AN EXCEPTIONAL NEW DRAMA THAT MEET'S THE ODDS! --------

LIE TO ME

• 7Jul 09

  "DADDY WAS THE BEST FATHER EVER" - Millions pay tribute to King of Pop

  "DADDY WAS THE BEST FATHER EVER........ I LOVE HIM SO MUCH"

  MILLIONS PAY TRIBUTE TO THE "SIMPLY GREATEST ENTERTAINER THAT EVER LIVED"

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  The essence of Jackson's memorial service came down to 20 poignant seconds when 11-year-old Paris inched up to the microphone and referred to the late pop superstar as "Daddy."

  

  THIER WAS'NT A DRY EYE IN THE CROWD AND FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF FANS AROUND THE WORLD AS WE TRIBUTE TO A LOVING AND DEVOTED FATHER SINGER, DANCER, SUPERSTAR, HUMANITARIAN AND MUCH MORE - MICHAEL JACKSON'S MEMORIAL WAS A SOMBRE, SPIRITUAL CEREMONY THAT REACHED BACK FOR THE ESSENCE OF THE MAN.

  LET'S REMEMBER MICHAEL JACKSON FOR HIS INCREDIBLE TALENT AND THE AMAZING MUSIC HE BOUGHT TO THE WORLD, HE HAS TRULY TOUCHED NEARLY EVERYONE'S LIFE AT SOME POINT.

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  Family members, friends and fans of Michael Jackson have gathered to honour the late singer at a public memorial in the US state of California, nearly two weeks after his death.

  Jackson's gold-plated coffin was placed on a stage at the Staples Center sports complex in Los Angeles in the public ceremony, broadcast around the world on Tuesday, as a gospel choir sang.

  Pastor Lucious Smith paid tribute to the pop legend before singer Mariah Carey sang a rendition of the Jackson 5 hit "I'll Be There".

  Singers Stevie Wonder, Usher and Lionel Richie and basketball player Kobe Bryant were among celebrities attending the service.

  "The more I think about Michael, and talk about Michael, the more I think that 'King of Pop' is not good enough," Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records , said to the crowd.

  "I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived.

  "Though it ended way too soon, Michael's life was beautiful. Sure there was some sad times and maybe some questionable decisions on his part, but Michael Jackson accomplished everything he dreamed of."

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  MEMORIAL SERVICE - Staples Center, Los Angeles.

  A TRIBUTE:

  MICHAEL JACKSON - 1958 - 2009

  

  Michael Jackson's mother Katherine and his daughter Paris were among the mourners at his memorial.

  

  Jackson's flower-draped, 14-carat gold casket was brought to Staples Centre in a motorcade under law enforcement escort.

  

  Jackson's 11-year-old daughter Paris paid a moving and unexpected tribute to her late father.

  

  Paris and Prince Michael put on brave faces as little Prince Michael II, nicknamed Blanket, hides behind his memorial program.

  

  Brotherly love: The Jackson family supports Michael's brother Marlon Jackson as he speaks on stage.

  

  Janet Jackson comforts her niece Paris Jackson.

  

  Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson performs at the Michael Jackson memorial.

  

  Mariah Carey gave the opening performance at the memorial, with a rendition of the Jackson 5 ballad I'll Be There.

  

  Lionel Richie gives it his all during the Jackson memorial.

  

  Michael Jackson's children Prince Michael Jackson II and Paris Jackson.

  

  Jermaine Jackson tosses the rose from his lapel while performing during the memorial service.

  

  Jermaine Jackson performs.

  

  Singer Usher hugs LaToya Jackson.

  

  Singer Jennifer Hudson performs.

  

  Musician John Mayer performs.

  

  A woman crys as she watches a broadcast of the memorial service.

  

  Singers Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz perform during the memorial service.

  

  Queen Latifa speaks at the memorial service.

  

  Musician Smokey Robinson.

  

  Actress Brooke Shields cries

  

  Reverend Al Sharpton greets Michael Jackson's family.

  

  Pallbearers carry the casket of Michael Jackson.

  

  Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris, becomes emotional as she speaks at her father's memorial service.

  

  The crowd in the Staples Center rises to its feet to tribute Jackson.

  

  Paris and Janet Jackson walk offstage as the Jackson family console each other.

  

  Pallbearers leave with a rose-covered coffin holding the body of Michael Jackson at the end of the memorial.

  

  Audience members embrace at the memorial service.

  

  'We are the World' is performed by an assortment of stars, singers and family.

  

  Well-wishers surround the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

  

  "There wasn't nothing strange about your daddy, It was strange what your daddy had to deal with!" - Reverend Al Sharpton said to Michael's children

  - WELL SAID!

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  REST IN PEACE MICHAEL - YOU WILL TRULY BE MISSED BY MANY!

