Blog Posts For: March 2009

I warn you I am on a bit of a tirade this morning after this story I just read. And for the record maybe it is just too much coffee but I must tell you about this. Not exactly celebrity gossip but I promise if you hear me out I will get to that. For the record, after reading this latest story I may never get a good night’s sleep again. This story definitely needs to be filed under the topic…what were they thinking?? Ok basically here is the gist; it seems that Burmese python pet owners who have become overwhelmed with their pet snakes are apparently letting them loose in the Florida Everglades. A whole team has been put together called the “Python Patrol” to catch these things that are not only threatening the eco system and eating all the animals in site, but seem to be making their way into the Florida Keys. Oh that is so not ok!!! Where do I even begin, these snakes (and let me tell you I cannot even look at the pictures) can grow to over 20 feet long and weigh over 200 pounds and can live up to 30 years. They have been known to eat a 5 foot long alligator whole and even a bobcat. They can travel up to almost 2 miles a day and already 8 have been found in the Florida Keys. So this group has been put together to learn how to capture them and respond quickly if people find them. They hope to find them and stop them from breeding which could really turn into a big problem. At this point there are already an estimated 30 THOUSAND of these pythons living in the Everglades National Park. So people if you have one or know anyone who has one of these as a pet, tell them if you do not want it call for help do not let it go free, seriously not a good solution. People do not want to find one of these in their backyard or worse in their house. I shudder at the thought! Plus that can’t be all that good for tourism in the Keys now can it? 
 

Whenever anybody thinks of the NBA and can’t miss games, the same match up comes up, the game between the purple and gold Los Angeles Lakers and the green and white Boston Celtics. This is perhaps the only nationally recognized rivalry in basketball, which is odd considering that the NBA has been around since the 1940s (which is also why everyone was so excited about last year’s finals). However, if you live near a city lucky enough to have one of these professional basketball teams you know that there are plenty of regional rivalries that have as much passion or are revving up to be as intense as the ultimate East Coast-West Coast showdown.

Bill O’Reilly is back in the news and he is fighting mad. I know, big surprise. He has found his latest Hollywood victim to attack and that actor is Sean Penn. O’Reilly is so outraged by Penn’s political views he has publicly said he will not see any of his movies. In no way is he paying out his $10 to support any project that Penn is involved in. And in fact with all the squabbles and disagreements he has had with the stars over the years, Sean Penn is the only one he feels mostly strongly about and he is boycotting all of his movies and projects. O’ Reilly cannot understand why Penn would “give aid and comfort to people like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Iran’s President), Hugo Chavez and Saddam Hussein, when he was alive”.  Like Bill says it is his right and his choice and he is not telling anyone to do the same but this is just how he feels about it. O’Reilly feels that someone has to be the watchdog over the Hollywood celebs that use their star power as a forum to share their beliefs. In the past O’Reilly has clashed with both Bruce Springsteen and George Clooney as well. He calls the celebs out and wants to just know what they are doing. That is what he did with George Clooney when it came to some information about some 9/11 Charities and Bruce for talking politics at his concerts. There must be some folks out there who approve of Bill and this policing actions because his show “The O’Reilly Factor” on Fox News is about to mark its 100th consecutive month for being the #1 rated cable news show. I agree, if you love the yelling and listening to Bill talk over everyone this is a great show.

This weekend was all about Nickelodeons 22nd Annual Kids Choice Awards. I cannot believe I am about to admit this publically but I have already seen it twice. For the record I was watching it with kids though. Nickelodeon has been hyping it up for weeks with commercials with The Rock, who was this year’s host, along with commercials also done with last year’s host, Justin Timberlake. Not only were there commercials on TV and advertising in the magazines, we watched several web broadcasts from the team of " ICarly", with Miranda Costgrove and friends, one of Nickelodeons best new shows.  And Nickelodeon did such a good job promoting the show they had over 90 million people vote online for this year’s favorites. That was definitely a record for the award show. I have to say The Rock and WWF wrestling have never been one of my favorites but he sure did change my mind last night. He was great and the kids loved him and anyone who is willing to get totally slimed like that gets my personal stamp of approval.

My heart jumped when I realized that my latest move landed me in the cave of married friends’ duplex in Chicago without any means to watch March Madness. They did not want to get cable, which is cool, and meant to get rabbit ears at some time but never quite got around to it. I could have gone out and splurged on rabbit ears and that digital signal box but I really did not want to start feeding me television habit. So there I was stuck between my desire to watch endless hours of basketball and not wanting to spend needless money on something I was going to use for a couple weeks. Then I found that NCAA.com was streaming the games live and the heart murmur went subsided.

