Floyd Mayweather granted one-fight license to take on Miguel Cotto
Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Wednesday he will fight Miguel Cotto on May 5 in Las Vegas.
Mayweather made the announcement after getting a conditional one-fight license and a lecture from Nevada athletic commissioners, who told the fighter, his manager-promoter and his lawyer they want a prefight report May 1 to ensure Mayweather abides by conditions set by a Nevada judge in a criminal domestic violence case that will have him begin serving 90 days in jail June 1.
Commission Chairman Raymond "Skip" Avansino Jr. said it would be a "tragedy" if Mayweather didn't meet the requirements to make the multimillion-dollar Cinco de Mayo bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
"But we think Mr. Mayweather is certainly going to comply with this," Avansino said.
The commission unanimously granted the one-fight license, after Commissioner Pat Lundvall told Mayweather he can't postpone or delay serving his jail sentence and must stay out of trouble for the 14-plus weeks he's training to take on Cotto.
"I'm just happy to be fighting May 5," Mayweather said as he emerged from the hearing room. "They granted me one fight. I need to conduct myself like a gentleman and do everything that the court ordered and then come back in front of them and show them that I deserve to have a license for a whole year."
The undefeated Mayweather, a seven-time world champion in five weight classes, will turn 35 this month. He'll step up in weight to fight Cotto, 31, a three-division champion from Puerto Rico. The bout will be for the WBA super welterweight belt.
"He's the best at 154," Mayweather said of Cotto.
Mayweather dismissed failed attempts to book the May 5 fight with Manny Pacquiao, a Philippine champion against whom Mayweather is usually measured.
"He really doesn't want to fight," Mayweather said.
Mayweather and Pacquiao are boxing's top two stars, and they have taunted each other for more than two years - including recent postings on Twitter. They also have a defamation lawsuit pending in federal court in Las Vegas stemming from Mayweather accusations that Pacquiao took performance enhancing drugs.
Both say they're eager to fight, but no deal has been reached for what many believe would be the most lucrative bout in boxing history.
Mayweather defeated Victor Ortiz for the WBC welterweight title in September to go to 42-0 with 26 knockouts.
Cotto is 36-2 with 29 knockouts. He is coming off of the second defense of his title, a 10th-round technical knockout win over Antonio Margarito in December.
In a joint statement announcing the fight, Cotto said he intends to be the first boxer to beat Mayweather.
"I am here to fight the biggest names in boxing," Cotto said. "I've never ducked anyone or any challenge in front of me."
Both fighters have agreed to Olympic-style drug testing for the 12-round fight handled by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions.
The May 5 fight date was set before Mayweather pleaded guilty Dec. 21 in Nevada state court to a reduced battery domestic violence charge and no contest to two harassment charges. The plea stemmed from a hair-pulling, punching and arm-twisting argument in October 2010 with Josie Harris, the mother of three of Mayweather's children. Prosecutors dropped felony and misdemeanor charges that could have gotten Mayweather 34 years in prison.
AP
Bucks win 105-97, beat Heat again
The Miami Heat have the stars, the sun and South Beach.
Somehow, the Milwaukee Bucks have bragging rights.
Brandon Jennings scored 31 points, including three 3-pointers in a critical stretch of the fourth quarter, and Milwaukee beat Miami 105-97 on Wednesday night for the Bucks' second win over the Heat this season.
Even on a huge night for LeBron James - he scored a season-high 40 points, including a powerful windmill dunk destined for the highlight reels - Jennings and the Bucks walked away with a win.
And, apparently, a little bit of admiration from James.
"Me and LeBron looked at each other," Jennings said. "I said, `40?' He said, `You've got 31, though."'
Jennings also had eight assists with no turnovers while Drew Gooden added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Bucks, who have won three straight - including a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last Saturday.
The Bucks also beat the Heat 91-82 in Miami on Jan. 22.
James had 24 points in the first quarter, the most points any player has scored in a quarter this season, according to STATS LLC. But he went cold in the second half.
"You always give credit where credit is due," James said. "They made some shots in the third quarter and fourth quarter. They got back into it. They made a run. We held it as much as possible."
Dwyane Wade added 23 points for the Heat, but it wasn't enough.
