Ashlee Simpson
Britney Spears Hot and Sexy Photos 2011
Here's a photo from the racy shoot; see the rest and read the interview here.
Olivia Wilde Hot and Sexy Photos
Wilde recently announced she was separating from Italian husband Tao Ruspoli after eight years of marriage. She was seen looking quite cozy with hottie Ryan Gosling at a post-Golden Globes party,They were later spotted on a ”secret” date at the Cincinnati aquarium, where they held hands. Color us olive green with envy.
Wilde’s next project is Welcome to the People, in which she co-stars with Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks. Are you looking forward to seeing more of Olivia Wilde.
Lindsay Lohan Wears Mini Dress To Court
The "Mean Girls" actress appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom and told a judge she agreed to delaying her case until a preliminary hearing when prosecutors will present evidence against her.
It was all she said during the brief proceeding.
The case was set for a preliminary hearing on April 22.
The exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Lohan was on probation in January when a Venice jewelry store accused her of taking a $2,500 necklace. Lohan has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Kate Winslet's Revealing Commercial 2011
Kate recently opened up to British Vogue about her divorce from Sam Mendes.
Ohio man is first executed with lone dose of pentobarbital
Pentobarbital, a barbiturate that has been used in animal euthanasia and as a mild anesthetic in humans, was used in a U.S. execution for the first time in December, when it was administered as the first drug in a three-drug cocktail used in a lethal injection given to an Oklahoma inmate.
Sodium thiopental is the normal drug used in such lethal injections, but a nationwide shortage of the chemical has forced some states to scramble for possible substitutes.
In 2009, Ohio became the first state to perform an execution with a single drug, using a single dose of sodium thiopental.
Baston was pronounced dead at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Southern Ohio Correctional Institution in Lucasville, the state Department of Corrections said.
He received the death sentenced for the 1994 murder of Toledo store owner Chong Hoon Mah, a South Korean immigrant who was shot in the head at close range.
“For a long time I didn’t see a lot of value in myself,’’ Baston said Thursday in the death chamber, the Toledo Blade reported. “It wasn’t until this moment, till I had to go through this ordeal, that I have seen so much love from so many people, letters from people all over the world, and even Ohio.
Sony's favor against LG, PlayStation 3
Sony for distribution across the continent. LG has also reportedly been ordered to pay €130,000 in legal fees -- and if it doesn't comply, it will face a fine of €200,000 per day until it does. That doesn't mean that the tussle between the two companies is over, however, as this ruling doesn't have anything to do with the patents at the heart of the dispute.
Jackie MacMullan Lights Up Chris Bosh
Police investigate hit by Bruins' Chara
The probe comes after a request was made by Quebec's director of criminal and penal prosecutions. On Wednesday, the same office downplayed any talk of a criminal investigation, but changed its mind when the NHL announced no sanctions would be taken against Chara.
Chara, who said he had no intent to hurt Pacioretty, was given a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct on the play. Pacioretty, a left-winger from Connecticut, has established himself this season as a regular top-line player. The latest statement from the team said he's still in hospital, undergoing observation suffering from a severe concussion and a neck fracture.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Pacioretty's injury is horrific, but it's part of the game. He said most concussions and head injuries this year have been from accidents or players falling, rather than as the result of hits.
Minister of State of Sport Gary Lunn told Sportsnet Radio FAN, Thursday, this is going to keep happening unless something is done. When you see the intentional headshots, hits from behind, intentional hits that are unacceptable, there needs to be pretty severe consequences to deter people from making those kind of shots.
Lunn added the government is now consulting with sports organizations on the matter.
Nobody wants to step on the ice and think they're going to come off with a fractured neck or a serious injury of concussion for that matter. It's not just this one hit, we see the likes [of] Sidney Crosby out; it's been in the news, we're seeing more and more of it. I don't know if it is more prevalent now or if it's just getting more attention.
Air Canada is wading into the debate as well. A letter written to the NHL said the airline will withdraw its sponsorship unless the league moves to impose sanctions to reduce potential serious injuries.
