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TIGER WOODS: A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE

NEW YORK (AP) — People know a good story when they hear one — even if it's about the world's best golfer doing some bad stuff. So, even though the Tiger Woods marital meltdown didn't make news in time to make it on the list of top stories of 2009, there were more than a few people who wrote it in as a candidate for a top story. This year, The Associated Press, in addition to having news editors vote, also opened a separate vote to Facebook users. And the Woods story got a lot of write-in tallies among users of the social networking site, too.

TIGER WOODS: PGA TOUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — "Personal failures" or no, Tiger Woods has been a success on the golf course this year — a fact even his peers have to acknowledge. He's been voted the PGA Tour player of the year by his fellow golfers. During 2K9, Woods won six tour events, won the FedEx Cup and its $10 million bonus — and won more money than any other tour player. No one else on the tour won more than three times in 2009. It's the 10th time in Woods' 13 years on tour he has won the award. And it's the second time he has managed to win the honor without having won one of the four major tournaments. Woods is currently on leave from the PGA tour. Last week he announced he was taking an unspecified amount of time off to work on his marriage after admitting to cheating on his wife. At the start of this year, there were questions about when Woods would return — that time, because he was coming off knee surgery.

TIGER WOODS: TAG HEUER DROPS GOLFER FROM ADS

GENEVA (AP) — At first, Tag Heuer (HOY'-ur) said it would stick with Tiger Woods. But the Swiss watchmaker has since gone counterclockwise on its support — now saying it no longer will use Woods in its U.S. ads for the foreseeable future. The company's CEO says the company is taking its actions on what it calls "recent events" surrounding Woods. In comments to a Swiss newspaper, the company's chief says while Woods is "a great sportsman" but has to "take account of the sensitivity of some consumers" when it comes to its continued association with Woods. The golfer is on indefinite leave from golf to work on his marriage after committing adultery. The newspaper says Tag Heuer will continue supporting Woods' charitable foundation, even though it will no longer use him in their ads.

A number of sponsors have stepped away from Woods since he admitted cheating on his wife. The consulting firm Accenture has dropped him, and Gillette says it will no longer use him in ads for its razors.

LIL WAYNE: CONCERT GOES ON, AFTER RAPPER, ENTOURAGE DETAINED

FALFURRIAS, Texas (AP) — The show went on for Lil Wayne this weekend. But it almost went up in smoke — and yes, because we are talking Lil Wayne, it was THAT kind of smoke. The rap star and eleven members of his entourage were detained Friday after U.S. Border Patrol officers say they found pot on two of his tour buses. Customs officials say Lil Wayne and the others were questioned and released — and the case was referred to the Brooks County Sheriff's Office. The tour buses were stopped about 80 miles southwest of Corpus Christi, Texas, where Lil Wayne was to perform. After Friday's arrests, fans in Laredo were told that night's show was canceled. But it was rescheduled for Saturday night.

Back in October, Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in a 2007 New York case. That charge started out with a traffic stop of his tour bus in which authorities reported smelling pot. His plea deal calls for a year in jail in that case. The rapper will be sentenced in February for that infraction. He also is to be tried in March on felony drug possession and weapons charges in Yuma County, Arizona.

(Spelling of Mathew with just one "t'' in this item is correct)

BEYONCE: PARENTS ARE SPLITTING

HOUSTON (AP) — Beyonce's parents say if you think their divorce will be "an ugly messy fight" — think again. But, messy or no, Mathew and Tina Knowles are going their separate ways. Beyonce's mom is the one filing for the split-up; the papers were put into action with the Harris County Court Clerk's office in Texas. The divorce filing comes about a month after Mathew Knowles was named in a paternity suit. A Los Angeles woman claims in the lawsuit that Beyonce's dad is the father of her unborn child. But in a statement to The Associated Press, the couple says the split is "an amicable one" and that they remain "friends, parents and business partners." And she also asks for privacy while they go through the divorce.

Tina and Mathew Knowles were married in 1980. Besides Beyonce, who is 27, they have another daughter, 23-year-old Solange.

ASHANTI: ACCUSED STALKER SAYS HE WAS JOKING

NEW YORK (AP) — Ashanti, her mother and prosecutors in New York call it stalking and harassment. But the guy who was sending a bunch of crude and creepy messages to Ashanti claims he was just trying to get some play. Devar Hurd says he was just "sex texting" and joking around when he sent the messages to Ashanti. In his testimony Friday, Hurd also said he thought he and Ashanti would be in business together — but didn't specify what kind of business they'd be involved in. Hurd is accused of sending lewd remarks, graphic photos and a picture of the family's home. Ashanti's mom has testified that Hurd was a stranger who bombarded her daughter with disgusting messages, despite her insistence that he stop.

