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SEC Rolls out 2012 Schedule Based on Division Play

2011-12-28T10:50:00.000-08:00

The Southeastern Conference has unveiled its 2012 football schedule with its two newest members Missouri and Texas A&M opening play Sept. 8, and Alabama will visit LSU in a rematch of the Bowl Championship Series national championship Nov. 3. Missouri will play the 2012 season in the SEC East and hosts Georgia on Sept. 8. Texas A&M will be in the West and hosts Florida. The first conference game will be Aug. 30 when South Carolina visits Vanderbilt. SEC commissioner Mike Slive praised the league's transition team and athletic directors for handling what he called "significant logistical challenges" in putting together the schedule released Wednesday. The 2012 SEC schedule follows divisional play of eight games with six inside the division and two outside. The SEC championship game will be Dec. 1 in Atlanta. Athletic directors will meet in the spring to decide the formula for future schedules. David Williams, Vanderbilt's vice chancellor in charge of athletics, said adding Texas A&M and Missouri made it challenging to

put this together consistent with the league's desire to keep an eight-game conference schedule. "Fans should keep in mind that this league schedule is only for the 2012 season ...," Williams said in a statement. There remain plenty of kinks to work out for 2012, though. Texas A&M is under a 10-year contract to play Arkansas in Dallas, and Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino said recently the Aggies want a home-and-home series now that both teams are in the SEC. Texas A&M will be the home team for the Sept. 29 game for which the site has yet to be decided. It will be the first league game between these teams since 1991 when both were in the Southwest Conference. Arkansas released an 11-game schedule with the Razorbacks busy trying to line up a final non-conference opponent. Texas A&M's current schedule has 10 opponents listed. Missouri has three non-conference games to be decided, while Auburn has its non-conference opponents lined up, including Clemson in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic with dates yet to be set. "Unfortunately, there are still several issues to be resolved in our 2012 football schedule, but we wanted to get as much information to our fans as possible so they may begin planning for next season," Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long said in a statement. "We are pleased to have at least seven home games and possibly eight as part of a very competitive 2012 football schedule." Texas A&M's entry into the SEC will be challenging. The Aggies not only kick off the SEC season against Florida, they still play Arkansas while hosting LSU and Missouri and visit Auburn, Mississippi State and Alabama on Nov. 10. The Missouri Tigers visit South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Texas A&M, though they host Vanderbilt, Alabama on Oct. 13 and Kentucky. LSU will visit Auburn on Sept. 22 to kick off its SEC schedule before visiting Florida. LSU also must visit Arkansas on Nov. 24 in the final week of the SEC season. Alabama not only hits the SEC road to visit LSU but opens conference play at Arkansas on Sept. 15. Alabama visits Missouri and Tennessee in addition to LSU. Georgia, the SEC East champ, didn't play either LSU or Alabama in 2011, and the new SEC schedule has the Bulldogs missing both of the BCS teams in 2012. The Bulldogs play Mississippi and Auburn out of the West.

Danny Gokey's Proposal Was a Surprise!

2011-12-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

BY KEVIN O'DONNELL AND STEPHEN M. SILVERMAN

Danny Gokey and Leyicet Peralta; inset, her engagement ring Courtesy Danny Gokey (2) FacebookTweetWedding bells will ring for Danny Gokey and girlfriend Leyicet Peralta on Jan. 29, they announced Tuesday, and now come exclusive details on the engagement ring and the proposal itself. "Danny originally chose a ring that was too big for Leyicet's finger," says the rep for the country singer and American Idol season-8 finalist, "so they went on a hunt for a new one together." Money was a consideration, as the couple devote considerable resources to the charity Sophia's Heart, which honors the memory of Gokey's late wife, Sophia, who died during routine heart surgery in 2008. "Leyicet had a specific budget she did not want to go over," says the rep. "The couple know they have a lot of responsibility with Sophia's Heart, so they wanted to make sure they spent their money wisely." The proposal itself could not have been more romantic. Says the rep: "Danny surprised Leyicet and had a car pick her up. They had an intimate dinner by the ocean under a beautiful sunset in downtown Miami. "After dinner, they went to the ballet, and finally Danny took her where they had their first date. Danny serenaded Leyicet with a song her mother used to sing to her as a baby, 'You Are So Beautiful,' and then he popped the big question. She, of course, enthusiastically said yes." Since then, "the couple have been getting a lot of support and are very grateful to have found each other," the rep adds. "Needless to say, they are ecstatic and excited about the upcoming nuptials."

