Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Expecting First Child

Kim Kardashian's Arrival in Bahrain Causes Riot

The Kardashian clan is about to have a new addition to the family after Kim Kardashian's rep confirmed to ABC News that the reality star is pregnant with Kanye West's child.
West broke the news Sunday night during a concert in Atlantic City. West told concertgoers to congratulate his "baby mom" and that this was the "most amazing thing."
"KIMYE!," tweeted sister Khloe Kardashian Odom. "Keeping secrets is hard with so many family members! Especially when you are so freaking excited!!!!! LOVE is everything!!!," she added.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

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Soon after the tweet, the hashtag #Kimye took off on Twitter and was trending worldwide.


"Been wanting to shout from the rooftops with joy and now I can! Another angel to welcome to our family. Overwhelmed with excitement!," tweeted Kardashian's other sister, Kourtney Kardashian, who has two children of her own.
Kardashian's mother, Kris Jenner, expressed her excitement on Twitter, tweeting, "Oh BABY BABY BABY!!"
Congratulatory tweets are already pouring in for the future parents.
"Congrats to Kim and Kanye. Happy for both of them," Russell Simmons tweeted.
Kardashian filed for divorce from NBA star Kris Humphries in October 2011 after 72 days of marriage.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com

Adrian Peterson just misses record

MINNEAPOLIS -- Adrian Peterson ran right past everyone this season. Past all those running backs before him who couldn't make it to 2,000 yards in a season. Past every doubter who dared to think he wouldn't make it back from a devastating knee injury.
Past everyone except Eric Dickerson.
Peterson became the seventh player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, plowing through the Green Bay Packers for a 20-yard gain that put him over the top in the third quarter Sunday. He finished with 199 yards and a touchdown in the 37-34 victory, leaving him nine yards shy of breaking Dickerson's single-season record.

AP Photo/Jim MoneJamarca Sanford carries Adrian Peterson off the field near the end of Sunday's game.

"Ultimately we got the 'W'," Peterson said after carrying the ball a career-high 34 times. "We said during the week, if it happens, it happens. Don't focus on it."
Peterson needed 208 yards when the day began to break Dickerson's record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. His 26-yard run late in the fourth quarter set up Blair Walsh's winning field goal, a kick that clinched a playoff berth for the Vikings. He'll have to settle for the second-best total -- 2,097 yards -- and a trip to Lambeau Field for a playoff rematch next Saturday night.
"I know Eric Dickerson is feeling so good right now," Peterson said with a chuckle, referencing public comments from Dickerson a few weeks back saying he hoped Peterson didn't break his record. "But God willing, I'll get it next year."
Dickerson exalted in keeping the record but also congratulated Peterson on Twitter.
"AdrianPeterson Just want to say that you are a Great player & if my record had to fall, I would like it to go to a player like you AP. ED," Dickerson tweeted.
The New Orleans Saints also rewrote the NFL record books Sunday, as Drew Brees became the first player to pass for 5,000 yards in a single season three times. His four TD passes gave him 43 in 2012, and he's the first player with 40 TD passes in consecutive seasons.
The Saints defense gave up 530 yards, raising their season total to 7,042 to break the old record of 6,793 allowed by the 1981 Baltimore Colts.
It also was a record-setting day for Seattle's Russell Wilson, who tied Peyton Manning's NFL record for most touchdown passes by a rookie with 26 after a third-quarter score in a 20-13 win over St. Louis.
Detroit's Matthew Stafford finished the season with an NFL-record 727 pass attempts, topping Drew Bledsoe's mark of 691 from 1994. But he fell short of a second consecutive 5,000-yard season, finishing at 4,967.

Magnificent Seven

Adrian Peterson became the seventh player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. Peterson ran for 2,097 yards in 2012, the second-most in NFL history and just 9 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season record.

Most Single-Season Rushing Yards,
NFL History

Year	Player	Yards	Team
1984	Eric Dickerson	2,105	Rams
2012	A. Peterson	2,097	MIN
2003	Jamal Lewis	2,066	BAL
1997	Barry Sanders	2,053	DET
1998	Terrell Davis	2,008	DEN
2009	Chris Johnson	2,006	TEN
1973	O.J. Simpson	2,003	BUF

• Stats & Info: 2012 NFL records

Houston's J.J. Watt failed to eclipse Michael Strahan's NFL sacks record (22 1/2). Watt finished with 20 1/2, while 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith went without a sack for the third straight game, winding up with 19 1/2.
Even without the rushing record, Peterson's remarkable comeback season now has a magic number to punctuate it.
Peterson came in 102 yards shy of joining O.J. Simpson, Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, Jamal Lewis and Chris Johnson in the 2,000-yard club. Peterson is the only one to do it after reconstructive knee surgery, and he did it on the one-year anniversary of his knee surgery.
"He is without question the best running back in our game and truly, in my mind, the MVP of our league," Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. "We don't win this game without Adrian Peterson."
Sanders also praised Peterson on Twitter.
"I'd like to congratulate @AdrianPeterson on an amazing season, comeback, and career thus far," Sanders tweeted. "Its nice to welcome you to the 2K club."
The Vikings punted a few plays after Peterson's big run, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation when the achievement was announced. Peterson took it all in stride, waving politely, but otherwise not making anything special out of it in a game the Vikings needed to win to make the playoffs. He simply didn't have time to reflect on the long, arduous path it took for him to get there after tearing the ACL in his left knee.
It was only last December when Peterson crumpled to the turf in Washington, two ligaments torn, leaving many to wonder if his career would ever be the same.
Well, it hasn't been.
Peterson vowed from the very beginning to return better than ever from an injury that has ended the careers of so many before him. There weren't many believers, including in his own locker room.
But a combination of uncommon genetics, unshakable determination and a smart rehabilitation plan from Vikings athletic trainer Eric Sugarman had Peterson back in the starting lineup on opening day.