MICHAEL JACKSON: POP STAR'S DEATH AMONG TOP STORIES OF 2K9

NEW YORK (AP) — It was one of those moments you'll always remember where you were when ou heard the news and because of that, the death of Michael Jackson is considered one of the top stories of 2009. The sudden, surprising death of the pop star was voted as one of the top ten stories of the year by Associated Press members. It came in as number seven on the year's top stories, behind such world-shaking events as the economy, the inauguration of President Barack Obama and the ongoing congressional battle to pass health care reform legislation. Jackson was 50 years old when he died in Los Angeles — weeks before he was to launch a comeback concert tour. His personal doctor, Conrad Murray, remains the focus of a police homicide investigation after telling police he administered a powerful operating room anesthetic to help the pop star get some sleep.

MICHAEL JACKSON: TRIBUTE IN LONDON SCRAPPED

VIENNA (AP) — Remember that big, star-studded show scheduled for London as a tribute to Michael Jackson? Forget about it — it won't be happening. The Austrian company that was was organizing the show says it's going out of business — and won't be doing it. Jermaine Jackson was involved and the man who had been promoting the show says he doesn't know if the pop star's brother would be going ahead with it on his own. The show ran into trouble from the get-go. It was originally to take place in Vienna — but the move was criticized because Jackson had no ties to the Austrian city. Jermaine had said he wanted it there because his brother Michael "loved castles." On top of that, many of the stars expected to be be involved ran into scheduling conflicts.

MICHAEL JACKSON: MOVIE RETURNS TO DISNEYLAND

LOS ANGELES (AP) — One of Michael Jackson's signature productions is making a comeback. Disneyland says it will be bringing back "Captain EO." The 3D science-fiction film is going to be back at the theme park in February — some 23 years after it first made its debut in Anaheim, California. The film ran 17 minutes long and starred Jackson as a space-age commander. Francis Ford Coppola was the director and George Lucas was the executive producer. "Captain EO" ran for more than a decade at Disneyland and eventually was run at other Disney theme parks. All of the productions were shut down by 1998.

MICHAEL JACKSON: "BEAT IT" MEMORABILIA SOLD

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It seems anyone with anything connected to Michael Jackson can find a market for it. For example, you probably remember the red leather jacket Jackson wore in his "Beat It" video. But what about the T-shirt he wore under the jacket? Well, it has been sold, too. An official at Bonhams and Butterfields says a California man has sold the shirt Jackson wore under the jacket at auction. It went for about $21,000.

Sound:

<<CUT …042 (12/21/09)>> 00:08 "shot the video"

Margaret Barrett, director of entertainment memorabilia, Bonhams and Butterfields

Margaret Barrett, with the auction house Bonhams and Butterfields, says a California man sold-off the T-shirt that Michael Jackson wore under a red leather jacket in the "Beat It" video.

<<CUT …043 (12/21/09)>> 00:16 "21-thousand dollars"

Margaret Barrett, director of entertainment memorabilia, Bonhams and Butterfields

Margaret Barrett, with the auction house Bonhams and Butterfields, says a T-shirt made famous by Michael Jackson was sold at auction on Sunday.

<<CUT …044 (12/21/09)>> 00:14 "what Michael's is"

Margaret Barrett, director of entertainment memorabilia, Bonhams and Butterfields

Margaret Barrett, with the auction house Bonhams and Butterfields, says celebrity collectors will be looking for possessions from actress Brittany Murphy who died Sunday.

''AVATAR" ZOOMS INTO BOX OFFICE LEAD

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It took about $400 million to make. So you know the producers of "Avatar" would be taking a close look at the box office numbers for the James Cameron film. So far so good. The film took in $73 million in the U.S. And overseas, it took in just over $159 million, giving it more than $232 million in its first weekend alone. It might have done even better had it not been for the huge snowstorm that blanketed much of the East over the weekend. The film's studio — 20th Century Fox — is already saying it made a good investment on the film — saying the word-of-mouth it has gotten so far has been very good. Meanwhile, Avatar did fall short of the record for a December debut. That mark was the $77.2 million set two years ago by Will Smith's "I Am Legend."

Sound:

<<CUT …029 (12/21/09)>> 00:30 "''

Jamie Friar

Blue-skinned aliens are bringing in the green. The AP's Jamie Friar has the weekend box office results. ((cut opens with sound))

<<CUT …030 (12/21/09)>> 00:13 "a year ago"

Jamie Friar

It was a good weekend for Hollywood. But the AP's Jamie Friar reports it might have been even better.

<<CUT …031 (12/21/09)>> 00:10 "of the native"

Excerpt of Sam Worthington

This is archive audio of Sam Worthington, in a scene from "Avatar," which opens at number-one.

