Keith Urban Brings the Audience to Its Feet at the 2006 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne April 11 2006
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ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
For those AKC Judges that have never read what the standard is for a Wheaten
Hugh M. Hefner celebrated his 80th birthday
TV One and Warner Bros
MGM MIRAGE Hosts 2006 Diversity Expo GSN, the Network for Games Brings Back the Classic Game Show 'I'VE GOT A SECRET' Monday, April 17
Keith Urban Brings the Audience to Its Feet at the 2006 CMT MUSIC AWARDS Winnie The Pooh Receives a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Sports & Auto
Golfapalooza Welcomes Arnold Palmer, Dan Marino and Meat Loaf To World's Largest Golf Festival
Beach Tennis News
Honda Racing newsSuccessful Games And A Positive Outlook On Media Rights
DOD
DOD announces soldiers deaths
Soldiers Die in Anbar Action; Terror Suspects Detained, Killed
The Pentagon Channel has added video podcasting
News
Healthier Cooking and Eating Becomes Easier
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ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
For those AKC Judges that have never read what the standard is for a Wheaten
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized, hardy, well balanced sporting terrier, square in outline. He is distinguished by his soft, silky, gently waving coat of warm wheaten color and his particularly steady disposition. The breed requires moderation both in structure and presentation, and any exaggerations are to be shunned. He should present the overall appearance of an alert and happy animal, graceful, strong and well coordinated.
Size, Proportion, Substance
A dog shall be 18 to 19 inches at the withers, the ideal being 18½. A bitch shall be 17 to 18 inches at the withers, the ideal being 17½. Major Faults--Dogs under 18 inches or over 19 inches; bitches under 17 inches or over 18 inches. Any deviation must be penalized according to the degree of its severity.
Square in outline. Hardy, well balanced. Dogs should weigh 35-40 pounds; bitches 30-35 pounds.
Head
Well balanced and in proportion to the body. Rectangular in appearance; moderately long. Powerful with no suggestion of coarseness. Eyes dark reddish brown or brown, medium in size, slightly almond shaped and set fairly wide apart. Eye rims black. Major Fault--Anything approaching a yellow eye. Ears small to medium in size, breaking level with the skull and dropping slightly forward, the inside edge of the ear lying next to the cheek and pointing to the ground rather than to the eye. A hound ear or a high-breaking ear is not typical and should be severely penalized. Skull flat and clean between ears. Cheekbones not prominent. Defined stop. Muzzle powerful and strong, well filled below the eyes. No suggestion of snipiness. Skull and foreface of equal length. Nose black and large for size of dog. Major Fault--Any nose color other than solid black. Lips tight and black. Teeth large, clean and white; scissors or level bite. Major Fault--Undershot or overshot.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck medium in length, clean and strong, not throaty. Carried proudly, it gradually widens, blending smoothly into the body. Back strong and level. Body compact; relatively short coupled. Chest is deep. Ribs are well sprung but without roundness. Tail is docked and well set on, carried gaily but never over the back.
Forequarters
Shoulders well laid back, clean and smooth; well knit. Forelegs straight and well boned. All dewclaws should be removed. Feet are round and compact with good depth of pad. Pads black. Nails dark.
Hindquarters
Hind legs well developed with well bent stifles turning neither in nor out; hocks well let down and parallel to each other. All dewclaws should be removed. The presence of dewclaws on the hind legs should be penalized. Feet are round and compact with good depth of pad. Pads black. Nails dark.
Coat
A distinguishing characteristic of the breed which sets the dog apart from all other terriers. An abundant single coat covering the entire body, legs and head; coat on the latter falls forward to shade the eyes. Texture soft and silky with a gentle wave. In both puppies and adolescents, the mature wavy coat is generally not yet evident. Major Faults--Woolly or harsh, crisp or cottony, curly or standaway coat; in the adult, a straight coat is also objectionable.
Presentation--For show purposes, the Wheaten is presented to show a terrier outline, but coat must be of sufficient length to flow when the dog is in motion. The coat must never be clipped or plucked. Sharp contrasts or stylizations must be avoided. Head coat should be blended to present a rectangular outline. Eyes should be indicated but never fully exposed. Ears should be relieved of fringe, but not taken down to the leather. Sufficient coat must be left on skull, cheeks, neck and tail to balance the proper length of body coat. Dogs that are overly trimmed shall be severely penalized.
Color
Any shade of wheaten. Upon close examination, occasional red, white or black guard hairs may be found. However, the overall coloring must be clearly wheaten with no evidence of any other color except on ears and muzzle where blue-gray shading is sometimes present. Major Fault--Any color save wheaten. Puppies and Adolescents--Puppies under a year may carry deeper coloring and occasional black tipping. The adolescent, under two years, is often quite light in color, but must never be white or carry gray other than on ears and muzzle. However, by two years of age, the proper wheaten color should be obvious.
Gait
Gait is free, graceful and lively with good reach in front and strong drive behind. Front and rear feet turn neither in nor out. Dogs who fail to keep their tails erect when moving should be severely penalized.
Temperament
The Wheaten is a happy, steady dog and shows himself gaily with an air of self-confidence. He is alert and exhibits interest in his surroundings; exhibits less aggressiveness than is sometimes encouraged in other terriers. Major Fault--Timid or overly aggressive dogs
Hugh M. Hefner celebrated his 80th birthday
Hugh M. Hefner celebrated his 80th birthday with a full weekend of activities at the Playboy Mansion and announced plans to continue the festivities in Europe as he and his girlfriends will embark on a two-week, seven-city tour in May.
"This is the most rewarding time of my life," Hefner said. "With Playboy's global popularity, it seems only fitting to bring the celebration to Europe. We will also be shooting season two of our highly rated reality show 'The Girls Next Door.'"
Hef and his girlfriends Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson, stars of E!'s "The Girls Next Door," will visit London, Cannes, Paris, Barcelona, Munich, Rome and Venice.
Hefner's birthday festivities began on Friday, April 7 when Hef and a few dozen friends donned their white dinner jackets for an evening of champagne and caviar by candlelight as the Playboy Mansion converted to Rick's Cafe and guests enjoyed a special screening of "Casablanca." As Hef's all-time favorite movie, "Casablanca Night" has been an annual tradition during Hef's birthday weekend since 1993.
On Saturday, April 8, the Playboy Mansion hosted a glamorous pajama and lingerie celebration as Playboy Playmates, celebrities and nearly 1,000 partygoers wished Hef a happy 80th birthday. Oscar-winning artist Three 6 Mafia electrified the crowd with a special musical performance and then led guests in a birthday song for Hef. "The Girls Next Door" co-star and Hefner girlfriend Bridget Marquardt surprised Hef with a classic burlesque striptease after popping out of a giant pink cake.
Celebrity guests in attendance included:
Donald Trump George Maloof Willie Gault
Ivanka Trump Travis Barker Farrah Fawcett
Paris Hilton Oliver Stone Mekhi Phifer
Nikki Hilton Rob Schneider Shane West
Owen Wilson Reggie Miller John Elway
Ryan Cabrerra Adam Levine Michael Vartan
Simon Cowell Michael Bay Kevin Connelly
Ryan Seacrest John Lovitz Mario Lopez
Randy Jackson Bill Maher Jimmy Connors
Steve Valentine Dick Van Patten Michael Andretti
Jose Canseco Jerry Buss Mark Hamill
Brian Grazer Garry Marshall John Favreau
Craig Ferguson Johnathan Silverman Julie Newmar
John Leguizamo Thora Birch Judd Nelson
James Caan
On Hef's birthday, Sunday, April 9, a customized "Playboy Racing" helicopter flew him to the Long Beach Grand Prix where he made an appearance on behalf of Playboy Racing (from the Grand Am Series). This twin-engine helicopter took the Playboy founder and his girlfriends to the Queen Mary in Long Beach where they made their way to the race site by police escort. In a special birthday surprise just after noon, thousands of race fans joined together to sing "Happy Birthday" to Hef.