Peterson scored two touchdowns in the opener but didn't top 100 yards in a game until Week 4 when he went for 102 against the Lions. As the season went on, the scar tissue in his knee started to break up and Peterson took off like a purple rocket.
His cuts are sharper, his vision better and his patience is making the difference between a 4-yard plunge through the line and a 40-yard dash down the sideline.
He went on a breathtaking eight-game run, amassing 1,313 yards and topping 200 yards twice in four games to vault into the MVP discussion and make 2,000 yards a possibility.
When asked this week to describe his running style in one word, Peterson replied: "Vicious."
That certainly sums it up.
He got off to a fast start with 61 yards and a touchdown on the first two drives, hearing chants of "MVP! MVP!" just before he surged into the end zone for a 7-yard score and a 10-0 Vikings lead. He also had runs of 12 and 21 yards early to get the Vikings going in this win-and-they're-in game.
"I don't let awards identify me," Peterson said. "I don't do it. I go out and define myself by what I do on the field. Whether I win it or not, and I'm not saying I don't want to, just like I wanted to break the record, either way, in my heart I'm the MVP. That's all that matters."
The Vikings have followed Peterson's lead in what most observers expected to be a rebuilding year. Peterson has carried the offense on his broad shoulders, turning the Vikings into a throwback attack that relies almost exclusively on the run for its big plays.
"Congrats to (Adrian) Peterson on becoming the 7th member of the 2K club," Johnson tweeted, "now let's see who can run down ED."
With second-year quarterback Christian Ponder going through some highs and lows, and the Vikings missing top receiver Percy Harvin with an ankle injury, the passing offense has ranked last in the league. Peterson is averaging more yards per rush than Ponder does per pass and his seven rushes of 50 yards tied him with Sanders in 1997 for the NFL record.
All the while, Peterson has said he'd take the first postseason berth in three years over 2,000 yards any day. But it was no secret that the individual achievement was important to him.
Unlike baseball, the NFL has few numbers that immediately grab the public's attention. One of those is 2,000 yards, especially in this new pass-happy league. Peterson entered the game with 1,898 yards, more than 400 better than Seattle's Marshawn Lynch, who was in second place.
Source: http://espn.go.com

Tony Romo: 'I feel as though I let our team down' after 3 INT performance

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) reacts an the bench after he threw an interception during the second half of play at FedEx Field in Landover, MD on Dec 30, 2012. 

