low-wattage events.

With the promotion’s final event slated for January, Rockhold won’t defend the belt he won with a September 2011 decision over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. But he stressed that he didn’t withdraw from the event because he had designs on starting anew in the UFC once Strikeforce folded.

“That was not any part of my thought process,” Rockhold said. “I’m injured. I want to get paid. I want to shut Lorenz’s mouth. I’m not waiting in any shape or form for the UFC. You can never count on that happening. I’ve heard that in the past, and I’m not going to wait for that to happen.

“I have a lot of things I want to do in my life. This has set me back. I was going to buy a house, and now it looks like I’m going to wait until I’m more financially stable. I want to fight, plain and simple. It doesn’t matter who. Except at this point, after the talk, obviously I’m partial to fighting Lorenz.”

The feeling isn’t mutual for Larkin, who said he wants to move on.

Rockhold doesn’t hold that against the middleweight contender. He estimated he’ll be ready to return in three to four months after completely healing his wrist. He is unconcerned with the location of the next bout.

“I’d be completely happy with the UFC, but I just want to fight and get paid,” he said. “I want to be best in the world. Eventually, whether it’s here or there, I want those fights.”

For more on “Strikeforce: Champions,” stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

Mariah Carey Kim Katrel

Champ Rockhold calls Larkin attack ‘pretty amateur,’ eyes early 2013 for return is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Victoria Beckham & Harper’s Paparazzi-Filled LAX Arrival

admin — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 20:01:31 +0000

Posted Sunday December 2, 2012 1:38 PM GMT

Attempting to make it out to their car, Victoria Beckham and her daughter, Harper, squeezed through the mob of paparazzi after arriving at LAX airport in Los Angeles on Saturday (December 1).

The former Spice Girls member looked as chic as always in skinny jeans, a grey sweater, and her signature sunglasses, while shielding her little one from the continuous flashes.

In related news, although Victoria and her daughter were just making it back to the west coast, the rest of her family was already in LA celebrating her husband’s soccer victory.

As previously reported by GossipCenter, David, along with their three sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, were at the Home Depot Center basking in the glory of the 37-year-old soccer stud’s second MLS championship title.

The victory marks the final game that Beckham will play for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Enjoy the pictures of Victoria Beckham and her daughter Harper at LAX airport in Los Angeles, CA (December 1).

Melanie Griffith Arline Hunter

Victoria Beckham & Harper’s Paparazzi-Filled LAX Arrival is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Brady Quinn: Jovan Belcher’s death ‘shocked’ Chiefs

admin — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 17:00:29 +0000

Kansas City Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel never had to convene a team meeting like this before. Less than two hours after Crennel witnessed linebacker Jovan Belcher take his own life, Crennel addressed his team for a previously scheduled session.

“It was obviously tough for coach to have to tell us that,” quarterback Brady Quinn told The Kansas City Star. “He really wasn’t able to finish talking to us. We got together and prayed and then we moved on.”

Crennel relayed the shocking, horrifying events of the morning. The news left the team stunned.

“I think everyone is just so shocked at what had taken place, being who it was and being what had happened. I think people are still trying to digest everything let alone think about playing a game,” Quinn said. “It’s tough to put into words.

“It’s hard mostly because I keep thinking about what I could have done to stop this. I think everyone is wondering whether we would have done something to prevent this from happening. And then we’re all thinking about his daughter, three or four months old and without a parent. It’s hard to not allow the emotions of the situation to creep into your head with the game this close. But we’re going to do the best we can to concentrate on the task at hand.”

Quinn said the players have already started thinking about what they can do next to help.

“The big thing is (Belcher’s) daughter. I know a bunch of the guys are going to try to set up a fund to try to take care of his daughter. Her parents are not in her life anymore.”

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
Mariah Carey Kim Katrel

Brady Quinn: Jovan Belcher’s death ‘shocked’ Chiefs is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Katt Williams Slaps Target Employee IN THE FACE [VIDEO]

admin — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 14:00:31 +0000

Katt Williams
Slaps Target Employee
IN THE FACE [VIDEO]

EXCLUSIVE

What did the 5 fingers say to the face? Ask the guy who got PIMP SLAPPED by Katt Williams.
Katt

wasn’t done after leading cops on a crazy three-wheeled chase through Sacramento on Sunday — because moments later, he hit up a Target … where he belted an employee IN THE FACE … and TMZ has footage of the face-to-hand contact.
There’s no audio, so we can’t tell what the argument is about — but by the looks of the employee’s body language before the wallop (placing his hand on his chest) the guy wasn’t looking for a fight.

Then out of nowhere Katt winds up and slaps him in the face — at which point the employee pulls out his phone and, according to an eye witness, he calls police.

Video of the aftermath surfaced on the Internet this week, showing Katt making his getaway in an electric cart … before police arrive. Â We hate to say it, but it’s hilarious.

According to sources at the store, Katt then ditched the electric cart and got back on his three-wheeled motorcycle. He was not arrested.

We spoke to a rep for the Yolo County DA’s office, who tells TMZ, the case is currently under review … and charges have not yet been filed against the comedian.

So far, no word from Target or Katt’s people.

Jerri Manthey read more

Katt Williams Slaps Target Employee IN THE FACE [VIDEO] is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Jesse Ronson guns for UFC contract following weekend win over Ryan Healy

admin — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 05:00:43 +0000

http://mmajunkie.com Sore hands and feet are Jesse Ronson’s only career roadblocks at this moment.
Ronson believes a recent victory over fellow lightweight Ryan Healy proves he’s capable of joining his well-known teammates in the UFC.

“I would like for this fight to put me on the next level, but we’ll see how it goes,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Ronson (12-2) dominated Healy (23-12) over three rounds to earn a unanimous-decision win at this past Friday’s Score Fighting Series 7 event, which took place at Hamilton Place Theatre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The event’s main card, including Ronson’s feet, aired on AXS TV.

One judge scored the lopsided fight 30-25 in favor of Ronson, a native of nearby London, Ontario. The crowd, including 75 of his friends and family, chanted “UFC” during the action.

Ronson, though, snickered at the thought of a UFC offer on his desk.

“I didn’t know they came that soon,” he joked. “Was I supposed to get it on Saturday?”

The 26-year-old has had far more time to win over his training partners at London’s Adrenaline Training Center, which Sam Stout, Chris Horodecki and Mark Hominick founded. An endorsement from the Canadian MMA stars won him the representation of agent Rob Roveta.

“They’re pulling for me,” Ronson said. “We’ll see if I get that call.”

The resources at Ronson’s disposal were considerably smaller in his early career. He trained at a kickboxing academy in London and had few grappling partners.

“I would do jiu-jitsu with the guys that were there,” he said, “with guys that didn’t know what jiu-jitsu was, and I was fighting MMA.”

That changed when Ronson joined Adrenaline in September 2010. Although he went 1-2 in his next three outings, including an eye-opening loss to the well-rounded Mike Ricci of “The Ultimate Fighter 16″ fame, he has won his past seven fights.

And Healy, who’s brother is current Strikeforce contender Pat Healy, couldn’t keep the fight on the mat to ground and pound him.

Although satisfied with his win, Ronson expressed frustration at being unable to finish his opponent, who took no fewer than three head kicks in the waining minute of the third and final round.

“I was just upset because I think I landed six or seven clean ones with my power leg and two or three with my lead leg, and I was like, ‘This guy has to go down from one of these,’” Ronson said. “So I threw the one and he wobbled, so I’m like, ‘One more and he’s going down.’ I hit him with the second one, and he didn’t go down. The more he didn’t go down, the more I wanted to hurt him and try to knock him out.”

The knockout didn’t come, but Ronson certainly made a statement about his abilities.

If the UFC comes calling, he said he’d like to fight in February. But in reality, any time will do.

“If they call me and say, ‘Do you want to fight this guy,’ I’m not going to say no,” Ronson said.

For more on Score Fighting Series 7, stay tuned to the MMA Events section of the site.

Josie Bissett Holly Combs

Jesse Ronson guns for UFC contract following weekend win over Ryan Healy is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Robert Pattinson’s “Arbitrage” Afternoon with Richard Gere

admin — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 14:00:46 +0000

Posted Friday November 30, 2012 11:28 PM GMT

Bringing an end to the work week with a cinema supporting public outing, Robert Pattinson was among those attending an “Arbitrage” luncheon in Los Angeles, CA on Friday (November 30).

Looking a bit more filled out than usual, the “Twilight Saga” heartthrob joined alongside “Pretty Woman” actor Richard Gere for food and conversation at the Osteria Mozza held midday fete.

Also in attendance at the Tinseltown celebration were Gere’s new movie’s director, Nicholas Jarecki, as well as writer Kristen Smith and “Homeland” star Morena Baccarin.

As for the film, “Arbitrage” is a dramatic thriller that follows “a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his trading empire, who – as a result – makes an error that forces him to turn to an unlikely person for help.”

Enjoy the pictures of Robert Pattinson and co. at the Arbitrage Luncheon at Osteria Mozza (November 30).

