A quick post as I run out the door for the teeveey studio: Set your TiVos and your DVRs, mark your calendars: Tonight I'll be on ABC World News talking about my new book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The segment will also feature members of Henrietta's family, and Vincent Racaniello with lots, and lots of HeLa cells.
ALSO: The first reviews of The Immortal Life are starting to hit newspapers. There's a terrific review on the front page of the Washington Post Outlook section today, and another great one in the St. Petersburg Times. Update: This great review just in from the Boston Globe too!
As the kids say: wOOt! Stay tuned, later today, I'll be posting details of the many HeLa related events happening this week in New York: At Columbia, McNally Jackson Bookstore, and more.
A quick post as I run out the door for the teeveey studio: Set your TiVos and your DVRs, mark your calendars: Tonight I'll be on ABC World News talking about my new book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The segment will also feature members of Henrietta's family, and Vincent Racaniello with lots, and lots of HeLa cells.
ALSO: The first reviews of The Immortal Life are starting to hit newspapers. There's a terrific review on the front page of the Washington Post Outlook section today, and another great one in the St. Petersburg Times. Update: This great review just in from the Boston Globe too!
As the kids say: wOOt! Stay tuned, later today, I'll be posting details of the many HeLa related events happening this week in New York: At Columbia, McNally Jackson Bookstore, and more.
Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray to win the Australian Open today for his record 16th major title, extending Britain’s 74-year wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion.
The top-seeded Swiss won his fourth Australian Open crown, beating the fifth-seeded Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) at Melbourne Park. Federer saved five set points in the last set before overcoming Murray.
“I’m over the moon winning this again,” Federer said after accepting the championship trophy. “It’s also very special, the first Grand Slam as a father.”
Federer becomes the fifth man to win at least four titles at the season’s first major. Australian Roy Emerson won six titles at his home Grand Slam in the 1960s. American Andre Agassi and Australians Ken Rosewall and Jack Crawford won four each.
The 28-year-old Federer had 46 winners and 42 unforced errors in the match. Murray had 29 winners and 36 unforced errors.
Murray hit a backhand into the net to end the match. Federer screamed “YEAH!” and thrust his arms in the air.
Federer had two service breaks in a sweaty first set played in 76 percent humidity. The roof over Rod Laver Arena was mostly closed because the forecast called for showers.
Federer broke Murray’s serve in the third game of the second set and had little trouble on his own serve, ending the set with a forehand volley winner.
Murray, rubbing his right leg after points early in the third set, took a 5-2 lead before Federer responded by winning three straight games and eventually forcing a tiebreaker.
Recovery
A year ago, Federer was reduced to tears in Melbourne following his five-set loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2009 final.
“I can cry like Roger,” Murray said at the trophy ceremony, becoming emotional. “It’s just a shame I can’t play like him.”
Murray, 22, was trying to become the first British man to win one of the sport’s four major championships since Fred Perry captured the U.S. National Championships in 1936.
“I got great support back home the past couple of weeks,” Murray said. “Sorry I couldn’t do it for you tonight.”
The victory earned Federer A$2.1 million ($1.86 million). Murray takes home half of that in defeat.
Today’s win is Federer’s first major title since becoming a father. After breaking Pete Sampras’s record by winning his 15th major last July at Wimbledon, Federer became the father of twin girls with his wife, Mirka.
Federer’s path to the final wasn’t easy. It took him four sets against Igor Andreev of Russia to reach the second round, the first time in the last 25 Grand Slam openers he hadn’t won in straight sets.
In the quarterfinals, Federer fought back from a set and a break down to overcome Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.
Murray dropped only one set in six matches leading up to the final. He lost the first set to Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the semifinals.
Murray came into the final with a 6-4 career mark against Federer. The only time they had met in a Grand Slam tournament was at the 2008 U.S. Open, where Federer won in straight sets.
Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray to win the Australian Open today for his record 16th major title, extending Britain’s 74-year wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion.
The top-seeded Swiss won his fourth Australian Open crown, beating the fifth-seeded Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) at Melbourne Park. Federer saved five set points in the last set before overcoming Murray.
“I’m over the moon winning this again,” Federer said after accepting the championship trophy. “It’s also very special, the first Grand Slam as a father.”
Federer becomes the fifth man to win at least four titles at the season’s first major. Australian Roy Emerson won six titles at his home Grand Slam in the 1960s. American Andre Agassi and Australians Ken Rosewall and Jack Crawford won four each.
The 28-year-old Federer had 46 winners and 42 unforced errors in the match. Murray had 29 winners and 36 unforced errors.
Murray hit a backhand into the net to end the match. Federer screamed “YEAH!” and thrust his arms in the air.
Federer had two service breaks in a sweaty first set played in 76 percent humidity. The roof over Rod Laver Arena was mostly closed because the forecast called for showers.
Federer broke Murray’s serve in the third game of the second set and had little trouble on his own serve, ending the set with a forehand volley winner.
Murray, rubbing his right leg after points early in the third set, took a 5-2 lead before Federer responded by winning three straight games and eventually forcing a tiebreaker.
Recovery
A year ago, Federer was reduced to tears in Melbourne following his five-set loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2009 final.
“I can cry like Roger,” Murray said at the trophy ceremony, becoming emotional. “It’s just a shame I can’t play like him.”
Murray, 22, was trying to become the first British man to win one of the sport’s four major championships since Fred Perry captured the U.S. National Championships in 1936.
“I got great support back home the past couple of weeks,” Murray said. “Sorry I couldn’t do it for you tonight.”
The victory earned Federer A$2.1 million ($1.86 million). Murray takes home half of that in defeat.
Today’s win is Federer’s first major title since becoming a father. After breaking Pete Sampras’s record by winning his 15th major last July at Wimbledon, Federer became the father of twin girls with his wife, Mirka.
Federer’s path to the final wasn’t easy. It took him four sets against Igor Andreev of Russia to reach the second round, the first time in the last 25 Grand Slam openers he hadn’t won in straight sets.
In the quarterfinals, Federer fought back from a set and a break down to overcome Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.
Murray dropped only one set in six matches leading up to the final. He lost the first set to Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the semifinals.
Murray came into the final with a 6-4 career mark against Federer. The only time they had met in a Grand Slam tournament was at the 2008 U.S. Open, where Federer won in straight sets.
Clinton Kelly says that one of the worst dressed women ever to set foot on TLC's What Not To Wear appears on tonight's episode (9 p.m. ET).
"I generally lump the women on What Not To Wear into three different categories," says Kelly, who has starred on the show for five years with Stacey London. "They're either frumps, sluts or freaks. Crizti (Walsh, a disc jockey from Norfolk, Va.,) had a little bit of each one."
It's the 250th episode of the show and Kelly says he's got one more year on his contract. But he's not ready to go anywhere. "I'll keep doing the show as long as they want me. I like it. Stacy and I have pretty much a belly laugh every day."
On hiatus now, Kelly has been running around all week working another show: Miss America: Behind the Curtain, airing tonight on TLC at 10, right after What Not To Wear. Earlier this week, he pretended he was a contestant.
"It was fun to have Rush Limbaugh firing questions at me. And Vivica Fox! She's more intimidating than Rush," he says. "She's beautiful and intense - that's a scary combination." He says they gave him an 8 out of 10 score.
Other celeb judges at Saturday night's Miss America 2010 show include: Olympian and DWTS champ Shawn Johnson, comedian Paul Rodriguez and American Idol favorite Brooke White. Mario Lopez will host and Clinton will be a correspondent for the show, which airs live from Las Vegas at 8 ET on TLC.
