The News Of …

Alcohol addiction and declining marketability have sidelined Dennis Rodman and rendered him unable to pay an “unjustified” amount of child support – representatives for the former NBA player said today.
Rodman’s manager, Darren Prince, told ABCNews.com today that the former Chicago Bulls’ rebound star has a “well-documented drinking problem, and all the stress from the divorce and not seeing his kids isn’t helping. As people know, it’s a daily struggle. He has good days and bad ones and good weeks and bad weeks.”
While Rodman isn’t in an inpatient treatment program, Prince said: “He does see a counselor from time to time.”
The Los Angeles Times reported that Rodman’s attorney Linnea Willis said Rodman “is broke and cannot afford any additional fees,” in court papers filed today. She also said he is “extremely sick.”
The filing came in response to allegations from the attorney for Rodman’s third wife, Michelle Rodman, that as of Mar. 1, Rodman owed $808,935 in back child support for the couple’s 9- and 10-year-old children and $51,441 in back spousal support. He was previously ordered to pay his ex-wife $50,000 per month for child support.
Willis said in a statement that “even the wealthiest celebrities in the world” would not be ordered to pay $50,000 a month, and while Rodman hasn’t been able to make payments of that amount: “it is absolutely untrue that Mr. Rodman failed to pay child or spousal support. Mr. Rodman has always provided support to his family to the best of his ability and will continue to do so.”

Dennis Rodman.

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The tournament host was not here to witness the ending, the formality that was Tiger Woods celebrating on the 18th green, a victory that is bigger than the game’s biggest attraction will ever acknowledge.
Arnold Palmer took ill Sunday afternoon, a blood pressure issue sending him to the hospital and denying him a chance to watch Woods put the finishing touches on a most important win and then acknowledge the hard work with a firm handshake and hearty hug.
Palmer (82) who was being kept overnight for observation, played with more bravado and panache in his day than Woods does, but he nonetheless has always loved it when Tiger wins his tournament. Who wouldn’t? This victory was Woods’ seventh at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and who is to say it wasn’t the biggest?
Like the King himself, fans revel in watching Woods win – and were enjoying every bit of his first victory on the PGA Tour in 923 days, back to his triumph at the 2009 BMW Championship, where Woods won for the sixth time that year and seemed on top of the golf world.
So much has transpired since then, so much negativity and personal turmoil and upheaval and injury, that many wondered if this day would ever come. Woods won for the 72nd time in his PGA Tour career with a hard-fought, final-round 70 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, where he took a 1-stroke lead into the final round over Graeme McDowell and won by 5.
“I think he really just kind of nailed home his comeback” – McDowell said. “Great to have a front-row seat watching maybe the greatest of all time doing what he does best, winning golf tournaments.”

Tiger Woods.

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Former Vice President Dick Cheney was recovering Saturday at a Virginia hospital after receiving a heart transplant – his office said.
Cheney was in the Intensive Care Unit of Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church – his office said.
Cheney, 71, who served as vice president in the George W. Bush administration, has had a long history of heart trouble and has been on the cardiac transplant list for more than 20 months.
“Although the former Vice President and his family do not know the identity of the donor, they will be forever grateful for this lifesaving gift” – aide Kara Ahern said in a written statement that was authenticated by several close associates of the former vice president.
More than 3.100 Americans currently are on the national waiting list for a heart transplant. Just over 2.300 heart transplants were performed last year, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. And 330 people died while waiting.
According to UNOS, 332 people over age 65 received a heart transplant last year. The majority of transplants occur in 50- to 64-year-olds.
The odds of survival are good. More than 70 percent of heart transplant recipients live at least five years, although survival is a bit lower for people over age 65.

Dick Cheney.

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The Celtics came into last night’s game focused on the fact that first place in the Atlantic Division was on the line. They left knowing there was something far more important at stake. Mickael Pietrus was taken from the arena on a stretcher after crashing to the court with 5:08 left in the second quarter of a 99-86 loss to the 76ers. He was taken to the hospital with what was termed a “closed head injury.” “He’s already had an X-ray (and) CT (scan). He’s doing an MRI right now” – Celtics coach Doc Rivers said a few minutes after the game ended. “So that’s all we know. They’re going to hold him overnight, but that’s all I can give you right now.” The team later said Pietrus was not admitted to the hospital, but did stay in Philadelphia overnight. He will be re-evaluated today. Pietrus was pulled backward by Lou Williams as he put up a drive from high in the lane. He did not appear to hit his head on the court, but there was a severe jolt and he immediately reached for that part of his body. He remained on the floor for several minutes as physicians attended to him. Pietrus, who started in place of guard Ray Allen (right ankle), was immobilized before being put onto the stretcher. Kevin Garnett (standing beside the medical crew) raised his arms and began to clap as Pietrus was set in place. The crowd picked up on it and followed suit. Williams came up to the Celts afterward and, according to Rivers, said: “Tell Piet good luck. I didn’t do it on purpose.” Rivers added: “It wasn’t an intentional play. I mean, things just happen in sports.

Mickael Pietrus.