"What that second half showed is we still have a long way to go as a ballclub just in terms of playing consistently," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We were playing very good basketball in the first half. It's a fragile game. In this league it can go the other way quickly if you're not staying consistent to your identity."
Bucks fans chanted "overrated" in the final minutes of the game.
"We can't just have an ordinary energy game, we have to have an extraordinary game against them," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "The guys came out in the second half and really took it to them."
Milwaukee trailed 60-47 at the half but closed the gap in the third quarter. The Heat went into the fourth with a 79-76 lead.
Ersan Ilyasova converted a three-point play to tie the score at the start of the fourth, and Jennings hit a running layup to give the Bucks an 81-79 lead with 11:06 left.
Milwaukee's fourth-quarter run continued, and the Bucks led 87-82 when Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored inside. The Heat than drew a shot-clock violation with the ball in James' hands, and Jennings hit a 3-pointer on the other end to give Milwaukee a 90-82 lead with 6:40 to go.
After a pair of free throws by Gooden, Wade missed a contested layup, and Jennings hit another 3-pointer.
James missed a long jumper - and Jennings drilled yet another 3, giving the Bucks a 98-82 lead.
With Milwaukee later leading 101-92, James was called for traveling in transition with just over two minutes left.
James shot 5 for 12 in the second half.
"He's not easy to stop," Jennings said. "He got it going early, but I think we did a great job (in the) second half, just countering him on everything."
A large part of the credit goes to Mbah a Moute, the Bucks' defensive ace.
"It's a tough job, going against those guys," Mbah a Moute said. "But it's a fun job, too. Those guys are the best and it's always fun to play against the best."
Wednesday's game had all the makings of a Heat blowout early on, thanks to James. Already off to a sizzling start, James finished the first quarter in memorable fashion.
"The first half, it felt like LeBron was going to go for like 60 or whatever," Jennings said.
With under a minute left in the quarter, he took the ball away from Milwaukee's Beno Udrih, took a couple of steps and finished with a powerful windmill dunk with 32.9 seconds left in the quarter.
As if that wasn't enough, James then hit a 3 with 2.2 seconds left in the quarter.
James' huge dunk drew a gasp, then a roar from the crowd. It even had a pair of Bradley Center ushers recreating the dunk during the first-quarter break.
But the Heat couldn't keep the lead.
"I don't think we relaxed," Wade said. "They played well. Give them credit. I'm not taking anything away from the Bucks."
SI
Prince Harry to visit Bolt at Racers camp
The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, will prepare to entertain royalty, with Britain's Prince Harry expected to call on the athlete at his Racers Track Club base, during his Diamond Jubilee tour of the Caribbean and Central America next month.
Bolt, the triple Olympic champion, has already begun preparations for the London Games later this year, having set the tall target of bettering his performance at the 2008 Beijing Games.
On that occasion, Bolt claimed three gold medals - 100m, 200m and 4x400m relays - all in record times. Still, it is hoped that the sprint king will be able to take the time off to give the prince a few tips.
"We're hoping he (Bolt) will teach him (Harry) how to start," Prince Harry's private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton told UK publication The Daily Mail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk).
However, perhaps thankfully for the prince, the two are not expected to get in the blocks for a duel to the finish line.
"I don't think they will hare off round the track together, thankfully," the prince's secretary added.
This will not be the sprinter's first encounter with royalty, as he is also a favourite of noted track and field fan, Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Invitation extended
The Monarch had expressed the desire to see Bolt run in the Principality and extended an official invitation to the sprinter for the Herculis Diamond League meet last year.
Bolt holds an impressive 9.58-second record in the 100m and 19.19 record in the 200m, both set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
While in Jamaica, the prince will also pay a visit to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller who, interestingly, has already begun to examine the process of abandoning the Queen as head of state and adopt a republican form of government.
In addition to Jamaica, Harry, 27, will get to tour Belize and The Bahamas - all sovereign realms where the Queen is still head of state - from March 2 to 8.
Tracy Morgan's mom pleads for his help saving home; he says stories "untrue"
Tracy Morgan's mother says she struggled for years to provide the comedian with everything he needed as a child, but now that she's out of work and facing foreclosure he's refusing to help her.