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After throwing three interceptions in his latest make-or-break defeat, Tony Romo shuffled across a silent locker room, grimacing and looking at the floor.
He dressed creakily. Merely putting on his dark socks appeared to be an ordeal.
Now comes a tougher task for the Dallas Cowboys' quarterback: processing his performance in a season-ending 28-18 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday night with the NFC East title on the line.
"I feel as though I let our team down," Romo said at his postgame news conference, his words deliberate, his stare blank.
"Your legacy will be written when you're done playing the game," said Romo, whose three interceptions matched his total from the previous eight games combined.
"It's disappointing not being able to get over that hump," he added, "but I also know that football is the ultimate team sport and I need to continue to improve, and our football team does, to get there."
Needing a victory over the rival Redskins (10-6) to reach the playoffs, the Cowboys (8-8) finished at .500 for the second season in a row. They'll miss the postseason for the third consecutive year.
And this is the third time in the past five years that Dallas lost its regular-season finale when a win would have allowed it to keep playing.
"We have a big challenge ahead of us. (The Redskins) are, of course, in the tournament, and we have to sit at home and think about how to get in the tournament. This is very disappointing. We have players that have fought hard all year, but it did not end up the way we wanted," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "And one of my jobs is to evaluate and analyze and make decisions in the offseason that can help us be in better shape."
He can look at Washington to see how quickly things can change.
Rookies Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris needed only four months to give the Redskins their first division title since 1999.
Griffin, the Heisman Trophy winner drafted second overall, ran for 63 yards and a touchdown. Morris, the sixth-rounder from Florida Atlantic, ran for 200 yards and three TDs. He set the franchise single-season rushing record for the Redskins, who turned around the season behind their quarterback's talent and leadership to win seven straight games, becoming the first NFL team to make the playoffs after starting 3-6 since the 1996 Jacksonville Jaguars.
After the final whistle, team captain Griffin walked off the field with a big smile, holding up his left index finger in a No. 1 gesture. Washington, which set a franchise record with only 14 turnovers this season (zero on Sunday), will host Seattle next Sunday.
Romo, meanwhile, was intercepted on each of Dallas' first two possessions. His last turnover was the one that bothered him the most: A poor throw was picked off by Rob Jackson when the Cowboys had a chance to drive for a winning score in the final minutes.
"That'll eat at me for weeks now," Romo said.
He almost became the first Dallas quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, but his career is instead further tainted by late-season disappointments. He also had Week 17 losses to the Philadelphia Eagles (44-6) in 2008 and the New York Giants (31-14) last year, along with a 1-3 record in playoff games (who can forget the botched hold?).
"There's been a couple of these games towards the end of the year that are critical games and we haven't gotten it done as a football team — and Tony's certainly a part of that, but everybody's a part of that," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said.
On Sunday, Morris' 32-yard scamper gave the Redskins a 21-10 cushion with 10½ minutes left. Trying to play catch-up, Dallas pulled within three on a 10-yard TD pass to Kevin Ogletree and a 2-point conversion with 5:50 to play. But Morris' third touchdown, a 1-yard run with 1:09 left, sealed the outcome.
It didn't help matters for Dallas that receivers Dez Bryant (back) and Miles Austin (left ankle) got injured. Bryant, who Garrett said "really couldn't even walk," left after four catches for 71 yards.
"Missing those two guys is crucial," said Ogletree, who got a talking-to from Romo after the QB's first interception.
In the end, Dallas also was hurt by missing five injured starters on a defense that simply could not stop Morris.
But what will be remembered mostly will be the play of Romo, who completed 20 of 31 passes for 218 yards, often facing pressure from what Garrett described as the way the Redskins "just kind of rolodexed those blitzes through."
"We know Romo doesn't like pressure in his face, so that was our big thing," Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. "We had to get pressure up the middle. Not so much on the outside; keep him in the pocket. That's what we were able to do."
Notes: Cowboys KR-WR Dwayne Harris was on crutches after the game. Garrett said he had a lower leg injury. ... Dallas is 128-128 in regular-season games since the start of the 1997 season.
Source: http://www.dallasnews.com

Hillary Clinton hospitalized after doctors discover blood clot

Hillary Rodham, center, a lawyer for the Rodino Committee, and John Doar, left, chief counsel for the committee, bring impeachment charges against President Richard Nixon in the Judiciary Committee hearing room at the U.S. Capitol in 1974. From her early days as a lawyer to one of the most powerful people in Washington, here's a look at Clinton at through the years:

(CNN) -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was hospitalized Sunday after doctors discovered a blood clot during a follow-up exam related to a concussion she suffered this month, her spokesman said.

She is expected to remain at New York Presbyterian Hospital for the next 48 hours so doctors can monitor her condition and treat her with anti-coagulants, said Philippe Reines, deputy assistant secretary of state.

"Her doctors will continue to assess her condition, including other issues associated with her concussion," Reines said. "They will determine if any further action is required."

Reines did not specify where the clot was discovered.

Clinton, 65, was suffering from a stomach virus earlier this month when she fainted due to dehydration, causing the concussion.

Clinton spent the holidays with her family last week after working from home.

She was scheduled to return to work at the State Department this week after being sidelined for the past three weeks. Her illness forced her to bow out of testifying December 20 before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Deputies Thomas Nides and Bill Burns appeared in her place.

The medical setback comes as Clinton is wrapping up her busy tenure as secretary of state, during which she has logged more than 400 travel days and nearly a million miles. She plans to step down from the post if and when Sen. John Kerry -- President Barack Obama's choice to replace her -- is confirmed by the Senate.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com

Quick Take: Seahawks at Redskins

Five things to know about next Sunday’s Seattle Seahawks-Washington Redskins playoff game at FedEx Field:
1. Tough to contain. This playoff game features two of the NFL's three sensational rookie quarterbacks in Washington's Robert Griffin III and Seattle’s Russell Wilson. Redskins fans who haven't seen Wilson should know that he is just getting started when he is flushed out of the pocket. Wilson was 8-for-9 for 173 yards on throws outside the pocket in Sunday’s victory over the St. Louis Rams, according to ESPN Stats & information. For the season, Wilson led the NFL with 57 completions when throwing from outside the pocket, and his five touchdown passes from outside the pocket ranked second in the league.

2. Good memory. The Redskins did not play the Seahawks this season, but they beat them 23-17 in Seattle in Week 12 of 2011. That was a somewhat shocking game in which the Redskins trailed 17-7 with 10 minutes to go but managed to score 16 unanswered points with Rex Grossman at quarterback and Roy Helu rushing for 108 yards on 23 carries in the game against what was then one of the toughest run defenses in the league. Different personnel, to be sure, in key spots, but the Redskins who played in that game might be able to draw some confidence from the memory of beating the Seahawks in Seattle not that long ago.

3. Stingy Seahawks. Seattle allowed just 245 points this season, an average of 15.3 points per game and the lowest total in the NFL. They have not allowed more than 17 points in a game since Week 12, and they only allowed more than 20 once in the second half of the regular season.