The recipient of numerous awards for his contributions to society and the publishing industry in particular, Hefner received the 1996 International Publishing Award from the International Press Directory in London and was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the American Society of Magazine Editors at its 1998 ceremonies in New York. January of 2002 brought Mr. Hefner to New York again where he received the Henry Johnson Fisher Award, the highest honor of the Magazine Publishers of America. In March 2002, Hef was inducted as an honorary member of the Harvard Lampoon, which named him "Harvard Lampoon's Best Life-Form In The History Of The Universe."
This 80th Birthday celebration finds the Playboy brand and Hefner hotter than ever. E! Entertainment's "The Girls Next Door" is the network's highest-rated original programming, this June the Playboy Jazz Festival marks its 28th consecutive year at the Hollywood Bowl and this fall, the company will open a new Playboy Club-Casino at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas.
Hefner founded Playboy in December 1953 in Chicago, where the company still maintains its corporate headquarters. It has grown its operations to Los Angeles and New York and the Playboy empire now includes 27 television networks, a global home video and DVD operation, a highly popular web destination, licensed products sold in more than 130 countries, a magazine that reaches 10 million Americans per month along with foreign editions published in 20 countries outside the U.S.
Source: Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
TV One and Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution Ink Comprehensive, Multi- Year Programming Agreement for Movies, Series Including Off-Network Premiere Of All of Us and Eve, as Well as Rights to Martin and Living Single
-- Acquisition of UPN Sitcoms All of Us and Eve Marks the First Time TV One Has Obtained Off-Network Rights to Sitcoms Currently Airing on a Broadcast Network
In a comprehensive, multi-year programming agreement, TV One has acquired rights from Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution to air popular movies and series, including All of Us, Eve, Martin and Living Single. The acquisition of current UPN sitcoms All of Us and Eve marks the first time the new network for African American adults has acquired the off-network rights to sitcoms currently airing on a broadcast network. As part of the deal, TV One will also acquire the rights to air recent episodes of Showtime at the Apollo, including new episodes two weeks after their syndication debut. The announcement was made during the National Cable Television Association convention in Atlanta.
A broad range of movie titles are part of the WBDCD programming package, which includes windows on classic dramas such as The Color Purple, Malcolm X, Lean on Me, Round Midnight and Rosewood; action movies such as Boiling Point and New Jack City; comedies such as Uptown Saturday Night and Strictly Business; musicals such as Purple Rain, Cabin in the Sky, Krush Groove and Sparkle; and classic blaxploitation films such as Shaft and Superfly, among others.
Additional series to which TV One is acquiring rights under the deal include Roc, For Your Love, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, The Parent 'Hood, Wanda at Large, All About the Andersons, Fastlane and A Man Called Hawk.
Under the deal, TV One's rights to air All of Us, which ranks among Nielsen's Top 10 primetime series in African American households this season to date, and Eve begin in fall 2006, and the rights to air Living Single begin in fall 2008. TV One is renewing the rights to air Martin and Roc, which currently air on TV One.
"Martin and Roc have already proved very popular with TV One viewers, and we expect the rest of this Warner Bros. package to help ensure we continue to have a strong lineup of acquired scripted programming to complement our original programming as we work toward making TV One the premier viewing destination for African American adults," said TV One Executive Vice President of Programming and Production Rose Catherine Pinkney.
"We are thrilled to be expanding our already successful programming relationship with TV One," said Eric Frankel, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. "We're confident that the addition of feature films, the premieres of off-network comedies, the licensing of proven hits and the renewal of successful staples of their already strong line-up will provide a nice boost to their schedule."
Launched in January 2004, TV One (http://www.tvoneonline.com/) serves more than 28.4 million households (Nielsen April 2006 estimate), offering a broad range of lifestyle and entertainment-oriented original programming, classic series, movies, fashion and music designed to entertain, inform and inspire a diverse audience of adult African American viewers. TV One's investors include Radio One http://www.radio-one.com/ ), the largest radio company that primarily targets African American and urban listeners; Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA and CMCSK; http://www.comcast.com/ ), the leading cable television company in the country; The DirecTV Group; Constellation Ventures; Syndicated Communications; Pacesetter Capital Group; and Opportunity Capital Partners.
Source: TV One
Web site: http://www.tvoneonline.com/
http://www.comcast.com/
http://www.radio-one.com/
MGM MIRAGE Hosts 2006 Diversity Expo
Event Provides Business Owners With Unique Opportunity to Meet and Pitch Their Goods and Services to Key Executives
MGM MIRAGE will host its third Diversity Expo next month in Las Vegas at The Mirage Events Center. The Expo will feature all of the company's properties and corporate units including Construction, Corporate Retail and Corporate Purchasing. Business owners will have the unique opportunity to meet with key purchasing agents to identify potential business opportunities and to better understand the protocol of conducting business with the casino company.
"MGM MIRAGE has designed the Diversity Expo to serve as an open house, inviting any vendor who wants to conduct business with our company to come and learn about our process," said Mark Stolarczyk, MGM MIRAGE Vice President of Corporate Purchasing. "Our company strives to expand its database of suppliers who now have more opportunities to do business with our company."
As a result of last year's merger between MGM MIRAGE and Mandalay Resort Group (MRG), the former MRG properties will be represented at the Expo for the first time. The Expo, which will take place May 10, will feature workshops and panel discussions to provide attendees with information on how to conduct business with MGM MIRAGE. Company executives will discuss bid opportunities in various departments including Food and Beverage, Hotel Operations, Casino Operations, Housekeeping, Engineering, Advertising, Marketing, Special Events and Security. Additionally, as MGM MIRAGE requires minority certification, several certifying agencies will have booths to provide information on the certification process.
Registration for the Expo is free if registered by April 30, 2006. The cost to register is $25 after April 30, 2006. The event is open to all existing and prospective vendors and contractors serving the gaming and hospitality industry. For more information or to register, please visit www.mgmmiragediversity.com.
About MGM MIRAGE:
MGM MIRAGE one of the world's leading and most respected hotel and gaming companies, owns and operates 23 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan, and has investments in three other properties in Nevada, New Jersey and Illinois. MGM MIRAGE has also announced plans to develop Project CityCenter, a multi-billion dollar mixed-use urban development project in the heart of Las Vegas, and has a 50 percent interest in MGM Grand Macau, a hotel-casino resort currently under construction in Macau S.A.R. MGM MIRAGE supports responsible gaming and has implemented the American Gaming Association's Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming at its properties. MGM MIRAGE also has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for its industry-leading Diversity Initiative and its community philanthropy programs. For more information about MGM MIRAGE, please visit the company's website at www.mgmmirage.com.
http://www.mgmmirage.com
Source: MGM MIRAGE
Web site: http://www.mgmmiragediversity.com/
GSN, the Network for Games Brings Back the Classic Game Show 'I'VE GOT A SECRET' Monday, April 17
Paying homage to one of the longest running and most popular game shows, I'VE GOT A SECRET takes viewers back in time to the classic panel show -- this time with haute couture, a brand new theme song, and four witty panelists who will say anything to find out the secrets of the guests. The original version of the top-rated, laugh-out-loud panel show premiered in 1952, and aired for 15 years.
