Britney Spears Dead Rumors Fools Fans on the Web

Britney Spears has again been declared dead on the web courtesy almost the same rumors which took place back in 2001 as well. Some are creating this news that Spears was passed away in the accident for about five years now and girl we see as Britney these days is an imposter.

Can you believe that, I would say that is called Real Life turning into reel life, they are simply creating story out of her life and imposing that on her.

According to the news, After the recording of "Baby One More Time" video, Britney, only sixteen and not yet licensed to drive, borrowed her mother's car to go joyriding. With Justin in the passenger seat, Britney lost control of the car. Britney was decapitated in the accident.

It reports that Timberlake also got massive injuries and burns but there is nothing mentioned about the guy whom we see today on the screen, Is he also an imposter ?, Common People you don't have believe to the stories like these which has been developed in the backyard of these imposters who try to gain publicity from these kind of rumors.

Britney is sure alive and rocks as ever.

Three new dog breeds recognized by AKC

Three exotic strains of pooches that put the “wow” into bow-wow are being recognized by the American Kennel Club — allowing them to strut their stuff at AKC-sanctioned breed competitions in the U.S., including next February’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

The AKC announced exclusively to TODAYshow.com that the Icelandic sheepdog, the Cane Corso and the Leonberger will be added Wednesday to the list of 164 breeds already registered with the organization.

“It’s great: We’re adding three new dogs to our registry,” AKC spokeswoman Christina Duffney told TODAYshow.com. “As of Wednesday, they’re able to compete in shows and take part in any AKC activity.”

Old dogs, new recognition
Though new to the AKC, the three breeds have been around for centuries.

The Icelandic sheepdog, for example, arrived on that island nation with the Vikings, who settled there more than 1,000 years ago. The breed — part of the spitz family, which includes chow chows and the American Eskimo — was used to herd sheep, cattle and horses. Revered in their homeland, Icelandic sheepdogs are regarded as one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, but are only now getting formal AKC recognition.

The lion-maned Leonberger, named after the town of Leonberg, Germany, from which it hails, has been part of that country’s culture since the 1800s. Its exquisite long fur made it popular with German artists, who often used Leonbergers as models. Despite their large size, they’re considered cuddly and get along well with children and other family members.

But the Leonberger is more than just a pretty, friendly face — they’re athletic and have been used as water rescue dogs and been trained to jump out of helicopters.

The third newly recognized breed is also the rarest. In fact, the Cane Corso was nearly extinct until a small group of breeders brought it back in the 1980s. It’s a member of the mastiff family, and as such, it’s a muscle-bound dog that was highly prized in its native Italy for hunting difficult prey such as boar and fighting alongside soldiers in ancient battles.

But these days, the Cane Corso isn’t overly fierce. They’re known to be very attached to their owners and families, and they’re intelligent and easily trained.

Elevation increases its stake in fast-growing Facebook

Speed test: iPhone 4 vs. iPhone 3GS

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Elevation Partners, the private equity firm that includes U2's lead singer Bono as an investor, is trying to make up for some of its past investment flops by increasing its stake in the world's largest social network, Facebook.

According to the technology blog TechCrunch, Elevation bought an additional five million shares in the secondary market -- from early investors or former employees -- for $120 million. That increases Elevation's stake in Facebook to $210 million. See TechCrunch post here.

Putting iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS up against one another for a speed test. Video courtesy of IGN.

Elevation Partners needs a big win for its investors. The firm, which counts former Apple Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!aapl/quotes/nls/aapl (AAPL 255.62, -12.68, -4.73%) executives Fred Anderson and Avie Tevanian among its investing team, made some big bets on the struggling Palm Inc., starting in October 2007. But even after Palm was sold in a $1.2 billion deal to Hewlett-Packard Co. /quotes/comstock/13*!hpq/quotes/nls/hpq (HPQ 44.21, -1.86, -4.04%) , Elevation made only a slight profit. It invested a total of $460 million in Palm, and at the time of the sale to H-P, Elevation's take was estimated to be worth $485 million, not exactly a big return on its high-risk investment. See H-P buying Palm news.

Facebook, on the other hand, is still growing at an incredible rate, and recently hit 500 million users, further fueling hopes that the still private company might seek to go public sometime soon.

Apple: White iPhone 4 Release on The Middle of July

For people who has been waiting for Apple iPhone 4 white models, now we can get details information about its release date. Apple has confirmed about the white models via their press release page. White iPhone will available on the second half of July. About the Black models, starting June, 24 2010 Apple iPhone 4 Black models will available on market.

Samsung Announces the Samsung Fascinate for Verizon

Yesterday during a press event Verizon & Samsung Mobile USA announced the Samsung Fascinate Verizon’s version of the Samsung Galaxy S. The Samsung Fascinate will have a 4.0-inch Super AMOLED touch screen, running Android 2.1, a 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor, 5.0-megapixel camera with flash & HD video recording, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2GB of internal memory expandable up to 32GB via microSD & 3.5 mm headphone jack. The Samsung Fascinate will have Google’s mobile services such as Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk & the Android Market. The Samsung Fascinate will feature Samsung’s Social Hub, which will integrate social network updates, SMS messages, email, contacts & calendar updates. The handset will have Verizon’s VCAST Music service, VCAST video on demand, VCAST Song ID, visual voice mail, VCAST Tones, VZ Navigator & Mobile IM. The Samsung Fascinate will come pre-loaded with Bing Maps & Bing Search, which make me wonder if Google Search & Google Maps will be an option. The press release didn’t state when the Samsung Fascinate will be available or the price of the handset. So what do you think of the Samsung Fascinate?

Anna Chapman and Other Suspected Russian Spies Arrested by FBI

Anna Chapman (Personal Photo)

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) In a story reminiscent of the Cold War, the FBI arrested 10 alleged Russian spies said to be living double lives for up to a decade - posing as innocent civilians while secretly attempting to infiltrate U.S policymaking circles to learn about American weapons, political developments and diplomatic strategy.

PICTURES: ANNA CHAPMAN

An 11th defendant, a Canadian citizen suspected by U.S. authorities on charges of espionage and money laundering, was arrested Tuesday morning at Larnaca airport in Cyprus while attempting to flee to Budapest, Hungary, police say.

Of the 10 so-called "deep-cover" agents detained, prosecutors have deemed Anna Chapman to be a flight risk, calling her a highly trained "Russian agent" who is "a practiced deceiver."

Chapman was arrested in Manhattan on Sunday after two undercover FBI agents, one in New York and the other in Washington, posed as Russian agents and met with Chapman at a restaurant in New York, while the other met co-defendant Mikhail Semenko on a Washington street corner near the White House. The FBI undercover agents gave each suspect an espionage-related delivery to make. According to court documents, Semenko made the delivery as instructed, but Chapman did not.

Red Hot Russian Spy Anna Chapman

Meet Anna Chapman- a Russian spy. Seriously. A ring of 11 Russian spies was apprehended in New York yesterday for passing on information about the United States via electronic means. Among them, Anna Chapman, a 28-year-old Russian divorcee with a masters in economics and as the New York Post reports: "a Victoria's Secret body."

Below: Russian spy Anna Chapman pulling off her best Jennifer Aniston impression. No kidding. Check out this Jennifer Aniston pic and tell me that Anna Chapman doesn't totally look like her. That's the real story here. Anna Chapman's been impersonating one of American television's most beloved stars. Not cool.


All I can say about Russian spy Anna Chapman, is that this libertarian has never found Communism more appealing.

TSLA: What Does Tesla’s IPO Mean for the Future of Electric Cars?

Tesla Motors

Tesla Roadster

Tesla Motors today became the first American car company to make an initial public offering since Ford did so in 1956. And one could argue the sleek, fast Tesla Roadster the company has been selling is in some ways a bit like Ford’s old Model T, which revolutionized assembly-line manufacturing.