4. Home cooking. One of the perks of being a division champion is getting a first-round home game, and that’s especially helpful when the opponent is the Seahawks. Seattle is 8-0 at home this year and wins by an average score of 30-12 in home games. The Seahawks are just 3-5 on the road. They did win their last two road games -- 23-17 in overtime at Chicago in Week 13 and 50-17 at Buffalo in Week 15. But road losses in places like Arizona, Miami, St. Louis and Detroit bolster the case that it’s much better to get the Seahawks in your own place than it is to try and beat them in their rowdy, raucous home stadium.

5. Win downfield. One area in which the Seahawks are not strong is at wide receiver, where they don’t have the kinds of playmakers who dominate matchups even against suspect secondaries such as Washington’s. If the Redskins were able to handle Dez Bryant on Sunday night, they should be okay against Sidney Rice and Golden Tate. Seattle’s best big-play threat is running back Marshawn Lynch, but the Redskins have looked good in recent weeks against power run games.

Source: http://espn.go.com

NFL playoff schedule 2013: 49ers to host divisional round matchup Saturday, January 12, 5:00 p.m. PT

 

Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE

The NFL has announced when the divisional round matchups will take place, setting up the 49ers with a Saturday evening game.

Although the playoff picture is still being finalized on Sunday Night Football, the NFL has already announced times for the first two weekends. The 49ers will host their divisional round matchup at on Saturday, January 12 at 5:00 p.m. PT on FOX. Individual tickets will go on sale on Ticketmaster on January 7 at 10:00 a.m. PT
The 49ers will face the highest remaining seed from the first round wild card matchups. If the Packers beat the Vikings, the 49ers would host Green Bay. If the Packers lose, the 49ers would host the winner of the matchup between the Seattle Seahawks matchup with the Dallas Cowboys or Washington Redskins (if GB loses).
Here is a rundown of the full first weekend and second weekend schedules:

The winners of the various divisional round matchups would meet up the following Sunday in the NFC and AFC Championship Games on FOX and CBS. The Super Bowl is two weeks after the conference championship games. The Pro Bowl is in between the conference title games and the Super Bowl. Let's hope we care even less about it than we normally do!
Source: http://www.ninersnation.com

Reports: Andy Reid out as coach

John Clayton discusses the reports that Andy Reid will be fired tomorrow by the Philadelphia Eagles.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Andy Reid is out after 14 years coaching the Philadelphia Eagles, three people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press following Sunday's 42-7 season-ending loss to the New York Giants.

Reid Is Eagles' Best

Andy Reid is the winningest coach in Eagles franchise history. Since Reid's arrival in Philadelphia in 1999, the Eagles have recorded 130 regular-season wins, the NFL's sixth-highest total in that span. Philadelphia also had 10 postseason wins, the third-most since 1999, and claimed six division titles, also the third-most, under Reid.

Most Wins By Eagles Coach

Coach	W-L
Andy Reid	130-93-1
Greasy Neale	63-43-5
Dick Vermeil	54-47
Buddy Ryan	43-35-1
-- ESPN Stats & Information

CSNPhilly.com earlier reported that Reid would be out as coach.
Reid and team owner Jeffrey Lurie are scheduled to meet Monday, and a team official insisted to ESPN that Reid has yet to be informed that he will be fired.
Another Eagles source told ESPN that Lurie and Reid met Friday, but the Eagles' owner did not inform him at that time that he would be let go.
"I go in eyes wide open," Reid said after Sunday's loss dropped the Eagles to a 4-12 season. "Either way, I understand. Whatever he chooses will be the right thing. He always does things for the best interests of the Eagles."
Asked if he wants to return in 2013, Reid said: "I'm all in."
Reid is due to make $6 million in 2013 in the final year of his contract. He said he wants to coach next year, but it's possible Lurie could persuade him to take a year off and perhaps help out in the front office in an "advisory" role.
Eagles spokesman Derek Boyko denied several reports that Lurie has already fired Reid, saying it's "absolutely, 100 percent" untrue.
Sources told ESPN that Reid is preparing to coach elsewhere next season in case he is no longer with the Eagles.

He has been calling around the league, trying to put together a coaching staff, so that if and when he is let go in Philadelphia, he will be ready to resume coaching for another franchise next season.
Some around the league have wondered whether Reid would be a fit back in California, where he grew up, but the San Diego Chargers are planning to go in other directions than Reid, according to league sources.
Although he is not expected to be a candidate with the Chargers, Reid could wind up as a candidate in Jacksonville if the Jaguars fire Mike Mularkey or in Arizona if the Cardinals part ways with coach Ken Whisenhunt.
The 54-year-old Reid, who was hired to coach the Eagles in 1999, is 130-93-1 in 14 seasons with the franchise.

Under Reid, the Eagles have made nine playoff appearances, won six division titles, played in five NFC Championship Games and lost one Super Bowl.
After Sunday's game, players said they expect changes, but continued to support Reid.
"He's a great man and I love him to death," said quarterback Michael Vick, who could've played his last game with the Eagles. "I wish I could've done more. A lot of players wish they could've done more. Coaches can't play the games."
Source: http://espn.go.com

Cain Velasquez regains UFC heavyweight title, looks ahead

Cain Velasquez, center, of San Jose, reacts as UFC president Dana White secures the UFC heavyweight championship following his victory over Junior dos Santos, left, of Brazil at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, Dec, 29, 2012 in Las Vegas. Velasquez won the bout with a unanimous decision. (AP Photo/David Becker)

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LAS VEGAS -- Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White fully expects top heavyweights Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos to meet in a rubber match, but it could be a while.