Clinton Kelly says that one of the worst dressed women ever to set foot on TLC's What Not To Wear appears on tonight's episode (9 p.m. ET).
"I generally lump the women on What Not To Wear into three different categories," says Kelly, who has starred on the show for five years with Stacey London. "They're either frumps, sluts or freaks. Crizti (Walsh, a disc jockey from Norfolk, Va.,) had a little bit of each one."
It's the 250th episode of the show and Kelly says he's got one more year on his contract. But he's not ready to go anywhere. "I'll keep doing the show as long as they want me. I like it. Stacy and I have pretty much a belly laugh every day."
On hiatus now, Kelly has been running around all week working another show: Miss America: Behind the Curtain, airing tonight on TLC at 10, right after What Not To Wear. Earlier this week, he pretended he was a contestant.
"It was fun to have Rush Limbaugh firing questions at me. And Vivica Fox! She's more intimidating than Rush," he says. "She's beautiful and intense - that's a scary combination." He says they gave him an 8 out of 10 score.
Other celeb judges at Saturday night's Miss America 2010 show include: Olympian and DWTS champ Shawn Johnson, comedian Paul Rodriguez and American Idol favorite Brooke White. Mario Lopez will host and Clinton will be a correspondent for the show, which airs live from Las Vegas at 8 ET on TLC.
Perhaps the most reluctant celebrity in the history of American letters, J.D. Salinger leaves behind some of its most-read stories.
Mr. Salinger, who died Wednesday at age 91, leaves behind one fully-realized novel ("The Catcher in the Rye") and five collections of shorter writings, all surrounded by a penumbra of unknowns about the author, who went into seclusion in 1953.
Yet Mr. Salinger's books have remained highly visible, iconic presences in American classrooms and have sold more than 65 million copies, including translations around the world. "The Catcher in the Rye" is often cited in lists of the best 20th- century novels.
The son of a cheese importer, Mr. Salinger grew up on Manhattan's Upper West Side. He attended a military academy for high school and never graduated from college. Critics and enthusiasts had little problem drawing parallels between Mr. Salinger's youth and that of the "Catcher in the Rye's" narrator, Holden Caulfield.
Mr. Salinger's early stories appeared in magazines while he was serving in the Army in Europe during World War II, in magazines including The Saturday Evening Post and Esquire. His more mature work appeared in the New Yorker starting in the mid-1940s, including "A Perfect Day for Bananafish."
"The Catcher in the Rye" caused a sensation when it was published in 1951, unusual for its salty language and sentiment, attributed to Caulfield, who styled himself an enemy of "phonies." Taken as portraying a thirst for authenticity by some, the work is seen by many young people these days as merely whiney.
Mr. Salinger's celebrity was hardly dimmed by his decision to live out of the limelight. He appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 1961 yet remained a sphinx. His last original published work, "Hapsworth 16, 1924," appeared in the New Yorker in 1965. Visitors who caught sight of him in New Hampshire where he lived described an unkempt recluse.
More and more, his public face consisted of lawsuits brought against unauthorized publishers of his early works or unpublished letters. After Mr. Salinger filed suit, a federal judge last year barred a Swedish writer and publisher from publishing a sequel to "Catcher in the Rye."
In one of the few public statements he made after 1953, Mr. Salinger told the New York Times in 1974, "There is a marvelous peace in not publishing."
Mr. Salinger's death is almost certain to generate renewed interest in his work and increasing pressure to bring his work to the big screen, something the author for the most part resisted.
Mr. Salinger allowed his short story "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut" to be optioned, resulting in the 1949 film "My Foolish Heart." But it was apparently so bad in the eyes of both Mr. Salinger and the critics that it soured him from ever again selling film rights.
"I toy very seriously with the idea of leaving the unsold rights to my wife and daughter as a kind of insurance policy," Mr. Salinger wrote in a 1957 letter attributed to him and made public by a Washingtonville, N.Y. memorabilia dealer in 2009. "It pleasures me to no end…to know that I won't have to see the results of the transaction."
—Steven Kurutz, Jeffrey Trachtenberg and Christopher Farley contributed to this article.
Perhaps the most reluctant celebrity in the history of American letters, J.D. Salinger leaves behind some of its most-read stories.
Mr. Salinger, who died Wednesday at age 91, leaves behind one fully-realized novel ("The Catcher in the Rye") and five collections of shorter writings, all surrounded by a penumbra of unknowns about the author, who went into seclusion in 1953.
Yet Mr. Salinger's books have remained highly visible, iconic presences in American classrooms and have sold more than 65 million copies, including translations around the world. "The Catcher in the Rye" is often cited in lists of the best 20th- century novels.
The son of a cheese importer, Mr. Salinger grew up on Manhattan's Upper West Side. He attended a military academy for high school and never graduated from college. Critics and enthusiasts had little problem drawing parallels between Mr. Salinger's youth and that of the "Catcher in the Rye's" narrator, Holden Caulfield.
Mr. Salinger's early stories appeared in magazines while he was serving in the Army in Europe during World War II, in magazines including The Saturday Evening Post and Esquire. His more mature work appeared in the New Yorker starting in the mid-1940s, including "A Perfect Day for Bananafish."
"The Catcher in the Rye" caused a sensation when it was published in 1951, unusual for its salty language and sentiment, attributed to Caulfield, who styled himself an enemy of "phonies." Taken as portraying a thirst for authenticity by some, the work is seen by many young people these days as merely whiney.
Mr. Salinger's celebrity was hardly dimmed by his decision to live out of the limelight. He appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 1961 yet remained a sphinx. His last original published work, "Hapsworth 16, 1924," appeared in the New Yorker in 1965. Visitors who caught sight of him in New Hampshire where he lived described an unkempt recluse.
More and more, his public face consisted of lawsuits brought against unauthorized publishers of his early works or unpublished letters. After Mr. Salinger filed suit, a federal judge last year barred a Swedish writer and publisher from publishing a sequel to "Catcher in the Rye."
In one of the few public statements he made after 1953, Mr. Salinger told the New York Times in 1974, "There is a marvelous peace in not publishing."
Mr. Salinger's death is almost certain to generate renewed interest in his work and increasing pressure to bring his work to the big screen, something the author for the most part resisted.
Mr. Salinger allowed his short story "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut" to be optioned, resulting in the 1949 film "My Foolish Heart." But it was apparently so bad in the eyes of both Mr. Salinger and the critics that it soured him from ever again selling film rights.
"I toy very seriously with the idea of leaving the unsold rights to my wife and daughter as a kind of insurance policy," Mr. Salinger wrote in a 1957 letter attributed to him and made public by a Washingtonville, N.Y. memorabilia dealer in 2009. "It pleasures me to no end…to know that I won't have to see the results of the transaction."
—Steven Kurutz, Jeffrey Trachtenberg and Christopher Farley contributed to this article.
Check out these fresh hot stove links from around the web on this Wednesday morning, including some John Smoltz news, and a reaction to the Jon Garland signing.
- Veteran free agent pitcher John Smoltz is reportedly leaning towards signing with the Cardinals, which should upset some Mets fans.
- The Orioles have reportedly made a minor league offer with an invite to spring training to free agent lefty reliever Will Ohman, who is schedule to throw a side session for multiple teams this week.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com suggests that the Reds and Padres take a look at free agent outfielder Jermaine Dye.
- Padres manager Bud Black reaction to the team’s signing of starter Jon Garland: “With Jon, there’s a great degree of reliability.”
- ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick says Randy Winn would fit in as a fourth outfielder with the Nationals or Dodgers, but doesn’t see him with the Yankees.
- Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield expects to be one of the Red Sox’ five starters this season, writes WEEI’s Alex Speier.
- Wally Fish of Royals blog Kings of Kauffman wonders if Kansas City should take a look at recently-DFA’ed Pirates pitcher Anthony Claggett.
- Here’s a quick take of the seven new players the Tigers have signed for the 2010 season.
- Jesse Lund of Twins blog Twinkie Town breaks down Minnesota’s offensive projections for the 2010 season.
Check out these fresh hot stove links from around the web on this Wednesday morning, including some John Smoltz news, and a reaction to the Jon Garland signing.
- Veteran free agent pitcher John Smoltz is reportedly leaning towards signing with the Cardinals, which should upset some Mets fans.
- The Orioles have reportedly made a minor league offer with an invite to spring training to free agent lefty reliever Will Ohman, who is schedule to throw a side session for multiple teams this week.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com suggests that the Reds and Padres take a look at free agent outfielder Jermaine Dye.
- Padres manager Bud Black reaction to the team’s signing of starter Jon Garland: “With Jon, there’s a great degree of reliability.”
- ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick says Randy Winn would fit in as a fourth outfielder with the Nationals or Dodgers, but doesn’t see him with the Yankees.
- Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield expects to be one of the Red Sox’ five starters this season, writes WEEI’s Alex Speier.
- Wally Fish of Royals blog Kings of Kauffman wonders if Kansas City should take a look at recently-DFA’ed Pirates pitcher Anthony Claggett.
- Here’s a quick take of the seven new players the Tigers have signed for the 2010 season.
- Jesse Lund of Twins blog Twinkie Town breaks down Minnesota’s offensive projections for the 2010 season.
JWow, indeed. Pictures of Jersey Shore castmember Jenni Farley reportedly show the breakout star posing topless, with nothing on but boots and a skimpy wrap around her waist. The Jenni Farley pics, which Radar Online jokes put the "wow" in Jwoww, are being shopped to media outlets.
Jenni, whose nickname is Jwoww, recently started a clothing line featuring party tops that leave little to the imagination. According to her website, the Jenni Farley line "will be reinventing the term 'Sexy Sophisticated.'"
There's no word yet on when or if those Jenni Farley pics-- the ones without a sexy, sophisticated party top in sight -- will hit the net.
JWow, indeed. Pictures of Jersey Shore castmember Jenni Farley reportedly show the breakout star posing topless, with nothing on but boots and a skimpy wrap around her waist. The Jenni Farley pics, which Radar Online jokes put the "wow" in Jwoww, are being shopped to media outlets.
Jenni, whose nickname is Jwoww, recently started a clothing line featuring party tops that leave little to the imagination. According to her website, the Jenni Farley line "will be reinventing the term 'Sexy Sophisticated.'"
There's no word yet on when or if those Jenni Farley pics-- the ones without a sexy, sophisticated party top in sight -- will hit the net.
James O'Keefe was riding high last year when he released a series of videos showing employees of community-organizing group ACORN offering advice to O'Keefe and a friend that seemed to endorse trafficking in children, among other illegal activities.
The undercover videos made O'Keefe a star in conservative circles and presumably helped him muster the courage for another high profile stunt – though this time, it seems, things went badly for the 25-year-old.
O'Keefe and three others – including the son of an acting U.S. Attorney, are accused of trying to manipulate the phones in Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu's office in New Orleans. According to an release from the United States Attorney's Office, witnesses say O'Keefe was in Landrieu's office when two co-conspirators came in "dressed in blue denim pants, a blue work shirt, a light green fluorescent vest, a tool belt and a construction-style hard hat" and pretended to be there to repair the phones. (Here's the affidavit.)
O'Keefe allegedly filmed the men handling the main reception-area phone in the senator's office with a cell-phone camera. The faux-repairmen, who are believed to have been attempting to tap the phones, then asked for access to the telephone closet to work on the main telephone system; asked for identification after being directed there, they said they had left their credentials in their vehicle.
The four men – O'Keefe, the two fake telephone repairman, and another alleged co-conspirator – are now "charged in a criminal complaint with entering federal property under false pretenses for the purpose of committing a felony, announced the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana." They could face up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The men had an initial appearance this afternoon in court, where they were released on a $10,000 UN-secured bond. A preliminary hearing has been set for February 12th, though that will be cancelled if an indictment is filed before then. Landrieu's office declined comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
O'Keefe, a former Rutgers University student, has a history of stunts that predates his ACORN hidden-camera work: According to the Star-Ledger, he "mounted a satirical campaign to ban Lucky Charms cereal from campus dining halls on the premise the breakfast fare was offensive to Irish-Americans" as a student.
He told the newspaper the tone of his videos, which include an investigation of Planned Parenthood, is unique.
"I'm not just reporting on something, I'm becoming something I'm reporting on," said O'Keefe.
James O'Keefe was riding high last year when he released a series of videos showing employees of community-organizing group ACORN offering advice to O'Keefe and a friend that seemed to endorse trafficking in children, among other illegal activities.
The undercover videos made O'Keefe a star in conservative circles and presumably helped him muster the courage for another high profile stunt – though this time, it seems, things went badly for the 25-year-old.
O'Keefe and three others – including the son of an acting U.S. Attorney, are accused of trying to manipulate the phones in Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu's office in New Orleans. According to an release from the United States Attorney's Office, witnesses say O'Keefe was in Landrieu's office when two co-conspirators came in "dressed in blue denim pants, a blue work shirt, a light green fluorescent vest, a tool belt and a construction-style hard hat" and pretended to be there to repair the phones. (Here's the affidavit.)
O'Keefe allegedly filmed the men handling the main reception-area phone in the senator's office with a cell-phone camera. The faux-repairmen, who are believed to have been attempting to tap the phones, then asked for access to the telephone closet to work on the main telephone system; asked for identification after being directed there, they said they had left their credentials in their vehicle.
The four men – O'Keefe, the two fake telephone repairman, and another alleged co-conspirator – are now "charged in a criminal complaint with entering federal property under false pretenses for the purpose of committing a felony, announced the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana." They could face up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The men had an initial appearance this afternoon in court, where they were released on a $10,000 UN-secured bond. A preliminary hearing has been set for February 12th, though that will be cancelled if an indictment is filed before then. Landrieu's office declined comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
O'Keefe, a former Rutgers University student, has a history of stunts that predates his ACORN hidden-camera work: According to the Star-Ledger, he "mounted a satirical campaign to ban Lucky Charms cereal from campus dining halls on the premise the breakfast fare was offensive to Irish-Americans" as a student.
He told the newspaper the tone of his videos, which include an investigation of Planned Parenthood, is unique.
"I'm not just reporting on something, I'm becoming something I'm reporting on," said O'Keefe.
MICHAEL LANDON (1936-1991) was one of the most iconic & acclaimed American actor, writer, director, & producer of his time. He starred in 3 popular NBC TV Series that spanned 3 decades.
Landon is known for his outstanding role as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza (1959-1973), Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983), & Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven (1984-1989). He produced, wrote & directed many of his series episodes.
In 1976 Landon wrote & directed an auto-biographical movie, The Loneliest Runner, which was nominated for 2 Emmy's. In 1981 he won recognition for his screenwriting with a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America.
MICHAEL LANDON (1936-1991) was one of the most iconic & acclaimed American actor, writer, director, & producer of his time. He starred in 3 popular NBC TV Series that spanned 3 decades.