Here’s an interesting story we saw today – please read it at this link: John Legend Engaged – Proposed to Chrissy Teigen in Maldives – HULIQ.com

2011-12-28T10:38:00.001-08:00

John Legend put a ring on Chrissy Teigen in the Maldives on or before the holidays. Indeed, the multi Grammy winner and the up and coming Sports Illustrated model are engaged to be married said the artist’s publicist. Legend and Teigen have been seeing each other for the past four years, but it wasn’t until Tuesday when it was announced that John (born John Rogers Stevens) has taken the relationship to the next level that fans knew of the future marriage between the two. And then Chrissy tweeted, “he went to Jared” apparently spoofing on a jewelry store chain advertisement. And, so while Legend and Teigen are excited about their future, these aren’t the only lovers who are getting married as of December. Among the crowd of luminaries about to tie the knot after getting engaged during the last month of 2011 are Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves. Apparently, this is a nice time of the year to say “I will.” And so, with that being said and while John Legend and Chrissy Teigen were away on vacation when the decision to wed was made, John will be performing at The Palms in the upscale report’s in-house The Pearl Concert Tour this coming weekend for New Year’s eve. If past engagements of the musical nature are any indication, Chrissy will be on hand to hear her beau ring in the new year wearing her new ring. Meanwhile, both John and Chrissy will be celebrating Wednesday even if these two aren’t in the same place at the same time since the singer, who has nine Grammy awards in total, turns 33 on December 28, 2011. Teigen, who appeared as one of the Deal or No Deal girls with briefcases for two-years according to her imdB profile, is 26. See a picture of the newly promised couple here, with congratulations to John Legend and Chrissy Teigen for being engaged.

Bill Maher taking heat for Christmas tweet about Tim Tebow

2011-12-28T10:32:00.000-08:00

Bill Maher would be well advised to not attend Denver Broncos games.

The comedian is taking significant heat after weighing in with a sarcastic tweet on Tim Tebow's hellish performance over the weekend against Buffalo. Entertainment Weekly reported Maher invoked Tebow, Jesus and even Hitler in his sarcastic summation of Tebow's performance against Buffalo, writing that: "Wow, Jesus just f----- #TimTebow bad! And on Xmas Eve! Somewhere in hell Satan is tebowing, saying to Hitler "Hey, Buffalo's killing them," Maher tweeted. The TV show says Maher has been widely slammed for the remark, but that Tebow didn't respond, and kept his tweets focused on more upbeat messages.

The Fabulous Forum THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY — AND WHY NOT — OF L.A. SPORTS

2011-12-28T10:23:00.000-08:00

Pro Bowl: An AFC QB got snubbed ... just not sure which one

Pro Bowl selections were announced Monday, and a quarterback in the AFC definitely got snubbed. Exactly which player it is, well, that's not so clear. But San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers does not seem to belong in Honolulu at the late-January game. Not this season. Still, there he is as a Pro Bowl selection, right behind Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the only two obvious choices at quarterback in the AFC. Now, Rivers did put up some big numbers — he's second in the AFC in both passing yards (4,314) and touchdown passes (24, tied with the New York Jets' Mark Sanchez behind Brady's 41). But Rivers also threw 19 interceptions — that's the most in the entire league, tied with the likes of Rex Grossman of the Washington Redskins, Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills and Josh Freeman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sorry, but a guy who has that many picks just shouldn't be considered all-pro. For most of the season, we were wondering what was wrong with Rivers. He did come on strong late in the year, with eight touchdowns and no interceptions during a four-game stretch before a rough outing against the Detroit Lions last week — but that's only a quarter of the season. A couple of young quarterbacks — Cincinnati's Andy Dalton and Miami's Matt Moore — put together nice seasons. But they don't have Rivers' résumé, which includes three other Pro Bowl selections in his eight-year career. Anyhow, that's just one "snub" that can be debated. What about the NFC quarterbacks? Should Detroit's Matt Stafford or Carolina's Cam Newton have gotten the nod over the New York Giants' Eli Manning? And what about all the other positions? Who got left out? Let the debating begin! RELATED: NFL Week 16 two-minute drill NFL drama goes right to the end Tim Tebow or Kyle Orton: Who would you rather have at QB? [Poll] -- Chuck Schilken Photo: Philip Rivers. Credit: Duane Burleson / Associated Press

Mega Millions Winning Ticket Sold On Long Island

2011-12-28T10:14:00.000-08:00

The winning Mega Millions lottery ticket from Tuesday night’s drawing was sold at a supermarket in Middle Island, Long Island.