Following Velasquez’s spectacular five-round domination of Dos Santos (15-2, 9-1), White said the Brazilian slugger will need rest and a win or two before renewing his rivalry with the new champ.

“I think trilogies are always awesome, especially when both these fights went the way that they did,” White said. “I mean, I want to see the third fight. It will be interesting.

“But this isn’t like losing a regular fight. He got beat up pretty bad. It usually takes a little longer to recover from what he went through.”

Instead, White said the next challenger for Velasquez (11-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) probably will be former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem (36-11, 1-0), should he get past Antonio Silva (17-4, 1-1) at February’s UFC 156 event, which also takes place in Las Vegas.

Velasquez and Dos Santos met for the first time in November 2011. On the UFC’s first live event on FOX, Dos Santos needed just 64 seconds to score a knockout victory against then-undefeated Velasquez and claim the UFC’s heavyweight title.

Source: www.suntimes.com

Case McCoy: Realistic Expectations for Texas Longhorns QB in 2013

Sarah Glenn/Getty Images

Things can't get much worse for Texas quarterback Case McCoy, on the field or off of it.
Four weeks after throwing two interceptions against Kansas State in a losing effort in his only start of 2012, the junior signal-caller was sent home one day before the Longhorn's Valero Alamo Bowl matchup with Oregon State in San Antonio, along with linebacker Jordan Hicks for violating team rules according to an ESPN.com report.
Head coach Mack Brown stated the following on Friday (via ESPN.com):

This has been reported: We had a couple young men that broke team rules last night. They have been suspended from the team and they will be sent home. They will not be available for the game and I will not address any more questions in that matter.

That same ESPN.com report stated that KENS-TV in San Antonio quoted local police as saying that a pair of Longhorns players were being investigated for an alleged sexual assault that took place early Friday morning. However, no charges had been filed at the time of the report.
For now, we can only speculate on McCoy's football future. Although McCoy's future in Austin is uncertain for the time being, we'll assume he returns for his senior season with Texas.
In that case, here's what Longhorns fans can expect from the younger McCoy brother in 2013.
Sophomore quarterback David Ash, who played much of this season for the Longhorns and who will play Saturday against Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl, will be back as a junior in 2013, which means that McCoy will likely be relegated to a backup role if he's back with the team.
McCoy is used to that role, but as a senior looking to boost his draft stock it may be tough to swallow.

Case McCoy has just 1,756 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions heading into his senior year.
Erich Schlegel/Getty Images

But like the past two seasons in Austin, injuries and quarterback changes will happen, and when they do McCoy will provide the Longhorns with a serviceable option. I wouldn't bet on him to throw for more than 1,000 yards in 2013 though.
McCoy is an awkward situation heading into his senior season. He doesn't have the credentials that his older brother did coming out of college, and that will surely hurt his chances at making the cut for the NFL.

Will Case McCoy play his senior season at Texas?

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His lack of solid decision-making under center has held him back with Texas, and will likely turn out to the weakness that keeps him from achieving future success in the sport.
McCoy's four interceptions against Baylor as a sophomore highlighted his occasional poor judgment on the field. And his recent suspension signals that he is not yet ready become the sort of leader a quarterback at Texas must be.
If Case McCoy is back in Austin in 2013 for his senior season, expectations will and should be low.
At this point in time, McCoy looks to be nothing more than a quality backup for a power conference college football team.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com

Cincinnati: Brendon Kay Throws Four Touchdowns in Belk Bowl Win

Update: Kay had four touchdowns on 17-of-25 for 332 yards in the win over Duke in the Belk Bowl. He added 76 rushing yards. 

Recommendation: Kay sparked the Bearcats to four wins in their last five games after he took over Munchie Legaux. He had nine touchdowns compared to two interceptions and threw for 1298 yards in five games. All four of Kay's touchdowns were from at least 25 yards against the Blue Devils. 

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com

Kate Winslet Marries Ned Rocknroll in Secret: New Details!

British actress Kate Winslet and her boyfriend Ned Rocknroll attend a promotional event for the Hong Kong international races in Hong Kong December 9, 2012. Credit: REUTERS /TYRONE SIU /LANDOV

Now that the world knows about Kate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll's secret wedding, new details about the couple's big day are beginning to emerge.
According U.K. newspaper The Sun, the newlyweds exchanged platinum and diamond-encrusted wedding bands during the intimate ceremony in early December. "They had them specially made to order when they were in Hong Kong," a source says of Winslet, 37, and Rocknroll, 34. "Ned says a baby is definitely the plan for them next -- and they've had a lot of fun practicing."