  • Posted Jul 7, 2009 9:51 pm PT
  • Category: News
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• 5Jul 09

  WIMBLEDON 2009: Histroy Man - Federer Does it Again ++++ Serena's Way too good!

  

  wimbledon 2009

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  'THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL'

  Roger Federer upsets Roddick and makes history winning his 15th Grand Slam title

  

  Roger Federer returns to Andy Roddick during their men's final match on the Center Court at Wimbledon.

  

  Roger Federer kisses the trophy after defeating Andy Roddick to win the men's singles championship on the Center Court at Wimbledon.

  

  Roger Federer celebrates alongside Bjorn Borg, left, Pete Sampras, second left and Rod Laver, right.

  In one of the most gripping matches of his storied career, Roger Federer finally created history by surviving the longest fifth set in a Wimbledon final, and an astonishing serving performance by American Andy Roddick, to win a record 15th grand slam title.

  Federer's 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 16-14 victory in four hours and 18 minutes came 12 months after he had suffered a heartbreaking defeat here in another epic five-set battle with Rafael Nadal.

  This time, however, with a collection of the game's all-time greats looking over his shoulder from the royal box anticipating the Swiss would win the unprecedented 15th major title, Federer finally endured, breaking Roddick's serve for the only time in the match on the American's 38th service game to seize victory.

  Clearly exhausted by his toil, and perhaps stunned by the opposition he had been forced to endure from an opponent over whom he had held a 18-2 career record, the often emotional Federer was more relieved than elated as he received the Wimbledon trophy for the sixth time.

  "It's a crazy match, my head is still spinning," Federer told the crowd.

  Pete Sampras, who had flown in for the match at the last minute to see Federer move ahead of him on the all-time grand slam winners list, paid the Swiss the ultimate accolade saying he considered him the greatest player of all time.

  "I have to give it to him," said Sampras. "The critics say Laver, and Nadal's beaten him a few times ... in my book he is."

  If Federer's victory was not as comprehensive as most had expected, the nature of the struggle made his 15th title one of the most satisfying.

  A sixth Wimbledon crown puts Federer behind only Sampras and William Renshaw, who have both won seven, on the All-England Club honours roll. Federer also regained the world No.1 ranking that he had lost to his recent nemesis Rafael Nadal in August last year after 237 consecutive weeks at the top.

  "It's staggering that I've been able to play so well for so many years now and stay injury free," said Federer of the 15th title.

  "Of course there is a certain routine that's started to happen the last few years since I sort of became No. 1 in the world. I knew what it took to win the big ones. Obviously a lot of experience that comes with it, being there and giving myself chances.

  "But, you know, it's crazy that I've been able to win so many in such a short period of time, I think."

  While the final was a on a knife-edge throughout, the one hour and 35 minute fifth set was a minor epic in itself with both Federer and Roddick serving relentlessly.

  Roddick had a chance to seize the initiative when he held two break points at 8-8, but the Swiss snuffed those out with big serves. It was not until the American served at 14-15 that the breakthrough came, Roddick framing a forehand well over the baseline to give up his serve and the title.

  It was a shattering defeat for Roddick who slumped into his chair, head bowed, after the match.

  Almost as much as Roddick will regret losing the final game, he will rue missing a golden chance to go up two sets to love when he had four set points at 6-2 in the second set tie-break. After Federer saved the first two with big serves, Roddick had a straightforward backhand volley which he struck well wide.

  But, if it seemed likely Roddick would buckle after that disappointintment, his serve remained unrelenting.

  "At that point, there are two options," said Roddick. "You lay down or you keep going. The second option seemed better to me."

  While a couple of sloppy shots in the third set tie-break proved costly for Roddick, he broke Federer at 1-2 in the fourth set and forced the match into what proved to be a nail-biting conclusion.

  Roddick's vast contribution to a gripping match was acknowledged by the crowd who chanted his name as he sat disconsolate in his chair and cheered him even more loudly than the winner at the presentation.

  "It showed that they appreciated what we did out there today," said Roddick who said defeat had felt worse than his back-to-back finals losses to Federer in 2004-05. "It was definitely a nice and appreciated gesture by them."

  If Federer's sheer brilliance has long been appreciated, as he has faced greater challenges in recent times his durability and ability to dig deep is also being revealed.

  Roddick said Federer had, for the first time, been unable to read his serve.

  "But you didn't even get a sense that he was even really frustrated by it," said Roddick.

  "He kind of stayed the course and just toughed it out. He gets a lot of credit for a lot of things, but not a lot of the time is how many matches he kind of digs deep and toughs out. He doesn't get a lot of credit for that because it looks easy to him a lot of the times. But he definitely stuck in there today."

  -Agenicies

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  'SERENA UNSTOPPABLE'

  SIBLING RIVALRY: Serena Williams is way too good as Venus is sent into a spin

  

  Venus Williams serves to younger sister Serena during the Wimbledon's women's final.

