Fognini gives Italy lead over Britain in Davis Cup

NAPLES, Italy — Fabio Fognini overcame an injury and tough resistance from James Ward to give Italy a 1-0 lead over Britain on the rain-delayed opening day of their Davis Cup quarterfinal Friday. Andy Murray's match against Andreas Seppi was then suspended due to poor light with the British No. 1 leading 6-4, 5-5 after just under two hours of play.
The match will resume Saturday morning ahead of the doubles. Fognini was made to struggle against a player ranked 148 places below him before winning 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in more than three hours to preserve his remarkable Davis Cup record on clay. The start was delayed by more than two hours because of rain in Naples.
 Ward powered into a 3-0 lead as Fognini double-faulted twice in his first service, game but the 13th-ranked Italian fought back by winning four games in succession before taking the opening set. It looked to be a similar story in the second set as Ward again rushed into a 3-0 lead before allowing Fognini back in. But this time it was the Briton who took four games in a row and leveled the match with a drop shot. Fognini had been hampered by a left thigh injury in the buildup to the series and also had heavy taping by his ribs. He had to receive medical treatment before the start of the third set.

 Fognini broke quickly in the third and maintained the advantage, saving two break points before serving out the set. Ward then seemed to tire as Fognini comfortably took the fourth and final set, sealing the win with a short volley at the net.
 Murray, who is ranked eighth in the world, was made to work against Seppi before breaking in the seventh game and going on to claim the opening set. Both players struggled with their service game and Murray had to save four set points in an enthralling final game of the day.
 The two-time Grand Slam champion is looking for his sixth consecutive win against Seppi as Britain attempts to reach the Davis Cup semifinals for the first time since 1981. Italy has not lost at home to Britain since 1926 and will be hoping the vociferous home support can help it reach the final four for the first time in 16 years.

New Source: www.bostonherald.com

Mila baby bump: Mila Kunis guards baby bump at red carpet appearance

Mila Kunis concealed her newly, revealed baby bump using Channing Tatum as a bump guard as she made her first red carpet appearance.
 Mila Kunis and new fiance Ashton Kutcher recently made a couple of huge announcements first confirming their engagement, and next that they were expecting their first child together.
 Fans are well aware that both Mila and Ashton are extremely private people, keeping their personal lives as quite as possible for Hollywood celebrities that is. Mila made her first appearance since announcing her pregnancy with pal and co-star Channing Tatum keeping Mila close at hand and protecting both her and the precious baby bump that so many are curious about.
 Kunis and Tatum walked the red carpet together for the premiere of their latest film “Jupiter Ascending” on March 27.
 Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher not quite ready to share baby bump with public Reports reveal that Mila Kunis,30, did her best to conceal her baby bump, playing down the news of her pregnancy at the red carpet event wearing a sleeveless navy knee-length dress at Cinamacon in Las Vegas last night. As previously reported, it has been a busy few weeks for Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, who recently became engaged and announced that they were also going to be first time parents, confirming their pregnancy.
 “They are happy, healthy and excited to start a family,” an insider told Us. Kunis “is all about being a mother.”
 There has been no news as to when the couple will be tying the know, so far they haven’t decided on the details, but sources reveal they are not in a hurry,but when the do wed, it will be a simple, and private ceremony.
 What kind of parents do you think Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher will make, will they be firm, or laid back with their parenting style?

New Source: www.hollywoodnewsdaily.com

Christina Aguilera, fiancé Matt Rutler expecting a daughter

It's a girl!
 Christina Aguilera and her fiancé Matt Rutler are expecting a baby daughter.
 "The Voice" coach, who confirmed in February that she's expecting her second child, announced the news while performing at a concert in Malaysia, Too Fab reports. "It's fun, I'm having another little one," the 33-year-old singer announced.
 "This is her first show. You guys are her first show." Aguilera already has one child, 6-year-old Max Liron, from her previous marriage to Jonathan Bratman. Aguilera and Rutler announced their engagement on Valentine's Day.

 "He asked and I said……" the singer captioned a photo of a large diamond ring she posted on Twitter.

New Source: www.nydailynews.com

The Voice'' Recap: Usher, Shakira and Blake Steal One Artist Each

The second week of battle rounds began on "The Voice" Monday night as more teammates were paired up for duets in front of Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Shakira and Usher. Each duet ended with one winner and one artist hoping that a competing coach would steal him or her.
 Once again, the battle round advisers offered tips to the artists during rehearsals. Aloe Blacc assisted Team Adam; The Band Perry helped Team Blake; Blake's wife, Miranda Lambert, worked with Team Shakira; and Jill Scott advised Usher's crew.
 Here's what happened during the two-hour episode: Team Adam's Austin Ellis and Josh Kaufman were assigned Pharrell Williams' ubiquitous hit, "Happy." Shakira said it was one of the best battles of the season, in part because both men managed to win the audience over. Adam added that Austin and Josh were equals as singers. He named Josh the winner. Austin was not stolen by another coach, so he was eliminated. 'The Voice' Recap: Adam Pulls Off Another Steal Up next were Audra McLaughlin and the duo Alaska and Madi, from Blake's team.
They tackled "When Will I Be Loved," originally recorded by The Everly Brothers and later covered by Linda Ronstadt. Shakira thought both artists were a little "over the top" at times. Blake agonized over the decision, but ultimately picked Audra. Adam desperately wanted to add Alaska and Madi to his team, but he used his two allotted steals last week.
 Two of Shakira's artists, Deja Hall and Music Box, sang The Bangles hit "Eternal Flame." Referring to Deja, Shakira said youth has its pros and cons. She mentioned Deja's lack of experience, but added that the 16-year-old has an angelic voice. She declared Deja to be the winner, after which Usher swooped in and stole Music Box.
He told Music Box she has a lot of untapped potential. 'The Voice' Recap: The Battle Rounds Begin Usher paired Madilyn Paige with Tanner James. The two performed "Everything Has Changed," Taylor Swift's collaboration with Ed Sheeran. Adam joked it was "cute overload," like watching a pair of puppies in the field. Shakira agreed, saying it was sweet yet believable.
Usher detected both playfulness and an aggressive nature within Madilyn, whom he named the winner. Tanner was not saved. Josh Murley and Dawn & Hawkes, of Team Adam, joined forces on "Stuck in the Middle with You," by Gerry Rafferty's band Stealers Wheel. Blake said it was good, but there weren't any standout moments.
 Shakira said she doesn't drink, but the two acts made her want to have a beer. She added that she'd never heard the song before but she liked it. Dawn & Hawkes won the battle, but Josh was saved by Shakira. The final battle of the night featured two of Usher's artists, Tess Boyer and Bria Kelly. They belted out Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart." Shakira felt they were evenly matched. Blake believed Tess was the stronger performer, but Usher went with Bria. At the urging of Adam and Shakira, Blake stole Tess.

New Source: www.abcnews.go.com

Tiger Woods warned of tough task to regain fitness as he battles to overcome back problem

Tiger Woods was warned by Retief Goosen on Monday that he faced “a difficult road back” from his back problem as the world No 1 admitted his frustration at not yet knowing whether he will be fit to play at the Masters in two weeks.
Woods withdrew from last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, his final Augusta warm-up, citing the complaint which has blighted his early season. It emerged last week that Woods is suffering from a bulging disc but will not require an immediate operation.
By the tone of his comments on Monday, it is clear he is desperate to play in his 20th consecutive Masters and is prepared to leave the decision as late as possible. “For Augusta, it’s actually still a little too soon [to say if he will be fit], to be honest with you,” Woods said at a press conference to announce the new title sponsor of his PGA Tour tournament, Quicken Loans.
 “That’s kind of the frustrating thing about this. I’ve had a couple weeks off and getting treatment and just working on trying to get ready for Augusta. Yet as of right now, it’s still too soon.” Later, in an interview with the Washington Post, Woods revealed how little golf he had played of late. “I’ve been chipping and putting at home – that’s it,” Woods said. “I haven’t done that much. Just listening to my doctors, listening to my therapists.” However, Woods’s message to the game is do not dismiss his chances and he used the 2008 US Open, the last major he won, as an example.
 On that occasion, Woods had been out for two months following knee surgery and his preparation was confined to nine holes on the Sunday before Torrey Pines – during which Woods lost seven balls. “I was thinking, ‘Oh, I don’t know how I’m actually going to pull this off’,” Woods said. “So I’ve done it before. Hopefully, that’ll be the case again this year.”
The difference is, of course, that the knee injury did not stop Woods from making his full swing – the back injury clearly does. On that score, Goosen can empathise with his old rival. The 45-year-old considered retiring from the game two years ago because of a debilitating condition which also began with spasms. “I knew when Tiger’s back spasms came up that it was definitely structural,” Goosen told Golf Digest. “Your back doesn’t spasm unless it’s trying to protect something. There’s nothing you can do with bulging discs to take that away... It’s a difficult road back.”