On the I'VE GOT A SECRET panel and available the week of April 17 for interviews:
* Billy Bean is a former major league baseball player who played for the
Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the San Diego Padres. He
continues to travel around the country as a national spokesman on
behalf of the Human Rights Campaign. Bean currently resides in Miami
Beach, Florida with his partner of nine years.
* Writer/performer Frank DeCaro hosts his own live national talk show The
Frank DeCaro Show every weekday on Sirius Satellite Radio. A much
sought-after pop culture pundit, DeCaro is a fixture on the Buzz Bench
on CNN's "Showbiz Tonight," and has appeared on such programs as NBC's
"Dateline," VH1's "Super Secret Movie Rules," and "The List." For
nearly seven years, he co-wrote and hosted the popular Out at the
Movies segments on the Emmy Award-winning "Daily Show with Jon
Stewart."
* Jermaine Taylor has been bringing his over-the-top comedy to the East
Coast club circuit for years. He also performs regularly in theatre in
New York and has worked as a professional dancer. Most recently, he
wrote and produced his off-Broadway one-man-show, "A Peace of the Game"
which was nominated for an Audelco award, celebrating excellence in
black theatre in New York City.
* Suzanne Westenhoefer began her stand-up career as one of the first
openly gay comedians performing gay comedy to straight audiences. Her
television appearances include "The Late Show with David Letterman,"
"Politically Incorrect," and "Arli$$." Her HBO comedy special, the
first by an openly gay comic was nominated for a Cable Ace award.
Keith Urban Brings the Audience to Its Feet at the 2006 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
Carrie Underwood Emerges as the Evening's Big Winner
Keith Urban Wins Video of the Year
Hank Williams Jr. Receives Johnny Cash Visionary Award
Carrie Underwood took home two trophies as the evening's big winner for the 2006 CMT MUSIC AWARDS announced tonight on CMT's live telecast from Nashville. Hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, the 2006 CMT MUSIC AWARDS not only revealed the winners in nine categories, but also featured country legend Hank Williams Jr. accepting the Johnny Cash Visionary Award, a moving tribute to the late Buck Owens and a show-stopping closing performance by Video of the Year winner, Keith Urban that brought the crowd to its feet.
As country music's only fan-voted awards show, more than three million fans logged on to CMT.com to vote for their favorite videos. For the first time, fans could also log on CMT.com to watch a live simulcast of the show. A complete list of winners appears below.
As host of the 2006 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, Jeff Foxworthy pulled out all the stops in the opening number as he was joined by his "Dancing With the Stars" dance partner, Lisa Rinna. Jeff's red sequined top and black stretch pants rivaled Lisa's glittery costume as the two danced to their own version of "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," before introducing Trace Adkins who sang the song before a roaring crowd.
Keith Urban won the coveted Video of the Year honor for his video "Better Life." Fans voted live via CMT.com and text message to determine the winner during the live broadcast (ET/CT only). After winning, Urban closed the evening with his award-winning single and a rousing tribute to the victims of Hurricane Katrina that included members of displaced choirs from the disaster regions.
Country icon Hank Williams Jr. faced a standing ovation as he accepted the Johnny Cash Visionary Award from presenters and friends Kid Rock and Gretchen Wilson. Williams was also honored by friends and family in a moving pre-taped tribute featuring Merle Haggard, Charlie Daniels, Dierks Bentley, Kid Rock and Williams' daughter, Holly Williams.
Dwight Yoakam honored his late friend and mentor, the legendary Buck Owens in a moving tribute and a special performance of "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail."
Other show-stopping performances include Faith Hill ("Lucky One"), Kenny Chesney ("Beer in Mexico"), Carrie Underwood ("Jesus Take the Wheel"), Toby Keith ("Get Drunk and Be Somebody"), Gretchen Wilson ("All Jacked Up"), Rascal Flatts ("What Hurts The Most"), Sugarland ("Down in Mississippi"), Brooks & Dunn ("Believe") and Trace Adkins ("Honky Tonk Badonkadonk").
Joining Foxworthy onstage were such celebrity presenters as Wynonna, Kenny Rogers, Lisa Rinna, Kid Rock, Martina McBride, Jewel, Kelly Preston, Caroline Rhea, Sela Ward, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson, Billy Currington, Miranda Lambert, John Corbett, Blake Shelton, Josh Turner, Jack Ingram, Miss America 2006 Jennifer Berry, professional bull riding star Ty Murray, The Wreckers (Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp) and newcomer Ashley Monroe.
Below is a complete list of winners for the 2006 CMT MUSIC AWARDS:
CMT MUSIC AWARDS BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist's major debut album; awarded to the artist (male, female, or group/duo).
* Carrie Underwood - "Jesus, Take The Wheel"
CMT MUSIC AWARDS HOTTEST VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Sexiest video, awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration).
* Billy Currington - "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right"
CMT MUSIC AWARDS GROUP / DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group or duo; awarded to the artists.
* Rascal Flatts - "Skin (Sarabeth)"
CMT MUSIC AWARDS COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
The best video that featured a special collaborative appearance by artists; awarded to the artists (male, female or group/duo).
* Bon Jovi feat. Jennifer Nettles - "Who Says You Can't Go Home"
CMT MUSIC AWARDS VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Video with the best direction (video that best captures the mood, tempo, and intensity of the song); awarded to the video director for work on a specific video and accepted by the director and the artist.
* Sophie Muller/Faith Hill with Tim McGraw - "Like We Never Loved At All"
CMT MUSIC AWARDS FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist.
* Carrie Underwood - "Jesus, Take The Wheel"
CMT MUSIC AWARDS MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist.
* Kenny Chesney - "Who You'd Be Today"
CMT MUSIC AWARDS MOST INSPIRING VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Video that celebrates the human condition in a positive and optimistic way; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration).
* Brad Paisley feat. Dolly Parton - "When I Get Where I'm Going"
CMT MUSIC AWARDS VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration). Final four nominees announced during live telecast, with final voting held online at CMT.com during the show.
* Keith Urban - "Better Life"
CMT, America's No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials, and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 6, 1983, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches more than 82.2 million households in the United States. Go to country music's biggest web site at http://www.cmt.com/
CMT will re-telecast the 2006 CMT Music Awards on Monday, April 10 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT; Tuesday, April 11 at 11:00 a.m. ET/PT; Tuesday, April 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT; Wednesday, April 12 at 3:00 p.m. ET/PT; Friday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m. ET/PT; Friday, April 14 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT; Saturday, April 15 at 4:00 p.m. ET/PT; Saturday, April 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT; Sunday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT
Web site: http://www.cmt.com/
Winnie The Pooh Receives a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Also Celebrating the Release of the Fully Re-Mastered
POOH'S GRAND ADVENTURE - THE SEARCH FOR CHRISTOPHER ROBIN
on Disney DVD April 11th
Tuesday, April 11th at the Historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood
WHO: Honorary Mayor of Hollywood and Chairman of the Walk of Fame
Committee Johnny Grant and Leron Gubler; President of the Hollywood
Chamber of Commerce will preside over the event. Other esteemed
guests include Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, and Pooh's
pals from the 100 Acre Woods -- Tigger, Eeyore and Rabbit.
WHAT: Celebrate Winnie The Pooh receiving his Star on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame, his 80th Anniversary and the release of his fully
re-mastered movie, POOH'S GRAND ADVENTURE -- THE SEARCH FOR
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN available on Disney DVD April 11th from Walt
Disney Home Entertainment.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 11th WHERE: El Capitan Theatre
11:00AM Star Ceremony 6838 Hollywood Blvd
11:30AM Special Screening Hollywood, CA
Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Sports & Auto
Golfapalooza Welcomes Arnold Palmer, Dan Marino and Meat Loaf To World's Largest Golf Festival
Proving that "It Can Only Happen Here," Myrtle Beach, S.C. hosted the world's largest festival of golf, April 7-10, and welcomed more than 40,000 golfers to the Grand Strand for Golfapalooza and the Hootie & the Blowfish's Monday After the Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament.