As previously confirmed by Us Weekly, Winslet's good friend and two-time costar Leonardo DiCaprio walked her down the aisle. Rocknroll's best man was his brother, Jack, a professional sailor. Winslet's daughter Mia, 12, and son Jack, 9 -- from her two previous marriages -- were also in attendance. (Rocknroll, born Abel Smith, is the nephew of Virgin billionaire Richard Branson. He works for his uncle at Virgin Galactic.)

The Daily Mail reports that their nuptials took place in New York's Catskill mountains in a heated barn. The venue was filled with wild flowers in jam jars and colored lanterns, according to the British site.
According to The Sun, the newlyweds confirmed their union to friends and family via Skype. Rocknroll reportedly told his stepbrothers Otto and Ludo on Dec. 26, Boxing Day. "Ned rang them on Skype late that night and said,  'Would you like to speak to my wife?’'and pulled a beaming, giggling Kate into the shot," a source reveals. "It was very sweet and they're happy."
In fact, the couple didn't even tell their parents about their hush-hush wedding. "What are you going on about?" Winslet's father, Roger, said when asked about the ceremony. Rocknroll's father, Robert, added, "It's not something I know of -- but nothing would surprise me with those two."
PHOTOS: 60 celebrity couples who got married in 2012
According to The Daily Mail, the couple of more than a year -- who had been keeping their summer engagement under wraps -- had been planning to get hitched for months. "Marriage has always been on the cards and they've been talking about doing it for the past couple of months," an insider said. "It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing, but they wanted to keep it secret."

Source: http://www.usmagazine.com

Health of George H.W. Bush 'Improving'

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush arrives in the East Room at the White House, May 31, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Former President George H.W. Bush remained in intensive care at a Houston hospital on Friday but his condition continues to improve, a spokesman said.
"The President is alert and, as always, in good spirits — and his exchanges with doctors and nurses now include singing," family spokesman Jim McGrath said in a brief statement.
The 88-year-old Bush, the nation's oldest living former president, was admitted at Methodist Hospital in Houston on Nov. 23 because of a bronchitis-related cough, after spending about a week there earlier in November for the same condition.
The cough was mostly resolved by the time he was moved to intensive care on Sunday for treatment of a fever that doctors were having difficulty controlling.
"The Bushes thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes and, like their doctors, are cautiously optimistic that the current course of treatment will be effective," McGrath said.
On Thursday, a longtime Bush aide tried to quell concern about Bush's condition by saying the former president likely would advise well-wishers to "put the harps back in the closet."
Jean Becker, Bush's Houston chief of staff, said the former president would likely be in the hospital for a while, noting his age and that "he had a terrible case of bronchitis which then triggered a series of complications."
Becker said "most of the civilized world" contacted her after word spread that Bush had been placed in intensive care unit.
"Someday President George H.W. Bush might realize how beloved he is, but of course one of the reasons why he is so beloved is because he has no idea," Becker said in the at-times lighthearted statement that made multiple references to jokes and the former president's sense of humor.
Updates on his health are being limited out of respect for the family, she said.
The family had hoped Bush would have been well enough to spend Christmas at home. His cough eased, but he developed a persistent fever. His condition has since been downgraded to "guarded."
The former president has been visited by family and friends, including longtime friend James Baker III, his former Secretary of State. Bush's daughter, Dorothy, arrived Wednesday from her home in Bethesda, Md. Other visitors have included his sons George W. Bush, the 43rd president, and Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor.
Bush and his wife, Barbara, live in Houston during the winter and spend their summers at a home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Bush, the 41st president, had served two terms as Ronald Reagan's vice president when he was elected in 1988. Four years later, after a term highlighted by the success of the 1991 Gulf War in Kuwait, he lost to Democrat Bill Clinton amid voters' concerns about the economy.
Bush was a naval aviator in World War II — at one point the youngest in the Navy — and was shot down over the Pacific. He's skydived on at least three of his birthdays since leaving the White House, most recently when he turned 85.
Bush, also a former U.S. ambassador to China and CIA director, suffers from a form of Parkinson's disease that forced him in recent years to use a motorized scooter or wheelchair for mobility.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com

In first game without Avery Johnson, Brooklyn Nets rout Charlotte Bobcats under interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo

The Nets picked up just their fourth win in the month of December, and in their last 14 games

Howard Simmons/New York Daily News

With his team behind him, Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo reacts during one-sided game.

NETS 97, BOBCATS 81
The post-Avery Johnson era in Brooklyn began with what were rare sights during the recently fired coach's tenure: a set play, ball movement and an aggressive Deron Williams. Maybe the decision to replace Johnson with interim coach P.J. Carlesimo resulted in the Nets playing more freely Friday night, or maybe it was just the fact they were playing against the Bobcats, the worst defensive team in the NBA.

Either way, the Nets' 97-81 win over the Bobcats in front of a reported sell-out crowd at the Barclays Center made the decision look good for now.

The Nets picked up just their fourth win in the month of December, and in their last 14 games, and dealt the struggling Bobcats their 17th straight loss.

Saturday night, with the similarly struggling Cavaliers coming to the Barclays Center, the Nets are looking to win a back-to-back series of games for the first time this season.

Carlesimo said that his subtle changes would be to try and help the Nets handle adversity – missed shots, bad calls, blown leads – better.