Luis Salazar has surgery after liner 2011
Braves spokesman Brad Hainje said Thursday that Salazar underwent surgery Wednesday night and "he's having more surgery today."
Hainje said "it may be another day or two before we have final clarification on everything they had to do.
A Braves spokesman told multiple media outlets on Wednesday that Salazar didn't sustain any brain damage but suffered multiple facial fractures. He will have to undergo testing to determine damage to his left eye.
"We feel very fortunate and blessed that Louie is alive and that he is responding and able to communicate with his family and talk," Braves general manager Frank Wren told reporters Wednesday. "We just pray for the best as he continues these tests and evaluations and whatever else is ahead of him. "
Wren said Salazar was unconscious when an ambulance drove onto the field in the first inning to help the 54-year-old former big leaguer. Wren said Salazar was hit around the nose, toward his left eye.
Salazar was struck while standing on the top step of the first-base dugout. The Braves said Salazar's son, who was at the game, and his wife, who was not in attendance, also went to the hospital.
Chipper Jones was on first base when the accident occurred. He said Salazar was leaning against a dugout railing and toppled backward, hitting his head on the concrete floor.
"There were two things," Jones said. "First he got hit, then he fell backward and hit his head on the floor of the dugout. It was bad enough when he got hit but worse when he hit the floor."
Salazar played in the major leagues from 1980 to 1992 for the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox. He mostly played third base, was a career .261 hitter with 94 home runs and played in the 1984 World Series for the Padres.
Salazar was set to manage the Braves' Class A team in Lynchburg, Va. He was the Double. A hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers the past three seasons.
Yogi Berra Falls, Taken to Hospital
Yankees manager Joe Girardi, Cashman and executive Gene Michael were present as Berra left Steinbrenner Field. Cashman said Berra "did not want to go" to the hospital.
"He is alert and in good spirits," said a Yankees spokesman, who described the trip to the hospital as precautionary.
Berra, 85, often travels with the Yankees when he visits spring training. He made the 25 minute trip from the Yankees' spring training home in Tampa to Clearwater.
Andrew Marchand covers the Yankees for ESPNNewYork.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Three Triple Crown Races Horse Racing Radio Network
"The Triple Crown is the most-coveted title in our sport and the KENTUCKY DERBY is the most prestigious event in thoroughbred racing," said MIKE PENNA, President of HRRN. "As a life-long racing fan, the opportunity to broadcast the Triple Crown is a tremendous honor and privilege. We take great pride in making our listeners feel as if they are sitting next to us during our broadcasts and look forward to showcasing these days to racing fans around the world.
We are excited to work with the experienced team of broadcasters and racing journalists at HRRN to bring the excitement of KENTUCKY DERBY 137 home to radio and online listeners around the world," said CHURCHILL DOWNS Pres. KEVIN FLANERY. "From the rich pageantry to the colorful personalities to the legendary 'Run for the Roses' itself, we know the team at HRRN will help us share this year's unforgettable DERBY experiences with race fans who can't join us in person but will certainly join us in spirit as we crown another DERBY champion on the first SATURDAY in MAY."
"We are pleased the PREAKNESS STAKES will be covered by HRRN for the fourth consecutive year," said MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB VP/Communications MIKE GATHAGAN. "The network's national radio broadcast allows racing fans from around the world to be a live witness to this first-class event at PIMLICO RACE COURSE."
"We are thrilled that once again HRRN will be providing coverage of NEW YORK's premier race, the BELMONT STAKES," said NYRA Dir./Communications and Media Relations DAN SILVER. "With the NBC Sports Group uniting the DERBY, PREAKNESS, and BELMONT STAKES on television, and HRRN uniting all three races on radio, it promises to be a great year of coverage for our sport's Triple Crown.
Pimco's Gross dumps U.S. debt
It's the second month in a row that well-known fund manager Bill Gross has drastically reduced Pimco's exposure to U.S. government debt.
