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TIGER WOODS: LAWMAKER WITHDRAWS BID TO GIVE GOLFER HONOR
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tiger Woods' reputation has been damaged a lot over the past week and a half. And now, a member of Congress says the golfer has lost stature in his eyes, too. California Democrat Joe Baca had proposed legislation in March to try to get Woods a Congressional Gold Medal. But now, Baca is having second thoughts. In a statement yesterday, Baca says "in light of recent developments surrounding Tiger Woods and his family" he is withdrawing his recommendation. The medal is the highest award Congress can give to civilians for their achievements and contributions to society. Late last month, Woods hit a hydrant and tree and the accident led to a series of allegations of extramarital affairs. The golfer has issued a statement acknowledging that he had let is family down with his "transgressions," though he didn't specify what they were.
TIGER WOODS: A BOON FOR THE INTERNET
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Tiger Woods' personal business has been good business for the Internet business. At least that's what the head of Yahoo is proclaiming. In remarks at an investor conference, Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz said the Woods story is "better than Michael Jackson dying" when it came to helping Yahoo make money. Bartz has a reputation for making controversial statements — and added that her company will "absolutely" meet its financial forecast this quarter be cause of the Woods sex scandal. The company later said that comment was meant to be a joke.
TIGER WOODS: GATORADE DROPPING WOODS DRINK — BUT SAYS MOVE UNRELATED TO SCANDAL
PURCHASE, N.Y. (AP) — Gatorade says the decision has nothing to do with his off-the-course issues — but it is dropping its version of its sports drink named after Tiger Woods. Word of the change comes from the trade publication Beverage Digest, which reported the decision two days before Woods had his car accident outside his home in Florida. The drink made its debut in March of last year, but fell short of expectations.
TIGER WOODS: WHERE ARE THE ADS?
UNDATED (AP) — Until just recently, it would be hard to watch TV without seeing an ad featuring Tiger Woods. Now, you'd be hard pressed to find a single one. Even though his endorsement partners say they are sticking with Woods, despite what the golfer calls his "personal failures," it isn't exactly business as usual. Nielsen reports there have been no Woods ads in prime-time since November 29. The last one Nielsen says it tracked was a 30-second ad for Gillette. The Tiger ban has spanned all the broadcast networks and 19 cable networks during evening news reports, prime-time shows, late night shows and during weekend sports broadcasts.
SHERRI SHEPHERD: INTO THE WOODS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sherri Shepherd says it didn't take a tabloid story or magazine report to know what was up with Tiger Woods' personal life. That's because she lived through a similar situation in her own life. The comedian and "The View" co-host says as soon as she heard a late-night departure, single-car car accident and golf clubs were involved, she had no trouble putting the pieces together. Shepherd says she sniffed out right away the conversation at the Woods home had something to do with: "Did you sleep with that woman!?!" Shepherd knows from what she speaks. She writes in her book "Permission Slips" that her own husband cheated on her while she was pregnant. And what's more, he impregnated the woman he cheated on her with. Shepherd says if it weren't for her friends, she would have had another title to her resume: husband killer. She says decided to kill her husband one night while he slept. But she says, the lamp she started to whack him on the head with wasn't heavy enough to cause any damage. Shepherd says she realizes now why people invest in antique lamps — they're heavy enough to "crush a skull."
Sound:
<<CUT …015 (12/10/09)>> 00:32 "''
Oscar Wells Gabriel
A co-host of "The View" weighs in on Tiger Woods, as AP Corresponent Oscar Wells Gabriel reports.
<<CUT …016 (12/10/09)>> 00:10 "with that woman!?!"
Sherri Shepherd
Sherri Shepherd says knew from the get-go that the Tiger Woods accident had something to do with infidelity. ((longer version of cut in wrap))
<<CUT …017 (12/10/09)>> 00:10 "will crush skull"
Sherri Shepherd
Sherri Shepherd says if it weren't for a cheaply-made lamp, she would have killed her husband for cheating on her. ((longer version of cut in wrap))
<<CUT …018 (12/10/09)>> 00:05 "killing my husband"
Sherri Shepherd
Sherri Shepherd says only the intervention of her two friends kept her from killing her husband for cheating on her.
JACKSON BROTHERS: NO FINGER-POINTING
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — It seems everybody else has an opinion about the doctor who was treating Michael Jackson when he died in June. But not his brothers. Jackie, Marlon and Tito Jackson say they don't want to jump to any conclusions about what happened to their brother — because all the facts aren't in yet. Jackson's personal doctor, Conrad Murray, is the focus of the probe into the pop star's death on June 25. The brothers made the comments while promoting their new reality series on A&E Network. The show, "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty" will air for the first time on Monday.
TYLER PERRY: MOTHER PASSES AWAY
ATLANTA (AP) — She was the inspiration for Madea — the character often portrayed by Tyler Perry. Now, Willie Maxine Perry is no more. The filmmaker's mother has died. She was 64 — and her death was announced on Perry's Web site yesterday. He didn't mention when his mom died or what caused her death. His publicist provided no further details. In interviews, Perry has said Madea was a cross between his mother and his aunt.