Tesla seems poised to be part of the redefinition of the way we drive. After all, the Palo Alto, Calif., electric-car maker has in many ways been showing the rest of the auto industry how electric cars are done. The sleek Tesla Roadster is an emblem of electric cars’ potential in terms of power, speed and range. Without it I doubt many of the larger car makers would be pursuing electric cars as vigorously as they are. Still, I worry about Tesla’s endurance. Building cars is a difficult, expensive endeavor that has broken many small manufacturers who have tried to bring innovation to the table, from John DeLorean to Preston Tucker.

For now the outlook is promising. Not only did the IPO take place but it included more shares at a higher price than expected. The company boosted the number of shares to as much as 13.3 million and the price to $17 per share, for a total value of $226 million. The company previously had said it could sell up to 11.1 million shares at a price of $14 to $16 per share, or a total of $178 million. The increase in part reflects interest in electric cars that is greater than expected and growing surprisingly fast. Tesla is trading on the Nasdaq stock market under the symbol TSLA.

Recently many companies have been cutting the size of their IPOs because the stock market has been so volatile. So Tesla must feel it has something special, and it does. The company has sold more than 1,000 Roadster in the last two years and is still the only true volume seller of highway-worthy electric cars for consumers. It will be awhile before companies like Nissan, BMW and Mitsubishi catch up.

Red Sox and Rays kick off quick set in Boston

(Sports Network) - Things finally boiled over for the Rays after their offense disappeared over the weekend. Tampa Bay hopes for cooler heads and hotter bats this evening when they begin a quick two-game series with the wounded Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The Rays have posted just a 12-19 record since their 32-12 start and are hitting .190 over their last 11 games. They are averaging just three runs per game over that stretch, which includes eight losses. Tampa Bay managed just seven hits in its recent three-game series with Arizona, getting no-hit on Friday before notching just a pair of hits in Sunday's 2-1 rubber match.

Carlos Pena had the lone RBI and Wade Davis picked up the loss despite a season-best 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball. Both runs allowed came in the fifth when the Diamondbacks' Gerardo Parra followed a Rusty Ryal triple with a two- run homer, though it was Ryal's three-bagger that led to some clubhouse fighting between Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton.

Upton, whose hustle has been questioned before, seemed to take a casual trot to the ball hit by Ryal to the right-center gap. Longoria and Upton had a verbal argument in the dugout at the end of the inning and Upton needed to be restrained by teammate Willy Aybar.

"The play with B.J., everybody saw it. Some guys were not really pleased and some things were said. It's something that happens over the course of a major league season," remarked Rays manager Joe Maddon.

The Rays' recent funk has dropped them three games back of the first-place Yankees in the American League East -- Boston is two games off the pace -- and both Longoria and Upton have been at the front of it. Longoria is batting .150 (6-for-40) over his last 11 games with no homers and one RBI, while Upton is hitting .143 (6-for-42) over his last 11 games with a homer and five RBI.

Carl Crawford didn't start for at third straight game on Sunday due to a sore left shoulder, though he did appear as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning.

The Rays' James Shields aims to snap a six-start skid that has come in seven appearances since a 5-1 start that featured a 3.08 earned run average.

After picking up a victory in relief versus the Marlins on June 19, the righty allowed four runs on six hits over seven innings four days later against the Padres, striking out seven in the 5-4 loss. San Diego's go-ahead run was put into scoring positron in the seventh inning on a balk call on Shields.

Shields, who has a 6.93 ERA over his last seven outings, is 4-8 with a 5.02 ERA in 14 career starts versus Boston. He beat them at Fenway Park back on April 17 despite allowing four runs over 6 2/3 innings.

The 28-year-old will face a Red Sox lineup that will be without two of its big hitters in Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez as both were lost to injury over the weekend against the Giants.

Pedroia suffered a left foot injury in Friday's opener that landed him on the disabled list, while Martinez suffered a broken left thumb in Sunday's 5-1 win. Also, starter Clay Buchholz left Saturday's start after one inning of work due to a hyperextended left knee.

With Martinez landing on the DL Tuesday morning, Boston added a reinforcement after activating utilityman Eric Patterson. He was acquired in a trade from Oakland on Saturday.

Jon Lester picked up his wounded club on Sunday, tossing a one-run, five-hit complete game, his second this season and sixth of his career. He struck out nine and retired 17 of his final 18 batters faced.

"He threw strikes all day, he used all his pitches," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona of Lester. "I don't think he had an inning over 17 pitches. He was efficient all day and gave us exactly what we needed."

The victory was Boston's third in four games and 11th in its past 15, and featured home runs from David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre. Beltre has a hit in 15 of his last 16 games, hitting .383 (23-for-60) in that span with five homers and 12 RBI.

Red Sox starter John Lackey has won his last four decisions, but is coming off a no-decision on Wednesday in which he allowed five runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts.

The 31-year-old righty is 8-3 with a 4.69 ERA this year and 6-1 in eight home starts despite a 5.03 ERA. His worst outing of the season came at home versus the Rays as he was touched for eight runs over 3 1/3 innings of a loss on April 19. However, he then beat Tampa Bay on the road with 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball on May 26, improving to 10-3 in 14 starts against the club with a 3.71 ERA.

These two clubs have traded road sweeps so far this season as the Rays took four straight in Boston from April 17-19 before the Red Sox returned the favor at Tampa on May 24-26.

Two Tampa Police Officers Shot: David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab

Two Tampa Police Officers Were Shot Tuesday Morning: Officer David Curtis and Officer Jeffrey Kocab

According to The Tampa Tribune, a massive manhunt is now underway for two people suspected of shooting the two Tampa police officers.

Police are currently at the Bristol Bay City View apartment complex at 4900 Bristol Bay Way in Palm River searching for Dontae Rashawn Morris, 24, and Cortnee' Nicole Brantley, 22 (pictures of the suspects).

The shooting occurred early Tuesday morning when Officer Curtis pulled over a 1994 red Toyota Camry with no license plate and found out that the male passenger had a warrant outstanding for minor violations. Officer Kocab responded to the call for back-up and as the two officers tried to apprehend the suspect he turned around and shot them both.

Officer Jeffrey Kocab was pronounce dead at a Tampa Hospital leaving behind a wife who is nine months pregnant. Officer David Curtis leaves behind a wife and four children, and his family has told the media that he will remain on life support for a few hours while his organs are harvested.

Bilski v. Kappos

Although Bilski's claims were held unpatentably abstract, the Supreme Court has re-affirmed that the door to patent eligibility should remain broad and open.

The Supreme Court has issued its opinion in Bilski v. Kappos. In the decision, the Supreme Court affirmed that Bilski’s risk-management method was not the type of innovation that may be patented. However, rather than using the Federal Circuit's "machine-or-transformation test", the court simply relied on prior precedent to find the claimed method unpatentably abstract. Justice Kennedy authored the majority opinion. Justices Breyer and Stevens both wrote concurring opinions.

Business as Usual: In general, the opinion offers no clarity or aid for those tasked with determining whether a particular innovation falls within Section 101. The opinion provides no new lines to be avoided. Rather, the outcome from the decision might be best stated as "business as usual."

Today, the Court once again declines to impose limitations on the Patent Act that are inconsistent with the Act’s text. The patent application here can be rejected under our precedents on the unpatentability of abstract ideas. The Court, therefore, need not define further what constitutes a patentable “process,” beyond pointing to the definition of that term provided in §100(b) and looking to the guideposts in Benson, Flook, and Diehr.

By refusing to state any particular rule or categorical exclusion, the Court has almost certainly pushed Section 101 patent eligibility to the background in most patent prosecution and litigation.

Business Methods: Section 101 does not categorically exclude business methods from patentability. Rather, the court noted that the prior-use defense found in Section 273(b)(1) of the Patent Act "explicitly contemplates the existence of at least some business method patents. . . . [B]y allowing this defense the statute itself acknowledges that there may be business method patents."

Software: Although the court expressly refused to rule on the patentability of software, it appears that software will largely remain patentable. At minimum, the decision would bar any categorical exclusion of software patents. The court neither endorsed nor rejected the Federal Circuit's past interpretations of Section 101 -- Noting that "nothing in today’s opinion should be read as endorsing interpretations of §101 that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has used in the past. See, e.g., State Street, 149 F. 3d, at 1373; AT&T Corp., 172 F. 3d, at 1357."