Howard Simmons/New York Daily News

Deron Williams chats with P.J. Carlesimo.

There was not much adversity against the Bobcats (7-22), who were led by Hakim Warrick's 13 points, but there were some noticeable difference in the Nets Friday night from the team that fell to .500 Wednesday night in Milwaukee.

The set play to start the game, with three passes before Keith Bogans hit a jumper in the corner, was noticeable on a team whose offense had become isolation-heavy, as star point guard Deron Williams complained last week.

Williams' play was also notably improved. After taking just seven shots in a Christmas Day disaster of a loss to the Celtics and then sitting out Wednesday night's loss in Milwaukee, Williams was markedly more aggressive. He finished with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three-point range.

So was center Brook Lopez, who had looked passive in the six games since he returned from a foot injury. Lopez finished one shy of his season high with 26 points and also had 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.

Kathy Kmonicek/AP

Brook Lopez goes for a shot.

Carlesimo also tried a different use of his bench Friday night, using MarShon Brooks, the rookie offensive sensation last season who had been lost in Johnson's doghouse most of this season, earlier. Brooks played 20 minutes and had nine points.

There was also no obvious let-down as had become the trademark of the Nets' December swoon. The Nets' offense stalled in the second -- the Bobcats cut the lead to 10 points -- but Brooklyn finished the half with a 10-2 run to take an 18-point lead into the half.

“We've had some very good quarters, we've had some very good halves, thrown in some clunkers,” Carlesimo said. “You're never gonna play perfect, but we have to play with more consistency.”

The Nets manage a steady game, but they did it against one of the few teams that is struggling more than they are, however. The Bobcats were allowing 109.1 points per game heading into the matchup.

Source: www.nydailynews.com

More wintry weather in forecast amid another bout of slush

Surprise snow gives way to icy mix that could repeat on Saturday

December 26, 2012|By Scott Dance and Justin George, The Baltimore Sun

Winter waited until the busy holiday season to arrive, and it isn't letting up yet. After a second bout of icy precipitation Wednesday, more snow, sleet or freezing rain is possible over the weekend.
For the second time in three days, accumulating snow took local forecasters by surprise Wednesday, covering pavement, snarling traffic and delaying flights. Forecasts had called for mostly cold rain both Monday and Wednesday, but air more frigid than expected meant heavy snow at times both days, particularly in areas north and west of Baltimore.

Another mystery storm could move from the Gulf Coast through the Mid-Atlantic Saturday, potentially bringing with it a range of frozen precipitation. At this time of year, though, precisely predicting what falls where is hard to do more than a matter of hours in advance, as Monday and Wednesday's storms showed.
"There's a finer line than what we can put into the forecast a day in advance," Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Baltimore/Washington forecast office, said of the divide between rain and wintry precipitation. "The message we've been saying is snow and sleet, changing into rain. In both cases, the snow did accumulate across the Baltimore area before changing into rain."
In the meantime, more treacherous weather is in the forecast for Thursday. The weather service issued a wind advisory from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with northwest winds of 20-25 mph and gusts up to 50 mph, potentially downing trees and power lines.
The snow was part of a storm system that included tornadoes, and stretched from Michigan to Florida. It has been blamed for seven deaths and tens of thousands of power outages so far.
"It is a significant storm in terms of its size and its range of impacts from severe weather to winter weather," said Chris Vaccaro, spokesman for the weather service.
Snow started accumulating Wednesday morning around the region, blanketing parts of northern Baltimore County and Carroll County with about 3 inches, according to reports made to the weather service. In Baltimore City and Howard County along Interstate 95, snowfall totals were closer to 1.5 inches, with half an inch or less close to the Chesapeake Bay in Dundalk and Severna Park.
In Western Maryland, snow totals were heavier, with 6 to 12 inches across Allegany and Garrett counties.
By early afternoon, warmer air blowing over the region about 2,000 feet above the ground turned the snow into rain, freezing rain and sleet in the Baltimore area, Jackson said.
Thousands of residents throughout the region had their power knocked out, most by wind and heavy rains, on Wednesday evening, according to Rachael Lighty, a Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. spokeswoman.
Nearly 2,000 customers, mostly in Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties, remained without power as of 10 p.m. Nearly 4,500 had their power restored after previously experiencing outages.
BGE was estimating that power would be restored to most customers by 11 p.m. Wednesday, but "that might change depending on the weather conditions," Lighty said.