Michelle Branch Sonia Couling

Robert Pattinson’s “Arbitrage” Afternoon with Richard Gere is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Gabriel Aubry Drops Restraining Order Against Olivier Martinez

admin — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 08:00:51 +0000

Gabriel Aubry
DROPS Restraining Order
Against Olivier Martinez

EXCLUSIVE

It’s pretty remarkable, but a week after nuclear war at Halle Berry‘s house which left Gabriel Aubry‘s face a bloody mess, they have figured out a path to peace … and the clearest evidence is that Gabriel’s lawyer just went to court and dropped his restraining order against Olivier Martinez.

It happened just a few minutes ago. Shawn Holley, Gabriel’s lawyer, told the judge her client no longer needed to keep Olivier away from him.

As TMZ first reported … the parties struck an agreement Thursday to end their mega-dispute, which revolves around 4-year-old Nahla.

The remaining issue … Olivier made a citizen’s arrest after the fight and the case is going to the L.A. City Attorney for review.Â We’re told it’s “highly unlikely” Gabriel will be prosecuted.

If Halle can do it, maybe there’s hope for Middle East peace.

Catherine Oxenberg Jennifer Connelly

Gabriel Aubry Drops Restraining Order Against Olivier Martinez is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Video: Strikeforce’s Larkin lashes out at Rockhold’s withdrawal, questions UFC timing

admin — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 04:00:30 +0000

by Steven Marrocco on Nov 30, 2012 at 5:30 pm ET

Even five years ago, when he was preparing himself mentally for a wrestling match, Shawn Bunch saw fighting in his future.Â As a friend of Daniel Cormier and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Bunch didn’t need to be sold on crossing over from mat to cage.

Eliza Szonert Catherine Deelay

Video: Strikeforce’s Larkin lashes out at Rockhold’s withdrawal, questions UFC timing is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

John Cena — REBOUNDING with Ex-WWE Diva [Pics]

admin — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 01:00:28 +0000

John Cena
REBOUNDING
with Ex-WWE Diva [Pics]

Just months after sealing his divorce, WWE superstar John Cena has apparently moved on … ’cause dude was gettin’ up close and personal with a former WWE Diva in Arizona.
TMZ has obtained pics of Cena bumpin’, grindin’ and even going in for a kiss with Nikki Bella … who worked in the WWE with her twin sister Brie until this past April.

Nikki and Brie had their high school reunion in Scottsdale this past weekend — and John was invited as Nikki’s date.

Brie also brought her boyfriend — WWE tag team champion Daniel Bryan.

It’s unclear if Cena and Bella are “officially” an item … but they definitely weren’t shy with the PDA at the reunion.Â

“YES!”

Janice Joplin Marisol Thomas

John Cena — REBOUNDING with Ex-WWE Diva [Pics] is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

A sprinting cheetah at 1200 frames per second slow motion

admin — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:00:42 +0000

Cheetahs on the Edge–Director’s Cut from Gregory Wilson on Vimeo.

Posted by S. Abbas Raza at 01:08 PM | Permalink

Nigel Hawthorne Jacinta Stapleton

A sprinting cheetah at 1200 frames per second slow motion is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Eva Longoria Strips Down for GQ Mexico December 2012 Cover

admin — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:00:44 +0000

Posted Friday November 30, 2012 12:27 AM GMT

With her new movie “The Baytown Outlaws” set for a December 4th VOD release date, Eva Longoria pitched in on promotions via a south of the border stripdown for the December 2012 issue of GQ Mexico.

The 37-year-old actress wowed in a lingerie clad spread shot by Randall Slavin while chatting with the magazine about everything from her sexy status to managing such a demanding schedule.

Highlights from Miss Longoria’s interview are as follows. For more, be sure to pay a visit to GQ Mexico!

On how she manages to juggle such a hectic schedule:
“I do not stop for a minute. I feel like my day had 48 hours, I like to lead a busy life. My mother raised four daughters (one of whom has special needs), worked as a teacher and every day, at 6:00 pm, cook dinner for my dad and for us, and every morning we also had the breakfast, so I see my mother and think, ‘I’m not doing enough.’”

On how often she travels to Mexico:
“I’m going to Mexico whenever I can. I love Mexico City, Guadalajara love … I shot a film in Mexico with Andy Garcia, Cristiada, in six different states, including Durango and Mexico City. I love Andy Garcia, did another movie together called The Dark Truth, a political thriller that takes place in South America and revolves around the struggle for clean groundwater. And I’m about to start filming the border, with Ed Harris and Michael PeÃ±a: we will shoot in New Mexico and the plot has to do with the border issue, precisely. It is a film that tries to address, from a more humane approach, the struggle of people crossing into ‘northern’ in search of work.”

On her thoughts about being considered one of the world’s sexiest women:
“Ah, I always feel flattered when I say that! [Laughs] I hope people perceive me as beautiful in everything I do in relation to works of charity and philanthropy, or political activism. For me, those are the things that define beauty. The beauty lies mainly on personality, not on skin.”

Photo Credit: Randall Slavin for GQ Mexico

Gina Hiraizumi Paula Jai Parker

Eva Longoria Strips Down for GQ Mexico December 2012 Cover is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Halle Berry, Gabriel Aubry, and Olivier Martinez — Peace Settlement Announced

admin — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:01:41 +0000

Halle, Gabriel, Olivier
Peace at Last
Settlement Announced

Breaking News

Gabriel Aubry and Halle Berry have reached a truce in their war over that Thanksgiving Day blowout between Gabriel and Olivier Martinez — and their lawyers announced the peace accord with the simplest possible statement.
Halle’s attorney Blair Berk just walked into the hallway outside court, and held up a piece of paper with this handwritten message: “The parties have reached an amicable agreement. There will be no further statements regarding this matter.“

The statement came from Berk and Shawn Holley, Gabriel’s attorney.

As TMZ first reported … both sides were working hard to hammer out an agreement, and went into court today to present their terms to the judge.

Halle and Olivier were not in court today, but Gabriel did show up … sporting shades to hide his gruesome bruises from the fight.

Jeri Ryan Carla Bonner

Halle Berry, Gabriel Aubry, and Olivier Martinez — Peace Settlement Announced is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Andrew Whitworth calls Oakland Raiders ‘cowards’

admin — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 07:01:34 +0000

Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth is still hot about the scuffle that broke out during Sunday’s convincing win over the Oakland Raiders.

Whitworth fully expects to be fined after he and Raiders defenders Tommy Kelly and Lamarr Houston were ejected for the fourth-quarter chaos. Money is one thing, but Whitworth is more irritated over Raiders players he says hit him and gouged his eyes during the melee.

“I’d hope there would be guys on their team that would address that, but it is what it is,” Whitworth told The Associated Press. “You’ve got guys that want to make names for themselves and can’t, and then they get frustrated. It’s their opportunity to do something they feel and be tough, but that ain’t tough. Face-to-face is tough.

“Most of those guys, they are what they are — they’re cowards. And if they really wanted to have an issue with you, they’d address you. But they obviously don’t.”

The fight started after Houston dropped Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton to ground on a fourth-quarter play called dead for a false-start penalty. Whitworth then went after Houston and all hell broke loose. Whitworth said he found himself under a pile where Oakland players clawed at his eyes.

“I haven’t watched the film,” he said. “If I watch it, I’ll go find those people, so I really don’t want to know.”

Dalton defended his lineman this week, saying he was thankful to have a player like Whitworth watching his back. The behemoth says he’d do it all over again.

“I would still confront the guy,” Whitworth said. “And what I still believe — and why I called those guys cowards — is Lamarr Houston and I simply grabbed each other and were shoving, and that’s all it would have been. But the other guys that jumped in and started swinging and throwing a bunch of punches and doing things to try to get ahold of us — that were taking cheap shots on me — that’s what makes it a fight.”

Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.

Shirly Jones Angie Hart

Andrew Whitworth calls Oakland Raiders ‘cowards’ is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Adam Lambert Explains Fresh Arm Ink

admin — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:01:03 +0000

Posted Wednesday November 28, 2012 4:06 PM GMT

Sharing his fresh ink via Twitter, Adam Lambert posted a photo of his new tattoo on Tuesday (November 27).

The glam rocker said of the elaborate piece, “It represents my Astrological Birth Chart, along with Pagan, Buddhist, and Greco- Roman Archetypes related to balance and the life cycle.”

He added, “My chart is AQUARIUS Sun, Libra Rising, Aries Moon. All three are represented.”

After some apparent misconceptions among his Twitter followers, the 30-year-old singer later fired back with, “Tattoo has nothing to do w Satanism… That’s stupid. Greek Mythology? Yes. PAN. The Internet loves these foolish Illuminati conspiracies.”

Danniella Westbrook Black Eyed Peas

Adam Lambert Explains Fresh Arm Ink is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

The Package: Zack Kassian

admin — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:01:16 +0000

Today, we check in with Vancouver Canucks dose of sandpaper-on-the-wing Zack Kassian, who has done his part with the Chicago Wolves by racking up penalty minutes while still finding the back of the net.

