Bellas help 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'

Thu, Apr 8
1:24
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For Brie Bella, helping demolish a dilapidated home on ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" this Sunday turned out to be a stress reliever.

Bella Twins
Courtesy of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Brie and Nikki Bella, along with Jeff Gordon, helped ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition".

"I was using this sledgehammer and punching all these holes in the wall," said Bella, who is 5 foot 6 and about 125 pounds. "I was in charge of taking apart the kitchen. It was really fun. And it was therapeutic."

Bella isn't a movie star or a singer. She's a WWE superstar, who wrestles with her twin Nikki as the Bella Twins.

The Bellas joined NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, along with the Makeover crew in Loris, S.C., in tearing apart a house owned by Amanda and Derrick Suggs.

The young couple had just started their own family when they adopted Amanda's younger siblings to prevent them from being separated in foster care. When they got married, they moved into the home Derrick inherited from his grandfather. Built by his grandfather in 1953, the home came with a long list of repairs: a leaking roof, outdated and exposed electrical wiring, rotting foundation, and broken and cracked asbestos siding on the outside of the house.

"When I looked at their house, I wanted to cry," Brie Bella said. "I can't believe they could raise a family with almost nothing. Amanda is a diva in her own right."

Bella now wants to do more charity work and continue wrestling with the WWE.

"I want to continue to give something back," she said. "And we'll stay in wrestling until they get sick of us!"

He shoots, he triple-word scores!

Thu, Apr 8
1:11
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scrabbleAP Photo/Steven Senne

Mattel announced this week that it plans to release a new version of Scrabble that will allow players to use proper nouns for the first time.

Scrabble purists have reacted negatively to the new rule, and who could blame them, as it's akin to the National League suddenly announcing that it will allow nine designated hitters. But it could be a boondoggle for the world of sports as Scrabble enthusiasts suddenly familiarize themselves with the rich tapestry of athletes' names to gain a competitive advantage.

Here are a few athletes who may suddenly become household names among such fans. Scores are given before any bonuses are applied. All other rules of the game are followed. Let's see your suggestions in the comments below.

Word: Vazquez
Score: 27 (one Z must be a blank)
Sentence: Twenty-seven exceeds the number of Yankees fans who will feel confident when Javier Vazquez takes the mound in the playoffs.

Word: Zydrunas
Score: 21
Sentence: Zydrunas Ilgauskas was the most valuable player on the Wizards in 2010.

Word: Ovechkin
Score: 20
Sentence: Alex Ovechkin plays hockey like someone who hates authority figures plays "Grand Theft Auto."

Word: Jimenez
Score: 25
Sentence: It's hard to tell whether Ubaldo Jimenez is more popular among Scrabble players or his fantasy owners.

Word: Zachary
Score: 24
Sentence: "Zachary" is what his mama would call him every time Zach Randolph got in trouble.

Word: Xavi
Score: 14
Sentence: If you don't know who Xavi is now, you will after this summer's World Cup.

Word: Buchholz
Score: 27
Sentence: The Red Sox once refused to trade Clay Buchholz for Johan Santana, but now he's barely worth more than this Scrabble board.

Word: Plaxico
Score: 18
Sentence: Plaxico Burress currently has a lot of time for board games.

Word: Nowitzki
Score: 24
Sentence: Does anyone else find it strange that Dirk Nowitzki once disappeared for a month in Australia and nobody ever really talks about what happened?

Word: Zidlicky
Score: 27
Sentence: My knowledge of semi-obscure hockey players such as Marek Zidlicky has allowed me to defeat you in Scrabble.

Kobe Bryant wins playing Guitar Hero 5, sort of

Thu, Apr 8
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Kobe BryantGetty ImagesKobe Bryant admitted he hadn't ever played Guitar Hero before.

LOS ANGELES -- It's April 6, a brilliant afternoon in Hollywood, and the stage is set for a high-wattage gaming battle between Lakers star Kobe Bryant and Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx. The two will square-off in Guitar Hero 5 for a red carpet event that will stream live on Qonquest.com, a new social gaming platform.