Have you seen this week’s People Magazine cover of hot sexy Valerie Bertinelli? Valerie is about to turn 49 and in a bikini, and the woman could pass for 25, I am not kidding. Eddie Van Halen, her former husband, I bet is eating his heart out. She looks just fabulous. I have always been a fan since her early days on the TV sitcom “One Day at a Time”. Valerie lost over 40 pounds in 9 months on Jenny Craig and she is also their spokesperson. She is excited because she says this is the first time she has worn a bikini since she was 20 years old. Well she looks awesome and I can think of no better birthday present then gracing the cover of the magazine looking like she looks.
 

Ellen DeGeneres is just the nicest person ever! Her most recent act of kindness involved Jennifer Hudson. While visiting the show this week, Ellen presented Jennifer with an engagement gift – a tandem bike. How thoughtful. Jennifer told Ellen that her and her fiancée love to ride bikes together and they enjoy taking Jennifer’s 3 Pomeranians to dog park. After the tragedy in her life, Hudson is getting her life back on track. She is planning her wedding and even has even set a date, although she is not sharing. She also has taped a performance that will air at a later date for “American Idol” and she is getting ready to go on tour with Robin Thicke to promote her new album. Good for you Jennifer you deserve happiness in your life.

The Three Stooges are coming back to the big screen and you will never guess who will be playing the 3 funny guys. Sean Penn has already signed on to play Larry, and Jim Carrey could possibly be playing Curly and Benicio del Toro is a possibility to play Moe. Not exactly the 3 men I would have thought to play those guys. Hey, don’t get me wrong, they are all amazing actors and Jim Carrey for sure would make a hilarious Curly, but Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro seems a bit serious to play Moe and  Larry. But hey, I am not casting director. The Farrelly brothers who definitely know their comedy have been working on the concept with MGM for awhile now. They feel with the economy the way it is that Americans are ready for a bit of slapstick and who better to deliver just that, then an updated version of the Three Stooges. Production will be starting soon with a release date to hopefully come in 2010.

Normally I would be appalled by the rampant East Coast bias that has an undeniable imprint on ESPN and many other major publications and media outlets. However, with three number teams in March Madness, the return of the NFC East to the forefront of competitive football ball this last fall, and after a  quick look at the divisions throughout Major League Baseball I simply cannot blame the networks. Even though the MLB season has yet to begin I can already rank the divisions pretty confidently and found that the East is king this year.

Lance Armstrong is truly the superhero of cycling.  Lance was in a pile up in Spain during a race on Monday and broke his collarbone in several pieces. He is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday where he will have a metal plate inserted to stabilize the bone. He plans to take about 72 hours off to rest and then back to his workouts. Although obviously it will take some time to get back up to speed, Armstrong is planning on participating in the Giro d’Italia race May 9 – May 31. That is the second most important race next to the Tour de France which he is also planning on participating in this July. Armstrong’s longtime manager feels the same and that all this is doable. HE feels Lance is in great shape and if anyone can pull it off and make it happen, it is Lance Armstrong. Right now everyone is optimistic and just hoping the surgery goes well and Lance makes a speedy recovery.

As I watch this modern version of basketball I often wonder where the game is going. I wonder how these stars will change the way the game is played and what coaching strategies will make the game look different in an arbitrary date it the near future like 2015.

Fergie is one busy lady these days but one thing not on the agenda at the moment, are kids. Let’s see what she has been up too. First, Fergie is newly married to hottie, Josh Duhamel. She is going to be touring this summer with The Black Eyed Peas and she just dyed her hair brown. Her big accomplishment of the moment is her new shoe line that she has been promoting. In fact many of her fans found her signing autographs at Nordstrom’s in Los Angeles to promote her new line. With so much on her plate at the moment Fergie see no time for babies, but once things settle down and the tour ends you just never know.

Let’s talk about some happy things for a change this week. Two of my all time favorites have finally gotten engaged after being together for 7 ½ years. Harrison Ford, 66, proposed to Calista Flockhart, 44, over Valentine’s Day weekend. Calista Flockhart has a child, Liam, that she adopted and that the two have been raising together. No date has yet to be set. I am just so happy for them. Calista is currently starring in Brother and Sisters which I must say is my favorite show on TV.
 