We at CBCSports.ca will be keeping an eye on the next generation of NHL stars on Canada’s seven clubs, whether they’re working on the “farm” in the AHL or honing their game overseas, waiting for the end of the lockout.
We’ll periodically check in with these players throughout the 2012-13 season, no matter what league they’ll be lacing up their skates in. Today, we check in with Vancouver Canucks’ does of sandpaper-on-the-wing Zack Kassian, who has done his part in racking up penalty minutes in the AHL while still finding the back of the net.
Zack Kassian
Age/ Birthplace: 21, Windsor, Ont.
Position: RW
NHL club/draft position: Vancouver Canucks, drafted 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2009
NHL GP: 44 (17 with the Canucks)
Junior team: Peterborough Petes/Windsor Spitfires
Current team: Chicago Wolves (AHL)
Stats on current team: 16GP, 5G, 6A, 40 PIM

As we stated last time we spoke of Kassian, we talked about how the Canucks traded away a “natural goal-scorer in Cody Hodgson in exchange for Kassian and the skill set they believe the big forward possesses: size (6’3″, 214 lbs.), physical presence and an offensive upside.”

Kassian seems to be fitting the bill so far with the Wolves, after just 16 games with the club he has 40 minutes in penalties, with moderate offensive production. One case in point of his role going forward with the parent club Canucks is his performance in Abbotsford, B.C. last month, torching the Heat with what one commenter called a “Kassian hat trick;” that is a goal, fight and shootout tally:

Highlight: Slow-motion score

Bonus highlight: Chucking knuckles in Abbotsford

Back to accessibility links
Gisele Bundchen Eliza Szonert

The Package: Zack Kassian is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Jesse Ronson guns for UFC contract following weekend win over Ryan Healy

admin — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 04:00:37 +0000

http://mmajunkie.com Sore hands and feet are Jesse Ronson’s only career roadblocks at this moment.
Ronson believes a recent victory over fellow lightweight Ryan Healy proves he’s capable of joining his well-known teammates in the UFC.

“I would like for this fight to put me on the next level, but we’ll see how it goes,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Ronson (12-2) dominated Healy (23-12) over three rounds to earn a unanimous-decision win at this past Friday’s Score Fighting Series 7 event, which took place at Hamilton Place Theatre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The event’s main card, including Ronson’s feet, aired on AXS TV.

One judge scored the lopsided fight 30-25 in favor of Ronson, a native of nearby London, Ontario. The crowd, including 75 of his friends and family, chanted “UFC” during the action.

Ronson, though, snickered at the thought of a UFC offer on his desk.

“I didn’t know they came that soon,” he joked. “Was I supposed to get it on Saturday?”

The 26-year-old has had far more time to win over his training partners at London’s Adrenaline Training Center, which Sam Stout, Chris Horodecki and Mark Hominick founded. An endorsement from the Canadian MMA stars won him the representation of agent Rob Roveta.

“They’re pulling for me,” Ronson said. “We’ll see if I get that call.”

The resources at Ronson’s disposal were considerably smaller in his early career. He trained at a kickboxing academy in London and had few grappling partners.

“I would do jiu-jitsu with the guys that were there,” he said, “with guys that didn’t know what jiu-jitsu was, and I was fighting MMA.”

That changed when Ronson joined Adrenaline in September 2010. Although he went 1-2 in his next three outings, including an eye-opening loss to the well-rounded Mike Ricci of “The Ultimate Fighter 16″ fame, he has won his past seven fights.

And Healy, who’s brother is current Strikeforce contender Pat Healy, couldn’t keep the fight on the mat to ground and pound him.

Although satisfied with his win, Ronson expressed frustration at being unable to finish his opponent, who took no fewer than three head kicks in the waining minute of the third and final round.

“I was just upset because I think I landed six or seven clean ones with my power leg and two or three with my lead leg, and I was like, ‘This guy has to go down from one of these,’” Ronson said. “So I threw the one and he wobbled, so I’m like, ‘One more and he’s going down.’ I hit him with the second one, and he didn’t go down. The more he didn’t go down, the more I wanted to hurt him and try to knock him out.”

The knockout didn’t come, but Ronson certainly made a statement about his abilities.

If the UFC comes calling, he said he’d like to fight in February. But in reality, any time will do.

“If they call me and say, ‘Do you want to fight this guy,’ I’m not going to say no,” Ronson said.

For more on Score Fighting Series 7, stay tuned to the MMA Events section of the site.

see more Tammy Gretchen

Jesse Ronson guns for UFC contract following weekend win over Ryan Healy is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

UFC on FOX 5′s FX-televised prelims add Easton-Assuncao and Siver-Phan

admin — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:00:38 +0000

http://mmajunkie.com Two fights have joined FX’s super-sized preliminary-card broadcast for next week’s UFC on FOX 5 event.
FX now airs six fights, not the usual four, prior to the Dec. 8′s main-card broadcast on FOX.

The bouts include bantamweights Mike Easton (13-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) vs. Raphael Assuncao (18-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) and featherweights Dennis Siver (20-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) vs. Nam Phan (18-10 MMA, 2-3 UFC).

UFC on FOX 5 takes place Dec. 8 at Seattle’s KeyArena and features a main event between lightweight champion Benson Henderson and top contender Nate Diaz.

Although FUEL TV carried past UFC on FOX prelims, they now head to the bigger FX. Other bouts part of next week’s three-hour broadcast, which follows additional prelims on Facebook, include heavyweights Brendan Schaub (8-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) vs. Lavar Johnson (17-6 MMA, 2-1 UFC), “The Ultimate Fighter 15″ lightweight winner Michael Chiesa (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) vs. Marcus LeVesseur (22-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC), “TUF 13″ runner-up Ramsey Nijem (6-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) vs. fellow lightweight Joe Proctor (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), and lightweights Yves Edwards (41-18-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC) vs. Jeremy Stephens (20-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC).

The full UFC on FOX 5 card includes:

MAIN CARD (FOX, 8 p.m. ET)

Champ Benson Henderson vs. Nate Diaz (for lightweight title)

Alexander Gustafsson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua

Rory MacDonald vs. B.J. Penn

Matt Brown vs. Mike Swick

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX, 5 p.m. ET)

Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub

Mike Chiesa vs. Marcus LeVesseur

Raphael Assuncao vs. Mike Easton

Nam Phan vs. Dennis Siver

Ramsey Nijem vs. Joe Proctor

Yves Edwards vs. Jeremy Stephens

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Daron Cruickshank vs. Henry Martinez

John Albert vs. Scott Jorgensen

Tim Means vs. Abel Trujillo

For more on UFC on FOX 5, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Mike Easton)

Paula Jai Parker Sydney Moon

UFC on FOX 5′s FX-televised prelims add Easton-Assuncao and Siver-Phan is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Cowboys fans petition Obama to oust Jerry Jones

admin — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:00:38 +0000

Dallas Cowboys fans are calling on a higher power to erase Jerry Jones from the equation in Big D.

The Dallas Morning News reported Monday that a man from Ft. Benning, Ga. has petitioned President Barack Obama to remove Jones from power over the Cowboys organization.

The petition, housed on the White House website and filed under the category of “Human Rights,” includes the following call to arms:

“We, the Citizens of the Great State of Texas, and Dallas Cowboys fans worldwide, have been oppressed by an over controlling, delusional, oppressive dictator for way too long. Request the Executive Branch’s immediate assistance in removal of owner and GM, Jerry Jones. His incompetence and ego have not only been an extreme disappointment for way too long, but moreover, it has caused extreme mental and emotional duress.”

As we post this, 412 U.S. citizens have signed the petition. Only 24,588 more are required for Obama to take this seriously. We’ve dispatched Rosenthal to monitor this development closely.

Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.

Famke Janssen Thora Birch

Cowboys fans petition Obama to oust Jerry Jones is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Lovie Smith unhappy with Jared Allen block on lineman

admin — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 07:00:31 +0000

The Chicago Bears — already thin along their offensive line — took another hit on Sunday when right guard Lance Louis was decked on blindside block by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen during an interception return.

It was announced Monday that Louis suffered a season-ending knee injury on the play. Allen said Sunday he thought it was a “legal hit,” but Bears coach Lovie Smith doesn’t seem to agree.

“Jared Allen plays the game a certain way. Good player. I think our game could do without that play,” Smith said Monday, via the Chicago Tribune.

“I am sure the league will look at it and they’ll give an opinion about it.”

Louis never saw Allen coming during an Antoine Winfield interception return, as Allen launched himself into the 6-foot-3, 320-pound guard. Louis hit the turf and stayed there as trainers tended to him.

Mike Pereria, the former vice president of officiating and current rules analyst at FOX Sports, explained his viewpoint of the play during the telecast.

“When Allen is going back toward his own goal line or end line, or parallel down the line, then you can’t lead with your shoulder, forearm or head into the head or neck area of an opponent,” Pereria said. “To me that’s an illegal blindside block.”