Only one glitch: Foxx doesn't show.

Here are some other odd happenings from Boulevard 3 …

• Among those representing Team Kobe: teammate Josh Powell, 49ers safety Dashon Goldson, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, and crazy man Bobby Brown, who is planning a tour. "I'm coming back!" says the singer, a fierce look in his eyes.

• Representing Team Foxx is one brave man: Chiefs safety Jarrad Page. "I'm not a Lakers fan," Page says, before noting his surroundings and wishing Bryant well. "These games are dangerous. I've strained my index a couple of times hitting the speed burst in NBA 2K10. Hopefully, Kobe won't hurt another finger."

• Super Bowl champs Roman Harper and Darren Sharper sneak into the party, unnoticed by all -- except, well, a pimp. That's right, Don Magic Juan -- aka Bishop Magic Juan, aka The Chairman of the Board, aka spiritual adviser to Snoop Dogg and, yes, a pimp -- is in the house. Welcome to LA, champs.

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For Rays' Evan Longoria, it's nonstop action

Thu, Apr 8
11:06
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Add action star to Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria's growing list of accomplishments.

Evan Longoria
New EraEvan Longoria is multitalented, but he didn't do his own stunts for his new commercial.

The 2008 American League Rookie of the Year and 2009 Gold Glove winner stars in a New Era commercial that sends Longoria on a chase for his cap and includes stunts likened to Jason Bourne of "The Bourne Identity" and Jack Bauer in TV's "24."

"We just felt that from a face-of-the-brand perspective, he was right to appeal to our consumer base and also that he could carry a pretty big, action-packed story," said Gerry Matos, senior vice president of marketing for New Era. "I think it's fair to say that not every player would fit in that dynamic, and we just felt that we were looking for somebody who made sense in that role."

The spot, which debuted Sunday, was shot in the Channelside area of Tampa, Fla., when the Rays had an off day in the middle of spring training. Longoria is dining at an outdoor patio when he believes a fan has made off with his cap.

Longoria, 24, also is featured on the cover of the "MLB 2K10" video game and has been touted among the preseason favorites for AL MVP. He spoke by phone about the commercial, his rising status in baseball, the Rays' hopes to return to the World Series and other aspects of his off-the-field life.

Fun commercial, but my first question is, do you often go out in public wearing your Rays hat?

Longoria: (Laughs) Never. I think that would be a little bit of a hint for a lot of people.

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Bill Goldberg to host DIY Network's 'Garage Mahal'

Thu, Apr 8
10:55
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Leno/Goldbergdiy networksIn the season's first episode, Jay Leno talks about his garage with Bill Goldberg.

Bill Goldberg laughs, and jokes that you can, indeed, teach an old dog new tricks.

His good buddy San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman pleaded with him to get on Twitter, he finally did, and was amazed at the tweets he was getting from fans. By and large? They would love to see him get back in the wrestling ring.

Goldberg is currently on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice," and this week, he hosts a new season of DIY Network's "Garage Mahal," which premieres Friday at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Goldberg, a former NFL defensive tackle and a former wrestler for World Championship Wresting and World Wrestling Entertainment, talks about Donald Trump and his garage's most prized possession and addresses whether he will, in fact, go for another round in the ring.

How has being an athlete helped you so far on "Celebrity Apprentice"?

"We've got good connections. We're driven. We don't like to lose. And I think at the end of the day, probably the best asset is that we've all been a part of a team before. And we like working in a team setting. I like that much more so than being an individual at times. It's always good to have other people who you can lean on and pick you up when you're down and vice versa."

So what would you do to Donald Trump's garage?

"I don't think Donald Trump is the kind of guy who needs his garage done! I'm not too sure about just doing just any celebrity, you know? I don't think just because they're famous, they're worthy recipients. We did Leno's garage and obviously Leno's got money to do it himself. Leno's was more of an intervention. I think we're going to stay away from the big guys who's got the coin to do their own garages."