 Kelly Osbourne says she “has never been clean until now”. Kelly was just released from a month long rehab. program has been out for three weeks. She says she has been addicted to painkiller since she got her tonsils removed when she was 13 years old.  Although she has been in rehab 2 times previously this time she is really clean. She said that she went into rehab because “she knew if I didn’t get help I would die.” Kelly is back with her family and has reunited with them for their new Fox show called the “Osbournes Reloaded.” Keep it clean this time Kelly

Invariably, any basketball postseason experience, whether you are watching an NBA game or any of the contests on the slate during March Madness, will have a game that will come down to the final minutes and a four or five point deficit. It is moments like these, after years of watching painful finishes, that have made me despise announcers who feel required to say that the team trying to claw into the lead does not need to go for three.

Finally some good news in the Chris Brown and Rihanna story. The two have decided to take a break. They have not officially broken up by Rihanna has decided to take some time and focus on herself and her career. It sounds like she is finally coming to her senses. Rihanna is back in LA after spending some time with her good friends Beyonce, Jay – Z, Brandy and her manager. Maybe all the input from friends, as well as Oprah, who talked to the couple on her show and has also been focusing on domestic violence, finally got through to her. Whatever, it is a good start to getting her life back on track.
 

This weekend not only signals the beginning of the March Madness, but it also marks the final playoff games of the World Baseball Classic and the beginning of the MLS season. The sad reality is that I do not care about either one. I do not care about the WBC because I have 162 games of MLB baseball in front of me and that is a lot of baseball to care about. I simply do not know why I cannot get myself to care about the MLS though.

Last year around this time I was eagerly awaiting the normal insanity brought about by the first two rounds of the Men’s Tournament only to find a rather lame series of results. Nine and ten seeds do not get upset status in the first round. So, there were five upsets in the first 32 games. That was not a very exciting development.

There is shocking news to discuss about LeAnn Rimes and her costar Eddie Cibrian. The two are featured in the new US Magazine and there are pictures. The two who star together in a Lifetime Movie, were seen out for a romantic dinner in Laguna Beach and were seen kissing and holding hands as well. US Magazine is also reporting that a week after the dinner the couple spent 3 hours together at a hotel on March 14. This is not good news for Rimes who was married 7 years ago to her former backup dance, Dean Sheremet. At the time LeAnn was just 19 and Dean was 21.  In response to all the rumors flying around, LeAnn writes on her blog, “This is a difficult time for me and my loved ones, but I appreciate all your continued support.” She also says that “I would like to assure all of you that this is a place for you to hear things directly from me and as you all know, not everything in our lives is always black and white. Have faith”.

There is some sad news for Natasha Richardson. The actress was in a serious accident while skiing with friends and family on Monday in Canada. At this point there really isn’t much that is known except that her condition is very serious. Natasha was skiing and took a fall but nothing out of the ordinary at the time. She has been taking a beginners ski lesson and she fell. “She didn’t hit anyone or anything” and it seemed to be a pretty typical fall.  She even seemed ok after the fall. She walked away and was talking. Approximately an hour later though, she started complaining of headaches and she was immediately taken to a hospital in Montreal. From there she was transferred to a hospital in New York City where she was met by her husband Liam Neeson, and her mother Vanessa Redgrave. IT was said at the time of her lesson she was not wearing a helmet. We will just have to wait for more news.  For the sake of her family and her two children I do hope she will be just fine.

Lindsay Lohan is back in the news this weekend for all sorts of reasons. First off an arrest warrant has been issued by the Beverly Hills Superior Court from back in 2007 from her DUI and hit and run case. At this point there is not really much more information than that to share except the police are hoping Lindsay will turn herself in soon and that the situation can be resolved. There is a hearing set for Monday morning and it somehow involves her probation. The judge in the case has requested that Lindsay be in attendance.  So we will just have to wait until Monday to find out what this is all about. A defense attorney not involved in this particular case has said that “the warrant could have been issued for anything as small as failing to report and address change to the court to failing to complete a DUI class.” I sure would hope that since she is in the middle of a 3 year probation term that she has been minding her P’s and Q’s and doing the right things. I will keep you posted.

A newer version of Simon and Garfunkel are hitting the stage in the form of Josh Kelley and Ryan Cabrera. The two good friends have finally found a way to come together and go on the road as a team. They are getting ready to debut their “Tell It Like It is “tour. IT is going to be a fun show where the two guys will sing some of each other’s favorites songs, share some funny stories along with telling a few of their favorite jokes. Kelley says the show will be “kind of Simon and Garfunkel stuff, except we like each other.” Sounds like a fun intimate get together with friends. Kelley and Cabrera actually met each other about 6 years ago while at a concert in San Francisco and have always wanted to work together. Their first show will be in Gainesville Florida on April 15 and Kelley is hoping his wife Katherine Heigl will be joining them.  The boys got themselves a very cool tour bus and are psyched about hitting the road.