Alicia Morgan, in a phone interview with CNN Wednesday, said she called her son last month to say she needed $25,000 to pay off her mortgage, but his assistant called back and told her, "Tracy would do a one shot deal of $2,000."
"I was so upset, I told her to tell Tracy 'Thank you, but no thanks. I am not some person on the street asking you for a handout, I am your mother,'" she said. "And that was the end of that."
His sister, Asia Morgan, said their mother needs his help soon "so she doesn't end up on the streets."
Their mother lost her job last year, reducing her income to $600 a month and causing her to fall behind on her $400 monthly mortgage on her Youngstown, Ohio, home, her daughter said.
"If her mortgage is not paid by February 23, 2012, her home will go into foreclosure," she said.
Tracy Morgan, meanwhile, released a statement to CNN Wednesday night saying he was "saddened that these untrue stories about me have people questioning my commitment to my family."
The one-paragraph statement continued, "For reasons that are between us, I have not seen my Mother in 11 years and outside of a random call here and there have had little to no contact with my sister. We all have personal family issues that we have to deal with in life, but I choose to deal with mine in private and not through the media."
In her interview with CNN, Alicia Morgan said her son offered to pay her mortgage after she was laid off from her job last year.
"I faxed him my account number and my mortgage papers," Alicia Morgan said. "I thought he was paying it, but after a few months I realized he didn't pay it off."
His mother said she heard through another relative that her son was angry about publicity given to the story.
"My nephew said that he spoke to Tracy and that Tracy said he wasn't going to pay me because I gave an interview," his mother said. "I never talked to anyone."
Alicia Morgan has five children with Morgan's late father, Asia Morgan said.
"She has asked all of her children for help, but we are no in a position to do so," she said. "We all have jobs, but Tracy is the only one in a position to help."
Their mother, now 62, says she has trouble walking, has diabetes and her unemployment benefits just expired.
"It took me 30 years or more to buy a home," she said. "At times I worked two to three jobs to support my children. They always got what they wanted, including Tracy. No one took care of them but me."
Tracy Morgan, 43, grew up in Brooklyn, but his mother moved the family to Youngstown in 1995, a decade after he left home, his sister said. He rose to fame as a "Saturday Night Live" cast member and now stars on NBC's hit sitcom "30 Rock."
"We have tried to get in contact with my brother Tracy, but he changes his phone number all the time, so we have no way of talking to him," she said.
His mother said she did not understand why Morgan "chose himself not to be with the family."
"No one did anything to him," she said. "... I am not trying to hurt Tracy. I love my children to death."
CNN
Denzel, Warwick Nab ‘Golden Camera’ Awards in Germany
Denzel Washington and Dionne Warwick will be honored in Germany this weekend at the Golden Camera ceremony, one of the country’s top entertainment award events.
Washington, currently in theaters with Daniel Espinosa’s “Safe House,” picks up the Golden Camera for best international actor, while R&B legend Warwick will receive a lifetime achievement honor.
Also, Scarlett Johansson, who stars in Joss Whedon’s summer tentpole “The Avengers,” will receive the best international actress award, and Dutch jazz sensation Caro Emerald will be honored with the best music international award.
The Golden Cameras are arguably Germany’s most prestigious awards show, on par with the Oscars or the Emmys. Every year some 4-6 million Germans tune in to watch the live, three-hour Golden Camera broadcast.
Last year’s winners included John Travolta, Rene Zellweger and Michael J. Fox.
The 2012 Golden Cameras will be held Saturday, Feb. 4 in Berlin.
Despite Alleged Suicide, Don Cornelius’ Ex-Wife Gets the Loot
When you think of “Soul Train” you automatically think of him.
But it’s not that Don Cornelius is gone, it’s how he went. People are beginning to wonder why the father of an institution which “Soul Train” was would commit suicide, if that is the official ruling.
According to reports, the soul man died with two life insurance policies worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The beneficiary of both is his ex-wife whom he feuded with often.
The breakup between Cornelius and Viktoria Chapman was ugly. Their relationship included domestic abuse, and according to him, she was also a harsh woman and pepper sprayed him multiple times.