Landon is known for his outstanding role as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza (1959-1973), Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983), & Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven (1984-1989). He produced, wrote & directed many of his series episodes.
In 1976 Landon wrote & directed an auto-biographical movie, The Loneliest Runner, which was nominated for 2 Emmy's. In 1981 he won recognition for his screenwriting with a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America.
In celebrity news & gossip, Claudette Ortiz famous for being part of the R&B hip-hip group City High was a topic of A&E's show A&E Intervention. City High's What Would you Do and Caramel were the group's two biggest hit singles, and Claudette appeared along with group member Robby Pardio on the A&E show. The show focused on Robby's intervention due to his problems after a rough break up.
Robby talked about living his dream due to the success of City High's music. At one time he was on the Red carpet, hanging out with Will Smith, Jada Pinkett and performing with rapper Eve. But later things became cloudy for the former singing star. Apparently, Robby Pardio and Claudette Ortiz had been involved in a serious relationship, but when the couple broke up that's when things got Rocky for Pardio. He fell into a deep depression and began turning to alcohol as his remedy for the slump. The show has displayed Pardio taking drinks of Vodka before a confrontation went down with his family members. There may be hope that this intervention can help get Pardio's life back on track.
Claudette Ortiz can't necessarily be blamed for Robby's intervention, because breakups do happen. Especially in celebrity couples, the fame and success can make the relationship strain even more. Daily we see news of couples breaking up. In the case of Robby Pardio, the City High What Would you Do song seems an appropriate question to ask. If you had a family member who was dealing with depression or other problems by drinking, what would you do for them?
In celebrity news & gossip, Claudette Ortiz famous for being part of the R&B hip-hip group City High was a topic of A&E's show A&E Intervention. City High's What Would you Do and Caramel were the group's two biggest hit singles, and Claudette appeared along with group member Robby Pardio on the A&E show. The show focused on Robby's intervention due to his problems after a rough break up.
Robby talked about living his dream due to the success of City High's music. At one time he was on the Red carpet, hanging out with Will Smith, Jada Pinkett and performing with rapper Eve. But later things became cloudy for the former singing star. Apparently, Robby Pardio and Claudette Ortiz had been involved in a serious relationship, but when the couple broke up that's when things got Rocky for Pardio. He fell into a deep depression and began turning to alcohol as his remedy for the slump. The show has displayed Pardio taking drinks of Vodka before a confrontation went down with his family members. There may be hope that this intervention can help get Pardio's life back on track.
Claudette Ortiz can't necessarily be blamed for Robby's intervention, because breakups do happen. Especially in celebrity couples, the fame and success can make the relationship strain even more. Daily we see news of couples breaking up. In the case of Robby Pardio, the City High What Would you Do song seems an appropriate question to ask. If you had a family member who was dealing with depression or other problems by drinking, what would you do for them?
Donnie Simpson's 32-year run on Washington's airwaves will end this week, with the longtime morning host expected to sign off after a falling out with his longtime station, WPGC-FM (95.5).
Simpson's last show likely will be Friday, people on both sides said, barring any last-minute changes to an exit agreement that was still being finalized over the weekend.
Simpson, 55, is under contract until March of 2011, but has sought to end his association with the CBS-owned station that has employed him as its signature morning personality since 1993.
CBS will keep Simpson from jumping to another station by invoking the "non-compete" provision of his contract. The clause bars Simpson from working for a Washington-area station for the next 13 1/2 months. CBS invoked a similar provision in 2008 when another of its local personalities, Don Geronimo, left WJFK-FM before his contract had expired.
Simpson's departure follows months of declining ratings for his show and internal friction between Simpson and WPGC's management. The station has sought to boost Simpson's ratings and attract younger listeners by updating his playlist and playing hit songs more often. Simpson and his producer-son, Donnie Jr., have maintained that the station was meddling, compromising his long-running program and alienating loyal listeners.
CBS had wanted to ease Simpson out with a celebratory retirement party in mid-March, but Simpson declined, according to people familiar with the negotiations between him and the station. Late last week he began telling listeners on the air that his departure was imminent but didn't specify when he'd be leaving.
Simpson has been a radio personality since he was a teenager in Detroit, his home town. Before joining WPGC, he spent 16 years at WKYS-FM, helping to build it into a local powerhouse. He also gained national and international attention as the host of Black Entertainment Television's "Video Soul" program for almost 15 years.
Simpson has not disclosed his plans after he leaves WPGC. Station managers declined to comment.
Donnie Simpson's 32-year run on Washington's airwaves will end this week, with the longtime morning host expected to sign off after a falling out with his longtime station, WPGC-FM (95.5).
Simpson's last show likely will be Friday, people on both sides said, barring any last-minute changes to an exit agreement that was still being finalized over the weekend.
Simpson, 55, is under contract until March of 2011, but has sought to end his association with the CBS-owned station that has employed him as its signature morning personality since 1993.
CBS will keep Simpson from jumping to another station by invoking the "non-compete" provision of his contract. The clause bars Simpson from working for a Washington-area station for the next 13 1/2 months. CBS invoked a similar provision in 2008 when another of its local personalities, Don Geronimo, left WJFK-FM before his contract had expired.
Simpson's departure follows months of declining ratings for his show and internal friction between Simpson and WPGC's management. The station has sought to boost Simpson's ratings and attract younger listeners by updating his playlist and playing hit songs more often. Simpson and his producer-son, Donnie Jr., have maintained that the station was meddling, compromising his long-running program and alienating loyal listeners.
CBS had wanted to ease Simpson out with a celebratory retirement party in mid-March, but Simpson declined, according to people familiar with the negotiations between him and the station. Late last week he began telling listeners on the air that his departure was imminent but didn't specify when he'd be leaving.
Simpson has been a radio personality since he was a teenager in Detroit, his home town. Before joining WPGC, he spent 16 years at WKYS-FM, helping to build it into a local powerhouse. He also gained national and international attention as the host of Black Entertainment Television's "Video Soul" program for almost 15 years.
Simpson has not disclosed his plans after he leaves WPGC. Station managers declined to comment.
Many entertainers can tell you the best restaurants around the world. But Natalie Cole might be the only one who can steer you toward the best dialysis clinics.
The Grammy Award-winning singer spent eight months on dialysis after both her kidneys failed following aggressive chemotherapy to fight hepatitis C, which she says she developed after years of drug abuse and addictions.
Once doctors stabilized her condition through dialysis and put her on a transplant list, she was back on the road singing her classic mix of R&B, pop and jazz.
The only difference now was that wherever she played, she had to first make sure a dialysis clinic was available.
"I couldn’t believe that I was relegated to [dialysis] three times a week, 3 1/2 hours a day," she said with a sigh during a call from a Mississippi casino, where she was performing recently. "I didn’t want to sit around and feel sorry for myself. That wasn’t an option."
Based on her travels through Europe and Asia, Cole says virtually every dialysis clinic she visited measured up to American standards.
"There was an amazing [clinic] in Istanbul," she says, "and then I found out that there were 20 just like it. Some of their techniques may be different than ours, but in the end they get the job done, and that’s the most important thing."
For Cole, who rings out 2009 tonight on the stage of the Tropicana and then performs the first show of 2010 Friday night, the clock can’t strike midnight fast enough.
"I’ll be glad to see [2009] go," she says.
The year was an emotional rollercoaster for the 59-year-old daughter of the late and legendary crooner Nat "King" Cole. Last May, while sitting at the hospital bedside of her sister Cookie, who was dying of cancer, Cole was told a donor kidney was available. She then spent hours wrestling with the decision of whether to have the transplant, knowing if she did she probably would never see her sister again.