The jackpot swelled to an estimated $206 million ahead of the drawing. The winning numbers for the Tuesday, December 27, 2011, drawing of the Mega Millions lottery are: Advertise On YWN » 23 32 33 39 43 According to the state lottery website , the winner purchased the ticket at the King Kullen on Middle Country Road in Middle Island. Mega Millions are sold in dozens of states, including New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves Are Engaged!

2011-12-26T19:20:00.000-08:00

It was a very Merry Christmas in the McConaughey-Alves household!

Matthew McConaughey had an extra special present for his girlfriend of five years, Camila Alves, on Sunday -- an engagement ring! PHOTOS: More celebs who got engaged this year "Just asked Camila to marry me, #MerryChristmas," the Lincoln Lawyer actor posted to his Twitter along with this pic of the happy couple kissing on his WhoSay account. PHOTOS: Matthew's hottest shirtless moments The proposal comes as no surprise being that back in March, the 42-year-old told Esquire that he's known the 29-year-old model and host of Bravo's Sheer Genius is The One. "I found the woman... I wanna make a family with, hopefully live our life out together," he declared to the magazine. PHOTOS: Best celebrity weddings of 2011 The couple met at an L.A. bar in 2006 and have two children: a three-year-old son Levi and a daughter, Vida, 23 months. Read more: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/matthew-mcconaughey-and-camila-alves-are-engaged-20112612#ixzz1hhYc2Vv5

Debra Messing and husband Daniel Zelman separate

2011-12-21T07:13:00.000-08:00

Debra Messing and her husband, writer-producer Daniel Zelman, have separated after more than a decade of marriage.

People magazine has reported that the couple — parents to a 7-year-old son, Roman — separated privately earlier this year. The news was not shared publicly until yesterday. Messing, 43, and Zelman, 44, first met when both were pursuing graduate degrees in acting at New York University during the early 1990s. They married in September of 2000. Related news: Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard separate after nearly three decades together Us magazine cites an individual close to the pair who says the former “Will and Grace” star and Zelman recently moved to New York and are still living together with their son. “It’s very amicable,” the individual explains. Messing will next be seen in the NBC musical series “Smash.” Zelman’s credits include executive producer and co-creator of the FX series “Damages” and co-writer of the 2008 Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson rom-com “Fool’s Gold.”

Johnny Knox to undergo back surgery, but Bears say career prognosis is good

2011-12-19T14:08:00.001-08:00

Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox will undergo surgery on Monday to stabilize a vertebrae injury he sustained Sunday after being bent backward by a hit. As Cindy Boren reported: Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox will undergo surgery Monday to stabilize vertebrae in his back. 0 Comments Weigh InCorrections? inShare Gallery Top 10 moments: We boil down the thousands of photos and hundreds of plays from each week’s games to give you a look at the best. For full effect, view this gallery in full-screen mode. Knox suffered what the Bears said was a mid-back injury on one of the scariest and most unusual hits imaginable, a hit on which he was nearly doubled over backwards. Knox, who signaled thumbs up as he was carted off early in the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field, has feeling in his extremities. Knox was injured trying to recover his fumble after a 17-yard reception; as he lay on the ground, Seattle’s diving defensive end Anthony Hargrove collided with Knox’s upper torso, bending it back. (Video can be seen here; a gif is here.) “Johnny has total movement throughout his body,” Coach Lovie Smith said (via the Chicago Tribune). “He has total use of all of his extremities, which is good. He is not paralyzed or anything like that.” Knox was attended to on the field for about 10 minutes before being carted off and taken to a hospital. Seattle recovered the ball and went on to score on the possession on a Marshawn Lynch touchdown. The Bears have stated that the career prognosis for Knox is positive, and that the receiver has the ability to move all of this extremities, a good sign for spinal cord injuries. As Cindy Boren explained : Early reports on Knox, who suffered a mid-back injury when he was nearly doubled over backwards on a play early in the game against Seattle, indicate that he has feeling and movement in his extremities. “There is a positive prognosis for his playing career and quality of life,” a Bears spokesman said after the game (via the Chicago Tribune). Coach Lovie Smith told reporters that “"Johnny has total movement throughout his body. ... He is not paralyzed or anything like that.” A positive outcome might not have seemed likely immediately after the scary, freak injury. Neel Anand, director of Orthopaedic Spine Surgery at the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles, told Sean Jensen that he was encouraged by the news that Knox could move his limbs. “Neurologically, he's completely fine,” Anand said (via the Chicago Sun-Times). ”The only thing left is the nature of the stability.” Anand said the most common injury, based on the nature of the collision, occurs at the junction of the thoracic and lumbar curvatures. Doctors will be looking to determine whether Knox has suffered “unstable or potentially unstable fracture.” Surgeons most likely will stabilize the fracture with screws and rods. “If it's an innocuous fracture, and all he needs is screws and rods, he could come back in three to six months,” Anand said. Knox was one of several players who were injured that game, and across the league several key offensive and defensive players were knocked out of action. As AP reported: Green Bay rookie offensive lineman Derek Sherrod broke his right leg when Kansas City linebacker Tamba Hali rolled into him in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 19-14 victory which ended the Packers’ run at an undefeated season. He took over in the first half when starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga went down with a knee injury. Buffalo wide receiver Stevie Johnson aggravated a groin injury, and tight end Lee Smith hurt his left ankle in a 30-23 loss to Miami. Coach Chan Gailey already ruled out Smith from playing on Dec. 24, while Johnson’s status was uncertain. New England defensive end Andre Carter was carted off the field with a left knee injury at the end of the first quarter of a 41-23 win over Denver. He was hurt attempting to tackle Broncos running back Lance Ball. Carter immediately grabbed his left knee after the play at the Patriots 13. Earlier, Broncos running back Willis McGahee hobbled to the sideline with an injured left leg. Cincinnati rookie wide receiver A.J. Green sprained his right shoulder, but bounced back and returned to catch six passes for 115 yards in the Bengals’ 20-13 win over St. Louis. New York Giants tight end Jake Ballard left the 23-10 loss to Washington with a right knee injury. Wide receiver Devin Thomas hurt his neck, was lifted on a stretcher and carted off, but the team announced that he was up and walking around in the locker room. Cleveland lost three players — linebackers Titus Brown (knee) and Ben Jacobs (concussion), and wide receiver Jordan Norwood (concussion) — in the Browns’ 20-17 overtime defeat. More from Washington Post Sports Surging Chargers blow out Ravens 34-14 Brady, Patriots slow down Tebow and the Broncos Chiefs hand Packers first loss of season