Gross has been very vocal about his feelings toward U.S. interest rates, saying in January that they were "robbing" investors and that U.S. government debt should be "exorcized" from investors' portfolios.
The Total Return Fund held about 22% of its holdings in U.S. government debt as recently as December, but reduced those holdings to about 12% in January.
Pimco defines U.S. government-related securities as not only U.S. Treasuries but also government agency debt, interest rate swaps, futures and options and FDIC-guaranteed corporate securities.
Track bonds and rates. Gross's comments typically carry considerable influence on investors because his Total Return Fund is by far the world's largest bond fund with more than $240 billion in assets under management. It's also the best-performing bond fund for the last 15 years, according to Morningstar.com.
In his February newsletter, Gross said he believes U.S. Treasuries are trading at a yield of 1.5 percentage points below where they should be historically, making them an unattractive place to invest for the time being. Gross also reiterated that stocks and bonds may struggle this summer when the Federal Reserve ends its second quantitative easing program.
At the same time that he reduced his exposure to U.S. government debt, Gross vastly increased his cash and cash-equivalent position last month. Cash now makes up 23% of the portfolio compared to the 5% of the portfolio the fund had in January. The fund also increased its holdings of overseas emerging market bonds to 10% of its assets, up from 5%.
The Total Return Fund also reduced its exposure to mortgage-backed securities to 34% of the portfolio, down from 42% of the portfolio in January.
The price on the benchmark U.S. 10-year note rose slightly Thursday, pushing the yield down to 3.44% from yesterday's 3.47%.
HCA Rises 4% in Biggest Ever Private Equity IPO
The company's stock opened at $31.20 a share on the New York Stock Exchange, up 4% from its initial public offering price of $30, during a morning in which broader market indexes were down. Around midday in New York, the stock was trading at $31.16.
A total of 126.2 million shares were sold, two million more than expected. The deal sold at the high end of its $27 to $30 range.
Nashville's HCA is the largest private-sector hospital operator in the U.S., with 164 hospitals and 106 surgery centers. Though the majority are across 20 states, it also operates six hospitals in England.
HCA booked revenue of $30.7 billion and earnings of $1.2 billion last year. Though revenue and profit growth slowed from what was seen in 2009 compared with 2008, the metrics were still up 2% and 14.5%, respectively, during a period of economic uncertainty and high unemployment.
Both revenue per admitted patient and the overall number of admissions increased in 2010 on an equivalent admissions basis, which is a measure of combined inpatient and outpatient revenue.
One of HCA's major selling points is the shift in U.S. demographic trends, with a larger aging population headed for hospitals. What's more uncertain is the effect of U.S. health care overhaul on hospitals.
While more people will have medical insurance under the new health-care law, reductions are expected in the growth of Medicare spending and in Medicare and Medicaid payments to hospitals that treat a large share of poor patients. Nearly 41% of HCA's revenue in 2010 was from Medicare and Medicaid, so spending cutbacks could negate the benefits of having more patients.
HCA has developed its own back-office services that could expand its reach in the health-care sector, if it successfully markets them to other firms. It runs its own revenue-cycle management organization, a health-care group-purchasing organization, an information-technology and services provider, a nurse-staffing agency, and a medical malpractice insurance underwriter.
Those services have helped HCA save money and operate more efficiently. It's in the process of creating a subsidiary that will offer some of those services to other health-care companies.
Of the shares sold in the IPO, 36.3 million, or 29%, were scheduled to be sold by existing owners, according to the company's prospectus, so those proceeds won't benefit the company. The sellers included private equity firms Bain Capital, KKR & Co., the private-equity arm of Bank of America Corp. and the company's founding Frist family.
The deal raised $3.79 billion, making it the largest private-equity-backed IPO ever in the U.S., according to data from Dealogic.
It is the third billion plus IPO backed by private-equity owners this year; the previous two, Nielsen Holdings NV and Kinder Morgan Inc., were well-received during their respective debuts in January and February.