The two divorced in 2009.
Filed with official documents, Don went on record for saying, “I am 72 years old. I have significant health issues. I want to finalize this divorce before I die.”
But a provision in the divorce states that his ex-wife would be the beneficiary of both his life insurance policies, totaling around $300,000.
We know what you may be thinking, she can’t get the money.
Well, not so fast. According to the policy, if the insured commits suicide within the first two years of the policy, the company will not pay out. However, the policy is over two years old and the money WILL go to the ex.
So now we continue to wonder, why Don why?
As we reported, Cornelius was found dead in his home after reports of shots fired in his Sherman Oaks home at around 4 a.m. Authorities say it was Don’s own son, Tony, who made the 911 call.
Don Cornelius was 75.
Amy Winehouse coroner 'not qualified'
The family of singer Amy Winehouse have said they are "taking advice" following news that the coroner who oversaw her inquest has resigned.
Camden Council has confirmed that Suzanne Greenaway had stood down because she had not been a lawyer in the UK for the required five years.
The council said she had been appointed "in error" by her husband Andrew Reid, the coroner for inner north London.
Ms Greenaway ruled that Winehouse, 27, died from accidental alcohol poisoning.
She returned a verdict of misadventure.
The Office for Judicial Complaints has begun an inquiry into Dr Reid's conduct.
Letter of apology
In a statement, Winehouse's relatives said: "The Winehouse family is taking advice on the implications of this and will decide if any further discussion with the authorities is needed."
Ms Greenaway qualified in Australia in 1999 in September and was a member of the Supreme Court there but she had not worked as a lawyer for the required time in the UK, a Camden Council spokesman said.
The spokesman added that the Winehouse inquest verdict remained legal and would only be judged illegal if it was challenged and subsequently overturned by the High Court.
Dr Reid said he was writing to all of the families affected to apologise.
He said: "While I am confident that all of the inquests handled were done so correctly, I apologise if this matter causes distress to the families and friends of the deceased."
He has offered to hold the inquests over again if the families of the deceased request it.
During her time as deputy assistant coroner, Ms Greenaway conducted 12 inquests in Camden, but mainly worked from Poplar Coroner's Court.
Coroners are appointed by the Ministry of Justice, and they then interview and appoint their own staff - including in the case of Dr Reid - his assistant deputy coroner.
Under the Coroners Act, he must then notify the local authority although it has no power of scrutiny over appointments, a Camden Council spokesman said.
The inquest into Winehouse's death heard she was more than five times the drink-drive limit when she died on 23 July.
Ms Greenway had said the "unintended consequence" of Winehouse drinking so much alcohol was her "sudden and unexpected death".
Three empty vodka bottles, two large and one small, were found at her flat, St Pancras Coroner's Court heard.
'Hugo' Leads Oscar Race With 11 Nominations
The Academy Award nominations were announced this morning in Hollywood.
Martin Scorsese's 3D adventure movie "Hugo," a fantasy tribute to French film pioneer George Melies, leads the list with 11 nominations, including one for Best Director, numerous technical categories and the most coveted of all, Best Picture of the Year.
Actress and previous Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence announced the top category.
"The films selected as best picture nominees for 2011 are "War Horse," "The Artist," "Moneyball," "The Descendants," "The Tree of Life," "Midnight in Paris," "The Help," "Hugo" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."
The Artist," a French-made black-and-white silent film about old-time Hollywood, has 10 nominations, including writing and directing for Michel Hazanavicius, Best Actor for its star Jean DuJardin and Best Supporting Actress for co-star Berenice Bejo, who expresses the sentiment heard most often.
"Just being nominated is already an honor and already unbelievable," she said.
The nominees are chosen by peer groups within the 6,000-member Academy, comprised of men and women who work as actors, writers, directors, composers and various other filmmaking crafts.
While it's politically correct to protest the competitive aspect of the awards, Best Actress nominee Viola Davis says it's nice to be recognized.
"You always want your work to be acknowledged," she said. "I can't do it in the room or in front of the mirror in my bathroom. I do it for the appreciation and enjoyment of an audience, so it means a lot."