  

  

  Serena Williams continued her grand slam dominance over sister Venus, destroying her siblings bid for a third consecutive Wimbledon title with a display of power and desire that proved irresistible even for one of the game's great grass-court players - then abruptly staked her claim to be considered No.1.

  With a 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 victory, Serena took her third Wimbledon crown - all won in finals against Venus. Her previous victories had been back in 2002 and 2003 and, throughout this event, Serena had made it clear she felt her collection of All-England titles was smaller than it should have been.

  Asked what she was thinking as she looked at the Wimbledon honour roll after the match, Serena said: ''Actually, I felt like my name should have been there at least once more. At least I got another one.''

  Venus had not dropped a set here since the third round in 2007 and was aiming for a sixth title at the grand slam she had made her own, meaning Serena had, for once, entered the match as the underdog - even in her own usually ultra-confident mind.

  ''I felt like all I had to do is go out there and do my best and just stay even, because she's such a good player,'' she said. ''When I won that first set, I was like, 'Wow, this is great. No matter what, I'm a set away'. So I was just trying to relax.''

  She did just that, jumping on Venus's unusually inconsistent serve in the second set to force two breaks, the match ending after one hour and 28 minutes when Venus's backhand went into the net.

  ''It definitely wasn't easy,'' said Serena. ''First of all, she's a great player, especially on this surface, especially out there on that court. Also she's my sister, someone that I want to see win and do well at all times.''

  With victories at the 2008 US Open and the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, Serena is regaining the dominance she enjoyed in 2002-2003 when won four consecutive grand slam titles - the Serena Slam. However, that has not yet been enough to see her overtake Russian Dinara Safina on the world rankings despite the fact the Russian has never won a major, something that clearly rankles with the 27 year-old American.

  ''I think if you hold three grand slam titles maybe you should be No. 1, but not on the WTA Tour obviously,'' she said. ''You know, my motivation is maybe just to win another grand slam and stay No. 2, I guess.''

  Just two days after Venus had fiercely defended Safina's right to be No.1 despite thrashing her 6-1 6-0 in a 51 minute semi-final, Serena was cutting in her assessment of the Russian's hold on the top ranking.

  ''I see myself as No. 2,'' said Williams sarcastically when asked where she should be ranked. ''That's where I am. I think Dinara did a great job to get to No. 1. She won Rome and Madrid!''

  In a predictably punishing final, it was Serena's sheer willpower combined with her pounding strokes that carried her to victory, reversing the result in last year's final won by Venus in straight sets.

  It was the eighth time in ten years one of the Williams had won the Wimbledon title. Venus has won five times, Serena gained a third title.

  Serena has now won 11 grand slam titles to her sisters seven. Serena improved her grand slam finals record against Venus to 6-2.

  As a measure of Serena's fighting qualities, it was also the third time she had come back from a match point during a grand slam tournament to win the title, having returned from the dead against Elena Dementieva in their semi-final. She had also saved match points at the 2003 and 2004 Australian Opens.

  In what would prove a decisive opening set, Venus had a chance to seize control when she held two break points at 3-2. But after a Venus forehand landed just long, Serena hammered back-to-back aces to see off the danger.

  Serena then pounced in the tie-break with a series of hammering groundstrokes that saw her accumulate four set points, converting the second with a perfectly judged lob. With her streak of winning sets broken, Venus's confidence seemed diminished in the second set as Serena jumped on her serve, breaking her sister's Wimbledon stranglehold and putting S.Williams on that honour roll again.

  -Agenicies

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  -DO YOU THINK ROGER FEDERER IS THE GREATEST TENNIS PLAYER IN HISTORY?

  -WHAT DID YOU THINK OF WIMBLEDON 2009?

  • Posted Jul 5, 2009 5:32 pm PT
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• 26Jun 09

  A TRIBUTE: Legend Michael Jackson 1958 to 2009 //// Farrah Fawcett 1947 to 2009

  THE WORLD IN MOURNING

  The World is in huge shock after The King of Pop Michael Jackson dies from a massive Cardiac Arrest at just age 50

  

  A TRIBUTE IN PICTURES FOR MICHAEL JACKSON

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  THE WORLD HAS TRULY LOST AN INCREDIBLE AND ICONIC PERSON - R.I.P. MICHAEL JACKSON YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEBERED!

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  AN AMAZING AND COURAGEOUS WOMAN

  The World is also mourning for Charlie's Angel Farrah Fawcett who has lost her long battle with Cancer at age 62

  A TRIBUTE IN PICTURES FOR FARRAH FAWCETT

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  R.I.P. FARRAH FAWCETT - YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED!

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  • Posted Jun 26, 2009 2:06 am PT
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