A week ago the number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament seemed pretty much set. UNC, Pittsburgh, UConn, and Oklahoma were on their way to leading the regions, but then a little funny thing happen called Championship Week. First Oklahoma lost in the Big 12 quarterfinals to Oklahoma State, then Pittsburgh lost in the Big East quarterfinals to West Virginia, and most recently UConn lost a ridiculously fantastic six-overtime game to Syracuse a few hours later. Meanwhile UNC is set to take on Virginia Tech with out star guard Ty Lawson. So, what is the seeding committee thinking?

Back in the 19th century the Netherlands surprised the world. They were a small country with more channels than natural resources, yet they built a Dutch imperial empire that dominated parts of Brazil, South Africa, southern India, and Indonesia. Now the year is 2009 and the little country has again upset the world, this time keeping the Dominican Republic out of tournament play in the World Baseball Classic.

Britney Spears had a surprise guest at her New York City concert last night. Madonna showed up along with several body guards and her manager. Us magazine is reporting that Madonna did not want to arrive unnoticed. In fact on her way up to one of the VIP suites she took the main stair well so that people would indeed see her instead of taking a more private route which is definitely available for the VIP’s. Britney commented on her web site that she was “thrilled to have her there” but US magazine eludes to maybe Madge’s intentions were not all about Britney.  The magazine is saying that not only did Madonna leave before the end of the encore but as she left she had tons of fans around her screaming and going crazy and that during that time Madonna had “a smirk on her face”. Interesting, I wonder what Madonna was thinking and what her true intentions were.

I just heard this feel good story and I wanted to share. Jay Leno has just announced that he is going to be doing a free concert in Detroit. He will be performing at The Palace of Auburn Hills on April 7th. Why Detroit you ask? He picked it because currently Detroit has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 11.6% and this is his way of giving back. He says he was actually inspired by President Obama, who says, in these difficult times we all have to do our part. Tickets will be handed out on an honor system and Jay really wants the tickets to go to people who are unemployed. He wants these people who are down on their luck right now to come and have some fun and not worry about costs.  Pepsi is sponsoring the show and  and even the parking will be free. Leno is even considering bringing the show to other cities if it is a success. I would bet he probably needs to start working on an itinerary. I hope more stars start giving back and doing the right thing to help support their country and their fans.
 

So what do you think John Mayer thought of his girlfriend’s recent interview when she said, “no relationship lasts forever. I don’t have a perfect relationship, and I don’t think it exists.” Is she just being honest and real or is she trying telling us something? Aniston and Mayer have been dating for a year and the recently turned 40, Jen says, “that this is the best moment of my life. I have never felt better physically or professionally. I am a very lucky woman.” All of this talk of love and relationships comes from Jen’s interview with Britain’s “Daily Mail”. I for one am happy for her and although she says she loves kids and would like to have a family, sometimes things just don’t always work out the way you plan and you just have to go with the flow. That does sound like a healthy attitude.

It was a huge disappointment last night in Sweden for fans of Metallica. Just minutes before the concert was to start the guys came out to deliver the news that lead singer, James Hetfield, had just been taken to the hospital. Luckily it was just a bug that he caught and he ended up dehydrated, but he is fine and returned to the U.S with the rest of the band. Can you even imagine how bummed out those fans were, but what can you do?
 

Terrell Owens left America’s Team for a team he dubbed North America’s Team. While some might be amused by this clever turn of phrase, many more are surprised by the decision to play in Buffalo for Dick Jauron, the place offense goes to die. In retrospect, the last couple of years have actually been a pretty dynamic and shocking time for us in the sports world. Owens decision joins the ranks of these other sundry moments that have kept me on my feet in the last couple years.

It was a big week in New York for U2 ,who was there to promote their new album, “No Line on the Horizon”.  They performed and did an interview on “Good Morning America” where they were performing live from Fordham University. The students were in frenzy and all morning classes were canceled. I guess with the right motivation you can get 4000 students up and out of bed in the early morning hours.  The band was honored this week with a street temporarily named after them by Mayor Bloomberg.  53rd street in Manhattan will be called U2 Way for a week. The band then headed over to “The Late Show with David Letterman”, where they spent an entire week. The group performed songs from their new album, did an interview and even helped Dave with his Top 10 List.  IT was a load of fun to watch them all week.  The group kicks off their world tour in Barcelona on June 30 and will head back in the U.S.  for a concert in Chicago at Soldiers Field in September.