 Of course, every back injury is different, but Goosen’s tale is a salutary one. “It starts off with a bulging disc and eventually it leaks and then, in my case, starts chewing away at the bone around the area,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep, I’d wake up every time I turned over. I couldn’t hit certain shots, I had constant physio to keep me loose, and then, after about eight holes, it would spasm again.” The two-time major champion was soon diagnosed with a completely degenerated disc and after two months of deliberation he decided to have an operation to insert a titanium replacement.
Yet even then his problems were not over as he was sidelined again with a stress fracture of a facet joint. Since returning last September, the two-time major champion has recorded only one top-10 finish. Woods will pay no heed to that story but will be interested that Adam Scott could not turn the seven-shot advantage at halfway at Bay Hill into the win he required to displace Woods as world No 1. Henrik Stenson came fifth at the Arnold Palmer, and, depending on the strength of field, the Swede could have his own chance of becoming No 1 if he wins next week’s Houston Open.
 “This is as good an opportunity as I’ve ever had,” Stenson said . “We saw it a couple of years back with Luke [Donald] and Rory [McIlroy] and Lee [Westwood]. It’s fun to have a couple of guys right there.”

New Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rangers Vs. Coyotes: Ryan McDonagh Is Amazing

It's pretty amazing how an entire fanbase can go from complete despair to absolute jubilation in the matter of thirty minutes. It's also amazing, however, the Rangers can go from whatever the Hell that was in the first period to the domination they exerted the final 40 minutes of the game. - A big part of that? Henrik Lundqvist.
 He wasn't called on very often once the first 20 minutes passed, but when he was he stood tall. Really tall. The ceremony celebrating all his accomplishments was fantastic, too. And as a huge fan of Mike Richter it's always nice to see him on the Garden ice.
 The other aspect of that win was the Rangers' battle level. It's a component that's been sorely missing when the Rangers have struggled, but it's a big part of when they succeed.
The Rangers pushed their way into tying the game in the second period. A Chris Kreider own goal (on a play where he did everything right, no less) gave the Coyotes an undeserved 3-2 lead. The Rangers didn't let it impact them, they kept pushing and pushing until the final 10 minutes of the game where they were literally overwhelming the Coyotes on every shift. Give the fourth line a lot of credit. That trio did a ton of great things in the beginning of the game where no other forwards were doing anything right, and all three of them played significantly increased roles in the third when Martin St.
 Louis and Derek Stepan were overcome by the flu and were essentially anchors and sat on the bench. - Quick note on that: Why did they play? It was obvious neither had any jump in their step and both looked like they were going to pass out at any moment.
 There is a reason why you signed Ryan Haggerty and emergency called up J.T. Miller. It's to avoid having two of your top six sleepwalking through a game where they simply didn't have the energy to compete. - Thankfully, the Rangers got a lot of great efforts from some secondary players. Derick Brassard has been awesome the past month or so, and just played a fabulous game. Mats Zuccarello has clearly recovered from his post-Olympic issues and was a beast. Rick Nash and Kreider were very involved. Ryan McDonagh, well, he deserves his own paragraph. Dan Girardi scored a big goal. Brad Richards stepped up, too. So did Carl Hagelin.
 When that many guys are going, it's a good thing all around. - Now, to McDonagh. Scored the game winning goal and added two assists. He has 42 points on the year, and might eclipse 50 before the year is over. It's the first time the Rangers have had a 42-point defenseman since Tom Poti scored 48 in 2003. Yeah.
He's a monster defensively, does his job without hesitation and is becoming a force on offense. It's great to see, and he's been a big part of this team's success. - Those are a huge two points, especially with the Flyers losing in regulation to the Los Angeles Kings. Plus, the Rangers winning in overtime gave the Rangers another ROW, so things are moving in the right direction. Tonight, Columbus plays Detroit, so keep an eye on that matchup.
The Rangers might make even more ground with a Columbus loss there. And, in terms of importance, Wednesday's game is going to be crazy.
 Thoughts?

New Source: www.blueshirtbanter.com

'Five seconds, yes, 20 seconds, no!' Judd Apatow reveals the rules of male nudity onscreen and Girls sex scenes that were too steamy for HBO

HBO is famous for pushing the boundaries of nudity and sex on TV.
But Girls executive producer Judd Apatow has revealed the limits that the usually permissive premium channel slapped on the controversial sex scenes he and star-co-executive producer Lena Dunham wanted to film. Speaking to students at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, he said: 'There have been things on Girls where HBO has said to us, "If we put this on TV, we literally could lose our licence to broadcast 'Let’s just say it’s something you see in adult film - elements of sexual intercourse.
 The high points of sexual intercourse.'
 But the 46-year-old expanded on the subject when talking about his previous movies. 'We’ve experimented with the limits of what people can handle.
We’ve had a male organ in movies. We found out that 20 seconds of someone naked is probably too much, and people will leave the theatre if you have full frontal nudity for an extended period of time. 'But if you make it five seconds they’ll laugh and say it was great. So basically that’s the ratio of how much penis people can handle in a movie.
Five seconds yes, 20 seconds no,' the celebrity told the audience on March 12, according to The Hollywood Reporter 'We’re always going too far and then deciding where the line is.' Girls is currently airing its third season of 12 episodes that kicked off on January 12.
The series has been renewed for a fourth season, which will premiere in 2015. Judd said he expected the show to extend into six seasons, adding:
 'I guess that could change. It’s not set. I think we’re all committed that we’ll do six.' He and Lena have no idea how the comedy will end, although they have discussed it. 'It makes you respect the ending of The Sopranos,' he said of the iconic HBO series that showed mob boss Tony Soprano having dinner with his family in an Italian restaurant - and then cut to a black screen that left millions of viewers thinking something had gone wrong with their TVs. 'The idea that you just stop and leave people there is so genius, it’s such a great idea. It’s such a great way of saying, "It doesn’t matter. This is their life and now we’re just going to leave them to it."'

New Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

David Cassidy ordered back to rehab for DUI conviction

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Former teen idol David Cassidy was ordered to enter alcohol rehab for three months after pleading no contest to a drunken driving charge in Los Angeles on Monday. Cassidy, 63, must also serve five years' probation, pay fines and take part in a nine-month alcohol education program.
He was arrested after a California Highway Patrol officer stopped him for making an illegal turn at a red light near the Los Angeles International Airport in January.
The singer-actor blew .19 -- twice the legal level -- on an alcohol test administered by the officer who stopped his rented Chevrolet Impala, according to a California Highway Patrol statement. It was his second DUI arrest in six months and third since 2011.
 His manager told CNN several days after his latest arrest that Cassidy's drinking was the result of stressful questioning he had just undergone by lawyers about a legal dispute regarding "Partridge Family" profits. "David just completed a stint in rehab and was doing very well in sobriety," manager Jo-Ann Geffen said. "He was in Los Angeles to attend depositions by Sony Pictures Television, respondents in a lawsuit filed by Cassidy in 2011 over what he claims are monies long due him from 'Partridge Family' merchandise, home video, etc.," she said. "After attending his and his manager's depositions, it appears as if the pressure led to a brief relapse."
On the TV series, Cassidy played the eldest of five children of a widowed mother (Shirley Jones, who was then Cassidy's real-life stepmother). The family, all musicians, traveled to gigs in a brightly repainted school bus. When the show was canceled after four seasons, Cassidy launched his own pop music career, filling concert halls with screaming teenage girls attracted to such hits as "I Think I Love You."