Cole’s family prevailed upon her to choose life, and the transplant went off without a hitch. During the surgery, Cookie Cole died.
Four months later, Cole went back to work Sept. 9 with a concert at the fabled Hollywood Bowl.
"It’s everywhere," she says of kidney disease. "There are people in dialysis all over the world. And there’s so much we don’t know about the kidney."
She’s joined the board of directors of UKRO — the University Kidney Research Organization — in an effort to raise awareness about the need for more research.
Throughout her illness, Cole says music helped her through the more difficult spots, which was primarily why she refused to stop working.
"As soon as I would start singing, I would feel happy. I would be like, ‘God, at least I have my voice.’ And that meant a lot to me."
Many entertainers can tell you the best restaurants around the world. But Natalie Cole might be the only one who can steer you toward the best dialysis clinics.
The Grammy Award-winning singer spent eight months on dialysis after both her kidneys failed following aggressive chemotherapy to fight hepatitis C, which she says she developed after years of drug abuse and addictions.
Once doctors stabilized her condition through dialysis and put her on a transplant list, she was back on the road singing her classic mix of R&B, pop and jazz.
The only difference now was that wherever she played, she had to first make sure a dialysis clinic was available.
"I couldn’t believe that I was relegated to [dialysis] three times a week, 3 1/2 hours a day," she said with a sigh during a call from a Mississippi casino, where she was performing recently. "I didn’t want to sit around and feel sorry for myself. That wasn’t an option."
Based on her travels through Europe and Asia, Cole says virtually every dialysis clinic she visited measured up to American standards.
"There was an amazing [clinic] in Istanbul," she says, "and then I found out that there were 20 just like it. Some of their techniques may be different than ours, but in the end they get the job done, and that’s the most important thing."
For Cole, who rings out 2009 tonight on the stage of the Tropicana and then performs the first show of 2010 Friday night, the clock can’t strike midnight fast enough.
"I’ll be glad to see [2009] go," she says.
The year was an emotional rollercoaster for the 59-year-old daughter of the late and legendary crooner Nat "King" Cole. Last May, while sitting at the hospital bedside of her sister Cookie, who was dying of cancer, Cole was told a donor kidney was available. She then spent hours wrestling with the decision of whether to have the transplant, knowing if she did she probably would never see her sister again.
Cole’s family prevailed upon her to choose life, and the transplant went off without a hitch. During the surgery, Cookie Cole died.
Four months later, Cole went back to work Sept. 9 with a concert at the fabled Hollywood Bowl.
"It’s everywhere," she says of kidney disease. "There are people in dialysis all over the world. And there’s so much we don’t know about the kidney."
She’s joined the board of directors of UKRO — the University Kidney Research Organization — in an effort to raise awareness about the need for more research.
Throughout her illness, Cole says music helped her through the more difficult spots, which was primarily why she refused to stop working.
"As soon as I would start singing, I would feel happy. I would be like, ‘God, at least I have my voice.’ And that meant a lot to me."
The celebrity death rumors are back once again. Previously, we saw rumored deaths of Eminem, Will Smith, Taylor Swift, Lil' Wayne, Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears, among others. Today, Sunday, January 24, 2010, we've got new rumors claiming that actor Johnny Depp is dead, with speculation that Johnny Depp car crash occurred. The "Johnny Depp dead" searches have heated up on the internet. So is this news true, and did Johnny Depp die in a car crash?
If the news were true, you'd definitely be hearing about it as a major news story on networks like CNN, CNN Headline News, the Today Show and Fox News. None of these channels, or their associated websites have news of Johnny Depp's demise. You can rest assured that the Pirates of the Carribean and Alice in Wonderland actor is alive and well.
So the answer to "did Johnny Depp die?" is a resounding NO. Some people enjoy starting up fake celebrity death news just to amuse themselves because they have nothing better to do than start internet rumors. The Johnny Depp dead rumors are part of many other celebrity death hoaxes that have been put together, many of which use the common car crash as the means of demise.
The celebrity death rumors are back once again. Previously, we saw rumored deaths of Eminem, Will Smith, Taylor Swift, Lil' Wayne, Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears, among others. Today, Sunday, January 24, 2010, we've got new rumors claiming that actor Johnny Depp is dead, with speculation that Johnny Depp car crash occurred. The "Johnny Depp dead" searches have heated up on the internet. So is this news true, and did Johnny Depp die in a car crash?
If the news were true, you'd definitely be hearing about it as a major news story on networks like CNN, CNN Headline News, the Today Show and Fox News. None of these channels, or their associated websites have news of Johnny Depp's demise. You can rest assured that the Pirates of the Carribean and Alice in Wonderland actor is alive and well.
So the answer to "did Johnny Depp die?" is a resounding NO. Some people enjoy starting up fake celebrity death news just to amuse themselves because they have nothing better to do than start internet rumors. The Johnny Depp dead rumors are part of many other celebrity death hoaxes that have been put together, many of which use the common car crash as the means of demise.
The Pirates of Caribbean actor Johnny Depp got involved this morning on a car accident. Rumors are spreading that johnny Depp is now dead but this is not true! Johnny is in good condition but this car was just been crushed up because of the car accident.
The rumors are also spreading that Johnny Depp was drunk when a tourist spotted the car at the Bordeaux, France. As of now Johnny Depp haven’t answered this issue since he is busy let us wait for more updates about this issue and let’s see if Captain Jack is still alive or no. But we hope i is not really true.
The Pirates of Caribbean actor Johnny Depp got involved this morning on a car accident. Rumors are spreading that johnny Depp is now dead but this is not true! Johnny is in good condition but this car was just been crushed up because of the car accident.
The rumors are also spreading that Johnny Depp was drunk when a tourist spotted the car at the Bordeaux, France. As of now Johnny Depp haven’t answered this issue since he is busy let us wait for more updates about this issue and let’s see if Captain Jack is still alive or no. But we hope i is not really true.
At nearly 2 years old, Frances Quinn Hunter isn't "new," of course. But for the first time, former presidential candidate John Edwards has admitted he fathered the child during an affair with videographer Rielle Hunter.
According to the Associated Press story, it appears that Frances -- known as "Quinn" -- was conceived "during the middle of 2007." That would be close to July 2007, when Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, renewed their wedding vows in honor of their 30th anniversary.
But the most interesting thing about today's story, to me at least, was this quote from Elizabeth Edwards, who reportedly urged her husband to acknowledge his paternity of the child. She has said that whether or not he fathered the child didn't matter to her..."that would be a part of John's life, but not a part of mine."
At nearly 2 years old, Frances Quinn Hunter isn't "new," of course. But for the first time, former presidential candidate John Edwards has admitted he fathered the child during an affair with videographer Rielle Hunter.
According to the Associated Press story, it appears that Frances -- known as "Quinn" -- was conceived "during the middle of 2007." That would be close to July 2007, when Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, renewed their wedding vows in honor of their 30th anniversary.
But the most interesting thing about today's story, to me at least, was this quote from Elizabeth Edwards, who reportedly urged her husband to acknowledge his paternity of the child. She has said that whether or not he fathered the child didn't matter to her..."that would be a part of John's life, but not a part of mine."
When Michigan was looking to add a high-profile nonconference opponent before last season, coach John Beilein figured he should go with what he knows.
He knew Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun well since both were from the Northeast and coached against each other in the Big East for five years.
So scheduling a home-and-home series worked well, even in the middle of the conference season as it will be for Sunday's game at Crisler Arena.