BGE advised Wednesday night that it also expected more outages due to high winds Thursday morning.
Roadways across the state were snow-covered or wet and slushy, according to the State Highway Administration. Snow covered roadways in the Hereford and Westminster areas, with isolated spots of snow coverage on roads in Howard County and parts of Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties. Roadways were wet around Baltimore City and around both Baltimore harbor tunnels. The state transportation department also reported flooding along Route 40 near Edgewood.
State highway officials reported 83 accidents around the state between 6 a.m. and about 5 p.m. but did not have information on the number of incidents in a normal day. During the morning rush hour as snow began to fall, there were a significant number of single-vehicle accidents — "a good indicator drivers were probably going a little too fast for conditions," spokeswoman Lora Rakowski said.
Near Bel Air, a snow plow truck ran into two utility poles on Route 924 near the entrance to the Harford County Detention Center, knocking out power there for about four hours. Route 924 was closed during the early afternoon as wires blocked the road.
For Westminster resident Wendy Casker, her normal 45-minute commute home grew to 21/2 hours when she decided to leave work in Laurel at 10 a.m., during the height of the snowfall. One delay came when she helped push a stuck BMW near the intersection of Routes 32 and 99 near West Friendship, and mostly, drivers were slow going, she said.
"I was behind him and couldn't move around so I figured I might as well help him," Casker said. "People were driving as courteously as they could. I was half expecting to get mowed down by a Suburban or something, but that didn't happen."
Source: http://articles.baltimoresun.com

Heart's Ann Wilson Kills Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven' At Kennedy Center Honors

Kennedy Center Honors (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last night CBS aired its broadcast of this year’s Kennedy Center 2012 Honors, which took place in real-time on December 2, 2012.
Honorees this year included actor Dustin Hoffman, late night host David Letterman, Russian ballerina Natalia Makarova, Chicago blues musician Buddy Guy, and the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

Led Zeppelin's 'Celebration Day' Rocks It David Wismer Contributor

The World's Highest-Paid Musicians 2012 Zack O'Malley Greenburg Forbes Staff

Rock Legend Reunion Tours The Rage: Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Black Sabbath, The Who And More David Wismer Contributor

The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony is the annual event in which celebrities in various fields get all gussied up, travel to Washington, D.C., rub shoulders with the President, and hear exalting speeches about themselves. This year, the testimonials were laced with traces that don’t often make it into a taped TV awards-show final cut: frankness, near-brutal honesty, and almost tearful love.

One great thing about the Kennedy Center Honors is that the recipients don’t do any speaking themselves, and thus they and we are spared minutes of humble, and mock-humble, acceptances speeches. The honorees just sit there, grinning, with their medals hanging from ribbons around their necks.”

During this holiday week with many other distractions and a lot of people traveling, the Kennedy Center broadcast helped CBS win the major broadcast networks’ ratings night, with just over 8 million viewers for the 9-11 pm est time slot, and a rating of 1.4 among adults 18-49.
However, with those still modest numbers, I would not be surprised if you missed the broadcast. Highlights included Robert De Niro speaking on behalf of Dustin Hoffman (the reference above to ‘frankness’), Tracy Chapman and Bonnie Raitt performing during the Buddy Guy tribute (which included emotional remarks by Morgan Freeman), and celebs Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Ray Romano, and Jimmy Kimmel with some fond and amusing mild roasting of David Letterman.
De Niro said, in some admiration of Hoffman, “He is a spectacular, world-class, pain in the ass.”
Kimmel might have had the funniest line of the night when he addressed Letterman, saying, “You are the hero of all of us, with the possible exception of the people who came to see the ballerina.”
President Obama and the First Lady appeared to enjoy the show immensely, even “rocking out” during the Led Zeppelin homage performances. Obama had earlier thanked Led Zeppelin for “behaving at the White House” the previous night at a dinner hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He jokingly described the award winners as “some extraordinary people who have no business being on the same stage together.”
And Clinton had poked some fun previously at Letterman, saying “He must be wondering what he is doing with this group of talented artists” and “Dave and I have a history. I have been a guest on his show several times, and if you include references to my pant suits, I’m on at least once a week.” (NY Daily News)
But as a rock fan, and especially a huge fan of Led Zeppelin, the closing portion of the broadcast was truly the hands-down moment of the night. EW said of Plant, Page, and Jones:

The three members of Zeppelin present — Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones — sat in the audience looking like delighted, if aging, schoolboys let into a grown-ups’ party; they were all smiles, as much during salutes to Hoffman and Letterman as when an array of musicians performed Zeppelin music.”

Jack Black delivered the introduction to the Zeppelin segment, calling them “the best band ever.” This was followed by performances of Zeppelin classics by the Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, and Lenny Kravitz. There was some excellent musicianship displayed, but frankly it was tough for any of the lead singers to truly come close to matching Plant’s unique singing style.
But then Ann and Nancy Wilson came on stage for the finale, an inspiring “bring down the house” version of “Stairway to Heaven”, with Jason Bonham on drums. UltimateClassicRock.com said of the moment:

In a performance that had Robert Plant on the verge of tears, Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart sang ‘Stairway to Heaven’ as the finale of a star-studded musical tribute to Led Zeppelin during the Kennedy Center Honors, which were broadcast last night (Dec. 26) on CBS.
It seems like about 3,000 people were on stage during this performance, with the Wilson sisters joined by late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham’s son Jason on drums, as well as a gigantic house band featuring string and horn sections and what appeared to be two different vocal choirs.
As anyone who’s seen their frequent live performances of ‘Rock and Roll‘ or ‘The Battle of Evermore‘ can tell you, the Wilson sisters know how to play Led Zeppelin live. From the moment they began, all eyes and ears were focused on Ann Wilson, and she knocked this one out of the park, leaving John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and a clearly misty Plant with big smiles on their faces as they watched from the balcony.”

Source: http://www.forbes.com