"Dancing with the Stars" has not even aired yet and already there are casting changes. Due to injuries two women will not be able to compete.Jewel has suffered from tibia fractures in both legs and Nancy O’Dell tore her meniscus and she is going to have to have knee surgery. So the question is….who will replace these women? ABC is keeping mum about who it will be but a name that has surfaced is Holly Madison, Hugh’s ex, from the reality TV show, “The Girls Next Door”. Both Nancy and Jewel will be at the premiere. Both women are devastated by these developments, but what can they do. The dancing is rigorous and they need to take care of their bodies. I bet I can guess who Jewel will be rooting for…hubby and competitor Ty Murray.  Check out the premiere on Monday March 9th to watch the show and hear the big reveal news.

With a little more than 20 games left to go before the NBA regular season is over it is time to take a look at the stories that are sure to dominate the speculative headlines, features, and blogs.

It seems odd to me that I am spending so much time clicking on the NFL tab on ESPN in March, but this year I cannot help but turn my attention to a wild array of signings, trades, and controversial roster moves. The latest escapade to pique my interest is the cutting of Terrell Owens by the Dallas Cowboys.

I have to say this story gave me a bit of a chuckle but I totally get it and hope that the plan works. A new approach in New Zealand is being tried to help deter unruly teens from coming to the mall and causing havoc.  Remember the saying “music can soothe the savage beast”? Well it seems that the research shows just that and an outdoor mall In New Zealand is going to put that theory to the test.  This mall is going to start broadcasting Barry Manilow tunes “in hope that the music will either change the teens’ behavior or force them to go elsewhere.” Music has been proven to lower blood pressure and heart rate as well as stress hormones. Music can also improve the immune system and speed up the recovery process. Now if it can calm unruly teens too that would be a feat.

If the Los Angeles Dodgers thought the pressure was on when they spent all winter trying to deal with Greed Master General Scott Boras, then they need only wait until the season begins to find a whole new boulder thrust upon them smashing a few vital organs.

Are you ready for this one…the buzz on the street is that Michael Jackson is planning a tour that would be the “greatest comeback in history”? It is being said that the King of Pop is planning a tour that would include 30 dates and that he would be performing exclusively in London’s O2 arena this summer. It is being reported that part of the deal would include Michael getting $2.1 million PER NIGHT!!!!!  That is just a staggering number to me. Tickets for his concerts are expected to exceed $700 and that would break the record held by Barbara Streisand during her comeback tour.  Michael has not performed in England since 1997.

For those of you still watching “The Bachelor”, it actually was the most dramatic “After the Rose Ceremony”. Usually it is just ABC trying to make us think it, but whoa, I did not see this one coming at all and it was definitely one of Reality TV’s finest or least fine moments. In a matter of moments one of Americas most loved Bachelors went from the greatest guy around to as Melissa so eloquently put it, “a bastard”.
 

It was a bittersweet day for fans of the famous illusionists, Siegfried and Roy. The two performed their final performance together in Las Vegas Saturday night along with the infamous white Bengal tiger, Montecore. The final performance took place at the Bellagio hotel and casino and was for a benefit for the new Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Previously the two had done all their performances for the last 13 years at The Mirage but have not been back there since the incident with Roy and Montecore. The entire performance with be on 20/20 this Friday night.
 
 

Excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor after reading the latest news…Chris Brown and Rihanna are back together (with her father’s support).Here is the latest scoop, The two are hanging out at pal Diddy’s  Miami estate working out their issues. Those issues seems pretty easily solved if you ask me…”you beat me up, I am done with you.” But I guess the issues go deeper than that and for some reason she is open to being him. Rihanna is 21 years old with the world at her finger tips and she wants to stay with someone who hits her? Although I was surprised, it seems the professionals say that her response is typical. The director of a domestic violence program at Manhattans Urban Justice Center says that ”the reality is that when you’re in an intimate relationship with anyone you tend to give people chances”.  While Rihanna has remained indoors during the Miami reconciliation, Brown has been out jet skiing and having a grand old time. Rihanna is a role model for so many young girls it is just hard to watch her send the message that it is ok for someone to beat you up as long as they apologize.