"He mentored me when I first got in the (Big East) league a little bit, telling me how to approach coaching at this level, and it was good," Beilein said Friday. "The basic message was coach one team at a time. He told me an old story about (former St. John's coach) Lou Carnesecca. Coach one team at a time, don't worry about what other people are doing, worry what you're doing. It stuck with me a long time."
That's easier said when Connecticut is the opponent. While there might be potential for Beilein's knowledge of Calhoun to help the Wolverines -- it appeared to make a difference when U-M played the Huskies close in Storrs, Conn., last year -- it might not be significant.
"I don't think it's an advantage either way," said Beilein, 1-3 against Connecticut during his time at West Virginia. "We're not going to surprise each other, let's say that."
When Michigan was looking to add a high-profile nonconference opponent before last season, coach John Beilein figured he should go with what he knows.
He knew Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun well since both were from the Northeast and coached against each other in the Big East for five years.
So scheduling a home-and-home series worked well, even in the middle of the conference season as it will be for Sunday's game at Crisler Arena.
"He mentored me when I first got in the (Big East) league a little bit, telling me how to approach coaching at this level, and it was good," Beilein said Friday. "The basic message was coach one team at a time. He told me an old story about (former St. John's coach) Lou Carnesecca. Coach one team at a time, don't worry about what other people are doing, worry what you're doing. It stuck with me a long time."
That's easier said when Connecticut is the opponent. While there might be potential for Beilein's knowledge of Calhoun to help the Wolverines -- it appeared to make a difference when U-M played the Huskies close in Storrs, Conn., last year -- it might not be significant.
"I don't think it's an advantage either way," said Beilein, 1-3 against Connecticut during his time at West Virginia. "We're not going to surprise each other, let's say that."
On Sunday’s Today show on NBC – during which correspondent Savannah Guthrie filed a report which seemed to credit President Obama for "managing to avoid a depression," while also acknowledging that "the President's once sky-high approval rating slumped as unemployment stubbornly stayed in double digits" – after Guthrie’s report, anchor Jenna Wolfe wondered if Republicans were partly to blame for Obama’s plunging poll numbers.
Hosting former Bush Chief of Staff Andy Card and former Clinton White House Spokesperson Joe Lockhart, Wolfe at one point asked Card: "Andy, you mentioned earlier about the President's popularity. Yes, it's down. Recent polls show his approval rating at 47 percent. Yes, the economy accounts for much of that drop. How much of it can be linked to unified opposition from Republicans for initiatives like health care?"
Below is a transcript of Savannah Guthrie’s report, followed by the interview with Andy Card and Joe Lockhart from the Sunday, January 17, Today show on NBC
On Sunday’s Today show on NBC – during which correspondent Savannah Guthrie filed a report which seemed to credit President Obama for "managing to avoid a depression," while also acknowledging that "the President's once sky-high approval rating slumped as unemployment stubbornly stayed in double digits" – after Guthrie’s report, anchor Jenna Wolfe wondered if Republicans were partly to blame for Obama’s plunging poll numbers.
Hosting former Bush Chief of Staff Andy Card and former Clinton White House Spokesperson Joe Lockhart, Wolfe at one point asked Card: "Andy, you mentioned earlier about the President's popularity. Yes, it's down. Recent polls show his approval rating at 47 percent. Yes, the economy accounts for much of that drop. How much of it can be linked to unified opposition from Republicans for initiatives like health care?"
Below is a transcript of Savannah Guthrie’s report, followed by the interview with Andy Card and Joe Lockhart from the Sunday, January 17, Today show on NBC
DENVER -- The Denver Broncos and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan have agreed to part ways.
Nolan becomes the third member of coach Josh McDaniels' inaugural staff to depart following a disappointing 8-8 finish. Offensive line coach Rick Dennison left for Houston's staff and longtime running backs coach Bobby Turner was reunited with Mike Shanahan in Washington. Both Dennison and Turner were holdovers from the Shanahan era.
"I can't say anything other than Josh and I mutually agreed to part ways," Nolan said on Monday, according to The Denver Post.
Before the split, Miami sent in a request for permission to interview Nolan, sources close to the situation told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Nolan now will talk to the Dolphins about becoming their defensive coordinator.
Nolan, who engineered the Broncos' switch to a 3-4 defensive alignment, was McDaniels' first hire. McDaniels lined up Nolan to help revamp what had been a deplorable defense.
McDaniels said in a statement released Monday by the team: "I have great respect for Mike and wish him success in the future."
As a potential replacement, the Broncos already are discussing former Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who worked with McDaniels in New England, sources told Schefter.
DENVER -- The Denver Broncos and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan have agreed to part ways.
Nolan becomes the third member of coach Josh McDaniels' inaugural staff to depart following a disappointing 8-8 finish. Offensive line coach Rick Dennison left for Houston's staff and longtime running backs coach Bobby Turner was reunited with Mike Shanahan in Washington. Both Dennison and Turner were holdovers from the Shanahan era.
"I can't say anything other than Josh and I mutually agreed to part ways," Nolan said on Monday, according to The Denver Post.
Before the split, Miami sent in a request for permission to interview Nolan, sources close to the situation told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Nolan now will talk to the Dolphins about becoming their defensive coordinator.
Nolan, who engineered the Broncos' switch to a 3-4 defensive alignment, was McDaniels' first hire. McDaniels lined up Nolan to help revamp what had been a deplorable defense.
McDaniels said in a statement released Monday by the team: "I have great respect for Mike and wish him success in the future."
As a potential replacement, the Broncos already are discussing former Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who worked with McDaniels in New England, sources told Schefter.
After his rivals had faltered, Jeremy Abbott turned what was expected to be a close competition into a rout, winning his second straight national men's figure skating title with a tour de force in today's free skate at the U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash.
Abbott opened with a quadruple jump and followed it with more than four minutes of technical mastery and poised presentation to win the title by 25.03 points over reigning world champion Evan Lysacek.
Lysacek, whose performance was described as "labored" by his coach, Frank Carroll, and third finisher Johnny Weir probably will earn the three men's spots on the U.S. Olympic team. That decision was to be announced today.
After his rivals had faltered, Jeremy Abbott turned what was expected to be a close competition into a rout, winning his second straight national men's figure skating title with a tour de force in today's free skate at the U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash.
Abbott opened with a quadruple jump and followed it with more than four minutes of technical mastery and poised presentation to win the title by 25.03 points over reigning world champion Evan Lysacek.
Lysacek, whose performance was described as "labored" by his coach, Frank Carroll, and third finisher Johnny Weir probably will earn the three men's spots on the U.S. Olympic team. That decision was to be announced today.
Lee Thompson Young is an American actor, known for starring in the Disney television series, The Famous Jett Jackson.
Young moved to New York that June, but it was not until the next year that he auditioned for the part of Jett Jackson in The Famous Jett Jackson. Lee filmed the pilot and found out in June 1998 from The Disney Channel that the show had been picked up. It later went on to become a Disney movie in June 2001. In 1999, Lee starred in Johnny Tsunami, another Disney Channel Original Movie, as Sam Sterling (a major character). The movie was successful, but Lee did not reprise the role in the sequel, Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board.
After the cancellation of The Famous Jett Jackson, Young had guest spots in CBS's The Guardian. He had a part in the movie Friday Night Lights portraying Chris Comer and a part in the Jamie Foxx movie Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story. Lee appeared on UPN's TV drama South Beach. He portrayed Victor Stone (known in DC Comics as Cyborg) in a fifth season episode of the television series Smallville in 2006. He reprised his character in the Season Six episode "Justice", which aired on January 18, 2007.