Abstract Idea: The one thing that all nine justices agreed upon is that Bilski's method of hedging risk was not patentable because it is an abstract idea "just like the algorithms at issue in Benson and Flook."

The concept of hedging, described in claim 1 and reduced to a mathematical formula in claim 4, is an unpatentable abstract idea, just like the algorithms at issue in Benson and Flook. Allowing petitioners to patent risk hedging would preempt use of this approach in all fields, and would effectively grant a monopoly over an abstract idea.

Petitioners’ remaining claims are broad examples of how hedging can be used in commodities and energy markets. Flook established that limiting an abstract idea to one field of use or adding token postsolution components did not make the concept patentable. That is exactly what the remaining claims in petitioners’ application do. These claims attempt to patent the use of the abstract idea of hedging risk in the energy market and then instruct the use of well-known random analysis techniques to help establish some of the inputs into the equation. Indeed, these claims add even less to the underlying abstract principle than the invention in Flook did, for the Flook invention was at least directed to the narrower domain of signaling dangers in operating a catalytic converter.

It is unclear to me how patent office examiners will be able to apply the test for abstract ideas in any meaningful way. I suspect that they will not. Rather, the best advice for the USPTO is to focus on Section II-A of Justice Kennedy's opinion. There, the opinion recognizes that Section 101 patent eligibility is "only a threshold test." To be patentable, the invention must also "be novel, see §102, nonobvious, see §103, and fully and particularly described, see §112."

What is the test?: 35 USC 101 offers patent protection for "any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter." Here, the focus was on the definition of a "process" because Bilski's patent application was written to claim a method of hedging risk. Although the majority opinion refused to define the term process, it did write that the machine-or-transformation test developed by the Federal Circuit does not define what is (and is not) a patentable process. Rather, the Court held that the machine-or-transformation offers "a useful and important clue, an investigative tool, for determining whether some claimed inventions are processes under §101. The machine-or-transformation test is not the sole test for deciding whether an invention is a patent-eligible process." As a "clue," the machine-or-transformation test likely correlates with the existence of patentable subject matter. However, some patent claims that fail the test will still be patentable and other patent claims that pass the test will still be ineligible.

Katy Perry Topless: Strips For Esquire UK (PHOTO)

Katy Perry is raising awareness for her new album by posing topless, modesty in tact, in the UK edition of Esquire.

She and fiance Russell Brand share a love of chest flaunting.

Angelina Jolie On Marriage, Brad, Her Kids & Pregnancy

Angelina Jolie has begun the publicity push for upcoming spy thriller 'Salt,' and she begins with the cover of August's Vanity Fair.

Inside (buy the issue to read the whole interview) Jolie talks about her kids, having more kids, and Brad Pitt. As for the beard he's been sporting, she says "I love Brad in every state."

On marriage:
She's not "against getting married," but "it's just like we already are. Children are clearly a commitment, a bigger commitment [than marriage]. It's for life."

On more kids:
"No, I'm not pregnant," Angelina Jolie tells Vanity Fair contributing editor Rich Cohen, from the set of 'The Tourist' in Venice. "We're not opposed to it. But we want to make sure we can give everybody special time. They're kids now, and can play together, but they're going to need a lot more talking in the middle of the night, like I did with my mom for hours. We want to make sure we don't build a family so big that we don't have absolutely enough time to raise them each really well."

On her kids:
"Mad's a real intellectual, which I can take no credit for genetically. He's great at school, great at history. He feels like he could be a writer or travel the world and learn about places and things. Zahara's got an extraordinary voice and is just so elegant and well spoken. Shiloh's hysterically funny, one of the goofiest, most playful people you'll ever meet. Knox and Viv are classic boy and girl. She's really female. And he's really a little dude."

On Brad with the kids:
"I keep telling Brad he owes me. He's had a few months off in one of the most beautiful cities in the world with the children. And he's such an artist and goes to the stone yards and the art exhibits, and loves being in such a cultural place."

On a potential Mr. & Mrs. Smith sequel:
"People have tried. And it's strange: do we have kids in the movie? We've thought about that, but it becomes personal now that we actually have kids. And if we work on it, we pull from our own life, which is funny to us, but you feel strange sharing too much. We did ask somebody to look into Mr. & Mrs. to see if they could crack a sequel, but there wasn't anything original. It was just, Well, they're going to get married, or they've got kids, or they get separated. Never great."

On co-starring again with Brad:
"I'd love to. We've talked about it. We'd have to figure out who's going to watch the kids, but it's really about finding the right thing, because we've looked. When you're a couple, there are certain things people don't want to see you do. It becomes too indulgent, too personal. I don't think people want to see people who are really together intimate on-screen. Maybe we have to play bad guys that try to kill each other, so it's just fun and aggressive, not dealing with some man-woman deal."

On acting:
"It's not the most important thing in my life. Acting helped me as I was growing up. It helped me learn about myself, helped me travel, helped me understand life, express myself, all those wonderful things. So I'm very, very grateful, it's a fun job. It's a luxury. Look, I'm at work today in the middle of Venice. But I don't think I'll do it much longer... I have a happy home....I got back from work last night, and everybody was playing music and dancing and I suddenly found myself dancing around with a bunch of little fun crazy people."

The August issue of Vanity Fair will be available on newsstands in New York and L.A. on Wednesday, June 30, and nationally and on the iPad on Tuesday, July 6.

Chris Brown’s BET Awards 2010 Michael Jackson Tribute

A year after the death of the King of Pop, we got a special Michael Jackson tribute by Chris Brown. The BET Awards 2010 show was their first chance to honor him, and I think it was nice. Continue for more details, with more pictures and a video of the performance below.

One day before the show last year was when we lost one of the greatest musicians of all time. The creators of the show made sure to use their first chance to honor him wisely. The young singer really did an amazing job imitating the Michael Jackson persona, and wasn’t even able to complete the son “Man in the Mirror” before breaking down and crying!

In Entertainment has all the info on the emotional performance of Chris Brown at the BET Awards 2010. Then check out these other stories at some of my favorite sites!

PopEater had a char with Danielle Staub where she reveals all!

Rather than having his picture taken, Spencer Pratt may be scouting out celebrity photos, says Hollywire!

Celebrity Puke has all the info on Jennifer Love & “The Bachelorette’s” night out!

Poor Mary J Blige was caught in some bad butt photos that you can see at Celebrity Rant.

Check out College Candy if you can’t get enough of ‘Jersey Shore.’

There are great shots of Gisele Bundchen at Daily Stab.

For info on the MJ memorabilia for sale, check out Evil Beet Gossip.

Back to the tribute that caused tears. The 21 year old singer has had a dramatic year, with the assault case confession. This in fact was his first performance for TV since he pled guilty, and he sure made it a good one! Some do wonder though, if he was indeed genuine, or just trying to soften his image.

Regardless of that, Chris Brown’s BET Awards 2010 celebration of Michael Jackson’s music was awesome! Tell me what you think below after you check out these photos and see the performance video for yourself.

Chris Brown Cries at BET Awards 2010 (See Video Here)

If you missed the BET Awards 2010, you may be wondering why everyone's talking about Chris Brown's performance. The Chris Brown BET Awards performance was part of a dance tribute, and the singer actually ended up in tears by the end of it all. Why did Chris Brown break down at the BET Awards 2010? Find out more below. See video below!

Chris Brown performed a pretty impressive routine in honor of Michael Jackson at the 2010 BET Awards Sunday night....and then he completely lost it right on stage! Whether it was the raw emotion of performing the often imitated but never duplicated, world-famous Michael Jackson "Moonwalk" in front of millions, the joy of his own BET Awards win or the photos of the effects of the BP oil spill that momentarily flashed on the huge Shrine Auditorium screen towards the end, Chris Brown started crying. (See video of Chris Brown's BET Awards 2010 break-down right here.)