New Source: www.edition.cnn.com

No. 1 seed Arizona has no problem with Gonzaga

Aaron Gordon had 18 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals as the Wildcats forced a season-high 21 turnovers in the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament in San Diego.
 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and four blocks while Nick Johnson chipped in 17 points, five rebounds and five assists for No. 1 seed Arizona (32-4), which advanced to meet fourth-seeded San Diego State in the West regional semifinals on Thursday in Anaheim, Calif. T.J. McConnell had 12 points and six assists and Gabe York chipped in 11 points as the Wildcats earned their third Sweet 16 berth in the last five years.
 Przemek Karnowski led eighth-seeded Gonzaga (29-7) with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Kevin Pangos battled through a foot injury that forced him to briefly leave the game early in the first half and finished with 12 points.
David Stockton contributed 10 points and six assists for the Bulldogs, who were held to 22 field goals after shooting 50 percent in an 85-77 second-round win over Oklahoma State. Arizona converted 11 turnovers into 19 points in the first half and led 47-34 at the break after Gonzaga closed with a 12-4 run. The Bulldogs committed four more turnovers in the first four minutes of the second half and fell behind 59-38 on Gordon's dunk with just under 14 minutes remaining.
 Gordon, who made eight of his 11 shots from the field and played just 23 minutes, pushed the Wildcats' lead to 63-43 with just under 11 minutes left and Arizona improved to 4-1 all-time against the Bulldogs. Arizona succeeded in neutralizing Gonzaga's Gary Bell, Jr. and Sam Dower, who combined for seven points on 3-of-17 shooting.
 GAME NOTEBOOK: Arizona won 69-60 at San Diego State on Nov. 14, when Johnson scored a game-high 23 points and the Wildcats outrebounded the Aztecs 39-28. … Bell, who was 16-of-23 from the field
over his previous three games, was held scoreless and missed all five of his field goals. … Arizona was outrebounded 40-28 but set a team record for steals in an NCAA tournament game with 15. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting and The Sports Xchange. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

New Source: www.clickorlando.com

Juan Martin del Potro to undergo operation on left wrist

Del Potro, the world No 8 and a former US Open champion, has been bothered by the injury since the Australian Open in January.
 The Argentinian has not played since, missing events in Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami. Live on Sky Sports Live Masters Tennis 2014 Sony Open: Day Six March 24, 2014 3:00pm Get a Sky Sports Day PassUpgrade to Sky Sports Although he is right-handed, Del Potro has a double-handed backhand.
 Surgery
He needed an operation on his right wrist after winning the US Open in 2009 and was out of action for eight months.
 "After a period of medical treatment which we tried to be competitive on a tennis court, and following new examinations done today, my doctor Richard Berger decided that I should have surgery to fix the problem on my left wrist," Del Potro said on his Facebook page.
 "It is not an easy decision, it is not the happiest moment of my career. I experienced a similar situation and I know how hard it is to be out of the tour."

New Source: www1.skysports.com

Iowa State, Baylor push Big 12 into Sweet 16

SAN ANTONIO — Baylor and Iowa State left Texas bound for the Sweet 16. Both are hoping to return for the Final Four.
 The Big 12 powers emerged from the NCAA tournament’s first weekend displaying dominance and doggedness: No. 6 seed Baylor advanced after crushing Creighton, and third-seeded Iowa State is alive after winning without star Georges Niang in a thriller against North Carolina.
 The Cyclones (28-7) head to New York City to play No. 7 seed Connecticut in the East Regional semifinals. The Bears (26-11) get No. 2 seed Wisconsin in Anaheim, Calif., in the West Regional. “I think we’re going to stay in San Antonio instead of going to Anaheim,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. Drew was laughing — but Baylor’s potential to return to Texas in two weeks for the Final Four near Dallas is no joke. The Bears have won 12 of 14 and looked fearsome in beating Creighton 85-55 Sunday night. Baylor is in the Sweet 16 for third time since 2010.
In their previous two trips, the Bears reached the Elite Eight. Isaiah Austin and Brady Heslip each scored 17 points and Baylor shut down Creighton’s Doug McDermott with suffocating defense, ending the career of one of college basketball’s most prolific scorers. The Bears flexed their muscles early and often with a lineup built for the rigors of the Big 12.
 Austin is 7-foot-1 and he teamed with 6-10 forward Cory Jefferson in the frontcourt. When Creighton (27-8) missed a shot, the typical result was three Bears under the basket with no Bluejays around. McDermott, who averaged 27 points this season, finished with 15 but had just three in the first half as Baylor built a 20-point lead. McDermott leaves Creighton fifth on the NCAA career scoring list with 3,150 points.
 “This is the worst we’ve played all season, and it just stinks that it’s the last one,” McDermott said. “But that doesn’t take away from all my memories here. It’s tough to go out this way.” The Tar Heels can relate to a tough finish. Iowa State’s DeAndre Kane drove for the game-winning layup with 1.6 seconds left for an 85-83 win, sending the Cyclones to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2000.
Kane finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds in just the kind of big game the Cyclones needed without Niang, who broke his foot in Friday’s win against North Carolina Central. “He’s been our Mariano Rivera. He’s been our closer all throughout this season,” Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said of Kane. North Carolina never got a shot off an attempt to tie or win the game after Kane’s basket. With coach Roy Williams jumping and gesticulating for a timeout after Kane’s layup, the Tar Heels inbounded the ball to Nate Britt, who dribbled past midcourt as time expired.
 Officials huddled for several minutes reviewing the clock on replays before confirming that the game was over. Williams — who had collapsed his hands on his knees as Britt surged toward him — then shook Hoiberg’s hand as North Carolina began absorbing the heartbreaker. “We made some mistakes. We practice all the time that situation for five guys to be calling timeout, and I’m supposed to be calling timeout, and I was calling timeout,” Williams said. “Referees didn’t recognize it. We practice those scenarios, so we made mistakes.
“ The No. 6 seed Tar Heels (24-10) are gone in the NCAA tournament’s opening weekend for the first time in consecutive seasons under Williams, who choked back tears following the end of his 10th year in Chapel Hill. “Let’s not anybody lay it on the officials or anything like that. We didn’t call the timeout with 1.6 seconds to play,” Williams said.

New Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Kyle Busch wins again at Fontana in wild finish

FONTANA, Calif. — Kyle Busch figured he had little chance to defend his Fontana title for most of Sunday while he circled the oval in a “mediocre” car.
 Yet his tires were just fine, unlike much of the rubber on the bumpy racetrack. And when the race came down to a two-lap sprint to the finish, Busch demonstrated his spectacular closing skills one more time. Busch won at Fontana for the second straight year, holding off Kyle Larson, Tony Stewart and his older brother Kurt for his 29th career Sprint Cup victory.
 Kyle Busch capably blocked Larson and outlasted a crowded field to win a race featuring a track-record 35 lead changes and numerous tire problems. Busch stayed out of trouble and roared up late for his second straight stunner in Southern California, following up the Las Vegas native’s final-lap surge to victory a year ago.
 “Holy cow, what do you expect when you’ve got a green-white-checkered finish and everybody has to come down pit road and put four tires on?” Busch asked after his third career win at Fontana. “That was ‘Days of Thunder’ right there. Unbelievable day.”
 Busch is NASCAR’s fifth winner in five races this season. He led just five laps — the fewest of his career in a win — in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
 “I came off the fourth turn in disbelief that we won this thing, because we were mediocre all day,” Busch said. “It was really weird for us, not a race that we’re typically used to. But now there’s a load off your shoulders that you can go out the rest of the season and race the way you want to.”
He also got a thrill from outlasting Larson, the 21-year-old rookie in the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing. “I guess you couldn’t ask for more, but I was surprised to get up there late in the race,” said Larson, who held off Busch to win the Nationwide race Saturday. “We were probably a 12th-place car for most of the day.” Kyle Busch pointed out his window at Larson after Sunday’s finish, pumping his fist in approval. “What a shoe that boy is,” Kyle Busch said of Larson.
 Five more things to remember from Fontana’s big finish: SO CLOSE: Jeff Gordon drove the field twice and was in position for his first win of the season until Clint Bowyer’s spin with two laps to go sent the race into overtime. From there, he faded badly on the two-lap sprint to the finish and wound up 13th despite having one of the strongest cars in the field.
 “The closing laps were pretty much typical restart for me,” said the four-time champion, who has struggled for several years on restarts. Gordon overcame an early speeding penalty and was one of several drivers who missed the entrance to pit road on an early stop because the red light signifying that pit road was closed was on when they passed.
 It forced him to drive hard to put himself in the lead before Bowyer’s spin. He regretted the final finish because of the effort he and his Hendrick Motorsports team put in Sunday. “They gave me the most incredible race car and it is just so disappointing for it to end like that,” Gordon said. “I hate that the caution came out.” SHREDDED TREAD: Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were among the drivers who had problems with their tires, yet manufacturer Goodyear didn’t absorb much heat from the drivers.
 The problems likely were the latest effect of NASCAR’s new aero rules, which are producing higher speeds that lead to extra stress on the tires — particularly on the bumpy asphalt on Fontana’s back straightaway, which already wears out tires aggressively. NASCAR also loosened rules on tire pressure.