Whether Allen’s intentions were malicious or not, he shouldn’t be surprised if a FedEx envelope is sitting in front of his locker in the near future.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.

Jamie Lynn Steffi Graf

Lovie Smith unhappy with Jared Allen block on lineman is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Oprah Reveals Hidden Breast Cancer Scare

admin — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 04:00:33 +0000

Posted Monday November 26, 2012 10:04 PM GMT

Though talk show legend Oprah Winfrey has always been open about her own struggles with her audience, a recent health scare was hid from everyone, even long-time bestie Gayle King.

Back in October, Oprah told an O Magazine conference audience that she had a breast cancer scare the week before. Though it turned out to be a false alarm, Monday’s New York Times reported that the revelation made Gayle “visibly upset.”

According to the paper, one crowd member scolded the 58-year-old mogul for not telling her friend sooner and suggested she apologize.

Also during the conference, Oprah addressed declining sale of her magazine, even leaving open the possibility of switching to a digital format. She explained, “I don’t care what the form is. I care about what the message is.”

more stories Drake

Oprah Reveals Hidden Breast Cancer Scare is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

5 reasons why Raptors should fire GM Colangelo

admin — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 01:00:30 +0000

The Bryan Colangelo era must come to an end. Mired in a four-year playoff drought and a 12-year “contender” drought, losing has become second nature to the Raptors, and expected by their fans. With a record of 3-11, the organization is looking down the barrel of another lost season. The current roster is lacking talent, plain and simple. When you don’t have the players to win, the fault lies with the general manager.

The Bryan Colangelo era must come to an end. Mired in a four-year playoff drought and a 12-year “contender” drought, losing has become second nature to the Raptors, and expected by their fans. With a record of 3-11, the organization is looking down the barrel of another lost season. The current roster is lacking talent, plain and simple. When you don’t have the players to win, the fault lies with the general manager.
So here are five reasons why Bryan Colangelo should be fired:

1. The wing rotation

The small-forward position has been an enigma to Colangelo during his time with the Raptors. Jason Kapono, Hedo Turkoglu, Jamario Moon have all occupied that position with little success. The current wing rotation might be the worst in the league. Outside of DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors are playing fringe NBA players. Landry Fields, Alan Anderson, Dominic McGuire and Linas Kleiza are all end of the bench players being asked to deliver significant results. None have a specific skill which sets them apart and all lack the ball handling and three-point shooting to be consistent threats. Now, didn’t they draft a wing player, 8th overall, who was NBA-ready? Terrence Ross looks completely lost and unprepared for the NBA pace. The wing rotation has been a weakness for far too long and that’s a strong indictment on Colangelo’s tenure.

2. Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani

Colangelo has never been shy in moving players, but for whatever reason Calderon and Bargnani have remained immune. In reality, they should have been shipped out long ago. Calderon’s inability to play a modicum of defence is losing the team games. Opposing teams go out of their way to attack him and have been rewarded by doing so. Bargnani remains the most frustrating player to have ever donned a Raptors uniform. Despite moments of brilliance, it’s impossible to build a culture of accountability by giving minutes and shots to the apathetic 7-footer. His bouts of indifference frustrate fans and must infuriate his fellow teammates. Both Calderon and Bargnani lack the grit and motor to lift the Raptors to any level of success.

3. Lack of a veteran presence

In the hay day of the Toronto Raptors, the Vince Carter era, there was a strong veteran presence. Kevin Willis, Charles Oakley, and Mugsey Bogues led the team with a no-nonsense locker-room presence.Â No such identity is present on the roster, no internal accountability exists amongst the ranks of the players.Â In fact, the lack of an experienced voice has extended for almost three years now, since Jermaine O’Neal and Shawn Marion. Veterans don’t just help you win games, they mold the young players. Â

4. No discernible vision

Are the Raptors rebuilding or contending? This has been the question throughout Colangelo’s tenure as the team building strategy seems to wander. Ultimately, it appears the Raptors have been content with taking a stab at the eighth playoff spot, in a vain attempt to build a ‘winning atmosphere.’Â But, more often than not, this strategy has left the team in the middle of the lottery acquiring low-ceiling players like Ed Davis and Ross. The current roster, at its peak, is first-round fodder for the superior Eastern Conference powers. With the Raptors’ first rounder most likely heading to the Oklahoma City Thunder (via the Kyle Lowry trade), the direction of this team is aimless.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

5. Culture of excuses

What’s most alarming is the culture of excuses which is wafting out from the team. Poor officiating has become the go-to reason for the latest fourth-quarter breakdowns. Whether it comes from the on-air personalities, players, coaches or management, there’s a clearly strong focus on the referees. Now, there have been a lot of questionable calls, I’ll admit that. But when the team is attempting to construct a system of accountability, excuses are counterproductive. This isn’t anything new, in fact, this has been going on for quite some time in Toronto. Jorge Garbajosa’s infamous leg injury was to blame for the Raptors’ playoff loss in 2007. Chris Bosh’s lack of toughness and leadership were used as a crutch for the failures of the various roster concoctions. Colangelo has used so many different excuses for Bargnani, that I’ve simply lost count at this point. It starts from the top and it trickles down.

Bryan Colangelo is not without his supporters. Many believe he has brought a reputation of legitimacy to the Raptors’ organization. This may be true. But one can look no further than the team’s record during Colangelo’s reign to understand the need for his departure: 209 wins, 281 losses. Two first-round playoff ousts and four straight lottery appearances. It’s simply not good enough. The city of Toronto, and its fans, deserve better.

Back to accessibility links
Jeri Ryan Carla Bonner

5 reasons why Raptors should fire GM Colangelo is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Jermaine Cunningham suspended four games for PEDs

admin — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 22:00:37 +0000

Yet another NFL player has been caught using performance-enhancing substances.

The intense race for the playoffs is in full gear. Check out the latest situation in the postseason chase. More …

Just a day after reports surfaced that both Seattle Seahawks starting cornerbacks were facing suspension, the NFL announced Monday that Patriots defensive end Jermaine Cunningham has been suspended four games for violating NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. Cunningham was the top backup to rookie Chandler Jones and was enjoying a strong season.

A second-round pick out of Florida in 2010, Cunningham entered training camp squarely on the roster bubble. He made the team and has carved out a role as a pass rusher with 15 QB hurries, five QB hits and three sacks according to ProFootball Focus. With Jones also injured, New England’s shaky pass rush has big question marks. The Patriots face the Dolphins, Texans and 49ers over the next three weeks as they pursue a playoff bye.

Cunningham will be eligible to return before the team’s regular-season finale.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.

Lori Petty Gina Hiraizumi

Jermaine Cunningham suspended four games for PEDs is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

School of Style Is Looking For Interns In LA!

admin — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:01:40 +0000

School of Style is a fashion school for stylists, led by stylist Luke Storey and fashion expert Lauren Messiah. With regular classes in LA at Smashbox Studios and in NYC at Ace Hotel, we are in need of interns to work in our office, during classes, as well as assisting both Luke and Lauren with styling jobs. This is an unpaid internship, with a 3-month commitment. School credit will given if needed, but is not required. All School of Style interns are granted scholarships to our classes, as well as priority introductions to top stylists, and fashion industry contacts through our graduate placement program.

Responsibilities:
- Social media updates- Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumbler, etc.
- Media/PR outreach and engagement with bloggers
- Sending sample requests
- Pickups and returns to stores and fashion showrooms
- Assisting with fittings and photo shoots
- Styling studio upkeep and organization
- Organizing and assisting in the production of styling classes and events
- Create digital flyers and brochures
- Compose blog posts
- Source and organize new industry contacts

Requirements:
- Available to work 2-3 days per week
- Flexibility with working hours
- Impeccable phone and email etiquette
- Must have a cell phone with email capabilities
- Must have a car with GPS
- Punctuality is a must, and is non-negotiable
- Computer savvy (Excel, Word, Photoshop, Illustrator and Mac computers)
- Graphic design skills a huge plus

Please submit inquiries directly to staff@theschoolofstyle.com.

Published on Monday, November 26th, 2012 at 10:44 AM

Marlee Matlin Rebecca Romijn

School of Style Is Looking For Interns In LA! is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Eli Manning, New York Giants rout Green Bay Packers

admin — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:00:40 +0000

We should’ve seen this one coming.

The New York Giants spent their bye week getting healthy while hearing plenty of chatter they were on a downward slide. With the rolling Green Bay Packers coming to town, panic in Gotham was one bad game away.

But here’s the thing about Big Blue in the Tom Coughlin/Eli Manning era: These are the times — when doubt creeps into the public dialogue — the Giants always seem to rise to the challenge. They did it again Sunday night, deliveringÂ a 38-10 whooping of the Packers that sent a loud message to the rest of the NFC.

You won’t read too much about Manning and his supposedly tired arm after this one. Manning looked much more like himself, completing 16 of 30 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns. Manning now has 200 career touchdown passes, moving him past Phil Simms for the most in franchise history. Elite or not, Phil must be impressed.