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Flanked by his family, his former manager and a group of teammates he hates to leave behind, Chipper Jones choked up a bit and delivered the news that’s been looming for years -
It’s time to call it a career.
This time, he means it.
With his 40th birthday approaching and a long string of injuries slowing him down, Jones announced Thursday he will retire after one more season as the Atlanta Braves’ third baseman.
“I have fulfilled everything” – Jones said during a news conference at the team’s spring training stadium in Kissimmee, Fla. “There’s nothing left for me to do.”
Jones, who has spent his entire 18-year career with Atlanta, actually planned to retire after the 2010 season, only to change his mind. As he battled leg issues this spring, he openly wondered if he’d be able to make it through the season.
So, he’ll give it one more year with the Braves, then become a full-time dad to his three children.
“I just want to make it final” – Jones said.
He praised the Braves organization, calling Bobby Cox “the greatest manager any of us will ever know,” thanked team executives John Schuerholz and Frank Wren for building a perennial winner and fought back tears as he turned to his teammates.
“I’ve been thinking about this and the reason I stayed around is you guys” – Jones said. “I played on teams where clubhouse cohesion wasn’t there. That never happened with you guys.”

Chipper Jones.

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A Mitt Romney campaign adviser’s comments Wednesday that the front-running Republican candidate for president could reset (“like an Etch A Sketch”) his stands on issues if he becomes the GOP nominee brought a stinging response from the head of the nation’s largest reproductive rights group, who said women voters will not accept flip-flops on issues such as birth control.
“We will make damn sure that women know where Mitt Romney stands” on matters related to women’s health, said Nancy Keenan, head of NARAL Pro-Choice America in an interview with The Chronicle. She addressed more than 1.000 women Wednesday at the group’s annual Power of Choice lunch at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, shortly after Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom made the comments that became a campaign nightmare.
CNN asked Fehrnstrom whether his candidate could tack more to the political center in the November general election against President Obama – a Democrat.
“Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign” – Fehrnstrom said. “Everything changes. It’s like an Etch A Sketch. You can shake it up and we start all over again.”

Mitt Romney.

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The Trayvon Martin tragedy demonstrates two things. Most people (including the media) are ignorant of how the criminal justice system really works. Secondly, they are gullible and will believe anything, no matter how outlandish, especially if a so-called expert is involved.
Why hasn’t George Zimmerman (who admitted shooting and killing Trayvon Martin) been arrested?
Arresting a person means charging them with a crime. Police need probable cause that a crime was committed and the suspect committed the actual crime. The preliminary investigation indicated no crime was committed under Florida law. There is a difference between a legal crime and a social or moral crime.
Just because a preliminary investigation has ended does not mean George Zimmerman cannot be arrested and charged at some future point in time. The case was turned over to prosecutors, as violent death investigations usually are. Reports state that a grand jury will be empanelled to investigate.
Investigations can take days, weeks, months, or years. Some have taken decades, even though the actual perpetrator of a crime is known. Knowing a crime has been committed, having probable cause to arrest an offender, and legally proving it in court are entirely different things.

Trayvon Martin.

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After losing out in the Matt Flynn and Peyton Manning sweepstakes, the Dolphins have found a quarterback.
Where does Manning rank on the list of franchise quarterbacks who finished their careers on another team?
David Garrard (who has been recovering from a herniated disk that he injured last year during training camp) has agreed to terms with the Dolphins, FOXSports.com has learned via text message.
It is a one-year deal, Garrard’s agent (Albert Irby) told Scout.com.
arrard said he was told he will get an opportunity to compete with last year’s starter, Matt Moore, who passed for 2.497 yards and 16 TDs with nine interceptions as the Dolphins went 6-10.
It is not known whether the Dolphins will make a play for another quarterback in the NFL draft in April or in free agency. Miami met with free agent quarterback Alex Smith this past weekend.

David Garrard.

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The news doesn’t seem to get better concerning the broken wrist of North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall.
Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports just tweeted this:
“Just spoke with Dennis Marshall – Kendall’s father. Confirmed surgery scheduled for tomorrow morning to insert screw in non-shooting wrist.”
It is unclear whether he would be ruled out of the tournament if he has surgery.
Marshall was injured when he was fouled by Ethan Wragge of Creighton on a drive to the basket in the second half. Marshall played for another nine minutes.
With injuries earlier this season, the Tar Heels are down to 6-foot freshman Stilman White.

Kendall Marshall.

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Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba remains in a critical condition in hospital today after collapsing during an FA Cup tie.
The 23-year-old “remains anaesthetised” in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital after falling to the ground at White Hart Lane in front of millions of television viewers watching the sixth-round tie between Tottenham Hotspur and his club, Bolton Wanderers.
Today, club manager Owen Coyle thanked fans for their support, adding – “All our thoughts and prayers are for Fabrice and his family at this time.”
A joint statement from the hospital and Bolton Wanderers read – “Fabrice Muamba remains in a critical condition in intensive care in the Heart Attack Centre at the London Chest Hospital.
“He was admitted to the hospital yesterday evening after collapsing at White Hart Lane, where he sustained a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup quarter final against Tottenham Hotspur.
“Fabrice received prolonged resuscitation at the ground and on route to the London Chest Hospital, where his heart eventually started working.
“As is normal medical practice, Fabrice remains anaesthetised in intensive care and will be for at least 24 hours. His condition continues to be closely monitored by the cardiac specialists at the hospital.”

Fabrice Muamba.

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