Georgia Rowe: Latest books by Bay Area writers span from music to the porn industry

2011-12-19T14:03:00.001-08:00

New books by Bay Area authors include three titles of interest to jazz and rock fans. Also among the current releases: an unfinished novel by the late James D. Houston; novels by Peter Orner, Joshua Mohr and Fred Setterberg; and a pair of nonfiction works that come at the film industry from decidedly different points of view. "Keystone Korner: Portrait of a Jazz Club" by Kathy Sloane (Indiana University Press, $40, 224 pages). In the 1970s, San Francisco's Keystone Korner was the West Coast's premier destination for jazz musicians: On any given night at the Vallejo Street venue, audiences could hear the likes of Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Dexter Gordon and Rahsaan Roland Kirk holding forth. Oakland photographer Kathy Sloane has written a splendid history of the club, featuring interviews and more than 100 photographs of artists. A CD of club performances is included. Keystone Korner closed in 1983, but Sloane's book re-creates it in vibrant detail. "Dead Letters: The Very Best Grateful Dead Fan Mail" by Paul Grushkin (Voyageur Press, $29.99, 232 pages). There may be no fans as devoted as the Grateful Dead's; over the years, the legendary jam band received thousands of cards, letters and decorated ticket-request envelopes from Deadheads. They are archived in all their colorful, mind-bending glory by Grushkin, an East Bay writer whose previous books include "Art of Modern Rock: the Poster Explosion." Rock aficionados and art lovers alike may Advertisement find "Dead Letters" essential for their collections. "Eagles: Taking It to the Limit" by Ben Fong-Torres (Running Press, $30, 192 pages). San Francisco journalist Ben Fong-Torres marks the Eagles' 40th anniversary with this unauthorized biography. From their early days as Linda Ronstadt's backup band to the glory years as million-selling hit-makers -- followed by a much-publicized breakup and reunion tour -- the group's history is as heady and contentious as any in the business. Fong-Torres does a fine job of laying it out. "A Queen's Journey" by James D. Houston (Heyday, $14.95, 136 pages). James D. Houston was a San Francisco native who made his home in Santa Cruz. But he spent a great deal of time in Hawaii, and this novel, unfinished upon his death in 2009, demonstrates his deep knowledge of that state and its last monarch, Lili'uokalani. Set in Boston, the story centers on her friendship with a young mainland journalist during Hawaii's annexation (1897-98). Houston, author of "Farewell to Manzanar," writes with insight and affection, and this book might have been his masterpiece. "Love and Shame and Love" by Peter Orner (Little Brown, $24.99, 448 pages). Memory and deep feeling suffuse Orner's sprawling new novel. The San Francisco author follows the fictional Popper family through three generations, proving Tolstoy's adage that every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. "Damascus" by Joshua Mohr (Two Dollar Radio, $16, 216 pages). Art, politics and tensions around the Iraq War boil over in this gritty novel by Mohr, a San Francisco author who sets his tale in the Mission District. "Lunch Bucket Paradise" by Fred Setterberg (Heyday, $15.95, 256 pages). Setterberg, the Oakland author of nonfiction works including "The Roads Taken," makes an excellent debut as a novelist in this warmhearted yet unsentimental look at suburban life in the 1950s and '60s. "The Gang That Shot Up Hollywood" by John Stanley (Atlas Books, $21.99, 224 pages). Veteran Bay Area entertainment writer John Stanley pays tribute to the tough guys and gals of Hollywood in this rogues' gallery of shoot-em-up stars. The usual suspects -- Clint, Bogie and Robert Mitchum, among them -- are featured. But Stanley includes a lot of lesser-known lights, and enough San Francisco references to make the book of interest to area readers. "American Gangbang: A Love Story" by Sam Benjamin (Gallery Books, $25, 320 pages). Brainy college grad leaves the East Coast and arrives in Santa Cruz with the goal of making it as a video artist, only to find his lofty dreams brought low in the adult entertainment industry. The Oakland writer's engaging memoir recounts a three-year immersion in porn -- from low-budget productions to Malibu mansions. Eventually, he wises up and shares a rueful confession: "Porn isn't what I thought it would be."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il dead after heart attack, state media reports