The third annual Golfapalooza celebration, presented by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the Golf Digest Companies, Hyundai Motor America, Michelob Ultra, Nature Valley and Martin's PGA TOUR Superstore, was held at Legends Resort and featured equipment demonstrations from many of the game's top manufacturers, skill contests, Masters viewing on a giant screen, musical entertainment, food, drinks and prizes valued at more than $25,000.
"This is one of the busiest weeks of the year as our 111 courses played host to more golfers than any other destination in the world," said Bill Golden, vice president, director of marketing for Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. "More than 40,000 golfers were in Myrtle Beach this week and we added to their total golf experience by throwing the world's largest golf celebration. No matter the age or ability level, Myrtle Beach had something to offer every golfer this week."
The 12th annual Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament served as the finale to the celebration as Grammy-Award winning Hootie & the Blowfish welcomed friends Arnold Palmer, John Daly, Tom Kite, Steve Spurrier, Dan Marino, Dwight Clark, Meat Loaf, and others to Myrtle Beach for their annual charity golf tournament. The 2006 Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament kicked off Sunday night with a Live Auction which raised $406,000 for the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation and The Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation. When combined with Monday's tournament ticket sales, the 2006 donations total could break the 2005 record of $425,000.
Hootie & the Blowfish donated an important piece of band history to charity as their first touring van, a 1993 Ford Econoline Conversion Explorer, was recently customized by West Coast Customs, the automotive restyling center that handled MTV's "Pimp My Ride," and raised $160,000 at Sunday's auction.
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Source: Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Web site: http://www.brandonpr.com/
Beach Tennis USA Kicks Off 2006 National Tour in Santa Monica
Volleyball Legend Sinjin Smith Hosts Season's First Tournament; Thousands of Californians Experience America's Hottest New Sport
Beach Tennis USA, the organization launching the sport of beach tennis throughout North America, kicked off its 2006 National Tour in Santa Monica this weekend. Beach volleyball legend Sinjin Smith was on hand to host Sunday's tournament.
Lester Cook and Craig Cignarelli took home the $1,000 first place purse in the men's pro division, defeating Steve Wier and Steve Oliver by a score of 9-7. Cook and Cignarelli automatically qualify to compete in this year's U.S. Beach Tennis Open championship tournament, to be held August 26-27 in Long Beach, New York.
Beach tennis combines tennis, beach volleyball and badminton into one fast-paced and exciting game. Using regulation tennis rackets, two players on each team try to hit a tennis ball back and forth, directly over the net, without letting it hit the sand.
Californians got their first taste of beach tennis in Santa Monica, with thousands of beachgoers participating in both free "open play" and amateur competition in addition to the pro tournament.
Beach Tennis USA's next stop is Long Beach, California, April 22-23. The guest emcee at that event will be Murphy Jensen, Grand Slam winner and host of "Open Access" on The Tennis Channel. Anyone wishing to compete in the Long Beach tournament can register online at http://www.beachtennisusa.net/. There is no registration fee and rackets and balls are provided courtesy of Head and Penn.
About Beach Tennis USA
Based in New York City, Beach Tennis USA is committed to introducing Americans of all ages to the competitive excitement and recreational benefits of beach tennis. Company founders Marc Altheim and Fredric Finkelstein also established a governing body, the National Beach Tennis Association, in anticipation of the sport being played competitively throughout the U.S. To learn more, visit http://www.beachtennisusa.net/.
Source: Beach Tennis USA
Honda Racing
Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) came a narrow second to Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) in a tense MotoGP race here in windy Qatar. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) was third. This is Hayden’s sixth consecutive rostrum finish as he bids for his first win of the 2006 season.
With a 33km/h wind, erratic in direction, blowing throughout the day, turns two and nine seemed to be the worst affected. There was also a 44 degree track temperature to contend with, although the elevated ambient temperature that is so often a debilitating factor here was ‘only’ 25-degrees now that this is an April race instead of an October fixture.
Pole man Casey Stoner (LCR Honda RC211V) simply stormed away from the line as the lights went out and he looked strong as the field struggled to establish an order and make chase. Capirossi was nearest to the young Aussie, but the Italian couldn’t stay with him as the first lap unfolded.
At the start of lap two the order was Stoner, Hayden, Rossi, Capirossi, Shinya Nakano (Kawasaki), Sete Gibernau (Ducati), then Marco Melandri (Fortuna Honda RC211V). Hayden put in an early fastest lap as he went all out to hound Stoner in those early stages. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC211V) was down in 11th place following a slow get away from the starting light.
Then it was Rossi piling on the pressure as he chased Hayden, a fastest lap belonging to the Italian rider on lap three. On lap six Rossi and Hayden swapped places twice in both final loops as they fought for dominance in the struggle to reel in runaway Stoner. Rossi eventually got the upper hand and had a 0.77 second gap to close on the swift Australian.
On lap ten Rossi nipped past Stoner into turn one, then it was Hayden’s turn to demote Stoner to third on the next lap. Rossi now held a 0.6 second advantage over Hayden and it was only another two laps before Capirossi squeezed past the Aussie to put the ‘old firm’ in charge at the front.
As lap fifteen ran its course Rossi and Hayden had an advantage of more than a second over Capirossi and Stoner, with Gibernau losing ground in fifth. Hayden now knew he had to size up Rossi to see what his plan should be in the closing laps. He moved past Rossi at turn one on lap 19.
Rossi repaid the compliment on lap 20 at the same place and Hayden could not respond and Rossi won by 0.9 seconds at the flag with closer to Hayden than the American was to Rossi. But Hayden rode a mature race and it can’t be long until the Kentucky Kid notches up a second career win in MotoGP.
“We gambled overnight on some changes,” said Hayden. “The team got it right but I didn’t quite do it right today. I had fun though. The six podiums in a row are OK but we need to take another step up. We’ve got two weeks to put some hard work in to find the extra second a lap we need.”
Stoner in fourth said, “The start was really good and I felt really good out in front. But as the fuel load went down and the pace went up I lost a bit of rear wheel grip. Physically I wasn’t 100% so today wasn’t a bad result. After 10 laps I had leg cramps.”
Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC211V) finished a tight sixth after an intense battle with Melandri and said, “When I caught Melandri we had a big battle. My bike was really fast and I could overtake him, but he was braking so late! I’m not angry, but I’m upset because today I lost a good opportunity to be battling at the front. In the race I learned a lot of things and I know I performed as well as I could have. Although I’m frustrated today, the two races so far have been really positive.”
Melandri was seventh after the epic duel with Dani and said, “It was a really difficult race. I got a good start and tried to make up some positions but I made a mistake towards the end of the race that cost me a position. I had a really good battle with Dani Pedrosa, he was passing me on the straight but I was able to get him back on the brakes. I’m still not riding as I’d like, but tomorrow we stay for a day of tests and hopefully it can help us take another step forward.”
Toni Elias (Fortuna Honda RC211V), despite being ill with a stomach bug, finished eighth. He said, “We’ve done a great job over the two days of practice and I was hoping for more than this today. I didn’t get a good start and I paid the price for that. Then Hopkins’ engine began to drop oil and I had to get off the throttle, sending me even further back. My visor was covered in oil and after losing contact with the lead group it became a really hard race for me. I’m disappointed because I know I could have had a nice race today.”