While the offense roared back to life, the Giants’ pass rush made a statement of its own. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked five times and rarely had a clean pocket to work from. As the Giants proved in their first Super Bowl win over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, a supreme pass rush can neutralize even the greatest quarterback. They proved that again Sunday.

With the win, the 7-4 Giants hold a two-game edge over the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins in the NFC East. The schedule ahead isn’t easy, but this team shouldn’t be doubted.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.

Black Eyed Peas Sarah Ryan

Eli Manning, New York Giants rout Green Bay Packers is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

cinderella

admin — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 01:00:27 +0000

Posted by Morgan Meis at 11:06 AM | Permalink

Jessica Stroup Sherilyn Fenn

cinderella is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Kate Upton — I Wanna Be Britney!

admin — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:00:52 +0000

SIGN IN / REGISTER

What’s your email address?

I’m already a member I’m already a member
I’m new I‘m new

Voice yourself on TMZ today, join in on the discussions and personalize your avatar!

What’s your password?

Remember me
Â Â

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?
Rebecca Demorney Lisa Loring

Kate Upton — I Wanna Be Britney! is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Bellator’s ‘Vote for the Fight’ series continues with Daley, Saunders, Lima, War Machine

admin — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 13:01:28 +0000

Bellator’s interactive feature allowing fans to pick the first fight on the promotion’s Spike TV debut continues with the second episode in an ongoing web series.
The promotion recently announced “Vote for the Fight” during the MTV2 broadcast of Bellator 79.

Bellator events currently air Fridays on MTV2 through the remainder of Season 7, but will move to Spike TV starting in January 2013.

“Vote for the Fight” is a web series that premiered earlier this month at Spike.com. It follows four of the promotion’s top welterweights, and fans then can vote for the fight they want to see in the Season 8 premiere’s opening bout in January. That event, Bellator 85, as first reported by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), is expected to take place Jan. 10 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Paul Daley, Ben Saunders, Douglas Lima and Jon “War Machine” Koppenhaver are the four fighters profiled in the web series and on the ballot.

Spike.com premieres a new episode of the web series each Thursday, including behind-the-scenes profiles of the fighters’ training and personal lives.

Daley (30-12-2), a UFC and Strikeforce veteran, won his Bellator debut in July in dominant fashion, stopping Rudy Bears with a first-round knockout. The Brit was thought to be fighting again this fall, but instead will be on hold until Season 8 begins.

Saunders (14-5-2 MMA, 5-2 BFC) came up short against Lima in the Season 5 welterweight tournament finals, then lost to Bryan Baker in the Season 6 semifinals. He stopped Brian Warren in just 22 seconds in July, though, and hopes to finally get an elusive tournament crown.

Lima (22-5 MMA, 4-1 BFC) is coming off a dominant Friday night win over Jacob Ortiz at Bellator 79, which got him back in the win column after a welterweight title loss to champ Ben Askren this past April. Now he’ll have to fight his way back through another tournament if he wants another shot at the belt.

War Machine (12-4 MMA, 0-0 BFC) earlier this week was released from prison early after starting a yearlong sentence in February. The fighter has a storied background of legal troubles and arrests, as well as a brief career in pornography. But all 12 of his wins are by stoppage, and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has said he remains hopeful that the fighter has turned the corner on his life outside the cage.

Check out Episode 2 of Bellator’s “Vote for the Fight” web series above, featuring War Machine, and the two-part Episode 1 below.

For more on Bellator 85, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Jon “War Machine” Koppehnaver)

* * * *

Angie Hart Carey Lowell

Bellator’s ‘Vote for the Fight’ series continues with Daley, Saunders, Lima, War Machine is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Spend Time at Yeezy’s Pad

admin — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 19:00:32 +0000

Posted Saturday November 24, 2012 12:26 PM GMT

Arriving separately, but unable to evade photographers, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were seen arriving at his home in West Hollywood on Friday (November 23).

The reality diva was casually dressed in a gray top, light pants, strappy heels, and her hair pulled back into a ponytail while her rapper beau chose a white button-down shirt, black pants, and blue and black sneakers.

The day before, the 32-year-old star spent Thanksgiving with her family, tweeting, “Thanksgiving dinner at my moms is beyond delish!!!”

Afterwards, she shared some photos and a holiday message to her legions of Twitter fans, saying, “Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! I am so thankful to be enjoying time with my family this Thanksgiving. I have so many things to be thankful for! I feel very blessed to have such a loving family, amazing friends and so many supportive fans who make me smile every day. I am thankful for all of you this Thanksgiving. Enjoy today! Love you!! Xo”

Enjoy the pictures of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West at his house in West Hollywood (November 23).

Jacinta Stapleton Portia De Rossi

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Spend Time at Yeezy’s Pad is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart’s Post- Thanksgiving Travels

admin — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 10:00:33 +0000

Posted Saturday November 24, 2012 12:43 AM GMT

After spending the Thanksgiving holiday in the UK, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart made a joint landing at New York City’s JFK Airport on Friday (November 23).

The “Twilight” co-star couple made their way to the Big Apple after reportedly enjoying time with Rob’s family following “Breaking Dawn – Part 2″ press duties in Berlin.

And while their mega-popular vampire franchise has drawn to an end upon the fifth and final film’s release, both young stars certainly haven’t been left without options.

While 36-year-old Pattinson has a number of projects lined up including “Queen of the Desert,” ” Maps to the Stars” and “The Rover,” his 22-year-old leading lady will be reprising her role as Snow White – though the sequel will not be headed up by the first film’s director, Rupert Sanders, whom made headlines after the revelation of his affair with Miss Stewart.

Enjoy the pictures of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson arriving at JFK Airport in NYC (November 23).

Natalie Portman Gary Estrada

Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart’s Post- Thanksgiving Travels is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Kelly: Argos QB Ricky Ray too hot for Stampeders

admin — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 04:00:35 +0000

This year, the Grey Cup game is a choice between the hottest quarterback in the CFL versus the hottest team. I’m going with the quarterback.
The Toronto Argonauts (9-9, 2-0 in the playoffs) will defeat the Calgary Stampeders (11-7, 2-0) in the 100th Grey Cup game on Sunday evening at Rogers Centre.

For years, your correspondent has been making Grey Cup picks by going against recent trends and trying to be the smartest person in the room.
Never works. Especially that last part.

This year, it’s a choice between the hottest quarterback in the CFL versus the hottest team. I’m going with the quarterback.

The Toronto Argonauts (9-9, 2-0 in the playoffs) will defeat the Calgary Stampeders (11-7, 2-0) in the 100th Grey Cup game on Sunday evening at Rogers Centre.

Ricky Ray, Ricky Ray, Ricky Ray. Fans of opposing teams are probably sick of hearing that name as the Argos have come sailing towards the island of Colchis, looking for the Golden Fleece.

There’s just no avoiding a quarterback who in the last four contests has completed 95 of 130 passes (73 per cent) for 1,336 yards, 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Extrapolated over an 18-game schedule, that would be just over 6,000 yards — Doug Flutie territory.

It’s not just the numbers, however, it’s the way his teammates have raised their games to match — routes are sharper, blocks are stronger, the o-line will kill for this man.

There’s another man they’ll go to the wall for as well, and that’s running back Chad Kackert.

Rather than steal a stat of the week from Sun Media’s Ian Busby (our normal approach), we’ve come up with one of our own. If you multiply Kackert’s yards per carry (6.4) by Jon Cornish’s carries (259), you get 1,496 yards — just a hair more than the Calgary star.

And the Toronto runner, who took over from Cory Boyd at mid-season, has 100 carries in the bag, so it’s a fair enough comparison. Call it even.

Add in Chad Owens, the CFL’s best player, top receiver and new pro football record holder for most combined yards in a season, and you have a potent offensive attack that’s going to be tough for Calgary to stop.

Toronto has won five straight games against the Stampeders — a meaningless stat you’ve heard all week. Three of those wins were before GM Jim Barker blew the Toronto roster up and rebuilt it this season.

For 2012, the Double Blue won a sloppy, penalty and turnover-filled 39-36 affair in Week 2 that left neither coach happy. In Week 8, a much-tighter 22-14 result went to Toronto.

Though the new Argo offence was still being inserted in the first half of the year, Ray was still able to complete 51 of 73 passes (70 per cent) for 713 yards and three scores against the White Stallions.

They were also able to run — Boyd for 101 yards in the first, Kackert for 94 in the second.

Kevin Glenn was not bad at QB for Calgary, going 37 of 54 (68 per cent) for 464 yards and three scores.

Leading us to Cornish. He was held to 39 yards (with a fumble) and 43 yards in the two games. Strange, considering how vulnerable to the ground game Toronto was in the first half of the schedule.

It didn’t help that the Argo defence was targeting Cornish with late hits, actions that left Brandon Isaac and Marcus Ball fined after the second game between the two.

Before you take the worst prognosticator in football’s word for it, however, there are a few things to consider:

Glenn is a man on a mission. Back in 2007, he had the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on a roll when he shattered a forearm in the East final, missing a chance to play in the Grey Cup game. Now, thanks to an injury to Drew Tate (a badly concussed right wrist), the opportunity has arrived.