New Source: www.washingtonpost.com

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS NBA Draft talk can wait, say Kansas Jayhawks’ Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins, Wayne Selden

T. LOUIS — In the moments after a stinging loss, Joel Embiid wasn’t ready to think about the future. No. 2 seed Kansas had fallen 60-57 to No. 10 Stanford in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32 on Sunday, and Embiid had missed his sixth straight game while recovering from a stress fracture in his back.
 But sitting in a quiet KU locker room inside the Scottrade Center, Embiid said he wasn’t thinking about his upcoming decision surrounding the NBA Draft. A 7-foot center from Cameroon, Embiid is projected to be a top-three pick if he declares.
 “It will be a tough decision,” Embiid said. Fellow Kansas freshmen Andrew Wiggins and Wayne Selden also said they were not thinking about their pro prospects or a timetable for deciding on whether to enter the NBA Draft. But Wiggins and Selden face different circumstances. Wiggins has never shied away from the idea that he would be one-and-done at KU.
 He let his intentions be known last October, and reminisced about his last game at Allen Fieldhouse earlier this month. He’ll likely be a top-three pick in the upcoming draft as well. But Selden has seen his stock slide during his freshman season at Kansas.
Once projected as a mid-first-round pick, he’s now a borderline first-rounder — if that. “I’m not thinking about that,” Selden said, when asked if he planned to return to Kansas for his sophomore campaign. Embiid said he would consult with his family, coaches and mentor, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, a Cameroon native who currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mbah a Moute played three seasons at UCLA from 2005-08 before leaving early for the draft.
 “I’m going to talk to my coaches, my mentor, my family,” Embiid said. After the loss, Embiid said he didn’t know how close he was to playing this weekend.
 But he believed he would have been able to play in the Sweet 16 in Memphis, if Kansas would have advanced. “I’ve been doing my rehab, my exercises,” Embiid said. “If it were to me, I think I was going to play (next week).”

New Source: www.kansascity.com

John Lennon's artwork coming to NYC auction

NEW YORK (AP) — A collection of John Lennon's drawings and manuscripts is going up for auction.
 The "You Might Well Arsk" sale of the late Beatles singer's material is scheduled to take place June 4 in New York, Sotheby's said.
 The items are being put up for sale by Tom Maschler, who had worked with Lennon on "In His Own Write" and "A Spaniard in the Works."
Lennon wrote the books and created the drawings for them in the 1960s. Among the items in the auction is a manuscript from 1965 called "The Singularge Experience of Miss Anne Duffield," which is expected to sell for $40,000 to $60,000.
Another is an illustration of a guitar player with four eyes, which Lennon created in 1964 or 1965. It has a presale estimate of $15,000 to $25,000.
 The auction comes in a high-profile year for Beatles nostalgia. Fifty years ago, in February 1964, the Beatles made their first live U.S. concert appearance. A piece of the stage backdrop will be up for auction April 26 in New York City.
 Lennon was fatally shot in 1980 by Mark David Chapman, who has been denied parole seven times.

New Source: www.sfgate.com

Japan PM hails 'lessons of history' on Anne Frank visit

AMSTERDAM (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Anne Frank museum in Amsterdam on Sunday, hailing the lessons of history ahead of his first meeting with South Korean President Park Geun Hye.
 "We would like to face historical facts in a humble manner and we would like also to pass on the lessons and facts of history to the next generation," Mr Abe said during the visit to the Jewish girl's former hideout. "By doing so I wish to encourage peace in the entire international community," he told journalists, stood in front of photographs of Anne Frank.
 Mr Abe is in The Netherlands for a Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) and a Group of Seven meeting on the crisis in Ukraine, as well as a much-anticipated mini-summit with South Korea's Park, hosted by US President Barack Obama after the NSS.

New Source: www.straitstimes.com

Bronchitis sidelines Gregg Allman from at least two Beacon Theatre shows

Bronchitis has sidelined Gregg Allman for at least two dates of the Allman Brothers Band's annual shows at the Beacon Theatre, but his rep says the musician hopes to return to the stage in a few days.
Allman was forced to sit out shows Friday and Saturday.
Michael Lehman says Allman is under a doctor's care and is doing better and intends to return for the group's final four shows over the next week.
Lehman says the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had been feeling fine up until the illness; the 66-year-old has had health issues in the past, including a 2010 liver transplant.
The band is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Its annual run at the Beacon started March 7 and wraps up March 29.

New Source: www.foxnews.com

'Mad Men' cast talk about show and final upcoming season

Will Betty and Don Draper get back together? “Probably not,” Jon Hamm told an audience of “Mad Men” fans during Friday night’s Paleyfest panel at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater reports Variety.
 But, for the most part, the appearing castmembers, which also included Vincent Kartheiser, Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss, remained mum on exactly what happens when the first half of the final season of AMC’s Emmy-winning skein bows on April 13.
The conversation, moderated by TV Guide’s Michael Schneider, ranged from the actors’ feelings of loss as production on the final seven episodes begins next week to favorite moments from the past eight years to the show’s trademark moments of silence between characters that say so much.
 “I think some of us know where our characters are going to be,” said Hamm. “I don’t think any of us know what the scope or the entire body of the show is going to be.
 The way the show doles out information and tells the story is very oblique sometimes and I think that when people become really invested in the show they try to fill in the blanks.” One thing that’s clear is that for Hamm, who for the past seven years has played the enigmatic, alcoholic Draper, the impending finale won’t be easily suffered.
 “We’re in some phase of grief right now and it’s probably denial,” he revealed. “There’s nothing we can do to prepare for it. It just is.
 We just need to have as much fun as we can making the show until we can’t make it anymore. And that will be emotional, but it’s inevitable. Saying goodbye is part of life.” “It’s difficult,” agreed Robert Morse, who plays crusty ad firm partner Bertram Cooper.
 “There’s an empty feeling because you are used to seven years of being together and being the best you can and all of a sudden it’s over and you walk around the house and you put the Celtics game on and you’re not going to go to work next Tuesday.
 And we’re going to miss it. And it’s something we all have to adjust to it and yet you grapple with it.” For 14 year-old Kiernan Shipka, who was cast in the role of Draper’s daughter Sally when she was six, her experience on the show represents not just a career milestone, but a marking of her entire adolescence. “I’ve been on the show longer than I haven’t, which is weird to think about but it’s true,” said Shipka. “To not know what Sally is going to be up to anymore is going to be sad.” While Hamm isn’t savvy to the “definitive end of the show,” he did hint at Don spending this last season continuing to wrestle with the myriad emotional and marital setbacks that have plagued him in prior years.
 “We’ve obviously seen Don have personal struggles in various parts of his life over the course of the show — trouble with his ex-wife and his kids — and the one constant has been work,” he said. “And now at the end of season six, we see that his marriage is in trouble, his relationship with his kids is tricky at best and now work is not there. And that’s going to be a hurdle. But one overriding principle of Don is that he’s a survivor. He rises to the challenge.
” Jessica Paré, who plays Draper’s soap opera actress wife, Megan, and Moss, who plays the career-driven copywriter Peggy Olsen, spoke of how their characters help personify the rise of the 1960’s feminist icon. “It’s a time where feminism is sort of bubbling up in the culture and Megan takes it for granted that she can have everything — a career, a family and a husband who loves her and supports her,” notes the Canadian-born Pare.
 “And Don wants to be that man, he wants her to have what she wants as well, but it’s not an easy switch to flip.” “[Peggy’s] battle all along has been: Would she be Don? Should she be Joan? Should she be someone’s wife or someone’s mother?” explained Moss.
 “I don’t think she’s figured it out yet but she’s starting to ask the right question, which is: Who am I? I think she’s finally figuring out that her role is to be who she is.” Hendricks’ Joan Harris, who began her “Mad Men” journey as a bombshell secretary and has since become a single mom and formidable ad firm partner, will “absolutely find her place” in the final episodes.
 “She’s making it happen on her own and sharing her feelings and emotions about it,” said Hendricks. “She’s gauging where her strengths are. Ultimately, Joan is a protector and nurturer and she is figuring out the best way to take care of her son and to protect her family.” The cast, itself, has become a family, said Moss, “hanging out together” on and off set, and when the time comes for that one final shot there’s a certain special moment she’ll be clinging to forever.
 “It was back when were wrapping the pilot and we were looking out at the New York skyline and the sun had just set and it was so beautiful,” the actress wistfully recalled, “and I thought, ‘Well, that was really wonderful and I hope we get to do it again.’”

New Source: www.foxnews.com

'American Dream Builders' - Your New Favorite Show

'American Dream Builders' is here - and it's ready to takeover your life.

 NBC's newest reality show 'American Dream Builders' is here to take over your life. So, be warned. Premiering tonight (March 23, 2014), the show features 12 designers and homebuilder handpicked by decorating guru Nate Berkus.
The designers are split into two teams with each side tasked with renovating the home of one two lucky families. "I wanted to do a show that showcased the best of American design" Berkus told the Chicago Tribune, "I also really wanted people who were established in their own communities, people who were total professionals and who had reputations that they wanted to protect.
 For me, that really raised the stakes because these people were not fighting to become the next big thing; in their minds, they already are.
" Critic David Hinckley is unconvinced by the new show, writing in the New York Daily News, "We see personalities emerge, some helpful and some obnoxious. We see people who made bad decisions try to lay off the blame.
We see designers who don't understand practical considerations like time. We see builders who don't accommodate design.We see people who have been assigned to work together show no ability to do so," - which should make the show irresistibly addictive, then. More: Nate Berkus is engaged. More: Nate Berkus underwent surgery for appendicitis.
 Viewers of the show will be encouraged to submit a photo or video of a home project and enter a competition for the chance to win a $100,000 in products and services from Lowe's, as well as a consultation from the winner of 'American Dream Builders.' Will you be watching 'American Dream Builders' tonight?