The Chris Brown BET Awards 2010 performance in tribute to the King of Pop ended not only in tears, but in reflection, as well. Pun intended. After his crying jag, Chris Brown closed the BET Awards 2010 Michael Jackson tribute with a portion of "Man in the Mirror". Chris Brown also won a People's Choice BET Award at tonight's ceremonies.

Just before R&B singer Chris Brown got all emo at the tenth-annual hip-hop and R&B honors Sunday, the dance tribute to Michael Jackson took a stunning turn when several dancers played tricks on the crowd with a combination of their moves and the auditorium's lighting. Get more details on the full Chris Brown BET Awards 2010 dance routine here!

The Bachelor - Vienna Girardi Felt Threatened By Jake Pavelka - Did She Really?

The rumors about the end of the relationship between Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi keep coming in. Earlier this week, it was announced that the two had met in front of the cameras in front of Bachelor and Bachelorette host Chris Harrison. Shortly after that announcement was made, rumors about the interview started to pop up. Talk of Jake Pavelka almost want to punch Vienna and yelling at her more than once started floating around the net.

After the interview, reports popped up that Vienna Girardi had gone into hiding fearing for her safety. Now a source has come forward to talk to People Magazine denying these reports. The source said the following: "That's bull. Jake did not threaten her. Anyone that knows Jake – including Vienna – knows that physically threatening someone is not in his character."

The interview taped on June 23rd will appear on the July 5th episode of The Bachelorette 2010. Will you be tuning in? For more of my coverage on The Bachelorette, go here. For more of my television news, go here.v

Sen. Robert Byrd -- life and legacy

Prof. Christopher Plein will be online at noon ET to take your questions about the life of Sen. Robert Byrd and his impact on the state of West Virginia.

Submit your questions and comments before or during the discussion.

Plein studies West Virginia policy and public administration and is a coauthor of "West Virginia Politics and Government." He serves as the the Assistant Dean for the School of Applied Social Sciences at West Virginia University

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Anonymous: I once visited Byrd in his Senate office and in the foothold of his desk was a pile of boxes containing 6x8 cards with names and phone numbers on them. They were the names of local officials in all the counties of West Virginia, and he called them regularly. Lyndon Johnson did the same thing, and I think Byrd picked the idea up from him. I believe this is the reason for Byrd's unbelievable support in West Virginia, even in his old age when it was clear he didn't have full control of his faculties. I contend his personal contacts were more significant than the federal funds and projects he funneled to the state because money is anonymous, but local officials remember when a senator calls them and seeks their advice.

L. Christopher Plein: Senator Byrd clearly identified with West Virginians. While he occupied a national stage, he was very constituent oriented. Indeed, having a feel for the issues and needs of the state is crucial to continued success not only in policymaking but also in the campaign cycle. I don't believe that Senator Byrd was alone in these types of practices to maintain connections. All too often, there is a tendency to believe that Senators and Representatives are remote and removed from their constituencies. In most circumstances, members are responsive and attuned. To be disconnected is to run the risk of losing support. Senator Byrd's capacity to connect to West Virginians was an important part of his legacy and success.

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Boone, NC: Senator Byrd was a product of the NW mountains of North Carolina, having been born in Wilkes County....home of moonshine and Junior Johnson

L. Christopher Plein: If you want to know more about Senator Byrd's life, you may want to take a look at his autobiography that was published just a few years ago. It's entitled, "Child of the Appalachian Coalfields." and was published by the West Virginia University Press in 2005.

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Montgomery Village, MD: I lived in WVA for a few years in the '70s and I will always remember a quote from Sen. Byrd relating to solving problems before you need to or speculating too far in advance about things that may or may not happen. He said "Don't roll your pants legs up until you get to the creek." Wise counsel.

L. Christopher Plein: This down home quote serves to remind us that Senator Byrd deeply believed in the traditional legislative model, which favors deliberation and discussion before action. As a student of the Constitution, he emphasized the key role that Congress must play in governance. In recent years, he was known for warning policymakers, especially in the Executive branch, about the dangers of rushing to judgement and action.

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Anonymous: One person's "pork" is another person's jobs. Is there an estimate as to how many Federal funds Senator Byrd guided to West Virginia? In a state there is relatively financially less off than other states, how importance were these programs to the people and economy of West Virginia?

L. Christopher Plein: There have been a couple questions about pork barrel politics. There is no doubt that Senator Byrd has been associated with this and this is part of his legacy. But the issue is more complext. As is suggested in the question below, what is and what is not pork can be a subject of interpretation. I would like to share two observations, first it is clear that Senator Byrd was instrumental in securing funds for West Virginia that were aimed at capacity building, that is building infrastructure and catalyzing employment opportunities. By this measure, Senator Byrd was accomplishing what is expected of legislators and was very successful. Second, and perhaps more importantly, when some find fault with institutional practices, such as those in Congress, the tendency is to personify the issue by identifying one individual as a case in point. Senator Byrd was often singled out in this regard. The larger issue of how Congress effectively appropriates federal funds is very important and should not be overlooked. These are matters for continued discussion on procedures and practices of the entire institution.

Joran van der Sloot confession valid - appeals will likely be denied

The Joran van der Sloot confession is valid. Friday a judge in Peru denied the defense’s motion to void Joran van der Sloot’s confession. The reason the defense wanted the confession thrown out is because van der Sloot had a state-appointed attorney at the time he confessed.

Thankfully Superior Court Judge Wilder Casique did not buy the motion. Van der Sloot is in jail pending his trail. He is charged with first-degree murder and robbery. These charges are in connection with the May 30 death of Stephany Flores in a Peruvian hotel room.

In addition to being charged in this murder, Van der Sloot is also the sole suspect in the Natalee Holloway disappearance in Aruba. He has not been charged in that crime.

The Flores family is happy with the judge’s decision. They have also reportedly been in contact with Natalee Holloway’s family. Of course, Van der Sloot is appealing. However, there is little hope of any appeal working.

It looks like this time Van der Sloot just may get his punishment. He has repeatedly lied over the years, and it is time for him to be stopped. I hope he is tried and convicted quickly.

Bad News - Jane Skinner Quits Fox News - Geraldo Doesn't (VIDEO)

Fox news had a bad day all around. Jane Skinner quit Fox News at the end of her broadcast on Thursday and Geraldo Rivera did not. She has been with the network for 12 years and is well respected by almost everyone in the business.

I will miss her not only because she is smart and serious, but she has “just enough” of a sense of humor. She didn’t stray far from the business at hand. Plus, she was one of Fox's "Non-Blondes". Sure there were some blonde streaks, and that's exactly how the left-wing media acknowleged her objectivity as a journalist, in streaks.

I hope she will become a stringer, reporting occasional stories from the area where she and the Commish and the twins live. Bottom line is that I trust her. It's not because she's good-looking and that I happen to LIKE SHINY things, she brought legit like no Fox and Friends Co-Anchor can. Heck, give her the 10 p.m. slot on the weekends. Then Geraldo and Alan Colmes can spend their free time together.

Here's part of the classy lady's farewell.

"My life in the 12 years I have been here has changed significantly in wonderful ways and they've created a lot of new responsibilities. I added a husband (Roger Goodell) who has in the last couple of years become the NFL commissioner, and has a job even busier than mine. I have twin daughters, so to do justice to this new life I've decided to take a break from the business."

Cung Le Discusses Domination at “Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum” (Video Interview)

The last time fans caught a glimpse of Cung Le was in December 2009. He was fighting MMA journeyman Scott Smith in a Strikeforce event at the HP Pavilion. Saturday night, it was “like deja vu all over again” as the Vietnamese kickboxer stood opposite Smith at “Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum.”

Although Le only had a 6-1 professional mixed martial arts record entering his mulligan with Smith, most questioned if the 38-year-old was already staring at his better days in his rear-view mirror.

At least for one night, Le silenced his critics by dominating a relentless Smith to earn an impressive 2ndRound TKO victory. Le was accurate and dynamic with his striking, as he punished Smith throughout their scrap.