Rush ends Charleston Hughes, against Tony Washington, and Anwar Stewart, against Chris Van Zeyl, could make this a long day for Ray if they win the one-one-one battles along the lines.

Nik Lewis. A big-time, big-game receiver (100 catches, 1,241 yards and one horrid Twitter mistake) can go off at any time, and against Toronto he’s caught 13 balls this year for 163 yards and two scores.

Stopping Owens. Calgary has been good at this, by comparison to other teams, holding him to 87 yards catching and 108 on returns in the second game, and 88 catching with 116 in returns in the first. That sounds like a lot, but trust us, it’s pretty good.

John Hufnagel. The Calgary coach is so much more experienced in these things than rookie Scott Milanovich, who made a couple of incautious calls last week against Montreal.

Having built myself an exit door in case everything goes wrong (it usually does, so please don’t bet the house on my account), it’s still not enough to dissuade.
Because of this: Ricky Ray, the best gift Edmonton could possibly bestow on Toronto until they get that oil pipeline reversed, is now 10-2 in the post-season. Just two losses in a dozen.

He will not permit anything but a Grey Cup victory.

Back to accessibility links
Black Eyed Peas Sarah Ryan

Kelly: Argos QB Ricky Ray too hot for Stampeders is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Quiz: Grey Cup halftime shows

admin — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 22:00:35 +0000

The days of marching bands are over.

These days, halftime shows at the Grey Cup (and the Superbowl south of the border) feature some of the hottest stars in the entertainment world.

Take this Sunday’s 100th Grey Cup game in Toronto, which will showcase performances from the likes of Justin Bieber and Carly Rae (“Call Me Maybe”) Jepsen, along with pop-rockers Marianas Trench and beloved singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot.

How well do you know your halftime acts?

Take the quiz!

Renee O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’conner Tara Reid

Quiz: Grey Cup halftime shows is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Yuzuru Hanyu impresses most at NHK Trophy

admin — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 13:00:32 +0000

Japanese teenager Yuzuru Hanyu improved his own world record in the short program on Friday to take the lead in the men’s competition at the NHK Trophy, the sixth event of the International Skating Union’s Grand Prix series, in Sendai, Japan.

The 17-year-old Hanyu, a native of Sendai, hit all his jumps for a score of 95.32 points to finish first ahead of compatriot Daisuke Takahashi (87.47) and Javier Fernandez of Spain (86.23).

Skating to Parisian Walkways, Hanyu opened with a quad toeloop and executed a flawless triple axel. He also had a triple lutz, triple toeloop combination en route to besting his world mark of 95.07 set at Skate America last month.

“I performed very well today,” Hanyu said. “It’s very satisfying to show these kinds of results for two competitions in a row.”

Hanyu, who took silver at Skate America, will be looking to secure a berth in the Grand Prix Final next month in Sochi with a podium finish here.

Takahashi, who won silver at the Cup of China, touched down on his opening quad toeloop, but was solid the rest of the way in a lively routine to Rock and Roll Medley.

“I made some mistakes today with jumps and spins, but overall felt it was better than in China,” Takahashi said. “This will give me some confidence heading into the free skate tomorrow.”

Japan’s Mao Asada received a season-best 67.95 points to finish first in the women’s short program. Asada also can secure a berth at the GP final with a podium finish in this event.

Asada didn’t attempt her trademark triple axel, but successfully completed a double axel, a triple flip, double loop combination and triple loop.

Mirai Nagasu of the United States was second (61.18) and Li Zijun of China placed third (59.62).

Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the 2011 world champions, were first after the short dance with 69.86 points followed by 2011 NHK champions Maia and Alex Shibutani of the United States (60.84). Russian skaters Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov were third (59.96).

Carey Mulligan Catherine Bosley

Yuzuru Hanyu impresses most at NHK Trophy is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Carson Palmer: I needed to be traded out of Cincinnati

admin — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 07:00:36 +0000

Carson Palmer’s return to the city where he made his NFL bones could be a big story, but it really hasn’t been.

Maybe it’s because the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders, who’ll meet Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, aren’t very good. Maybe it’s hard for anyone outside of Cincinnati to care. Maybe it’s because Palmer and the Bengals never really accomplished anything, and now he’s an aging quarterback whose last Pro Bowl came six years ago. (They only reached double-digit wins twice together.)

Current Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton barely knows Palmer, who wasn’t around the team’s facilities before being traded to the Raiders last year. Other Bengals pretty much shrugged at the Palmer storyline.

Palmer, though, revisited some of the details of his departure.

“It was time,” Palmer said Wednesday, via The Cincinnati Enquirer. “Anytime you are somewhere for five, six, seven, eight years, sometimes it is just time for a fresh start, a change, something new, and that’s obviously what I thought, and obviously, the ownership there didn’t — until the last second.”

Palmer said this will be his first time back to the Cincinnati area since he was traded. He reiterated he did not quit on the team and said he informed Bengals owner Mike Brown of his intentions after the 2010 season.

The intense race for the playoffs is in full gear. Check out the latest situation in the postseason chase. More …

“Just a culmination of things,” Palmer said. “Some things that I had learned that ownership — just some things that built up over time, and it was just time for a change.”

The Palmer-Chad Johnson edition of Bengals provided plenty of highlight clips over the years, but they only made the playoffs twice. Dalton and A.J. Green already are halfway there.

That’s why Palmer’s return to Cincinnati has drawn limited regional interest.

Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.

Sarah Ryan Kristen Wiig

Carson Palmer: I needed to be traded out of Cincinnati is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Lady Gaga: Braless in Buenos Aires

admin — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 01:00:41 +0000

Posted Wednesday November 21, 2012 7:18 PM GMT

Feeling fearless and free, Lady Gaga greeted fans in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday (November 21).

The “Born this Way” singer wore high-waisted light blue jeans, and a multicolored tank top worn braless, revealing a bit of side-boob.

Feeling the fervent South American love, last week the 26-year-old pop star tweeted, “Playing for 43,000 in Argentina tonight, stadium show in BUENOS AIRES. Today little monsters tried to tip my van over, COMPLETELY WONDERFUL.”

On Wednesday, she posted a photo of herself looking at the camera with the caption, “Off to Peru, i love touring so much. I wake up smiling everyday. I hope you know I’m thankful for u this thanksgiving.”

Enjoy the pictures of Lady Gaga meeting fans in Buenos Aires (November 15).

Anne Heche Lavinia Milosovici

Lady Gaga: Braless in Buenos Aires is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

President Obama Pardons Two Lucky Turkeys

admin — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:01:35 +0000

Posted Wednesday November 21, 2012 4:38 PM GMT

While Americans are stuffing their faces with their fellow fowl, two turkeys have been spared from their dinner table fate, thanks to President Barack Obama (November 21).

Following a long-standing White House tradition, today President Obama gave a presidential pardon to both Cobbler and Gobbler.

During a ceremony in the Rose Garden, the President joked, ” You know, they say that life is all about second chances. And this November, I could not agree more. So in the spirit of the season, I have one more gift to give. And it goes to a pair of turkeys named Cobbler and Gobbler. The American people have spoken, and these birds are moving forward.”

The popular custom started with Abraham Lincoln, who was egged on by his son, Tad. In the modern era, Americans voted online via a special Facebook page for which turkey they would like to be saved.

Enjoy the pictures of President Barack Obama with Sasha and Malia at the White House in Washington, D.C. (November 20).

David Beckham Ann-Maree Biggar

President Obama Pardons Two Lucky Turkeys is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Aaron Hernandez will return for New England Patriots

admin — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:00:34 +0000

As Rob Gronkowski exits the picture for the New England Patriots, Aaron Hernandez is re-emerging.

NFL.com’s Albert Breer reported Tuesday that, barring any late setbacks, Hernandez will play Thursday against the New York Jets, per a source briefed on his condition.

Hernandez was limited in practice Tuesday, but has made progress in his recovery from an ankle injury that has cost him six of the last eight games. Hernandez was last on the field in a 29-26 win over the New York Jets in Week 7.

When healthy, Hernandez is a versatile offensive threat who can beat defenders with both his size and speed. Hernandez — armed with a fat new contract — was set up for a big season in Bill Belichick’s offense before he suffered a nasty ankle sprain in Week 2.

Hernandez attempted to return to the lineup after a three-week layoff, but he wasn’t moving well despite decent production in two games. If Hernandez returns on Thursday, he’ll be coming off a 32-day layoff in game action.

The Jets’ defense is a very good matchup for Hernandez if the ankle allows him to make plays with his athleticism. It remains to be seen if Hernandez is returning because he’s healthy, or because the Gronk-less Patriots need him.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.

Paula Prentis Alicia Silverstone

Aaron Hernandez will return for New England Patriots is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Jessica Biel Dazzles at Beverly Hills “Hitchcock” Premiere

admin — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 07:00:38 +0000

Posted Tuesday November 20, 2012 10:59 PM GMT

Walking the red carpet with the film’s main character conspicuously absent, the stars of “Hitchcock” gathered for a grand west coast premiere in Beverly Hills on Tuesday (November 20).