2011-12-18T22:28:00.000-08:00

(CNN) -- North Korea's enigmatic leader Kim Jong Il -- who, after succeeding his father 17 years ago, captained his poor, closed nation and antagonized its enemies -- is dead, state media reported Monday.
Kim, 69, died at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, according to state media.
A tearful broadcaster reported that Kim died due to "overwork" after "dedicating his life to the people."
Kim suffered "great mental and physical strain" while on a train during a "field guidance tour," North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency reported.
A look back at the life of Kim Jong Il
More specifically, the agency reported that Kim suffered a heart attack and couldn't be saved despite the use of "every possible first-aid measure."
He had been treated for "cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases for a long period," KCNA noted.
Kim Jong Il's death shocks South Korea Report: Kim Jong Il dead North Korea: Our leader is dead
His funeral will be held December 28 and the national mourning period extends until December 29, said the news agency.
North Korean and communist party officials "released a notice on Saturday informing" members of the Workers' Party of Korea, military "and all other people" of Kim's passing, according to KCNA.
South Korea's national security council convened after news broke about Kim's death and was still meeting as of 2 p.m. Monday, President Lee Myung-bak's office said.
The president canceled the rest of his Monday schedule, and all members of South Korea's military have been placed on "emergency alert," according to Lee's office.
Under the alert -- which is short of the highest possible level -- South Korean forces will monitor North Korean troop movements closely and tighten security measures at sea, according to the ministry of defense.
In addition, South Korea's National Police Agency has ordered police across the country to be on emergency work shifts.
"South Korea's concern is warranted, frankly, because an insecure North Korea could well be an even more dangerous North Korea," a U.S. official said.
The White House, meanwhile, released a statement saying U.S. officials are "closely monitoring reports" of Kim's death and are "in close touch with our allies in South Korea and Japan."
This Just In: Up-to-the minute news on the death of Kim Jong Il
"We remain committed to stability on the Korean peninsula, and to the freedom and security of our allies," the White House statement said.
The son of Kim Il Song, founder of the communist nation, Kim Jong Il had been in power since 1994 when his father died of a heart attack at age 82.
The enigmatic leader was a frequent thorn in the side of neighboring South Korea, as well as the United States. There have been reports in recent years about his health, as well as that power will be transitioned to his son, Kim Jong Un.
U.S. 'committed' to Korean security Can the son of the 'Dear Leader' lead? What is North Korea's future?
North Korea's nuclear program -- and international attempts to hinder its nuclear weaponry potential -- put Kim at odds with many world leaders in recent years, as did his governing style.
iReport: Send us your reaction
Under his leadership, North Korea was largely closed off to outside influences, fearful of threats from its neighbors and subject to decades of political socialization. At the same time, it also sought international aid after extensive famines that contributed to the deaths of tens of thousands of people.
Both North Korea and South Korea have shown signs of concession in recent years -- Pyongyang has expressed willingness to engage with countries involved in multilateral talks aimed at North Korea's denuclearization, while Seoul recently sent humanitarian aid through U.N. agencies to help the malnourished population in the North.
But relations between the two rival nations soured yet again when North Korea launched an attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, killing two South Korean marines and two civilians.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said earlier this fall that the greatest threat from North Korea is weapons of mass destruction.
"North Korea continues to defy the international community as it enhances its nuclear weapons, its ballistic missile programs and continues to engage in dangerous and destabilizing proliferation activities."
The regime has been planning a nationwide, yearlong celebration in 2012 to show North Korea is "strong and prosperous" and also to honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Song, the communist nation's founder.
North Korean news reports earlier this fall indicated that Kim Jong Il had been traveling around the country and visiting China, a big change from 2009 when he was thought to be ill with cancer.
Two senior U.S. military officials said then that they believed the pace of North Korea's planned regime change from Kim to his 20-something son appeared to have slowed.
The son, also known as Kim, started his career as a four-star general and in recent years was given more official duties by his father.
"He's clearly the designated successor," Mike Chinoy, a senior fellow at the U.S.-China Institute who once worked for CNN, said of Kim Jong Un. "This has been in place for a while."
Chinoy said he expected that, in the short-term, North Koreans would "rally around the flag (and) hunker down." But given the nation's deep-rooted economic and other problems, maintaining that unity and control without a overarching figure like Kim Jong Il in place may be more difficult.
"The deeper questions come over the long-term," Chinoy said.

