Parker's 42 powers Spurs past NBA-best Thunder
Tony Parker wasn't playing for an All-Star invitation. He made a strong case just the same.
Putting together his most dazzling game in three years - and doing it against the NBA's hottest team, no less - Parker scored 42 points and became the all-time franchise assists leader for the San Antonio Spurs in a 107-96 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.
His nine assists moved him past Avery Johnson in Spurs history, but this night wasn't about his passing. Parker joined Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Anthony Morrow and LeBron James as the only NBA players to eclipse 40 points in a game this season.
Bryant, Howard and James were chosen All-Star starters this week. Reserves are announced Thursday.
If Parker's name wasn't in the mix before, it almost certainly is now.
"I would like to go again eventually," said Parker, a three-time All-Star who hasn't been since 2009. "We'll see what happens."
All-Star Kevin Durant had 22 points and 11 rebounds for Oklahoma City (18-5), which was headed for its first blowout loss of the season before closing a 24-point deficit in the fourth. The convincing win over the NBA's winningest team was just the springboard San Antonio needed before spending next three weeks on the road - where the Spurs have hardly been as dominant.
The Thunder has jumped ahead of the rest of the NBA, in part, by being the best road team. But this time they ran straight into the NBA's best home team, which was never clearer than in the third quarter when the Spurs tripled an 8-point lead in a span of 8 1/2 minutes.
Parker's most electrifying game since scoring 43 in a playoff win over Dallas in 2009 saw to that.
"Coming off pick and rolls, (Parker) was getting to the rim," Durant said. "He is so quick and he was beating our bigs to the lane sometimes. It's tough for our bigs to guard someone as fast as Tony."
Parker, who's spent all his 11 years in the NBA in San Antonio, now has 4,477 career assists. He scored 16 points in the third, going 6 for 9 from the floor and sinking all four of his foul shots. In a game worthy of a standing ovation, his came before it was even over - with 2:28 left in the third, when he surpassed the franchise assists record that Johnson had held since 2001.
The record dish fittingly came on a pick-and-roll with Tim Duncan, his longtime co-pilot in San Antonio's last three championships. And up against the NBA's top team, the duo looked as though they didn't even miss Manu Ginobili, who's missed the last month with a broken hand.
Parker was 16 of 29 from the floor, made 10 of 12 free throws and upped his scoring average to 18 points.
"(Parker) knew he had to have a big game tonight, and we knew we had to score points against these guys," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
Duncan had 13 points and 15 rebounds. Rookie Kawhi Leonard, getting his starting job back so he could guard Durant, added 15 points and hit all three of his 3-pointers. San Antonio's four-game winning streak is its longest all season.
James Harden had 19 points off the bench for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook had 18 points and six assists.
"Tony Parker had his way with us," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "That's as aggressive as I've seen him in a long time."
At times, it was an intense start to the Thunder's five-game road trip. A scramble for a loose ball between Parker and Westbrook in the second quarter escalated into a quick scrape of swats and kicks, with Parker getting whistled for a personal foul and Westbrook shoving aside the Frenchman's leg so he could get up.
Parker, visibly annoyed, was pulled off the pile by Blair, and the players on the Thunder's bench sprung to their feet. Parker responded by darting full steam on a fast break and drawing a foul at the rim. One possession later, Parker hit a tough 17-footer falling away, adding to an entire game's worth of highlights.
The Spurs improved to 13-1 at home, best in the NBA. But they'll now play their next nine away from the AT&T Center as part of their annual Rodeo Road Trip. San Antonio is 3-8 on the road.
SI
Manchester City struck two ealy over Fulham
Manchester City struck two early goals before seeing off a heavy snow storm to open up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Sergio Aguero opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Adam Johnson had been tripped by Chris Baird.
City's lead was then doubled when Baird turned Johnson's cross-shot beyond his own goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Play had to be halted twice to allow groundstaff to clear snow from the lines before Edin Dzeko added a third.
At one point midway through the second half, the heavy snowfall posed a real threat to the fixture as referee Mike Dean twice stopped play to allow the lines around both penalty areas to be cleared with shovels.
City's title rivals - and Fulham - would certainly have been pleased with a postponement but, shortly after Dzeko's third goal, the weather improved and the game was able to conclude with Roberto Mancini's men maintaining their 100% home record.