“The bike and tyres were great today,” said Kenny Roberts (Roberts KR211V) in tenth. “But I could have been better if I had got clear of the group quicker – but with the oil incident you had to be careful. I have to thank the team for all they did this weekend, a great job. Still, if you had said in November that we would have finished the first two races in the top 10 we might not have agreed with you.”
Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda RC211V) finished 14th and said, “I didn’t expect to have such a difficult start to the season. I’m not able to ride my RC211V properly yet. It is hard to be fast in the corner without having the right feel from the bikee. I’m sorry about this.”
The World Championship points standings look like this after two of 17 rounds: Capirossi 41, Hayden 36, Rossi 30.
Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia) won a thrilling 250cc race from Andrea Dovizioso (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW) after the pair pulled well clear of the field by mid-race distance. Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia) was a fine third after running off track in the early laps and fighting back into contention.
Locatelli made the run into turn one from the lights to head the field, but Dovizioso led across the line to begin lap two and set an early fastest lap of this 20-lap race. By lap three Dovi held a 1.36 second advantage over his Spanish rival Lorenzo.
By lap 12 Lorenzo and Dovi were 13 seconds ahead of Barbera, but the recovering Locatelli was setting a fastest lap on his charge back into contention after his ‘off’. The race order up front was to remain fixed as Dovi shadowed Lorenzo waiting for the final lap.
Lorenzo knew a Dovi challenge would come – he just didn’t know where. With half a lap to go Dovi made his move up the inside but Lorenzo stayed with him to hold a tighter line into the right/right combination before the final two turns. Dovi hung close but could not make an impression across the line.
Sebastian Porto (Repsol Honda RS250RW) finished seventh and Yuki Takahashi (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW) was ninth. But the huge gap between themselves and the leading duo will be of some concern.
“I have to be happy with this,” said Dovizioso. “After the warm up, I was convinced we’d be able to do a good race and I did a very good start. The team worked very hard and we were fast today. But I need more power. There is a long way to go this season and I know Honda will be working hard so that we can have an edge in the races to come.”
Porto said, “Well it hasn’t been that bad. I’m happy with the race, obviously not with the result. You’re here to win, but given all the problems we’ve had and our current situation, finishing today has been very important to me, on a personal level. But there’s still a lot to be improved. We have to improve the chassis, and the engine didn’t work that well today either. I’ve given my best with what I had.”
Takahashi said, “It’s been a tough race for me as I’ve had problems with the front throughout the whole weekend. In the warm up we tested other solutions but without getting benefits. Before the race, my team decided to fit new suspension that I’ve never tried and actually it solved the problem. Now we have to adjust the general set up, but Istanbul is similar to this track and so we will start from a good base.”
The overall points standings at this early stage of the season show Lorenzo in the lead with 50 points after two consecutive wins, Dovi in second with 36 points and Locatelli on 25.
Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) won the 125cc race by 6.7 seconds from Mika Kallio (KTM) who just managed to overhaul third-placed Sergio Gadea (Aprilia) as the pair broached the finish line. Bautista has now posted back-to-back wins in the first two races of the season.
It was Gadea who made the early running in this 18-lap race until Bautista upped the pace by lap five, stealing the lead and then setting a fastest lap of 2m 8.591 seconds as he stretched away from the rest of the field.
Most Honda riders would prefer to forget this race. Mike Di Meglio (FFM Honda RS125R) retired at the start of the second lap, Sandro Cortese (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) tangled with Juan Olive (Aprilia) and fell on lap two, while reigning World Champion Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) managed a seventh place finish.
Gabor Talmacsi (Humangest Honda RS125R) finished 11th after running with the leading group on the first few laps, but the Hungarian dropped back as the race unfolded and he was nearly 30 seconds adrift of the winner at the flag.
Luthi said, “For some reason I was not good at the last two corners and the run onto the start finish straight. But we made a big step this weekend after a bad experience at the start of the season. We have some points and we can now make progress.”
“Unfortunately we couldn't find the right balance,” said Talmacsi. “We need better suspensions settings as I struggled too much today. Also, I wasn't fast in the straight and 11th place is the best I could do today. The important thing, anyway, is that we have scored some more points in the World Standings.”
Bautista leads the World Championship with 50 points after his perfect start to the season. Kallio has 33 points and Pasini 29 as the Turkish round looms at the end of April.
MOTOGP:
Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: 2nd
“Battling for the win is so much more fun than battling for fourth place! I pushed Valentino hard today and I pushed myself about as hard as I could too. We had the bike that could win today, but on the last lap in a left-hander I got into a nice little slide, Valentino gapped me pretty good and it was hard to recover. We gambled a bit with set up today, we rolled the dice, and it worked well for me in the race, helping a lot in the fast corners. So a big thanks to my crew. Its my second year with my crew chief and were working really well together. All the guys have been working hard and making some good improvements on the bike. We’ve still got some work to do and well be back here in the morning testing, but the new bikes definitely getting better and were heading in the right direction. Six podiums on the trot is cool, but it would be nice to get a few wins along the way!”
Casey Stoner, LCR Honda: 5th
"The start was great and I felt really comfortable out front and just concentrated on doing my own thing but as the fuel got lighter I wasn't able to up the pace as I lost some rear grip. My physical condition was also a factor today and I wasn't feeling 100%. I thought I could have got a better result today. I missed a lot of pre-season training and then I had the flu and after ten laps my leg began to cramp up. When Valentino came passed for the lead I wasn't surprised, it was only a matter of time, and over the second half of the race I had a good battle with Loris and Gibernau."
Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda: 6th
"Its easy to say this now, but I believe I could have finished further up, at least in 4th, if I'd made a better start. We had a problem with the clutch, like Nicky when he was practicing his starts yesterday. At first I thought the wheel was spinning but actually it was the clutch. Then, when I was behind Elias and we were both overtaking Hopkins his bike put oil on our visors. Elias closed the throttle and we lost a lot of time on the leaders at least 3 or 4 seconds. When I caught Melandri we had a big battle. My bike was really fast and I could overtake him, but he was braking so late! I'm not angry with the result, but Im upset because today I lost a good opportunity to be battling at the front. In the race I learned a lot of things and I know I performed as well as I could have. Although Im frustrated today, the two races so far have been really positive.”
Makoto Tanaka Repsol Honda Team Manager
“Ahhh! How disappointing today's result is! Nicky has worked hard to finalize his set-up since he came here and he did a really excellent job both in yesterday's qualifying and today’s race. He’s become really strong mentally since last year and I want sincerely to praise his work today. Dani lost many positions at the start because of an uncertain feeling from the clutch which caused him to wheelie. However, he did very well to finish sixth. He’s a really professional rider who doesn't stop racing until he crosses the line. We didn’t win, but Nicky took 2nd place and Dani is in 3rd place in the riders championship which bodes well for the rest of the season. We still have work to do to improve the bikes performance but I think we are close to our target. So, watch this space.”
Marco Melandri, Fortuna Honda: 7th
"It was a really difficult race. I got a good start and tried to make up some positions but I made a mistake towards the end of the race that cost me a position. I had a really good battle with Dani Pedrosa, he was passing me in the straight but I was able to get him back on the brakes. I'm still not riding as I would like to - tomorrow we'll stay for a day of tests and hopefully it can help us take another step forward."
Toni Elias, Fortuna Honda: 8th
"We've done a great job over the two days of practice and I was hoping for more than this today. I didn't get a good start and I paid the price for that. Then Hopkins' engine began to drop oil and I had to shut off the throttle, sending me even further back. My visor was covered in oil and after losing contact with the lead group it became a really hard race for me. I'm disappointed because I know I could have had a nice race today."