New Source: www.contactmusic.com

Girardi Makes His 1st Successful Replay Challenge

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Yankees Manager Joe Girardi successfully appealed an umpire’s call through television replay for the first time Saturday.
 The new system, which allows managers to challenge many types of calls, worked flawlessly as far as Girardi was concerned, and a runner was erased from second base after a 44-second review. “It feels pretty good, actually” Girardi said. Earlier this spring, Girardi tried to challenge a play against the Philadelphia Phillies, but a technical glitch thwarted the appeal.
On March 12, he challenged an out call against Brian Roberts at first base, but the appeal was denied. On Saturday, Girardi got it right, and pitcher Masahiro Tanaka was the beneficiary on his way to his first spring training win for the Yankees, a 5-4 decision over the Minnesota Twins.
 On the play, it appeared that catcher Francisco Cervelli’s one-hop throw to Dean Anna was in time to catch Aaron Hicks attempting to steal second. When Girardi saw that Anna was arguing with the second base umpire, Marvin Hudson, Girardi walked methodically to the field to argue. Or, rather, he was half arguing, half stalling while Brett Weber, the Yankees’ baseball operations assistant, watched replays in the clubhouse. Deciding that the call was wrong, Weber radioed Tony Pena, the Yankees’ bench coach. As Girardi began his discussion with Hudson, he positioned himself so he could see into his dugout, as Major League Baseball has requested managers do to speed the process.
 As soon as he saw a signal from Pena, Girardi notified the umpires. During the regular season, umpires will be watching at M.L.B. headquarters in New York, but during spring training, they are positioned in trailers at the stadiums.
An on-field umpire was given a headset and informed of the decision from the trailer, and Hicks had to trot back to the dugout. According to the new rule, managers are allowed one challenge. If their appeal is upheld, they get another challenge.
After the seventh inning, challenges are in the hands of the umpires. M.L.B. expects reviews will take an average of two and a half minutes.
That can pose a problem for pitchers, who might need to warm up during the delay. Tanaka, who gave up three runs and five hits in five and two-thirds innings to increase his spring training earned run average to 3.00, threw three warm-up pitches during the brief delay. “It wasn’t long and it wasn’t short,” he said through his interpreter.
 “It was O.K.” Larry Rothschild, the Yankees’ pitching coach, said he would wait to see how the system develops before instructing his pitchers how to handle delays.
 In the past, when managers engaged in lengthy arguments, Rothschild signaled to his pitchers from the dugout to throw some warm-ups.
But it depends on several factors, including weather and the number of pitches they have already thrown, so there is no set guideline.
 Tanaka was not as sharp as he had been in previous outings, but Girardi was pleased that he was able to work through his troubles. Girardi also noted that Tanaka was pitching against a lineup that could be Minnesota’s opening-day nine. Tanaka struck out Joe Mauer but gave up doubles to Brian Dozier and Jason Kubel. “Obviously, I had good innings and I had bad innings,” Tanaka said.

New Source: www.nytimes.com

An original rebel inspires ‘Divergent’ heroine

LOS ANGELES When the director and producers of the dystopian action-adventure film “Divergent” sought inspiration for the movie’s teenage heroine, they didn’t turn to Katniss Everdeen of “The Hunger Games” or “Twilight’s” Bella Swan, as might have been expected.
 The filmmakers instead recalled James Dean’s Jim Stark, the rebellious protagonist who defies his parents and his peers in 1955’s “Rebel Without a Cause.” “He just doesn’t feel at home,” director Neil Burger said. “So he goes looking for something more.
” Such can be said of Beatrice “Tris” Prior, who struggles against the pressures of conformity in “Divergent,” based on the best-selling trilogy by first-time novelist Veronica Roth. The tale, adapted for the screen by Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor, is set in a future version of Chicago — Burger filmed on location there — in which people are tested when they are young and subsequently divided into five factions based on their personalities and virtues.
 “This is a sort of dream city,” said producer Douglas Wick of Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment, the studios behind the box-office giants “Twilight” and “The Hunger Games” — films that reached heights that executives are optimistic “Divergent” can attain.
 “It is a city that saved the world from great chaos. It is a city that has great harmony and the factions worked — but that system is starting to fray, which is our story.” At the heart of that story is Tris, played by rising star Shailene Woodley (“The Descendants,” “The Spectacular Now”). Tris is born into Abnegation, the faction that values selflessness, but her personality test reveals she is divergent, having an aptitude for multiple factions — something that is not allowed in the rigidly divided society. She hides her divergence and decides to join Dauntless, the faction based on bravery.
 Her choice lands her among a group of tattooed warriors, including love interest Four (Theo James), and sees her leaping on and off trains, ziplining, shooting, knife-throwing and facing off against other kids as part of a brutal initiation into the faction. But as it becomes more difficult to hide her divergence, Tris realizes that the faction system is flawed. “She starts out questioning where she fits into society, and then by the end of the movie, she’s questioning society itself,” Burger said.
 It was a demanding role, and in casting, filmmakers sought someone who could hold her own in the company of more experienced cast members, including Kate Winslet and Ashley Judd, and embody the brave and at times reckless warrior as well as the ordinary, vulnerable girl. They found their heroine in Woodley, 22.
 “She really is very, very self-sufficient and is her own kind of warrior in terms of she wanted to do her stunts herself,” producer Lucy Fisher said. “She has a huge amount of inner strength. . . . She’s very mature beyond her age, as is Tris.
” For Woodley, the draw was the story’s universal appeal, she said, and its parallels with the world we live in. “It’s not just about young people figuring their way through life,” she said. “It’s about young people being in really adult situations, and they’re treated like adults, which is how adolescents are these days. Everybody’s incredibly smart, and there’s not a lot of movies that do that age range justice.” That’s just what Roth was aiming for.
 And though she doesn’t necessarily consider Tris a role model — she can be impulsive and self-destructive — she is guiding her own story. “Tris is a character with a lot of agency and a lot of power,” Roth said. “One of my rules for myself was Tris has to be somehow responsible for what happens to her, for better or for worse; no acts of God.”
 A sequel titled “Insurgent,” based on the second installment in Roth’s series, is already in the works for March 2015 — evidence, Wick said, that the filmmakers have faith that “Divergent” will appeal to a wide audience. “It’s just a really true, well-observed hero’s journey, and it happens to be a young woman, but above all, it’s a story about empowerment and facing your physical fears, your inner fears and taking your own measure,” Wick said. “Part of what sets it apart is someone really had something original and true to say. I think the audiences really smell the difference.” — Los Angeles Times

New Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Update: Anita Baker Speaks Out About The Warrant For Her Arrest Says “I’m Terrified”

As we previously reported, R&B diva Anita Baker had an arrest warrant issued for her this week courtesy of a Detroit, Michigan court and now she is speaking out about the fiasco.
According to TMZ, Baker says she’s the victim of a sinister plot which caused cops to get a warrant for her arrest.
 Anita allegedly told TMZ that she hired Ray Smith Painting and Decorating in 2009 to repair the outside of her home which was damaged by a storm.
 The cost of the job was $75,000 and Ms. Baker paid $60K up front. Anita says the guy didn’t even finish the job and what he did do was turrrible! She ended up getting on a ladder and spackling the darn house herself! The singer says the contractor had the nerve to file suit for the $15K balance. However, she was never served with legal papers and therefore had no idea that the contractor had taken her to court! When Anita was a no-show in court, the judge entered a default judgment.
 She says she still had no idea a case had even been filed. So since Anita had no idea that the contractor was awarded any settlement, she didn’t pay. The contractor tried to take Anita into court again to grill her about where she kept her money so he could go after it to satisfy the judgment. The contractor claims he slapped the notice on her front door.
 Anita reportedly told TMZ that she was on tour and never saw a notice. However she doesn’t actually believe that a notice was ever really placed there anyway. Baker claims that once again because of a lack of knowledge of the case she was a no-show for the hearing. This resulted in the court issuing an arrest warrant for her. Anita reportedly told TMZ that she’s in shock, saying, “I’ve never been in trouble with the law. I’m terrified.”
Anita’s lawyer says he’s going to court next week to get the warrant lifted and the default judgment set aside. Anita reportedly told TMZ that as far as she’s concerned, “There’s no justice in the justice system.” Awww that’s sad! We hope she gets it all worked out…and SOON! Jail is no place for a diva and especially not one of Anita Baker’s talents! Stay strong Miss Baker!