Dragon Slayer Smackdown: Survivor: South Pacific Crowns Million-Dollar Winner Read more: http://uk.eonline.com/news/watch_with_kristin/dragon_slayer_

2011-12-18T22:26:00.000-08:00

Jeff Probst, Survivor: South Pacific's host with the most said it best: If you want to stay in this game, you have to beat Ozzy.

So, did the original Upolu Tribe manage to defeat the challenge dominator? Or did he win his way to a place in the final three? Super spoiler alert: Read on, only if you want to learn who was the ultimate winner.

WEDNESDAY'S RECAP: Survivor: South Pacific Insider: This Season's Big Bad Revealed!

Alas, Ozzy said "Sayanara Survivor" after losing the last Immunity Challenge to Sophie. And, in an unlikely turn of events it was she whom the jury awarded the million dollar prize and the title of Sole Survivor.

Yes, the "condescending" "privileged pretentious brat" even slayed Coach, the man who anointed her the new Dragon Slayer, with a vote of 6-3. Their fellow finalist, Albert, got zero votes from the jury, thank you very much!

And though Ozzy had to be disappointed about coming up short. He can take some consolation (not to mention $100,00) for winning the fan Favortie Award by the biggest margin in Survivor history.

WATCH: See what Ozzy and Coach told us before the game in Samoa

Ozzy's win in the final Redemption Island duel had seemed inevitable—especially the pole-hold challenge—but Brandon didn't let go easily. And for a few scary moments it seemed that Ozzy would either fall or be DQ'd for touching the top. Brandon held on for dear life...until he didn't. He left the game with the joy of the faithful while Ozzy rejoined L'I Hantz's Christian brethren.

In his first solo contest against the Upolu five, building a house (really a skyscraper) of cards, Ozzy decked his opponents. Even Sophie, who read a book about the subject. Then again Albert didn't hand Sophie her "damn cards" despite her barking.

MORE: TV's Top 100 Moments in 2011

Sophie's bullying turned into a major breakdown at Tribal, but despite her thin skin (because Ozzy called her a brat) it was Rick's hide who was chapped as the tribe voted him out 3-2.

Ozzy had two strategies for the final Immunity Challenge. Plan A: Win; Plan B: Win. He didn't count on Sophie's Plan C—making his huge lead disappear and knocking him out in the last puzzle portion, winning her third Immunity necklace. Indeed, Coach anointed her the new Dragon Slayer, and all she did was slay her opponents.

Which, as it happens, is a very good way to outwit, outlast and outplay your opponents.

(It was such a crazy finish that we can hardly wait for the next season, known as One World, in which the two tribes squaring off share a single camp.)

Do you think the most deserving player won the title of Sole Survivor? Sound off in the comments!

Read more: http://uk.eonline.com/news/watch_with_kristin/dragon_slayer_smackdown_survivor_south/281428#ixzz1gxXg2fv7

Pope Joan Author Talks About Her Book Coming to Life (Video)

2011-12-18T22:24:00.000-08:00

When Donna Woolfolk Cross first stepped on set of the movie adaptation of her book Pope Joan, she literally got goosebumps watching the words she wrote transform into hundreds reenacting a market scene.

I remember writing that scene in my little study and I just had goosebumps... I was very moved by that, actually.
Now the US audience will be able to watch Cross' words on screen when Reelz airs the four-hour Pope Joan. The miniseries tells the story of Johanna von Ingelheim, a woman whose existence has been denied for more than a thousand years. A controversial figure of historical record, she disguised herself as a man and rose to rule the Catholic Church in the 9th century as the first and only woman to sit on the throne of St. Peter.