After defeat to Everton last time out , City were in need of a strong performance and victory was never in doubt from the moment Aguero broke the deadlock after 10 minutes.
Referee Dean was quick to award a spot-kick when Johnson was sandwiched between Baird and Brede Hangeland, although replays suggested that the England winger initiated contact by flicking out his leg as he went down.
Aguero thumped in his 18th goal of the season from the spot, smashing the ball high to Mark Schwarzer's left.
In-form Fulham forward Clint Dempsey sent a speculative effort wide from 30 yards before Dzeko failed to make proper contact as he looked to get on the end of a shot from Aleksandar Kolarov.
Fulham belatedly began to pose a threat as fit-again Simon Davies hit a low shot at Joe Hart at the end of a flowing move before David Silva exchanged a sumptuous one-two with Aguero before dragging his low shot just wide from 15 yards.
That triggered an intense period of pressure from the home side, Johnson and Silva both going close from range before the hapless Baird bundled in the second.
Kolarov whipped in a cross from left which Aguero helped on with a deft flick, Johnson put the ball back across goal and Baird could only divert past Schwarzer from close range.
The hosts could have had another penalty when Silva went down under a challenge from Dickson Etuhu before Senderos almost added to the own goal tally when he turned Micah Richards' cross goalwards, but Schwarzer saved.
FIFA puts Burrell on Olympic committee
FIFA says it has appointed Caribbean official Horace Burrell to its committee that organises Olympic football tournaments, three weeks after he completed a suspension for unethical behavior.
Burrell had lost his long-standing position on FIFA's disciplinary panel in December while he served a three-month ban following a widespread investigation into alleged bribery by FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam and vice-president Jack Warner.
Burrell had a further three-month sanction deferred for a two-year probationary period.
The Jamaican football federation president has told Caribbean media that FIFA punished him for not cooperating with investigators.
Burrell is also vice-president of the Jamaican Olympic Association.
Suriname police on strike
A strike action of the Suriname Police Force entered its third day on Friday, even as President Desi Bouterse called on the Suriname Police Union (SPB) to suspend the work stoppage.
Police officers went on strike on Wednesday after the government failed to meet their demands.
Meanwhile the government has called on special security units, including the Security and Assistance Service and the National Army to step in. The SPB informed the government that police officers will only carry out duties in case of serious road accidents, murders or brutal armed robberies. Officers will also be on duty to guard detainees and government officials and police facilities.
The police are disgruntled over measures by the government to discontinue several financial benefits, including appropriation for nightly duties. According to Vice-President Robert Ameerali, the government’s Consultation Office advised that the said allowances were already incorporated in the salaries.
At a general meeting the police union sanctioned a motion calling for immediate strike action.
The police union submitted its demands in March 2010 and reached an agreement with the government on December 22 last year, in which the parties agreed that the appropriations would be paid no later than January 31, 2012.
During a three hour meeting with union leaders on Thursday at his office, Bouterse appealed to the union to call off the strike in order to create an atmosphere to continue negotiations with the government. The SPB at a general meeting were due to decide on Friday whether the work stoppage will continue.
By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean News Now contributor
Millions to be spent on Trinidad Carnival for 2012
The Trinidad Carnival has been described as “big business” which now has a total allocation of $96.5 million to be spent.
Yesterday the Trinidad Cabinet approved a supplemental $53 million for the event that already had an expended budget of $43.5 million.
Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism, Winston “Gypsy” Peters explained that with Caribbean Airlines reporting 220, 000 people booked to visit the country for Carnival, which will culminate with two days of mass on February 20 and 21 at various, it was big business.
However, even with the allocation of an additional $53 million, there were some cuts to the popular carnival. These cuts will result in there being no $2 million grand prize from the Trinidad government for the Soca Monarch or Chutney Soca Monarch competitions this year, and no People’s Band, a government initiative allowing people to parade for free.
Instead, the government will contribute money to various organisations such as Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation, the National Carnival Bands Associations and Pan Trinbago, who will be responsible for raising additional funds to maintain the $2 million grand prize.