New Source: www.atlantadailyworld.com

Actor Chris Hemsworth, wife welcome twin sons

LOS ANGELES (AP) - March 22, 2014 (WPVI) -- Actor Chris Hemsworth, wife welcome twin sons Two more Hemsworths have arrived.
 Chris Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky, have welcomed not one, but two sons to the world. The twins of the 30-year-old "Thor:
 The Dark World" star and the 37-year-old "Fast and Furious 6" actress were born in Los Angeles. Hemsworth's publicist, Robin Baum, confirmed the births Friday.
 No additional information has been released. The babies join the couple's first child, daughter India, who is 22 months old.
 The Australian actor told The Associated Press last year that family trumps moviemaking these days. He said he loves the work, but it's certainly not his priority.

New Source: www.abclocal.go.com

ANITA BAKER That Arrest Warrant's A SINISTER PLOT AGAINST ME

Anita Baker says she's the victim of a sinister plot which caused cops to get a warrant for her arrest. TMZ broke the story ... a Detroit judge issued the warrant after the Grammy-winning singer failed to show up in court over a dispute with a home contractor. Anita tells TMZ ... she hired Ray Smith Painting and Decorating in 2009 to repair the outside of her home which was damaged by a storm. The cost of the job was $75,000 ... she paid $60K up front.
 Anita says the guy didn't even finish the job and what he did do sucked so bad ... she got up on a ladder and did the spackling herself. The singer says the contractor had the nerve to file suit for the $15K balance ... problem was, she says she was in the dark because she never got served with legal papers.
 When Anita was a no-show in court, the judge entered a default judgment. She says still had no idea a case had even been filed. Fast forward to July, 2013. The contractor tried to haul Anita into court and grill her about where she kept her money, so he could go after it to satisfy the judgment. The contractor claims he slapped the notice on her front door. Anita tells us she was on tour and never saw a notice and doesn't believe it was ever placed there.
 So Anita was a no-show again for that hearing, and on Wednesday the judge issued the arrest warrant. Anita tells us she's in shock, saying, "I've never been in trouble with the law. I'm terrified."
 She also says this isn't the first time someone has pulled this on her -- someone claiming to serve her with legal papers and then losing the case by default. Anita's lawyer says he's going to court next week to get the warrant lifted and the default judgment set aside. Anita tells us, as far as she's concerned, "There's no justice in the justice system."

New Source:  www.tmz.com

L'Wren Scott's Funeral Will Be Held In L.A.

L'Wren Scott's funeral will be held in L.A., Mick Jagger's rep confirms to Us Weekly. The news comes just days after the fashion designer was found dead at the age of 49 in her NYC apartment on Monday, March 17.
The medical examiner ruled the death a suicide two days later. PHOTOS: L'Wren Scott's designs Scott's body has been at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel on Manhattan's Upper East Side since Wednesday. Her body will be flown to L.A. this weekend.
 "I am still struggling to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way. We spent many wonderful years together and had made a great life for ourselves," he wrote. "She had great presence and her talent was much admired, not least by me." Jagger and the beloved celebrity designer had dated for 13 years.

New Source: www.usmagazine.com

Two military sexual assault cases, no convictions. Now what?

At nearly the same time Thursday, sexual assault cases against an Army general and a former Naval Academy football player came to a close, and neither produced a conviction on that charge.
 Some members in Congress and advocates for women said the results were more proof the military justice system needs an overhaul.
 On the other side of the debate, people say the system worked like it was supposed to because, they say, neither case should have gone to trial in the first place. Still, no one disagreed the military has a pervasive problem of sexual assaults within its ranks, and the cases served as a reminder that politics was never far away from any decision.

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The evolution of sexual harassment awareness Eugene R. Fidell, who teaches military law at Yale, said military commanders who forged ahead with the trials were mindful of the political climate. "They are aware, trust me on this.
 They are aware the Senate will not confirm people to higher pay grade if they are believed to be soft on sexual offenses," Fidell said. Just last week, Congress debated ways to curb the assaults and the Senate approved a measure to protect victims and bar the "good soldier defense" to ensure evidence alone determines a defendant's fate, but the debate is far from over.
 Sexual assault charges were at the center of both cases, but they were far from the same. In Brig Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair's case, he had a three-year affair with a female captain who accused him of twice forcing her to perform oral sex on him.
The case started to crumble as Sinclair's lawyers hammered away at the woman's credibility and raised questions about whether Sinclair's commander improperly pressed ahead with a trial because of political considerations — namely, a desire to show the Army's resolve to combat sexual misconduct. Ultimately, Sinclair pleaded guilty to lesser charges of adultery and conducting inappropriate relationships with two others by asking them for nude pictures and exchanging sexually explicit email. Despite facing more than 20 years in prison, he was spared any time behind bars Thursday and sentenced to a reprimand and a $20,000 fine — a punishment some members of Congress decried as shockingly light. Sinclair, 51, immediately announced his retirement, capping a humiliating fall for the battle-tested commander once regarded as a rising star in the Army. A disciplinary board could still bust him in rank and severely reduce his pension. "The system worked. I've always been proud of my Army," Sinclair said outside court after reacting to his sentence with a smile and an embrace of his lawyers.
"All I want to do now is go north and hug my kids and my wife." Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., called Sinclair's sentence "laughable." "Even when the world is watching, the military has demonstrated their incompetence at meting out justice," Speier said in a statement. "This is another sordid example of how truly broken the military justice system is. This sentence is a mockery of military justice, a slap on the wrist nowhere close to being proportional to Sinclair's offenses." The judge, Col. James Pohl, did not explain how he arrived at a much lighter sentence.
 Prosecutors had no immediate comment. If Sinclair had not announced his retirement, an Army disciplinary board would have almost certainly forced him into it. Now the board will decide whether to demote him, which could cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars in pension benefits. Sinclair made about $145,000 a year in base pay. In the other case, a military judge acquitted Navy Midshipman Joshua Tate, of Nashville, Tenn., of raping a woman who had been drinking heavily at a party. Prosecutors initially accused two other students, all of them football players at the time, of sexually assaulting the woman during the party, but those charges were dropped.
 The judge, Col. Daniel Daugherty, said the case presented "difficult and complex questions" and the vast majority of testimony was clouded by alcohol and the passing of time. He said prosecutors didn't prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
 Philip Cave, a retired Navy lawyer who is now a private defense attorney, said the military loses credibility when it goes forward with a case like Tate's, adding it leads to "increasing cynicism" and mistrust. But Susan L. Burke, an attorney for the woman in the case, said the military justice system remains badly broken. "Like so many survivors of sex crimes in the military, our client was twice victimized: first by her attacker and then by the failed investigation and prosecution of this case," Burke said in a statement.
 Both alleged victims spent hours testifying about intimate details of their lives, a decision their attorneys said was brave. A Pentagon report released last year estimated that as many as 26,000 military members may have been sexually assaulted in the prior year and that thousands of victims are unwilling to come forward out of fear their careers might be derailed. "We think victims ought to be supported and people ought to be encouraged to come forward and the right cases brought. This was not the right case," said Sinclair's lawyer Richard Scheff. Greg Jacob of the Service Women's Action Network said the case demonstrated the need for legislation that would strip commanders of the authority to prosecute cases and give that power to seasoned military lawyers.
 The bill, backed by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., failed earlier this month to get the 60 votes needed to advance in the Senate. She is expected to bring the legislation back later this year. "This case has illustrated a military justice system in dire need of independence from the chain of command," Gillibrand said in a statement. Not all senators are sold on the idea.
 Sen. Lindsey Graham, a military lawyer for 31 years, said order and structure is critical to the military and taking commanders out of the decision will destroy cohesion. "This has been a male dominated business, like fire departments and police departments.
Women are indispensable. Quite frankly, the environment in the military needs to change and I believe it is. Every soldier, sailor, airman and Marine needs to own this," said Graham, R-S.C.