Pope Joan, which stars Johanna Wokalek and John Goodman, will air in two two-hour parts on Dec. 18th and 19th at 8pm ET and 8pm PT. Reelz is Dish 299, DirecTV 238, and available on your cable system.

In a new clip, Cross talks about meeting Goodman, who plays Pope Sergius, and the long hard road it took to make the controversial movie.

I think it's a story that needs to be told. It's a story more people need to know about.

Scene & Heard: Bolts unbeaten at Snapdragon

2011-12-18T22:23:00.000-08:00

You know you’ve done your job in a marketing campaign when you can get a buy-in from Santa Claus.

OK, so this St. Nick was holding a television camera and getting video for the scoreboard for Sunday night’s Chargers-Baltimore Ravens game. But he had a red suit, white beard and a Snapdragon T-shirt on.

“Yeah, very pleased with Santa wearing Snapdragon,” Dan Novak said with a big grin.

Novak is a vice president for global marketing for Qualcomm, which worked a deal with the Chargers, city and San Diego Bowl Game Association to rename Qualcomm Stadium as Snapdragon Stadium for the 10-day period that covers Sunday’s Chargers game, Poinsettia Bowl and Holiday Bowl.

It’s the first NFL stadium to be temporarily renamed, and look at it this way: The Chargers are 1-0 at Snapdragon.

Qualcomm figures that about 150,000 in the stadium and millions on TV will see the promotion over the three games. Novak wouldn’t reveal what it cost to make the temporary changes – which included hauling down the eight giant Qualcomm letters from atop the scoreboard -- but did say, “It was cheaper than a 30-second ad on the NBC broadcast tonight. It was actually very reasonable.”

If this were Major League Soccer, the Chargers might have been re-dubbed the San Diego Snapdragons. (You may have heard of the New York Red Bulls.) “No, we didn’t ask them to change the team name,” Novak said, smiling again.

The folks at Qualcomm know that very few people can identify what Snapdragon is, which is the point of the whole endeavor. The best description for the technologically challenged: It’s a processor that serves as the work engine for smart phones and tablets.

In honor of Snapdragon, I'm changing my byline for the next 10 days to Google Earth.

Stadium lineage

If you count Snapdragon, the stadium has had four names: San Diego Stadium (1967-80), San Diego-Jack Murphy Stadium (1980-97) and Qualcomm Stadium (1997-2011).

The stadium has never been what you’d call a thing of beauty, but there is an architectural style attributed to it. It’s called Brutalism – which is pretty appropriate when you think about the history of its professional occupants.

Brutalist buildings are described as having “striking repetitive angular geometries.” Yep, that’s our Qualcomm – uh, Snapdragon. The architecture was groovy in the ‘60s. Now? Not so much.

Celebratory mood

The Chargers were flagged for excessive celebration after Takeo Spikes’ third-quarter interception and linebacker Antwan Barnes showed off a new sack dance on a night he recorded a career high four. You’ve got to appreciate the Bolts’ exuberance because it’s been such a long time in coming.

On Barnes' first sack, he shimmied across the grass like he was auditioning for "Dancing with the Stars."

"The Beanie Wiggle," Barnes explained in the locker room. "The guy who already did it was (wide receiver) Antonio Brown of the Steelers. We went to the same high school and as soon as he broke it out I figured I had to do it too. It was a shout-out to my people in Miami. I knew my family was going to see it."

YouTube it and you'll see that Barnes needs a little work on his Wiggle.

After his pick, Spikes danced more spontaneously, but when at least four Chargers gathered around him, it was deemed an organized celebration. The Chargers easily overcame the 15-yard penalty to score a touchdown only five plays later.

"They didn't flag me," Spikes said. "They flagged everybody else that was just excited.

"That's how we play. There's no more pressure on this team. We can't look back and live in the past."

Kiddie corps

The Chargers hosted youth football players and cheerleaders on the field during introductions. The players got to run through the big inflatable helmet, and did so just as the P.A. announcer said, “And here’s the Chargers’ starting defense!”

Next thought: Shouldn’t the kids at least wear shoulder pads?

Group intros are weak

By the way, since when did individual player introductions become such a bad thing? The defense started the “unity” stuff as a gesture early on in the season. That was fine – once. After that, you’re just denying fans the chance to cheer their favorite player.

Let’s hope this dumb tradition doesn’t last.

Rumbling Ravens

Baltimore lived up to its reputation as a team that doesn’t mind a tussle.