After avenging his 3rdRound TKO loss to Smith, Le was asked if a trilogy was warranted. Instead of playing matchmaker, Le deferred bout assigning duties to Strikeforce brass and said he’d do as he was told. However, Le utterly destroyed Smith on Saturday night so it is highly unlikely the powers that be would be interested in witnessing Part III.

Please click the media player below to watch Le’s post-fight interview with Showtime immediately following his dominating performance:

Fedor vs. Werdum MMA Video Stuns World with Loss

The MMA world was in shock as the Fedor vs. Fabricio Werdum fight video airing live on cable showed a loss for the first time in over ten years by the Russian giant. The Fedor vs. Fabricio Werdum fight video showed the stoic champ get caught in a triangle choke early in the first round of the fight and tap out to avoid going unconscious.
The MMA world was in shock as the Fedor vs. Fabricio Werdum fight video airing live on cable showed a loss for the first time in over ten years by the Russian giant. The Fedor vs. Fabricio Werdum fight video showed the stoic champ get caught in a triangle choke early in the first round of the fight and tap out to avoid going unconscious.

Fedor had amassed 31 wins with only one controversial loss over ten years ago where he was stopped by a cut on an illegal strike. MMA fans had considered the champ undefeated until Fabricio Werdum lured him into a submission where Fedor was caught. Both fighters were fresh as the stoppage came just 69 seconds into the fight.

Next up for Werdum is either a rematch with Fedor or a chance at the Strikeforce Heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem who seemed disappointed that he would not be fighting Fedor next. No official comment from the organizers who woudl be next matched up as Fedor only has one more fight on his contract.

Strikeforce Results, Fedor Loses, Cris Cyborg Wins, Frank Shamrock Announces Retirement [VIDEO]

Every winning streak must come to an end, Saturday night was the end for legendary mma fighter Fedor Emelianenko's win streak. He was choked out by Fabricio Werdum at 1:09 of the very first round. Up until this point in his career, there were many who considered Emelianenko undefeated because of the odd circumstances of his first loss. After tonight, his professional record stands at 32-2 with 1 no contest. Considered the greatest mma fighter of all time by many, it will be interesting to see how he returns.

The most well-known female mma fighter was also in action Saturday night, Cris Cyborg took on Jan Finney. Cyborg dominated in typical fashion, and showed why she is considered the #2 pound-for-pound female fighter in the world by mmarankings.com. Cyborg dropped Finney on quite a few occasions, punished her with a barrage of punches, and finally got the TKO victory in the second round.

Living legend Frank Shamrock announced his retirement at the event. Shamrock was the first ever UFC Middleweight Champion, he was named "Fighter Of The Decade" for the '90s by the Wrestling Observer, and was named "Fighter Of The Year" by Full Contact Fighter Magazine. He finishes his career with a record of 23 wins, 10 losses, and 2 draws.

The other main card fights saw Cung Le defeating Scott Smith by referee stoppage in the second round, and Josh Thomson submitting Pat Healey in the first round.. Le dropped the veteran Smith with a crushing spinning back kick to the side, and utilized some good ground and pound to earn the victory. Healey somehow survived five submission attempts before finally succumbing to the sixth, a rear-naked choke he looked to initially weather. However Thomson locked in a body triangle, got the leverage he needed on Healy's neck, and forced the submission.v

Winners and Losers Following Fabricio Werdum's Upset Over Fedor Emelianenko

Fabricio Werdum made Fedor Emelianenko tap to a triangle armbar. Neither's career will be the same from here out. But tonight's main event didn't just affect the two participants. Let's run down the list.

1. Fedor Emelianenko - The big one. As Luke Skywalker told the Emperor in Return of the Jedi, it was Fedor's overconfidence that proved to be his weakness. The Russian

paid no caution to Werdum's guard and paid the biggest price possible. When Fedor begrudgingly tapped, he lost the aura that made him so appealing to the MMA fan base. He's no longer FEDOR, but simply Fedor.

2. Fabricio Werdum - Well, someone's stock just shot up. I suspect Werdum will be ranked somewhere between 2 and 4, depending on how you view the winner/loser of Lesnar/Carwin and Cain Velasquez. Strikeforce may ask Werdum to take a rematch with Fedor, but the smart play is a rematch and title fight with...

3. Alistair Overeem - The Demolition Man just took a very long flight from Holland. He's not gonna get the chance to be the guy to beat Fedor. He'll get a chance to avenge a loss to Werdum as long as the next person on our list doesn't try to "make things right" for Fedor.

4. Scott Coker - There's so many questions for Strikefore right now. Unless there was an automatic rematch clause in the bout agreement, I believe Coker has to make the Werdum/Overeem fight. It kills any chance of Strikeforce entering the PPV market, but a second Fedor/Werdum fight won't exactly light up the buyrate either. While I can understand the temptation to try to "make things right" for Fedor, it would be an extremely hard sell to me for Coker to ask Werdum to fight Fedor again, instead of getting a title shot he deserves (as little as a Strikeforce title belt means). And if he does go with the logical Werdum/Overeem fight, who does Fedor get next? Josh Barnett? Antonio Silva? Can he renegotiate? Can he recognize sunk costs and cut him? So many questions...

5. Vadim Finkelstein - Biggest loser on this list. Vadim and M-1 Global simply bit the curb on this one. Yeah, Fedor lost, but he'll bounce back. Or he'll retire. As an individual, Fedor will be fine. M-1 Global, however, just took a serious punch to the gut. Their biggest bargaining chip is no longer the number one fighter in the world. He became "just another heavyweight". It will be very interesting to see how they handle this.

Across the U.S., Soccer Fans Were Plugged In

The soccer buzz spread across the U.S. on Saturday. While the game's rules weren't always completely understood, fans were plugged in with nervous anticipation.

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Associated Press

Fans cheer after the U.S soccer team scores a goal against Ghana as they watch on television Saturday in Los Angeles.

In San Francisco, about 100 people packed into Glen Park Station, a bar that had painted soccer balls on its windows and opened by 6:30 a.m. for the early games all tournament long. The crowd groaned when Ghana scored its first goal, just minutes in. A latecomer cursed loudly when he saw the scoreboard.

The mood stayed jubilant until Ghana's goal at the beginning of extra time. In a moment that showed how new soccer mania still is for the U.S., no one seemed to realize that the teams played two extra periods no matter the score. People were headed toward the door before stopping when they saw the teams lined up to play another 15 minutes.

When time finally ran out on the U.S. squad, the bar broke into applause—a thank you for two fun-filled weeks—and quickly dispersed.

"It was a good game," said a somber Marvin Maradiaga, a San Francisco resident who watched the game in a Giants jersey. "The U.S. had some chances, the calls just didn't go their way. It's frustrating." Despite how it ended, Mr. Maradiaga said he enjoyed watching the tournament, and had developed an appreciation for "the whole atmosphere" surrounding the World Cup.

More

• Extra-Time Goal Knocks Out U.S.
• In Little Ghana, a Big Celebration
• Game Diary
• Video: Our Vuvuzela Report
• Goal Tracker | Photos

Near Washington, D.C., "crowded" doesn't begin to define the Southside Bar in Old Town Alexandria, where eight of the 15 screens were tuned to the U.S.-Ghana match and where standing room only became straining room only.

The U.S. advance to the round of 16 brought out more fans, and more vocal ones, than attend even telecasts of playoff games of the Washington Capitals or sporadic starts by the Nationals pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg.

It was a soccer crowd in the purest sense—riveted to the screen, impervious to the Maria Sharapova third-round tennis match at Wimbledon, or even the Nats-Orioles game that started in the late afternoon. What some may have missed in soccer savvy—there were bar-side discussions over whether a "hat trick" required three goals or four—was more than made up for with genuine, unchecked enthusiasm.

American counterattacks were greeted with cheers and claps with the ball in their own side of the field. Near-misses by the U.S. generated unanimous groans. Corner kicks were applauded before they were taken. Routine saves by star goalkeeper Tim Howard earned furious applause. Landon Donovan's conversion of a penalty kick in minute 62 was ear-shattering, and followed by spontaneous (and obligatory) high-fives and chants of "USA!, USA!".