HCA was acquired for $21 billion in late 2006 by its private-equity owners, who put down about $4.9 billion of their own money collectively. The rest of the purchase price was financed with borrowings, leaving the company with $28.3 billion of debt at the end of 2010.
Since their purchase of HCA, the owners have rewarded themselves with about $4.3 billion in dividends, nearly the same amount they initially invested.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citigroup Inc. and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. managed the offering.
Clinton will meet with Libyan opposition, visit Egypt and Tunisia next week
We'll be marking time in Eastern Standard Time. Tunisia is six hours ahead, Egypt and Libya are seven hours ahead, and Yemen and Iraq are eight hours ahead.
LinkedIn Launching Social News Product for Professionals 2011
At a press event Thursday at its headquarters in Mountain View, California, LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner and SVP of product Deep Nishar discussed the company’s new product strategy and revealed a few new products.
Weiner says that the company has three central goals as part of its quest to deliver value to its membership. First, LinkedIn wants to be the professional profile of record. Second, the company wants to be the primary source for professional insights. Finally, LinkedIn wants to be ubiquitous in the workplace.
SVP of product Nishar then took the stage to explain that vast amounts of business information pass through LinkedIn’s servers, things like profile views, connections, polls, sharing stats and more. The challenge is finding a way to synthesize and deliver this information in a way that gives its users actionable business data.
To start the event, the business network demoed two previously launched products: LinkedIn Skills and LinkedIn In Maps.
LinkedIn Today. Nishar says that products like Skills and InMaps provide its users unparalleled business insights, but that users have to dig into these products for the relevant data and insights. The company wants to take things a step further by delivering that data to its users fingertips.
LinkedIn says that two of its products fit into this model: the already-launched LinkedIn Signal and the new LinkedIn Today product.
LinkedIn Today is a professional news product that aggregates and delivers a personalized news experience to each user. Product manager Liz Walker says that it chooses stories based on what stories a user’s network is sharing.
It’s similar to apps like Paper.li in terms of design and functionality. Today provides different lenses for checking out top news in not just a user’s network, but in entire industries. For example, users can check out the hot stories in marketing and advertising, private equity or politics. The company says it’s a quick way for busy business users to get the top stories of the day.
LinkedIn also released a mobile version of LinkedIn Today that gives users the ability to check top stories within their network on the fly.
Meet Facebook's Billionaire 6 - Forbes Rich List 2011
Six of the founders and investors behind the hot Internet startup made the annual list of world's top billionaires compiled by Forbes and published on Wednesday and four of them are new to the roster.
They join a list of others made wealthy by the latest gold rush on the Internet, underscoring the extent of the resurgence in a sector left for dead at the turn of the millennium.
Facebook co-founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg clocked in at No. 52 with an estimated worth of $13.5 billion, up from 212 and $4 billion in 2010.
Co-founders Dustin Moskovitz, the youngest billionaire on the Forbes list at 26, Eduardo Saverin, and investors Sean Parker and Russian Yuri Milner are new to the ranks. Rounding out Forbes' "Facebook Six" is investor Peter Thiel, who has moved down to 833 from 828, despite increasing his wealth to $1.5 billion from $1.2 billion.
Created in a Harvard dorm room in 2004, Facebook rocketed from an online directory for college students to the world's No. 1 social network, quickly surpassing its predecessor Friendster and dominating its rival News Corp's MySpace in popularity.
New Photos of Hitler's Mistress - Eva Braun in Blackface
Eva Braun Photos, LIFE Magazine. Evidently Hitler was not fond of Eva Braun's penchant for smoking and nude sunbathing. The couple were married in a Berlin bunker as the Russian army closed in; they committed suicide the next day.
How Did Eva Braun and Hitler Meet. Eva Braun was working as a model and assistant for photographer Heinrich Hoffmann. Hoffmann became Hitler's personal photographer; Braun and Hitler began a relationship. She was 17 at the time. She initially described him as a man "with a funny mustache". Their relationship was not a happy one, and Eva Braun attempted suicide twice.