Davis' performance in "The Help," about black maids working for white families in the south in the 1960s, puts her in the running for Best Actress alongside Meryl Streep for "The Iron Lady;" Michelle Williams in "My Week With Marilyn;" Glenn Close for "Albert Nobbs" and Rooney Mara as "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo."
Best Actor nominees are DuJardin in "The Artist;" George Clooney for "The Descendants;" Brad Pitt for "Moneyball;" Gary Oldman for "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and Mexican actor Demian Bichir for "A Better Life."
Films from Belgium, Canada, Poland, Israel and Iran are competing for Best Foreign Language Film.
Veteran Hollywood executive Brian Grazer, who will produce this year's Oscar telecast, sees no clear front-runner.
"I'm a little bit surprised and excited that a big Hollywood movie, 'Hugo,' got 11 nominations; and I think that it's a very unpredictable race that's going to happen right now," he said.
Winners of the 84th annual Academy Awards will be revealed in the global telecast from Hollywood on Feb. 26.
$9.3 million added to TGIGs purse
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government has obtained Judgment for close to $9.3m on the Emerald Cay Stamp Duty Claim.
In the latest judgment for the civil recovery team, published in a ruling handed down by Chief Justice Goldsborough on 31 January 2012, the Attorney
General, Huw Shephard on behalf of the Government of the TCI, has been awarded judgment of $9,291,758 (nine million, two hundred and ninety-one
thousand, seven hundred and fifty eight dollars) against Emerald Cay Limited and Worldwide Commercial Properties Limited, arising out of the
under-payment of Stamp Duty on the acquisition of Emerald Cay in 2006.
The judgment follows a hearing to assess damages held on 29 and 30 November 2011.
On 21 June 2011, Mr. Justice Martin awarded the Government an interim payment of $1.25m after entering judgment on liability in the case. He
ordered a full assessment of damages, which has now taken place. The judgment for $9.3m replaces the interim award of $1.25m given last June.
We are delighted to have obtained this judgment, which underlines the commitment the Government has to ensuring stamp duty is paid, and to
pursue those who do avoid stamp duty. It is another very good result for the civil recovery team and very tangible evidence of the progress being
made by them, commented Attorney General Huw Shepheard.
Wetlands Tourism: A Great Experience (World Wetlands Day 2012
World Wetlands Day will be observed throughout the TCI today Thursday 2nd February 2012.
The World Wetlands Day is an annual recurring event that provides attention on the benefits and fragility of the worlds wetlands. Every February 2nd, activities are organised worldwide to raise public awareness of wetlands' value and benefits and promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
In support of this worldwide celebration, the Turks and Caicos National Trust is launching a campaign which highlights Eco-tourism in the country,
particularly, enticing our guests, visitors and residents to explore our wetlands and diverse wildlife.
Brochures entitled Turks & Caicos Islands: An Ecological Haven and leaflets, will be distributed to the different hotels and at the arrival
section on Provo Airport starting February 2nd. The leaflets will include information on the different activities guests can engage in, such as
kayaking, bird watching tours and visiting national parks. While activities commence on February 2nd, the ecological experience will be
highlighted for a whole month, culminating on March 2.
The National Trust has expressed its gratitude for the support extended by the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board and the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA). The Tourist Board generously donated the brochures and TCHTA is helping to promote our wetland adventures.
This years theme is: Wetlands and Tourism, a tie-up which, could bring immense benefits - stronger economies, sustainable livelihoods, healthy
people and thriving ecosystems.
Turks & Caicos National Trust say it is worth noting that tourism is only one of the services that wetlands deliver. Ensuring well-managed tourism
practices in and around wetlands and educating tourists on the value of wetlands contributes to the health of the world's wetlands and the
long-term benefits that wetlands provide to people, wildlife, economics, and biodiversity.
World Wetlands Day is about appreciating the vital role wetlands play in our ecosystems and protecting them. Here in the Turks & Caicos Islands, we are blessed with many wetland areas and coastal sites. We are blessed with a beautiful ecology and indeed, we are a wetlands country.
Its time to explore the Turks & Caicos wetlands!
For activities and more information, please contact the Turks & Caicos National Trust office at 941-5710 or send an email to tc.nattrust@yahoo.com.