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My top 10 favorite quotes about golf

Thu, Apr 8
9:44
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In honor of the most celebrated golf tournament in the United States, listed below are 10 of the greatest quotes about golf from my books, Golf Shorts, and Golf Shorts, Par 2:

• "If the Masters offered no money at all, I would be here trying just as hard."

-- Ben Hogan

• "This is where God hangs out."

-- Mac O'Grady, on the Masters

• "Because you pray after you play."

-- Fuzzy Zoeller, on how Amen Corner got its name

• "The course is perfection and it asks perfection."

-- Nick Faldo

• "You don't get any automobiles for a hole in one, you get in the history books. You are playing for the ages here--not a paycheck."

-- Jim Murray

• "I always said if they have a golf course like this in heaven, I want to be the head pro."

-- Gary Player

• "I must admit the name was born of a touch of immodesty."

-- Bobby Jones, the creator of the Masters

• "You win all the Tucsons, all the Kemps, all the Iron City Opens you can, nobody remembers. You win a Masters, nobody ever forgets."

-- Bob Goalby

• "I love it when I get here and I hate it when I leave."

-- Paul Azinger

• "I don't think about winning the Masters as part of the slam. You want to win the Masters because of what it means to the game."

-- Jack Nicklaus

Are NBA players nervous about 'Basketball Wives'?

Thu, Apr 8
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Shaunie O'NealAP Photo/LM OteroHere are Shaquille O'Neal and then-wife Shaunie, pictured during happier times.

There are a few players around the NBA with a bit of a knot in their stomachs, and it has nothing to do with the upcoming playoffs.

"Basketball Wives", a reality show chronicling the lives of current and former wives and girlfriends of NBA players, premieres on VH1 this Sunday at 10 p.m.

"You hear through the grapevine, 'Oh, the guys are so scared, that people are worried and the NBA is concerned and all that good stuff'," said Shaunie O'Neal, the show's executive producer and ex-wife of Shaquille O'Neal. "But I honestly don't think they have anything to worry about at all.

"I can't wait for them to see it because I think that whatever they have in their minds that [the show] is going to be or could be, that's not what it is. It's really about the ladies and what they're personally going through. It's not putting anybody on blast or dogging any particular person."

The show follows women on various ends of the "basketball wife" spectrum: From Evelyn Lozada coping with her split from ex-fiancé Antoine Walker to Gloria Govan, fiancée of Orlando's Matt Barnes, whose life (at least from the show's outset) seems relatively calm. Well, aside from the fact that she has to smooth out some things with Shaunie over rumors that Govan's sister (who is also Gilbert Arenas' ex-fiancée) slept with Shaq. Oh, the tangled web.

That's before you even get to Royce Reed, who is sure to be the show's most polarizing figure.

"She was always on my mind, but because she was a baby mama, as they say, it was questionable in my mind if I should even include her," O'Neal said of the former Magic/Heat dancer.

In the end, she did.

After all, one thing that gets viewers to tune in -- whether it's reality TV or the NBA postseason -- is drama.

Thursday's Web video of the day

Thu, Apr 8
9:29
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It's doubtful you'll see any blooper reel material at the Masters this week. Fortunately we have amateur golfers to pick up the slack. The guy working his way out of the sand trap might be the best part.


Thursday's "Girls & Sports" cartoon strip

Thu, Apr 8
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Chad Ochocinco is just living the dream

Wed, Apr 7
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7
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LOS ANGELES -- Chad Ochocinco is trying to stay out of trouble.

With all the projects the Cincinnati Bengal is juggling off the field this spring, he'll be just fine.

"I'm just having fun and enjoying my off-season; balancing a lot of things that I have going on off the field. This is how you stay out of trouble," he says laughing from the launch of his first-ever rookie draft pick in downtown Los Angeles. At the event, he announced that defensive lineman Gerald McCoy would be a reporter for OCNN, Ochocinco's athlete-driven social media network. McCoy will be tweeting from the draft and will continue to do so all season long.