Before Braun, Hitler was rumored to be having an affair with his neice. As he rose to power, he kept Braun out of the limelight to the extent possible, even having her hidden when he had guests at the Berghof. Hitler's chauffeur described Braun as "the unhappiest woman in Germany", though there were several million who were arguably less happy.
The Evan Braun photos were unearthed by Reinhard Schultz, and are published by LIFE Magazine.
The Funny on Chuck Norris’ Birthday Chuck Norris Facts Website Delivers
Chuck Norris is 71, if you can believe it!
The website “Chuck Norris Facts” continues to be a source of fun and jokes about all things Chuck Norris, including gems like:
Chuck Norris counted to infinity – twice.
A blind man once stepped on Chuck Norris’ shoe. Chuck replied, “Don’t you know who I am? I’m Chuck Norris!” The mere mention of his name cured this man blindness. Sadly the first, last, and only thing this man ever saw, was a fatal roundhouse delivered by Chuck Norris.
There is no chin behind Chuck Norris’ beard. There is only another fist.
Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.
For some real Chuck Norris facts though, you may know that Norris starred on Walker, Texas Ranger and is a martial arts expert.
Norris became an honorary Texas Ranger! He was named a member of the elite Texas law enforcement unit last year. Chuck Norris was also made an honorary U.S. Marine in 2007.
Chuck Norris did actually serve in the U.S. Air Force.
Norris has starred in many films including Way of the Dragon, alongside Bruce Lee.
King Hearings and Anti-Muslim Hate: A Citizen's Call to Action
Peter King has chosen to ignore the fact that those who engage in violence motivated by extremist beliefs in America today hail from myriad racial, ethnic, religious and political backgrounds. Less than two weeks ago, the Southern Poverty Law Center released a report on the explosive growth of right-wing anti-government and hate groups. Yet, the Peter King hearings are focused on scapegoating one community based on their faith. America will be less safe as a result.
But King is not the first person in his party to use this tactic. In 2008, former Secretary of State Colin Powell courageously spoke out against members of his own political party because of their anti-Muslim rhetoric. He poignantly asked, "Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America."
During the 2008 presidential campaign, anti-Muslim rhetoric was becoming commonplace -- and Powell's voice was needed. Since then, anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate has re-emerged -- and it's becoming uglier and more frightening.
Last month U.S. Reps Gary Miller and Ed Royce attended an anti-Muslim rally in Orange County in which protesters hurled hateful comments at American Muslim families attending a fundraiser to support women's shelters and charitable efforts to curb hunger and homelessness.
At the rally, protesters yelled insults at attendees, including families with young children, shouting "You are stupid terrorists! Go home! Go home! Go home!" Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly spoke from the stage and said, "I know quite a few Marines who will be very happy to help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise."
It is outrageous that one community would be subject to death threats by a public official. Common decency and American values of truth and fairness dictate that neither law enforcement nor members of Congress should assign blame or target members of an entire mosque, neighborhood or the entire population of hard-working, law-abiding American Muslims when acts of violence are planned or perpetrated by individuals.
In the meantime, American Muslims are doing their part to keep us safe by regularly reporting criminal activity to law enforcement. In fact, senior, experienced law enforcement officials from the national to state to local levels have spotlighted the critical role that American Muslims play to defend democracy and security.
But we have reached a tipping point. Unless something is done, we will continue this dangerous slide toward fear. It's time for all Americans, including elected officials, to take a stand for our common values. Many Americans who believe in freedom, truth and fairness are ready to speak out -- they simply need a platform.
Fortunately, many courageous Americans have begun to push back against efforts to target the entire American Muslim community. They include Christian clergy, law enforcement officials and civil rights leaders.
When Rep. Peter King announced that he would hold hearings targeting American Muslims, over 50 organizations came together to sign a letter to Speaker John Boehner and Leader Nancy Pelosi objecting to the nature of the hearings and calling on Rep. King to focus on all violent extremism rather than a single religious community.