On a first-quarter kickoff return, a Raven slammed cornerback Dante Hughes to the ground after the whistle and held him down like it was an MMA fight. A bunch of players piled on, and incredibly enough, not a single flag was thrown.

Slap happy

In the second quarter, Baltimore had a sack negated when Terrell Suggs was flagged for very obviously delivering a hefty slap with the right paw to the helmet of Chargers tight end Randy McMichael.

That’s the new, kinder NFL, according to U-T columnist Nick Canepa.

“Deacon Jones wouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame today without head slaps,” Nick said.

Overhaul Brings in Baron Davis

2011-12-18T22:17:00.000-08:00

Baron Davis is set to join the Knicks, continuing a rapid makeover made possible by the N.B.A.’s new amnesty provision.

Davis, 32, was cut last week by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who used the amnesty clause to remove the final two years and $28.7 million of his contract from the salary cap. His Knicks contract will be for one year and $2.5 million, according to Sports Illustrated.

Despite his age and a history of health concerns, Davis was a coveted commodity once he cleared waivers Friday night. He chose the Knicks over the Los Angeles Lakers — his hometown team — and the Miami Heat.

He is coping with a back injury that could keep him on the sidelines for at least a month. His agent, Todd Ramasar, recently told Yahoo Sports that Davis would need 8 to 10 weeks to recover, which was widely viewed as a ploy to scare teams from claiming him off waivers. Other reports have suggested that Davis could play in a month.

Davis once ranked among the better point guards in the league, but his standing has been diminished by a series of injuries and friction with coaches. Last season he averaged 13.1 points — his lowest average since his rookie season, 1999-2000 — in 58 games. He has not played a full 82-game season since 2007-8, his final year with the Golden State Warriors. He has not been part of a playoff team since 2006-7, when he led the Warriors to a first-round upset of the Dallas Mavericks.

Davis spent two-plus inglorious seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, then was traded to the Cavaliers in February in a deal for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon. The trade was essentially a salary dump for the Clippers, who also sent Cleveland a first-round pick, which turned out to be No. 1 over all.

It remains to be seen whether Davis still has the skills and durability to help a team go deep in the playoffs. But his experience and passing abilities would represent an immediate upgrade for the Knicks, who have only Toney Douglas and Mike Bibby at point guard.

If Davis replaces Douglas, it will mean the Knicks obtained two starters through the amnesty clause. They got Tyson Chandler in a sign-and-trade deal after using the amnesty provision to wipe Chauncey Billups from the salary cap.

The amnesty clause, a feature in the N.B.A.’s new labor deal, allows each team to remove one player from the salary cap while still paying the player’s entire salary.

Kim Jong Il,

2010-01-26T13:34:00.000-08:00

Kim Jong Il, North Korea's mercurial and enigmatic longtime leader, has died of heart failure. He was 69.
In a "special broadcast" Monday from the North Korean capital, state media said Kim died of a heart ailment on a train due to a "great mental and physical strain" on Dec. 17 during a "high intensity field inspection." It said an autopsy was done on Dec. 18 and "fully confirmed" the diagnosis.

Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008, but he had appeared relatively vigorous in photos and video from recent trips to China and Russia and in numerous trips around the country carefully documented by state media. The communist country's "Dear Leader" — reputed to have had a taste for cigars, cognac and gourmet cuisine — was believed to have had diabetes and heart disease.

RELATED: Inside North Korea

"It is the biggest loss for the party ... and it is our people and nation's biggest sadness," an anchorwoman clad in black Korean traditional dress said in a voice choked with tears. She said the nation must "change our sadness to strength and overcome our difficulties."

South Korean media, including Yonhap news agency, said South Korea put its military on "high alert" and President Lee Myung-bak convened a national security council meeting after the news of Kim's death. Officials couldn't immediately confirm the reports.

The news came as North Korea prepared for a hereditary succession. Kim Jong Il inherited power after his father, revered North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, died in 1994.

In September 2010, Kim Jong Il unveiled his third son, the twenty-something Kim Jong Un, as his successor, putting him in high-ranking posts.

Traffic in the North Korean capital was moving as usual Monday, but people in the streets were in tears as they learned the news of Kim's death. A foreigner contacted at Pyongyang's Koryo Hotel said hotel staff were in tears.

Asian stock markets moved lower amid the news, which raises the possibility of increased instability on the divided Korean peninsula.

South Korea's Kospi index was down 3.9 percent at 1,767.89 and Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 0.8 percent to 8,331.00. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 2 percent to 17,929.66 and the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 2 percent to 2,178.75.