The one thing the American defeat, after two extra periods against a disciplined and feisty Ghanaian side, didn't seem to do was quell enthusiasm for America's new-found prowess—and the national team's prospects four years hence.

"I'm an eternal optimist. I'm looking forward to Brazil in 2014," said Brian Limperofulos, a fourth-generation Greek-American who's foresworn the tactics that made his mother country the 2004 European champs.

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Associated Press

U.S. soccer fan Taija Thomas (center) cheers though surrounded by mostly Ghana fans at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Limperofulos spent halftime of the U.S. match on the phone, pointedly criticizing to friends the staid midfield deployment of the U.S. squad, yearning for a creative ensemble like his beloved Arsenal, a top English team. Six months of study abroad in Belgium made him a convert to "football"; his other favorite sport is "American football." He calls himself a "reluctant fan" of D.C. United, the local Major League Soccer franchise.

The soccer wars aren't quite over, though. Jerry, who lived in Germany as a kid and has played soccer his whole life, defines himself as a "World Cup fan," not a "soccer fan."

"I'll probably watch ten minutes here, fifteen minutes there," he says. "I'm not religious about it."

In Los Angeles, Ghana's victory was a blow to the soccer fans on Hollywood's Sunset Strip, many of whom crowded into the wild-west-themed Saddle Ranch Chop House, known for its bottomless Bloody Marys, rock-and-roll mariachis that serenade patrons with heavy-metal tunes and its mechanical bull by the bar. Throughout the match, the perennially popular bull sat empty and the mariachis stood quietly as fans in dark sunglasses stared at the jumbo TV screens, hoping the Americans would pull out a dramatic win at the last minute, as has been their wont.

Among the believers were crisply dressed Lebanese real estate developers from Beverly Hills, rap artists decked head-to-toe in Lakers gear and a healthy number of loud New York transplants, some of whom were less concerned about the outcome of the soccer match than about how bad the cross-town traffic would be en route to the Yankees-Dodgers game Saturday afternoon. When the U.S. missed one of its first opportunities to score, one rabid Yankees fan yelled in disgust: "Jeter makes that play!"

There was also a good dose of confusion over the rules: one couple departed in exasperation when they were informed that there would be not one, but two additional 15-minute periods to settle the tie after the first 90 minutes.

But the serious soccer fans in attendance were heartbroken. Among the most disappointed was 26-year-old Cecelia Benovenli, who put down her mimosa and burst into tears of happiness after Mr. Donovan scored the U.S.'s only goal, and her companion Justin Frech, 32, who said he suffered "heart attacks" each time the U.S. blew a shot.

"It's so frustrating because we had this game," said Mr. Frech, who was sporting a Clint Dempsey jersey. "We had so many opportunities."

In Chicago, people at Halligan bar veered from bitterness to wild optimism and back again depending on how the U.S. team was faring.

Fans watching at the North Side bar chanted "USA! USA!" and sang along with the national anthem before the game started. They booed when Ghana's anthem played.

But after Ghana scored near the fifth minute, somebody yelled "No!" The noise level in the bar dropped to a loud murmur.

A few people clapped when U.S. players got the ball and occasionally several mustered a "USA!" chant, but the enthusiasm level was dampened. One man wearing a U.S. flag on his back walked out of the bar.

"We're leaving so many guys unmarked, I'm surprised it's only one-zip," said Michael Paul, a fan wearing a U.S. Soccer federation shirt, toward the end of the first half.

No chants of "USA!" preceded the start of the second half.

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Associated Press

Soccer fans Sarah Hafley (left) and Kate McGurn react to the U.S. loss while watching it on TV at Yankee Doodles restaurant in Santa Monica, Calif.

After Mr. Donovan scored on a penalty kick, fans in the bar jumped up and cheered. They shook and emptied bottles of Bud Light as foam sprayed in the air.

Marty Kollmorgen, in a University of Virginia shirt, wondered aloud if the U.S. would win the World Cup after toasting the country and taking a shot of whiskey.

Another man, in a Cincinnati Reds baseball cap, proclaimed he would buy a U.S. team soccer jersey after the game—once they are on sale.

Following the goal, the noise level in the bar stayed at a level at least double that of the first half for the rest of the second. A minute before the end of the second half, one man in a red shirt was hoisted onto another's shoulders and chanted "USA!" while waving a U.S. flag up and down.

But after Ghana scored again in extra time, the mood dropped again and stayed fairly low. Mr. Kollmorgen said, "this was a lot more fun in the second half."

In the backyard of Grosse Ile, Mich., home, a suburb of Detroit, party guests at a college graduation played horseshoes and nibbled on finger food. Inside the home, Zack Wright and other guests watched the final minutes of the game tick down. At the Lear Corp. office where Mr. Wright works, the World Cup has taken over. "We have these huge pools at work, everybody's all jacked up about it," he said.

Mr. Wright said, though he's by no means a die-hard soccer fan, he's been keeping tabs on the World Cup from Hockeytown. "I've been watching so I can at least make fun of them," he joked of his co-workers.

In New York on Saturday evening, hundreds of people filled the city's streets after the loss. Some fans wore jerseys they purchased years ago; some had makeshift patriotic gear they threw together after they discovered a love for soccer in the last two weeks. All appeared dejected. But while the mood in Manhattan was somber, most fans weren't disappointed with the team after winning their group and providing a handful of exciting moments in their four games.

"This experience has been fantastic," said Jason Corliss, 37, of Bloomfield, N.J. "I've been watching soccer for 30 years and with each cycle [of World Cup games], more and more laypeople get involved, hopefully that carries over. I have no complaints and the team should leave with their heads held high."

The reaction to the game itself was nearly universal, as fans felt the Americans couldn't continue to survive while giving up early goals, as the they did on Saturday, after digging similar holes against Slovenia and England.

"It's probably asking too much for them to come back after giving up another early goal like that," said Anthony Stevens, a college student from Queens. "I appreciate the effort they made, and they'll do better in another four years."

The epicenter for diehards was an overheated, overcrowded room on the second floor of Jack Dempsey's restaurant on 33rd Street in the shadow of the Empire State Building, where a number of U.S. supporters groups converged. If the place didn't feel like South Africa already with the rowdy U.S. fans, many of whom travel around the U.S. to watch the team play, there were also some vuvuzelas in the crowd, ensuring that it's not only those in South Africa who will be annoyed by them.

Their first chants and surprisingly intricate songs began at 11:40 a.m., nearly three hours before kickoff. Ranging from American favorites like "God Bless America" to a patriotic version of a Wu-Tang Clan rap, the madness did not end until Kevin-Prince Boateng's fifth-minute goal, which limited excitement for the rest of the match. Fans were at least happy they got the euphoria of one goal—Mr. Donovan's second-half penalty.

"With a goal, beer goes everywhere, you hug a random stranger," said Nick Laveglia from New York, who has travelled to see the U.S. team play in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. "That's what's great about the World Cup, you don't care who is next to you, who they are or where they are from, for a goal, they get a hug."

How crazy did it get? A few moments after the goal, staff members from the downstairs bar told fans they needed to stop jumping up and down—as patrons on the floor below them were getting nervous the floor would collapse. The excitement was short lived—it quickly turned to nerves for the tense ending and then finally turned to despair as Ghana scored in extra time.

— Ben Worthen, Keith Johnson, Ilan Brat, Hannah Karp, Sharon Terlep and Kevin Clark contributed to this article.

Baseball world follows World Cup saga

Time ran out on the U.S. team Saturday at the World Cup, and about a dozen Indians players and coaches watched a visitor's clubhouse TV in Cincinnati as Ghana won, 2-1 in extra time.

In Kansas City, reliever Dusty Hughes warmed up on the mound in the middle of the ninth inning, and all four infielders gathered together behind the mound and watched as the World Cup game was aired on the Royals' CrownVision for all 38,457 fans to see.

In Philadelphia, Cole Hamels had a U.S. soccer jersey hanging in his locker before heading out onto the field to pitch against the Blue Jays.