"The whole point is that fans see players on the news; they see their favorite athlete. We're seen as these superstars that are God's gift. I try to be that guy who's like, I'm good at what I do, but I'm still human," Ochocinco said. "I'm still just like you. I'll get on twitter and I'm like '50 people meet me here. 100 people meet me at the movie theatre.' I'm blessed. I'm put in the position to where I can play football and entertain millions of people week in and week out."

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Martha Burk said she never trusted Tiger Woods

Wed, Apr 7
Apr
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 Martha Burk
AP Photo/Susan WalshMartha Burk isn't a fan of Tiger Woods.

In 2003, activist Martha Burk led a protest on Augusta National to publicize its men-only membership policies. With Tiger Woods now making his comeback to golf, Burk is at it again badmouthing Augusta National and Tiger. Burk joined 790 The Zone in Atlanta to talk about the Masters being a safe place for Tiger to return to golf and her thoughts on Tiger's press conference on Monday.

"I just have never trusted the guy [Tiger] that much. That is my personal opinion," Burk said. "I am a Ph.D. psychologist. I have a little experience."

Read the rest of the interview and listen to the audio.

It's been a good week for Christian Laettner

Wed, Apr 7
Apr
7
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Dream TeamAndrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty ImagesChristian Laettner and his 1992 Dream Team were elected into basketball's Hall of Fame.

Christian Laettner had quite a day on Monday. Not only did the greatest basketball player in Duke history get to watch his alma mater win its fourth national championship, but Laettner was finally elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame -- a glaring omission that was righted when the entire 1992 Dream Team was selected for induction.

Without the election of the entire Dream Team roster, the individual members of that historic squad probably would not have all made the Hall of Fame. Sure, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, David Robinson, John Stockton and Magic Johnson were already in. And Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen were elected on Monday. But that still left two members on the outside looking in: Laettner and Chris Mullin.

And really, what would the history of the game be without Laettner, a one-time All-Star, and Mullin, who once led the league in free-throw percentage?

Electing the entire Dream Team caulked a glaring fissure in the museum's historical canvas. Well done.

Laettner defied the odds by gaining admission to the Naismith Hall of Fame. According to his page on basketball-reference.com, the Buffalo, N.Y., native had a Hall of Fame probability of 0.001, which ranked him 444th on the list -- worse than Mullin (0.101, 144th) but considerably better than Benoit Benjamin (0.000, 597th).

Laettner won both the 1992 Naismith and Wooden awards as college's premier player, and led Duke to back-to-back national championships -- achievements that helped him gain the lone collegiate spot on the original Dream Team.

On the basis of his collegiate accomplishments, Laettner was also recently elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame -- an honor not yet bestowed upon certain Dream Team members including Jordan and Ewing.

One of these days they might share the dual honor of being elected to both halls.

Page 2 looks at 'Dancing with the Stars' field

Wed, Apr 7
Apr
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Now that there are only nine competitors remaining in ABC's "Dancing with the Stars", Page 2 looks at the leaders, followers and likely to go next:

Leaders

• Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough: Their natural dancing ability will make them the duo to beat.

• Evan Lysaceck and Anna Trebunskaya: Evan is surprising everyone with how he's translated his skills from the ice to the dance floor.

• Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Erin is looking more comfortable each week and might make a push.

Middle of the pack

• Pamela Anderson and Damian Whitewood: Pamela can dance but will the mostly female audience continue to vote for her?

• Chad Ochocinco and Cheryl Burke: Chad doesn't look comfortable as we thought he would.

• Niecy Nash and Louis Van Amstel: Niecy is a crowd favorite and should survive a few more weeks.

Likely to go next

• Jake Pavelka and Chelsie Hightower: Jake is surviving on his smile. But he won't be smiling much longer.

• Aiden Turner and Edyta Sliwinska: As the dances become more difficult, Aiden will struggle.

• Kate Gosselin and Tony Dovolani: Even Page 2 has no idea how she is surviving.

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