Mr Peter explained that though the Trinidad Carnival was “big business” for the country, it incurred a lot of debt. “As a matter of fact we had debt that ran over from last year, some of these contractors we owe them from last year and then we have to fund money to pay them this year…so we have a lot of money that we owe for different reasons,” he said.
However other funds have been sourced to bring 11 steelbands from Tobago to Trinidad for the Panorama semi-finals, while a further $3.2 million is expected to be spent funding meals, accommodation, ground and air transport for the band members over a four-day period. Click
Caribbean 360 News
Barbados police fight crime with technology
Victims of crimes in Barbados can soon identify their attackers without having to come face to face with them.
And charges of police brutality during interrogation will also be harder to prove as the Royal Barbados Police Force prepares to roll out new state-of-the-art technology to record such proceedings.
This will all be possible as police implement devices such as the Cardinal Peak CaseCracker and the Promat system, both designed to bring a higher level of transparency to the interviewing of suspects by lawmen, and the identification of suspects.
And the country’s Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite has promised that amendments to the legislative framework to govern its use will be in place within another six months.
He added that the equipment will be installed at five police stations initially, but noted the intention was to have all stations outfitted.
The Pro Mat system will allow police to show victims of crime photographs and videos of headshots to allow them to point out their attacker. It is mobile and can be transported to victims in hospital or those who are unable to go to a police station.
Mr Brathwaite explained that the Pro Mat system was fair and allowed police to provide eight individuals of similar build and characteristics to an accused person.
But he said there were still some kinks to be ironed out with the Pro Mat as it relates to getting people to volunteer their photographs. “We have one or two challenges from the point of view that not enough suites are readily available,” the Attorney-General said.
As a result the new technology will only be available for serious crimes in the initial stages.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Oral Williams explained the CaseCracker involved the use of two cameras, both placed in one room, with one focused on the entire room and the other on the suspect. The interview of a suspect by police in the presence of their attorney is recorded.
“When the interview is finished you can play it back and see exactly what transpired,” explained Mr Williams.
Caribbean 360 News
Film and Broadway actor Ben Gazzara dies aged 81
Film and stage actor Ben Gazzara has died in New York at the age of 81.
He was best known for playing tough characters and villains in the films Anatomy of a Murder in 1959 and 1970's Killing of a Chinese Bookie.
Gazzara, who had been suffering from pancreatic cancer, later appeared in cult comedy The Big Lebowski, directed by the Coen Brothers.
He began his career in the theatre, starring in the original Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Method actor
Longtime family friend Suzanne Mados said Gazzara died on Friday.
The son of Italian immigrants, Gazzara was a proponent of method acting and it helped him achieve stardom early in his career.
In 1955, he originated the role of Brick Pollitt, the disturbed alcoholic son and failed football star in the Tennessee Williams' play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
He left the show after only seven months to take on the role of Johnny Pope, the drug addict in A Hatful of Rain, which earned him the first of three Tony Award nominations.
In 1965 he starred in the TV series Run for Your Life which saw him twice nominated for an Emmy during the show's three-year run.
His other films included The Strange One, The Thomas Crown Affair and Opening Night, one of three appearances directed by his friend John Cassavetes.
Gazzara's marriages to actresses Louise Erikson and Janice Rule, ended in divorce. He married his third wife, the model Elke Krivatand, in 1982.
David Peaston, R&B and gospel singer, dies aged 54
R&B and gospel singer David Peaston, best known for the tracks Two Wrongs (Don't Make it Right) and Can I?, has died aged 54.
His niece Neuka Mitchell, said the star passed away on Wednesday from complications of diabetes.
The musician, who had a string of hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s, came from a family of successful singers.
His mother Martha Bass sang with the Clara Ward Singers and sister Fontella Bass had a top-10 song in 1965.
Peaston kick started his career after winning several competitions on the Showtime at the Apollo TV show in the 80s.
Two Wrongs was his highest charting single, reaching number three in 1989.
In 1990, Peaston beat off competition from the likes of Soul II Soul to win a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist.
In 2006, after a period of ill health caused by his illness - which led to both his legs being amputated, he returned to music with the album, Song Book: Songs of Soul & Inspiration.
Peaston is survived by his wife and two sons.
The King's Speech play has its world premiere
Almost a year after the film reigned supreme at the Oscars, The King's Speech has finally made it to the stage.