At U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, the White Sox were letting out audible groans as they took batting practice before what they hoped to be an 11th straight win. They had just seen Asamoah Gyan's mighty blast for the fateful goal.

These were the scenes that unfolded all across the Major League Baseball landscape, as players and fans alike shared their attention on sporting events. The Americans' run is over, one that captivated so many people throughout the National Pastime.

"I'm sad. I was hoping they would pull it off. It's over," Hamels said on the same day he allowed five earned runs. "You know what? I think it was exciting. I guess we've got four more years."

Hamels said he was "able to catch the first half. Then it's game time. I saw Ghana score the first goal in the first five minutes and thought, 'Here we go again.' After that I had no clue what the score was. Somebody told me the score after I was done. Oh, great. Two negatives."

"I don't think anybody expected the U.S. to get to the semifinals or the finals," Indians reliever Joe Smith said, before joking, "The other countries would have paid the referees off to make sure that didn't happen. We're not supposed to win in soccer."

Landon Donovan expected it, especially after tying the score with a penalty kick in the 62nd minute, but "it was not our night. It's frustrating considering all the work we put in. Soccer's a cruel game sometimes. One minute you're on top of the world, the next minute you're at the bottom of the mountain."

When Donovan scored, the crowd back at Kauffman Stadium went into delirium, chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" One of those fans cheering was Cardinals fan Brian Dopplick, there for the Interleague Play I-70 rivalry between his team and the Royals.

"I actually emailed the Royals ticket office when I found out there was going to be a conflict with the games and asked them what they were going to do," Dopplick said. "My friends were coming in town for the game and we debated selling our tickets so we could watch the World Cup. But when the Royals said they were going to have the game on TVs, we decided to do both."

Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo played soccer until his junior year in high school in Mexico. The Seattle-Milwaukee game started at about the same time the U.S. team was eliminated, and Gallardo was doing his best to stay on top of it.

"It's one of the only sports that's played all over the world," he said. "I think most of the guys in here are fans. We play with the soccer ball in here just kicking it around. It's fun to play and it's fun to watch the games and just be a fan of another sport."

In his case at least, there is still Mexico for hope. They play Argentina on Sunday.

White Sox reliever J.J. Putz was one of those who was making a special case of following the World Cup because his team was still alive.

"I can't stand listening to it with those vuvuzelas. It's just so annoying," he said before the elimination. "But USA is on and I like watching it when we are on. When Germany is playing France, I (don't care). But it's exciting. It's USA."

Aaron Laffey of the Indians said he felt the U.S. didn't capitalize Saturday. That pretty much echoed the sentiments of Donovan, who said the Americans were "naive."

"They had three legit chances to score, on top of the penalty kick," Laffey said. "Wide-open opportunities."

It was a dark day for more than just the American team. Shin-Soo Choo's native South Korea fell to Uruguay earlier in the day. Choo turned the game on just in time to see Uruguay score the winning goal in the 80th minute.

"They did a good job," Choo said of the South Koreans, who advanced from the group stage of the World Cup for the first time ever on foreign soil. "Sports. You never know what can happen."

To Royals pitcher Brian Bannister, the World Cup is a special event that only happens every four years, so he wanted to soak it in while he can.

"I just think it's a great event," he said before both events got under way. "It's like the Olympics. It only comes around every few years and I just love how the countries get involved. You just get that home-country pride. The matches are incredible, just the amount of people who attend. I think it's the best sporting event in the world."

Added teammate Billy Butler: "It's always good to see America in there. You like to see them win, and they're definitely up for a challenge. I enjoy watching them, it's my home country and I'm very proud of my homeland. Any time you see the United States, you want to see them win."

Anticipating the big match in Pretoria, Brendan Ryan of the Cardinals was decked out in a brand-new U.S. soccer jersey, adorned with his own name and No. 13. He ordered it directly from Nike and was thrilled it arrived on time.

"I didn't have any [soccer jerseys] with my name on it, so I was like, all right, I'll get a Ryan one and put my number on it," said Ryan, who has been known to sport various jerseys from other sports. "The other ones are all silly names. I was like, 'I've got to get one.' I couldn't believe how fast it came in. I was hoping it would get in before the Ghana game."

Ryan, who played soccer in his youth, found himself half-wishing he could serve as the Cardinals' designated hitter on Saturday, so he could check in periodically on the U.S.A. game. But he was still happy to make the 'sacrifice' of playing in a big league game even if it meant missing the soccer.

But he almost missed the U.S.'s previous game as well, a Wednesday morning contest against Algeria that was punctuated by a memorable goal in extra time.

"I had forgotten," he said. "For whatever reason, I had forgotten. So I woke up, and it was the 90th minute. I woke up and I thought it was a highlight. It was like, dribble, dribble, shot, rebound, shot goal. And I was like, 'Oh, it's the highlights.' And it turns out it was the biggest moment in U.S. soccer in a while. So that was pretty cool. But I wish I'd woken up in the 80th minute or something."

Ranger shortstop Elvis Andrus is a Venezuelan who said he is rooting all the way for Brazil.

"It's the way they play. Our country hasn't had the chance or the opportunity and hasn't been lucky enough to be in the World Cup," he said. "Brazil, Colombia, those are countries that are right next to us. And Brazil is having such success and has the whole history."

But Andrus said he picked USA over Ghana in the brackets that teammate Darren O'Day circulated in the Rangers clubhouse. O'Day has been totally into this. He downloaded the familiar vuvuzela sound app on his iPhone and plays it often on the team plane. He has been running up and down the aisles to "get everyone excited. They really don't like it at all. It gets pretty loud." But that, he said, is all part of this World Cup.

"Yeah, there's a fever," O'Day said before the loss. "It only happens every four years."

At Sun Life Stadium in Florida, several of the Padres were glued to their clubhouse TVs -- none moreso than Tony Gwynn Jr. The Padres center fielder might be the biggest soccer fan of the bunch.

"That was a good one right there, I thought that was going in," Gwynn said late in the match when a U.S. shot sailed wide.

Gwynn, sitting in a clubhouse chair, appeared crestfallen after the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the run. But he said what happened in South Africa ultimately helped the longtime visibility of the sport in the U.S.

"I think they needed to get out of the first round for it to be a success," Gwynn said after watching them advance out of the Group C. "I feel like if you get to that second round, then you've done something."

Len Troupe, 42, of Franklin, Tenn., was at Turner Field for the Braves' home game against Detroit, and said he hopes this leads to bigger things for American soccer globally.

"It's U.S. We're getting better every year and we're going to be champions within 10-12 years," he said. "I've got a 4- and a 6-year old who are with my wife right now. We stood in front of a TV for two minutes and they were like, 'We have to get food.' We took care of them and then we just watched.

"It was fun to see the ride and see how hard they fought in the entry level group and get to where they are. This is where I want to see them turn it around and really get interested in the U.S. Hopefully we get the tournament in 2022 and see where we go from there."

White Sox fan Joe Woltman of Romeoville, Ill., said rooting for Team USA just made it even more fun to be a sports fan this summer.

"Team USA, well it's good to get fired up behind something, like Landon Donovan, coming to play every four years," he said. "Why not get excited."

Joe Espinosa of Geneva, Ill., chimed in: "When the Blackhawks win, the Sox, Bears, Super Bowl, Chicago's year, baby."

Jack Wilson of the Mariners said he can understand why everyone jumped on this train, including so many who normally just talk about baseball standings.

"I think it's something to root for that's patriotic," Wilson said. "People are behind their country. I've followed it my whole life, and as the World Cup's gone on, our team has gotten better and better and better. Even four years from now, we're going to be even better than we are, by far. We have a very good under-21 team, under-18 team, very good players coming up. It's really something that gives people something to root for."

Wilson gave props to ESPN for "showing every single game and (getting) people into it. People are starting to learn the rules a little bit. It's never going to be a mainstream sport in this country, but it's awesome to see that people are really paying attention. People don't know how unbelievably talented these guys are."