Kenny Roberts Jnr, KR Honda: 10th
"Start was not too bad but I got boxed in by a lot of guys in front of me who were not going to be racing for the lead. Some of them were loosing oil Chris Vermeulen was dropping oil all over me. I guess I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. When I got clear of those guys the gap to the riders in front of me was too big to close down. The bike and tyres were great today but I could have been better if I had got clear of the group quicker but with oil everywhere you have to be careful. I have to thank the team for all they did this weekend, great job. Still, if you had said in November that we would have finished the first two races in the top 10 we might not have agreed with you."
Kenny Roberts Senior, Team Owner KR Honda.
"We are still looking for the ideal base set up and we're trying too many things in a short time. You can loose your way a bit when you do that. We are also held back a little by having only one rider but all in all we have made progress so far."
Makoto Tamada, Konica Minolta Honda: 14th
"I did not expect to have such a difficult season starting. I'm not able to drive as I would my RC211V yet. It is hard to be fast in the corner without having the right feeling. I am sorry I have not had to possibility to give any satisfaction to KONICA MINOLTA, to Honda and to all team guys that are constantly working to create the best conditions."
250cc
Andrea Dovizioso, Humangest Honda: 2nd
“We struggle a bit in approaching the race and we are too much at the limit with the set-up of the bike. This doesn’t allow me to do the difference. But this morning, after the warm up, I was convinced to be able to do a good race and I did a very good start. However, Lorenzo has followed me and in the middle stages he was able to pass me. Taking some risk, I kept the contact with his Aprilia and when we begun the last lap my strategy was to suddenly pass him and try to take a bit of advantage in the first half of the track, where I was going more strongly, while he was being faster in the final curves. It didn’t happen, though, I went wide in a curve and he has passed me again. I could also have tried in last curve, but a sideslip has forced me to shut off the throttle. Actually, I hoped in the victory but we still need more horsepower to really fight for win.
Sebastian Porto, Repsol Honda: 7th
"Well, that it hasn't been that bad. I’m happy, especially with the race, obviously not with the result. You're here to win, but given all the problems we've had and our current situation, finishing today has been very important to me, on a personal level. But there's still a lot to be improved. We have to further improve the chassis, and the engine didn't work well today either. I've given my best with what I had. The best was the last part of the race. I was fourth in the group and I managed to overtake them all; finishing seventh isn't bad. Let's hope that this will be the beginning of an improvement and that the next race will be even better. We haven't managed to have a good feeling on the bike with the new tyres yet. We loose a lot on new tyres, but then, halfway the race, it is the other way around. When the others start going down, this bike keeps the pace. That's something I still have to improve, the initial part on new tyres, I need better grip. Now it's time to enjoy and relax; I'm already looking forward to preparing the next race."
Yuki Takahashi, Humangest Honda: 9th
“It has been a tough race for me as I had problems in the front throughout the whole weekend. In the warm up we tested other solutions but without getting benefits. Before the race, my team decided to put a new suspension that I’ve never tried and actually it solved the problem. Now we have to adjust the general set up, but Istanbul is similar to this track and so we will start from a good base”
Martin Cardenas, Wurth Honda BQR: 11th
"I made a good start and caught the fast group ahead of me. I couldn't hold onto them and when they went away I concentrated on holding my position. The bike is really good and I am really happy with the season so far. I'm looking forward to Turkey I like the track down there."
Shuhei Aoyama, Repsol Honda: 13th
"I'm obviously not happy at all, it's a bad result. The bike worked quite well; we could have improved a bit the suspensions, but the overall setting was OK. But the rider hasn't been at a good level today. I don't know why, but I haven't been able to be fast on this circuit at any time. I probably haven't been focussed enough this weekend. I made a good start but several riders overtook me in the first corner. After the crash in Jerez I wanted above all to finish the race here, but I wanted to do it much more in the front."
Arnaud Vincent, Molenaar Honda: 16th
"From the last qualifying session we had an engine problem. It's difficult to know what it was because when we checked carburetion it looks really good. I was down on acceleration an top speed was not as good as it was on Friday morning. Pity because we made progress with the chassis. I like the track at Istanbul so if we find the engine problem I will have a better race for sure."
Arturo Tizon, Wurth Honda BQR: dnf – crash
"I got a good start and the bike was running really well. We made a compromise on suspension and I ran stiffer suspension settings on the rear and I had a much better feeling with the bike. But I was pushing too hard and lost the font end and crashed. The positive point about this race was that I know I can race with the riders in 250 and I'm looking forward to Turkey, it's a track I learned last year."
Jordi Carchano, Stop and Go Racing: dnf - crash.
"I lost the front end and crashed, on lap 16. It was a pity because the team had given me a good bike to race. The shifter problems we had all though qualifying were fixed and I was able to race as I wanted."
125cc
Thomas Luthi, Elit Honda: 8th
"I'm more happy than unhappy with this result. My target was to get a good start and be with the lead group. I managed to do it I could race with Faubel and Rodriguez but when Nieto came passed us I mad a small mistake and it cost me two seconds. For some reason I was not good at the last two corners and the run onto the start finish straight. But we made a big step this weekend after a bad experience at the start of the season. We have some points and we can now make progress, as I said I'm happy in the circumstances."
Gabor Talmacsi, Humangest Honda: 11th
"I did my best but the bike was competitive for a couple of laps not for the whole race. Unfortunately we couldn't find the right balance during the weekend and the wind increased the problem. We have to adjust better the suspensions settings as I struggled too much today. Also, I wasn't fast in the straight and 11th place is the best I could do today. The important thing, anyway, is that we have conquered some more points in the World Standings."
Aleix Espargaro, Wurth Honda BQR: 17th
"Not so bad when you look at my bad practice and qualifying sessions. I had a small problem with the clutch off the start and was only 20 - 21 at the end of the first lap. I was racing with Koyama but he was a little quicker than me today. I could hold him till the last few laps when my rear tyre started sliding and I had to let him go. I didn't want a crash at the end of a bad weekend for me."
Bradley Smith, Repsol Honda: 22nd
"The start was OK. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad. I only lost a couple of places but the first corner was awful. I just got in there; I guess I was thinking too much, being really cautious. I looked at all the riders and it made me so nervous. I just need to get the blockage out of my head and be clear and go right into the corner. There were people around me that moved up to sixteenth on the first lap and I was back in thirtieth. It is possible I just need to be able to do it. The race was good, I made it up to nineteenth, the eighteenth was just in front and then I could see seventeenth and sixteenth in the distance, a few seconds ahead so I kept on pushing. Then I went wide in turn thirteen. I brought the bike back onto the track but pushed too much into the next corner. The bike got a bit squirrelly and then I had to go straight. I lost so much time and places. After that I just kept on putting my head down making sure I was putting in consistent laps to try to catch the riders in front. Now I'm just thinking what could have been but we're going to sort everything out for Turkey."
Joey Litjens, Molenaar Honda: 27th
"I got a good start and caught the group ahead of me on the grid and enjoyed the race much more than at Jerez. The beginning of the ace was good and I caught and passed a lot of riders. Then on the sixth lap I made a mistake, ran wide nearly onto the grass. I had to close the gas and lost contact with the group. The engine was good but I had a small problem on set up. But things are definitely going in a good direction for me. Now I'm really looking forward to Turkey."
Lorenzo Baroni, Humangest Honda: 30th
"I'm not really happy with today's race. We have had many problems with the front of the bike all over the weekend, we didn't solve them for the race and the wind today didn't help us at all. I started well but at the first turn I brake a bit too early and so the other riders passed me. In the final lap, I was fighting with two riders but I made a mistake with the gear and so I lost time. So, this is a race to forget, but it is good for gathering experience."