What is missing from the discourse is a platform for Americans of good will to push back against anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate, especially when espoused by elected officials. That's why several organizations have now come together to launch www.WhatUnites.Us.
We are bringing together Americans from all walks of life to push back against anti-Muslim rhetoric and make it unacceptable for public figures of any kind, but especially elected officials, to espouse anti-Muslim hate. We call on Americans to unite with us and to call out rhetoric and actions that divide us.
Dalai Lama to Cede State Ahead Vote
The Dalai Lama, 75, has been Tibet's spiritual and state leader, although since 2001 Lobsang Tenzin, 71, also known as the Samdhong Rinpoche, has been prime minister of the government in exile, with final authority over political matters.
But the Dalai Lama said he wanted to make the spiritual-state distinction clearer.
"As early as the 1960s, I have repeatedly stressed that Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people," the Dalai Lama said in Dharamsala, India, on the 52nd anniversary of the failed 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule. "Now, we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect.
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His decision "has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility," said the Dalai Lama, whose religious name is Tenzin Gyatso. "It is to benefit Tibetans in the long run. It is not because I feel disheartened."
He said he trusted "that gradually people will come to understand my intention, will support my decision and accordingly let it take effect," he said.
The Dalai Lama said he would begin the formal process of stepping down at a meeting of the Tibetan Parliament in exile Monday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told The New York Times Beijing saw his plans as "his tricks to deceive the international community."
The Tibetan Parliament's Monday meeting coincides with the third anniversary of the March 2008 uprisings that erupted into riots across China's Tibetan plateau after the suppression of a peaceful protest by monks in Lhasa, Tibet's administrative capital.
Beijing at the time accused the Dalai Lama of orchestrating the unrest, a charge the Dalai Lama denied, saying it was a result of widespread Tibetan discontent.
China this week temporarily banned foreigners from traveling to the region.
The Dalai Lama has said he does not want independence for Tibet, only meaningful autonomy.
Lobsang Sangay, a Tibetan legal scholar and an expert on international human-rights law, currently at Harvard University, is the front-runner for prime minister, with "wide popularity among young Tibetans.
Tournament Preview 2011 Pac-10
Here is how I see the Pac-10 tournament playing out. As always these predictions are for amusement purposes only:
Wednesday March 9 (Opening Round)
10 Arizona State (12-18, 4-14) over 7 Oregon (14-16, 7-11) 6 p.m.
Arizona State limped into the final weekend of Pac-10 play with an awful 2-14 record in conference. They built some momentum by blowing out Oregon by 20 and Oregon State by 14. The Sun Devils looked awful when they came to Galen Center, but they have to have some confidence after the beating they put on their opponents. By contrast, Oregon has lost four in a row and needs to address serious issues with their defense. The chances ASU blows out Oregon are very slim, but I like them to squeak past the Ducks and notch a win in the tournament.
9 Oregon State (10-19, 5-13) over 8 Stanford (15-15, 7-11) 8:30 p.m.
Whose stench is less foul? Oregon State has lost 7 of their last 8 and Stanford has lost 5 of their last 6 games in conference. Both teams are young and hope to progress next year. Oregon State won the match-up two weeks ago to split the season series. Stanford was just blown out 74-55 by their rival Cal, and you have to wonder about a team that won't even show up for a rivalry game. Oregon State has pulled off a few head-scratching upsets over Arizona and Washington, and they will take care of the sliding Cardinal.
Star-divide
Thursday March 10 (Quarterfinals)
4 USC (18-13, 10-8) over 5 California (17-13, 10-8) 12 pm
These two teams split the season series as both games were decided by a combined 5 points. Both teams pride themselves on defense and it will likely be a tightly-contested game that comes down to the final possession. Cal lost the most recent meeting, and used it as a rallying point to finish the season strong. They have won four in a row, but two of those games came against the Oregon schools. USC will be fresh and brimming with motivation knowing that an NCAA bid is within reach. Down the stretch, I would rather have Nikola Vucevic, Donte Smith, Jio Fontan, and Maurice Jones than Jorge Gutierrez. The important stat to look at: USC hasn't lost in the quarterfinals since 2006.