New Source: www.csmonitor.com

Man United news and transfer gossip round-up: Juan Mata questioned plus possible move for Alex

It promises to be a big summer at Old Trafford, and one of almost guaranteed upheaval. However, while David Moyes and his side may be well off the pace in the Premier League, there is still plenty left to play for before the end of the current campaign - particularly after being drawn against European champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League last eight.
 Winning that competition is seemingly the Red Devils only route back into Europe's premier club competition next term - and being paired with Pep Guardiola's side has seen them drift to 33-1 rank outsiders. They'll take hope from the fact that both Liverpool and Chelsea won the trophy in similar situations in 2005 and 2012 respectively, but until then here's a look at the latest news and rumours from Old Trafford. Saturday's Manchester United stories from the Daily Mirror United manager Moyes revealed he has felt "ashamed" of some of his sides performances this season.
 The ex-Everton boss has endured a turbulent debut season at Old Trafford - losing nine league games already and seeing the reigning Premier League champions fall 12 points behind the top four. And Moyes has admitted that such has been his embarrassment at United's decline, that he was relieved to be able to look supporters in the eye after their Champions League comeback against Olympiakos this week. “The big thing was that I could look the supporters in the face after the game on Wednesday night because I thought that we had given them something to shout about and we had nothing to be ashamed of in our performance,” admitted the United boss.
 “In some of the other games I’ve felt ashamed, because the team haven’t played well enough and I haven’t got a team out that has got a good enough result. “I said on Wednesday night I thought it was great that I could applaud the supporters. They have always been applauding - but I think deservedly [in Wednesday's case] because they saw the team performing well. "I was pleased I could give the supporters something to shout about.”
 And speaking of the club's Champions League last eight draw against Bayern Munich, Moyes revealed that he's looking forward to pitting his wits against the German, European and World champions. "In a lot of ways, it didn't matter who I drew, but I've probably drawn out the favourites and the holders of the competition," said Moyes.
 "It's a really tough draw for us, but one I’m looking forward to." One sour note following United's win over Olympiakos is the news that hat-trick hero Robin van Persie faces four to six weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury. Despite having come in for criticism over his recent performances, the Dutch international came up trumps when he was most needed, scoring all three goals at Old Trafford. However, van Persie was substituted late in the day and taken off on a stretcher, and United have confirmed that he'll now miss a big chunk of the remainder of the season.
 A tweet from United read: "Following further investigation, Robin van Persie has a sprained knee, which will keep him out for around four to six weeks." BREAKING: Following further investigation, Robin van Persie has a sprained knee, which will keep him out for around four to six weeks. #mufc — Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 21, 2014 Saturday's Manchester United stories from other newspapers and websites Jamie Carragher has questioned whether Juan Mata will grow to star for United. Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, the ex-Liverpool defender turned Sky Sports pundit has said that he sees similarities between the £37million midfielder and former United striker Dimitar Berbatov.
 And while Carragher appreciates the talents of the former Chelsea man, he isn't sure whether Mata will grow to be a star at Old Trafford. "Mata reminds me of Dimitar Berbatov," said Carragher. "He was brilliant for Tottenham and he looked every inch a Manchester United player before he signed. "But White Hart Lane has a smaller pitch than Old Trafford and Berbatov didn’t have the speed to get around it. Similarly, Mata stood out at Stamford Bridge, which is also tight. "There is no doubt he has talent but does Mata have the legs for Old Trafford’s wide open spaces?" The Brazilian centre-back, currently with Paris Saint-Germain, is out of contract at the Parc des Princes this summer. As such, he is able to talk to potential new employers and according to Le10 Sport, United are interested in bringing him back to the Premier League on a free transfer this summer.
 With Nemanja Vidic set for Inter Milan and Rio Ferdinand's future far from certain, it's not the most nonsensical of suggestions. Real Sociedad's Antoine Griezmann has revealed that he isn't certain where he will be plying his trade in next season - which could open the doors to a move to the Premier League and potentially United.
 David Moyes is known to be keen on the French international, who has scored 15 goals in 26 league games this term. And the 22-year-old says that while he is relaxed about his future, he isn't certain just how long he'll remain in the Basque country. "PSG, Juventus, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad - I do not know where I will be celebrating my 24th birthday," he said, speaking to El Mundo Deportivo. "I do not think too much about that. I think about playing at the moment and nothing more. "I did not say I wanted to leave this club.
This is not the time to talk about this stuff." According to Sky Sports, David De Gea is in line for a new contract at Old Trafford.
 The Spaniard has arguably been United's star turn during the current campaign, and he was in top form against Olympiacos - making a number of excellent saves to ensure United's progress. And now the former Atletico Madrid star, 23, looks set to be handed a new deal, following hints from Moyes. "David de Gea has been terrific," Moyes said. "He has been great. He came in as a good young goalkeeper and he is turning into a great goalkeeper with a lot more to come. "The club are always going to keep their best players.

New Source: www.mirror.co.uk

‘Mistresses’ Actress Alyssa Milano Pregnant with Second Child

More celebrity familial and marital good news came with Alyssa Milano announcing that she is now pregnant with a little brother or sister to her son, Milo.
 The 41-year-old actress, best known as Samantha Micelli on "Who's the Boss?" back in the 80s and currently stars as Savannah "Savi" Davis in "Mistresses," shared the news via her blog and her Twitter account.
 The actress first announced her pregnancy through her blog, alyssa.com, where she wrote: "we are so happy to share with you that Milo is going to be a big brother!" She also posted a link on her Twitter account, hinting of the news and urging her fans to click a link leading to her blog.
 On Twitter, Milano teased her followers, saying "ahem! Click here for some BIG, HUGE, HAPPY news☛," followed by the link to the site. The bundle of joy will be her second child with David Bugliari, whom she married back in 2009.
Their first child is two-year-old Milo Thomas Bugliari who was born in August 31, 2011. In addition to Milano's internet announcement, a representative for the actress also confirmed the news in a statement published by UsWeekly Magazine. "Alyssa is so excited to be pregnant again!" a source told the publication. "She just recently started showing and has wanted to expand her family with David for a while," said the rep. The actress revealed last month that she and her husband have been trying to get pregnant again "We are actively trying," the actress told reporters back then, joking that "[David's] just chugging down ginseng" in reference to studies that ginseng can increase virility in men.
"There are very natural moments," she explained. "It's not like we're machines or biological experiments. We're very attracted to each other." As for Milo, Milano told reporters last month that "he's kind of got the best of both of us, I think. I think he's a lot more of a showman than I was at that age. He likes to perform already."

New Source: www.fashiontimes.com

Is Madonna's Armpit Hair Fake?

Hair removal is a contentious topic that many of us have strong feelings about. Judging by a recent picture Madonna posted on her Instagram feedt it appears the pop star's attitude to this hairy topic is of the "let it all hang out" variety.
 In the candid snap, the Hung Up singer gazes at the camera and proudly raises her arm to reveal a lustrous pelt of underarm hair. The caption reads: “Long hair...... Don't Care!!!!!! #artforfreedom #rebelheart #revolutionoflove.”
It’s a sentiment that is close to our heart. People have the right to do anything they want with their body hair, the Material Girl included. But, it seems some of her fans have questioned the authenticity of the growth. Comments running alongside the image call it out as a fake. Say what?
 As fans of Madge’s Instagram posts, we've seen her regularly throws poses with her arms up and there hasn’t been a hint of hair, let alone stubble. Hair that length seems like it would take months to grow — but is it really an issue if she is faking? Or should she put her money where her mouth is and really let it all hang out? To the comments section with your thoughts.

New Source: www.refinery29.com

Idina Menzel has let John Travolta's mistake go

The 42-year-old Broadway star told Billboard that he sent her flowers to apologise for his faux pas,
 "He [Travolta] was really gracious and sent this gorgeous email, and we're buddies and it's all cool." Menzel added that being introduced by the wrong name did throw her, but that she's only benefited from the incident,
 "That threw me for a minute, but then I just got back on track and reminded myself of where I was... I mean, I've only benefited from it." Days after the awards show Travolta released a statement about the accident saying,
 "I've been beating myself up all day. Then I thought, what would Idina Menzel say? She'd say, 'Let it go, let it go!' Idina is incredible talented and I am so happy Frozen took home two Oscars Sunday night!"