Sandro Cortese, Elit Honda: dnf - crash
"Not very good at all, I crashed with Olive. I was running my normal line in the corner when Olive came across in front of and I hit him, I had no place to go. I'm very disappointed because that's twice I have crashed so far. Pity because I got a good start and the bike was running good."
Mike Di Meglio, FFM Honda: dnf - brake problem
"What an eventful race that was and I only lasted one and a half laps! Even then it was a big fight. My start was not so bad but one rider hit me in turn one and then I couldn't keep the right line because of the wind. On the second lap the rider behind ran into me and hit my brake lever knocking it forward so I had no front brake and I had to pull in. Pity because we had found a good compromise on rear end settings and the chatter problems we had in qualifying were gone."
Fabrizio Lai, Valsir Seedorf Racing: 14th
"I tried to do my best with this bike. I started very well and I recovered many positions. During the second lap I touched Pesek and I lost the front mudguard and consequently I lost in performance. The bike wasn’t very fast in the straight, even in slipstream I couldn’t have the same pace of the other riders. In this conditions is not easy to be competitive."
Michele Conti, Seedorf Racing World: 28th
"Our Honda are not ok. In straights all the riders of my group could pass me very easily. Then I could overtook them in curves. I need to learn to ride faster, but also the bike need to grow in power."
The Repsol Montesa HRC team dominated the podium at the Grand Prix in Mortagua, Portugal, with Takahisa Fujinami taking the win and Dougie Lampkin finishing in third place. Gas Gas rider Adam Raga split the Cota 4RT duo with the reigning champion taking the runners up spot at this the second round of the new series.
Last weekend’s winner Toni Bou (Beta) could only manage fourth place on the day and was followed home by Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas) to complete the top five. Albert Cabestany (Sherco) added to the poor start to his campaign with a sixth place in Portugal to go with the fourth spot he achieved in Spain.
Fujinami was a surprise victor, after having returned to Barcelona during the week to have his injured clutch finger attend to. With the rest of the Repsol Montesa HRC team testing at Nigran during the early part of the week, the scene of last week’s Grand Prix, Takahisa had to sit it out and only practiced on Friday to prevent further damage to his infected finger.
The Portuguese Grand Prix was in stark contrast to the first round in Spain, with it lacking both severity and variety, a point all three podium placed riders commented on in the post trial press conference. Thirteen out of the fifteen sections were placed on the steep banking on either side of the local river, with only the first and last section breaking this rule.
Aware of the easy conditions, the leading riders looked nervous as they made their way through the first half of the opening lap. Fujinami aboard his 2006 specification factory Cota 4RT was almost faultless during this important part of the trial losing just a single dab in section two as he steadied himself at the summit of the initial rock step. Takahisa maintain his form through the back half of the course, again only blotted his score card once more in the final arena type section.
During the same period Lampkin was having a case of all or nothing with two maximum scores, one in section eight and one in section fifteen, to add to otherwise impressive run where he had only lost two further marks. Dougie’s score of twelve put him behind, Fujinami, Raga and Cabestany at the mid point.
The overcast sky that had been present for most of the day eventually gave way to rain during the second lap making conditions more difficult as the banking and slate type rock became much more slippery. Despite this Fujinami maintained his concentration losing marks in just two hazards on his final visit, this added five to his tally and this was enough for him to take the victory ahead of Raga.
Lampkin mounted a fight back, arriving at the final section on just one mark for his second lap, but again failed at the final test, this however did not prevent him taking third place on the day.
Fujinami – 1st :
“This is an incredible and quite unexpected victory both for me and the team. My main objective during the opening two rounds was to get some points, as I knew I would be riding with a badly injured finger in both competitions. Sixth last week was a good result, so I came here thinking that with the easier sections maybe I could finish on the podium. I never expected to win, so I really want to say thanks to my team and to my doctor.”
Lampkin – 3rd :
“Mistakes have cost me again today, much like last week I have had two fives on a section where there is a big step. It is quite obvious that you cannot make this kind of error without paying the price and that has been the case again today. Overall I have ridden well, but I need to get the other bit sorted out, as I must count myself lucky to have still finished on the podium today when the trial was so easy.”
Laia Sanz - Repsol Montesa HRC put her recent run of bad results behind her to post her best finish of the season to date by taking sixth position in the Junior class.
“That is much better, after Spain and yesterday’s European result I knew I had to do something different today. Whilst it is a good result, it could have been better as I was only four marks off taking fourth place
Successful Games And A Positive Outlook On Media Rights
The IOC’s trip to Seoul, Korea, this week, provided a timely opportunity for the organisation to begin proceedings for the television and new media rights negotiations in this market. With the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games now successfully completed, the IOC can turn its attention back to the negotiations for broadcast rights for the 2010 and 2012 Games, which have already been concluded in the USA, Canada and Europe (except Italy). Heading up the IOC delegation, which met this week with a number of potentially interested broadcasters in Korea, Richard Carrión, explained that these initial meetings have allowed the IOC to have initial discussions with the Korean media market, and talk about a package of rights, which includes new technologies, such as broadband and mobile. In the words of Carrión, one of the objectives of the Olympic Movement is to “extend the reach of the Games and to get as many people as possible to experience them” and that is what this diversification of media platforms is allowing the IOC to achieve. He also commented that he expected an increase in the amount that would be paid for the Korean market rights, which were last negotiated in 1997, this expectation follows on from increases in the European, American and Canadian markets.
Successful Games
During the morning session of the EB, the EB received a report from Gilbert Felli, the IOC’s Executive Director for the Olympic Games, who spoke about the success of the Turin Games. Felli pointed out that during Torino 2006, we had seen good sports competitions, high quality television images, a magnificent marriage between culture and sport and an impressive number of tickets sold - around 90% in Turin. Felli also spoke about the great legacy that would be left in Turin and the Piedmont region following on from the Games, and this partly due to the work of the IOC on limiting the cost and complexity of the Games with elements such as encouraging the renovation of existing venues.
Commissions And Study
The EB also heard reports from the IOC President; the IOC Director General; the summer and winter international federations; the National Olympic Committees; the finance, marketing, television rights commissions and different departments of the IOC administration. The EB also heard about the debriefing that will take place for the 2012 candidature process and the progress of the Olympic Games Study Commission recommendations, of which 100% of them are expected to be in place by London 2012. The next step in this process is to push this philosophy to organisations outside of the Olympic Movement that are involved in putting on the Olympic Games.
Klumpup 2008
In the afternoon, the EB continued to hear from the different IOC Departments and also received a report from Hein Verbruggen, Chairman of the IOC’s Coordination Commission for the Beijing Games. Verbruggen emphasised that Beijing was now moving from a planning phase to an operations phase and that the commission would follow this up in more detail during their next visit to Beijing in May. The EB also decided that the 12th World Sport for All Conference would be held in Klumpup, Malaysia, in 2008.
DOD
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pvt. Jody W. Missildine, 19, of Plant City, Fla., died in Tal Afar, Iraq, on April 8, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during convoy operations. Missildine was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. 1st Class Gregory S. Rogers, 42, of Cincinnati, Ohio, died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq on April 9, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during convoy operations. Rodgers was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
Soldiers Die in Anbar Action; Terror Suspects Detained, Killed
Three U.S. soldiers died yesterday from wounds suffered by enemy action in Iraq's Anbar province, military officials in Baghdad announced today. A soldier assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7 died yesterday from wounds suffered April 8, and two soldiers assigned to the 2/28 Brigade Combat Team were killed in action yesterday. The soldiers' names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. In other news from Iraq, coalition forces raided adjacent suspected al Qaeda safehouses about 10 kilometers northwest of Balad today, killing one terrorist and detaining four others. Three of the detainees suffered wounds during the raids, military officials said. The coalition troops killed an armed woman terrorist inside the location and shot and wounded an armed man as he ran from the building. The other three were detained as they attempted to flee. Two of the fleeing suspects suffered minor injuries during apprehension, and both are receiving further medical treatment, officials said. Coalition forces found a suicide vest, multiple claymore mines and other explosives nearby. The terrorist who suffered the gunshot wound was taken to the Air Force Theater Hospital in Balad, and was listed in stable condition. No civilians were harmed during the raid, and all lethal material was destroyed, officials said.