A packed house at the Yvonne Arnaud theatre in Guildford, Surrey, gave the play a rousing reception at its world premiere on Thursday night.
Playwright David Seidler called it "the fulfilment of a very long dream".
Seidler originally wrote his story about King George VI for the stage before he developed the screenplay.
Seidler went on to win an Oscar and Bafta for best screenplay for The King's Speech in 2011.
But the play has never actually been performed until now.
The film starred Colin Firth as Bertie, the king who conquered his debilitating stammer with the help of maverick Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).
In this stage version, the lead role is taken by Charles Edwards, with Australian-born Jonathan Hyde as Logue, and Emma Fielding as Queen Elizabeth.
Joss Ackland plays King George V and Ian McNeice is Winston Churchill. The play is directed by former RSC artistic director Adrian Noble.
Speaking exclusively to the BBC after the premiere, Seidler - who himself had a childhood stammer - said it had been a "very emotional night".
"When I was a very young boy in the late 40s, my grandfather would take me to the Golders Green Hippodrome to see these wonderful creaky old British plays in which the diva and the leading man would swoop on stage and stand in the spotlight.
To me, as a little boy of eight or nine years old, it was absolute magic and I thought, 'I really want to be part of that world' - which was a strange ambition for a boy who stuttered and couldn't talk.
"Well, that little boy got a big thrill tonight."
Plans to bring the play to the stage were in place before the film became a huge international hit, making $414m (£261m) at the global box office.
Seidler said he had no second thoughts about staging the production so soon after the film's success.
"This is what I've always wanted," he said. "I had always envisaged the film as being something that would give me a little bit of money so I could help get this on the boards.
"I don't want to sound ungrateful, and I'm not, I'm so very pleased and happy the film did as well as it did. Winning an Oscar is just a wonderful thing to happen - certainly at my age - but this is what I wanted. This to me is more fulfilling than all the movies in the world."
The stage version of The King's Speech allows Seidler to explore characters and themes more deeply than Tom Hooper's film.
"There is now a fully fleshed out relationship between Lionel and his wife Myrtle that didn't exist in the film," he said. "The stage version has a great deal more of the politics and I think a great deal more humour - it's a richer canvas."
Seidler began researching his storyline for The King's Speech throughout the 1970s and 80s but abandoned it after the Queen Mother asked him not to pursue the project during her lifetime.
After the Queen Mother died in 2002, Seidler returned to writing the play. It was in 2005, at a script reading in London, that director Tom Hooper's mother spotted its movie potential and told him she'd found his next film.
With unconfirmed reports that the Queen had seen and enjoyed the film version of The King's Speech, would Seidler invite her to see the play?
"Any time Her Majesty would like a house seat, let me know and I will arrange it. I think it's unlikely, but I would love her to see it - it would be a great honour."
The King's Speech is at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford until 11 February. It will then tour to Nottingham, Bath, Brighton, Richmond and Newcastle.
Seal's model ex Tatjana Patitz says Heidi Klum and their children are better off without him
She fell for him because of his amazing talent and charming personality.
But Seal's former girlfriend Tatjana Patitz has broken her silence to reveal she split from the singer because of his temper tantrums.
And she has warned his estranged German supermodel wife Heidi Klum not to consider a reconciliation with the Kiss From A Rose singer for the sake of their children.
According to In Touch magazine she described the 48-year-old English crooner as a selfish and immature man who cannot control his volcanic personality.
The model, who is also German, said: 'He is not a nice person.
'He has anger issues. He is definitely not someone who I think of fondly now.'
Her claims come hot on the heels of previous reports that Klum, 38, demanded a divorce because she was worried about the effect Seal’s 'inability to control his temper' was having on their children.
It has also been alleged that the Project Runway star had grown tired of his love of 'hard partying.'
But while there are no suggestions the Londoner was unfaithful to Heidi, Tatjana believes the hunk cheated during their relationship,which lasted almost a year in 1997.
She was one of the fashion world's most famous faces when she hooked up with the soul star, and had also appeared alongside the likes of Cindy Crawford in George Michael's Freedom video.
She had also starred in the film for Duran Duran's song Skin Trade, and even tried her hand at making movies, featuring as a murder victim in 1993 Sean Connery flick Rising Sun.