On the Net:
Tyler Perry site: http://tylerperry.com/
NAS/KELIS: JUDGE ORDERS SINGER TO STEP UP PAYMENTS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nas is going to have to dig a bit deeper to take care of his son-to-be-broken-up family. A judge in Los Angeles has ordered him to increase his payments to Kelis and their infant son. He will have to pay $51,101 to take care of them — an increase from the nearly $40,000 a month he had been paying since July. Both sides have been in court to claim they didn't have enough money — Kelis for herself and the baby and Nas to care for their needs. Attorneys for both sides say they are satisfied with the ruling.
ASHANTI: FITNESS TRAINER ACCUSED IN STALKING CASE
NEW YORK (AP) — We haven't heard a whole lot from Ashanti lately. But she and her mother have allegedly heard a lot from an Indiana fitness trainer — and that has them kinda creeped out. Authorities in New York says Devar Hurd has been sending Ashanti's mom crude text messages about getting with the singer. The allegations against Hurd also say the man would also send graphic photos and even a photo of the family's home. Hurd has pleaded not guilty and is being held on $50,000 bond. The matter could to go to trial next week.
R. KELLY: WRITING A BOOK
NEW YORK (AP) — You've heard his music, seen his videos — and yes, some of you even THAT video. But will you be willing to check out a book written by R. Kelly? He is working on an autobiography in which he promises in a statement to "tell it like it is" — including the child porn charges that nearly landed him in prison. The book will be co-written by David Ritz and is due out in 2011.
On the Net:
http://www.r-kelly.com
HOLLYWOOD BREAKS RECORD:
LOS ANGELES (AP) — It's a record year for Hollywood. For the first time ever, domestic ticket sales have passed the $10 billion mark. And this year still has three weeks left — and a batch of new films still due out, so the industry will have time to pad the record before the clock runs out on 2K9.
RICHARD PRYOR: LOOKING BACK
UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 2005, comedian Richard Pryor died. He passed away of a heart attack at a hospital outside Los Angeles. He was 65.
OTIS REDDING: LOOKING BACK
UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1967, singer Otis Redding and four members of his band, the Bar-Kays, were killed when their twin-engine plane crashed into a lake near Madison, Wisconsin. Redding was only 26. Redding came along at a time when black R&B artists were making inroads on the pop music charts. But it wasn't until after his death that one of his records made the top of the charts. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" was a number-one hit in early 1968, selling four million copies in five months. He recorded the song just three days before he died.
MARIAH CAREY: LOOKING BACK
UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1993, singer Mariah Carey announced she would donate her profits from the hit single "Hero" to families of the Long Island Railroad shooting victims. The singer, a native of Long Island, New York, made the announcement less than a week after the incident. Six people were killed and 18 were wounded when a gunman opened fire on a commuter train.
THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE: LOOKING BACK
UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1997, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince -- as he was known at the time -- took to the stage for a performance in his hometown of Minneapolis. It was the first time he had played there in ten years. About 14-thousand fans attended the sold-out concert.
ROBERTA FLACK: LOOKING BACK
UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1972, singer Roberta Flack and two members of her backup band were injured in a car accident. The wreck occurred as they were driving into New York.
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO: LOOKING BACK
UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1991, a founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo was shot to death in a roadside argument near Durban, South Africa. Headman Tshabalala was 44 and was one of four brothers in the ten-member group. The Grammy-winning vocal group had gained fame for its work singing background on Paul Simon's album, "Graceland."
DARREN ROBINSON: LOOKING BACK
UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1995, rapper Darren Robinson died of a heart attack in Rosedale, New York. He was 28. The 450-pound performer with the group the Fat Boys was known as the "human beat box" for the percussion sounds he would make on the group's recordings. The group sold a million copies of their 1987 album, "Crushin.'"
WALTER "CLYDE" ORANGE/JESSICA CLEAVES/RALPH TAVARES: BIRTHDAY
UNDATED (AP) — Birthdays today for three performers, each a member of an old-school group. Walter "Clyde" Orange turns 63. He was a drummer with The Commodores.
Jessica Cleaves turns 61. She was a member of Friends of Distinction, a group that had hits in 1969 with "Grazing In The Grass" and "Going In Circles."
And Ralph Tavares of the family singing group Tavares also turns 61. Their biggest hits include "It Only Takes A Minute," ''Remember What I Told You To Forget" and "Whodunit."
MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN: BIRTHDAY
UNDATED (AP) — A birthday today for actor Michael Clarke Duncan. The star of "The Green Mile" and other films turns 52.
NIA PEEPLES: BIRTHDAY
UNDATED (AP) — Nia Peeples turns 48 today. The actress hosted the short-lived "Party Machine with Nia Peeples" in 1991.
RAVEN: BIRTHDAY
UNDATED (AP) — Actress Raven turns 24 today. She's the star of her own TV show on Disney, "That's So Raven" and co-stars in the "Cheetah Girls" franchise. Earlier in her career, she had credits in two successful TV sitcoms: "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper" and "The Cosby Show." She also starred in "Dr. Dolittle." She used to go by the name Raven-Symone.
by Oscar Wells Gabriel II