Though Anthony Hopkins – who plays the legendary filmmaker – was nowhere to be found, Jessica Biel certainly satisfied those on hand as she showed off her gorgeous self while working the Samuel Goldwyn Theater arrivals area in a glam black frock.

Also on hand to support the Sacha Gervasi film were Helen Mirren, Toni Collette and Jamie Lee Curtis, who wowed in white while tending to media duties alongside her supportive sister, Kelly Lee.

Also starring Scarlett Johansson, Kurtwood Smith and Tara Summers, the upcoming biopic follows the love story of Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville during the filming of “Psycho” in 1959.

The PG-13 motion picture is set for a limited theatrical release this Friday, November 23rd.

Enjoy the pictures from the Beverly Hills premiere of “Hitchcock’ (November 20).

Gina Hiraizumi Paula Jai Parker

Jessica Biel Dazzles at Beverly Hills “Hitchcock” Premiere is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Glew: John Gibbons is gutsy hire for Blue Jays GM

admin — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 22:01:35 +0000

Given what Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos was seeking in manager, settling on John GibbonsÂ is perceived as more of a gutsy choice than an inspired one.

In hindsight, John Gibbons seems like an obvious choice to manage the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013.

Earlier this off-season, Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos had indicated that he was looking for a manager that he knew he could work with and who wanted to be in Toronto. It also became clear that he was seeking someone with previous major-league experience.

Names like Mike Hargrove, Manny Acta, Jim Tracy and Jim Riggleman were being tossed around, but it should have dawned on us that Gibbons, who managed the Jays for parts of five seasons from 2004 to 2008, would be a prime candidate.

The 50-year-old San Antonio, Texas, native, who formed a friendship with Anthopoulos during his first tenure with the Jays, was introduced as the club’s new manager at a press conference at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday morning.

Last season, Gibbons, who was also a first-base coach with the Jays in 2002 and 2003, managed the double-A San Antonio Missions in the San Diego Padres organization following three seasons as the Kansas City Royals bench coach. Gibbons becomes the second manager, joining Cito Gaston, to have two tenures with the Jays.

Judging by the reaction on social media, Jays fans energized by the club’s 12-player blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins and the Melky Cabrera signing are underwhelmed with the hire. They point to Gibbons’ middling 305-305 record and to the fact that he hasn’t managed in the big leagues since he guided an underperforming Jays squad to a 35-39 record to start the 2008 campaign.

Unfortunately, fans best remember Gibbons for two incidents in 2006. The first came on July 19, when disgruntled designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand wrote “This ship is sinking” and “Play for yourself” on a display board in the clubhouse to describe his feelings about the team. Gibbons reportedly confronted Hillenbrand and challenged him to a fight. Three days later, Hillenbrand was traded to the San Francisco Giants.

On August 21 of that same season, Jays starter Ted Lilly had been staked to 8-0 lead, but after he surrendered five runs in the third inning, Gibbons made his way to the mound to pull him. Lilly initially wouldn’t give him the ball and, after the left-hander begrudgingly walked off the field, Gibbons followed him into the clubhouse tunnel, where they engaged in a shoving match.

In Tuesday’s press conference, Gibbons said he regretted those actions and that there was no place for physical contact with his players. Interestingly, Anthopoulos defended his manager, saying he had no problem with the way Gibbons handled those incidents.

These incidents tend to cloud the fact that Gibbons guided the Jays to an 87-75 record and a second-place finish in the American League East that season, the only time the club has finished that high since winning the World Series in 1993.

Firm but fatherly

Despite those confrontations, players generally loved playing for Gibbons and his firm but fatherly presence earned him respect in the clubhouse and from management. His actions in the Hillenbrand and Lilly incidents and his decision to bench slumping future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas in April 2008 show that he’s not to afraid to hold players accountable — something John Farrell was criticized for not doing in 2012.

As Anthopoulos said repeatedly during Tuesday’s press conference, Gibbons is also excellent at managing a bullpen. During his first term in Toronto, he coaxed career seasons out of relievers B.J. Ryan, Jeremy Accardo, Scott Downs and Justin Speier. He also implemented successful platoons with several of his position players. The duo of Frank Catalanotto and Reed Johnson, for example, formed one of the most productive left-field combinations in baseball. Gregg Zaun and Bengie Molina also excelled sharing duties behind the plate.

In his first tenure with the Jays, Gibbons also gained valuable experience working with both young and veteran-laden clubs, so he learned when to teach and when to get out of the way. This will come in handy with the mixture of veterans and youngsters on the club next season. And with a roster that includes stolen base threats like Jose Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio, Brett Lawrie, Rajai Davis and Maicer Izturis, Gibbons said that he won’t be afraid to run next season, but he added that his players won’t run recklessly — a problem for the Jays in 2012.

Shades of 2005

This off-season is starting to feel similar to the 2005 off-season. With Gibbons heading into his third season as dugout boss, then-Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi opened up Rogers’ wallet to sign big-ticket free agents A.J. Burnett and Ryan and traded for first baseman Lyle Overbay and third baseman Troy Glaus.

Expectations were high for the Jays heading into 2006 and, saddled with that pressure, Gibbons guided the club to that respectable second-place finish. With the addition of two potential ace starters in Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, baseball’s best leadoff hitter in Reyes and the National League’s leading hitter in Melky Cabrera, Gibbons will once again be expected to lead the Jays into contention. He seemed to welcome these expectations at the press conference on Tuesday.

Given the field of candidates available and the criteria that Anthopoulos was looking for in a manager, we shouldn’t have been surprised that Gibbons was a prime candidate. This is a gutsy hire by Anthopoulos. Gibbons may seem like an uninspired choice, but once you get past the incidents with Hillenbrand and Lilly and look at his assets and experience, he actually seems like a pretty good choice to lead the Jays back into contention.

Back to accessibility links
Nina Moric Shirly Jones

Glew: John Gibbons is gutsy hire for Blue Jays GM is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Bellator 81 ratings: Numbers hold steady, still below season average

admin — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:00:30 +0000

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Nov 20, 2012 at 12:10 pm ET

For the second straight week, Bellator ratings fell below the Season 7 average.
This past weekend’s Bellator 81 event averaged 149,000 MTV2 viewers, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed with industry sources.

That’s up slightly from the 148,000 viewers who turned in a week prior for Bellator 80.

Bellator 80 took place Nov. 16 at Ryan Center at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. The main card, which followed Spike.com prelims, featured the semifinal round of the organization’s current lightweight tournament. Marcin Held and Dave Jansen both picked up victories to advance to the tourney final.

With the latest event, Bellator’s eight Season 7 events now have averaged 166,000 viewers.

Bellator’s current season is the final one on MTV2 before the organization moves to the higher-rated Spike TV, the former home of the UFC, in early 2013.

The all-time Bellator-MTV2 ratings include:

Bellator 81 ratings: 149,000 viewers

Bellator 80 ratings: 148,000

Bellator 79 ratings: 220,000

Bellator 78 ratings: 154,000

Bellator 77 ratings: 149,000

Bellator 76 ratings: 175,000

Bellator 75 ratings: 145,000

Bellator 74 ratings: 190,000

Bellator 71-73 ratings (Summer Series average): 180,000

Bellator 60-70 ratingsÂ (Season 6 average): 155,000

Bellator 49-59 ratings (Season 5 average): 186,000

Bellator 46-48 ratings (Summer Series average): 229,000

Bellator 35-45 ratings (Season 4 average): 204,000

For more on Bellator 81, check out the MMA Events section of MMAjunkie.com.
(Pictured: Marcin Held)

To join the MMAjunkie.com discussions with your fellow MMA junkies, sign up for a free MMAjunkie.com user account.
An account also allows you to post in the MMAjunkie.com MMA forums.

RULES: No spam. No fighter bashing. No insulting other posters. No disruptive posts. Nothing “Not Safe for Work” or illegal, including links to illegal videos. MMAjunkie.com reserves the right to moderate all posts.

MMAjunkie.com promotes intelligent and respectful discussions, and registering for an account is a privilege, not a right. For the sake of those who follow the rules, offenders will be banned from the site with little or no warning.

Pete Travis Annalise Braakensiek

Bellator 81 ratings: Numbers hold steady, still below season average is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Mark Davis: Oakland Raiders need progress, not losses

admin — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:00:54 +0000

It’s been another lost season for the Oakland Raiders, and owner Mark Davis isn’t happy.

Davis briefly addressed the media Sunday after the Raiders dropped their third consecutive game. At 3-7, Oakland is in grave danger of missing the playoffs for an 11th season in a row.

“I’m patient, but I want to see progress. I don’t want to see regression,” Davis said after the Raiders’ 38-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints. “Nobody does. And that’s why I’m unhappy today.”

The Raiders were never competitive Sunday, trailing 35-10 by the end of the third quarter. Oakland has given up 125 points in the last three weeks.