People got to know more about Landon Donovan, even while they were paying attention to American stars like Ryan Braun, Josh Hamilton and Ryan Howard.

"It's unfortunate because we put so much into the game," Donovan said. "But I'm still real proud of these guys."

World Cup Extra Time Rules Explained

Everyone is asking about the World Cup Extra Time Rules. This is require for the knockout stages of the World Cup tournament. It is needed to prevent prolonging games because of consecutive ties.

Here’s the World Cup Extra Time Rules Explanation:

First, after the 90 minutes of the play, if the game is still tie with the goal score, two 15 minutes will be allotted. The second 15 minutes won’t be needed anymore in case one team is ahead after the first 15 minutes.

Second, there is no such thing as Golden Goal Rule here. The extra time should be finished no matter what the score is. Unlike ice hockey where if one team scored in the overtime, they automatically win regardless of the time remaining.

Third, if the game is still tie after the alloted two 15 minutes, then penalty kicks will be used to determine the winner of the game.

U.S. Vs. Ghana: Enough With The Do-Or-Die Stories

Composite made from AP images

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa

It’s painful to admit this, but after being in stadium for the greatest goal in U.S. soccer history I will be on a plane during the knockout match against Ghana tomorrow.

Aarrghh.

I can’t say that I booked the flight thinking the U.S. would bow out of the World Cup early. On the contrary, I was hopeful of a deepish run. But I was taking in the tournament sans media credential. I planned to stay only for the first round. I neglected to check the second-round match schedule when I bought the ticket. And now that history has happened, I want to stay and can't easily (or cheaply) rebook.

That’s what I get for freelancing.

Before I fly home, to salve my own stupidity, I present three likely media talking points for the the big match, which I will instantly knock down:

The United States hasn’t won consecutive games at the World Cup since 1930. True fact. What does it mean? Mostly that the the United States hasn’t played in that many World Cups (nine out of 19 — 1930, 1934, 1950 and the last six) and that it’s hard to win games at them. When the U.S. advanced to the quarterfinals in 2002, its record went like this: win, tie, loss, win, loss. In the modern era, the U.S. really hasn’t fielded a team you could reasonably expect to win twice in a row — until now.

In any event, athletes don’t care about history. I’m guessing the U.S. team isn’t reading this blog to get psyched for the game. As for 1930, that was the inaugural World Cup, held in Uruguay. Only four European nations made the long boat ride — Belgium, France, Romania and Yugoslavia. The U.S. beat Belgium and Paraguay, then lost in the semifinals to Argentina, 6-1.

The path for Team USA’s first trip to a World Cup semifinals in the modern era is clear. Well, not clear. But it does offer about as good a chance of advancing deep into the tournament as the U.S. could ever possibly hope for. The U.S. is playing Ghana because it won its first-round group, while Ghana finished second in its group. If the U.S. wins, it will face the winner of group-winner Uruguay and second-place South Korea. England, which finished second in the U.S. group, has to play Germany. The winner of that game will play either Argentina or Mexico.

Let’s look at this numerically. There are two sets of rankings in world soccer. One is maintained by FIFA, the sport's governing body. In that one, the U.S. is 14th, Uruguay 21st, Ghana 27th and South Korea 49th. The other teams? Germany is 5th, Argentina 8th, England 9th and Mexico 17th. The second ranking system is the World Football Elo Ratings, which soccer geeks prefer for its more rigorous mathematical approach. (The Elo system also is used in games like chess, Go and Scrabble.) In the Elo standings, Uruguay is 11th, the U.S. 20th, South Korea 23rd and Ghana 28th. Meanwhile, Argentina, England, Germany and Mexico go, in order, 4-5-6-7. Yikes.

Bottom line: All World Cup teams are good. Advancing to the final four won’t be easy. But after opening against England, the U.S. conceivably could not play another of the world’s elite soccer nations until the semifinals. Wow.

The future of American soccer rests on this game. If you hear this, cover your ears and go: “LALALALALALALALALALALALALA!”

As I say on All Things Considered this afternoon, Landon Donovan’s stoppage-time goal against Algeria was indeed important because it 1) avoided a three-ties-and-out exit by the U.S., preventing the dwindling number of soccer know-nothings from raising that dumb old complaint about soccer; 2) demonstrated to the most engaged U.S. soccer audience ever how viscerally thrilling and nationally unifying soccer can be; 3) made possible this tear-making YouTube montage that helps debunk the notion that only pockets of Americans care about soccer; and 4) extends the general-public momentum for the tournament, giving ESPN (and Spanish-language Univision) another weekend of U.S.-fired ratings.

The media love do-or-die narratives. Had the U.S. tied Algeria and gone home, it would have been a bummer, but soccer’s progress wouldn’t have skidded to a halt. As I wrote four years ago after the U.S. lost to Ghana at the World Cup, this is a 20-year or 30-year or, as U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati told me last week, 50-year march. A loss to Ghana tomorrow won’t stop that.

Tropical Storm Alex drenches Caribbean coast of Belize, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula

BELIZE CITY, (AP) — Hundreds of tourists and residents fled low-lying islands off Belize and beachgoers were warned to stay out of the water along Mexico's resort-studded Caribbean coast, as rain from Tropical Storm Alex began lashing the region.

Alex, with maximum sustained winds of about 65 mph (100 kph), was expected to make landfall at Belize by nightfall, cross land and enter the Gulf of Mexico late Sunday. The storm appeared headed west of the massive oil spill in parts of the Gulf, but meteorologists warned that a storm's track can quickly change.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Alex was centered just 15 miles (25 kilometers) east-southeast of Belize City on Saturday afternoon and heavy rains were spreading into northern Guatemala and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Belize and Mexico's entire Caribbean coastline up to Cancun.

Belize officials opened storm shelters in the island tourist resort of San Pedro, as some 1,400 people fled for the mainland by plane and by boat. Torrential downpours and heavy winds were reported on offshore islands Saturday afternoon.

Shelters also opened in Belize City, where motorists formed long lines at gas stations and shoppers stocked up on water, canned food and other emergency supplies amid sporadic rain.

Rough seas halted maritime traffic, and Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya-Flowers went on national radio to urge boaters to make for safe harbor. Nevertheless, she said, emergency plans were well under way and "we are prepared."

A storm surge of 3-5 feet (1-1.5 meters) was expected along the northern coast and offshore islands, national emergency coordinator Noreen Fairweather said.

Moderate rain was falling along Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, and Quintana Roo state authorities said choppy waves made it too dangerous to swim — but otherwise the storm did not pose a significant threat to tourist areas such as Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

State Public Safety director Miguel Ramos Real said 25 fisherman were evacuated and 17 navy personnel were brought to the mainland from a base on Banco Chinchorro, an atoll off the Mexican coast. Three shelters were opened, and ports were closed to small craft.

Meteorologists predict that Alex will likely lose strength as it passes over the Yucatan Peninsula, before picking up steam again over the Gulf of Mexico.

The latest Hurricane Center forecast puts Alex on a track that would take it through the southwestern Gulf and toward landfall around Veracruz or Tamaulipas state in Mexico — possibly as a hurricane.

Hurricane forecaster Jack Bevens said for now, the storm is not expected to hit the spill that has fouled the Gulf with somewhere between 69 million gallons (261 million liters) and 132 million gallons (500 million liters) of crude.

He noted, however, that it's too early to say with certainty exactly where Alex will go.

The storm has raised concerns over what might happen to containment efforts if oil company British Petroleum is forced to abandon the area for a while. An armada of ships is working in the Gulf.

A cap has been placed over the blown-out undersea well and it is carrying some of the oil to a surface ship where it is being collected. Some of the oil is being brought to the surface and burned. Other ships are drilling two relief wells, projected to be done by August, and are the best hope to stop the leak.

Meanwhile in the Pacific, two hurricanes were far offshore Saturday and did not pose an immediate threat to land.

Darby, a Category 1 storm, was weakening and had maximum sustained winds near 85 mph (140 kph). Its center was about 310 miles (495 kilometers) south-southwest of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, and it was slowly headed west.