ANIKA NONI ROSE: "PRINCESS" FINISHES SECOND

LOS ANGELES (AP) — "The Princess and the Frog" continues to do well at the box office. It finished second behind the weekend's major debut, "Avatar" — taking in $12.2 million. The weekend take for the movie featuring Disney's first African-American princess was probably slowed by the snow that hit many areas of the East Coast, keeping families with kids from making it out to the multiplex. Number three this past weekend is "The Blind Side" — which had $10 million in box office business. Morgan Freeman's "Invictus" finished sixth, with $4.2 million dollars taken in over the weekend.

SNOOP DOGG: IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN AS A GRIDIRON INSPIRATION

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Snoop Dogg made his name and fame as a gangsta rapper. But to the young people who play football in the Los Angeles area, he is known as something else: a football inspiration. Crenshaw High School entered into the weekend undefeated as it headed into the California state championship. And the coach of the team says Snoop is a major reason for the team's success. Nine members of this year's Crenshaw High team played in Snoop's youth football league as kids. And because of the success of teams like Crenshaw, Snoop's football league is seen as a breeding ground for quality players. He has given nearly $1.5 million of his own money to establish and support the football league. And that alone has helped put and keep kids on the field who otherwise wouldn't have had fields and equipment to play football. Players who become involved in the league are also less likely to get involved in gangs.

WILLIE D: FORMER GETO BOYS RAPPER PLEADS GUILTY TO ELECTRONICS SCAM

HOUSTON (AP) — A former member of Geto Boys is running into trouble with the law. Rapper Willie D has pleaded guilty in Houston to wire fraud. Authorities say he was involved in the bogus sale of iPhones and other electronic devices. Willie D will be facing up to 20 years in prison when he's sentenced next April. He was indicted in JUne on charges that he sold iPhones and other electronics to online shoppers without delivering the goods. As part of his case, Willie D must pay back the $132,000 he acknowledges ripping off from his online marks.

KOOL AND THE GANG: VISITING CUBA

HAVANA (AP) — It may not be one of their biggest gigs. But it's a very important one for Kool and the Gang. The veteran R&B group was in Cuba for a performance last night in Havana. That makes them one of the few American musical acts to play in Cuba. There are travel restrictions on Americans going to the Communist island nation — and that has kept many U.S.-based artists from traveling to Cuba.

BARACK OBAMA: HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM SNOWFLAKES

WASHINGTON (AP) — About a year ago, President Barack Obama was complaining that just a little bit of ice would cause big problems in and around the nation's capital. But even though schools throughout the area are closed and the federal government is shut down, chances are he isn't beefing this time around. A storm over the weekend has dumped about a foot and a half of snow on the area. Speaking with reporters at the White House, Obama said the snow finally made it feel like his home in Chicago. Last year, when a light coating of ice in DC closed his daughter's school, Obama noted that back home in Chicago, the schools hardly ever close because of weather. He suggested Washington needed some of what he called that "flinty Chicago toughness."

ALBERT KING: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1992, bluesman Albert King died after having a heart attack. He was 69. King recorded such blues classics as "Born Under a Bad Sign," ''Crosscut Saw" and "Laundromat Blues."

DIANA ROSS/SUPREMES: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — It was on this date in 1969 that Diana Ross and the Supremes made their last appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." They sang "Someday We'll Be Together." Ross left the group for a solo career. Years later Ross toured with two other former members of the Supremes in what was billed as the "Return To Love" tour. It turned out to be more like the "Return The Tickets" tour. It was poorly supported and eventually was cut short.

LAVERN BAKER: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1955, Lavern Baker recorded the classic "Jim Dandy." It was a number one R&B hit that went to number 17 on the pop chart.

CARLA THOMAS: BIRTHDAY

UNDATED (AP) — Singer Carla Thomas turns 67 today. The daughter of Rufus Thomas debuted on the charts in 1961 with the top-ten hit "Gee Whiz." In 1966, she had another hit with "B-A-B-Y." The next year, she released two duets with Otis Redding, "Tramp" and "Knock On Wood."

SAMUEL L. JACKSON: BIRTHDAY

UNDATED (AP) — Actor Samuel L. Jackson turns 61 today. Some of his movies include "Pulp Fiction," ''Jackie Brown," ''Changing Lanes," ''S.W.A.T," the re-make of "Shaft" and "Snakes on a Plane."

BETTY WRIGHT: BIRTHDAY

UNDATED (AP) — Singer Betty Wright turns 56 today. Her biggest hit was 1971's "Clean Up Woman" -- which spent eight weeks at number two on the chart. It hit number six on the pop chart.

by Oscar Wells Gabriel II