“I’m not happy, I’ll put it that way, but why should I be?” he said. “Why should we be? Why should anybody in this room be? But they’ll fight and fix it.”

Davis was asked what he’s looking for in his first full season as the Raiders’ owner. Al Davis, his iconic father, passed away in October 2011.

“I think finding a direction for the franchise, and moving forward and seeing progress week-to-week would be a happier time right now, but it’s still possible,” he said.

Davis didn’t seem particularly angry during his interaction with reporters, repeatedly deferring to coach Dennis Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie on matters regarding the Raiders’ personnel. Davis said he has “plenty of confidence” in quarterback Carson Palmer.

If the Raiders keep losing, we’ll find out how much confidence Davis has in the rest of the operation.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.

Jacinta Stapleton Portia De Rossi

Mark Davis: Oakland Raiders need progress, not losses is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Kevin Koe, Rachel Homan win Rogers Masters finals

admin — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:00:49 +0000

Calgary’s Kevin Koe led his rink past Kelowna’s Jim Cotter 7-5 on Sunday to win the men’s final at the Grand Slam of Curling’s Masters event.

Cotter took a 3-2 lead in the third end, but Koe scored three in the fifth to take hold of the match.

Koe then added a point in the sixth for a 6-3 advantage. Cotter scored two in the seventh end but Koe added a point in the eighth.

“This was my seventh Grand Slam final and my first win,” said Koe, who won a world title in 2010. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Earlier, Ottawa’s Rachel Homan dispatched Winnipeg’s Chelsea Carey 8-3 to win the women’s championship.

“We’ve been doing really well on the Slam side of the events, but it’s nice to finally win a final,” said Homan. “I think we picked the right one to win and this is just an amazing feeling.”

Homan led 3-0 after three ends, 5-3 after six and then added three points in the seventh and final end.

Hedy Burress Christina Applegate

Kevin Koe, Rachel Homan win Rogers Masters finals is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Kevin Koe, Rachel Homan win Rogers Masters finals

admin — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:00:33 +0000

Calgary’s Kevin Koe led his rink past Kelowna’s Jim Cotter 7-5 on Sunday to win the men’s final at the Grand Slam of Curling’s Masters event.

Cotter took a 3-2 lead in the third end, but Koe scored three in the fifth to take hold of the match.

Koe then added a point in the sixth for a 6-3 advantage. Cotter scored two in the seventh end but Koe added a point in the eighth.

“This was my seventh Grand Slam final and my first win,” said Koe, who won a world title in 2010. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Earlier, Ottawa’s Rachel Homan dispatched Winnipeg’s Chelsea Carey 8-3 to win the women’s championship.

“We’ve been doing really well on the Slam side of the events, but it’s nice to finally win a final,” said Homan. “I think we picked the right one to win and this is just an amazing feeling.”

Homan led 3-0 after three ends, 5-3 after six and then added three points in the seventh and final end.

Marisol Thomas Catherine Bach

Kevin Koe, Rachel Homan win Rogers Masters finals is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

UFC 154: Johny Hendricks vs. Martin Kampmann full fight video highlights

admin — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:01:28 +0000

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Nov 18, 2012 at 10:00 am ET

After initially being told they were fighting for a title shot, Johny Hendricks and Martin Kampmann then were told their UFC 154 co-headliner might not be a title eliminator, after all.
The only thing each welterweight contender could do was try to win in convincing fashion.

Luckily for Hendricks, that hasn’t exactly been a problem lately.

Full fight video highlights of their pay-per-view bout, which took place at Montreal’s Bell Centre, are now available.

Hendricks (14-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) again showed the danger with his dual-threat style. The two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion picked up his eighth knockout in 14 career wins with a crushing left hand to the jaw. Kampmann (20-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC), who suffered his first clear-cut loss in more than three years, instantly crashed to the mat, and the fight was waved off in less than a minute.

Check out the highlights above.

And for complete coverage of UFC 154, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

To join the MMAjunkie.com discussions with your fellow MMA junkies, sign up for a free MMAjunkie.com user account.
An account also allows you to post in the MMAjunkie.com MMA forums.

RULES: No spam. No fighter bashing. No insulting other posters. No disruptive posts. Nothing “Not Safe for Work” or illegal, including links to illegal videos. MMAjunkie.com reserves the right to moderate all posts.

MMAjunkie.com promotes intelligent and respectful discussions, and registering for an account is a privilege, not a right. For the sake of those who follow the rules, offenders will be banned from the site with little or no warning.

Barbara Flynn Nancy Allen

UFC 154: Johny Hendricks vs. Martin Kampmann full fight video highlights is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Amari Spievey to IR; Drayton Florence added by Lions

admin — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 11:01:36 +0000

The Detroit Lions won’t take any chances with the health of strong safety Amari Spievey.

The team placed Spievey on season-ending injured reserve Saturday as he continues to deal with concussion issues, according to DetroitLions.com. Spievey has been replaced on the 53-man roster by cornerback Drayton Florence, who was activated off short-term injured reserve.

Spievey suffered a concussion in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears and is still experiencing lingering effects nearly a month later. He was never cleared for contact after sustaining the injury.

The Lions announced earlier this month that running back Jahvid Best will remain on the reserve physically unable to perform list for the rest of the season as he continues to recover from two concussions suffered last season.

Florence could start at right cornerback against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, according to the team’s website.

“He’s an exceptional veteran player,” defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham said Friday. “He’s like a lot of the older guys I’ve had. He learned to study the game a long time ago. I really like the way he’s moved in practice and he’s going to get a big load. How much I can’t tell you right now, but we expect him to play and play well.”

Florence will face a tall challenge against a Packers wide-receiving unit that should have Jordy Nelson back on the field.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.

Catherine Bell Stephanie Powers

Amari Spievey to IR; Drayton Florence added by Lions is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Cedric Benson: Packers return ‘a couple weeks away’

admin — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 02:00:32 +0000

Cedric Benson hopes to return to game action Dec. 16. That’s when the Green Bay Packers face his former team — the Chicago Bears.

“I think we’re still a little bit out from practicing, from putting on a cleat and pounding on it like that,” Benson told ESPN Milwaukee. “I think we’re still a couple of weeks away from that, but very close, very close.

“Kind of the way the doctor puts it to me all the time is regardless of anything, whether you could play tomorrow, you’ve still got three weeks where you can’t play.”

Benson was placed on injured reserve with a Lisfranc foot sprain he suffered against the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 7. Rules state he can return to practice after six weeks and to games after eight. He can practice next week and play on Dec. 9 against the Detroit Lions.

“I’m very confident about saying I’ll be back before the season’s over,” Benson said. “I think if I come back early, if I try to rush it, it can really affect me. So I think it’s in my best interest as the team’s as well and my contribution to the team to come back when it’s ready to come back.”

Jeremiah: Who has the edge?

Benson signed during training camp and had begun to get comfortable in the Packers offense when the injury occurred. He averaged 18.3 carries between Weeks 2-4. Benson was hurt Week 5. The Packers rank No. 23 in run offense. Alex Green replaced Benson, but was ineffective. James Starks started last week and ran 61 yards on 17 carries.

Benson was a nice addition to the offense, but the Packers are used to playing with minimal contributions from the run game. They’ll be fine until his return.

Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.

Sarah Miles Justine Bateman

Cedric Benson: Packers return ‘a couple weeks away’ is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info

Yes, the Gulf monarchs are in trouble

admin — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:00:46 +0000

Christopher M. Davidson in Foreign Policy:

At first glance the Gulf monarchies look stable, at least compared to the broader region. In reality, however, the political and economic structures that underpin these highly autocratic states are coming under increasing pressure, and broad swathes of citizens are making hitherto unimaginable challenges to the ruling elites.

These six monarchies — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman — have faced down a number of different opposition movements over the years. However, for the most part, these movements have not been broad-based and have tended to represent only narrow sections of the indigenous populations. Moreover, given their various internal and external survival strategies — including distributive economic systems and overseas soft power accumulation — the incumbent regimes have generally been in strong, confident positions, and have usually been able to placate or sideline any opposition before it could gain too much traction. In most cases the Gulf monarchies have also been very effective at demonizing opponents, either branding them as foreign-backed fifth columns, as religious fundamentalists, or even as terrorists. In turn this has allowed rulers and their governments to portray themselves to the majority of citizens and most international observers as safe, reliable upholders of the status quo, and thus far preferable to any dangerous and unpredictable alternatives. Significantly, when modernizing forces have begun to impact their populations — often improving communications between citizens or their access to education — the Gulf monarchies have been effective at co-option, often bringing such forces under the umbrella of the state or members of ruling families, and thus managing to apply a mosaic model of traditional loyalties alongside modernization even in the first few years of the 21st century.

More recently, however, powerful opposition movements have emerged that have proved less easy to contain.

More here.

Posted by S. Abbas Raza at 01:01 PM | Permalink

Sonia Couling Holly Hunter

Yes, the Gulf monarchs are in trouble is a post from: Stock Player Comments And Info