The Pentagon Channel has added video podcasting
The Pentagon Channel has added video podcasting to its line of products that distribute the channel's military news and information to the nation's men and women in uniform. "We work hard to communicate with the men and women of the department around the world," Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld said. "I am pleased that we are using video casting and other increasingly important technologies to reach our global audience with all the news and information available on the Pentagon Channel." The channel's video podcasting line-up includes: - "Around the Services in Brief," the daily military news and information show; - "RECON," an in-depth look at real-world military operations, missions and events; and - "Around the Services Reloaded," a weekly round-up of news and information important to servicemembers stationed around the world. In addition to its new video podcasts, the Pentagon Channel will continue to audio podcast and stream a live webcast of the channel at pentagonchannel.mil. "Leveraging technologies like video and audio podcasting allows us to communicate relevant and timely military news and information to our men and women of the U.S. military, anywhere, anytime - it's a great capability," said Brian Natwick, general manager of the Pentagon Channel.
Video podcasting is a method of publishing video broadcasts via the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed of new files. There is no cost to subscribe, and broadcasts are delivered straight to the subscriber's computer desktop. Files can be viewed either on a PC or on a mobile video device, such as a video-enabled iPod. The Pentagon Channel broadcasts military news and information for and about the 2.6 million members of the U.S. armed forces -- active duty, National Guard and Reserve. Broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Pentagon Channel helps ensure that U.S. forces remain the best informed in the world. Today, the Pentagon Channel is available on-base to the more than 1 million service members who live and work on the 312 military bases, camps and installations in the United States that currently receive it. Also, the channel is available to the 700,000 servicemembers and their families serving overseas in 177 countries via the American Forces Radio and Television Service. The Pentagon Channel also reaches more than 12 million households through commercial distribution on satellite and cable systems nationwide. DISH Network, Verizon FiOS and divisions of Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Charter, Mediacom, RCN, Armstrong, Midcontinent, Knology, GCI, and a number of smaller cable companies and local access channels in communities around the country carry the Pentagon Channel. For more information on video podcasting, as well as to view the Pentagon Channel streamed live, visit www.pentagonchannel.mil.
NEWS
Healthier Cooking and Eating Becomes Easier
Said and Done With Launch of Procter & Gamble's Fibersure(TM) Innovative Fiber Supplement Makes It Easy to Add Fiber to Your Favorite Meals Without Changing Taste, Texture or Enjoyment
Recognizing the increasing interest among Americans to improve their diets in an effort to be more health-conscious, The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG), the maker of Metamucil, has launched Fibersure. Fibersure is an all-natural, clear-mixing powder that can be easily incorporated into most foods and beverages to provide an immediate boost in fiber content. This latest innovation in dietary supplements addresses the widely recognized need for increased fiber in everyday diets, but also delivers what consumers have desired for ages when it comes to improving their eating habits -- a simple solution without any hassle.
Fibersure, made from Inulin, is an all-natural vegetable fiber derived from chicory root. Fibersure is tasteless, non-thickening, and quickly dissolves in water or most other liquids. A heaping teaspoon of Fibersure adds five grams of fiber per serving -- 20 percent of a person's daily requirements and more than any other leading fiber supplement currently on the market. Incorporating the product into food or beverages allows consumers to increase the fiber in their diet without altering the taste and texture of their favorite foods.
Fibersure also can be added to most recipes or methods of cooking, including baking, sauteing, stir frying, as well as in the creation of soups and salad dressings.
"In developing Fibersure, we looked closely at how consumers live their daily lives and what goes into creating and maintaining a healthy diet," said Crystal Harrell, Ph.D., Procter & Gamble Health Sciences. "It was important for us to provide a fiber supplement that met the needs health-conscious consumers are looking for in a way that could be easily incorporated into everyday cooking."
The ease-of-use of Fibersure effectively addresses how Americans approach cooking and eating in today's society. In fact, a recent survey administered by Opinion Research revealed that 94 percent of Americans believe eating healthy should be a priority and 86 percent believe there are changes they could be making to improve the health of their diets. However, the majority lack the motivation to take the steps needed. In fact, nearly two-thirds of respondents indicated "difficulty in changing old eating habits" as the main obstacle people face. The reasons preventing a change in eating habits included:
- 70 percent believed eating healthier would prevent them from eating
their favorite foods
- 59 percent felt that eating healthy takes too much time
- 51 percent were afraid that choosing healthy foods would change the
taste of what they ate
"What I think people will really appreciate about Fibersure is that it provides a simple, quick and realistic approach to improve the healthfulness of their diets, while no changes are required to the foods they cook or eat," said Jackie Newgent, registered dietitian and culinary expert. "Whether a health nut or in a diet rut, incorporating a supplement like Fibersure into cooking or baking can immediately make food -- even favorites -- better for you."
The introduction of Fibersure comes at a time when the nation is battling a "fiber deficit." Today, 95 percent of Americans are not consuming their daily fiber requirements. The National Fiber Council recommends people receive 32 grams or more of fiber per day, however, according to Columbia University, typical consumption of fiber averages 10 grams to 15 grams daily. That's less than half the recommended allowance. Fibersure provides consumers with an effective option in getting their daily-recommended fiber intake, while still being able to enjoy their favorite foods.
Fibersure will be available nationwide in April 2006 in most grocery, drug and mass merchandise stores where other supplements are found. The suggested retail price is $8.99 for a 7 oz package and $13.99 for an 11.7 oz package. Consumers also can request free samples of Fibersure or additional information by visiting www.fibersure.com.
About The Survey
On behalf of Procter & Gamble, Opinion Research conducted a national telephone omnibus survey of U.S. adults ages 18 and older to help gauge consumer perception as it relates to behavior change. Interviewing for the survey was completed during February 2006.
About Fibersure
The creators of Metamucil, the No. 1 doctor-recommended fiber supplement, will introduce Fibersure to store shelves in April 2006 as a way to provide consumers with an easy and effective option in getting their daily-recommended fiber intake. Fibersure is an all-natural, clear-mixing powder that can be incorporated into almost any food or beverage to provide additional fiber. Each heaping teaspoon of Fibersure instantly adds 5 grams of fiber to almost any food or beverage -- 20 percent of a person's daily dietary requirement. For more information and product samples, please visit www.fibersure.com.
About Metamucil
Created and marketed for the first time in 1933 by G.D. Searle & Co, Metamucil powder was purchased by Procter & Gamble in 1985. Made with 100 percent natural psyllium fiber, Metamucil is the only leading brand marketed as both a fiber laxative and a dietary fiber supplement. It is the No. 1 doctor-recommended fiber supplement and comes in a variety of forms (powder, wafers and capsules) to fit any lifestyle when you are looking to increase your fiber intake. For more information, visit www.metamucil.com or call Metamucil at 1-800-983-4237.
About Procter & Gamble
Three billion times a day, P&G (NYSE: PG) brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the largest and strongest portfolios of trusted, quality brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3, Bounty(R), Dawn, Pringles(R), Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head and Shoulders(R), Wella, Gillette(R) and Braun. The P&G community consists of almost 140,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
SOURCE Procter & Gamble