Young appeared in the feature film Akeelah and the Bee, playing Akeelah's brother Devon. He played National Guard rookie, Delmar, in The Hills Have Eyes 2.
In 2009, Young played a cocky surgical intern in the hit comedy show, Scrubs. It is revealed that his character was an overweight child. The character becomes involved in a romance with one of the medical interns.
Young played the role of Al Gough an FBI agent, in the new ABC Television Drama FlashForward. He was written off the show in episode 7, when his character committed suicide to prevent the death of an innocent civilian.
Young also starred in Sugababes video for their 2009 single "About A Girl".
Here are some photos of Lee Thompson Young
Lee Thompson Young is an American actor, known for starring in the Disney television series, The Famous Jett Jackson.
Young moved to New York that June, but it was not until the next year that he auditioned for the part of Jett Jackson in The Famous Jett Jackson. Lee filmed the pilot and found out in June 1998 from The Disney Channel that the show had been picked up. It later went on to become a Disney movie in June 2001. In 1999, Lee starred in Johnny Tsunami, another Disney Channel Original Movie, as Sam Sterling (a major character). The movie was successful, but Lee did not reprise the role in the sequel, Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board.
After the cancellation of The Famous Jett Jackson, Young had guest spots in CBS's The Guardian. He had a part in the movie Friday Night Lights portraying Chris Comer and a part in the Jamie Foxx movie Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story. Lee appeared on UPN's TV drama South Beach. He portrayed Victor Stone (known in DC Comics as Cyborg) in a fifth season episode of the television series Smallville in 2006. He reprised his character in the Season Six episode "Justice", which aired on January 18, 2007.
Young appeared in the feature film Akeelah and the Bee, playing Akeelah's brother Devon. He played National Guard rookie, Delmar, in The Hills Have Eyes 2.
In 2009, Young played a cocky surgical intern in the hit comedy show, Scrubs. It is revealed that his character was an overweight child. The character becomes involved in a romance with one of the medical interns.
Young played the role of Al Gough an FBI agent, in the new ABC Television Drama FlashForward. He was written off the show in episode 7, when his character committed suicide to prevent the death of an innocent civilian.
Young also starred in Sugababes video for their 2009 single "About A Girl".
Here are some photos of Lee Thompson Young
All’s almost quiet on the Tech and Georgia defensive coordinator fronts, but probably not as quiet as the Jackets would like.
A couple of blogs back, I told you that Al Groh was suddenly being presented with job options other than Georgia Tech and I even threw out a few potential backup choice for the team’s defensive coordinator vacancy.
Well, with every passing day, this whole Groh-to-Tech scenario looks more fantasy than reality. At the very least, it’s getting crowded.
The New England Patriots are looking for a new defensive coordinator, after Dean Pees stepped down for health reasons. Media speculation immediately began that the Patriots may get into a bidding war for Groh with the Miami Dolphins.
Groh has worked with Patriots coach Bill Belichick in the past, as well as Dolphins vice president Bill Parcells. It should be noted that whereas Miami has interviewed Groh, there has been no word on whether the Pats will talk to Groh (or already have).
Folks, as I’ve stated before, if money is a factor in the Groh negotiations, Tech has no shot. It’s difficult enough for a college team — outside of some programs in the SEC, any way — to hang with the NFL in salary structure. But Tech is especially hamstrung financially. I don’t know if Jackets coach Paul Johnson gave Groh some sort of deadline to sort things out but I can’t imagine it’s much longer.
About the Georgia search: If you missed it, Tim Tucker had a nice summary of the situation with Dallas Cowboys assistant Todd Grantham. If Grantham is Georgia’s guy, it follows that coach Mark Richt is a huge Minnesota Vikings fan this week
All’s almost quiet on the Tech and Georgia defensive coordinator fronts, but probably not as quiet as the Jackets would like.
A couple of blogs back, I told you that Al Groh was suddenly being presented with job options other than Georgia Tech and I even threw out a few potential backup choice for the team’s defensive coordinator vacancy.
Well, with every passing day, this whole Groh-to-Tech scenario looks more fantasy than reality. At the very least, it’s getting crowded.
The New England Patriots are looking for a new defensive coordinator, after Dean Pees stepped down for health reasons. Media speculation immediately began that the Patriots may get into a bidding war for Groh with the Miami Dolphins.
Groh has worked with Patriots coach Bill Belichick in the past, as well as Dolphins vice president Bill Parcells. It should be noted that whereas Miami has interviewed Groh, there has been no word on whether the Pats will talk to Groh (or already have).
Folks, as I’ve stated before, if money is a factor in the Groh negotiations, Tech has no shot. It’s difficult enough for a college team — outside of some programs in the SEC, any way — to hang with the NFL in salary structure. But Tech is especially hamstrung financially. I don’t know if Jackets coach Paul Johnson gave Groh some sort of deadline to sort things out but I can’t imagine it’s much longer.
About the Georgia search: If you missed it, Tim Tucker had a nice summary of the situation with Dallas Cowboys assistant Todd Grantham. If Grantham is Georgia’s guy, it follows that coach Mark Richt is a huge Minnesota Vikings fan this week
Duke coach David Cutcliffe will be named Tennessee's next head football coach barring any last minute surprises, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports on its website.
Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton declined to confirm an agreement with Cutcliffe, and one issue remaining to be settled between the two parties is Cutcliffe's staff, according to the newspaper. Cutcliffe wants to bring much of his staff from Duke with him to Tennessee, but there are six Vols assistants still left after Lane Kiffin's departure to USC.
Tennessee has reportedly been rebuffed in its search to replace Kiiffin by several coaches, including Jon Gruden, Will Muschamp and Troy Calhoun.
Cutcliffe is a longtime Vols assistant who was the offensive coordinator for the 1998 national championship team.
Cutcliffe has coached the Blue Devils for the past two seasons, going 9-15. He also coached Ole Miss from 1998-2004, going 44-29 and leading the Rebels to a Cotton Bowl victory. He is known for grooming quarterbacks, including Peyton and Eli Manning.
Duke coach David Cutcliffe will be named Tennessee's next head football coach barring any last minute surprises, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports on its website.
Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton declined to confirm an agreement with Cutcliffe, and one issue remaining to be settled between the two parties is Cutcliffe's staff, according to the newspaper. Cutcliffe wants to bring much of his staff from Duke with him to Tennessee, but there are six Vols assistants still left after Lane Kiffin's departure to USC.
Tennessee has reportedly been rebuffed in its search to replace Kiiffin by several coaches, including Jon Gruden, Will Muschamp and Troy Calhoun.
Cutcliffe is a longtime Vols assistant who was the offensive coordinator for the 1998 national championship team.
Cutcliffe has coached the Blue Devils for the past two seasons, going 9-15. He also coached Ole Miss from 1998-2004, going 44-29 and leading the Rebels to a Cotton Bowl victory. He is known for grooming quarterbacks, including Peyton and Eli Manning.
One of the world's great soul men, singer Teddy Pendergrass, died at age 59 on Wednesday after a long battle with colon cancer. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Pendergrass, who was paralyzed after a 1982 car accident, died in a Philly hospital eight months after undergoing colon cancer surgery and suffering through a difficult recovery.
In his prime in the 1970s, Pendergrass was one of the premier R&B singers in America, leading Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes to the top of the charts with indelible soul classics such as "If You Don't Know Me by Now" and "I Miss You."