1 Arizona (25-6, 14-4) over 9 Oregon State 2:30 pm
Oregon State beat Arizona early in the year, but even a broken clock is right twice a day. The Wildcats are the superior team and, if the game is even close with 10 minutes to go, they will pull away. Inferior teams beat favorites by knocking down 3s and hoping for a bad shooting night by the other team. The problem? Arizona leads the conference in 3-point made percentage and is the best in the conference at defending the 3.
2 UCLA (22-9, 13-5) over 10 Arizona State 6 pm
Malcolm Lee has a slight tear in the knee but is expected to play. Even without him, UCLA should not have trouble with Arizona State. The Bruins are strong inside and have relied on good guard play to take opponents down. Arizona State just doesn't have the firepower to keep up with UCLA.
6 Washington State (19-11, 9-9) over 3 Washington (20-10, 11-7) 8:30 pm
Lorenzo Romar's program has had a tough year off the court, and things hit a low point when he suspended Venoy Overton for the Pac-10 tournament after he was charged for providing alcohol to a minor. Now, the Huskies are thin at the guard position and will be missing their most pesky defender. This team has the talent to win the Pac-10, but the off-court issues and injuries are getting in the way. Washington State swept the season series and did so in convincing fashion. The Cougars seem to have the Huskies number this year and Klay Thompson will be chomping at the bit after missing an overtime loss to UCLA for marijuana possession.
Friday March 11 (Semifinals)
4 USC over 1 Arizona 6pm
Arizona shot over 60% against USC in Tucson, but the Trojans made many adjustments in the second contest and upset the then-No. 10 Wildcats. USC now has the blueprint for beating Arizona and a plan for guarding Derrick Williams. If they can keep him off the line like they did in the second meeting, Arizona is in trouble. They rely heavily on Williams to carry them, and when he struggles so do they. In that upset, USC only made 1-10 from 3, and that number will most assuredly increase in this game. The Wildcats didn't have an answer for Nikola Vucevic and the aggressiveness of the guards put Arizona on its heels as USC got to the line 27 times. The Trojans also have more to play for and will be amped up.
2 UCLA over 6 Washington State 8:30 pm
UCLA just beat Washington State to complete the season sweep. The Bruins dug themselves a whole, but the came storming back and Josh Smith inside will keep down DeAngelo Casto. Despite the loss to Washington last weekend, UCLA is playing some of the best basketball in the conference and will be hungry to prove their worth after letting a chance to win the regular season title slip away.
Saturday March 12 (Championship)
4 USC over 2 UCLA 3:10 pm. The rivals split the regular season series and USC won the last time these two squads met in the Pac-10 tournament in 2009. UCLA is playing much better now than they were when USC beat, but USC has surpassed that level and they are now playing their best basketball. With Donte Smith in the starting lineup, their offense has been more spread out and given defenses much more area to cover. As a result, teams have had to come out to the perimeter and leave the middle open for Vucevic and Stepheson to emerge. UCLA has improved their guard play considerably as well, and it will be interesting to see the battles between Malcolm Lee and Jio Fontan. Lee may not be 100% and that could hinder the Bruins. Down the stretch, will freshman Josh Smith be able to handle the pressure as well as junior Nikola Vucevic. The bottom line: USC didn't play in the Pac-10 tournament last year so they are hungry. They are playing their best basketball of the year, the brand that has led to some marquee wins and a renewed energy at the most important time of the year: March.
Real World Las Vegas 2011
The 25th season is set Las Vegas, nearly after a decade of the first show in Sin City.
But the season premiere was not very sinful.
The cast is diverse and beautiful, of course. Already things are being said that seem scripted, like “I will not go to a strip club” and “I don’t want to hook up with my roommates”. You know these things are going to eventually happen!
Predictable? Yes!
Let’s face it – The Real World is not as interesting as it used to be.
It’s no Jersey Shore.