New Source: www.rte.ie

SXSW 2014: A late night of K-pop, pure noise, 50 Cent and Lady Gaga

AUSTIN, Texas — The state is known for its stalwart independent streak, but on the first night of music at South by Southwest, Austin was a place for the world to mingle. From L.A. buzz bands to K-pop superstars and pop-rap titans, Tuesday's late-night lineup proved that, for all the worries that SXSW has become a targeted-marketing snake eating its own hashtagged-and-branded tail, there really isn't a better mile of live music in America than what's happening this week.
 Our estimable hometown was well represented Tuesday night. Current Echo residents James Supercave started its set at Empire Control Room with a half-full venue and a meticulous but very slow-burning set of '70s art-pop-laced indie. But by the time the band got around to a more punk-funky and populist portion of the set, Joaquin Pastor's vocals got looser and more invigorating,and the crowds on the street streamed in accordingly. The band doesn't have an obvious standout song yet, but it had charisma and precision in spades, and came out of its set with the room of newcomers thoroughly won over
 SXSW 2014: The scene The same went for the L.A. neo-R&B combo Caught a Ghost at Buffalo Billiards. There's no shortage of young acts with great suits mining the Stax era for inspiration right now. But Caught a Ghost simply writes better songs than most and plays them with more confidence and camaraderie. The dual-frontperson team of Jesse Nolan and Tessa Thompson traded leads and harmonies with the affectionate chemistry of a '40s screwball comedy couple.
While they they're rooted in revivalist timbre of peers such as Nick Waterhouse and Mayer Hawthorne, little electro flourishes and a focus on songwriting substance over era-specific style set them apart (and their debut album "Human Nature" should be a marquee local release of 2014).
We did our level best to make it into the 50 Cent showcase just across the freeway at the 1100 Warehouse in East Austin. While the stutter-step swagger of "I Get Money" sounded reliably rousing from outside, it turns out the mainstream interest in 50 Cent is actually far greater than his recent move off Interscope and to an indie might suggest, and we got stonewalled at the door in a mess of a line. If 50 can actually pull off an indie reinvention, it'll be one of the more inspiring stories of recent rap.
 To judge by the response outside the warehouse, it sounds like he's off to a decent start of it. Back across the highway at Elysium, the K-pop Night Out showcase was one of the club-circuit's hotter tickets. Someone who looked an awful lot like Lady Gaga was thronged by an entourage during rapper-singer Jay Park's set (Gaga is set to perform and give a keynote later this week).
That's probably no accident, as SXSW has gotten friendlier to pop stars, the hallyu wave has gotten weirder in a way that perfectly coincides with the original missions of the festival — exposing all sorts of progressive new artists from everywhere on Earth. RELATED: SXSW is not the same old Texas music festival Park isn't quite the genre-exploding sensation of a peer like G-Dragon, but he capably splits the difference between fizzy K-pop dance cuts and more lascivious, deep-bending modern hip-hop. Park was raised in Seattle but came into K-pop fame as a leader of the boy band 2PM. As a solo artist, his music veers from the nihilistic trap influences suggested by his full torso-tattoos to the pop-trance jams of singles like "I Like 2 Party," which sound incompatible but work together under the crazy umbrella of modern K-pop. He's a gifted MC, and as the genre evolves and figures out its next sonic palette, he's got the chops to take K-pop to new places.
The K-pop singer Hyuna embodies where the music of South Korea is now — a candy-spattered and increasingly progressive strain of pop whose bright harmonies and dance-centric appeal is enough to put Gaga on notice. Hyuna's "Bubble Pop" was an early K-pop favorite, and justifiably — it sports one of teenpop's finest recent choruses in any language. But the very polyglot crowd at her short but packed-out showcase implied that K-pop has crossed the finish line into an established genre in America, and her bemused, sassy and urbane presence should keep her at the forefront of it (even if her set looked like it was almost entirely lip-synced, which is standard protocol for much pop anyway). Is there any better band for a 1:20 a.m. set time at Mohawk than L.A.'s Youth Code? Nope.
The violent, sinuous industrial duo is at the forefront of a rediscovery of primitive synth music in L.A., but minus the goth goofiness that plagued some of its '90s practitioners. The band is a perfect balance of muscular synth drums, white-noise analog pulses and singer Sara Taylor's defiant shrieks. It's harsh stuff, but never less than riveting to watch, and a perfect rebuttal to a festival that looks ever more like a A-list party than a place to truly hear something new. Thank God Youth Code was there to fix that at the end.

New Source: www.latimes.com

Five observations from the Thunder's 106-98 win over the Rockets

1. Defensive turnaround - Maybe all it took was a date with the league’s hottest offense for OKC to finally get its defensive mojo back. Seems like a backwards statement. But when the issue was energy and hustle more than scheme, maybe it was a good time to get a stiff test against a heated rival. It sure brought out the missing ingredient in OKC’s defense. Or at least what’s been lacking since the All-Star break. Houston shot 41 percent overall and 9-of-25 from three.
The Thunder’s transition defense — which has been a glaring issue of late — was more committed. Their individual defense more prideful. The results a lot better. Now let’s see if they can sustain that level of play on a consistent basis.
 2. **Fireworks** – Can’t think of another regular season (or playoff) game that had this many after-the-whistle skirmishes. The bad blood between these teams is palpable. Each downplayed it after the game, but it was obvious from the tip. And it starts with all the individual rivalries. Russell Westbrook-Patrick Beverley is the most obvious one.
 It will capture the headlines, for good reason. But you’ve got the building feud between Kevin Durant and Francisco Garcia, stemming from last year’s playoffs, when the Rockets unleashed Garcia’s Beverley-like hounding defense on KD.
 On Wednesday, it led to a shoving match. But my favorite of the numerous altercations was between James Harden and Scott Brooks. It came after Steven Adams drilled Harden with a forearm, leading to a flagrant foul call and Harden sprinting into the grill of Adams. As he did, Brooks strolled over and started yelling some things in the direction of his former 6th man (“My mom wouldn’t be proud of what I said,” Brooks admitted). Then Harden started chirping back, telling Brooks ‘I ain’t flopping’, among other things. It’s rare you see a coach get involved in these sorts of things, but it’s the second time we’ve seen Brooks and an opposing player chopping it up (LeBron in Miami). Funny stuff, which just adds to the fireworks. If you missed it, or just want to experience the dramatics again, here are the highlights from Wednesday’s game, including all the skirmishes:
3. KD - The personal battles and the Russell Westbrook rage and the overall intensity of this game overshadowed what was another MVP-level performance from Kevin Durant. You look up in the first quarter and he’s already got 12.
By the middle of the third, he’s put up 25. And by the end of the game, he’s dropped a cool 42. He’s such a smooth operator that his offensive game seems immune to the outside noise. While all the drama builds and all the extracurriculars near a boiling point, Durant’s jumpers maintains its soothing feathery touch. It’s a calming presence in an amped up environment and always such a lethal weapon in ‘must score’ possessions. Tuesday night was his 11th 40-point game of the season, more than double Carmelo Anthony (5), who is the next closest in the NBA. It was his 29th consecutive game of 25-plus points. Via Bleacher Report, he holds the two longest such streaks since the 1988-89 season:
 4. Closing time - With 8:03 left in the game, Scott Brooks put Russell Westbrook in for Reggie Jackson. For the rest of the game, he didn’t make a sub. It left Brooks with a closing lineup of Westbrook, Durant, Ibaka, Fisher and Butler.
His three big-money players and two of his most trusted veterans. Seems like a crunch-time lineup we may be seeing a ton in the future, especially in tense games where defense and trust likely trumps all in Brooks’ mind. And on Tuesday night, it was an effective five-man group.
KD was hot, Westbrook was composed, Ibaka (12 pts, 16 rebs) was cleaning up the glass and Fisher and Butler provided steady defense and needed spacing, both hitting a big jumper down the stretch. The Thunder lead was 84-74 when the group started playing together. It was 106-98 at the finish. The job was done.
 5. Post defense - Steven Adams was big-time on defense. All things considered, maybe his best performance since stepping into a starting role. All night, he played steady post defense on Dwight Howard, making everything tough on the talented big man. And Adams had his highlights, too. In the second quarter, he had an impressive block on a Howard up and under, leading to a Westbrook euro-layup, which got the crowd going. Plus, Adams’ antagonistic style of play seemed to get to Howard. Twice, the Rockets big man (who struggled to a 4-of-12 shooting night for only nine points) shoved Adams after a rebound, earning a pair of loose ball fouls that placed him into foul trouble and a technical when his frustration boiled over. Important game from Adams. Plus, he provided us with this hilarious picture

New Source: www.newsok.com

Mourning links: Patriots lose Aqib Talib

Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker (87) is stopped New England Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib (31) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game in Denver,

New Source: www.bostonherald.com

Irwin's cameraman shares his accounts of his death

Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray more than seven years ago, off the northeastern coast of Australia. The only witness to Irwin's death shared his story for the first time.
 Irwin was known around the world as "the crocodile hunter," but it was the powerful barb of a stingray that killed him back in 2006, during a dive with cameraman Justin Lyons. "I thought, 'This is going to be a great shot,' and all of sudden [the ray] propped on its front and started stabbing wildly, hundreds of strikes in a few seconds," Lyons said. Irwin had made a career out of close encounters with dangerous animals.
 When he died, Irwin was filming a documentary called Oceans Deadliest. "I panned with the camera as the stingray swam away and I didn't know it had caused any damage," Lyons said.
 "It was only when I panned the camera back that I saw Steve standing in a huge pool of blood." They got back in the boat, and that's when the cameraman saw the two inch wide gash over his friend's heart. "They've got a venom on their barb, so I'm sure it was excruciatingly painful," Lyons said.
 "He had an extraordinary threshold for pain, so I know that when he was in pain it must have been painful." Irwin was having trouble breathing. Lyons says even if they'd gotten to a hospital immediately, he thinks it would have been too late.
 "I'm screaming at one of the other crew in the boat to put their hand over the wound and I was saying to him things like 'think of your kids Steve, hang on, hang on, hang on', and he just sort of calmly looked up at me and said 'I'm dying' and that was the last thing he said," Lyons said. Irwin grew up on his parents wildlife park, and spent his life surrounded by animals.
 Since his death, his wife and children have carried on his work in wildlife conservation.

New Source: www.wfsb.com