After leaving the Blue Notes in 1976, Pendergrass recorded a series of solo hits for the legendary Philadelphia International label into the 1980s, including his signature between-the-sheets hit, "Love T.K.O." Unlike some of the other velvety Philly-sound singers such as Al Green, Pendergrass' deep baritone had a gritty, masculine edge that he worked out on seductive slow jams like "Feel the Fire, "Close the Door," "Come Go With Me," "Turn off the Lights" and "It's Time for Love." He created a new template for the modern R&B singer with his aggressive brand of soul and his smooth, ladies'-man image on songs that were sexually charged but never coarse or vulgar.
The singer's life was forever altered in 1982 when he crashed his Rolls Royce in Philadelphia, leaving the then-31-year-old singer paralyzed from the waist down. After a year of rehabilitation, he returned in 1983 with the album Love Language and performed from his wheelchair at Live Aid in 1985, but his musical career would never regain its momentum. The powerful, seductive persona that Pendergrass had honed in his peak years had been diminished in the aftermath of the crash, as was the strength of his voice, but Pendergrass was not entirely deterred by his challenge. He continued to record sporadically throughout the 1980s, and in 1998, he formed the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance to benefit victims of spinal cord injuries.
Like many Philly stars, Pendergrass' hits were written and produced by the legendary team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who recounted Pendergrass' solo debut at a Los Angeles nightclub in an interview with Philly radio station WDAS. "That night I saw the coming of a superstar," Huff said. "When Teddy walked out on the stage, he didn't even open his mouth and the place went crazy with screaming females. He was just so dynamic, and when he started singing, he just blew them away."
Gamble and Huff said in a statement on their Web site that they were "deeply saddened" by the death of the man they called their best friend and "one of the greatest."
"He had about 10 platinum albums in a row, so he was a very, very successful recording artist and as a performing artist," Gamble told The Associated Press. "He had a tremendous career ahead of him, and the accident sort of got in the way of many of those plans. ... He never showed me that he was angry at all about his accident. ... In fact, he was very courageous."
Pendergrass was born in 1950 in North Philadelphia, where he was raised by his mother, Ida Epps. He began singing early, honing his chops at the ripe age of 2 by belting out gospel standards at the Glad Tidings Baptist Church alongside his mother.
Pendergrass got his start as a drummer, working behind the Philly band the Cadillacs and then joining Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in 1970. He was promoted to lead singer of that group the next year after vocalist John Atkins quit. The act was signed to Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International label in 1972 and began releasing a string of hit singles that included "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "Bad Luck."
Pendergrass left the Blue Notes at the peak of their success in 1976 to go solo. His first post-crash album in 1984 featured a duet with the then-unknown Whitney Houston on the song "Hold Me." He released his autobiography, "Truly Blessed," in 1998 and retired from music in 2006.
Among those paying tribute to Pendergrass was fellow Philly native ?uestlove of the Roots, who tweeted, "Sad loss. Just heard the immortal Teddy Pendergrass has just gone to a better place. Soul will never be the same."
One of the world's great soul men, singer Teddy Pendergrass, died at age 59 on Wednesday after a long battle with colon cancer. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Pendergrass, who was paralyzed after a 1982 car accident, died in a Philly hospital eight months after undergoing colon cancer surgery and suffering through a difficult recovery.
In his prime in the 1970s, Pendergrass was one of the premier R&B singers in America, leading Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes to the top of the charts with indelible soul classics such as "If You Don't Know Me by Now" and "I Miss You."
After leaving the Blue Notes in 1976, Pendergrass recorded a series of solo hits for the legendary Philadelphia International label into the 1980s, including his signature between-the-sheets hit, "Love T.K.O." Unlike some of the other velvety Philly-sound singers such as Al Green, Pendergrass' deep baritone had a gritty, masculine edge that he worked out on seductive slow jams like "Feel the Fire, "Close the Door," "Come Go With Me," "Turn off the Lights" and "It's Time for Love." He created a new template for the modern R&B singer with his aggressive brand of soul and his smooth, ladies'-man image on songs that were sexually charged but never coarse or vulgar.
The singer's life was forever altered in 1982 when he crashed his Rolls Royce in Philadelphia, leaving the then-31-year-old singer paralyzed from the waist down. After a year of rehabilitation, he returned in 1983 with the album Love Language and performed from his wheelchair at Live Aid in 1985, but his musical career would never regain its momentum. The powerful, seductive persona that Pendergrass had honed in his peak years had been diminished in the aftermath of the crash, as was the strength of his voice, but Pendergrass was not entirely deterred by his challenge. He continued to record sporadically throughout the 1980s, and in 1998, he formed the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance to benefit victims of spinal cord injuries.
Like many Philly stars, Pendergrass' hits were written and produced by the legendary team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who recounted Pendergrass' solo debut at a Los Angeles nightclub in an interview with Philly radio station WDAS. "That night I saw the coming of a superstar," Huff said. "When Teddy walked out on the stage, he didn't even open his mouth and the place went crazy with screaming females. He was just so dynamic, and when he started singing, he just blew them away."
Gamble and Huff said in a statement on their Web site that they were "deeply saddened" by the death of the man they called their best friend and "one of the greatest."
"He had about 10 platinum albums in a row, so he was a very, very successful recording artist and as a performing artist," Gamble told The Associated Press. "He had a tremendous career ahead of him, and the accident sort of got in the way of many of those plans. ... He never showed me that he was angry at all about his accident. ... In fact, he was very courageous."
Pendergrass was born in 1950 in North Philadelphia, where he was raised by his mother, Ida Epps. He began singing early, honing his chops at the ripe age of 2 by belting out gospel standards at the Glad Tidings Baptist Church alongside his mother.
Pendergrass got his start as a drummer, working behind the Philly band the Cadillacs and then joining Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in 1970. He was promoted to lead singer of that group the next year after vocalist John Atkins quit. The act was signed to Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International label in 1972 and began releasing a string of hit singles that included "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "Bad Luck."
Pendergrass left the Blue Notes at the peak of their success in 1976 to go solo. His first post-crash album in 1984 featured a duet with the then-unknown Whitney Houston on the song "Hold Me." He released his autobiography, "Truly Blessed," in 1998 and retired from music in 2006.
Among those paying tribute to Pendergrass was fellow Philly native ?uestlove of the Roots, who tweeted, "Sad loss. Just heard the immortal Teddy Pendergrass has just gone to a better place. Soul will never be the same."
Colt McCoy is making an honest woman out of Rachel Glandorf, according to a report from the Associated Press.
The Texas Longhorns quarterback proposed to his girlfriend Monday night in true romantic fashion.
He brought her to Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and flashed "Will You Marry Me" on the giant scoreboard.
This just bleeds America.
Glandorf, who you may recognize from some previous posts with little-to-no news value, is a bit of a kindred spirit of ours. In addition to her love of McCoy, she seems to have a love of journalism, as evidenced by the following work.
Colt McCoy is making an honest woman out of Rachel Glandorf, according to a report from the Associated Press.
The Texas Longhorns quarterback proposed to his girlfriend Monday night in true romantic fashion.
He brought her to Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and flashed "Will You Marry Me" on the giant scoreboard.
This just bleeds America.
Glandorf, who you may recognize from some previous posts with little-to-no news value, is a bit of a kindred spirit of ours. In addition to her love of McCoy, she seems to have a love of journalism, as evidenced by the following work.
It has been announced that baseball star Derek Jeter is getting married to actress Minka Kelly. The two are set to be married this November after the World Series will be over. The location is a the Oheka Castle on Long Island. Derek Jeter has been denying the rumors of a wedding date since rumors first began surfacing last August, but appears to be on board with the latest announcement.
